New York Yankees: Why Fans Need to Get Off Derek Jeter's Case (for Now)

Derek Jeter is arguably one of the seven greatest Yankees to ever put on the uniform.

His name is included with luminaries such as Ruth, Gehrig, DiMaggio, Berra and Mantle.

If you turn on sports talk radio these days, you'd think his name belonged with guys like Espinoza, Tolleson, Pasqua and Maas.

Yankee fans, those who have only known the team as a perennial World Series contender, are a spoiled bunch; no doubt, these are the same people who booed Mariano Rivera at Yankee Stadium last year.

Booed. The greatest relief pitcher of all time and arguably the greatest pitcher of the past 40 years.

Now, they're booing and trashing the captain. They say he should either be a full-time Designated Hitter or simply be released.

They want Brian Cashman to go out and get either Jose Reyes or Hanley Ramirez, because these people demand an All-Star at every position.

But these people aren't Yankee fans. They're front runners, bandwagon jumpers and their allegiance runs as deep as water in a Dixie cup.

Derek Jeter is off to a horrendous start. Absolutely atrocious. But one month does not make a season.

Is Jeter overpaid? Probably. Does this have anything to do with his play on the field? Not at all.

The team, even with Jeter's missing offense, is playing well and winning games.

Has age and the years of abuse that his body has taken playing with reckless abandon caught up to him? Possibly.

If Derek Jeter is still hitting like this in June, then yes, it's cause for concern. But for now, Derek Jeter deserves the chance to work himself out of this slump.

Yes, 37 year old players can get into a funk and then get back out of it.

They can also fade even further from what they once were.

I for one, think he will come out of this.

But Jeter deserves more then a month's time before judgement is passed.

So, give the man who's given you so many wonderful memories a break.

Because guys like Derek Jeter don't come around that often, and you'll be wishing he was still playing when he's gone.