Photo by Rafael Amado Deras

While he’s recently been treated shabbily by the Yankees, it’s hard to feel too bad for Derek Jeter. I’m sure he’s still got a few bucks left over from his last gargantuan contract, not to mention his endorsement deals. While he’s gotten the cold sholder from his employer, he can bask in the warm glow of five championships.  What Ernie Banks would give for just one of Jeter’s rings.  But I can relate to his plight.

The consensus by most people is that Jeter is being unreasonable in his demands.  Forty-five million over three years isn’t chump change.  Jon Garland just signed for $5 million for one year, and he arguably had a better year than the Yankee captain.  While most Yankee-haters have always felt that Jeter was overrated and overpaid, at this time, they may be justified in their thinking.

But what about all the great memories he created?  Diving headlong into the stands, catching not only the ball, but a few stitches.  The play at the plate against the A’s.  His Mr. November moment against the Diamondbacks, which was like salve in the wounds after 9/11.  Should he be rewarded for past performance, even though his skills have diminished?  Who else would play shortstop next year, Ramiro Peña?

I don’t think he’s being unreasonable.  There will be other Yankee shortstops in the coming years, but only one Derek Jeter.  There were never any scandals about banging strippers or taking steroids (If anything, maybe he should hit the weights a little more).  He was always clutch, and cool under pressure, in the same vein as Joe Montana or Tom Brady.  A true Yankee, someone to be counted on, the anti-A-Rod.

Without Jeter, there is no YES Network.  Probably no New Yankee Stadium, either.  He helped fill those seats, and sell those replica jerseys.  Think of the money wasted on pretenders like Randy Johnson, Kevin Brown, Carl Pavano, Jeff Weaver, Jaret Wright, and Chan-Ho Park.  They didn’t sell many of their jerseys, I would bet.  There will be more money to be made as he chases hit number 3,000.  So here’s Mr. Jeter, being portrayed as a greedy bastard in the media, through leaks provided by his own team, no less.  This is where I can relate. 

Several years ago, at my last job, they hired a new manager in my department.  She lacked both the experience and competence that your favorite barbarian displayed, but she was brought on at a higher salary, with a signing bonus, to boot.  She must have had a kickass interview.  This was after I came in, with pneumonia, in order to get the auditors to sign off on our financial statements.  After I came back to work, between the hours of my brother’s wake, to make sure things got done.  No problem, I figured that they’d correct this injustice at raise time.  I was wrong.

My recourse, since they had no contract to hold me, was to seek employment elsewhere.  All of a sudden, several generous offers were made to entice me to stay.  I’ve always felt that if you set out to do something, you should follow through to the end, like that kid wrestler in Vision Quest.  In other words, if you’re going to talk the talk (threaten to quit), you should walk the walk (actually quit).  I told them, “It’s been real, but…”

Fate hasn’t treated many Yankee captains well.  Thurman Munson died too young.  Graig Nettles was run out of town.  Willie Randolph got the bum’s rush in favor of Steve Sax.  Even Donnie Baseball was forced into retirement to make room for Tino Martinez.  This week, some ingenious creative person imagined Jeter in the other 29 team’s uniforms.  Let’s hope he doesn’t walk the walk, whether to another team, or into retirement.

Because they’ll be no parade in the Canyon of Heroes next year if Ramiro Peña is at short on Opening Day.

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