05/04: MLB Players Name Jeter "Most Overrated"
Posted by: Patrick
PLAYERS: JETER OVER-RATED:
I always kind of smile myself when I hear someone say Jeter is overrated. I find the term overrated to be a joke, anyway. Everyone rates him differently and that's... how he's rated. Overrated... underrated... whatever. Various people can spend time debating such a thing, while I'll just enjoy having him. For a lot of people, if player X and player Y are the same, but player X gets more media attention, player X is "overrated" and somehow less a player, as if he somehow has control over what the media reports.
A-Rod doesn't surprise me, either. When people say A-Rod is overrated, they're really saying A-Rod is overpaid. And when they're saying he's overpaid, they're really saying no one in baseball deserves the contract A-Rod got. I always think of it like this: does any player deserve that contract? Uh... I don't know. But, if anyone deserved it and has delivered on it, it's A-Rod. I mean, look at his numbers since he's signed it. He's missed 8 games since he signed it (5+ seasons). He has not had a single "bad" year. His weakest statistical year was his first with the Yankees, 2004: .286 AVG, 36 HR, 106 RBI, .375 OBA. Beside that year, he's had 47 or more home runs in every one. He's off to a slow start this year (on pace for 32 homers at the moment), of course. Did I mention he's no slow poke, either? 96 stolen bases while being caught just 23 times since the deal was signed. So, offensively, he's there.
Then you add in the gold glove caliber defense at both shortstop and third base. Add in the off the field stuff. "Off the field stuff," you say? Yeah, the fact that he doesn't get into trouble. That's worth something. "Everyone should do that," right? I agree, but not everyone does. A-Rod knows he has a responsibility to the Yankees and I believe he takes it very seriously. Since signing the deal, he's been an all-star every year, won 2 MVPs (and finished 2nd in voting once), won 4 gold glove awards and led the league in numerous statistical categories. How do you have that sort of resume and still be considered overrated? The point I'm trying to make here is that A-Rod is just about as "perfect" and well rounded as a position player comes. He literally does it all very well. If he didn't deserve that contract - no one did. But, because he got it, he's overrated. That's bogus, but it's the way it is.
Via Steve.
In a Sports Illustrated poll of 470 players, Jeter was named on 9 percent of the ballots as the most over-rated. Mets center fielder Carlos Beltran was second with 7 percent and Alex Rodriguez was third with 6 percent.
"I don't care, I guess anything I do now is a plus," Jeter said with a grin. "At least I am in good company.''' ...
"Alex doesn't surprise me because there is a lot of jealousy about the money he makes and his talent, but to say Derek is over-rated, that is surprising," Torre said. "I have had players traded here and after six weeks they come to me and say, 'I knew Jeter was a good player but I didn't know how good.'"
"I don't care, I guess anything I do now is a plus," Jeter said with a grin. "At least I am in good company.''' ...
"Alex doesn't surprise me because there is a lot of jealousy about the money he makes and his talent, but to say Derek is over-rated, that is surprising," Torre said. "I have had players traded here and after six weeks they come to me and say, 'I knew Jeter was a good player but I didn't know how good.'"
I always kind of smile myself when I hear someone say Jeter is overrated. I find the term overrated to be a joke, anyway. Everyone rates him differently and that's... how he's rated. Overrated... underrated... whatever. Various people can spend time debating such a thing, while I'll just enjoy having him. For a lot of people, if player X and player Y are the same, but player X gets more media attention, player X is "overrated" and somehow less a player, as if he somehow has control over what the media reports.
A-Rod doesn't surprise me, either. When people say A-Rod is overrated, they're really saying A-Rod is overpaid. And when they're saying he's overpaid, they're really saying no one in baseball deserves the contract A-Rod got. I always think of it like this: does any player deserve that contract? Uh... I don't know. But, if anyone deserved it and has delivered on it, it's A-Rod. I mean, look at his numbers since he's signed it. He's missed 8 games since he signed it (5+ seasons). He has not had a single "bad" year. His weakest statistical year was his first with the Yankees, 2004: .286 AVG, 36 HR, 106 RBI, .375 OBA. Beside that year, he's had 47 or more home runs in every one. He's off to a slow start this year (on pace for 32 homers at the moment), of course. Did I mention he's no slow poke, either? 96 stolen bases while being caught just 23 times since the deal was signed. So, offensively, he's there.
Then you add in the gold glove caliber defense at both shortstop and third base. Add in the off the field stuff. "Off the field stuff," you say? Yeah, the fact that he doesn't get into trouble. That's worth something. "Everyone should do that," right? I agree, but not everyone does. A-Rod knows he has a responsibility to the Yankees and I believe he takes it very seriously. Since signing the deal, he's been an all-star every year, won 2 MVPs (and finished 2nd in voting once), won 4 gold glove awards and led the league in numerous statistical categories. How do you have that sort of resume and still be considered overrated? The point I'm trying to make here is that A-Rod is just about as "perfect" and well rounded as a position player comes. He literally does it all very well. If he didn't deserve that contract - no one did. But, because he got it, he's overrated. That's bogus, but it's the way it is.
Via Steve.
