It’s weird how many people dislike Derek Jeter. It probably has to do with playing for the Yankees, making $21 million, collecting four World Series rings and setting records in the process, not to mention gallivanting with Lima and Biel and Alba (not simultaneously, but we wouldn’t put it past him).

After the jump, the argument against Jeter, courtesy of an anonymous former college baseball player who emailed in a scathing critique of the man who has more hits than every New York Yankee besides Lou Gehrig. We’d just like to offer our pithy, meaningless opinion on Jeter before the avalanche of OVERRATED erupts: Terrific baseball player, undeniably a Hall of Fame lock, and due to his history of postseason success, ahead of Barry Larkin and Cal Ripken if you’re doing one of those purely subjective lists of great shortstops.

Bill James once said this “Derek Jeter could be the worst defensive shortstop of all time.€ I recommend you read the rest of this article. I dare anyone to argue Jeter deserves any gold gloves after reading that article.

Second, Jeter is tied with Milton Bradley tied in 296th place all time in slugging percentage. Players who are ranked of ahead of include: Kevin Millar, Rondell White, Trot Nixion and Ron Gant.

Third, Jeter ranks 119th place all time in On base percentage just behind Rusty Greer and slightly ahead of Keith Hernandez.

Forth, according to baseball reference.com at his age Jeter’s stats are most similar following players: Roberto Alomar, Frankie Frische, Ryne Sandberg and Alan Trammel.

Look at the player he compares to Alomar, Frische, Sandberg, and Trammel none of them got half the recognition Jeter had gotten over his career. Only Sandberg was ever the highest played player in the game. Jeter is currently third at $21,000,000.00 a year.

Before, you respond with Jeter has got four rings, do those same four rings make Tino Martinez better the Albert Pujols, Bernie Williams better the Barry Bonds, or does the fact that Paul O’Neil has five rings make him better the Jeter.

The bottom line is while I think Jeter is a Hall of Fame player, if we were going to compare him to a player in another sport it will probably [Dominique] Wilkins, a gifted offensive player who had to make up for his short comings on Defense.

In case you want to call me a stat geek, I was honorable mention all-state player in [redacted] out of high school, played college ball at [school] and [college], and was good enough to get scouted by the [NL team] and the [AL Playoff team].