Life after 40 is pretty good for Derek Jeter. So far.
On the day after he turned 40, Jeter singled in his first at-bat, a typical Jeter line drive to right field and then moved to third on Jacoby Ellsbury’s double. Mark Teixeira’s sacrifice fly scored Jeter and the Yankees were on their way to a 6-0 win over the Red Sox at Yankee Stadium on Friday night.
The Red Sox and Yankees aren’t what they used to be — that’s for sure, but this rivalry remains, simply because Derek Jeter remains in the lineup at shortstop when the two teams meet.
Friday night marked Jeter’s 273rd regular season game against the Red Sox. He owns 1,142 at-bats against them over that time with 331 hits, good for a .290 average.
In his second at-bat Jeter singled. Over his last 14 games Jeter is batting .333. Yes, he has had some brain cramps this season, his final season as a Yankee, but 78 games into the season, Jeter is hitting .271.
To continue what it is like on the other side of this rivalry, consider that Stephen Drew, the Red Sox shortstop, broke an 0-for-29 slide in his final at-bat of the night and is batting .135 in his return.
When Jeter plays his final game against the Red Sox this season, the final regular season game at Fenway Park on Sept. 28, it truly will be the end of the Red Sox-Yankees rivalry as we know it.
“It’s not the same Yankees without him,’’ said film critic and devoted Red Sox fan Jeffrey Lyons. “He’s such a dignified guy and he’s handled it all so well. He’s a role model no matter your allegiance. He’s like [Joe] DiMaggio, a role model for everybody. He’s above partisanship.’’
Manager Joe Girardi said of Jeter: “I’m not sure he feels 40, but that’s a good thing.’’
Perhaps Jeter, now that he is 40, wanted to take a step back from the spotlight but he did not appear in the Yankees clubhouse after the game. Maybe that 40th birthday bash Thursday and into the early morning of Friday that was described so well by Page Six at the restaurant Catch (of course) and The Brickwood was the perfect way for Jeter to celebrate turning 40 with his girlfriend Hannah Davis and friends Michael Strahan and Sean “Diddy’’ Combs.
His teammates also had a birthday celebration for Jeter on Friday.
Beating the Red Sox, even these dreadful 36-44 Red Sox, is a good way to celebrate.
The Yankees hit three home runs, two-run shots by Kelly Johnson and Brian McCann, Jeter’s new teammates this season, and a solo blast by Brett Gardner. It was a good night all around as Vidal Nuno finally figured it out on the mound.
For McCann and Johnson, being teammates with Jeter has been a blast.
“You see it from the outside, but then when you get in here and see him go about his business, his daily routines, and his work ethic is second to none,” McCann said. “It’s awesome to get the chance to be his teammate.’’
McCann said there is one surprise with Jeter. He’s funnier than he thought he would be.
“Absolutely,’’ McCann said. “It’s hard to explain, but he’s just a genuine person.’’
Johnson said Jeter has had a positive impact on his approach to the game.
“He’s always the same dude every day,’’ Johnson said. “He’s talking all the time. I wish I could take that from him and give that to myself.
“Guys don’t make it to this status like him, if they are not awesome,’’ Johnson added. “You knew he had a great personality from seeing him on Saturday Night Live and things like that. Just watching him, I have learned so much about how to approach the game and see how he goes about each day. It takes a special person to do that and it’s cool to watch.’’
When Jeter is done, this Red Sox rivalry just will not be the same.