Bracketeering: Historical MLB Players

by Spezzal Teams Playa

Above, you will find a blank bracket that you can use to predict the winners in our eventual coaches' poll. And don't forget that you can vote already for the 'play-in' matchup between George Davis and John Clarkson, to see who gets the final 16-seed in the Infielders Region.

I highly recommend that you DO NOT try "penning" them onto the .jpg using MS-Paint, but maybe some other photoshop program wouldn't take as long. Here is what took me an hour to "handwrite":

[UPDATE: April 2nd]

The first round of polling now complete, we can see that there were many upsets and several places where my own predicted backet was busted. Here are the results:

[UPDATE: April 8th]

After two rounds, we have narrowed things down to the Sweet Sixteen. My own personal bracket (above) is now thoroughly busted, as Babe Ruth was upset by Ted Williams. Here are the rest of the scores:

[UPDATE: April 10th]

After three rounds, we are down to the Elite Eight, with each "region" pitting its two "best" players against each other. Here is the new bracket:

[UPDATE: April 11th]

After four rounds, we have finally reached the Final Four, with no two same seeds having advanced this far. We are down to a single one-seed (Cy Young), and single two-seed (Rogers Hornsby), a single five-seed (Christy Mathewson), and the nominal Cinderella, Ted Williams, the eight-seed from the Outfielders. Here are the deets:

[UPDATE: April 13th]

Just to wrap things up over here on the blog, we ended up voting, 5 to 1, for Cy Young as the top pitcher, and voted 4 to 2 for Ted Williams as the top hitter. We followed that up with Ted Williams besting Cy Young by 4 votes to 2, to capture the title of Best Baller in Baseball History.

Thanks to all for participating in this lengthy, and not always interesting exercise.

My Enormous Crystal Balls: Prediction By Position

By Spezzal Teams Playa

So you guys already saw this shit, even though I strictly forbid you from doing so. I figured, why not throw it up on here, so that at the end of the season, I can point to it and laugh.


Starting Pitchers

1. Lincecum – led in K/9 (10.42)
2. Greinke – led in ERA (2.16)
3. Hernandez – led in W (19), QS (29)
4. Halladay – led in K/BB (5.94), BB/9 (1.318)
5. Sabathia – led in W (19)
6. Verlander – led in IP (240.0), W (19), K (269)
7. Haren – led in WHIP (1.00)
8. Wainwright – led in W (19)
9. Santana – only 73rd in IP (166.2), will improve
10. Johnson – 8th in QS (23)
11. Lester – 3rd in K/9 (9.96)
12. Carpenter – runner-up in WHIP (1.01), ERA (2.24)
13. Lee – 3rd in BB/9 (1.671)
14. Beckett – 5th in W (17)
15. Gallardo – runner-up in H/9 (7.271)
16. Hamels – 6th in BB/9 (1.998)
17. Kershaw – led in H/9 (6.263)
18. Hanson – 5th in H/9 (7.402)
19. Vazquez – 3rd in WHIP (1.03), K/BB (5.41)
20. Cain – 9th in ERA (2.89)

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Catchers

1. Mauer – led in R (94), H (191), HR (28), XBH (59), BB (76), AVG (.365), OBP (.444), OPS (1.031)
2. Martinez – led in AB (588), RBI (108)
3. McCann – runner-up in 2B (35), XBH (57)
4. Montero – 5th in 2B (30), despite being only 11th in AB (425)
5. Weiters – only 20th in AB (354), will improve
6. Martin – led in SB (11)
7. Soto – 5th in BB (50), despite being only 21st in AB (331)
8. Posada – 4th in HR (22), despite being only 15th in AB (383)
9. Napoli – 6th in HR (20), despite being only 16th in AB (382)
10. Doumit – runner-up in SB% (4-for-4), despite being only in AB (280)
11. Molina, B. – 6th in AB (491), RBI (80), HR (20), XBH (46)
12. Suzuki – runner-up in AB (570)
13. Pierzinski – 3rd in AVG (.300)
14. Molina, Y. – runner-up in SB (9)
15. Baker – 7th in 2B (25), despite being only 18th in AB (373)
16. Ianetta – 7th in OPS (.804)
17. Hernandez – only 24th in AB (287), 1B-eligible
18. Ruiz – 18th in H (82), despite being only 22nd in AB (322)
19. Posey – only 17 AB in 2009, will improve
20. Rodriguez – 10th in R (55)

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First Basemen

1. Pujols – led in R (124), HR (47), XBH (93), OBP (.443), OPS (1.101)
2. Cabrera – led in H (198)
3. Fielder – led in RBI (141)
4. Teixeira – 3rd in R (103), XBH (85), SB% (2-for-2)
5. Howard – led in AB (616), RBI (141)
6. Reynolds – led in SB (24), NSB (15), 3B-eligible
7. Votto – 3rd in OPS (.981)
8. Youkilis – 4th in OPS (.961), NSB (5)
9. Morneau – 12th in RBI (100), despite being only 25th in AB (508)
10. Gonzalez – led in BB (119)
11. Sandoval – led in AVG (.330)
12. Martinez – 5th in H (178)
13. Berkman – 5th in BB (97)
14. Morales – 5th in AVG (.306)
15. Butler – 4th in H (183)
16. Dunn – runner-up in BB (116)
17. Lee – 4th in OPS (.972)
18. Pena – 6th in HR (39)
19. Lopez – runner-up in AB (613)
20. Davis – only 40th in AB (391), will improve

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Second Basemen

1. Utley – led in SB% (23-for-23)
2. Kinsler – led in SB (31), NSB (26)
3. Pedroia – led in R (115)
4. Phillips – runner-up in RBI (98)
5. Cano – led in AVG (.320), H (204), XBH (75)
6. Hill – led in HR (36), RBI (108), AB (682)
7. Roberts – led in 2B (56)
8. Zobrist – led in OBP (.405), OPS (.948)
9. Kendrick – only 35th in AB (374), will improve
10. Uggla – led in BB (92)
11. Lopez, J. – 3rd in RBI (96)
12. Cabrera – 3rd in AVG (.308), SS-eligible
13. Stewart – 6th in HR (25), despite being only 25th in AB (425)
14. Weeks – 5th in OPS (.857)
15. Polanco – 5th in AB (618)
16. Prado – 4th in AVG (.307)
17. Hudson – 3rd in SB% (8-for-9)
18. McGehee – 4th in OPS (.859)
19. Barmes – 9th in HR (23)
20. Sizemore – rookie phenom

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Third Basemen

1. Rodriguez – 3rd in OPS (.934), BB (80)
2. Longoria – led in RBI (113), 2B (44), XBH (77), SB% (9-for-9)
3. Wright – runner-up in SB (27), NSB (18)
4. Reynolds – led in HR (44)
5. Zimmerman – runner-up in AB (610), R (110), HR (33), RBI (106)
6. Youkilis – led in OBP (.413), OPS (.961), 1B-eligible
7. Sandoval – led in H (189), 2B (44), AVG (.330)
8. Ramirez – 3rd in AVG (.317)
9. Figgins – led in AB (615), R (114), BB (101), SB (42), NSB (25)
10. Young – runner-up in AVG (.322)
11. Beckham – only 37th in AB (378), will improve
12. Jones – led in BB (101)
13. Davis – 11th in HR (21)
14. Beltre – 7th in SB (13), NSB (11)
15. Stewart – 7th in HR (25)
16. Cantu – 3rd in AB (585), 2B (42)
17. Peralta – 5th in AB (582)
18. Prado – 4th in AVG (.307)
19. DeRosa – 9th in HR (23)
20. Gordon – runner-up in SB% (5-for-5)

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Shortstops

1. Ramirez, H. – led in RBI (106), AVG (.342), OBP (.410), OPS (.953)
2. Tulowitzki – led in HR (32)
3. Reyes – only 60th in AB (147), will improve
4. Rollins – led in AB (672), XBH (69)
5. Jeter – led in H (212), R (107)
6. Zobrist – led in BB (91)
7. Ramirez, A. – 8th in HR (15), despite being only 12th in AB (542)
8. Bartlett – 3rd in AVG (.320), SB (30), NSB (23)
9. Andrus – led in SB (33), NSB (27)
10. Cabrera, A. – 6th in AVG (.308)
11. Drew – led in 3B (12)
12. Escobar, Y. – 6th in OPS (.813), OBP (.377)
13. Furcal – 5th in AB (613), BB (61)
14. Cabrera, E. – 6th in SB (25)
15. Peralta – 5th in RBI (83)
16. Tejada – runner-up in H (199)
17. Escobar, A. – 7th in AVG (.304)
18. Scutaro – runner-up in BB (90)
19. Theriot – 5th in H (171)
20. Cabrera, O. – 2nd in AB (656)

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Left Fielders

1. Braun – led in AB (635), R (113), H (203)
2. Holliday – 3rd in AVG (.313)
3. Crawford – led in SB (60)
4. Lind – runner-up in RBI (114)
5. Bay – led in RBI (119), OFA (15), FPCT (1.000)
6. Lee – runner-up in AB (610)
7. Choo – 4th in BB (78), OFA (11)
8. Dunn – led in HR (38), BB (116)
9. Abreu – runner-up in BB (94)
10. Quentin – 6th in SB% (3-for-3)
11. Ramirez – led in OPS (.949)
12. Gonzalez – 8th in FPCT (.988)
13. Ibanez – 4th in HR (34), SB% (4-for-4)
14. Soriano – only 27th in AB (477), will improve
15. Kubel – 6th in HR (28), RBI (103)
16. Span – led in Put-Outs (350)
17. Damon – led in SB% (12-for-12)
18. Borbon – 4th in AVG (.312)
19. Reimold – 15th in OPS (.831)
20. Morgan – runner-up in SB (42), OFA (13)

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Center Fielders

1. Kemp – led in RBI (101), OFA (14)
2. Ellsbury – led in H (188), SB (70)
3. Sizemore – runner-up in FPCT (1.000)
4. Granderson – led in AB (631), Put-Outs (400)
5. Werth – led in HR (36), BB (91)
6. Zobrist – led in OPS (.948), BB (91), ASST (247), DPT (55)
7. Upton – 3rd in SB (42), Put-Outs (375)
8. Hamilton – only 47th in AB (336), will improve
9. Victorino – led in R (102)
10. McCutchen – 7th in OPS (.836), OFA (10)
11. Jones – 8th in HR (19), RBI (70)
12. Hunter – 4th in RBI (90)
13. Gonzalez – 4th in OPS (.878)
14. McLouth – 3rd in DPT (4)
15. Span – runner-up in AVG (.311)
16. Bourn – runner-up in SB (61)
17. Rios – 6th in RBI (71)
18. Stubbs – 6th in FPCT (1.000)
19. Morgan – runner-up in OFA (13)
20. Pierre – 3rd in AVG (.308)

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Right Fielders

1. Kemp – led in SB (34), Put-Outs (377)
2. Upton – only 19th in AB (526), will improve
3. Suzuki – led in H (225), AVG (.352)
4. Werth – led in R (98)
5. Cruz – 3rd in HR (33)
6. Markakis – led in AB (642)
7. Ethier – led in RBI (106)
8. Zobrist – led in OPS (.948)
9. Hamilton – only 55th in AB (336), will improve
10. Choo – 3rd in AVG (.300)
11. Dunn – led in HR (38), BB (116), Put-Outs (673)
12. Abreu – runner-up in SB (30), BB (94)
13. Pence – led in OFA (16)
14. Bruce – 4th in OFA (11)
15. Kubel – 3rd in OPS (.908), AVG (.300), RBI (103)
16. Hawpe – 4th in OPS (.903)
17. Span – runner-up in AVG (.311), R (97)
18. Rios – 4th in Put-Outs (329)
19. Cuddyer – runner-up in Put-Outs (488)
20. Ludwick – 5th in DPT (4)

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Relief Pitchers

1. Rivera – led in NSV (42)
2. Papelbon – 5th in SV (38), NSV (35), ERA (1.85)
3. Broxton – led in W (7), K (114)
4. Soria – 4th in K/9 (11.72)
5. Bailey – led in IP (83.1)
6. Rodriguez – 7th in SVOP (42)
7. Marmol – led in HLD (27)
8. Wilson – 4th in W (5), SVOP (45)
9. Bell – runner-up in W (6), SVOP (48)
10. Soriano – runner-up in K (102)
11. Cordero – 4th in SV (39)
12. Valverde – 5th in W (4)
13. Aardsma – 3rd in HLD (6)
14. Jenks – 7th in BB/9 (2.700)
15. Fuentes – led in SV (48), SVOP (55)
16. Hoffman – 3rd in ERA (1.83)
17. Francisco – 7th in K/9 (10.40), K/BB (3.80), BB/9 (2.736)
18. Wagner – led in ERA (1.72), K/9 (14.94)
19. Gonzalez – 4th in W (5)
20. Feliz – led in WHIP (0.68), H/9 (3.774)

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The Top Ten List: The Top Ten First Basemen List

by Will-He-M


[Editor's Note: This list was updated on August 8, after deciding to switch Stan Musial to left field]


Unlike catchers, where you can easily pick and choose a Top Ten that nobody would have too many problems with, First Base is a tough position to judge because that's where the worst defender on the team is supposed to play. Yet, while looking up my Top Ten candidates, I found some things quite surprising. For instance, I hadn't realized just how good a defender Mark McGwire really was.

Now, a lot of the guys I researched came from the early days of baseball and I fully understand that their defensive numbers might be skewed. They faced many more ground balls then the guys of the last 75 years, which would cause them to have more errors then a guy like McGwire or Todd Helton.

This list was very hard to put together with so many factors involved. I couldn't go by the offensive numbers alone as there have been many great offensive first basemen in history. And since nobody alive today has actually seen someone like Cap Anson play I have to go by the numbers alone in certain cases, but I am factoring the era into my process.

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10. Johnny "The Big Cat" Mize (St. Louis Cardinals, New York Giants, New York Yankees 1930-1953)
1884 GP, 6443 AB, 1118 R, 2011 H, 367 D, 83 T, 359 HR, 1337 RBI, 28 SB, .312 AVG, .992 FPCT

NL Batting Crown Winner (1939)
5x World Series Champion (1949-1953)
10x All-Star (1937, 1939-1942, 1946-1949, 1953)
Hall of Fame 1981

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9. Harry Stovey (Worcester Ruby Legs, Philadelphia Athletics, Boston Reds, Boston Beaneaters, Baltimore Orioles, Brooklyn Grooms 1880-1893)
1486 GP, 6138 AB, 1492 R, 1771 H, 347 D, 174 T, 122 HR, 908 RBI, 509 SB, .289 AVG, .961 FPCT

2x NL Home Run Crown Winner (1880, 1891)
3x AA Home Run Crown Winner (1883, 1885, 1889)
AA RBI Crown Winner (1889)

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8. "Hammerin" Hank Greenberg (Detroit Tigers, Pittsburgh Pirates 1930-1947)
1394 GP, 5193 AB, 1051 R, 1628 H, 379 D, 71 T, 331 HR, 1296 RBI, 58 SB, .313 AVG, .991 FPCT

2x AL MVP (1935, 1940)
2x World Series Champion (1935, 1945)
5x All-Star (1937-1940, 1945)
Hall of Fame 1956

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7. "Prince" Albert Pujols (St. Louis Cardinals 2001-present)
1246 GP, 4602 AB, 954 R, 1540 H, 343 D, 13 T, 322 HR, 986 RBI, 45 SB, .335 AVG, .994 FPCT

2001 NL Rookie of the Year
2x NL MVP (2005, 2008)
Gold Glove Award Winner (2006)
4x Silver Slugger Award Winner (2001, 2003, 2004, 2008)
World Series Champion (2008)
8x All-Star (2001, 2003-2009)

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6. Jeff "BagPipes" Bagwell (Houston Astros 1991-2005)
2150 GP, 7797 AB, 1517 R, 2314 H, 488 D, 32 T, 449 HR, 1529 RBI, 202 SB, .297 AVG, .993 PFCT

1991 NL Rookie of the Year
1994 NL MVP
Gold Glove Award Winner (1994)
3x Silver Slugger Award winner (1994, 1997, 1999)
4x All-Star (1994, 1996, 1997, 1999)

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5. Mark "Big Mac" McGwire (Oakland Athletics, St. Louis Cardinals 1986-2001)
1874 GP, 6187 AB, 1167 R, 1626 H, 252 D, 6 T, 583 HR, 1414 RBI, 12 SB, .263 AVG, .993 FPCT

1987 Rookie of the Year
1998 Broke single season HR record
Gold Glove Award Winner (1990)
3x Silver Slugger Award Winner (1992, 1996, 1998)
World Series Champion (1989)
12x All-Star (1987-1992, 1995-2000)

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4. "Big" Dan Brouthers (Troy Trojans, Buffalo Bisons, Detroit Wolverines, Boston Beaneaters, Boston Reds, Brooklyn Grooms, Baltimore Orioles, Louisville Colonels, Philadelphia Phillies, New York Giants 1879-1904)
1673 GP, 6711 AB, 2296 H, 460 D, 205 T, 106 HR, 1296 RBI, 256 SB, .342 AVG, .971 FPCT

5x NL Batting Crown Winner (1882, 1883, 1889, 1891, 1892)
2x NL Home Run Crown Winner (1881, 1886)
2x NL RBI Crown Winner (1883, 1892)
Hall of Fame 1945

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3. Jimmie "Beast" Foxx (Philadelphia Athletics, Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, Philadelphia Phillies 1925-1945)
2317 GP, 8134 AB, 1751 R, 2646 H, 458 D, 125 T, 534 HR, 1922 RBI, 87 SB, .325 AVG, .992 FPCT

3x AL MVP (1932, 1933, 1938)
2x World Series Champion (1929, 1930)
9x All-Star (1933-1941)
Hall of Fame 1951

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2. Cap "Pop" Anson (Rockford Forest Citys, Philadelphia Athletics, Chicago Cubs 1871-1897)
2523 GP, 10277 AB, 1996 R, 3418 H, 581 D, 142 T, 97 HR, 2076 RBI, 276 SB, .333 AVG, .972 FPCT

2x NL Batting Crown Winner (1881, 1888)
8x NL RBI Crown Winner (1880-1882, 1884-1886, 1888, 1891)
Hall of Fame 1939

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1. Lou "The Iron Horse" Gehrig (New York Yankees 1923-1939)
2164 GP, 8001 AB, 1888 R, 2721 H, 534 D, 163 T, 493 HR, 1995 RBI, 102 SB, .340 AVG, .991 FPCT

2x AL MVP (1927, 1936)
6x World Series Champion (1927, 1928, 1932, 1936-1938)
7x All-Star (1933-1939)
Hall of Fame 1939




[Editor's Note: This list was originally published on April 26th, 2009 with Stan Musial listed as the second-ranked first baseman. It has since come to the author's attention that Musial was inducted into the Hall of Fame as a left fielder, prompting his removal from this list]

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