Buck Showalter has the best idea of all when it comes to retirement gifts for Derek Jeter.
Much like what happened with Mariano Rivera last year, Jeter has been receiving retirement gifts from teams upon visiting them for the last time in his career.
Showalter, who was Jeter’s first manager with the Yankees and is the current manager of the Baltimore Orioles, suggested commemorating one of the most controversial moments of the shortstop’s career.
“I would give him a big picture of the home run,” Showalter told reporters Monday before the Orioles beat the Yankees, via the Washington Post. “Well, it wasn’t a home run. We know that. That’s what I’d give him. A big picture and have the whole Baltimore Orioles team sign it. That’s a good idea. That’s cheap, too, right? Make it in bronze or something. Not that we remember that at all.”
It sounds like Showalter was just joking, but that’s pretty funny and wouldn’t be a bad idea as a gag gift.
Showalter also downplayed the greatness of Jeter’s “flip play” in the playoffs against the Oakland A’s.
“Everyone’s saying it’s a great play, but that’s where he’s supposed to be,” Showalter said. “But at the time, I remember (former first-base coach Brian Butterfield) and I talked about it, and Butter said, ‘He’s actually two steps tardy.’”
Showalter still praised Jeter for having excellent vision and instincts despite being critical of the flip play. He probably needs to have a conversation with Bobby Valentine, who once said Jeter was out of position on the play. Hmm, Bobby Valentine or Buck Showalter, whom should we believe ….?
