PLAYERS SAY JETER MOST OVERRATED

If I was Derek Jeter, I'd be smiling too. Like he did when he learned that SI's poll of 470 MLBers had him at the top of the list for most overrated (clap, clap, clap-clap-clap).

Jeter was named on 9% of the ballots as the most over-rated. Mets CF Carlos Beltran was second with 7 percent and Alex Rodriguez was third with 6 percent.

"I don't care, I guess anything I do now is a plus," Jeter said with a grin. "At least I am in good company.''

A-Rod? Jeter? What a bunch of jealous babies, but of course you already knew that. Jeter, believe it or not, will be only 32 in June. It seems like he should be approaching 40. He was the 1996 AL ROY, the 2000 WS MVP and also the 2000 ASG MVP. People rip his defense yet he has won the Gold Glove last year and in 2004.

He will pass 2000 hits this month or next. His postseason heroics are the stuff of cheesy baseball movie scripts. He even dominated the World Baseball Classic. It's no stretch to think Jeter could play shortstop for a few more seasons and then move to 2nd or 3rd. 3000 hits is certainly not out of the question and he is a first ballot hall of famer if he never plays another game. Overrated? He's the standard by which all should be rated.

How is A-Rod overrated? Oddly enough he had the game-winning hit tonight in the 10th against the D-Rays. Coach Joe Maddon said, "Matsui, to me, is one of the best clutch hitters in all of baseball, so I prefer not pitching to him. You take your chances right there on A-Rod". Um, yeah because he bats behind A-Rod.

Anyway, A-Rod will be only 31 in July and already has over 400 HRs and will also surpass 2000 hits this season. He was the youngest player to reach both 300 and 400 homers. Click the link and look at his career numbers--they are absolutely staggering. Not to mention that he made a major position change darn near flawlessly. This after winning Gold Gloves at shortstop in both 2002 and 2003.

Related Stories:

Yankees
Derek Jeter
Alex Rodriguez