BBF All Decade Team: 1980-1989

[DoubleX]

Before you vote, please, please read the voting rules first, just to make sure that all ballots are the same format. So here are the rules:

General Format: Pick your A and B team for the decade. A players will receive 10 points and B players will receive 5 points. The positional player with the most cumulative points that does not win a position outright, will make the final team as an extra. Elections will last one week and you can change your ballot at anytime before the end, just shoot me a PM if you do make changes.

Infielders: Pick 1 A player and 1 B player for C, 1B, 2B, SS, and 3B.

Outfielders: Pick 3 A outfielders and 3 B outfielders. Your A team must have at least 1 CFer, and you must have at least 2 CFers between your A and B teams (your B team does not have to have a CFer if your A team has 2 or more).

Pitchers: Pick 4 A SP and 4 B SP. For the 1960s-1990s, pick 1 A RP and 1 B RP

Wild Cards: Pick 1 additional positional player for your A and B teams. This player can be a DH, this player can be a player without a real identifiable position for the decade, or this player can be the next best positional player that you didn't already vote for on your A and B teams. In this last case, if the player has an identifiable position, he will not receive points at that position, just points in general. This is because the player with the most cumulative points that does not win an outright position, will be added to the team as an extra. For example, if I vote for Jeff Bagwell at 1B and Frank Thomas as a WC, Bagwell will get 10 points towards winning 1B and Thomas will get 10 points in general, but that will not count towards 1B for him.

Eligibility: A player must have appearead in at least 6 seasons during the decade. Use your best judgment to determine if a player played significantly enough in those 6 seasons (i.e. don't vote for players that only have 6 seasons because of a few seasons with some callup appearances). Players are also eligible for multiple decades as it is a testament to their greatness if they can make more than one decade.

SAMPLE BALLOT
A = 10 Points
B = 5 Points

C: A, B
1B: A, B
2B: A, B
SS: A, B
3B: A, B
OF: A, B - Must have at least 1 CFer on A team and at least 2 CFers in total between A and B teams (B team does not need a CFer if A team has 2 or more).
OF: A, B
OF: A, B
WC: A, B - May be a DH, player without an identifiable position, utility player, or an extra positional player that you want to include on your A or B team (though, by making him a WC, he will not get points at his position, only points in general).

SP: A, B
SP: A, B
SP: A, B
SP: A, B
RP: A, B - Will only be used for 1960s-1990s

[Windy City Fan]

C: Carlton Fisk, Gary Cater
1B: Eddie Murray, Don Mattingly
2B: Ryne Sandburg, Lou Whitaker
SS: Cal Ripken, Ozzie Smith
3B: Mike Schimdt, George Brett
OF: Rickey Henderson, Tim Raines
OF: Kirby Puckett, Dale Murphy
OF: Tony Gwyn, Dave Winfield
WC: Wade Boggs, Robin Yount

SP: Roger Clemens, Fernado Venuzuela
SP: Nolan Ryan, Bert Blyleven
SP: Dwight Gooden, Dave Stieb
SP: Orel Hershiser, Jack Morris
RP: Dan Quisenberry, Goose Gossage

[DoubleX]

Nice use of the WC WindyCity! I've been thinking about the same thing, except that I'm leaning towards making Brett my WC and Boggs my B 3Bman.

[-Kyle-]

____A____________B______
C: Carlton Fisk, Gary Cater
1B: Eddie Murray, Keith Hernandez
2B: Lou Whitaker, Ryne Sandburg
SS: Robin Yount, Cal Ripken
3B: Mike Schimdt, Wade Boggs
OF: Rickey Henderson, Dave Winfield
OF: Tim Raines, , Dwight Evans
CF: Kirby Puckett, Dale Murphy
WC: George Brett, Paul Molitor

SP-A: Dave Stieb Roger Clemens, Bert Blyleven, Orel Hershiser,
SP-B: Nolan Ryan, Jack Morris, Bret Saberhagen, Doc Gooden.
RP: Bruce Sutter, Dan Quisenberry

Making this list showed me how crappy pitchers in 1980s were. They were either finishing or startinga good career(Perry,Jenkins, Clemens).

[538280]

Making this list showed me how crappy pitchers in 1980s were. They were either finishing or startinga good career(Perry,Jenkins, Clemens).

I wouldn't say pitching was crappy, just not that many top level stars. Overall the pitching was still probably very good. The 80s were kind of a transition period of pitching stars. There were a ton of all time great pitchers in the 70s and 90s and those guys were either starting or ending their careers, with few guys to bridge the gap. Anyway, my team:

C: Gary Carter, Carlton Fisk
1B: Eddie Murray, Keith Hernandez
2B: Lou Whitaker, Ryne Sandberg
3B: Mike Schmidt, Wade Boggs
SS: Robin Yount, Cal Ripken
OF: Rickey Henderson, Dave Winfield
CF: Dale Murphy, Kirby Puckett
OF: Tim Raines, Dwight Evans
WC: George Brett, Alan Trammell

SP: Dave Stieb (how can anyone leave this guy off?), Fernando Valenzuela
SP: Bert Blyleven, Dwight Gooden
SP: Roger Clemens, Nolan Ryan
SP: Jack Morris, Bob Welch

RP: Dan Quisenberry, Lee Smith

[leecemark]

.........A team........B team
C: Gary Carter, Carlton Fisk
1B: Eddie Murray, Kieth Hernandez
2B: Ryne Sandberg, Lou Whitaker
3B: Mike Schmidt, George Brett
SS: Cal Ripken, Alan Trammell
LF: Rickey Henderson (player of the decade), Tim Raines
CF: Dale Murphy, Kirby Puckett
RF: Dave Winfield, Dwight Evans
WC: Wade Boggs, Robin Yount
SP1: Roger Clemens, Doc Gooden
SP2: Steve Carlton, Orel Hershieser
SP3: Dave Stieb, Bert Blyleven
SP4: Jack Morris, John Tudor
RP: Goose Gossage, Bruce Sutter

[-Kyle-]

I wouldn't say pitching was crappy, just not that many top level stars. Overall the pitching was still probably very good. The 80s were kind of a transition period of pitching stars. There were a ton of all time great pitchers in the 70s and 90s and those guys were either starting or ending their careers, with few guys to bridge the gap.

Ok, I meant their werent many stand out guys in their prime right then.

[SamtheBravesFan]

C: Gary Carter, Carlton Fisk
1B: Eddie Murray, Don Mattingly
2B: Ryne Sandberg, Lou Whitaker
3B: George Brett, Wade Boggs
SS: Cal Ripken, Jr., Alan Trammell
OF: Rickey Henderson, Andre Dawson
OF: Dale Murphy, Tony Gwynn
OF: Tim Raines, Dwight Evans
WC: Mike Schmidt, Jack Clark

SP: Roger Clemens, Dwight Gooden
SP: Orel Hershiser, Bert Blyleven
SP: Steve Carlton, Jack Morris
SP: Bret Saberhagen, Nolan Ryan
RP: Dan Quisenberry, Steve Bedrosian

[dgarza]

C: Gary Carter, Lance Parrish
1B: Eddie Murray, Keith Hernandez
2B: Lou Whitaker, Frank White
SS: Alan Trammell, Ozzie Smith
3B: Wade Boggs, Mike Schmidt
OF: Dale Murphy, Pedro Guerrero
OF: Andre Dawson, Tim Raines
OF: Rickey Henderson, Dwayne Murphy
WC: George Brett, Robin Yount

SP: Jack Morris, Nolan Ryan
SP: Dave Stieb, Bert Blyleven
SP: Fernando Valenzuela, John Tudor
SP: Bob Welch, Mike Scott
RP: Dan Quisenberry, Jeff Reardon

[DoubleX]

Ideally, I'd like this also to be a discussion thread. So I'll get the ball rolling...I don't really see Robin Yount as a SS for the 80s. I'm considering using one of my WC votes on him or perhaps even include him as an OFer.

[leecemark]

--Yount didn't amke the grade at SS for me either, but did get a WC vote. Ripken was a no-brainer for A team SS. The B teamer was a close call between Alan Trammell and Ozzie Smith.

[DoubleX]

SP-B: Nolan Ryan, Jack Morris, Bret Saberhagen, No Clue

Sure you don't want to tack on one last pitcher?

[HDH]

C Gary Carter, Lance Parrish
1B Don Mattingly, Keith Hernandez
2B Ryne Sandberg, Lou Whitaker
SS Cal Ripken, Ozzie Smith
3B Wade Boggs, George Brett
RF Tony Gwynn, Dave Winfield
CF Dale Murphy, Kirby Pucket
LF Tim Raines, Rickey Henderson
WC Paul Molitor, Robin Yount

SP Jack Morris
SP Nolan Ryan
SP Bert Blyleven
SP Dave Steib
SP Fernando Valezuela

Bob Welch, Rick Rhoden, Dennis Martinez, Ron Guidry, Mike Scott

CL Dan Quizenberry, Dave Righetti

[dgarza]

Ideally, I'd like this also to be a discussion thread. So I'll get the ball rolling...I don't really see Robin Yount as a SS for the 80s.

Yount played only about 50-60 more games in the OF than SS. He seemed to be equally both. This is what hurts him in my SS and OF rankings. And it is also what hurts Brett in the 3B rankings, he played 3 years at 1st. Both are perfectly made for the WC slot, in my rankings.

[dgarza]

There are some voters who have 1 obvious CFer. But then I'm left wondering if Dawson counts, or even Henderson.

[DoubleX]

C: Gary Carter, Carlton Fisk
1B: Eddie Murray, Don Mattingly
2B: Ryne Sandberg, Lou Whitaker
SS: Cal Ripken Jr, Alan Trammel
3B: Mike Schmidt, George Brett
OF: Rickey Henderson, Tim Raines
OF: Dale Murphy, Kirby Puckett
OF: Dave Winfield, Andre Dawson
WC: Wade Boggs, Robin Yount

SP: Roger Clemens, Nolan Ryan
SP: Dave Stieb, Dwight Gooden
SP: Jack Morris, Fernando Valenzuela
SP: Bert Blyleven, Bret Saberhagen
RP: Dan Quisenberry, Lee Smith

[DoubleX]

There are some voters who have 1 obvious CFer. But then I'm left wondering if Dawson counts, or even Henderson.

Good call. Dawson I can see because he did play CF full time from 80-83, but Henderson spent just two years in CF.

So could people kindly amend or state their case?

[swingman24]

C:Gary Carter-Carlton Fisk
1Bon Mattingly-Eddie Murray
2B:Ryne Sandberg-Lou Whitaker
3b:Mike Schimdt-Wade Boggs
SS:Cal Ripken Jr.-Ozzie Smith
LF:Rickey Henderson-Tim Raines
CF:Kirby Puckett-Dale Murphy
RF:Tony Gwynn-Andre Dawson
WC:George Brett-Robin Yount
SP:Roger Clemens-Bert Blyleven
SP:Nolan Ryan-John Tudor
SPwight Gooden-Dave Stieb
SP:Jack Morris-Bret Saberhagen
RP:Lee Smith-Bruce Sutter

Notables:Keith Hernandez,Jack Clark,Alan Trammell,Dave Winfield,Pedro Guerrero,Paul Molitor and Willie McGee

[538280]

I don't get Don Mattingly being listed ahead of Keith Hernandez. Hernandez played the whole decade at a pretty high level, except for '89, and Mattingly didn't really become a regular until 1983. And I would say Mattingly's best years, 1984-1986, were a little better hitting year than Hernandez's best, Hernandez was much more consistent and stayed a similar level every year while Mattingly kind of falls off. Hernandez also was probably the best fielder from 1B in the history of the game. Mattingly was good, but not on Hernandez's level.

Also, I really want to hear justification how anyone can leave Dave Stieb off. By WS he's the best pitcher of the decade and it's not even particularly close.

[Minstrel]

C: Carlton Fisk, Gary Cater
1B: Eddie Murray, Keith Hernandez
2B: Ryne Sandberg, Lou Whitaker
SS: Cal Ripken Jr., Robin Yount
3B: Mike Schimdt, Wade Boggs
OF: Rickey Henderson, Tim Raines
OF: Kirby Puckett, Dale Murphy
OF: Tony Gwynn, Dave Winfield
WC: George Brett, Darryl Strawberry

SP: Roger Clemens, Bret Saberhagen
SP: Nolan Ryan, Orel Hershiser
SP: Bert Blyleven, Dwight Gooden
SP: Jack Morris, Dave Stewart
RP: Dan Quisenberry, Bruce Sutter

[Minstrel]

I don't get Don Mattingly being listed ahead of Keith Hernandez. Hernandez played the whole decade at a pretty high level, except for '89, and Mattingly didn't really become a regular until 1983. And I would say Mattingly's best years, 1984-1986, were a little better hitting year than Hernandez's best, Hernandez was much more consistent and stayed a similar level every year while Mattingly kind of falls off. Hernandez also was probably the best fielder from 1B in the history of the game. Mattingly was good, but not on Hernandez's level.

I agree. While Mattingly arguably was the more famous player, Hernandez was the more valuable player. Neither was an amazing hitter for the position. Mattingly was a bit better offensively, at his peak, but Hernandez's runs saved defensively overwhelms that difference.

[dgarza]

I don't get Don Mattingly being listed ahead of Keith Hernandez. Hernandez played the whole decade at a pretty high level, except for '89, and Mattingly didn't really become a regular until 1983. And I would say Mattingly's best years, 1984-1986, were a little better hitting year than Hernandez's best, Hernandez was much more consistent and stayed a similar level every year while Mattingly kind of falls off. Hernandez also was probably the best fielder from 1B in the history of the game. Mattingly was good, but not on Hernandez's level.

I wouldn't say Mattingly really fell out during the 80s, in 1990 he did. But Mattingly was only great for 6 years, while Hernandez was good for at least 8 until he fell out starting somewhere in '88.

[538280]

I wouldn't say Mattingly really fell out during the 80s, in 1990 he did. But Mattingly was only great for 6 years, while Hernandez was good for at least 8 until he fell out starting somewhere in '88.

He didn't totally fall off like he did in '90, but he fell a little bit off the high peak of 1984-1986.

[Windy City Fan]

Nice use of the WC WindyCity! I've been thinking about the same thing, except that I'm leaning towards making Brett my WC and Boggs my B 3Bman.

Brett and Boggs are close. I rank Brett as a better third baseman, but Boggs as a better hitter. Hence Wade got the WC spot, and Brett got B team 3B slot.

I've also made a few changes. Quisenberry is now my A team closer and Gossage is my B team. I thought Gossage was more of an 70's closer, but he still had many strong years in the 80's. Frankly, I don't see how anyone can choose anyone besides Goose and Quiz.

Yount is now my B team WC over Dawson and Ozzie Smith is my B team SS. Stieb has replaced the up and down Saberhagen in my B team rotation as well.

[HDH]

Don Mattingly was a special player. In these other decade polls, I put 90% emphisis on the year 0-9. However, there are few exceptions. I consider Don Mattingly to be the most obvious. He started in mid-83 whereas, Keith Hernandez and Eddie Murray played the entire decade. Like Albert Pujols is now; in the 80s, Don Mattingly was the # 1 star in all baseball. I can't put Eddie Murray ahead of Don Mattingly.

Roger Clemens didn't become a full time starter until 1986