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

My All Time Team: Matt Baggette (aka Best.Team........EVER!!)

 

My team may have what seem like some odd choices. But it's my team. And it's better than everyone else's, so :P

My lineup:

1. 2B—Roberto Alomar

Perhaps this is  a unique choice right off the bat, but Alomar was the best player I ever got to see play, at every aspect of the game. He could hit for average, he had some power, he could steal bases and on defense, oh man. Was there anyone more fun to watch play defense? He won 10 gold gloves, the most ever for a second basemen. With over 200 homers and almost 500 stolen bases, Robby is a great choice to lead things off, as he could get things started with a homer, or get on and wreak havoc on the bases with his speed. With a career slash line of .300/.371/.443/.814 and insane defense, you've got yourself one of the best second basemen of all time at the top of a killer lineup.

2. LF—Stan Musial

He wasn't called Stan “The Man” for nothing. 3,630 hits. And he split them in half at home and on the road. That's right, 1,815 hits at home and on the road. He was a league leader in hits 6 times, doubles 8 times, triples 5 times, and batting average 7 times. His career batting average of .331 is insane. His 475 home runs, 725 doubles(third all time) , and 177 triples make him an extra base hitting machine.

3. CF--Willie Mays

Arguably the greatest player of all time. Amazing on defense with 11 gold gloves. One of four players in the 500 home run (660 in fact) and 3000 hit club. He played for 22 years and almost all of them were spectacular. How anyone could have anyone else in centerfield is beyond me.

4. 1B—Lou Gehrig

Lou was an RBI machine. 5^th all time with 1,995. Because of this he is my clean up hitter. Heck he was the clean up hitter on those Yankees teams not Ruth. His 185 RBI, yes 185, in 1931 is the second best single season RBI total only to Hack Wilson's 191 in 1930. He drove in over 150 runs 7 times. He is the only choice to hit clean up. He also had a career fielding percentage of .991. So he was pretty solid around the bag too.

5. DH—Hank Aaron

Some would say (myself among them) that he is still the Home Run king with his 755. His 2,297 RBI's are the most ever. (So how is Gehrig clean up and not Aaron Matt? How? Huh? How!!?) He played longer than Gehrig did. He was the epitome of consistency. Having him behind Gehrig just makes my team even more awesome.

6. RF—Roberto Clemente

There are so many great outfielders to choose from. This pick as has much to with defense as anything. It's not to say that Clemente wasn't a good offensive player, as he was with exactly 3,000 hits. He never hit more than 29 homers in any season and only drove in 100 or more twice, so there are others that hit for more power then he did. But he could hit. He had 4 200 hit seasons. His defense was great, his arm was insane. 17^th all time in outfield assist with 266. He had a cannon for an arm. I wouldn't have wanted to try to stretch a single into a double or double to a triple on his arm.

7. SS—Cal Ripken Jr.

No it's not just because he is my favorite player of all time. Yes the streak was great. But his numbers speak for themselves. 431 home runs, 3,184 hits. He is also one of only 14 players with over 600 doubles all time. He was a two time MVP. His defense is underrated. He was always in such great position that it didn't seem like he had to make many highlight reel plays - he was right where he needed to be from the start. He completely redefined the position.

8. C—Johnny Bench

How's this for a #8 hitter? A catcher that can hit homers (389 for his career). He was one of the best offensive catchers of all time. Then there is his defense. Throwing out 43% of base stealers for his career. He was close to and over 50% in multiple seasons.

9. 3B—Brooks Robinson

Yes Schmidt was better with the bat. But Brooks wasn't awful on offense. He had 2,848 hits for his career. And 268 home runs. Brooks glove is what gets him on this team more than anything. 16 gold gloves. Tied for second most all time. He had great range. Made some insane plays that are seen in highlight films all the time. Nothing would get through this left side of the infield.

Rotation

Bob Gibson

An innings eater, a strikeout pitcher, and oh yeah, he wasn't afraid to throw at you. My number one starter is gonna intimidate you before you ever get in the box. He had 20 or more complete games 7 times. His 1.12 ERA in 1968 was just pure insanity. 7-2 with a 1.89 ERA in the postseason. 2 time World Series MVP, set a record for strikeouts in a World Series game with 17. Also won 9 gold gloves.

Bob Feller

The rotation of the Bob's! Feller made his Major League debut at 17 years old. His fastball was able to beat a motorcycle to home plate. A different time,but 3 times he pitched over 300 innings. His numbers are eye popping. 36 complete games in 1946 - no one even makes 36 starts now. Led the league in strikeouts 7 times, innings pitched 5 times, and wins 6 times. Who knows what his numbers would have been if he hadn't missed three full seasons and most of another to join the War effort in World War 2. Feller had more complete games with 279 then he had wins, 266 for his career.

Warren Spahn

One of, if not the best left handed pitcher of all time. 13, that's right 13, 20-win seasons. Insane. A career ERA just over 3 at 3.09. He was another innings eater, going over 200 17 times. Led the league in complete games 9 times.

Walter Johnson

The Big Train, woo woo. You want to talk about an innings eater, my goodness. 9 straight seasons with over 300 innings pitched, leading the league 5 times in that span. A complete game machine with 531, like Feller more than his career wins of 417. He holds a record of 110 shutouts that will never be touched. 11 times his ERA was under 2.

Greg Maddux

The only one of my rotation I actually got to see pitch. The Mad Dog was not a flame thrower. But the guy could put the ball anywhere he wanted too. He was the best pitcher I have ever seen pitch in my lifetime. While it was the NL, the numbers he was able to put up in the “Steroid Era” of the 90s are just crazy. From 1992-1998 his highest ERA was 2.72. Twice with ERA's in the 1's during that run. From 1988-2006 he was under 200 innings pitched once, and that one time he pitched 199.1. Also, the dude was the best fielding pitcher I have ever seen, with 18 gold gloves.
 

Bull Pen

Long Men

Jim Palmer

In this pen Palmer can be used as both a long man (though I would doubt with my starters that will be needed much ) and in the middle of games to get out of jams. Palmer wasn't a great strikeout guy, but he could come out of the pen and use his high fastball to get out of stuff. Also Palmer was a great fielder.

Pedro Martinez

Unlike Palmer, Pedro can come in and just blow people away with a career SO/9 of 10.0. He can also be used as a long man on this team if needed. Even with his small size he was an intimidating presence on the mound.

Lefty Specialist/Set up man

Randy Johnson

Tall, ugly, threw super hard. Nasty slider. RJ will be able to come in and just shut the door. My team won't use him just to get lefties out,but get righties out too. Think Andrew Miller. Strikeouts everywhere with him. SO/9 of 10.6 (highest of all time).

Sandy Koufax

5 truly domiante years. And another arm out of the pen that will be able to strikeout anyone. He could easily be one of my starters. And can for sure be use for more than just getting out lefties. He walked hardly anyone. Just another weapon for the best bullpen ever.

Set up Man

Trevor Hoffman

Probably the second best closer of all time. A great change up. 601 career saves. There isn't much better to have setting up then Hoffman. The game would pretty much be over once the ball is handed to Hoffman with who my closer is waiting.

Closer

Mariano Rivera

A member of the Evil Empire, yes. But the best closer of all time. Need I say more? Ok a little more. 2.21 career ERA, record 652 saves.

 

Bench

OF- Rickey Henderson

You want a pinch runner on the bench? How about the guy with the most steals of all time? Also can put Rickey in any outfielder spot once he stays in the game. Can also be used as a pinch hitter that has the chance to go yard, as he hit 297 homers

OF- Babe Ruth

Everyone else probably has Ruth in their starting line up. I have the Sultan of Swat on my bench ready to come up and get a big pinch hit home run. Ruth had an AB per HR of 11.8, second of all time. Ruth can also pitch if there was some crazy extra inning game (Chris Davis, anyone?).

OF-Ken Griffey JR

The sweetest swing I ever saw. His defense was great, with 10 gold gloves. The best defensive replacement you can have. 630 homers on the bench waiting to come through late in the game. Also could steal a base or two.

Super Utility-Pete Rose

Pinch hit with him,he's got more hits than anyone ever. Put him anywhere in the field he played all over. He played every game like it was game 7. His intensity and drive would be nothing but a plus coming off the bench.

Backup Catcher-Ivan Rodriguez

On a normal team you want your back up catcher to be a real good catch and throw guy. Well why not have a guy that threw out 46% of base stealers for his career? Not only was Pudge great at controlling the running game,he was a pretty good hitter. Over 300 home runs and the MVP in 1999.

This roster is amazing. And you are all jealous of it's awesomeness.

-Matt Baggette @mlb930

Giving MacPhail a passing grade

As the Orioles march on with a third straight winning season, more than likely a second trip to the playoffs in those three seasons, and maybe even their first division title since 1997, there is a lot of credit to give. Buck Showalter is a fantastic manager and has helped changed the culture. Dan Duquette has done a good job adding depth and making some solid trades and lower-risk free agent deals. And of course he got Nelson Cruz and Ubaldo Jimenez in free agency this past offseason.

But there is another person that deserves a good deal of credit for this current team. None other than former Orioles GM Andy MacPhail.

Andy MacPhail took over running the Orioles in June of 2007. He inherited a team that was not very good on the field, had not seen a winning season since 1997, and had a minor league system in disrepair. I mean, look at this roster from 2007 and it's craptasticness.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/BAL/2007.shtml

MacPhail went about trying to fix a broken franchise. He said he wanted to improve the Orioles farm system and their lack of a presence in the international market. The first big thing MacPhail was involved in was the signing of draft pick Matt Wieters. The draft had taken place just before he took over. The Orioles first pick was catcher Matt Wieters, whose agent was Scott Boras. Boras was someone the Orioles had never liked dealing with. MacPhail was able to get Wieters signed right before the deadline. Orioles fans could breathe a little easier that a player they hoped would be a cornerstone was signed.

He then went and decided that after looking over what the Orioles had in the minor leagues, he was going to have to make some trades to jump start the farm system. In December 2007 MacPhail traded away shortstop Miguel Tejada. Tejada was traded to the Houston Astros for 5 players: Luke Scott, Troy Patton, Matt Albers, Denis Sarfarte, and Mike Costanzo. This was a big deal that traded arguably the team's best player away. All but Costanzo played for the Orioles. Luke Scott had some decent years. Troy Patton eventually came up and was a contributor to the 2012 playoff team. Albers and Sarfarte had mixed results and both were gone within a couple of years.

The next thing MacPhail did may be the most significant thing he did and that happened to the Orioles in the past decade. In February of 2008, he traded the Orioles' best starting pitcher, Erik Bedard, to Seattle for 5 more players: Adam Jones, Chris Tillman, George Sherill, Kam Mickolio, and Tony Butler. Only Bulter wouldn't see time as an Oriole.

This was a big step. The Orioles had traded their best position player and starting pitcher in the course of three months. Some fans wondered how the Orioles could trade their best pitcher; not many were as upset about Tejada as he had been saying he wanted to be traded. No one could know how well the Bedrad trade would turn out.

It is one of the best trades the Orioles, or dare I say it, any team has made. Jones looked to be a promising young outfielder. And, hey, his name was the same as the guitarist for the rock band Tool ( my favorite band!!). I saw that as nothing but a good sign. Tillman was rated highly and looked to be a good starting pitching prospect. Mickolio had the makings of a future closer. And Sherrill was a major league player. Three of the players the Orioles got in the trade have made at least one all star team (Sherrill, Jones, and Tillman). Jones is now the face of the team and a perennial all star and gold glover. Tillman has established himself as a front of the rotation starter. If that wasn't enough the Bedard trade is the trade that kept on giving. Sherrill was traded for Josh Bell and Steve Johnson. Mickolio (with David Hernandez) was traded for Mark Reynolds.

In January of 2009 MacPhail made on his promise to improve the Orioles presence in the international market. Koji Uehara was signed. Though Koji had a mixed amount of success as an Oriole, it was a big step forward. Later, in January and February, MacPhail made sure two of the Orioles home grown players were not going anywhere. Nick Markakis signed a 6 year, $66 million deal and Brian Roberts signed a 4 year, $40 million deal. This was a real positive sign. The Orioles were able to keep their own stars in place.

A small trade MacPhail would make at the end of spring training 2009 that would later help the team was sending Hayden Penn to the Marlins for Robert Andino. Andino would later drive in the winning run on the last day of the season in 2011 to knock the Red Sox out of the playoffs, a moment many point to as the start of things for what would follow in 2012.

In February of 2010, the Orioles opened their new spring training facility. MacPhail had a hand in getting this done as well. It was a must for the team moving forward. Their spring training facilities had become more and more unbearable. Now the team had a wonderful place to start the year.

In July of 2010 another significant move was made in the hiring of Buck Showalter as manager. This was the first time since Mike Hargrove had been the manager that the team had a manager that had previous experience in MLB. The team played well the rest of 2010. Things were looking up.

In the offseaon MacPhail continued his ability to make great trades. He traded Brett Jacobson, who had been acquired in 2009 for Aubrey Huff, to the Twins along with Jim Hoey for JJ Hardy. Then Mark Reynolds was added for David Hernandez and Kam Mickolio. At the July trading deadline in 2011 another great trade was made, sending Koji to Texas for Chris Davis and Tommy Hunter.

After the 2011 season MacPhail would step down. The team was never able to have a winning season under his watch, but he helped get them into a new spring training facility. He made trades that helped transform the franchise. He was able to keep key players in place. He was able to help rebuild the farm system.

I mean, look at the players that were drafted under his watch: Manny Machado, Dylan Bundy, Brian Matusz, Jake Arrieta, Caleb Joseph, Tim Berry, Parker Bridwell, Dan Klein, Mike Wright, Zach Davies, Michael Ohlman. Along with Jonathan Schoop as a amateur draft free agent. All those players have either helped the major league team, been traded for other players, or are still prospects moving up the ladder helping return the Orioles farm system to respectability.

Without the things that Andy MacPhail did, who knows where this team would be. But he deserves a lot of the credit for this team sitting here with three straight winning seasons. Dan Duquette deserves credit too, no doubt. But MacPhail seems to be the forgotten man. And he did a lot of important things that have helped shape the current state of this team.

-Matt Baggette @mlb930