Hal Calls On The Captain

From Kat O'Brien:

Most weeks that the Yankees are at home, team co-chairman Hal Steinbrenner meets with general manager Brian Cashman and manager Joe Girardi at Yankee Stadium. Last Friday, Steinbrenner added one to the invite list: captain Derek Jeter.

With time running short for the Yankees to get back in playoff position, Steinbrenner wanted to be sure the players got the message that ownership continues to have every confidence in this team. And he knew that Jeter could deliver that to his teammates.

"I just wanted to let [the players know] that ownership absolutely believes that we're in this," Steinbrenner said in a phone interview yesterday. "We absolutely believe we're in this fight, and that we'll be in it until the end. Winning takes determination, courage and heart, and it's time to bring that into the open in a big way. I just told Derek, 'It's got to start with you. You're the captain.' And he knows that. It was a good meeting. Very positive."

Said Girardi: "I think it's nice that Hal included the captain. Hal's a great communicator. He wanted to communicate to everyone, and he knew Derek could pass it along."

Steinbrenner, part of the triumvirate of ownership with his father, George; and brother, Hank; felt that message needed to be delivered then. He didn't publicly challenge Jeter, the way his father might have, but passed along an encouraging and optimistic view. The Yankees had just returned from a 3-7 road trip that left many people doubting the Yankees' chances. Not Steinbrenner.

"I'm optimistic, and I'm going to stay optimistic until the end," Steinbrenner said. "I just wanted them all to know that George, Hank and I all believe that we are in this thing 100 percent."

"I can only speak for myself - I know we've got a good team," Steinbrenner said. "I know we've got a good team, and I wanted to convey that to Derek so he could convey that to his teammates. He knows he's the captain. He knows it has to start with him. It's like that in any sport, in anything in life."

Now, with fewer than 35 games remaining, the Yankees need their captain to be at peak performance level. Said Steinbrenner: "He realizes that. He realizes his responsibilities. There's no more class act than Derek Jeter. Derek Jeter's not the kind to not give 110 percent, and that's in anything."

This is much better than reading about how Hank is blaming the injuries for this year's struggles, and then taking some random shots at the media. At least Hal sounds like he still believes in this year's team.

I don't know if it's related - it might not be - but since the meeting Jeter is hitting .519 (14-for-27) with a homer, three RBI, and six runs scored. The Yankees, however, are just 3-3.