Throughout his career, Derek Jeter has made a living by sending the ball out to right field. With his classic “inside-out” swing, he’s racked up 3,164 career hits – and counting. Playing against the New York Mets has helped that total since 1997, the first year of interleague play.
In 81 games against the Mets (half a season), Jeter has collected an amazing 124 hits in 328 at-bats, good for a .378 average. That average ranks number one for any active player with at least 150 plate appearances against an opponent. He has 13 homers, 43 RBI and an OBP just over .430. Jeter definitely is one of the biggest Met killers of all time by the numbers, but it’s not just the regular season – it’s October when Captain Clutch shines against the crosstown rival as well.
In 2000, Jeter became the first player ever to win All-Star Game MVP and World Series MVP in the same year. That October, against the Mets, Jeter hit .409 (9-for-22) with two homers and two RBI. One of those home runs came in Game four, a leadoff roundtripper, the 16th such home run in World Series history.
This weekend in the first installment of the Subway Series, Jeter went 3-for-11 with two runs scored – he’s struggled over the past few weeks, and today, hit into his league leading 11th double play (had 10 all of last year). However, when it counted most, his single in the eighth inning and subsequent hustle in Sunday’s game led to a Yankees rally. Jeter’s next highest batting average against any opponent are the Cleveland Indians at .340. Other notable averages: .333 vs. the Angels, .327 against Texas and Detroit.
The Yankees next opponent will be the Atlanta Braves – they will begin a three game set tomorrow in Atlanta, and then the Braves will come to the Bronx from June 18-20. Against the Braves in 22 regular season games, Jeter is hitting .344 (33-for-96) with two home runs and seven RBI. As the Yankees come into hotlanta on a three game winning streak, Jeter will look to get hot again, and return to the form he showed during the first months of the season.
The Yankees will play the Mets at Citi Field in two weeks, and will try to sweep the season series. If history is any indication, look for Jeter to play a big role in the Subway Series Part II.
