Manos de piedra

With all due respect to Roberto Duran, it seems, according to uber-stat overlord Bill James (and his Fielding Bible), that Derek Jeter is set to claim that moniker for himself.

"Given every vector and every type of hit, they assigned a percentage probability that the ball would result in an out, and then they had analyzed the outcomes to determine who was best at turning hit balls into outs. One of their conclusions was that Derek Jeter was probably the least effective defensive player in the major leagues, at any position."

Naturally, Jeter shrugged it off. Then probably took his latest supermodel to dinner while showing off his four W.S. rings and nine digit bank account. He had this to say last spring training when a Penn University study released in February found Jeter to be the worst shortstop in the majors.

"Maybe it was a computer glitch," Jeter told The Post during spring training. "Every [shortstop] doesn't stay in the same spot, every one doesn't have the same pitching. Every one doesn't have the same hitters running. It's impossible to do that."

All that being said, I think Jeter opens the 2010 season somewhere other than SS. And, by the way, that's his last year of his 10 year, $180 million contract. Get ready for the armageddon.

(h/t to BTF)