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Like the goat in the AFLAC commercial says, "Nah, nah, nah".

Is Alex Rodriguez the best home run hitter in the game today? Yes.

Is he the guy most likely to overtake Bubblehead Barry Bonds for the all-time home run crown? Yes (thank you, A-Rod!).

Is he in a good position to have his next contract equal or exceed his current $252 million-dollar deal? I think so.

But, to find the best player in baseball, Alex has merely to glance to his left when he's playing third.

That's right. Derek Jeter is, in my estimation, the best player in the game today, and has been for some time.

No, Jeter's not gonna hit bombs like A-Rod or Sammy. He's not gonna lead the league in homers or RBI or stolen bases. All he's gonna do is play to win, and lead his teammates to be winners.

No one plays harder than Jeter, but here's the main thing: No one, but no one, plays the game smarter. Jeter's always thinking two or three plays ahead, always throws to the right base, always runs hard, takes the extra base, plays the game cool-headed, rationally, and right.

The proof? Jeter's been the Captain of the Yankees, baseball's most storied and successful franchise, for some years now. No disrespect to A-Rod, but that's an honor and responsibility he is simply incapable of earning or bearing. Think about that for a minute - you know it's true.

Need more proof? Easy. Jeter is the all-time (yes, ALL-TIME) leader in post-season hits, runs and total bases, while A-Rod's post-season history is a total embarrassment. Once the playoffs start, Rodriguez is unable to hit, field, or throw. Don't take my word for it - look the numbers up yourself.

Both of them are Hall-of-Famers, but Jeter has already earned his place in Monument Park, the Yankees' pantheon of greats, a place that A-Rod will never be able to enter, regardless of how many homers he hits or how much money he makes.

Learn more about this author, Chris Messner.
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