"There are a lot of voices who believe Derek Jeter's recent six-week hot streak isn't proof he has turned back the clock.

The naysayers insist the 37-year-old shortstop never can be the player he was even two years ago when he batted .334 and followed that with a career-low .270 last season in a walk year.

Nevertheless, a man who understands greatness believes Jeter already has returned to elite status.

"He had to remind us he was still a great player, which isn't fair," Reggie Jackson said yesterday inside the Yankees' clubhouse at Kauffman Stadium, hours before Jeter and the Yankees faced the Royals. "We had to make him prove it again. I am part of that, too. He had to prove it, but you know what, that's what life is. What have you done lately for me."

What Jeter has done for the Yankees since coming off the disabled list on July 4 has been very good. Again, his legion of critics insists he isn't what he was, but since returning from the disabled list and a right calf injury on July 4, Jeter is hitting .326 (47-for-144) with 26 RBIs in 35 games.

The extended hot streak for Jeter, who went 2-for-6 with 2 RBIs in the Yankees' 9-7 victory over the Royals last night, has raised his average from .260 to the .283. Furthermore, he raised his average with runners in scoring position from .172 (11-for-64) to .241 (26-for-108) with a 15-for-44 (.341) streak in the clutch.

Many theories are in play for the resurgence.

Jeter says it simply has to do with "staying back" at the plate. Manager Joe Girardi thinks when Jeter cleared the 3,000-hit milestone in grand fashion on July 9 with a 5-for-5 game and reaching 3,000 with a homer, he relaxed. Jeter also believes the time he spent rehabbing in Tampa, where he got to work with long-time hitting coach Gary Denbo, helped."