Jeter, Wang, and Other fun!

Hey kids, I know it has been a while since I have updated and for that I apologize. Moving in with your girlfriend and taking summer classes take up a lot of time, but now I am back and well rested so lets cover a few topics.

First off, Derek Jeter is a Hall of Famer. First ballot. This is anything anyone doesn't know. He could retire today and be in the Hall of Fame tomorrow (actually he couldn't, but you get my point). He is currently my third favorite Yankee on the team after Mo and Tex (Mo and Tex kinda sounds like a southern burger joint, doesn't it?), and he is one of the greatest Yankees of all time.

With that said, the only criticism I have for him (more for the team really) is giving him a multi-million, multi-year deal after his contract is up in 2010. Jeter is currently having a very solid season, especially after last years disapointing season, while he is hitting .298 w/8 HR's, 26 RBI, .370 OB% and 12 steals (only caught once). His defense has never been superb, and his lack of range is only lacking more and more everyday (even the biggest Jeter supporters have to be honest about that point), but luckily for him, and us, Mark Teixeira is there to pick up any balls thrown in the dirt.

He has 2607 career hits, 1502 runs scored, a shot at 300 career home runs and is one of the most clutch players of all time. After next year though, he will be 36. The only team to ever win a world series with a SS over the age of 35 has been 2 or 3 times with Honus Wagner.

Take away the name.

A 36 year old shortstop who is essentially a singles hitter, whose defense is average and who is only getting older by the minute, how much do you give him? 6 mil? 7 mil? Maybe.

The problem is this man does have a name, Derek Jeter, and he needs to be treated with respect. Also, not to mention, barring any unforeseen injuries or super-human bursts of performance, he will be getting his 3,000th hit in the year 2011, he can't do it in any uniform other than the Yankee pinstripes.

Just like Arnold Schwarzenegger went on Jay Leno to announce his plans to run for Governor, I am using my own blog to announce my change of stance on Derek Jeter. I always said sign him for a 1 year deal after 2010, let him get his 3,000th hit and then say goodbye. That's what the team should do, that is what is best for the team, but the problem is there are certain cases with very special players where that simply cannot be done, and this is one of them.

The whole point in arguing things is because both sides of the argument have a legitimate shot at being right. There is no way the Yankees give Jeter a one year deal and let him walk, it simply will not happen.

I am not changing my stance on what the Yankees should do, I still believe that a 1 year deal would be best and that's it, but I know there is zero percent chance of that happening, so there is no point in arguing it anymore.

With Matsui leaving next year, Jeter will def. see more time at DH and that will be good for him, and for us (Posada and A-Rod should also see extended time there as well, the main reason the Yankees need a real utility guy next year such as Chone Figgins or Mark DeRosa).

Jeter though, whether I like it or not, is going to be around for as long as he wants and I have accepted it. He deserves it, he truly does. Maybe the team doesn't, but he does.

Chicken-Wing Wang

Wow, Chien-Ming Wang is pretty terrible this year. Just a random stat for you guys, in the history of all of baseball, out of all the people who have pitched at least 20 innings and made at least 5 starts, Wang's 14.34 is the worst ERA of all time. Not to mention, his ERA as a STARTER is 21.45.

I am not going to argue that he shouldn't make his next start, he shouldn't, but he is, so what I say doesn't matter. But I don't think he should make another one if his next start is bad.

And don't take the Washington Nationals lightly. Yes, they're the worst team in baseball, but their problem is pitching, not hitting.

They have Nick Johnson, Adam Dunn (in the New Yankee stadium nonetheless), Christian Guzman, Elijah Dukes, Josh Willingham. The Nationals can hit.

Wang's wife is due to give birth any minute and the Taiwainese culture believe that babies will bring good luck. Wang better hope that is true.

Around the Team

Just some quick notes, Brian Brunye threw batting practice to Angel Berroa and Ramiro Pena the other day, so we finally have an answer as to why Berroa is on the team, so thats nice.

But Bruney may be back next week and Nady back the week after that. I know the team has looked good as of late (outside of the Boston Series), but replacing Jose Veras and Angel Berroa with Brian Bruney and Xavier Nady makes this a much better team.