I have had some testy discussions about the bad fielding of Derek Jeter since the ARod steroid issue has surfaced.  Many people refuse to recognize how over-rated Jeter is and I want to know how people here at BCB stand on the issue.

If you look at Jeter's fielding percentage, I believe you are misled on the actual efficiency of each position and I look to Baseball Reference for a more complete view of fielding.  Examine the Range Factor (RFg) and you realize how weak Jeter really is as a fielder.  Range Factor is calculated as following: 9 * (A + PO)/ Inning.  In 2008, Theriot is rated just below Jeter in Range Factor and I know there are many people that love to criticize his defense.  I am not at all comparing the two, but just an illustration of Jeter's limitations

Yea I know that Jeter is very solid from the plate, but I do not see how this makes him one of the elite SS in the game.  He has had a few decent years, but even in his Gold Glove years (04, 05, 06) you can find several players with greater fielding ability.  If you look at his career Range Factor for Jeter is telling of how he had several outlier seasons, but in all is over-rated.

What do you guys think?  Where do you place him, defensively, as far as starting SS today?

Alright, with Lou announcing the rotation I started mapping out several 25 man rosters.  I think the one that makes the most sense with Lou's inclusion of Howry (which I do not agree with)  would be as follows:

IF

1. Soto

2. Blanco

3. Lee

4. Fontenot

5. Cedeno

6. Theriot

7. Ramirez

OF

8. Soriano

9. Edmonds

10. Johnson

11. Derosa

12. Fukudome

P

13. Dempster

14. Zambrano

15. Harden

16. Lilly

17. Marquis

18. Wood

19. Marmol

20. Samardzija

21. Cotts

22. Gaudin 

23. Howry

Beyond the above listed players there are a few to choose between for the last two spots.  I believe these two give the Cubs the best chance at success.

24. I think Pie deserves the nod because he can play great defense in all 3 spots of the OF as well as provide great speed on the basepath.

25. Ward for the plus of a pinch-hitter with more major league experience than Hoffpauir.  That is not much of a reason but in talking this over with several fans I believe that most would agree with Ward over Micah.

This is a bummer because I think Marshall is a better choice than Howry but Lou already stated that Howry was on the 25 man for October.

Thoughts or changes?