Respect. It's the first thing that comes to my mind when I think about Derek Jeter. All my life I have made rooting against the Evil Empire a sport in itself, but at the same time how can you not have respect for Derek Jeter?
The man the Yankees have called a “modern-day Babe Ruth” is now the same man the Yankees are debating on giving a new contract. Jeter, a free agent for the first time in his career, reportedly is seeking a four year deal or longer. The Yankees greeted him yesterday with a three year, $45 million contract. That still leaves an obvious gap in the negotiations between the two sides. Jeter has said he plans on playing until 2017, which would make him 44 years old upon retirement. Obviously in the world of sports 44 years old is getting way up there, but Jeter in my opinion represents so much more than statistics for the New York Yankees.
Jeter is a rare breed in today’s game. A career with one team, hall of fame numbers, and he is as controversial as a puppy. Jeter, who just won his sixth gold glove, saw his batting average drop to .270 and his slugging percentage fell to .370, well below his career averages of .314 and .452. The year before though Jeter put up AL MVP-like numbers, batting .334 and leading his team to a World Series berth before losing to the Phillies. He is quickly approaching 3,000 hits, sitting at 2,926 currently. If Jeter is signed he will become the first Yankee to reach the 3,000 hit plateau, not Maris, Mantle, Gehrig or the countless other iconic names equivocal to the Yankee franchise, but Derek Jeter.
I understand that A-Rod’s ten year deal will be worth up to $300 million and lasts until he is 42 years old. Obviously that would give the Yankees the most geriatric right side of the infield of all time but is that worth parting with your long-time captain over?
I realize that baseball in the end is a business, and at times teams have to cut their losses and part with someone they value very highly but Brian Cashman needs to find a way to get this deal done. In my eyes it is the equivalent of the Red Wings letting Niki Lidstrom walk, or the Pittsburgh Steelers not letting Hines Ward return to the only team he knows. Derek has captained the Yankees almost as long as I have been alive; he has mentored countless young players in that organization and has settled himself firmly among the greatest to ever wear the pinstripes. Jeter has earned the right to retire a Yankee. What word epitomizes the Yankees more than Jeter?
I agree on many of your points . However , the Yankees are not the Yankees of old . Mostly because the management is inept and has no class or loyalty whatsoever in my opinion . They milk the Yankee fans , don't rehire employees that have worked there for 25 yrs due to age (bs) they rip off the taxpayers of New York City with their new stadium ..yet the fans keep paying big bucks for tickets ,food and merchandise . I think this insanity with celebrity rather than the " real person" and what they stand for is endemic of our sports culture and political system today . People want a Rock Star and look where its got us . If they weren't going to make money why would they keep A Rod the steroid using King of Choke in all of but one playoff year . Jeter is the epitomy of a Yankee , a real Yankee. Mantle and Ruth had their flaws , but they played to win .They were not perfect people , but they had loyalty . We always had a sense they really cared about the fans (whether they did or not who knows) . These guys today on all levels/sports don't care about anyone but themselves . So Derek 15 mill is a lot of jing a year ..sign for 3 years , give 15 mill away to charity .And get rid of A Rod . Nick Altebrando ..
ReplyDeleteI totally agree, they Yankees have mixed up priorities. They treat the game mostly as a business without much thought for people along the way. Jeter is that Yankees organization. A true icon and a loyal player in a time where that is practically unheard of. A-Rod will never be the leader that Jeter has and always will be, so if his contract is what makes Cashman hesitant about resigning his shoe-in hall of fame shortstop, then he may want to reexamine the personalities in his locker room.
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