If you could combine 1991 and 2023

[KP34Forever]

If you could mix and match 1991 and 2023 rosters into one 26 man playoff roster what would it look like? Here's mine:

 

SP - Morris, Lopez, Gray, Tapani (Ober and Ryan just didn't show me enough this time around to be in the rotation)

 

RP - Aguilera, Duran, Pagan, Jax, Bedrosian, Paddack, Varland, Stewart, Thielbar

 

Starting lineup

 

1. Gladden LF

 

2. Knoblauch 2B

 

3. Puckett CF

 

4. Lewis 3B

 

5. Correa SS

 

6. Kepler/Mack Platoon RF

 

7. Julien DH

 

8. Hrbek 1B

 

9. Harper C

 

Bench - Castro, Jeffers, Mack, Polanco

 

Picking the bench was a brutal exercise... I hate to leave Gagne off, but his bat doesn't play as well as Polanco, and although I'm guessing he couldn't handle 2nd or 3rd with ease, I don't see a spot where you take out any infielder for defensive purposes and only Hrbek for a pinch runner. Someone needs a crash course at first base too, probably Jeffers. Castro just proved to be serviceable enough at any position you put him at and his speed absolutely plays in the postseason. Farmer, Wallner, Davis and Gagne were all tough to leave off the roster.  You could argue for Solano over Polanco for coverage at first base, but I don't think that's fair to Jorge. Really the only easy decisions were Vasquez, Sorrento, Ortiz, Brown, Newman, and Stevenson.

 

Put a healthy Buxton in that mix, then it's bye bye Gladden, move the Kepler/Mack Platoon to LF, and put Buxton in RF unless Kirby volunteers to take right (and you know 1991 Kirby ain't gonna do that!) Then I'd probably make the painful decision to keep Polanco off the roster and put Wallner in so we're not so heavily right handed in the outfield.

 

Anyone wanna do a thought experiment for 26 man roster made out of the '65, '87, '91, and '23 teams? The one I just did was tough enough lol you have at it though! 

[JD-TWINS]

I think you maybe missed Scott Erickson - #2 in Cy Young voting in ‘91.

Off the top of my head:

Battey - C………back-up Harper

Killebrew - 3B……..back-up Gaetti

Versailles - SS………back-up CC

Knoblach -2B…………back-up Polanco

Hrbek - 1B…………..back-up Power

Mack - LF…………..back-up Allison

Puckett - CF…………back-up Hall

Oliva - RF…………..back-up Brunansky

Lewis - DH…………back-up Baylor

Staff:

Erickson - Viola - Morris - Kaat - Blyleven 

Aguliera - Reardon - Duran………………

[KP34Forever]

On 10/14/2023 at 12:13 AM, JD-TWINS said:

I think you maybe missed Scott Erickson - #2 in Cy Young voting in ‘91.

Off the top of my head:

Battey - C………back-up Harper

Killebrew - 3B……..back-up Gaetti

Versailles - SS………back-up CC

Knoblach -2B…………back-up Polanco

Hrbek - 1B…………..back-up Power

Mack - LF…………..back-up Allison

Puckett - CF…………back-up Hall

Oliva - RF…………..back-up Brunansky

Lewis - DH…………back-up Baylor

Staff:

Erickson - Viola - Morris - Kaat - Blyleven 

Aguliera - Reardon - Duran………………

No, I didn't forget about Erickson. I know he had a great year in 91, but his personality kept him off the roster and Tapani on it. I couldn't stand Erickson. He was an ******* and, although I liked Junior Ortiz, that's an extra roster spot attached to Scott the Snot that I didn't have room for.

Regarding your staff - wasn't one of the Niekro brothers on the '87 team? I'd take either one of them over Erickson. That's how fond I am of Erickson...