The news out of Tampa is second year manager Joe Girardi has had a brain-storm- flip flop Johnny Damon and Derek Jeter in the batting order.  This Tim Smith article gives the arguments for and against.  Most prominently is the fact that in the old order, Jeter has hit into 45 double-plays in the last two yeays (4th most in the majors).   No bigger rally killer than the double-play, so something does have to be done.  The test will continue to come through the next 10 days as the Yankees can play these two consistently  in that order to see how it works out.

It reminds me of when then San Francisco Giants manager Dusty Baker flip-flopped Barry Bonds and Jeff Kent in 2002, which led to both Bonds and Kent getting more pitches to hit, and Bonds winning another MVP.  Perhaps, though Jeter’s numbers might decrease slightly, this could actually increase his value. Perhaps also he will score more runs.  According to the article, it seems Damon might be better at hitting to right field consistently, and so this really will benefit both hitters, and more importantly the team.  Especially if they have to go without Alex Rodriguez, their ability to manufacture runs will become key.

The other point with Smith sneaks in near the end of the article though is going to become the question for the Yankees for years to come.  It will take over the sports talk airwaves whenever things begin to get slow, or when the Yankees stumble.  The question is when do you move Derek Jeter out of the short-stop position.  The actual more important question is where do you move him to?  Mark Teixeira will be at first for the next 8 years.  You can’t trade the Captain. Hard to think he will be able to begin to play the outfield at 36 or more years of age.  Will the Yankees be able to allow him to DH regularly? Not if they keep Jorge Posada for four more years.

This isn’t about Derek Jeter.  Its about the reality of an aging athlete and the business of baseball, and long term planning.  Some teams must do it well, and some don’t have to worry about such things because in the end money can buy their answer, and the Yankees are one of those teams.  Keeping Derek Jeter at short could be like keeping Cal Ripken in the line-up, something that hobbles the franchise.  Or, the public relations nightmare that could come from upsetting one of the most popular Yankees ever could hobble the franchise.

With the Yankees pitching, this could be their year, again. But it might be necessary to enjoy it for all its worth, Yankee fans, because once the loyalty to these aging players comes into play, the Yankees could begin to struggle as they are unable to plug the necessary holes.