Derek Jeter’s final home game ever (assuming the Yankees don’t somehow surge and make playoffs) will be next Thursday against the Baltimore Orioles. MLB Network isn’t resisting the opportunity to pay homage to Jeter one last time.
As the game is on a Thursday, MLB Network will broadcast the game under their Showcase banner. Bob Costas, Jim Kaat, and Tom Verducci will be on the call, while Harold Reynolds will also make a cameo appearance in the booth.
Then, things are going to be getting a little weird. MLB Network will be airing a variety of features before and during the broadcast. Those features will look back at Jeter’s career through the eyes of current MLB All-Stars, a variety of former teammates, and for whatever reason, top athletes from other pro sports. Some of those other athletes include Jimmie Johnson, Peyton Manning, and Tiger Woods. Because if there’s one person’s opinion I want on Derek Jeter, it’s Peyton Manning’s.
I’m not dense. I understand why this is happening. Networks are going to take every opportunity to strike the Derek Jeter well one more time, especially with the final Yankees series of the year taking place at Fenway Park. But we’ve got a pretty intense pennant race going on – can we focus on that instead of showering Derek Jeter with gifts? The primetime games that Thursday also feature Pittsburgh-Atlanta (airing on MLB Network on Monday), Minnesota-Detroit (which is the alternate game), Oakland-Texas, and Kansas City-Chicago. Five of those eight teams are fighting for their playoff lives, while the Orioles have already wrapped up the AL East (and the Angels will probably have homefield advantage tied up by then) and the Yankees are barely clinging to relevance.
Like I said – I understand. I get it. And frankly, I’m not the demographic being targeted by MLB Network with this game. I’m a diehard baseball fan that watches at least one game, regardless of who’s playing and what channel it’s on, every night. They know I’m not going to watch. They want Bob Sports Fan that doesn’t get YES or subscribe to MLB.tv, and wants to see the Captain one last time.
It’s also worth noting that Thursday Night Football next week features… the New York Giants. Good luck with dragging Yankees fans in, MLB Network.
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