TAMPA – Asked a question about what type of year Bobby Abreu was going to have, Alex Rodriguez predicted Derek Jeter would make it two straight years a Yankee wins the AL MVP.
“I think Jeter is going to have an MVP season, that’s my prediction for the year,” Rodriguez said. “And I think Bobby is going to have a monster year.”
When Jeter finished second two years ago to Minnesota’s Justin Morneau, many believed that would be the closest the Yankees’ shortstop would come to winning an MVP. After all, he was second in hitting (.343), runs scored (118) and average with runners in scoring position (.381). And he won a Gold Glove.
So why does Rodriguez, who copped his third MVP last year, believe Jeter is in for a killer season?
“I think he is in great shape and he did some great things this winter with his workouts,” Rodriguez said. “I am very excited for him.”
Jeter left Legends Field before he could react to Rodriguez’s prediction. A day before, he spoke about what he did differently this offseason.
“I switched up a little bit,” Jeter said of his workouts. “I focused on agility, legs, first step and lateral movement. I really made some adjustments. I feel a lot quicker and I am moving around a lot better.”
Jeter’s critics point to a lack of range going up the middle, and his offseason program appears tailored to getting better in that department.
“I worked on all kinds of stuff,” Jeter said. “Jumps, first step and a lot of explosive stuff.”
Nobody has complained about the increased running programs Joe Girardi has installed, and Rodriguez isn’t going to be the first.
“It’s a track meet, but I really welcomed that,” Rodriguez said.
Even though he has never played in the NL, Rodriguez compared Girardi’s camp to the other league.
“It’s a lot more National League-style camp,” Rodriguez said. “A lot more fundamentals and a lot more bunting and defensively, cut-offs and relays. I love that kind of stuff. I think Girardi really crosses his T’s and dots his I’s. Joe Torre was great and Joe Girardi has a great opportunity.”