Gay-Rod Lets the Yanks Down

Each year, as with WWII veterans, the number of people who actually saw the Great Dimaggio play, sharply diminishes, and so with each passing year does his aura. Back in 1969, a poll commissioned by Major League Baseball in comemoration of professional baseball's centennial named Dimaggio the Greatest Living Player. But a few years ago, the Yankee Clipper ended up 11th all-time in a Sporting News ranking. As the memories fade, all that's left are the stats. Among those ahead of him was his main rival, Ted Williams. But while Williams's stats seem to overwhelm Dimaggio's, Joltin' Joe was always the man wearing the ring. Few in the day, observing the two warriors in the heat of battle, doubted who stood on top.

Alex Rodriguez will finish his career with awesome stats that may well force the empiricists to judge him the greatest ever. But while his teamate Derek Jeter did everything he could in last night's game, A-Rod came up short each time. Even in the field, he couldn't make the plays he had to make. Even at the astonishing heights that major league players inhabit, there is still room for distinction between those with the balls to make a difference at a crucial moment and those who descend into mediocrity when the moment arises. For any baseball fan, given the choice of A-Rod or Jeter for your team, you going with the stats, or the man?