Hey Skip, just shut up!

Last Wednesday on ESPN’s First Take, talking head Skip Bayless insinuated that he suspects Derek Jeter is using performance enhancing drugs.

“I am shocked by what I’m seeing from Derek Jeter right now… All of a sudden this man has turned 38… and he has more hits than he had last year. Already he’s doubled his home run total from last year, six to twelve. I’m seeing a whole new guy this year from last year… Are you kidding me? You would have to have your head in the sand or your head somewhere else not to at least wonder, ‘How is he doing this?’ Just recently [BALCO founder] Victor Conte said that many of the top players in baseball have come to him and said there is rampant use of synthetic testosterone today in the sport of baseball. How could I not wonder is he using something? If you are Derek Jeter, would you think about using HGH right now? How would you not?”

Skip likes to open his mouth. He’s paid to do it. He sparks controversy. He’s been banging on LeBron his whole career. He tends to hate everybody. He’s mildly entertaining. If you watch, much of the time he is actually right. But this time he goes way out.

Derek Jeter is the ambassador of the sport. He really is the face of baseball. He is the most professional professional athlete in America. He is squeaky clean. He is respectful of everyone. He plays the game right, hustling every play. He’s filthy rich. He started great as a skinny young guy and he isn’t any bigger now. 13 time All Star, 5 time gold glove winner, 5 time champion, future first ballot hall of famer; he really has nothing left to prove. He has years left on his contract. He never gets in trouble. He has never had to apologize. There really has never been a question before about any foul play. He’s not a power hitter and he’s still not a power hitter. And someone actually has the gumption to suggest that he’s on something?

Look at his numbers, starting with his hits and average. He’s only the second player ever to have 150 hits in 17 consecutive seasons. He hit over .290 14 straight seasons. He is a career .313 batter. He hit .334 in 2009. The next year was his worst, but he bounced back from that last year hitting close to .300. He has been a model of consistency throughout his career. And that model is the anti-cheater. As for his power numbers, which is most likely to be affected by PEDs: he has 13 homers right now. Not 53, but 13. He hit 18 in 2009, and hit at least 19 five other times. Improving by 7 over last season is hardly a gross spike. This season isn’t really an aberration. He’s not bigger, faster, or stronger. But he is adjusting in his old age and making better contact.

Suggesting, accusing, or questioning Derek Jeter about using performance enhancing drugs is laughable and insulting, as you can see in Stephen A. Smith’s response to Skip (starting around 1:40). Just because a very successful, bright player is contributing at a late age is not enough to accuse him of cheating. It is more reasonable to look at 2010 and say “oh, that was just a down year.”

There is a big difference between “many of the top players in baseball” and Derek Jeter.

This is America, home of “innocent until proven guilty.” Can’t somebody do something good without being questioned? If you are suspicious, then quietly do some investigating and find some real evidence BEFORE spewing garbage into the airways.

I like Jeter’s response. “Maybe Skip should be tested.” Actually, I would prefer: “Hey Skip, shut up!”

I will close with this: if Derek Jeter ever admits to, is tied to evidence against, or is found guilty of using performance enhancing drugs, that will be the last day I watch or follow baseball.

I am confident that I will be watching baseball a long, long time.