I hope and pray that what we saw on Tuesday night was effected by some offseason rust, because he really looked awful. It was like he was running in quick sand. He looked so bad that a friend of mine who has been defending Jeter's defense for quite some time sent me this text message: "Jeter is such a joke in the field.. I'm convinced."Before Tuesday night, Jeter had played only 15 innings at shortstop over the previous 10 days, a far lower total than he would have compiled if he had remained with the Yankees at spring training.
So, Johnson played Jeter for nine innings at short in the elimination game against Puerto Rico and used Rollins as his designated hitter.
Twice, Jeter failed to stop balls to his left that Rollins might have at least knocked down, and both led directly to runs.
If Team USA had not secured its dramatic 6-5 victory over Puerto Rico by staging a three-run rally in the ninth inning, Jeter's defense would have come under heavy scrutiny.
Jeter, who turns 35 on June 26, is 4 1/2 years older than Rollins. His defensive decline is not exactly a secret within the industry; the sabermetric community, in particular, has pointed out his inadequacies.
Jeter did have his reasons - or excuses - for why he was unable to make the plays. First the Rios single in the sixth:
And left-handed Ramon Vazquez's single in the 9th:"That was a slider," Jeter said, referring to the pitch by right- hander Heath Bell to Rios, a right-handed hitter. "He usually pulls sliders. I've played against him enough. He usually gets out in front of sliders in that situation."
"I was just trying to knock it down," Jeter said. "The bottom line in that situation is that Broxton throws so hard, you can't shade him up the middle. He can hit the ball the other way, so you've gotta play straight up."Fair enough, but it's very likely that any other shortstop in the league at least knocks those balls down stopping those runs from scoring. Jimmy Rollins, who is one of the better defensive shortstops in the game, definitely does.
Rob Neyer has this to say about what Jeter's defense will really cost Team USA:
If you were Davey Johnson who would you start at shortstop on Saturday, Jeter or Rollins?What does that mean, practically? The difference between them might fall somewhere in the range of 20-30 runs, or (roughly) less than 0.2 runs per game. That's why -- when someone asked me on the radio last week -- I said that playing Jeter instead of Rollins was highly unlikely to really hurt Team USA. If the Americans reach the final, they'll play eight games; theoretically, even if Jeter played every inning of every game, he would "cost" his team a couple of runs … and a couple of runs wouldn't be likely to change anything. And he's not playing every inning of every game.
So far, so good. Jeter's cost his team (at least) a couple of runs, but Team USA hasn't lost a game because of them. Not quite. Nor is Team USA likely to lose the championship because of Jeter. Still, you can't help but wonder -- as you might have wondered three years ago -- if decisions like this one send a fundamental message to everyone involved: Team USA isn't really trying to win.
I know who I'd start, and it isn't Jeter.
20 Comments:
Gotta start Rollins in the field. I don't even think it's a question. Rollins is far superior with the glove. Jeter can DH
Rollins
Man do I want Alberto Gonzalez back...
Jeter is free agent 2 years from now. I think it is wise that the yankees let Jeter go and sign JJ Hardy who is a free agent the same year.
Rollins.
"Jeter is free agent 2 years from now. I think it is wise that the yankees let Jeter go and sign JJ Hardy who is a free agent the same year."
NO NO NO! I know Jeter's defense sucks but in all likely-hood Matusi will be gone by 2011. Jeter could be the DH for the Yanks. He's not a Giambi or Ortiz type DH, but he still hits for average.
i would take a shitty jeter over anyone any day
In two years Jeter would be the weakest hitting DH in the AL. He's probably at or below replacement at that position as it is right now.
Jeter two years from now will be a much worse hitter, slower and even worse defensivly. I would prefer him to retire, but if he still wants to play I hope the yankees dont resign him.
Yankees will create plenty of salary flexibilty. Two years from now Jeter and Jorge will be off the books. That is about 35 million free. They should use that money to sign younger free agents.
Why would the yankees offer an aging Jeter 20 million per year it doesn't make sense. If jeter wants to be a yankee he should take the salary minimum.
you make a good point Anon. The Yankees will have a lot of money to spend once Jeet, and Jorge retire (35 million like you said).
Also, plus the 45 million Mo is making right now that will give them 80 million once he retires!
I would be beyond shocked if the Yankees don't re-sign Jeter, but if his offense doesn't rebound to a 120ish OPS+ level (it was 102 in 2008) over the next two years, they would be fools to re-sign, except for a million or two as a bench player.
If he does rebound offensively, then they could give him two years at like $10-$15 million per year, but only if he plays the OF.
Of course, they have to find a replacement, which is why I wanted to sign Cabrera this offseason.
lineups have just been posted on the LoHud Yankees Blog, if you need them Greg.
On the play in the 9th Jeter was there his glove actually went past the ball. So i believe that is rust and not range.
Jeter will retire a Yankee and they will pay him (like they did Mattingly) till the end, even if he ends up being a liability in the field and at the plate. Jeter is the Captain, the face of the Yanks (like Mattingly was) and they will not let him go. Can we wait until 2010 to even discuss this please!! I cannot handle the thought of Jeter, Posada and Mo all gone...
Pete, you're probably right but I hope you're wrong. If DiMaggio was forced into retirement a year removed from an MVP caliber season, then I don't think Jeter should be immune from criticism when he's clearly hurting the Yanks at short.
Peter,
Your right on the money (pun intended). Jeter will retire a Yankee and they will pay him to the end and they should. The whole idea of "letting Jeter walk" is absurd and it makes me wonder how closely some people follow the Yankees. If you don't understand how much he means to this organization by now then get your head out of the sand. Jeter means way more then just defensive or offensive stats. He is the Yankee's and he is the face of the organization and he is all these things for the right reasons. Not because he posed for some photo shoot that showed him kissing himself in a mirror or because he was trying to explain how he didn't really know what PED he was taking. Not because his cousin was sticking needles in his ass. He is the face of the Yankees because he represents everything that is right with sports and role models.
I hope the yankees learn to what Mattingly did, he betrayed the yankees when he went to the dodgers. Yankees offered him to be Girardi bench coach.
Mattingly didn't betray the Yankees.
Jeter will be a Yankee for life. I'll try to find a link to the article I read but it talked about a possible flop of Cano and Jeter after Jeter re-signs.
Remember if he stays with the Yankees he wont have to still be a SS. Jeters attitude and talent may help him with a position switch.
When is Hanley Ramirez elidgable for Free Agency? I bet he's under team control til 2011/2012
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