So, let’s just go through the season checklist quickly.

1. He passed Lou Gehrig on the Yankees all time hit list.

2. He was an All-Star for the 10th time.

3. The guy hit .407 in the World Series.

4. He won his fifth World Series Championship.

5. He won the Hank Aaron Award.

6. He won his 4th Silver Slugger Award in 4 years.

7. He won his 4th Gold Glove for AL Shortstops.

8. He won the Roberto Clemente Award.

9. And today, he became the first Yankee to be named Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year.

My God.

I was talking to my Dad today about the amazing Jeter, and he said something very interesting. “This year alone could get Jeter into the Hall of Fame”. This may be a slight exaggeration, but it’s not too far from the truth. He did truly amazing things this year. Outside of MVP (he came in 3rd) and CY Young, he basically swept the awards. At age 35, he had one of his best statistical seasons. He hit .334/.406/.465, stole 30 bases, hit 18 HR, scored 107 runs, and had 212 hits. Seriously unbelievable stuff. Yankee fans should feel so lucky to have this exceptional man on their team. Congrats to Derek Jeter on his SI Sportsman of the Year nod.

UPDATE: Seems like Florida is now looking to deal Johnson. Expect Brian Cashman to call up the Marlins sometime soon.

We’ve talked about Josh Johnson before, and others are mentioning the Marlins’ ace as well. MLBTR mentioned that Keith Law thinks Johnson could be had for two big-league ready guys and two double A prospects. While you might be thinking PhilHughesBrettGardnerJesusMonteroZachMcAllisterGO remember that this is speculation, and that Johnson is good, but he also pitches in the NL, and isn’t quite as good as Felix Hernandez nor Roy Halladay. Don’t get me wrong, Johnson would be a great addition to the Yankee rotation, but if they’ve got a shot at Felix, they should look there instead. I’d prefer Johnson over Halladay purely because of the contract situation and age. If the Yanks want to get a at-their-peak pitcher, they can wait a year and ink Cliff Lee, Brandon Webb, Josh Beckett, or Halladay (if whoever trades for  him doesn’t sign him) to a contract next year. Johnson turns 26 in January and is cheaper, making him a more desirable roster piece to work with. The Marlins aren’t shopping Johnson, and they could wait to shop him at the deadline, next offseason, or at the 2011 deadline, but his name will most certainly be mentioned when the Yankee Brass meets in Tampa next week.

The Yanks need a lefty slugging outfielder. Unfortunately, there are no really good lefty slugging outfielders on the free agent market. Curtis Granderson is the only one publicly known to be available via trade. Adam Dunn is another who we’ve talked about. Both of them, however, would likely cost more than their fair share of prospects. So, the Yanks would do well to explore a righty on a one year deal, followed by a pre-2011 signing of Dunn or Carl Crawford. Free Agent Mike Cameron could be the perfect fit. Mike will be 37 in January, and hit .250/.342/.452 in Milwaulkee in ’09. Not great stats, but not bad ones either.

Cameron’s real value comes on the defensive side. His 10.00 UZR is a serious upgrade over Johnny Damon’s -9.2 mark. Cameron primarily played center, and Damon, obviously, patrolled left. If Cam were signed, a number 8 would likely be next to his name on the lineup card, and one of Melky Cabrera, Brett Gardner, or Austin Jackson would likely be in left. All are above average defenders though, and can all play center if need be.

Mike had a 4.3 WAR in ’09, Damon a 3.0, and Hideki Matsui a 2.4. Damon’s WAR was the second highest it has been since way back in ’04 when he played for a less classy team. Matsui has two bad knees, can’t play the field, and his WAR matched his ’07 total. In both ’06 and ’08 injuries marked him with a 0.8 WAR. Cameron, meanwhile, has posted a WAR of 4.0 or better in 3 of the past 4 seasons. Matsui and Damon are 18 and 10 months older, respectively, but Cameron is a better, more durable athlete. He has hit more than 20 home runs in each of  the past 5 seasons. He has played a stronger defense. While Damon and Matsui swing at 23.2% and 20.7% of pitches out of the zone, Cameron only swung at 17.4% of pitches that would’ve otherwise been called balls. As an aging player, plate discipline is one of the most important things to have in your toolbox.

You might say “But Johnny is a great clubhouse guy!” or “But Hideki’s just so classy!” You’re right. But, Cameron is a great guy too. He’s a friend of CC Sabathia’s. That immediately is a clue that he’s a good guy. He’s notoriously known as a good teammate, and has been a great veteran presence in Milwaulkee over the past couple of years. He spent time playing for the Mets in ’04 and ’05, so he knows how to handle New York. Being a good friend of a team leader and staff ace would also ease Cameron’s transition to the Bronx. In a clubhouse that thrives on chemistry, Cameron would be a nice addition.

I haven’t heard much about Cameron’s demands in recent Hot Stove news, but I’d expect him to be looking for a short term contract, given his age, that will pay him somewhere between $7mm and $12mm. He made $10mm in ’09 and will likely make just as much next year. If Mike will sign a one year deal, he’d be a great addition to the team. His signing, plus another move to fill the DH slot would help round out the lineup without an over-commitment to aging players. Yes, Mike will be 37, but he’d only be signed for one year, making the move less risky. Bringing him in would also make Gardner expendable, as Cameron, Jackson, Cabrera, and Nick Swisher could more than handle the outfield duties. An additional outfield-capable DH would make Gardner even more available via trade, which would help the Yanks as they try to patch other holes in the lineup.

Follow 6 Pound 8 Ounce Baby Joba now on Twitter! Listed as username: 6P8OJoba.

I’ve always been anti-Dayn Perry. He’s just…well he’s written some questionable things in the past. I’ve attacked some things he’s written. And others. It’s funny to read both my arguments and his, as many things have changed since those posts were written. I also enjoyed seeing how I spelled “writes” r–i-g-h-t-s.” I think I was just extremely frustrated. Anyways, I’m not a Dayn Perry fan. He is just a bad, biased, inaccurate writer. However, he wrote a recent piece that had some merit. He argues that Jason Marquis, Mark DeRosa, Jarrod Washburn, Aroldis Chapman, Joel Pineiro, and Jason Bay will all be overpaid. I like to think that is obvious, but hey at least what he is writing is true. He even got Jason Marquis’s team right this time. I do believe that all of these guys will be overpaid. Of those listed, the Yanks are only likely to be seriously interested in Bay and Chapman. I want to tack on Marco Scutaro, John Lackey, and Randy Wolf as guys who’s paychecks will exceed their production. Congrats Dayn, you wrote something actually, well, good.

We’ve all heard the story: Red Sox in aggresive pursuit of Halladay. Let me just remind you of a few other stories we’ve heard in recent years: “Boston on verge of signing Teixeira,” “Manny could be headed to Florida,” “Peavy to Atlanta Close,” “Peavy could be on the North Side by Opening Day.” Get the idea? I’m not saying that Roy won’t be headed to Fenway, I’m just putting up one of those “Proceed with Caution” signs that usually accompany a freshly mopped floor.

The other day I wrote that a Felix Hernandez/Josh Johnson acquisition would be smarter than a Halladay deal for the Yanks, but that doesn’t mean that any of those three pitchers will be throwing in the Bronx sometime soon. Honestly, I think that Boston truly has the best shot at Doc. That said, if he’s sent to Fenway the Yanks will retaliate, hopefully with more success than that Igawa-to-counter-Matsuzaka deal. Could be Felix. Could be Johnson. Could be some surprise, like Matt Cain, Brandon Webb, Roy Oswalt, or Justin Verlander. Could be John Lackey. Maybe Ben Sheets. There’s a plethora of options out there. Please remember that the Red Sox have all those options too. So, if the Yanks get Halladay, we could see another ace headed to Boston. It’ll be an interesting market this winter, as trades, free agents, and two Cuban defectors draw interest from a wide assortment of teams. Don’t be one of those people, the ones that say a Boston acquisition of Halladay will ruin the Yanks’ season. One move can’t entirely change a season, and let’s be real, the Yanks will have just as good of a counter-move. Jesus Montero, Phil Hughes, Dellin Betances, and Zach McAllister should keep their suitcases handy, because they’ll be mentioned in more rumors, to more places, than they ever could have imagined.

My prediction is that a Clay Bucholz-Casey Kelly centered package will bring Halladay to Boston. Subsequently, Montero, Hughes, McAllister, Brett Gardner, and one or two others will be sent to Seattle as King Felix is welcomed to a royal Stadium in the Bronx. In this scenario, can you imagine what could be some of the greatest three game series ever? Halladay v. Sabathia. Lester v. Hernandez. Beckett v. Burnett. That would be definitively must-see baseball. As you all know, predictions are typically wrong, especially mine (remember when I said Francisco Liriano would win the Cy Young?). Regardless, it’s fun to think about.

There’s a guy I know with a pot belly, a tight wallet, and a kilt. He met a girl, knew she’d be his wife, and she’s made him scrambled eggs and bacon every morning since. As the leaves change colors, he hops in his baby blue 1980’s compact car and heads out to find the perfect gift for each of his grandchildren, his son, his daughter, his son-in-law, and his daughter-in-law. Yes, one time he bought my then 18 year old sister a decorate-it-yourself pink water bottle, just like the ones that the popular girls in the 3^rd grade carry around. But hey, it’s the thought that counts. He’s Scottish, and proud of it. At his surprise 70^th birthday party, everyone in attendance signed a poster board complete with his caricature, perfect from the big old nose down to the Campbell plaid kilt. Campbell plaid is clearly his favorite design, mostly because his last name describes it.

He’s always thought of himself as a handyman. When he departs from my home after a visit of any length, I can be sure that all of the knobs on our kitchen cabinets are extra well screwed in. His house at the Jersey shore defined the summers of my childhood, even if he charged his own daughter rent. Even as his grandchildren’s ages reached double digits, he would use his visits to South Jersey as a time to slather pure white paint on the 2 foot, 8 inch wooden fence that lined the stony driveway. My parents always get mad at him, because he refuses to accept the fact that he shouldn’t be climbing ladders to clean gutters, not when he’s almost 80 years old.

My grandfather lives in Philadelphia, which is just slightly further than a stone’s throw from my residence in Denver. Even with steroids and a perfect pebble, chances are I still couldn’t reach his house on a good throw. Maybe I’ve got the angle wrong…Anyways, growing up, I’ve seen Pop usually once or twice a year. When I was younger, we always had two Christmases. Real Christmas, on December 25^th, and Early Christmas, on a date prior to December 25^th. Early Christmas took place in the house where my mom grew up, in Chestnut Hill, in the room with this glass table that rested on a stone animal. I can’t remember said animal’s species, but I always thought that table was pretty cool. Pop-Pop and Lollie always over-shopped for us. The majority of the presents were suggested by my mother, bought by Lollie, and signed from Lol and Pop. There was always one present for each of us that was exclusively from Pop. When I was 16, my Pop-Pop present was two centimeters thick, and the area of a DVD case. It was a DVD case, hence the size. Anyways, you’ll figure that out in a minute. The note from Pop read “This is a lot like college was in my day.” I thought, “no.” As I tore the top corner I read “Double Secret Probation Edition.” My conservative, Scottish, 76-year-old grandfather had bought me Animal House, which is apparently like a parallel version of his days at Williams College.

For my 13^th birthday, Pop’s gift to me was a ticket to a midsummer game at Citizen’s Bank Park. Seated next to him, my uncle, and my 6 year old cousin, Pop and I talked baseball, snacked, and came to a consensus that the aforementioned cousin would one day be playing on this field. Knowing I’m a baseball fan, but always opposed to my Yankee allegiance, Pop has for years sent me Phillies hats, jerseys, pennants, and one time a book about their ’08 Series victory. I haven’t seen, nor talked to Pop-Pop in a while, mostly because I figured I’d feel bad trash talking a man in his late seventies during the World Series. We’re supposed to see him this week though.

Pop underwent surgery on Tuesday. He was under the knife for 5 hours, and his age and looming health conditions didn’t make it any easier. Right now he’s in the intensive care unit, on Thanksgiving night. This is a man who plans every day around when his dinner is. His wife, my grandmother, is one of the world’s greatest cooks. She lives for Thanksgiving dinners. Usually she cooks a feast that is shared by anywhere from seven to twenty-seven people. This year, she spent Thanksgiving with my uncle, his wife, and three of her grandchildren. After my family dinner at the Jersey shore, my mom got in the car and drove to Philadelphia to comfort her mother. Pop-Pop is still at the hospital, and it’s bound to be a couple of stressful days for everyone in my family. If I know Pop, he’s probably nowhere near as bothered by his surgery as he is by missing Thanksgiving.

A year ago, my immediate family, my grandparents, and my Uncle’s family gathered together for Thanksgiving dinner. After the meal, Pop pulled out a folded sheet of paper upon which lyrics to a funny old song were typed. He isn’t Frank Sinatra or anything, but Pop likes to sing. As much as we laugh about his Thanksgiving tune, Pop clearly wanted to share his vocal skills with his family, and I won’t forget that. I wish I was listening to him sing right now. Instead I’m writing, which is my new nervous habit.

Do me a favor if you have the time and take a moment to utter a quick prayer for my Pop-Pop. I’m not a religious guy, I mean, I run a blog named after a Jesus joke, but I prayed today as a small act of desperation. If you’re Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Scientologist, or if you’re just planning on praying to Joba, please take a moment to dedicate a thought to a great man. If you’ve got older folks or grandfolks, do yourself a favor and go talk to them about their lives. Say thanks for everything they’ve done for you. Ask them to tell you a story, even if you’ve heard it numerous times before. When my Pop gets out of the hospital, which I’m sure he will, I’m going to do my best to up my effort as a grandson. He’s got nearly eighty years of stories to share, and I plan on hearing at least the good ones.

On Thanksgiving, I want to say thanks for someone who is worrying me to death right now. Thanks Pop, for everything. Can’t wait to see you Saturday in Philly. (I’m not even going to mention the World Series. You’re welcome.)

As I’m sure you’ve heard, Shelley Duncan was out righted to triple-A the other day, and upon clearing waivers he declared Free Agency. Being a Shelley fan, I was rather upset. On the other hand, I’m glad he’ll finally get the shot at the big leagues he deserves. Mark Feinsand honors him in a short piece over at the Daily News. Shelley was the International League Player of the Year in ’09, racking up 30 homers. He’s a great player, and I fully and entirely expect him to pull a Garret Jones and impress everyone next year. I made a bet with my dad, while discussing Shelley’s departure, that he will hit 25+ homers next year. Here’s to hoping he signs with an NL Club that starts him. If that happens then A. I can see him play when his team comes to Coors Field. B. He’ll be playing against worse pitching, and thus can hit more homers. Good luck Shelley.

There’s this rumor going around that the Yanks are looking into signing Nick Johnson. Some blogs think that a Johnson signing is a smart idea. I, on the other hand, don’t. Now, don’t get me wrong. Nick is a great hitter, has some of the game’s best plate discipline, and is one of the better defenders with 3 scribbled next to his name on a lineup card. But, in case you forgot, the Yanks have a gold glove winning first baseman named Mark Teixeira. The Yanks are allegedly looking at Johnson as a DH option while everyone else wants him to play first. Johnson, one assumes, would prefer to play first rather than DH full-time, but as we all know money can change that. The 2009 World Series MVP was a full time DH, incapable of playing the field. He is not likely to return to the club because of his defensive inability. Now, the Yanks are looking at signing a full time DH whose only position in the field is already manned by a guy making north of $20MM per year. Does anyone else see the flaw in the logic of signing Johnson? The Yanks will need to sign someone to DH on a regular basis, but the smart move would be to give that position to someone capable of playing the outfield, thus creating more versatility.

One player who could be a DH is Johnny Damon, if he’s amenable to a one year deal. Say the Yanks re-sign Damon, promote Austin Jackson, sign Mike Cameron, and trade away Brett Gardner. This is all theoretical of course. So Damon DHs, Cameron mans center, Jackson patrols left, Swisher keeps his spot in right, and the reigning AL 1B Gold Glove winner stays at his position. The Yanks would then have the following options open defensively:

1.

LF: Jackson

CF: Cameron

RF: Swisher

1B: Teixeira

DH: Damon

2.

LF: Damon

CF: Jackson

RF: Swisher

1B: Teixeira

DH: Cameron

3.

LF: Damon

CF: Cameron

RF: Jackson

1B: Teixeira

DH: Swisher

4.

LF: Damon

CF: Cameron

RF: Jackson

1B: Swisher

DH: Teixeira

5.

LF: Damon

CF: Cameron

RF: Swisher

1B: Teixeira

DH: Jackson

That, as you can count, is 5 players who can be used in the DH slot without sacrificing any offense.

If Johnson were signed, only he and Teixeira could be interchangeable between the 1B and DH spot without sacrificing offense. See how an outfield-playing DH can make an entire lineup that more versatile? If the Yanks are going to sign a DH who won’t really play the field, they might as well just sign Hideki Matsui. He’s more reliable than Johnson anyways. The smart move, though, is to get a DH who can play at least one outfield spot. Free-Agent-wise, Damon, Jason Bay, Randy Winn, Marlon Byrd, Rick Ankiel, and Jermaine Dye all fit the bill to various degrees of desirability. As good of a hitter as Johnson is, he just simply doesn’t fit into the plans for the 2010 Yanks.

CC Sabathia, working with his PitCCh-In Foundation, his mother, and his wife helped the needy in his hometown of Vallejo, CA today and yesterday. MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch has the story.