2011 MLB Amateur Draft Thread

[Matsui55]

I know what you are saying, and agree, but the Yankees will probably give Mo and Jeter the longer contracts and avoid the potential pr mess associated with pissing off Jeter or Mo and alienating a large segment of the fan base.I know more than a few fans who were pissed at the way Bernie ended his career with the Yankees (also, even Pettitte leaving for Houston) - just don't see Cashman taking the chance with Jeter or Mo.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/201...l?eref=writers

I know the Yanks view Jeter as an icon- but I also think that Heyman is missing the bigger picture- ARod, with the bad hip, is no longer a perennial MVP candidate and will soon DH. Posada may be the DH next year with Montero as C.

I think the Yanks aren't really looking long term with Jeter. 2011 is a given- but a 3 or 4 year deal with a guy who really is now a bad SS and not a great hitter anymore- with DH closed as an option- I really think the bigger picture needs to be examined more. When we look at a 4 year picture, it is clear that 2009 was the outlier, not a trend or comeback.

I think the Yanks should simply tell Jeter that as some "financial reward" for his past service, that they will offer him arbitration, tell him to accept it and name his own price for 2011- if it is $25M, so be it- he's going to have the Stadium packed with a Jeter love-fest in the run to 3000.

That said, it is now time to assess where Jeter is after each year. Give him whatever he wants for 2011 and give him the back pages full of praise about how he's worth every penny- but don't give in on the years.

I don't see the Yanks waving goodbye to Jeter next winter, but if he continues to decline, the Yanks can't find themselves in the position of carrying Jeter because he's Jeter. Go year to year and don't quibble about the price- but keep your flexibility.

[yatqb]

I agree, Matsui. The Yanks and Jeter should go year to year from now on, for both parties' sakes.

[VTYankeesFan2]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/201...l?eref=writers

I know the Yanks view Jeter as an icon- but I also think that Heyman is missing the bigger picture- ARod, with the bad hip, is no longer a perennial MVP candidate and will soon DH. Posada may be the DH next year with Montero as C.

I think the Yanks aren't really looking long term with Jeter. 2011 is a given- but a 3 or 4 year deal with a guy who really is now a bad SS and not a great hitter anymore- with DH closed as an option- I really think the bigger picture needs to be examined more. When we look at a 4 year picture, it is clear that 2009 was the outlier, not a trend or comeback.

I think the Yanks should simply tell Jeter that as some "financial reward" for his past service, that they will offer him arbitration, tell him to accept it and name his own price for 2011- if it is $25M, so be it- he's going to have the Stadium packed with a Jeter love-fest in the run to 3000.

That said, it is now time to assess where Jeter is after each year. Give him whatever he wants for 2011 and give him the back pages full of praise about how he's worth every penny- but don't give in on the years.

I don't see the Yanks waving goodbye to Jeter next winter, but if he continues to decline, the Yanks can't find themselves in the position of carrying Jeter because he's Jeter. Go year to year and don't quibble about the price- but keep your flexibility.

I have been as frustrated and disappointed as anyone else regarding Jeter's performance in 2010, but I think people are being a bit quick to write him off as being done or now having to go 'year to year' with his contracts.

I think a compelling arguement could be made that, if you look at the past 5 years for Jeter, the 2010 season is the outlyer without any doubt. In the 4 years preceeding 2010, Jeter had averaged 203 hits (.326 BA), 104 Runs, 33 2B, 14 HR, 76 RBIs, .387 OBP, .452 SLG, .839 OPS. You don't accumulate those kind of statistics over 4 years, by having just 1 strong season in the past 4.

There is no doubt Jeter is having a terrible season - likely the worst season of his career. However, I am not ready to say that his career is over. The drop-off from 2009 to 2010 is so significant that there is likely additional factors contributing here - things we will never know about. I am not ready to say this is what the rest of his career will be like based on one season and I doubt the Yankees are either. I will be very surprised if Jeter doesn't get a 4-5 year contract at significant dollars after this season, as the Yankees really can't afford not to give it to him.

[Yankee Fan in Boston]

I have been as frustrated and disappointed as anyone else regarding Jeter's performance in 2010, but I think people are being a bit quick to write him off as being done or now having to go 'year to year' with his contracts.

I think a compelling arguement could be made that, if you look at the past 5 years for Jeter, the 2010 season is the outlyer without any doubt. In the 4 years preceeding 2010, Jeter had averaged 203 hits (.326 BA), 104 Runs, 33 2B, 14 HR, 76 RBIs, .387 OBP, .452 SLG, .839 OPS. You don't accumulate those kind of statistics over 4 years, by having just 1 strong season in the past 4.

There is no doubt Jeter is having a terrible season - likely the worst season of his career. However, I am not ready to say that his career is over. The drop-off from 2009 to 2010 is so significant that there is likely additional factors contributing here - things we will never know about. I am not ready to say this is what the rest of his career will be like based on one season and I doubt the Yankees are either. I will be very surprised if Jeter doesn't get a 4-5 year contract at significant dollars after this season, as the Yankees really can't afford not to give it to him.

I also wouldn't be surprised if Jeter had some degree of a rebound next year, but it would be lunacy to give a SS his age, coming off a poor year, a 4-5 year deal. Regardless of the specific cause of Jeter's regression this year, the fact is that age is going to affect his performance in the coming years, and it would be unwise to lock him into a 5 year deal at this point.

[NYDCYankee]

I will be very surprised if Jeter doesn't get a 4-5 year contract at significant dollars after this season, as the Yankees really can't afford not to give it to him.

Why??

[Matsui55]

I have been as frustrated and disappointed as anyone else regarding Jeter's performance in 2010, but I think people are being a bit quick to write him off as being done or now having to go 'year to year' with his contracts.

I think a compelling arguement could be made that, if you look at the past 5 years for Jeter, the 2010 season is the outlyer without any doubt. In the 4 years preceeding 2010, Jeter had averaged 203 hits (.326 BA), 104 Runs, 33 2B, 14 HR, 76 RBIs, .387 OBP, .452 SLG, .839 OPS. You don't accumulate those kind of statistics over 4 years, by having just 1 strong season in the past 4.

There is no doubt Jeter is having a terrible season - likely the worst season of his career. However, I am not ready to say that his career is over. The drop-off from 2009 to 2010 is so significant that there is likely additional factors contributing here - things we will never know about. I am not ready to say this is what the rest of his career will be like based on one season and I doubt the Yankees are either. I will be very surprised if Jeter doesn't get a 4-5 year contract at significant dollars after this season, as the Yankees really can't afford not to give it to him.

This is misleading, to say the least.

In order to reach the 4 year average you cited, you included his best season (2009), and excluded the worst (2010). 2009 was so far removed from his 2006-2008 and 2010 seasons, that including it in the averages artificially raises the numbers of 2006-2008.

While Jeter was able to "pull it together" for 2009, it was VERY much a case of the candle burning brightest before it fades. Denying that Jeter is going to decline as he ages is pure fantasy. As of today, Jeter is 36 years old and will turn 37 next June. His defense has been in decline for a while, notwithstanding 2009.

It is certianly possible that Jeter will get a short term boost by chasing 3000, but it is clear that age is beginning to take its toll.

The Yanks are have been burned by contracts too long by several years with Giambi, and to a lesser extent, with Posada. ARod's will inevitably be several years too long- and goes to 2017. ARod's hip will force him to DH, around 2012- after Posada is the DH in 2011. That limits the roster flexibility for Jeter.

The Yanks cannot carry a Jeter who declines further than he has in 2010 just because he is Jeter. Year to year is the answer.

[TheHugeUnit2]

It will be interesting to see if Tower leaves how we draft next year. We will go back to how we used to draft and take high end talent in the first round or will be stay with getting potential foru to five tool players. I hate to say stuff like I wish time would go faster until a certain date but the 2011 draft is going to be interesting.

[Yankees1962]

It will be interesting to see if Tower leaves how we draft next year. We will go back to how we used to draft and take high end talent in the first round or will be stay with getting potential foru to five tool players. I hate to say stuff like I wish time would go faster until a certain date but the 2011 draft is going to be interesting.

I think it's a big assumption that Tower had any effect on the Yankees drafting strategy this year. Sure, his input was used from his scouting of various prospects, but I think he was used mainly in the crosschecking sense just like Eppler and Livesey.

[TheHugeUnit2]

Thats why I said it will be interesting to see if they change back after Towers leaves.

[Yankees1962]

Thats why I said it will be interesting to see if they change back after Towers leaves.

Their draft strategy will be influenced by the level of talent which is much better in 2011 than it was in 2010. I expect the Yankees to be aggressive next year due to that level of talent and it being the last draft prior to a new CBA.