An Aging Jeter & Some Interesting Stats
Via Tyler Kepner today -
[Derek] Jeter turns 35 next month, but he is looking spry, unburdened by the leg problems that limited him last season, when he missed six games in April because of strained left quadriceps. Jeter has been running more, with 10 steals in 11 tries, and he is part of a defense that has not committed an error in a club-record 14 consecutive games. Jeter has also hit in his last 11 games, his longest streak of the season.
“He just won’t buy into the fact that he’s getting older,” Girardi said. “He wants to play at a high level as long as he plays.”
However, we also have this from Tom Verducci last December -
None of the past 56 playoff teams and only two of the 112 playoff teams in the wild card era used someone 34 or older as their regular shortstop (Omar Vizquel of the 2001 Indians and Cal Ripken Jr. of the 1996 Orioles). Only one team since 1956 has won a pennant with a 34-or-older shortstop (the 1980 Phillies, with Larry Bowa). Keep that in mind if your team employs Tejada or Jeter, both of whom turn 35 next season, or is interested in Cabrera, 34, Eckstein, who turns 34 in January, Renteria, who turns 34 in August or Vizquel, who turns 42 in April.
…Jeter turns 35 next month…
…Only one team since 1956 has won a pennant with a 34-or-older shortstop…
I don’t think we’ve had a “World’s Collide!” moment like this since Elaine wanted to start hanging with Susan, have we?
coincidence that’s all
How many teams had won a World Series with a rookie shortstop in 1996?
but he is looking spry
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He is? Maybe his legs are, but his bat still looks slow to me.
This is all in the way of a very common misconception: The fact that something hasn’t happened in quite a while means that it probably won’t happen now. For instance, I haven’t had a car accident in 12 years, so I guess I should start cutting back on my insurance since I won’t be needing it.
1956 refers to PeeWee Reese, who was 38 that year (and 37 the previous year when the Dodgers won the WS).
…Jeter turns 35 next month…
…Only one team since 1956 has won a pennant with a 34-or-older shortstop…
——
Let’s make it two.
Crazy things happen with this franchise. 1978, 2004…ANYthing is possible.
Whatever the Yanks do, they must re-sign Jeter.