“It’s hard to explain how this happened.” – Tony LaRussa.
I agree. I’m a Cardinal fan, but I admit I did not see this coming. Certainly not in August when St. Louis dropped two of three to the Cubs and then got swept at home by the Dodgers. Milwaukee’s lead had reached double digits and there was no way my beloved birds were going to catch them. But they did catch Atlanta for the Wild Card after the Braves dropped their last five games of the season. The Cards then vanquished the Phillies, Brewers, and Rangers to win their 11th world championship. It was an improbable conclusion to one of baseball’s most memorable seasons. Below are some reflections and random thoughts about what happened:
David Freese truly deserved his World Series MVP. In 2007, the Cardinals traded Jim Edmonds to get him from San Diego. Four years later, that move is paying big dividends. Edmonds was one of the all-time Cardinal greats, and in retirement he is the gift that keeps on giving.
Tony LaRussa (and baseball managers in general) usually receive too much credit for victories and too much blame for defeats. It’s the players who decide the outcome of the games. That said, TLR made some nice moves to help his team win this postseason. Most notably, the relief pitchers he deployed in the NLCS did an outstanding job of neutralizing the Brewers big bats. On the other hand, Game 5 against the Rangers was one of the worst managed games in WS history. Had St. Louis not eventually prevailed in the Series, the dark cloud of those poor decisions could have lingered over Busch Stadium all winter. As it is, Phonegate is now little more than a footnote.
I never liked Lance Berkman much when he was with the Astros all those years. Now that he is wearing the Birds on the Bat, he’s one of my favorite players. Funny how that goes.
That was really nice of Prince Fielder to give the Cardinals home field advantage in the World Series. Thank you, Mr. Fielder.
Wonder how many analysts picked the Cards to win the World Series after they lost their best pitcher Adam Wainwright for the entire season.
Rangers pitcher C.J. Wilson reminds me of Garret Dillahunt from Raising Hope.
I’m glad the World Series ended in October. That’s the way it should be. Baseball in November is just not right. Abner Doubleday would agree with me. I know he did not invent baseball, but still, he and most other Civil War generals would not want to see World Series games played in the same month as Thanksgiving. I don’t like the Super Bowl in February either.
Football may be more popular and basketball has a faster pace, but baseball is the best sport. The drama, the tension, the moves and countermoves, the duels, the plots and the subplots—there’s just nothing like baseball. It’s true today, just as it was true a hundred years ago. The only time it’s not true is when teams I don’t like win the World Series.
I’ve seen it a hundred times, but that Taco Bell chalupa commercial with Brian Wilson still cracks me up. “Because I’m Black Ops!”
I feel bad for the Rangers, even more so after seeing the images of a forlorn Nolan Ryan late in Game 7. Hopefully Ron Washington and his team will someday win a title for this organization. The Rangers lineup is loaded, so it could happen next year.
With the Cardinals overcoming such insurmountable odds to win the championship, I may have to abandon the usual pessimism I harbor when watching baseball. This pessimism, I should point out, was cultivated by Cardinal postseason failures in 1985, 1987, 1996, 2000-2002, 2004-2005, and 2009. Does this season make up for all those disappointments? Yeah, it kinda does. Especially when factoring in their other improbable world championship in 2006.
Pujols belongs in a Cardinals uniform.
Wow, it was a lot of fun watching baseball this October.
Spring Training is less than four months away!
Saturday, October 29, 2011
Monday, October 10, 2011
Men Among Giants Book Tour
Hope to see you there!
Saturday, June 4, 2011
All-Time Greatest Baseball Players
Have you ever thought about your favorite team’s all-time greatest players? Of course you have. Me too. In fact, I have selected the best ballplayers, by position, for all 30 of the major league franchises. Click on the links below to view the teams.
Atlanta/Milwaukee/Boston Braves Boston Red Sox
Chicago Cubs Chicago White Sox
Cincinnati Reds Cleveland Indians
Colorado Rockies Detroit Tigers
Florida Marlins Kansas City Royals
Houston Astros Los Angeles/Anaheim/California Angels
Los Angeles/Brooklyn Dodgers Minnesota Twins/Washington Senators
Milwaukee Brewers/Seattle Pilots New York Yankees
New York Mets Oakland/KC/Philadelphia Athletics
Philadelphia Phillies Seattle Mariners
Pittsburgh Pirates Tampa Bay Rays
St. Louis Cardinals Texas Rangers/Washington Senators
San Diego Padres Toronto Blue Jays
San Francisco/New York Giants
Washington Nationals/Montreal Expos
When selecting players, I followed the following rules:
NATIONAL LEAGUE AMERICAN LEAGUE
Arizona Diamondbacks Baltimore Orioles/St. Louis BrownsAtlanta/Milwaukee/Boston Braves Boston Red Sox
Chicago Cubs Chicago White Sox
Cincinnati Reds Cleveland Indians
Colorado Rockies Detroit Tigers
Florida Marlins Kansas City Royals
Houston Astros Los Angeles/Anaheim/California Angels
Los Angeles/Brooklyn Dodgers Minnesota Twins/Washington Senators
Milwaukee Brewers/Seattle Pilots New York Yankees
New York Mets Oakland/KC/Philadelphia Athletics
Philadelphia Phillies Seattle Mariners
Pittsburgh Pirates Tampa Bay Rays
St. Louis Cardinals Texas Rangers/Washington Senators
San Diego Padres Toronto Blue Jays
San Francisco/New York Giants
Washington Nationals/Montreal Expos
- To be eligible for inclusion on a team, a player had to play at least FIVE seasons for that team.
- Player statistics from before 1900 were not considered. Baseball was a different game in the 19th century (e.g. no foul strike rule until 1901). My apologies to fans of Cap Anson and Wee Willie Keeler.
- A team may include no more than one pitcher who played more than half his career before 1920.
- To be eligible for the DH spot, a player had to have been a DH for at least 20 games for that team.
- The Bench spot is not for players who spent much time on the bench. It’s actually more like a "best-of-the-rest" position that allowed me to include one more great player on a team’s roster.
- Only one team per franchise. So, for example, the Baltimore Orioles and St. Louis Browns are the same team.
- For expansion teams that joined the league in 1977 or later, I dropped the requirement to 4 years; for the most recent arrivals to MLB, the Rays and Diamondbacks, I had to drop the requirement to 3 years.
- For closers the requirement is only 4 years; it’s a relatively new position and closers tend to move around a lot.
Arizona Diamondbacks
1B Chad Tracy – Batted over .280 three consecutive seasons; hit 27 HRs in ’05; drove in 80 in ’06.
2B Jay Bell – Decent power; drew 70+ walks three times for AZ; batted .289 with 38 HRs and 112 RBI in 1999.
SS Tony Womack – Batted over .270 three times for AZ; led NL with 72 steals in ’99; led league with 14 triples in 2000.
3B Matt Williams – Still had some pop in his bat when he joined the Snakes; batted .303 with 35 HR and 142 RBI in ’99; beats out Mark Reynolds and his mighty strikeouts.
OF Luis Gonzalez – Hit 24+ HRs six times for AZ (57 in 2001); five straight 100-RBI seasons; knocked home the winning run in Game 7 of the 2001 World Series.
OF Steve Finley – Batted .280 or better three times for AZ; hit HRs, stole bases, and drove in 89+ runs three times; Gold Glove winner in CF.
OF Danny Bautista – Hit .296 over five seasons with AZ; batted .583 in 2001 World Series.
C Damian Miller – Batted .270 or better four consecutive seasons for the Diamondbacks; hit 10+ HRs four times.
Bench Stephen Drew – Batting over .270 for his career with four 12+ HR seasons (21 in ’08).
Pitcher Randy Johnson – Won FOUR straight Cy Young Awards; led the NL in ERA three times; led NL in Ks five times; won three games in the 2001 World Series.
Pitcher Curt Schilling – Led NL with 22 wins in ’01; won 23 a year later; went 4-0 in the 2001 postseason.
Pitcher Brandon Webb – NL Cy Young winner in ’06; twice led the NL in wins; ERA never topped 3.60 in any of his six full seasons with AZ.
Closer Jose Valverde – Led NL with 47 saves in ’07; three seasons with an ERA below 2.70.
Players from the 2001 World Series champs comprise the core of this team.
2B Jay Bell – Decent power; drew 70+ walks three times for AZ; batted .289 with 38 HRs and 112 RBI in 1999.
SS Tony Womack – Batted over .270 three times for AZ; led NL with 72 steals in ’99; led league with 14 triples in 2000.
3B Matt Williams – Still had some pop in his bat when he joined the Snakes; batted .303 with 35 HR and 142 RBI in ’99; beats out Mark Reynolds and his mighty strikeouts.
OF Luis Gonzalez – Hit 24+ HRs six times for AZ (57 in 2001); five straight 100-RBI seasons; knocked home the winning run in Game 7 of the 2001 World Series.
OF Steve Finley – Batted .280 or better three times for AZ; hit HRs, stole bases, and drove in 89+ runs three times; Gold Glove winner in CF.
OF Danny Bautista – Hit .296 over five seasons with AZ; batted .583 in 2001 World Series.
C Damian Miller – Batted .270 or better four consecutive seasons for the Diamondbacks; hit 10+ HRs four times.
Bench Stephen Drew – Batting over .270 for his career with four 12+ HR seasons (21 in ’08).
Pitcher Randy Johnson – Won FOUR straight Cy Young Awards; led the NL in ERA three times; led NL in Ks five times; won three games in the 2001 World Series.
Pitcher Curt Schilling – Led NL with 22 wins in ’01; won 23 a year later; went 4-0 in the 2001 postseason.
Pitcher Brandon Webb – NL Cy Young winner in ’06; twice led the NL in wins; ERA never topped 3.60 in any of his six full seasons with AZ.
Closer Jose Valverde – Led NL with 47 saves in ’07; three seasons with an ERA below 2.70.
Players from the 2001 World Series champs comprise the core of this team.
Atlanta/Milwaukee/Boston Braves
1B Joe Adcock – Belted 25+ HRs five times for the Braves; McGriff didn’t play five seasons in Atlanta.
2B Felix Millan – Gold Glove fielder; batted .289 or better three times for Atlanta.
SS Rabbit Maranville – Excellent fielder for Boston with six 20+ SB seasons; a Hall of Famer, though he got more attention for his practical jokes than his hitting.
3B Eddie Matthews – Ten seasons with 30+ HRs; drove in 90 or more runs 10 times; drew plenty of walks to boost the OBP.
OF Hank Aaron – Career .305 BA; MLB’s all-time RBI leader with 2,297; won three Gold Gloves; still the real home run king.
OF Dale Murphy – Back-to-back NL MVP Awards (1982-83); five seasons with 36+ HRs; won five straight Gold Gloves.
OF Andruw Jones – Big RBI producer with seven 30+ HR seasons (51 in ’05); TEN straight Gold Gloves.
C Javy Lopez – Dangerous hitter; topped 20 HRs five times for Atlanta (43 in ’03).
Bench Chipper Jones – Nine 100+ RBI seasons; batted over .300 ten times; won MVP in ’99 when he hit 45 HRs and stole 25 bases.
Pitcher Warren Spahn – Won 20+ games THIRTEEN times; led NL in ERA four times; tossed 63 shutouts.
Pitcher Greg Maddux – Top NL pitcher of the ’90s; led league in ERA four times; won 15+ games all 11 years in Atlanta; perennial Gold Glover.
Pitcher Phil Niekro – Recorded 15+ wins eleven times; ERA below 3.00 six times (1.87 in ’67); won four Gold Gloves; barely edges out Glavine for this spot.
Closer John Smoltz – Averaged 48 saves a season in 2002-2004; won over 200 games for Atlanta as a starter.
Question: Which one of these all-time Braves greats played for the franchise in all three cities?
Answer: Eddie Matthews
2B Felix Millan – Gold Glove fielder; batted .289 or better three times for Atlanta.
SS Rabbit Maranville – Excellent fielder for Boston with six 20+ SB seasons; a Hall of Famer, though he got more attention for his practical jokes than his hitting.
3B Eddie Matthews – Ten seasons with 30+ HRs; drove in 90 or more runs 10 times; drew plenty of walks to boost the OBP.
OF Hank Aaron – Career .305 BA; MLB’s all-time RBI leader with 2,297; won three Gold Gloves; still the real home run king.
OF Dale Murphy – Back-to-back NL MVP Awards (1982-83); five seasons with 36+ HRs; won five straight Gold Gloves.
OF Andruw Jones – Big RBI producer with seven 30+ HR seasons (51 in ’05); TEN straight Gold Gloves.
C Javy Lopez – Dangerous hitter; topped 20 HRs five times for Atlanta (43 in ’03).
Bench Chipper Jones – Nine 100+ RBI seasons; batted over .300 ten times; won MVP in ’99 when he hit 45 HRs and stole 25 bases.
Pitcher Warren Spahn – Won 20+ games THIRTEEN times; led NL in ERA four times; tossed 63 shutouts.
Pitcher Greg Maddux – Top NL pitcher of the ’90s; led league in ERA four times; won 15+ games all 11 years in Atlanta; perennial Gold Glover.
Pitcher Phil Niekro – Recorded 15+ wins eleven times; ERA below 3.00 six times (1.87 in ’67); won four Gold Gloves; barely edges out Glavine for this spot.
Closer John Smoltz – Averaged 48 saves a season in 2002-2004; won over 200 games for Atlanta as a starter.
Question: Which one of these all-time Braves greats played for the franchise in all three cities?
Answer: Eddie Matthews
Chicago Cubs
1B Mark Grace – MLB’s hit leader for the ’90s; batted over .300 nine times; hit .647 in the ’89 NLCS; four Gold Gloves.
2B Ryne Sandberg – Outstanding fielder (nine straight Gold Gloves) with speed and power; NL MVP in ’84; stole 30+ bases five times.
SS Ernie Banks – Two-time NL MVP; hit 40+ HRs five times; drove in 100+ RBI eight times (143 in ’59); ready to play two.
3B Ron Santo – Power hitter with eight 90+ RBI seasons; twice led the NL in OBP; won five straight Gold Gloves.
OF Hack Wilson – Led the NL in HRs four times; hit over .300 and drove in 100+ runs in five of his six years in Chicago; his 191 RBI in ’30 remains the MLB single-season record.
OF Billy Williams – Consistent hitter with 13 seasons of 20+ HRs for Chicago (42 in 1970); drove in 90 or more runs ten times; won NL batting title in ’72 with .333 mark.
OF Sammy Sosa – Became a disciplined and dangerous hitter as a Cub; PEDs inflated his stats, but even without the ’roids, he still would’ve put up outstanding numbers.
C Gabby Hartnett – Hit the “Homer in the Gloamin’” to help win the NL flag for Chicago in ’38; a great catcher, offensively and defensively; batted .299 or better seven times; NL MVP in ’35.
Bench Kiki Cuyler – Batted .330 or better four times as a Cub; led the NL in steals three seasons in a row (1928-30); decent power.
Pitcher Mordecai Brown – Devastating curveball; won 25 or more games four times; posted an ERA below 2.00 five straight seasons (1.04 in ’06).
Pitcher Ferguson Jenkins – Won 20+ games for Chicago six consecutive years (1967-72); workhorse with four 300-inning seasons as a Cub; led NL in Ks in ’69.
Pitcher Lon Warneke – Won 20 games three times; led NL in wins, ERA, and winning pct. in 1932; posted an ERA of 2.00 the following year; won two games in the ’35 World Series.
Closer Lee Smith – Led NL with 29 saves in ’83; recorded 30+ saves for Chicago in the four seasons that followed.
Some great ballplayers here ... and one of them even won a world championship with the Cubs.
2B Ryne Sandberg – Outstanding fielder (nine straight Gold Gloves) with speed and power; NL MVP in ’84; stole 30+ bases five times.
SS Ernie Banks – Two-time NL MVP; hit 40+ HRs five times; drove in 100+ RBI eight times (143 in ’59); ready to play two.
3B Ron Santo – Power hitter with eight 90+ RBI seasons; twice led the NL in OBP; won five straight Gold Gloves.
OF Hack Wilson – Led the NL in HRs four times; hit over .300 and drove in 100+ runs in five of his six years in Chicago; his 191 RBI in ’30 remains the MLB single-season record.
OF Billy Williams – Consistent hitter with 13 seasons of 20+ HRs for Chicago (42 in 1970); drove in 90 or more runs ten times; won NL batting title in ’72 with .333 mark.
OF Sammy Sosa – Became a disciplined and dangerous hitter as a Cub; PEDs inflated his stats, but even without the ’roids, he still would’ve put up outstanding numbers.
C Gabby Hartnett – Hit the “Homer in the Gloamin’” to help win the NL flag for Chicago in ’38; a great catcher, offensively and defensively; batted .299 or better seven times; NL MVP in ’35.
Bench Kiki Cuyler – Batted .330 or better four times as a Cub; led the NL in steals three seasons in a row (1928-30); decent power.
Pitcher Mordecai Brown – Devastating curveball; won 25 or more games four times; posted an ERA below 2.00 five straight seasons (1.04 in ’06).
Pitcher Ferguson Jenkins – Won 20+ games for Chicago six consecutive years (1967-72); workhorse with four 300-inning seasons as a Cub; led NL in Ks in ’69.
Pitcher Lon Warneke – Won 20 games three times; led NL in wins, ERA, and winning pct. in 1932; posted an ERA of 2.00 the following year; won two games in the ’35 World Series.
Closer Lee Smith – Led NL with 29 saves in ’83; recorded 30+ saves for Chicago in the four seasons that followed.
Some great ballplayers here ... and one of them even won a world championship with the Cubs.
Cincinnati Reds
1B Ted Kluszewski – Batted over .300 seven times; averaged 43 HRs a season from ’53 to ’56; drove in 100 or more runs five times.
2B Joe Morgan – One of the best ever at 2B; two-time MVP; OPB topped .400 six straight years; stole 50+ bases five times; won five consecutive Gold Gloves.
SS Barry Larkin – Batted over .300 nine times; three Gold Gloves; NL MVP in ’95; 379 SBs.
3B Pete Rose – Won three batting titles; scored 100+ runs ten times; got a few hits too.
OF Edd Roush – Batted over .320 ten times; won two NL batting titles; good glove in CF.
OF Frank Robinson – Hit 30+ HRs seven times for Cincy; led the NL in slugging three straight seasons; scored 100+ runs six times.
OF George Foster – NL MVP in ’77 (.320, 52, 139); batted .300 or better 4 times; 90+ RBI six straight seasons.
C Johnny Bench – Greatest catcher in NL history; two-time MVP; six 100+ RBI seasons; 389 HRs; TEN consecutive Gold Gloves.
Bench Vada Pinson – Topped 200 hits four times (batted .343 in ’61); five 20-20 seasons; scored 90+ runs eight times; Gold Glove winner.
Pitcher Bucky Walters – Led the NL in wins 3 times; posted an ERA below 3.00 seven times; won 2 games in the ’40 World Series.
Pitcher Paul Derringer – Four-time 20-game winner; led NL in winning pct. in ’39; also won 2 games for Cincy in the ’40 World Series.
Pitcher Eppa Rixey – Won 19+ games five times as a Red (25 in ’22); tossed 280 innings or more five times.
Closer John Franco – Averaged 34 saves a season from 1986 to 1989; Danny Graves saved more games for the Reds, but Franco’s ERA is much lower.
A Very Big Red Machine.
2B Joe Morgan – One of the best ever at 2B; two-time MVP; OPB topped .400 six straight years; stole 50+ bases five times; won five consecutive Gold Gloves.
SS Barry Larkin – Batted over .300 nine times; three Gold Gloves; NL MVP in ’95; 379 SBs.
3B Pete Rose – Won three batting titles; scored 100+ runs ten times; got a few hits too.
OF Edd Roush – Batted over .320 ten times; won two NL batting titles; good glove in CF.
OF Frank Robinson – Hit 30+ HRs seven times for Cincy; led the NL in slugging three straight seasons; scored 100+ runs six times.
OF George Foster – NL MVP in ’77 (.320, 52, 139); batted .300 or better 4 times; 90+ RBI six straight seasons.
C Johnny Bench – Greatest catcher in NL history; two-time MVP; six 100+ RBI seasons; 389 HRs; TEN consecutive Gold Gloves.
Bench Vada Pinson – Topped 200 hits four times (batted .343 in ’61); five 20-20 seasons; scored 90+ runs eight times; Gold Glove winner.
Pitcher Bucky Walters – Led the NL in wins 3 times; posted an ERA below 3.00 seven times; won 2 games in the ’40 World Series.
Pitcher Paul Derringer – Four-time 20-game winner; led NL in winning pct. in ’39; also won 2 games for Cincy in the ’40 World Series.
Pitcher Eppa Rixey – Won 19+ games five times as a Red (25 in ’22); tossed 280 innings or more five times.
Closer John Franco – Averaged 34 saves a season from 1986 to 1989; Danny Graves saved more games for the Reds, but Franco’s ERA is much lower.
A Very Big Red Machine.
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