Baseball is a number lover's game but there will always the debate between numbers an intangibles. Derek Jeter is perhaps the poster boy for intangibles. The numbers say he is a below average defender. One the other hand there are those who watch him and say he is above average. Who do you believe?
A common example is the 2001 ALDS play where he sprinted across the diamond to snag an errant throw and flip it to the catcher to nail the runner at home. An intangibles fan would say the numbers don't show that.
So?
How many times has Jeter made that play? Once. What about the ball hit up the middle that eludes Captain Yankee but would have found a home in the glove of a more fleet footed shortstop? The plays that matter most are the routine plays and balls hit into a defender's zone. And that's where Derek falls behind. The numbers show show a Jeter with limited range and a decent arm.
Sure Jeter is exciting to watch. Seeing him snag a ball on the run then jump and spin a throw to first certainly looks impressive. The shortstop that makes that same play look easy is the really impressive one. Unfortunately a shortstop getting to a ball standing up with plenty of time to make a throw isn't as likely to make it to Sportscenter.
And that begs the question. Does it really matter if Jeter is a sub-par defender? Baseball afterall is a form of entertainment and all that flash and dazzle certainly adds to the game's excitement.
In the end Jeter is still an above-average all-around player and has a knack for making it look great.
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