(Pat Post)

 

Well, I don’t have a ton of issues with your roster, so on a few of these, I’m really just going to play devil’s advocate (or a disagreeable douche if you prefer). That said, I do have a few major problems here and there.

 

First of all, I don’t really understand why you boxed yourself into a certain number at each position based on the 2006 team. If we’re not going to make ourselves take people like Jeter and Varitek, then why adhere to the same positional guidelines when I kind of doubt they will be repeated exactly anyway?  The only reason I bring this up is because I can tell you right now when I do pitching, I’m taking more than 4 starters on a 14 man staff. Anyway, for now, I’m just going to cover the positional talent.

 

Catchers

Well, Bo, Russell Martin is a Canadian. One of the rules at the WBC this year is no random guys from other countries on your team. No dead guys either in case you were thinking about replacing him with Roy Campanella. On a 30 man roster, I should have 3 catchers though and I don’t really want Ianetta, so I’m taking Matt Wieters behind Mauer and McCann. I know it won’t happen, but hey, at least he’s not a foreigner.

 

First Base

Obviously, you made the right call on the two you chose here. The only negative about Teixeira in a format like this is that he usually takes a month or so to really heat up, but he’s still better than the alternatives, and Youkilis’ positional versatility is really just perfect for the bench.

 

2^nd Base

Without Utley, you’re right, Pedroia is the clear choice. I’ll stick with Kinsler, too. I briefly thought about Brandon Phillips as a 4^th middle infielder because he can play 2^nd or short, and he destroys lefties, but then I realized there wasn’t a chance in hell I’d put him in a game over either of these two guys.

 

Shortstop

I don’t know what makes Rollins so obvious. I appreciate his defense, but the bat is overrated. He barely OPS’d over .700 last year outside Philly. I’m taking a guy that you failed to even mention, Stephen Drew, because he’s a better offensive player and a solid defender. He really came into his own by the end of the year and I think the offensive gap between these two will only increase. The biggest downside to Drew is that he’s not great agaist lefties, so I’ll take Troy Tulowitzki as his platoon partner. Tulo is obviously know for his D, but he has hit lefties hard since he got to the majors, and I like having 4 middle infielders on a 30 man roster anyway.

 

3^rd Base

David Wright? More like YEAH (W)RIGHT! I don’t want to blow a 6-0 lead to Japan in the Finals! I’m surprised you didn’t take Bill Buckner at first base, and General Custer as your manager! I’m taking Scotty Brosius with no backup!

 

(Alright, I’m kidding. I hope that was annoying though. I’ll take Wright as my backup, but I’m going to assume Chipper’s healthy and let him start. He was just too good last year.)

 

Center Fielders

My biggest problem here is Matt Kemp. I know he destroys lefties, but he’s just not good enough yet to be on this team. There’s just too many other outfielders. He was the third best outfield bat on his own team down the stretch last year. I’m fine with Sizemore and the Josh Hamilton-Johnny Narron-God trio, although I kind of doubt the Rangers allow him the extra games (Also I list him here, but I would guess he’s playing a corner exclusively by next spring). I’ll also take Curtis Granderson if I can. Again, don’t know how likely this is with the injuries last year, but if he’s close to 100%, he may be the best of all these guys.

 

Corner Outfielders

I’m fine with Markakis and Holliday, but I’m not touching Carl Crawford just out of principle. I don’t like corner outfielders who have limited power and make outs 2/3 of the time. Instead, I’m going to go with Lance Berkman as my last positional player. I know he’s a first baseman now, but he can play the outfield if need be, so I’m going to list him here and probably use him at DH. And yes, I also know I took one more player than Bo, but I will also take one less pitcher. If you have a problem with any of this, contact my lawyer.

 

(NOTE: I’m going to leave it at that for now because I don’t have time to do pitching, but I will get to it soon. Also, I attended a Cavs/Sixers game last night and I have a lot of observations on that that I will try to get up tomorrow, and finally, I hope to put together an expose` on Omar Minaya’s abilities as a GM that will shake the very core of the sports world, and may lead to mass riots across the eastern seaboard.)

 

 

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(Bo’s response to the response)Well I suppose that Russell Martin being Canadian probably prevents him from being on the roster. I was willing to overlook it but Pat had to be a douche and point it out. I love Wieters but I don’t think I’d throw him on this roster just yet, and I’d probably stick with Ianetta. 

- I actually had Stephen Drew as my second choice, but forgot to list him. I agree with everything you said about him, but I’d still stick with Rollins for his defense, and the fact that he saves a roster spot by being a switch-hitter.

- Agreed about Chipper, although I’m still not sure he’ll play, but if he’s in, so am I. 

-The reason I have Crawford is not to start but to be the perfect D/speed guy off the bench. If you’re taking Granderson then you don’t need Crawford. As for Kemp, he’s clearly very raw and I wouldn’t say he’s one of the 10 best American outfielders, but he fits the role I was looking for perfectly. 

-As for the 4 starting pitchers, if I was building a real roster I’d clearly be taking at least 5, but in this tournament format the schedule is such that only 4 starters are needed, and you can replace one in case of injury.