Someone just mentioned Jeter is weak on defense to his right side?

Question

This is not because of his skills its because he is trying to make the plays A-Rod can't make.

He is far from average. I watch him play every day and beats any stats you can show me

Answer 1

They can say what they want but when its on the line there's no other shortstop in the AL that I would want playing on the Yankees. The Jeremy Giambi play still rates as probably the best play I have ever seen in baseball.

Answer 2

Dude, I've been a Yankee fan my entire life. Lets be honest here. Jeter doesn't have great range.

If it were all A-Rod's fault, then Jeter should have won the gold glove in 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2001 when he had Scott Brosius to his right. Brosius had the best range at third in the American League.

Jeter is a sure-handed fielder for the most part, he comes up with big plays when his team needs them. And he goes over his shoulder on flares to left center better than anybody in the game.

But in terms of range to his left and right, he's not terrific. Still a great fielder, but everybody has their weaknesses.

In fact, Cal Ripken is idolized as one of the greatest shortstops of all-time. He had, quite possibly, the worst range -ever- by a shortstop. He made up for it by positioning himself so well, but he couldn't get to a lot of plays.

Answer 3

Exactly. he can't get to what A-Rod or many other shortstops can to the right, which is what makes him weak. His range is terrible. According to BP, his career FRAA is -117, meaning he's cost his team 117 runs more than the average shortstop would since 1995. This year he is at 0, although that may change.

Another interesting statistic is Fielding Rate. By Rate2, which incorporates league difficulty, Jeter has a career average of 92, which means that he costs his team 8 runs more than the average shortstop per 100 games. This season, Jeter is at 100, which is average.

So, at this point Jeter is the league average at shortstop this season, which is better than I thought, but still not great. And this kind of statistic is a much better measurement than errors, or even Range Factor, which has it's problems.

And yes, Jeter is definitely weak to his right side. he can't get to balls hit more than two steps away. He is excellent to his left, mediocre to his right. A lot of people could tell you that.

Answer 4

No offense, but Jeter is just an average defensive player. There are several shortstops that cover more ground and have a stronger arm than he does... He just gets more credit for making plays because the media LOVES the Yankees, and they LOVE Jeter even more... Check his defensive stats (and not just fielding percentage), and you'll see that he's an average defensive player.

Answer 5

Nah, he's always been weak on the right side even before A-Rod, but I dont think that takes away from him at all. He's great going to his left and he's always been a solid shortsop.

He's not nearly as good as Michael Young, Jose Reyes or Alex Gonzalez defensively.

Answer 6

Jeter is one of the best players in the game, and one day he will be mentioned with the likes of Joe D, Lou Gerhig, Mickey Mantle ect His has been one of my favorite players for a long time. He has no weak side. By the way I am a die hard MET fan.

Answer 7

What do you mean just mentioned. Jeter is an average defensive short stop. He makes plays look spectacular that really good shortstops make look routine.

Answer 8

Jeter is not weak on defense to his right side. He is the best shortstop in the MLB!

Answer 9

I guess they don't remember the foul ball that Jeter caught where he dove right into the third base stands, cut up his cheek, and still caught the ball -- AND he was back on the field for the next game.

Answer 10

who ever said that is wrong. I am a Red Sox fan, but you have to admit, Jeter is no doubt, the best shortshop in the game. Defensively he is a mastermind and offensively he is just great.