Quote: PJP said: Ani...you can't totally discount the leadership angle. Yes, sheff, giambino and matsui are paid to perform whether Jeter is a nice guy or not....but....even sheff last year said he's inspired by Jeter. He plays hurt all the time. A reporter had asked sheff if he would miss a game cause of some injury....and he said, "how can I? when I look at the locker next to me and see Jeter hurting more than me suiting up." "He's a warrior."
that's leadership.
I don't totally discount it, but at the end of the day, Derek Jeter isn't doing it for Gary Sheffield. He's not his mom, or even his hitting coach. Infact, given what we've all heard about Sheffield, I doubt they're even friends(though I'm sure Gary respects Derek).
You can find all kinds of similar stories and quotes from all kinds of players, coaches, fans, reporters, etc. Some are totally genuine, some are embellished, some are simply fabricated. Most actually mean a lot less than they might seem to. Afterall, players play hurt. A lot. Playing professional baseball at its highest level requires a great deal of skill, a great deal of motivation, and engenders an even greater deal of compensation($$$). Therefore, logically, one can assume that those who play it are unlikely to be drastically swayed, positively or negatively, by the subtle actions of those around them.
