Guest commentary by Eric Weiss:
In the absence of real MLB action, MLB.com recently presented a “Dream Bracket” of the 28 current major league teams (plus a All-Time Negro League team, as well as a current players under 25 team), playing off in a tournament format. All series were best of 7, and games were played using Out of the Park Baseball 21, a video game. Therefore, a team would have to win 5 series to be the champion.
While my preference is Strat-o-Matic for my baseball simulations, I would like to give a few thoughts on the team selections. Although the simulation itself was certainly well-thought out and entertaining, certain aspects could have been improved. The first is the decision to allow players on multiple teams. This led to such absurdities as Babe Ruth pitching to Babe Ruth, and Carlton Fisk handling the catching for both teams during a Sox showdown (White v. Red). Although I have no problem with players from multiple eras playing each other virtually, I believe that each player should be limited to just one team. Tom Seaver is a Met, not a Red. No one expects Rickey Henderson to play for the Yankees, A’s, Mets, Dodgers, etc. In the MLB tournament, Seaver’s pitching helped the Reds reach the final series. In my tournament, he would play for only the Mets, where he belongs, historically.
Of course, many players have played for multiple teams over their careers. What team should a player play for? With limited exceptions, this is my rule: the player plays for the team he played the most games for in his career. Pitchers pitch for the team they pitched the most innings for in their career. Therefore, Fisk wears White Sox, not Red. The Red Sox also lose Foxx and Grove (should be on the A’s). Barry Bonds is a Giant, not also a Pirate. And so on. Most players played a clear a majority of their
careers with a certain team. As a Yankee fan, I don’t expect to include Rickey or Reggie Jackson on the Bombers, as they clearly should be on other teams.
Another problem with the Dream Bracket is the lack of minimum qualifications for being on a team. While I understand the need to include active players (to appeal to all those “younger fans”), this led to players with only a few years starting for storied franchises, while ignoring most of team history. The virtual Dodgers played Cody Bellinger in right field (three years of MLB experience), while ignoring such players as Carl Furillo (Dodgers right fielder for ten seasons). Their left fielder was Gary Sheffield (4 seasons, 526 games with L.A.), while old-timers like Hall-of-Famer Zack Wheat (over 2300 games with Dodgers, almost all in left field) were completely ignored. Pete Alonzo, with one year of MLB
experience, was the Mets starting first baseman.
My rule for this is as follows: again, with certain limited exceptions, to be on a team, you must have played for that team for at least 6 years (for the teams which started before 1961), or 5 years for the expansion (post-1961) teams. Your mileage may vary. But certain minimum qualifications are necessary. I want players who have withstood the test of time. Not every young player off to a good start in his career becomes an all-time great. Aaron Judge may someday make the all-time Yankee team, but that day has not yet arrived.
The final issue I have related to history. While I understand the need to emphasize more recent players, when I replay the all-time greats, I want all eras of baseball history represented. It raises my awareness of these players and furthers my knowledge of baseball history. Baseball did not start in the mid-sixties.
In the Dream Bracket, pre-war players were almost non-existent, except for a few deadball stars like Cobb, Speaker, and pitchers like Cy Young and Walter Johnson. Stars of the thirties and forties almost completely disappeared. For example, the Cincinnati Reds won back to back National League pennants and a World Series title in 1939-1940. They were led by their two ace pitchers, Bucky Walters, who was 160-107 in his career with the Reds, highlighted by his winning National League MVP award in 1939 (he finished third in voting in 1940), and Paul Derringer, 161-150 with the Reds, third and fourth in the MVP voting in 1939 and 1940. Derringer also pitched a complete game in Game 7 of the 1940 World Series, winning 2-1, the only time the Reds have won the World Series at home. The Dream Bracket completely ignored these stars, leaving off the Reds roster completely in favor of pitchers like Randy Myers (who pitched a whopping two seasons for Cincinnati) and Johnny Cueto (winner of 92 games for the Reds). While I understand the need to appeal to fans of recent players, my All-Time teams include players from all eras. The stars of yesterday should not be ignored in this type of tournament.
Here are a few more thoughts on how such replays could be improved. The first deals with lineups. Looking at the Dream Bracket, it seems like the all-time teams used the same exact lineup for every game. Not very realistic. With so many all-time great players, it would seem like there should be some variation in lineups. Some players could be platooned. For example, I doubt the all-time Reds would make lefty slugger Ted Kluszewski their full-time DH against all pitching, especially strong lefties, with Tony Perez sitting on the bench (no pun intended). Facing a lefty starter, it would also make sense (if using the DH), to play Perez at third base, Pete Rose in left, and DH George Foster. The variations are endless, which is why the same lineup should not be used for every game. Players who go hitless in a few games may be considered “slumping” and replaced by backups, who are themselves all-stars.
One thing I try to do in my own all-time franchise team replays is to try to use the all-time greats in similar roles they played in real life. For example, an all-time Dodger team can be very similar to a real life Dodger team. Take a look at this lineup from September 3, 1955:
1. Gilliam lf
2. Reese ss
3. Snider cf
4. Campanella c
5. Furillo rf
6. Robinson 3b
7. Hodges 1b
8. Zimmer, 2b
9. Koufax, p
With a few changes, this could be an all-time Dodgers lineup. Move Robinson to second base, replace Zimmer with Ron Cey, and you’re all set. Zack Wheat could also replace Gilliam. Obviously, this won’t work with all franchises, but I try to find an actual game lineup (thanks, Retrosheet and Baseball Reference) which includes all-time players, and try to put players in the same lineup position they were in actual games.
What about pitchers? One approach which I enjoy is to match up starting pitchers who actually pitched against each other. For example, All-Time Yankees v. All-Time Red Sox. Hall of Famers Jack Chesbro and Cy Young matched up quite often during the early years of the rivalry. (Thankfully, Chesbro had the overall edge). If I’m playing All-Time Teams, I will match up Chesbro and Young as opposing starters. Another real-life matchup would be Guidry-Tiant.
The Dream Bracket featured a Yankees-Reds final series, which would be an opportunity to rematch the great pitching duel of Game 1 of the 1939 World Series (Ruffing v. Derringer, won by the Yankees, 2-1, on a Bill Dickey walk-off single scoring Charlie Keller). I would also include Dickey and Keller in the Yankees lineup for that game.
If I’m playing a Cubs-Cardinals series, Bob Gibson and Fergie Jenkins will have to oppose each other. Dodgers-Reds would see Maloney v. Koufax or Maloney v. Drysdale, sixties flame throwers. Dodgers-Giants would have to include Bumgarner v. Kershaw and Hubbell v. Dazzy Vance games. I’ll also try to give the starting pitchers their real-life catchers, where possible. Replaying All-Time teams is one way to survive the hopefully temporary loss of actual games.
Hope everyone is staying safe and healthy.
*** The End ***
Guest commentary by Eric Weiss, updated 5/8/20
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