Ok, I know that is never going to happen. He has this year and two more years left on his current contract. But he is really killing the team. Jeter's chase for 3,000 hits is a great story but overshadows how badly his play has slipped recently.
After an 0-5 tonight, he is batting a sparkling .219. It's early, you say? While I have not seen all of his at bats, I have seen enough games this year to know this might be more than "just a slump". Seemingly every ball he hits is a grounder to shortstop or second base. All of his hits are of the infield variety or seeing eye grounders. I think I've seen him hit one line drive and it was caught by the right fielder. If Jeter's poor batting continues, Girardi will have no choice but to drop him in the lineup. I say he should have been dropped to 9th in the order already. Torre dropped A-rod in the playoffs to 8th in the order years back and that was for a much smaller sample of at-bats than Jeter is afforded. If Jeter was really a team player, he would not bitch about it but you know he will, because Jeter is a diva just like the women he dates (see Carey, Mariah).
I agree that his career is just about over, but why do you call him a diva?
ReplyDeleteHe held a grudge with Arod for the longest time. He didn't offer to change positions even though he was the inferior defender to Arod. He was a bitch in contact negotiations and he doesn't even want to consider changing positions as his defense gets progressively worse.
ReplyDeleteThe grounders to the short stop are an improvement though. He was almost exclusively hitting grounders to second base for the first week of the season
ReplyDeleteBut yeah, it's getting so bad, they won't even let him peddle fords no more.
ReplyDeleteBut pretty much everyone hates A-Rod, so assume that grudge wasn't Jeter's fault.
ReplyDeleteAnd why should Jeter switch his position when he had won multiple Gold Gloves, he was the captain of the team, and he had already been on the Yankees for years?
I think you're being hard on Jeter.
Man, the second the guy can't hit anymore you throw him to the vultures. You would think he never did anything good for the Yankees.
Being Captain means doing what is best for the TEAM always, has he done that?
ReplyDeleteWhen has he let his team down? He's been the best teammate.
ReplyDeleteSure he's getting a little old, but that happens to every player at one point or another. Cut him some slack.
Why did A-Rod deserve to play at short when Jeter had been there for years, had won multiple championships, was on his way to the Hall of Fame, was the captain, and was winning Gold Gloves? That wouldn't have been fair.
ReplyDeleteArod was the better defender. Anyone will agree. If you are a team player you do what is best for the team.
ReplyDeleteJeter is a shell of his former self. The Yankees were smart to call him out for wanting to be overpaid. He has been paid well enough of the years for what he has done for the Yankees. It's not as if he was only getting 3 mil a year for the past 10 years. He's such a perp. He's now getting overpaid for what he will bring to the Yanks over the next few years (.220/2/50). By the way, the Gold Glove is such a sham. As it stands now. the award basically rewards people for making routine plays. Quicker Shortstops get to more ball, thus will have more errors.
ReplyDeleteThis post is completely objective and the fact that I absolutely hate the Yankees should not make it less credible. Go Sox!
Jeter was a better defender when ARod joined the team. He was winning Gold Gloves at the time, how could he get any better? And even if you don't think he deserved those awards, he was still a very good defender and clearly not a liability (at that time).
ReplyDeleteI agree that Jeter isn't a good player anymore but I do believe that he deserves respect. Definitely don't see a basis for calling him a diva or a perp.
He has always been a great teammate and has done whatever he can to help the team win. As far as being overpaid: yes, he is. But the Yankees overpay everyone, and Jeter still helps bring in TONS of revenue because he's so popular. He's the captain and arguably the most popular athlete in New York history. Everyone wants to hate on the greats.
I looked it up:
ReplyDeleteA-Rod joined the Yankees after the 03' season.
In 04', 05', and 06' - his first three years with the Yankees - Jeter won Gold Gloves.
What is your point about gold gloves? Palmero won a gold glove at first in a year where he played dh. The gold glove is mostly a popularity contest.
ReplyDeleteJeter didn't deserve a gold glove every year. I do think Mr. D is being a little harsh on him though. The guy is a living legend, we should show him a little respect.
ReplyDeleteIf Jeter finishes under .280 BA and .350 OBP this season, he is officially done as the hitter he was through 2009 and should retire thus forfeit the remaining two years of his contract and avoid risking having a third straight shit year in 2012.
ReplyDeleteIf he doesn't retire, he should bat ninth and earn his way back to the leadoff or #2 slot next year. If he posts under .280 BA and .350 OBP in 2012 as well as 2011, he is a straight up money-stealing bitch out to rake in as much as he can and should be released after 2012. I'm not kidding. The Tigers released Gary Sheffield and ate his final year of I believe $14M, the Yankees can eat whatever Jeter is making in 2013, and he wouldn't dare exercise his player option for 2014. The 2013 Yankees can't have an ancient shortstop who can't hit for average or power, get on base or steal one, or play below average defense. It'd be embarassing and he'd be a professional embarassment with no self-respect to let it get to that point. Btw the Yankees fired Casey Stengel so don't tell me they can't release Jeter if pushed to.
I am 110% for the Yankees telling Jeter retire or be released after 2012 if he churns out a 2010 or worse 2011-12. That's not being ungrateful, that's doing what's best for the team cuz since when is say .243 BA, .296 OBP, 3 HR, 41 RBI, 5 SB, and 3 CS in 150-157 starts and zero Gold Glove votes being productive? Those are very possible / realisitc stats for 2012 Jeter. Retire if you posted that shit you done bitch. I'd even take it a step further: if he doesn't agree to retire, retire his number five years after he's inducted into the Hall Of Fame. Make him wait for it and send him a message that while he is a Yankee great, he was Yankee deadweight 2010-13. What's he gonna do, refuse to show up to the number retirement ceremony? Say bad shit about the Yankees at it?
The Yankees have him by the balls way more than he has them by the balls even though he has guaranteed money. They've locked up 1B so he can't go there. No way he's moving to DH or the OF. He'd be awful at DH offensively and awful in LF or RF (forget CF) defensively. No way A-Rod is moving from 3B to DH to accomodate Jeter again. No way Teixiera is moving from 1B to where to accomodate Jeter. All both have to do is say no, and what are the Yankees gonna do, force them to move? To accomodate a washed up bitch?
Great post, Cookiepuss. I didn't expect such in depth analysis from an ice cream cake. How are Fudgie the Whale and Hug-Me Bear?
ReplyDeleteI'm a Mets fan actually.
ReplyDeleteI'm focusing on the NHL playoffs right now, not much of a baseball fan, game is too slow.
ReplyDeleteHey Blacky,
ReplyDeleteYeah, it was a great post. And greater than the tired old "Jeter just hits grounders" blah blah blah than you and a million other pseudo-Sabermetrics nerds crank out about Jeter routinely. All I or anyone else should care about is does Jeter hit for average i.e. at least .300, post at least .375 OBP (better than .350 but not quite .400), and steal bases which can enhance his team's scoring chances. The answers are no, no, and definitely no (0 SB this year.) Jeter's outs would be a nonissue if he was posting .300 BA and .375 OBP.
I guess you think Jeter should keep being an everyday player if he finishes with say .273 BA and .345 OBP this year then .265 BA and .328 OBP next, huh? Or the Yankees should keep him after 2012 if he cranks out second and third straight shit years and only one great season from 2008 on (2009)?
Post on here with a retort to what I said instead of making fun of my username which is no dumber than yours. The Yankees should release Jeter after 2012 if he churns out a suckass 2011-12. You don't agree, fine, but then I'd guess you like seeing a washed up bitch who can't hit for power or average, get on base or steal one, or play Gold Glove contending SS take runs from his team at the plate and on the field.
Must be cookie's time of the month
ReplyDeleteCookie, I'm sorry I had sex with your sister and your girlfriend. Don't be so angry at me.
ReplyDeleteOh look everyone, two or more douchebags (probably one) who can't come back with shit.
ReplyDeleteKeep looking like you're speechless to what I'm writing. Ah duh duh duh Spider from Goodfellas style.
I agree that Jeter should not come back in 2013.
ReplyDeleteLet him get 3000 this year, then come back for one more in 2012 out of respect.
But they should make some plans for getting rid of him before 2013. That would be too much.
In 2009 Jeter hit .334 with a .406 on-base, 212 hits, 107 runs, and had 30 stolen bases. He ended up third in MVP voting.
ReplyDeleteLast year was his first really crappy season.
I know he has been awful so far this year, but maybe he can turn it around a bit and be somewhat productive this season. That's not unthinkable.
EUREKA! Someone actually discussing what I said and not being a child.
ReplyDeleteBottle I completely agree about it's not impossible Jeter can't turn it around, I hope he does. However, if he churns out a 2010-like 2011, he should retire. If he churns out a 2010-like 2011 but doesn't retire and has a 2010-11-like 2012, the Yankees should retire him (cuz I don't see him playing in 2013 if they did that.) If the Yankees keep him for 2013, they are fools who have probably cost the Yankees at least one World Series title by keeping him 2010-13 cuz his lack of hitting like he did through 2009 has to take that much of a toll on the team, and that's a compliment to Jeter if anything.
Assuming Jeter doesn't improve, would he have some value as a mentor/dugout guy to who ever takes over Short stop? Or will it be A-rod and a Random high priced 3rd baseman that take over?
ReplyDeleteA lot has been made about Jeter's awful 2010. Here are his numbers last year as compared to league short stops:
ReplyDelete1st in runs scored
1st in hits
3rs in walks (just 1 behind two players who tied for first)
6th in On Base Percentage
8th in batting average
8th in stolen bases
8th in RBI
That doesn't seem like a guy who should retire to me. We're comparing Jeter 2010/11 to a guy who had MVP type of years. He's not as good as he used to be, he's not the best player at the position (offensively or defensively), but when compared to his peers his numbers are still pretty solid.
@MAD..."Yeah, I'll mentor guys when I lead all the league's short stops in hits...that makes sense!"
ReplyDeleteHater J, so far this year he has shown indications he is going to decline from what he did last year. This doesn't bode well considering he has a 3 year deal. He isn't getting any younger so you have to put the retirement option on the table if it is better for the team.
ReplyDeleteSeems like I am buying too much into him being done. Looking at that 2010, he should hang around as long as he remains in the top ten of those Stats.
ReplyDeleteHe is on the decline, it doesn't mean he can't be productive. Who is available that can put up stronger numbers?
ReplyDeleteYou know that San Fran paid Miggy Tejada 6.5 mil this year to play short? Take a look at what Miggy did last year and then take a look at what he is doing this year.
If you want to say Derek is no longer an elite player...fine. But I'm not buying that he can't be productive and should retire. We have to accept he isn't the young dude who banged a ton of hot chicks and put up MVP numbers. He's the middle aged (old for sports) who's set on marrying a hot chick, that can be productive.
While Jeter has definitely done his share of damage against my team over the years, most of that is long ago in baseball years. It is kind of funny to see him almost deny that his skillset has diminished significantly. That was apparent when he talked about the way contract negotiations went down this winter. Is he so vain that he thinks he made the Yankees what they have been over the past 15 years? Would would Jeter have been The Derek Jeter if he played his whole career for say, the Angels? While I think he still is a serviceable SS, he needs to put up Tulowizki numbers to validate the amount of money that he getting paid. We all know that isn't going to happen.
ReplyDeleteJeter has to move beyond what he has done for the Yankees and look at what he can still do for them. When does he look in the mirror and ask himself if he is hurting the team more than he is helping them?
Cookiepuss,
ReplyDeleteThey are not my Yankees. I hope they fucking lose every fucking game until the end of fucking time. So, yeah I think Jeter should remain an everyday player indefinitely because that would enhance the chances of the Yankees losing. Yes, I want to see a washed up bitch who can't hit for power or average, get on base or steal one, or play Gold Glove contending SS take runs from his team at the plate and on the field.
How dare you call me out for being a nerd, and being childish! You're the one spouting off statistics like it's you job. You're the one attacking my non-existent/disigenuous defense of Jeter. It's all a joke, one that you apparently don't get or can't take. Get over your fucking self. Not everything has to be so super-fucking-serious. These are comments on a blog, not scholarly discourse.
Yeah, I hope Jeter plays out his contract, takes his option, and plays as bad as you predict. So, to be perfectly clear, I want Jeter to suck. I want him to suck so bad that Yankee fans shot their Tvs in outrage during his at bats. I want you to be right, and I want you to . . . (drum roll please)
go fuck yourself.
You have to through the money argument out of the window. He's the face of the franchise, a franchise that prints money. The Yankees have notoriously over paid players. See Alex Rodriguez and Jorge Posada's slated pay this year. A-Rod would have to have won 6 MVP's to validate his most recent contract.
ReplyDeleteThe Yankees went out of their way to call Jeter out this past winter about the money. I recall Cashman saying that Jeter is free check out other options in the open market. Why did they do that to the face of the francise? We know money is no object for them. Perhaps the need for Jeter has passed. When the Yanks feel they need someone, they don't even think twice about overpaying to get him.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Hater J: we have to put this in context. The money argument doesn't mean all that much when talking about the Yankees.
ReplyDeleteAlso, Hater J made a good point with these stats:
1st in runs scored
1st in hits
3rs in walks (just 1 behind two players who tied for first)
6th in On Base Percentage
8th in batting average
8th in stolen bases
8th in RBI
But, are those his ranking in the AL or in all of baseball? Either way, they are still surprisingly good.
Those stats are for all of baseball. Lets say he slips a bit...that's still a very solid year. Again, not All Star or MVP digits...but productive.
ReplyDeleteLast year he was first in hits among all shortstops? Those stats are VERY surprising.
ReplyDeleteMaybe numbers for SS's are really down and it makes Jeter look worse than he actually is (although he still looks old).
So far this year he is one of the worst short stops. I agree he won't be this bad all year, but no way he is close to being first in those categories at the end of this season.
ReplyDeleteThis argument may show how great Jeter truly is.
ReplyDeleteThe one year he doesn't play well, when everyone is hating on him and wants to force him into retirement, he is still top ten in all the important categories, including first in hits and runs.
We can't just look at arbitary stats. To determine his value we gotta compare him to his contemporaries.
ReplyDelete