Derek Jeter

[Bearcat Bob 491]

Love or hate the Yankees, you have to respect what Derek Jeter has done in NY for 20 years.  What a way to end a career -- in walk off fashion no less.  For baseball fans, it just does not get any better than that.

[GMan 3,569]

Never been a Jeter fan...

[Deleted Account 5,203]

One of the worst fielding long-term SSs in MLB history. But that hit total, about half of which coming in Dead Ball Era II, is impressive.

[wvpymbr 11]

Loved the game you just don't see it anymore from players.

[sixcat 2,919]

One of the worst fielding long-term SSs in MLB history. But that hit total, about half of which coming in Dead Ball Era II, is impressive.

This statement is just not accurate!

 

http://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/fielding_perc_ss_career.shtml

 

His career fielding percentage is on par with those who are considered "greats" at the position.  Jeter's career fielding percentage ranks 30th all time.

 

Ozzie Smith               .9782

Alan Trammell          .9768

Derek Jeter                .9762

Rey Ordonez             .9757

Barry Larkin               .9746

Ozzie Guillen             .9736

Nomar Garciaparra     .9684

Robin Yount                .9645

Pee Wee Reese         .9624

[Deleted Account 5,203]

This statement is just not accurate!

 

http://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/fielding_perc_ss_career.shtml

 

His career fielding percentage is on par with those who are considered "greats" at the position.  Jeter's career fielding percentage ranks 30th all time.

 

Ozzie Smith               .9782

Alan Trammell          .9768

Derek Jeter                .9762

Rey Ordonez             .9757

Barry Larkin               .9746

Ozzie Guillen             .9736

Nomar Garciaparra     .9684

Robin Yount                .9645

Pee Wee Reese         .9624

 

I think Proverbs 12:1 would be appropriate here.  Thanks for bringing facts to my wholly incorrect point.

 

As I look through that list, holy crap, there were some AWFUL SSs prior to 1960.  I guess I should've revised that portion, also.  MLB history is far too expansive to make a statement like that, particularly about a player's fielding abilities.  Sam Wise played 12 years over 100 years ago, and had a fielding percentage of .859.  That's literally an error every 7 putouts + assists.  That's Graham High-ish numbers.

[sixcat 2,919]

It is interesting to put data with public opinion.  Perception is a funny thing, its rarely completely accurate but always taken for fact.

 

I remember back about 15 years ago, the baseball "experts" would lament on how Jeter would be a hall-of-famer but never start an all-star game because of Alex Rodriguez and Nomar Garciaparra.  I think that one has played out differently.  I was shocked to see Cal Ripkin had a higher fielding percentage for his time at SS than Ozzie Smith.  Ripkin was perceived to be the epitome of the hitting SS.  Never a liability in the field but not a defensive specialist.  Ozzie was perceived to be the defensive wizard, hence the nickname.

[Hacker 82]

Fielding percentage by itself is only half of the equation.  A shortstop with limited range can have a great fielding percentage and still be a liability.  Jeter and Ripkin weren't going to mishandle most of the balls they got to, there were just a lot of balls they could not get to.  Smith and Omar Vizquel (sp) would get to balls that neither of the others could dream of fielding.  They ate up a ton of balls that would have been hits against the Yankees or Os in Jeter and Ripkin's careers.

 

Not a criticism of either, just a reality of the game.