Put me in, coach
I'm ready to play -- today;
Look at me
I can be
Centerfield.
-- John Fogerty

Is Jeter really moving to center? Hmm. Murray Chass wrote a nice column in today's Times showing that this would not be the first time a great shortstop became a centerfielder. Fair enough.

But there's one important distinction between Derek Jeter and, say, Bobby Murcer. With all due respect to Murcer, who is one of the most likeable players in recent Yankee history, Jeter has leadership and character making him a huge asset in the infield. His influence extends far beyond the great throw-outs and dives into the stands. He's there to comfort pitchers when they get into trouble, there to orchestrate infield positioning, and there to signal how many outs there are. He's the on-field director of the Yankees defense. Putting him in center would remove him from this perch.

I would prefer that the Yankees find a way out of the centerfield problem another way.