Draft Recap: It’s Only Cheating If You Get Caught

Team Name: Its Only Cheating If You Get Caught

Lineup:

1. Eddie Collins 2B
2. Tony Gwynn RF
3. Barry Bonds LF
4. Manny Ramirez DH
5. Stan Musial CF
6. Harmon Killebrew 1B
7. Johnny Bench c
8. Pete Rose 3B
9. Ernie Banks ss

Rotation:

• Sandy Koufax
• Tom Seaver
• Gaylord Perry

Bullpen:

Dennis Eckersly/Rob Dibble

Bench:

• Jackie Robinson 2B
• Hank Greenberg 1B/LF
• Paul Molitor ss/3B

Strengths:

I really like my team. I think we’re really well balanced in the lineup and can hit with anybody. Eddie Collins at the top can really get things going. He had a .333 lifetime batting average and led the league in stolen bases four times, including 81 in 1910. Tony Gwynn is one of the best hitters ever and his career .338 AVG is nice in the 2 spot to get on in front of Barry Bonds. Bonds might be the best hitter ever so I wouldn’t be surprised if other teams pitched around him but I also wouldn’t be that upset about it because perhaps the best right-handed hitter of all time, Manny Ramirez, is on deck. Next is Stan Musial, who made 20 All-Star teams and was named MVP 3 times. Protecting him is Harmon Killebrew and his 573 career home runs and Johnny Bench, my first round selection and the clear best catcher of all time. Then I have the all time hits leader batting 8^th in Charlie Hustle, Pete Rose and Ernie Banks batting 9^th.

If any of my slower guys get on late in the game, I can always bring Jackie Robinson off the bench (haha) to pinch run.

Weaknesses:

My major glaring weakness has got to be defense. I’m a little worried about Stan the Man in center but I don’t really have a choice. Gwynn is a 5 time Gold Glover in right and Barry Lamar Bonds is an 8 time winner in left. I need Stan’s bat in the order and he can’t have first because of Killebrew or DH because there’s no way Manny’s going in the field, so center it is. Pete Rose is an offensive juggernaut but nobody ever talks about his defense. He won 2 Gold Gloves but none at third. Ernie Banks was a great shortstop but he only won one and Harmon Killebrew didn’t get any.  Molitor, Greenberg, and Robinson have zero Gold Gloves on the bench but at least nobody is going to try to run on Johnny Bench with his 44% career caught stealing percentage and showcase full of golden gloves.

Best Pick:

Tony Gwynn and Hank Greenberg in the 15^th and 16^th rounds were steals. Tom Seaver has the highest percentage of Hall of Fame votes ever and I was able to grab him in the 8^th round.

Worst Pick:

Rob Dibble doesn’t really deserve to be included in the All Time Draft but I was in a bind and needed a reliever. Also, based on how far Ozzie Smith fell (round 15), I’m not sure I needed to jump on Ernie Banks as early as I did (round 5).

A Quick Explanation of My Team Name:

We have Barry Bonds, Manny Ramirez, and Pete Rose all on the same roster. We definitely don’t play fair, but we do win games.

-Max Frankel