Kuzul

No one suspected that New York Yankee captain Derek Jeter’s contract negotiations would start to resemble a page out of the Alex Rodriguez biography.

The new Yankee regime sans “the Boss” has made it very clear that this is a business decision and not a personal one. The rumored offer made was somewhere in $45-$50 million range for a period of three years.

Whatever exactly was left on the table did not go over well in Jeter camp, as Jeter’s agent Casey Close stated he was “baffled” over it.

Close’s public statements did not go over well. Yankees GM Brian Cashman, along with Hank Steinbrenner defended the decisions with an attitude that if the offer is not generous enough than Jeter should go test open market, and hear the other 29 teams offers.

This has caused pandemonium in Yankee Universe, as neither the media nor the fans can rationalize whose side to take. Unfortunately, I am having this same dilemma.

The predicament remains is it Jeter or the Yankees that needs to take a step back and get real? Will you be wearing a “TEAM JETER” or “TEAM YANKEES” t- shirt?

Speaking for myself, I can’t imagine life in Yankee Universe without Jeter, but than maybe Jeter is not the man I thought he was….

TEAM-JETER

Many feel the Yankees are victimizing Jeter, as Cashman and the Steinbrenner brothers’ open lack of appreciation for someone who is the face of the franchise.

What seems more insulting is the lack of respect for the Captain of the team, who single handily made the Yankee brand what it is today.

Justifying the significant salary reduction for Jeter makes no sense. This is an organization notorious for over-paying players and out-spending every other team in baseball.

Now is not the time for the Yankees to become spending thrifty. Jeter is a special athlete, in a world full of cheaters and quitters and he should be treated accordingly.

The Yankees are officially under new ownership with the passing of “the Boss” but his sons’ reassured fans that there dad’s motto and passion for winning would never change.

Hal Steinbrenner once described the Yankees big spending as “I look at it as reinvestment for the fans sake, like we always due”.

If that statement bears any truth than Derek Jeter would be back in pinstripes already. Jeter is a winner through his leadership. The Yankee fans get to be arrogant and proud because of Derek Jeter.

Derek Jeter is the Captain every other fan base, franchise and fellow players want because he makes baseball better at time when the game has taken it’s biggest fall.

Up next….MLB Hot Stove: Why New York Yankees Fans Should Choose Team Yankees.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

It is always nice to get recognized for something you put your heart into, so I was thrilled when Ballhyped.com wanted to feature Lady Loves Pinstripes as a favorite female sports site during Women’s Week. It is an honor for women to be getting acknowledged in the sports world. I want to thank Ballhyped for hosting a week to honor women, as it is a step in the right direction for us ladies.

What is Women’s Week at Ballhyped?

This week is Women’s Week at BallHyped, and we’re reaching out to some of our favorite female bloggers to get their take on the state of the blogosphere, tips on creating a successful blog, how their sites are doing and where they see this blogginess going one, two, five years from now. –Ballhype.com

Click this link to read Lady Loves Pinstripes featured Q&A and please feel free to comment.

I also want to thank anyone who has ever read Lady Loves Pinstripes or just clicked to take a look. I truly appreciate it and hope my site lives up to your expectations.

About Ballhyped.com:

Ballhyped.com is a community for sports fans by sports fans, highlighting the best sports news, commentary and blogs from around the sports world and blogosphere.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

Okay, so the New York Yankees contract negotiations regarding the big three of Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera and Cliff Lee are not going quite as fans had hoped.

All the media hearsay and quotes coming from Yankee Camp has the Universe on edge. Some people, like myself, have turned to inventing conspiracy theories to try and justify what could be going on. The truth is turning into the predicted “messy” situation no one wanted.

The latest is GM Brian Cashman throwing Lee a check worth $115-$120 million for five years of his talents.

Over at Rivera’s camp, rumor has it that the asking price will cost the Yankees $36 million for two years of Mo’s services. Is Mo out of his mind to ask for a raise?

Yes because he is not better.  He’s still great, but showed a little wear and tear the last two seasons. To be asking for $six million more than his 2009 salary of $15 million per season is a little ridiculous.

Then you have to consider the tough position being taken with the ex-Captain. If the latest rumor that the Yankees front office has resorted to “arbitration-ambush” is true, then it’s so degrading considering that they are dealing with a living icon, not only to the Yankees, but what he represents to the city of New York as a hometown hero.

Here is what is so bothersome about this whole process, it seems the Yankees are way undervaluing the Captain’s presence. If Jeter goes elsewhere, the jeopardy it could potentially cause the organization, as a whole, will be worse than people are predicting.

New Yorkers will be pissed off and being well aware that not going to games means less money made, don’t think there won’t be some protesters urging fans to not go.

Also, Jeter and Rivera’s leadership is irreplaceable for the players. My bet is that without both of them, the Yankees will not make the playoffs in 2011. Jeter would be worse considering A-Rod might fall apart now that Jeter and him are friends.

Not to mention how it would affect Robbie Cano, who’s looked up to the Captain since day one. Jorge Posada is a best buddy of Jeter and very close with Mo and he could just not care anymore to win without them.

Everyone is saying it will happen, but with each passing day the media sticks the dagger in further which it is not comforting at all. It’s better for the Yankees to give a little more, as the saying goes it’s better to be safe than sorry.

Lee is getting shown the money to play in the Bronx, but more teams than just the Texas Rangers are rumored to be going after Lee. Hopefully Cashman has made a call to CC Sabathia and AJ Burnett to go do some pinstripe-PR with their friend.

Are the players being too greedy? Or is the organization at fault for showing how loyalty is still meaningless?

As Hal Steinbrenner has made clear that the negotiations are “business decisions”, which I found cold because what’s wrong with treating a loyal employee like family. “The Boss” will roll over in his grave if this gets as “messy” as his son said before it even started.

People are not robots and there’s nothing wrong with communicating to the two veterans more civilly in my opinion.

Why not ask Jeter and Mo what they think they are worth?

That could be a starting point, and Cashman, along with President Randy Levine, already pissed of Jeter’s agent Casey Close into making this statement:

“There’s a reason the Yankees themselves have stated Derek Jeter is their modern-day Babe Ruth. Derek’s significance to the team is much more than just stats. And yet, the Yankees’ negotiating strategy remains baffling. They continue to argue their points in the press and refuse to acknowledge Derek’s total contribution to their franchise.”

Well, Close jammed his foot in his mouth comparing Jeter and the Babe. Ruth went to the Boston Braves instead of resigning with the Bombers at the end of his career.

All I can say as a Jeter and Mo lifelong fan is that I am about to write a letter to Santa asking for the pair for Christmas. I am just not ready to let go yet and will not be a happy fan if this goes sour.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

Immediately following the World Series, the New York Yankees announced the termination of pitching coach Dave Eliand, which came as no surprise.

There were many guessing games of who might be Eiland’s replacement. The front-runners looked to be current bullpen coach Mike Harkey; Rick Kranitz, who has worked with Yankees skipper Joe Girardi before; and Scott Aldred, who currently serves the role in Triple-A Scranton for the last two seasons.

Fans were suggesting that David Cone, Al Leiter or Mike Mussina might bring their experience on the mound to the other side. Since none of the three have ever coached, the likelihood was slim.

Then the decision was announced that Chicago Cubs pitching coach Larry Rothschild was now bringing his talents to the Yankees.

It was a tad confusing because minimal interest had been expressed about Rothschild coming to the Bronx, as the Cubs had him signed through 2011.

The Cubs let Rothschild out of his contract stating that Rothschild wanted to spend more time near his Tampa, FL home. Since the Yankees train in Tampa, this move for Rothschild was exactly what he was looking to make.

No doubt Yankee fans should be elated to get Rothschild, who comes with 36-years of professional baseball experience and also coached Girardi as a player in Chicago back in 2002.

Rothschild has a reputation of being a noteworthy communicator, who does his homework but continually does the extra-credit. A lot of the qualities that Girardi brings as a manager, so Rothschild should fit perfectly on the staff.

As part of the interview process, Rothschild had to analyze video on AJ Burnett and give in detail how he would fix the Yankees pitching staff’s black sheep.

Considering Rothschild had just finished his eighth year helping the Cubs, last season’s correlation of hotheaded and unpredictable Carlos Zambrano might have helped in his answers.

Rothschild also made it clear that his motto is “repeat deliveries,” as it leads to better location and control. Well, lucky for Rothschild that Burnett is the poster child for disaster on the mound and his theories will be tested from every situation.

This move is a positive one for the Yankees, as obviously Eiland was having off-the-field issues that were more important and distracted him from doing his job.

Rothschild has coached twice on World Series Championship teams in 1990 for the Cincinnati Reds and in 1997 for the Florida Marlins. This definitely played a factor for the Yankees, who like guys who have been to the big stage and had success on it.

In his first day in pinstripes, Rothschild called each pitcher to schedule training dates prior to the start of 2011 Spring Training.

Hey, nothing feels better than hiring a real go-getter. It would seem that Rothschild wasn’t going to waste a minute.

Trust me, Rothschild has his work cut out for him with Burnett alone.

Without a doubt, all we know is that Rothschild knows how to win, and that is what Yankee Universe likes to hear.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

New York Yankee pinstripes are the only uniform Derek Jeter has worn in his professional baseball career.

Over his 16 seasons in those pinstripes, Jeter maintained the shortstop position and for the last 11 years has been the team’s Captain.

Jeter all-around made it easy to forget that he is actually human, but reality kicked in this past season—not surprising, considering he is 36 plus years old.

Coming to Jeter’s defense, it was just one bad season and it followed a career best in 2009.

In most situations, a person would inevitably get the benefit of the doubt, except in professional sports, due to the high demands it entails physically.

Contracts and salaries are impacted by age, which makes sense in view of the physical demands of the job.

Jeter is special to the Yankees organization, without question. He is a natural leader whose presence alone demands respect. Jeter’s humble demeanor is unique for a man with his status and successes.

His legacy is not and never will be in question.

So, the timing of Jeter’s Yankee contract expiring is not ideal. Where do you draw the line between what Jeter has done and what his future beholds on the baseball field?

The answer is you acknowledge both: Jeter’s significance in the past is grand enough that it should be reflected with his new contract, but so does his wear and tear.

The Yankees know this, and the organization acted accordingly.

GM Brian Cashman, along with Owner Hal Steinbrenner and President Randy Levine offered Jeter a three-year contract with a base salary of $21 million dollars per season.

To say that offer is fair would be an understatement.

Three more years are all the risk the Yankees should take, unless Jeter shows them otherwise at age 40.

The $21 million a season is above and beyond Jeter’s current value, but it exhibits the organizations gratitude and respect for Jeter the person.

It is not my place to guess what Jeter is thinking or what is behind his reasoning of not accepting this contract.

Yankee fans want the Captain back, as clearly does the organization.

For the first time, I am questioning whether Jeter wants to continue wearing his pinstripes and at what cost.

Let me make it clear, this is something I never thought or wanted to doubt.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

This player’s name is the last one any New York Yankee player or fan wants to hear: Carl Pavano, also known in the Bronx as the “American Idle.” 

Let me put it this way, for those of you who thought Javier Vazquez was disliked in the Bronx, Pavano makes Vazquez the Yankees prom-king.

Truth remains that Pavano is the next free agent considered to be worthwhile behind Cliff Lee, for at least 29 MLB teams.

Here is my warning…PROCEED WITH CAUTION.

Most Yankees fans never saw Pavano on the mound. That is because he only pitched 26 games, with injuries all the way from his shoulder to his buttocks. Pavano had record of 9-8 while in pinstripes, so his option for a fourth year was never going to happen.

Pavano’s three years in the Yankees rotation turned into more like $39.95 million vacation.

Pavano left New York with the impression of a slacker, as ironically the minute he was out of Yankees uniform he preformed well again and injury-free.

In 2009, Pavano made 33 starts, 21 games as a Cleveland Indiana and 12 as a Minnesota Twin. Pavano threw 200 innings in total, 50 more innings than his three-year total in the Bronx. Pavano threw one shutout and one complete game in 2009, to go along with his 147 strikeouts.

To go from zero to hero in one offseason is all the proof that was needed.

This past season Pavano was the Twins ace, finishing with a 17-11 record, over 221 innings, striking out 117 batters and an ERA of 3.75. He spent a total of zero days on the DL for the second season in a row. Pavano also was named the Twins pitcher of the year for 2010.

Nothing is more cowardly than not trying, taking the easy way out. Pavano might be a rich man, but one who can’t walk around publicly in New York City. At least I would not advise it, nor would he want to run into me.

Whether or not Pavano says his elbow, shoulder, knee, ribs and ass injuries were all real became irrelevant by his actions. They told another story, of a pitcher Yankee fans never knew, and it happened in too short a time considering the extent of this man’s injuries.

Hopefully, Pavano is a changed athlete because of the weak market sans Lee he is sure to go for a much higher price in this offseason market.

At least I know one fact, Carl Pavano won’t be an overpaid Yankee and that is a sentence  rarely said about any player and the Bronx Bombers.

More of a reason—Yankees better offer Cliff Lee the moon, sun and Pavano’s ass to get him in pinstripes.

GM Brain Cashman says the Yankees don’t need Lee. I agree, it’s much more desperate than that, the Yankees will bleed Lee if necessary.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

The New York Yankees are not being shy about who they want to be in pinstripes in 2011.

Ace Cliff Lee has already been paid a visit by GM Brian Cashman. Lately questions have been raised about Lee being a country bumpkin coming to the Big Apple, and if more money will make a difference in his decision.

One thing is for sure, Mrs. Lee better not step foot into Yankee Stadium if her husband is not in pinstripes.

Regardless, Lee’s Yankee future is not guaranteed. The remaining free-agent options for starting pitchers are bleak in comparison, as none hold a candle to Lee’s kind of talent.

So a backup plan is inevitable. Last week, I talked about three possible alternatives in New York Yankees: Three Possible Cliff Lee Backup Plans. Now, I am going to add another viable option, though the likelihood of it is a long shot.

The Yankees do have the alternative to look internally.

It’s a risk they took with Phil Hughes, Joba Chamberlain and Ian Kennedy, which turned into a circus. Hughes, luckily, is legit now, but the Yankees lost Joba in order to figure out what they were doing, and Kennedy is gone, not that he never was there to begin with as a Yankee, though.

This talent lies in the arm of Manny Banuelos. Banuelos is a 19-year-old lefty who is only 5’10” and hails from Mexico.

Banuelos has displayed the maturity of a Major League pitcher, evident by the way he controls his emotions on the mound. Banuelos’ attitude follows, as it is right-on both on and off the field.

Banuelos throws a mid-90s fastball with remarkable movement, a fantastic changeup and a curve ball that he is improving on.

Banuelos can keep developing his pitching techniques because he already displays a consistent delivery off the mound. Translation: The youngster is comfortable out there already, at least in the minor leagues.

This kid is turning into the real deal, but the Yankees have to have a game plan and stick to it this time.

Rules are supposed to be followed, not broken and used as excuses for reckless decisions by the managerial staff.

Regardless, this can’t even happen without a confirmation that Andy Pettitte is coming back. Even if he does, this is an option of last resort. It provides zero depth in the rotation, which could end the season real fast.

Still, Pettitte better hurry it up, instead of becoming the baseball version of Brett Favre.

Acting bigger than the game is not a trait Pettitte shares with Favre (that we know of), so let’s presume Pettitte lets the Yankees know by Thanksgiving at the latest.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

The silence of free agency is overwhelming New York Yankees fans, as rumors of contract negotiations and who is going where are circling the sports media.

No one really knows much except that Yankees GM Brian Cashman met with ex-captain Derek Jeter in Tampa Bay, FL. Then, Cashman and crew headed to Benton, Arkansas to pay a visit to the home of free agent ace Cliff Lee.

Cashman also made a point to meet with catcher Jorge Posada so there was no confusion to his role for the 2011 season. To no surprise, Posada will primarily be a DH but still catch around 40-50 games. Posada was told to stick to his regular offseason regime and come to spring training ready to catch.

The only other fact confirmed by the Yankees is that a scheduled meeting with closer Mariano Rivera and his agents was up next.

Everyone wants this drama to have an ending ASAP.

What is most bothersome is the media’s new found shredding of Derek Jeter, which is a major embarrassment.

ESPN is turning into TMZ, featuring stories of icons like Jeter, Favre and Bonds, but the difference is Jeter is a gentleman. Jeter is not hopped on ‘roids or sending pornographic pictures to married women.

Jeter only won a Gold Glove, not because he campaigned hard to win nut. The voting for the Gold Glove Awards consists of all MLB managers and coaches, but they cannot vote for anyone on their respective teams. So, if haters need to blame anyone it’s the 29 non-Yankee managers for giving Jeter the award.

Jeter is a true real role model, works hard, and doesn’t cheat on his wife with hookers or harsh any woman he wants. Jeter is a winner, who is deeply respected by his peers and has still remained a humble captain.

That’s all the facts as of today. Plenty of hearsay and diarrhea of the mouth has and will go one, but until it comes out of Cashman’s mouth it is best to ignore it.

Please note: Robinson Cano won a Gold Glove and Silver Slugger; Mark Teixeira won a Gold Glove. Congratulations to both of them.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

Ex-New York Yankees Captain Derek Jeter is getting a lot of heat from the media lately.

Today’s announcement of Derek Jeter winning the 2010 Gold Glove Award for best defensive AL shortstop is adding fuel to the fire.

Not ’cause Jeter is smoking hot, actually quite the contrary. Adjectives like over-paid, selfish, undeserving and messy are being used.

It must be jealousy or just Yankee haters’ first opportunity to pounce on the Captain, but it all seems very rotten.

Since I have been a baseball fan it is entirely unfeasible to find anyone, even a Boston Red Sox fan, who did not respect Derek Jeter the player and the person.

That same sentiment for Jeter is also unanimous from his own peers, coaches and managers across baseball. Jeter has been hailed for his work ethic and attitude. Players admire Jeter’s class and the dignity by watching the way he carries himself every day, both on and off the field.

Legendary sports writer Gay Tales said it best:

“Endowed as he is with all that talent, all that money and such impeccable manners-that makes him an anachronism. In this era of boorish athletes, obnoxious fans, greedy owners and shattered myths, here’s a hero who’s actually polite, and that has to have come from good parenting. You can’t compare him to Joe DiMaggio, for DiMaggio didn’t have bad manners—he had no manners. Where have you gone, man with manners? Here you are, Derek Jeter.”

Jeter has not been seen nor heard, and nothing factual has been stated about his current contract negotiations from the Yankees organization.

So all this boundless chitchat for what reason is beyond me.

Everyone knows that 2010 was Jeter’s worst career performance, and no one is saying differently. Some people have never thought Jeter was that good defensively, but if they can kiss his five World Series rings and can repeat that sentiment over again, then they don’t know baseball or sports for that matter.

Blaming a guy who never asks for any attention, who embodies what a true professional is in sports, all because he is getting a higher paycheck or given an award is just plain petty.

Excuse all the MLB coaches and managers for voting for a player like Jeter. Obviously these managers, who are all ex-players themselves, don’t know squat about the game at all, right?

Wrong….and shame on everyone who shoots down Jeter for receiving an award that others felt he deserved. Take it up with the managers and coaches who voted for #2.

Will this same attitude go if Phillies Jemmy Rollins wins the NL Gold Glove?

Not from me, as I have never played or managed on a professional baseball team. Making my opinion irrelevant because experience knows what wins, and that vote I trust to be accurate.

Derek Jeter is not Brett Favre, Manny Ramirez or Alex Rodriguez, nor has he ever wanted to be an athlete whose personal issues hurt a game he loves so much.

When I think of Jeter-types athletes I want to embrace this almost extinct competitor, not ridicule them for one bad season.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

MLB free agency has officially started and the New York Yankees have a full plate to say the least.

Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera and Andy Pettitte are no longer officially Yankees. Than there is free agent pitching ace Cliff Lee, along with outfielders Carl Crawford and Jayson Werth—who will be the most sought after players on the market.

Cliff Lee has been on the Yankees “Christmas List” for quite some time and no one in the Bronx is denying that Lee is what they want.

Yankees GM Brian Cashman needs to get the iconic players all squared away before even getting to Lee. The Yankees should overpay, because no one can imagine the Yankees sans the Captain and the Closer, especially the huge and loyal fans. A group that Cashman and co. needs to keep happy as clams, making the above inevitable.

Unfortunately, Lee’s wife did not enjoy her time at the Stadium during the ALCS. A handful of stupid Yankees fans decided to taunt the ace’s Mrs., which was not a smart idea considering the circumstances. Any and every Yankees fan knows that we coveted Lee and that he was finally a free agent at the end of 2010 season. This makes it so hard to comprehend what the hell these fans were thinking. Obviously they were not at all.

What if these contract talks with Jeter do become “messy” and take up a lot more time, money and manpower than anticipated?

When will Southpaw Andy Pettitte decide if he is done with baseball or not? Hopefully, it will be sooner than later. The Yankees are going to need Pettitte more than ever, if for some reason Lee does not sign with New York.

So, what are the Yankees other options if the Lee deal doesn’t come about?

Do they move onto Crawford or Werth and forget starting pitching as the top priority?

Doubtful because they Yankees are still pretty stacked offensively in Crawford and Werth’s respected positions. Pitching has a necessary void that needs to be filled, considering CC Sabathia, AJ Burnett and Phil Hughes are going to need some help in the rotation.

Burnett needs to work his butt off before 2011 Spring Training, because having a solid Burnett again could be the difference maker for the team’s success.

Are there any other free agent arms the Yankees have in mind just in case?

Trust in the fact that there is not a pitcher even in the same league as Lee available, but here are three names that would be the next best thing:

Jorge De La Rosa – Doubtful that De La Rosa could resign with the Colorado Rockies but will test the free agent market to see what else is out there. De La Rosa is a solid lefty, finishing the last two seasons with a 4.31 ERA and 306 strikeouts in 306.2 innings of work. De La Rosa frequents the DL way too often, but with the short list of solid starters on the market, he can get a lot more this off-season.

Brandon Webb – Arizona Diamondbacks are not jumping to resign Webb, as he had shoulder surgery that kept him out since beginning of 2009-10 season. Still, Webb a former Cy Young winner before the injury was one of the best righties in the game from 2006-08 and could add nice depth to the back of that rotation. In 2008, Webb finished 22-7 for the season, with a 3.30 ERA, striking out 183 over 226.2 innings pitched. Webb is 31 years old and whether he can get back to two years ago is a risk, but one that could work.

Rafael Soriano – Not a starter, but was easily in the top three closers in baseball the past few seasons. Tampa Bay Rays would love to keep Soriano, but he will join a long list of other players the Rays can’t afford to resign. The Yankees did not pick up Kerry Woods option at $11 million for 2011, but they still could resign Wood at a lower and more reasonable price for his services. Still, if Lee is not going to be in pinstripes than why would the Yankees not throw their money at Soriano and make the bullpen absolutely ruthless and impossible to beat.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com