It shouldn’t be a matter if Derek Jeter could possibly be good as a Fox MLB studio analyst, it’s will he be.
Jeter has all of the pedigree you’d want in a marquee analyst. It shouldn’t be only that he’s a primary ballot Hall of Famer, a five-time World Series winner, a Yankee captain with Madison Avenue appeal, it’s also that he was only a top Marlins executive meaning he should know the present game.
On Saturday, like the nice ol’ days, next to his all-time frenemy, Alex Rodriguez, Jeter will make his Fox Sports analyst debut in the course of the pregame from London prior to the Cardinals-Cubs game.
As a player, Jeter showed no inclination about wanting to be a broadcaster. He even said he didn’t watch baseball, which was all the time funny.
But together with his forty ninth birthday on Monday, the person who hired him, Fox Sports executive producer, Brad Zager, told The Post that Jeter is committed to his latest role.
“On this job, if I’ve learned one thing, you don’t wish to beg any individual to do the job,” Zager said. “If you’ve gotten to beg them to do it, then it probably means they don’t wish to do it.
“In case you’ve listened to what Derek has said recently and also you talk over with him, he’s at a special point in his life than he was when he was playing for the Yankees on daily basis with a camera in front of face, being the captain of that team. After we sat down and talked, he now wants to do that. He’s at some extent in his profession where he desires to speak about baseball.”
Jeter can be on this Saturday, the All-Star Game after which featured during October; especially the World Series. He replaced Frank Thomas on Fox’s MLB studio set. It shouldn’t be heavy lifting and can likely enhance the Jeter brand, resulting in more commercials and opportunities.
(To be clear, he doesn’t necessarily need to advertise himself, nevertheless it helps to be on TV.)
When players change into broadcasters, especially those that said as little as possible during their careers, like Jeter, the query that many ask is: Will he be critical?
That’s the incorrect query for Jeter to succeed. Jeter doesn’t have to be a cross between Chris Russo and Stephen A. Smith. He just must be insightful and fun.
The best way the Fox show is structured will help him succeed. Kevin Burkhardt is an amazing point guard, who helped make A-Rod’s profession. David Ortiz could be very natural on TV. Jeter will be quick on his feet and, probably can be especially so, when he cuts on A-Rod.
“We’re not asking Derek to hold the conversation,” Zager said. “We’re asking for Derek’s perspective on an already high-level baseball conversation. We loved our conversations with Alex, Kevin and Frank before. Adding Derek Jeter to the variety of show we do, elevates it more”
Fox loves so as to add the largest names. While Jeter didn’t receive a $375 million contract, like Tom Brady. Fox sought Rodriguez’s approval for the move, which will not be unusual when bringing in a latest analyst to a team, but was noteworthy due to A-Rod-Jeter history that Jeter went into during his ESPN documentary.
While Jeter will debut on Saturday after which be in Seattle for the All-Star Game on July 11, Fox got Jeter for October. Jeter brings glamour to the show.
Burkhardt just called a Super Bowl. A-Rod was statistically a greater player than Jeter. And Ortiz has displayed a personality that matches his Hall of Fame playing credentials. Fox already had a very good thing going.
Come Saturday, though, Jeter can be on set. He can be the show’s biggest star. And he’ll be nearly as good as he desires to be.