FanPost

Yet Another Jeter Post



In 1996 Derek Jeter was named the Yankees opening day shortstop, the first rookie to do this since Tom Tresh in 1962. Since his 1996 season, Derek Jeter has cultivated an image that has made him known as the face of the Yankees and perhaps baseball itself. In just a few short weeks of negotiations, has this image been forever tarnished?

Derek Jeter has always been looked at as a leader, a player any team would want to build their ballclub around. Before Jeter's rookie year, the Yankees had not won a World Series since 1978, and had not been to a World Series since their 1981 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Jeter's performance in the 1996 playoffs helped the Yankees finally reach the top again.

Jeter and the Yankees would go on to enjoy great success throughout the late 90's and early 2000's. The Yankees would go on to draw the most fans in their history during the Jeter era. They also have led the league in road attendance many times during this era. While the Yankees have always surrounded Jeter with the best talent, when you thought NY Yankees, you thought Derek Jeter.

In 2001, following three consecutive world championships, the Yankees rewarded Derek with what was at the time the second largest contract in baseball history(now third behind the two Alex Rodriguez contracts), 189 million for 10 years. Jeter did not slow down at all following the signing of this deal. One could argue the Yankees got what they paid for and much more.

Derek was rewarded in 2003 for this with something all that money could never buy, the prestige of being named the Yankees Captain. Only 11 players have ever been lucky enough to be named captain of sports most prestigious franchise. Jeter earned this honor by being the consummate professional and a leader on and off the field. Even Yankee greats like Mantle and DiMaggio never achieved this honor.

Now we return to the present, Derek is one year removed from one of the best years of his career and a World Series title. 2010 wasnt as kind to Jeter, his numbers were easily the worst of his career, his defense has come into question and the Yankees lost in the ALCS. Jeter's 2010 has gone from bad to worse with the recent contract negotiations.

Reports have had Jeter wanting 6 years at 120 million, while other reports have the Yankees offering 3 years at 45 million. Of course these numbers arent even close, if they are even accurate. Jeter has been quiet through the negotiations, while the Yankees have basically been negotiating through the press. Both sides have to realize they belong together. The Yankees cannot let the face and captain of the franchise leave. Jeter will more than likely find not many teams looking to commit those kinds of dollars and years to an aging shortstop.

If this marriage ends in divorce, the Yankees and Jeter will continue to go on but both will lose. Could Jeter out of bitterness turn this into a Yogi Berra situation? In 1985, Yogi pledged to never step foot into Yankee Stadium again after an unfair firing. I dont think the Yankees want to deal with the prospect of Jeter never returning. While Jeter is a lock for the Hall Of Fame, would he walk away from his #2 being retired forever by the Yankees? The Yankees have made Jeter look like just another greedy player looking for more money than he is worth. Have they already destroyed an image they helped cultivate over the last 15 years?

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