I recall there being doubts whether he would last at shortstop. There seemed to be a lot of red flags about the error rate early on. There were some "he'll fill out, add power and play third base," or "he'll be a centerfielder," comments.

He's a hall-of-famer. Period.

He's going in. Bank on it.

He is fully qualified for the Hall already, and his career numbers may turn out to be just obscene.

I have a theory about Derek and his D.  I think his supreme confidence has enabled him to suceed as much as he has, and especially in the postseason, but I think his D has suffered because of it.  He has great tools, but I just don't think he ever learned to play SS properly.  He reached the majors at 22 and did about as much as anyone possibly could at that age, but can you imagine someone then trying to tell Derek he is playing the position wrong and could do better?  I doubt he would listen.  For someone with a good arm like his, he should be playing deeper and getting more on his throws.

Anyway I live in NYC and see and hear about him all the time.  I'm not a Yankees fan, but I'm not a hater either.

No doubt about it, even if he had a career ending injury tomorrow.  I can see him turning into a Paul Molitor type DH in the future just to chase numbers and provide leadership to a contender.

HOF, for his offense.  I think his defense is not all that great (though it seems to have improved), his clutchness is vastly overrated, etc.  But I think his offensive prowess and consistency are underrated.  Just because he never hit like Nomar's batting title years or A-Rod's whole career or even Miggy's career power numbers doesn't mean he's not a HOF-er.  If HOFs were all compared to A-Rod very few would be in there.

Jeter is a first ballot HOFer, and probably will get around 95% or so (maybe more) of the vote.  I'm a Yankee hater, so I'm biased, but I think he's vastly overrated.  He'll get in more because he happened to play on some of the best and MOST EXPENSIVE teams ever assembled, because he was in the right place at the right time a few times, and because he plays in New York and the media loves him than he will due to his actual performance on the field.  As I've heard it said: If Carlos Guillen was put at SS for the Skanks in 1996 and could stay healthy his entire career, people would be proclaiming him the best player ever.

Defence metrics aren't very good yet, but all of them show Jeter to be a below average fielder throughout his career.

Jeter, Nomar and A-Rod (and Larkin) are all significantly better players than about 1/2 the shortstops in the Hall of Fame.  The interesting question will be whether Larkin and Nomar get the support they deserve when the time comes.

He's in.

He's so overrated, which might hurt him (Writers are tired of the Yankees spanking off to him so they dont vote) but I agree he'll hit forever.  I remember reading an article saying his career is identical to Pete Rose's through 31, its after 31 that Rose cranked it up and got alot of hits.  We'll see what Jeter does after 31, but he'll get to 3000, it'll be interesting to see how much more than that though.

He's alot better than Larkin.  Larkin only has 2340 hits, Jeter should get close to that after next year.  Larkin never had a 200 hit season, Jeter has 4.

Nomar isn't making it either.  He had 4 great years, but hasn't been healthy since.  Plus he isn't even a SS anymore.  Nomar also wasn't exactly the best defender.  He made lots of errors.  Nomar won't come close to the numbers to be a hall of fame player.

No doubt. He will have 3,000 hits--all in a Yankee uniform. Did you know that if he were to get 3,000 hits all in a Yanks uniform he'd be the 1st yankee ever to get 3,000 hits?

BTW, I was the one that requested this prospect retro. Yea me!

I remember a discussion at BTF a while back in which people said Jeter is having the career Larkin would've had if he could've stayed healthy. I think that's accurate. Combine Larkin's bat with 150+ games every year makes Jeter wildly valuable.

1. I think Larkin would have had a lot more homers had he not been injured and had those injuries not taken a substantial toll on his legs.
2. Jeter is quite possibly one of the most overrated players of all time - and that's saying something because he is a damn good player and a lock for the Hall.
3. Nomar is going to have to do some very big things to get a chance at the Hall. By that I mean, he's going to have to put up a few seasons better than the one he's putting up right now - and that seems highly unlikely.
4. I echo the above thoughts that he'll just keep hitting - his durability is incredible. I've got no doubt that he'll get 3,000 hits and there's a good chance that he'll push 3,500.
5. I can't stand the guy.

For some reason I can't stand him.  Just too perfect.  However he is a great ball player.  When he backed up first base during that world series game and threw out the runner at home...amazing.  Whoever heard of a short stop backing up first base?  He had the presence of mind to go there because the ball just might be there.

He is so smoooth that it is almost sickeningly sweet yet he is so smooth when he's hitting too.  Yes, he benefits from being on the Yankees, though that's not his fault.  His stats are ridiculous except he does not have the outrageous SS power of an AROD or Tejeda.

To me he seems to be a throwback to the very best of shortstops back in the day, except better than almost all of them.

the overrated comments.  Who is he rated over that he shouldn't be?  I don't think anyone has said he is the greatest baseball player of all time.  It is pretty much the popular opinion of Yankee lovers and haters that he is a HOFer.  Anyone who denies that pretty much doesn't know a thing about baseball.

He is one of the most consistant hitters over the last decade. He has great on base ability, great contact ability, is a great baserunner, and has a knack for making the big play in big spots.

Sure, he doesn't have a ton of power or great range at SS, but he makes the plays anyway.  If he had those 2 things going for him, he probably would be the greatest baseball player of all time.  But he doesn't, so the jealous types like to point it out.  

You can point to the few negatives all you want, but he is still a first ballot HOFer and still probably better than your favorite active player as far as career stats when it is all said and done.

"still probably better than your favorite active player as far as career stats when it is all said and done."

AROD and Barry, just to start with the most obvious ones.

Let's start with the players on his own team:

A-Rod. The Yankee fans have, this year, shown why they are amongst the worst in baseball: they've bought into this national campaign against A-Rod that is just plain stupid. If you took a poll, I've got no doubt that most Yankee fans would say that, if they had to choose, they rather keep Jeter. Pathetic. Also: When A-Rod came over to NY he should have immediately been installed at SS. Why? Because he was better. Why didn't it happen? Politics.

Giambi. He's been better than Jeter almost every year for the past 5-7 years.

Sheffield. Not this year, obviously, but definitely over the course of his career.

Through age 32, they are equivalent offensive ballplayers. Jeter is much more durable.  Larkin was way, way better on defence.

Larkin ended up playing until he was 40, and had a number of good seasons after age 32.  We will see how Jeter does.

If Derek Jeter is Barry Larkin but more Durable, then Derek Jeter is awesome.

This is a stupid argument.