Saturday, September 12, 2009
Rivera best player of this generation, period--Ruddick
- "But when it comes to the all-time Yankee greats, Jeter is sitting at the children's table, while Babe Ruth, Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle and Yogi Berra dine in style.
I don't even think Jeter is the best Yankee of this era. Who has been more important to the Yanks over the course of their run,
- Forget being the best Yankee, I think
Yet I am seeing all these lists over the last few days that have Jeter listed right behind the Big-5, with Mariano Rivera a few slots behind him. The things that make Rivera, namely his consistent dominance, reliability and professionalism,
- are the same reasons he is underrated.
When it is all said and done, Rivera is the one who is going to be sitting at the big table and rightfully so.
- Not a slight to Jeter,
- but he is not Mariano Rivera.
To me, Derek Jeter's career is defined in two plays, the amazing flip in the ALDS against Oakland in 2001, and his tumbling catch into the stands against Boston in 2004. That is who Derek Jeter is. He is one of the most instinctively sound and clutch players I have ever seen and puts one thing above everything else, and that is winning.
- Jeter's value has always been based on team accomplishments and the unmatched intangibles he brings to the game. Don't start trying to make it about the numbers with him now, because all you do is diminish why he is held in such high regard."
"The House that Jeter Built?" by Chris Ruddick, The Sports Network, KansasCity.com, 9/10/09
Labels: Mariano Rivera best player of this generation-Chris Ruddick
