If you have been watching any major news outlet in the past few weeks, then you know that Yankee Captain Derek Jeter has been inching closer and closer to becoming the 28th player in MLB history to reach 3,000 hits for his career. Now with a DL stint, Jeter’s moment of immortality will be put on hold until the second installment of the 2011 Subway Series.

Jeter racked up his 2,994th career knock, just six away from 3,000 against the Indians last evening. Jeter also, unfortunately for both him and the Yankees, suffered a Grade 1 calf strain while running to first on a fly out, leaving the game and being replaced with Eduardo Nunez. A grade one calf strain is the mildest of the the three levels, but it still results in painful micro tears that typically take up to two weeks to fully heal.

Now that Jeter has been placed on the disabled list, he would likely be back for the last game or two of the Brewers series at the earliest, most likely ending up coming back just in time for the Subway Series at Citi Field.

Even though six hits is still difficult to attain in just a three-game set, there will be a very good chance he does in fact achieve that mark at Citi Field against the Amazin’s. This is do to the fact that Jeter is one of the most infamous Met killers. The Captain has some of his best figures when playing the cross town rivals batting .381/.435/.575 with 13 homers and 43 RBIs in only 78 games. If those numbers were spanned over an entire season, Jeter would have compiled over 240 hits as well as a 30 homer, 100 RBI year!

If Jeter ends up returning for the Subway Series, I do not know about anyone else, but I will be buying tickets ASAP and when he gets #3,000 I will give “the Captain” a standing ovation. Jeter has been, for me at least, one of the few Yankees I can truly admire and respect. If he gets 3,000 against the Mets, he deserves a roaring ovation from every fan, every security guard and player in that ballpark. It doesn’t matter if you are a Met or Yankee fan, hate him or love him, 3,000 hits is one hell of an achievement, and should be praised by all in attendance.

Since it is become almost certain Jeter will now not get his 3,000th hit at home, it is only fitting he will likely still attain it in New York, where not only there will be many Yankee fans will be in attendance, but many fans of baseball that should and in all likeliness will, appreciate the incredible feat of 3,000 hits by The Captain, Derek Jeter.