If you mosey on over to Red Sox Haven, he has listed his favorite Non-Sox players. Neat idea, but I’ll take it a step further, and create a Non-Sox Favorite Team. Believe it or not, this team actually IS feasible, money wise. And since I dislike all and any Yankees, you can expect to see no Yankee on the list. Sorry.
General Manager: John Schuerholz How can you go wrong with someone who has brought Atlanta 12 straight division titles?
Manager: Lou Pinella Someone who injects life into flagging franchises everywhere, and also knows how to win.
Bench Manager: Joe Maddon Joe Maddon was a candidate for the Red Sox job. I was tremendously impressed with his attitude and track record.
Pitching Coach: Rick Peterson Rick Peterson is an incredible pitching coach who knows what to teach pitchers, both old and young.
Hitting Coach: Chris Chambliss Why did I go with Chambliss? This was the hardest decision, for hitting coaches do not get much renown. Chambliss, to me, before this year was a nobody, one of the Yankees’ former hitting coaches. I was therefore impressed to hear he got Adam Dunn back on track this year as the Reds’ hitting coach. I like coaches who get people back on track.
First Base Coach: Joel Skinner Okay, I cheated a little – Skinner is the third base coach for the Indians. But really, who cares about first base coaches? You don’t hear of them. Anyways, Skinner took over for the fired Manuel two years ago, and willingly went back to third base after he lost out on the managerial job to Eric Wedge. Still young, he will be a great manager – not someday, but immediately.
Third Base Coach: Gene Lamont I always liked Lamont when he was the third-base coach in 2001 and was dissapointed when he followed Jimy Williams to Houston.
Bullpen Coach: John Cumberland (check the baseball chronology) I would have put Bud Black, pitching coach of the Angels here, but I decided not to cheat again. Cumberland was the ex-bullpen coach who got “reassigned” in the hectic 2001 season. This met with outrage from players, for Cumberland was a nice contrast to Kerrigan, you had the best of both worlds. He was the guy that grew tomato plants in the bullpen.
Batting Order
CF Scott Podsednik I always like the underdogs, and Podsednik defines underdogs. Playing for the Brewers takes hard work these days, and you can bet that Podsednik is a hard worker. Breaking in at an age where you are typified as a career AAA player, and winning the Rookie of the Year to boot. A great tablesetter and burner on the bases.
SS Edgar Renteria Renteria has steadily improved, and is among the elite in the game. You can count me among the growing faction that wants Renteria wearing “Boston” on his gray away uniform next year.
LF Barry Bonds In previous posts, I have defended Bonds. I won’t do that here. It’s obvious I like Bonds a lot. Yes, his personal life could have much to be desired, but the man can flat out hit — and can certainly talk a walk!
DH Albert Pujols This person is my favorite player in the entire game, aside from Wakefield. Wow, what a guy. His young, tender age, and what he’s accomplished so far? My goodness. He should be one of, if not the best, players ever in the game. Add to that his versatality at outfield, third, and first. The Cardinals are trying to settle him down. I say don’t – if he hits like he does currently, why settle him down? Move him around every now and then to keep him sharp, so he can move around should the Cardinals want to sign a free agent. (See Chipper Jones moving to left making room for Vinny Castilla. Speaking of that, he ought to move back – DeRosa is no star, and it’s easier to get a quality outfielder than it is a third baseman. Hmm.)
3B Eric Chavez This is the only position I struggled to make a choice. Yes, I like Chavez, but I don’t love him. I couldn’t justify Alex Cintron, because he is primarily a shortstop, and I don’t want to play anyone out of position, so Chavez gets the call here. No shame in liking Chavez.
RF Vladimir Guerrero This is where I really wished I could put Trot Nixon. Alas, I couldn’t, so I do the next best thing – Vlad the Impaler.
1B John Olerud I have always liked Olerud – he is not the prototypical first baseman. He hits for mainly average, not power. He flashes the glove too. And who can not like Olerud wearing a batting helmet in the field!? Why do we not see more players do this, especially at first? Not like you’re a shortstop, you don’t have to run.
C Brad Ausmus He is a pitcher’s dream, great defense, and a great pitch caller. Sure, his hitting leaves much to be desired, but as I take a look around this team, I think I can sacrifice some hitting for the pitchers’ peace of mind.
2B Jose Reyes I like Jose because he can run, he can field, he can hit. The Mets COULD be rushing him, but I like him a lot. I also like him because he is near me in age, and is the first person I can remember seeing in the majors (LeBron does not count, Reyes made it to a major league first) and going, “Wow…he’s near my age…and look at me. I’m not even in the rookie part of the minors.” Truly amazing.
Bench
UTIL IF Mark Loretta Came out of the blue last year, always rooted hard for him for some reason.
UTIL OF Jody Gerut Gotta have an Indian on this team, for they’re my second favorite team. And it’s not like Gerut doesn’t deserve it. He does. Playing well, came out of nowhere, a true baseball player. Also has his own blog.
UTIL C Brent Mayne Another person I always rooted hard for for no apparent reason.
UTIL PH Edgar Martinez Getting old, but still plugging away.
UTIL Chone Figgins What a speedster. He can hit too, but there’s no place for him. Perhaps next year, if the Angels wave bye bye to Adam Kennedy?
Pitching Rotation
Andy Pettitte Yes, Andy is the ace. No, it’s not because I like him the most – I want to create the image of a real baseball team. On a real baseball team, with this pitching staff, he would be anointed the ace. Andy was and still is the only person I ever respected (of course, I repressed this) in a Yankee uniform. Based on that alone (even though I also like him for other reasons), he gets the call.
Hideo Nomo The Tornado! His windup is really neat. He’s also a good pitcher, and can be depended on for around 200 innings a year. His renaissance came with the Red Sox – I remember his no-hitter. What most people don’t remember, however, is he had a one-hitter with the Sox too…WITH NO WALKS. That’s right, one hit away from a perfect game. It was a wall ball by Scott Stewart, then with the Blue Jays. I remember it clear as day. Why? I love perfect games. They’re so rare. I always swore I’d see one in person, so I was fascinated with Nomo’s perfect game because it was the first one I had watched in it’s entirety. I’ve came close to seeing one in person, though – Mike Mussina’s bid against the Red Sox in 2001. Talk about conflicting emotions. The baseball fan wanted to see it done, the Red Sox fan was hollering its head off. Thank goodness the right fan won.
CC Sabathia 99 (and counting) starts for the Indians before his 24th birthday. A workhorse, a winner, a lefty. He’s special.
Kip Wells Playing for a nondescript team in the Pirates, Wells has quietly put up staggering stats.
Brandon Webb Coming out of nowhere to become a Diamondbacks ace, Webb is a great pitcher.
Bullpen
LRP Chris Reitsma Reitsma, a former Sox farmhand, has started, closed, and relieved. Sounds like Tim Wakefield … maybe that’s why I like him. (Ya think!?)
RHPRP Aquilino Lopez I was impressed by this guy last year, although he’s been downright ridiculous (in a bad way) this year, and got sent down. A Rule 5 pick, he was an important cog in the bullpen last year for the Jays.
LHPRP Damaso Marte A fireballing lefty, I had first taken notice when he was with the Pirates.
SU Brendan Donnelly A fireballing, completely-shut-them-down man who hailed from the independent leagues, ala Millar.
CL Billy Wagner Phew. What a closer.
Addition: This team has a payroll of $108.5, which would be the fourth highest.
