The Slump
Jeter should be moved down batting order until hitting improves




By: Russ Rose
Special to Yankees Talk Shop
May 17, 2004

We’ve all heard the expression about someone not “hitting their weight.” Well, if you believe the Yankees media guide then Derek Jeter doesn’t fall under this statement. He is hitting his weight. He is hitting exactly his weight, which is 195 lbs.

Approximately 22% of the season has been played. In 36 games Derek Jeter has only 2 home runs and 13 RBI. He has scored 13 runs and he has struck out 31 times. All while batting a paltry .195 at either first or second in the batting order. His OBP is a woeful .251 and his SLG% isn’t much better at .277. That gives him an OPS of .528. Projected out over a season, Jeter’s numbers would be in the neighborhood of 9 home runs, 58 RBI, 58 scored and 139 strike outs. Compared with his career of 17 home runs, 82 RBI, 122 runs scored, 117 strike outs and .314 average Jeter’s production isn’t cutting the mustard.

With nearly one-quarter of the season in the books Jeter’s situation prompts the question is it time for Joe Torre to move Jeter down in the batting order? My response is yes. There are several candidates who could temporarily move to the number two slot. Miguel Cairo is batting .294. Hideki Matsui is batting .277 and Bernie Williams seems to have broken out of his doldrums. His barometer is rising as he has raised his average to .228. Each one of them has a higher OPS than Jeter. Clearly, the Yankees are not getting production out of their captain. At a price tag of between $18 and $19 million a year Derek Jeter is not earning his money. He is looking at too many strikes, arguing too may calls (caused by frustration no doubt) and sticking his bum out way too often. It might drive the teeny-boppers crazy, but it drives me bonkers. I hate that move of his. He follows the ball going across the plate, sticks his backside out and practically falls down as the umpire rings up a strike call. Somebody needs to break him of that habit.

Joe Torre is no stranger to moving guys down in the batting order. He did it with Chuck Knoblauch, Bernie Williams, Tino Martinez, Jason Giambi and others until they got untracked. It is time to do it with Derek Jeter. With the starting rotation being as queasy as it has been it is up to the offense to get out of the blocks quickly. That isn’t going to happen if their number one or two hitter can’t get on. Alex Rodriguez has 9 home runs and he bats behind Jeter. Imagine how many RBI A-Rod would have if Jeter were standing on a base when he hit one out.

Don’t get me wrong. I love Derek Jeter. I love his work ethic. He runs out every ball, he tries to get to every ground ball and he is, in my humble opinion, one of the smartest players in the game. That being said, I love the Yankees more. What needs to be done now is for the betterment of the team, and hopefully that will translate into the betterment of the player. Joe Torre needs production at the top of the order. He needs guys on so when his 3-4-5 and 6 batters come to the plate they can drive guys in. Until Derek Jeter gets unstuck it is in the best interests of the Yankees to move him down in the order and put someone else who can be more productive in his place. Once DJ2 gets over this horrific slump Joe Torre should move him back to his natural batting position. It’s a tough choice to make and one I’m sure Joe doesn’t want to do, but, nonetheless, it is one that needs to be made. The Yankees, as a team, comes first. Moving Jeter is what is best for the team. At least for now it is.


PLAY BALL!




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