Derek Jeter is in the midst of his first postseason as a TV analyst for FOX Sports, and BT, while revering Jeter as a player and a Yankee, has not been a fan.
“Jeter, amazing player obviously, a great person clearly, but I never connected with Jeter as a player as much…it was the same recycled nonsense after every game. Never put himself out there,” BT said. “This is further evidence that he’s a smart guy and knows the game, but he just doesn’t have it, man. He doesn’t have it as an analyst.”
BT didn’t like Jeter not participating in wearing a cowboy hat on set during the all-Texas ALCS between the Astros and Rangers, while David Ortiz and Alex Rodriguez donned the hat, as Jeter wanted no part of the “Cowboy Up” identity that the Red Sox took on shortly before shocking his Yanks in the 2004 ALCS.
“If you can’t do that,” BT said. “How are you ever going to be a special broadcaster?”
Simply put, BT doesn’t believe Jeter has been able to shed his guarded side that he displayed to the media during his illustrious career, and does not believe it is translating well to the next chapter of his baseball life.
“I think he’s boring,” BT said. “I cannot ignore the fact that when he did not need us, being the fans and the media, he gave us nothing. Now that he’s getting paid big money, he does, and that bothers me.”