Tiger most powerful athlete despite scandal

Bloomberg BusinessWeek just came out with its Power 100 2010 list ranking the top athletes in the world. Tiger Woods was #1 despite the massive sex scandal late last year. He won't be #1 next year after the major hit to his public reputation and marriage, his leave of absence from golf and the fleeing of his advertisers. It will be interesting to see how many spots he falls, if he even makes the list at all.

I was surprised Derek Jeter was only #33 on the list. Jeter is the most visible player for the New York Yankees, the most recognized baseball team in the world. But athletes in individual sports such as golf took most of the top spots while the National Football League and National Basketball Association outranked Major League Baseball at the team sports level. Albert Pujols is the top ranked player for baseball in the #4 slot.

Jeter may be only #33 on the list, but his likeability is second to none in Yankee land. Perhaps he gets hurt by the backlash against the Yankees free-spending ways.

But as the magazine notes, Captain Clutch had a fantastic season that ended with his fifth championship. He probably moves up the list next year.

Thanks to KOknockout920 via en.Wikipedia for the photo.

Hope Damon finds job before music stops

Johnny Damon and Scott Boras may have overplayed their hand in contract negotiations with the New York Yankees, while the team was inflexible with a player who was a key part of their 2009 World Series championship. But Damon doesn't deserve to be without a chair when the music stops.

Boras can talk all he wants about still being in negotiations with several baseball teams for Damon's services. But it's February 6 and the list of teams with available outfield spots is dwindling with the start of spring training less than two weeks away. I hope Damon finds a job soon. It won't be for the money and years he wanted, but it's better than being unemployed.

Thanks to Ken N and Mattingly23 via Wikipedia for the photo.

ARod 500th HR not worth much

The ball Alex Rodriguez hit for his 500th home run just sold for $103,579. I'm surprised it got that much.

Hitting 500 home runs is not the achievement that it used to be, given the widespread use of performance-enhancing drugs in baseball. And ARod's numbers are tainted because of his acknowledged steroid use for several years of his career with the Texas Rangers.

ARod is likely to break Barry Bond's home run record (762) in a New York Yankees uniform. But it's a moment I won't be celebrating. Unlike Derek Jeter topping Lou Gehrig for the all-time Yankees hits record, I will take no pleasure watching ARod break that home run record. That home run will always remind me of the damage ARod and other players have done to the game of baseball.

Thanks to Googie man via en. Wikipedia for the photo.

Can Girardi make the right moves?

I hope Joe Girardi had a good rest this offseason. He's going to need it. Three months after winning his first World Series title as a manager, the pressure to win another will be tremendous. And it starts as soon as he steps off the plane in Florida for spring training.

There are two major baseball decisions he will need to make. The first and most important is deciding who will be the fifth starter for the New York Yankees. The competition is mostly between Joba Chamberlain and Phil Hughes, with Alfredo Aceves, Chad Gaudin and Sergio Mitre in the mix. This won't be Girardi's decision alone as Brian Cashman & Co. will weigh in. But Girardi is going to be closest to the action so he may cast the deciding vote.

The Yankees manager will also have to settle who plays center field and who plays left. Given Girardi is a pitching and defense guy, my money is on Brett Gardner in center with Curtis Granderson in left.

Girardi made some good moves in spring training last year that helped the Yankees win, namely flipping Derek Jeter and Johnny Damon in the lineup. Can Girardi find that Midas touch again? We'll know soon.

Thanks to Keith Allison via Wikipedia for the photo.

Jeter's value beyond dollars and cents

Hank Steinbrenner is focused on the New York Yankees repeating their 2009 World Series championship. But Jr. Boss knows there is a potential storm brewing next offseason: the expiration of Yankees Captain Derek Jeter's contract.

How do you calculate Jeter's value in terms of dollars and cents? That's a tough one. Jeter's in the final year of a 10-year, $189 million contract. Looking strictly at stats, some observers would conclude that he's not worth that kind of money. But let's look at those stats: .317 career batting average, 2,747 hits, 1,574 runs, 224 home runs and 1,068 ribbies. He was the 1996 Rookie of the Year, a 10-time All-Star and four-time Gold Glove winner. And, of course, the only number that really counts: 5, as in five world championships.

But Jeter's value has never been about just stats. It's no coincidence that the Yankees started winning titles again when Jeter took over at shortstop. He and Mariano Rivera were the heart and soul of the most recent Yankees dynasty. And they have a strong chance of starting a new one, surrounded by good, young players such as Mark Teixeira and CC Sabathia. But it always starts with Jeter's leadership. Take that out of the Yankees and there's no way they do as well.

Maybe I'm naive, but I don't believe Jeter would ever leave the Yankees nor do I believe the team would ever allow him to leave. The brass can strong arm other players as much as they want, but try to pull the same with Jeter and Mo and they risk a mass rebellion. I think Jeter will be reasonable in his contract demands. I don't know what his request would be, but I would guess a four or five-year deal at about $20-$22 million per year. That's a lot of money, but given his value to the Yanks, it's a steal.

Thanks to Keith Allison via Wikipedia for the photo.

Jr Boss ready for Yankees repeat

Hank Steinbrenner is ready for the start of spring training baseball, which he considers a mere formality in the quest for a repeat championship for the New York Yankees. As Yankee Captain Derek Jeter said Wednesday, the mantra for the Bronx Bombers does not change: win it all or the season is a failure.

Steinbrenner thinks the offseason moves made by Yankees general manager Brian Cashman (trading for Curtis Granderson and Javy Vazquez) have improved the team. I would quibble with that notion on the Vazquez end, but he may be right. The Yankees did fulfill Cashman's stated desire to get younger and more flexible. They managed to revamp their roster in a cost-effective way, a goal of Hank's brother Hal after years of what he sees as out-of-control spending by the real Boss: George Steinbrenner.

Yet, I think Jr. Boss & Co. are underestimating the impact of losing both Hideki Matsui and Johnny Damon, good guys with clutch bats. The brass is counting on Granderson and Nick Johnson to fill that void both in the lineup and the clubhouse. We'll see if they have the goods to do it.

Jeter: State of the Yankees Union is strong

After a great year for the New York Yankees with a new stadium and another World Series title, Captain Derek Jeter believes the State of the Yankees Union is strong. But the mantra hasn't changed for Jeter or the Yankees: the only thing that matters is winning another title.

"I would never want to be with an organization that's happy to go home," he told Harold Reynolds of MLB Network. "I don't like to play with people that accept losing. If you don't win, you shouldn't be walking around with a smile on your face."

The Yankee Captain is still as competitive as ever. Despite his great affection for Joe Torre, he pledged to show no mercy toward his old manager when the Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers meet in interleague play this year.

He seemed excited to play with newcomer Curtis Granderson, a great guy who has really improved his game, according to Jeter. But he is genuinely sad about the loss of Hideki Matsui, one of his favorite teammates, a professional who, like Jeter, never made excuses. "I really will miss him."

Jeter is famous for not paying much attention to his individual stats, but he expressed pride and happiness about becoming the all-time Yankees hits king, a "mind-boggling" feat, and being named the Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year. "What an honor."

The Yankee shortstop also takes a lot of pride in his work ethic and he told Reynolds he worked at changing his workout routine to increase flexibility, mobility, agility and lateral movement in response to criticisms of his defense. "I always accept criticism as a challenge," Jeter said. "It's not saying I'm out there trying to prove somebody wrong, but I'm just trying to make myself a better all-around player."

As the Yankee Captain closes in on 3,000 hits, he's doesn't appear ready to retire anytime soon. "As long as I'm having fun and I'm having the time of my life right now," Jeter said.

Thanks to chris.ptacek via Wikipedia for the photo.