Derek Jeter is the 2nd best shortstop on his team

I'm about to rant, if it doesn't quite follow then suck it up.

I'm sick of hearing that Derek Jeter is the best shortstop of this generation. Let me first state that he is a good player having a great year, but he would be overlooked if he played for any other team in the country (except maybe the Red Sox or Mets). He has always had a great lineup around him and sees a large number of good pitches, because he is not even remotely the scariest hitter in the lineup. Any pitcher would rather let him beat them than A-Rod, Texeira, or Matsui (and before Texeira, it was Abreu or Giambi). And in his defense he has done his share of beating people, but he gets many more opportunities than say a Pujols or Hanley Ramirez, who only get a few pitches to hit because they are the best hitters in the lineup.

Now here is what bothers me: Derek Jeter is being talked about for the AL MVP. I only mention that to prove how underrated the other guy is. (I'm not going to talk about other MVP options in the AL at this time. That's not the point of this blog.) His numbers are great and the player I am going to talk about is in the other conference, but you have not heard a thing about him. Why not? DJ is hitting .332 with a .394 OBP, slugging .476 with 57 RBIs. Good numbers. There is a National League shortstop not being talked about nearly as much who hits 30 points better, 25 more OBP, almost 100 points better slugging, and with 28 more RBIs. Think about that. Those are great numbers; they are MVP caliber numbers. Who is this guy? I mentioned him earlier, it's Hanley Ramirez and he's currently hitting .361 with 85 RBIs and a .995 OPS. He's blowing Derek Jeter out of the water, yet all we hear about is Jeter.

What's going on here? Problem number one is that the NL MVP has been locked up since before the all-star break. Everyone has already decided that it's Pujols and I'm okay with that, but can someone please give Hanley some love. At least stop with all the Derek Jeter is the best shortstop in the league B.S. He's obviously not. Hanley plays on a worse team, is the best hitter on that team (thus meaning less good pitches), his team's payroll is one third of the Yankees, and yet his team is still in the playoff hunt. Why are we still talking about Jeter?

Problem number two for Hanley is that he does not play for the Yankees, Red Sox or Mets. The national media love these teams and seems contractually obligated to only talk about the great players on those teams. Hanley is the best shortstop in baseball, period. Anyone who tells you differently is lying or is misinformed. He has not been around as long as the other guy. And the other's guys career numbers are good, but that guy has always played for great teams with great players.

All I ask is that you think a little bit when you hear that smooching sound of someone kissing Derek Jeter's butt. Maybe we should look at some actual stats instead of just the national media bias for all things Yankee.


P.S. The leading candidate for AL MVP should be Joe Mauer (1.074 OPS, enough said).

P.P.S. The current best player in baseball that you've never heard of (sorry, Adrian Gonzalez): Kendry Morales (.303 AVG, 84 RBIs, 27 HRs, 32 doubles, .923 OPS, .994 Fpct)