Wednesday, March 10, 2010

bdj610's End of Year MLB All-Star Teams: 2003 Edition

2003. It was supposed to be their year. It was supposed to be OUR YEAR!!! The year the boys in blue were finally...FINALLY!!!...going to win the World Series. But alas, thanks to a game six meltdown...WITH ONLY FIVE OUTS TO GET!!!...the Cubs once again, lost the game, lost the next one, and lost any hopes of getting into the World Series. But, ahem, there would be plenty of chances to get back, right???

I digress.

In 2003, my wife and I were busy caring for a toddler and her little brother. We now had the joy of double the diapers (and pullups), double the feedings, the late nights, the car seats...Oh, and did I forget to mention that in 2003, we bought our very first home??? Life was moving really fast at this point. Makes one think there would be no time to continue this little fantasy of mine...you know, creating end of the year All-Star Teams. But, somehow, in all of the chaos, and the impending meltdown, I was able to do it. And what had become a childhood tradition so many years ago (1988) continued 15 years later.

The teams for 2003 saw the return of the eleventh pitcher (the middle reliever that debuted in 2001) to replace the designated hitter. This was done only because the 2004 All-Star Game would be held in Houston (at Enron...ahem...Minute Maid Park). So, the rosters remain at a steady 35 players per team (3 1b, 3 2b, 3 3b, 3 ss, 9 of, 3 c, 6 sp, 5 rp).

So without further ado, for the first time online, I am proud to introduce my 2003 End of Year MLB All-Star Teams (in alphabetical order by position):

(We're scrolling...we're scrolling...we're scrolling...)











American League

First Basemen

  • Carlos Delgado, Blue Jays
  • Doug Mientkiewicz, Twins*
  • Frank Thomas, White Sox

Second Basemen

  • Bret Boone, Mariners
  • Alfonso Soriano, Yankees
  • Michael Young, Rangers*

Third Basemen

  • Hank Blalock, Rangers*
  • Eric Chavez, Athletics
  • Bill Mueller, Red Sox*

Shortstops

  • Nomar Garciaparra, Red Sox
  • Derek Jeter, Yankees
  • Alex Rodriguez, Rangers

Outfielders

  • Garret Anderson, Angels
  • Carlos Beltran, Royals
  • Aubrey Huff, Devil Rays*
  • Torii Hunter, Twins
  • Magglio OrdoƱez, White Sox
  • Manny Ramirez, Red Sox
  • Ichiro Suzuki, Mariners
  • Vernon Wells, Blue Jays*
  • Dmitri Young, Tigers*

Catchers

  • Ramon Hernandez, Athletics*
  • A. J. Pierzynski, Twins
  • Jorge Posada, Yankees

Pitchers

  • Brendan Donnelly, Angels*
  • Keith Foulke, Athletics
  • Eddie Guardado, Twins
  • Roy Halladay, Blue Jays
  • Tim Hudson, Athletics
  • Jorge Julio, Orioles*
  • Esteban Loiaza, White Sox*
  • Jamie Moyer, Mariners
  • Andy Pettitte, Yankees
  • Mariano Rivera, Yankees
  • C. C. Sabathia, Indians

Manager:

  • Ken Macha, Athletics

The Starters:

  • 1B: Delgado
  • 2B: Soriano
  • 3B: Mueller
  • SS: ARodriguez
  • OF: Hunter
  • OF: Ramirez
  • OF: Suzuki
  • C: Posada
  • P: Halladay

*First-Time All-Star



National League

First Basemen

  • Todd Helton, Rockies
  • Richie Sexson, Brewers
  • Jim Thome, Phillies

Second Basemen

  • Luis Castillo, Marlins
  • Mark Loretta, Padres*
  • Jose Vidro, Expos

Third Basemen

  • Mike Lowell, Marlins
  • Aramis Ramirez, Cubs*
  • Scott Rolen, Cardinals

Shortstops

  • Orlando Cabrera, Expos*
  • Rafael Furcal, Braves*
  • Edgar Renteria, Cardinals

Outfielders

  • Lance Berkman, Astros
  • Barry Bonds, Giants
  • Adam Dunn, Reds*
  • Luis Gonzalez, Diamondbacks
  • Vladimir Guerrero, Expos
  • Albert Pujols, Cardinals
  • Gary Sheffield, Braves
  • Sammy Sosa, Cubs
  • Preston Wilson, Rockies

Catchers

  • Jason Kendall, Pirates
  • Javy Lopez, Braves
  • Ivan Rodriguez, Marlins

Pitchers

  • Octavio Dotel, Astros*
  • Eric Gagne, Dodgers
  • Russ Ortiz, Braves
  • Mark Prior, Cubs*
  • Jason Schmidt, Giants*
  • John Smoltz, Braves
  • Steve Trachsel, Mets*
  • Billy Wagner, Astros
  • Woody Williams, Cardinals*
  • Kerry Wood, Cubs*
  • Tim Worrell, Giants*

Manager:

  • Larry Bowa, Phillies

The Starters:

  • 1B: Helton
  • 2B: Vidro
  • 3B: Rolen
  • SS: Furcal
  • OF: Bonds
  • OF: Pujols
  • OF: Sheffield
  • C: Lopez
  • P: Prior


Twenty-three players are first-time all-stars (11 for the American League, 12 for the Nationals). One-person teams on my 2003 rosters include the Devil Rays (Huff), Indians (Sabathia), Orioles (Julio), Royals (Beltran), Tigers (DYoung), Brewers (Sexson), Diamondbacks (Gonzalez), Dodgers (Gagne), Mets (Trachsel), Padres (Loretta), Phillies (Thome), Pirates (Kendall), and Reds (Dunn). The Yankees and Braves each send five representatives to the AL and NL squads respectively, leading their leagues. The Athletics, Twins, Cardinals, and Cubs each send four players to their respective squads. Chicago bias makes a comeback as there are seven players from both Chicago teams (3 from the White Sox, 4 from the Cubs).

As always, seven regular games (10,000 simulations each, six with the same starting pitchers, one where lineups and starting pitchers change), and one All-Star Game will be simulated during the course of the week. I hope to have the results of all the games by the end of the week.

Now it's time for me to create the .DAT files before getting the games set. Results to come on Monday (unless we party too late).

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama

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