Jeter reflects on battles with Rangers over years

By T.R. Sullivan and Grace Raynor

July 28, 2014

ARLINGTON -- Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter knows, with no hesitation, what he's going to miss the most after he retires from baseball at the conclusion of the season.

"Competing. I enjoy competing, I enjoy playing against guys," Jeter said Monday before the Yankees' game with the Rangers. "I like to win, I like to compete in anything."

Jeter has certainly had his fair share of competition with the Rangers, and it will continue through Wednesday as he makes his final Texas stop in a three-game series.

Jeter and the Yankees defeated the Rangers in the American League Division Series in 1996, 1998 and 1999 en route to their World Series titles. In 2010, 11 years later, the Rangers knocked off the Yankees in the AL Championship Series.

"We've had some battles here in the postseason. There's been a few of them, so those are things that stand out the most, whether it's early in my career, or a few years ago when we were playing the playoffs," Jeter said. "We played some tough Texas teams. On the way to the World Series, we had to go through some Texas teams. There was a team in particular that stopped us in our quest to go. The playoffs is what I'll remember most."

Jeter said throughout the course of his career, one of the things he's enjoyed is getting to know other players both on and off the field. Rangers shortstop Elvis Andrus is one of them.

"I've enjoyed getting a chance to play against him. It's fun to play against him, watch him play, see him develop, see him improve, get to know him a little bit. Get to talk to him," Jeter said. "I know they've enjoyed watching him play here in Texas, and hopefully they get a chance to watch him play for a lot of years."

Jeter added that he's not quite sure what he'll take up to keep him occupied once baseball is over.

"I don't know. I don't want to make any plans. Whatever comes comes," Jeter said. "At this point, it's hard for me to figure out what that's going to be. I still have to play this year. We're still trying to accomplish our goals as a team."

But there's one thing it won't be -- broadcasting.

"I have a tough time criticizing people," Jeter said. "So no."

T.R. Sullivan is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, Postcards from Elysian Fields, and follow him on Twitter @Sullivan_Ranger. Grace Raynor is an associate reporter for MLB.com.