Bud Selig: I'm OK With Derek Jeter's All-Star No-Show
NEW YORK (WFAN/AP) -- Mr. 3,000, Derek Jeter, has a fan in MLB commissioner Bud Selig.
Selig backed Jeter's decision not to play in Tuesday night's All-Star game, a 5-1 win for the National League. The Yankees captain came off the disabled list last week and got his 3,000th hit Saturday.
"There isn't a player that I'm more proud of in the last 15 years than Derek Jeter," Selig said before the game during a question-and-answer session with the Baseball Writers' Association of America. "He has played the game like it should be played. He's even been a better human being off the field as great as he is on the field."
Jeter said he needed to rest because of the calf injury that had sidelined him, though according to Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com, the shortstop's decision was due to "emotional and physical exhaustion" from his pursuit of the milestone.
"Any concerns I keep hearing about Derek Jeter isn't here. I respect that. And I must tell you, I think I'd have made the same decision that Derek Jeter did," said Selig. "So any suggestion to the contrary, Derek Jeter has brought to this sport great pride. He's become a role model, earned it and is still earning it."
So Selig is OK with Jeter's decision -- but many fans were disappointed.
"Derek Jeter… get your (butt) to the All-Star game," WFAN's Craig Carton said yesterday morning. "End of conversation."
"I do believe, as a ballplayer, if you have no injuries, you should be here," said Mets outfielder Carlos Beltran. "The fans are the ones that vote for you and want to see you here."
There were also a few players on Jeter's side.
"He always said yes to the All-Star game," David Ortiz said. "I think he has the right to, whenever he needs a break you know, to pull himself together, especially coming off an injury. I think people need to respect that."
"The guy just got his 3,00th hit, so give him a break, seriously," said Oakland Athletics left-hander Gio Gonzalez. "He's coming off the DL, played a bunch of games, he deserves a little bit of rest to get his body right and I think everybody should respect that."
Did Derek make the right move? Sound off in the comments below...
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