Infield: First baseman Todd Benzinger (1987-95) was very overrated, and second baseman Tony Bernazard (1979-91) was somewhat underrated. During his third season at Triple-A Benzinger batted .323 in 65 games, and when he came up to the majors he had a warm cup of coffee at age 24. He parlayed that warm start into a 900-game career despite the fact that he couldn’t get on base and didn’t have any power. He struck out three times as often as he walked, and he was below 50 percent on his stolen base attempts. Bernazard wasn’t anyone’s idea of a superstar, but he did get on base a bit, ran well and would hit 10-12 home runs in a full season. Third baseman Tony Batista (1996-2007) hit 221 home runs. He hit as many as 41 home runs in a season, and he drove in 100 runs three times. Batista could be stretched to play shortstop, but we'll leave him at third for now. Tom Burns (1880-92) was also a third baseman who could be stretched, and we do plan to stretch him to shortstop because he appears to be have been the superior defensive player.
Outfield: Right fielder Tom Brunansky (1981-94) only batted .245, but he hit 271 home runs, drew a good number of walks and played very good defense. He was a valuable player for a long time, a guy who could be counted on for 20 home runs and 80-85 RBI every year. Left fielder Thaddis Bosley (1977-90) was useful as a fourth outfielder for a long time, but he’s a starter on this team. He only had one season in which he appeared in 100 games - 1985, when he appeared in 108 games but only came to the plate 202 times. He hit .328/.391/.511 that year at age 28, but it did nothing to increase his playing time. Career .272 hitter. Center fielder Terry Blocker (1985-89) wasn't very good, but he is perhaps the only player in major-league history credited with tracking down someone who murdered one of his teammates. During spring training 1995, Atlanta Braves replacement player David Shotkowski was shot to death during a robbery. Blocker, also trying to make the team as a replacement player, had been talking with Shotkoski the day before and he took it very personally. He spent the next two days hanging out in the worst sections of West Palm Beach, chatting up gang members for information. He eventually learned the identity of the gunman and turned it over to police, who made the arrest. Blocker declined his share of the reward money, asking that it be given instead to Shotkoski's widow.
Catcher: Tim Blackwell (1974-83) was a fair backup catcher who will be pressed into duty as starter. He couldn't hit - .228 career with no power - but he had a strong arm.
Rotation: Tommy Bridges (1930-46) was a terrific pitcher for the Tigers, winning 194 games and also winning four more during World Series play (including the clincher in 1935). His full name was Thomas Jefferson Davis Bridges (apparently his parents couldn't decide if they wanted to go Colonial or Confederate), and he was a skinny 155-pound right-hander who got batters out with a wicked curve. He once lost a perfect game with two out in then ninth, and he threw another one-hitter in his career in which the only hit was a home run. (He never threw a no-hitter in the majors, but he threw one in the minors at age 40.) Tom Browning (1984-95) was a solid, workaday lefty who won 123 games. He won 20 as a rookie (but lost Rookie of the Year to Vince Coleman) and went on to lead the NL in starts four times. He was very durable middle-of-the-rotation guy, but his career was cut short by a hideous injury when his arm snapped in mid-pitch. Yuck. Ted Breitenstein (1891-1901) was a 5-foot-9 lefty who pitched when guys used to log 400 or more innings a year before the turn of the century, He was a good pitcher, winning 160 games in the majors and then another 165 in the minors. Tommy Bond (1874-84) was smaller than Breitenstein (5-foot-7) and worked even more innings. In one three-year stretch he worked 1,609 innings and won 123 games. In his career, he won 234 games. Tim Belcher (1987-2000) was durable and dependable; he never won more than 15 games, but he won 15 in three different seasons. His 146 career wins gives this team a full rotation of guys with more than 100 victories.
Outfield: Right fielder Tom Brunansky (1981-94) only batted .245, but he hit 271 home runs, drew a good number of walks and played very good defense. He was a valuable player for a long time, a guy who could be counted on for 20 home runs and 80-85 RBI every year. Left fielder Thaddis Bosley (1977-90) was useful as a fourth outfielder for a long time, but he’s a starter on this team. He only had one season in which he appeared in 100 games - 1985, when he appeared in 108 games but only came to the plate 202 times. He hit .328/.391/.511 that year at age 28, but it did nothing to increase his playing time. Career .272 hitter. Center fielder Terry Blocker (1985-89) wasn't very good, but he is perhaps the only player in major-league history credited with tracking down someone who murdered one of his teammates. During spring training 1995, Atlanta Braves replacement player David Shotkowski was shot to death during a robbery. Blocker, also trying to make the team as a replacement player, had been talking with Shotkoski the day before and he took it very personally. He spent the next two days hanging out in the worst sections of West Palm Beach, chatting up gang members for information. He eventually learned the identity of the gunman and turned it over to police, who made the arrest. Blocker declined his share of the reward money, asking that it be given instead to Shotkoski's widow.
Catcher: Tim Blackwell (1974-83) was a fair backup catcher who will be pressed into duty as starter. He couldn't hit - .228 career with no power - but he had a strong arm.
Rotation: Tommy Bridges (1930-46) was a terrific pitcher for the Tigers, winning 194 games and also winning four more during World Series play (including the clincher in 1935). His full name was Thomas Jefferson Davis Bridges (apparently his parents couldn't decide if they wanted to go Colonial or Confederate), and he was a skinny 155-pound right-hander who got batters out with a wicked curve. He once lost a perfect game with two out in then ninth, and he threw another one-hitter in his career in which the only hit was a home run. (He never threw a no-hitter in the majors, but he threw one in the minors at age 40.) Tom Browning (1984-95) was a solid, workaday lefty who won 123 games. He won 20 as a rookie (but lost Rookie of the Year to Vince Coleman) and went on to lead the NL in starts four times. He was very durable middle-of-the-rotation guy, but his career was cut short by a hideous injury when his arm snapped in mid-pitch. Yuck. Ted Breitenstein (1891-1901) was a 5-foot-9 lefty who pitched when guys used to log 400 or more innings a year before the turn of the century, He was a good pitcher, winning 160 games in the majors and then another 165 in the minors. Tommy Bond (1874-84) was smaller than Breitenstein (5-foot-7) and worked even more innings. In one three-year stretch he worked 1,609 innings and won 123 games. In his career, he won 234 games. Tim Belcher (1987-2000) was durable and dependable; he never won more than 15 games, but he won 15 in three different seasons. His 146 career wins gives this team a full rotation of guys with more than 100 victories.
Bullpen: Closer Tim Burke (1985-92) was really sharp for the Expos for several years, and he saved 102 games in his career. He was still effective in his early 30s when he retired to devote his time to his family, which included four children adopted from Korea, Vietnam and Guatemala. Lefty Tom Burgmeier (1968-74) did a good job for a long time. He had long runs with the Royals and the Red Sox and shorter ones with three other teams, adding up to 745 appearances, 79 wins and 102 saves. He pitched effectively until he was 40. Righty Todd Burns (1988-93), on the other hand, never made it to 30. He was an solid pitcher for the Oakland A's, and one of the top relievers for their 1989 World Series championship team, but his arm burned out and forced him to retire at 29. Tom Buskey (1973-80) was good enough to have a couple of short runs as a closer, but not consistent enough to stick in that role. Still an effective middle reliever. Tommy Byrne (1943-57) is one of the most famous wild lefties, who managed to win 85 games despite routinely leading the league in walks and hit batsmen. (Between 1949-51, he walked 489 and drilled 45.) Tom Brewer (1954-61) was a pretty decent starter for the Red Sox but goes to the pen because he can’t crack this team’s rotation. Tim Byrdak (1998- ) has fashioned a respectable career as a lefty one-out specialist. He'll fill that role here as well.
Bench: Tom Brookens (1979-90) was sort of the Clete Boyer of his generation, a fine defensive third baseman who couldn’t hit very well. Tommy Brown (1944-53) makes you wonder if you should trust the throwing arm of a shortstop nicknamed “Buckshot.” Travis Buck (2007- ) is a backup outfielder, a lefty stick off the bench, and he might well push for a starting job before too long. Tony Boeckel (1917-23) was a third baseman who hit better than Tom Brookens. Tony Brottem (1916-21) could catch and play the outfield. What he couldn’t do was hit.
Manager: Third baseman Tom Burns will work as player-manager. He did a credible job with the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Chicago Orphans.
Bench: Tom Brookens (1979-90) was sort of the Clete Boyer of his generation, a fine defensive third baseman who couldn’t hit very well. Tommy Brown (1944-53) makes you wonder if you should trust the throwing arm of a shortstop nicknamed “Buckshot.” Travis Buck (2007- ) is a backup outfielder, a lefty stick off the bench, and he might well push for a starting job before too long. Tony Boeckel (1917-23) was a third baseman who hit better than Tom Brookens. Tony Brottem (1916-21) could catch and play the outfield. What he couldn’t do was hit.
Manager: Third baseman Tom Burns will work as player-manager. He did a credible job with the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Chicago Orphans.
No comments:
Post a Comment