| Lineup/batting order
1. Johnny Damon, CF -- He's still among the game's best table-setters and, his weak throwing arm aside, an excellent center fielder.
2. Nick Swisher, LF -- He's still just scratching the surface of his immense talent, and he'd be my first baseman were it not for ...
3. Jason Giambi, 1B -- Yes, his arm is the infield equivalent of Damon's in the outfield, but he can still rake, and he digs balls in the dirt as well as anyone.
4. Frank Thomas, DH -- As evidenced by his recent three-homer game, he's still got plenty left in the tank.
5. Miguel Tejada, SS -- Diminished defensively, maybe, but does anyone not miss the joy and electricity he brings to the game?
6. Jermaine Dye, RF -- Best technical outfielder in the Majors and a still-dangerous power threat
7. Ramon Hernandez, C -- He's Jason Kendall with a better bat.
8. Eric Chavez, 3B -- If he gets hot, he moves up in the order
9. Mark Ellis, 2B -- Classy Mr. Reliable has a spot on any team I'm running. It's an old, mostly slow team with only a few above-average defensive players, but if it stayed healthy, it'd be a blast from the slug-it-out days of the past. Starting rotation
1. Tim Hudson, RHP -- The team misses his presence in the clubhouse as much as they miss him on the mound.
2. Aaron Harang, RHP -- Hindsight is 20-20, of course, but was two months of Jose Guillen really worth it?
3. Barry Zito, LHP -- When he's comfortable, he's outstanding, and he was comfortable in Oakland.
4. Dan Haren, RHP -- Don't let the number he's assigned get you all riled up. Zito's ahead of him only to break up all the righties.
5. Joe Blanton, RHP -- All he does is work fast, eat innings and win. And while you didn't ask for it, Erik, I'll give you the bullpen, bench and coaching staff. Bullpen
Closer: Rich Harden -- Can you say 50 saves?
RHP setup man: Huston Street -- Nice option to close when Harden's unavailable.
LHP setup man: Alan Embree -- Biggest surprise of the 2007 season, in my opinion.
Early setup: Octavio Dotel, RHP -- He's the bullpen equivalent of Tejada; Justin Duchscherer, RHP -- His injury was the beginning of the end for this year's team. Long man: Chad Gaudin, RHP -- The "sixth starter." Many a team has made due with one lefty in the 'pen. This one can, too. Bench:
Eric Byrnes -- He can fill in at every outfield spot, but I'd probably end up starting him against lefties in a platoon with Damon.
Marco Scutaro -- You just know he'd end up playing in 110 games.
Travis Buck -- But only if he grows the hair back. He'll be doing some pinch-running, and I want to see the fur fly.
Daric Barton -- You didn't think I forgot about him, did you? If Giambi or Big Hurt goes down, Barton's a starter.
Jason Kendall -- I wish I knew how to quit you, Jason. If two infielders go down, it's your fault that I'm hosed, so start taking some ground balls at second base. Coaching staff
Manager: Art Howe -- Did you ever hear the players complain about him? Didn't think so.
Bench coach: Ken Macha -- His teams were always very well prepared, he has an excellent baseball mind and he'd be much happier without having an office in which Billy Beane could lunch.
Pitching coach: Curt Young -- I know some of you would pick Rick Peterson, but Young's experience as a player tips the scales in a very close call.
Hitting coach: Brad Fischer -- The guy's been in the organization for 29 years. I reward loyalty with this pick. Time to put Fish out front a little.
Third-base coach/infield instructor: Ron Washington -- I'm sure he's a fine manager, but he's a teacher at heart, and he needs to be close to the action.
First-base coach: Frank Menechino! Big Bank Frank has a spot on my staff for life.
Bullpen coach: Bob Geren -- No offense to the job he's done as skipper, but managers eventually get fired, so I'm saving the Beane-Geren friendship here. Nice of me, huh? |
