Jeter Should Bat 9th

[a700hitter]

According to Joel Sherman, Jeter should be batting 9th. This is the first time, in my recollection, that Jeter has been criticized in the NY press. He must be finished.

 

http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/yankees/what_in_name_yOoYY6OoL6TNOMdSoGhpjP

 

Yankees should bat Jeter at bottom of order

Joel Sherman

 

There are many ways to think about a lineup, but there is one inarguable concept when constructing a batting order: You want your best hitters to bat most frequently.

 

So why does Derek Jeter continue to hit in one of the top two spots in the order?

 

The short answer is because he is Derek Jeter.

 

At this moment, Jeter is the weakest link in the everyday lineup, which means he should be batting eighth or ninth.

 

He isn't, Joe Girardi says, because the manager "believes" in Jeter. I think it is because he believes he would be creating tension and controversy around his club if he makes such a public rebuke of Jeter's skills. Girardi knows the decision by his predecessor, Joe Torre, to bat Alex Rodriguez eighth in the 2006 Division Series forever damaged the relationship between manager and slugger, and Girardi surely sees no upside in making the iconic Jeter an enemy.

 

To defend Jeter's presence near the top of the order, Girardi cherry-picked Jeter's runs scored (95) as an example of his continuing value. But that is more a reflection of how well the guys hitting behind Jeter have done. If he were having a familiar season, he would have 115-plus runs. Instead, he leads the majors in outs and has an on-base percentage of .332 -- 92nd out of 155 players who are qualified for the batting title.

 

In the Yankees lineup, the top of the order also can be an RBI position. But Jeter has one hit in 16 at-bats with the bases loaded and is hitting just .255 with runners in scoring position.

 

As if to accentuate what the top of the Yankees order can generate, in yesterday's 7-3 victory over the Blue Jays, on-base machine Brett Gardner led off, reached base three times, scored three times and drove in a run. The resurgent Curtis Granderson, batting second, delivered two doubles, two walks and three RBIs.

 

Jeter did not start as Girardi kept his struggling shortstop (3-for-his-last-34) away from a righty, Brandon Morrow, who Jeter cannot handle (3-for-16, seven strikeouts). The next two players on the shortstop depth chart, Ramiro Pena (who started at third) and Eduardo Nunez, combined to go 4-for-8.

 

But this is not about removing Jeter from the 2010 everyday lineup. Pressure games are coming and the Yankees know Jeter will not be unnerved in those situations. This is about recognizing that there is no meritocracy when it comes to Jeter. When, for example, Javier Vazquez lost his fastball, he lost his rotation spot. Jeter has metaphorically lost his fastball as a hitter, becoming a groundball metronome who hardly ever strikes the ball with authority. Yet he not only does not lose playing time, he continues to bat more frequently than more deserving teammates.

 

I directly asked Girardi whether, if Jeter's name were Joe Smith, he still would be hitting atop the lineup.

 

"Yes," the manager said. "I don't know if a change would bring shockwaves [to the clubhouse]. All I know is that I believe in Derek."

 

But that is about nostalgia, not current reality. The best present-day Yankees lineup should have Gardner leading off and an RBI type such as Granderson or Nick Swisher hitting second. Gardner went into yesterday leading the majors in pitches seen per plate appearances. He has forced 104 full counts (11th in the majors), and that is a tribute to the hitting eye of a player that opposing pitchers desperately want to dispose of quickly and keep off base. He saw 26 pitches in five plate appearances -- his combination of patience and speed ideal for leadoff.

 

Since changing his swing under the tutelage of hitting coach Kevin Long, Granderson is batting .303 with seven homers in 76 at-bats. More amazing has been his transformation against lefties. In that span, he is hitting .423 (11-for-26) against lefties with four walks (.500 on-base percentage) and six extra-base hits (.769 slugging) compared with .206/.243/.275 with four extra-base hits in his first 102 at-bats against southpaws this year.

 

In just 285 at-bats out of the two-hole, Swisher has 15 homers (second best in the majors) and 42 RBIs.

 

Nevertheless, Jeter will continue to bat first or second. Not because he deserves that. But because his name is Derek Jeter.

[RedSoxfanforlife305]

Wow, this article actually makes sense.

[yankees228]

Completely agreed. If everyone is healthy, here is what the Yankees' lineups should be (IMO):

 

vs. RHP

 

LF Brett Gardner

RF Nick Swisher

1B Mark Teixeira

3B Alex Rodriguez

2B Robinson Cano

C Jorge Posada

CF Curtis Granderson

DH Lance Berkman

SS Derek Jeter

 

Against lefties you would just swap out Berkman for Thames. The 2, 6, and 7 spots are also interchangeable. If his name wasn't Derek Jeter, and the Yankees just looked at his production, he would be hitting ninth.

 

There was a reason I started the thread about Jeter's future, and this is it.

[a700hitter]

Joel Sherman will not be getting any smiles in the Yankee clubhouse. lol!!!

[RedSoxfanforlife305]

Completely agreed. If everyone is healthy, here is what the Yankees' lineups should be (IMO):

 

vs. RHP

 

LF Brett Gardner

RF Nick Swisher

1B Mark Teixeira

3B Alex Rodriguez

2B Robinson Cano

C Jorge Posada

CF Curtis Granderson

DH Lance Berkman

SS Derek Jeter

 

Against lefties you would just swap out Berkman for Thames. The 2, 6, and 7 spots are also interchangeable. If his name wasn't Derek Jeter, and the Yankees just looked at his production, he would be hitting ninth.

 

There was a reason I started the thread about Jeter's future, and this is it.

 

If all Yankees fans had sense like you I wouldn't hate them so much.

[yankees228]

If all Yankees fans had sense like you I wouldn't hate them so much.

 

Haha, I appreciate that. Admittedly, the general sentiment amongst Yankees' fans regarding Jeter is frustrating and annoying.

[Yaz Sideburn]

According to Joel Sherman' date=' Jeter should be batting 9th. This is the first time, in my recollection, that Jeter has been criticized in the NY press. He must be finished.[/quote']

 

this is just the yankees smearing him so they can lowball him this offseason

 

ie - joe torre

 

not really, but if he played for the red sox people would be claiming that the front office leaked this story to the press as some kind of a smear campaign

[yankees228]

this is just the yankees smearing him so they can lowball him this offseason

 

ie - joe torre

 

not really, but if he played for the red sox people would be claiming that the front office leaked this story to the press as some kind of a smear campaign

 

Too bad this isn't the case. Instead the Yankees will enjoy his deteriorating offense and his poor defense at SS for the next three years with a 20 million dollar AAV.

[Yaz Sideburn]

Too bad this isn't the case. Instead the Yankees will enjoy his deteriorating offense and his poor defense at SS for the next three years with a 20 million dollar AAV.

 

you mean to tell me that it's good business to pass on declining players rather than overpay for them? i'm glad the yankees front office isn't as logical as you

[yankees228]

you mean to tell me that it's good business to pass on declining players rather than overpay for them? i'm glad the yankees front office isn't as logical as you

 

Haha, well, you can't knock the Yankees' front office entirely on that front. They had no problem cutting ties with guys like Don Mattingly and Bernie Williams when they were no longer effective. They won't do it with Jeter, but they have done it before. They don't always take the sentimental route.

[Yaz Sideburn]

Haha' date=' well, you can't knock the Yankees' front office entirely on that front. They had no problem cutting ties with guys like Don Mattingly and Bernie Williams when they were no longer effective. They won't do it with Jeter, but they have done it before. They don't always take the sentimental route.[/quote']

 

yeah, you're right. i just get a kick out of people making the red sox out as bad guys who have no loyalty to their players for not overpaying for them to decline at the end of their careers

[yankees228]

yeah' date=' you're right. i just get a kick out of people making the red sox out as bad guys who have no loyalty to their players for not overpaying for them to decline at the end of their careers[/quote']

 

Completely agreed.

[Yaz Sideburn]

Completely agreed.

 

it sucks, but baseball is a business

[yankees228]

it sucks' date=' but baseball is a business[/quote']

 

And the teams that hang onto players because of past successes, instead of what their future looks like, are the one's who generally suffer because of it.

[Yaz Sideburn]

And the teams that hang onto players because of past successes' date=' instead of what their future looks like, are the one's who generally suffer because of it.[/quote']

 

yeah, and there are plenty of examples of it across baseball, even on the red sox

 

*cough* mike lowell *cough*

[Spudboy]

If all Yankees fans had sense like you I wouldn't hate them so much.

 

Hate is a waste of emotional energy at your age. Save it for an ex-wife!

 

By the way, we have some nice people here that are Yankee fans.

 

Just wait for the Sox to be mathematically eliminated. Then you will see the "other kind" of Yankee fans on Talksox.

[RedSoxfanforlife305]

Hate is a waste of emotional energy at your age. Save it for an ex-wife!

 

By the way, we have some nice people here that are Yankee fans.

 

Just wait for the Sox to be mathematically eliminated. Then you will see the "other kind" of Yankee fans on Talksox.

 

Haha, I got you;) I had to grow up to hate them.

[Yaz Sideburn]

Hate is a waste of emotional energy at your age. Save it for an ex-wife!

 

[Spudboy]

Too bad this isn't the case. Instead the Yankees will enjoy his deteriorating offense and his poor defense at SS for the next three years with a 20 million dollar AAV.

 

And that is just ridiculous. I realize what he has meant to the franchise for so many years. But 3/60 -4/80 is just bad business. I say more like 2/22-24. And his on-field performance will most likely not justify that. Please note that I said on-field. He has worth other than his play.

[Spudboy]

Haha' date=' I got you;) I had to grow up to hate them.[/quote']

 

 

Unfortunately, I know about these things.

[yankees228]

And that is just ridiculous. I realize what he has meant to the franchise for so many years. But 3/60 -4/80 is just bad business. I say more like 2/22-24. And his on-field performance will most likely not justify that. Please note that I said on-field. He has worth other than his play.

 

I hope you're right, but I can't see Jeter taking a pay cut.

[yankees228]

Hell of an AB there by Marco Scu - I mean Derek Jeter.

[Yaz Sideburn]

I hope you're right' date=' but I can't see Jeter taking a pay cut.[/quote']

 

i have a hard time seeing him taking a pay cut as well becuase he's... derek jeter. when push comes to shove, perhaps he could take a $2-3 million pay cut but i don't think he's going to take a $5-6 million pay cut becuase it's what's best for the team's offseason plans as some have suggested

[yrtb]

As average as he is starting to become at SS compared to other players, I just don't feel right about possibly letting him go, I wasn't happy when they let Bernie go either. I would like him to maybe come back for 2 or 3 more years at 10-12 million a year, I hope he is willing to take a pay cut

[a700hitter]

As average as he is starting to become at SS compared to other players' date=' I just don't feel right about possibly letting him go, I wasn't happy when they let Bernie go either. I would like him to maybe come back for 2 or 3 more years at 10-12 million a year, I hope he is willing to take a pay cut[/quote']I hope they give him 4 years. He's looking like he is very close to the end of his productive days.

[jacksonianmarch]

Haha' date=' I appreciate that. Admittedly, the general sentiment amongst Yankees' fans regarding Jeter is frustrating and annoying.[/quote']

 

Yep. Jeter shouldnt be at the top of the order, and he shouldnt see a big extension, period. Hell, I would be okay with Nunez at SS next season. At least he can field

[jacksonianmarch]

Hate is a waste of emotional energy at your age. Save it for an ex-wife!

 

By the way, we have some nice people here that are Yankee fans.

 

Just wait for the Sox to be mathematically eliminated. Then you will see the "other kind" of Yankee fans on Talksox.

 

The trolls are sharpening their teeth. Just wait

[yankees228]

This obviously won't be a popular opinion (and there's no chance of this happening), but when you consider all the factors, I think an argument could be made that the Yankees are better off with Pena at short.

[a700hitter]

Jeter has that Roberto Alomar look. Alomar was chugging along at a high level of excellence. People were talking about him getting 4,000 hits like they have talked about Jeter getting 4,000 hits and then it was gone. After the first year, there were some excuses about an off year etc. He hit .266 that year at age 34. That was the beginning of the end. He played 2 more years and got a total of 178 hits and was out of baseball by age 36. He finished with 2,724 hits.