Hey Brewer

I posted some thoughs about Spatial Aggregate Fielding Evaluation a few weeks back. This new study was basically showing that Derek Jeter was not a Gold Glove shortstop.

As expected, Derek Jeter and a large number of baseball purists came forward claiming that this study was flawed.

First off, the guys who put together this study all came from UPenn - Wharton. We’re not talking about some obscure community college in the midwest, this is an Ivy League university, Wharton graduated Donald Trump, so you know it’s good.

You suck Derek Jeter

Second, Jeter commented that there must have been a computer glitch and basically called out the researchers methodology:

“Every [shortstop] doesn’t stay in the same spot, everyone doesn’t have the same pitching. Everyone doesn’t have the same hitters running, it’s impossible to do that.”

I can see his point to a degree, but at the same time there has to be some basis to the study that these guys published. I’m sure they looked into multiple variables and factored in as many possible fields as they could come up with. I don’t think that it’s a perfect study, I also don’t think you can completely dismiss the findings.

Well, the New York Post printed an article on Sunday that not only agrees with the SAFE findings, but take it one step further and finds that the notion of Jeter being a strong defensive SS is an opinion shared exclusively by his die hard fans. According to the article:

Just about every respected baseball statistician who has publicized results reveals Jeter is, at best, among the poorest defensive shortstops in the game.

So this isn’t the first time that a study has come out exploiting Jeter’s defensive shortcomings, but it’s probably the most thorough study with the most respected names backing its findings.

Give this man a Gold Glove

I found this quote from an AL official to be quite amusing:

“This study has been done a zillion times and the same conclusion is reached every time. What do you think that means?”

Jeter himself agreed that his defensive play in 2007 was subpar, but based on some of his previous comments it appears that he won’t admit to the defensive shortcomings these studies prove time and time again.

The article makes some other great points about Jeter and his defense, his contract and his place with the Yankees alongside A-Rod.

Read it here: NY Post - Geeks Got it Right!