Jeter nominated for Hank Aaron Award
08/01/2006 10:00 AM ET
Jeter nominated for Hank Aaron Award
Captain putting together one of his finest seasons in the Bronx
By Ryan Mink / MLB.com
NEW YORK -- Asked just before the All-Star break who his team's first-half MVP would be, Yankees manager Joe Torre would seem to have a multitude of candidates. But he didn't hesitate.
Derek Jeter was his answer.
Now the Yankees' captain could win more than a hypothetical honor as Jeter is a candidate for this year's American League Hank Aaron Award.
Since 1999, the 25th anniversary of Aaron breaking Babe Ruth's all-time home run record, Major League Baseball has recognized the best offensive performer from each league with the Hank Aaron Award presented by CENTURY 21.
Past recipients include Barry Bonds (three times), Alex Rodriguez (three times), Manny Ramirez (twice), Albert Pujols, Todd Helton, Sammy Sosa and Carlos Delgado. Last year's winners, selected during balloting during the regular season's final month on MLB.com, were Boston's David Ortiz and Atlanta's Andruw Jones.
"It's nice any time you can have your name mentioned with Hank Aaron," Jeter said.
Jeter is having one of his finest offensive seasons in his 11th year. He was hitting .352 with seven homers and 63 RBIs as the week began. Jeter had the second-highest batting average in the Majors, only behind Minnesota catcher Joe Mauer. His .456 on-base percentage was fourth-highest in the AL.
"Even when you're not feeling good, your job is to try to find a way to get on base," said Jeter, who has missed only five games so far this season.
"That's what separates good years from average years. When things are going bad, you can't buy a hit. But when things are going good, you may get a bounce here or a bloop there."
Jeter has gotten much more than bounces or bloops. Still, he is on pace to hit a career season-low in home runs in a full season since 1997, his second year as a starter. Jeter hit just 10 homers in 2003 but played in only 119 games.
But Torre feels what enables Jeter to have such a high batting average may hinder his ability to club the ball out of the park -- hitting to the opposite field.
"Hitting to the opposite field, you're not going to get fooled very often because you're not looking to pull the ball," Torre said. "He hasn't hit as many home runs as he has in the past, but that doesn't mean he's not knocking in as many runs -- or more."
Jeter is on pace for a career high in RBIs. He had 70 last year and has only once notched more than 100. But projections are merely that, and as Jeter said, there's many more games to be played.
"We've got two months left -- the two most important months," Jeter said. "It's hard to comment on my year until it's over with. But I try to stay consistent day in and day out."
And that consistency was exactly Torre's reasoning for voting for Jeter as first-half Yankees MVP.
Ryan Mink is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
© 2001-2006 MLB Advanced Media, L.P. All rights reserved.
The following are trademarks or service marks of Major League Baseball entities and may be used only with permission of Major League Baseball Properties, Inc. or the relevant Major League Baseball entity: Major League, Major League Baseball, MLB, the silhouetted batter logo, World Series, National League, American League, Division Series, League Championship Series, All-Star Game, and the names, nicknames, logos, uniform designs, color combinations, and slogans designating the Major League Baseball clubs and entities, and their respective mascots, events and exhibitions.
Jeter nominated for Hank Aaron Award
Captain putting together one of his finest seasons in the Bronx
By Ryan Mink / MLB.com
NEW YORK -- Asked just before the All-Star break who his team's first-half MVP would be, Yankees manager Joe Torre would seem to have a multitude of candidates. But he didn't hesitate.
Derek Jeter was his answer.
Now the Yankees' captain could win more than a hypothetical honor as Jeter is a candidate for this year's American League Hank Aaron Award.
Since 1999, the 25th anniversary of Aaron breaking Babe Ruth's all-time home run record, Major League Baseball has recognized the best offensive performer from each league with the Hank Aaron Award presented by CENTURY 21.
Past recipients include Barry Bonds (three times), Alex Rodriguez (three times), Manny Ramirez (twice), Albert Pujols, Todd Helton, Sammy Sosa and Carlos Delgado. Last year's winners, selected during balloting during the regular season's final month on MLB.com, were Boston's David Ortiz and Atlanta's Andruw Jones.
"It's nice any time you can have your name mentioned with Hank Aaron," Jeter said.
Jeter is having one of his finest offensive seasons in his 11th year. He was hitting .352 with seven homers and 63 RBIs as the week began. Jeter had the second-highest batting average in the Majors, only behind Minnesota catcher Joe Mauer. His .456 on-base percentage was fourth-highest in the AL.
"Even when you're not feeling good, your job is to try to find a way to get on base," said Jeter, who has missed only five games so far this season.
"That's what separates good years from average years. When things are going bad, you can't buy a hit. But when things are going good, you may get a bounce here or a bloop there."
Jeter has gotten much more than bounces or bloops. Still, he is on pace to hit a career season-low in home runs in a full season since 1997, his second year as a starter. Jeter hit just 10 homers in 2003 but played in only 119 games.
But Torre feels what enables Jeter to have such a high batting average may hinder his ability to club the ball out of the park -- hitting to the opposite field.
"Hitting to the opposite field, you're not going to get fooled very often because you're not looking to pull the ball," Torre said. "He hasn't hit as many home runs as he has in the past, but that doesn't mean he's not knocking in as many runs -- or more."
Jeter is on pace for a career high in RBIs. He had 70 last year and has only once notched more than 100. But projections are merely that, and as Jeter said, there's many more games to be played.
"We've got two months left -- the two most important months," Jeter said. "It's hard to comment on my year until it's over with. But I try to stay consistent day in and day out."
And that consistency was exactly Torre's reasoning for voting for Jeter as first-half Yankees MVP.
Ryan Mink is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
© 2001-2006 MLB Advanced Media, L.P. All rights reserved.
The following are trademarks or service marks of Major League Baseball entities and may be used only with permission of Major League Baseball Properties, Inc. or the relevant Major League Baseball entity: Major League, Major League Baseball, MLB, the silhouetted batter logo, World Series, National League, American League, Division Series, League Championship Series, All-Star Game, and the names, nicknames, logos, uniform designs, color combinations, and slogans designating the Major League Baseball clubs and entities, and their respective mascots, events and exhibitions.
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