As you probably read the other day, I suggested that Derek Jeter be moved from the leadoff spot. He promptly responded with a 4-4 day at the plate. I’m just gonna go ahead and assume that he read my article, took it personally, and raked. If he hits well for the rest of the season, I’m taking full credit. You’re welcome, Derek.
Still, I want to clear some things up. I am not trying to trash Derek Jeter or say that he is toast, like mid-April Ortiz. Derek Jeter is one of the best offensive shortstops in the history of the game and no matter how far I have to go, no matter how I have to get there, I will be there when Derek Jeter gets inducted into the Hall of Fame. I was nine years old for most of the 1996 season when Derek burst onto the scene and helped the Yankees to the World Series on the strength of a Rookie of the Year season. Truth be told, Derek Jeter is one of the reasons I got into the Yankees and if I wanted to make a “Thank you” list for helping me get to where I am in my baseball life, he’d be near the top. I’m not trying to say that Jeter is done and that there is no chance he comes back; if it came off that way, then it was unintended. Here is what I did mean to get across.
Derek Jeter should be thought of like prospects: no one is untouchable for the right price. No matter what he’s done in the past, and no matter how much he’s meant to the Yankees, he should not be immune to criticism. The Yankees and Jeter are made for each other; that is, Jeter and the Yankees have benefited from their “partnership” equally.
In closing, Derek Jeter is most definitely not done. He’s got the talent and skill to rebound from this cold snap and end the year on a hot streak. However, that doesn’t mean that we can’t accept that Jeter may well be entering his decline phase. This happens to every player, no matter how great, no matter how beloved he is. Perhaps it’s hard to accept this because of how well Jeter’s three most famous teammates have aged. Andy Pettitte has put up great years despite advanced age; Jorge Posada is making a late Hall of Fame case; Mariano Rivera is, well, Mariano Rivera. Like Jeter, though, they’ll all age at one point. And while it will be sad, we should not be angry with them. They can’t help it; it’s just part of the baseball circle of life. What we can do, though, is remember how great they were and replay the wonderful memories they’ve all given us over the year. Those will never age.
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18 Responses to Following up on Derek Jeter
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TIQ IQ
Jeter IS toast. He had a .622 OPS in July, and terrible OPSes in May and June. This isn’t a hot streak coming after a week long slump. It’s a year long regression in front of our eyes. Dude is finished, 2 week hot streak or no
Matt ,nice of you to say the right things… i take back my kid comment.. if you can look at last nights lead off men across baseball box scores….tell me how many guys are hitting better than jeter.. and not by 2 points 10 points or better..that would be a small barometer ..ajax is one guy and he was ours.. if you have the time..just BA and OBP .. thanks
jeter..the yankees will add up the numbers , hits to 3500 and beyond. take an average of how many a season.. thats the contract he will get.. i feel it will be 20 mil per. this is something they did with alex.. fans like milestones and does ownership..brings fans,..sell stuff..
i think cash will probably offer jeter only 15mil per over 5-6 yrs. i think that fair for yanks and jeter
it is the right deal,,,but jeter will play a strong hand
5-6 years is not in any way fair to the Yankees. He should get four at most.
four years at 170 hits a year average gets him to 35, 3600..is that 4th all time.. could get it done..but he will want 20mil per. now are we saying what the yanks will do or what we think he should get matt
If the Yankees offer a 5-6 year contract to Derek Jeter, they’re asking for trouble.
matt if the yanks give him 4 years, and he is at 3700 plus hits, do they keep him for a lot less money so he can get 4000? or does jeter retire or go else where..he will be 40 after the 4 year deal..what say you
I was thinking of you when Jeter went 4 for 4 with 3 runs scored. I actually saw Jeter play in early 1995 (he was called up due to injuries) and was on the feild for Pettite’s first win. I remember when Sheppard announced the line-up we were all disappointed with having no-name rookies playing but that obviously changed very quickly. Now I get to brag how I saw them both play in ’95 before they made it.
“Jeter owes the Yankees a lot, too. Aside from Alex Rodriguez, he’s been the highest paid player in baseball and I’m sure he’ll continue to be well paid even after this year. If Jeter played for any other team, he’d be nothing “more” than a great player; because of his time with the Yankees, he’s become an icon. While he’s helped make the Yankees what they are, they’ve also played a big part in making Derek Jeter into Derek Jeter. This is supposed to be a two-way street. Why must the Yankees always service Jeter but not the other way around?”
This was a comment from you on your original post on this.
“Jeter and the Yankees have benefited from their “partnership” equally”
That is your follow-up.
Maybe I’m having a little trouble deciphering your point in your first comment, but I’m sensing some contradiction. Has Jeter returned all the favors the Yankees have given him, or not? Please clarify.
they both benefitted equally..and the yankees will keep earning after jeter is retired..jeter will get the HOF and maybe a front office job when ever he wants
I see. I guess the only thing that’s throwing me off is when Matt said, “Jeter owes the Yankees a lot.”
I think they’ve benefited equally too.
What I mean is something I said in the original comments: Derek Jeter would not be nearly as marketable, well known, etc. had he played for some team other than the Yankees. He has clearly contributed a lot to them on the field, but the fact that he’s been with the Yankees has made the “Derek Jeter brand,” so to speak, possible.
you are correct..if tony gwynn played here, or rod carew.. it is the yankees..both their profiles and legacy grow and last..the yankees need these guys to keep marketing..thats why they pay more..and in turn earn more.. jeter et. al become house hold names.. how many of stars of the past jersey do you see all over the country and world… the yankee names are all over..and the baseball caps represent all the yankee history.. thats why they will over pay to have these guys..
Jeter is buiding a 35,000 sq ft home in tampa…he has a reason why he wants to be close to the yankee brain trust and home base…there is a long term plan, maybe by both parties.. just a guess. which would make his next contract go with out issue..yanks are worth 1 and a half billion dollars..4 or 5 million more a year may mean a lot to us..but maybe the price of keeping jeter happy.. ability wise…jeter does not deserve it…just like arod ..jason bay manny. we can keep going..who deserves 20 mil a year to “play” baseball.it is a business, how they can market each guy and maximize a profit. other owners love the yanks when they roll into town..
After looking at the dollar hit they took with A-Rod it’s hard not to imagine that they will give Jeter a ton of money, deserved or not. All the stuff you guys are saying about his decline, his relative worth and moving him in the lineup for the good of the team makes sense, but when Cash drops a low number on him, he’ll say, “Hey, what about your cleanup hitter’s contract?”.
you are correct…thats why i think cash wont low ball him..