Daily Archives: August 8, 2003

Aaron Gleeman, the Irving Thalberg of baseball bloggers, weighs in on the Nellie-Benitez deal, while Ben Jacobs has some nice things to say about Rocket Clemens.

David Pinto has a good take on Jeter’s defense over at Baseball Musings (he uses the win shares method to make his case):

“Jeter is the worst regular shortstop in terms of defense over the last five years. And it’s not just that he’s at the bottom; he’s way below the level that keeps shortstops playing. Long time readers of this site know that I’ve pointed out specific plays where I’ve seen the ball come off the bat, expected an out, and Jeter doesn’t get to it. I have advocated moving Jeter to another position. His lack of defense (and Soriano’s, for that matter) cost the Yankees against the Angels last year. Most of the time it doesn’t matter because he makes up for his defense with his bat. But against a team that puts the ball in play a lot, I don’t want Jeter playing shortstop.”

Derek Jeter’s defensive flaws have been widely discussed in the alternative-baseball media for over a year now. The Newark Star Ledger has a piece this morning about Jeter’s fatal flaw. Michael Hoban, a 67-year old mathematics professor at Monmouth University, conducted a study ranking shortstops defense and Jeter finsihed dead last:

“I’m the worst?” Jeter said when confronted with the numbers. “I don’t think I would say that. But I couldn’t really care less what some mathematical equation comes out with.”

…”How to you rank defensive shortstops?” Jeter said. “I don’t see how a formula can evaluate how somebody plays.

“You get a strikeout pitcher on the mound as opposed to a ground-ball pitcher, it’s going to affect the statistics you use to evaluate defense. So I don’t really think you can.”

What did you expect Jeter to say? “You’re right, I am the worst defensive shortstop in baseball.” Like Ralph Kramden once declaired: “I got my pride.” Regardless, Jete’s comments should be fodder for his detractors. Let the bashing continue.

When Rafael Palmeiro hit a 3-run dinger off of Mike Mussina in the top of the first yesterday afternoon, it looked like it could be another long day for the Yankees. But Enrique Wilson answered with a grand slam in the bottom of the second, and the Yanks went on to beat Texas, 7-5. Alex Rodriguez, who is on a homer tear, tied the game at 4 with a solo homer, but Jorge Posada had the go-ahead hit—a slow dribbler that made it’s way through the infield—and the bullpen held on for the win.

Jeff Nelson received a rousing ovation from the Stadium crowd when he appeared in the 8th. According to The Times:

“Nelson, a 36-year-old veteran of almost 700 major league games, tried to compose himself when he reached the mound. Surrounded by Manager Joe Torre and the infielders, Nelson stared at the ground.

‘I couldn’t look up,” he said, “because I didn’t want them to see the water in my eyes.'”

Nelson didn’t pitch particularly well, but he escaped a bases-loaded jam without allowing a run. Mariano Rivera, however, did give up a run in the 9th. Rivera’s pitches are catching too much of the strike zone, and they are not breaking with their usual sharpness.

The Red Sox completed a three-game sweep of the World Champs in Boston to remain just 2.5 games back. The Sox play the O’s this weekend, including a double header today.

Again, it’s damp and drizzling in New York. The Mariners, who are just percentage points behind the Yanks for best record in the league, come to The Stadium for a big weekend series. It should be extra special if Benitez or Nellie get to pitch. Speaking of which, the boys over at U.S.S. Mariner think the M’s got the better of the deal. They also think there is no doubt that Nellie’s mouth precipitated the move:

“This is the rarest of trades; two contenders, in the same league, with a good chance of facing each other in the playoffs (and a matchup against each other this weekend), swapping players who are both likely to play fairly prominant roles in that potential playoff series. Make no mistake, this is a message trade. Had Jeff Nelson not criticized Mariners ownership last week, he would still be a Mariner. This would not a trade that was explored because of on-field performance (more on that below), but simply one to show the players who was in charge. Criticize the boss and you’ll be shown the door. This is a power play by ownership/management.”

Jay Jaffe, The Futility Infielder, is happy with the trade:

“What’s suprising is that both players slipped through waivers. As I understand it, the transaction rules that govern this time of year require each player to pass through waivers, in which every team gets a crack at the player with the worst teams in the player’s same league getting first dibs. The player claimed can then either be dealt to the team claiming him or withdrawn, closing the window on any trade opportunity for the season. For both Benitez and Nelson to have made it through means that the two teams chasing the M’s and the Yanks, Oakland and Boston, respectively, passed up the opportunity to claim the player either as a means of aiding their own bullpens, or at the very least of blocking a trade to their rivals.”