... yes, indeed. I don't know how much play this got in Cincinnati, but with Jeter's leadoff HR last night in Chicago, he has now reached the lofty number (and partially very familiar number) of 3,256 hits.

And, lately, for Jeter the hits just keep on coming ... as Marty likes to say.

So, is it time to get a little nervous here?

Jeter, now at the age of 38, was certainly showing some signs of slowing down in the early part of 2011. He only had 73 hits about a week or so into July of last year and then came July 9th, 2011.

The Yankee shortstop put together a 5 for 5 ballgame and hit number 2 of the day (also a HR) was the 3,000th of his illustrious career.

And since that time, the guy just can't be stopped.

Including that game, Jeter had 89 hits the rest of the way last season and, to date, in 2012, Jeter seems to be on his way to his first 200 hit season since 2009. That HR last night was hit number 167 of the season.

So since July 9th of last year, a remarkable total of 256 hits putting Jeter a 'mere' 1,000 hits away from the Hit King.

Can he do it??

I sure hope not, though I'm sure that will be a point of contention among fellow Reds' fans, many of whom probably would have no problem with Rose losing hold of the record, sadly.

Does Jeter, at 38, have the desire to keep grinding it out for another 1,000 hits?

Would the Yankees continue to play him at shortstop for the foreseeable future ... even into his 40's to help him reach that goal?

Would he change positions if necessary? Would he become a DH several years down the road? Would achieving the record via the DH route mar or cheapen the accomplishment in any way?

He's not married, and has none of those family obligations like growing kids etc to worry about back at a home ... not that Rose let any of that stop him, sadly.

If we take the assumption that Jeter could average say about 170 hits a season looking forward, it would take him about another 6 seasons to get there.

He would be past his 44th birthday at that point ... the same age where Rose got base hit #4192.

So what do you say? Does he get there? As a Yankee? As a DH?

I for one sure hope not, but as the old saying goes, records are made to be broken.

Just for further reference, at the age of 38, Pete Rose had HIS last 200 hit season coming in his first season with the Phillies in 1979.

Rose actually led the NL in hits a couple of years later with only 140 hits, but recall that was the strike shortened season of 1981 (a year Reds fans have very un-fond memories of).

In the 7 pretty much full seasons that Rose played after '79, starting with the Phils' World Championship season of 1980, and then the partially played 8th season of 1986, Rose amassed a total of 991 hits.

He only had 52 hits in limited play in 1986 (including his record 10th 5 for 5 ballgame, 26 years ago this month).

In his prior 3 seasons of '83-'85, Rose had only 107 hits each season. The 'trifecta', so to speak!

He certainly benefited from having the ability to pencil himself in the starting lineup in his last couple of seasons back in Cincinnati that helped put him over the top.

Anyway, for those last 7 full seasons (not counting 1986), Rose averaged a little over 130 hits per season.

Again, unless Jeter becomes a player-manager at some point, he will not have the ability to write himself into starting lineups like Rose did.

200 hits a year every year until he's 43?

I don't think he can do it. Even if he stayed productive, I think he'd have to play until he's 46-47 to have a chance.

That is interesting about Jeter. Here is the thing that gets in his way IMO. I think he wants to finish as a Yankee. If that is the case, he has no chance of catching Rose. They cannot afford to have him play as much as he would need to in his forties.

Sorry ... made a couple of mistakes in my 2nd posting above so will amend it here.

Starting from the 3rd paragraph -

In the 6 pretty much full seasons that Rose played after 1979, starting with the Phils World Championship season of 1980, and then the partially played 7th season of 1986, Rose amassed a total of 884 hits.

He only had 52 hits in limited play in 1986 (including his record 10th 5 for 5 ballgame, 26 years ago this month).

In his prior 2 seasons of '84-'85, Rose only had 107 hits each season.

He certainly benefited from having the ability to pencil himself in the starting lineup in his last couple of seasons back in Cincinnati that helped put him over the top.

Anyway, for those last full 6 seasons (not counting 1986), Rose averaged just under 140 hits per season.

Unless Jeter becomes a player-manager at some point, he will not have the ability to write himself into starting lineups like Rose did.

And perhaps the assumption of Jeter averaging 170 hits per season looking ahead is a bit too 'rosy', so to speak, but time will tell.

I think to get the record he's going to have to collect 230-250 hits a couple of times over the next 3-4 years. After that the chance of him getting even 200 goes way down. How many 40 year olds have ever gotten 200 hits?

I just don't see it...even if he plays DH until he's 50.

250 hits?!?

I mean the all time record is Ichiro's 262 hits back in '04.

And the record for most hits in a season by a right handed hitter is held by Al Simmons with 253 a little ways back in 1925.

The most Pete Rose ever had in a season was 230 during his prime in 1973. That number has him tied for most hits in a season by a switch hitter with Willie Wilson of the Royals in 1980.

Right. What I'm saying is I don't think Jeter has much of a chance.

He certainly benefited from having the ability to pencil himself in the starting lineup in his last couple of seasons back in Cincinnati that helped put him over the top.
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Dusty would play him.

Out of respect.

I think if the record is within his sights, he would trading being a Yankee for his whole career to be the Hit King. I think that trumps all.

I also think he's probably get it barring any significant injury. He might play until 46 to get it, but I could see it.

And most importantly, MLB would love someone else to hold that record other than Pete. It would make it easier to forget Pete Rose in the future and lessen the controversy of not having the all time hits leader in the HOF. Why is this important? Because I think MLB itself has the power to set it up by pushing for teams to keep playing him knowing there's a financial bonanza waiting when the real countdown starts to take place.

One other thing, I want Pete to hold the record for ever. And the last thing I would want is a Yankee breaking it. But I'm afraid it's going to happen.

Nervous? He needs 150 hits or more for the next 6 years. Seeing as he won't even play for the next 3 years...I feel safe.

I don't think the Yankees will play a 45 year old shortstop and I think Jeter will bow out when he can't play shortstop. They were talking about this on XM the other day, and one of the announcers said what I just did.

Crosley

I dont think Jeter will play long enough to get it. I like Jeter but I hope no one ever breaks Pete's record.

Well, Jeter has another season left on his present lofty contract with the Yankees, and then there is an option for the 2014 season during which he would turn 40 years old.

Hard to see the Yankees investing any additional money in a 40 year old shortstop. A demanding position and he could start to wear down by then. And you never know about injuries etc.

I'm sure it would be a great story for baseball, and for NY if he continued to hit over the next couple of seasons and started closing in within at least shouting distance of the record.

But nobody knows what's in his mind about how long he wants to play and whether he will have had enough after another season or so, and retire at the top of his game holding many all-time Yankee records.

With Rose, I followed his career closely throughout. Well as close as you could follow a career without the internet.

Something about Rose ... I can recall when he got his 2,000th hit I had that thought like he's only 10 years into his career in 1973 and he breezed past 2,000 hits and while many were just saying how he's a pretty safe bet (no pun intended) for 3,000, I was thinking that if he stayed healthy the guy might just shoot for 4,000 and then Cobb's record.

There was always that story there about Rose's father playing semi-pro well into his 40's and how by taking care of himself Pete hoped to stick around for awhile on the ball field.

It was quite a ride and he did it.

Anybody remember Rose's special appearance on Donahue's show after he got THE hit ... #4192. It was something special.

Jeter is more of a reserved individual, but Rose could always hold an audience. He had the huge Cincinnati crowd at the taping of that program just eating out of his hands.

Meanwhile, I see that Jeter is now at 999 and counting ... with the latest hit coming on his 2nd solo homer in as many nights.

Who does the guy think he is ... the next Zack Cozart??

If he wants to shoot for it he's going to have to DH. I could see him going to Tampa Bay for the last 10 years of his career and hobbling out there 4 times a night to take a swing.

You must also consider that baseball will turn a blind eye if he decides to "enhance".

Just wanted to flush you out ... here I saw we had all these views on this topic and not one snarky response from you.

I knew this would do it!

I think it's funny.

I'm with the poster who said it's like a Where's Waldo only you're finding the Cozart jab. This one might have been too easy, so maybe Jerseyred should be criticized for that. We aren't childred, after all.

no snarky response because i liked the read.

it was a good topic

too bad you had to ruin by coming back just because you forgot to take a poke at Cozart in your original post.

even the last post was good.... until you couldn't resist the temptation of adding the last M0RONIC line