I know, I know, you're reading that title and thinking what is this crazy lunatic talking about? Well, hear me out…

I hate to be the one to break this to you all, but Derek Jeter, short stop and captain of the New York Yankees, is declining. The decline began two years ago and it's progressing quicker than Oprah through a dozen Krispy Kreme doughnuts.

I'm not kidding. It's the same Derek Jeter that is the nine-time all star, three-time silver slugger, three-time gold glove winner and six-time top-ten finisher in the MVP voting. He'll also undoubtedly be 3,000-hit Derek Jeter, 500-career doubles Derek Jeter and future first-ballot Hall of Famer, Derek Jeter.

You know him as the individual who has been the No. 2 hitter in the Yankees lineup for much of the past 5,000+ days that he has been their starting short stop. But, with each passing year, we all get a little older, our reflexes get slower, our timing diminishes by just a tick, we do, what every individual does; we age. And, in the case of Jeter, he's no longer the wide eyed 21-year-old rookie that was as thin as his bat and carried a franchise on his back for the past 13 years.

That young highly touted prospect has turned into a seasoned veteran. One of the last remaining members of the old Yankee dynasty (with Jorge Posada, Mariano Rivera and Andy Pettitte), hoping to stick around long enough to usher in the next Yankee dynasty with open arms and a passing of the torch.

Fourteen years ago, Don Mattingly retired and passed the torch of the Yankee culture onto this young unproven, untested rookie. At that time, nobody knew it. Jeter wasn't supposed to be given an opportunity. (Thank you Tony Fernandez for breaking your arm in Spring Training 1996, we're sending you a fruit basket that's a decade and a half overdo). But, he got that opportunity and did he ever run with it: Rookie of the Year Award, four World Series titles and becoming the face of the greatest franchise in all of sports.

Where were you in the 2001 postseason? Where were you when Jeter made his famous "flip" play to save the Yankees season in Game 3 of the 2001 ALDS against the Anaheim Athletics?

I'll paint the picture for you...

It's the seventh inning, there are two outs and a runner on first base. The Yankees are clinging to a 1 - 0 lead. Athletics leftfielder Terrence Long is at the plate, and he promptly rips a liner down the right field line off of Mike Mussina. Yankees right fielder Shane Spencer retrieved the ball and made an errant throw, overthrowing cutoff man Tino Martinez. As base-runner Jeremy Giambi rounded third and headed for home, it seemed as if the Athletics would surely tie the game. But, just as he had done in 1996, when he came out of nowhere to become a superstar, Jeter came out of nowhere to grab the ball and flip it to Jorge Posada who tagged Giambi on the leg just milliseconds before he was able to step on the plate and score.

"That is fair, down the right field line. Giambi on his way to third, and they're gonna wave him around! The throw misses the cutoff man – shovel to the plate! Out at the plate! Derek Jeter with one of the most unbelievable plays you will ever see by a shortstop!"
- Thom Brennaman, TV broadcaster

Where were you just two weeks later when Jeter became Mr. November? All of the truly great and memorable moments in Yankee-lure over the past decade have predominantly involved their faithful Captain. But, over the past few years, things have been changing. As the playoff hopes dwindled, the teams' struggles lasting longer, there has been turmoil, controversy and frustration with players and fans alike. The one constant, Jeter, is slowly becoming a shell of his former self.

Don't believe me? Well, I'll put my money where my mouth is. Jeter is 34-years old, he doesn't turn 35 until the end of June. Below is what he has done over the past three years of play (ages 32, 33 and 34). You'll notice a little trend.

Age 32: 159 games played, .343 batting average, 56 extra base hits, 97 runs batted in, 34 steals in 39 attempts, 69 walks, a .417 on base percentage and 13 double plays grounded into.

Age 33: 156 games played, .322 batting average, 55 extra base hits, 83 runs batted in, 15 stolen bases in 23 attempts, 56 walks, a .388 on base percentage and 21 double plays grounded into.

Age 34: 150 games played, .300 batting average, 39 extra base hits, 69 runs batted in, 11 stolen bases in 16 attempts, 52 walks, a .363 on base percentage and 24 double plays grounded into.

What does this tell you? From just looking at the numbers, his batting average has steadily been declining over the past three years. Some will attribute this to his constant playing with injuries, which is very true. But, it also shows that while he still plays 95% of his teams games, playing with nagging injuries significantly affects his overall performance. The drastic decline in his extra base hit numbers over the past year, shows his inability to drive the ball with as much force as he used to.

The number of double plays he's hit into has moderately risen over the past few years as well, which is why he's been shifted into the leadoff role of the Yankees batting order. It also shows that he isn't lifting the ball as he has done in previous years, all signs of pointing towards decline in bat speed and ability to turn over the wrists quick enough to drive the ball with enough force to hit it over the infielders head.

Doing a little research, I discovered that the two individuals whom Jeter's career most resembles are former Chicago Cubs second baseman Ryne Sandberg and former Cleveland Indians second baseman Roberto Alomar. I studied the seasons that Sandberg and Alomar had at ages 32 and 33, respectively, and then the average season they had from age 34 until retirement. They, too, suffered the same sort of decline that Jeter seems to be headed towards. Don't believe me? Let the numbers speak for themselves:

Ryne Sandberg
Age 32: 158 games played, .304 batting average, 66 extra base hits, 87 runs batted in, 17 stolen bases in 23 attempts, 68 walks and a .371 on base percentage.

Age 33: 117 games played, .309 batting average, 29 extra base hits, 45 runs batted in, 9 stolen bases in 11 attempts, 37 walks and a .350 on base percentage.

Sandberg's average season ages 34 - 37: Averaged 85 games per season, with a .250 batting average, 28 extra base hits, 45 runs batted in, 5 stolen bases in 8 attempts, 26 walks and a .312 on base percentage.

Roberto Alomar
Age 32: 155 games played, .310 batting average, 61 extra base hits, 89 runs batted in, 39 stolen bases in 43 attempts, 64 walks and a .378 on base percentage.

Age 33: 157 games played, .336 batting average, 66 extra base hits, 100 runs batted in, 30 stolen bases in 36 attempts, 80 walks, and a .415 on base percentage

Alomar's average season ages 34 - 36: Averaged 115 games played, .262 batting average, 27 extra base hits, 39 runs batted in, 9 stolen bases in 12 attempts, 43 walks and a .328 on base percentage.

The similarities are obviously there. After the age of 33, Sandberg spent more time in the trainers room than he did on the playing field, being decimated with injuries and his career numbers dwindling to the point of mediocrity. The same can be said for Alomar as well. Although he had arguably his best statistical season at the age of 33, the following year and subsequent years after that, he was a shell of his former self and became nothing more than a part-time player, in the twilight of his career.

Now, I'm not saying that Jeter is going to bat .248 this season and hit four home runs before he decides to hang up the cleats in mid-July. He could very easily hit .300 and post numbers much to what the back of his baseball card dictates. All I am saying is that the framework for decline has been laid and it's going to start happening much sooner, than later.

However, I am not surprised in the least bit. The reason for Jeter's decline and eventual move to obscurity is largely because he is a victim of playing the game the right way. This is what is supposed to happen when you're 35! Players aren't meant to hit 45 home runs after the age of 40 (We're looking at you Barry Bonds), or have sub 2.00 era's and win Cy Young awards (Hello, Roger Clemens).

In the old days, before the steroid era, when a player entered their mid-30's, they began the twilight of their career. This is when their skill sets diminished, their numbers faded and they eventually sailed off into the sunset.

That's what is beginning to happen to Jeter. Will he play another five or six years? It's almost a certainty. But, will he play up to the level he did three or even four years ago? Not a chance. It just doesn't happen naturally. You've been seeing it with Ken Griffey, Jr. the past five years. Our superhero stars of the mid-90's, are ever so slowly getting ready to hang up their capes and become mere mortals.

I don't know when the transformation of Jeter from the superstar face of the New York Yankees to the next number retired and man enshrined in monument park will be. But, I do know that it's going to happen. And it's going to happen a lot sooner than any of us think.

Here's hoping we can get the captain one or two more titles before he decides to lead the Yankees onto the field for the last time.

They say baseball is a young man's game. It seems that we're headed in that direction again.