Which 2012 New York Yankees Belong at the Plate with the Game on the Line?

All clutch MLB hitters must be disciplined, intelligent and, above all, talented.

Which New York Yankees player is most capable of delivering in a tight spot?

The answer isn't so simple.

Shortstop Derek Jeter is probably the first one that comes to mind. I admit that he's a solid option. "Captain Clutch" is even a popular nickname of his!

However, the 17-year veteran is in decline, most obviously at the plate.

His 2010 and 2011 OPS—.710 and .743, respectively—are the two lowest of his career.

The only opportunities for him to drive in runs are with teammates in scoring position. He doesn't smash extra-base hits as often as he used to.

Jeter's strikeout rate isn't awful, but it's far from outstanding, too.

He has always had a tendency to hit ground balls and nothing kills a rally quicker than a double play.

Lacking the speed he had in his twenties, "Mr. November" doesn't have a great ability to beat out slow-rollers for infield hits. His totals have remained high in that category, but that is actually a reflection of weak contact coming off his bat.

In light of all this, Jeter compiles ample hits across all game situations. He's particularly efficient at scoring runners from third with no outs and advancing those on first to the next base.

That "inside-out" signature swing of his—as unorthodox as it may—spreads out opposing defenses.

His baseball IQ is terrific.

Which other prominent Yankees belong in this discussion?

Curtis Granderson, for starters.

The 2011 American League MVP candidate is generally a stellar offensive player—don't let his strikeouts (169 this past season) shake your confidence.

He has successfully laid down sacrifice bunts in each of his 11 regular season attempts since 2009. Nearly 100 home runs in that span, by the way.

Left-handers used to match up very well with Granderson. Since hitting coach Kevin Long intervened, though, southpaws have not posed as many problems.

Entering his age 31-season, the center fielder is not likely to regress for awhile.

Neither is second baseman Robinson Cano, who is by most measures the best all-around player on the 2012 Yankees.

His pitiful plate discipline bothered me in 2011. Because of his tendency to chase pitches, the three-time All-Star mustered only 27 unintentional walks and totaled more swings-and-misses than ever.

The trajectory that the baseball takes off his bat is a sight for sore eyes and his results reveal that.

Cano has also emerged as an elite power threat with 25-plus home runs in three straight seasons.

No defensive alignment can handle him, anyway—he hits to all fields with authority.

Does he have a season's worth of playoff experience like the captain? After all, no context chills your blood like October (or November) baseball.

But no, there hasn't been another player in MLB history to come up in so many tough spots...or succeed as often.

Who else can be trusted with a do-or-die plate appearance?

Mark Teixeira? Alex Rodriguez? Light-weight hitters Brett Gardner or Eduardo Nunez? Should C.C. Sabathia get a chance to hack?

Sometimes, the most improbable individuals come through in the clutch.

Bottom line: the Yankees need somebody to step up in their pursuit of a 28th World Series title.