Something to Think About

I wish I could say that I did the research for this, but a loving family member brought it to my attention. Derek Jeter has received a lot of attention/acclaim during the postseason since 1996 and rightfully so. On the other hand, A-Rod has been mainly ineffective in October, until this season.

Despite the hate A-Rod has grown accustomed to, all the "A-Fraud" Daily News back pages, the boos and the rumors, given his amounts of at bats versus Jeter's the numbers present an interesting fact.

Jeter makes amazing plays and gets timely hits. Jeter gets all the love.

But....

So for Jeter:

PA - 599
Runs - 92
Hits - 163
2B - 24
3B - 3
HR - 20
RBI - 54
BA - .310
OPS - .860

ARod (pro-rated to Jeter's PA in parenthesis)

PA - 202
Runs - 30 (90)
Hits - 52 (156)
2B - 10 (30)
3B - 0 (0)
HR - 12 (36)
RBI - 28 (84)
BA - .299
OPS .951

"That last number's what stood out, .951 to .860. (OPS= on base percentage + slugging) Jeter's been more consistent, almost always very good, while ARod has had major peaks and vallys but overall, he's hit better, substantially better. Jeter has done better in the division series, ARod in the league championships."

I tend to hate on Rodriguez too. Not because I don't respect his ability or position as a Yankee. I just think he cares too much about life off the field and for someone who makes $27 milli per season, I'd like to hear more about life between the lines than life with Kate Hudson. Props though.

I think between his admittance to steroid use (yes, even his ego can take a hit), the acquisition of Mark Teixeira and the media focusing on Yankees other than ARod leading up to and during the playoffs, has allowed a calmness to come over Rodriguez.

His confidence at the plate is obvious. The other night, Joe Buck was speaking of exactly that as number 13 dug into the batter's box. Two pitches later Rodriguez was rounding the bases.

I will always love Jeter more. He plays the right way, he has always been clean and he remains the face of the franchise. With that said, ARod is proving his worth and his prowess. He is shutting up the naysayers with every game.

Myself included.

#2

Why do people still think he is overrated? What is he supposed to do to change the haters perspective, what else can he do? Baseball is about a lot more than hitting home runs, but unless you are jacking 30+ a season you aren't respected.

Career hits: 2,747

Career post-season HRs : 18

*(tied for 3rd all-time with Reggie Jackson and Mickey Mantle. Only trailing Bernie Williams and Manny Ramirez)

Career BA: .317

Seven seasons with over 200 hits.

His HR:AB ratio in the regular season is 1:39, in the post-season it improves to 1:28.

Fine, he doesn't hit the ball to the opposite field as much as people make it seem. He is very good at fighting off the inside pitch and taking balls on the outside of the plate to right field. The truth is he sprays the ball pretty evenly to all fields. He hits it where its pitched.

As far as fielding, he is, well, solid. He never had tremendous range, especially up the middle, but he convinced us with his trademark jump-away plays that he could do it all. His arm is good enough to make any play, but doesn't leave a smoke trail across the diamond. However, he is smooth. Boy, is he smooth. No short stop displays the fundamentals better than he does. Nevertheless, be honest, he is no Omar Vizquel. Never was either.

But...

Omar Vizquel didn't make that play against Oakland in the 2001 ALDS or the bust-my-face-up dive that planted him two rows into the stands in 2004 against Boston. Remember those?

NESN, the Boston Red Sox major station, still replays that game as a classic annually. That's respect!

Ten times he has made the American League All-Star team.

He won the rookie of the year in 1996.

Derek Jeter is the captain of the New York Yankees, and arguably the face of baseball along side Albert Pujols. Last night, in game 1 of the 2009 ALDS, Jeter hit his 18th career post-season home run. An absolute bomb for a guy not known for his pop. A no-doubter!

As Jeter went around the bases inside a stadium erupting with energy, I felt something. Not only did it remove the doubt of a game 1 let down (something the Yankees have been prone to in recent years). It was a message to the other seven teams that we are serious this year.

Remember in 2008, in the NBA playoffs, Tim Duncan hit a wide open three pointer with three seconds remaining to force double overtime and ultimately win the game for San Antonio. That shot ripped out the hearts of the Phoenix Suns who were unable to bounce back from heartbreaking loss. That series was over after that shot, I remember Stephen A. Smith saying so with his usual exuberance the next day.

Anyway, I got that same vibe from the Jeter home run. I think the Yankees beat the Twins regardless, but I am talking about the bigger picture. That home run calmed the nerves of all the Yankees. The Captain did what he had to do, he broke the ice for the entire team, city and fans.

Jeter never hit more than 24 home runs in a season and he only surpassed 100 RBI once in his career. How many short stops were doing that before the mid-90's? No one can say he is above average at fielding, power, arm strength or speed. However, he has the total package. And as far as leadership, respect and professionalism are concerned there is no one better.

All of this has been said many times over. I really don't sweat him like so many people do. But, how many players consistently show up when it counts like he does. How many stars with his ability NEVER talk smack. Mr. Intangibles is an understatement. He is one of the greatest PLAYERS I have ever seen and he will continue to play the game the right way for the rest of his career.

Good ol' #2.