Derek Jeter and 10 Future Hall of Famers for Whom the End Is Near

It was easy to pretend that we thought he could still field his position as long as he was hitting.  But now he is not hitting, and it is pretty hard to avoid the conclusion, top-to-bottom, that Derek Jeter's days are numbered.

Or, well, his days as a productive major league contributor.  Because, of this you can be sure: whether he is capable of playing or not, the Captain will be playing for at least three seasons as he plays out his contract.

But he will probably be done as a run producer well before he is done playing.

Here is a look at 10 future Hall of Famers for whom the end is within sight.

10. Jim Thome, DH, Minnesota Twins

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MINNEAPOLIS, MN - APRIL 24: Jim Thome #25 of the Minnesota Twins hits a double against the Cleveland Indians during the seventh inning of their game on April 24, 2011 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Twins defeated the Indians 4-3. (Photo by Han

Last season, Jim Thome had a charming resurgence and surprised a lot of people.

This season, he is doing what we expected him to do last season.

The end is near for the 40-year-old Thome.

9. Andruw Jones, Whatever, New York Yankees

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NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 15: Andruw Jones of the New York Yankees looks on from the dugout during the game against the Texas Rangers at Yankee Stadium on April 15, 2011 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Chris Trotman/Getty Images)

We will never understand how Andruw Jones went from one of the league's premier all-around players to being an oafish lug who cannot hit his weight or field competently seemingly overnight.

But if he keeps on playing--and he is only 34--not may we not be able to explain it, but we may also forget that it happened and forget that he was ever any good.

8. Todd Helton, 1B, Colorado Rockies

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SAN FRANCISCO, CA - MAY 06: Todd Helton #17 of the Colorado Rockies in action against the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park on May 6, 2011 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Is Todd Helton a Hall of Famer?  

I think so.  You can't take that away from him just because he plays in Colorado.

Is Todd Helton done?

It seems like it should be, but he is having a resurgent season.

Because he plays in Colorado.

7. Omar Vizquel, SS, Chicago White Sox

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CHICAGO, IL - MAY 16: Omar Vizquel #11 of the Chicago White Sox throws to 1st base against the Texas Rangers at U.S. Cellular Field on May 16, 2011 in Chicago, Illinois. The Rangers defeated the White Sox 4-0. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

Well, maybe.

In 2011, at the age of 44, Omar Vizquel is hitting .327, which is the highest he's hit since 1999, when he was 32.

6. Vlad Guerrero, DH, Baltimore Orioles

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KANSAS CITY, MO - MAY 03: Vladimir Guerrero #27 of the Baltimore Orioles bats during the game against the Kansas City Royals on May 3, 2011 at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

Why-O, oh Why-O, did Vladdy leave Ohio.

I mean Texas.

Last season, Vlad went to the Rangers and had the type of resurgent season that can only happen in The Ballpark.  He re-discovered his power stroke and he drove in 100 RBI for the first time in three years.

I guess staying in Texas would have been too obvious.

Now, at the age of 36, Vlad is still hitting .300, but it is an empty .300, and his value is dwindling fast.

5. Chipper Jones, 3B, Atlanta Braves

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PHOENIX, AZ - MAY 18: Chipper Jones #10 of the Atlanta Braves watches from the dugout during the Major League Baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on May 18, 2011 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Diamondbacks defeated the Braves 5-4 in e

He is not the hitter he was five or 10 years ago, and he needs a day off more often than he once did.

At the same time, he currently leads the NL in doubles with 14.

4. Alex Rodriguez, 3B, New York Yankees

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NEW YORK, NY - MAY 14: Alex Rodriguez #13 of the New York Yankees strikes out to end the third inning against the Boston Red Sox heads back to the dugout on May 14, 2011 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Gett

Okay, so A-Rod will not be out of baseball tomorrow.

But he is definitely slowing down, and will likely spend the next five years slowly making his way to 700 home runs, 2,000 runs scored, and 2,100 RBI.

He might should take a lesson from Mickey Mantle and retire before his career average drops below .300. It haunted Mantle until his dying day that he did not retire as a .300 hitter.

For the record, A-Rod is currently at .302, but was at .306 just four years ago and has watched his average steadily decline over the last three years.

3. Ivan Rodriguez, C, Washington Nationals

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WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 15: Catcher Ivan Rodriguez #7 of the Washington Nationals in action against the Florida Marlins at Nationals Park on May 15, 2011 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)

Ivan Rodriguez definitely seems hell-bent upon becoming the first catcher to collect 3,000 hits.

At the rate he is going, he will have to play two or three more years, and he is only 168 hits away.

I guess he will just have to settle for being one of the greatest catchers of all time.

2. Derek Jeter, SS, New York Yankees

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NEW YORK, NY - MAY 14: Derek Jeter #2 of the New York Yankees in action against the Boston Red Sox on May 14, 2011 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

When you can no longer hit, and you can no longer field, what do you have left?

If you are Derek Jeter, the answer is three years, $51 million, and a player option for 2014.

1. Mariano Rivera, RP, New York Yankees

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NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 26: Mariano Rivera #42 of the New York Yankees on the field before the game against the Chicago White Sox at Yankee Stadium on April 26, 2011 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Chris Trotman/Getty Images)

We only include Mariano here because...well...eventually he has to get old, right?

Right?

Actually, he has shown evidence of that.