The Post has become a mouthpiece for management.

"Derek Jeter’s position when it comes to his contract negotiations appears to be this: I am Derek Jeter, pay me."

It's a sensible position, if you think about it.

It would be odd if Derek Jeter said, "I am Pippi Longstocking, don't pay me."


"It doesn’t matter he has almost no leverage or he is coming off his worst season or the production of shortstops 37 and older in major league history is dismal."

Jeter has a lot of leverage because he's a very popular player.


"The Yankees have offered Jeter $45 million over three years, which is being portrayed by the shortstop’s increasingly desperate camp as an insult. Except, of course, it is hard to find another organization ready to insult Jeter in similar fashion."

Perhaps other teams would not pay Jeter that much money, but they'd be wise to pay Jeter that much money. Because he's very popular.

When Jeter signs a 4-year, $55 million deal on Christmas Eve, I'm going to remember that you described him as "increasingly desperate."


"Look, a lot of this is about an elephant in the room named Alex Rodriguez. If you love Jeter — and why wouldn’t you love someone who has helped bring championships and honor to the uniform? — you are appalled the Yankees would take care of A-Rod through age 42, but not Jeter."

That's what Lupica said, too, but I don't see it. I don't think anybody is really thinking about ARod's contract.


"But the Yankees know now the A-Rod deal was a blunder. They saw A-Rod gimpy with his hip issues in 2010 and have to wonder if at some point they will have to eat $100 million or more of a contract that runs through 2017. A-Rod might be the Yankees’ Albert Belle."

Jeez, so you're just a dick.


"So the argument of the Jeter faithful is: 'Hey, you made a mistake with A-Rod and that means you have to make the same mistake with our guy. You have to turn to the left side of your infield into Jurassic Park.' "

You know, ARod isn't that bad, and neither is Jeter. This mistake-laden team won the World Series in 2009 and missed by six wins in 2010.

Last season, ARod managed 30 HRs and 125 RBIS. Jeter batted .271 and scored 111 runs.


"Even last season, in a down year, Rodriguez produced an .847 OPS — 10 points higher than Jeter’s career mark and a total Jeter exceeded just three times during the 10-year contract that covered his prime"

But you just said ARod is the Yankees' Albert Belle ...


"Yes, now we will hear about intangibles. But how did those intangibles translate last year when Jeter led the majors in making outs?"

Ha ha ... ouch!

Those intangibles translated into a Gold Glove, 4 million fans flocking to Yankee Stadium, and untold sales of Edges with cool panoramic vista roofs.


Almost every free agent is overpaid, especially at the end of the contract.

For all of Sherman's complaints about the ARod and Jeter contracts, he should at least acknowledge the lack of viable alternatives. Is Sherman shlepping the kids into the Bronx to see Pena and Nunez anchor the left side of the infield?