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PAPI DISSES DEREK
ORTIZ RAPS JETER'S MVP CREDENTIALS
By GEORGE KING
September 12, 2006 -- Yankees 9 Orioles 6
BALTIMORE - Derek Jeter's answer to David Ortiz' suggestion that Jeter wouldn't be as good a hitter or an MVP winner in the Red Sox lineup sounded like a Jeter single through the middle - crisp.
"I don't have to do it in his lineup," a smiling Jeter said before the Yankees rallied with a six-run seventh inning to beat the hapless Orioles, 9-6, at Camden Yards last night.
The victory lowered the Yankees' magic number over the idle Red Sox to 10 and hiked their AL East lead to a season-high 101/2 games. It also left them one game ahead of the Tigers (86-58) for the AL's best record.
Randy Johnson posted the win despite supplying six mediocre innings. He is 17-10, matching last year's win total. "I got away with one," Johnson said. "And I am grateful."
Also, Joe Torre passed Miller Huggins for third place on the all-time Yankee wins list with 1,068.
Ortiz on Sunday said Jeter's MVP candidacy is helped by the Yankee hitters surrounding Jeter. "Don't get me wrong, he's a great player but he's got a lot of guys in that lineup," the Boston DH said. "Top to bottom, you've got a guy who can hurt you. Come hit in this lineup, see how good you can be."
Ortiz believes he should win the award based on his production numbers this year, even though the Red Sox won't qualify for the postseason.
"If I get 50 home runs and 10 more RBIs [which would give him 137], that's going to be a number no one else in the American League will have," Ortiz said. "But they'll vote for a position player, use that as an excuse.
"They're talking about [Derek] Jeter a lot, right? He's done a great job, but Jeter is not a 40-homer hitter or an RBI guy. It doesn't matter how much you've done for your ballclub, the bottom line is, the guy who hits 40 home runs and knocks in 100, that's the guy you know helped your team win games."
Jeter steered the topic away from the MVP argument. "I am not thinking about the MVP," said Jeter, who extended his career-high best hitting streak to 21 games and is hitting .346, second to Joe Mauer's .350 in the AL batting race.
"We are trying to win the [AL East]. No one cares about individual awards."
For the Yankees, the big blow last night was Robinson Cano's three-run double in the seventh that left fielder Fernando Tatis fell down going back on. After missing two games with a stomach flu, Alex Rodriguez went 3-for-5 and hit his 32nd homer.
Ortiz' comments surprised former teammate ****** Damon. "That doesn't sound like Ortiz," he said.
While Jeter doesn't have Ortiz' homers (13 to 48), he is not hitting a soft .346. He has scored 99 runs and driven in 91. His .396 batting average with runners in scoring position leads the league. Plus, Jeter contributes with his defense; something Ortiz can't.
"You got to see Derek do the job," Damon said. "He gets clutch hits and plays Gold Glove shortstop. I am going to choose my teammate."
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ORTIZ RAPS JETER'S MVP CREDENTIALS
By GEORGE KING
September 12, 2006 -- Yankees 9 Orioles 6
BALTIMORE - Derek Jeter's answer to David Ortiz' suggestion that Jeter wouldn't be as good a hitter or an MVP winner in the Red Sox lineup sounded like a Jeter single through the middle - crisp.
"I don't have to do it in his lineup," a smiling Jeter said before the Yankees rallied with a six-run seventh inning to beat the hapless Orioles, 9-6, at Camden Yards last night.
The victory lowered the Yankees' magic number over the idle Red Sox to 10 and hiked their AL East lead to a season-high 101/2 games. It also left them one game ahead of the Tigers (86-58) for the AL's best record.
Randy Johnson posted the win despite supplying six mediocre innings. He is 17-10, matching last year's win total. "I got away with one," Johnson said. "And I am grateful."
Also, Joe Torre passed Miller Huggins for third place on the all-time Yankee wins list with 1,068.
Ortiz on Sunday said Jeter's MVP candidacy is helped by the Yankee hitters surrounding Jeter. "Don't get me wrong, he's a great player but he's got a lot of guys in that lineup," the Boston DH said. "Top to bottom, you've got a guy who can hurt you. Come hit in this lineup, see how good you can be."
Ortiz believes he should win the award based on his production numbers this year, even though the Red Sox won't qualify for the postseason.
"If I get 50 home runs and 10 more RBIs [which would give him 137], that's going to be a number no one else in the American League will have," Ortiz said. "But they'll vote for a position player, use that as an excuse.
"They're talking about [Derek] Jeter a lot, right? He's done a great job, but Jeter is not a 40-homer hitter or an RBI guy. It doesn't matter how much you've done for your ballclub, the bottom line is, the guy who hits 40 home runs and knocks in 100, that's the guy you know helped your team win games."
Jeter steered the topic away from the MVP argument. "I am not thinking about the MVP," said Jeter, who extended his career-high best hitting streak to 21 games and is hitting .346, second to Joe Mauer's .350 in the AL batting race.
"We are trying to win the [AL East]. No one cares about individual awards."
For the Yankees, the big blow last night was Robinson Cano's three-run double in the seventh that left fielder Fernando Tatis fell down going back on. After missing two games with a stomach flu, Alex Rodriguez went 3-for-5 and hit his 32nd homer.
Ortiz' comments surprised former teammate ****** Damon. "That doesn't sound like Ortiz," he said.
While Jeter doesn't have Ortiz' homers (13 to 48), he is not hitting a soft .346. He has scored 99 runs and driven in 91. His .396 batting average with runners in scoring position leads the league. Plus, Jeter contributes with his defense; something Ortiz can't.
"You got to see Derek do the job," Damon said. "He gets clutch hits and plays Gold Glove shortstop. I am going to choose my teammate."
[email protected]
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