Take Your Favorite Baseball Team and Give the Best Season by a Player at Each Position

[Howie115]

Because that was such an excellent team, that it's surprising that no single season from that team would make the lineup or rotation. Shows how complete of a team that was.

I'm not sure why that would be confusing, the guy I quoted was not confused clearly.

A lot of really good to great seasons from several players on that '84 team. Just not the best in Tigers history at their particular position. It was more the sum of several really good seasons from that group of players that made it a special year.

 

[StanMarsh51]

Because that was such an excellent team, that it's surprising that no single season from that team would make the lineup or rotation. Shows how complete of a team that was.

I'm not sure why that would be confusing, the guy I quoted was not confused clearly.

It's kinda similar to the 1998 Yankees, where there's not a player on that team whose season would be the best in Yankees history, or probably even the best of the past 50 years.

 

[soxfan1468927]

It's kinda similar to the 1998 Yankees, where there's not a player on that team whose season would be the best in Yankees history, or probably even the best of the past 50 years.

True. Although the Yankees have a bit of a richer history than the Tigers.

 

[calsnowskier]

Outside of Posey in '12 and maybe Cain and Timmeh as also-rans in '10, there aren't any all-Giants in their current run.

Bum certainly is considered an all-timer, but that is based on his post-season added to his regular season success, not his regular season numbers alone. And Timmeh and Cain put up their real competitive regular seasons in '08 and '09.

 

[Voltaire26]

Detroit Tigers

Catcher - Mickey Cochrane, 1934. He only hit 2 HR with 75 RBI, but batted .320 with a .428 OBP and his defense and leadership helped the Tigers to their first AL Pennant since 1909. He was named AL MVP, and I'm pretty sure he is the only Tiger catcher to win that award. (Kudos still to my favorite Tiger catcher, Bill Freehan. An 11-time all-star, he played an incredible 155 games behind the dish in 1968, hitting .263 with 25 HR and 84 RBI in the "Year of the Pitcher".)

First Base - Hank Greenberg, 1938. Tied the then-record for HR by a right-handed batter with 58. He also hit .315, drove in 147, and had a league-leading 119 walks to help him to a .438 OBP.

Second Base - Charlie Gehringer, 1934. The Mechanical Man had many great seasons, including hitting .371 in 1937 and being named AL MVP. But I think '34 was better. He batted .356 with 127 RBI, had a .450 OBP, and led the majors with 214 hits and 135 runs scored. He also struck out only 25 times in 708 plate appearances.

Shortstop - Alan Trammell, 1987. Slashed .343/.402/.551/.953 and was runner-up for the AL MVP as the Tigers won the AL East. He had career highs of 28 HR, 105 RBI and 109 runs, and added 21 stolen bases. If we counted post-season, I might have picked 1984, when he was World Series MVP, but his regular season stats that year were not 1987 level.

Third Base - Miguel Cabrera, 2012. First Triple Crown hitter in the majors since 1967 (.330, 44, 139). AL MVP. And he did it while having to relearn the third base position following the acquisition of Prince Fielder.

Left Field - Hank Greenberg, 1940. Forced to move to LF after the Tigers acquired Rudy York to play 1B. Hank hit .340 and led the AL with 41 HR. He led all of major league baseball in doubles (50), RBI (150), SLG pct. (.670), OPS (1.103) and total bases (384). Became the first player in MLB history to win an MVP award at two different fielding positions.

Center Field - Ty Cobb, 1911. Hard to pick from all his ridiculously great seasons, but in 1911, he led the majors in almost every statistic except HR. He hit .420 (1st) with 147 runs (1st), 248 hits (1st), 47 doubles (1st), 24 triples (1st-AL), 127 RBI (1st), 83 SB (1st) and 367 total bases (1st).

Right Field - Al Kaline, 1955. Hit .340 to become the youngest-ever batting champion (age 20). Added 27 HR and 102 RBI, had a league-leading 200 hits and scored 127 runs while providing stellar defense in RF.

Starting Pitcher - Denny McLain, 1968. All due respect to Justin Verlander, it's hard to knock a 31-win season, even in the Year of the Pitcher. It was the ONLY 30-win season in the majors between 1934 (Dizzy Dean) and the present day. McLain logged an incredible 336 innings, struck out 280, and had a 1.96 ERA. Easy choice for AL Cy Young and MVP.

Relief Pitcher - Jose Valverde, 2011. Make fun of him all you want, but going 49-for-49 in save situations is pretty damn special. He had a 2.24 ERA, led the AL in appearances (75) and led the majors in games finished (70).

I have to go with Harry Heilmann (1927) in Right Field 12HR, 120 RBI and .398 BA. We could put Heilmann in Left Field and leave just 1B Hank Greenberg. Honorable mention should go to "Wahoo" Sam Crawford the MLB career leader in triples.

Note: In 1934 Mickey Cochrane was the manager and the team won 101 games and the AL Pennant. That could pale behind Bill Freehan's 1968, where he actually picked up and carried Mickey Lolich.

1987 Alan Trammel was robbed of the MVP and he and Lou Whitaker should also be in the Hall of Fame.

Other Starting Pitchers:
George Mullin (1909) 29-8 with 2.22 ERA
Hal Newhouser (1945) 25-9 with a 1.81 ERA 212 SO and an MVP
Mark Fidrych (1976) 19-9 with a 2.34 ERA. He also electrified the baseball world with his antics - Packed Tiger Stadium every game.
Justin Verlander (2011) 24-5 with a 2.40 ERA 250 SO and an MVP and CYA


Relief Picture - Willie Hernandez (1984) 9-3 with a 1.92 ERA, 32 saves and a 140 IP (MVP and CYA) and that year Aurelio "Senor Smoke" Lopez 10-1 with a 2.94 ERA, 14 saves and 137 IP -Strong Relief core for the Tigers.
- Valverde gave me a heart attack every time he pitched that year. I don't know how he went 49 for 49 in the save department ... there must have been human sacrifices.

 

[Howie115]

I have to go with Harry Heilmann (1927) in Right Field 12HR, 120 RBI and .398 BA.

Could definitely make a case for Heilmann. He never showed the power that Kaline did (183 career HR vs. 399 for Kaline), and I'm not sure what kind of fielder Harry was. But he had some ridiculous years in batting average.

 

[Cedrique]

Phillies: 2006 -- "Piece" . For the purposes of this thread, don't care about WAR, OPS, etc. 58 freaking home runs. Enough said.....

 

[Mebert]

The exercise made me sad for the rockies......

 

[Voltaire26]

Could definitely make a case for Heilmann. He never showed the power that Kaline did (183 career HR vs. 399 for Kaline), and I'm not sure what kind of fielder Harry was. But he had some ridiculous years in batting average.

I'd put up the Tigers against anyone. The Yanks and Cards are the only teams I'd be worried about!!

 

[Omar 382]

Phillies: 2006 -- "Piece" . For the purposes of this thread, don't care about WAR, OPS, etc. 58 freaking home runs. Enough said.....

It was very hard to leave him off

 

[calsnowskier]

I'd put up the Tigers against anyone. The Yanks and Cards are the only teams I'd be worried about!!

Lol

 

[Cedrique]

I forgot 2007 Jimmy Rollins- Declared the Phillies the team to beat in Spring training, was ridiculed for it most of the season, then finished the year with a long hitting streak as the Mets choked away a big lead in the last couple weeks and the Phillies got hot and won the division.

Sidenote: This should also bring back good memories for the Rockies fan who couldn't think of any favorite seasons for his players. The Rockies went on an unbelievable streak at the end of 2007 and beat the Phillies in the playoffs. I forget if they made it to the world series that year

 

[calsnowskier]

I forgot 2007 Jimmy Rollins- Declared the Phillies the team to beat in Spring training, was ridiculed for it most of the season, then finished the year with a long hitting streak as the Mets choked away a big lead in the last couple weeks and the Phillies got hot and won the division.

Sidenote: This should also bring back good memories for the Rockies fan who couldn't think of any favorite seasons for his players. The Rockies went on an unbelievable streak at the end of 2007 and beat the Phillies in the playoffs. I forget if they made it to the world series that year

Seeing as every team in the NL West has made it to the Series since 1989 (except the Dodgers, of course), the Rox did make it that year.

 

[Cedrique]

Seeing as every team in the NL West has made it to the Series since 1989 (except the Dodgers, of course), the Rox did make it that year.

If I didn't know any better I would almost think some of your posts are thinly veiled efforts to trash the Dodgers.
(not that I mind)

 

[soxfan1468927]

I forgot 2007 Jimmy Rollins- Declared the Phillies the team to beat in Spring training, was ridiculed for it most of the season, then finished the year with a long hitting streak as the Mets choked away a big lead in the last couple weeks and the Phillies got hot and won the division.

Sidenote: This should also bring back good memories for the Rockies fan who couldn't think of any favorite seasons for his players. The Rockies went on an unbelievable streak at the end of 2007 and beat the Phillies in the playoffs. I forget if they made it to the world series that year

They did win the NL. Didn't really show up for the WS though.

 

[calsnowskier]

If I didn't know any better I would almost think some of your posts are thinly veiled efforts to trash the Dodgers.
(not that I mind)

Who, me???

 

[JohnU]

Teetotalers all-time team