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Jeter's Journal
Apr. 20, 2009: Inaugurating the new Stadium
Monday means back to work or school today for a lot of you, and we're no different. Well, maybe a little different in that our schedule isn't exactly like a 9-to-5 job. Plus we're subject to the weather on any given day. Sometimes I lose track of the days of the week. But as long as I know when we're playing and where, I'm good to go.
One thing I do know is that it's always great being in New York City. Opening up the new Stadium last week is a memory that I will keep with me forever. The park itself is obviously incredible, but seeing all of those great Yankees past and present together to usher in a new era was the highlight for me. So lots of memories over the past week full of high points and unfortunately even some low moments -- but that's baseball.
Couple of rough games mixed in there, but glad to be back on a winning track after Saturday. The first month of the season is always a feeling-out period, but we're coming together and know that it's a long way to the finish line.
There are a lot of great players on this team who have been around this league a long time, but we've also got some younger players, some guys new to New York. The thing that you try to relate to all the new guys is, you know, don't try to do anything differently. It's still the same game. Of course, there's more attention here, more media -- the fans expect maximum effort, and you're under a microscope a lot more when you're playing in New York. But really, it's still the same game whether you're on a Triple-A team or playing in New York. It's still baseball.
I think a lot of times people put unnecessary pressure on themselves as opposed to just going out and doing the things that made it possible for them to get to this point. So I just try to tell people to relax.
As a team captain, especially in our organization, I think you have a responsibility. You have a responsibility to the organization, your teammates, your coaches and the fans to represent yourself and the organization in the best light possible. Make sure that you try and think like them, that's first and foremost.
So that's the update from here. A few more games here at home with the A's we can hopefully put together a few wins in a row here before packing up again and heading to Boston this weekend. Stay tuned and have a good week.
-- Derek
Apr. 7, 2009: Opening up in Baltimore
We've got an off-day here in Baltimore as the new season started yesterday. Really a big, big week for us as we need to get off on the right foot. It's also hard to believe it’s been 14 years already since I got here, but some things don't change. A new year always starts with the same mission, and that’s winning in October.
Goals don’t change! My goal ever since I came up was to just do everything to help the Yankees win. That was true in 1995, and it’s true in 2009. Everyone wants to have great seasons individually but the bottom line is that we go out there to compete and try to win a championship.
I learned early on, when we were winning a lot when I first came up with the Yankees, that helping win the World Series is the only goals that we have. I believe that, at the professional level, you only get better as a player individually when you’re helping the team win.
We’ve now gotten a chance to spend some time in the new stadium, and it is everything I hoped it would be and more. I don’t want to give much more away, because I want people to come in and experience it like I did, soak it all in with no preconceived notions. I hadn’t been there since right before Christmas, but it was great getting a few workouts and games there.
Now we’re back on the road for a wee, but can’t wait to get back to New York for the official opening. It’s going to be something special.
Until then, we’ve got business to take care of in Baltimore, KC and Tampa. And in the meantime, check out the contest they're running over at Weplay.com where the winner gets to come and train with me for a day and get a personal skills lesson that we'll also shoot and put on the Weplay site. It's already going on now, I believe, so check it out.
Talk again when I'm back home.
-- Derek
Apr. 1, 2009: Ready and Excited
Already the first day of April, our last day in Tampa for Spring Training, then heading back up to New York and getting settled for a couple of games this weekend in the new Stadium.
I’m really just excited and anxious to get the 2009 season going. Obviously, this past offseason was a few weeks longer for us, because we didn’t go to the playoffs. The timing was also a bit different, because in order to get ready for the World Baseball Classic, I had to start doing my regular baseball preparation activities a little bit earlier. Everything was pushed up about three weeks or so -- lifting weights earlier, running earlier, hitting earlier, throwing earlier. It was all just moved up in order to be prepared a little bit earlier than a regular Spring Training.
Getting to represent the United States in the Classic was a great experience for a couple of reasons. Spring Training can get kind of long at times, and we’re playing for like six weeks, and you get to the end of it and you’re ready to go. For me, I was able to leave and go play some important games and then come back for 10 games before we get going again. So it was a real help, not just in terms of being ready to play, but it broke up Spring Training, and that can only help in terms of mental preparation.
Getting the chance to play with other guys around the league is also what made the Classic experience a special one for me. These may be guys that I’ve been around a little bit, but never really been around for two or three weeks. It’s very different than playing with them in an All-Star Game, where you’re there for two days. We really got an opportunity to put personalities with names and get to know guys, really just enjoy playing with them. So it’s kind of awkward at first, especially considering that I’ve only played for the Yankees, and I get so used to being around a lot of guys. It was just really great for all those reasons.
But now the focus is entirely on what’s yet to come. Opening Day in less than a week away, and one goal's in mind. You know what that is. We head up to New York later today, which I’m really looking forward to. We haven’t been there yet or seen the new Stadium. The first time we’ll be there is for a workout tomorrow.
Can’t wait to see everyone up there and hope you’re all as ready and excited as I am.
-- Derek
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