FanNation - The Republic of Sport

Seems funny to say this 13 years later, but back in 1996, the resurgent Yankees were THE feel-good story of the sports world.  The team had finally clawwed their way back to the top of the heap, and this team was so unlike the "Bronx Zoo" teams of the late 70's/early 80's that it was OK for anyone outside of Boston to look at them and say "Yeah, I kinda like this Yankees team."  The roster was full of guys you weren't ashamed to root for, and were managed by one of the classiest men in the game.  This was also the year that Derek Jeter won rookie of the year, and slowly started to take over as the face of the franchise.

Being a Yankees fan -- not to mention a huge fan of Jeter -- it is impossible for me to be objective here.  But, it seems like Derek Jeter bashing has become almost as fashionable as Yankee bashing.  To a degree, I understand why -- he is the most popular player on the one of the most over-covered teams in all of sports.  He has national endorsements, and always figures prominently into any advertisements for ESPN's and Fox's coverage of the game.

But hating an overexposed player and trying to tear the guy down aren't the same thing, and as the years have passed, it seems like people everywhere take extreme joy in examining every last ounce of information as to why he is THE MOST OVERRATED PRO ATHLETE OF OUR TIME.  He's a liability on defense, his offense is declining, he should switch positions, A-Rod should have taken over at shortstop....  Jeter bashing is the thing to do.

Stats and number crunching is all the rage now, so that has something to do with it.  But sometimes, the eye test tells you as much as any regression model.  You look at Derek Jeter, and he just looks like a good ballplayer.  He's pushing into his mid-thirties now -- and EVERYONE loses a step as they get older.  Every great baseball player to ever play the game has declined as he's aged.  Even Yankees fans won't argue that Jeter never measured up on paper to the other two guys that made up the big 3 of shortstops, but we are always very quick to point out that when the game is on the line, Jeter's ALWAYS been the best of the bunch.  THAT is why we love the guy.

There are some players you hate, and some players you hate because of the uniform they wear.  I genuinely do not like Josh Beckett or Pedro.  I don't want them to ever put on the Yankee uniform to play.  I hate David Ortiz, but would welcome him to my team in a heartbeat.  If you're really being honest, I think that is the category where most of you would slot Derek Jeter.