Why the belief that Jeter is more "clutch" than ARod?

Question

I've read this kind of statement a million times on this board. I'm not even sure if "clutch" exists, but if it does, then why do people believe Jeter is better?

This article seems to dispel this myth, but it persists:

http://sportszilla.blogspot.com/2006/06/derek-and-alexs-mythical-journey.html

Do people just want to believe Jeter is more clutch because they don't like Alex, or are they just too dumb to look at the numbers? Alex has, by far, the better career numbers in "clutch" situations, so why doesn't he get the credit given to Jeter, who actually doesn't perform all that well most of the time in the clutch?

Pete - I watch more games of the Yankees than any team except Toronto. And the numbers aren't wrong - you are. If you haven't learned your own biases by now, then you're just plain blind. I like certain players, too, but the stats don't lie. I think you just tend to remember Jeter's great moments, and forget about his failures.

Baseball Fan - You're the ignorant one. I'm not just making stuff up - take off the blinders and look at the numbers. You might be a fan of the game, but you obviously have no understanding of how the game works and/or how to interpret statistics.

Kiki - Good point. I think Jeter has stood out more this year, especially with some poor play from Alex.

Ozgard - Well said. That flip by Jeter to home plate a few years ago is among the best plays I've ever seen.

Answer 1

Few reasons:

1. Hardly do you ever hear about Derek Jeter going 0-4 or 0-5 with 3 strikeouts. It never happens. This year, it has happened at least 5 times with A-Rod.

2. Jeter has the plays. He had the aforementioned home-plate flip, and then he had the one where he dove into the crowd. A-Rod has never really had a defining play that sticks in the minds of everyone when they hear his name.

3. I also really don't know what clutch is defined as, as you said earlier. Even though Jeter doesn't hit homers like A-Rod or Giambi, he gets hits. He has the 2nd highest avg. and you can rely on him to get a hit in the 8th or 9th inning. Of course, they usually will never get a run on the board, but he gets on base.

4. Jeter is not being paid $25 million. A-Rod is. A-Rod is also the one who has been slumping pretty much this entire season. This has been one of his worst seasons in his career, setting highs in errors and strikeouts already. Jeter will never be shown in the highlights on ESPN as the one who had another error or 3 more strikeouts.

5. Jeter has shown that he's more clutch. He's been in the World Series and has done well. Has A-rod? No. Plus, in the game against Boston when they had 2 outs and a guy on 3rd, who tied up the game - Jeter. A-Rod sucked in that game, and Jeter also did poorly, but that one hit took everything else in that game and threw it away because he tied up the game.

I will take Jeter over A-Rod any day though, as most people would too (I think)

also, not to want to draw any heat from you, but your article that you list is one of the worst I have ever read in my life. If I ever met that guy, I'd want to slap him for being so thick-headed. The comments at the bottom of the page would make for a better article, considering the readers all come up with better stats. So yeah, that writer is the true moron.

Answer 2

Two points:

1. Perception vs. reality. Jeter has four rings, six World Series appearances, and his team has reached the playoffs each of the 11 years he's been in majors. A-Rod has zero rings, zero World Series appearances, and five playoff appearances. So while their numbers may be similar, people tend to remember Jeter's game winner in Game 4 of the 2001 Series, or the play he made on Jeremy Giambi. The only lasting image folks have of A-Rod in the playoffs is when he knocked the ball out of Bronson Arroyo's glove and was called out for it. The plural of anecdote isn't fact, but that doesn't stop most people from believing what they perceive to be true.

2. There is really no way to quantify a hitter's ability to hit in the clutch. Plenty of sabermetricians have "proven" that clutch hitting doesn't exist, and plenty of others have pointed to the "Close and Late" stat as an indication of clutch hitting. But how can "Close and Late" be considered "clutch" when it gives equal weight to an 7th inning April A-Rod at-bat with a 4-3 lead and the bases empty in Kansas City and a 9th inning September A-Rod at-bat with the bases loaded, down 1-0 in Boston? Is there anyone who would consider those to be even remotely similar situations? How can clutch hitting ever be measured by a statistic?

People are forced to go with what they see.

Answer 3

The credit is given to Jeter because he doesnt crumble in the playoffs. Given he has had more opportunities but when A-rod has had a chance he hasnt done very well. If it wasnt for Jeter getting a clutch hit against the red sox on the sunday night game the yankees wouldnt have swept that 5 game series

Answer 4

Too many Yankee fans expect A-Rod to hit 60 home runs, drive in 175 runs, 200 hits, bat .350, go errorless. After all why pay a couple hundred million and not get the chance to heckle him. Jeter on the other hand has been the media darling in New York since his rookie year so Yankee fans look on him as one of their own. They are both great players but put Jeter at 3rd base and watch him struggle. Finish out your contract A-Rod, take the money and run.

Answer 5

I don't disagree with you that Alex is the better talent of the two but there's something in a player that is intangible and Jeter has more of it than any other player in the Majors. That's the "Clutch" that you're referring to. Its running across the diamond for a relay that should have been picked up at first and backhanding the ball to the catcher to catch Jeremy Giambi at that plate. That's Clutch. I don't dislike Alex, I just wish he would stop trying so hard.

Answer 6

Well, don't forget that jeter has many rings. A-Rod has none. So, if you're part of a team that's in the world series, you're gong to have an opportunity to play in the MOST clutch situation.

And if you come through in that situation, everyone remembers it, and you get known as being a clutch player.

You're wrong. The nubers are twisted. Watch a game.

Answer 7

Oh Nomar through a ways. particular, Jeter were given extra publicity and popularity, yet nomar became arguably the great offensive (as well a-rod) shortstop contained in the MLB on the time. the first to hit 35 living house runs in a season, and he did it more effective than once. also, he had extra constructive determination then Jeter. anybody thinks Jeter is a few protection-god because of his famed performs like the diving into-the-stands seize (which he made formerly he were given to the stands!) and his relay to Jorge Posada. truth is, he's a sensible protecting participant, yet not an astonishing one. Nomar has had articles written truly about his protection, which wasn't even his good element. Base on all of this, i'd genuinely say Garciaparra became the further constructive shortstop.

Answer 8

New York fans love Jeter
A-rod is still the new guy on the block to them.
A-rod and Jeter are HOFers and the yankee fans to need to lay off A-rod's back a bit, I mean look what he did last year...
This clutch talk really is magnified because of Jeter's strong play and A-rod's poor play.

Answer 9

It's hard for ARod to live up to the money he makes and even though Jeter is a great player, Arod is the better player, but Jeter seems to come up with his big plays in the big games.

Answer 10

jeter does get some good hits 2 win games,in the play-offs.