TAMPA — They have read it on Facebook and in the newspapers. Wednesday, Derek Jeter’s teammates, manager and coaches will hear it from the Captain’s lips, and the message will have a greater impact live.
One week after Jeter’s stunning announcement the upcoming season will be the last of his amazing career, he will speak at a George M. Steinbrenner Field press conference expected to be attended by players, coaches, front-office types and televised on YES.
“There are a few players in sports that when they retire everyone remembers it, kind of like a book being closed,’’ Mark Teixeira said. “For me growing up, Cal Ripken was one of those players. I always remember his final year and everything surrounding that. Derek is obviously in that conversation. He is a once-in-a-lifetime athlete. Everyone will remember his last year.’’
The Yankees have their fingers firmly crossed that Jeter’s finale will be remembered as a productive one. Yet, he will be 40 in June and is coming off a 2013 season that was limited to 17 games due to serious leg problems.
Slick-fielding shortstop Brendan Ryan was signed to a two-year, $5 million deal, but the plan is for Jeter to be the regular shortstop in his final year.
The Yankees are accustomed to spring trainings in which legends announce their plans to depart following the season. Baseball’s all-time saves leader Mariano Rivera did it last spring.
“It will probably set in a little more,’’ manager Joe Girardi said of the difference it will make coming from Jeter’s lips. “I am actually going to hear it instead of reading it.’’
Girardi was the Yankees’ catcher in 1996 when Jeter, a raw rookie, became the starting shortstop and never let anybody else near the job as long as he was healthy.
“There are a lot of things that go through your mind when a player announces that he is going to retire,’’ Girardi said. “I think about when he came up, how youthful he was, how he looked so young, how mature he was as a player and what he blossomed into.
“You look at all that he has done and you say, ‘Where did all the time go?’ ”
Last year Rivera wasn’t bothered by it being his final season, posting 44 saves. And based on the way pressure never has been an enemy of Jeter’s, don’t expect him to change his approach to the game or succumb to the distractions.
“I think he will do everything he can do to be prepared like he does every year,’’ Girardi said of Jeter, who is expected to participate in the Yankees’ first full-squad workout Thursday.
Asked if he would have preferred Jeter had told his manager of his decision before he put it on Facebook, Girardi said it made no difference how and when the message was delivered.
“That’s his choice how he puts it out there,’’ Girardi said. “It wouldn’t have changed it. If he told me in person, [I] would have been taken aback. If he had called me, I would have been taken aback.’’
Cashman admitted being “surprised’’ at Jeter’s Facebook posting but preferred to let Jeter explain it.
“He has had a big impact on the game. His career was clean on and off the field,’’ catcher Francisco Cervelli said. “He is a great teammate and our captain. New York is Derek Jeter, and Derek Jeter is New York.’’