To see what a Jeter-less future might look like for the Yankees, the answer may be in the Jeter-less past.
Image by Paul Sancya / AP
It's hard to remember a time before Derek Jeter manned his spot on the left side of the Yankees' defense. But now that his ankle decided to self-combust (when reached for comment, Derek Jeter's ankle said, "DO YOU KNOW HOW OLD I AM?!" and hung up), and Number Two is watching the playoffs with A-Rod in the dugout, it seemed like a good time to remember the days without Jeter. Sure, maybe this ankle injury isn't career-threatening, but he's been in the league for 18 years. Unless he plans frequent trips to Germany for those weird Kobe Bryant surgeries, it's all going to end sooner or later. So to get a glimpse at that future, let's look at the past. Warning: It's scary. Before Jeter (and after the Bucky Dent-era), shortstop in the Bronx was a scary place.
Roy Smalley
Even when Smalley won the vacant shortstop position, he was still considered a temporary stand-in for a longterm replacement. The team had identified Smalley as 'the Yankees' third baseman of the future." But it turns out they must have bought their crystal ball on the cheap in Chinatown. Smalley battled injuries, couldn't hit for power, and in 1984 was traded to the White Sox. So much for the future.
Tim Foli
It turned out that the Yankees hadn't prepared much of a backup plan, and they turned to the once-highly touted prospect, now-mediocre veteran Tim Foli to continue to buy them time as they sought real answers. Foli had found his way into the Angels doghouse the previous year for not suiting up during a rain delay (in his defense, sitting in your underwear while it rains is one of life's great pleasures), but by the time he got to New York, he gave the Yankees nothing more than flexibility. Sure he could man every infield position, but he wasn't turning heads at any of them. Ultimately the Yankees found the most value in Foli in the form of currency -- he was traded for minor leaguer, and goatee-enthusiast Jay Buhner.