Matthew's Mighty Men Team Notes
April 19, 2001
The World Champions have changed their address, changed their name, changed their pitching
rotation and now, it seems, they are changing their line-up. Struggling all-star Derek Jeter
will be dropped to the nine hole in the line-up making way for speedy second baseman Ray Durham
to assume the leadoff duties.
"This is just a temporary move, he is struggling, we need him to get going and this is going to take some of the pressure off," said Buck Showalter, manager of the Mighty Men. Jeter and Durham have traded places in the line-up a number of times in their careers neither was particularly surprised by the decision.
"This is how Buck works," said Jeter, "I have no problem with this move whatsoever."
Durham said, "I am thrilled to be getting this opportunity to help lead the offense. I really think this will help DJ, he was getting rather touchy about having the lowest batting average on the team."
The real beneficiaries of this move might be Mike Lowell and Benji Molina. They are both excited about having Derek protecting them in the line-up.
"Ray Ray is a great hitter, but he doesn't inspire fear in pitchers the way Derek does," said Molina, "I really believe he is capable of hitting any pitch. He has zero holes in his swing. You pitch him inside he pulls it, outside he drives it over the right field wall. He may be struggling right now, but there is one thing you know about this great game of ours... hitters hit!"
Molina's hero worship aside, Jeter is under a microscope. Stanhope's owner David Landsman did not have a lot to say on the matter, but this offseason he guaranteed Jeter would be a Mighty Man for a long time, signing him to a long term contract for an undisclosed amount of money.
"Any line-up changes are the manager's decision, not mine... I am NOT the kind of owner that interferes in the day to day operations on the field. You want to talk about the line-up, talk to Buck. As long as we are competing for the championship, and we are, the only things I have to say are... Matthew is walking, and GO MIGHTY MEN!"