Position by position

[cbenson5]

Rickey_Henderson came up with an interesting idea of a postion by position battle between all of the teams. This includes both historical and active players. I am assuming that we pick one person per position, 5 starters, a closer, and a middle reliever, and a DH. We can use this thread to discuss who we think we should choose to represent our Braves franchise. I think we can pick a team that can compete with almost any franchise. Hopefully, all of ya'll will be as interested in this as I am.

[cbenson5]

Here is what I am looking at for the candidates so far:

OF
Hank Aaron
Andruw Jones
Hugh Duffy
Tommy McCarthy
Dale Murphy
Wally Berger

1B
Fred Tenney
Tommy Tucker
?Eddie Mathews?

2B
Bobby Lowe
Bill Sweeney
Mark Lemke
Marcus Giles

SS
Rabbit Maranville
Johnny Logan
Herman Long

3B
Chipper Jones
Eddie Mathews

C
Joe Torre
Del Crandall
Javy Lopez

SP
Greg Maddux
Warren Spahn
Kid Nichols
Tom Glavine
Phil Niekro

SU/CP (pick one for closer and one for set up man)
John Smoltz
Gene Garber
Mark Wohlers
Steve Bedrosion
Cecil Upshaw

DH (we'll see how the voting goes and who is remaining before coming to this)

I think that (if allowed) putting Mathews at first could be an option. I only listed five pitchers for the starters because I don't see much of an argument if Smoltz is going to be used in relief.

Any mistakes or omissions.

[SamtheBravesFan]

Eddie Mathews only played 112 games at first base and just 7 games at first in a Braves uniform. I don't think that's a viable option.

C
Pretty much nailed the three best in franchise history.

1B
Joe Adcock, Chris Chambliss, possibly Fred McGriff or even Bob Horner instead of Matthews.

2B
I can't believe you forgot Glenn Hubbard.

SS
Jeff Blauser needs to be on there just because.

3B
They are the best. Maybe Horner here too.

OF
Tommy Holmes has to be in there.

SP
Vic Willis
Tommy Bond
Lew Burdette
Bob Buhl

Just because.

RP
Rick Camp and Greg McMichael as wild cards.

All done!

[cbenson5]

Yea, I guess we have about as good of a claim to McGriff as anyone. I was afraid that's what everyone would say about putting Mathews at first. I guess the thing to do would be to play him at third and DH Chipper.

[Mariano_Rivera]

Please add a poll here and include one 1 starter not five, thanks

[Cpope]

Keep Mathews at 3rd. Adcock is tough at 1st.
Please find a place for Rico Carty, he was a tough out.

[SamtheBravesFan]

Keep Mathews at 3rd. Adcock is tough at 1st.
Please find a place for Rico Carty, he was a tough out.

Boy is my face red!

[cbenson5]

With only one starter
My ballot for now is:

C Joe Torre
1B Fred Tenney (I think we have to give McGriff to the Blue Jays)
2B Bobby Lowe
SS Rabbit Maranville
3B Eddie Mathews
OF Hank Aaron
OF Andruw Jones
OF Hugh Duffy
DH Chipper Jones
SP Greg Maddux
CP John SMoltz
SU Gene Garber

[Atlanta Braves Freak]

What should the poll consist of?? I'll add it if I get the contents.

[cbenson5]

What should the poll consist of?? I'll add it if I get the contents.

I am not sure if there is a set time limit for us to form our team, but I would suggest we have a nomination process. How about we say each person can nominate anyone that they would seriously consider voting for. You could then take all nominations and create a poll. If we do this, then we won't be held to a certain number of players at each position. I mean third base and Dh are pretty much wrapped up IMO. Chipper and Mathews take this rather easily in which ever order we place them. However, there are some positions with multiple legitimate candidates. The players I picked in post 8 will serve as my nominations.

[cbenson5]

Atlanta Braves Freak and I have been talking via pm, and we have agreed that there is not enough traffic to warrant a series of position by position polls. He and I have formed this tentative roster:

C Joe Torre
1B Fred Tenney (I think we have to give McGriff to the Blue Jays)
2B Bobby Lowe
SS Rabbit Maranville
3B Eddie Mathews
OF Hank Aaron
OF Andruw Jones
OF Hugh Duffy
DH Chipper Jones
SP Warren Spahn or Greg Maddux (We are thus far undecided on this)
CP John SMoltz
SU Gene Garber

What do you think Sam?

I haven't seen many of our regulars in recent days, but if Tomahawk, Tarheelsfan, AnzInvasion, GoBravos, or anyone else has input please post what you think.

[SamtheBravesFan]

Atlanta Braves Freak and I have been talking via pm, and we have agreed that there is not enough traffic to warrant a series of position by position polls. He and I have formed this tentative roster:

C Joe Torre
1B Fred Tenney (I think we have to give McGriff to the Blue Jays)
2B Bobby Lowe
SS Rabbit Maranville
3B Eddie Mathews
OF Hank Aaron
OF Andruw Jones
OF Hugh Duffy
DH Chipper Jones
SP Warren Spahn or Greg Maddux (We are thus far undecided on this)
CP John SMoltz
SU Gene Garber

What do you think Sam?

I haven't seen many of our regulars in recent days, but if Tomahawk, Tarheelsfan, AnzInvasion, GoBravos, or anyone else has input please post what you think.

Great stuff. Except I look at center field and, honestly, I expect Dale Murphy to be there instead of Andruw Jones. Probably just force of habit. I honestly think that spot is a toss-up between Andruw and Dale. Jones has established himself as a super fielder and power hitter, just like Murphy. It all boils down to what you value out of them more

Dale's two MVPs to Andruw's none.

or

Andruw's three (possibly soon to be four) Gold Glove advantage.

As for starting pitcher: Greg Maddux, no contest. Forget wins. Look at the ERA+, I think that's the fairest way to look at this. Maddux blows everyone out of the water during his Braves career. Spahn once won 21 games in 1960 but he had an ERA+ of 98 that season! He topped with a 188 ERA+ in 1953 and hovered in the 100s-120s range during his career. Maddux had ERA+s in the range of 140s-190s, with a lows of 122 in 1999 and 105 in 2003. His two best ERA+s may have been in short seasons, but who can argue with a 273 and 259?

[Cpope]

Boy is my face red!

WHY? would you say that? Carty was a very good hitter and was fun to watch play LF.

[SamtheBravesFan]

WHY? would you say that? Carty was a very good hitter and was fun to watch play LF.

I said my face was red because at the time I made my list, I had forgotten Carty. He was one of the best pure hitters the Braves ever had. If he had stayed healthy, there was no telling what he could have done.

[Cpope]

OK, I just have to stick up for my man, I just loved his hitting style.
Altho Mathews was my favorite player, Rico was a very close second, ofcourse along with Logan, Adcock, Al Spangler. How you have a good idea on how old I am. Sphan, Sain, pray for rain.
Forever a Braves fan. Boston, Milwaukee and Atlanta.

[SamtheBravesFan]

OK, I just have to stick up for my man, I just loved his hitting style.
Altho Mathews was my favorite player, Rico was a very close second, ofcourse along with Logan, Adcock, Al Spangler. How you have a good idea on how old I am. Sphan, Sain, pray for rain.
Forever a Braves fan. Boston, Milwaukee and Atlanta.

That's good.

Aw, heck, why not. Let's put Rico Carty in there instead of Hugh Duffy. Carty was a bit more explosive during his time.

[Cpope]

Thanks guys. I worked nights when Rico hit 366. But got to hear it on the radio. Great year for him.

[SamtheBravesFan]

Thanks guys. I worked nights when Rico hit 366. But got to hear it on the radio. Great year for him.

The Braves had a pretty good offense in their early Atlanta years. They just didn't seem to have enough pitching.