Alberto Gonzalez

[GiambiJuice]

This guy plays shortstop so much better than Jeter that it's not even funny. Call it blasphemy, but I think we may be better off with him as our shortstop than with Jeter.

I love Jeter, and he's obviously a better hitter, but I think he's really killing us in the field. This has been going on for a long time and it's not going to get any better.

I'm not talking about things that show up in fielding %, like errors. I'm talking about the fact that Jeter cannot get to many many balls that more capable shortstops get to. I've been watching him since his rookie year, and almost every game it seems we are giving up hits and runs that are preventable.

I know this is old news. Most observant fans know Jeter is a bad fielder, but why is he so locked into that position? I heard that when A-Rod was coming to the Yankees, they approached Jeter about switching positions and he refused, despite the fact that A-Rod was a much better shortstop than he. I'm starting to doubt that Jeter is as much of a "team player" and one who "only cares about winning" as people make him out to be.

If I were running the team, Alberto Gonzalez would be my starting shortstop - as long as he continued to hit at a respectable level - and Jeter would be an OF/DH.

Look at the Red Sox. They always had great hitting shortstops. They replace great-hit, no-field Garciaparra with slick-fielding Orlando Cabrera and they win the world series. It cannot be overstated, in my opinion, how much a good defense - and especially at the shortstop position - helps your pitching staff win games.

[KCGHOST]

I don't know about this Orlando Cabrera comparison. He only played for the Red Sox in 58 games and was nothing to write home about in any department. The Red Sox won the World Series in spite of his efforts, not because of them.

As for keeping Gonzalez at SS and moving Jeter to DH, the rest of the AL would vote for the that.

[bigbadwolf]

In my opinion there is little to no question Jeter is the best defensive shortstop.

[Mariano_Rivera]

Gonzalez can't hit well enough over a full season to play short for the Yanks. I do agree that they need to move Jeter though asap

[Mission 27]

Orlando Cabrera? That's a stretch. And, the Sox won with Julio Lugo last year. He's absolutely miserable lol

I agree on Gonzalez, he's a much better defensive option, but so was Cairo last year and the year before that. Whose spot do you give Jeter to in the outfield? Or, you give the DH to a guy whose gonna hit 12-15 home runs if we're lucky?

[monkey333]

Some people are jumping the gun after just a couple of good games. Gonzo has a career .715 OPS in the minors; he'll be a useful reserve infielder but I doubt he'll be much more.

[Tinyballer]

You know what I agree with you that Alberto Gonzalez has better range and athletic ability to get to more balls and make more plays than Jeter, but Jeter is still the better hitter. I believe Jeter will continue to be our starting shortstop in four out of the five games. I believe Gonzalez will start in games when Chien Ming Wang pitches since he is a ground ball oriented pitcher it is good to have a more rangy shortstop.

[DoubleX]

I was on the move Jeter bandwagon a few seasons back when I thought he'd make a very good CFer. Gonzalez has looked nice the past week, but let's not get ahead of ourselves. Yes, he'd very likely be a defensive upgrade over Jeter, but he's unlikely to come close to Jeter's offensive production. Plus, where do you move Jeter to? It's either the corner OF or 1B, and both could seem like too big of a demotion at this point. 1B would appear to be the best choice though because it has historical importance to the Yankees. At 1B, I suspect Jeter would be like Mark Grace offensively, though unlikely to be as good defensively as Grace who was very good. Nevertheless, even Hall of Fame shortstops (as Jeter will no doubt be), moved positions in their 30s - Cal Ripken, Ernie Banks, Robin Yount, Joe Sewell to name a few, so there is no shame.

Anyway, Jeter stays at SS for now, IMO, but I think the wheels are starting to turn towards a move.

Also, Gonzalez is playing 2B tonight, right? I wonder if that's a move to see how he handles the position, and thus whether Betemit can be made expendable.

[bigbadwolf]

In my opinion, I think Jeter, the best shortstop in baseball, will end his career at the shortstop position. There just isn't anyone near him defensively.

[P1NSTR1PES]

In my opinion, I think Jeter, the best shortstop in baseball, will end his career at the shortstop position. There just isn't anyone near him defensively.

thats funny...

id like Jeter at first or center eventually

[Old Sweater]

Yankees have made the playoffs every year with Jeter at SS so he can't be hurting them that bad defensively.

[bigbadwolf]

According to some posters in this forum. It's the other guys who make Jeter look good. But Jeter is the best. He has helped his team earn four WS rings playing a very demanding position in a very demanding city with very demanding fans. Jeter is the best.

[Mike27]

Yankees have made the playoffs every year with Jeter at SS so he can't be hurting them that bad defensively.

I agree Jeter isn't hurting the Yanks significantly at the SS position, but there is without a doubt room for improvement. That's not a knock on Jeter at all though, as there's room for improvement all around this team.
I would love to see him to 1B next year, as long as Gonzalez can actually hit in the Major Leagues. That is obviously not a lock, so Jeter might be playing SS for a few more years, maybe more years than he should be playing....

[Mission 27]

Because he's won 4 rings and been a great/clutch hitter, and because when he was younger he was a great short stop- doesn't mean that he isn't turning 34 in June- doesn't mean that he's still that great short stop. If you're telling me Jeter hasn't lost a step when it comes to getting balls up the middle- you are a MORON who simply doesn't watch and know what he's talking about. His range toward second DOES hurt the Yankees. The only problem is where do you put him and whose spot do you give him? Trade Matsui/Abreu/Damon for some kind of pitching and put Jeter at a corner OF? It's a tough call, one that im glad im not making. I guess I would put Jeter at 1B.. but you can't make a move on that yet, we can't be sure about Gonzalez after only a week- and do we want to give Jeter a power-hitting position like 1B? I don't see how Gonzalez makes up for those power numbers being taken away..

[Westlake]

In my opinion, I think Jeter, the best shortstop in baseball, will end his career at the shortstop position. There just isn't anyone near him defensively.

Dont feed the...