In Short, They're Spectacular

Jason Michael Barker

If you're even a casual fan of the game, I'm sure you're familiar with the trio of outstanding young shortstops currently toiling in the American League. Seattle's Alex Rodriguez, Boston's Nomar Garciaparra and Derek Jeter of the Yankees are among the best ever to play at the same time.

There has been a great deal of debate regarding which of the three is the "best" shortstop, a debate which began in 1996 when Rodriguez had a MVP-caliber season while Jeter took home Rookie of the Year honors. When Garciaparra came on the scene in 1997, the debate surrounded the two heavy hitters, Nomar and Alex. This year all three are enjoying terrific seasons, and each are regarded as MVP candidates.

What follows is an in-depth look at each of the three, split into three comparisons -- hitting, defense, and baserunning. Finally, we'll take a look at the total package, complete with an overall ranking.

Hitting

In looking at offense, we won't measure the normal statistical lines, focusing instead on the numbers that tell about a player's development as a hitter. Runs and RBI are too dependent on the contributions of teammates, while batting average is pushed aside in favor of the more complete measure, on-base percentage (OBP).

Two additional numbers we'll look at are K:BB ratio, and the number of pitches each player sees per plate appearance (P/PA). The former is a good measure of a hitter's plate discipline (lower numbers are better), and the latter tells you how patient a hitter is at the plate. Finally, age is listed as a measure of progress and development. If two hitters have roughly the same numbers but one is 23 and the other 27, it follows that the younger player has a brighter future, while the 27-year old may have peaked.

Alex Rodriguez
Year	Age	G	AB	H	2B	3B	HR	BB	SO	K:BB	OBP	SLG	P/PA
1994	18	17	54	11	0	0	0	3	20	6.67	.241	.204	3.9
1995	19	48	142	33	6	2	5	6	42	7.00	.264	.408	4.0
1996	20	146	601	215	54	1	36	59	104	1.76	.414	.631	4.1
1997	21	141	587	176	40	3	23	41	99	2.06	.350	.496	3.9
1998	22	138	593	181	29	5	38	38	105	2.76	.356	.563	3.8
Career		490	1977	616	129	11	102	147	370	2.52	.363	.543	3.9
Nomar Garciaparra
Year	Age	G	AB	H	2B	3B	HR	BB	SO	K:BB	OBP	SLG	P/PA
1996	22	24	87	21	2	3	4	4	14	3.50	.272	.471	3.7
1997	23	153	684	209	44	11	30	35	92	2.63	.342	.534	3.2
1998	24	120	514	167	32	7	30	29	49	1.69	.364	.589	3.4
Career		297	1285	397	78	21	64	68	155	2.28	.346	.552	3.3
Derek Jeter
Year	Age	G	AB	H	2B	3B	HR	BB	SO	K:BB	OBP	SLG	P/PA
1995	21	15	48	12	4	1	0	3	11	3.67	.294	.375	3.6
1996	22	157	582	183	25	6	10	48	102	2.13	.370	.430	3.7
1997	23	159	654	190	31	7	10	74	125	1.69	.370	.405	3.9
1998	24	125	535	179	23	6	17	49	98	2.00	.393	.495	3.9
Career		456	1819	564	83	20	37	174	336	1.93	.375	.439	3.8

Clearly, all three players are quite productive from an offensive standpoint, but they get the job done in different ways. Rodriguez and Garciaparra are pure sluggers, getting on base at a decent clip while hitting a ton of doubles and home runs. Jeter's calling card is his high OBP, bolstered by his solid walk totals. However, he lacks the power possessed by Nomar and Alex.

Of the three, Jeter has the worst strikeout rate, but makes up for it by drawing a good number of walks. His career 3.8 P/PA is good for a player his age, and he seems to be improving his K:BB ratio. Rodriguez strikes out slightly less, but doesn't walk nearly as often. He would improve significantly if he could get his K:BB ratio back to his 1996-97 numbers, and his good P/PA numbers suggest that he can. Garciaparra doesn't strike out often, but he doesn't walk much, either. His K:BB ratio is good and has increased every year, but he isn't very patient at the plate, as evidenced by his career 3.3 P/PA and his record of swinging at the first pitch 45% of the time last season.

Jeter has showed marked improvement in his slugging this season, which is up 90 points from last, and it's not unusual for a player to develop power around age 24. Still, he can't compete with the power production of his two peers. As far as offense goes, the debate boils down to Rodriguez vs. Garciaparra

Garciaparra is having a wonderful season, even better perhaps than that of Rodriguez. Remember that second column, however, which proves to be all-important in making this comparison. Nomar is tearing up the league at 24 years of age, while Alex is putting up similar numbers despite being two full years younger. Jeter, likewise, is 24. In 1996, Rodriguez had perhaps the finest season ever by a shortstop - and was just 20. At 20, Garciaparra was playing at high-A ball, while Jeter was at AA.

What does this all mean? Offensively, Rodriguez edges out Garciaparra in a close one, with most of the difference due to age. Season to season, Nomar might put up better numbers for the next couple of years, but Alex's peak seasons (age 26 to 29) should surpass those of Nomar or Derek.

- Sure, but what about defense and speed? -

 

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