Jason Nix could go down in history as the man who put down both Mariano and Jeter

For years, brooders within the Yankiverse - you know who you are - have agonized over who will "replace" the twin towers - Mo and Jeet - when that Yankee Nuclear Clock finally chimes midnight. The notion often goes that we'll sign a great closer or shortstop, someone worthy of becoming a question on Trivial Pursuit. This is because we are fools.

For starters, icons don't get replaced - and certainly not by other icons. After Thurman, we greeted Brad Gulden. And here's today's essay question: Name five of the 1Bs we trotted out to fill Don Mattingly's vacant Buster Browns. (Hint: One's name - pictured - is a variant of a great Yankees blog.)

Maybe we're just in denial here - a common affliction. But like it or not, we may be looking at Derek Jeter's replacement.

It's Jason Nix, not future Cooperstown inductee, but vastly superior to Eduardo Nunez, who neither hit nor brokered confidence with his Knoblachian throws to first. Nuni was supposed to steal bases. Well, Nix now has 5, yet to be caught.  When Eduardo returns from his rib injury - which at one point was supposed to be day to day -  I'm sure he'll get some ABs. But unless he returns with a vengeance, I don't think we're going to see much of the guy. Nix is our SS, folks. Deal with it.

Thus Nix could go into the trivia books as the player whose batting practice fungo tore Mariano's knee - and then who replaced Jeter at SS. Of course, Jeter will return this year - but will he be the starting everyday SS? Whew. That's a different question. If we're waiting for Jeter to be the Iron Captain at SS again - well, we might as well be waiting  for Jesus Montero. Ankle injuries are a mess. Ask Brian Cashman.

Thus, Jason Nix becomes the defensive lynchpin of this team. He is a career .216 hitter, who last year surprised everybody, hitting .243. (He now stands at .231 - not much, but about 30 points higher than what Nunez hit.) Last October, Nix hit .500 against Baltimore and - like everyone - tanked against Detroit, though he nearly homered in one late inning AB - a blast that, a micrometer here or there, might have won a game.

As for Mariano's replacement, we all know it's going to be the cast of a Cecil B. Demille movie. It'll make finding Mattingly's successor look like a snap. Joba will be gone, the rookies aren't ready, and we're not going to be able to handle Houdini perpetually loading the bases. Can Jason Nix pitch?