I've never said WAR is the be-all-end-all tool.
I'm very stingy on who belongs in the HOF. I'm not changing my criteria over Jeter. I don't think Schilling belongs, either, so it's not a Yankee thing.
I'm also very stingy on those that get in just because they played 20 years of better than mediocre ball.
I think Jeter's defense was so bad, it lowered his overall value to pint where he's close, but I'd vote no. Maybe by his last chance ballot I might change my mind.
I like WAR. I use WAR, at times but not often. I think it has flaws, and maybe this case highlights one of them.
Jeter was a horrible fielder for more than half his career. He played a position where defense is extremely important. Maybe I over value SS defense, and I'm dead wrong, but it's who I am. I would not vote for Jeter on the first ballot and probably every one until maybe his last year on the ballot.
Sox 4 Ever