Bleacher Report - Derek Jeter

Derek Jeter Wins SI's Sportsman Of The Year

Adam Bernacchio — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 14:00:14 -0500

According to SI.com (obviously), New York Yankees SS Derek Jeter has won the coveted Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year award. Jeter becomes the first Yankee to ever win the award and the first baseball player to win the award since the Boston Red Sox won it at as a team in 2004.

I have no problem with Jeter receiving the honor, but he should receive it for the right reasons, not one of the reasons that Sports Illustrated Group Director Terry McDonell gave.

“This verifies my idea that he is on the level of Ruth and Gehrig,” McDonell said. “He’s the greatest shortstop in the history of the game.”

What???

He sounds like a junior high school kid. You give someone this honor because they deserve it and they dominated the sports world for that particular year, not because this gives credibility to a preposterous idea you have that Jeter is just as good as Ruth and Gehrig.

I could just see this guy talking to his friends and saying "You know what? I really think Jeter is as good as Ruth or Gehrig and just to verify this thought, I am going to make him Sportsman of the Year."

Now to his credit, McDonell did give one logical reason as to why they picked Jeter for 2009.

“Derek Jeter has always presented himself with class; he does numerous good works for the community with his Turn 2 Foundation, which is one of the most efficient, effective foundations of its kind; and he’s extremely generous with not just his money but with his time, which in many cases is more valuable. He also had another signature year on the field.”

If I had a say in this award, I would have gone in a different direction; I would have voted for Tim Tebow.

Now I am not a Florida Gators fan and I don’t like or dislike Tebow, but the Gators did win a National Championship in the 2008/2009 season and when it is all said and done, he will probably go down as the most celebrated college football player of all time.

If there has been one athlete who has dominated the sports landscape for the last three years, it’s been Tebow. Whether you like him or despise him,that’s just a fact of life.

Sports Illustrated has never given the award to a college athlete, but Tebow would have been a good pick.

You can follow The Ghost of Moonlight Graham on Twitter @ theghostofmlg

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SI Names Jeter Sportsman Of The Year

Ryan Maloney — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 13:26:00 -0500

For the first time in its 55-year history, the Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year Award will go to a member of the New York Yankees.

The magazine announced Monday that Derek Jeter is the 2009 recipient of the award.

This October, the Yankee captain led the Bronx Bombers to their fifth World Series title since his debut with the franchise in 1996. Jeter hit .334 this season with 18 home runs and 66 RBI. He also stole 30 bases on just 35 attempts. He had stolen just 26 bases over the previous two seasons combined.

His efforts at shortstop earned him his fourth AL Gold Glove Award in six years. He also collected his fourth straight AL Silver Slugger Award to go along with the AL Hank Aaron Award. The Aaron award is given annually to the bet hitter in each league, as voted on by fans and members of the media.

Jeter is the first baseball player to receive the SI SOTY award since the entire Boston Red Sox roster was awarded it in 1004 after winning the franchise's first World Series in 86 years.

Prior to that, Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling shared the award after pitching the Arizona Diamondbacks to their only World Series title in 2001. They defeated Jeter's Yankees in seven games.

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Derek Jeter Named Sports Illustrated's "Sportsman of the Year"

Frankie Riolo — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 10:51:00 -0500

While Derek Jeter may have missed out on winning the American League MVP Award to Joe Mauer, this is one award no one can take away from him.

It was announced today that Jeter will be named Sports Illustrated's Sportsman of the Year.

This is the first time that a Yankee has won the award in the 56 years of its existence, and the first time a baseball player has won since 2004, when the entire Boston Red Sox team was honored.

Jeter had one of the best years of his career in 2009, as he was ranked in the top 10 of several major American League categories. This led to the claiming of his fourth AL Silver Slugger Award and fourth AL Gold Glove.

But, as Sports Illustrated points out, the award does not simply recognize great accomplishments on the field, but off the field as well.

Jeter has been seen working with many charities, particularly with his Turn-2 Foundation, which he founded in 1996.

The organization concentrates on encouraging children to avoid abusive drugs and alcohol while improving social skills, such as leadership.

It truly makes me happy to see one of my childhood idols win this award. I myself have tried to emulate Jeter in many ways since I was probably about 10 years old, both while playing baseball and while presenting myself around other people.

Whether you are trying to copy his batting stance or help others in need, the Yankee captain is certainly a great example of what a person should strive to be.

Award well deserved.

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Johnny Damon Needs the New York Yankees More Than They Need Him

Joseph DelGrippo — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 19:23:20 -0500

While every one now is pondering why Roy Halladay is needed on the Yankees (he isn't), I want to focus on the first important deal that Brian Cashman will attempt to get done.

After Johnny Damon finally helped the New York Yankees back to the World Series, and winning their first title since 2001, he is a free agent again. And every time Damon has been a free agent, he has changed teams. He was the good corporate guy who said all the right things before, during and after the big parade down the Canyon of Heroes.

Damon would "love to be a Yankee again," and he wants "to end my career in New York."

But after making the defining play of this years World Series with his double steal, smart dash to third base*, it appears Damon does want more of the Yankees...more of their money and more years in his contract.

*Great photo above on the double steal isn't it? But while looking at the photo I am left wondering why right fielder Jayson Werth is just standing there like a little leaguer. On steal attempts all three outfielders need to move forward towards the infield in case of an errant throw or a rundown ensues.

Before his breakout in the 2009 post season, it was widely thought that the Yankees and Damon would agree to a one year deal with incentives, similar to what Andy Pettitte signed with New York last off season. That type of situation would work well for bothe sides; the Yankees would retain the popular Damon with reasonable dollar figures and Damon would continue to play his usual 140+ games per season.

Damon would play mostly left field and occasionally DH to give his 36 year old legs a rest.

Now Damon (his wife, Michelle and agent Scott Boras) says that many teams are interested in his services, and he has told friends that he will not give the Yankees a discount to stay with the World Champs.

There is no other way to say this - Johnny Damon is a moron. Simply put, if he leaves the Yankees then he is a very stupid individual.

While a member of the Boston Red Sox, Damon was considered one of the "idiots" of their 2004 World Series title team.

That name aptly fits this older version of Damon, too.

After finally experiencing a World Championship in the best city to win a sports title of any kind, Damon wants more money. His agent has bandied about needing a four year deal for the 36 year old outfielder. But Boras' free agent rants never get his client was he says they deserve.

In separate interviews Boras has said that Damon should get the same type of deal that Yankee catcher Jorge Posada (also 36 at the time) received prior to the 2008 season. Then Boras said that Damon "made Derek Jeter" by hitting behind him this season and his client compares favorably (saber and fantasy stst wisw) to the Yankee captain over the last three seasons. He stated that "whatever the Yankees plan on doing with Jeter long-term, Damon deserves similar consideration."

Problem for Boras and Damon is that the decision on Johnny will come well before any work on Jeter's new deal begins.

Also, Boras does not realize (or maybe he does and is just blowing his usual smoke), that the Yankees really needed Posada that off season, as they had nothing in their system at the catching position remotely close to the major leagues and the other choices available in free agency or via trades were terrible. At that time Francisco Cervelli had finished his first full season in the minors at High A Tampa.

In fact, the Yankees were willing to give Posada a three-year deal, but had to go the extra year because Jorge was being courted by Omar Minaya and the New York Mets, and at that time, the best available catcher was their own backup Jose Molina or free agent Paul LoDuca. Also, Alex Rodriguez had already opted out of his Yankee deal at that time, and the Yankees were in desperate need of right handed power, something the switch-hitting Posada provided.

In addition, Posada plays a more demanding position (although not as well as his younger years) and was a mainstay Yankee from their dynasty years.

Not quite the same situation as with Damon is it Mr. Boras? But when have you ever been reasonable in your free agent demands?

And in regards to comparing Damon to Mr. Jeter, a five-time World Series winner, de facto leader of the Yankees over the last 10 years, this generation's version of Joe DiMaggio and a sure fire first-ballot Hall of Famer... well I guess I just said all that needs to be said about that absurd Boras comment.

As the title of the piece says, Damon needs the Yankees more than the Yankees need him. There are quite a few left fielders available via free agency (Jason Bay and Matt Holliday) and within the Yankees own system - they can promote Austin Jackson, and have a trio of Jackson, Melky Cabrera and Brett Gardner man center and left field.

Lefty power can then be supplied by Juan Miranda or re-signing Eric Hinske. The Yankees can also look at a one-year deal for Garrett Anderson, a Type B free agent. I am pretty sure his power numbers could improve in Yankee Stadium.

Or the rumored trade involving the Yankees and Detroit Tigers for center fielder Curtis Granderson would move Cabrera to left field and Granderson in center will supply the lefty power Damon provided last season. While I personally do not like Granderson for the Yankees, it is another option for Brian Cashman.

According to reports Damon has options, too. Remember that even Damon said several teams have shown interest. Those teams include the San Francisco Giants and Chicago White Sox (very early reports). But lefty hitters are a dime a dozen. What most teams need is righty power such as Bay and Holliday. The Red Sox, Rangers, Rays and a dozen other teams fit this category.

And from what I remember, Damon hits left handed. So I do believe some teams are interested in a guy who put up a line of .284/.365/.489 this season with an OPS+ of 126. It is just that those teams are not good and would be in Damon's worst interest to sign with them.

Damon needs to think about himself first, but not in the monetary sense, but in terms of legacy. It is what every person wonders - how will I be remembered in this game, business, job, family etc? And in major league baseball, legacy is determined by World Series Championships and the Hall of Fame.

According to baseball-reference.com, Damon has made a tick over $97 million in his baseball career. Assuming he hasn't blown it all (and TMZ is more busy following Tiger Woods' life), he is pretty well set, as are his children, his future grandchildren AND THEIR future grandchildren!

Unless you are Montgomery Brewster, a person can't even begin to spend all that cash.

In other words Damon doesn't need any more money.

What Damon does need is more career hits, runs, doubles, HR's and RBI's. Evidenced by his never being in the Top 10 of any MVP vote, Damon has not been dominating in any aspect of his game during any part of his career.

Damon needs to accumulate stats to even get a whiff of the Hall of Fame. He has two World Series rings, but Damon needs to get 3,000 hits, needs to get to around 1,800 runs scored, needs 600 doubles, needs 300 homers and needs about 1,300 RBI's.

Is Damon going to get to those numbers hitting second in the White Sox lineup? Will he get there hitting in spacious AT&T Park in San Francisco, hellish for a lefty hitter? No and no. The Red Sox might need a left fielder this year, but Damon can never go back there.

Damon bests interests for HOF consideration (and a great legacy) is playing for the Yankees where he gets to hit in cozy Yankee Stadium, hitting behind a Hall of Famer in Jeter and in front of Mark Teixeira (potential HOFer) and Alex Rodriguez (lock HOFer). Hitting in that lineup, while in that park, will get Damon more of the accumulated stats he needs to get serious Hall of Fame votes somewhere around 2020.

It would be great for Damon if they can work out that two year deal, and a TEAM OPTION for a third, which would keep Damon hungry to continue to produce.

I want Damon back to the Yankees. He would provide great offense again and would give more time for Yankee prospect Austin Jackson to become integrated into the majors.

Here is what Damon said during the parade, "I want to continue to be on a team that can win and to play in front of great fans - and we know that the Yankees fill both of those," Damon said. "I think everyone knows my desire to come back. Still, every time I've been a free agent, I've ended up switching teams. It's the nature of the beast. If people are interested, I'm going to listen."

Go ahead and listen to the other teams Johnny because when you take that bigger contract in San Francisco for more money and years, but fall short in career numbers for the Hall of Fame, you only have yourself to blame. Imagine at age 70 Damon sitting on the front porch or back at Yankee Stadium for Old Timers Day answering another reporter's question about his thoughts on falling short of the Hall of Fame?

Don't be an "idiot" this time around Johnny, but be a man and tell your agent, Mr. Boras, to get a deal done with the Yankees.

It will be in your legacy's best interest.

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The Best Of The Best: Building a Championship (A Four-Part Series)

dave hall — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 20:48:45 -0500

Creating a championship team has never been more difficult than it is now in professional sport.

Annual play-off contenders in all sports are working hard to continue the trend and make important post-season revenue to pursue or re-sign important team components.

Dave Hall will examine the most successful builders of champions in each of the major sporting leagues in a four part series.

Major League Baseball has seen three multiple winners over the last 15 years; The Yankees have five, and the Florida Marlins and the Boston Red Sox have two apiece.

Each of these winners employed a distinct strategy to maximize player talent, either through trades, free agency or drafted player development. The constant has been finding the right compliments to a talented core.

All is well again in New York as the Yankees won a 27th World Series Championship title this year, and as the rest of the baseball world regroups and figures out what went wrong, so do the Yankees.

Respect must be paid to a team that wins the coveted title and then goes right to work and finds a way to get better. Now that the Yankees have tasted the champagne in the new stadium, they have a new legacy to enjoy.

This championship, like most of the Yankees' recent triumphs, did not come cheaply, the total payroll topped over 200 million dollars and the new building which began construction in 2006 cost $1.3 billion.

Yet management continues to look at adding contracts by possibly acquiring P Roy Halladay and his $15 million price tag or making a run for the AL MVP, Joe Mauer.

Pursuing the "best of the best" will at the least convince the loyal fan base that the team is attempting to improve. Although an argument can be made that the rest of major league baseball suffers due to the Yankees' riches, all seems to remain right in the baseball world when the Yankees are the defending champs.

The Boston Red Sox continue to be the Yankees' closest competition when it comes to payroll loftiness and signing the “best of the best”.

A renewed culture of winning in Boston has made the historic city once again a destination for free agents looking to play for a contending team.

It is almost as if Boston and New York’s interest in a player sets the market, dangerous when you look at what both teams are willing to pay players.

The most recent Yankees have built their teams around Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera, Bernie Williams and Andy Petite, adding players along the way; Paul O’Neill, Wade Boggs, Tino Martinez, Roger Clemens, and Alex Rodriguez, etc...

The players they add are sometimes remembered best for their stint in the pinstripes despite other past success.

The Red Sox most recent triumphs have come with the signings and acquisition of the best of the best; Manny Ramirez, David Ortiz, Josh Beckett, Curt Schilling, Pedro Martinez, Tim Wakefield, and Johnny Damon.

The BoSox had the likes of Jason Varitek, Nomar Garciaparra, and Kevin Youkilis to add to, and now Dustin Pedroia and Jacoby Ellsbury are the central cogs.

Other teams during the past 15 years since the baseball strike have also won championships using altogether different strategies; like the Florida Marlins who have two titles with small payrolls and fewer current All-Stars; and the Diamondbacks and Angels, who employed a more complete team effort to win.

With an annual General Managers winter meeting in December promising to bring further changes to current rosters, it always a safe bet that the Yankees and the Red Sox will be the most talked about destination for free agents or for star players needing a change of scenery.

Only the upcoming season will prove who is the “best of the best” but it is obvious which teams will be considered favourites to contend for that coveted title.

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