Derek Jeter: Overrated?

Before Yankee fans start jumping all over this heretical proposition, let me state - in the spirit of full disclosure - that I am both a Yankee fan and a Derek Jeter fan. Now, that being said, my assertion is that Jeter's reputation for being one of the best - if not THE best - clutch, big-game player in baseball today is not entirely warranted. A clutch player should - by definition - elevate his level of play in the "big" games or, at the very least, maintain his standard level of performance when the pressure is really on. While the perception is that Derek Jeter is one of these players, the fact is that the statistics don't back it up. In 1,366 regular season games, Jeter has put up the following numbers:

Batting Average: .315
On-Base Percentage: .385
Slugging Percentage: .463

In 110 post-season games (an amazing number for a 30-year-old), Jeter has posted the following:

Batting Average: .306
On-Base Percentage: .380
Slugging Percentage: .456

Undoubtedly very impressive post-season numbers ... but also striking similar to - and ever so slightly lower than - his regular season stats. Again, this is not intended as Jeter-bashing -- far from it. It simply illustrates that Jeter basically MAINTAINS his outstanding level of play from the regular-season into the post-season (when the pitching is admittedly superior). And isn't that what really makes him - and the few other like him - a superstar? Jeter doesn't just turn it on for the big games ... he plays EVERY game like it's a big game.