Everyday until spring training begins the "Respect Jeter's Gangster" blog will review one player from the Yankees roster. We will review a total of 25 players, the 25 we believe will be on the active roster after spring training. Our reviews are all edited by Carl Pavano himself to insure they're up to the stringent "Pavano Tough" standards.
Anyone who followed the Yankees closely last season was probably concerned at one point or another over the future of Derek Jeter. His range at short appears to be decreasing while his slugging percentage took a heavy hit last season as he mustered a mere 11 homeruns, 25 doubles and 3 triples. This means that 39 of his 176 hits were for extra bases. He had hit 39 doubles in each of the two previous seasons so the decrease is understandably worrisome. However, people tend to forget that Jeter had been hit on the hand back on May 20th by then Orioles starter Daniel Cabrera. 93 mph off the hand I hear can be very painful, especially on the top of the hand where he appears to be hit. If you want to see it, here's the article with video. He struggled for the rest of that month, but picked it up in June and even seemed to be unaffected for the next two months as he stroked 16 doubles between June and July while batting .300 and .280 respectively. The true mystery is where the gap stroke went in August and September. No one really noticed that his doubles power was gone because he batted .345 and .342 in August and September, but he hit just 1 double in August, and another one in September. Maybe the use of the injured hand down the stretch created a worse injury, or maybe he slowed his bat down altogether to try and crank out more base hits, whatever the case, he hit just 2 doubles over the last two months, while hitting over .340. It is a curious case.
My Fearless Prediction:
I suspect that the doubles will be back. Expect him to bat over .300 with 40 doubles next season, completely reversing his decline. Everyone will revere his gangster, and stave off talks of his move from short for at least another year.
Little Known Jeter Fact:
After we reported that Jeter found the cause of his season long slump, Jeter went on to bat .350. He had hit .280 up to that point.
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9 comments:
the only fact needed to know about mr jeter.. is GANGSTER
uhhh ohhh.. lol.. lord knows I hope he has a better season this year.not that his numbers were a complete embarrassment. I wonder if Jeter has diagnois the cause of all them damn doubel plays lol.. you guys know that that pissed me off the most, but for as many as he hit into during, I never really noticed people going up in arms about it. just a quick mention by micheal kay during a september game and that was it. i nono.. but yea, jeter isnt done yet.. he's got more baseball in him for surez.
I like your prediction. We need the captain to be the captain!
The curious case of derek jeter is he is getting older and has year in and year out played longer seasons than most of his peers. Still all the GIDPs makes me sick.
He is Derek jeter, he will find a way, the gangster is strong in that one.
Not to mention the loads and loads of intangibles he brings to the table. Which, like Varitek* fans will argue he still brings to the table well into his decline. Come on. You knew I was going to throw something like this out there.
*I am in no way comparing Jeters playing abilites to Varitek. Even I can admit Jeter is the superior player, but they both get way too much credit for the "intangibles" they bring to the table. Why cant people just say they are good ballplayers?
Man, I'm always so negative with my comments. Maybe that should be my New Years resoulution. To stop being so damn negative in the comments section. Done. You heard it here first. Nothing but positive from here on out. Jeters the man!
Fred, good resolution. I haven't made one yet so Varitek sucks! Just playing, though, what's going on with him? Are the Sox going to sign him? It seems pretty late in the off season for him to still be available.
Ruthie, double plays are definitely a problem, but I think that goes along with the lack of a power stroke. Everything was a groundball to short when his power dissapeared.
Quinn and Yankee Magic, gangster is all he needs. That's what A-Rod doesn't understand.
Trying to play every game will certainly wear on you especially if you play shortstop. I think we will be seeing the return of the captain next year. I could be wrong, but I just see him doing better next season. Perhaps his decline will start in 2010.
Congratulations, Miss Minka Kelly, you have accomplished a mission so grim that countless divas, pop singers, models and actresses failed to complete!
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