Derek Jeter

stepay · #1 (**permalink**) 08-24-2009, 03:10 PM

This guy is incredible. At 35 he's still hitting like he always has. I really hope we never hear he's been using PEDs (I don't think he has, but I've been surprised before and am now beyond the surprisability stage).

I read something recently that said that Jeter was playing "like he did in his prime". I wonder what that's supposed to mean. If you look at his career, he's never really had a dropping off point. Was this writer considering his .300 average from last season as the beginning of his demise? Apparently it wasn't. The two years before that he batted .322 and .343, both higher than his career average. Seems to me that Jeter has been in his prime since the day he started until now.

Currently batting .332 on the season and now has 2701 career hits. We've yet to have a unanimous selection to the Hall of Fame, but when he ends up with 3500+ hits with that very good batting average and that great career of his, it's hard to see how someone (and I know someone will) could not vote for him.

Gotham Dark Knight · #2 (**permalink**) 08-24-2009, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stepay

This guy is incredible. At 35 he's still hitting like he always has. I really hope we never hear he's been using PEDs (I don't think he has, but I've been surprised before and am now beyond the surprisability stage).

I read something recently that said that Jeter was playing "like he did in his prime". I wonder what that's supposed to mean. If you look at his career, he's never really had a dropping off point. Was this writer considering his .300 average from last season as the beginning of his demise? Apparently it wasn't. The two years before that he batted .322 and .343, both higher than his career average. Seems to me that Jeter has been in his prime since the day he started until now.

Currently batting .332 on the season and now has 2701 career hits. We've yet to have a unanimous selection to the Hall of Fame, but when he ends up with 3500+ hits with that very good batting average and that great career of his, it's hard to see how someone (and I know someone will) could not vote for him.

He won't be unanimous for the simple reason that some voters won't consider him a first ballot pick...but he will get enough votes to make it on the first ballot...I think he will get about 92% of the votes cast on the first ballot...those that don't make him a first ballot pick may argue he was never really a dominate shortstop...the earlier portion of his career (hitting wise) being obscured a bit by Nomar and A- Rod who both had more pops...

stepay · #3 (**permalink**) 08-24-2009, 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gotham Dark Knight

He won't be unanimous for the simple reason that some voters won't consider him a first ballot pick...but he will get enough votes to make it on the first ballot...I think he will get about 92% of the votes cast on the first ballot...those that don't make him a first ballot pick may argue he was never really a dominate shortstop...the earlier portion of his career (hitting wise) being obscured a bit by Nomar and A- Rod who both had more pops...

I know they will do that. It's a shame too, because this guy deserves first ballot all the way. Nomar sure was great when not injured (but he DID get injured A LOT), and A-Rod has been proven to be a cheater and had to move from shortstop to third because of Jeter. I've mentioned this before here, but I do wonder if Jeter WANTS to go after 4,000 hits. Barring injury, 3,000 is assured. He'll still just be 35 at the start of next season with 2700+ hits.

So, less than 1300 hits away from 4,000.

If he plays until age 41 (when the season starts) and averages 185 hits per season until then, we've got 4,000. He manages to play until 42 then he needs to average 163 hits. Depending on how he ages, this is not beyond the realm of possibility.

4,000 hits should be automatic first ballot entry if you ask me.

dmcwv9 · #4 (**permalink**) 08-25-2009, 10:53 AM

A lot of voters justification for nobody being unanimous is that Babe Ruth wasn't. They believe that if he wasn't, then nobody should. Which, quite frankly, I agree with.

stepay · #5 (**permalink**) 08-27-2009, 09:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dmcwv9

A lot of voters justification for nobody being unanimous is that Babe Ruth wasn't. They believe that if he wasn't, then nobody should. Which, quite frankly, I agree with.

That thinking should have gone out the window when Tony Gwynn and George Brett got a better percentage than Ruth did (both great players but no Babe Ruth).

The list ahead of Ruth by percentage is:

Tom Seaver

1992 430 425 98.84% P

1.

Nolan Ryan

1999 497 491 98.79% P

2.

Cal Ripken, Jr.

2007 545 537 98.53% SS

3.

Ty Cobb

1936 226 222 98.23% CF

4.