Remember when Arod wasn't clutch? (6/26/06)

A NO BRAINER MVP: Before the season began, ESPN's Harold Reynolds (expert analyst), told us that his pick for MVP was Oakland A's shortstop Bobby Crosby. After I was done laughing at that, I welcomed in the new season. After watching Travis Hafner, Vernon Wells, Alex Rios, Joe Mauer, Troy Glaus, Manny Ramirez, Jim Thome, Jermaine Dye all get off to thier usual strong productive years, Harold Reynolds decided to switch his MVP pick to Derek Jeter. "Best player in the game", he proclaimed. His panel on Baseball Tonight of course remained silent. I don't have Jeter as the MVP this year. I don't even have him as the MVP in the AL East. I don't have him as the MVP of AL East teams located in New York. I don't even him as the MVP of the in field of Yankees. I don't even have him as MVP of the left side of the infield on a AL East team from New York. Can someone win the MVP with 14 home runs?

THE NEWEST EXCUSE: Over the past 11 years we've heard everything under the sun explaining Derek Jeter's statistics. We've come across his sister's health (his numbers are down because she was sick), we've heard contract discussions (numbers down because he was worried about his long term deal), health issues (his numbers are down because he is hiding injuries), we'vw heard numbers don't matter (his numbers are down because he only hits when they need him) . The last one is my favorite. Why would someone not "want" to hit if they could? Another favorite: "He doesn't hit alot of homers, but he hits them when they need them" My question is: The Yankees haven't needed them? I guess not. Another small tidbit: Since Matsui and Sheffield have been out, Jeter has 1 HR and 7 RBI over the last month. Doesn't this qualify as the "step it up" moment these maniacs talk about on the FAN? We all know Jeter has this ability to "turn it on", and "step it up when the lights are on" We are all waiting.THE NEW STAT CATEGORY: The WFAN callers have a new stat category. For years they've been trying a find a category where Jeter tops Arod. The rings category is always a favorite of mine. Arod played on the Mariners and Rangers, 2 towns that haven't won. If Jeter was in Texas or Seattle, they would still not have won, any sane human can say that. But, getting back, the Yankee fans' new category: LATE INNING PRESSURE SITUATIONS. They call and try to sound intellectual. They try to sound baseball savvy. This stuff is great, "Hi, Mike and Chris, I was looking at Arod's numbers, he's 4 for 39 in late inning pressure situations" "We know all about it", Francesa says. The guy feels all smart because he found this website telling him Jeter IS better than Arod. He is relieved, he was starting to struggle to find Jeter's greatness. He knows the 4 ring thing is getting stale because we are in 2006 now. Every time the Yankee fan puts on SportsnetNY he sees Jose Reyes running around the bases, knocking down balls in the hole, stuff like that. So he's has found his new savior......the Late inning Pressure situation stat category. A simple search on the internet turned this up:
2005 Late inning Pressure: Derek Jeter was 19 for 72 a .264 clip. Had 11 RBI. 7th inning and later: He was 44 for 181 with 23 RBI, a .243 clip.

2004 Late inning Pressure: Derek Jeter was 14 for 61 a .230 clip. Had 11 RBI. 7th inning and later: He was 43 for 181 with 21 RBI, a .238 clip.

2003 Late inning Pressure: Derek Jeter was 8 for 46 a .174 clip. Had 3 RBI 7inning and later: .200 blah, blah, blah, you get the point

Now, you will never hear this anywhere. You are not allowed to hear this. If you call the FAN with these numbers, they will hang up and will hear 4 rings. Arod's stats are allowed to be dissected, anything Jeter related is off limits. Derek Jeter is a very good player. The reason why his numbers lag behind the great players is his extra base hit power. He does not have it. He does not hit alot of doulbles, triples, or home runs. You can TRY to tell me he does, but he doesn't. He is a good player on a good team. Hitting singles gets you to first base. Hitting singles with a guy on first, puts that guy on third. There aren't many RBI. Why do Hafner, Ortiz, Pujols score alot of runs? Are they fast? Great hitters score runs because they are among the leaders in Total bases, singles, doubles, triples, homers. Yankee fans used to love the Runs Scored category. They don't say much about that anymore, because during A-Rod's "pathetic 2006", he still has more runs scored.

CRACK COMMITTEE TIDBITS: I heard Ken Singleton say this about the Yankee lineup the other night, "With Matsui and Sheffield out, the power hitters are now: Arod, Giambi, Posada, and Jeter"......he has 5 HR, Ken.................Ever notice when Jaret Wright has a 1-2-3 inning, Suzyn Waldman can't wait to say things like, "Jaret is showing glimpses of his young days with Cleveland" My question is "Jaret Wright was good with Cleveland?"...............David Wright is in the middle of stretch that Derek Jeter can never and will never be at.......David Wright has no rings........If I could talk to David Wright or his agent I would tell him to stop hitting right now. If he wants to make it in this town and be a legend among Joe D, Mantle, Ruth, Gerhig, and Jeter, stop right now at 18 and 65.............. The Mets winning this division by 15 games is worrying me, because the first round against the 85 win Dodgers has upset written all over it............... If Andy pettite is a "money" pitcher, why isn't he stopping these Astro losing streaks (the answer is: no such thing as a money anything)................After watching Johnny Damon the first few months: He is no doubt a better offensive player than Jeter..............As always I welcome the 4 ring email. I also welcome the the "get a life" email. I know this is beating the dead horse, but do you guys see it yet? I still love you all, great friends of mine............