Entering play on September 23, the New York Yankees are four games out of the second American League Wild Card spot, trailing the Kansas City Royals. In addition, the Yankees have two other teams -- the Seattle Mariners and Cleveland Indians -- sandwiched in between. With only seven games remaining, the Yankees' elimination number is three. At this point, it is very likely that the Yankees will miss the postseason for only the third time since 1993.

Whereas in most cases, the Yankees' missing the postseason is unimaginable in the Bronx, if it happens this year, then Yankee fans could possibly have some nice consolation. Retiring captain Derek Jeter could end his season three days early and play his  final game on September 25 -- in Yankee Stadium -- rather than on the road in Fenway Park on September 28. That, of course, will depend on how long the Yankees remain mathematically in the wild card race.

MLB.com's Jamal Collier reports that Yankees manager Joe Girardi -- as he did last year with closer Mariano Rivera -- will allow Jeter to decide whether or not to play when the Yankees end their season in Boston -- if the team is eliminated from postseason contention by then. 

Obvioulsy, if the Yankees are still in the race, then they will have to play to win, which means Girardi plays his most clutch hitter. Jeter is having a very strong final home stand: 9 for 20 (.450) with three doubles, a home run, six runs scored, and six batted in entering play on September 23. Girardi would need that bat to continue the fight.

Should the Yankees be eliminated before the Boston series, then Jeter will have that decision of whether or not to play in Boston to himself. Jeter, though, has always wanted to play, and he may see no reason to sit out those final three games. Collier quoted Girardi as saying, "My guess is he's going to want to play every day." 

Girardi would know. He was Jeter's teammate for four years from 1996-1999, his coach throughout most of the 2000's, and his manager since 2008. 

One more situation could also occur: the Yankees stay alive long enough to begin that final series in Boston. Therefore, Jeter plays. They get eliminated after the start of play. By then, Jeter has played in Boston, so he would likely go ahead and finish the season there -- a very understandable decision.

While Yankee fans would most likely love to see Jeter play in Yankee Stadium on September 25 for his final game, Red Sox fans, who have treated him well all season, might want their last chance to see him play also. If he chooses to sit, though, then all baseball fans should understand as they did when Rivera made the same decision in Houston last year.

All this, though, hinges on how long the Yankees stay alive in the wild card race.