OAKLAND, Calif. — It happens as routinely as June following May: Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter are judged harshly by their peers in a Sports Illustrated poll.
Now the fans are jumping on board.
According to SI, 185 major league players were asked anonymously “Who is the most overrated player in baseball?”
For all the time put into the poll, the results are predictable. Of the top five, the Yankees have three.
Rodriguez led the poll with 18 percent. Joba Chamberlain, got 12 percent and Jeter bagged seven percent. Nationals outfielder Jason Werth, who signed a staggering seven-year, $126 million contract in the winter, and Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon were named on four percent of the ballots.
Rodriguez and Chamberlain had fun with the results. Jeter wanted nothing to do with it.
“I have no comment on anonymous quotes,” Jeter said. “I never understood the anonymous quote. It’s the same thing they do every year. I am more focused on positive things.”
Before Rodriguez vowed to avoid controversial statements he might have railed against being judged as the most overrated player in the game. He laughed about it yesterday before the Yankees’ 10-3 triumph over the A’s.
“I have been on that list many, many times, it will be the same next summer,” said Rodriguez, who didn’t remember if he participated in the survey. “If this is the only thing we’re talking about, we’re doing good. My focus is on the team.”
“I’m in good company right there,” Chamberlain said. “I’ve still got a job so I’m doing something right. I don’t care.”
For years Rodriguez and Jeter have been high on the SI poll, and no doubt money plays a part.
Nevertheless, neither Rodriguez nor Jeter has played consistently in the first two months this season when they are being paid $32 million and $15 million, respectively.
Jeter, 17 hits away from 3,000 after going 2-for-4 last night, batted a career-low .270 last year. He’s at .264 so far this season. Rodriguez also hit .270 last year and is now at .287 after going 3-for-4 last night. More importantly, he has nine homers and has gone 39 at-bats without reaching the seats.
Chamberlain seems to be an odd choice because after an off-year last season, he has regained the eighth-inning spot with Rafael Soriano on the disabled list and has pitched effectively. Chamberlain hasn’t allowed a run in six appearances (seven innings). Opposing hitters are batting .209 against him, and he has 22 strikeouts and six walks in 26 innings.
Jeter did worse in SI’s Facebook poll, where 45 percent said he was the most overrated player. Boston DH David Ortiz was second with 17 percent and Rodriguez finished third at 15 percent.
In the poll taken two weeks ago, the fans voted Jeter as the second-nicest player in the game.
*
Following Monday’s 5-0 win over the A’s, Russell Martin said his bruised left toe would be well enough for him to return to the lineup last night to catch Freddy Garcia after sitting out the previous two games. He was right and batted sixth, going 0-for-4.
Francisco Cervelli started the previous two games and went 2-for-6 with an RBI and two stolen bases.
*
Adam Warren, a candidate to replace Ivan Nova if the right-hander struggles Friday night against the Angels, started for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Monday. In six innings the right-hander allowed four runs and nine hits and didn’t figure in the decision, an 8-5 loss to Indianapolis. In 10 starts for SWB, Warren is 3-1 with a 3.81 ERA.
Nova gave up 3-1 lead inside of four innings last Saturday in Seattle. He surrendered four runs, five hits, three and hit a batter in 3 2/3 innings against the worst-hitting team in the AL. He is 4-3 with a 4.67 ERA in 11 games (10) starts.