Well played...

Q: What is so much fun about playing shortstop for the New York Yankees?

A: It's fun because it's been a dream of mine. . . . I just had the opportunity to live out my dream, so that's why it's been so fun for me. This is what I've always wanted to do. I've never wanted to do anything else, therefore it's fun for me, just like I'm sure your dream was to write Serby's Question & Answer on Sunday. Now you're doing it. I'm sure it's fun for you.

Why would anyone expect the starting All-Star shortstop to discuss a position switch. Would only create controversy and Jeter doesn't do much of that. A shortstop with an OPS about 150 points above the league average for the position is not a problem that needs to be addressed today.

Because he's 35 and when his contract ends he'll be 37 everyone knows that the Yankees are not going to want a 38 year old shortstop?

Because he's 35 and when his contract ends he'll be 37 everyone knows that the Yankees are not going to want a 38 year old shortstop?

And discussing it in the tabloids gets Jeter and the Yanks what?

self awareness from Derek Jeter.

The truest part of the Q&A;:

Q: Have you become more guarded?

A: More? I've always been.

Congrats to Jeter for his All Star nod!

Yeesh.

This guy does not seem like he's much fun to be around, tbh.

I think most people would be more open about the whole "Please wax philosophic about the end of your career" thing when in the middle of their career than when the end was looming. It gets a lot less hypothetical when there's a very concrete contract and resource planning problem awaiting the end of the year. So being a bit reticent at this point in his life doesn't necessarily reflect poorly on Jeter. On the other hand, he's never been good about contemplating this type of thing and, to me, that makes him look pretty shallow or frightened. (Don't jump all over me for the word choice: he can be confident as all heck in his abilities as a baseball player and still not be comfortable around spiders or the sight of blood or the idea of not playing shortstop for the Yankees.)

I don't have any problem with your word choice, Cris, (and this would apply to #8 as well), I think this interview tells us more about what Srul quotes in #6 than anything else. For all we know, Jeter and his Maxim 100 Girl of the Week sit around and discuss how he feels about the end of his career every night. But it seems silly to play armchair psychiatrist on the answers of someone who is famously guarded about his life and feelings.

If Jeter were to speculate publicly about moving to the outfield, it would be spun as signaling that the Yankess should not offer a multi-year contract to outfield candidates in order to hold a position for him. Pretty silly to stir up a controversy when he is still the Yanks best option at SS for several more years, and Jeter seldom causes controversy.