Brady vs. Lang: Papi, Jeter defying their age

Morning show co-hosts Jim Lang and Greg Brady do not agree on anything, not even agreeing to disagree.

This week the debate rages over the quick start to the season by both Derek Jeter and David Ortiz, and the speculation over who will dip first?

Greg Brady: Says Jeter has been on fire since last summer and is primed for a big season

We all have a bachelor or two among our group of friends. Sure, they miss out on amazing, life-changing moments: kids, weddings, evolving into a “family guy,” but then again, they seem less tired and worn-out, more energetic and spirited. Derek Jeter’s pretty close to the most famous bachelor in sports, and he’s bearing that “less tired” theory out with his sizzling 2012 start, one that has a much better chance of continuing than David Ortiz’s. Don’t call it a comeback—Jeter’s been here for years.

Now 37, Jeter finished 2009 third in MVP voting, with a .334 average, 30 steals, a Gold Glove, a Silver Slugger Award, and the fourth-highest OPS of his career. He’d have been forgiven if he tailed off as players are supposed to when they’re not, ahem, chemically enhanced. And he did in 2010. More so in 2011, when he had just one memorable day: With typical Jeter-esque flair, he went 5-for-5 at the plate, at home, and swatted his 3,000th hit, a home run. He’s been on fire since.

With Jorge Posada’s decline and retirement, Jeter somehow became linked with him. What’s the contingency plan? Should the Yankees even keep Jeter?

He’s Derek Freaking Jeter. For Yankees fans wondering if he’d finish his career as a platoon player, whether he’d be overpaid at $16 million, the answer is no. If the Yankees contend in 2012, they’ll do it because of their superstar shortstop.

Jim Lang: Believes Ortiz has done it in the past and has another great year in him

With his mile-wide grin and larger-than-life personality, age is but a number for David Ortiz. Yes, “Big Papi” is 36 years old. But his perpetually sunny demeanour and prodigious offensive numbers tell a much different story.

Through the first 30 games of the season, Ortiz was hitting .359, on pace to whack 40 homers, knock in 125 runners and finish with an OPS in excess of 1.000. While it is silly to suggest he’ll hit all of those benchmarks, there is every indication Ortiz will put up big numbers this summer. Yankees legend Derek Jeter is also off to a great start. But keep this in mind: Over the course of his fabulous career, Jeter has never had an OPS above 1.000. Ortiz has done it three times. From 2004 through 2006, he compiled the kind of offensive numbers most players only dream of, averaging 47 home runs, 141 RBI and a 1.039 OPS. So this year’s gaudy numbers are not unheard of for him.

Even in the great Red Sox collapse of 2011, the aging Ortiz still put together an impressive season: 29 home runs, 96 RBI and a .953 OPS. Since 2000, Jeter has driven in more than 80 runs only once—97 in 2006—and while hitting for average has rarely been an issue for Jeter, to think he will sustain his power numbers and his off-the-charts OPS is a stretch. By the end of the summer, Jeter will have added to his legend, but Ortiz will have put up MVP-worthy numbers.