True stupidity

I can only assume that Jim Caple is a Boston fan which is why he would have the audacity to say that the Yankees should trade Jeter instead of A-Rod. It would certainly help Boston and the other teams in the American League beat the Yankees. I have said that it was a mistake getting A-Rod in the first place, and I think that keeping him would be a big mistake. Lets breakdown the rational that Jim is using in his article.

1. A-Rod is the better player. I will agree that A-Rod is the better regular season individual player. The reason that I add individual is that a player can have great individual numbers but not help improve the team. A-Rod is definitely not a better postseason player. You can look at 1 or 2 series and rationalize anything but when you look at career numbers for both players in the postseason, the obvious winner is Jeter, not to mention the fact that the only thing that matters to Steinbrenner is the postseason. Also note that the career batting average for Jeter (.317) is 12 points higher than A-Rod's (.305).

2. Jeter has more trade value. I will concede that. His experience, leadership and abilities clearly makes him more valuable. A-Rod has proven that he is a drain on the resources of any team because of his high salary.

3. Jeter is a year older. So what! I will not even bother to comment on this.

4. Jeter is more expensive. If you look at the cost of A-Rod for the Yankees over the rest of his contract then, yes, Jeter is more expensive. But figure in what the impact is on the Texas Rangers who are still paying off part of his salary and he is not more expensive. Which begs the question: why would any team agree to payout $67 million dollars to get rid of a player? A-rod is still financially hurting a team that he does not belong to any more. Texas was desperate to get rid of him!!! It makes you sit back and think for a second.

5. Jeter doesn't provide the leadership needed. A-Rod brought this upon himself. When you demand the salary that he is getting, you expect that he is going to perform. Make no mistake, Jeter is the leader in that clubhouse. Not just anyone is named as the team captain of the Yankees. I guess that Jim would next be suggesting that A-Rod should be named the Yankees captain.

6. It's only fair. This has to be the most unintelligent reason to trade away one of the key players on this team. This is the biggest indicator that Jim must be a Boston fan. How is it fair that someone like A-Rod can get paid $250 million dollars for 10 years and yet not be expected to carry the burden of expectations of winning championships? He is in it for the money only.

Understand that Jeter has only known winning from the beginning of his career in the Yankee organization. He has been in the playoffs every year of his career. On the flip side, A-Rod has not and has never been a part of a team that won the World Series. It is an interesting note that only after the Mariners got rid of A-Rod, did they win 116 regular season games. They got better after getting rid of him.

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