The "All A.L. Central Team"?

Question

Here is what I see as the all-star team of the A.L. Central, taking in to account both offense and defense.

RF - Jermaine Dye (CWS)
CF - Grady Sizemore (CLE)
LF - Marcus Thames / Craig Monroe (DET)

1B - Paul Konerko (CWS) / Justin Morneau (MINN) - too close to call.
2B - Luis Castillo (MINN)
SS - Carlos Guillen (DET)
3B - Joe Crede (CHI)
C - Joe Mauer (MINN)
DH - Travis Hafner (CLE)

SP - Johan Santan (MINN)
SP - C.C. Sabathia (CLE)
SP - Jose Contreras (CWS)
SP - Kenny Rogers (DET)
SP - Justin Verlander (DET)

RP - Joe Nathan (MINN)
RP - Juan Rincon (MINN)
RP - Bobby Jenks (CWS)
RP - Mike MacDougal (CWS)
RP - Matt Thorton (CWS)
RP - Joel Zumaya (DET)
RP - Fernando Rodney (DET)
RP - Jason Davis (CLE)

Morneau had a great 2006, but in 2005 he hit a very weak .239. If he is solid this year again, he probably would be my choice. But Konerko is clutch at the plate and in the post-season was huge in 2005..

Answer 1

I'm only going to list the lineup, staff ace [due to Liriano being lost for the season, #s 2 and 3 in the rotation would be (8-letter word beginning with A and ending with "holes")], and closer for my AL Central stars.

Lineup
C - Mauer (a no-brainer, given his offensive edge over most other catchers and defensive edge over Martinez)
1B - Morneau (I see '06 as the beginning of a splendid career, and that's why I give him the edge over the more consistent, but also older, Konerko)
2B - Castillo (I tried to make a case for Chicago's Iguchi, but I thought he was younger than 32-33 years old, and Castillo's defense is better)
3B - Crede (a no-brainer for now, but don't be surprised if I go with KC's Gordon in the near future)
SS - Guillen (a no-brainer because of Peralta's inconsistencies on offense and defense, and Guillen's also the engine that makes Detroit's offense go)
LF - Podsednik (despite his current injury, left field is the weakest position in the division, so he takes the spot essentially by default)
CF - Sizemore (a no-brainer, as he could soon be the best all-around player in all of baseball)
RF - Dye (a no-brainer, as he's the only MVP candidate in right field)

Staff Ace - Santana (a no-brainer, as he's THE dominant pitcher in baseball)
Closer - Nathan (very few in baseball, and none in the AL Central, are as good in the 9th as Nathan)

Answer 2

You should really have Placido Polanco in there. He and Guillen are a great 2B-SS combo. As for left field, Marcus Thames barely plays. Is Craig Monroe really the best the AL Central has for that position?

Love the fact that no Royal appears on the team.

Answer 3

Catcher - Joe Mauer - (MIN)
First Base - Justin Morneau (MIN)
Second Base - Josh Barfield (CLE)
Shortstop - Carlos Guillen (DET)
Third Base - Alex Gordon (KC)
DH - Travis Hafner (CLE)

IF Bench - Victor Martinez (CLE)
IF Bench - Jim Thome (CHI)
IF Bench - Joe Crede (CHI)
IF Bench - Andy Marte (CLE)

RF- Jermaine Dye (CHI)
CF- Grady Sizemore (CLE)
LF- Mark Teahen [rumor is he's moving to LF] (KC)

OF Bench - Torii Hunter (MIN)
OF Bench - Darin Erstad (CHI)
OF Bench - David Dejesus (KC)
OF Bench - Gary Sheffield (DET)

SP - Johan Santana (MIN)
SP - CC Sabathia (CLE)
SP - Mark Buhrle (CHI)
SP - Jon Garland (CHI)
SP - Jeremy Bonderman(DET)

RP- Jesse Crain (MIN)
RP- Juan Rincon (MIN)
RP- Joe Borowski (CLE)
RP- Dennys Reyes (MIN)
RP- Pat Neshek (MIN)
RP- Joel Zumaya (DET)

CL- Joe Nathan (MIN)

--It's really hard to argue with the Twins bullpen!--

Answer 4

Morneau and Hunter? Get a grip dude.

Answer 5

1B - Morneau (Min)
2B - Castillo (Min)
3B - Either Brandon Inge (Det) or Crede (CHI)
SS - Guillen (Det)
LF - Thames or Monroe (DET)
CF - Sizemore (Cle) or Hunter (Min)
RF - Dye (Chi)
C - Mauer (Min)

SP - Santana (Min)
SP - Liriano* (Min)
SP -Contrares* (Chi)
SP - Verlander (Det)
SP - Bonderman* (Det)

RP - Nathan (Min)
RP - Rincon (Min)
RP - Zumaya (Det)
RP - Jenks (Chi)
RP - Neshek (Min)
RP - Thorton (Chi)
RP - Rodney (Det)
RP - Davis (Cle)

*= when healthy

Answer 6

Morneau is way better then Konerko. and i think you should look for a nother at SS Guillen isent that good and RP MacDougal is washed up there arwe way better players then him to make it

Answer 7

i think people are forgettin that Gary Sheffield is now in the central and i would put him in the DH sport instead of hafner.

Answer 8

Hafner is much btter then Sheffield.

Answer 9

Morneau should be 1B, MVP...ring a bell?

Answer 10

well, as this is "my" division, i seem to agree with the tribe players...let's hope that with the changes this year we will see more on your list next year!! go tribe!!