How It Will Happen
I've been thinking about how the Yankees drop Derek Jeter in the lineup for a long time. While I advocated bringing him back this offseason, I also said that the Yankees need to have a conversation with him about moving down in the lineup. That time has come and Buster Olney has an interesting angle on it in his column today-
If Derek Jeter were anybody else, it's fair to say that he would have already been dropped in the lineup. Girardi doesn't want to move Jeter, apparently, and is probably concerned about embarrassing a proud player.
What Jeter should do, as captain of the Yankees, is to draw from Ripken's example. He should take the onus off the manager. He should go to Girardi and tell him he'll be ready to hit anywhere in the lineup, and that he'll be OK with it. Until that happens -- or until Jeter actually starts to hit -- the Captain's place in the lineup, and his deep slump, will continue to be the elephant in the room for Girardi, something that everybody sees but won't talk about.
Now, I don't see Jeter doing that, so Girardi needs to have a conversation with Jeter about this. The numbers are brutal, here are some from Olney's column-
• On-base percentage: .310
• Slugging percentage: .269, which ranks 183rd out of 195 players.
• OPS: .580, which ranks 171st.
• Ground ball/fly ball ratio, a sign of how the player is not driving the ball: 2.72. Only one other player, Yunel Escobar, has a ground ball ratio over 2.00.
Yesterday he had two line drives, which were celebrated as a sign that things are changing with Derek's swing. The Yankees have managed to play very good baseball with a millstone at the top of their lineup, but they can't continue to give away AB's. The top guy at the lineup gets about one-more plate appearance a game than the bottom guy and right now Jeter doesn't deserve that extra PA over Gardner, Martin or even Nunez.
The Yankees will probably wait until Jeter records his 3,000th hit. At this pace, that will probably come right around their 81st game of the season. With Tampa rebounding and Boston lurking, can the Yankees afford to wait that long?
Comments
Well, it's like having Horace Clarke at the top of the lineup all over again.
I'm hoping that after another 100 ABs he'll get his numbers up. I can't believe he's washed up -- he's got to have at least one more great year in him.
Posted by: Corey | May 4, 2011 03:49 PM |
Jose Reyes anyone?
Posted by: Mitchell![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://yankeesredsox.com/nav-commenters.gif)
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May 4, 2011 06:39 PM
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I hope you are right Corey, but I am not optimistic.
And Mitchell, if the Mets go into fire sale mode, I am all for it, but not for any significant prospects.
Posted by: Peter![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://yankeesredsox.com/nav-commenters.gif)
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May 4, 2011 08:54 PM
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It would be extremely bad news for the Yanks if Jeter's decline is this rapid because you can't even play him with this bat. I have to think numbers to pick up some but problem is, I don't think they ever justify the leadoff spot. The Yanks are very dependent now on the 3-4-5 spot in the order. All the more important to make sure 1 & 2 get on base. Lots of holes in this Yankee line-up.
Posted by: tim | May 5, 2011 12:47 AM |
More thoughts on Jeter, aka Captain Clutch:
sometimes Jeter makes me think of the Black Knight in MP's Holy Grail movie - "It's just a flesh wound". I have listened to this guy assert that it's "only a flesh wound" so often that I have a hard time believing him when it IS just "a flesh wound". He'll get hit on the hand and slump for 6 weeks all the while refusing to acknowledge an injury. Let's just say that he seems to be unable to acknowledge a problem - and leave it at that. :)
At this point, I'm hoping that Girardi actually has the courage to sit Jeter for a bit and let this hip issue resolve itself as opposed to letting the guy run out there too early and continue to be a liability at the plate.
Posted by: Mitchell![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://yankeesredsox.com/nav-commenters.gif)
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May 5, 2011 07:25 AM
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