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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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