Anyways. Speaking of baseball and money, and the All-Star Game not too far away, I found diversion in trying to come up with the best 25-man roster, using the talent pool from each of MLB's divisions (so, the best roster based on the AL Central, NL Central, etc.). By the "best" roster, I mean trying to actually build a roster like a GM should. So this means picking backup middle infielders, having enough lefthanded relievers in the bullpen, and having an players who can actually field their positions (which is not a consideration in fantasy baseball). Some players are shifted around on defense, but not into a position where he would hurt the team (no putting Jim Thome back at 3b where he used to play).
I'll just put the AL Central, since I don't think anyone else cares about the other divisions. 14 position players, 11 pitchers, as most MLB rosters are. Just for kicks, I put in 2007 salaries.
AL Central - best 25 man roster
| pos, name, team hitters C - Mauer, Min 1b - Morneau, Min 2b - Polanco, Det 3b - Inge, Det SS - Guillen, Det LF - Sizemore, Cle CF - Hunter, Min RF - Ordonez, Det DH - Sheffield, Det bench C - Martinez, Cle 3b/RF - Blake, Cle 2b/SS - Uribe, Chi OF - Granderson, Det 1b/DH - Thome, Chi pitchers SP - Santana, Min (L) SP - Bonderman, Det SP - Verlander, Det SP - Sabathia, Cle (L) SP - Buehrle, Chi (L) RP - Nathan, Min RP - Jenks, Chi RP - Neshek, Min RP - Peralta, KC RP - Betancourt, Cle RP - Carmona, Cle | salaries (in $ millions) 3,750,000 4,500,000 4,600,000 4,900,000 5,000,000 916,667 12,000,000 13,200,000 10,916,071 3,200,000 3,750,000 4,150,000 410,000 15,666,667 13,000,000 4,500,000 1,030,000 8,750,000 9,500,000 5,250,000 450,000 395,000 400,500 840,000 387,500 total $131,462,405 |
Notes: 1. Hunter over Sizemore in CF because of the better arm.
2. This division has no decent lefty relievers. For goodness' sake.
The best that the AL Central can offer tops a whopping $131mm, which, even more strangely, would only place it 3rd in all of MLB in payroll, behind the Yankee$ and the Red $ox. The average payroll in MLB is right around $84mm.
Obviously, a great team can cost a lot of money. So, what would a "best" roster culled from the AL Central look like if forced to stay under the $84mm cap? Still a contender?
| pos, name, team hitters C - Mauer, Min 1b - Morneau, Min 2b - Barfield, Cle 3b - Inge, Det SS - Peralta, Cle LF - Cuddyer, Min CF - Sizemore, Cle RF - Ordonez, Det DH - Sheffield, Det bench C - Buck, KC 3b/RF - Teahen, KC 2b/SS - Bartlett, Min OF - Granderson, Det 1b/DH - Garko, Cle pitchers SP - Santana, Min (L) SP - Bonderman, Det SP - Verlander, Det SP - Sabathia, Cle (L) SP - Carmona, Cle RP - Nathan, Min RP - Jenks, Chi RP - Neshek, Min RP - Peralta, KC RP - Betancourt, Cle RP - Soria, KC | salaries (in $ millions) 3,750,000 4,500,000 395,800 4,900,000 1,000,000 3,575,000 916,667 13,200,000 10,916,071 440,000 416,000 405,000 410,000 383,100 13,000,000 4,500,000 1,030,000 8,750,000 387,500 5,250,000 450,000 395,000 400,500 840,000 380,000 total $80,590,638 |
As usual, the cost cuts came in the form of backups and relievers who tended to be cheap, younger players. The bulk of the cost was the starting rotation, and big bats having big years.
I am digging the new White Stripes and the new National. Happy Friday.
