Derek Jeter Inches Toward 3,000 Hits; Could Reach Milestone This Weekend

Derek Jeter will get to 3,000 hits before the weekend is out, or so most believe. All Jeter needs is two more hits to hit the benchmark for his career, which would seem to be quite easy for him. But that hasn't been the case lately: His stats have gone down in the last year or two, and he is just coming back from a lengthy injury. But even if Jeter has two more 1-for-5 performances, as he had Thursday, it will be enough to reach the milestone by Saturday.

Jeter got hit #2,998 with a double in his first at-bat against the Tampa Bay Rays, fueling hopes that he could reach 3,000 by the end of the night. Every Yankee fan has been on edge for him to do it for weeks, especially after his quest was interrupted by injury. But now he has the chance to do it in Yankee Stadium before the All-Star break, just as everyone wanted.

Yet Yankee Nation has to wait for another night, as Jeter went hitless in his next four at-bats. What's more, the Yankees lost to the Rays by 5-1, falling to second place in the AL East behind the Boston Red Sox, reports the Associated Press.

For some reason the Yankees have been better off lately without Jeter and his quest hanging over the team. New York was 14-4 while its captain was out, but has gone 1-3 since he came back. This may fuel the growing concern that Jeter's best days are behind him, even as he approaches history.

No Yankee has ever gotten 3,000 hits, which has added to Jeter's vast legend in New York. Yet fewer of those hits have come in the last year-and-a-half, and the lengthier than expected contract dispute with the Yankees in the offseason served as another blow. Now it is even safe to wonder if Jeter should still be the leadoff hitter, in spite of having that role his entire career.

As such, perhaps it is for the best that this quest is overshadowing everything else for him right now. But the longer this goes on, the more fatigue may set in, although there's little reason that it should go on beyond the weekend. Once Jeter reaches the milestone, then his legend and career achievements can take the limelight back before fans get concerned about his performance for the rest of this season again.

Yet since Jeter was voted to start the All-Star Game again in spite of his struggles and injuries, it shows that he still has a legion of followers. After he reaches 3,000 hits, those legions will cheer en masse for the first Yankee to ever reach that mark. Of course, Alex Rodriguez will likely become the second in another year or two, which will spawn entirely different debates and discussions about his legacy.

Sources

Yahoo Sports- "Jeter gets hits No. 2998, but Rays beat Yanks 5-1"

MLB.com- "Jeter's return doesn't end discussion"