Touch 'Em All: Could Paul Skenes Be An NFL QB?, A-Rod Misses Jeter's 50th B-Day & Why Camden Yards Is Awesome

‘Touch ‘Em All’ Begins With A Birthday Wish To Derek Jeter, Which Is More Than Alex Rodriguez Did

Gosh, I feel old. 

Well, I shouldn’t say that. I am only 24, so I’ve still got some spring in my step (30 is coming up soon tho, sheesh). 

But I guess I feel old because Derek Jeter is actually old now; he turned 50 on Wednesday.

What's your opinion about Derek Jeter? Let me know: john.simmons@outkick.com.

"The Captain" was synonymous with my childhood baseball fandom. Now to be clear, I hated (scratch that, still hate) the New York Yankees - and OutKick’s Mike Gunzleman and I have talked about this at length in the past. If you played for the Yankees, you're dead to me.

New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter looks on from the dugout before the start of a game against Tampa at Yankee Stadium. / Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

But I could never bring myself to hate Jeter. Maybe it was because of his overall greatness on the diamond, or the fact that he played in New York for 20 years - and didn’t become a full-blown jerk. Whatever the case, he has my respect - and I’ve just realized how far behind my childhood is.

So here is a Red Sox fan saying happy birthday to Derek Jeter. Wow, that felt weird.

Wednesday was a big day in Jeter’s life, and his wife, Hannah, threw a huge surprise party for him that he apparently loved.

Lots of former teammates were at the ZZ’s Club in New York to celebrate, but one noticeable superstar who wasn’t in attendance was Alex Rodriguez.

To say that the relationship between these two is rocky is an understatement. After multiple ups and downs, the two are distant friends at best. Furthermore, Rodriguez didn’t attend Jeter’s number retirement ceremony in 2017, so it’s not super surprising that A-Rod didn’t show up for the birthday of a guy who was once his close friend.

Derek Jeter (2) and Alex Rodriguez (13) used to be close friends, but not so much anymore. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

All he did was wish him this awkward birthday wish on social media:

"Derek I wanna wish you a Happy 50th Birthday, I cannot believe How old you are, Happy Birthday Caps."

I’ve heard of warmer well-wishes. But then again, can we expect a lot more from A-Rod, one of the biggest jerks in MLB history?

Why Camden Yards Is One Of The Best Ballparks In Baseball

1. Oriole Park at Camden Yards is a beautiful - and I mean, beautiful - ballpark. 

I’ve been there twice in my baseball fandom, and have left thoroughly satisfied by the experience both times (despite the fact that my Red Sox lost both games I attended - insert crying emoji here).

It fits almost 46,000 people, yet it feels intimate, whether you're sitting in the outfield seats or on the terrace. The view of the former Baltimore and Ohio Warehouse in right field provides an exceptional accent in the aesthetic of the ballpark. I’m not saying it’s the same awe-inspiring experience as Fenway Park, but it’s certainly a stadium you should prioritize visiting.

Oriole Park at Camden Yards is one of the best ballparks in America. Mandatory Credit: Mitch Stringer-USA TODAY Sports

2. The food is spectacular. 

Want crab fries for around $12 that will knock your socks off (what’s a sports stadium in Maryland without crab fries)? They’ve got them. Craving a delicious brisket sandwich that will make your taste buds dance with delight (and your bowels explode with gas)? That’s there too.

If you’re craving…well, whatever this is, they’ve got it too!

But it’s not just the views and the food that makes Camden Yards so wonderful, or the fact it (finally) serves as home to a legitimately good baseball team. 

3. If you’re lucky, sometimes you’ll see feats of extraordinary athleticism - from the fans. 

One fan in particular, on Monday night, got his week off to a heck of a start. In the top of the third inning against the Cleveland Guardians, Josh Naylor jacked a foul ball wayyyyyy into a largely empty upper deck. No one had any reasonable chance of bringing this baseball home as a souvenir. 

No one, that is, except this legend of a man.

Holding a beer and phone in one hand, this guy showed an astounding level of bravery, hand-eye coordination, and disregard for his own life to haul in this airborne treasure. He got the crowd to roar loudly and absolutely stunned the announcers.

Someone, build this man a statue on the stadium’s concourse right now. This feat is on par with Cal Ripken, Jr. setting the Iron Man record and the Orioles three World Series titles, and must be immortalized.

Only at Camden Yards can you see a solid baseball team, get heavenly ballpark food, and watch fans blow your minds with their dexterity.

Man, I wanna go back.

Could Paul Skenes Cut It As An NFL Quarterback?

If you don't know who Paul Skenes is by now, I won’t judge you. Instead, I’ll give you a brief crash course on who this man is, because I like to think that (despite my gruff New England personality) I’m a helpful guy.

Skenes is 6’6", 235-pound rookie sensation for the Pittsburgh Pirates who can launch missiles from the mound. He has yet to lose a game, and he has a 2.14 ERA through his first seven games. 

Oh, and he also routinely hits over 100 mph on the radar and can locate his pitches with disgusting accuracy.

Overhyped rookie? More like a legend in the making.

But if baseball doesn’t work out for this guy (for whatever reason), he might be able to get a job as the starting quarterback in the NFL.

Before a game earlier this week, Skenes was throwing a football as part of his warm-up routine. While they weren’t the speediest throws ever (he was saving those for the game, obviously), he was tossing the pigskin with a lot of accuracy.

Now, I’m not saying that he should quit baseball right now, he’s got too promising of a career for that. But in all seriousness, how long do we think Russell Wilson will be the solution for the Steelers’ quarterback problem? Three years if they're lucky?

Maybe they should look within their own city for their next great quarterback (since the NFL Draft is such a risk). He's got all the arm talent you could want, and he's basically a carbon copy of Josh Allen's physique. It could be worth exploring if they find themselves in a sticky situation.

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That's it for this week! If you have any ideas you want to see me write about, email me at john.simmons@outkick.com. Have a fantastic weekend!