Sherman: Yankees should bat Jeter at bottom of order

Jeter is a concept
By which we can measure

There are many ways to think about a lineup, but there is one inarguable concept when constructing a batting order: You want your best hitters to bat most frequently.

So why does Derek Jeter continue to hit in one of the top two spots in the order?

The short answer is because he is Derek Jeter.

At this moment, Jeter is the weakest link in the everyday lineup, which means he should be batting eighth or ninth.

...But this is not about removing Jeter from the 2010 everyday lineup. Pressure games are coming and the Yankees know Jeter will not be unnerved in those situations. This is about recognizing that there is no meritocracy when it comes to Jeter. When, for example, Javier Vazquez lost his fastball, he lost his rotation spot. Jeter has metaphorically lost his fastball as a hitter, becoming a groundball metronome who hardly ever strikes the ball with authority. Yet he not only does not lose playing time, he continues to bat more frequently than more deserving teammates.

I directly asked Girardi whether, if Jeter’s name were Joe Smith, he still would be hitting atop the lineup.

“Yes,” the manager said. “I don’t know if a change would bring shockwaves [to the clubhouse]. All I know is that I believe in Derek.”

I don’t believe in Fat Elvis…