FROM JOEL SHERMAN

Derek Jeter was picked off second base in a tie game in the sixth inning on Tuesday night with Alex Rodriguez at the plate. In the ninth inning, Jeter failed to get a sacrifice bunt down with Johnny Damon on second base as the go-ahead run and ultimately struck out. These are the kinds of offenses that have gotten Jose Reyes criticized. Jeter, however, escaped the wrath for the most part, probably because of his long history of success in New York. But maybe we should begin asking, with Jeter at 34 now, whether he is a top player any more. We will leave defense out of the discussion, since it is always such a hot-button topic for those true believers who refuse to see anything wrong with the Yankee captain. Let’s just focus on offense and 2008.

TO CONTINUE READING THIS ITEM OR FOR MORE ON THE YANKEES AND ALL OF BASEBALL GO TO JOEL SHERMAN’S HARDBALL BLOG.