LestersLegends.com

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Derek Jeter has failed to reach .300 for two straight years, which was something that he only did three times in his Hall of Fame career prior to 2009. He also hit just six HRs last year. Will he continue to decline or does he have at least another good year ahead of him?
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Aside from the lack of home runs last year, he had a pretty solid .297-84-6-61-16 line in 131 games.
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The player that normally isn’t fazed by anything seemed to press a bit while he was in pursuit of his 3000th career hit. He stumbled out of the gate posting a pre-All-Star Game line of .270-42-3-24-8 in 289 at bats with a .683 OPS.
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He caught a lot of heat for ducking out of the All-Star Game festivities, but you certainly can’t argue with the results. Following the break he posted a .327-42-3-37-8 line in 257 at bats with a .811 OPS.
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Can that hot finish carry over into 2012? Maybe, but I think the days of a +.800 OPS are behind him.
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You’re not drafting him for his power though. If he can get you 10-12 home runs it will be nice, but the long ball isn’t his game. Never has been actually. Jeter should give you a solid average around .300 with a bunch of runs scored and a fair share of stolen bases.
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Jeter’s Mock Draft Central ADP is 120, which puts him at the end of the tenth round in 12-team leagues. He’s also the eighth shortstop to come off the board in their rankings. Pretty fair value for him.
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Don’t buy him for name value. If you want to get one of the big guns at short, make it happen. If you want to wait and address other needs, Jeter is a nice safe choice. In the Yankees’ potent offense and favorable ballpark, he should put up another solid season.
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If you’re more interested in Jeter’s track record of girlfriends, you can check out the photo evidence here.
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Also check out:

• 2012 Fantasy Baseball First Base Rankings
• 2012 Fantasy Baseball Second Base Rankings
• 2012 Fantasy Baseball Third Base Rankings
• 2012 Fantasy Baseball Shortstop Rankings
• 2012 Fantasy Baseball Catcher Rankings
• 2012 Fantasy Baseball Outfielder Rankings
• 2012 Fantasy Baseball Starting Pitcher Rankings
• 2012 Fantasy Baseball Closer Rankings
• Additional 2012 Fantasy Baseball First Base Options
• Additional 2012 Fantasy Baseball Second Base Options
• Additional 2012 Fantasy Baseball Third Base Options
• Additional 2012 Fantasy Baseball Shortstop Options
• Additional 2012 Fantasy Baseball Catcher Options
• Additional 2012 Fantasy Baseball Outfielder Options
• Additional 2012 Fantasy Baseball Starting Pitcher Options
• Additional 2012 Fantasy Baseball Closer Options
• 2012 Fantasy Baseball Sleepers
• AL-Only Fantasy Baseball Rankings
• NL-Only Fantasy Baseball Rankings

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Derek Jeter really hasn’t done anything well this season. The 37-year-old shortstop has played substandard defense, failed to get on base consistently, and provided little power (74 OPS+) and speed (seven steals). Yet, with Yankees (and Jeter) fans everywhere stuffing the ballot boxes, he was named to his 12th Midsummer Classic. Jeter’s All-Star selection does not take anything away from his brilliant Major League career or his wonderful taste in women.
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That’s why most baseball fans take the All-Star Game with a grain of salt, even though it “counts.” As long as fans, players and managers have major input, and every team must have a representative, there will always be wildly undeserving players on the rosters. The following are 10 of the most laughable from recent baseball history. Some were scrubs, some were over-the-hill stars given the honors based on career achievement, and each had numbers that indicated they were fit for a demotion to AAA.

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1. Chris Cannizzaro, C, San Diego (1969): The San Diego Padres finished their inaugural season with 110 losses, tied with the league’s other expansion club, the Expos, for the most in baseball. Naturally, with a weak roster consisting mostly of castoffs from other teams, they didn’t have a discernable star to boast, so, by default, Cannizzaro was selected to participate in the Midsummer Classic despite his paltry .245 average, two homeruns and weak defensive skills. He never got an at-bat, and proceeded to justify his selection by hitting .170 in the second half.

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2. Luis Aparicio, SS, Boston (1971): During a season in which he tied the major league record for most consecutive at-bats without a hit for a non-pitcher, 44, Aparicio earned his 12th All-Star selection. Clearly there because of name recognition, he hit just .206 in the first half, and his speed and defensive skills — he won nine gold gloves during his career — weren’t as sharp as they had been in years past. His participation in the game was productive, however, as he went 1-for-3 with a run in the AL’s 6-4 victory over the Senior Circuit.

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3. Freddie Patek, SS, Kansas City (1972): A three-time All-Star, Patek was a fan favorite due to his short stature, standing just 5’5 and weighing fewer than 150 pounds. As with his fellow American League shortstop Aparicio, his speed and defense made him one of his team’s most valuable players. Never a proficient hitter, he earned his second All-Star selection while hitting .223 with 15 more strikeouts than walks, statistics that would indicate he was more a detriment to his team offensively — like an older version of Adam Everett, for example. Unfortunately for Patek, he didn’t get to prove he belonged in the game due to injury.

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4. Steve Rogers, SP, Montreal (1974): For a decade, Rogers was one of the best starting pitchers in the National League, anchoring the Expos’ rotation during the franchise’s best years. During the first 11 seasons of his career, 1974 was easily his worst, as he posted a 4.47 ERA and 22 losses. What did he have to show for it? His first of five All-Star appearances, even though he entered the break with a 4.63 ERA and 11 losses. Of course, he never threw a pitch in the game.

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5. Alfredo Griffin, SS, Toronto (1984): Before Ripken, A-Rod, Jeter, Nomar and Tejada revolutionized the position offensively, shortstops typically provided just two things — speed and defense. The ability to hit above .250 and provide any sort of power were just extra. Needless to say, Griffin demonstrated no unique attributes when he earned his only All-Star selection in 1984. In the first half, he hit .241 with 14 extra-base hits and only one fewer strikeout (18) than RBIs (19). What’s more, he wasn’t a particularly good base runner and he rarely took walks, which might explain why didn’t get a plate appearance in the game.

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6. Sandy Alomar Jr., C, Cleveland (1991): One the best catchers of his era, Alomar certainly deserved to compete in multiple All-Star Games. Memorably, in 1997 in front of his home fans at Jacobs Field, he won the game’s MVP honors as his two-run homerun in the seventh inning ultimately secured the victory for the AL. Before his inevitable career downturn in the 2000s, his worst season came in 1991, during which he hit .217 with no homeruns and seven RBIs in 51 games. At the time of his All-Star selection, he hit .241 with four RBIs, 22 strikeouts and four walks, underwhelming to say the least. Not surprisingly, his struggles continued in the game, as he went 0-for-2.

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7. Carlos Garcia, 2B, Pittsburgh (1994): It was the post-Bonds Pirates, devoid of talent and a truly worthy All-Star representative. The 1994 edition of the Midsummer Classic, which took place in Pittsburgh’s Three Rivers Stadium, was the silver lining of a forgettable season that eventually ended in a strike. A rally in the bottom of the ninth and Moises Alou’s game-winning double in the tenth complete one of the most dramatic All-Star Games of all time, and the Pirates’ very own Garcia contributed to the game with a hit in his lone plate appearance. It was the highlight of an otherwise unremarkable season in which, at the break, he hit .267 with three homeruns, 20 RBIs, 55 strikeouts, 14 walks and a .639 OPS.

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8. Mike Williams, RP, Pittsburgh (2003): In 36.1 innings during the first half of the 2003 season, Williams amassed 6.44 ERA while somehow tallying 25 saves. No other pitcher has received an All-Star invite while possessing an ERA more than six. He never threw a pitch in the game, possibly because it was the first year the outcome determined which league received home field advantage in the World Series. A legitimate All-Star the year before when he recorded 46 saves with a 2.93 ERA, he still held some value, and thus was traded to the Phillies before the trade deadline. He went on to record three more saves and a 5.96 ERA. He never pitched another major league inning past 2003.

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9. Mark Redman, SP, Detroit (2006): Three years after he helped the Marlins win the World Series, winning 14 games and posting a 3.59 ERA, Redman was selected to his first All-Star Game while pitching for the lowly Royals. Up until that point, he was having the worst season of his career, posting a 5.27 ERA and 1.59 WHIP in 14 stars. Things only got worse in the second half, as he amassed a 6.14 ERA and 1.72 WHIP in 15 starts. Fortunately for Redman, he was never demoted during the season because, well, he played for the Royals.

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10. Jason Varitek, C, Boston (2008): Almost 40 years old, Varitek has supplied the Red Sox with the intangible characteristics needed by every championship squad. During the last few years, however, his defensive and hitting skills have eroded, and he certainly hasn’t performed like an All-Star. Nevertheless, his peers voted him in as a reserve in 2008, overlooking the fact that he was hitting just .218 with 73 strikeouts, seven homeruns and 28 RBIs. And people gripe about the fans’ misjudgments in All-Star voting?

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Also check out:

• Should You Continue to Order the Worley Bird Special?
• Should Ted Lilly Owners Jump Ship?
• Can Garrett Jones Continue to Produce?
• Fantasy Baseball Free Agent Pool – 2011 RBI Guys Vol. 6
• Fantasy Baseball Free Agent Pool – 2011 Strikeout Kings Vol. 6

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Article from Online Certificate Programs.

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By Matt Carpenter
twitter.com/carmatts
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One of the toughest decisions owners are going to have to make this year is what to do at shortstop if they miss out on Hanley Ramirez and Troy Tulowitzki. The position gets ugly really quick. Let’s take a look at the position and look for the best bet other than the two first round studs.
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The next shortstop to go off the board is Jose Reyes. His value is based primarily on speed, yet his stolen base percentage dropped in 2010, to the lowest of his career. A healthy Reyes should steal about 40, but the days of approaching 80 steals seem unreasonable. 40 steals and 80 runs can be found for a cheaper price.
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The next two players are Jimmy Rollins and Derek Jeter. Besides being a frequent visitor to the disabled list, Rollins seems to be on the downside of his career, hitting .243 and .250 his last two seasons. He has little pop and is good in the steals category, but not great. At 36, Jeter took a huge step back last year and even with a modest bounce back, he also seems overvalued as a fourth round pick. Let the Yankee fan in your draft grab him.
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The next shortstop being taken in most drafts is Elvis Andrus. Think of him as Jose Reyes light, with his upside purely in steals. He has no power and his career batting average is .266. Yet, he is the 68th player off the board according to Mock Draft Central.
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Finally, we reach Alexi Ramirez as the 99th player taken. Comparing him to the four shortstops taken before him, sexy Alexi hits for a higher average, drives in more runs, and has more power than all of them, hitting 18 HR’s last season. Although not a speedster, Ramirez does give you double digit steals, so you are really not losing that much.
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The reason for choosing Ramirez as your shortstop comes down to value. Reyes, Rollins, Jeter, and Andrus all have significant concerns yet are being drafted high because of their position. Alexi Ramirez’s numbers are bankable and while he will not win your league, his consistency will not lose your league either.
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Also check out:

• 2011 Fantasy Baseball Profiles
• 2011 Fantasy First Basemen Rankings
• 2011 Fantasy A.L. Only First Basemen Rankings
• 2011 Fantasy N.L. Only First Basemen Rankings
• 2011 Fantasy Second Basemen Rankings
• 2011 Fantasy A.L. Only Second Basemen Rankings
• 2011 Fantasy N.L. Only Second Basemen Rankings
• 2011 Fantasy Third Basemen Rankings
• 2011 Fantasy A.L. Only Third Basemen Rankings
• 2011 Fantasy N.L. Only Third Basemen Rankings
• 2011 Fantasy Shortstop Rankings
• 2011 Fantasy A.L. Only Shortstop Rankings
• 2011 Fantasy N.L. Only Shortstop Rankings
• 2011 Fantasy Catcher Rankings
• 2011 Fantasy A.L. Only Catcher Rankings
• 2011 Fantasy N.L. Only Catcher Rankings
• 2011 Fantasy Outfielder Rankings
• 2011 Fantasy A.L. Only Outfielder Rankings
• 2011 Fantasy N.L. Only Outfielder Rankings
• 2011 Fantasy Starting Pitcher Rankings
• 2011 Fantasy A.L. Only Starting Pitcher Rankings
• 2011 Fantasy N.L. Only Starting Pitcher Rankings
• 2011 Fantasy Closer Rankings
• 2011 Fantasy A.L. Only Closer Rankings

Derek Jeter has broken the hearts of women almost as much as he has Red Sox fans over the years. In honor of his great taste in women, here’s a look at some of the hotties he’s dated over the years.

Jessica Alba

Jessica Biel

Derek Jeter – I don’t see a huge jump for Jeter, but I expect him to score 100 runs and collect 200 hits, which is something he didn’t do in ’08 (88 & 179).  His .300 is below his .316 career mark, and I expect that to increase to around .310.  I don’t see much movement for Jeter in HRs, RBI, or SBs.

 

Édgar Rentería – So Rentería moves on to his sixth team.  Say what you want about him, the guy can hit.  Like most Tigers, Rentería had a down year hitting .270 with 69 Runs, 136 Hits, and 22 Doubles.  His RBIs were at 55, but he only had 57 the year before in Atlanta while hitting a career high .332.  From 2002-2007 he averaged 90.7 Runs, 173.2 Hits, 37.7 Doubles, and hit .303.  I expect he’ll produce somewhere in between last year’s stats and those averages.  That would put him at .287, 80 R, 155 H, and 30 Doubles.

Khalil Greene – He’s not much of a hitter, but clearly a move to St. Louis from San Diego has to help the paltry .213, 30 R, 83 H, 15 2B, 10 HR, 35 RBI he produced in 2008.  I don’t expect him to reach his 2007 numbers (89 R, 155 H, 44 2B, 27 HR, 97 RBI), but something more in line with what he did from 2004-2006 when he averaged .257, 58 R, 29 2B, 15 HR, and 63.3 RBI.

Robinson Canó – Canó digressed in 2008 hitting a career low .271.  He’s traditionally a slow starter with April (.237) and May (.271) being his worst two months.  Though he did hit .307 after the All-Star break, he never quite recovered from the .151 he hit in April.  His average wasn’t the only thing that suffered though.  He stats were down across the board.  He’s too good of a hitter in too good of an Offense to struggle again next year.  Hopefully the World Baseball Classic well allow him to hit the ground running on Opening Day.  

Freddy Sánchez – After hitting .315 in his first three years with the Pirates, Sánchez saw his average drop to .271. In 2006 & 2007 he averaged 191.5 Hits, 47.5 Doubles, 83 RBI.  Last year he had 154, 26, and 52.

Images courtesy of Icon SMI

Friday, August 15th
Randy Wynn went 4 for 4 with 2 Runs, 2 Doubles, a HR, and 2 RBI.  Benjie Molina also had 4 Hits.  Melvin Mora went 3 for 4 with 2 Runs, a Triple, a HR, 4 RBI, and a Walk.  Jack Cust smashed a pair of HRs and drove in 3 Runs.  Chris Snyder had 4 RBI.  Mark DeRosa scored 3 Runs, with a HR, 2 RBI, and 3 Walks.  Jason Kubel (3 RBI), Mark Teixeira, Aubrey Huff, Curtis Granderson, Derek Jeter, Adam LaRoche, Albert Pujols, Ty Wiggington, Jeff Kent (he’s been on fire), Casey Blake, and Tony Clark each had 3 Hits.  Juan Castro and Carlos Pena each scored 3 Runs.  Daryle Ward, Chris Burke, and Jorge Cantu each had 3 RBI.

Matt Garza tossed a Complete Game two-hit Shutout with 9 Ks to improve to 10-7 with a 3.63 ERA.  Freakin’ Cliff Lee threw a Complete Game allowing 2 Runs to run his record to 17-2 with a 2.43 ERA.  Jamie Moyer gave up 3 Hits in 7 scoreless Innings to improve to 11-7 with a 3.64 ERA.  Mike Pelfrey threw 7 scoreless Innings to improve to 11-8 with a 3.91 ERA.  Matt Cain gave up 1 Run in 7 Innings with 5 Ks to improve to 8-9 with a 3.57 ERA.  Brandon Webb gave up 2 Runs on 4 Hits in 8 Innings with 6 Ks to improve to 18-4 with a 2.85 ERA.  Francisco Liriano gave up 2 unearned Runs on 2 Hits in 7 Innings with 5 Ks to even his record at 3-3.   Gil Meche (6 Innings, 1 Run, 8 Ks) and Josh Johnson (6 Innings, 3 Runs, 5 Hits, 8 Ks) got no-decisions.  Jason Davis (7 Innings, 2 Runs), Greg Maddux (7 Innings, 1 Run, 5 Hits), and Jair Jurrjens (7 Innings, 2 Runs, 9 Ks) pitched well, but lost.

Thursday, August 7th
Lastings Milledge went 3 for 4 with 2 Runs, 2 HRs, and 4 RBI.  Miguel Cabrera (3 RBI) Garrett Atkins (3 RBI), David Wright, Carlos Beltran, Jeff Kent, Joey Votto, Carlos Lee, Derek Jeter, Robinson Cano, Marlon Byrd, and Paul Konerko each had 3 Hits.  Hunter Pence and Mark Reynolds each had 3 RBI.   Carlos Guillen scored 3 Runs.

Mike Mussina tossed 7 scoreless Innings with 6 Ks to improve to 15-7 with a 3.27 ERA.  Charlie Morton threw 7 scoreless Innings giving up5 Hits to improve to 3-5.  Chris Volstad gave up 3 Hits in 6 scoreless Innings to improve to 3-2 with a 2.67 ERA.  Clayton Kershaw gave up 1 Run on 3 Hits in 7 Innings with 7 Ks to improve to 2-3 with a 3.71 ERA.  Jason Bergmann gave up 1 Run in 7 Innings with 7 Ks to improve to 2-8.  Roy Oswalt gave up 1 Run in 7 Innings to improve to 9-8.  Odalis Perez gave up 2 Runs in 6 Innings to improve to 5-8.  Zach Miner gave up 1 Earned Run in 6 Innings to improve to 6-4 with a 3.57 ERA.   Johan Santana gave up 2 Runs in 7 Innings with 7 Ks, but got a no-decision.  Who would have guessed the Mets would do him more wrong with their bats than the Twins did?  Felix Hernandez (8 Innings, 4 Hits, 1 Run, 5 Ks) and Andy Sonnanstine (7-1/3 Innings, 5 Hits, 1 Run) also got no-decisions. Cole Hamels gave up 2 Earned Runs in 6-1/3 Innings with 7 Ks, but lost.  Scott Feldman gave up 2 Runs in 7 Innings, but lost.