How’s this for junk science – even with three Gold Gloves, Yankees captain Derek Jeter has been labeled the worst fielding shortstop in baseball.
But the numbers prove it, researchers at the University of Pennsylvania said yesterday at a meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, in (of course) Boston.
Using a complex statistical method, researchers concluded that Alex Rodriguez was one of the best shortstops in the game when he played for the Texas Rangers.
When Rodriguez became a Yankee in 2004, he moved to third base while Jeter stayed at short.
But that may have been a mistake, said Penn researcher Shane Jensen.
Researchers looked at every ball put in play from 2002 through 2005 and recorded where the shots went.
Jensen said a player’s success depended on his range as well as how ef fectively he made decisions and posi tioned himself on the field.
Players were then ranked in each position from best to worst, with Mr. New York Baseball – Jeter – coming in dead last among major league shortstops during the research period.
A-Rod, who won two Gold Gloves at short, was ranked No. 2.
“The Yankees have one of the best defensive short stops playing out of position in deference to one of the worst defensive shortstops,” said Jensen.
But New Yorkers scoffed at the notion.
“I don’t know what they’re smoking down at Penn,” said Yankees fan Mike Birch, 32. “That’s preposterous. I completely disagree. Jeter’s a clutch player.”
“It’s ridiculous,” said fan Jay Ricker, 22. “Jeter is all-around awesome. He’s better than A-Rod any day. Character has a lot to do with it. He’s out there for his teammates, not just himself. He does it for the good of the team. That’s the kind of guy you want on the field.”
Ricker added that “A-Rod’s only out for the money. For him it’s not about baseball, it’s just about banking.”
Fans said Jeter’s greatness goes beyond the numbers he produces on the field.
“He has intangible qualities that can’t be measured with statistics,” said East Village bar owner Kevin Hooshangi, 28.
“He’s he ultimate teammate. It doesn’t matter what his percentages are when he’s making big plays in big games. He’s the one with four World Series rings.”
“I would disagree [with the study] of course, Jeter does a good job,” said Pam Lips, 28. “Rodriguez is OK but I would take Jeter over A-Rod.”
However, Frank Angelo, 50, gave A-Rod his due. “He’s the best shortstop in the American League playing third base,” Angelo said.
But Jeter as one of the worst?
“That’s not true,” Angelo said. “He’s a good fielding shortstop.” He even said he would keep Jeter at short. “Jeter’s the captain, he was there before A-Rod,” said Angelo.
To crunch the numbers, Jensen said balls put into play were divided into three categories:
The ability to field fly balls accounted for 33 percent, while line drives made up 25 percent, and ground balls made up 42 percent of the calculations.
Based on the studies, Clint Barmes of the Colorado Rockies was the best fielding shortstop in the game in that time period.
Jason Bartlett – recently traded from Minnesota to Tampa Bay, was third after A-Rod.
But as Yankee fan Brittnay Thompson, 32, said, it’s about who’s good in May, and who’s good in October.
“In big situations A-Rod drops the ball, no pun intended,” said Thompson.”