Create your own team

[SDM]

Borrowing an idea from Battersbox.ca, I figured we could do this to kill some time while much better teams compete for glory.

In their Hall of Names section, with the help of Baseball Reference, they take common first names, last names, birthdates, years of birth, and so on and so forth, and make all-time teams. They haven't made one with my first name, so I encourage all of you with some minutes to spare to do the same with your given names. The rules are simple:

- field a team that can compete and has all positions set (if your name is Kenny, for example, you can't pencil in Kenny Lofton at second base, as he's never played there)

- You can choose players who have your given name as a middle name, as long as they went by that name... In my case, I can't add John Kevin Maine or Brady Kevin Anderson, but I can add Walter Kevin McReynolds.

- Between 20-25 players, any era

For fun, I'm going to predict their season in the AL East.

STARTERS

Kevin Appier (169 wins, 3.74 ERA, 1AS)
Kevin Brown (211 wins, 3.28 ERA, 6AS)
Kevin Millwood (133 wins, 3.97 ERA, 2AS)
Kevin Tapani (143 wins, 4.31 ERA)
Kevin Gross (142 wins, 1AS, 4.11 ERA)

RELIEVERS

Kevin Gregg (11-13, 33 saves, 4.12 ERA)
Kevin Hickey (9-14, 17 saves, 3.91 ERA)
Kevin Saucier (15-11, 19 saves, 3.31 ERA)
Kevin Correia (11-14, 4.03 ERA)
Kevin Kobel (18-34, 3.88 ERA)

FINAL CUTS FROM PITCHING STAFF

Kevin Jarvis (34-49, 1 save, 6.03 ERA)
Kevin Ritz (45-56, 2 saves, 5.35 ERA)
Kevin Foster (32-30, 4.83 ERA)
Kevin Wickander (5-1, 2 saves, 4.01 ERA)

LINEUP

Kevin Millar (.283, 143 hr)
Kevin Youklis (.383 OBP, 70+ RBI twice)
Kevin Stocker (.254, 45 steals)
Kevin Mitchell (.284, 234 hr, 1MVP, 2AS)
Kevin Seitzer (.295, 1500+ hits, 2AS)
Kevin Bass (.270, 1300+ hits, 1AS)
Kevin Cash (.167, 350 AB)
Kevin Kouzmanoff (.275/18/74 in 2007)
Kevin Mench (.271, 89 hr in 651 games)
Kevin (Walter) McReynolds (.265, 211 hr, 93sb)
Kevin Young (.253, 20-20 in 1999)
Kevin Elster (.228, 940 games played)
Kevin Jordan (.258, 540 games played)

STARTING LINEUP

2B Seitzer
SS Stocker
LF Youklis
RF Mitchell
CF Mench
3B Kouzmanoff
1B Millar
DH Bass
C Cash

BENCH

OF/1B Young
OF McReynolds
SS Elster
2B Jordan

MANAGER

Kevin Kennedy

My staff is deadly, with nearly 800 wins between them, as well as a dozen or so AS appearances and top ten Cy finishes. This would easily be the best staff in baseball if everyone was in their prime.

My reliever corp is okay, but nothing to write home about. I do have a couple youngsters in Gregg and Correia, and Gregg had a decent season as the Marlins' closer.

The lineup has some AS appearances and one MVP award, but no player was/is considered the best at their position. It lacks speed, but has steady contact hitters who have a little bit of power in Youklis, Millar, Seitzer, Bass, and Kouzmanoff. Mitchell is the big bopper and McReynolds and Young have some power and speed off the bench.

They'd probably top around .500 in the AL East.

[OldNo7]

This is a very cool/original idea. I will be participating later on.

[cb4_89]

yeah not too many players have been in the mbl with my name.

[arrpy]

yeah not too many players have been in the mbl with my name.

Yeah, same here. I don't think there have been many Robert's in the MLB, lol.

[OldNo7]

-= original quote snipped =-



Yeah, same here. I don't think there have been many Robert's in the MLB, lol.

You gotta look it up, I am sure there is more than you think. I bet a tonne of Rob's too.

[GYBE]

SP: Shawn Estes
SP: Sean Bergman
SP: Sean Marshall
SP: Shaun Marcum

RP: Sean Runyan
RP: Sean Tracey

3B: Sean Berry
1B: Sean Casey
SS: Shawon Dunston
OF: Shawn Green
C: Shawn Wooten

Even with using every spelling of my name (Shawn), I can't field a full competent team.

[mini]

What a Great Idea! Here's my team. I included some stats below.

My Lineup
(2B) Michael Cuddyer
(SS) Michael Young
(OF) Mickey Mantle
(3B) Mike Schmidt
(C) Mickey Cochrane
(OF)Mike Greenwell
(DH) Mike Piazza
(1B) Mike Sweeney
(OF) Mike Cameron

SP: Mike Mussina, Mickey Welch (check his stats below), Mike Hampton, Mike Flanagan, Mike Garcia, Mike Cuellar

RP: Mike Timlin, Mike Gonzalez, Mike Williams, Mike MacDougal

Bench: Mike Lowell, Mike Bordick, Mike Scioscia

Manager: Mike Hargrove


Mickey Cochrane (C) HOF, MVP-2 (career avg: .320ba, 13hr, 91rbi)
Mike Boddicker (SP) allstar (134-116 3.8 ERA)
Mike Bordick (SS) allstar (career avg: BA .260, 9hr, 60rbi)
Mike Cameron (OF) allstar (career avg: ba .251, 22hr, 82rbi, 28sb)
Mike Cuellar (SP) allstar (185W, 130L, 3.10 ERA career, best year: 24W, 8L)
Michael Cuddyer (OF/2B/1B/3B) (career: .270 avg, 17hr, 74rbi)
Mike Flanagan (SP) allstar (career: 167W 134L. Year: 23W, 9L, 3.08ERA)
Mike Garcia (SP) allstar (career: 142W, 97L, 3.27ERA)
Mike Gonzalez (RP)
Mike Greenwell (OF) allstar (career avg: .303avg, 17hr, 93rbi, 10sb)
Mike Hampton (SP) allstar (best year: 22W, 4L, 2.90era)
Mike Piazza (C/1base) allstar
Mike Lowell (3rdbase) allstar
Mike MacDougal (RP) allstar
Mickey Mantle (OF) HOF, ALLSTAR, One of best Ever. He did play 7 games at SS in his career...can he be my SS?
Mike Mussina (SP) allstar
Mike Schmidt (3RDbase) allstar HOF
Mike Sweeney (1stbase) allstar
Mike Timlin (RP)
Mickey Welch (SP) HOF (Best single season 44W, 11L, 1.66ERA...in one year!)
Mike Williams (RP) allstar
Michael Young (SS) allstar, batting champ

[mini]

I think my team wins so far. I was suprised at how many good "Mike" catchers there were in baseball.

[SDM]

What a Great Idea! Here's my team. I included some stats below.

My Lineup
(2B) Michael Cuddyer
(SS) Michael Young
(OF) Mickey Mantle
(3B) Mike Schmidt
(C) Mickey Cochrane
(OF)Mike Greenwell
(DH) Mike Piazza
(1B) Mike Sweeney
(OF) Mike Cameron

SP: Mike Mussina, Mickey Welch (check his stats below), Mike Hampton, Mike Flanagan, Mike Garcia, Mike Cuellar

RP: Mike Timlin, Mike Gonzalez, Mike Williams, Mike MacDougal

Bench: Mike Lowell, Mike Bordick, Mike Scioscia

Manager: Mike Hargrove


Mickey Cochrane (C) HOF, MVP-2 (career avg: .320ba, 13hr, 91rbi)
Mike Boddicker (SP) allstar (134-116 3.8 ERA)
Mike Bordick (SS) allstar (career avg: BA .260, 9hr, 60rbi)
Mike Cameron (OF) allstar (career avg: ba .251, 22hr, 82rbi, 28sb)
Mike Cuellar (SP) allstar (185W, 130L, 3.10 ERA career, best year: 24W, 8L)
Michael Cuddyer (OF/2B/1B/3B) (career: .270 avg, 17hr, 74rbi)
Mike Flanagan (SP) allstar (career: 167W 134L. Year: 23W, 9L, 3.08ERA)
Mike Garcia (SP) allstar (career: 142W, 97L, 3.27ERA)
Mike Gonzalez (RP)
Mike Greenwell (OF) allstar (career avg: .303avg, 17hr, 93rbi, 10sb)
Mike Hampton (SP) allstar (best year: 22W, 4L, 2.90era)
Mike Piazza (C/1base) allstar
Mike Lowell (3rdbase) allstar
Mike MacDougal (RP) allstar
Mickey Mantle (OF) HOF, ALLSTAR, One of best Ever. He did play 7 games at SS in his career...can he be my SS?
Mike Mussina (SP) allstar
Mike Schmidt (3RDbase) allstar HOF
Mike Sweeney (1stbase) allstar
Mike Timlin (RP)
Mickey Welch (SP) HOF (Best single season 44W, 11L, 1.66ERA...in one year!)
Mike Williams (RP) allstar
Michael Young (SS) allstar, batting champ

I'm afraid your Mickeys are excluded. They may have had the birth name "Michael", but have gone by a nickname. You still have probably the best team ever.

[SDM]

Paul is an interesting one...

The offense is loaded, with Waner, Molitor, Hines combining for nearly 9000 hits, and Lo Duca and Konerko combining for 7 AS games...

But Daffy Dean and Paul Assenmacher are the best pitchers.

[Modern_epic]

SP: Shawn Estes
SP: Sean Bergman
SP: Sean Marshall
SP: Shaun Marcum

RP: Sean Runyan
RP: Sean Tracey

3B: Sean Berry
1B: Sean Casey
SS: Shawon Dunston
OF: Shawn Green
C: Shawn Wooten

Even with using every spelling of my name (Shawn), I can't field a full competent team.

Unless I suck at searching, I've got you crushed for an incomplete team.

3B: Ian Stewart
2B: Ian Kinsler

SP: Ian Kennedy
SP: Ian Snell

I was shocked, but the good news for me is that all these guys have debut in the past 4 years, so more 'Ian's could be popping up since it has become a more common name.

[wigglestrue]

Paul is an interesting one...

The offense is loaded, with Waner, Molitor, Hines combining for nearly 9000 hits, and Lo Duca and Konerko combining for 7 AS games...

But Daffy Dean and Paul Assenmacher are the best pitchers.

Here's a full 25 man Paul roster.
Like you said, a great lineup.
But really mediocre pitching.

C - Paul Loduca (4-time All Star)
1B - Paul Konerko (3-time All Star)
2B - Paul Hines (prolific 1800's oldie)
3B - Paul Molitor (Hall of Famer)
SS - Paul Popovich (total scrub)
OF - Paul Waner (Hall of Famer)
OF - Paul Blair (8 gold gloves, 2-time All Star)
OF - Paul O'Neill (5-time All Star)
DH - Paul Sorrento (decent)
C - Paul Casanova (1-time All Star)
UT - Paul Schaal (replacement level)
UT - Paul Bako (terrible)

SP - Paul Derringer (6-time All Star)
SP - Paul "Dizzy" Trout (2-time All Star)
SP - Paul "Daffy" Dean (two great years)
SP - Paul Byrd (1-time All Star)
SP - Paul Maholm (meh?)
SP - Paul Foytack (average)
RP - Paul Assenmacher (pretty good)
RP - Paul Quantrill (solid at times)
RP - Paul Shuey (kind of okay)
RP - Paul Wagner (awful)
RP - Paul Wilson (bad)
RP - Paul Abbott (sucked)
RP - Paul Hartzell (whatever)

[OldNo7]

Well my team wouldnt be pretty; cant even field a full team. Let's just say my best player would be Nick Swisher, and Nick Green and Nick Punto would both be starters

[mini]

-= original quote snipped =-



I'm afraid your Mickeys are excluded. They may have had the birth name "Michael", but have gone by a nickname. You still have probably the best team ever.

Not to debate the make-up of my fake team, but Mickey was not a nickname, it was a common shortform at the time for Michael. Much like "Mike" is the current common short form for the name. There has to be other short forms that have died away and been replaced (richie, billy, etc...there has to be other examples that I can't think of).

Yay! My team still wins!

[cb4_89]

Well my name is Igor.

Id probably be a starter on this team.