Specialty All-Star Teams #1: Latinos

DiamondDerby · 02-01-2004, 01:25 PM

Haven't seen a specialty all-star team thread for a while, so, this being the pre-spring doldrums, I thought I'd kick it off with a Latin Phillies All-Star team:

C: Bo Diaz
1B: Willie Montanez
2B: Juan Samuel
3B: Placido Polanco
SS: Ruben Amaro
LF: Sixto Lezcano
CF: Tony Gonzalez
RF: Bobby Abreu
Utility: Cookie Rojas
LH Starter: Fernando Valenzuela
RH Starter: Nino Espinosa
LH Reliever: Willie Hernandez
RH Reliever: Porfi Alatmirano

2B was toughest, with Tony Taylor, Manny Trillo, and Cookie Rojas all good candidates, but no one had the offensive years of Samuel.

SS had some fairly good competition (Ivan DeJesus, Julio Franco, Alex Arias), but I went with one of the slickest fielding SS's in NL history, short of Ozzie Smith.

Catcher was tough too, with Ozzie Virgil, Jr. and Benito Santiago having good years, but not as long-lived as Bo.

We've been lucky to have great Latino utility guys, but Rojas has to nose out Luis Aguayo, Kiko Garcia, Alex Arias, and Tomas Perez.

And Hernandez noses out Yorkis Perez at LH reliever, IMO.

The only real weak area was RH reliever, with only Altmirano and Humberto Robinson (maybe a few others).

What do you think? Did I miss anyone?

CrowHuck · 02-01-2004, 01:31 PM

Hey now, Bobby Abreu didn't go to Evil baseball school for nothing! You must refer to him and Dr. Evil Bobby Abreu here at Philaphans.

Mike · 02-01-2004, 08:50 PM

Manny Trillo is arguably the best 2B in Philly history. He'd have to be there.

TheBandit · 02-01-2004, 09:54 PM

I think for Right handed reliever, we will just have to swallow the rusty nail and give credit where it's due...

stripes · 02-01-2004, 11:06 PM

There HAD to be someone better than Porfi Altamirano. Great name, though!
How about Amaury Telemaco?

stripes · 02-01-2004, 11:11 PM

When does Padilla overtake Espinosa?

stripes · 02-01-2004, 11:18 PM

Then again, there's Jose Mesa...

OK, I'm done for tonight!

DiamondDerby · 02-02-2004, 05:10 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mike
Manny Trillo is arguably the best 2B in Philly history. He'd have to be there.

I like Trillo as much as you, but have you compared their offensive stats? Has Trillo ever had a year with 28 HRs, 100 RBIs? I know the fielding differential is big, but you have to honor the offense here.

DiamondDerby · 02-02-2004, 05:14 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by stripes
When does Padilla overtake Espinosa?

Good point. Maybe he's overtaken him already.

DiamondDerby · 02-02-2004, 05:15 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by stripes
Then again, there's Jose Mesa...

OK, I'm done for tonight!

Yeah, I suppose you have to honor Mesa's 1.5 good years and forget his 1.5 terrible years for the sake of posterity.

stripes · 02-02-2004, 08:28 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DiamondDerby
Yeah, I suppose you have to honor Mesa's 1.5 good years and forget his 1.5 terrible years for the sake of posterity.

Well, he IS the team's career saves leader

At least he's not the ACTIVE saves leader anymore

MissouriDan · 02-02-2004, 10:20 PM

Omar Daal and Sid Fernandez would both be better choices at Lh Starter than Fernando.

stripes · 02-02-2004, 10:46 PM

I was wondering about El Sid myself, but I didn't know if we were counting entire careers or only the portions spent with the Phils. Forgot about Daal.

DiamondDerby · 02-03-2004, 05:28 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by MissouriDan
Omar Daal and Sid Fernandez would both be better choices at Lh Starter than Fernando.

Fernandez was born in the U.S. (Hawaii) and was English-speaking from birth, but Daal is a good choice. My revised team, based on all of your input (changes in red):

C: Bo Diaz
1B: Willie Montanez
2B: Tony Taylor
3B: Placido Polanco
SS: Ruben Amaro
LF: Juan Samuel
CF: Tony Gonzalez
RF: Bobby Abreu
Utility: Cookie Rojas
LH Starter: Omar Daal
RH Starter: Vicente Padilla
LH Reliever: Willie Hernandez
RH Reliever: Jose Mesa

To me the only weak spots are 3B (Polanco is a good player, but this is not his ideal position, nor is his hitting ideal for a 3B-man) and LF (Lezcano did not have a long career w Phils, so I installed Taylor at second and moved Samuel to left, since you can't really leave Tony or Samuel off this team). This makes it a better fielding team too.

The real injustice is leaving Manny Trillo off. I love Taylor and Trillo and would agree with a case for either, but Tony is one of the most popular Phils of all time and was very good at 2nd.

02-01-2004, 01:31 PM	#2
CrowHuck User Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: State of boredom Posts: 34,464	We don't gnaw on our kitty....... Hey now, Bobby Abreu didn't go to Evil baseball school for nothing! You must refer to him and Dr. Evil Bobby Abreu here at Philaphans. __________________ [URL="http://www.myspace.com/bizwiz68"][B][COLOR=#003399]www.myspace.com/bizwiz68[/COLOR][/B][/URL] <---- A courageous young boy battling cancer whose goal on myspace is to get a million friends. Please add him to your friends list and spread the word about him to help him reach his goal. [URL]http://www.peopleschoicepowerstation.com/PCP.html[/URL] RIP Scott Kostenbauder (1970-2009) Phillies fan through and through. You were my friend and I will never be forget you.

02-01-2004, 08:50 PM	#3
Mike Don't ***** with da Jesus Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Southern California Posts: 2,637	Manny Trillo is arguably the best 2B in Philly history. He'd have to be there. __________________ Originally Posted by ceez_says_doh Good point, being the best looking retard is nothing to brag about.

02-01-2004, 09:54 PM	#4
TheBandit Admin Emeritus Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Center City Posts: 18,217	I think for Right handed reliever, we will just have to swallow the rusty nail and give credit where it's due... __________________ First rule of sports: don't pretend like you know so much.

02-02-2004, 10:20 PM	#12
MissouriDan Registered User Join Date: May 2002 Location: Warrensburg, Missouri, USA Posts: 1,070	Omar Daal and Sid Fernandez would both be better choices at Lh Starter than Fernando. __________________ I'm MissouriDan and I approved this message.

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02-01-2004, 01:25 PM	#1
DiamondDerby Baseball is. Like life. Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Durham, NC Posts: 5,264	Specialty All-Star Teams #1: Latinos Haven't seen a specialty all-star team thread for a while, so, this being the pre-spring doldrums, I thought I'd kick it off with a Latin Phillies All-Star team: C: Bo Diaz 1B: Willie Montanez 2B: Juan Samuel 3B: Placido Polanco SS: Ruben Amaro LF: Sixto Lezcano CF: Tony Gonzalez RF: Bobby Abreu Utility: Cookie Rojas LH Starter: Fernando Valenzuela RH Starter: Nino Espinosa LH Reliever: Willie Hernandez RH Reliever: Porfi Alatmirano 2B was toughest, with Tony Taylor, Manny Trillo, and Cookie Rojas all good candidates, but no one had the offensive years of Samuel. SS had some fairly good competition (Ivan DeJesus, Julio Franco, Alex Arias), but I went with one of the slickest fielding SS's in NL history, short of Ozzie Smith. Catcher was tough too, with Ozzie Virgil, Jr. and Benito Santiago having good years, but not as long-lived as Bo. We've been lucky to have great Latino utility guys, but Rojas has to nose out Luis Aguayo, Kiko Garcia, Alex Arias, and Tomas Perez. And Hernandez noses out Yorkis Perez at LH reliever, IMO. The only real weak area was RH reliever, with only Altmirano and Humberto Robinson (maybe a few others). What do you think? Did I miss anyone? __________________ "You can put your boots in the oven, but that don't make 'em biscuits."

02-01-2004, 11:06 PM	#5
stripes Registered User Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Watsontown Posts: 4,276	There HAD to be someone better than Porfi Altamirano. Great name, though! How about Amaury Telemaco?

02-01-2004, 11:11 PM	#6
stripes Registered User Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Watsontown Posts: 4,276	When does Padilla overtake Espinosa?

02-01-2004, 11:18 PM	#7
stripes Registered User Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Watsontown Posts: 4,276	Then again, there's Jose Mesa... OK, I'm done for tonight!

02-02-2004, 10:46 PM	#13
stripes Registered User Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Watsontown Posts: 4,276	I was wondering about El Sid myself, but I didn't know if we were counting entire careers or only the portions spent with the Phils. Forgot about Daal.