![]() ![]() The talks eventually led to a new contract, which in turn invited more criticism along the lines that Jeter was more a Yankee museum piece than a true everyday shortstop. It all started with a contentious off-season negotiation that had both management and player near their breaking points. And Derek Jeter might be the only living person with more problems than Jay-Z. Both have spent their careers marketing the most recognizable logo in sports. For starters, Jay-Z might be the only living person who’s done more for the Yankees brand than Derek Jeter. Song: “99 Problems” by Jay-Z Lyrics: “The only thing that's gonna happen is I'ma get to clappin' / He and his boys gon' be yappin' to the captain” The Jiggman’s ode to issues works on multiple levels as a corollary for Derek Jeter’s 3,000th hit. Although that a$$hole Alex Fossi has yet to deliver the promised $60 reward for first place, when he does I’ll pour one out for Ervin “Supernatural” Santana for his midseason masterpiece. The resultant no-hitter spurred “Team Faith Hill” to a strong second-half and an eventual league championship. For nine innings Santana dueled the Cleveland Indians and the fantasy powerhouse known as “Dan Puggla” with a ferocity heretofore unseen, striking out 10 and allowing just one baserunner. Into the fray stepped Ervin Santana, plucked from the waiver wire because of his enviable strikeout totals and my fondness for his first name. We’d been near the top of the league all year, but uninspired play in recent weeks threatened to ruin our quest for glory. Song: “Smooth” by Santana Lyrics: “Man it's a hot one / Like seven inches from the midday sun / Well I hear you whisper and the words melt everyone / But you stay so cool” It was late July and “Team Faith Hill,” my country-music-loving fantasy team, needed a boost. We’ll wait for Jack McKeon and Jeffrey Loria to catch up. And the Marlins continued to stink because (a) their best pitcher got hurt, and (b) their best hitter played hurt. In his stead he hired 80-year-old former skipper Jack McKeon, I guess under the assumption that aged managers come with a side helping of fairy dust. After losing 10 straight and 18 of 19 to fall well behind the Phillies in the NL East, Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria fired manager Edwin Rodriguez. Really, it’s an odd song choice for one of the season’s oddest moves. So sometimes it’s good not to read too deep into things and just go with the surface rationale: A song called “Captain Jack” befits a man known as “Trader Jack.” There’s your reasoning. Song: “Captain Jack” by Billy Joel Lyrics: “Captain Jack will get you by tonight / Just a little push, and you'll be smilin'.” I doubt Jack McKeon would recognize the heroin-injecting, nose-picking protagonist in Billy Joel’s lamenting ode to Long Island. ![]() Detroit pulled away, and I’m pretty sure somehow the whole thing was LeBron’s fault. ![]() Cleveland enjoyed their last AL Central lead on June 18th, and spent the rest of the season engaged in a quixotic attempt to rediscover what was already lost. Then the calendar turned, the pitching regressed and the aforementioned rock faded into a dim, lo-fi buzz. With the Tigers, Twins and White Sox all struggling, the Indians seemed as good a bet as anybody to take the AL Central crown. A surprising pitching staff helped along by some throw back offensive spark from Travis Hafner had Cleveland believing. The Tribe, coming off a 69-93 campaign, started hot and as late as May 23rd had a seven game division lead. And through the season’s first two months, Indians fans had reason to rock. Song: “Cleveland Rocks” by The Presidents of the United States of America Lyrics: “All the little kids / Growin' up on the skids are goin' / Cleveland Rocks, Cleveland Rocks” Everything good that ever happens in Cleveland ever will remind me of this song. ![]()
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