I love baseball. Yeah, football is awesome too, but there’s something magical about the lack of a game clock and lazy, hazy days of summer. And as the leaves transform into a spectacular canvass and the New York Mets routinely heading out for golf courses in Florida, I get a bit blue after game 162.
But this year, I found a reason to cheer for the season’s end – Derek Jeter. Don’t get me wrong, it’s great how he’s stayed out of trouble for two decades and routinely delivered in the playoffs. I just don’t think he’s the greatest shortstop ever and I’m so tired of the fanfare surrounding his retirement tour. By the way, there was another pretty good player who also hanging up his cleats this year – Paul Konerko.
If Derek Jeter really is the best shortstop ever – and he’s not – then he should have been an upgrade on most teams. What about the Bronx Bombers cross-town counterparts in Queens? Would Jeter have made a difference with the Mets?
The beloved no. 2 broke into the league in 1995 for 15 games, before his Rookie of the Year season in 1996. He became part of the Core Four with Andy Pettitte, Jorge Posada and Mariano Rivera; they were the remaining holdouts of the 1990s dynasty when the Yankees won the 2009 World Series. During his 20-year career, the shortstop had a career slash of .310/.377/.440 to go along with 14 All-Star games, five Silver Slugger awards, five Gold Gloves, a dozen years of MVP consideration and his ROY honors.
It was unlikely GM Brian Cashman would have traded Jeter during their run in the 1990s, or after their 2009 World Series. And on his end, Jeter only first became a free agent after the 2010 season. By this point, the 36-year-old was clearly not the same as his younger self, but he’s the greatest shortstop ever, right?
Meanwhile, Mets fans had fallen head over heels in love with phenom Jose Reyes. The animated youngster cracked the majors in 2003, dealt with a move to second for Kaz Matsui in 2004 and spent 2005 learning and dealing with injuries before becoming a star in 2006. In 11 seasons, Reyes has a .291/.341/.435 career slash plus an average of 51 stolen bases to go along with four All-Star selections, five MVP selections, a Silver Slugger award and an NL batting title – the only one in team history.
Despite a tumultuous offseason between reports of Jeter in decline and conflict between his agent and the Yankees front office, the shortstop eventually signed a three-year/$51 million contract with an option for a fourth. Jeter spent ages 37-40 playing for about $15 million a season. Back in Queens, Reyes was ready to play the last year of his contract in 2011 at age 28, ultimately the last year as a Met. That season he made $9.4 million. Miami signed him to a six-year/$106 million deal before the 2012 campaign, heavily-backloaded with $10 million annually for two years and $22 million annually for three years plus an option year. By that seventh, extra, year, Reyes would be 35.
At this point the Mets never would have traded Reyes for Jeter. The team from Queens were mired in a depressing state off affairs with no sign of hope until Matt Harvey bust onto the scene, Reyes was a star shortstop who could be signed without risking future draft picks and many believed Jeter was regressing. But since we’re already using our imaginations – by calling Jeter the best shortstop ever – let’s continue this folly and assume the Mets and Yankees swapped shortstops. What could have happened in the past four years?
It’s impossible to create the details of what could have happened with so many variables: field dimensions, DH, lineups, rosters, managers, etc. Would Jeter have fewer home runs in Citi Field without the short porch? He did have slight better numbers going to right field than pulling to left – 77 home runs to 69 home runs – in 129 fewer plate appearances, although Jeter picked up most of his hits up the middle. ESPN’s Home Run Tracker says many of Reyes’ bombs have been to right field as well, but how many triples and stolen bases would those extra home runs cost him? Would the former Met have fared well in the Bronx where offenses spent years focusing on power over small ball? How well would Jeter have hit with David Wright as the only professional batter until the recent influx of youth? How much time would Reyes have lost to hamstring and ankle injuries if he had the Yankees medical staff guiding him instead of the Blue Jays staff?
The only option remaining is to compare the existing numbers for each player. Both Jeter and Reyes played frequently, although Jeter played just 17 games and Reyes just 93 games in 2013. In those four seasons, the younger Reyes outslashed the older Jeter .301/.352/.437 to .288/.340/.375. Oddly enough, Reyes had just 13 more RBI in 70 additional games; Jeter had a touch higher RBI/PA. In the field, defensive statistics were mildly unkind to both players. Reyes averaged a fielding percentage around .970 compared to league average typically a few hundredths higher and his range factor per game – putouts plus assists divided by games played – never quite matched the league average. Jeter’s range factor per game was typically half a point lower than the league average, bottoming out at 3.08 to 3.97 in 2014. The would-be Mets shortstop sported a .972 fielding average, also a bit lower than league average. What’s more telling is that Jeter recorded significantly fewer putouts, assists and double plays turned between 2011-2014: 479 putouts, 887 assists and 127 double plays for Jeter and 656 putouts, 1,391 assists and 306 double plays for Reyes.
We find ourselves at the end, searching for a conclusion. Unfortunately, the only one I have to offer is that this was an exercise in futility. Yes, Reyes offensive numbers were better and he did handle more balls in the field, but he was also nine years younger than Jeter and neither of these teams would have made such a trade. No… I believe this was just a desperate attempt to point out that Jeter’s not the best shortstop ever. If he really was, wouldn’t he have been able to do more with a crummy team at an advanced age?
Okay Mike, take two deep breaths. Don’t call me in the morning.
As you astutely point out this was “an exercise in futility.”
Outside of the sphere of die hard Yankee fandom, and some numb-nutted media people who over-hype everything, most baseball fans would agree that Jeter was not the greatest SS ever. However, he was a mighty fine ballplayer. He was good enough to be a first ballot HoFer.
In a season when the Yankees had a lackluster team with players few people knew, the final season of Jeter was the only real Yankee story.
If you’re going to compare then go year by year. For example compare Jeters first 5 years with Reyes’ first 5 years and so on. You’re comparing Jeter at the end of his career at ages 36-40. So of course his numbers are going to be down (while Jose is still in his prime) especially after the severe injury he sustained so late in his career.But how many shortstops at the age of 38 get over 700 PA’s and have more than 200 hits? Not many. I agree he’s not the greatest. (Top 5) But he played the game with class. He wasn’t a showboat like so many players in today’s game. He never showed up an umpire. He was gracious and always shared a winning moment with his team mates. He’s a first ballot HoFer. Now it’s time the turn the page.
Pete, I may be wrong, but this sounds like a long worded complaint to me. Reminds me of the scene in “Saving Private Ryan” when a soldier is complaining to Tom Hanks about their mission and Hanks informs him that his manner of complaining isn’t proper. Hence, another soldier in a more subtle way shows the soldier how it’s done.
I believe the whole purpose of this writer’s piece is to ask the question:
Why couldn’t we sign our very talented 28 year old shortstop to a $15MM a year contract when those guys across town signed an older shortstop that wasn’t as talented and didn’t produce as much to that?
TexasGus I got it! This is what happens to our brain cells after 4 years of Alderson and the Wilpons double talk being on our minds. A simple rant goes right over my head.
LOL, sorry, lol (Make the editor happy) 🙂
Jeter may not be the best shortstop ever, but he does stand a pretty good chance of being the first unanimously elected player ever. I mean, who’s not going to put a check next to his name?
Patrick, are you sure Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, Johnny Bench, Roberto Clemente, or Frank Robinson weren’t unanimous? I could probably name some other guys too, but no one?
There are Sport Writers who do not believe a player should be elected into the HoF on their first ballot regardless if they deserve it or not. I think Tom Seaver came the closest but this particular sports writer (name escapes me).did not vote for him.