Since 1927, TIME Magazine has chosen a man, woman, or idea that “for better or worse,” has most influenced events in the preceding year.

I decided to steal this idea shamelessly and announced on my radio program tonight the start the annual NYBD “Man of the Year” here in 2010.

Our criteria will be the same, but it will the man, women, team, or event that “for better or worse” has influenced baseball in New York over the past year.

Unlike TIME Magazine, you, the readers of NYBD will choose from a list pre-determined by yours truly.

The ballot will be a secret and will be revealed on my January 2nd Hall of Fame show on Blog Talk Radio.

This will be a sticky at the top of the site all week for you to vote.

Here are the choices:

Cliff Lee – What individual impacted New York sports more than former, and now current, Phillies pitcher Cliff Lee? We started talking about Lee back in June when it appeared both local teams would make a play for him. Who can forget the day after Lebron James “The Decision” how Joel Sherman announced that Lee was headed to the Yankees to form a “super rotation,” only to see the Texas Rangers swoop in at the last minute and consummate a deal.

Much was made of how Seattle GM Jack Zduriencik handled the negotiations. This twist of fate was when I believe the Yankees lost the American League pennant. Round two would be this winter as many thought Lee was signed, sealed, and delivered to the Bronx. After a week of “mystery teams” the Phillies would sign Lee, hurting both the Mets and Yankees chances in 2011.

Sandy Alderson – It’s been nearly twenty years since the Mets had a consistent voice at the head of their organization. After two embarrassing years the Wilpon’s finally decided to cut loose Omar Minaya, and hand over their organization to a threesome of new age thinking executives.

Sandy Alderson, J.P. Ricciardi, and Paul DePodesta would be the beginning of a new era of Mets baseball where logic, passion, and transparency (to borrow a phrase from our good friend Howard Megdal) would reign. Although the new regime hasn’t made a splash in the form of a signing or trade, there clearly is a long term plan to build the team from the bottom up. Alderson’s open and honest communication with mainstream media and the blogosphere is a refreshing change from the spin of the Wilpon’s, as well as the bumbling Minaya.

Derek Jeter – Who would ever believe the day would come where the fans and media would turn on The Captain? What was supposed to be the easiest negotiations in history turned into a he said/he said media war between Brian Cashman, Jeter’s agent Casey Close, and the Steinbrenner’s. No one will forget Cashman challenging Jeter and Close to “shop the Yankees offer,” as if daring the most popular Yankee since Joe DiMaggio to leave.  Jeter would even step out of his cliché driven diatribe at the press conference to demonstrate how angry he was at the Yankees. Everything turned out positive in the end, but will this relationship ever be the same?

George Steinbrenner – One of the most polarizing figures in sports history passed away in July. It was clear over the last five years that George was just a figurehead in Yankees Universe, as his health was failing. Regardless of what you think of him personally, his impact transcended the game, and he deserves induction into the Hall of Fame.

No other owner changed baseball for the owners and players like Steinbrenner. He embraced free agency from the start, and he demanded the Yankees pursue excellence each year, which in turn, forced the competition to keep up. He built the Yankees from a $12 million dollar investment into a billion dollar empire. The YES Network has become the gold standard for team owned regional cable channel. New Yankee Stadium is a palace of luxury that celebrates the history and financial power that is the New York Yankees. The popularity of baseball rose during his tenure, and I believe the Yankees success was a big part of that growth.

The Yankees will continue to bring in more revenue than any other team, but what will the future hold? Will the children have the same passion for the team? Will they go “all out” to win like their father? Is this a Yankees team with a “budget,” and will minority owners start to demand profits, something that was absent while George was fully in charge. Will we eventually see the Steinbrenner family sell the team?

The death of George Steinbrenner leaves us with many memories, but tons of questions about the future.

So there are my four choices for NYBD 2010 “Man of the Year.” Curious to hear your thoughts and see how everyone votes. Pick your choice below.

Mike Silva is a freelance writer and radio host since March of 2007. This website is his own personal "digest" of New York Baseball He's also hosts NYBD Radio on Blog Talk Radio and 1240 AM WGBB. Check out his sports media commentary at www.sportsmediawatchdog.com. Check out his official website, www.mikesilvamedia.com

Mike Silva

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Tags: Cliff Lee, Derek Jeter, George Steinbrenner, J.P. Ricciardi, New York Mets, New York Yankees, Paul DePodesta, Philadelphia Phillies, Sandy Alderson, Texas Rangers