Wednesday, June 22, 2016

The Royals Franchise Deep Four

Of the four 1969 expansion franchises, I've saved the most successful for last. Let's see how strong their all-time teams look.

PC1B2B3BSSLFCFRF
1stBret SaberhagenSalvador PerezJohn MayberryFrank WhiteGeorge BrettFreddie PatekWillie WilsonAmos OtisDanny Tartabull
2ndKevin AppierDarrell PorterMike SweeneyMark GrudzielanekKevin SeitzerRey SanchezAlex GordonCarlos BeltranAl Cowens
3rdMark GubiczaMike MacfarlaneEric HosmerCookie RojasJoe RandaAlcides EscobarLou PiniellaLorenzo CainJermaine Dye
4thZack GreinkeJohn WathanWally JoynerCarlos FeblesMike MoustakasU.L. WashingtonBo JacksonJohnny DamonJeff Francoeur


Some of the guys on the first team were far and away the best choices; White, Brett, and Patek all blew away their closest competition. Who would've thought that Mark Grudzielanek and Rey Sanchez would make the 2nd Team?

Corner outfield was a bit tricky, as often is the case. Their right fielders weren't the deepest group, for instance. I only chose Jeff Francoeur for the 4th Team based on one good season that was better than anything any of the other candidates had done, despite spending the rest of his Royals tenure adding negative value. David DeJesus might've been a better choice in left field than either Piniella or Jackson, but he seemed to fit better in center field, where he ended up just missing the cut. If I were doing a 5th Team for the Royals, DeJesus would definitely be there, yes sirree.

Salvador Perez and Darrell Porter are currently pretty close, but I decided to give it to Perez since he's having a great season so far, and if he keeps it up, he should find himself well ahead of Porter by the end of it. And besides, he's already a Kansas City folk hero. Of the young Royals crop currently defending their World Series title, he's the only one who's made it to the 1st Team. Truly a feather in his backward catcher's helmet.

Monday, June 6, 2016

The Brewers Franchise Deep Four

Checking off those 1969 newcomers, we're now on the once-American League expansion franchise Seattle Pilots, who are now the National League Central's Milwaukee Brewers.

PC1B2B3BSSLFCFRF
1stTeddy HigueraJonathan LucroyCecil CooperRickie WeeksPaul MolitorRobin YountRyan BraunGorman ThomasSixto Lezcano
2ndBen SheetsDarrell PorterGeorge ScottJim GantnerJeff CirilloJose ValentinBen OglivieCarlos GomezJeromy Burnitz
3rdChris BosioB.J. SurhoffPrince FielderRonnie BelliardDon MoneyJ.J.HardyGeoff JenkinsDave MayCorey Hart
4thMike CaldwellTed SimmonsRichie SexsonFernando VinaSal BandoPat ListachGreg VaughnMarquis GrissomRob Deer


Interestingly, there's no position that stands out here as being particularly strong. The Brewers have had a pretty mediocre history. But at least Brewer fans can currently appreciate watching the greatest catcher and left fielder in franchise history while they're still around.