1980s Kansas City: Dan Quisenberry was a god at the time. That people don't really remember him as a top name is a shame.
Re: Ranking the Pennant Winners
Posted: Mon Dec 28, 2020 9:36 pm
by RonCo
Three true outcomes be damned, that 1985 St. Louis offense might have been the most exciting offense I've ever seen. I watched a lot of those games. Coleman, McGee, Herr, peak Ozzie, and Andy Van Slyke (who was so much fun to watch).
Re: Ranking the Pennant Winners
Posted: Mon Dec 28, 2020 9:39 pm
by RonCo
Tony Gwynn was a beautiful baseball player.
Re: Ranking the Pennant Winners
Posted: Mon Dec 28, 2020 9:56 pm
by RonCo
1970s Reds: Bobby Tolan was a great CF. He had this big, beautiful stance with the bat held way over his head. With modern coaching, you probably will never see another one quite like it--or Joe Morgan's chicken wing pump.
His son was a prospect until a Texas police office shot him in front of the Tolan home.
Re: Ranking the Pennant Winners
Posted: Mon Dec 28, 2020 10:08 pm
by RonCo
It's also not fair to say the 1970 Red's staff was putrid. Gary Nolan was a stud (until he got hurt). Don Gullett was a stud (until he got hurt..but he was pretty damned good even after, per wiki pitching on four consecutive World Champions) and only 19. Jim Maloney was a stud (until he got hurt). His 158 pitch, 10 walk no-hitter is a classic and was the first of two:
This link is a beautiful example of how fast baseball used to move ... pitch by pitch:
Re: Ranking the Pennant Winners
Posted: Tue Dec 29, 2020 2:29 am
by usnspecialist
RANK: 62
YEAR: 2006
TEAM: Detroit Tigers
TOP WAR: 451.7
PLAYOFF RESULTS: Lost World Series to St Louis Cardinals 4-1
TOTALS:
OVERALL.PNG (20.92 KiB) Viewed 174855 times
Top Offense:
OFFENSE.PNG (16.4 KiB) Viewed 174855 times
Top Pitching:
PITCHING.PNG (14.58 KiB) Viewed 174855 times
Others of note:
OTHERS.PNG (6.34 KiB) Viewed 174855 times
Comments: One of the teams on this list who can still slide up a couple of spots thanks to a few guys (in this case Verlander and Andrew Miller) still alive and kicking, this Tigers team was a rise from the ashes sort of story after being one of the worst teams in baseball history just a few years before. A few key veteran acquisitions (Pudge Rodriguez and Magglio Ordonez) and a young stud starting an HOF career in Justin Verlander can do wonders for a franchise as this is also one of the most balanced performances on the list. On a different note, put me in the camp of having NO idea that Placido Polanco piled up that good of a career WAR wise.
Re: Ranking the Pennant Winners
Posted: Tue Dec 29, 2020 2:45 am
by usnspecialist
RANK: 61
YEAR: 1989
TEAM: San Francisco Giants
TOP WAR: 453.9
PLAYOFF RESULTS: Lost World Series 4-0 to Oakland Athletics
TOTALS:
OVERALL.PNG (20.58 KiB) Viewed 174855 times
Top Offense:
OFFENSE.PNG (16.16 KiB) Viewed 174855 times
Top Pitching:
PITCHING.PNG (15.01 KiB) Viewed 174855 times
Others of note:
OTHERS.PNG (14.13 KiB) Viewed 174855 times
Comments: An offense with a mix of solid players built around a young star completely ignored by subsequent generations in Will Clark, this Giants squad fought their way through the NL only to get embarrassed by the Athletics in the World Series. Their pitching staff was headlined from a career point of view by an ancient Rick Reuschel and a college of bullpen arms featuring one of the best to ever do it in Goose Gossage. Their deep bench and pen features a surprising mix of respectable players which pushes their total WAR noticeably higher, but alas that is not what we are counting here. Worth noting that Bob Brenly was involved in both the least exciting World Series (this one) and the most exciting (2001) in recent history.
RANK: 61
YEAR: 1989
TEAM: San Francisco Giants
TOP WAR: 453.9
PLAYOFF RESULTS: Lost World Series 4-0 to Oakland Athletics
TOTALS:
OVERALL.PNG
Top Offense:
OFFENSE.PNG
Top Pitching:
PITCHING.PNG
Others of note:
OTHERS.PNG
Comments: An offense with a mix of solid players built around a young star completely ignored by subsequent generations in Will Clark, this Giants squad fought their way through the NL only to get embarrassed by the Athletics in the World Series. Their pitching staff was headlined from a career point of view by an ancient Rick Reuschel and a college of bullpen arms featuring one of the best to ever do it in Goose Gossage. Their deep bench and pen features a surprising mix of respectable players which pushes their total WAR noticeably higher, but alas that is not what we are counting here. Worth noting that Bob Brenly was involved in both the least exciting World Series (this one) and the most exciting (2001) in recent history.
Didn’t realize bunting accrued so much WAR. At least that is all I remember about Butler.
RANK: 61
YEAR: 1989
TEAM: San Francisco Giants
TOP WAR: 453.9
PLAYOFF RESULTS: Lost World Series 4-0 to Oakland Athletics
TOTALS:
OVERALL.PNG
Top Offense:
OFFENSE.PNG
Top Pitching:
PITCHING.PNG
Others of note:
OTHERS.PNG
Comments: An offense with a mix of solid players built around a young star completely ignored by subsequent generations in Will Clark, this Giants squad fought their way through the NL only to get embarrassed by the Athletics in the World Series. Their pitching staff was headlined from a career point of view by an ancient Rick Reuschel and a college of bullpen arms featuring one of the best to ever do it in Goose Gossage. Their deep bench and pen features a surprising mix of respectable players which pushes their total WAR noticeably higher, but alas that is not what we are counting here. Worth noting that Bob Brenly was involved in both the least exciting World Series (this one) and the most exciting (2001) in recent history.
The earthquake series.
Re: Ranking the Pennant Winners
Posted: Sat Oct 28, 2023 11:51 am
by usnspecialist
Ya I need to dig out my lists and finish this. Will retroactively add the teams from 2010-2013 as well (I give a 10 year gap to allow players to add WAR.
Re: Ranking the Pennant Winners
Posted: Sun Oct 29, 2023 7:28 pm
by usnspecialist
RANK: 60
YEAR: 1987
TEAM: Minnesota Twins
TOP WAR:
PLAYOFF RESULTS: Won World Series 4-3 over St. Louis Cardinals
TOTALS:
CATEGORY
TOTAL
RANK
TOP TOTAL WAR
461.3
60
TOP BATTER WAR
235
68
TOP PITCHING WAR
226.3
32
TOTAL WAR
607.5
49
TOTAL BATTER WAR
26.7
73
TOTAL PITCHER WAR
346.8
15
GARBAGE TOTAL WAR
146.2
24
GARBAGE BATTER WAR
25.7
71
GARBAGE PITCHER WAR
120.5
2
BATTER AGE
27.95
59
PITCHER AGE
30.24
7
TOP BATTER AGE
27.91
65
TOP PITCHER AGE
31.90
3
TOP HITTING:
POSITION
AGE
NAME
WAR
C
29
Tim Laudner
3.2
1B
27
Kent Hrbek
38.6
2B
27
Steve Lombardozzi
4.4
SS
25
Greg Gagne
26.3
3B
28
Gary Gaetti
42.1
LF
29
Dan Gladden
15.5
CF
27
Kirby Puckett
51.1
RF
26
Tom Brunansky
22
DH
34
Roy Smalley
27.9
BENCH
28
Randy Bush
1.4
BENCH
27
Al Newman
2.5
TOP PITCHING
POSITION
AGE
NAME
WAR
SP
36
Bert Blyleven
94.5
SP
27
Frank Viola
47
SP
27
Les Straker
3
SP
32
Mike Smithson
6.1
SP
42
Joe Niekro
29.7
RP
31
Jeff Reardon
18.6
RP
32
Juan Berenguer
9.9
RP
32
George Frazier
2.9
RP
28
Keith Atherton
4.4
RP
32
Dan Schatzeder
10.2
OTHERS OF NOTE
POSITION
AGE
NAME
WAR
BULLPEN
42
Steve Carlton
90.2
BENCH
38
Don Baylor
28.5
BENCH
25
Billy Beane
-1.6
Comments: A team with mediocre hitting that read a grizzled shallow pitching staff to a surprise title (the first of two times this franchise can say that), the Twins rode the early HOF career of Kirby Puckett and a respectable but hardly outstanding supporting case and the ancient arm of Bert Blyleven and the wildly underrated Frank Viola. The outrageous pitching garbage WAR is virtually solely due to the Steve Carlton starting 7 games following a midseason acquisition at 42 years old. The bench is so bad that the collective group outside of Don Baylor LOST value, including the now legendary Billy Beane.
RANK: 60
YEAR: 1987
TEAM: Minnesota Twins
TOP WAR:
PLAYOFF RESULTS: Won World Series 4-3 over St. Louis Cardinals
TOTALS:
CATEGORY
TOTAL
RANK
TOP TOTAL WAR
461.3
60
TOP BATTER WAR
235
68
TOP PITCHING WAR
226.3
32
TOTAL WAR
607.5
49
TOTAL BATTER WAR
26.7
73
TOTAL PITCHER WAR
346.8
15
GARBAGE TOTAL WAR
146.2
24
GARBAGE BATTER WAR
25.7
71
GARBAGE PITCHER WAR
120.5
2
BATTER AGE
27.95
59
PITCHER AGE
30.24
7
TOP BATTER AGE
27.91
65
TOP PITCHER AGE
31.90
3
TOP HITTING:
POSITION
AGE
NAME
WAR
C
29
Tim Laudner
3.2
1B
27
Kent Hrbek
38.6
2B
27
Steve Lombardozzi
4.4
SS
25
Greg Gagne
26.3
3B
28
Gary Gaetti
42.1
LF
29
Dan Gladden
15.5
CF
27
Kirby Puckett
51.1
RF
26
Tom Brunansky
22
DH
34
Roy Smalley
27.9
BENCH
28
Randy Bush
1.4
BENCH
27
Al Newman
2.5
TOP PITCHING
POSITION
AGE
NAME
WAR
SP
36
Bert Blyleven
94.5
SP
27
Frank Viola
47
SP
27
Les Straker
3
SP
32
Mike Smithson
6.1
SP
42
Joe Niekro
29.7
RP
31
Jeff Reardon
18.6
RP
32
Juan Berenguer
9.9
RP
32
George Frazier
2.9
RP
28
Keith Atherton
4.4
RP
32
Dan Schatzeder
10.2
OTHERS OF NOTE
POSITION
AGE
NAME
WAR
BULLPEN
42
Steve Carlton
90.2
BENCH
38
Don Baylor
28.5
BENCH
25
Billy Beane
-1.6
Comments: A team with mediocre hitting that read a grizzled shallow pitching staff to a surprise title (the first of two times this franchise can say that), the Twins rode the early HOF career of Kirby Puckett and a respectable but hardly outstanding supporting case and the ancient arm of Bert Blyleven and the wildly underrated Frank Viola. The outrageous pitching garbage WAR is virtually solely due to the Steve Carlton starting 7 games following a midseason acquisition at 42 years old. The bench is so bad that the collective group outside of Don Baylor LOST value, including the now legendary Billy Beane.
WOW. I didn’t know Carlton played for the Twins. And crazy that Puckett is HOF with that low of a WAR. Don’t think we will see that low of a WAR get inducted again.
Re: Ranking the Pennant Winners
Posted: Sun Oct 29, 2023 7:33 pm
by usnspecialist
RANK: 59
YEAR: 1982
TEAM: St. Louis Cardinals
TOP WAR: 464.2
PLAYOFF RESULTS: Won World Series 4-3 over Milwaukee Brewers
TOTALS:
CATEGORY
TOTAL
RANK
TOP TOTAL WAR
464.2
59
TOP BATTER WAR
321.1
39
TOP PITCHING WAR
135.1
68
TOTAL WAR
540.8
64
TOTAL BATTER WAR
392.1
46
TOTAL PITCHER WAR
148.7
76
GARBAGE TOTAL WAR
76.6
63
GARBAGE BATTER WAR
63
47
GARBAGE PITCHER WAR
13.6
64
BATTER AGE
27.58
64
PITCHER AGE
28.21
42
TOP BATTER AGE
27.18
75
TOP PITCHER AGE
29.00
39
TOP HITTING:
POSITION
AGE
NAME
WAR
C
30
Darrell Porter
40.9
1B
28
Keith Hernandez
60.3
2B
26
Tom Herr
23.5
SS
27
Ozzie Smith
76.9
3B
26
Ken Oberkfell
22.4
LF
26
Lonnie Smith
38.5
CF
23
Willie McGee
34.2
RF
32
George Hendrick
29.1
BENCH
28
Mike Ramsey
-1.3
BENCH
32
Dane Iorg
0.3
BENCH
21
David Green
4.3
TOP PITCHING:
POSITION
AGE
NAME
WAR
SP
29
Joaquin Andujar
16.1
SP
32
Bob Forsch
24.6
SP
27
Steve Mura
1.0
SP
25
John Stuper
1.4
RP
29
Bruce Sutter
24
RP
22
Dave LaPoint
7.1
RP
32
Doug Bair
6.8
RP
43
Jim Kaat
50.5
RP
25
Jeff Lahti
2.7
RP
26
John Martin
0.9
OTHERS OF NOTE:
POSITION
AGE
NAME
WAR
BENCH
35
Gene Tenace
46.8
BENCH
34
Steve Braun
17.4
Comments: A pretty solid and balanced offense full of guys in their primes with no real holes beyond the depth (which was virtually non-existent). Cardinals fans might see red at the sight of Dane Iorg, who would more famously get his 2nd ring 3 years later as a member of the Royals after being involved in THAT play. The pitching staff here is nothing to write home about, Forsch and Andujar were solid and Jim Kaat was old but other than it was mediocrity at its finest. Still good enough to get a ring at the end of the day though.
RANK: 60
YEAR: 1987
TEAM: Minnesota Twins
TOP WAR:
PLAYOFF RESULTS: Won World Series 4-3 over St. Louis Cardinals
TOTALS:
CATEGORY
TOTAL
RANK
TOP TOTAL WAR
461.3
60
TOP BATTER WAR
235
68
TOP PITCHING WAR
226.3
32
TOTAL WAR
607.5
49
TOTAL BATTER WAR
26.7
73
TOTAL PITCHER WAR
346.8
15
GARBAGE TOTAL WAR
146.2
24
GARBAGE BATTER WAR
25.7
71
GARBAGE PITCHER WAR
120.5
2
BATTER AGE
27.95
59
PITCHER AGE
30.24
7
TOP BATTER AGE
27.91
65
TOP PITCHER AGE
31.90
3
TOP HITTING:
POSITION
AGE
NAME
WAR
C
29
Tim Laudner
3.2
1B
27
Kent Hrbek
38.6
2B
27
Steve Lombardozzi
4.4
SS
25
Greg Gagne
26.3
3B
28
Gary Gaetti
42.1
LF
29
Dan Gladden
15.5
CF
27
Kirby Puckett
51.1
RF
26
Tom Brunansky
22
DH
34
Roy Smalley
27.9
BENCH
28
Randy Bush
1.4
BENCH
27
Al Newman
2.5
TOP PITCHING
POSITION
AGE
NAME
WAR
SP
36
Bert Blyleven
94.5
SP
27
Frank Viola
47
SP
27
Les Straker
3
SP
32
Mike Smithson
6.1
SP
42
Joe Niekro
29.7
RP
31
Jeff Reardon
18.6
RP
32
Juan Berenguer
9.9
RP
32
George Frazier
2.9
RP
28
Keith Atherton
4.4
RP
32
Dan Schatzeder
10.2
OTHERS OF NOTE
POSITION
AGE
NAME
WAR
BULLPEN
42
Steve Carlton
90.2
BENCH
38
Don Baylor
28.5
BENCH
25
Billy Beane
-1.6
Comments: A team with mediocre hitting that read a grizzled shallow pitching staff to a surprise title (the first of two times this franchise can say that), the Twins rode the early HOF career of Kirby Puckett and a respectable but hardly outstanding supporting case and the ancient arm of Bert Blyleven and the wildly underrated Frank Viola. The outrageous pitching garbage WAR is virtually solely due to the Steve Carlton starting 7 games following a midseason acquisition at 42 years old. The bench is so bad that the collective group outside of Don Baylor LOST value, including the now legendary Billy Beane.
WOW. I didn’t know Carlton played for the Twins. And crazy that Puckett is HOF with that low of a WAR. Don’t think we will see that low of a WAR get inducted again.
Harold Baines (38.8), Tony Oliva (43.0), Gil Hodges (43.8) were elected by the veterans committee and Jim Rice (47.7) went in on his last normal ballot since puckett was elected, but ya that is it on the offensive side. I think he got a little credit for having to retire early, but still weird to see him as a first ballot guy with over 80% of the vote.
Re: Ranking the Pennant Winners
Posted: Sun Oct 29, 2023 8:03 pm
by usnspecialist
RANK: 58
YEAR: 2005
TEAM: Houston Astros
TOP WAR: 467.7
PLAYOFF RESULTS: Lost World Series 4-0 to Chicago White Sox
TOTALS:
CATEGORY
TOTAL
RANK
TOP TOTAL WAR
467.7
58
TOP BATTER WAR
179.7
77
TOP PITCHING WAR
288
17
TOTAL WAR
586.6
54
TOTAL BATTER WAR
274.5
71
TOTAL PITCHER WAR
312.1
25
GARBAGE TOTAL WAR
118.9
39
GARBAGE BATTER WAR
94.8
27
GARBAGE PITCHER WAR
24.1
54
BATTER AGE
30.00
12
PITCHER AGE
30.24
7
TOP BATTER AGE
30.82
12
TOP PITCHER AGE
29.70
27
TOP HITTING:
POSITION
AGE
NAME
WAR
C
36
Brad Ausmus
16.5
1B
29
Lance Berkman
52
2B
39
Craig Biggio
65.5
SS
28
Adam Everett
12.6
3B
29
Morgan Ensberg
13.8
LF
25
Chris Burke
-1.2
CF
23
Willy Taveras
5.1
RF
28
Jason Lane
1.8
BENCH
29
Mike Lamb
4
BENCH
36
Orlando Palmeiro
2.6
BENCH
37
Jose Vizcaino
7
TOP PITCHING:
POSITION
AGE
NAME
WAR
SP
27
Roy Oswalt
50
SP
33
Andy Petitte
60.2
SP
42
Roger Clemens
139.2
SP
27
Brandon Backe
2.5
SP
26
Wandy Rodriguez
13.2
RP
25
Ezquiel Astacio
-1.3
RP
28
Brad Lidge
7.9
RP
26
Chad Qualls
5.8
RP
27
Dan Wheeler
7.8
RP
36
Russ Springer
2.7
OTHERS OF NOTE:
POSITION
AGE
NAME
WAR
BENCH
37
Jeff Bagwell
79.9
BULLPEN
44
John Franco
23.4
BENCH
27
Luke Scott
11.8
Comments: Had Jeff Bagwell taken 82 more at-bats this team would have been 20 spots higher and in the top 40, but alas he was basically a shell of himself by the end (although still better than Vizcaino), so he only played in 39 games that year. This team was full of OLD guys who just knew how to play baseball. Unfortunately they were on the wrong end of arguably the most competitive sweep in baseball history as their star studded roster consisting of 2 HOFers (bagwell and biggio), 3 Hall of Very Good guys (Berkman, Oswalt, Petitte) and Roger Clemens fell to a bunch of random guys from Chicago.
Re: Ranking the Pennant Winners
Posted: Sun Oct 29, 2023 8:19 pm
by usnspecialist
RANK: 57
YEAR: 1971
TEAM: Pittsburgh Pirates
TOP WAR: 468.4
PLAYOFF RESULTS: Won World Series 4-3 over Baltimore Orioles
TOTALS:
CATEGORY
TOTAL
RANK
TOP TOTAL WAR
468.4
57
TOP BATTER WAR
332.2
38
TOP PITCHING WAR
136.2
67
TOTAL WAR
596.6
52
TOTAL BATTER WAR
435.7
33
TOTAL PITCHER WAR
160.9
70
GARBAGE TOTAL WAR
128.2
31
GARBAGE BATTER WAR
103.5
22
GARBAGE PITCHER WAR
24.7
52
BATTER AGE
26.40
79
PITCHER AGE
27.80
51
TOP BATTER AGE
27.55
72
TOP PITCHER AGE
28.20
50
TOP HITTING:
POSITION
AGE
NAME
WAR
C
27
Manny Sanguillen
27.6
1B
24
Bob Robertson
9.4
2B
23
Dave Cash
25.6
SS
30
Gene Alley
24.2
3B
23
Richie Hebner
33
LF
31
Willie Stargell
57.5
CF
24
Al Oliver
43.7
RF
36
Roberto Clemente
94.8
BENCH
31
Vic Davalillo
15.8
BENCH
24
Gene Clines
4.5
BENCH
30
Jackie Hernandez
-3.9
TOP PITCHING:
POSITION
AGE
NAME
WAR
SP
29
Steve Blass
7.4
SP
26
Dock Ellis
14.2
SP
28
Bob Johnson
6.4
SP
27
Luke Walker
2.8
SP
23
Bob Moose
7.6
SP
21
Bruce Kison
15.1
RP
31
Dive Giusti
18.8
RP
27
Nelson Briles
20.9
RP
35
Mudcat Grant
21.1
RP
35
Bob Veale
21.9
OTHERS OF NOTE:
POSITION
AGE
NAME
WAR
BENCH
34
Bill Mazeroski
36.5
BENCH
22
Richie Zisk
25.1
BULLPEN
32
Bob Miller
16.7
BENCH
20
Milt May
16.5
BENCH
20
Rennie Stennett
13.9
Comments: The last hurrah for Roberto Clemente before his unfortunate plane crash just over a year later, he was part of a very very good outfield with HOFers on the corner, and young Al Oliver in center who was no slouch himself. In fact the entire lineup was loaded with guys who knew how to hit a baseball and do their jobs very well, which is more than could be said for the starting rotation. How a rotation like THAT was good enough to win a world series requires dipping into some of Dock Ellis cocaine and LSD collection. I cant think of another situation where all 4 bullpen guys (6 guys on this team started more games than they entered in relief) had better careers than any of the starters. The “others” on this roster have a HOFer (albeit dubiously) in Bill Maseroski and some respectable baby bats.
Re: Ranking the Pennant Winners
Posted: Sun Oct 29, 2023 8:47 pm
by usnspecialist
RANK: 56
YEAR: 1991
TEAM: Atlanta Braves
TOP WAR: 469.0
PLAYOFF RESULTS: Lost World Series 4-3 to Minnesota Twins
TOTALS:
CATEGORY
TOTAL
RANK
TOP TOTAL WAR
469
56
TOP BATTER WAR
204.5
74
TOP PITCHING WAR
264.5
21
TOTAL WAR
600.9
51
TOTAL BATTER WAR
246.5
76
TOTAL PITCHER WAR
354.4
13
GARBAGE TOTAL WAR
131.9
29
GARBAGE BATTER WAR
42
58
GARBAGE PITCHER WAR
89.9
9
BATTER AGE
27.52
67
PITCHER AGE
28.65
32
TOP BATTER AGE
28.64
50
TOP PITCHER AGE
27.50
63
TOP HITTERS:
POSITION
AGE
NAME
WAR
C
30
Greg Olson
2.2
1B
30
Sid Bream
11.1
2B
28
Jeff Treadway
6.1
SS
29
Rafael Belliard
-0.2
3B
30
Terry Pendleton
28.5
LF
35
Lonnie Smith
38.5
CF
26
Ron Gant
34.1
RF
25
David Justice
40.6
BENCH
32
Otis Nixon
16.6
BENCH
25
Jeff Blauser
20.9
BENCH
25
Mark Lemke
6.1
TOP PITCHERS:
POSITION
AGE
NAME
WAR
SP
25
Tom Glavine
80.7
SP
34
Charlie Leibrandt
33.3
SP
24
John Smoltz
69.0
SP
21
Steve Avery
13.8
SP
36
Juan Berenguer
9.9
RP
24
Mike Stanton
14.3
RP
23
Kent Mercker
12.0
RP
28
Marvin Freeman
6.0
RP
35
Jim Clancy
20.5
RP
25
Pete Smith
5.0
OTHERS OF NOTE:
POSITION
AGE
NAME
WAR
BULLPEN
37
Rick Mahler
20.2
BENCH
23
Vinny Castilla
19.4
BULLPEN
32
Dan Petry
17.1
BULLPEN
32
Alejandro Pena
15.4
BENCH
36
Mike Heath
13.4
BENCH
23
Deion Sanders
5.5
BULLPEN
21
Mark Wohlers
3.9
Comments: The first edition of the Atlanta Braves dynasty on this list, this is the edition of the Braves who were the “first” of the worst to first edition relied on a great top half of the rotation, a solid outfield and some good ole fashioned smoke and mirrors for the rest. Special mention goes out to Lonnie Smith for winning his 4th pennant with his 4 organization (he would win another with the Braves in 1992), although this was his first World Series loss. Some interesting names stashed deep on the roster, including a pre Coors Field Vinny Castilla, a pre CU Buffalo Deion Sanders and a young fire baller in Mark Wohlers who would play bigger roles for the Braves later in the decade. The high garbage pitcher WAR is (unlike most at the top of that category) not due to a legend who barely got any time for whatever reason, but due instead to a bunch of relatively anonymous guys who had decent careers.
Re: Ranking the Pennant Winners
Posted: Sun Oct 29, 2023 9:24 pm
by usnspecialist
RANK: 55
YEAR: 1982
TEAM: Milwaukee Brewers
TOP WAR: 474.2
PLAYOFF RESULTS: Lost World Series 4-3 to St Louis Cardinals
TOTALS:
CATEGORY
TOTAL
RANK
TOP TOTAL WAR
474.2
55
TOP BATTER WAR
365.4
25
TOP PITCHING WAR
108.8
77
TOTAL WAR
614.2
48
TOTAL BATTER WAR
394.1
45
TOTAL PITCHER WAR
220.1
50
GARBAGE TOTAL WAR
140
26
GARBAGE BATTER WAR
28.7
70
GARBAGE PITCHER WAR
111.3
4
BATTER AGE
28.72
38
PITCHER AGE
29.80
14
TOP BATTER AGE
29.91
26
TOP PITCHER AGE
30.00
23
TOP HITTERS:
POSITION
AGE
NAME
WAR
C
32
Ted Simmons
50.3
1B
32
Cecil Cooper
36
2B
29
Jim Gantner
22.4
SS
26
Robin Yount
77.3
3B
25
Paul Molitor
75.7
LF
33
Ben Ogilvie
26.4
CF
31
Gorman Thomas
19.8
RF
29
Charlie Moore
10.3
DH
28
Ray Howell
10.9
BENCH
35
Don Money
36.5
BENCH
29
Marshall Edwards
-0.2
TOP PITCHERS:
POSITION
AGE
NAME
WAR
SP
33
Mike Caldwell
18.4
SP
29
Pete Vuckovich
16.4
SP
26
Moose Haas
17.3
SP
30
Bob McClure
10.5
SP
27
Randy Lerch
-2.1
RP
35
Rollie Fingers
25.6
RP
32
Jim Slaton
17.3
RP
30
Dwight Bernard
-0.5
RP
29
Jerry Augustine
4.2
RP
29
Jamie Easterly
1.7
OTHERS OF NOTE:
POSITION
AGE
NAME
WAR
BULLPEN
37
Don Sutton
66.7
BULLPEN
25
Doug Jones
21.4
BULLPEN
33
Doc Medich
19.6
BENCH
23
Kevin Bass
14.8
BENCH
27
Ned Yost
-3.7
Comments: The first and still only appearance of the Brew Crew in the World Series gives us a fairly middle of the road team. The obvious stars here are Yount and Molitor at the very beginning of their careers, but there were a total of 5 Hall of Famers on this team (Yount, Molitor, Sutton, Simmons and Fingers). There wasn’t a true weak link in the lineup or in the playoff rotation, as this team pushed their future division mates in the Cardinals (yes Milwaukee used to be in the AL kiddies!!) to 7 games before getting #yosted and falling. The pitching staff had the Cy Young Winner that season in Pete Vuckovich, who within 7 years became far better known for being the evil Clu Haywood in the classic movie Major League.
Re: Ranking the Pennant Winners
Posted: Sun Oct 29, 2023 9:50 pm
by usnspecialist
RANK:54
YEAR: 2006
TEAM: St Louis Cardinals
TOP WAR: 478.5
PLAYOFF RESULTS: Won World Series 4-1 over Detroit Tigers
TOTALS:
CATEGORY
TOTAL
RANK
TOP TOTAL WAR
478.5
564
TOP BATTER WAR
318.4
45
TOP PITCHING WAR
160.1
62
TOTAL WAR
536.5
65
TOTAL BATTER WAR
354.9
54
TOTAL PITCHER WAR
181.6
63
GARBAGE TOTAL WAR
58
70
GARBAGE BATTER WAR
36.5
62
GARBAGE PITCHER WAR
21.5
55
BATTER AGE
29.86
18
PITCHER AGE
28.26
41
TOP BATTER AGE
29.64
30
TOP PITCHER AGE
28.60
44
TOP OFFENSE:
CATEGORY
TOTAL
RANK
TOP TOTAL WAR
478.5
564
TOP BATTER WAR
318.4
45
TOP PITCHING WAR
160.1
62
TOTAL WAR
536.5
65
TOTAL BATTER WAR
354.9
54
TOTAL PITCHER WAR
181.6
63
GARBAGE TOTAL WAR
58
70
GARBAGE BATTER WAR
36.5
62
GARBAGE PITCHER WAR
21.5
55
BATTER AGE
29.86
18
PITCHER AGE
28.26
41
TOP BATTER AGE
29.64
30
TOP PITCHER AGE
28.60
44
TOP PITCHING:
POSITION
AGE
NAME
WAR
SP
31
Chris Carpenter
34.2
SP
27
Jason Marquis
6.8
SP
31
Jeff Suppan
17.1
SP
28
Mark Mulder
20.0
SP
24
Anthony Reyes
0.0
SP
29
Jeff Weaver
15.2
RP
33
Jason Isringhausen
13.0
RP
28
Josh Hancock
0.7
RP
24
Adam Wainwright
44.9
RP
31
Braden Looper
8.2
OTHERS OF NOTE:
POSITION
AGE
NAME
WAR
BENCH
31
Ronnie Belliard
20.8
BULLPEN
29
Sidney Ponson
11.1
BENCH
26
Skip Schumacher
6.4
Comments: The worst team (by regular season won/loss record) to win the world series at 83-78, this Cardinals team had some serious talent on it however. 2 HOF (or will be) HOF guys in Pujols/Rolen, 2 guys that many people can make a case for in Jim Edmonds and (less so) Yadier Molina and 2 pitchers you might be surprised to see that low in Adam Wainwright and Chris Carpenter. Toss in former stud and future celebrity golf extraordinaire Mark Mulder and the ultimate 21st century grinder in David Eckstein and you have a respectable team that was probably better than their record indicated. That being said, if you were not one of those names, mentioned above, there is a decent chance you were a scrub who was lucky to be on a big league starting lineup….