WBRS Sports Blog

Monday, July 31, 2006

MLB All-Rookie team

At 37-67, 33 games out of first place, the Kansas City Royals are not only bad but abysmal. In fact, I don't think they are worthy of playing on a night-in night-out basis against the other 29 Major League teams. So I am exercising my one-day commissioner privileges that Bud Selig granted me a few years back after I B-12'ed myself to a slight victory over the Commish in an intense push-up competition. Thus, I present to you, the new team in Kansas City...The Rookie Royals

I can't remember a year that had such a talented rookie class, so I decided to see if I could put together a full, competitive team made solely of rookies. Looking at it, I think it would easily make the playoffs and be quite dangerous:

Staring Lineup
C Russell Martin, LAD (.298, 5 HR, 44 RBI)
1B Prince Fielder, MIL (.290, 19 HR, 54 RBI)
2B Dan Uggla, FLA (.296, 15 HR, 59 RBI)
SS Hanley Ramirez, FLA (.262, 9 HR, 32 RBI)
3B R. Zimmerman, WAS (.287, 13 HR, 68 RBI)
OF Adam Ethier, LAD (.345, 10 HR, 40 RBI)
OF Jeremy Hermida, FLA (.288, 4 HR, 32 RBI)
OF Josh Willingham, FLA (.263, 15 HR, 53 RBI)

Bench
C Mike Napoli, LAA (.251, 12 HR, 29 RBI)
1B Mike Jacobs, FLA (.288, 14 HR, 54 RBI)
2B Ian Kinsler, TEX (.302, 8 HR, 31 RBI)
OF Nick Markakis, BAL (.293, 3 HR, 28 RBI)
OF Jason Kubel, MIN (.273, 8 HR, 25 RBI)

Starting Rotation
SP Francisco Liriano, MIN (12-2, 1.96 ERA)
SP Justin Verlander, DET (13-4, 2.69 ERA)
SP Jered Weaver, LAA (7-0, 1.51 ERA)
SP Josh Johnson, FLA (8-5, 2.60 ERA
SP Jon Lester, BOS (5-1, 3.49 ERA)

Bullpen
LR Scott Olsen, FLA (9-4, 3.79 ERA)
LR Anibal Sanchez, FLA (4-1, 4,46 ERA)
MR Ramon Ramirez, COL (3-2, 2.93 ERA)
MR Adam Wainwright, STL (2-1, 2.67 ERA)
SP Jonathan Broxton, LAD (2-0, 3.26 ERA)
SP Joel Zumaya, DET (5-1, 2.22 ERA)
CL Jonathan Papelbon, BOS (2-1, 29 SV, 0.51 ERA)

Mascot
The Chorizo, MIL (0-1, with a third place finish)

There's not really a CF or a back-up SS (though Kinsler did come up as a SS), but those are the only flaws I can find. There wouldn't be a single easy out in that line-up, the pitching is fantastic and I can't believe there'd be a better bullpen than that in the league (the Zumaya-Broxton-Papelbon end is downright scary).

Additionally, if you were to add players that just came up (i.e. Howie Kendrick, Carlos Quentin) this team would be even better in the future.

// posted by MC @ 1:14 AM

8 Comments:

At 7/31/2006 1:43 AM , twins15 said...: Nice list... this has really been an exceptionally good rookie class.

You could also count Johjima as a rookie in there too behind the plate.
At 7/31/2006 2:09 AM , Mini Me said...: Oh baby, where is my boy Ian Kinsler at DH????? The AL is a superior league. The last time the NL won an All-Star game was back in 1996. Come on man, catch up with the times. HAHA. Seriously though, nice post, glad to have you aboard the WBRS Sports Blog writing staff!
At 7/31/2006 11:38 AM , Kevin said...: You forgot the Chorizo.
At 7/31/2006 7:02 PM , The Chorizo said...: That's more like it!
At 8/01/2006 2:21 AM , Anonymous said...: This team could really win the pennant.
At 8/01/2006 3:05 AM , insomniac said...: Is Adam Ethier related to Andre?

And if you're desperate, you could put Stephen Drew at backup SS.
At 8/01/2006 10:55 PM , Mini Me said...: My "research team" concluded that they are related Insomniac. They are brothers.

This is from 2005:
" The Duluth Huskies' Adam Ethier is following in the footsteps of his older brother, Andre Ethier, who played for Huskies coach Dave Parra in Rochester and is now a professional ballplayer with the Midland Rockhounds (Class AA; Texas League). Adam Ethier has had a few bumps during his baseball career -- he sat out last season while earning enough junior-college credits for eligibility -- but he hopes to make a mark this summer."

Here is the link:
http://www.nwlfan.com/archives/2005/may29_june4_2005.htm
At 8/02/2006 1:57 PM , josh said...: What about Chris Ray?