Not Batting for New York

The last thing anyone expected to see at Yankee Stadium was Derek Jeter not get up after making a diving stop on Jhonny Peralta's hard-hit ball in the 12th inning. After all, this was the Captain, the glue that's held the team together for the past 17 seasons. Especially in the opener of the 2012 ALCS, where again Raul Ibanez had rescued the team with another 9th inning home run to cap an improbable 4-run rally. Apparently, there's a limit to such a thing as Yankee Stadium magic. Scoring opportunities in the 10th and 11th innings fizzled. And then, Detroit rallied to take the lead in the 12th -- but then real disaster. Jeter, making the kind of agile play fans had seen hundreds of time, came down awkwardly on his left ankle and screamed. This time, we didn't see a bruised and battered #2 shake off the pain. Instead, he had to be carried off the field. And in his 159th post-season game -- one where earlier, he'd become the first player ever to reach 200 hits during the playoffs and World Series -- Derek Jeter suffered a season-ending broken ankle.
It will be very different later today in game two when the Yankees take the field against the Tigers. Jayson Nix or Eduardo Nunez will be at shortstop. Bob Sheppard's iconic recorded voice won't introduce the leadoff hitter. Derek Jeter will not be batting for New York.

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