Jeter a finalist for AL Aaron Award
09/07/2006 9:00 AM ET
Jeter a finalist for AL Aaron Award
Yankees captain one of six AL nominees for offensive honor
By Ryan Mink / MLB.com
NEW YORK -- When people think about Hank Aaron, they think about home runs. But that's certainly not the first thing that comes to mind about Derek Jeter.
"I'm not much of a home run threat," Jeter said with a laugh.
But that hasn't stopped Jeter from being recognized as one of the game's top offensive threats.
The Yankees shortstop has been named a finalist for the 2006 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.
The first phase of balloting for the Hank Aaron Award was conducted from Aug. 2-31, allowing fans to vote for the most outstanding offensive performer in each league. One nominee from each club was among the choices, and that fan vote reduced the field to the top six vote-getters per league.
The final phase now will be conducted on MLB.com through Sept. 30, and again fans will choose one player from each league. Those two players with the most votes will be announced at a presentation ceremony during the World Series.
As of Sept. 5, Jeter was hitting .343 (second in the AL) with a .420 on-base percentage (fourth in the AL), 12 homers and 84 RBIs. Jeter is having his best season since 1999, when he hit .349 with 102 RBIs and 24 homers.
Yankees manager Joe Torre always talks about how consistent Jeter is for his team. But Torre said he's noticed even more offensive consistency from Jeter this season.
"The consistency that I noticed, beyond his statistics, is the fact that he comes here with the same intensity every day," Torre said.
"When things are going good, you try to make them last," Jeter said. "When things are going bad or you're not feeling as good, you try to find ways to be productive and help the team."
Jeter has also stolen 29 bases this year, three short of his career high. He runs the bases extremely well and he's been a key figure in the Yankees' attempts to hit-and-run more, as he's adept at hitting the ball the other way through the open hole at second base.
"I think sometimes people lose sight when they talk about baseball players, that hitting home runs makes them great, and if you don't hit home runs, then you're not," Jeter said. "Home runs get all the highlights -- you see them on 'SportsCenter' and all that. But there's more to the game than just home runs."
And those are the things Jeter excels at.
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 a finalist for AL Aaron Award
Yankees captain one of six AL nominees for offensive honor
By Ryan Mink / MLB.com
NEW YORK -- When people think about Hank Aaron, they think about home runs. But that's certainly not the first thing that comes to mind about Derek Jeter.
"I'm not much of a home run threat," Jeter said with a laugh.
But that hasn't stopped Jeter from being recognized as one of the game's top offensive threats.
The Yankees shortstop has been named a finalist for the 2006 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.
The first phase of balloting for the Hank Aaron Award was conducted from Aug. 2-31, allowing fans to vote for the most outstanding offensive performer in each league. One nominee from each club was among the choices, and that fan vote reduced the field to the top six vote-getters per league.
The final phase now will be conducted on MLB.com through Sept. 30, and again fans will choose one player from each league. Those two players with the most votes will be announced at a presentation ceremony during the World Series.
As of Sept. 5, Jeter was hitting .343 (second in the AL) with a .420 on-base percentage (fourth in the AL), 12 homers and 84 RBIs. Jeter is having his best season since 1999, when he hit .349 with 102 RBIs and 24 homers.
Yankees manager Joe Torre always talks about how consistent Jeter is for his team. But Torre said he's noticed even more offensive consistency from Jeter this season.
"The consistency that I noticed, beyond his statistics, is the fact that he comes here with the same intensity every day," Torre said.
"When things are going good, you try to make them last," Jeter said. "When things are going bad or you're not feeling as good, you try to find ways to be productive and help the team."
Jeter has also stolen 29 bases this year, three short of his career high. He runs the bases extremely well and he's been a key figure in the Yankees' attempts to hit-and-run more, as he's adept at hitting the ball the other way through the open hole at second base.
"I think sometimes people lose sight when they talk about baseball players, that hitting home runs makes them great, and if you don't hit home runs, then you're not," Jeter said. "Home runs get all the highlights -- you see them on 'SportsCenter' and all that. But there's more to the game than just home runs."
And those are the things Jeter excels at.
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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