Background: Before he dated supermodels and MTV VJs, before he held a city in his mitt, Jeter was a skinny kid from Kalamazoo, Mich. The Yankees saw greatness, drafting him sixth overall in the 1992 draft. He was a starter by 1996, triggering the Yankees’ World Series runs. Now at 32, he’s staging a final push to make the Hall of Fame.
What’s up: As if his glittery résumé needed more shine, Jeter has emerged as the leading candidate to win AL MVP honors. Believe it or not, the award has eluded Jeter during his glorious career. He was never the best hitter, when compared to Alex Rodriguez, Nomar Garciaparra and Miguel Tejada. Never the best fielder, even though he’s won two Gold Gloves. Maybe we should just call him a winner and leave it at that. More than anything, Jeter delivers when it matters most. As his teammates dropped around him . Hideki Matsui and Gary Sheffield . and choked . A-Rod spent six weeks paging Dr. Heimlich . Jeter remained the rudder, leading the Yankees to a season-defining five-game sweep of the Red Sox in August.
What’s next: Jeter is certainly not a lock for the top individual award. Despite chasing a batting title (.338 average), reaching base 41 percent of the time and knocking in nearly 100 runs, Jeter’s numbers pale in comparison to Justin Morneau, David Ortiz and Jermaine Dye. With Jeter, it’s never been just about statistics. But in this debate, they can’t be ignored. Like a Notre Dame quarterback, he receives a lot of attention, which could work against him, with some reporters believing Jeter is more a product of where he plays than what he does.
Renck’s take: It’s easy to advance an argument for Jeter. He plays the toughest position, faces the most pressure and measures his seasons by rings. Before Big Papi’s heart fluttered and the Red Sox’s guts were ripped out, he was my choice. His numbers remain impressive, but a DH can’t set a precedent in a year when his team doesn’t make the playoffs. Jermaine Dye’s campaign ended before the first commercial when his team rode into oblivion. The choice, for me, is between the Twins’ 25-year-old first baseman Morneau and Jeter. Morneau’s numbers dwarf Jeter’s (33 home runs to 14, 126 RBIs to 95). Problem is, Morneau isn’t even the most valuable player on his team, a distinction belonging to Johan Santana. All signs point to Jeter winning what amounts to a Lifetime Achievement Award.
