Derek Jeter: The Extra-Base Hit Counter

If you haven't noticed, Derek Jeter is not hitting for much power. He has two extra-base hits on the year - both doubles - in 100 at-bats. Joe Girardi said you could start to ask about Jeter after 100 ABs. We're now at that point. It's clear he still has speed - after all, he leads the league in infield hits - but his power is completely lacking. His IsoP of .02 is the worst on the team. Brett Gardner has seven XBHs. Even Eduardo Nunez has two XBHs, yet he's done it in all of nine ABs. Yes, Nunez has two doubles in about one-tenth the ABs that it took Jeter to do the same. Every Yankee regular but Jeter has a home run. His line drive rate is a pathetic 10%, his groundball rate is still astronomically high (73%) and his infield flyball rate (i.e. pop-up rate) is at 13%. Those are all career worsts (the records only go back to 2002). His .278 BABIP is not a fluke. If anything, it's probably high.

Oh, he also hasn't stolen a base yet.

Of his 25 hits, 11 have been of the infield variety. If I was an opposing manager, I'd probably have the infield play on the grass against Jeter. He hits the ball that weakly. How long is Girardi going to insist on batting him leadoff?

If you only looked at his numbers (.250/.313/.270) and not his name, you'd want him batting ninth, not first. He's last among Yankee regulars in OPS and SLG, and second to last in OBP. Jeter is currently a replacement-level player earning $15 million a year. The truly scary part is thinking about 2012-2014... if he keeps declining, what will the Yankees do?