2005 AL All Manning Teams
Here we are the end of the season. There are still two weeks left, but it's time to name the end of the year all stars. The Rules: primary FIELD position only plus one DH for each league. The DH can be anyone, much like a utility player in fantasy. Each outfield must have at least one centerfielder, but right and left field can be played by anyone. Players must qualify for the batting title meaning they must have 502 plate appearances by the end of the season. For purposes of simplification, anyone on pace for 502 that is not done for the year, will be said to qualify.
All AL Team
C: Victor Martinez - Indians. Sorry Jason Varitek, but no one has been more important to his team's success since the all star break. Since the break, Victor has posted pecentages of .447, .577 and1.024. Varitek hasn't been bad with .366, .462, and .828, and he had a far better first half. But, Martinez's overall numbers are almost the same and his on-base is higher.
1B: Travis Hafner - Indians. Yes, he has served primarily as a DH, but the true first basemen don't excite me and Hafner's defense is certainly superior to DH counterparts David Ortiz and Jason Giambi who have about as much range as a spitball shooter. Hafner is 4th in the AL in OPS at .967 and 3rd in on-base at .405 his 26 bombs and 90 RBIs aren't bad either considering he missed two weeks with a concussion. Mark Texeira and his 42 homers may have seemed like a logical choice until you consider his road numbers: a very pedestrian .335, .435 and .770, numbers that would put him on par with Ronnie Belliard. Maybe Buhrle was onto somthing...
2B: Brian Roberts - Orioles. Talk about a weak position. In the first half, this guy was the MVP posting Pujolseque .416 .591 1.007 numbers. He has fallen off over 200 points on OPS, but he is still worlds better than the next best AL second sacker in on base and OPS. Soriano is not even close and .316 and .840 vs. Roberts .388 and .901.
3B: ARod - Yankees. As much as we all can't stand this guy or his team, this is a no-brainer. He is considerably better than the next best thirdbaseman in every major catetogory: R, H, HR, RBI, SB, OBP, SLG, OPS and he plays stellar defense. He is not the best player in baseball, but is probably the best in the AL.
SS: Michael Young - Rangers. Perhaps the most competitive postion in the AL includes JhonnyPeralta, Young, Miguel Tejada and perenial cantidate Derek Jeter. Jeter is perhaps the best fielder and has the intagibles, but doesn't have the numbers to match up with the other 3 at the plate. Young is the leader in OPS, but much like Texeira, he fast off away from Arlington. Tejada is widely considered the best hitting shortstop in baseball, but is only a .753 OPS since the break with just 6 homers. He just doesn't take enough walks for me. Peralta has been as hot as anyone, but like Young, he falls off a lot on the road. In the end it is Young with the best OBP and OPS who takes the spot.
CF: Grady Sizemore - Indians. A month ago, Johnny Damon had this spot sewn up, but injuries and a red hot September from Sizemore have pushed him to #2. Grady leads all AL centerfielders in OPS (.839), SLG (.490) and extra base hits (63) and he plays very good defense.
RF: Vlad Guerrero - Angels. No brainer #1 top AL outfielder in OBP, SLG and OPS plus perhaps the best outfield arm in the majors and very good speed. The prototypical 5 tool talent.
LF: Manny Ramirez - Red Sox. No brainer #1 right behind Vald in SLG and OPS. Always an adventure in the field, but even in a semi-off year, he is still too good a hitter to pass up.
DH: David Ortiz - Red Sox. Did you really think it would be anyone else? As great as Giambi has been all year, he can't top Big Papi in OPS. Don't get me wrong, Jason really deserves to be on this team. His .442 on base is #1 in the league, but with the power and clutch hitting the Big guy provides, he must make it.
SP: Johan Santana - Twins. It seems like all the good ones are in the NL this year but when you get into the numbers, Santana is the obvious choice once again. First in BA, OBP, SLG and OPS against as well as Ks and his is second in innings. Apologies to Zito, Colon and Burhle.
CL: Mariano Rivera - Yankees. There is no debate here. Once again, he is the one. He is essentially keeping the Yankees in the race. The game is over when he comes in. Only Huston street is in the same breath. And that's only if it is a very long breath.
Batting Order:
1. Sizemore
2. Young
3. ARod
4. Ortiz
5. Vlad
6. Hafner
7. Manny
8. Martinez
9. Roberts
Manager: Eric Wedge
All AL Team
C: Victor Martinez - Indians. Sorry Jason Varitek, but no one has been more important to his team's success since the all star break. Since the break, Victor has posted pecentages of .447, .577 and1.024. Varitek hasn't been bad with .366, .462, and .828, and he had a far better first half. But, Martinez's overall numbers are almost the same and his on-base is higher.
1B: Travis Hafner - Indians. Yes, he has served primarily as a DH, but the true first basemen don't excite me and Hafner's defense is certainly superior to DH counterparts David Ortiz and Jason Giambi who have about as much range as a spitball shooter. Hafner is 4th in the AL in OPS at .967 and 3rd in on-base at .405 his 26 bombs and 90 RBIs aren't bad either considering he missed two weeks with a concussion. Mark Texeira and his 42 homers may have seemed like a logical choice until you consider his road numbers: a very pedestrian .335, .435 and .770, numbers that would put him on par with Ronnie Belliard. Maybe Buhrle was onto somthing...
2B: Brian Roberts - Orioles. Talk about a weak position. In the first half, this guy was the MVP posting Pujolseque .416 .591 1.007 numbers. He has fallen off over 200 points on OPS, but he is still worlds better than the next best AL second sacker in on base and OPS. Soriano is not even close and .316 and .840 vs. Roberts .388 and .901.
3B: ARod - Yankees. As much as we all can't stand this guy or his team, this is a no-brainer. He is considerably better than the next best thirdbaseman in every major catetogory: R, H, HR, RBI, SB, OBP, SLG, OPS and he plays stellar defense. He is not the best player in baseball, but is probably the best in the AL.
SS: Michael Young - Rangers. Perhaps the most competitive postion in the AL includes JhonnyPeralta, Young, Miguel Tejada and perenial cantidate Derek Jeter. Jeter is perhaps the best fielder and has the intagibles, but doesn't have the numbers to match up with the other 3 at the plate. Young is the leader in OPS, but much like Texeira, he fast off away from Arlington. Tejada is widely considered the best hitting shortstop in baseball, but is only a .753 OPS since the break with just 6 homers. He just doesn't take enough walks for me. Peralta has been as hot as anyone, but like Young, he falls off a lot on the road. In the end it is Young with the best OBP and OPS who takes the spot.
CF: Grady Sizemore - Indians. A month ago, Johnny Damon had this spot sewn up, but injuries and a red hot September from Sizemore have pushed him to #2. Grady leads all AL centerfielders in OPS (.839), SLG (.490) and extra base hits (63) and he plays very good defense.
RF: Vlad Guerrero - Angels. No brainer #1 top AL outfielder in OBP, SLG and OPS plus perhaps the best outfield arm in the majors and very good speed. The prototypical 5 tool talent.
LF: Manny Ramirez - Red Sox. No brainer #1 right behind Vald in SLG and OPS. Always an adventure in the field, but even in a semi-off year, he is still too good a hitter to pass up.
DH: David Ortiz - Red Sox. Did you really think it would be anyone else? As great as Giambi has been all year, he can't top Big Papi in OPS. Don't get me wrong, Jason really deserves to be on this team. His .442 on base is #1 in the league, but with the power and clutch hitting the Big guy provides, he must make it.
SP: Johan Santana - Twins. It seems like all the good ones are in the NL this year but when you get into the numbers, Santana is the obvious choice once again. First in BA, OBP, SLG and OPS against as well as Ks and his is second in innings. Apologies to Zito, Colon and Burhle.
CL: Mariano Rivera - Yankees. There is no debate here. Once again, he is the one. He is essentially keeping the Yankees in the race. The game is over when he comes in. Only Huston street is in the same breath. And that's only if it is a very long breath.
Batting Order:
1. Sizemore
2. Young
3. ARod
4. Ortiz
5. Vlad
6. Hafner
7. Manny
8. Martinez
9. Roberts
Manager: Eric Wedge
Labels: Grady Sizemore, Johan Santana, Mariano Rivera
posted by Andrew Manning at
7:45 PM
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