A few days ago, I asked the question as to what team you’d root for if not for the Yankees. My memory of this was jogged last night when “Captain Jack” made this comment in RAB’s Open Thread. If you don’t feel like clicking through, Jack listed his most-hated team and his favorite-non-Yankee team. I figured I’d do the same and take it a bit farther and make a lineup out of it. Anyway, let’s name the players first.
C–Joe Mauer…This one’s obvious. He’s awesome at baseball and I truly enjoy rooting for him. Plus, some people say we kind of look a like.
1B–Joey Votto…Another one I enjoy rooting for, Votto is massively underrated and is really mashing this season. He’s currently got a .415 wOBA and is second in NL 1B WAR (3.0) to San Diego’s Adrian Gonzalez (3.5).
2B–Chase Utley…Yeah, he looks greasy and I don’t really care for the Phillies much, but Utley’s the best second baseman in the game (Cano’s gaining on him) and I’ve always liked him.
3B–Evan Longoria…It’s hard to think of anything this guy does poorly on the field. Like the others, he’s just fun to watch.
SS–Hanley Ramirez…He’s Hanley. What more is there to say? Troy Tulowitzki was a close second.
LF–Carl Crawford…Watching him get to every damn ball out in left is enthralling.
CF–Austin Jackson…He was the first prospect I really followed through the minors and though he’s been scuffling of late, I’m rooting for him.
RF–Shin Soo Choo…I think he’s the most underrated player in baseball.
DH–Adam Dunn…Lot’s of homers? Check. Lot’s of walks? Check. Lot’s of love from Matt? Check…just don’t let him put on a glove.
SP–Tim Lincecum…We have the same birthday. Score.
SP–Cole Hamels…Man crush since ’06
SP–Dan Haren…Super underrated because of Brandon Webb
SP–Josh Johnson…He may not be forty, but he’s a man out there.
SP–Ian Kennedy…Another “homer” pick, I always check up on how he’s doing.
I’ll be lazy and still Captain Jack’s list of relievers (Jonathan Broxton, Carlos Marmol, Manny Corpas, and Chad Qualls) because, honestly, I see no relievers but Mariano. Onto the lineup…
1. Choo
2. Crawford
3. Mauer
4. Longoria
5. Utley
6. Ramirez
7. Dunn
8. Votto
9. Jackson
This lineup would straight up maul right handed pitching. So, who would you guys put in your favorite non-Yankee lineup?
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9 Responses to My Favorite Non-Yankees
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TIQ IQ
“he may not be 40, but he’s a man out there”
WIN.
Hmmm…
C. Mauer
1B. Votto (grew up in SW Ohio, still have a soft spot for the Reds)
2B. Utley
SS. HanRam
3B: Ryan Zimmerman
LF: Manny
CF: BJ Upton
RF: Andre Ethier
DH: Matsui (never going to stop loving Godzilla)
Pitchers: Strasburg, Johnson, Ubaldo, Halladay, and Bronson Arroyo
Relievers: Broxton, Soria, Huston Street, and Arthur Rhodes.
Josh Hamilton is a guy I pull for, Jim Thome too because he always seemed like a good dude.
David Wright. Best player and dude from the other NY team. I’m a big fan. Prince, Utley, Hanley, and Mauer round out the infield and catcher slots. Crawford, Gutierrez, and Mr Baseball (Heyward) round out my outfield.
Reyes SS/Switch
Ichiro CF/LH
Pujols 1st/RH
Hamilton LF/LH
Fielder DH/RH
Sandoval 3rd/Switch
Zobrist RF/Switch
Wieters C/Switch
Roberts 2nd/Switch
Pitchers – Strasburg, Ubaldo Jimenez, Halladay, Kershaw, Lincecum
Closer – Joe Nathan (went to Stony Brook)
C Miguel Montero
1B I like Ike (Davis)
2B Pedroia– as much as it pains me to admit
3B Placido
SS Uribe– love those free swingers
LF Braun
CF Franklin Guttierez (love the glove)
RF Choo- underrated and has to live in Cleveland… ouch
DH Matsui
RP Broxton Clippard
Starters JJ Cliff Romero Hudson Gallardo
combo of personality, sentimentality and talent. nice post matt
C- Brian McCann
1b- Joey Votto
2b- Chase Utley
3b- Evan Longoria
SS- Hanley Ramirez
OF- Justin Upton
OF- Nick Markakis
OF- Austin Jackson
DH- Hideki Matsui
SP- Brett Anderson
SP- Ian Kennedy
SP- David Price
SP- Gio Gonzalez
SP- Clayton Kershaw
RP- Huston Street, Luke Gregerson, Neftali Feliz, Cla Meredith, Andrew Bailey, Joakim Soria
So many players I left off that I love like Matt Kemp, Todd Helton, Carlos Gonzalez, Kurt Suzuki, Mark Ellis, Mike Leake, etc.
Two of the guys who would have been on my list a few years ago, Granderson and Swisher, are now on the team. Some others I like include Torii Hunter, Vlad Guerrero, the Uptons, David Wright, Ryan Braun, and any pitcher with a funky windup. Plus, I’m ashamed to say, I have always had a soft spot for Manny Ramirez.
Just talkin’ faves here:
C – A.J. Pierzynski
1B – Ryan Howard
2B – Chase Utley (Runner up: Ian Kinsler)
3B – Pablo Sandoval
SS – Jimmy Rollins
LF – Carl Crawford
CF – Torii Hunter
RF – Jayson Werth
DH- Vladimir Guerrero
SP – Tim Lincecum
SP – Roy Halladay
SP – Cliff Lee
SP – Johan Santana
SP – Justin Verlander
(can I squeeze in Felix Hernandez somewhere in there?)
RP – Joe Nathan
RP – Brian Wilson
RP – K-Rod
RP – Trevor Hoffman
RP – Bobby Jenks