Terry McMahon's Awesome Blog

Avid Terry fans have known for some time that I can usually convince someone that Yankees shortstop, captain, and intangibles leader Derek Jeter is a shithead in the span of one randomly selected at-bat. Recently, I've taken to noticing that Jeter overreacts to pitches to try to sway the ump's call: if the ball's on the outside corner, Jeter leans forward, as if the ball were so outside he's just about to fall right over. Similarly, if the ball's on the inside corner of the plate, Jeter stumbles back as if the damn thing almost hit him.

Turns out I'm not the only one who feels this way. ESPN's story on the Sox' 7-2 win over the Yankees last night carries this gem:

Derek Jeter is still serving as live target practice.

The shortstop was hit by Matt Clement on Saturday, making it three times he's been beaned by Red Sox pitchers this year. Jeter isn't alone, though: the Yankees have been hit by the Sox 32 times since 2004 and 14 times since the start of the American League Championship Series.

Conversely, the Yankees have retaliated on just five occasions since last October.

Jeter doesn't think he's been deliberately thrown at, but refutes the notion that he invites trouble by leaning over the plate.

"I don't dive, I don't lean over the plate. I just get hit a lot," Jeter said. "It's nothing that I'm doing wrong. If I get hit, it's on the pitcher, not me."

The Yankees don't entirely agree.

"Derek puts himself in a position where he can't get out of the way," said Bernie Williams. "He commits himself too much, and he can't get out."

Regardless of who's at fault, Jeter's teammates wonder how many more beanings he can endure before he's seriously injured.

"I worry about his hands. I worry about broken bones," said catcher John Flaherty.

Seriously, though, misleading officials and sulking are intangibles that win you ballgames.