So, does Jeter go First Ballot?

[elmalo]

No. I am saying the only way he is a first ballot is as a Yankee. He'd be a HOFer no matter what.

Im pretty sure being sixth place on the all time hits list would get him in first ballot regardless of the team he played for.

 

[npa589]

Ugh, yes - FIRST BALLOT. I'm a Cubs fan too, so, it's not as though I didn't used to hate the guy. I understand the statistical analysis that leads to people throwing out the overrated label, but, leadership does count for something. I also agree that if he played for the Expos, we would not know nearly as much about him, but at the same time - the way he has always seemed to come through, that is something that translates to popularity no matter where someone plays. Perhaps he would have began the idea of "lore" for another franchise had he played for them? I think his last game summed it up pretty well. The guy is as lucky a guy as has ever played the game, and he has lived a blessed baseball life.

To play devil's advocate, I'm going to throw a player out there who always came through in the big spots, and was Mr. Consistency. He wasn't the greatest SP of his era, or perhaps not even the greatest SP for any stretch of 5 years, which could probably be said about Derek as well. Jack Morris. He played for the Twins, Tigers, etc. Had he played for the Yankees? --- first ballot HOF'er.

 

[gt2590]

To play devil's advocate, I'm going to throw a player out there who always came through in the big spots, and was Mr. Consistency. He wasn't the greatest SP of his era, or perhaps not even the greatest SP for any stretch of 5 years, which could probably be said about Derek as well. Jack Morris. He played for the Twins, Tigers, etc. Had he played for the Yankees? --- first ballot HOF'er.

Jeter is a sure HOFer. Morris, although very good, isn't. The same things can be said for Schilling, Mussina and to a lesser extent, Pettite. But they are not SURE HOFers. They might get in, but nowhere near as much a sure thing as "The Captain"...

 

[D-Lite]

To play devil's advocate, I'm going to throw a player out there who always came through in the big spots, and was Mr. Consistency. He wasn't the greatest SP of his era, or perhaps not even the greatest SP for any stretch of 5 years, which could probably be said about Derek as well. Jack Morris. He played for the Twins, Tigers, etc. Had he played for the Yankees? --- first ballot HOF'er.

Morris was consistently above average, but not to that level of play.
Career ERA: 3.94
ERA+: 105
WHIP: 1.30
K/9: 5.83
BB/9: 3.27
WAR: 52.5 (FanGraphs), 43.8 (BR)

Jeter Career:
WAR: 73.5 (FanGraphs), 71.8 (BR)
Ave: .310
OBP: .377
wRC+: 119

It's not particularly close. Jeter performed a good deal above average for the bulk of his career whereas Morris was basically a #2-3 starter. Jeter over his career was worth 19 more runs per 100 over an average player. Morris was 5% better than an average pitcher, based on ERA.

 

[Nate Colbert 17]

Sure, sure...stats-wise, your data makes sense re: Jeter vs. Morris.

However, Jeter never rocked a pornstache, ergo your argument is invalid.