Yankees Roundtable

Last weeks question was:

"We were all in agreement last week that pitching was the biggest concern for the Yankees. With that said are you more or less worried than you were last week, and how do you think the Yankees rotation and bullpen will look like in the playoffs as well as spring of next year?"

This week, let's move away from the rotation concerns and concerns in general.  There has been a lot of chatter recently (including on this blog) about Derek Jeter, so let's hear your opinions on that.  What do you think the Yankees should and/or will do about Jeter for the remainder of this season and next season?  What kind of contract, if any, do you think he will sign? Are you worried about his performance this year, and if so, would you change the lineup from here on out or in the playoffs?

Steve: I, like tons of Yankees' homers, have a hard time saying anything bad about Derek Jeter. He plays hard and maintains a positive attitude. He never spews ill words to the press. He's adorable. He has long been the nucleus of a winning franchise at their winningest. And the quantity of television commercials he signs on for is unmatched. But Derek, you are a declining athlete who will hurt the squad if you stubbornly refuse to acknowledge it.

I'd hate to see Jeter playing LF and batting 8th for the Yanks. If the Yankees stuck him there then they couldn't honestly say they are fielding the best lineup, hence not truly gunning for the big win, as they do. Jeter--intelligent, silky man that he is--will recognize this. He will, again, do the right thing and gracefully bow out. He doesn't care about 3,000 hits and he certainly doesn't care to put on a different uni. He will retire at the end of 2010 and the Yankees will be better for it...hopefully.


Jeff: Derek Jeter will forever remain one of my favorite Yankees, and I can't wait to one day be able to tell my grand kids about Jeter the same way my grand mother tells me about Joe DiMaggio.  But like Steve, Yankees fans need to come to the realization that Jeter just isn't the same athlete he once was.  We as Yankees fans were spoiled with his season two years ago, whereas if he had struggled two years ago this season would not seem as much of a "down" year.  

As far as his hitting goes, I do think he can return to his .300 average, or at least closer to .300 then the .262 he is currently hitting for the Yankees.  The 96 runs he has score this season is still nice production, but his .326 OBP is something that cannot be kept in the leadoff spot.  Seeing Jeter return to consistently being the #2 hitter in the lineup is hopefully the ultimate goal for Girardi and Jeter.  

As far as his defense, it has been less than par for a while now.  While Yankees fans again and again enjoy seeing the patented "Jeter" backhand throw, what many Yankees fans do not realize, or want to admit, is that this is also a clear cut sign of his decreased ranger at SS.  Jeter still has a strong arm, but the Yankees outfield is crowded, and there may not be room for him.

What I would ultimately like to see happen with Jeter is that he sign a one year deal with the Yankees, and have his chance at 3,000 hits.  No Yankee has ever reached the 3,000 plateau, and to reach this feat will truly cement Jeter as one of the greatest Yankees of all time.  Obviously, Jeter does not need this accolade to cement his place in history, but there is something about 3,000 hits that shines like the power hitter who reaches the 500 home run plateau.  So, ultimately, I say bring back Jeter for one more season, let him achieve 3,000 hits, and let him sail off into the sunset.  The last thing Yankees fans need is for Jeter to get arrogant, want to continue playing (while denying his decreasing abilities), and see a couple of seasons of a struggling Jeter.  One more season Jeets, and call it quits buddy.

Ben: The Yankees owe it to Jeter to give him a chance to redeem himself as far as the next couple weeks are concerned.  However, if by late September Jeter hasn't gotten better, the Yankees should remove him from his 1 or 2 spot in the lineup for the rest of the season and the playoffs.  If Swisher's injury isn't that serious, Gardner 1 and Swisher 2 is significantly better than having Jeter fill any of those slots.  It would be the same reason why managers go with the hot relief hand in the playoffs, they can't afford to wait for a reliever to fix himself up.  Girardi can't (or shouldn't) wait for Jeter to "figure it out" during the playoffs when he theoretically at that point would be a ~.220 hitter for the past 4 months.

Contrary to what Jeff says, I don't think Jeter can return to his .300 (or near .300) ways, this year OR next.  Also, in my mind, 3,000 is completely insignificant to Jeter as he judges himself by the rings on his fingers not personal stats. And that's why we all love him so much. It's actually a pretty funny situation, we love Jeter because he doesn't care about anything but winning, but then we want him to come back to reach the personal milestones we love him so much for not caring to achieve!

Anyways, I don't think a one year deal is a possibility as it would be too insulting for Jeter.  I think Jeter is going to debate either retiring or having a 3-4 year deal.  As Steve basically said, Jeter always makes the right move, and maybe that means signing a long term deal and retiring before its finished, if need be.  If Jeter is going to resign, he's going to want a legitimate contract.  Anyway you want to slice it, players have egos and Jeter is a player.  

If it wasn't clear enough above, I am worried about Jeter this year and next.  He's been a horrible, horrible hitter since June and there is nothing to suggest he'll actually do better, besides unrealistic hope because he's "Jeter".  That essentially means I wouldn't bat Jeter high in the lineup any longer.  Also, I'm crossing my fingers hoping that the Yankees don't have to negotiate a contract with him, because if he wants to play he will and for the Yankees, for a large sum of money.  I kind of agree with Steve that he will retire, that seems to be the "right" move, especially if the Yankees can win another World Series.  However, if he does come back to play the minimum I would expect would be 3yrs/$45m, with as much as 4yrs/$100m.