Jeter's childhood house could be yours for $140,000

A Yankees fan can now own the ultimate in Derek Jeter memorabilia— ever.  Only problem is,  you'll have to pull up stakes and move to Kalamazoo, Mich. to enjoy it.

The Yankee captain's split-level childhood home, where Jeter grew up and developed his double-play throwing arm on the side of the house, is being put up for sale by the owners for $140,000.

The owner of the house, Kelly Mohamed, paid $110,000 for the modest blue and gray house in 2001.  The supermarket clerk has lived at 2415 Cumberland St. in the quiet middle-class neighborhood with her husband, Mikael, since then.  It will be going on the market in a matter of weeks, she told The New York Post.

Besides being able to walk in the same backyard that Jeter played catch with his dad, Charles, it seems like a good investment too.

"I loved it from the first time I walked through the door, but I want something warm now; we're moving to Georgia," Kelly said.

The quaint house still has the garage where the future Hall-of-Famer worked on his sweet swing with a contraption his father built.

The 2,000-square-foot structure is a far cry from Jeter's current $8 million, 31,000 square-foot water-front Tampa mansion or his Trump Tower apartment with sweeping views of Manhattan.

The house borders Kalamazoo Central High School's baseball field which was only a jump over a chain-link fence away from where baseball scouts sized up his skills before the Yankees signed the young shortstop to an $800,000 contract.

Someone might buy the house just to say they slept in the same bedroom as Derek Jeter but not the current owners— even though Jeter already had four World Series Championships under his belt by the time they purchased it.

"The people that sold us the house were really excited to tell us that he had lived here as a boy," said Kelly.

"Honestly, at the time, we didn't even know who he was."

Her husband was just as non-starstruck.

"I'm more of a football fan," said Mikael.  "49ers all the way!"

Minka Kelly trading Jeter's Yankees cap for a Fez

It sounds like Derek Jeter won't need an extra toothbrush in his St. Petersburg mansion during spring training this year.  The New York Daily News reported that the New York Yankees former squeeze Minka Kelly was spotted being squired around a Hollywood club by Wilmer Valderrama— better known as the character Fez on "That '70's Show."

Sources told the Daily News that, on Saturday night, Valderrama exited Beacher's Madhouse to escort Kelly and her friend inside the club.

The 32-year-old Valderrama— who besides the sit-com is mostly known for being a Hollywood Lothario last seen dating 19-year-old Demi Lovato— stayed by the side of Kelly all night.

The source reported that the pair was careful about not appearing too affectionate in the celebrity hangout.

Kelly— whose "Charlie's Angels" series was cancelled after a few episodes last season— was spotted in Paris with the Yankees shortstop this winter after they reportedly broke up.  They haven't been seen together since.

Jeter is currently at the Yankees spring training camp in Tampa.

A friend of Valderrama's told the Daily News said the actor and Kelly "are getting to know each other" right now.

Jeter gets caught up in Knicks Linsanity

Derek Jeter is in Tampa busy with pre-spring training workouts and claims he hasn't watched the New York Knicks much lately except for "some highlights"— but even New York City's biggest sports icon over the past 15 years expressed amazement at the Jeremy Lin phenomenon sweeping the city and the NBA.

"I've seen some highlights," Jeter said yesterday at the Yankees minor league complex.  "It's always fun  anytime there is a new athlete, especially in New York, it's pretty exciting.  He brought some excitement to the Knicks."

Jeter must have been laughing on the inside after he was asked if he ever saw anything like the Knicks point guard sensation who—  a benchwarmer only two weeks ago— is now Madison Square Garden's Va-Lin-tine to Knicks fans.

The New York Yankees shortstop may not have ever crashed on a teammate's couch, but he's no stranger to media frenzies himself.  Jeter has been making highlight reels since 1996 and his quest for 3,000 hits last summer had the whole city watching his every move.

"There's a lot of excitement with that team, Carmelo [Anthony] coming over, now you have [Lin]," he said.  "I'm not a basketball expert but I do know he has added a lot of excitement to that team, which is good.  I think sports in general are a lot more fun when you have a team from New York that is doing well."

Derek Jeter should know.

Derek Jeter's Ups and Downs in 2011

It's a pretty common for a lot of men to wish they were Derek Jeter— probably a few women too.  Who wouldn't want to be the starting shortstop of the New York Yankees?  Rich, handsome, athletic and the idol of thousands of fans. There wasn't too much not to like about the basically untarnished image of the Yankees Captain until 2011 rolled around.

There was a lot of good, bad and great things for Jeter in 2011.

The past year was probably the most turbulent and public twelve months in both Jeter's personal and baseball life.  The virtuous Jeter started showing a few chinks in his armor.

Coming off the Yankees losing to the Texas Rangers in the 2010 ALCS, Jeter ushered in 2011 after contentious contract negotiations with the Yankees— the only pro team he has ever played for.

The leaking of the private negotiations led to a public feud with GM Brian Cashman and Hal and Hank Steinbrenner and left a bitter taste in Jeter's mouth.  A three-year, $51 million deal was deemed an overpayment by many for the 36-year old player on his last legs.

At a press conference, Jeter bared his fangs but tempered his anger at how the talks were handled by management. 

Not a good way to start the new year even with 51 million reasons to be happy.



Even the good people next door started to sour on Jeets.

There was the completion of his $7.7 million mansion in St. Petersburg, Florida which had his neighbors crying foul.

"St. Jetersburg," as it became known was being called a monstrosity with nearby residents complaining that it would become a bigger attraction than Disney World and there would fans and photographers cruising up and down their palmetto-lined streets.

Even Hal Steinbrenner used the eight bathroom home to backhandedly disparage his player during contract talks by saying some people "are too busy building mansions."

Jeter signed the contract and did what he does best— work hard.  He even headed down to training camp a few weeks early to work with hitting coach Kevin Long.

The extra practice did nothing for Jeter and, by his 37th birthday in June, he was lugging around a sub-par .260 average with 2 home-run offense while he stoically pursued his 3,000 career hit.

Dropped from the lead-off spot down to No. 2 and then near the bottom of the order, fans started to count the days until his benching more than how many games until he got number 3,000.

Pulling Jeter from the lineup came from an unexpected source.  An injury to Jeter's calf put him on the 15-day DL for the first time since 2003— only six hits from the milestone 3,000.

Eduardo Nunez filled in capably for Jeter at the plate but was pretty much a disaster in the field and, still,some fans started to think he was Jeter's heir apparent.

Jeter came back from the sprained calf with a vengeance and— on July 9 against the Tampa Bay Rays— became only the 28th player in major league history to get his 3,000th career hit.

He did it like only Jeter and Hollywood could script it with a dramatic home run before going 5-for-5 on a glorious summer day in front of his family with girlfriend Minka Kelly sitting in a luxury box in Yankee Stadium.

But even after "The Natural" moment there was controversy to follow.

Christian Lopez, the man who caught the valuable ball, was awarded box seats and autographed memorabilia from the Yankees team for the prized possession.  Some people thought Lopez got screwed but he insisted he was more than happy to give the ball back to his favorite player.

Things got better again.

After all the hub-bub about the 3K ball, the batting slump subsided and Jeter was named the "Most Popular Male Athlete" in a Harris poll.

The glory was once again short-lived after the 11-time All-Star infuriated baseball fans when he snubbed the All-Star game to rest his calf in Florida.  Many thought he didn't even deserve to make the team anyway.

The came fall, and things started to turn for the worse.

Rumors that Jeter's longtime squeeze Kelly started circulating that the sexy actress was having an affair with one of her co-stars on the set of the television series "Charlie's Angels."  Losing the ALDS against the Detroit Tigers in five games had to hurt just as bad.

In November, the rumors of a breakup with Kelly became reality then followed by gossip pages filled with stories of Jeter's one-night stands and the love-em-and-leave-em bachelor giving his conquests autographed baseballs and a limo ride home after a night of passion.

 After all, anything Jeter was valuable.

They even auctioned off the foul ball he hit right before his historic 3,000th hit.  The FOUL ball!

Jeter is valuable in charitable ways too.  Last month, a Long Island  judge, who knew Derek's father Charles, asked him a favor to help brighten a traumatized young boy's— he had been stabbed— life by sending him some signed gear.

Jeter obliged and even offered the youngster a box seat for an upcoming Yankees game.  A real Pride of the Yankees moment.

Throughout 2011, we saw many new dimensions to the extremely private Derek Jeter.

The once enigmatic figure was at times vulnerable, angry, broken-hearted, limping, caring and kinky— sometimes in swift succession and— through the ups-and-downs— for all the world to see.

From being called a has-been to achieving the milestone of his career or planning a life together with someone to having the breakup played out in public— it was quite a year for the Yankee.

But, it sounds like Jeter's year is going to end on a high note.

If you didn't already see it splashed across the gossip pages, Jeter was spotted rekindling his romance with Kelly in —where else— Paris.

His one-nighters get a swag bag.  Kelly gets the City of Lights.

No matter what, it's still good to be Derek Jeter.

Derek Jeter Surprises Young Stabbing Victim With Gifts

It was a horrifying story when it happened back in October 2010 after an eight-year-old boy was stabbed in the back five times with a hunting knife by a total stranger while playing a video game at a Long Island Dave & Buster's restaurant.

Almost a year later, minutes after Judge Jerald Carter sentenced the 24-year old assailant to 14 years in prison, the jurist asked the boy's mother, Lisa DalFonso, who her son's favorite sports star is.

"Derek Jeter," answered the youngster's mom.

"You tell your son... he will be as big as Derek Jeter" by the time the defendant is released from prison.

That might have been little consolation to DalFonso who said her son was constantly looking over his shoulder and refused to visit public places.

The only thing that the concerned mother did not know is that Judge Carter played college baseball with the Yankee shortstop's father, Charles Jeter, at Fisk University in Tennessee and the two men still kept in contact with each other.

A few weeks later, a package arrived at the boy's home, according to Newsday.  The newspaper is not naming the boy—now 9-years old— at his mother's request and because he was the victim of a crime.  In the package, there was a signed baseball, an autographed photo of Jeter, a Yankee's teddy bear, a magnet, and a copy of "Derek Jeter's All-Star Manual: 10 Life Lesson," DalFonso said.

"He was overwhelmed," said DalFonso.  "He was so excited, he called his dad right away."

DalFonso, who uses her maiden name to protect her son, told Carter at the sentencing that her son was so shaken by the unprovoked attack he refuses to go to birthday parties and looks over his shoulder "a thousand times a day."

Carter did not tell DalFonso of his plan, but the mom did a little leg work and figured it out.

When she went to thank Carter, he wanted to make sure the boy knew everything would now be alright.

The judge brought the youngster into his chambers and showed him how far away from his home the assailant's prison was on a map and then showed him how strong the bars of a jail cell were.

"I wanted to give him some idea that he is safe from this person," said Carter.   "And that it's not going to happen again."

"I think he feels better," said the boy's mother.

The story doesn't end there either.

At the end of the boy's visit with Carter, the judge told him that Jeter, himself, wanted the boy to come to a Yankee game and sit in his personal box seat.

"If that happens," DalFonso said, "it will be the highlight of his first nine years."

It just goes to show how a compassionate judge and a few connections can bring a smile to a traumatized young boy.

Mark Sanchez Gets Ready For Giants Game With Model Kate Upton

Things just keep getting better for Mark Sanchez—if you don't count last week's 45-19 drubbing by the Philadelphia Eagles.  As the New York Jets quarterback prepares for this Saturday's huge game against same-stadium rivals, the New York Giants, Sanchez has been spotted paying many late-night visits to Sports Illustrated swimsuit model Kate Upton's Manhattan apartment.

The New York Post reports that Sanchez has been spotted several times at the sexy Victoria's Secret model's pad since November— usually after games and before practices—sometimes as late as midnight.

Sanchez was spotted in Upton's lobby bringing gifts gifts up to her from a chauffeur-driven Navigator after a charity event last month.

Maybe Sanchez is pulling a Derek Jeter by gifting his dates— except he personally takes the presents up to his lady friends instead of just leaving a swag bag in the limo after they get the heave-ho.

Call Sanchez the anti-Jeter but, this is Kate Upton we're talking about.  I don't think an autographed football and a Jets wristband will float her boat.

A source told the Post, the quarterback has seen coming into her building with bags a minute or two after the beautiful Upton arrived.

"They almost never come in together.  He's always five steps after her," the source claimed, adding that the QB often pulls a woolly cap over his face as a disguise.

Just last week, it was reported that Sanchez was seen with two different women on the same night at a swanky Manhattan hotel.  First, there was an exotic Spanish-looking woman  at 3 a.m., followed by an unknown blond who sauntered into his room an hour later.

Could it have been Upton?

The model's sister, Christie Upton, is a Jets  manager of client relations and works closely with the team.  Kate has been spotted at some Gang Green's games.

Another source said that Upton and Sanchez are "just friends."

Now where have I heard that one before.  Oh yeah, that was with Jamie-Lynn Sigler and Hayden Panettiere.

Sounds like Sanchez has been burning the midnight oil with his black book more than his playbook.

Jeter Ends Romantic Nights With A Signed Memorabilia Kiss-Off

New York Yankees Captain Derek Jeter has been bedding a slew of women since his public breakup with longtime girlfriend Minka Kelly and—after a one-night stand together— sends his new conquests home with gift baskets of autographed souvenirs, according to the New York Post.

 New York City's most eligible bachelor's romantic nights and cold sendoffs became public after Jeter gave one woman the same parting gift twice—after forgetting she had spent the night with him before at his Trump World Tower bachelor pad,  a Jeter friend told the Post.

My guess is she didn't want to be known as his 3,000th hit.

"Derek has girls stay with him at his apartment in New York, and then he gets them a car to take them home the next day.  Waiting in his car is a gift basket containing signed Jeter memorabilia, usually a signed baseball," the friend said.

"This summer, he ended up hooking up with a girl he had hooked up with before, but Jeter seemed to have forgotten about the first time and gave her the same identical parting gift, a gift basket with a signed Derek Jeter baseball," the friend said.

Call it swag for a shag.  Only this time he re-gifted.

"He basically gave her the same gift twice," the friend continued.  "Because he'd forgotten hooking up with her the first time!"

That must be a lot of women because I bet the future Hall-of-Famer can remember his batting average and number of hits against every single pitcher (1171 when Jeter got to 3K) he's faced.

The notoriously private shortstop usually guards his All-American image and marketability tooth-and-nail.  The breakup with actress Kelly must have rocked his stable world because the Post reports he has hooked up with a bevy of woman since the summer.

The 37 year-old Yankees' Captain shies away from public places and the bright lights of Manhattan and reportedly prefers to host private cocktail parties in his million dollar apartment with close friends. 

"He normally doesn't go out with girls.  He will have them come over to his house.  He'll have cocktail parties," another friend said.  "His friends invite girls they think he'll be interested in.  He's very shy."

So don't expect the Kardashians to be dragging their cameras and cabooses to Jeter's place anytime soon.

"He'll occasionally take girls to a restaurant.  He has a couple of restaurants that he goes to that aren't trendy," said the pal.

"I know he's been dating multiple girls.  He likes a hole in the wall, or he likes  a place that his friends own," the friend explained.  "He's very cautious.  He'll only go out on off nights."

After that, he sneaks the women into his apartment, said the Post.

"The girls go through the back door entrance to Trump World Tower to avoid the paparazzi," continued the friend.  "He broke up with Minka in the summer and is definitely over her.  He's playing the field."

A signed baseball might seem a little cold after a night of hot passion, but they can bring big bucks on the Internet.

Jeter's autographed baseballs can bring in hundreds or even thousands of dollars on the memorabilia market.

Neither Jeter nor the Yankees returned calls according to the Post.

A lot of people think Christian Lopez got screwed by the Yankees when he returned the home-run ball that Jeter got his milestone 3,000th hit with in July, but at least the generous fan got four season-tickets out of the deal.

Jeter's Historic 3K Foul Ball To Be Auctioned Off

If you want to buy the home-run ball Derek Jeter hit for his 3,000th hit against the Tampa Bay Rays last summer—fuhgedaboudit.  But you can purchase one of the three balls he fouled off  Rays pitcher David Price before the memorable hit on July 9 at Yankee Stadium.

The ball Jeter fouled off during the at-bat which produced the historic home-run is being sold at auction by Lelands.com until Dec. 16.

You can relive that glorious foul ball moment in the video below and dream about being the proud owner of that wayward ball.

I wonder if the 3-2 count foul ball—caught by a fan on the first-base side of the field—will rake in more for this guy then Christian Lopez—the young man who caught the historic No. 3,000— got for returning his prize catch to Jeter.

The generous Lopez was rewarded with four box-seat season tickets and assorted signed Jeter memorabilia.  Some think he was underpaid and the payoff should have been equivalent to winning Powerball.

The shortstop fouled off three pitches before hitting the milestone 3,000 on that sunny day.  Two were retrieved by ballboys and the third was caught by the fan behind the first base side.

The ball is reported to have a big, black smudge on it and is marked with a "J-1" by Major League Baseball to certify its authenticity.

You may not be able to own the actual ball which made Jeter only the 28th major leaguer to join the exclusive 3K club, but you can lay title to the ball which set up the big moment with the highest bid.

Blake Griffin is Odds-On Favorite to be Kim Kardashian's Next Suitor

It's barely been a week since Kim Kardashian filed for divorce, but bookmakers are already placing odds on who will be the reality star's next date.

Several off-shore gambling houses have opened up wagering on who will be Kardashian's next suitor and it looks like an eclectic mix of athletes and entertainers are at the top of the odds board, according to the New York Daily News.

Blake Griffin has been installed as a 5-1 favorite to be the successor to Kris Humphries as the next man to have his life exploited by the Kardashian clan.

Why not?  Griffin has a lot of the qualifications the shamelessly, self-promoting Kardashian seems to admire.  He's highly visible, bi-racial and plays a professional sport.

Caution to all wagerers, the NBA players are still locked out— so Griffin might have too much time on his hands— and we know how that turned out with Humphries and KK the last time.

The over/under for how long a Blakarshian/Kardashifinn (?) relationship would last is the same as the probable length of the NBA season and her last marriage—72 days.

Kanye West has been installed as a distant second at 8-1, while former flame, NFL running back Reggie Bush is being touted, along with actor Ryan Reynolds, as 10-1 odds.

Save your money on longshots Usher (12-1) and Derek Jeter (14-1), but tuck a little away for dark horses George Clooney and Justin Timberlake.

Derek Jeter Rekindling Romance With Minka Kelly

The thought of clomping around the halls of his St. Petersburg mansion all alone this winter must have gotten to Derek Jeter so the New York Yankees star flew down to Miami to meet with his ex-girlfriend actress Minka Kelly and try to patch things up.

According to the New York Post, the Yankees shortstop met with the "Charlie's Angels" star at Morgan's South Beach on Sunday and were spotted "laughing and having a fun breakfast together."

For Jeter, the sight of his sexy ex-flame has to wipe out the final image of the Yankees disappointing season-- Alex Rodriguez striking out against Jose Valverde.

"They met up to try and figure it out," a source told the the Post.  "They are trying to see what the future holds for them.  They may eventually get back together.  This was not some sort of final conversation and meeting between them."

Jeter and Kelly split up in August after three years as a couple.  She was last seen in Yankee Stadium, hanging with his family in a luxury suite, when Jeter got his historic 3,000th hit.

It had been reported that Kelly was getting cozy with her "Charlie's Angels" co-star Ramon Rodriguez-- but that talk has been dismissed by both parties.

"They are simply just friends," the Post reported. "There's nothing beyond that."

Last week, Rodriquez (R-Rod) hastily left before a television interview after a promo on the show mentioned the rumored romance with Kelly.  The show claims, " He didn't want to talk about his co-star and left before his segment was scheduled to air."

Sources told the Post that Jeter and Kelly split because she was spending more time in Miami filming the show while Jeter was battling through a slump and in the middle of the AL East division race.  They insist no other parties played a part in the breakup.

Jeter now has the whole winter to woo back his former-love and might have to hang around south Florida a lot more.

"Charlies Angels" isn't exactly a ratings blockbuster, but it's got better legs than Jorge Posada.

The Yankees' Season Wrapped Up in a Song Tribute

What happens when you cross the end of an music era with the last day of the baseball regular season... a song of course.

When the band R.E.M., after over a decade of making music together, announced they were finally calling it quits last week, the words to one of their most iconic songs came to me while I was summarizing this crazy (which ones aren't) New York Yankees season: "It's the End of the World as We Know it (And I feel Fine)."

With apologies to Bill Berry, Peter Buck, Mike Mills and Michael Stipe, I give you the Yankees season-- from the off-season contract squabbles to winning the AL East title-- wrapped up in a re-worded version of the great song.

That's great, New York has an earthquake, words and stakes,

get paid, Derek Jeter's not afraid.

Irene was a hurricane, A-Rod in a poker game.

Core Four to Key Three, no sign of Cliff Lee.

Stem cell, elbow, Bartolo's all well,

Joba Rules, Tommy John, Garcia still has the tools.

Red Sox, on fire, trumped by eight, no Yank bats for hire.

AL East, too strong, breathing down your neck, but not for long.

 Dead arm, search the farm, Ivan Nova is a charm

Look at those slow players!

Fine, then.

Uh oh, roster change, Soriano overpaid.

Save yourself, Jorge, batting ninth, no way.

A.J., vitriolic, psychotic, fight, melt down,

felling pretty tight- right

It's the end of the season as we know it.

It's the end of the season as we know it.

It's the end of the season as we know it and the Yanks feel fine.

11 o'clock- TV hour.  Don't get caught in rain showers.

Swish, the man, honeymoon in Afghanistan.

Every motive escalated, six-man rotation, CC hated.

In the dirt, in the sun, Tex's glove saves a run.

DL, milestone, All-Star snub, Jeter atones.
Sandman, 602, watch the cutter, Hall of Fame.

Home run derby, father throws, turn the corner, Robbie grows.

Cashman, no trades, Joe Girardi, Boston fades.

(Chorus)

HGH, Crawford's pay, Andy Pettitte, perjury,

Christian Lopez, Minka Kelly, Montero, Hideki.

Granderson for MVP,  Nunez good, but not error free.

You symbiotic, patriotic, pinstriped look, right? Right.

It's the end of the season as we know it.
It's the end of the season as we know it.
It's the end of the season as we know it and the Yanks feel fine...

My next R.E.M. song tribute will be dedicated to the Boston Red Sox.  You may know it as "Everybody Hurts."

A.J. & Jeter Okey-Doke Stumbling Red Sox 6-2

A.J. Burnett picked the right time to beat the Red Sox for the first time while wearing pinstripes.  The much maligned pitcher threw a solid 7 2/3 innings and boosted his chances of getting No. 3 spot in the Yankees playoff rotation.

In the first game of Sunday's doubleheader, the Yankees beat the Red Sox 6-2 as Burnett (11-11) picked up his first win at Yankee Stadium since June 29.

The righthander fooled Boston's hitters with a good command of his curve ball and finally looked like the Red Sox slayer the Yankees hoped they acquired from the Toronto Blue Jays.

Meanwhile Derek Jeter gave one more reason for Boston Red Sox fans to despise the Yankees shortstop.  The Yankees Captain continued to tease his division nemesis with his instinctive smart play by using his head-- or in this case-- his foot.

Jeter scored from second base on an Alex Rodriguez but, as he slid into home plate under the fumbled tag of catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia, he didn't touch home plate.  Salty, more intent on seeing where A-Rod was, ignored Jeter who slipped behind the catcher and sneakily tapped home plate with his toe.

Jeter then jogged to the dugout with a huge grin on his face after giving the Yankees a 5-1 lead. He went 3-for-4 and scored two runs. 

The simple play epitomized the Red Sox ineptitude during their ongoing September collapse and highlighted how they are not making the little plays that add up to wins.

The fifth-inning play began with what may have been Red Sox starter Tim Wakefield's last knuckleball.  The 45 year-old pitcher is in the last year of his contract and Boston is heading dangerously close to being eliminated from playoff contention.  Where he'll be next year is anyone's guess.

 Burnett's only mistakes were the two home runs he gave up to Jacoby Ellsbury.  Other than those two dingers, Burnett was nearly flawless. He allowed only five hits and the two earned runs.

Even Burnett's 100th, and final, pitch-- before he was pulled in the eighth-- was a punch-out of Saltalamacchia.  It was his sixth K of the game and the first time Burnett has seen the seventh inning since July 29.

Dave Robertson relieved A.J. and the strikeout machine mowed down three of the final four outs.

Jorge Posada increased his chances of making the playoff roster.  The Yankee DH, batting cleanup, was 2-for-3 with a two-run home run and tipped his hat to the appreciative crowd.

Besides getting a long-awaited victory at home, Burnett got his own standing ovation from the fans when he exited the diamond.  It's been a while since this brand of A.J. had shown up in the Bronx, and it's been an even longer time since the under-performing pitcher heard cheers like that from Yankees fans. They couldn't have come at a more opportune time. 

The next sound A.J. may want to hear is manager Joe Girardi telling him that he is the No. 3 starter next Monday night.

Letterman To Minka Kelly: "I always wanted to date Derek Jeter"

Last night on "The Late Show," David Letterman expressed his own yearning-- and the desire of millions of New York women-- to have dinner and catch a flick with New York Yankees star Derek Jeter.

While interviewing Jeter's ex-girlfriend Minka Kelly, Letterman-- a die-hard Yankees fan-- gushed about the shortstop and said, "I've always wanted to date Derek Jeter."

To which Kelly laughed and said, "I know."

Letterman was only joking, but that segment of the interview seemed to make the actress a little uncomfortable.

Jeter, New York's favorite son, and Kelly broke up a few weeks after the Yankees' "Captain" got his milestone 3,000th hit.  It was later reported-- but not confirmed-- that she was involved with a co-star.

It was only a matter of time before Letterman veered from Kelly's real reason for appearing-- to promote her new TV show, "Charlie's Angels," and ask the sexy actress about her three-and-a-half year relationship with Jeter.

"I know you were in a romantic relationship with Derek Jeter," prodded the host.  "It must have been great fun."

"He's a tremendous guy," Kelly shyly replied.

That's when Letterman jokingly made the great reveal.

Kelly was a good sport for appearing in a city where Jeter can basically do no wrong then face one of the Yankees' biggest fans on TV.

The Yankees, meanwhile, had just won the AL East division title earlier in the night after sweeping the Tampa Bay Rays.

I'm sure Jeter was too busy celebrating to watch.

Surprised Kid Catches Game-Tying Home Run As Yankees Clinch Playoff Berth

A slightly apprehensive, but persistent kid, who caught Eduardo Nunez's game-tying home run at Yankee Stadium this afternoon looked totally shocked that the ball even landed in his glove.

The Tampa Bay Rays were leading the New York Yankees, 2-1,  and Rays starter James Shields was cruising along through eight innings until Nunez smacked the ball into the left field seats.

The solo shot sailed over the wall and through the outstretched hands of other fans into the possession of the closed eyes and open mitt of the youngster to tie the game.  Little did he know the homer would help the Yankees clinch a playoff spot.

Later in the same inning, the Yankees Robinson Cano doubled in Brett Gardner and Derek Jeter to give New York a 4-2 lead.

The Yankees used seven pitchers before Mariano Rivera came in to close the ninth and get save No. 603.

The win helped the Yankees clinch at least a playoff berth and the demoralizing loss hurts the Rays chances to catch the Boston Red Sox.

Jeter's Is Bigger Than A-Rod's

For all of you wondering-- and who hasn't-- who has the bigger Florida mansion, Derek Jeter or Alex Rodriguez, the Yankees shortstop wins with flying colors.

When it comes to massive homes with more bathrooms than Yankee Stadium, Jeter's 30,875 square-foot St. Petersburg home dwarfs A-Rod's mere 18,000 square-footer in Miami.

Jeter's Super-sized-McMansion completed construction this winter and was dubbed "St. Jetersburg" by annoyed neighbors who imagined an endless parade of celebrity gawkers driving by the popular New York Yankees player's gated house.  Now that Jeter is single again, expect a lot of female hopefuls to cruise the block.

The house was also the scourge of Yankees owner, Hank Steinbrenner, who directed an ill-timed statement at Jeter during their contract talks this past winter.

"Some of the players are too busy building mansions, and other things," he said.  "And not concentrating on winning."

First time a building was blamed for losing a AL Championship series.

A-Rod has no problem with celebrity-adverse neighbors-- because all of them are already gossip page fodder.

Rodriguez just completed construction on his home on Miami's exclusive North Bay Road and, if he needs a cup of sugar, he can just walk over to Lebron James place or borrow some hedge clippers from Will Smith.

A-Rod's hood is loaded with single-named celebrities like himself.  There is Sly [Stallone], Rosie [O'Donnell] and the most famous one-namer of all-- his old flame Madonna.  Block parties will be a blast and O'Donnell can haul the kegs.

Both players bought their land for about the same price: Jeter for $7.4 million and Rodriguez for $7.7 million, but both have put millions into renovating the properties.

Another Reason It's Great Being Derek Jeter

Is there any other player in Major League Baseball that leads a more charmed life than New York Yankees Derek Jeter?

A fan catches his 3,000th hit and immediately gives the ball back-- no ransom or demand for his first born.  Even his recent breakup with actress Minka Kelly has a silver lining.  Think of the bevy of starlets and hotties lining up for the chance to land the bachelor.

Now tonight, the Yankees Captain hits a ball to the the opposing shortstop who throws what is called an apparent out by the first base umpire, only to have the call overturned by the home plate umpire-- without any challenge by Jeter or any of the Yankees coaches.

Just walked over and changed the call in Jeter's favor.  Imagine that happening to anyone else?

In the bottom of the third inning against the Toronto Blue Jays, with the score tied at two, Jeter hit a roller to Blue Jays shortstop Yunel Escobar who tossed the ball to first baseman Adam Lind, who apparently made a swipe tag for the out.  That's how first base umpire Phil Cuzzi saw it.  Not so fast, we're talking Derek Jeter here.

Home plate umpire James Hoye walked over and told Cuzzi he missed the tag and Jeter was ruled safe. It's rare to see an umpire overrule another ump's call without being asked for their opinion.  Cuzzi easily relinquished the final call to Hoye without issue.

The compliant Jeter took his base while Escobar flipped out.  He wasn't to pleased to see his 5-3 out turned into an E-5.

If you look at the video, in the background, there is a fan in a yellow sweater who makes the safe call with his arms.  It looks like Hoye took a cue from this guy and got the call right.

Only Jeets could be so fortunate.

Teixeira Gets Hit By Pitch; Sounds Worse Than It Is...Hopefully

Mark Teixeira suffered a bruised right knee, during the New York Yankees 4-2 victory over the Boston Red Sox, when the New York Yankees first baseman was hit by Red Sox reliever Alfredo Aceves in the top of the seventh inning on Thursday night.

Teixeira initially stayed in the game to run bases and play his position, but was forced to leave before the bottom of the inning after his knee stiffened up.

If you listen to the audio of the errant pitch, it sounds like a ball hitting a bat followed by an alley cat's "yeowwww" by Teixeira.  Nasty.

Following the inning, Yankees assistant trainer Steve Donahue told "Tex" he wouldn't be able to play the whole game.

"You're not going back out there," he told the hobbled Teixeira.

Now it looks like the slugger will be missing some games this weekend. 

Teixeira was drilled in the back of his knee by an 83 mph cutter by the former Yankee.  While Teixeira was lucky it wasn't a fastball, the ball hitting the back of his knee still sounded pretty bad and he went down hard.

Derek Jeter suffered the same kind of bruise last weekend and it cost him a couple of games.  Jeter's bruise was on the front of his knee.

Teixeira did not get an X-ray and wore a wrap on the sore knee after the game. He must be getting used to being used as a target-- it's the 11th time Tex has been hit this season.

"It got just real stiff.  I couldn't move," he said after the game.  "It's real stiff right now."

The switch-hitter's absence could be a problem against Toronto this weekend.  The Yankees will miss his big bat especially since Alex Rodriguez is already recuperating from a sore thumb. Teixeira has 35 home runs and has knocked in 100 runs this season and the Gold Glover's fielding is a pitcher's best friend.

If Teixeira misses any games, the void will probably be filled by the capable Nick Swisher.  Andruw Jones would take Swisher's place in right field.

There is still no word on the severity of the bruise or how long Teixeira will be out.

R-Rod Replaces A-Rod As Derek Jeter's Newest Antagonist

After the announcement of Derek Jeter's breakup with his long-time girlfriend Minka Kelly last week, much was made of the actress getting cozy with her "Charlie's Angels" co-star Ramon Rodriguez.

Jeter is used to being in the headlines and has weathered media storms before but this seems different.

Remember Jeter getting dissed by his new teammate in a magazine article like Alex Rodriguez did to the Yankees captain when A-Rod first joined the team.   Unlike that, the breakup publicity has got to be bothering the Yankees shortstop.

Jeter had one of his best seasons after A-Rod was quoted saying things like "He [Jeter] has never had to lead" in the 2001 Esquire piece.  "He" was an All-Star and batted .311 that season.

Since the breakup announcement, Jeter is 3-for-16 with one run scored and his average is heading south of .300.

R-Rod reportedly spent many a long night inside Kelly's film-set trailer lending a sympathetic ear to the heartbroken starlet.  Yeah, I've heard that one before.

All A-Rod did was spend many a long night inside his hotel rooms checking himself out in the mirror.

According to the New York Daily News, R-Rod and Kelly have been spotted in Miami together; while they film scenes for the new television series, which is debuting in the fall.  It is a remake of the iconic '70's series.

Yesterday, the former "Saturday Night Lights" beauty and the 31 year-old R-Rod were spotted huddled together under an umbrella as they headed back to their trailers.

What's really unbelievable is that beefcake Rodriguez is reprising the role of Bosley.  Wasn't he originally played by the character actor David Doyle in the first series?

I bet Jeter wishes the doughy Doyle was still playing the part.

Yankees Beat A's With Record Three Grand Slams and Posada Playing Second Base

Robinson Cano, Russell Martin and Curtis Granderson each belted a grand slam as the New York Yankees rallied to beat the Oakland A's, 22-9, at Yankee Stadium today.

The three bases-loaded home-runs are a MLB record for most grand slams by a single team in one game.

Phil Hughes started the game and was hit hard early.  He went 2 2/3 innings and gave up six runs.

After a rain delay of almost an hour-and-a-half, the Yankees were looking up a 7-1 A's lead.  After four innings, the home team then scored 20 runs to rally for the victory.

Cano hit the first grand slam off A's starter Rich Harden, in the fifth, to knock the deficit down to one and Russell Martin followed up with his slam in the sixth to put the Yankees in the lead.  Granderson put the game in the record books with his home-run in the eighth.

The wild and lengthy game ended with the appearance of Jorge Posada grabbing a mitt and playing second base in the top of the ninth inning.  It was garbage time, with a big Yankees lead, and there was no chance of blowing the game because A.J. Burnett was no where near the mound.

Posada, the former-catcher, appeared rusty.  In the game's final at bat, he fielded a routine grounder and almost, single-handedly, made it look difficult.  It seemed like he was gunning out a base-stealer at second from behind the plate, after he drilled the ball into the dirt in front of the first baseman.

Nick Swisher, playing first, scooped up the ball and rolled over the base for the out as the hitter jumped over him.

Posada and Swisher had a good laugh afterwards.  Posada, who played second base in the minors, volunteered to take the position in the top of the ninth and the Yankees leading by 12 runs.

"I wanted to give Russell [Martin] a break and grabbed a glove and said put me in," said Posada.  "It's been a while since I've been in the middle of the infield."

Martin had two home-runs and the catcher recorded a career-high six RBI's in the game. 

Too bad Hughes couldn't have reaped the rewards of this historic slugfest.  He had won his last two outings but it took 78 pitches to get eight outs in this game.

Derek Jeter got his 3,056 hit to pass Rickey Henderson as No. 21 on the all-time hits list.  He is now batting .299.

The game lasted four-hours and 31 minutes.

A.J. Burnett; One Game Does Not A Summer Make

A.J. Burnett finally won an August game wearing pinstripes and the New York Yankees are acting like they won the Powerball-- an $82.5 million lottery maybe.

The Yankees 7-4 victory over the lowly Kansas City Royals may be a sign Burnett, the much-maligned starter, has turned the corner on another season of desperation but it is nothing to cheer about.

The game proved that the ineffective righthander still can't make it through the sixth inning.

Burnett won his first game since since June 29 and, more importantly, finally won an August game as a Yankee after eight losses in-a-row.  The No. 2 starter had an 0-8 record with an ERA of 7.18 over that span.

It's been almost seven weeks since his last victory in June.  He slogged along with an 0-3 record, 6.00 ERA and four no-decisions during that losing streak.

If last night was an indication of Burnett lifting the monkey from his back, he can thank a cast of Yankees for the help.

Manager Joe Girardi lifted his starter after only 88 pitches-- probably because he's seen Burnett blow up enough times in the fifth and sixth innings this season.

"With a high salary is always high expectations," said Girardi.  "I think he's thrown the ball better than some of his outcomes he's had."

Burnett's final line read: 5 2/3 innings, 10 hits and three earned runs.

A big night by Derek Jeter (3-for-4, 3 RBI's) and Brett Gardner (2 hits, 2 RBI's) helped Burnett on the offensive side and Dave Robertson and Mariano Rivera threw perfect innings in the eighth and ninth to save the struggling Burnett from the bench.