Bball3345's All-25 Year Pirates Team
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by user Timothy Moreland(Bball3345)
As challenged by DNL, I searched through the last 25 years of Pirates history, 1982-2006, and assembled a squad. Despite the Pirates sketchy recent past of success on the field, there was enough quality to put together a rather competitive team.
All the stats have been normalized to a 750 runs/team (4.63 rpg) environment.
Starting Lineup (with Neutralized Stats)
Order Pos Player Year Ag G AB Avg OBP SLG OPS+ 1 CF Barry Bonds 1992 27 140 493 0.339 0.488 0.684 205 2 LF Brian Giles 2002 31 154 498 0.295 0.447 0.618 173 3 C Jason Kendall 2000 26 152 572 0.311 0.402 0.456 125 4 RF Jason Bay 2005 26 162 602 0.309 0.406 0.568 148 5 1B Gary Redus 1989 32 97 286 0.308 0.4 0.507 141 6 3B Bobby Bonilla 1988 25 161 611 0.298 0.394 0.516 142 7 2B Johnny Ray 1984 27 155 569 0.329 0.372 0.453 121 8 Pitcher 9 SS Jay Bell 1993 27 154 607 0.313 0.396 0.442 123
According to the BaseballMusings Lineup Analysis, this lineup would score 6.843 runs per game. None of the players have an OPS+ below 121 and the outfield has OPS+ of 205, 173, and 148. Bobby Bonilla and Gary Redus have 142 and 141, respectively. Interesting note: Four of the players' last names start with "B" and four of the players' first names start with "J".
Bench
Role Player Year Ag G AB Avg OBP SLG OPS+ bOF Turner Ward 1997 32 71 166 0.349 0.417 0.584 159 bIF John Wehner 1991 24 37 108 0.352 0.391 0.417 124 PH Matt Stairs 2003 35 121 305 0.292 0.389 0.561 146 bC Craig Wilson 2000 24 88 157 0.306 0.387 0.586 149 dRp Jose Lind 1987 23 35 143 0.322 0.358 0.434 108
The bench had some good bats on it as well. Turner Ward had a tremendous 71 games in 1997. John Wehner and Jose Lind provide strong gloves with capable bats. Craig Wilson, originally a catcher, backs up Kendall and helps Ward and Matt Stairs provide some pop off the bench.
Starting Rotation
Role Pos Pitcher Year Ag W L W% IP ERA WHIP ERA+ 1 SP Rick Reuschel 1985 36 15 6 0.714 190.7 2.64 1.154 158 2 SP Denny Neagle 1996 27 15 9 0.625 223.7 3.26 1.194 144 3 SP Oliver Perez 2004 22 13 8 0.619 195.7 3.13 1.186 139 4 SP Zane Smith 1994 33 16 9 0.64 225 3.16 1.213 133 5 SP F. Cordova 1998 26 15 9 0.625 219.7 3.28 1.225 131
While there isn't a Pedro on this team, there are some very nice seasons. All of the pitchers are situated between 131 and 158 ERA+. Current Met, Oliver Perez was, once upon a time, quite the promising young pitcher.
Bullpen
Pos Pitcher Year Ag W L W% IP ERA WHIP ERA+ CL Mike Gonzalez 2006 28 4 1 0.8 53.3 2.19 1.406 207 RP Scott Sauerbeck 1999 27 6 1 0.857 69.3 3.39 1.363 229 RP Kent Tekulve 1983 36 8 2 0.8 96.7 1.86 1.252 227 RP Rod Scurry 1982 26 9 2 0.818 101.3 1.95 1.48 214 RP Bill Landrum 1990 32 5 2 0.714 69 2.61 1.42 169 RP Pat Clements 1986 24 4 2 0.667 59.3 3.19 1.517 137 RP Dan Plesac 1995 33 4 3 0.571 68.3 3.42 1.302 122
What the starting rotation lacked in dominance, the bullpen makes up for. Mike Gonzalez was a shutdown closer in 2006, until an injury shut him down that is. Scott Sauerbeck and Kent Tekulve represent stellar seasons from the pen. Rod Scurry would be a capable long reliever.
This is a team us Pirates fans would love to see on the field in '07.
