On March 5, 2001 SI using fancy sabremetrics and a pile of bullsh*t rated Nomar above Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter, and Miguel Tejada.
Derek Jeter stands 7 hits from 3,000. It was surreal before the Red Sox-Yanks watching Nomar interview Jetes. Both came into the league at the same time. Dealt with the rise of both organizations. Perhaps the key was Boston trading Nomar in 2004, which kind of shocked me.
Still, the question remains what's more important the candle that shines twice as bright or twice as long?
To me, Derek Jeter will go down as one of those players that wasn't exceptional but very, very good for a very long time. 15 yrs through the steroid age....and beyond.
With A-rod confessing to PEDs, Tejada's name in reports, and Nomar's career cut short due to injuries...might just be ONE name going to the HOF out of that magical class of hitting Short stops that re-defined what was mostly a defensive position.
the times they are a changin...
