The Confucian Way of Derek Jeter

The Master said: "Don't worry about not being recognized by others; worry about not having any reason for them to recognize you."  Analects 14.30 (Ames and Rosemont trans.)

Derek Jeter, shortstop for the New York Yankees has long been derided by critics as being a subpar player.  They complain that he does not reach balls that most others would get for outs; they say he costs his team runs; they say he is overrated.  But he has persisted (and continually received the praise and plaudits of Yankee fans), improving his game over the years. This is made very clear in this piece by Joe Posnanski:

Still, the numbers suggest that he's playing shortstop better than he has in years. Two baseball insiders concur, saying that he positions himself better now than he ever did before and his already quick release has gotten even quicker. Plainly, not as many grounders are getting past a diving Jeter.

And, of course, his offensive accomplishments have now risen to historical significance.  No other shortstop in the history of the game has as many hits as Jeter.  And there are other statistics:

But Jeter is the only lifelong shortstop to hit 200 homers and steal 200 bases. He's the only lifelong shortstop the last 60 years to punch up an on-base percentage better than .375 (.387 lifetime -- and on-base percentage is probably the most telling single offensive stat). He's moving into the top 50 lifetime in runs scored -- and there's every reason to believe that by the end of his career he will be in the top 10, maybe even the top five if he plays well into his 40s.

And hits? Well, the Hit King Pete Rose had 2,762 hits on the day he turned 36. Jeter, assuming health, will have more when he turns 36 next June.

Jeter has long been criticized by Yankee haters (remember when Red Sox fans used to argue that Garciaparra was the better shortstop?).  But he obviously did not worry about the fact that others did not recognize his talents.  He has just worked to continually improve.  And he has.  And Confucius (if he were a baseball fan, which he was not, and even my creative talents cannot make him into one...) would be happy.

Derek Jeter, Sage of the Bronx Middle Infield.