Most Valuable Jeter
Derek Jeter briefly overtook the lead in the American League batting race last night. For a few innings, his average was a point higher than the Twins' Joe Mauer's, which has stood atop the standings for most of the deep season.
By the end of last evening, Jeter was back in second place, finishing the night at .343 to Mauer's .345. But methinks they'll soon switch again.
Mauer is a rookie catcher. His inexperience combined with a catcher's common late-summer wilt will probably cause his batting average to slightly and slowly continue to decline. As for Jeter, his month-to-month consistency should help him keep his average steady for a further four weeks. Thus, Jeter may finally win a batting title.
Many have expressed the opinion that Jeter should also earn the American League MVP award this year. He's not the traditional type to win: He doesn't hit 40 home runs, nor does he rack up 130 RBI. But he's not supposed to do those things — he's a No. 2 hitter. His job is to get on base and score runs. The former he's done at a .421 clip, the second highest on-base percentage of his career; the latter he's done already 97 times in 2006, easily on pace for his tenth 100-run season in 11 years. And those are just the recorded stats; Jeter's most important skill is one there's no number for: He knows how to win.
I certainly wouldn't argue against the notion of Jeter for MVP — he’s the spark in the engine of one of the best baseball teams of this era. But this award is further from Jeter’s reach than the batting title.
By the end of last evening, Jeter was back in second place, finishing the night at .343 to Mauer's .345. But methinks they'll soon switch again.
Mauer is a rookie catcher. His inexperience combined with a catcher's common late-summer wilt will probably cause his batting average to slightly and slowly continue to decline. As for Jeter, his month-to-month consistency should help him keep his average steady for a further four weeks. Thus, Jeter may finally win a batting title.
Many have expressed the opinion that Jeter should also earn the American League MVP award this year. He's not the traditional type to win: He doesn't hit 40 home runs, nor does he rack up 130 RBI. But he's not supposed to do those things — he's a No. 2 hitter. His job is to get on base and score runs. The former he's done at a .421 clip, the second highest on-base percentage of his career; the latter he's done already 97 times in 2006, easily on pace for his tenth 100-run season in 11 years. And those are just the recorded stats; Jeter's most important skill is one there's no number for: He knows how to win.
I certainly wouldn't argue against the notion of Jeter for MVP — he’s the spark in the engine of one of the best baseball teams of this era. But this award is further from Jeter’s reach than the batting title.
posted by Chris | 7:23 PM
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