Two Good Reasons To Keep Jeter at the Lead-Off Spot

Newspapers in New York continue to suggest that the Yankees would sign Johnny Damon if Scott Boras would drop his asking price to around 11 million per year for 4 or 5 years.

This would be a colossal mistake.

As mentioned before, Johnny Damon has a terrible throwing arm. Most people don't know that Damon had an extremely strong throwing arm when he was in high school. It was so strong that he was actually a pitching prospect.

But after suffering a shoulder injury towards the end of his high school career, Damon had to change his throwing motion to the one that we see today.

What's the problem with keeping Jeter at the lead-off spot?

The player who hits in the lead-off position typically gets around 20-30 more at bats per season than any other player. The only other player on the current Yankees roster who I'd want to give those extra at bats to is Matsui. But I'd give them to Jeter before Matsui only because Derek is a better base runner.

Derek's base running skills and instincts make him a great lead-off man, one who gives his team an excellent opportunity to put a run on the board in the first inning.

Here is my ideal line-up for the 2006 season:

1. Jeter
2. Matsui
3. Sheffield
4. Giambi
5. Nomar (assuming that the Yankees can sign him for first base)
6. A-Rod
7. Posada
8. Cano
9. Crosby

If Nomar doesn't get signed, I would shift everyone below him up one spot and put Bernie in between Cano and Crosby.

- Joshua
InsideTheYankees.com