jeter just won his third consecutive gg award

[jric5]

why people keep saying that he´s an average fielder?

[Evangelion]

GG doesn't mean you're the great fielder. It's mean you're the best fielder of that series. If everyone else wasn't that great, then it's not difficult to win the award. Let's not forget he didn't deserve the award last season, that award should have went to Orlando Cabrera.

Popularity also plays a huge role of him winning the award since his name known compare to other SS who might have a better defensive season, but not be as known.

[Hammerin Hank]

why people keep saying that he´s an average fielder?

He's actually about one of the top 5 worst in the past few seasons among starting shortstops.

[ESPNFan]

These yearly awards are like baseball's Oscar's meets a high school popularity contest, simply a subjective award that aren't necessarily based on merit.

For every Jeter winning a gold glove you have a Titanic winning best movie. I don't get why people get all that worked up about it.

[ChrisLDuncan]

Well I mean I watch him he's good, he makes flashy plays...defensive stats don't know how to show off a little flair. THere are no style points with defensive stats, I mean watch Web Gems...you'll see Jeter do some amazing things.

[ESPNFan]

Well I mean I watch him he's good, he makes flashy plays...defensive stats don't know how to show off a little flair. THere are no style points with defensive stats, I mean watch Web Gems...you'll see Jeter do some amazing things.

Thats great but how many of those balls he has to make amazing plays on are less amazing and maybe even routine to a better shortstop? How many balls that he cna't get to are amazing players for better shortstops?

[hellborn]

why people keep saying that he´s an average fielder?
Players who hit well and get press tend to win Gold Gloves, no matter what their defensive skills. Been like that forever.

[hellborn]

Well I mean I watch him he's good, he makes flashy plays...defensive stats don't know how to show off a little flair. THere are no style points with defensive stats, I mean watch Web Gems...you'll see Jeter do some amazing things.
I think that Jeter is graceful and gets the most out of his skills through hustle and determination, but the man clearly does not get to as many balls as most shortstops. Range factor illustrates this.

[ChrisLDuncan]

I think that Jeter is graceful and gets the most out of his skills through hustle and determination, but the man clearly does not get to as many balls as most shortstops. Range factor illustrates this.

Probably the fairest Anti-Jeter opinion I've ever heard. I think he makes plays other SS can't, but than again he doesn't get to balls other SS do. He had good range, I watch him...he's pretty good. I'm not a big fan of stats on the whole, I much prefer watching a player (I suggest to you that you all get DirecTV and Extra Innings it's worth it and if you live in an area where Sinclair Broadcasting owns local TV the only way to get the local channels is through DirecTV...plus comparing Satelite to Cable is like comparing Ty Cobb to Coco Crisp), so that's my opinion...however I've came to agree to disagree.

[hellborn]

Probably the fairest Anti-Jeter opinion I've ever heard. I think he makes plays other SS can't, but than again he doesn't get to balls other SS do. He had good range, I watch him...he's pretty good. I'm not a big fan of stats on the whole, I much prefer watching a player (I suggest to you that you all get DirecTV and Extra Innings it's worth it and if you live in an area where Sinclair Broadcasting owns local TV the only way to get the local channels is through DirecTV...plus comparing Satelite to Cable is like comparing Ty Cobb to Coco Crisp), so that's my opinion...however I've came to agree to disagree.
I respect your opinion, and I'm sure you see Jeter an awful lot more than I do. But, I will say that judging a fielder just by how he looks can be dangerous...hitters are judged by what they accomplish with the bat, not by how they look doing it.
That said, I will admit that I should see a lot more of Jeter actually playing to be able to fairly judge him. There are a lot of things that are not controlled by the fielder that can affect his range factor, like how many Ks his staff throws, how many lefty starters his staff has, the quality of the rest of the team, etc. I will take your comments as I reminder that my view at a particular time is not necessarily the whole or correct picture.
Of course, I will still feel free to spout off at random on BBF about things I am ignorant about! Isn't that the purpose of the web? :dance

[Brooklyn]

The problem of "watching a player" is that you can never see the first step on TV. Getting to balls is all about the jump a player gets, and all you see on TV is the fielder already in motion. If a player gets a bad jump and makes a spectacular diving play, he'll look better than the player who gets a good jump and makes the same play routinely.

You can tell this more if you are at the game, but even then, you are unlikely to be able to watch every fielder, and certainly won't see enough of out of town players to judge fairly.

Fielding metrics are the only objective factor. Of course they are far from perfect. You can't look at them as the end all, but they can give you ideas of how good a player is. When a player like Jeter falls into the very bottom of fielding metrics year after year, I can't buy that they stats are so far off that "visual evidence to the contrary" isn't biased.

[Rookie1914]

I am happy for him, but he is no MVP and should not have won the Hank Aaron Award.

[Joe Dodger]

The voters pick the GG based on name recognition, not stats.

[Captain Cold Nose]

The voters pick the GG based on name recognition, not stats.
The voters are the team managers. Something has to be going on there for them to be as impressed the last three seasons.

[KCGHOST]

Jeter has very limited range on ground balls, but does many things very well. He is reliable on ground balls he does reach (faint praise that), he is an exceptional relay man, extremely good going after balls in the air, and he has a good arm. And he is just about the savviest player around.

Jeter may well be the weakest fielding SS to ever win 3 GG's, but you can't take them away from him.

[Captain Cold Nose]

Jeter may well be the weakest fielding SS to ever win 3 GG's, but you can't take them away from him.
Ruben Rivera might try.

[hellborn]

Ruben Rivera might try.
ROFLMAO...good one!!!

[ChrisLDuncan]

The problem of "watching a player" is that you can never see the first step on TV. Getting to balls is all about the jump a player gets, and all you see on TV is the fielder already in motion. If a player gets a bad jump and makes a spectacular diving play, he'll look better than the player who gets a good jump and makes the same play routinely.

You can tell this more if you are at the game, but even then, you are unlikely to be able to watch every fielder, and certainly won't see enough of out of town players to judge fairly.

Fielding metrics are the only objective factor. Of course they are far from perfect. You can't look at them as the end all, but they can give you ideas of how good a player is. When a player like Jeter falls into the very bottom of fielding metrics year after year, I can't buy that they stats are so far off that "visual evidence to the contrary" isn't biased.

Range is ability to get too the ball if a guy dives he's still getting there. As long as he makes the plays.

[FatAngel]

I think Jeter is kind of "asymmetric". He has great range to his right, resulting in many flashy plays, combined with terrible range to his left. He routinely let´s grounders go through the hole that many other SSs would have fielded.

[Brooklyn]

Range is ability to get too the ball if a guy dives he's still getting there. As long as he makes the plays.

Of course. But if he is diving to balls that others are getting routinely, then how many balls are getting by him that others are diving and stopping?

[Rapmaster]

I think Jeter is kind of "asymmetric". He has great range to his right, resulting in many flashy plays, combined with terrible range to his left. He routinely let´s grounders go through the hole that many other SSs would have fielded.

He's also extremely adept at going back on the ball on bloops to short left. That's one thing that he's amazed me with for the past few years.

[plask_stirlac]

why people keep saying that he´s an average fielder?

Because his fielding numbers consistently hover around or below what the average SS does, with traditional measures being kinder.

I don't think sabermetric stats rate him above average. Also, some very diligent statisticians watched the tape of all defensive plays made in the past couple of years for distance they went to field, etc. and Jeter was second-worst as a shortstop.

P.S. that's what I thought range factor was a long tiem ago, scorers measuring how many feet the players moved from their ready position, sort of like football or basketball.

[ChrisLDuncan]

Of course. But if he is diving to balls that others are getting routinely, then how many balls are getting by him that others are diving and stopping?

I don't see many AL SS that are as athletic as Jeter to which they can get to the groundballs by diving...diving is a risk. Risk of injury and you don't always get it, and if you do get it sometimes you're not talented enough/don't have enough arm to gun a guy at first. Jeter routinely does this and makes the plays. Also that signature play he gets guys out that nobody does with that. I've seen Tejada do that but his foot was about a foot away from second and he just barely gunned the guy. However I see Jeter do that from shallow left frequently.

[PhilWings24]

why people keep saying that he´s an average fielder?

the question should be:

"why do sportswriters keep saying he's a great fielder?"

[PhilWings24]

Also that signature play he gets guys out that nobody does with that.

That signature play does get a lot of guys that it wouldn't usually, but i love how the second jeter showed up in new york, people forgot that was bad fundamental baseball.

3 times against the red sox alone since 2003 i've seen him go for that move by taking 1 or 2 steps away from first while slowly spinning, then corkscrewing himself up into midair, and throw the ball away. in each of those 3 particular situations, he's had time to plant his foor and throw the ball, but instead he goes for the pretty play. not saying he goes for it BECAUSE its pretty, but its the truth. you do that in high school, you get benched and your coach tells you to plant your foot.

his ability to make that signature play when he needs to is clearly anoverall plus, for sure, but its clear that he needs to use it way, way more often than he should.

He's also extremely adept at going back on the ball on bloops to short left. That's one thing that he's amazed me with for the past few years.

that's clearly his best play. his "signature play" is prettier, but for all the reasons i mentioned above, he's amazing at doing it, but absolutely terrible at avoiding situations where it becomes necesary. i can't think of 10 times i've seen him plant his foot solidly after catching a ball when running into the hole.

his ability to catch that bloop, though, is almost nothing but goodness. again, there are definitely instances where he needs to use it where other shortstops would've been camped under the ball, but thats nitpicking. he's amazing at chasing down those bloops.

[Astro]

I don't see many AL SS that are as athletic as Jeter to which they can get to the groundballs by diving...diving is a risk. Risk of injury and you don't always get it, and if you do get it sometimes you're not talented enough/don't have enough arm to gun a guy at first. Jeter routinely does this and makes the plays. Also that signature play he gets guys out that nobody does with that. I've seen Tejada do that but his foot was about a foot away from second and he just barely gunned the guy. However I see Jeter do that from shallow left frequently.
Well, whats better... a dive to get the ball and barely beat the runner.. or a shortstop who gets to the ball without diving and can throw the runner out easily...

The first seems more flashy so it gets more recognition, but the 2nd is better due to the fact that their range was so great they didnt need to drive to get it

This is why Jeter wins gold gloves, his range isnt great but he makes flashy plays, as opposed to shortstops with great range who dont need to dive to get to balls

[hellborn]

He's also extremely adept at going back on the ball on bloops to short left. That's one thing that he's amazed me with for the past few years.
I think that anybody who has seen Jeter in action much at all would agree that he is very good at this kind of play. In the '04 ALCS, he caught a Papi popup with his back to the plate and looked quite stylish.
Derek is the Anti-Rogers Hornsby when it comes to popups.

[Seattle1]

Look for Yuniesky Betancourt of the Seattle Mariners to start winning the AL short stop Gold Glove on an annual basis from now on. You heard it here first, folks.

[Richmond Hill Phoenix]

Comparing Jeter to the following four people, here's how he fared:

15593

As you can see, he did not lead any statistical categories. I know that GG is more of a popularity contest, and based on these stats, it should either be made right (not made into a popularity contest anymore), or scrapped.

I know stats aren't everything, but they have to count for something.

[Evangelion]

Look for Yuniesky Betancourt of the Seattle Mariners to start winning the AL short stop Gold Glove on an annual basis from now on. You heard it here first, folks.
That could happen. I expect a much season from him next season on the field.

Those statistic you posted don't tell much at all expect a couple SS might be slightly better or worse than Jeter in a statistical department. Lol, Young and Tejada are awful SS, but people dislike for Jeter would rather see those two win the GG at SS. Betancourt made too many mistakes this season, he'll likely win it near future, but people can compare about popularity contest again when a vastly much better SS lost to Jeter, could happen next season. O.C. and the entire Angels infield were awful this season. I was all for O.C. for GG last season, but this season, he wasn't much better than average.

[Seattle1]

That could happen. I expect a much season from him next season on the field.

He really loves to play the game, it's a vibe he gives off. He's like a kid out there, and he wants to do so well.

[Goooooo]

Alex Gonzales is better than Jeter, but Michael Young of the Rangers was the SS who was truly robbed in for this award.
Check out this link @ sports illustrated if you want to see what I mean .http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/mlb/stats/2006/fielding/ml_6_byFIELDING_PCT.html All his stats are better than Jeter's, and almost all are better than Gonzales' except FP (.004 pts difference) and errors (he had 14). Young also played 44 games more than Gonzales and 5 more than Jeter.
Truly MLB doesn't pick these awards based on stats.

(FYI Jeter stats are on the second page of the link players 51-100)

[Richmond Hill Phoenix]

Yup. I know that this is more of a popularity contest among the top players in the league, but Young was the best of the bunch this season (as far as I can tell).

[Astro]

Look for Yuniesky Betancourt of the Seattle Mariners to start winning the AL short stop Gold Glove on an annual basis from now on. You heard it here first, folks.
Actually I heard it when he came over from Cuba and signed... but yes he is good at defense, but you also must be a good hitter to win the gold glove... look at Jack Wilson in the NL