Joe Posnanski explores the similarities and differences between the two great hitters. I agree with this part about Jeter:

I know some people think I do not like Derek Jeter -- probably because I invented the word Jeterate and tend to get a bit worked up about Jeter's defensive issues. But I do like him, I admire him, and I've always thought that while that play gets shown about 583 times every postseason, it is actually an excellent way to describe Jeter's play. He has, in my mind, played with a heightened sense of life. You know that expression: "Be alive out there." I think Jeter has been alive as much or more than any player of his generation.

I don't mean that he's some great clutch guy -- I don't believe in that stuff much, I think great clutch players tend to be great players the rest of the time too -- but I mean that he has shown an ability to play at a high level more often and more consistently than many others. He seems to have a good grasp of the moment, and he doesn't fade out too often.

One thing I found interesting was Posnanski tracing the history of this type of player from Rose back to Slaughter back to Dyer and so on back to Ty Cobb. Along with Jeter, Joe puts Johnny Damon and Dustin Pedroia into this category. That's an interesting split. While these three play hard like those of the past, they don't seem to possess the personality of the earlier versions. The newer versions don't seem to be first class jerks. That's a huge improvement.