Mike Silva's New York Baseball Digest » Blog Archive » Are We Witnessing Jeter’s Decline?

Are We Witnessing Jeter’s Decline?


By Mike Silva ~ May 12th, 2010. Filed under: Mike Silva, New York Yankees.

At the beginning of each Yankees season everyone questions if the aging Yankees core of Jeter, Mariano, Posada, and Pettitte would still be able to perform at a high level. Yes, the Yankees have great talent around them, but without any of those individuals the team is left with a gaping hole. None is more important, both on and off the field, than the Captain Derek Jeter. That is why this article by noMaas was the first of perhaps some early panic alarms about the Captain.

Yes, I know about small sample sizes. Jeter is the same guy who had a .525 OPS on May 25th in 2004 and finished over .800. An 8-14 streak and all is well with Jeter. However, the walk rate, as noMaas points out, is at the lowest point of his career. Remember, he was essentially a league average hitter in 2008 and many questioned if the decline had begun back then. What we are seeing now is not that much different. Also remember that Jeter has never been a walk machine as his career .359 BABIP is more to do with his offensive success. Obviously that good BABIP was due to working counts- something he is not doing as much right now.

Is it patience? Bat speed? Small sample size? Too early to tell, but a pedestrian Jeter changes a whole lot of things for the Yankees.

Mike Silva is a freelance writer and radio host since March of 2007. This website is his own personal "digest" of New York Baseball He's also hosts NYBD Radio on Blog Talk Radio and 1240 AM WGBB. Check out his sports media commentary at www.sportsmediawatchdog.com. Check out his official website, www.mikesilvamedia.com
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