Derek Jeter is a good offensive player trumped up by a fawning media and fan base into a transcendent superstar who gets more credit than he earns. Derek Jeter is a born winner whose value to a ball club can't be expressed by any statistic other than championships. So go two sides of an argument that seem to have been raging ever since his rookie season.The debate has even worked its way into the pages of Sports Illustrated. As part of this week's issue they polled 495 MLB players and asked who the most overrated player in baseball was. The winner, with 10% of the vote, is Jeter. This comes a week after they polled the same number of players and asked what player they'd pick to build a team around. Jeter came in second in that poll, garnering 12% of the total.
He's overrated but we'd like to build our team around him? Sounds like there are 495 applicants for the general manager job in Seattle.
That's pretty much the Jeter debate in a nutshell. He's never been as good or as bad as either side would have you believe. And if he didn't play in New York no one would care half as much. That's certainly part of it, A-Rod finished in the top three of each poll as well. No player of this generation has gotten Jeter's face time which leads to visceral reactions. Over time it's almost impossible to see the forest for the trees.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
6-19-2008 @ 7:55PM
A BaseBall Fan said...
10 percent-49 players who feel he is overrated. Not impressed. Why does SI do surverys like this...so they can go back to the players with this negative shyte and ask them to respond to it and do another article on their responses?
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6-19-2008 @ 10:05PM
dan said...
how can a player who will most likely reach 3,500 hits and possibly even 4,000 can be overrated?
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6-20-2008 @ 4:57AM
hootie_69 said...
Anyone can be overrated regardless of how good they are or aren't there Dan-o, its a relative judgment. I could be the most perfect person on the face of the earth but if people start calling me a god, well then I'm overrated.
Personally I like surveys like this because you get to compare public perceptions to those of the players who have intimate knowledge of sport and see things that we don't.
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6-20-2008 @ 7:29AM
T Badd said...
Another example in a long line of so-called reporters, not reporting on the news, but feebly trying to make it.
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6-20-2008 @ 10:55AM
john said...
WHY IS IT THAT THIS SEASON I PICK UP A MAGAZINE, READ THE SPORTS BLOGS ON THE COMPUTER AND EVERY DAM SPORTS WRITER HAS TO HAVE A PIECE OF DEREK JETERS ASS?..Can anyone tell me what he has done to deserve this blsht of rating him...overrating him...comparing him to whoever...he can't throw..he can't field...he can't even hit anymore!!! For Gods sake...he might've lost a step because he isn't 22 anymore....but why is there constant articles trying to tell evrybody in the fkn world that Jeter might not be a good player or might not be a bad player...I can think of 500 players that you could write about that are 50% below Jeters class and deserve to be disected into little pieces because of attitude or off field issues. You guys even had a blog earlier about his defense and how it has been overrated in the past..Funny, when he was in the league the first 5 years, He Nomar and Vizquel were the only ones being compared to him and most of you writers had him the best.......now?? Everybody can't wait to shred his ass in half...
OHHH I get it now...He's a Yankee...I should've known.
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6-20-2008 @ 11:39AM
Carl said...
Well I did a survery 5000 people and found out that 9 out of 10 thought that S.I . wasn't worth buying if it wasn't for the swimsuit issue. od course 10 years ago it might of been a better magazine but today it's just run of the mill. with stupid and silly survay's. So I say get rid of the magazine and keep the swimsuite issue.
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6-20-2008 @ 3:45PM
tom said...
Intimate knowledge of the sport, perhaps, but not intimate knowledge of the Yankees or Jeter's performance. Most of these players haven't seen him play a significant amount of time, or are jealous. This is like a poll of 500 Seattle contruction workers rating the best construction worker in New York.
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6-20-2008 @ 5:35PM
tonya said...
Anyone who thinks Derek Jeter is overrated has not watched him play for 13 years. Classy clutch player...
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6-20-2008 @ 5:51PM
rich said...
Overated? Because the guy is on the Yankees, rich, good looking, successful, and is a class act. This is why so many people are jealous of him. If he looked like Bartolo Colon, no one would say anything. It's because he gets any woman he wants, like Jessica Beil, that guys are jealous.
On the field, he goes about his buisness like Mattingly did, very professional and plays with heart.He's the man! There should be 600 Derek Jeter's in the league, and maybe the league wouldn't have a black eye as it does right now over steroids.
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6-20-2008 @ 6:54PM
Bob said...
I don't ever root for the Yankees, but Derek Jeter is just plain great.
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6-20-2008 @ 7:38PM
Leon said...
Jeter is the man, cant imagine the yankees without him. Another black eye for SI.
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6-20-2008 @ 8:13PM
VelvetBagel said...
Listen... Derek Jeter is overrated and overpaid. The only reason anyone cares about him at all is because he's on the Yankees, in the biggest, craziest market for baseball. If this guy played for the A's, no one would know or care who he is. No matter how you look at it, he's one of the worst fielders in the game. As for his leadership, what kind of leader stays at shortstop, when a much better fielder arrives? No, A-Rod had to go to third so the "captain" could give away runs at shortstop.
Yes, I've seen "The Flip". One amazing play does not make him a great defender. Yes, I know he's won three Gold Gloves. Know who else won a Gold Glove? Rafael Palmeiro, in 1999, when he played a total of 28 games in the field. Shows you what Gold Gloves mean.
Derek Jeter is a very good hitter. But if he didn't play for the Yankees, he'd be a bad-fielding Barry Larkin. Don't try telling that to a Yankees fan, though. They'll just start in on how many "rings" they have... (we know.)
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6-20-2008 @ 8:43PM
W Fujihara said...
First of all, define overrated. Is it based on what someone is doing this year or is it based on his career to date. When you answer that, ask those other 495 players what are they doing or have done in their career to have them judge Jeter. I've watch him play since he was a rookie and he has not change his love and passion for the game and what he'll do for it. Kind of reminds me of Tiger at the US Open.
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6-20-2008 @ 8:48PM
Lorraine Attias said...
How can anyone in his right mind blast such a consistent, respected team player, as well as a role model for all young kids. Here's a guy who plays his heart out every day, is not linked to steroids or scandal. Well, I guess it makes perfect sense to dis a guy like that...
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6-20-2008 @ 8:54PM
Kristen said...
I totally agree with #11 remark. I am a diehard Redsocks Fan, but I do respect Jeter's talent. The better the person the harsher the critizisms. Isn't that sad. I am also impressed with the way Derek conducts himself. He is not a blowhard like some of his arrogant team mates. Hold you head high Derek. Wouldn't it be nice if you were a Redsocks team mate?
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6-20-2008 @ 8:58PM
Brittany said...
I don't know if anyone on this website frequents digg.com but a few months ago they actually had someone statistically prove that Jeter is the worst short stop in baseball. Last years overall best short stop based soley on numbers was Colorado's Troy Tulowiski (not 100% sure that I spelled that correct but I'm sure you all know who I'm talking about). I hate the Yankees, and I'm not saying Derek Jeter is not a great player but I can for sure see him as being overrated. But look at the whole list. It's 80% Red Sox and Yankees, jealousy plays a factor. I mean Youk as overrated? He only set a record for most games at first base without an error. He ain't a bad third baseman either. Lets see some of that versatility on some of the other greats.
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6-20-2008 @ 9:54PM
mickey said...
so much attention on derek jeter-- if he wasn't such an MVP and team player, no one would pay attention. sounds like a lot of envious players and dumb a_s reporters!!
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6-20-2008 @ 10:18PM
Paul said...
Why does AOL bother to run a story on this meatball? They didn't have anything new on a starlet getting sloshed and spreading her legs for the paparazzi?
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6-20-2008 @ 10:25PM
Wally Lear said...
Derek Jeter is absolutely a complete person and player! He is very professional both on and off the field. He always gives 100% everyday and every game.
He is a leader,very well spoken and is respected by all his teamates, coaching staff and Yankee ownership. He is already among baseball greats in many categories. He will surpass many long standing records. If a young player wants to learn how the game is played, he is the man to watch! I commend him, his everyday effort and professionlism deserves to be recognized. To say he is overrated, is absolutely rediculous and an injustice to a future hall of famer!
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6-20-2008 @ 11:25PM
A BaseBall Fan said...
Lol.....Number 19-saw this same comment on another site, what do you do...cut and paste. If you don't like this "meatball" what is the purpose of going to the sites and writing comments...uhmmm... excuse me, cut and paste comments...are you jealous too?
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