07-09-2005, 12:37 AM
Well, I actually said he was the worst fielding shortstop. I never besmirched his offense. He's solid, will end up with 3000 hits and well over a .300 BA when all is said and done, and would be a hall-of-famer whether not he won any rings.
He is not the ideal leadoff guy, but that's not his fault that the Yankees don't have a real leadoff hitter. Him, Mora and young would be the best #2 hitters in the league, probably Young, then Jeter, then Mora.
And the fact that he's no longer a defensive liability doesn't change the fact that he was for a decade. I put more weight into his career numbers than one season. Much like Renteria has historically been amazing and is having one bad year. Doesn't make him a poor fielding shorstop.
Now he's followed up last year's defensive improvement with more defensive improvements. It doesn't make non-existant that he was one of the worst defensive shortstop in baseball as long as he was in the league until last year.
He is not the ideal leadoff guy, but that's not his fault that the Yankees don't have a real leadoff hitter. Him, Mora and young would be the best #2 hitters in the league, probably Young, then Jeter, then Mora.
And the fact that he's no longer a defensive liability doesn't change the fact that he was for a decade. I put more weight into his career numbers than one season. Much like Renteria has historically been amazing and is having one bad year. Doesn't make him a poor fielding shorstop.
Now he's followed up last year's defensive improvement with more defensive improvements. It doesn't make non-existant that he was one of the worst defensive shortstop in baseball as long as he was in the league until last year.