We see in the field a blunder ala Bill Buckner! We also cringe at the sight of a swing of a bat that makes a pitcher look silly ala Randy Johnson. What if we could put the best defensive players in their positions to go against the best offensive players at what they do and watch a fair fight. Being an american league follower more than the national league, because I hate watching the 90 mile an hour fastball take the humanity out of a defenseless pitcher. Granted we do see the bunt put down occasionally "whoopty-do" or the long ball when the wind blows it out. What I would rather see is the fear of the pitcher that his next pitch could be taken yard or the hitter could have the anticipation of seeing if he guessed the right pitch and connecting solid, or the crouch of the shortstop getting ready to snag it and watch it go around the horn. What if we take a look at what could have happened if we could turn back time and pull out some players that possibly have made the game a little more fair.
First Team All Defensive players that won the most Gold Gloves since 1957 at their respective positions.
1st Base: Keith Hernandez (10)
2nd Base: Roberto Alomar (10)
3rd Base: Brooks Robinson (16)
Shortstop: Ozzie Smith (13)
Left Field: Willie Mays (12)
Center Field: Roberto Clemente (12)
Right Field: Ichiro Suzuki (10)
Catcher: Ivan Rodriquez (13)
Pitcher: Greg Maddux (18)
First Team All Offensive players compiled to put in the line up to best benefit runs scored.
Leadoff: Rickey Henderson (1406 Stolen Bases)
2 Spot: Ted Williams (.482 On Base Percentage)
3 Hole: Hank Aaron (755 Home Runs & 2297 Rbi's)
Clean up: Babe Ruth (714 Home Runs & 2213 Rbi's)
5 Spot: Barry Bonds (762 Home Runs & 1996 Rbi's)
6 Spot: Lou Gehrig (493 Home Runs & 1995 Rbi's)
7 Spot: Pete Rose (4256 Hits)
8 Spot: Mickey Mantle (536 Home Runs & 1509 Rbi's)
9 Spot: Rogers Hornsby (.358 Batting Average)
What a team!! Could the match up produce more runs or would the defense stop the potent offense. What would a Greg Maddux throw if he was pitching to a Hank Aaron with Babe Ruth in the on deck circle with Rickey Henderson on the two bag after stealing second and Ted Williams at first with a huge lead. Some 89 mile an hour junk that Aaron takes to the wall in center that Roberto Clemente takes back over the wall and throws a perfect liner to Roberto Alomar who turns and bullets a strike to Ivan Rodriquez that takes a devastaing blow to the chest protector from Henderson and still holds on to the ball and raises it up in the air while lying on his back at home plate. Now that is baseball! Clutch hitting, stolen bases and defensive plays that makes you jump out of your seat and cheer.
Ok, so what if we take this team and go against another in a World Series. Who could possibly beat a team that has the best defense and the beat offense. That's why we play the game!
Second Team All Defensive players that won the most Gold Gloves since 1957 at their respective positions.
1st Base: Don Mattingly (9)
2nd Base: Ryne Sandberg (9)
3rd Base: Mike Schmidt (10)
Shortstop: Omar Viquel (11)
Left Field: Ken Griffey Jr. (10)
Center Field: Al Kaline (10)
Right Field: Andrew Jones (10)
Catcher: Johnny Bench (10)
Pitcher: Jim Kaat (14)
Second Team All Offensive players compiled to put in the line up to best benefit runs scored.
Leadoff: Lou Brock (938 Stolen Bases)
2 Spot: Ty Cobb (.367 Batting Average)
3 Hole: Albert Pujols (.617 Slugging Percentage)
Clean up: Alex Rodriguez (629 Home Runs & 1893 Rbi's)
5 Spot: Jimmie Foxx (534 Home Runs & 1922 Rbi's)
6 Spot: Stan Musial (3630 Hits & 1949 Runs)
7 Spot: Ken Griffey Jr.: (630 Home Runs) * Only one to play both offense and defense*
8 Spot: Jim Thome (604 Home Runs & 1674 Rbi's)
9 Spot: Frank Robinson (586 Home Runs and 1812 Rbi's)
Lights, cameras and ACTION.....!!!
Ok, Jim Kaat is the starting pitcher? Remember this is the all defensive team. He would be pulled before the third batter, because the infield would only see the ball go toward the catcher. Not saying that Kaat was not a great pitcher with 283 wins and 2461 strikeouts, but we are talking Aaron and Ruth. Could Greg Maddux keep Brock off the basepaths or would Cobb, Pujols and A-Rod have a field day.
The double play combinations of Ozzie Smith and Roberto Alomar against Omar Vizquel and Ryan Sandberg would not allow Roberto Clemente or Al Kaline to not catch anything unless it was against the wall.
Vacuum cleaner salesmen drool over the way the hot corner would have ball disappearing with Brooks Robinson verses Mike Schmidt. They would not have to worry about the line drive one hoppers when slinging back and having the targets of Keith Hernandez and Don Mattingly taking them out of the dirt.
Trying to get from second in to score when the ball bloops to the outfield runners may be second doubting the wide turn when cannon arms Andrew Jones and Willie Mays. That is if the ball get's hit to the other side of the diamond and the speed and acrobatics of Ichiro Suzuki and Ken Griffey Jr. dosn't spoil their plans.
Taking into factor the rosters would have to be enlarged by having players that only play in the field or hit. Most of these players are hall of famers or an their way. Maybe their could have been a player become a great ball player by fielding his position better than anyone in history. Maybe hitting was not a gift given to him at birth. We could see players that could stay up with the big club like 2nd baseman Toby Harrah .989 fielding percent but a .264 batting average or someone like a SS Spike Owen .975 fielding percent but a dismale .246 batting average.
It would be interesting to see how the game would change if hitters would not have to field and could work on the craft as a hitter or a fielder could take more time in the field taking ground balls. Would the pitching staff have to change their philosophy and how they pitch around or to a hitter. Would a Nolan Ryan, Tom Seaver, Tim Lincecum or Justin Verlander be enough as a starter to keep the 1 thru 9 hitters off the basebaths? Would a Tim Wakefield or Phil Neikro be needed in the new MLB?
Click on names to get more info about players!
All of this could be debated so give me your thoughts.
