Passion. Pinstripes. Excellence.
It’s the motto of the most recognizable, most influential
and most powerful franchise on the planet — the New York Yankees.
Despite insidious injuries plaguing the 2013 roster, the
Bronx Bombers have stayed competitive enough to make a playoff push in the
second half of the season. And now with the return of captain Derek Jeter, the
team everybody loves to hate is going by a slightly different axiom.
Revival. Redemption. Glory.
The line should be littered with question marks — Will the
Yanks be able to revive completely? Will they be able to redeem this
injury-cursed season? Will the team be
able to capture its 28th World Series championship and return to
glory?
However, the period of uncertainty has come to an end with
Jeter — the Great White Hope — back in the lineup.
Having the Captain back in Gotham
eases the mind and makes the persistent doubts avoidable for the first times in
months.
An infield single. A run. A RBI.
In yesterday’s 8-4 win over the Royals, Jeter provided a
desperate fan base — yes, Yankees fans feel desperate, it’s been four years
since a championship — with a signature comeback performance that baseball
everywhere expected, yet were still in awe of.
This speaks volumes to Jeter’s career, legacy and imprint on
the sports world as a whole, but most importantly it dictates to a down-and-out
clubhouse and fan base that things are about to change.
Sulking about injuries is not the Yankee way and it must
cease now.
With everything returning to status quo, Derek Jeter arrival
in the Big Apple seems to make perhaps
the biggest splash of this entire baseball season.
If his presence can bring not only stability, but pride back
to the Yankees, than excellence and glory are certainly attainable goals for
this season.
For the time being, Yankee fans will have to settle for
passion and pinstripes — revival and redemption. And I’m sure that’s more than
alright with the Captain back in town.
