Friday, September 22, 2006

Jeter's Value

Anti-Yankee fans (aka any living human beings who don't consider themselves fans of the boys in the Bronx) can't stand that Derek Jeter is getting so much MVP hype. They say that he just doesn't put up the numbers. Give it to Ortiz, he has 52 HR. Give it to Dye, he's hitting .318 with 43 HR. They all have valid points. I can't really argue against guys like Big Papi and Dye...they have staggering numbers.

What I can argue, though, is that Jeter needs a little more credit from these nonbelievers. I turned to the ultimate gauge of baseball numbers -- my fantasy league, of course -- to help put DJ in perspective. Here are a few names who are pertinent to this conversation, along with their fantasy value and season statistics. Compare them to Jeter's numbers (.339 BA, .482 SLG, 14 HR, 95 RBI, 32 SB) --

Lance Berkman (Fantasy Value- 12)
.315 BA, .631 SLG, 43 HR, 126 RBI

Miguel Cabrera (16)
.338, .572, 25 HR, 110 RBI

Matt Holliday (17)
.333, .584, 30 HR, 102 RBI

Vladimir Guerrero (22)
.326, .540, 30 HR, 111 RBI, 15 SB

Travis Hafner (24)
.308, .659, 42 HR, 117 RBI

Justin Morneau (26)
.325, .574, 33 HR, 125 RBI

We all agree these numbers are ridiculous, and that these players deserve to be in the mix for MVP voting based on their numbers. But what do these guys all have in common? They're all ranked lower (i.e. have less value, statistically) than Derek Jeter. Go ahead, compare the stats again. Jeter sits at Number 11. Yes, Big Papi (#6) and Jermaine Dye (10) are ahead of him. Fine, give the MVP to Ortiz. Or, if Chicago makes a miracle run at the playoffs, Dye. But give Jeter some credit where credit is due. Fantasy numbers are objective; you either have the numbers, or you don't. They don't account for rings won (which, by the way, would put Jeter atop all lists), and they certainly can't track "intangibles." The numbers can't and don't lie, and Jeter has done enough statistically to rank ahead of all the names you see above.

You don't need to award him the MVP...just give the man his dues.

3 Comments:

At 6:43 PM , Anonymous SAF said...

Hello Jay, while you make a valid point, you leave out some very important factors that put Jeter at the very top of that candidate list for MVP. This award is supposed to go to the player who is the most indespensible to his team (ie "valuble"). This has been a season during which Sheffield and Matsui have been injured and A-Rod has been hot and cold (especially cold in the clutch), Jeter has been forced to carry this team on his back, which he has done to the tune of the best record in the American Leauge. Lets take a look at the other "candidates." David Ortiz, despite putting up spectacular numbers, is on a tream that will fail to make the playoffs. The argument could end there, but let's take it a step further. When Jason Varitek got injured was precisely when the Red Sox collapsed. They went from having a 1 game lead in the East to 9 games behind. You might argue that Varitek was more "valuble" to his team than Ortiz was, as Varitek seems to have been holding that team up, not Ortiz. Plus, Ortiz failed to do what Jeter did: fill gaps when teamates were injured. But enough about Ortiz. Dye, for my part is the MVP if the White Sox make the playoffs, but they won't, so he's out. Frank Thomas deserves to be in the conversation, but that's about it. The only (and I mean only) player who is legitimately in the conversation about winning the award is Justin Morneau. He has put up outstanding numbers (.325 33hr 125rbi) and has been one of the huge reasons that the Twins have gone from an afterthought (before the All-Star break) to potential division winners. I think that the Twins will win the division and Morneau will win the MVP. I think Jeter deserves it as I think its hard doubt that the Yankees are not a playoff team without him this season, the fact that he's hitting .385 wih risp, plus there is something to be said for the fact that he's the best player of his genreation not to win one (but this isnt a lifetime acheivement award, that comes 5 years after retirement).

 
At 10:49 PM , Anonymous tom foolery said...

But Jeter shouldn't win MVP because he is not the most valuable player on his team. Period. Let's ignore stats. Jeter always has a cocky smirk like he just won the world series, and while he is a good player, I'm sure the yankees could win without him seeing as they have no regrets spending money...they'd be sure to replace him.

 
At 10:11 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

alright tom but if the yankees have no problem spending money then why does their pitching staff suck? y havent they gone out and gotten an ace that they can count on every start. think about that

 

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