With Derek Jeter Retired, Are The Yankees In Serious Trouble?

With the retirement of Derek Jeter, the Yankees find themselves in an awkward position for truly the first time since the 1982 season. Yes, you read that right. I said 1982. There was a captain before Derek Jeter and his name was Don Mattingly. While the Mattingly-Era failed to produce even one World Series ring, the carryover from Donnie Baseball to Mr. November was about as smooth as it gets in terms of clubhouse leadership. The two crossed paths for 15 games in 1995. The end of one era, and the labor pains of another. Well, we know how the Jeter-Era finished up. So where do the Yankees go from here?

For the first time since I was in the early years of elementary school (I’m now 38), the Yankees do not have a firm, established leader heading into 2015. Brett Gardner? Sure, he’s a home grown Yankee, but not really the type of guy that you call Captain. Mark Teixeira? A free agent import who has missed more time and whose numbers have gone over the cliff since arriving in 2009. Catcher Brian McCann, who served in the role of clubhouse leader in Atlanta, is probably the obvious choice to be the voice of reason from this day forward.

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But the next Yankee, home grown, Munson/Mattingly/Jeter-type player is nowhere to be found. At least not on the big league roster, and not in the upper tiers of the Yankees’ farm system. While many believe the farm to be completely barren, those of us in the know, indeed know better. The lower levels of the farms system are loaded with developing prospects, a core if you will, all of whom could develop into the next great generation of home grown Yankees’ players. Gone by that time will be Tex, Alex Rodriguez, Carlos Beltran, and C.C. Sabathia.

There may be some lean years coming to the Bronx, as the Baby Bombers and their yet to be named leader develop. Sometimes you have to go backwards before you can nourish and grow another dynasty. This would be the time for patience.