Yankees: Top 5 quotes from Derek Jeter

A few years ago, Derek Jeter said this about being at the All-Star Game: It doesn't feel different being here. I feel like I'm on an All-Star team everyday.

Playing on a team with six players named 2011 All-Stars, Jeter probably feels this way this year more than ever. But he still should have shown up for the festivities in Phoenix. Unless you are on the disabled list, there's no excuse to bail on such an honor, conferred upon you by the fans who indirectly pay your salary.

People will pile on Jeter for passing up the All-Star Game tonight, and fans will defend him, and no resolution will be forthcoming. Pundits will try to summon a lot of emotion about the commotion, but emotion is hard to summon during the doldrums of the All-Star break. Just ask Bud Selig. Major League Baseball officials are reportedly (quietly) surprised that Jeter failed to continue the celebration of his 3,000 hit by partaking in some of the events this week at Chase Field.

I'm not. How does the All-Star Game help the Yankees win? Home-team advantage for the seventh game of the World Series? Jeter undoubtedly expects the Yankees to win the World Series well before the seventh game, rendering the advantage moot.

So we won't get to see Jeter at the plate tonight, but we can read some of his more notable quotes from years past. Below are five of his best comments, courtesy of Baseball Almanac.

If you're going to play at all, you're out to win. Baseball, board games, playing Jeopardy, I hate to lose.

I have the greatest job in the world. Only one person can have it. You have shortstops on other teams-I'm not knocking other teams-but there's only one shortstop on the Yankees.

You forget about it whether it was 15-2 or 3-2. It's still a loss. It doesn't matter what the score was if we win tomorrow.

My office is at Yankee stadium. Yes, dreams do come true.

God, I hope I wear this jersey forever.