MW: The Mike Watkinses

Infield: Of all things, this team lacks a real first baseman. We’ll get by with Max West (1938-46), who was primarily an outfielder but did play more than 100 games at first base. He was a .254 hitter, but he drew some walks and had some gap power. Third baseman Matt Williams (1987-2003) was a .268 hitter who didn’t draw many walks but had big-time power. In fact, he might have taken a run at Maris in 1994 if not for the strike. He was a big man who went bald young, but he was quick on his feet and had a good glove. He hit 378 home runs and had a half-dozen seasons over 30. Shortstop Maury Wills (1959-72) led the NL in steals for six straight years and was the first person to steal 100 in a season. He got on base a bit and played a decent shortstop. Wills’ presence at short moves Hall of Famer Monte Ward (1878-94) over to second base. Ward spent the first half of his career as a very good starting pitcher, and he’ll take a turn in the rotation here, too. As a hitter he was adequate, and he actually stole 100 bases before Wills (111 in 1887), but back then runners were awarded a stolen base if they went from first to third on a single, so it’s not quite the same thing. Ward has already announced plans to form a Baseball Initially Players Union.

Outfield: Center fielder Mookie Wilson (1980-91) batted .274, stole more than 300 bases, and hit the dribbler that rolled between Bill Buckner’s feet. Plus, his name is Mookie. Flanking him are two long-time role players – Marvell Wynne (1983-90) in left and Mitch Webster (1983-95) in right. Wynne was very fast but not much of a hitter. Webster was fast, too, and was a more complete player than Wynne. All three were primarily center fielders, but Mookie will stay put because he was the best fielder of the three.

Catcher: Matt Weiters (2009- ) is just getting started, but the job behind the plate is his job to lose. He had a great career at Georgia Tech, a quick run through the minors and a highly touted arrival in Baltimore. Now he's trying to prove that he's as good as everyone thinks.

Rotation: In addition to Monte Ward (164 wins and a 2.10 ERA) taking a turn in the rotation when he’s not playing the infield, Mickey Welch (1880-92) anchors the rotation. He won 307 games back in the days when pitchers worked 500 innings in a good year. To these two workhorses, add Milt Wilcox (1970-86) and Mike Witt (1981-93), two guys who pitched a century later. Wilcox won 119 games and Witt 117. Wilcox had a six-year run in mid-career in which he won 11-13 games in each season and lost 9-12 games in each season. Mule Watson (1918-24), despite his name, was not a workhorse. But he was a decent pitcher during the transition from dead ball to live ball. Mysterious Walker (1910-15) wasn’t very good, but he’s got a great name, so he’ll fill in as needed if Ward (or anyone else) needs to sit out a turn in the rotation. Otherwise, the Mystery Man will work mopup relief.

Bullpen: Take your heart medication, kids, because the closer role will be shared by Mitch “Wild Thing” Williams (1986-97) and Mark “Wilder Thing” Wohlers (1991-2002). Williams always played fast and loose with the strike zone; Wohlers had better control until a sudden attack of Steve Blass Disease (see the SB team if you don’t know what that is) derailed his career at age 28. They were both fine, overpowering relievers when they had their spit together, and they combined for more than 300 career saves. But they’ll scare the livin’ daylights out of you. Mike Williams (1992-2003) could occasionally bail them out of trouble. He wasn’t as good as the other two, but he did save almost 150 games and played in a couple of all-star games (because somebody had to represent the Pirates). Mike Wallace (1973-77) was a lefty who couldn’t find the strike zone. Mike Wuertz (2004- ) is a fine righty in mid-career. Murray Wall (1950-59) won 100 games in the minors but had just limited success in the bigs. Marc Wilkins (1996-2001) was a consistent middle reliever for Pittsburgh, but no one took notice because, well, he was a middle reliever in Pittsburgh.

Bench: Matt Walbeck (1993-2003) will back up the kid behind the plate. Mickey Witek (1940-49) was a .277 hitter who will start at second when Ward takes the mound. Mike Woodard (1985-88) is another middle infielder. Mark Wagner (1976-84) is another infielder. Myron White (1978) is around because we need a backup outfielder and because he had a .500 lifetime average (1-for-2 with the Dodgers).

Manager: Mike Walsh (who went 68-40 with the Louisville Eclipse in 1884) is in charge, but the ever-present Monte Ward will exert a lot of influence.