MLB 2000-Present Semi-Final 1

[Nosferatu]

Drafted were players who played in the Majors from 2000 - present. Please vote for which team you believe would win a 3 game playoff.
All players are drafted as if they are in their prime!
Feel free to discuss or give the reasoning behind your decision. Thank you.

SEMI-FINAL 1

TEAM G

Lineup
Brandon Phillips - 2B
Mike Trout - CF
Troy Tulowitzki - SS
Mark Teixeira - 1B
Jose Bautista - 3B
Carlos Gonzalez - LF
Justin Upton - RF
Mark Trumbo - DH
Miguel Montero - C

Rotation
SP - Jon Lester
SP - Johnny Cueto
SP - Dan Haren

Bullpen
RHP - Brad Ziegler
RHP - Sergio Romo

Closer
CL - Brian Wilson

Bench
C - Russell Martin
1B/OF - Luke Scott
2B/SS - Clint Barmes
LF/3B/2B/1B - Martin Prado
CF - Angel Pagan

OR

TEAM L

Lineup

1. Elvis Andrus - SS

2. Brian Roberts – 2B

3. Josh Hamilton – LF

4. Prince Fielder – 1B

5. Hunter Pence – RF

6. Bryce Harper - CF

7. Billy Butler – DH

8. Pedro Alvarez – 3B

9. Carlos Santana – C





Bench

Dan Uggla - 2B

Mike Napoli – C/1B

Alex Rios – CF

Jean Segura – SS

Michael Brantley – LF



Starters

SP – Clayton Kershaw

SP – Roy Oswalt

SP – Cliff Lee



Relief Pitchers

RHRP Jose Veras

LHRP Rex Brothers



Closer

Craig Kimbrel

 

[da55bums]

I think Kershaw is the best player in this draft but he can't pitch all 3 games, Trout/Tulo take the next two in Colorado.

 

[Ritzarmy]

Oswalt and Lee aren't slouches either. It will be a great matchup of pitching vs hitting.

 

[Davis_Mike]

I think Cueto & Haren can pitch with Oswalt & Lee. The lineup is the difference in this 3 game series.

 

[Ritzarmy]

It might be a personal opinion but I just feel Haren isn't that great of a pitcher but only a good SP. Now that is coming from looking at zero amount of stats just what I've seen on TV past few years.

 

[Nosferatu]

This is a great matchup... Great lineup vs probably the best rotation...

 

[Davis_Mike]

It might be a personal opinion but I just feel Haren isn't that great of a pitcher but only a good SP. Now that is coming from looking at zero amount of stats just what I've seen on TV past few years.

He had a 3 year period between his last season in Oak & his first 2 seasons in AZ where he was one of the more dominate pitchers in the league. 200+ innings, 200+ SO(s) league leader in WHIP during that span while pitching in a hitters park.

 

[Ritzarmy]

And one of the greatest owners/GMs ever who drafted one of these teams as well.

Seriously now this would be a All-Star Game to watch.

 

[Ritzarmy]

He had a 3 year period between his lat season in Oak & his first 2 seasons in AZ where he was one of the more dominate pitchers in the league. 200+ innings, 200+ SO(s) league leader in WHIP during that span while pitching in a hitters park.

Look at my teams the Nationals. Now do understand why I'm not a fan of Haren, lol.

 

[Davis_Mike]

Look at my teams the Nationals. Now do understand why I'm not a fan of Haren, lol.

Oh, I get it. He mailed it in his last half season in AZ(2010) & hasn't really been the same since.

 

[gandydancer]

Comes down to game 3 for me. Game 1 to Kershaw/ game 2 to Cueto

Haren vs. Lee IMO Lee in his prime could shut down that lineup. Kimbrel gets the save in 5-3 game.

went with L after late in game 3 the bench got a walk from Brantley a double from Napoli and sac fly from Rios.

 

[blstoker]

All right, my break down (numbers combined for each player's best season)

Lineup - (AB-R-H-2B-3B-HR-RBI-SB-CS-BB-SO-TB-GDP-HBP-SH-SF-IBB-BA-OBP-SLG-OPS)

G 5107-897-1540-312-32-274-883-113-43-665-1061-2720-105-73-5-51-84-.302-.386-.533-.919
L 5102-758-1496-303-32-220-796-107-29-611-1053-2523-110-40-23-41-61-.293-.369-.495-.864

Bench (same as lineup)

G 2435-363-711-162-25-76-308-66-23-227-412-1151-57-15-17-22-11-.292-.351-.473-.824
L 2756-448-839-151-20-126-429-92-22-239-465-1408-71-25-2-19-8-.304-.363-.511-.874

Pitchers (W-L-ERA-G-GS-GF-CG-SHO-SV-IP-H-R-ER-BB-IBB-SO-HB-BK-WP-BF)

G 56-35-2.37-282-100-96-5-3-60-866.2-709-277-228-64-217-12-851-24-2-13-3489
L 51-37-2.23-300-97-141-11-10-82-873-646-237-216-62-221-7-915-20-6-24-3431

Fielding (CH-PO-A-E-DP-FPCT-PB-SB-CS-CSPCT-PO)

G 8726-6063-2577-86-563-.990-9-89-97-68-.412-6
L 8968-6381-2481-106-673-.988-6-18-72-23-.242-3

Team G -
Even though they have the better offense, but I feel that switching Mark Trumbo for Luke Scott and Miguel Montero for Russell Martin, this would also slightly improve the defense. Another minor point would be that I would put Bautista before Teixiera in the order. The rotation is solid, but compared to some of the other staffs Haren hurts them pretty bad. The bullpen is solid, unfortunately (though missed or just ignored) all three pitchers qualify as closers (Ziegler with 33 career saves, Romo with 77 and Wilson with 172).

Team L

A massive weakness at 3B is really the only difference between this offense and team G's. Unfortuantely, there isn't a viable option on the bench to take Feliz's place. With the year Brantley is having I would put him in left, move Hamilton to center and sit the converted catcher (Harper). The starting rotation is killer, but way too lefty heavy. Veras is another head scratcher, with only one ok season and the rest are just mediocre to bad. Another issue with the pen is that the two relievers both had their best seasons when filling in as part time closers (Veras 21 saves, Brothers 19). Kimbrel is the best closer in the draft, so if it comes down to a save situation, he'll close it out. Again, defense is really hurt by the hot corner (27 errors and a .941 FPCT his best season).

 

[Ritzarmy]

All right, my break down (numbers combined for each player's best season)

Lineup - (AB-R-H-2B-3B-HR-RBI-SB-CS-BB-SO-TB-GDP-HBP-SH-SF-IBB-BA-OBP-SLG-OPS)

G 5107-897-1540-312-32-274-883-113-43-665-1061-2720-105-73-5-51-84-.302-.386-.533-.919
L 5102-758-1496-303-32-220-796-107-29-611-1053-2523-110-40-23-41-61-.293-.369-.495-.864

Bench (same as lineup)

G 2435-363-711-162-25-76-308-66-23-227-412-1151-57-15-17-22-11-.292-.351-.473-.824
L 2756-448-839-151-20-126-429-92-22-239-465-1408-71-25-2-19-8-.304-.363-.511-.874

Pitchers (W-L-ERA-G-GS-GF-CG-SHO-SV-IP-H-R-ER-BB-IBB-SO-HB-BK-WP-BF)

G 56-35-2.37-282-100-96-5-3-60-866.2-709-277-228-64-217-12-851-24-2-13-3489
L 51-37-2.23-300-97-141-11-10-82-873-646-237-216-62-221-7-915-20-6-24-3431

Fielding (CH-PO-A-E-DP-FPCT-PB-SB-CS-CSPCT-PO)

G 8726-6063-2577-86-563-.990-9-89-97-68-.412-6
L 8968-6381-2481-106-673-.988-6-18-72-23-.242-3

Team G -
Even though they have the better offense, but I feel that switching Mark Trumbo for Luke Scott and Miguel Montero for Russell Martin, this would also slightly improve the defense. Another minor point would be that I would put Bautista before Teixiera in the order. The rotation is solid, but compared to some of the other staffs Haren hurts them pretty bad. The bullpen is solid, unfortunately (though missed or just ignored) all three pitchers qualify as closers (Ziegler with 33 career saves, Romo with 77 and Wilson with 172).

Team L

A massive weakness at 3B is really the only difference between this offense and team G's. Unfortuantely, there isn't a viable option on the bench to take Feliz's place. With the year Brantley is having I would put him in left, move Hamilton to center and sit the converted catcher (Harper). The starting rotation is killer, but way too lefty heavy. Veras is another head scratcher, with only one ok season and the rest are just mediocre to bad. Another issue with the pen is that the two relievers both had their best seasons when filling in as part time closers (Veras 21 saves, Brothers 19). Kimbrel is the best closer in the draft, so if it comes down to a save situation, he'll close it out. Again, defense is really hurt by the hot corner (27 errors and a .941 FPCT his best season).

With all that break down who did you go with?

 

[da55bums]

I protest game 1, 3 closers? If you aint cheatin you aint trying. I could have had clippard/ that clearly would have made the difference. lol

 

[Davis_Mike]

Team G -
Even though they have the better offense, but I feel that switching Mark Trumbo for Luke Scott and Miguel Montero for Russell Martin, this would also slightly improve the defense. Another minor point would be that I would put Bautista before Teixiera in the order. The rotation is solid, but compared to some of the other staffs Haren hurts them pretty bad. The bullpen is solid, unfortunately (though missed or just ignored) all three pitchers qualify as closers (Ziegler with 33 career saves, Romo with 77 and Wilson with 172).

Team L

A massive weakness at 3B is really the only difference between this offense and team G's. Unfortuantely, there isn't a viable option on the bench to take Feliz's place. With the year Brantley is having I would put him in left, move Hamilton to center and sit the converted catcher (Harper). The starting rotation is killer, but way too lefty heavy. Veras is another head scratcher, with only one ok season and the rest are just mediocre to bad. Another issue with the pen is that the two relievers both had their best seasons when filling in as part time closers (Veras 21 saves, Brothers 19). Kimbrel is the best closer in the draft, so if it comes down to a save situation, he'll close it out. Again, defense is really hurt by the hot corner (27 errors and a .941 FPCT his best season).

I love your analysis.

Just a few points of clarification. Trumbo is strictly a DH in these game so his defense won't come into play. Montero's & Martin's defensive numbers are virtually identical with .991 vs .992 fielding % & both catch base stealers at a 32% clip. I went with Montero because he is slightly the better hitter & gave the lineup more balance being LH.

 

[Ritzarmy]

I protest game 1, 3 closers? If you aint cheatin you aint trying. I could have had clippard/ that clearly would have made the difference. lol

If brought up in game 1 then you would have had a arguement but instead you end up with a lose like I will in this matchup. LOL

 

[Davis_Mike]

I protest game 1, 3 closers? If you aint cheatin you aint trying. I could have had clippard/ that clearly would have made the difference. lol

I wouldn't call Ziegler a closer. The majority of his save came in the 2 seasons, 11 one year & 13 last season, when the bullpens were wrecked injuries. He has been a strictly 7th/8th inning guy for most of his career.

Romo is a different story. He was only the closer for a years & a half. His best seasons were that of a setup man to Wilson. That is why I drafted him.

Keep in mind I joined this draft while in progress & had no knowledge of the 30 save rule at the time of the selections.

 

[Davis_Mike]

If brought up in game 1 then you would have had a arguement but instead you end up with a lose like I will in this matchup. LOL

It's going to be close to the end.

 

[blstoker]

With all that break down who did you go with?

I went with L. With how close these teams really are, I felt that Haren's best wasn't good enough when facing against Lee. This was a really good matchup.

 

[Ritzarmy]

I don't think he was talking about this matchup but his first matchup plus. There is a team in the second round who has 3 RP's.