More on Transcending the Numbers

Because hits aren't the only thing that matters, what I've done today is calculate the differential in each player's team winning percentage between games in which the player records at least one hit, walk, or hit-by-pitch, and games where they don't, since the player's Major League debut. Note that the second category includes games they didn't play in. Here are the numbers: Derek Jeter, +.117; David Wright, +.095; Jose Reyes, +.156; Albert Pujols, .188 (for comparison). None of this is to say that, perhaps, Jeter's numbers are better than Reyes. But excluding any utterly intangible things like clubhouse leadership qualities, it looks like Reyes contributes more to his team when he is successful than Jeter does. (Though less than Pujols does; the Cardinals are utterly dependent on him and they should consider that when thinking about signing him or not signing him. The Mets should think about this when considering whether to sign Reyes, too.) My instinct that Reyes transcends his numbers better than Jeter does is definitely born out by the evidence.