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Derek Jeter Overrated? NO WAY!
By Frank Negron Jr. on June 20th, 2008 1:14 PM |
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on Friday, June 20th, 2008 at 1:14 pm and is filed under Baseball, Yankees Rumors & News.
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Sometimes there are times where there are things I feel I need to address. Today, I feel the need to take something to task. Here is what I’m referring to:
In a Sports Illustrated survey of 495 Major League Baseball players in its June 23 issue, Derek Jeter was voted the most overrated with 10% of the vote. Struggling Giants lefthander Barry Zito was second at 9%, while Alex Rodriguez and Red Sox outfielder J.D. Drew were tied for third with 7%. Mets third baseman David Wright and Red Sox first baseman Kevin Youkilis tied for fourth at 4%.
Now how in the world is Jeter overrated? Sure he doesn’t deserve to be paid $18 million, but neither does anyone else for that matter. So how else is he overrated? What are you judging him by? He’s a leader, he’s consistent, he’s clutch, and he’s a proven winner. What else do you want from the guy? He is deserving of all the fame he has because he earned his success. He hustles on every play, he shows up to work and goes about his business the right way and does everything that is asked of him. He ALWAYS has a team first mentality, something lost on the game these days. So how is he overrated? Let’s look at some of his awards:
- 8-time AL All-Star (1998-2002, 2004, 2006 & 2007)
- 4-time NY Yankees Player of the Year (1998-2000, 2006)
- 3-time AL Gold Glove Award (SS) (2004-06)
- 2-time Baseball America 1st-Team Major League All-Star (SS) (1999, 2004)
- 2-time AL Silver Slugger (SS) (2006-07)
- South Atlantic League All-Star (SS) (1993)
- Florida State League All-Star (SS) (1994)
- Baseball America 1st Team Minor League All-Star (SS) (1994)
- Minor League Player of the Year (1994)
- NY Yankees Minor League Player of the Year (1994)
- Baseball America Minor League Player of the Year (1994)
- Florida State League Most Valuable Player (1994)
- International League All-Star (SS) (1995)
- AL Rookie of the Year (1996)
- All-Star Game Most Valuable Player (2000)
- World Series Most Valuable Player (2000)
- TSN Award (SS) (2006)
- Hank Aaron Award (2006)
- This Year In Baseball Awards Top Hitter (2006)
Honorable Mention:
- Placed second in 2006 in the AL MVP voting
- Has a Major League Baseball record in career postseason hits, singles, at-bats, runs scored and strikeouts (yes I even included a negative).
The timing of this poll is questionable. It is taken at a time when the Yankees were struggling, Now if this poll had been conducted in October, when Mr. Jeter has been playing for the last 13 years then I think the results would be different.
I think that a lot of this is based on jealously. Jeter is THIRD on the Yankees ALL-TIME hit list. Now think about that. Think of everyone who’s put on the pinstripes and think how Derek is only behind Ruth and Gehrig. That’s amazing. But according to most people this is a feat that just any ol’ joe can do. But then again jealously rears it’s ugly face again. Why? Because he plays in New York, plays for the most storied franchise in professional sports, has fame, fortune, looks, women and the list can go on and on. I’m jealous of Derek too but I don’t think he’s overrated. Maybe I’m still living off the Yankee dynasty of the late 90′s, but he’s still here and still performing. Maybe it’s the fact he gets to live out his boyhood dream of playing shortstop for the Yankees. Maybe it’s because he’s dated women such as Jessica Biel, Jessica Alba, Mariah Carey, Vanessa Minillio. Maybe it’s because he has his own cologne.
Whatever the case may be, everyone should get off the Hater-ade. It just makes you sound ignorant and like you have no idea what you’re talking about. If he’s overrated then please tell me who’s better and who has a resume in today’s game better than Jeter?
I’ve stated this many times in the past…Derek Jeter has the best life in the world. He plays for the New York Yankees (his boyhood dream), makes millions of dollars, has a list of women that would put any man to shame, is still young, he performs at a high level and enjoys what he does. Doesn’t get any better than that. Yep, I said it, he has the best all around life of anyone you could think of. Now try and debate that.
He’s still got a lot of baseball in him and there’s no question he is a sure future Hall of Famer. The day he gets inducted in, we’ll remember him for so many things: hitting the first HR in November, being the first to be named MVP of the All-Star Game and World Series in the same season (2000), making one of the most memorable plays in postseason hisoty (The Flip), the guy that was face of the latest Yankee dynasty but most importantly..he will always be remembered as a Yankee. Now I know that makes people jealous…. but he earned it.
There are currently 16 responses to “Derek Jeter Overrated? NO WAY!”
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best life in the world, eh? i think Derek is lonely and empty inside. And his cologne is overrated.
very debatable about the best life in the world, Tom brady is definitely up there along with George Clooney and others
tom brady is as close to jeter as they get. very similar but one thing differs him….he got someone knocked up. jeter is free of any lil ones. adavantage jeter.
jeter’s cologne is ok. but ive never tried driven black…so until then, i still like the blue one lol
oh man, i was joking…you actually bought the stuff? now that’s fandom.
Are we gonna debate whose life is better or are we gonna talk about how dumb that list is. Zito is the only one deserving of being on that list, although who in the world still thinks he is good anyways?
The list is hysterical. What have we learned? The rest of baseball hates Boston and New York – surprise, surprise! It’s impressive that Zito was even able to crack the list. I wonder how badly you have to stink to make #1 on the list.
zito should be at the top of the list….how bout reyes? i mean just a few yrs ago the word around town was how reyes was better all around than jeter…well reyes hasnt had anything to show the last couple years..hmm
Reyes has tremendous “potential” but has to “mature.” What can you say? Reyes has been able to get away with not playing that well. People understand he has not been that good, but generally stay away from saying he is overrated. He has a lot to prove, and has thus far only proven that he is no Derek Jeter.
Ahemm. OK. I’m ready. Bring it on Met fans.
Maybe I’m one of the few Mets fans who actually likes Jeter because he’s one of the few players who hustles on every play anymore. I wish Reyes had his attitude. On the other hand, compare their stats. For as “bad” as Reyes is playing, he has a higher batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, OPS, more runs scored, home runs and stolen bases than Jeter.
Jeter is not playing particularly well either, in case you have not noticed. But I guess Reyes is better. Is that what you are trying to say here? What are you getting at?
We can take a look at Jeter’s numbers when he was Reyes’ age and then have an educated discussion about who is better. Or we can take a look at both their numbers at the end of last season and have the same discussion. Reyes had one great year 2 years ago. Derek Jeter is a 1st ballot HOFer. We can talk this into the ground, but I thought Reyes silenced this discussion with his performance last year, especially in that second half.
I was praising Jeter. I wish Reyes were more like him. I’m just saying for all the doom and gloom about Reyes he’s not really having that bad a year. Just comparing his stats to Jeter’s to show that. I don’t buy into the Jeter is overrated thing.
another name that im surprised that wasnt mentioned was beltran. i know there was a big discussion about him here on the site a few weeks ago but interesting to note his name was not at the top
well i wrote that piece about beltran and i wouldn’t say among the major leagues he’s at the very top of the list, ui mean he’s more overrated than Mr. November
This is what I expect from Jose Reyes: .295 avg, .356 OBP, .483 slug, 121 runs scored, 201 hits, 46 doubles, 14 triples, 18 homers, 71 RBI, 59 stolen bases. Am I overrating him?
i think those numbers are what you should expect from reyes. but i cant talk right now bc jeter is underperforming himself right now, even tho i back him up with my post.