Jeter Dreaming

I would like to take a moment to dream.



Derek Jeter turns two as
Carlos Guillen slides into second.
Photo Credit : Detroit News


To fantasize about the impossible coming to be real.

Imagine Tiger fans, if the Tigers actually signed a 3 year deal with Derek Jeter.

How would that change the face of the Tigers?

The Tigers did not option Jhonny Peralta for 2011. Shortstop is an open position.

And it’s likely that the Tigers will say goodbye to Maglio Ordonez in right field that will free up some 9 million dollars in payroll.

And we said goodbye to another former Yankee Johnny Damon.

But Jeter is likely worth some 25 million a year.

And he wil be 37 years old in 2011.

And he is coming off a less than stellar year in 2010 – by Derek Jeter standards.

A career .314 hitter who slumped to .274 last year has a face known to baseball around the world.

And the Tigers already have proven future hall of famer Miguel Cabrera playing first base.

What would this mean?

It would mean a strong left side of the infield with Brandon Inge and Derek Jeter on the left side.

It would mean a solid base hitter in the 2 or 3 slot of the lineup before Cabrera.

It would probably average at least one more run per game.

It would mean a solid clubhouse presence – a man you know will have a future in baseball past his playing days – managing or in a front office position.

It would mean a larger impact to the Tigers’ recruiting efforts than even Ivan (Pudge) Rodriguez had when he joined in 2004, drawing names like Polanco, Ordonez, and Guillen, the past core of a competitive Tigers roster.

The impact would be significant.

But is it worth $60 – $75 million over three years?

Yes.

The upside is so much greater than the down side.

Derek Jeter does have some Michigan roots.

He went to Central High School in Kalamazoo. He is in their hall of fame.

Now I am not clueless here.

I realize that prying Jeter out of the clasp of the Yankees organization is a pipe dream. Why would he want to leave his Manhatten apartment in the Trump Towers to come to Detroit?

How could the Tigers possibly pull this off?

I don’t think they can.

But maybe, just maybe.

We can dream can’t we?

What do the Tigers really need for 2011? Besides a shortstop?

A left and right fielder to surround Austin Jackson.

A catcher. We need a dependable receiver who can frame the pitch and throw out a stealing base runner. Who can hit hotter than .220.

And we need a second baseman. A guy who is ready now. Although if Scott Sizemore’s ankle heals over spring – maybe he is the guy of the future? But who wouldn’t want to come to Detroit to play second beside Jeter?

Imagine Jeter at shortstop.

That’s a game-changer. An impact player.

Imagine how other players would look differently at Detroit with a Jeter – Cabrera combination – on defense and at the plate.

To me, this is a litmus test for Dave Dombrowski, the Tigers General Manager – to see if he sees what I see in the potential gain. And even more so to Mr. Illitch – to see what he is willing to put this Tigers team over the edge of competiveness.

I know some of you think I am nuts for this idea. This pipe dream. And all of you who will comment to say “this will never happen” – you’re most likely dead right.

But let’s see if the Tigers pursue Derek Jeter.

To me – this would say more than if they actually got him.

We’ll find out tonight after midnight.

Seeing Old Friends Again

Given the transactions made this offseason, it was good to see some old friends this week.

From a fans perspective of course … and a thousand miles away from where the action is happening in Florida.

This week we saw Curtis Granderson – wearing the Yankees NY on his cap.

And we saw Placido Polanco wearing the fat-little Philadelphia P on his cap.

Both showed us some emotion in the reunions.

And both reminded us how much we should miss them – by their strong play.

Grandy made a game changing running grab against the fence - a great catch - to rob Cabrera from at least and RBI.

Deep sigh.

And Placido – well – he seems to be back at third after returning to Philadelphia – still the stalwart rock of consistently both defensively and at the plate.

The news broke today that had the Tigers offered Placido Polanco arbitration – he likely would have accepted it.

So this leads me to cement my belief that this Tigers organization – the powers that run the old English D we all cherish – had a different direction in mind. A direction that we still don't do see. A direction that we really are still assuming exists.

It wasn't just dollars. They already spent what they saved in acquiring Valverde and Damon.

As for Granderson's replacement – Austin Jackson – I am quite confident that he will get his footing quickly and prove himself to be an asset to the Tigers before the old Sparky Anderson "forty game" litmus test expires.

But Scott Sizemore – the AAA Toledo second baseman the Tigers have been eyeing for a couple of years as Placido's replacement is struggling. He is struggling because last season ended with a broken ankle – and ankle that he is trying to work around. An ankle that seems to be taking his attention away from stepping up in the big leagues.

I am rooting for both these guys.

And I am doing my best to not compare Jackson to Granderson – or Sizemore to Polanco. But it's so early yet. And those two positions were never a question mark.

Big cleat's to fill in deed.

Let's just hope Jackson doesn't feel a need to pull his sock straps up to his knees like Grandy did.

And for Sizemore – just keep it simple – and get the job done.

That's how Placido did it.

If nobody's talking about Scott Sizemore after forty games – then he's filling Placido's just fine.