Popular demand has called for an all-franchise defensive team, and who am I to deny the will of the public? This will be much shorter and simpler, based on my observations throughout the years (and with a little help from Baseball Prospectus). Please challenge my picks, I encourage you!
C - Charles Johnson: Pudge may go down as one of the best defensive catchers in the history of the game, but Charles Johnson was just as good. Pudge was better at throwing out runners, but Johnson cleaned up around the plate more effectively, rarely allowing passed balls and calling better games.
1B - Derrek Lee: This was an easy decision. No other Marlins 1B comes close. In their defense, neither does the rest of the league (Lee should have 10 gold gloves by now).
2B - Luis Castillo: Another obvious choice (and please, don't anybody say Dan Uggla). Castillo was great when going to his left, and he showed good range. His arm was always strong and accurate, especially in double-plays, and his only weakness was to his right.
SS - Alex Gonzalez: He just edges out a skillful Edgar Renteria. Who can forget Gonzo's spectacular stabs up the middle and unbreakable concentration on double-plays? Watching him play defense was a treat.
3B - Mike Lowell: Possibly the most underrated defender of the modern era, Lowell was the most sure-handed 3B in the history of the game. That's not hyperbole. Look it up.
LF - Cliff Floyd: The mediocre (and at one point atrocious) Floyd still gets the nod. How? The other options are even worse. Conine was slow, Willingham below average, Alou aging, Millar a converted 1B. A truly horrendous group to pick from.
CF - Chuck Carr: My first instinct was to give it to Devon White, but Carr was very effective in the Marlins' inaugural season. Juan Pierre had great range and speed, but his arm was too weak to merit serious consideration here. Congratulations to Chuck Carr!
RF - Mark Kotsay: Unlike the LF crop, the Marlins have had a few solid defenders out in right. Kotsay just takes the lead over Juan Encarnacion and Jeremy Hermida. Perhaps Hermida will make it a question again after this season.
I hope that meets your satisfaction. I'm sure there will be a few disagreements. Let's hear them.
In my next edition, I'll be coming out with the Marlins' worst franchise lineup (using regular players). That should be amusing for everyone involved.
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Marlins Dream Team Takes the Field
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
When I think of Chuckie (he was always Chuckie on the P.A. system) Carr I think of him running and diving to make so many spectacular plays that it made us think that if he just positioned himself better in the outfield then he wouldn't have to work so hard. Still he never was not fun to watch.
And maybe the retirement makes me sentimental, but I forgive all of Conine's sluggish defense for that one play when he threw that bullet to Pudge to win the playoff against the Giants.
Photi,
I feel exactly the same way about Conine. I'll even forgive that Doug Glanville "triple" that got by Conine in the NLCS Game 3 against the Cubs.
That was a masterful through to Pudge. I'll never forget it. Thanks for the comment.
Post a Comment