By Kevin Kelly
The Cincinnati Enquirer

There's nothing like a Visa commercial to smooth things over.

Four months after George Steinbrenner publicly questioned Derek Jeter's focus, an incident that led to a new credit-card commercial lampooning their relationship, the Yankees owner designated the shortstop as his team's captain Tuesday.

"This is an honor that is not thrown around too lightly in this organization," Jeter said. "I understand it's a responsibility to the fans, it's a responsibility to the media, to my teammates and more importantly to the entire organization."

Only 10 other Yankees players, including Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig, have held the honorary distinction. New York had been without a captain since Don Mattingly retired in 1995.

The 28-year-old is a five-time All Star and has won four World Series titles since his rookie season in 1996.

"I don't think now that all of the sudden I'm supposed to change how I am as a person and as a player because I've been appointed captain," Jeter said.

The timing of the announcement was curious because the Yankees begin a nine-game homestand Tuesday.

New York had not played in Cincinnati since the Reds swept the Yankees in the 1976 World Series.

"This is something that I think was on (Steinbrenner's) mind," Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said. "He decided now is the time, now is the place."

After a 23-6 start, New York had won just 10 of its past 27 games entering Tuesday.

"If they had named him captain three years ago, that would've been the right time," manager Joe Torre said. "I felt whenever they named him captain that he would be able to handle the situation."