Well, now the info is out there, it makes it tougher.
I voted my initial reaction, which is that there wasn't enough info.
I like to look at players in the context of their time, and the players around them. Not having that context makes it much harder.
And missing info can tell a lot about a player.
Did he put those numbers up over 10 years or 20?
How does he compare to other players at the same position during the same time?
And the stuff all the stats guys hate, what sort of a player was he for the intangibles.
Used to be really good traditional stats would almost guarantee getting in like 400 HR.
Kingman didn't make it, for plenty of reasons.
Dwight Evans fell short of 400 and also didn't make it in, although I like to think he'd have squeaked in eventually if not for the insanely strong group that all retired a couple years after he did.
So if it's Jeter we're talking about, Then I'd say yes.
3400+ hits some would consider a longevity stat. Sure, but that also means the player was above average for a long time. And was above average enough and respected enough to keep being signed and played as a primary starter for that entire time. That's not as easy as it might seem. I used to set aside cards of non- star players I figured had a chance, anyone with a few years in, and averaging 150 Hits + a year. Hardly any of them managed it. (the same goes for 400HR, that's an average of 20 a year for 20 years. also not so easy)
Yes, there was some hype. Some deserved, some maybe less deserved. And there's a certain NY effect that's hard to deny. (And Boston too I must admit)
But I think Jeter was one of those players that made everyone on the team better. That's a pretty uncommon thing. Arod for all the flashy numbers I'd put down as the opposite, he held back every team he was on.
He played in a stretch where there were a number of great or potentially great shortstops. Jeter, Arod, Garciaparra, Tejada, probably a couple others. Arod moved to third, Nomar faded badly after a wrist injury, Tejada lasted a while, but just wasn't quite as good and didn't last quite as long. I might not want to admit it, but Jeter was probably the best shortstop overall. Yes, others had better years, but not as many.
As a Boston fan I really wanted to dislike Jeter. But he made it really difficult if not impossible. He always carried himself like a champion. One really telling thing for me was when he was asked about being constantly booed at Fenway. He said it was an honor because the fans were like NY fans, mostly knowledgeable and very into the game. And they only got after the really good players that way so the more trouble they gave him the more he knew he was doing well and wanted to do better. Pretty amazing.
Steve B
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