Derek Jeter Top Ten AL MVP 2012.

"There can't be a conversation about the American League's Most Valuable Player Award without including Derek Jeter, and doesn't that make this whole season even better?"

Person #1: Who do you think is the AL MVP this year?
Person #2: Not Derek Jeter.

Person #1: Who are your top AL MVP candidates?
Person #2: You mean the players who are having better years than Derek Jeter?

I guess Richard Justice is correct.  I tried to have an AL MVP discussion without mentioning Derek Jeter and I couldn't do it.

 
"Jeter is leading the AL in hits and is second in batting average and fourth in runs. He batted .389 in April, and his average has fallen below .300 for just two days the entire season."

1) What about the guy who's first in batting average?

2) What about the guys who are top three in runs?

3) Why are you ignoring all the other batting statistics?

4) April batting average?


"His defense at short has been terrific, as usual. Meanwhile, his Yankees have had at least a share of first place in the AL East for 93 straight days, and now with the stretch run upon us, Jeter is hitting .378 in September."

1) His defensive range is comically bad.

2) The Yankees blew a ten-game lead and have the 3rd-best record in the league (barely).


"He's part of what appears to be a close race for the AL MVP Award. There's a case to be made for Mike Trout, Miguel Cabrera and Josh Hamilton as well."

You left out a few, including at least one of Jeter's teammates.


"The case for Jeter is this: 

• Doing his job at the top of the lineup spectacularly well.
• Playing nice defense.
• Winning.
• Leadership.
• Being at his best when the pressure is cranked up the most, which is pretty much every day of the year with the Yankees."

•  .367 on-base% and 89 runs are darn good.  Not spectacular.
• Defense is garbage.
• Not winning.
• Jeter leads by example for sure.  Sixteen years of hustling to first base.  But it doesn't rub off on at least one of Jeter's teammates ... and few fifth-place collapse teams usually get high marks for their leadership.  So let's see how the final three weeks play out.
• He has had a great year, just not the best year in the AL.

"Regardless of how it plays out, it's fun just having Jeter in the discussion. Scouts have marveled at the quickness of his bat and his ability to get hits on pitches in tough locations."

He has been great.

Isn't that enough?

Isn't it possible to appreciate his greatness without exaggeration?