The Tragedy of Derek Jeter's Defense

[ol' aches and pains]

Jeez, it wasn't a tragedy. Nobody died.

[White Knight]

Jeez, it wasn't a tragedy. Nobody died.

Exactly. As a Yankee fan, I certainly miss him. Prime Jeter on the '21 Yanks would have been great for us.

[Bothrops Atrox]

Exactly. As a Yankee fan, I certainly miss him. Prime Jeter on the '21 Yanks would have been great for us.

WHAAAAAAAAAAAAT? You miss having a really good player on your team? You don't flipping say?

[Dellbeam]

Exactly. As a Yankee fan, I certainly miss him. Prime Jeter on the '21 Yanks would have been great for us.

Even towards this year's Yankee team, having prime Jeter in the lineup would've made the Yankees as absolute World Series contenders.

[Floyd Gondolli]

I love this guy to pieces, and he's a Hero of mine, but, his defense was indeed tragic.

According to baseball author and biostatistician Dr. Michael Schell, Jeter is legitimately the worst fielder in baseball history, among all those who had a long career.

And, it's not even remotely close...

See attached.

[Floyd Gondolli]

Screen Shot 2022-05-09 at 5.03.25 PM.png

A few conclusions:

1. Tris Speaker is a top 5 player all time. Arguably the greatest defensive player ever, and one of the greatest offensive players ever, also. Look at his EBH to SO ratio, for one.

2. Mike Schmidt is the greatest 3rd baseman of all time.

3. Bill Dahlen should have be in the HOF years ago. He's a top 50 player all time.


Screen Shot 2022-05-09 at 5.03.56 PM.png Jeter's -328 composite ranking among 5 different metrics, with Chipper Jones at -147.

That is really, unfathomably bad.

[layson27]

Screen Shot 2022-05-09 at 5.03.25 PM.png

A few conclusions:

1. Tris Speaker is a top 5 player all time. Arguably the greatest defensive player ever, and one of the greatest offensive players ever, also. Look at his EBH to SO ratio, for one.

2. Mike Schmidt is the greatest 3rd baseman of all time.

3. Bill Dahlen should have be in the HOF years ago. He's a top 50 player all time.


Screen Shot 2022-05-09 at 5.03.56 PM.png Jeter's -328 composite ranking among 5 different metrics, with Chipper Jones at -147.

That is really, unfathomably bad.

Love this chart. The only caveat I would have with these numbers is that 8 out of the top 19 greatest defenders played all, or a significant part of their career in the deadball era. I have a hard time believing that. Maybe there should be some kind of era adjustment?

[Orioles5]

Jeez, it wasn't a tragedy. Nobody died.

I remember watching a show on ESPN where someone said that no one ever sacrificed their life for their country like Ted Williams. I thought for sure Williams survived the war but I guess I was wrong.

[PVNICK]

Love this chart. The only caveat I would have with these numbers is that 8 out of the top 19 greatest defenders played all, or a significant part of their career in the deadball era. I have a hard time believing that. Maybe there should be some kind of era adjustment?

Less strikeouts = more opportunities?