Derek Jeter is hoping to have a season like his good friend Mariano Rivera did last year; a successful final run through the MLB schedule at the top of his game. According to some scouts monitoring Jeter's spring, however, he may be finished as a productive player at shortstop.
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Jeter missed just about all of the 2013 season trying to return from a broken ankle suffered in the 2012 ALCS. "He looks old and frail," one AL scout said.
"He looks like he lost 10 to 15 pounds rehabbing his ankle and the biggest difference is in his strength. He always had the strength to muscle that pitch on the inner half to right field for a base hit. (I) don't see it anymore."
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Captain Clutch has made critics look silly before, and when posed with questions about his ability to return to form answered in typical Jeterian fashion. "Why isn't it possible?" "If you don't think it is, you shouldn't do it. You shouldn't even be out there." Jeter also clamed that his poor spring numbers are no indication of how his body's reacting to regular action.
"I feel good," Jeter said. "It takes a little while. When you miss time it takes awhile to get back. I've got one week left. I'm in a good spot."
Before breaking his ankle, Jeter's 2012 campaign was one of the better seasons of his spectacular career. He batted .316 with 15 home runs, 58 RBI and 99 runs scored while making the All-Star team. Scouts aren't expecting a repeat performance thanks to limitations from his damaged ankle.
"Those infield hits are going to be limited now because he is a tick below average runner with a [bad] ankle," the scout said. "He always figures out a way defensively, but you have to hit to be a regular. If anyone can prove me wrong it's Jeter. But the Yankees are going to have to make some really tough decisions if he doesn't start off well offensively."
A National League scout talked about reduced bat speed from Jeter, and also noted his decreased speed.
"Jeter's bat speed has slowed down and he needs to make adjustments, to open up his stance to see the ball more clearly," that NL scout said. "He's running on eggshells right now to protect the injured foot. I hope he can stay healthy. [But] the first-step quickness is gone. It's tough to get back at 40. He'll need to read hitters counts and position better to make up for the deficiency."
According to Fangraphs.com, the most favorable projection for Jeter pegs him as a .281 hitter with seven homers and 47 RBI in 121 games. Another system projects El Capitan to play in 143 games, with a .263 average, eight homers and 56 RBI.
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