A bittersweet farewell...

It’s the end of an era in Baltimore. The O’s bade farewell to their longest tenured player, as Nick Markakis signed a four-year, $44M contract with the Atlanta Braves.

Truthfully, I’m not surprised. After the Braves traded Jason Heyward, they needed a leadoff hitter and a RF. Markakis, a Georgia boy, made perfect sense for them.

While I’m not surprised, I am disappointed. If there was one guy on the Orioles – and maybe in all of baseball – that I thought could be a career-guy with one team, it was Nick.

The Orioles said farewell to their longest tenured player, as
Nick Markakis signed a 4 year/$44M deal with the Braves.

To me, Nick Markakis was (and still is) the perfect role model. A gritty player who works hard, keeps his mouth shut and performs consistently on the field. You always knew what you were going to get and he set a great example for his teammates and young fans alike. I think his presence in Baltimore will be greatly missed – not just on the field, but in the clubhouse and the community.

With that being said, I wholly trust Dan Duquette. He’s earned that much over the last 3 seasons from Orioles fans. I’m sure there will be overreactions, people wanting to burn DD and Angelos in effigy, but let’s allow things to play out. I’m far more concerned with how the team looks in March than in December. Dan signed Nelson Cruz and Ubaldo Jimenez last season after many had already declared the off-season (and regular season for that matter) over in Baltimore.

Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of what this means for the Orioles going forward:

Pros

1.      While I don’t necessarily agree with it, the sense is the O’s were nervous about giving Nick a 4^th year (his age 35 season) due to concerns over an issue with his neck. While Nick doesn’t have a skill set that should decline by then, he also isn’t a guy who tears the cover off the ball and it was suspected that his neck troubles cost him his power the last few seasons, despite his durability. This stings more so because of who Nick is and what he means to Baltimore – as a player, he’s replaceable. Sorry folks, but it’s the truth.

2.       A spot is now open. I’m guessing Dan has a deal on the burner that we don’t know about, that will allow all of this to come into focus. Whether it’s a trade for a Dodgers OF, signing Melky Cabrera, or something else, I trust DD to fill the gap.

3.       It frees up a spot for a young player to get some work with the team. I don’t know how high the organization is on the likes of Daniel Alvarez and Mike Yastrzemski, but this should provide some opportunities for them in the next season or two, if they show they can get it done.

Cons

1.       A huge hole in the locker room, in RF and in the community. Markakis was a soft-spoken, but great leader, and did a lot of charitable work in Baltimore. That is why this hurts for O’s fans right now – and it should. It will take some time to heal from this, regardless of who Dan slots into RF next season.

2.       Who’s up? It’s great if DD does have something on the go, but after letting Cruz walk (and justifiably so), he better come through or we’re looking at the likes of Alejandro De Aza and David Lough in the corner OF spots come next season. That is not the least bit inspiring.

3.       The O’s front office already has a dicey reputation with the fans and this won’t help. A front office should never make decisions just to win favour with the fans, but they also need to be in tune with how upset this is going to make fans (and I’m sure other Orioles players). While I don’t blame them for this situation, I think many will – so they are going to have to do a little damage control.

The biggest thing I want to preach right now, if I may, is patience. I know people will be sad, disappointed and frustrated, and I understand that. But let’s add rational to the list. From a baseball sense, this move has some logic to it and is not going to kill the Orioles chances of competing. I’ve already heard people turn on Markakis and talk about burning his merchandise, and I’ve heard people blast the front office. Most likely it’s somewhere in the middle. I’m sure the front office could have pushed harder, but Nick could have as well. Many get the sense Nick wanted to play closer to home, and I’m fine with that. I feel like in the end, this was a mutual split and there’s no reason to hate either side for it.

I will miss Nick in Baltimore, but the Orioles will be just fine. After all, the Cardinals have managed okay without that Pujols guy.

--Christopher Mills, @cjmills82

My Frist Trip to Camden

This is a story about my first trip to the wonderfulness that is Oriole Park at Camden Yards. As a kid growing up in Northern Virginia, Camden Yards seemed like a dream. While not ridiculously far away, it still seemed to be in a different world.

We went to a lot of minor league games when I was a kid. They were close and much, much cheaper. And hey, I had lots of fun. I got to see Jerry Hairston and Brian Roberts come into town to play. I even got to see Pete Rose Jr. play for my local Prince William Cannons ( now Potomac Nationals ).

We had some family friends from playing little league who went to Orioles games on a semi regular basis. On this one trip in 1998 they had an extra ticket and asked me to go. I was beyond excited. My first trip to a major league park. This was also going to be the 2,500^th consecutive game of Cal Ripken's streak. As Cal is my favorite player I was even more excited.

So I got myself ready. I packed up a glove. I grabbed a stack of cards to try and get autographed. I tried to bring at least one card of every player on the team, as I had a card for just about every player on the roster. We got in the car and headed towards Baltimore.

It was a day game on a Saturday. We left early in the morning. I enjoyed the trip up. We got to the ballpark a few hours before game time and parked in lot F (now I always go for lot F, G or H). As we walked up to the park, the size of the warehouse was the first thing I noticed. It was even bigger than I thought it would be. Gates were not open yet so we walked around a bit. We went over to the players parking lot and noticed a player arriving. I became hopeful of getting an autograph. 

The player that had arrived was Terry Matthews. Not a player I was super fond of; one I had dubbed Terry “Big Butt” Matthews. But nevertheless, other people were asking him for autographs so we went up. I didn't have a card of his but had a peace of paper and asked him for an autograph. Mr. Matthews was vary polite and gladly gave me his autograph. It was pretty cool, even if it was a player I didn't really care for.

We got in line a short while later. I was not aware but this day was a give away as well. Once the gates opened we walked in and were given a baseball with the entire teams autographs, albeit facsimiles, but still a cool thing that own to this day.

I was trying to take it all in, looking at the plaques on Eutaw Street. We then headed to the left field bleachers to watch batting practice. As someone that had never been to a major league park at this point and had only been to Single A ball games, I couldn't believe how green the grass was; it immediately jumped out at me. The field seemed so large. The dirt was browner. The air somehow smelled fresher. Watching batting practice was fun. I watched as Mike Mussina shagged fly balls. Running all over the place. Making a leaping catch at the wall and throwing the ball to another fan. It was so cool. I was already in love with the park and the game hadn't even started.

We went to get food. Hot dog on this trip. Found our seats on the first base side, down the line. Sat down and just tried to look at everything. The scoreboard, home plate, the bases. Everything. As the game was getting ready to start I noticed that Cal Ripken was signing down by the first base line. I ran down. It was almost time for the national anthem to start. I knew there wouldn't be much time to waste if I was gonna get Cal to sign something. I got down and got in line. Someone had some sort of large poster and Cal was signing it. This guy had Cal sign it in more than one spot. As I waited rather impatiently the national anthem was getting ready to start. Cal finished with this one person and then ran off. Denied a Cal autograph. So back to our seats I went.

I was not aware of the “O” during the national anthem. And it was a little jarring. But I thought it was a super cool thing. The game started. The Orioles were playing the Angels. I don't actually remember much from the game other than there was a ball hit to the outfield with two outs, I think, could be wrong, that it was Ricky Henderson that got the hit. Next thing we know the Orioles are walking off the field after the ball was thrown back in. We were all confused. It wasn't until the next day that I read in the paper (yes, the paper, anyone remember the paper??) that the Orioles had pulled off a hidden ball trick and got the runner out at first to end the inning. Pretty cool.

The real awesomeness came after the game. We again went to the players parking lot. Waiting for a chance at some autographs. The first player I remember coming out was Sidney Ponson. No one said a word to him. Not one person asked him for an autograph. A few other players trickled out but none were signing. Finally Joe Carter came out. And Joe went right to signing. I went through my cards I had brought and found the Joe Carter card I had. I got “in line”. Which was basically being pushed up against the fence of the players parking lot by all the other people trying to get something signed.

After a little bit Joe made his way towards my card. He grabbed it and signed it. I thanked him for it and made my way back out. I was super happy to get Joe Carter to sign my card. I thought it was gonna be the highlight of the day as most people were saying Cal didn't come to the lot. Lenny Webster came out next. I had a Webby rookie card with me and was a fan of the backup catcher. I was next in line with not that many people when the person in front of me dropped their ball. He asked Webby to try to get the ball back for him. Webby got down on the ground as the ball had rolled under a car. He tried but couldn't get the ball. After he was done with that he was done signing. Denied a Webby autograph that would be worth an entire 5 cents today!! Thanks to that fan for dropping his ball.

Joe Carter signed for basically everyone that was there. He was so nice and talked to anyone that wanted to. As he was signing and signing Roberto Alomar came out. And much to my joy Robbie deiced to sign too. Maybe to help Joe out as it seemed he was never gonna go home. I quickly got my Robbie card out. Again in line, mashed up on the fence. He must have passed over my card 3 or 4 times when I was the next in line. I don't know if he didn't like the card or what. But eventually he did grab it and sign it. This was just the coolest. Roberto was one of my favorite players. Right behind, Cal was there with Mussina. This was turning out to be quite the day.

A bit later Rafael Palmeiro came out. Rafy was another player I loved. I had brought with me one of my favorite cards I owned of his. His rookie card from when he was a Cub. I got ready to get in line again. This was apparently the person people were waiting for as more people were up to get something signed by Raffy then any of the other players. I was more smashed into the fence than I was for Joe Carter or Alomar. It was a long wait but eventually Raffy got to me and signed my rookie card.

I couldn't believe it. I had gotten two of my favorite players to sign a card. I was on cloud 9 to be sure. We left a bit later and headed home. On the ride home I used our friends' car phone to call my mom and let her know how the day was and that I had gotten Raffy to sign something as Raffy was her favorite guy. She couldn't believe I had gotten the autographs and was happy for me.

I thought this is how it would be every game. Getting autographs upon autographs. It's never happened like that again. I still have all three cards. The Alomar one is one of my most cherished peaces of baseball memorabilia. I thought the Raffy one would be worth a lot one day. Then he got caught using steroids and broke my heart. It was great day I will not forget. I have been to Camden Yards too many times to count in the years since. I have been in the park for some awesome moments. There isn't a much better place on this Earth to me then a full Camden Yards rocking as the O's are winning. But that first time will always hold a special place in my heart.

Matt Baggette @mlb930

All Hail St. Peter

It’s late December 2013. It’s announced that the Orioles are close to signing Grant Balfour to a 2 year/$15M contract to replace departed closer Jim Johnson. O’s fans get giddy with excitement, anticipating another piece of the puzzle falling into place. But then…

Rumours begin to trickle out that Balfour has failed his physical. The rumours turn out to be true and several days later Orioles GM Dan Duquette announces a deal will not be happening. A large group of Orioles fans rage and media personnel start firing their shots, first blaming Duquette, then, deciding Dan is just a puppet, they move on to Satan himself – owner Peter Angelos. I heard it all that week.

“THE ORIOLES DON’T CARE ABOUT WINNING!”

“THE ORIOLES WILL NEVER WIN AS LONG AS ANGELOS OWNS THE TEAM!”

“ANGELOS IS CHEAP! HE WILL NEVER SPEND WHAT IT TAKES FOR THIS TEAM TO CONTEND!”

Those are some of the more tame quotes, but you get the idea.

Fast forward ten months. The Orioles are on the cusp of their first World Series berth in 31 years. As they prepare to face the Kansas City Royals in the ALCS, a surprising announcement comes through that the Orioles have extended short stop J.J. Hardy – 3 years/$40M, with a vesting option for a fourth year.

Owner of the Orioles for 21 years, Peter Angelos has taken a
lot of flack from fans and media. With the team's recent turn
around, it's time to finally give him the credit he deserves.

Now before we go any further, I want to make a few things clear. I am not an Angelos apologist. I do not think Angelos is a great owner (nor do I think he’s the devil incarnate). And I do not solely blame Angelos for all the years of losing in Baltimore. Poor decisions by GMs, terrible drafting and weak on-field managing contributed greatly. But now, here we are – Angelos still owns the team and yet they just completed a third winning season, making the playoffs for the second time in three years. And money is being spent.

Truth be told, I have no idea where the “Angelos is cheap!” rumours started. Maybe it was his refusal to pay Mike Mussina back in 2001 (definitely a black mark against him). Maybe it was all the years of losing. But if you look back, you will see that Peter Angelos has always spent money when it made sense to do so.

I understand that people wanted players like Vlad Guerrero (the first time), Mark Teixeira or AJ Burnett (also the first time), but they didn’t make sense at the time. As fans, it’s easy to spend money that is not ours, but spending $50M+ to go from a 68-win team to a 72-win team just isn't logical.

The Orioles were among the highest payrolls in baseball in the late 90s. They were second to the Yankees from 1995-97, first in 1998 and fifth in 1999. They made back to back ALCS appearances in ’96 and ’97 and likely would have returned to the playoffs in 1998 were it not for a slew of injuries. Then the wheels fell off.  For years it didn’t make sense to spend big money, but even then, Angelos decided to take a shot when he felt the O’s were close enough, committing over $125M to Miguel Tejada (a season removed from an MVP award), Javy Lopez, Sidney Ponson and Rafael Palmeiro before the 2004 season.

He signed Nick Markakis, Brian Roberts and Adam Jones to long, wealthy extensions during the lean years.

This offseason, he gave the okay on a $52M deal for Ubaldo Jimenez (which admittedly hasn’t worked out so far) and $8M for Nelson Cruz – the biggest bargain in all of major league baseball this season.

That’s a lot of money spent over the years by a “cheap” owner. And dare we get into the deals that weren’t made?

Over the years, Angelos and the organization have drawn criticism for not signing the likes of Teixeira (how’s that working out for the Yanks the last couple season?), Carlos Delgado, Ivan Rodriguez, Prince Fielder, Burnett, Jayson Werth, Zack Greinke and this past offseason alone, Jacoby Ellsbury, Carlos Beltran, Bronson Arroyo, Burnett again, Jim Johnson and, of course, Grant Balfour.

Some of those players performed well on short deals, but most were either way too expensive or did not even come close to living up to their deals. Looking at the deals players from this past off-season received and how they performed, I’d say ol’ Pete is coming up roses. Ellsbury is the only guy who might eventually come close to being worth what he was given. None of the remaining players even finished the season, either due to injury or ineffectiveness.

I understand the emotions that come with being a fan, but restraint is needed. I would be lying if I said I wasn’t disappointed when the Balfour deal fell through, but the World Series is not won in November. As fans we need to be willing to let the process play out and see what the outcome is. As it turns out, Grant Balfour will have a comfy seat in front of his TV to potentially watch the Orioles play in the World Series.

I will say again, I am not a Peter Angelos apologist. I think he has some serious shortcomings as an owner, most notably the way he interacts (or doesn’t interact) with the fan base to create a more positive image for himself and more trust between his organization and the city that supports it. But there are far more brutal owners across baseball (and all pro sports) – owners who truly don’t care about winning, who pinch pennies because all their care about is squeezing every last bit of profit out of their teams, and who totally disregard their fans.

No matter how you feel about Angelos, he doesn’t fall into any of those three categories.

Over the last few years, I’ve heard so many people get credit for the winning seasons here in Baltimore – the players, Andy MacPhail, Buck Showalter, Dan Duquette, and so on, all very much deserved. But there’s one person missing from that list and after all the abuse and hatred he’s endured over the years, it’s high time he finally gets credit where it’s due.

As Orioles fans, it’s time we collectively tipped our cap to the man at the top - Peter Angelos.

--Christopher Mills, @cjmills82

OTW Opinion: Who's Pitching In The Playoffs?

The Orioles are in a great spot to make the postseason for the second time in three years. They face a difficult decision as to how to configure their postseason roster, specifically the pitching staff. What does the Off The Warehouse staff think the O's should do with their pitchers?


Matt Baggette
Starters: Chris Tillman, Wei-Yin Chen, Miguel Gonzalez, Bud Norris
Bullpen: Zach Britton, Andrew Miller, Darren O'day, Tommy Hunter, Brad Brach, Kevin Gausman  T.J. McFarland

Tillman and Chen are no doubters to start.Norris has been consistent this year. Norris also strikes me as a high energy guy that would either thrive or wilt in the playoffs,I am banking on thriving. Gonzalez has been real good lately. He never seems to get rattled and pitched great in his one playoff start in 2012. Gausman moves to the pen and can come in in a jam and strike guys out and be long man insurance. O'day,Miller,Hunter and Britton can make it a six inning game. Brach can be used in any number of ways,as a long man if someone struggles,to come in in a jam in the middle of a game. I don't want to see Matusz on a mound in the playoffs unless the Orioles are facing the Angels,as he owns Josh Hamilton. I am taking only 11 pitchers so they can have an extra man on the bench.And yes at this moment Ubaldo Jimenez is not on my roster.

Christopher Mills
Starters: Chris Tillman, Bud Norris,Wei-Yin Chen, Miguel Gonzalez
Bullpen: Kevin Gausman, Brad Brach, Tommy Hunter, Brian Matusz, Darren O'Day, Andrew Miller, Zach Britton

Tillman is on a tear, allowing 3 earned runs or less in his last 16 starts. He's found his groove and is a no-doubter for the top slot. Norris gets my second spot because of his home and road splits. He has been by far the O's best starter at OPACY and his road numbers are significantly worse. He also had the best WHIP of any O's starter this season. If you want to maximize on matchups, Norris goes here. Chen follows for obvious reasons - he's the next best pitcher, he's a lefty, and most importantly, his 1.6 BB/9, which leads the staff (starters and relievers) by far, and is key in the playoffs. Gonzo has been Mr. Consistency this season and is an easy choice to round out the staff. Gausman struggled a bit the last couple months or I might have had him in the rotation. He excelled in the bullpen last season and his HR/9 and strikeout potential make him very valuable as a long man in the playoffs.

The bullpen is fairly easy, though that's not to say Buck won't break with convention, as is often the case. I include Matusz because a specialist always comes in handy and even though his numbers aren't dazzling, I don't see a better option. Brach gets lefties out extremely well, but he's not a one-batter pitcher. TJ could also sneak in if the Orioles go with a 12-man pen in the playoffs, but I don't see a need or a place for him. He's been very ineffective this season. The rest are elementary, and if the O's starters can get through 6 innings, a 7-8-9 of Miller, O'Day and Britton is all but a lock right now. I have full confidence in the O's pitching going into the playoffs.

Nathan Mullenax
Starters: Chris Tillman, Wei-Yin Chen, Miguel Gonzalez, Bud Norris
Bullpen: Kevin Gausman, T.J. McFarland, Tommy Hunter, Brian Matusz, Andrew Miller, Darren O'Day, Zach Britton

Tillman, Chen, and Gonzalez are the easy picks for starters. Tillman is our best pitcher and Chen and Gonzo have been solid all year, and came through with good starts in the 2012 postseason. However, I don't put Gausman in the rotation for the postseason, and I actually made that decision before Gausman's recent struggles on the mound. Norris gets the nod from me because he has more experience in the Majors and he has been just a bit more consistent on the mound this year.

Gausman, however, will be included as the long man out of the pen. He would be a great asset if, say, Norris makes me look foolish by giving up three runs in the 3rd and loading the bases with one out in the 4th. Gausman has the ability to get you out of an early jam with his strikeout stuff and continue to pitch for an inning or two. The inclusion of Matusz may be a surprise, but I would use him strictly as a lefty specialist in the postseason. While he hasn't been very effective this season, he can still get the job done against left-handed hitters and pitched well overall in 2012. I chose McFarland over Brach (who does basically the same job as Tommy Hunter) because I wanted another lefty option in the pen, and he could be very useful if the O's find themselves going to extra innings, as they did multiple times in the 2012 playoffs.

Pat Maher
Starters: Chris Tillman, Wei-Yin Chen, Miguel Gonzalez, Bud Norris
Bullpen: Kevin Gausman, Andrew Miller, Zach Britton, Tommy Hunter, Brad Brach, Darren O'Day, Brian Matusz

Take away Chris Tillman's two one inning debacles in Pittsburgh and Texas, his ERA for the season sits at 2.73, which would be good for 7th in the American league.  Wei-Yin Chen has proven that he can finally consistently give the Orioles 6-7 good innings per start, a vast change from years past when he seemed to hit a brick wall after the 5th inning.  Miguel Gonzalez, who spent some time down in the minors as the Ubaldo Jimenez experiment ultimately came to a close, has given up more than three earned runs a grand total of three times this season.  These three pitchers look like the locks for a playoff rotation come October.  Bud Norris fills out this rotation, taking the last spot from future phenom Kevin Gausman.  While Gausman currently features a slightly better ERA, Bud Norris has pitched to a better WHIP, H/9, BB/9, and SO/9 so far this season.  I have no doubt in my mind that Kevin Gausman will be a top of the rotation starter very soon, but Bud Norris has stated his case to be a starter come playoff time.

Kevin Gausman will feature as the long man for the Orioles' playoff bullpen, replacing the current long-man Ubaldo Jimenez, who has not earned himself a spot on the playoff roster this season (which is a damn shame).  Brad Brach comes in as the middle reliever, sporting a 2.61 ERA and 1.123 WHIP, which is more than enough to earn his place on the bench in left-center field. Lefty-specialist Brian Matusz beats out lefty TJ McFarland because of McFarland's tendency to give up a lot of hits in his appearances (McFarland sports a 1.443 WHIP compared to Matusz's 1.371).  At this point, we get to the no-brainers.  Despite failing in his role as closer in the beginning of the season, Tommy Hunter has found his old form in the mid-late inning set up role.  Trade deadline acquisition Andrew Miller has pitched as advertised and has a keen ability to get the big outs when needed.  Darren O'Day is arguably the best reliever in game this year, earning himself a t-shirt night, an honor shared by Oriole greats such as Felix Pie, Ty Wigginton, and Koji Uehara.  Last and most certainly not least, the O's trot out their closer, Zach Britton.  Zach Britton has been a pleasant surprise after he was thrown into his role replacing Tommy Hunter.  Britton has looked absolutely unhittable at times and will prove an important piece in making a deep playoff run.

Ultimately, the starting pitching will prove to being the key in that deep run, however having one of the best bullpens in the game will prove most valuable in times where one run could determine a world champion.

Every Rose has its thorn

4,256. The Major League record for hits in a career. And the number of reasons why Pete Rose should be in the Hall of Fame.

For those who don’t know, Pete Rose received a lifetime ban from Commissioner Bart Giamatti in 1989 after he was found guilty of betting on the team he managed, the Cincinnati Reds. Gambling is forbidden in baseball, and pretty much all professional sports, for obvious reasons. Those within the game cannot bet on the game as it creates a conflict of interest and opens the door to the possibility – real or perceived – that games are fixed.

Nicknamed Charlie Hustle for his
intense and hard-nosed style of play,
many feel images like this is are
how Rose should be remembered.

Because of Rose’s lifetime ban, he has been denied eligibility for enshrinement in the Hall of Fame, an honour he definitely deserves. The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown has adopted the policy that they will not allow anyone to be elected if they have been banned by Major League Baseball. In other words, the Hall of Fame is keeping Pete Rose out of the Hall of Fame, not Major League Baseball. However, until MLB lifts their ban on Rose, the Hall will uphold his sentence.

So why now, after 25 years, is there more debate than ever over Rose’s candidacy? Let’s examine a few key reasons.

The Steroid Era

The steroid era has muddied the waters in terms of public opinion on players’ transgressions. Opinions of fans, media and the general public on the use of PEDs range from apathy, to feeling players should be punished for a mistake but still given another chance, to calls for lifetime bans for those who are viewed as cheating the game and fellow competitors.

The bottom line is baseball turned a blind eye to PED use for years because it helped the “state of the game”, and only acted upon it when they could ignore it no longer. This is one of Rose’s biggest arguments in his defense and I would tend to agree with him. In Keith Olbermann’s recent special, Pete Rose: 25 Years in Exile, Rose posed the question of which was worse – gambling or PED use. And then wondered why PED users are given three chances (or more), yet he is serving a lifetime ban.

Rose no longer denies his guilt (he did for years) and he acknowledges the severity of his offense, but it’s hard for anyone to argue Rose wasn’t made an example of. He is the poster child for what happens to those who bet on the game. If that’s the case, fine, but at least be consistent. Gambling hurts the image of the game, but PED use not only hurts the image of the game, it also affects the on-field product. It inflates numbers and hurts hard-working, clean competitors who are fighting as hard as they can to keep a job by doing things the right way. If PED users are going to get three strikes, why is gambling deemed a so much more vile offense that it immediately generates a lifetime ban? Whether you like Rose or not, it’s a very fair question and one that should be addressed by Major League Baseball.

Time

25 years is a long time for things to marinate and public opinion to change. For the most part, Rose is a likeable guy. He still lives and breathes baseball, he’s constantly interacting with fans, and he’s someone people can relate to. Rose is someone most of us could picture being the guy next door or coaching our son’s little league team. 

There are also many young fans now who know why Rose was banned, but they weren’t old enough at the time to grasp what was happening. They see the history books now and they look at Rose’s numbers and contributions to the game as a player and wonder how in the world MLB can justify keeping him out of the Hall of Fame when so many other men of more questionable behavior and character are enshrined. Ty Cobb is often brought up and with good reason – he’s an inductee and recognized as one of the greatest hitters ever, but one must dig deeper if they want to uncover his various atrocities. A list which, by the way, includes many more glaring crimes than anything Rose ever did, including various assaults and manslaughter.

How can MLB justify allowing men like Ryan Braun and Alex Rodriguez to continue suiting up and taking the field when the all-time hits leader sits at home, refused access to the game in any way, shape or form? Alex Rodriguez is an admitted PED user currently serving a one-year suspension for various offenses. Ryan Braun tested positive for a banned substance, got off on a technicality, proceeded to publicly destroy the reputation of the man who handled his urine sample, then was later found guilty of PED use and served a 65 game suspension. Are you telling me Rose hurt the game’s image more than those two?

New Commissioner

In Bud Selig’s tenure as MLB commissioner, he has refused to reinstate Pete Rose. He’s not a big fan of Pete Rose, but also does not want to undo a ruling set forth by one of his predecessors. With Selig now retiring and Rob Manfred taking his place, there is a glimmer of hope that a new commissioner might right a 25-year-old wrong and allow Pete Rose his rightful place in the game’s history.

Pete Rose

Pete Rose has never shied away from the public eye and is constantly making his case for reinstatement. It’s very clear he loves the game and, as he put it in his interview, even under banishment he is still one of the greatest ambassadors the game has. He constantly talks baseball, continually interacts with fans at card shows and autograph signings, and flat out loves the game. Is there really a downside to having a man like that working with young players? What better man to work with young hitters than the man who racked up more hits than any other player in major league history?

Rose spends his days signing autographs, interacting with fans
and talking about the game he loves.

As Olbermann stated in his thoughts on Rose during 25 Years in Exile, Major League Baseball has already benefited from Rose when it made sense to do so. He referenced the 1999 appearance of the All-Century Team at the All-Star Game in Boston. Mastercard sponsored the event and wanted Rose present, so in order to make their sponsorship money, MLB agreed. Now, there is already talk of MLB relenting and allowing Rose to be apart of festivities at next year's All-Star game in Cincinnati, in order to appease fans and sponsors. 


"The hypocrisy about Pete Rose, baseball's hypocrisy, Bud Selig's hypocrisy is subtle but still shameful," Olbermann said. "Pete Rose's lifetime ban can be and has been turned on and off like a light switch. Just remember to bring enough cash."

I’m not defending what Rose did. Betting on the game is wrong if you’re a player, manager or executive. MLB cannot and should not risk the perception that its games are fixed in any way. But 25 years is a long enough sentence, especially given the sentences being handed down for various offenses in the game today, and the fact that MLB profits from his presence when it needs to.

All MLB has to do is reinstate Rose on a zero tolerance policy. Set conditions, such as he not be involved in any kind of gambling, period, and that he give speeches at high schools and colleges about the importance of preserving the integrity of the game. And then let him use his expertise to mold some of the game’s young prospects into the smart and prolific hitter he once was. There’s virtually no downside to giving him one last shot.

You’re missing a golden opportunity MLB. Enough is enough. It’s time to reinstate Peter Edward Rose.

The Best Team Ever Assembled, This Year

Over the past few days, my colleagues here at Off The Warehouse have formulated their all-time best teams in Major League Baseball history.  Their teams are riddled with the names you all know: Ruth, Gehrig, Mays, Koufax, Maddux, etc.

I could have done this myself, but I decided to take a different route.  I have compiled a team of only players currently playing at a high level this season.  Essentially, I have formed a team using current players that would give the other all-time teams a run for their money (maybe). 

Let’s start with the lineup:

1. CF: Mike Trout

In just his third full season in the bigs, Mike Trout has already established himself as one of, if not the, best players in the game.  He has power, speed, patience - essentially everything you want in a baseball player.  He has questionable arm strength, but that’s pretty easy to overlook when you’re sporting a career .305/.394/.546 slash line.  Despite having a down year this year (and very few players can say a year with a .285 average is a "down" year), Mike Trout is still one of the most dangerous players in the game that can burn you in many, many more ways than one.

2. 2B: Robinson Cano

The most prized free agent following the 2013 season, Robinson Cano has shown that he deserves the $240 million that Seattle shelled out to the former Yankee slugger.  While he does not have the power numbers that he used to (likely due to the switch from Yankee Stadium to Safeco Field), Cano is getting on base at a career high rate of .386, making him a perfect candidate for the second spot in the order.   Not to mention he makes playing second base look easier than beating the Red Sox in September of 2011.

3. 1B: Miguel Cabrera

Obviously the two-time defending MVP and 2012 Triple Crown winner was going to find his way into this lineup.  Cabrera currently leads the league in doubles and continues to sport an average north of .300: something he hasn't not done since 2008.  Like Trout, Cabrera is experiencing a "down" year, but remains an extremely dangerous bat in any situation.  And I mean any situation: 

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6YzVvtxoaY)

4. RF: Giancarlo Stanton

If the Marlins had made the playoffs this season (which still isn't out of the question, but unlikely), Stanton would be - for sure - the Most Valuable Player in the National League.  Stanton is leading the National League in home runs, RBI, slugging percentage, OPS, total bases, walks, and intentional walks.  Stanton is known for his power (and power is an understatement), but his mere presence in the lineup would be enough to rattle any pitcher... ever.

As pitchers have found out against this man, you'd better hit your spots:


Honorable Mention: Nick Markakis

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75bOXH4UbuM)

5. DH: Victor Martinez

It's hard to believe that there could possibly be somebody in the same lineup as Miguel Cabrera who is more of an MVP candidate than he.  Victor Martinez fits that bill in 2014.  Martinez is leading the league in OBP and OPS, and has struck out only 39 times in 565 plate appearances.  Thirty-nine times... in 565 plate appearances.  Pair that up with a .335 average and it's safe to say this guy might be one of the toughest outs in Major League Baseball.  The 35-year-old has cemented himself as one of the top targets this upcoming offseason, despite that age of his.



6. SS: Troy Tulowitzki

Unfortunately, injuries have shortened a career year for the 29-year-old shortstop, but I could not overlook how good of a year he was having before hitting the couch for the year.  Tulo was sporting a ridiculous line of .340/.432/.603/1.035 with 21 home runs and 52 RBIs in just 91 games.  No shortstop in the game has even flirted with those types of numbers this year.  It's unlikely that he would have been able to hold that type of production over a full season of play, but he definitely could have maintained MVP-caliber numbers for a full season.



7. 3B: Adrian Beltre

With all the young studs in the league, it's incredible that Beltre is the fourth player over 30 years old to make this hypothetical team.  Beltre has got to be the ugliest Energizer Bunny out there, but this bunny is continuing to play at a high level.  So far this year, he has batted himself to 17 home runs and a .323/.384/.490/.874 slash line.  That's incredibly impressive for a 35-year-old who is still an everyday player, not a designated hitter.  He is currently the best hitter of all the third baseman in the league, and continues to be a yearly Gold Glove candidate at the hot corner.  If you are trying to get into this guy's head, it won't be done while he's at the plate.  There are a few other ways, though:




(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFh72kmrXz4)


8. C: Buster Posey

Buster Posey is 27 years old and only in his fifth season, but he is already the owner of two World Series Championships, a Rookie of the Year award, a Silver Slugger award, two All-Star selections, and an MVP award - and that's after missing the majority of 2011 with a major leg injury (catalyzing the new movement to protect catchers, which has begun to backfire on the league with new rule changes before this season).  That kind of experience for someone at such a young age is invaluable, and Posey is primed to have a nice, long career behind the plate at this rate.  Oh, and that .309/.362/.492/.854 line is nice, too.

9. LF: Michael Brantley

Michael Brantley is quietly having one of the better overall seasons in the majors right now (probably because nobody shows up to watch him play).  Brantley's line currently sits at .316/.374/.495/.869 with 20 home runs and 89 RBIs.  He's no slouch in the field either, compiling a .996 fielding percentage while patrolling left field over his career and is errorless in 2014.  Brantley's consistency has earned him a place at the bottom of the order in this "Best of 2014" lineup.


Now that you've seen the guys who will be scoring the runs for this team, let's take a look at the players who will be preventing runs: the pitchers.  There were a lot of good candidates for the best pitching staff of the 2014 season, but these next eleven guys are the best combination to stop any team from scoring.

SP1: Clayton Kershaw

Probably the biggest no-brainer on this entire team.  It's hard to believe that Kershaw could have gotten better than last year, but he's done just that.  His ERA sits at an absolutely ridiculous 1.68 and he has compiled a WHIP of 0.818, leading the league in both of those categories.  In fact, here's a list of what he's leading the National League in:

Wins
Winning %
ERA
Complete Games
ERA+
FIP
WHIP
H/9
SO/9
BB/9

He's 27 with two Cy Youngs and threw a no hitter this year.  Yeah.

Photo: MLB Trade Rumos

SP2: Chris Sale

Another great young lefty in Chris Sale comes in as the second man in this rotation.  At 25 years old, Sale is currently having the best season as a starter of his young career, with a 2.09 ERA (tops in the AL) and a 0.942 WHIP.  Despite missing a month's worth of starts with a flexor strain in his pitching elbow, Sale poised to post his second straight season with over 200 strikeouts: a category he sits at sixth in the American League.

SP3: Felix Hernandez

It feels as though Felix Hernandez has been dominating in this league for about 14 years, but he's only 28 despite being in the league for 10 years.  Hernandez is currently having the best season of his career, save his 2010 Cy Young Award winning season.  The American League's 2014 All-Star starter's ERA sits at 2.12 and he leads the American League in WHIP at 0.915.  His 217 strikeouts are good for fourth in the American League, and batters are hitting a mere .200 off of him, which is good for third in the majors (behind two other pitchers in this rotation).

SP4: Johnny Cueto

While Johnny Cueto is probably best remembered in Pittsburgh for this, he should be remembered for the performances he has had this season.  The National League leader in innings pitched, Cueto has tossed his way to a 2.23 ERA and 0.977 WHIP.  He trails only Stephen Strasburg in strikeouts in the National League, and has held hitters to a .196 average.  I think it's safe to say Cueto has put that little Pittsburgh debacle behind him.

Photo: Fox Sports

SP5: Corey Kluber

Once again, it's a Cleveland Indian that is making a somewhat surprising appearance on this team.  In only his second full season as a starter, Kluber has pitched his heart out to a 2.47 ERA and 1.101 WHIP.  Kluber trails only Max Scherzer and David Price in strikeouts in the American League, and has walked just 36 batters over his 30 starts.  It is tough to gauge if this type of performance is sustainable for Kluber, since this is his first really good season, but he sure has seemed to turn a corner and cement himself as one of the best starting pitchers of 2014.

RP: Jon Lester

One of two top trade targets for most contenders this year at the July 31st trade deadline, Jon Lester has put together another nice year following a disastrous 2012 campaign.  He has a 2.54 ERA split between Boston and Oakland, and sports a 1.096 WHIP as well.

RP: Garrett Richards

Another great season cut short by a freak injury.  In just his first full season as a starting pitcher, Richards worked to a 2.61 ERA and a 1.038 WHIP (I bet you're so excited to be seeing these two stats again).  His best stat?  Richards gave up 0.3 home runs per nine innings over his 26 starts (5 homers on the year).  He would be perfect in a relief role on this team because you know you are not going to get burned, especially by the long ball.

RP: Adam Wainwright

Like most other pitchers on this staff, Wainwright is having one of the better seasons of his career with a 2.62 ERA and 1.059 WHIP.  The 2014 National League All-Star starting pitcher has firmly planted himself as one of the best, most consistent pitchers in the game.

RP: Hisashi Iwakuma

This addition may come as a surprise to many people, but it shouldn't.  Iwakuma is the number two pitcher on what has proven to be the best overall pitching staff in the major leagues in the Seattle Mariners.  Despite having a higher ERA than a few other candidates for this roster, what has earned him his spot is his 0.990 WHIP so far this season.  

SU: Greg Holland

Ever since Royals closer Greg Holland earned himself a full time spot in a major league pitching staff, he has been lights-out.  Never mind his 2.24 career ERA (which includes one short season of 6.75), Holland has pitched to a sub-2 ERA three out of four years, including a 1.21 last year and 1.60 this year.  I think we're done here.

Photo: Outside Pitch MLB

CL: Craig Kimbrel

Last, but not least, we have the closer.  Kimbrel is leading the National League in saves for the fourth straight year and strikes out 13.8 batters per nine innings - it's hard to get on base when you can't hit the ball.  Craig Kimbrel, given similar longevity and health, could shatter Mariano Rivera's all-time saves record in due time.

Bench:
Jose Altuve
Andrew McCutchen
Jose Abreu
Manny Machado
Jonathan Lucroy

And finally, we have the backups.  Nobody in their right mind could ever think of these five players as backups, but that's where they fit in on this team of the best of 2014.  You have everything you could want from your bench with these five: Altuve and McCutchen with speed, Jose Abreu with the monster power, Manny Machado with the interstellar defense, and Jonathan Lucroy with his... catcher... ness (you need a backup catcher, right?).  Many baseball fans under-appreciate the importance of each team's bench and the role it plays, but I think most everybody would appreciate this one.

So, there you have it.  In a week where you have seen the opinions of our writers on the best compilation of players of all time, I have given you the best compilation of players this year.  While it may not include some of the big names you may hear on a daily basis (Puig, Harper, Kemp, etc.), this team would give any team ever a run for its money.  And when pitted against the teams put together by my colleagues here on this blog, it will probably win.

But that might be because most of their players are dead.

Adam Jones =MVP

I think the Orioles could have the MVP winner in the AL. Not Mike Trout, nope. An Oriole. No I am not picking the Boomstick, Nelson Cruz. The Oriole I think should be MVP is Adam Jones.

How do we define what is the most valuable? It's subjective for sure. Is it simply the player that has the best numbers? Does being on a winning team really matter? Do we need to factor in things that just can't be measured? Adam Jones is an MVP for many reasons, both statistically and in other ways that can't be measured. First the ones that maybe can't be measured. The intangibles. The unique qualities he possesses that help fuel the team. The Orioles have seen All-Star Catcher Matt Wieters lost for the season (he was having his best year offensively), All-Star third baseman Manny Machado hurt to start the year, suspended and now gone for the year with an injury, JJ Hardy has only 9 home runs and Chris Davis is hitting in the .190's.

Photo Credit: zimbio.com

This has made what Adam Jones has done more valuable than anyone else. He has meant more to his team then anyone else. Yes Nelson Cruz has had a great year and helped a great deal. With his league leading 39 home runs, and 101 RBI's to boot. But Jones is by far the MVP of this team. With the injures and under-performances of key players the season that Jones is having is a big reason for the Orioles being where they are. He is the team's leader on and off the field. He never gets too down or high after a win or a loss. And the influence of his mentality of never giving up and constantly grinding everyday shows up throughout the team. He is the heart and soul of the team, and in many ways as he goes so does the team.

Statistically Jones is having a really good year. Hitting .286/.319/.463/.783  overall for the season, with 24 home runs and 81 RBI's. His 164 hits ranks 8^th in the American League. But the numbers that jump out at me for MVP are what he's done in “clutch” spots (and you know a great deal of the Orioles fan base thinks Jones isn't clutch? Good stuff). In wins, .340/.375/.568/.943 ( in losses .208/.236/.214/.549). With 2 outs (you know clutch) .305/.336/.493/.829. With Runners In Scoring Position ( something the entire team sucks at if you listen to Orioles fans on social media) .324/.359/.496/.855. Even more clutch,with 2 outs and RISP, .323/.364/.484/.848. Oh and he has 6 sac fly's, 15^th in the AL.

There is also Jones's defense. He has a .982 fielding percentage and 324 put outs, which is 8^th amongst all outfielders and 5^th in the American League. His 7 assists, rank 12th in the AL. His defensive WAR ( not a fan of WAR or UZR,but I will include them) is 8.9, and his UZR is 7.3, 4^th among CF's. He routinely cuts balls off and holds runners from taking an extra base. His defense has helped win games as much as his bat.

Turning a 3 run homer into a double play
Photo Credit: fansided.com

Now compare his numbers to Mr. Trout. Hitting .285/.370/.552/.922 with 32 home runs and 102 RBI's. His batting average is a point lower, and yes his OPS is better. And yeah he's got more homers and RBI. But, Jones has a batting average of .340 in wins vs Trout's .309. Also Jones is having a better season w/RISP and most notably with 2 outs and 2 outs w/RISP. Trout is hitting .199/.331/.288/.619  with 2 outs. And with 2 outs and RISP he is only hitting .213/.362/.298/.660. So he hasn't been as “clutch” in those spots as Jones has.

Trout is widely considered on of the better defenders in the game. The defensive metrics (which again I am not a fan of and don't at all understand how Trouts are this bad) show Trout to be having a bad year in the field. A defensive WAR of -5.4 and a UZR of -6.6, despite having a .994 fielding percentage,with 335 putouts and 4 assist.

Trout is on a team that has a future Hall of Famer in Albert Pujols, who, while not the same Albert, is still a force and having a good year. And yes Josh Hamilton has been hurt and is not having a great year. The Angels still have not had the players lost for year or under perform the way the Orioles have and Trout has not had to pick up as much slack as Jones has. The Angels pitching has also been really good this year and one could argue that someone like Garrett Richards is the Angels MVP more so than Trout.

The Champ...no MVP is here!!!

I know that Jones is behind Trout in almost every statistical category. But I feel with the players the Orioles have lost from their lineup and with some players having down years at the plate, what Jones has done for this team make him the most VAULABLE player. Without Jones's production I shudder to think where the Orioles would be this season. So factoring in Jones stats, the loss and under-performance of key players,and his gold glove defense, I would say Adam Jones is more valuable to the Orioles, a first place team that would not be in first without him, than Mike Trout is to the Angels. 

-Matt Baggette @mlb930

The GOAT Team: Christopher Mills

So I drew slot #3 for my GOAT (Greatest of All-Time) Team. And boy am I glad I did. I get to mock some of the teams before me. Like Matt’s all-time Orioles team. What? That was his all-time MLB team? My bad.

And let’s not forget Nathan’s stubborn refusal to include anyone that played before 1940 (Walter Johnson excepted). Apparently “all-time” has its limits. But this is a guy who allotted a spot on his roster for comic relief, so I digress.

My team also has a few outside-the-box inclusions (see: Genius), so without further ado, let’s get to the TRUE greatest team of all-time. Enjoy!

1. Eddie Collins – 2B

A career .333 hitter and the first man to notch 80 steals in a single season, Collins is the perfect leadoff hitter. He’s also a workhorse in the field, still holding the major league records for games, assists and total chances at 2B. His defense wasn’t great, but defensive numbers from the early 20^th century should be taken with a grain of salt. If Collins had the gloves today’s fielders use and the finely groomed diamonds they play on, he’d more than hold his own. He also owns a fine collection of jewelry – 4 WS rings – so he knows how to win.

2. Lou Gehrig – 1B

The greatest player of all time, hands down. A 2-time AL MVP, Gehrig was as well-rounded of a hitter as you’ll find in the game’s history. A career slash line of .340/.447/.632/1.080, 493 HRs, 163 triples and 534 doubles. He walked 1,508 times and only struck out 790. Drove in a ridiculous 1,995 and still holds the AL record for RBI in a season with 185. He also had the career record for grand slams until he was surpassed by ARod several years ago. Throw in the fact that his career was tragically cut short at 35 by ALS, and to me there is no debating his place in history. People don’t like to play the what-if game, but I will. Had Gehrig not gotten sick and played out his career, he probably would have had more than 700 HRs. With what likely would have still been a .320+ career average, he would EASILY have been the greatest hitter ever. Period. So why is he hitting second, you ask? Because he’s an on-base machine, this lineup is ridiculously deep, and quite frankly…because I can. Owner of 6 WS rings (see a trend here? This is a team of winners).

3. Ted Williams – LF

Another what-if candidate. Ted Williams, as it stands, has legitimate claim to being the greatest hitter of all time. If you add back in the prime years he lost to military service, he – like Gehrig – would easily have amassed 700 HRs. The only thing Gehrig had that Williams didn’t was speed. Outside of SBs and triples, the two juggernauts stand toe to toe in almost every category. Having these two offensive titans stepping to the plate in the first inning of every game is enough to make any pitcher queasy. Sadly Teddy Ballgame never earned himself any jewelry, as he played his entire career with the cursed Red Sox.

4. Babe Ruth – RF

Relegated to the bench by my esteemed colleague Mr. Baggette (“Cuckoo! Cuckoo!”), Ruth is a must-have in any all-time lineup. The man single-handedly revolutionized the game of baseball and was putting up present day numbers back when ballparks were the size of Texas. Like Gehrig, Ruth possessed an uncanny combination of power, speed and discipline, boasting a career slash line of .342/.474/.690/1.164, the last two of which are major league records. And let’s not forget he still holds the AL record for career homers at 714. The man was an absolute beast – his sheer presence in this lineup makes it infinitely better. Owner of a phenomenal 7 WS rings.

5. Willie Mays – CF

What’s to say that hasn’t already been stated by my colleagues? The Say Hey Kid was a force at the plate and with the glove. Whichever ballpark this team ends up in, I will feel very secure with him manning CF and cleaning up after the beasts batting ahead of him. Willie appeared in 4 WS, taking home a ring in 1954.

6. Jimmie Foxx – DH

A 3-time AL MVP, Foxx lead the AL in homeruns 4 times, slugging % five times and total bases 3 times. He can stand toe-to-toe with anyone in this lineup – the only reason he’s hitting 6^th is his higher penchant for strikeouts. Foxx will also serve as the backup catcher to Bench, freeing up a bench spot for other needs. Ol’ Double X is the owner of 2 WS rings.

7. Johnny Bench – C

The engine behind the Big Red Machine, he led the Reds to 4 WS and 6 NLCS’s in the 70s, taking home 2 rings. Bench was a force with the bat and behind the dish, earning 14 all-star nods, 10 gold gloves and 2 NL MVPs in his Hall of Fame career. He was also the Rookie of the Year in 1968 and the WS MVP in 1976. There really was no other option for this position for me, and Bench will likely be one of the few that appears on all four rosters.

8. Mike Schmidt – 3B

The list of accolades for Schmidt is long and impressive and makes it very easy to see why he’s the choice here. 12 all-star appearances, 10 gold gloves, 6 silver sluggers, 8 time NL homerun champ, 3 time NL MVP and the WS MVP in 1980. He is also one of the few to hit an ML-record 4 homers in one game. “The man” in Philly throughout his 18-year career, Schmidt led the team to 6 division titles and 2 WS, winning it all in 1980.

9. Honus Wagner – SS

I love Cal Ripken as much as anyone but there was no passing up the Flying Dutchman for this pick. Wagner was one of a kind – a tough as nails competitor with a tireless work ethic who took failure personally. Though described as being bow-legged, Wagner was a speedster, tallying 723 stolen bases in his 21 year career. Although caught stealing numbers were not kept back then, it does not appear Wagner was caught often. He also amassed over 600 doubles and more than 200 triples. An 8 time NL batting champion and 5 time RBI champion, Wagner was a force at the dish and on the basepaths and is the perfect guy to turn this lineup over. He took the Pirates to the very first World Series in 1903 and got himself a ring when Pittsburgh won the championship in 1909.

Pitchers

The starting rotation. The place where my colleagues really dropped the ball. I understand dead ball pitchers are not looked at fondly through the lens of today’s game, but that doesn’t mean they weren’t among the best. There are some understandable arguments – such as how such pitchers would fare in today’s game, with smaller ballparks and bigger and more advanced hitters. But there are easy counters for that, when you consider that today’s game features far superior defenses and many more free-swinging hitters that would balance the numbers out. I have no doubts that the best of these pitchers would fare just fine in today’s game.

1. Christy Mathewson

Had Mathewson not played in the days before the Cy Young Award, he probably would have racked up many of them. With a career record of 373-188, Mathewson had an ERA under 2 five times and his career ERA of 2.13 is tied for 8^th all-time. Pete Alexander and Walter Johnson are the only pitchers who started their careers in 1900 or later with more complete games than Matty’s 436. ERA+, which adjusts a player’s ERA to his ballpark and the league average, ranks Mathewson 14^th all-time among starting pitchers with more than 10 seasons pitched. So why is Mathewson my ace? His leadership and his career 1.6 BB/9. Mathewson was known for having immaculate control which is just what I want at the top of my rotation. Matty led the Giants to 4 WS in his career, taking home a ring in 1905.

2. Ed Walsh

1.82. Walsh’s ML ERA record which has stood since his retirement in 1917. If you’re into advanced metrics, Walsh is also the career leader in FIP (Fielding Independent Pitching), which is a formula attempts to assess a pitcher’s value relative to his peers when it comes to the things he can control – walks, strikeouts, hit batsmen and preventing homeruns. Walsh had an ERA under 2 six times and prior to his final season, he never had an ERA above 2.82 in 13 seasons. Like Mathewson, Walsh is a master of control, with a career BB/9 of 1.9. Walsh’s 145 ERA+ ranks him 6^th among starting pitchers with more than 10 seasons. Walsh won a WS ring with the White Sox in his only appearance in 1906.

3. Sandy Koufax

I needed a lefty in here and in his prime, Koufax was the most dominant lefty of all-time. From 1962 to his retirement following the 1966 season (due to arthritis in his pitching elbow), Koufax had an ERA of 1.92 and won the pitching Triple Crown 3 times. He won 3 Cy Young awards and led the Dodgers to 3 WS, winning 2. He also won rings with the Dodgers in 1955 and 1959. Koufax had a very impressive 6.8 H/9 for his career and logged more than 300 innings 3 times in his last 5 years. Given the nickname “The Left Arm of God”, Koufax’s 4 career no-hitters – including a perfect game – seal the deal.

4. Walter Johnson

Still regarded by many as the hardest thrower of all-time, Johnson was a strikeout titan in a time of contact hitters. Johnson surpassed Cy Young for the career strikeout record in 1921, eventually reaching 3,509 for his career. He held the record for 61 years before Steve Carlton briefly passed him and then, a season later, Nolan Ryan took the title for good. Johnson was also a workhorse, finishing 3^rd all-time in innings pitched behind Cy Young and Pud Galvin. His career shutout record of 110 is 20 more than the next highest total and will never…ever be touched. Johnson led the Senators to back-to-back WS appearances in 1924 and 1925, winning in 1924.

5. Greg Maddux

Maddux was a no-brainer for me here. A man who put up “dead ball” numbers in the modern era – and in an era of steroid use and shrinking ballparks, no less – Maddux’s pitching IQ was off the charts and he was known to have the ability to vary the speed of his fastball to adjust to the timing of hitters. Maddux took home 4 consecutive Cy Young awards in his career and finished Top 5 in voting 8 times. His career BB/9 of 1.8 is impressive and keeps up the trend of a staff that does not allow many free baserunners. One of the few members of the 300 win/3,000 strikeout club, Maddux also holds the ML record – for any position – with 18 Gold Gloves. He went to 3 WS with the Braves, winning his only ring in 1995.

Long A – Jim Palmer

Palmer has a long and illustrious career, winning 268 games and 3 WS rings over 3 decades – the only player ever to do so. Palmer won 3 Cy Young awards and finished in the Top 5 in voting 8 times. He was also strong with the glove, winning 4 Gold Glove awards. The most impressive stat though is the fact that Palmer never allowed a grand slam in his 19 year career. He was a smart pitcher who knew how best to minimize the damage before him.

Long B – Clayton Kershaw

A modern day player, Kershaw only has 7 seasons of work so far, but they closely rival another Dodger pitcher already on this roster. After 3 mediocre-to-decent years to start his career, Kershaw has put up ridiculous numbers his past four seasons, going 68-26 with a 2.32 ERA and 911 strikeouts. He has won 2 of the past three NL Cy Young awards and is easily on his way to a 3rd this season. His career WHIP is currently 6^th all-time among starting pitchers with 7+ years pitched, and his ERA+ is 3^rd only to Pedro Martinez and Mariano Rivera in the history of the game. 

RH Specialist – Addie Joss

Addie Joss only had a 9 year career, but what a career it was. The all-time leader in career WHIP at 0.96, he never posted an ERA higher than the 2.77 he put up in his rookie year. Joss was a control specialist, posting a BB/9 of 1.4 for his career and his career HR/9 of 0.1 is amazing even for the dead ball era. No doubt that would climb in current ballparks, but not by much given his control and dominance on the mound.

LH Specialist – Aroldis Chapman

Another modern day player, this may surprise some people, but it shouldn’t. Is he one of the greatest relievers of all time? It’s too early to tell, but he has a 5-season sample size to draw on and if I need someone to get one lefty out, he’s the guy. Lefties have 254 career plate appearances against Chapman – guess how many hits they have. If you said 6, you probably cheated – but you’d be right. SIX HITS (and 26 walks) in 254 plate appearances. Lefties are hitting .113 and slugging just .144 against Chapman for his career. And if I need a little something extra from him, he has an OAV of .164 against righties and a career K/9 of 15.2.

Setup A – Pedro Martinez

Pedro started his career as a reliever, then converted to a starter and never looked back, but he fits the bill here. Petey put up some ridiculous numbers in his career at a time when baseballs were flying around at an alarming rate. The Steroid Era and a slew of new, smaller ballparks didn’t seem to faze him as he dominated the competition. His career WHIP is Top 10 all-time and his ERA+ of 154 is the highest EVER for a starting pitcher (only Mariano Rivera’s is higher). He won 3 Cy Young awards and finished Top 5 in the voting 7 times. His career winning % of .687 is 6^th all-time and second only to Whitey Ford among pitchers with 15+ seasons. Long story short – Pedro was pure dominance in a period dominated by hitters.

Closer – Mariano Rivera

What can you say about Mo? The most dominant closer of all-time and one of only two men with more than 600 saves. Rivera retired with career records in games finished, saves and ERA+, along with a slew of other records that will never be broken. And Rivera earned 5 WS rings, including a WS MVP award in 1999. Not too shabby.

Bench

Pete Rose

Jackie Robinson

Cal Ripken

Hank Aaron

Stan Musial

I’ll keep this short and sweet. Rose and Robinson are prolific hitters who can play all over the diamond. Versatility is important on a bench and these two can eat up multiple positions with above average defense. I was tempted to go with Ozzie Smith to backup Wagner, but I realized that the drop off from Smith to Ripken in defense is minimal compared to the increase in offense from Smith to Ripken.  Ripken is an adequate defensive replacement if needed, who can also do damage at the plate. Aaron and Musial are my reserve OFs and it’s pretty obvious why. Two of the greatest hitters of all time, both could also handle a glove and make this bench very deep should one of my starters get hurt or require a day off.

My condolences to Bob Uecker, but there just wasn't enough room on my team. He is always welcome to do some stand-up in the clubhouse before games though.

--Christopher Mills, @cjmills82