6 signs that Jeter’s farewell tour may have taken on a life of its own (my tribute to the Captain)

June 3, 2014; New York, NY, USA; New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter strikes out in the first inning as the Oakland Athletics visit the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx. Mandatory Credit: John Munson/THE STAR-LEDGER via USA TODAY Sports

 6. Your slump is largely ignored by the media and virtually everyone else.

Jeter was recently in an 0-28 slump. Sure, everyone is aware that your skills are beginning to decline and that’s ok. You’re 40 years old, hence the decision to retire before becoming washed up. However, if any other superstar, young or old, was in an 0-28 slump more people than just Yankees fans would have said something about it.

The media would be all over your back and your manager’s, who didn’t move you from your number two spot in the lineup and continues to play you everyday at shortstop. Most importantly the media (it was not covered at all on the West Coast so I’m speaking from my own experience here) ignored it.

They knew it was happening but decided not to mention it as a whole until the head line read that you had broken out of the slump. Only then did most people begin to realize that you hadn’t been hitting at all. That’s a pretty big thing to miss when you’re the game’s biggest star.