Following the discussion in the Tony Gwynn thread, and knowing that there are countless variations, I'd like to see what you guys would see as a best-of-the-best lineup in baseball by position (including DH).
I'm not sure I'd even know where to start, outside of that I'd have Rickey Henderson on my list in LF, though I'm biased because of my lifelong man-crush on him.
I put him on there because he was a pretty good fielder, but he was just so dangerous as a leadoff hitter and base-runner.
1. Roberto Alomar 2B
2. Willie Mays CF
3. Lou Gehrig 1B
4. Babe Ruth DH
5. Ted Williams RF
6. Frank Robinson LF
7. Mike Schmidt 3B
8. Johnny Bench C
9. Omar Vizquel SS
RH SP - Bob Gibson
LH SP - Sandy Koufax
RH RP - Rollie Fingers
LH RP - Sparky Lyle
This is easy, though I am going to exclude the old time players like Ruth, Cobb, etc.
C - Johnny Bench
1B - Albert Pujols
2B - Joe Morgan
3B - Mike Schmidt
SS - Alex Rodriguez
LF - Barry Bonds
CF - Willie Mays
RF - Hank Aaron
SP - Roger Clemens
Closer - Mariano Rivera
C: Carlton Fisk
1st: Hank Aaron
2nd:Jeff Kent?
3rd: Mike Schmidt
SS: A-Rod
LF: Barry Bonds
CF: Ty Cobb
RF: Babe Ruth
Util: Rickey Henderson
SP: Nolan Ryan
Closer: The hand of God. Mo Rivera.
Fantasy baseball is about category juice. Disregard defense.
These are just off the top of my head, guys I know put in that category juice.
Why would you exclude all time players?
I guess it also depends on their position eligibility. Some played different positions throughout their career.
I built for defense up the middle and power on the corners. My 2B, CF, and C just happen to also be great hitters too. Omar, while not a great hitter, was a pretty good one, and he was the best defensive SS I ever saw. Also, I don't play Fantasy baseball so I wasn't thinking in those terms when I chose. Instead, I tried to put together a team that would have great hitting, great defense and great pitching. So you can ROFL all you want; I think my team would win about 130 games a season.
Just because he is the best you have ever seen doesn't mean he is the best.
Well, it is my team after all. I know a lot would choose Ozzie Smith or Derek Jeter. I think Omar was a better hitter than Ozzie, and a much better fielder than Jeter.
You understand we're talking about fantasy baseball right?
Quote:
You understand we're talking about fantasy baseball right?
The title says Fantasy, the post talks about best of the best... so which is it, are we compiling stats or building a team to win? If it is really fantasy then it's a mathematical exercise and there is an absolute right answer somebody just has to figure out what it is... if you are talking about building the best team ever, then it become very subjective with some offensive/defensive trade-offs..
The offensive defensive trade-offs aren't that great if you have an outfield of Bonds, Mays, Aaron with A-Rod at short (all of those players also happened to be pretty great fielders in their primes as well).
I'm just going with guys in my lifetime.
1. Jeter, SS
2. Alomar, 2B
3. Bonds, LF
4. Mi. Cabrera, DH
5. Pujols, 1B
6. M. Ramirez, RF
7. Schmidt, 3B
8. Bench, C
9. Griffey Jr. CF
SP Randy Johnson
CP Rivera
I really didn't get to see Schmidt or Bench play, but when I was born those guys were just finishing it out. They were, and are baseball legends.
I really wanted to put Frank Thomas on here, because of the fear he put into opposing pitchers, but Pujols is just better.
If we are just going pure offense then Piazza is the catcher of all these teams.
Quote:
The offensive defensive trade-offs aren't that great if you have an outfield of Bonds, Mays, Aaron with A-Rod at short (all of those players also happened to be pretty great fielders in their primes as well).
That's true but I see a lot of Robby Alomar at 2nd.. I'd go with Ryan Sandberg... or Roger Hornsby..
3rd base, Schmidts a good choice but an argument could be made for George Brett or Brooks Robinson...
1st base, Pujols or Bagwell..
Short I might have to go with Cal Ripken Jr.
Joe Morgan is the best second basemen of all time. Ripken is good, but offensively he is not close to A-Rod.
Sorry, maybe title is misleading.
I was just asking if you were to put together your all-time best lineup, what would it be?
Quote:
Joe Morgan is the best second basemen of all time.
Why? Because his .271 BA is better than Sandbergs .285? His 16 HR per year is better than Sandbergs 21? His 69 RBI's per year are better than Sandbergs 79? or because Sandbergs career .989 fielding percentage, which is the best all time, isn't better?
And I took Ripken.. well because I just don't like ARod..
Good thread. I was thinking about this earlier.
I am going to exclude guys who I never saw play. One good thing about being old is that I saw a lot of guys. LOL
SRHP: Tom Seaver
SRHP: Bob Gibson
SLHP: Sandy Koufax
SLHP: Steve Carlton
Closer: Mariano Rivera
C: Carlton Fisk
1B: Rod Carew [but Gerhrig and Jimmie Foxx are probably way better]
2B: Roberto Alomar [Rogers Hornsby is probably the best ever]
3B: Mike Schmidt
SS: Derek Jeter [tough call]
LF: Hank Aaron [I know he played RF, but it's my team]
CF: Willie Mays
RF: Roberto Clemente
DH: Barry Bonds
Manager: Tony La Russa
Sandberg was a very good hitter, but do you remember when he couldn't make the throw from 2nd to first? All mental.
Go look at Morgan's peak years. They are most definitely not better than Sandberg.
And fielding percentage? Really?
I'm just going to list guys I've seen play.
C Johnny Bench
1B Albert Pujols
2B Ryne Sandberg
SS Derek Jeter
3B Mike Schmidt
LF Rickey Henderson
CF Ken Griffey jr.
RF Reggie Jackson
RSP Greg Maddux
LSP Randy Johnson
RP Mariano Rivera
C Johnny Bench
1B Willie McCovey
2B Roberto Alomar
SS Ozzie Smith
3B Mike Schmidt
LF Hank Aaron (Had To Put Him Somewhere)
CF Willie Mays
RF Roberto Clemente
DH Barry Bonds
DH Tony Gwen
RSP Bob Gibson
LH SP - Sandy Koufax
RP - Rollie Fingers
C Johnny Bench
1B Lou Gerigh
2B Rod Carew
3B Mike Schmidt
SS Cal Ripkin
OF Babe Ruth
OF Ty Cobb
OF Willie Mays
DH Ted Williams
RHP Greg Maddox
RHP Bob Gibson
LHP Lefty Grove
LHP Sandy Koufax
RP Dennis Eckersly
C - Mike Piazza
1B - Lou Gehrig
2B - Rogers Hornsby
3B - Alex Rodriguez
SS - Honus Wagner
LF - Ted Williams
CF - Ty Cobb
RF - Babe Ruth
SP - Pedro Martinez
Closer - Mariano Rivera
My all 80's/90's team... really the players I grew up watching.
C - Mike Piazza
1B - Don Mattingly
2B - Ryan Sandberg
3B - Wade Boggs
SS - Derek Jeter
LF - Manny Ramirez
CF - Kenny Lofton
RF - Tony Gwynn
DH - Kirby Puckett
SP - Randy Johnson
Closer - Mariano Rivera
A 90s team without Griffey? C'mon.
C- Bench
1B- Gehrig
2B- Hornsby
SS - Concepcion
3B - Schmidt
LF - Williams
CF - Mantle
RF - Yastrzemski
DH - J Dimaggio
RHP - Sever
LHP - Kofax
Closer - Sutter
I know, Williams and Yaz both played LF, but how can you argue with a lineup with 7 Triple Crowns. I had a difficult choice at 2B between Hornsby, a 2 time Triple Crown Winner and Pete Rose, baseball's All Time Hits Leader.