Buck Showalter: Jeter's Famous 'Flip Play' Wasn't Anything Special
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- The famous "flip play" from Derek Jeter.
We all remember where we were when the iconic Yankees shortstop made the brilliant play against the Oakland A's in Game 3 of the 2001 American League Division Series.
It's one of the most memorable highlights of the future Hall of Famer's storied career. But Buck Showalter, the current Orioles manager and Jeter's first big-league skipper, doesn't believe that it was extraordinary.
It was simply a play that was supposed to be made.
In fact, it could have been executed better.
"Everyone's saying it's a great play, but that's where he's supposed to be," Showalter said prior to the Yankees' loss on Monday, according to ESPN. "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 was quick to compliment Jeter, however, pointing out that the 14-time All-Star had plenty of great qualities as a young player.
"He had very alert eyes," Showalter said, according to the website. "(He) was aware of things off-field. He was alert to things. I guarantee you he always saw the cutting guard on a fast break. He had peripheral (vision). He always had a great clock. If the game speeds up, he could slow it down."
Asked what he would give Jeter on his farewell tour, the two-time American League Manager of the Year couldn't help but take a playful dig at his former player.
"I'd get him a big picture of that home run that wasn't a home run, we know that," Showalter said in regard to the famous Jeffrey Maier incident from 1996. "That's what I'd get him. A big picture and have the whole team sign it. We could do that cheap too, I guess, and make it in bronze."
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