Infield: Second baseman Steve Sax (1981-94) started as Rookie of the Year and survived a stretch in mid-career when he developed a bizarre mental block about throwing to first base that led to balls flying into the stands and dugouts on a regular basis. Along the way he had almost 2,000 hits and stole 444 bases. He was a quintessential L.A. ballplayer - handsome, clever and a bit of a ham. Third baseman Sammy Strang (1896-1908) was a good hitter who knew how to get on base. He was part of the 1905 New York Giants team that won the World Series. Strang was nicknamed "The Dixie Thrush" - Dixie because he was from Tennessee, and Thrush, one assumes, because he reminded people of a small songbird. Scott Spiezio (1996-2007) spent his career as a fine utility man, but we need him to play everyday at first base. He hit 119 home runs in his career, was a World Series hero for the 2002 Angels and was a popular role player on the 2006 Cardinals championship team, well known for his dyed-red "soul patch" facial hair. Shortstop Sibby Sisti (1939-54) wasn’t very good, but he’s the best we’ve got. Plus he's got that name. (We want Sibby Sisti to meet Creepy Crespi.)
Outfield: Right fielder Sammy Sosa (1989-2007) hit 609 home runs. He was a talented young player with the Rangers and the White Sox but didn't fully bloom until he arrived with the Cubs and began pounding home runs. A popular, enthusiastic Dominican, Sosa developed into one of the most prolific sluggers of all time; his legendary home run duel with Mark McGwire in 1998 (in which they both surpassed Roger Maris' single-season record and captured the attention of the nation) was the start of a four-year stretch in which he hit 243 home runs and drove in 597 runs. His popularity has waned amid the assumption that he used steroids; he did not help himself with an appearance before Congress at which the usually media-friendly Sosa tried to claim that he had a limited understanding of English. Left fielder Shannon Stewart (1995-2008) could get on base, hit with some pop and run well. He retired with a .297 average, 115 home runs and 196 steals. … all in all, a pretty fair ballplayer. Center fielder Stan Spence (1940-49) had a .282 career batting average.
Catcher: Scott Servais (1991-2001) wasn’t great, but he wasn’t terrible either. He was servaisable.
Rotation: Slim Sallee (1908-21) was an awfully good lefty, and he pitched won a World Series championship with the 1919 Reds, the prestige of which is diminished a bit by the fact that the other team wasn’t really trying to win. He also won a pennant with the 1917 Reds, and another World Series title with the 1921 Giants, though he did not appear in the Series. Sallee won 174 games in his career, including a 21-7 record in 1919 in which he pitched 227 innings and struck out just 24 batters, which is most likely the closest a pitcher has ever come to winning 20 games and having fewer strikeouts than victories. Sherry Smith (1911-27) was another good lefty who won 114 games. Scott Sanderson (1978-96) was a durable, dependable righty who won 163 games. Sonny Siebert (1964-76) won 140 games. Steve Stone (1971-81) won a Cy Young Award in 1980 but didn’t really deserve it, but he won 104 games. He gets the fifth starter job over Spec Shea just so this team can have that rare rotation with all five starters over 100 victories.
Bullpen: Sammy Stewart (1978-87), an Earl Weaver favorite, will get first shot at the closer job. He ware rarely a closer during his career, never saved 20 games and was only in double-digits once, but he was pretty good, and he was a key reliever on Orioles teams that won two pennants and a World Series title. He’s backed by a bunch of Scotts who were all pretty decent relievers. Scott Sullivan (1995-2004), Scott Schoeneweis (1999- ) and Scott Sauerbeck (1999-2006) all pitched at the same time and were all pretty good, and a lot of fans had a hard time remembering which was which. Scott Sanders (1993-99) pitched a little bit before them and wasn’t quite as good. Scot Shields (2001- ) was better than any of them, but he only has one “T” in his first name. Spec Shea (a.k.a. “The Naugatuck Nugget”) was a good pitcher and will work as a swingman here.
Bench: Skip Schumaker (2005- ) is a .300 hitter who can fill in at second base or in the outfield. Socks Seybold (1899-1908) was a heck of a hitter who will definitely get some starts in the outfield. Steve Souchock (1946-55) had some pop and will back up at first and in the outfield. Steve Swisher (1974-82) was a bad hitter but will work just fine as our backup catcher. Scott Sheldon (2001-07) will serve as the backup in the middle infield and might spell Sibby Sisti some at short.
Manager: Steve Smith never managed in the big leagues, but he was a coach for a decade with the Mariners, Rangers and Phillies, and he has the added bonus of being the manager of our hometown Peninsula Pilots (Single-A Carolina League) in 1991.
Outfield: Right fielder Sammy Sosa (1989-2007) hit 609 home runs. He was a talented young player with the Rangers and the White Sox but didn't fully bloom until he arrived with the Cubs and began pounding home runs. A popular, enthusiastic Dominican, Sosa developed into one of the most prolific sluggers of all time; his legendary home run duel with Mark McGwire in 1998 (in which they both surpassed Roger Maris' single-season record and captured the attention of the nation) was the start of a four-year stretch in which he hit 243 home runs and drove in 597 runs. His popularity has waned amid the assumption that he used steroids; he did not help himself with an appearance before Congress at which the usually media-friendly Sosa tried to claim that he had a limited understanding of English. Left fielder Shannon Stewart (1995-2008) could get on base, hit with some pop and run well. He retired with a .297 average, 115 home runs and 196 steals. … all in all, a pretty fair ballplayer. Center fielder Stan Spence (1940-49) had a .282 career batting average.
Catcher: Scott Servais (1991-2001) wasn’t great, but he wasn’t terrible either. He was servaisable.
Rotation: Slim Sallee (1908-21) was an awfully good lefty, and he pitched won a World Series championship with the 1919 Reds, the prestige of which is diminished a bit by the fact that the other team wasn’t really trying to win. He also won a pennant with the 1917 Reds, and another World Series title with the 1921 Giants, though he did not appear in the Series. Sallee won 174 games in his career, including a 21-7 record in 1919 in which he pitched 227 innings and struck out just 24 batters, which is most likely the closest a pitcher has ever come to winning 20 games and having fewer strikeouts than victories. Sherry Smith (1911-27) was another good lefty who won 114 games. Scott Sanderson (1978-96) was a durable, dependable righty who won 163 games. Sonny Siebert (1964-76) won 140 games. Steve Stone (1971-81) won a Cy Young Award in 1980 but didn’t really deserve it, but he won 104 games. He gets the fifth starter job over Spec Shea just so this team can have that rare rotation with all five starters over 100 victories.
Bullpen: Sammy Stewart (1978-87), an Earl Weaver favorite, will get first shot at the closer job. He ware rarely a closer during his career, never saved 20 games and was only in double-digits once, but he was pretty good, and he was a key reliever on Orioles teams that won two pennants and a World Series title. He’s backed by a bunch of Scotts who were all pretty decent relievers. Scott Sullivan (1995-2004), Scott Schoeneweis (1999- ) and Scott Sauerbeck (1999-2006) all pitched at the same time and were all pretty good, and a lot of fans had a hard time remembering which was which. Scott Sanders (1993-99) pitched a little bit before them and wasn’t quite as good. Scot Shields (2001- ) was better than any of them, but he only has one “T” in his first name. Spec Shea (a.k.a. “The Naugatuck Nugget”) was a good pitcher and will work as a swingman here.
Bench: Skip Schumaker (2005- ) is a .300 hitter who can fill in at second base or in the outfield. Socks Seybold (1899-1908) was a heck of a hitter who will definitely get some starts in the outfield. Steve Souchock (1946-55) had some pop and will back up at first and in the outfield. Steve Swisher (1974-82) was a bad hitter but will work just fine as our backup catcher. Scott Sheldon (2001-07) will serve as the backup in the middle infield and might spell Sibby Sisti some at short.
Manager: Steve Smith never managed in the big leagues, but he was a coach for a decade with the Mariners, Rangers and Phillies, and he has the added bonus of being the manager of our hometown Peninsula Pilots (Single-A Carolina League) in 1991.
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