Listen: The Yankees aren't known as great truth-tellers. When it comes to personal self-disclosure, the team would make the CIA look like Anne Frank. But nobody in the Yankiverse cares. We fans expect them to lie. We prefer lies. It shows they're trying to win ballgames, dammit. If Boston knows Tex is hurt - as we do - they'll have an advantage - not sure what it is, but screw 'em: Lie to us, everybody! Tell us Tex is fine! So... the Team Diogenes announces that Tex is OK, it's just a dream sequence sex hickey, and he's coming back. If the wrist pops after a few games, oh well, he tried. Waiting two extra weeks for season-ending surgery won't matter. His next appearance will be in spring training. And then... let the lies of 2014 form on our tongues!
So, our lucky '13 season - whatever is left - hinges on Jeter and A-Rod returning after the All-Star break, probably to a team five to 10 games out, in a jumbled division. (BTW, I don't buy the notion that A-Rod will be suspended; MLB would have to exile dozens of players, a veritable nuke in the middle of the Love Bud's precious pennant race, and each call must withstand the union's appeal; I think they'll wait until winter, when games are not being played during the interim, but - obviously - I'm Sgt. Schultz here: I know nothingk.)
So, here are two great hitters in the twilight, healing from major dings, and we need them every day. We already have a full-time DH (though Col. Travis better start hitting like one.) Let's look at each.
A-Rod: Much of the wear and tear on our boy's hip comes from charging bunts and throwing off balance. Move him to 1B, and he almost never needs to throw (as Jason Giambi proved.) He's played it before. He could platoon with Overbay or be replaced for defense. If A-Rod hits, he has a 1B-worthy bat. Face it, folks: This is our one hope. Yes, it's crazy, but who else do you suggest? Dan Johnson? Kyle Roller? Youk? (Hey, you want another spoiler alert?)
Jeet: Realistically, how many back-to-back games can he play at SS? The wear and tear on an ankle during double plays, pivots and guys barreling into him - every routine grounder, we'll be holding our breath. By comparison, 3B would be a cakewalk. Come on, folks, he's got to move someday. Ripken moved to 3B. It added three years to his career. Next spring, if Jeet's ankle is strong, he can come back and finish at SS. This is the only move that makes sense. I greatly fear that if Jeter tries to play SS next month, it will be painful to watch - moreover, painful to implement. It's practically a suicide mission.
Move Jeet to 3B, A-Rod to first - and let Youk warm up pitchers between innings. No, it's not a perfect situation. And let's let Tex play 1B until the kryptonite cheesecake is delivered. But once Tex goes pop, who plays 1B? Overbay? Love the guy. But there's a reason we signed him off the waiver wire.
OK, I know what you're thinking: I know nothing about the mechanics of each man's injury and - more importantly - the dimensions of their egos (which are wrongly believed to be larger than mine.) Maybe neither will sign on for such a move. (But I would, dammit; to help the Yankees,, I WOULD.) Maybe Girardi and Cashman have better ideas. But I sure hope we don't start dealing prospects for another short-term fix, because, my friends, we're teetering on the brink of the Isiah Thomas Guidebook to Sports Management. And I think Jeter and Arod have been around long enough to know that in NY, only winning matters.
This may not be the best move for either. But it might be the team. Hear those bells clanging, folks? They toll for thee. That's the fire alarm. In an emergency, you break glass. Time to grab the hammer.
I like it. No way should Jeter should come back and play SS in 2013. To put him in that situation would be to totally disregard his health. Show the man some love and respect. He's been such a great Yankee. Don't do this to Jete.
ReplyDeleteI resent that you said playing third, the position I played, " woujd be a cakewalk."
ReplyDeleteAll you former shortstops say that.
It is neither a piece of cake or a walk ( in the park ) to play the hot corner.
That said, I agree with your idea.
Cashman gets paid and Duque doesn't? Yet another argument that the Duquester should be GM and John Sterling should manage. The key to this ingenious solution is the likely supposition that, as several bloggers have opined, Tex is finished at least for this season. Best case scenario, Tex bats righthanded from here on, which of course makes Overbay a genuine asset. Next question: what do you do at shortstop? Not a short-term fix, but longterm. Trade for Tulo now that he is injured?
ReplyDeleteAnd once again I pose the age-old question.
ReplyDeleteIf a bunch of drunken long-time fans can sit at a great distance and know what should be done, why do the overpaid clowns in charge consistently do the wrong thing--if winning is indeed their object?
We have a much better record than they do. Jesus, perhaps, excepted. But the jury is still out on that.
great post, great ideas.
ReplyDeletecouldn't you have found a better comparison?
"the team would make the CIA look like Anne Frank."
One draft, baby, one draft.
ReplyDeleteJeter will never play another position other than SS for The New York Yankees.
ReplyDeleteLock it up.
You can bet your slingshot guitar, Steven, that someday I will manage the Yankees. Hopefully the Steingoobers will treat me better than they treated Lou Piniella, Yogi Berra and Don Mattingly.
ReplyDelete