Life after Jeter
by ntrokel on Nov 13, 2009 9:33 AM EST
26 comments
The NY daily news ran this article yesterday about the contract negotiations next year for Derek Jeter. And I think they are making a big fuss about nothing. The Yankees have practically no choice in the matter. Resign Jeter or alienate their fan base a lot.
What I am really worried about is the fact that Jeter is already 35 and not getting any younger. He plays a tough position that requires a lot of athleticism, and a position that traditonally has not been used by older players.
How long can he play? 38?40? All I know is that when he finally retires that I will be really depressed for a year of baseball. No more announcing Derek 'Jeet-ah' by Shep on the PA. And no more Yankee Captain. Almost as long as I have followed baseball Derek Jeter has been a Yankee. When this era ends who will play the SS spot? Who will take the mantle of the captainship? Time will tell.
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A few thoughts
Jeter isn’t an idiot. He’s not going to burden the team when he knows he’s getting to old to play the position.
That being said, how old was Ripken when he finally moved to 3rd? And how old was he when he retired?
Jeter will probably stay a Yankee and at worst become a DH before he retires. He doesn’t really have the option to move to 3rd or 1st with our other players there already (A-rod can play 3rd longer than Jeter can play short, and Tex is still young and won’t ever move from 1st). He and the organization know he’s the face of the Yankees and shouldn’t ever wear another team’s uniform, ever!
I don’t think he’s going to be greedy and ask to play longer than he can or for more money than he’s worth down the line. I think the big question is “Do the Yankees have another SS to fill the gap when the time comes?” Ramiro Pena might be that guy, he looks good out there when Jeter was resting this season. Just have to teach him to be clutch like El Capitan has been. Do the Yankees have any other shortstop prospects that could be developed for a few years down the road?
by phonty on Nov 13, 2009 9:50 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
agreed
Jeter’s not stupid, he won’t play so long that he becomes a burden to the organization. as much as i hate to see it, i know he’ll most likely become a DH before his career is up. i’d like to see someone with more power than Jeter at DH, but hey that’s just me. it certainly won’t be the same with the Captain out there though.
now, one thing. you can’t really teach a player to be clutch i don’t think. i think they either have it or they don’t. i don’t like using football analogies on baseball blogs but it’s just an example: do you think Joe Montana was taught to be “clutch” while Dan Marino wasn’t or just that Montana had it and Marino didn’t. i think the second option is more likely, as in you either have it or don’t.
"When my time on Earth is gone, and my activities here are past, I want they bury me upside down so all my critics can kiss my a**"- Bob Knight
by JumpinJackFlash on Nov 13, 2009 10:39 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
True
But I wonder about clutch, because maybe it can be found if not taught. A-Rod found it this year, definitively. He was clutch all season and Mr. Clutch in the post-season (not so much in the WS but, like all the other Yankees said, he got them there).
Jeter will be sorely missed when he retires, and we can only hope that his replacement will be as charismatic, gentlemanly, and clutch. Jeter is a born leader, and it’s possible we won’t have another Captain until another comes along like him.
by phonty on Nov 13, 2009 10:50 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
yeah
the Yankees were definately in the WS because of A-Rod. he was completely locked in during the playoff run. although, i do think that the world “clutch” is over-used in sports especially baseball. in baseball, as has been said, you can fail 7 out of 10 times and still be great. a large part of A-Rod’s clutch hitting in the playoffs was because he was simply locked in at the best possible time for the team and with the team around him he didn’t have nearly as much pressure to perform. i don’t think his past playoff success (or really, lack-there-of) is his true self, but his playoffs this year were pretty historic in some ways and can’t be expected to be repeated.
Jeter will definately be missed, there’s no question about it. despite all his shortcomings as a player (range, arm strength, little power) he more than makes up for it with everything he brings to the table. he always has a knack to be in the middle of the action when all the chips are on the table. when the lights shine brightest he always seems to make his presence felt. he was just born to play baseball, and i’m glad i was around to witness his career (granted i can’t see many games living in Indiana). although there’s a saying: you don’t want to be the guy that follows a legend, you want to be the guy that follows the guy that followed a legend. Jeter’s that legend, and the next guy, Pena or whoever, will have some mighty big shoes to fill.
"When my time on Earth is gone, and my activities here are past, I want they bury me upside down so all my critics can kiss my a**"- Bob Knight
by JumpinJackFlash on Nov 13, 2009 12:39 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Here’s an idea -and bear with me on this – say we took Jeter and put him at second. What happens to Cano you ask? Let me get to that. We move A-Rod back to his old home at shortstop. This kid must me a mad man you’re thinking. But wait! Here’s the best part! We put Cano at 3rd! Cano has the arm for it, and I’m sure he can adjust to the hot corner. He’s still young. A-Rod still has a step over Jeet, and putting him back at short will be like riding a bicycle. Jeter has never had the greatest arm, and with his reduced range he’d be a perfect 2-bagger.
by ekwfan6 on Nov 13, 2009 11:09 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Making the pivot from the other side of the bag is not as easy as Cano makes it look.
If Jeter were going to move (and it won’t be until into his new contract) he’s going to the outfield.
"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."
by jscape2000 on Nov 13, 2009 11:24 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
If Jeter...
is too old to play short, Arod’s only a year younger than him so what would that be solving?
by Let's Talk About Tex Baby on Nov 13, 2009 12:15 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
yea that makes no sense at all....
You don’t put someone with decreased range at 2B…if anything, you put him at 3B.
You don’t move Cano from 2B either.
Instead of leaving it the way it is and essentially the defense at SS may deteriorate as Jeet does (seems only marginally right now…)
…your killing the defense of the Yanks infield by switching the positions of 3!!! positions.
"It ain't over till its over"---
by FreeBradshaw on Nov 13, 2009 12:30 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Whenever...
Jeter stops playing short, and I don’t know when that will be because he just had his best defenive season in a long time, the natural spot for him to move would be a corner OF. He has a good arm and we know he’s good at catching flies.
by Let's Talk About Tex Baby on Nov 13, 2009 1:23 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I'm not denying that at all.
I’ve said for a while that Jeet could probably solve a OF question right now, like LF.
He’s just too good a SS to move. I mean whether or not anyone agrees with his GG…he still won it and at the very least shows he’s still playing at a high, even elite level.
Given the shape the guy is in, there’s no reason he can’t play SS for at the very least 3-4 years with of course no injury.
After that? Yea I agree, even then the guy will probably be in good enough shape to be a good corner OF
"It ain't over till its over"---
by FreeBradshaw on Nov 13, 2009 3:46 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
A-Rod's Range
I realize A-Rod may not have been 100% this year because of his hip but …… I thought A-Rod’s range at 3B had taken a noticeable hit. I’m really not sure at this point that A-Rod could move back to SS and really have sufficient range.
by Jeff I on Nov 16, 2009 10:02 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
he wouldn't
he’s bulked up since he moved to third, he wouldn’t be able to play short anymore
by Wraithpk on Nov 17, 2009 11:03 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Jeets is in great shape.
He showed IMPROVEMENT this season in the field, mainly by way of positioning himself better,
Really, he’s not a fat slob who can’t bend down. His arm is fine too.
We’ll see, but he can play SS till he’s 40 if he wants.
"It ain't over till its over"---
by FreeBradshaw on Nov 13, 2009 11:39 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
I think
Jeter is very concerned with his legacy, and I think both him and the Yankees want to see him retire with the team. His passing Lou’s record for hits is one milestone and I bet he strongly wants to be the first Yankee with 3K hits as a Yankee. He has to have Cooperstown and legacy on his mind. Just remember he took the Joe DiMaggio sign (“I want to thank the Good Lord for making me a Yankee”).
Something has to go terribly wrong for Jeter to go elsewhere. Just my $.02.
by coops2001 on Nov 13, 2009 1:36 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Jeter
When Jeter is ready to be moved from SS is the day that he retires. He will know when that is. I just dont ever see him playing any other position. SS belongs to him.
It is not worth an intelligent man’s time to be in the majority. By definition, there are already enough people to do that.
by kentuckygirl0724 on Nov 13, 2009 1:37 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
I agree...
yet, as with this all it depends on Jeet.
Does he want to take a stab at the all-time hits record?
No one really knows, even Jeet, if he could still play SS at 40 and not hurt the team.
I think, like a few posters above said, that if Jeet really wants to stay and try for the hits record (which, given his mentality…I think he DOESN’T try for the record…he aint that sort of dude) he’ll switch to a position that would be less demanding, or even DH.
Another thing to consider is A-ROd. He may be the one that the Yanks switch to full-time DH as he ages, so maybe they move Jeet to third.
"It ain't over till its over"---
by FreeBradshaw on Nov 13, 2009 3:49 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
All I got to say
Is they signed Posada at 36 to a 4 yr deal.Jeter is a much better athlete then Jorge and seems to be alot smarter.They will give him a 4 yr deal and Jeter will determine where he plays.He will not purposely hurt the team like another teams captain did by initiating his 3 million dollar option to clog up the bench.Thank you Varitek
by cashman bashman on Nov 13, 2009 5:30 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Jeter has mentioned
that he doesn’t want to manage a ball-club when his playing days are over. Instead, he’s looking for ownership and I can see him being offered a piece of the Yankees. I don’t know how exactly this will work out since the Steinbrenners currently own 51% of NYY and can’t sell him a percentage without giving up full control. It’ll probably have to come from the other remaining partners.
by Scooby Snacks on Nov 13, 2009 10:08 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Jeter
Will play for the Yankees as long as he wants to play, and the Yanks will pay him whatever he wants to do so.
Hopefully, he’s got enough in the tank to break the hit record by 42 or so, but idk.
I do agree with the above statements that he will retire before he starts to slip too much.
As for the Yanks without Jeter, I remember not being able to imagine the Yankees without Donnie Baseball…..
I told you we would beat Georgia!! Now, as for those 9 wins in '09......
Lane Kiffin owns lake-front property in Corch Urbie Meyers's head.
by VolBrian on Nov 14, 2009 11:02 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
How long will he play?
I really don’t know. I’d actually like to see him retire the same year A-Rod does, which will probably be at the final year of A-Rod’s contract, 8 years from now. So maybe at the end of the year Jeter could get a 7 year deal? Around there somewhere? He’d have a chance to break Pete Rose’s record if he plays that long. Plus, I think it will be really great if Jeter and A-Rod retired at the same time. Two of the greatest Yankees of all time retiring in the same year? It would be REALLY sad, but it’s something we probably wouldn’t ever be seen again too, so it would be special.
Who knows what will happen when he’s done? The answer to the shortstop question will be answered well before he retires, because there is no way Jeter is playing short until his plying days are over. He’ll have to change positions eventually, probably to a corner OF spot (maybe take right field when Swisher’s contract expires in 2011?). And who will be the captain? Thats a tough one. We won’t know right now, will we? I don’t even know who will be on the team at that time. Maybe Phil Hughes? He seems like a good guy. Who knows.
Like you said, time will tell.
by nyyrocks29 on Nov 14, 2009 11:37 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Pete Rose
Jeter needs almost 1500 hits to break the record. If he plays for 7 more years he’d need upwards of 200 hits per year to do it. Let’s get real. He’s not going to make it.
I’ve seen estimates which put Jeter’s final hit total at around 3500 hits, which I think is where he will be if he plays until he’s 40 or so. If he plays well and doesn’t decline too much he has an outside shot at 4000, which would be amazing. I’d love to see him play for as long as he wants and get enough WS rings to wear one on each finger like Yogi. Hopefully he sticks around for a long time.
by YankeesRock on Nov 17, 2009 1:10 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
At his age.
He has more hits than Pete Rose did at the same age. He has a chance if he wants to be a journeyman like Rose was.
Yankees all day.
"People ask me what I do in winter when there's no baseball. I'll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring." ~Rogers Hornsby
by Onishadow14 on Nov 17, 2009 6:22 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
He will move from short...
into either a grave in monument park or the front office. His Jersey sales alone is more then France’s Gross Domestic Product. Give him what he wants for however long he wants.
by NJHEAT on Dec 4, 2009 5:58 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
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