My 25-Man Roster

Here is the team I would put together from players I have seen in my lifetime. I set the beginning at 1973, and I had to see the players in their prime. I can’t take Bob Gibson or Harmon Killebrew. The list of honorable mentions would be long. Bonds and ARod would be locks if it weren’t for their steroid use.

I didn’t exactly go about this by selecting the best player at each position. Whether or not it turned out that way would be a fun discussion. I went with ten pitchers and a six-man bench. This is the only context in which I advocate the existence of the DH.

Check it out:

Rotation

Tom Seaver

Randy Johnson

Greg Maddux

Steve Carlton

Pedro Martinez

I love my rotation. No lineup gets comfortable against my guys. It isn’t just the simple lefty/righty balance; I have the soft tossing, strike zone sniping, fifteen pitch arsenal deploying Maddux to break up the power arm monotony.

Bullpen

Rollie Fingers

Mariano Rivera

Billy Wagner

Trevor Hoffman

Dennis Eckersley

My bullpen requirements were these: 1) dominance; 2) at least one lefty; 3) at least one guy who would go two-plus innings if needed. Rivera closes, Eck sets up. Wagner is obviously my lefty, and Hoffman was tough on lefties as well. Fingers is my long guy who can also own any other role.

Lineup/Batting Order

DH  Rickey Henderson

2B   Joe Morgan

1B   Eddie Murray

3B   Mike Schmidt

CF   Ken Griffey Jr.

C     Johnny Bench

RF   Ichiro Suzuki

LF   Tim Raines

SS   Omar Vizquel

My favorite part of this lineup is at the bottom. Henderson at the top is automatic. Morgan excelled in the two hole, and then you have big power through the sixth spot.   Opposing pitchers will obviously try to get to Vizquel’s spot, but he will frequently be batting with speed aboard. The lineup pretty much resets at the seven hole with Ichiro essentially leading off, and if opponents choose to pitch around Raines, who walked a lot more than he struck out, then Vizquel sees fastballs.

Bench

Ted Simmons

Pete Rose

Roberto Alomar

George Brett

Robin Yount

Vladimir Guerrero

My bench doesn’t create much drop off, if any, when they start. I was looking for a blend of quality depth and flexibility. Simmons, Rose, and Alomar all switch-hit, with Rose backing up four positions. Yount backs up shortstop and center field, having won an MVP at both spots. Brett is my lefty hitting alter-ego to Schmidt, and Guerrero shares DH duties and fills in at right field. I have quality hitting and defense at every position from both sides of the plate, with speed and power in abundance.

Decisions, omissions, honorable mentions       

Bonds and ARod would have been no-brainers, and would have added two of the best hitters of my time. Bonds was everything a hitter can be, plus speed and gold glove defense. ARod would have added offensive production at shortstop almost as good as Bonds. Excluding those two made this more interesting.

I’m thinking my shortstop selection would draw the most skepticism, but I think Vizquel is as good a shortstop as Ozzie, and a better hitter. I bypass Ripken as well, sacrificing offense for superior defense. I would actually put Jeter ahead of Ripken, but at shortstop, I’ll be a stickler for defense.

Many would probably choose Ivan Rodriguez as a second catcher; some might choose him first. I already had my right handed power hitting elite defensive catcher. I went with Bench first, and chose Simmons as my backup, mostly because he gave me another switch-hitter, an excellent hitter with power, and a very good defensive backstop. Posada has similar qualifications, but I’ll take Simmons. 

The 25^th man became the toughest decision. I needed a DH who could back up Ichiro in right field, a superb hitter with pop. Gwynn lacked the power, and Dave Parker was tempting. Reggie Jackson, Manny Ramirez, Albert Belle, Kirby Puckett, Andre Dawson – not all right fielders, but they all came to mind. I was finally torn between Willie McGee and Vlad Guerrero. I cherish the batting title winning switch hitter who is just as good from either side, runs like a blur, possesses legitimate gold-glove defense, and can play any outfield position. But my squad already has enough guys who hit for average and only occasional pop. McGee, except for the switch hitting, replicates Ichiro. I already have the clone left fielders in Raines and Henderson. It’s a clone I really like. So I made Vlad my 25^th player.

Nolan Ryan and Roger Clemens are probably the two big starting pitcher snubs, but I’ll stick with my choices.

Who’s on your squad?