Derek Jeter Proves the Fallacy of Range Factor as a Measure of Defense Ability

This is a response to the article I posted on B/R yesterday.

The "experts" that rank Jeter among the defensively challenged shortstops use modern statistics to make their case.

Modern statistics contain variables that have not and probably cannot be controlled. One must question their validity.

A statistic is valid if its results are close to the truth. The statistic's result must measure what it purports to measure.

Range factor fails to do that.

One individual reacted to the article by pointing out that not every pitching staff is the same and not every staff induces the same amount of ground balls.

Managers often try to stack their lineups with left-handed hitters when facing right-handers. The Yankees, like most teams, have had many more right-handed starters than left-handed starters.

The tendency of the left-handed hitters the Yankees pitchers have faced would be to pull the ball rather than "inside-out-it" to the opposite field.

The Yankees' home ball park, with the short field porch, entices some right-handed batter to try to go the opposite way. That is not true of most left-handed hitters.

During Jeter's career, the New York Yankees' left-handed starters have been:

1996: Kenny Rogers, Andy Pettitte and Jimmy Key.

1997: Pettitte, Rogers and David Wells.

1998: Pettitte and Wells.

1999: Pettitte.

2000: Pettitte and Danny Neagle.

2001: Pettitte and Ted Lilly.

2002: Pettitte, Wells and Neagle.

2003: Pettitte and Wells.

2004: NONE.

2005: Randy Johnson.

2006: Johnson.

2007: Pettitte and Kei Igawa.

2008: Pettitte.

2009: Pettitte and C.C. Sabathia

2010: Pettitte and Sabathia.

2011: Sabathia.

Another comment pointed out that a team whose third baseman has a lot of range to his left would get to ground balls that might have gone to the shortstop. Can anyone say, "Scott Brosius?"

Another thing that Range Factor fails to assess is throwing. 

Is there a Yankees' fan, anywhere, that hasn't seen Jeter's range (oops, can we mention Jeter and range in the same sentence?) into the hole, back hand the ball and fire to first to nip the batter and get the out.

The 'experts" eschew fielding percentage. That is their problem

Hey, Mr. James, would you rather have a shortstop that has a Range Factor of 4.51 and a fielding percentage of .961 with 29 errors or a shortstop with a Range Factor of 3.44 and a .972 fielding percentage with 12 errors.

The first shortstop is Starling Castro. The latter is Derek Jeter.