and i’m getting the sense from you that because the yankees havent won a WS while Jeter’s been captain, he’s been a failure in leading this team to be successful?

read Buster Olney’s blog from yesterday… then you’ll get a glimpse into understanding why respected major league players, coaches, scouts, and bullpen mascots all feel the same way about Jeter’s leadership abilities, why he’s the respected captain on the ballclub, and how that respect translates into perpetuating the winning attitude in the clubhouse as we, the fans, know it.

And back to his confidence and charisma. I think you overstate their affect, much to the detriment of other Yankees players. What makes you think that seasoned professionals like Matsui, Abreu, A-Rod, Posada, Giambi, Damon, and others need to be motivated and inspired by Derek Jeter? These guys were excellent and inspired ballplayers before they came to New York and they’ve been excellent (despite many fans’ blinders about A-Rod and Giambi) since they came here. I fail to see this “Jeter effect.”

Utlimately, we are just having a disagreement about things unseen. You believe that Derek Jeter has a certain intangible quality that makes his teams better (and whether you call it leadership, “knowing how to win,” etc., it’s all the same). And you’re not alone here: many other fans and commentators also believe this. I just happen to think it’s a lot of hype–and I haven’t seen any evidence of a Jeter effect.

and CM: confidence improves his performance, and along with his charisma, helps motivate his fellow players, while also physically and literally helping his team.

when the yankees are down a run, who do you want up in that box who you know is cool under pressure, who exudes confidence to know what has to be done, and who is seemingly in the middle of most rallies the team puts together? Derek Jeter.

I brought up Pierre because he’s the perfect example of a guy who plays really hard and has all the intangibles, but kills your team by playing bad baseball (all singles, no walks, gets caught stealing a lot). Which is to say that swagger and confidence are nice, but they get you nowhere unless you get on base and score runs too. (Well that’s not entirely accurate. In Pierre’s case, they can get you a huge contract from an idiot GM.)

And I continue to believe that your description of the “athlete who plays hard” applies to virtually everyone on the Yankees, and most professional baseball players in general. Jeter’s play and work ethic, and we’re only talking about things, are terrific, but my point earlier was that you can say the exact same thing about Matsui, Posada, Rivera, and plenty of other guys, even Sheffield (who played hurt for extended periods of time). If Jeter does something else to make his teammates play better, we don’t get to see it.