What’s interesting is though he has said all offers are off the table, he implied the opposite that there is still a pending offer. I still think the Twins front office is deadset against doing business with the Steins. This kind of talking to the press doesn’t help change the image that projects to the typical Twins fan either.  Kind of like the Yankees get what they want. We will see. I wonder what the two week deadline means. They signed A-rod on Valentines Day.

Apologies for going back to discussion from an earlier thread, but I find myself still fascinated by SG’s look at the fielders behind Wang.  SG, you said you think it particularly interesting that Jeter makes a higher percentage of his plays when Wang is pitching.  Do you have a theory?

“SG, you said you think it particularly interesting that Jeter makes a higher percentage of his plays when Wang is pitching.  Do you have a theory?”

Doesn’t it seem obvious that if the data as interpreted are correct—i.e., that Wang DOES give up GBs that are more easily fieldable—that Jeter has more time to react and get to balls that normally would be “past a diving…”

Not trying to slap you down, Frog, just wondering if there’s more to this than what I just wrote.

What’s interesting is though he has said all offers are off the table, he implied the opposite that there is still a pending offer.

I think it reads this way because we just get a few selected quotes at any given time.  It’s just as easy to read it without any inconsistency—the offer that the Yanks pulled was the best one the Twins got, and Hank expects that they won’t trade Santana without calling to find out if they can get that offer put back into play.  But I guess it’s a better story if they play it up as Hank waffling.  And I suppose it’s an even better story if a reporter pretends that it’s tampering.

I wonder what the two week deadline means.

I don’t think it’s a deadline on any specific transaction; it sounds like it just means that they’d like to have the roster more or less settled in the next couple of weeks.  Pitchers and catchers report on Valentine’s Day.

Do you have a theory?

I think fsasparini covers it.  If Jeter’s big problem is reaction time, then slower ground balls would seem to be the biggest difference in plays he is able to field or not.  The only other thing would be that Wang’s style means more grounders hit to Jeter’s right, where he seems to have better range.

Hank has all the subtlety of a sledgehammer.  Maybe he’s crazy like a fox.  Maybe he’s just crazy.  Why he keeps commenting on this is beyond me.  If I were the Twins, I’d say no to the Yanks just to screw over Hank - even if the Yanks offer was best.

The only other thing would be that Wang’s style means more grounders hit to Jeter’s right, where he seems to have better range.

That’s what I don’t understand about Jeter - he should have better range to his left.  His glove is on his left and he doesn’t have to cross his body to get the ball.  Going to the right means moving faster to keep the ball in front, or failing that, crossing the body to make the play.

I hope he or a coach figures out his fielding problems and get him back on track.  If Ripken can play solid SS by just positioning himself better, then I’m confident Jeter can.

That’s what I don’t understand about Jeter - he should have better range to his left.

I think I read somewhere - and it does seem this way if you watch replays of balls hit to Jeter - that right before the pitch, he takes a step in (which you should do), and a little to his RIGHT (which you should not).  He always steps left-foot, right-foot, and then puts his weight forward, so that when the ball is hit his balance is shifted towards his right-side.  So maybe it takes, I don’t know, half-a-second to reorient himself going left, and that’s all it takes.  Not sure how easy it is to break THAT habit.

If Ripken can play solid SS by just positioning himself better, then I’m confident Jeter can.

Besides the weight-thing, I think Jeter plays too shallow, given how well he comes in on balls and his arm.  If he were to play a step, step and a half back, and maybe a step to his left, I would think he could get to at least 10 extra balls a year, if not more.

“That’s what I don’t understand about Jeter - he should have better range to his left.”

Just a though.  Maybe Jeter gets to more balls to his right because of Arod, in particular this season.  Arod do have pretty good range to his left.  This cuts down on balls hit between them that could possibly be missed by a diving Jeter.  With Arod taking away base hits between 3rd and short, Jeter’s range to that side would appear to be better.  Any thoughts?

In addition Jeter did have a bad wheel this year.  I also find the weight on the right foot interesting.  It’s a lot line a sprinter in the blocks or for that matter a runner getting picked off leaning towards 2nd while on 1st.

do = does and line = like

Sorry Fellas it has been a long day