Skip to main content

Will Derek Jeter’s reign in the Bronx end in rain?

By WTOP Staff

BEN WALKER
AP Baseball Writer

NEW YORK (AP) — The fans came to their feet one more time, cheering and chanting and pleading for Derek Jeter to deliver one more big hit.

Not this time for Jeter, not this year for the New York Yankees.

Jeter struck out on three pitches with a runner on first to end the game, and the Yankees were pushed to the brink of playoff elimination Tuesday night with a 5-4 loss to the Baltimore Orioles.

“Every game is must-win,” Jeter said.

The Yankees fell five games behind for the second AL wild card with only five games left.

Jeter extended his hitting streak to seven on his last homestand, but took two shaky swings against Orioles closer Zach Britton in the ninth.

“You’re thinking that he’s going to hit a home run or he’s going to hit a ball in the gap, we’re going to tie the score,” Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. “But it didn’t happen, unfortunately.”

Jeter said he heard the crowd noise, but was focused on trying to keep a rally going. Brett Gardner beat out an infield hit with two outs, bringing up Jeter.

“For me, I’m trying to take the approach that I’m trying to play a game,” he said. “My approach doesn’t change.”

Jeter has two more home dates scheduled before he retires. The Yankees then conclude the regular season this weekend in Boston.

And, it looks as though there might be rain when Jeter ends his reign in the Bronx.

The 40-year-old shortstop is set to play his final game at Yankee Stadium on Thursday night against Baltimore. The National Weather Service forecast called for a 70 percent chance of showers during the day, tapering off to 20 percent at night.

“I’m told the weather forecast for Thursday isn’t all that bad, and the rain should be out of here. But I am worried about it, and I’ll continue to worry about it,” Commissioner Bud Selig said at Yankee Stadium before Tuesday night’s game.

“The commissioner can control a lot of things, but, damn it, all the weather isn’t one of them. But, hopefully — because that’s a magnificent day here, and I have great faith in the Yankees they’ll somehow get that game in.”

Girardi wasn’t sure what would happen if Jeter and the Yankees were rained out.

“That’s a great question,” he said. “I’m sure it would upset a lot of people.”

With Jeter’s career winding down, he said he hasn’t made any decisions about playing the last three regular-season games at Fenway Park.

“I can’t think about Boston. I’m thinking about tonight’s game, just like I can’t think about tomorrow or Thursday,” he said before taking on the Orioles. “I just haven’t been wired that way, to think that far in advance. I just take it one game at a time. It’s a better question for when I get there.”

Girardi said that if the Yankees were still in the playoff race, he figured Jeter would be in the lineup every day. If they’re eliminated, Girardi said he planned to talk to Jeter “on a daily basis” to see his preferences.

“I’m going to ask him and leave it to him,” Girardi said.

Last year, with the Yankees eliminated and going into the final games of the season at Houston, there had been talk that career saves leader Mariano Rivera would fulfill a longtime wish by playing center field.

But coming off a touching scene in which Jeter and teammate Andy Pettitte walked to the mound to pull Rivera from his last appearance at Yankee Stadium, the great closer never played again.

“Mo just kind of wanted it to end that way,” Girardi said.

As for Jeter’s last game, “I can’t really script it,” manager said.

“What happened with Mo just came to me at that moment,” Girardi said. “Whatever happens, happens.”

TRAINER’S ROOM

Yankees: 1B Mark Teixeira returned to the lineup after missing two games because of his ailing right wrist and went 1 for 4. He recently had a third cortisone shot. The oft-injured Teixeira said he plans to take only a week off this winter, rather than a month. “I definitely need to get stronger. Full body, especially the wrist,” he said.

UP NEXT

In Jeter’s next-to-last game scheduled at Yankee Stadium, Orioles RHP Bud Norris (14-8, 3.62 ERA) pitches against RHP Shane Greene (5-3, 3.24). The early start time of 1:05 p.m. is because of Rosh Hashana, which begins at dusk.

ALEX THE WAIT

Selig was at the stadium to present an award to Jeter, and was asked about the possible return of New York third baseman Alex Rodriguez. A-Rod was suspended this season after baseball’s Biogenesis investigation.

“He’s entitled to come back next year, and that’s a situation between him and the New York Yankees,” Selig said.

SWING AND A MISS

Yankees pitchers fanned 11 and have now struck out 1,319 this year, breaking the team record set in 2012.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
Read Next Story

Related News

Frustration grows in Venezuela as earthquake death toll reaches 1,430

Israel and Lebanon sign framework agreement with US in ‘first step’ toward peace, Rubio says

Trump-endorsed populist poised to become Colombia’s next president as rival challenges vote