Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Jeter Getting Shafted by Yankees?


Anyone who knows me understands that I absolutely hate the New York Yankees.  It's a level of hatred that I reserve for few things, but the Yanks reach that level.  I hate A-Fraud, Texeira, Posada, etc., but I can't say that about Derek Jeter.  Jeter has proven to be a class act, and anyone who truly hates Jeter just says that because he his is the face of the Yankees.  He hasn't done anything except excel on the field and represent the Yankees with class, which is why the way the Yankees are handling Jeter's current contract negotiation is extremely questionable.  GM Brian Cashman told ESPNNewYork.com that "we understand his contributions to the franchise and our offer has taken them into account.  We've encouraged him to test the market and see if there's something he would prefer other than this.  If he can, fine.  That's the way it works."  Uhm, HELLO.  We're talking about the modern day Joe DiMaggio.  Jeter has a .317 career batting average, almost 3,000 career hits (he is the Yankees record holder for hits and has the most hits by any shortstop, ever), has been selected to 11 all-star games, won 5 gold gloves, 5 world series and is the Yankee captain.  Yes, his average did drop from .334 in 2009 to .270 last year.  He also had 8 fewer homers and an on-base percentage that was 66 points lower than the previous year.  Yes, baseball is a business, and the Yankees don't want to pay a player who is probably starting to decline (Jeter is 36).  However, sometimes all that needs to get thrown out the window.  Jeter is one of the best Yankees ever, and probably still has a lot to offer the Yankees, both on the field and off the field.  Letting him go would be a major mistake by the Yankees.  Plus, Jeter in another uniform would just look weird.

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