Derek Jeter is not a great hitter or fielder. So, how can he be a great player?

Rings?  You want to go with rings?  Joe DiMaggio and Yogi Berra had twice as many.  OK, it's twice as difficult to win a championship now so maybe their ten equate to Jeter's five.  Counting championships is silly anyway.  Ernie Banks, Mr. Cub, who recently turned 80, never won no stinking ring.  Banks switched from shortstop to first base in 1962.  His home runs from 1955 through 1961: 44, 28, 43, 47, 45, 41, 29.  Banks was National League MVP in 1958 and 1959 because he was a great hitting shortstop.  Banks played 1,259 games at first and 1,125 at short, so he should be considered a first baseman.  But Banks is in the Hall of Fame because of his great seasons as a shortstop.

Alex Rodriguez was also a great home run hitting shortstop.  Rodriguez switched to third base when he was traded from Texas to the Yankees.  Rodriguez has still played more games at short than at third: 1,272 to 1,189.  Rodriguez had these home runs 1996 through 2003: 35 (also led in BA: .358), 23, 42, 42, 41, 52, 57, 47 (MVP).

Since Jeter is not a home run hitter we can skip that for him.  Let's compare Jeter to Banks and Rodriguez on OPS+ when they played those seasons at shortstop.  For Jeter, I'll start him in 1998 after he had 101 and 103 in his first two full seasons and take Jeter through 2005 so he will have a comparable number of consecutive seasons.  After 2005 Jeter had these good years, which would not change his average:
2006 132
2007 121
2009 125

Banks	Rodriguez	Jeter
144	161	127
136	120	153
149	136	128
155	134	124
156	163	111
146	160	125
123	158	114
	147	125
144	147	126

Their averages are at the bottom.

When you hear about Jeter's rank among shortstops, consider both Banks and Rodriguez who may not be included in career comparisons.

As you go through this post think about this fundamental question: who is he better than?  As a hitter, who is Derek Jeter better than?  Who is the best hitter Jeter is better than?

Since 1969, playing at least 75% of games at shortstop, seasons OPS+ at least 150:

Rk	Player	OPS+	Year	Age	Tm	Lg	G	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	IBB	SO	HBP	SH	SF	GDP	SB	CS	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	Pos
1	Rico Petrocelli	168	1969	26	BOS	AL	154	643	535	92	159	32	2	40	97	98	13	68	1	3	6	12	3	5	.297	.403	.589	.992	*6/5
2	Robin Yount	166	1982	26	MIL	AL	156	704	635	129	210	46	12	29	114	54	2	63	1	4	10	19	14	3	.331	.379	.578	.957	*6/HD
3	Alex Rodriguez	163	2000	24	SEA	AL	148	672	554	134	175	34	2	41	132	100	5	121	7	0	11	10	15	4	.316	.420	.606	1.026	*6
4	Cal Ripken	162	1991	30	BAL	AL	162	717	650	99	210	46	5	34	114	53	15	46	5	0	9	19	6	1	.323	.374	.566	.940	*6
5	Alex Rodriguez	161	1996	20	SEA	AL	146	677	601	141	215	54	1	36	123	59	1	104	4	6	7	15	15	4	.358	.414	.631	1.045	*6/H
6	Alex Rodriguez	160	2001	25	TEX	AL	162	732	632	133	201	34	1	52	135	75	6	131	16	0	9	17	18	3	.318	.399	.622	1.021	*6/D
7	Alex Rodriguez	158	2002	26	TEX	AL	162	725	624	125	187	27	2	57	142	87	12	122	10	0	4	14	9	4	.300	.392	.623	1.015	*6/H
8	Nomar Garciaparra	156	2000	26	BOS	AL	140	599	529	104	197	51	3	21	96	61	20	50	2	0	7	8	5	2	.372	.434	.599	1.033	*6/HD
9	Barry Larkin	155	1996	32	CIN	NL	152	627	517	117	154	32	4	33	89	96	3	52	7	0	7	20	36	10	.298	.410	.567	.977	*6/H
10	Alan Trammell	155	1987	29	DET	AL	151	668	597	109	205	34	3	28	105	60	8	47	3	2	6	11	21	2	.343	.402	.551	.953	*6/H
11	Derek Jeter	153	1999	25	NYY	AL	158	739	627	134	219	37	9	24	102	91	5	116	12	3	6	12	19	8	.349	.438	.552	.989	*6
12	Nomar Garciaparra	153	1999	25	BOS	AL	135	595	532	103	190	42	4	27	104	51	7	39	8	0	4	11	14	3	.357	.418	.603	1.022	*6/H
13	Robin Yount	150	1983	27	MIL	AL	149	662	578	102	178	42	10	17	80	72	6	58	3	1	8	11	12	5	.308	.383	.503	.886	*6/DH

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Play Index Tool Used
Generated 2/14/2014.

As demonstrated in the previous post Jeter's batting does not place him among the Yankee greats listed with their career OPS+ rank among all batters.

Derek Jeter announces his retirement after 2014 season and the slobbering is in full force on the Selig TV Network.  Thursday, February 13, 2014

1. Babe Ruth 206
4. Lou Gehrig 179, MVP, triple crown
6. Mickey Mantle 172, 3 MVP, triple crown
22. Joe DiMaggio 155, 3 MVP
201. Bill Dickey 127
236. Yogi Berra 125, 3 MVP
438. Derek Jeter 117
_________________________________________________

Squint and you can see Ruth, Gehrig, DiMaggio, Mantle

That post also has a detailed comparison between Jeter and Rodriguez based on their career batting numbers.  OPS+ for Rodriguez is 143.

Of all the nonsense I heard Wednesday on D-Day (Derek Day retirement announcement) the silliest was to say that Jeter is for his era what Ruth, DiMaggio and Mantle were for theirs.  Somehow Gehrig was omitted.  Say what?  Jeter as a batter was below two catchers, Dickey and Berra, and we all know the physical toll that catching takes.

Jeter's best OPS+ was 153 in 1999.  Yankee batters have topped that 64 times; 16 times a Yankee has had at least 201, all by three players: Ruth (10), Gehrig (3) and Mantle (3). DiMaggio's best: 184.  Even Bobby Murcer had 181 and 169 in 1971-2.  Ruth had the highest: 255.  Highest Yankee during the Jeter era: Alex Rodriguez 176.

Let's see how Jeter compares to his teammates.  I used OPS+ so that it's easier to compare to Yankees from previous eras.  There is a summary below the leaders for individual seasons.  It's devastating to the idea that Jeter was a great hitter.

Rk	Player	OPS+	Year	Age	Tm	Lg	G	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	IBB	SO	HBP	SH	SF	GDP	SB	CS	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	Pos
1	Bernie Williams	131	1996	27	NYY	AL	143	641	551	108	168	26	7	29	102	82	8	72	0	1	7	15	17	4	.305	.391	.535	.926	*8/DH
2	Paul O'Neill	123	1996	33	NYY	AL	150	660	546	89	165	35	1	19	91	102	8	76	4	0	8	21	0	1	.302	.411	.474	.885	*9/DH3
3	Tino Martinez	108	1996	28	NYY	AL	155	671	595	82	174	28	0	25	117	68	4	85	2	1	5	18	2	1	.292	.364	.466	.830	*3/HD
4	Derek Jeter	101	1996	22	NYY	AL	157	654	582	104	183	25	6	10	78	48	1	102	9	6	9	13	14	7	.314	.370	.430	.800	*6
5	Wade Boggs	98	1996	38	NYY	AL	132	574	501	80	156	29	2	2	41	67	7	32	0	1	5	10	1	2	.311	.389	.389	.778	*5/HD

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Play Index Tool Used
Generated 2/13/2014.

Rk	Player	OPS+	Year	Age	Tm	Lg	G	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	IBB	SO	HBP	SH	SF	GDP	SB	CS	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	Pos
1	Bernie Williams	147	1997	28	NYY	AL	129	591	509	107	167	35	6	21	100	73	7	80	1	0	8	10	15	8	.328	.408	.544	.952	*8/H
2	Tino Martinez	143	1997	29	NYY	AL	158	685	594	96	176	31	2	44	141	75	14	75	3	0	13	15	3	1	.296	.371	.577	.948	*3/DH
3	Paul O'Neill	137	1997	34	NYY	AL	149	637	553	89	179	42	0	21	117	75	8	92	0	0	9	16	10	7	.324	.399	.514	.912	*9/HD3
4	Derek Jeter	103	1997	23	NYY	AL	159	748	654	116	190	31	7	10	70	74	0	125	10	8	2	14	23	12	.291	.370	.405	.775	*6

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Play Index Tool Used
Generated 2/13/2014.

Rk	Player	OPS+	Year	Age	Tm	Lg	G	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	IBB	SO	HBP	SH	SF	GDP	SB	CS	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	Pos
1	Bernie Williams	160	1998	29	NYY	AL	128	578	499	101	169	30	5	26	97	74	9	81	1	0	4	19	15	9	.339	.422	.575	.997	*8/D
2	Paul O'Neill	130	1998	35	NYY	AL	152	672	602	95	191	40	2	24	116	57	2	103	2	0	11	22	15	1	.317	.372	.510	.882	*9/HD
3	Derek Jeter	127	1998	24	NYY	AL	149	694	626	127	203	25	8	19	84	57	1	119	5	3	3	13	30	6	.324	.384	.481	.864	*6/H
4	Tino Martinez	124	1998	30	NYY	AL	142	608	531	92	149	33	1	28	123	61	3	83	6	0	10	18	2	1	.281	.355	.505	.860	*3/H
5	Scott Brosius	121	1998	31	NYY	AL	152	603	530	86	159	34	0	19	98	52	1	97	10	8	3	4	11	8	.300	.371	.472	.843	*5/3H9
6	Chuck Knoblauch	102	1998	29	NYY	AL	150	706	603	117	160	25	4	17	64	76	1	70	18	2	7	13	31	12	.265	.361	.405	.765	*4/D
7	Chad Curtis	90	1998	29	NYY	AL	151	545	456	79	111	21	1	10	56	75	3	80	7	1	6	11	21	5	.243	.355	.360	.714	*78H/9D

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Play Index Tool Used
Generated 2/13/2014.

Rk	Player	OPS+	Year	Age	Tm	Lg	G	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	IBB	SO	HBP	SH	SF	GDP	SB	CS	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	Pos
1	Derek Jeter	153	1999	25	NYY	AL	158	739	627	134	219	37	9	24	102	91	5	116	12	3	6	12	19	8	.349	.438	.552	.989	*6
2	Bernie Williams	149	1999	30	NYY	AL	158	697	591	116	202	28	6	25	115	100	17	95	1	0	5	11	9	10	.342	.435	.536	.971	*8/HD
3	Chuck Knoblauch	118	1999	30	NYY	AL	150	715	603	120	176	36	4	18	68	83	0	57	21	3	5	7	28	9	.292	.393	.454	.848	*4
4	Chili Davis	108	1999	39	NYY	AL	146	554	476	59	128	25	1	19	78	73	7	100	2	0	3	12	4	1	.269	.366	.445	.812	*DH
5	Paul O'Neill	107	1999	36	NYY	AL	153	675	597	70	170	39	4	19	110	66	1	89	2	0	10	24	11	9	.285	.353	.459	.812	*9/H
6	Tino Martinez	104	1999	31	NYY	AL	159	665	589	95	155	27	2	28	105	69	7	86	3	0	4	14	3	4	.263	.341	.458	.800	*3/H
7	Scott Brosius	84	1999	32	NYY	AL	133	529	473	64	117	26	1	17	71	39	2	74	6	2	9	13	9	3	.247	.307	.414	.722	*5/HD

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Play Index Tool Used
Generated 2/13/2014.

Rk	Player	OPS+	Year	Age	Tm	Lg	G	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	IBB	SO	HBP	SH	SF	GDP	SB	CS	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	Pos
1	Bernie Williams	140	2000	31	NYY	AL	141	616	537	108	165	37	6	30	121	71	11	84	5	0	3	15	13	5	.307	.391	.566	.957	*8/DH
2	Jorge Posada	139	2000	28	NYY	AL	151	624	505	92	145	35	1	28	86	107	10	151	8	0	4	11	2	2	.287	.417	.527	.943	*23/HD
3	Derek Jeter	128	2000	26	NYY	AL	148	679	593	119	201	31	4	15	73	68	4	99	12	3	3	14	22	4	.339	.416	.481	.896	*6
4	Paul O'Neill	92	2000	37	NYY	AL	142	628	566	79	160	26	0	18	100	51	2	90	0	0	11	17	14	9	.283	.336	.424	.760	*9/DH
5	Tino Martinez	89	2000	32	NYY	AL	155	632	569	69	147	37	4	16	91	52	9	74	8	0	3	16	4	1	.258	.328	.422	.749	*3/H
6	Scott Brosius	70	2000	33	NYY	AL	135	519	470	57	108	20	0	16	64	45	1	73	2	0	2	17	0	3	.230	.299	.374	.673	*5/3HD79

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Play Index Tool Used
Generated 2/13/2014.

Rk	Player	OPS+	Year	Age	Tm	Lg	G	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	IBB	SO	HBP	SH	SF	GDP	SB	CS	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	Pos
1	Bernie Williams	139	2001	32	NYY	AL	146	633	540	102	166	38	0	26	94	78	11	67	6	0	9	15	11	5	.307	.395	.522	.917	*8/HD
2	Derek Jeter	124	2001	27	NYY	AL	150	686	614	110	191	35	3	21	74	56	3	99	10	5	1	13	27	3	.311	.377	.480	.858	*6
3	Jorge Posada	118	2001	29	NYY	AL	138	557	484	59	134	28	1	22	95	62	10	132	6	0	5	10	2	6	.277	.363	.475	.838	*2/DH3
4	Tino Martinez	114	2001	33	NYY	AL	154	635	589	89	165	24	2	34	113	42	2	89	2	0	2	12	1	2	.280	.329	.501	.830	*3/HD
5	Paul O'Neill	105	2001	38	NYY	AL	137	563	510	77	136	33	1	21	70	48	4	59	2	0	3	20	22	3	.267	.330	.459	.789	*9/DH

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Play Index Tool Used
Generated 2/13/2014.

Rk	Player	OPS+	Year	Age	Tm	Lg	G	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	IBB	SO	HBP	SH	SF	GDP	SB	CS	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	Pos
1	Jason Giambi	172	2002	31	NYY	AL	155	689	560	120	176	34	1	41	122	109	4	112	15	0	5	18	2	2	.314	.435	.598	1.034	*3D
2	Bernie Williams	141	2002	33	NYY	AL	154	699	612	102	204	37	2	19	102	83	7	97	3	0	1	19	8	4	.333	.415	.493	.908	*8/DH
3	Alfonso Soriano	129	2002	26	NYY	AL	156	741	696	128	209	51	2	39	102	23	1	157	14	1	7	8	41	13	.300	.332	.547	.880	*4/HD
4	Jorge Posada	121	2002	30	NYY	AL	143	598	511	79	137	40	1	20	99	81	9	143	3	0	3	23	1	0	.268	.370	.468	.837	*2/HD
5	Robin Ventura	119	2002	34	NYY	AL	141	562	465	68	115	17	0	27	93	90	9	101	2	0	5	14	3	1	.247	.368	.458	.826	*5H/3
6	Derek Jeter	111	2002	28	NYY	AL	157	730	644	124	191	26	0	18	75	73	2	114	7	3	3	14	32	3	.297	.373	.421	.794	*6/D

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Play Index Tool Used
Generated 2/13/2014.

Rk	Player	OPS+	Year	Age	Tm	Lg	G	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	IBB	SO	HBP	SH	SF	GDP	SB	CS	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	Pos
1	Jason Giambi	148	2003	32	NYY	AL	156	690	535	97	134	25	0	41	107	129	9	140	21	0	5	9	2	1	.250	.412	.527	.939	*3D/H
2	Jorge Posada	144	2003	31	NYY	AL	142	588	481	83	135	24	0	30	101	93	6	110	10	0	4	13	2	4	.281	.405	.518	.922	*2/HD
3	Alfonso Soriano	126	2003	27	NYY	AL	156	734	682	114	198	36	5	38	91	38	7	130	12	0	2	8	35	8	.290	.338	.525	.863	*4/H
4	Derek Jeter	125	2003	29	NYY	AL	119	542	482	87	156	25	3	10	52	43	2	88	13	3	1	10	11	5	.324	.393	.450	.844	*6/H
5	Hideki Matsui	109	2003	29	NYY	AL	163	695	623	82	179	42	1	16	106	63	5	86	3	0	6	25	2	2	.287	.353	.435	.788	*78/DH
6	Bernie Williams	107	2003	34	NYY	AL	119	521	445	77	117	19	1	15	64	71	8	61	3	0	2	21	5	0	.263	.367	.411	.778	*8/DH

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Play Index Tool Used
Generated 2/13/2014.

Rk	Player	OPS+	Year	Age	Tm	Lg	G	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	IBB	SO	HBP	SH	SF	GDP	SB	CS	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	Pos
1	Gary Sheffield	141	2004	35	NYY	AL	154	684	573	117	166	30	1	36	121	92	7	83	11	0	8	16	5	6	.290	.393	.534	.927	*9D/5
2	Hideki Matsui	137	2004	30	NYY	AL	162	680	584	109	174	34	2	31	108	88	2	103	3	0	5	11	3	0	.298	.390	.522	.912	*7/8
3	Jorge Posada	131	2004	32	NYY	AL	137	547	449	72	122	31	0	21	81	88	5	92	9	0	1	24	1	3	.272	.400	.481	.881	*2H
4	Alex Rodriguez	131	2004	28	NYY	AL	155	698	601	112	172	24	2	36	106	80	6	131	10	0	7	18	28	4	.286	.375	.512	.888	*5/6
5	Derek Jeter	114	2004	30	NYY	AL	154	721	643	111	188	44	1	23	78	46	1	99	14	16	2	19	23	4	.292	.352	.471	.823	*6
6	Bernie Williams	108	2004	35	NYY	AL	148	651	561	105	147	29	1	22	70	85	5	96	2	1	2	19	1	5	.262	.360	.435	.795	*8D/H

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Play Index Tool Used
Generated 2/13/2014.

Rk	Player	OPS+	Year	Age	Tm	Lg	G	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	IBB	SO	HBP	SH	SF	GDP	SB	CS	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	Pos
1	Alex Rodriguez	173	2005	29	NYY	AL	162	715	605	124	194	29	1	48	130	91	8	139	16	0	3	8	21	6	.321	.421	.610	1.031	*5/6D
2	Jason Giambi	161	2005	34	NYY	AL	139	545	417	74	113	14	0	32	87	108	5	109	19	0	1	7	0	0	.271	.440	.535	.975	*3D/H
3	Gary Sheffield	137	2005	36	NYY	AL	154	675	584	104	170	27	0	34	123	78	7	76	8	0	5	11	10	2	.291	.379	.512	.891	*9D/H
4	Hideki Matsui	130	2005	31	NYY	AL	162	704	629	108	192	45	3	23	116	63	7	78	3	0	8	16	2	2	.305	.367	.496	.863	*78D/9H
5	Derek Jeter	125	2005	31	NYY	AL	159	752	654	122	202	25	5	19	70	77	3	117	11	7	3	15	14	5	.309	.389	.450	.839	*6/HD
6	Jorge Posada	109	2005	33	NYY	AL	142	546	474	67	124	23	0	19	71	66	5	94	2	0	4	8	1	0	.262	.352	.430	.782	*2H/D
7	Robinson Cano	106	2005	22	NYY	AL	132	551	522	78	155	34	4	14	62	16	1	68	3	7	3	16	1	3	.297	.320	.458	.778	*4/H

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Play Index Tool Used
Generated 2/13/2014.

Rk	Player	OPS+	Year	Age	Tm	Lg	G	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	IBB	SO	HBP	SH	SF	GDP	SB	CS	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	Pos
1	Jason Giambi	148	2006	35	NYY	AL	139	579	446	92	113	25	0	37	113	110	12	106	16	0	7	10	2	0	.253	.413	.558	.971	*D3/H
2	Alex Rodriguez	134	2006	30	NYY	AL	154	674	572	113	166	26	1	35	121	90	8	139	8	0	4	22	15	4	.290	.392	.523	.914	*5/HD
3	Derek Jeter	132	2006	32	NYY	AL	154	715	623	118	214	39	3	14	97	69	4	102	12	7	4	13	34	5	.343	.417	.483	.900	*6/D
4	Robinson Cano	126	2006	23	NYY	AL	122	508	482	62	165	41	1	15	78	18	3	54	2	1	5	19	5	2	.342	.365	.525	.890	*4/DH
5	Jorge Posada	122	2006	34	NYY	AL	143	545	465	65	129	27	2	23	93	64	1	97	11	0	5	10	3	0	.277	.374	.492	.867	*2H/D3
6	Johnny Damon	115	2006	32	NYY	AL	149	671	593	115	169	35	5	24	80	67	1	85	4	2	5	4	25	10	.285	.359	.482	.841	*8D/H3

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Play Index Tool Used
Generated 2/13/2014.

Rk	Player	OPS+	Year	Age	Tm	Lg	G	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	IBB	SO	HBP	SH	SF	GDP	SB	CS	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	Pos
1	Alex Rodriguez	176	2007	31	NYY	AL	158	708	583	143	183	31	0	54	156	95	11	120	21	0	9	15	24	4	.314	.422	.645	1.067	*5/D
2	Jorge Posada	153	2007	35	NYY	AL	144	589	506	91	171	42	1	20	90	74	7	98	6	0	3	18	2	0	.338	.426	.543	.970	*2H/D3
3	Hideki Matsui	123	2007	33	NYY	AL	143	634	547	100	156	28	4	25	103	73	2	73	3	0	10	9	4	2	.285	.367	.488	.855	*7D
4	Derek Jeter	121	2007	33	NYY	AL	156	714	639	102	206	39	4	12	73	56	3	100	14	3	2	21	15	8	.322	.388	.452	.840	*6/H
5	Robinson Cano	119	2007	24	NYY	AL	160	669	617	93	189	41	7	19	97	39	5	85	8	1	4	19	4	5	.306	.353	.488	.841	*4/H
6	Bobby Abreu	113	2007	33	NYY	AL	158	699	605	123	171	40	5	16	101	84	0	115	3	0	7	11	25	8	.283	.369	.445	.814	*9/HD

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Play Index Tool Used
Generated 2/13/2014.

Rk	Player	OPS+	Year	Age	Tm	Lg	G	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	IBB	SO	HBP	SH	SF	GDP	SB	CS	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	Pos
1	Alex Rodriguez	150	2008	32	NYY	AL	138	594	510	104	154	33	0	35	103	65	9	117	14	0	5	16	18	3	.302	.392	.573	.965	*5/D
2	Jason Giambi	128	2008	37	NYY	AL	145	565	458	68	113	19	1	32	96	76	5	111	22	0	9	6	2	1	.247	.373	.502	.876	*3D/H
3	Bobby Abreu	120	2008	34	NYY	AL	156	684	609	100	180	39	4	20	100	73	2	109	1	0	1	14	22	11	.296	.371	.471	.843	*9/HD
4	Johnny Damon	118	2008	34	NYY	AL	143	623	555	95	168	27	5	17	71	64	0	82	1	2	1	5	29	8	.303	.375	.461	.836	*78D/H3
5	Derek Jeter	102	2008	34	NYY	AL	150	668	596	88	179	25	3	11	69	52	0	85	9	7	4	24	11	5	.300	.363	.408	.771	*6/D

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Play Index Tool Used
Generated 2/13/2014.

Rk	Player	OPS+	Year	Age	Tm	Lg	G	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	IBB	SO	HBP	SH	SF	GDP	SB	CS	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	Pos
1	Mark Teixeira	141	2009	29	NYY	AL	156	707	609	103	178	43	3	39	122	81	9	114	12	0	5	13	2	0	.292	.383	.565	.948	*3/DH
2	Alex Rodriguez	138	2009	33	NYY	AL	124	535	444	78	127	17	1	30	100	80	7	97	8	0	3	13	14	2	.286	.402	.532	.933	*5/DH
3	Derek Jeter	125	2009	35	NYY	AL	153	716	634	107	212	27	1	18	66	72	4	90	5	4	1	18	30	5	.334	.406	.465	.871	*6/DH
4	Hideki Matsui	123	2009	35	NYY	AL	142	528	456	62	125	21	1	28	90	64	1	75	4	0	2	4	0	1	.274	.367	.509	.876	*DH
5	Nick Swisher	122	2009	28	NYY	AL	150	607	498	84	124	35	1	29	82	97	2	126	3	3	6	13	0	0	.249	.371	.498	.869	*93/7HD1
6	Robinson Cano	121	2009	26	NYY	AL	161	674	637	103	204	48	2	25	85	30	2	63	3	0	4	22	5	7	.320	.352	.520	.871	*4/H
7	Johnny Damon	118	2009	35	NYY	AL	143	626	550	107	155	36	3	24	82	71	1	98	2	2	1	9	12	0	.282	.365	.489	.854	*7/HD

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Play Index Tool Used
Generated 2/13/2014.

Rk	Player	OPS+	Year	Age	Tm	Lg	G	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	IBB	SO	HBP	SH	SF	GDP	SB	CS	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	Pos
1	Robinson Cano	141	2010	27	NYY	AL	160	696	626	103	200	41	3	29	109	57	14	77	8	0	5	19	3	2	.319	.381	.534	.914	*4/DH
2	Nick Swisher	129	2010	29	NYY	AL	150	635	566	91	163	33	3	29	89	58	0	139	6	3	2	13	1	2	.288	.359	.511	.870	*9D/H38
3	Mark Teixeira	124	2010	30	NYY	AL	158	712	601	113	154	36	0	33	108	93	6	122	13	0	5	15	0	1	.256	.365	.481	.846	*3/DH
4	Alex Rodriguez	123	2010	34	NYY	AL	137	595	522	74	141	29	2	30	125	59	1	98	3	0	11	7	4	3	.270	.341	.506	.847	*5D/H
5	Curtis Granderson	108	2010	29	NYY	AL	136	528	466	76	115	17	7	24	67	53	3	116	2	4	3	3	12	2	.247	.324	.468	.792	*8H
6	Brett Gardner	105	2010	26	NYY	AL	150	569	477	97	132	20	7	5	47	79	1	101	5	5	3	6	47	9	.277	.383	.379	.762	*78/HD
7	Derek Jeter	90	2010	36	NYY	AL	157	739	663	111	179	30	3	10	67	63	4	106	9	1	3	22	18	5	.270	.340	.370	.710	*6/DH

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Play Index Tool Used
Generated 2/13/2014.

Rk	Player	OPS+	Year	Age	Tm	Lg	G	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	IBB	SO	HBP	SH	SF	GDP	SB	CS	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	Pos
1	Curtis Granderson	142	2011	30	NYY	AL	156	691	583	136	153	26	10	41	119	85	0	169	12	4	7	12	25	10	.262	.364	.552	.916	*8/HD
2	Robinson Cano	133	2011	28	NYY	AL	159	681	623	104	188	46	7	28	118	38	11	96	12	0	8	18	8	2	.302	.349	.533	.882	*4/DH
3	Mark Teixeira	121	2011	31	NYY	AL	156	684	589	90	146	26	1	39	111	76	3	110	11	0	8	12	4	1	.248	.341	.494	.835	*3/DH
4	Nick Swisher	120	2011	30	NYY	AL	150	635	526	81	137	30	0	23	85	95	6	125	5	1	8	18	2	2	.260	.374	.449	.822	*93/DH
5	Derek Jeter	100	2011	37	NYY	AL	131	607	546	84	162	24	4	6	61	46	0	81	6	4	5	10	16	6	.297	.355	.388	.743	*6D
6	Brett Gardner	92	2011	27	NYY	AL	159	588	510	87	132	19	8	7	36	60	1	93	8	8	2	5	49	13	.259	.345	.369	.713	*78/H

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Play Index Tool Used
Generated 2/13/2014.

Rk	Player	OPS+	Year	Age	Tm	Lg	G	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	IBB	SO	HBP	SH	SF	GDP	SB	CS	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	Pos
1	Robinson Cano	148	2012	29	NYY	AL	161	697	627	105	196	48	1	33	94	61	10	96	7	0	2	22	3	2	.313	.379	.550	.929	*4/DH
2	Nick Swisher	125	2012	31	NYY	AL	148	624	537	75	146	36	0	24	93	77	2	141	4	1	5	9	2	3	.272	.364	.473	.837	*93D/H
3	Curtis Granderson	115	2012	31	NYY	AL	160	684	596	102	138	18	4	43	106	75	4	195	5	1	7	5	10	3	.232	.319	.492	.811	*8/HD
4	Mark Teixeira	115	2012	32	NYY	AL	123	524	451	66	113	27	1	24	84	54	1	83	7	0	12	11	2	1	.251	.332	.475	.807	*3/DH
5	Derek Jeter	114	2012	38	NYY	AL	159	740	683	99	216	32	0	15	58	45	1	90	5	6	1	24	9	4	.316	.362	.429	.791	*6D
6	Alex Rodriguez	111	2012	36	NYY	AL	122	529	463	74	126	17	1	18	57	51	3	116	10	0	5	13	13	1	.272	.353	.430	.783	*5D/H

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Play Index Tool Used
Generated 2/13/2014.

Here is the brutal summary that exposes Jeter as a consistently good but not great hitter.

year	Yankee Leader	OPS+	Jeter OPS+	Jeter rank
1996	Bernie Williams	131	101	4
1997	Bernie Williams	147	103	4
1998	Bernie Williams	160	127	3
1999	Derek Jeter	153	153	1
2000	Bernie Williams	140	128	3
2001	Bernie Williams	139	124	2
2002	Jason Giambi	172	111	6
2003	Jason Giambi	148	125	4
2004	Gary Sheffield	141	114	5
2005	Alex Rodriguez	173	125	5
2006	Jason Giambi	149	132	3
2007	Alex Rodriguez	176	121	4
2008	Alex Rodriguez	150	102	5
2009	Mark Teixeira	141	125	3
2010	Robinson Cano	141	90	7
2011	Curtis Granderson	142	100	5
2012	Robinson Cano	148	114	5
	average	150	117	4

In 18 seasons Jeter was the best Yankee hitter once.  ONCE!  I find that shocking.  During his own era Jeter was not the best hitter on his own team.  Generally, Jeter was number four ... on his own team.  How much could Jeter have possibly been needed?

3,316 hits?  Pete Rose had 940 (28%) more.

Who is the best hitter Jeter is better than?

Fielding?  As a Yankee fan I always liked Jeter's fielding.  I often defended him against other Yankee fans who criticized Jeter unmercifully.  However, the people who claim to understand the various and evolving fielding metrics evaluate Jeter as below average.  I'm tired of fighting.  With the game on the line I trusted Jeter more than any other shortstop to retire the batter on a routine ground ball.  That might sound like faint praise but "late and close" is a situation used to evaluate batters, so why not for fielders, too?

Derek Jeter is not a great hitter or fielder.  So, how can he be a great player?  I don't have a good answer.  But I'd vote for him for the Hall of Fame.  He's a Yankee and I like him.  That's my view as a fan.