John Munson/THE STAR-LEDGER via USA TODAY Sports
The New York Yankees have had an up and down season. Lately, it’s been mostly down. However, today marked a new beginning to their season. Today, Derek Jeter returned to the field.
Now I know what you’re thinking. You’re thinking that a 39-year-old shortstop can’t do much to save this team. That’s where I think you’re wrong. Jeter is the captain of this franchise, as much a catalyst for wins as any athlete has ever been. Guys love to play with him, and he has the intangibles to change a team’s mentality single-handedly.
But what about tangibles? What can Jeter add to this lineup? For starters, he provides the Yankees with consistency at the 2-hole. (I think he should hit third, but that’s another story…) They had Robinson Cano there for a while, then Ichiro Suzuki, even Jayson Nix for a time. Cano is the only one of those three guys who compares to Jeter right now, but his talents are best used in the middle of the order rather than at the beginning. Jeter gives the Yankees a proven contact hitter with excellent opposite-field hitting and the ability to bunt. He’ll also lengthen the order, allowing Ichiro to hit in the 6-to-8 range.
Derek Jeter may be aging, but he still has the ability to make a difference for the New York Yankees this season.
Kyle Massa is a New York Yankees writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @kylemassa, “Like” him on Facebook, or add him to your network on Google.
