Remember the big-time, two-way shortstops supposed to be the next wave of baseball domination? SI’s Tom Verducci takes a very good look at the era of Alex Rodriguez, Nomar Garciaparra, Derek Jeter, Edgar Renteria and Miguel Tejada, and why it didn’t seem to have a lasting effect.
Verducci notes the obvious exception of the NL East, where the world champion Phillies have Jimmy Rollins, the Mets have Jose Reyes and the Marlins have Hanley Ramirez — making the division the last bastion of star-power shortstops.
There is also an accompanying chart that lists OPS+ for World Series-winning shortstops since 2001. Rollins’ 103 this season tops that list, followed by … drumroll, Angels fans …. 101 by David Eckstein (pictured, as a Blue Jay) for the 2002 champions from Anaheim.
Many Angels fans would probably rather have anyone but Erick Aybar at shortstop for their team in 2009. His OPS+ last year was 83. That’s better than three of the eight champion shortstops on the SI list.
Jason Bartlett, whose Rays got into the World Series, was 82.
But how relative are these numbers, when it really comes to shortstops? Plenty, if you’re picking a Fantasy League team, where defense usually counts for zilch.
The big plus from A-Rod, Nomar, Jeter, Tejeda and Renteria was they could not only pick it, they  were offensive weapons too, at a position where that combo only came along once in awhile, i.e., Honus Wagner, Ernie Banks, Cal Ripken Jr.
After the Big Five’s brief splash, the position seems to be reverting to normalcy. Even the three NL East exceptions noted are more speed merchants than powerhouses, although they do exhibit much sock.

Posted in: Alex Rodriguez • Cal Ripken Jr. • David Eckstein • Derek Jeter • Edgar Renteria • Erick Aybar • Ernie Banks • Hanley Ramirez • Honus Wagner • Jimmy Rollins • Jose Reyes • Miguel Tejada • Nomar Garciaparra |

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