Matt's initial email:

I read your article about the Phillies infield today. I had several major issues with it. I'm not saying that the Yankees infield is the greatest of all time, but I am pretty sure it's better than Philly's.

First of all, Ryan Howard is unreal vs right handed pitching. But he is a horrible hitter vs left handed pitching. He's below replacement value vs left handers. His OBP last year was below .300 and his slugging % was barely over .350 vs left handers. Because of the fact that Philly overpaid him, they are forced to use a subpar hitter in the middle of the line up vs left handed pitching. Prior to his slight rebound last year, he had declined in 3 straight years in BA/OBP/Slugging %. Mark Teixeira on the other hand is a switch hitter that is much more constistant as a hitter. He won't put up 50+ HR's, but he won't have an OBP less than .300 either. Remember, the goal in baseball is not to create an out. I would say it's a push because Howard is THAT good vs right handed pitching, but his weakness vs left handed pitching is too great to just say he's a better hitter. Defensively I would call it a push.

Chase Utley is a better player than Robinson Cano, no arguments there.

Jimmy Rollins is fast declining as a SS. His BA/OBP/Slugging % numbers have decreased 3 straight years. Jeter is still Jeter. Defensively, Rollins is better but Jeter's offense more than makes up for that.

Alex Rodriguez is hands down better than Placido Polanco and it's not even close.

Saying that A-Rod puts an asterisk on an all time great infield is just a cop out. He admitted to PED use years ago. That has nothing to do with the 2009 or 2010 season. He was never suspended for steroids because face it, MLB looked the other way. It's not fair to penalize A-Rod for something he admitted to before joining the Yankees when you don't know if someone on the Phillies used or not. One can make an arguement that it's not natural that Ryan Howard hit 58 HR's in one year, which is more than A-Rod ever did. How do we know Howard wasn't juicing that year? He never hit more than 50 HR's in any other season.

If you add longevity, the Yankees infield is clearly better. The 4 players have been teammates 2 straight years and it could very well end up being together 5 or 6 years depending on what happens with Robinson Cano.

Polanco is the difference. If Philly had a better 3rd baseman, it would be a fair argument.

Nothing disrespectful from Matt, right? Tone of the email isn't inflammatory. Well, Bill Conlin responded to this email with one word and one word only:

STEROIDS

Upon receiving this, Matt became a bit agitiated and replied:

I'm sorry that you can't admit that Ryan Howard sucks vs LHP and saying Polanco is better than A-Rod because of steriods is just LOL. What's sad is that you probably have a Hall of Fame vote. Like I said earlier, what does taking steroids in 2003 and earlier have to do w/ playing 3rd base in 2010? Just out of curiousity, if someone on Philly get's caught w/ PED or steroids, are you going to retract that statement?

Bill Conlin quickly fired back:

Had a HOF vote for 44 years, ace. Retract this.

Wow. How do writers who treat readers like this keep their jobs? Newspapers nowadays aren't really in the position to respond like this to their main source of revenue generation.

Never trust a man with this amount of facial hair

The move has been greeted with rave reviews, as pundits far and wide have proclaimed the transaction as another example of Theo Epstein's superior intelligence.

ESPN runs headline, "Epstein finds another diamond in the rough."

Bill Simmons shouts, "Nomar has ended the curse of Orlando Cabrera! Theo has finally found a shortstop! Larry Bird! Robert Parish!"

Bravo! Bravo!


*Props to Stringfellow Hawke, Jake Fratelli, and Mick Shrimpton for also contributing to this post

Is there a shortcut home?

The correct answer can be found by watching one of the greatest sequences in cinematic history:

Crazy proppage to these NoMaasians who were the first few to know the right answer:

Twitter: @Escamillo222, @JohnnyDaMan, @rayblay, @NHSurf
Facebook: Dan Oldis, Sean Logue, Tom Zegarelli, Tom Murphy

If you want to participate in these trivia contests that have nothing to do with the Yankees, make sure you follow us on Twitter or Facebook.

In the winter season, bears generally cuddle into a cave, holes that they have dug beneath trees, or even in a hollowed out tree, in order to hibernate. This shields them from other animals. It is extremely difficult for bears to find enough food like nuts and berries in winters, and therefore, they go into hibernation to save their energy. The basic purpose of hibernation is to bypass the winter season, during which the food supplies get restricted. Thus, in order to conserve energy, bears do not eat, defecate or urinate during winter lethargy.

Source

After reading this, it becomes quite clear why CC's career numbers happen to look like this:

March/April: 4.54 ERA, 1.39 WHIP, 7.0 K/9, 1.96 K/BB, .740 OPS Against
May - October: 3.49 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, 7.7 K/9, 2.83 K/BB, .676 OPS Against

Like most brown bears, CC is just a bit groggy and unproductive during the first month after hibernation. Once the weather heats up, so will he.

Awwwwwwww.


*Props to Moses Hightower for also contributing to this post

“A” struck out a good deal of the time, but mitigated that somewhat by walking a fair amount (27.1 K%, 13.8 BB%, .60 BB/K). “B” is ultra selective and managed a ridiculous number of free passes, but still racked up a few whiffs, though not nearly at the rate that "A" did (21.3 K%, 19.9 BB%, 1.20 BB/K).

“B” is a dead pull hitter and uses his great eye to locate balls on the inner half of the plate. He OPS'd a whopping 1.358 to left field, but only a paltry .425 combined to center and right. “A” has a much more balanced approach, choosing to utilize the whole field to his advantage. His OPS on balls in play to left field, center and right went 1.052, .965 and 1.073 (respectively) last year.

Despite being so different in philosophy, they have almost identical ’09 OPS and wOBA figures (A: .866, .373 – B: .868, .378).

So, who would you rather have? It’s a tough choice for sure.

Let’s make that decision easier. Choose Nick Swisher.

That’s right ladies and gentlemen, those are Swishalicous’ stats from last year (and yes, they’re in line with his career rates, though his success going oppo as a lefty last year was way up). It’s interesting that one guy could have these two distinct ways of going about the art of hitting. We hear about players having more power from one side or another, but we don’t usually hear they act like a completely different person. I’m not saying these are premeditated plans by Nick, but this is the way it’s played out in his career so far.

And yes, that was misleading since I made it seem like the “players” stats were versus both left-handed and right-handed pitching… but come on, there would have been no mystery if I indicated it was RHB vs. LHP and LHB vs. RHP. It’s all about the reveal.

Congratulations to Doug McKenzie a.k.a J[ob]a Rule for taking home 34% of the vote with the following verse:

Grands got range like Cameron, except he gets hits,
Tex like constipation – yo, he don’t drop sh*t,
Pete Abe on a ham run, Papi’s growing tits,
Red Sox-tober vacation, Brett Pedroia to baby sit

Doug has selected the "In the beginning, God created the heavens and Mariano" T-shirt. We'll be shipping that shirt out international, because he lives up in Vancouver, British Columbia.

The funniest part about all of this is when we emailed him with a simple congratulations, he responded with this:

Yo, I drop rhymes like tek drop knuckleballs,
Saw mad entries, I spit better than y'all,
My sh*t hit hard like nolan in ventura brawls,
Perenial favorite like the yankees in the fall.

Seriously, thanks a lot guys, I really appreciate all you do with this
site. You are far and away my favorite website since my friend Bryan
turned me on to you a few years back, and I know you work really hard
to keep coming up with funky ass sh*t like every single day.

Amazing. The people who visit this site are a unique breed.

In our Stealth Bomber series, we talk to players in the farm system who aren't yet on the New York radar, but hope one day to be so.

Gavin was drafted in the 9th round of the 2009 draft out of UCLA, where he served as the Bruins’ closer and earned Honorable Mention All-Pac-10 Team and Second-Team Pac-10 All-Academic honors during his senior year. Upon signing, he impressed during 30 relief appearances for the Staten Island Yankees, going 5-1 with a 0.62 ERA and 48 Ks in 43.1 IP. Baseball America ranks Gavin among the top left-handed relievers in the Yankees’ system.

Admiral Firmus Piett: What went through your mind on draft day when you found out that you were selected by the Yankees?

Gavin Brooks: It was a very exciting moment for me and my family. I had been working really hard for a long time for that moment, and to hear that I would be playing for the greatest organization in baseball history, I was thrilled.

AFP: What team did you root for growing up?

GB: Growing up in San Diego and going to Padre games it was natural for me to be a Padres fan. I was never a die hard Padres fan though as they always seemed to let all their better players (except Tony Gwynn) slip away in trades.

AFP: Who was your favorite ball player as a kid?

GB: I was always a big fan of Jim Edmonds and the way he played the game. He worked just as hard on defense as he did on offense and left everything out on the field.

AFP: What does your pitch repertoire include?

GB: I throw a 4-seam fastball and have developed a 2-seam as well. I throw 2 breaking balls: a curveball and a slider that is sometimes referred to as a slurve. I am also working on developing my change-up.

AFP: Which one is your out pitch?

GB: It depends on the hitter I’m facing and the situation, but my go-to pitch if I need a strikeout is my slider.

AFP: Have the Yankees adjusted your pitch repertoire at all?

GB: At instructs last year, I worked on developing a 2-seam fastball and a changeup in order to induce more ground ball outs and weak contact. Most of the regular season I only threw a 4-seam fastball, curve, and a slider. Once at instructs, I was only allowed to throw the pitches I was working on, which was a change from how I would have normally pitched hitters, but it forced me work on the pitches I needed to improve. I feel comfortable with my 2-seam now and am still working on my change-up.

AFP: Have they made any adjustments to your mechanics?

GB: They adjusted my hand positioning in my delivery by lowering my hands in order to give my separation better timing. That was the main change I’ve made. There were a few minor changes in grip and follow through, but the major adjustment was with my separation.

AFP: Are there any other areas of your game that your coaches emphasize for you to work on?

GB: Pitching Fielding Practice, or PFP, is always highly stressed. Being a lefty there is always improvement that can be made in my pickoff move as well.

AFP: What do you view as your strengths and weaknesses coming off of your 2009 season?

GB: My main strength was being able to buckle down in clutch situations and get out of a jam. I was very satisfied with the way I pitched when runners were on base, especially in scoring position. One area I need to improve is lowering my number of walks. I allowed too many runners a free pass and need to get ahead in the count more often in order to put hitters away.

AFP: What are your expectations going in to your first spring training as a pro?

GB: I am very excited and looking forward to getting to spring training. I have worked hard this off-season and am itching to get back on the mound and compete. I felt like a gained some experience of what I will encounter by being invited to instructional league, but am looking forward to it.

AFP: What are your goals for the 2010 season?

GB: Goals can always be set in terms of numbers, but my main goals are to continue to work hard and progress throughout the season. By trying to get better everyday in some phase of my game will allow to me to be as successful as possible. I can’t control everything that happens throughout a season in terms of results, but I can control my work ethic and desire to improve, so that’s where my focus is.

AFP: What does your off-season conditioning program include?

GB: Total body workouts 3 days a week that last for 2 1/2 hours and include a mix of strength, agility, and cardio. On the days that I don’t have a work out, I have designated running that varies from sprints to intervals. I try to make sure I get some type of core exercise done everyday as well. In the past two months I have increased my throwing over time and am throwing 6 days a week with bullpens 3 times a week.

AFP: During the season, what does a typical day look like?

GB: Usually I will sleep in until around 10 and get some breakfast. Usually I will leave for the field around noon for a 7 p.m. game. Once I get to the field I will grab some lunch and hang out with the guys in the clubhouse until 1:30. Pitchers stretch and throw starting at 2:00. Once that’s done, I get my designated running in and get ready for team defense or PFP’s. Batting practice starts at 4:00 and last for almost an hour. I’ll head back into the clubhouse and relax until half an hour before the game. The game starts at 7:00 and gets finished around 10:00, then I’ll grab some dinner head back home and rest up to start it all over again. Then there are road trips but that’s a whole other adventure.

Big ups to Gavin for talking with NoMaas. We wish him the best of luck in the upcoming season.

Interview with Brian Cashman

- Prior to his contract renewal in late 2005, there were too many chefs in the Yankee decision making kitchen. Departments were influencing other departments that weren't their responsibility.
- He doesn't view himself as a ninja, but he has streamlined the decision-making process to limit leaks.
- October performance doesn't mean much at all to him when evaluating a player's talent.
- Cash and his pitching evaluators come up with innings limit for young pitchers, but it's up to Girardi and Eiland as to how those innings are distributed.
- Yanks didn't necessarily believe A-Jax's upside was equal to Granderson's current talent level.
- He believes Gardner has the potential to be a better CF than Granderson, but Brett has to prove that before Granderson would be bumped to LF.
- He's not particularly concerned about the Yankees' durability.
- GMs have access to information we as fans do not have, and making decisions is based on more than just a spreadsheet.
- He doesn't see Jesus Montero in New York this season, and while they really want him to catch, they are open to a variety of positions. His throwing release is his biggest problem right now.

Interview with Nick Swisher

- Swish takes a lot pride in his selectivity and patience at the plate, but it's something he's never had to work on, nor did he ever make a conscious decision to be that way.
- It was a "dream come true" for him to join the Yankees.
- He didn't feel comfortable hitting in Yankee Stadium for a while.
- He was frustrated to learn he would have to platoon with Xavier Nady, especially coming off a poor 2008 season, but was confident in Joe Girardi's ability to give him ample playing time.
- Joe Girardi is a great communicator.
- The players sometimes debate whether winning creates chemistry, or chemistry creates winning.
- The team looks to the "Core Four" leaders during periods of adversity.
- He loves the Bleacher Creatures.
- He may be making a new addition to his AB music, courtesy of NoMaas.

Interview with Brett Gardner

- When the Yankees acquired Granderson, he knew either him or Melky would be traded away.
- He used to be a good bunter at the lower levels, but as he got closer to the bigs, he stopped doing it to work on his swing.
- He wants to bunt more, even though defenses already play him in, because if he can get the placement, he will beat it out regardless.
- He wants to cut his strikeout rate to 10%-12%, because he realizes that his legs give him good chance to get on base when the ball is put into play.
- He knows that if he doesn't prove he can hit ML pitchers, they will challenge him more and he won't be able to get the walks he did in the minors.
- His goal is to have a .350 OBP or better.
- He views himself as a CF.

We hope you enjoyed these interviews. We'll definitely be bringing you more of them, but we thought it was time for a recap.

Fortunately, he didn't talk as fast as he runs. NoMaas' Sensei John Kreese chats with Brett Gardner about all aspects of his game and his goal for a .350 OBP.

SJK: Describe your offseason workout routine.

BG: I took about five weeks off, started again around December 15th -- running, weights..and right before Christmas, I started hitting again and taking some swings off the tee -- really just light, trying to get back into it. After that, I start working out everyday and got ready to come down here [Tampa].

For the last five years, ever since I've been with the Yankees, I've come down to Spring Training early. For the first couple years, it was mandatory, you know, for instructional ball and things like that. For the last few years, I've come down on my own, just to get out, run outside -- I get more work in here than I would back at home.

SJK: How's the thumb?

BG: It's good. I missed 42 days, six weeks exactly. It wasn't a case of coming back too early -- they told me when it happened that it might not feel right for almost a year. Now, it's just starting to feel normal again. It bothered me a little bit in December and January while I was hitting. I was wondering if something was wrong with it. But the more that I did with it and the more that I've done in the last few weeks, it has actually gotten better. I have full range of motion back. I feel good.

SJK: Over the offseason Cash made a lot of moves, one of which was obviously trading Melky away. When you found out that Melky was traded, what was your reaction? Did you think "Oh snap, here's my shot!" -- how did you feel?

BG: I was disappointed because Melky had been here for a few years, he came up with the organization...I don't want to say that we were really, really close, but we got pretty close over the last two years and he was a big part of what we did last year.

You know, I kinda figured, even without Johnny and Matsui being re-signed at the time, that when they traded and we got Curtis Granderson, I pretty much knew that one of me or Melky would be gone. You can kinda see the writing on the wall. It happened to be him and hopefully it works out for both of us. I wish him nothing but the best and I know he'll do well over with Atlanta.

SJK: There were rumors during the offseason that you might be going to Kansas City or Chicago. Did that bother you at all? Did that wear on your mentally? Or was it more "it's part of the business?"

BG: Part of the business. It didn't bother me at all. At the point I am in my career, all I can ask for is the opportunity to be in the big leagues and get a chance to play everyday. If teams were inquiring about me and wanted to know if I was available, I just take that as a compliment and I take it even more as a compliment that I'm still here with the Yankees. This is the best of the best. It doesn't get any better than this.

SJK: Speaking of playing time, have you received any indication from Cash or Girardi that you will be one of the starting outfielders this year, or in your mind, is it still a competition between you and say Randy Winn at this point?

BG: Oh absolutely, I really haven't sat down and talked to him [Girardi] at all, and as far as I know me, Randy, Marcus, and Jamie Hoffman will all be trying to do our thing in Spring Training and go out there and show them that we're all able to contribute...and hopefully when the season starts, I'll be in there everyday. It's not something I really worry about. I just try to get my work in, improve, and try to become a better player. I think the competition between the three or four us will make us all better and work harder.

SJK: I read earlier in the offseason that you wanted to work more bunts into your hitting approach, and obviously that makes sense because of your wheels...but is bunting an area that you felt the need to improve on and why do you feel that incorporating more bunts into your hitting approach will help you?

BG: I used to be really good at it. In 2006 or 2007, it was either in High-A or Double-A, half and half, or Double-A and Triple-A, I remember I was 26 for 39 on the season on base-hit bunts. I batted .666 just bunting. Those numbers and percentages are not going to translate over to the major league level, because the defense is better and you're facing tougher pitching...you don't get as many balls over the plate to lay down a good bunt.

But, I kinda got away from it the last few years in the minor leagues because I wanted to use every at-bat to improve my swing and progress with that. I kinda took it for granted that the bunting would still be there when I needed it, and I just haven't felt comfortable for the last year or so. It's something I'm doing a lot in the offseason and I know I need to do it more, not only to get some hits and get on base, but to bring in the defense a little more and open up some holes for me. For someone like me with a little bit of speed, I can hopefully use it to boost my on-base percentage.

SJK: Now, you made a really interesting point that you want to bunt to bring the defense in more and hopefully be able to slap some balls through the infield because of that. Do you feel as though that defenses don't play you in now? -- (Brett cuts SJK off)

BG: They definitely do and it's one of the reasons I haven't bunted a lot. You obviously have better defenders at this level and I feel like when I come to the plate, the alarm sounds...the main thing is I need to stay in there and I need to concentrate on getting the bunt down and putting the ball where I want it..and if I do that, I'll beat it out, it doesn't matter where they're playing at.

SJK: You mentioned on-base percentage and obviously with your type of speed, when it comes to hitting, it all comes down to on-base percentage for you. In the minors, you've always been able to draw a high amount of walks. I think your career minor league OBP is around .389, which is obviously impressive.

However, and I'm sure you've heard it, the critique of you is essentially the lack of power. And in some circles, and even us, when you were coming up, we were like, "Wow, he's putting up some great numbers. He's stealing a ton of bases." -- But when he gets to the major league level, pitchers -- knowing that power isn't one of your better attributes -- will challenge you more because they don't fear the consequences of you taking them out. And as a result of that, you may not be able to walk as much and basically your minor league production wouldn't be able to be replicated in the majors. Do you feel as though this is a legitimate concern? Do you feel pitchers will challenge you more?

BG: Absolutely and that's one of the main things as far as a hitting standpoint and from an approach standpoint that I have to change. Because in the minor leagues I proved that I can hit, and I was leading off everyday...I proved that I can hit. I was at the top of the lineup. Guys were a little more careful. I don't want to say that they pitched around me because I was a power bat, because I wasn't at all. But, they maybe were a little bit more careful with the pitches they made and being a patient hitter, I was able to get my share of walks.

In the last year, year and a half, obviously when I'm in the lineup, I'm the weakest hitter in the lineup. And the last thing they want to do is walk me in the 9-hole, and pitch around me, and be careful with me...and bring those guys up with me on base.

So I'm not going to go up there and swing at the first and second pitch every time, but I do need to be a little bit more aggressive. I need to prove that I can hit at this level and I need to prove that I can do it consistently. Once I do that, pitchers may be a little bit more careful and I can draw my fair share of walks again.

SJK: In the minors, your contact rate was a bit of a question mark. In 2007 and 2008, you struck out in over 20% of your plate appearances. However, in 2009 at the big league level, that strikeout rate went down to about 16%, which statistically is sizable drop. Did you change your approach at all?

BG: I wouldn't say that it's a change in my approach at all. The one thing I will credit is that at the end of the 2008 season, Kevin Long and I worked on my swing, primarily on my stance and my stride. We completely took my stride out of there. Now, I'm hitting with no stride. I feel like I'm in a much better position to hit. I'm more balanced. When you take the stride out of the swing, there's less movement and you're more consistent. I feel that's definitely helped, especially in two strike situations. I'd love to get that down to 12% or 10%, because when you put the ball in play, you have a better chance of getting on base.

SJK: When you're on base, is there anything specific you look for when you're stealing?

BG: Yeah, there's a lot of different things you look for. You obviously need to know who's behind the plate, but even more important than that, is trying to get a good read on the pitcher, what his times are to the plate, what kind of move he's got -- whether you can get a big lead, small lead, or an average league. There's a lot of things that fit into that equation than just going out there and running.

SJK: Switching topics to defense, in 2009, you were nothing short of phenomenal in CF. According to the advanced statistics that people like me look at it -- you know the people that can't play baseball -- you were one of the best defensive centerfielders in the bigs last year. And for months, our website has been advocating that you should be the starting CF and that Granderson should be bumped to left field. Whether or not that happens, we'll see, but how would you rate yourself as a defender and do you envision yourself as a centerfielder eventually?

BG: I feel that defense is the main part of my game. I take a lot of pride in being able to cover a lot of ground out there and getting good jumps...and tracking some balls down and taking away hits. Hopefully I can continue to make strides out there and improve on some things -- getting better jumps on balls.

I definitely view myself as a centerfielder. That's pretty much the only position I've ever played. I played a little left field in the minor leagues coming up -- once or twice every couple weeks. I played some in 2008 when Johnny was down. But I don't even know if I played an inning over there last year. I don't know where I'll be playing at. Now is the perfect time to work on it in Spring Training -- because you take as many fungos as you want and as many balls off the bat as you want -- there's nothing like seeing balls off the bat in a game, and I got a couple balls hit out there to me today in our first game.

I'm looking forward to improving over there and when I play CF during Spring Training, I'll continue to work on things out there and improve out there as well.

SJK: Obviously, your speed helps you cover a lot of ground. What about your routes? What do you think about your route-taking?

BG: I feel like I take pretty good routes. You can always improve out there. You'll always make mistakes. But you can always improve judging the ball coming into the zone and knowing the angles off the bat.

SJK: You ever get sick of people talking about your speed?

BG: Nah, not really. That's my game. That's the reason I'm still playing baseball and the reason where I'm at today. I realize that and I need to continue to take care of my legs and let that be an asset for years to come hopefully.

SJK: Well, let's continue to talk about speed then. Who wins in a race? CC Sabathia or you running wheelbarrow style?

BG: CC Sabathia, he's an unbelievable athlete. He can really move for a big guy. I had no idea he was athletic as he was.

SJK: But straight up, you'd beat him?

BG: Straight up, I think I got him by a little bit.

SJK: You come from a very small town in South Carolina, right?

BG: Yeah, two stop lights. I went to high school with 22 people.

SJK: What do you think Joe Girardi's reaction would be if you proposed having sweet tea in the clubhouse?

BG: Sweet tea?!? He might be ok with that. I don't see what the difference is between drinking sweet tea and drinking red bull with sugar in it. It's the same thing, right?

SJK: Didn't he ban candy and all that stuff from the clubhouse a couple years ago?

BG: Maybe if I asked for sweet-tea flavored ice cream, he might have a problem with it. But, I don't know if you can even buy sweet tea up in New York. HA HA HA!

SJK: My last question, do you believe that major league baseball should enact a policy allowing players to steal first base?

BG: That would be nice. I'd be a much better player. HA HA.

SJK: I'd think you'd be MVP.

BG: If there was some way to do it, I'd be a much better player. People always give me a hard time about not being able to steal first, so for me, it's just to continue to make strides at the plate and become more consistent -- and get my on-base percentage up over .350 and I'll be ok.

SJK: Ok Brett, that's all I got. I appreciate it.

BG: Sounds good. Good talking to you.

Many thanks to Brett for talking to NoMaas. We wish him the best of luck in the upcoming season.

----- Audio clips from the interview --

Brett Gardner talking about his reaction to the Granderson and Melky Cabrera trades:

Brett talking about bunting:

Brett addressing the concerns about his lack of power affecting his ability to get on base in the bigs:

Brett's response to us joking about stealing first base and subsequently telling us he wants to achieve a .350 OBP:

The Yankees need to find a way to make Derek Jeter a Yankee for Life. There's really only one way. At some point the Steinbrenner family would have to take him into the ownership group.

Jeter, of course, is in the final year of his 10-year, $189 million contract. The Yankees and Jeter will come together on a new deal at some point, but Jeter needs to be a Yankee for Life and there is a way to make him one. The Yankees need to work out a deal with Jeter where they allow him to become part of Yankees ownership after his playing days are complete. Players cannot be part of ownership, so this would have to be a separate deal.

There never will be another George Steinbrenner, but imagine the buzz of having Jeter as part of the ownership group. He could be Boss II. What better owner could the Yankees have than Jeter?

...Jeter needs to be a Yankee for Life

We'd like to think we speak for many when we say this...

Calm down, dude.