Al Jeterzeera in full effect

Main course:

Cashman calls offer to Jeter ‘appropriate and fair’

“There is nothing baffling about our position,” Cashman said. “We have been very honest and direct with them, not through the press. We feel our offer is appropriate and fair. We appreciate the contributions Derek has made to our organization and we have made it clear to them. Our primary focus is his on-the-field performance the last couple of years in conjunction with his age, and we have some concerns in that area that need to be addressed in a multiyear deal going forward.

“I restate Derek Jeter is the best shortstop for this franchise as we move forward. The difficulty is finding out what is fair between both sides.”

The Yankees have made Jeter a three-year offer of $45 million, obviously short of what the 36-year-old icon is seeking.

Dessert:

In this numbers game, Jeter’s don’t add up

Derek Jeter’s position when it comes to his contract negotiations appears to be this: I am Derek Jeter, pay me.

It doesn’t matter he has almost no leverage or he is coming off his worst season or the production of shortstops 37 and older in major league history is dismal.

Logic and facts are not supposed to matter. All that is supposed to matter is this: I am Derek Jeter, pay me.

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I’ve said plenty about this over the last few days.? Your turn. Who’s right, who’s wrong?? Where is this going to wind up and when?

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The changing of the guard is upon us; the Buster Posey Effect in effect

Maybe Jeter can learn a thing from his long-time buddy. The position you play doesn’t have to define you; let your play define your position. Do what the team needs you to do in order to best help the team win.?That Posada is handling it this fairly well might be a small surprise, but I’m proud of him and I know that sounds funny, odd.? The thing about Jeter that’s helped?made him so good for so long is his hyper-competitiveness and supreme confidence. That necessary ego is making this next step for Jeter that much more difficult.? If he took an angle not dissimilar to Posada, a bit of humility and rationality about his own shortcomings and ultimately succumbing to?Father Time, the amount of drama would be far less.??Jeter would be revered more for his selflessness than chided for his selfishness (for demanding to play SS and only SS).?

While the Yanks have no obvious heir to the shortstop position (Nunez, perhaps?), the Yanks are in a fine position to lean on their own farm system.? Call it the Buster Posey Effect:

“The Giants did it with Buster Posey,” a Yankees source said of San Francisco’s decision to go with an untested catcher with suspect defensive tools but a big bat. “This guy’s bat is too good not to try it.”

Sounds like we’re going to find out soon enough.? Is Jesus Montero ready? What about Austin Romine?? I can do without major playing time for Cervelli, though.

The upside in this plan is obvious; the farm system delivers their latest full time regular to the Yanks veteran club, adding to the recent ascentions of Brett Gardner and Robinson Cano. Yankee haters will forever bash the team for buying titles, but if Montero sticks, the entire 2011 field, except for first base/pitching, will be either home grown or as a result of trades of home grown talent. Chew on that.

• C: Montero (farm system)
• 1B: Teixeira (free agent)
• 2B: Cano (farm system)
• 3B: ARod (trade: Soriano/farm system)
• SS: Jeter (farm system)
• LF: Gardner (farm system)
• CF: Granderson (trade: A.Jackson, P.Coke, I.Kennedy/farm system)
• RF: Swisher (trade: J.Marquez/farm system)

Meh, perhaps I’m just trying too hard to defend the Yanks. The haters will hate and that’s OK. We’d have it no other way.

Father Time sucks, by the way.

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