Infield: First baseman Mule Suttles and third baseman Mike Schmidt (1972-89) are going to put on one hell of a show during batting practice. They’ll hit a few home runs during the games, too. Schmidt is almost certainly the greatest third baseman of all time, at least if A-Rod is counted as a shortstop. He led the NL in home runs eight time on his way to a career total of 548 (and that was before everyone started hitting 500, kids). He also drew 100 walks a year, pushing his career on-base percentage to .380, and he won 10 Gold Gloves. Suttles was a legendary Negro League slugger, probably second only to Josh Gibson when it comes to prodigious jacks. He was 6-foot-6, 250 pounds, he swung a bat the size of a tree trunk (reportedly 50 ounces), and when he came to bat in key situations, his teammates would egg him on by shouting, “Kick, Mule, kick!” Playing in Havana, Cuba, he once hit a home run that sailed over a 60-foot high center field fence and landed in the ocean. Shortstop Marco Scutaro (2002- ) is a functional player who hits a few doubles, draws some walks and is adequate defensively. Scored 100 runs in 2009 for the first time at age 33. Second baseman Mike Sharperson (1987-95) was actually a third baseman, but he could be stretched to play second, and we’ll stretch him. A .280 hitter with no power, but he would draw some walks and moved OK for a big guy. Died in a car accident at age 34.
Outfield: Right fielder Matt Stairs (1992- ) ain’t no outfielder, but he surely is a hitter. He might sit against the tougher lefties, but he’ll put some runs on the board. Center fielder Mickey Stanley (1964-78) was a pretty ordinary player – a little bit of pop, good defense, ironically best known for shifting to shortstop to fill a hole for the Tigers during the 1968 championship season. Left fielder Mark Sweeney (1995-2008) is better suited to a role off the bench, but he will see plenty of time starting in this outfield, and possibly platooning with Mike Shannon (1962-70).
Catcher: Mike Scioscia (1980-92) and Manny Sanguillen (1967-80) will platoon. Scioscia batted .259 but had a great eye at the plate and got on base a lot. Sanguillen hit .300 or close to it every year but wouldn’t take a walk. They each would hit about 20 doubles a year and could occasionally crack double-digits in home runs. They appeared in a total of five all-star games, and each one played decent defense. Both were considered good teammates – Scioscia a smart, tough player who became a highly successful manager, and Sanguillen an upbeat, positive presence in the clubhouse.
Rotation: Mike Scott (1979-91) threw one hell of a splitter (though many suspected it was actually a spitter). He was a fairly ordinary pitcher until suddenly, at age 31, he had a season when he was just unhittable, leading the league in ERA (2.22) and strikeouts (306) and, for good measure, throwing a no-hitter to clinch the division for the Astros. Scott's career record breaks downly thusly - 86-49 between the ages of 30-34, but 38-59 for the periods before and after. Mario Soto (1977-88) had a good fastball and a great changeup, which is a pretty good combination. He was a very good pitcher for a few years. In fact, from 1980-85 he led all pitchers in strikeouts. Mel Stottlemyre Sr. (1964-74) was never as dominant at any point in his career as Scott and Soto were at their peaks, but he was a very good pitcher who sustained his peak longer than those two guys did. He pitched for the Yankees during the fallow period between the great Mantle teams and the great Reggie teams, but he still won 164 games, and from 1965-73 he consistently won 15-20 games. (How consistently effective was he? In a recent blog post, Joe Posnanski listed the 10 pitchers since 1950 with the highest percentage of Quality Starts - Stottlemyre ranked fourth, trailing only Tom Seaver and two young guys who are still in mid-career.) Monty Stratton (1934-38) was emerging as a top-flight pitcher for the White Sox, winning 15 games in 1937 and another 15 in ’38, but in November 1938 he shot himself in the right leg in a hunting accident, requiring amputation. He eventually returned to pitch in the minors with a wooden leg, and he won 18 games in a C-level league despite the fact that opposing hitters frequently bunted for hits against him. His story was turned into a movie starring Jimmy Stewart (“The Stratton Story”), which won an Academy Award for screenwriting. Mike Sirotka (1995-2000) was a lefty who won 40 games for the White Sox between 1998-2000. Just before spring training in 2001, the Sox traded him to the Blue Jays, who were none too happy to realize that his shoulder was a wreck. He never pitched again. The Blue Jays angrily called shenanigans on the deal and demanded compensation for the damage goods, but their request was denied.
Bullpen: Mike Schooler (1988-93) had a brief run as a pretty good closer for the Mariners. He was an eccentric guy who once grew a full beard and then shaved off half of it in an attempt to distract hitters. His career was cut short by shoulder issues, but he saved 98 games. Lefty Mike Stanton (1989-2007) pitched in 1,178 games, the second-most of all-time. Having spent the bulk of his career with two dominant franchises (the Braves and the Yankees), he worked in six World Series, winning three championships, and he had a 2.10 ERA in 53 postseason games. Mickey Scott (1972-77) was an effective lefty for a few years. Mac Scarce (1972-78) was a hard-throwing lefty who showed some promise with the bad Phillies teams of the early 1970s, but he burned out quickly. Milt Shoffner (1929-40) was a lefty who had some bad years for Cleveland and some decent ones with the Red Sox. Max Scherzer (2008- ) is just entering his prime and is on just about ready to move out of this bullpen and into the rotation. Manny Sarmiento (1976-83) came up with the Big Red Machine at age 20 and had some good years before the injuries set in. He had a fine singing voice and occasionally performed the National Anthem before games.
Bench: Mike Sweeney (1995- ) and Mike Stanley (1986-2000) were terrific hitters who came up as catchers but eventually moved off the position. They both hit better than Scioscia and Sanguillen but neither one of them is going to budge the Mule off of first base. One way or another they’re going to get playing time. Milt Stock (1913-26) was Eddie Stanky’s father-in-law (for whatever that’s worth), and he was a pretty fair infielder himself. He’ll get some playing time at second base. With platoons in left (Shannon and Mark Sweeney) and behind the plate (Scioscia and Sanguillen), two of those guys will always be ready to come off the bench, though Mike Sweeney and Mike Stanley will certainly be the first choice to pinch-hit.
Manager: Mayo Smith had a good managerial career including the 1968 World Series title in Detroit. (He’s the one who had the wherewithal to move Mickey Stanley to shortstop out of sheer necessity.) Quite obviously, Mike Scioscia will be offering his two cents’ worth as well.
Outfield: Right fielder Matt Stairs (1992- ) ain’t no outfielder, but he surely is a hitter. He might sit against the tougher lefties, but he’ll put some runs on the board. Center fielder Mickey Stanley (1964-78) was a pretty ordinary player – a little bit of pop, good defense, ironically best known for shifting to shortstop to fill a hole for the Tigers during the 1968 championship season. Left fielder Mark Sweeney (1995-2008) is better suited to a role off the bench, but he will see plenty of time starting in this outfield, and possibly platooning with Mike Shannon (1962-70).
Catcher: Mike Scioscia (1980-92) and Manny Sanguillen (1967-80) will platoon. Scioscia batted .259 but had a great eye at the plate and got on base a lot. Sanguillen hit .300 or close to it every year but wouldn’t take a walk. They each would hit about 20 doubles a year and could occasionally crack double-digits in home runs. They appeared in a total of five all-star games, and each one played decent defense. Both were considered good teammates – Scioscia a smart, tough player who became a highly successful manager, and Sanguillen an upbeat, positive presence in the clubhouse.
Rotation: Mike Scott (1979-91) threw one hell of a splitter (though many suspected it was actually a spitter). He was a fairly ordinary pitcher until suddenly, at age 31, he had a season when he was just unhittable, leading the league in ERA (2.22) and strikeouts (306) and, for good measure, throwing a no-hitter to clinch the division for the Astros. Scott's career record breaks downly thusly - 86-49 between the ages of 30-34, but 38-59 for the periods before and after. Mario Soto (1977-88) had a good fastball and a great changeup, which is a pretty good combination. He was a very good pitcher for a few years. In fact, from 1980-85 he led all pitchers in strikeouts. Mel Stottlemyre Sr. (1964-74) was never as dominant at any point in his career as Scott and Soto were at their peaks, but he was a very good pitcher who sustained his peak longer than those two guys did. He pitched for the Yankees during the fallow period between the great Mantle teams and the great Reggie teams, but he still won 164 games, and from 1965-73 he consistently won 15-20 games. (How consistently effective was he? In a recent blog post, Joe Posnanski listed the 10 pitchers since 1950 with the highest percentage of Quality Starts - Stottlemyre ranked fourth, trailing only Tom Seaver and two young guys who are still in mid-career.) Monty Stratton (1934-38) was emerging as a top-flight pitcher for the White Sox, winning 15 games in 1937 and another 15 in ’38, but in November 1938 he shot himself in the right leg in a hunting accident, requiring amputation. He eventually returned to pitch in the minors with a wooden leg, and he won 18 games in a C-level league despite the fact that opposing hitters frequently bunted for hits against him. His story was turned into a movie starring Jimmy Stewart (“The Stratton Story”), which won an Academy Award for screenwriting. Mike Sirotka (1995-2000) was a lefty who won 40 games for the White Sox between 1998-2000. Just before spring training in 2001, the Sox traded him to the Blue Jays, who were none too happy to realize that his shoulder was a wreck. He never pitched again. The Blue Jays angrily called shenanigans on the deal and demanded compensation for the damage goods, but their request was denied.
Bullpen: Mike Schooler (1988-93) had a brief run as a pretty good closer for the Mariners. He was an eccentric guy who once grew a full beard and then shaved off half of it in an attempt to distract hitters. His career was cut short by shoulder issues, but he saved 98 games. Lefty Mike Stanton (1989-2007) pitched in 1,178 games, the second-most of all-time. Having spent the bulk of his career with two dominant franchises (the Braves and the Yankees), he worked in six World Series, winning three championships, and he had a 2.10 ERA in 53 postseason games. Mickey Scott (1972-77) was an effective lefty for a few years. Mac Scarce (1972-78) was a hard-throwing lefty who showed some promise with the bad Phillies teams of the early 1970s, but he burned out quickly. Milt Shoffner (1929-40) was a lefty who had some bad years for Cleveland and some decent ones with the Red Sox. Max Scherzer (2008- ) is just entering his prime and is on just about ready to move out of this bullpen and into the rotation. Manny Sarmiento (1976-83) came up with the Big Red Machine at age 20 and had some good years before the injuries set in. He had a fine singing voice and occasionally performed the National Anthem before games.
Bench: Mike Sweeney (1995- ) and Mike Stanley (1986-2000) were terrific hitters who came up as catchers but eventually moved off the position. They both hit better than Scioscia and Sanguillen but neither one of them is going to budge the Mule off of first base. One way or another they’re going to get playing time. Milt Stock (1913-26) was Eddie Stanky’s father-in-law (for whatever that’s worth), and he was a pretty fair infielder himself. He’ll get some playing time at second base. With platoons in left (Shannon and Mark Sweeney) and behind the plate (Scioscia and Sanguillen), two of those guys will always be ready to come off the bench, though Mike Sweeney and Mike Stanley will certainly be the first choice to pinch-hit.
Manager: Mayo Smith had a good managerial career including the 1968 World Series title in Detroit. (He’s the one who had the wherewithal to move Mickey Stanley to shortstop out of sheer necessity.) Quite obviously, Mike Scioscia will be offering his two cents’ worth as well.
No comments:
Post a Comment