Seamheads Historical League Part 3 — American Atlantic Division

Another day, another division preview at Seamheads.  Today’s SHL preview recaps the strongest division in the league with the American Atlantic division.

The division consists of original American League teams who started play along the Eastern seaboard.  Thanks to originally starting in Philadelphia and Washington, the Oakland Athletics(beginning as the Philadelphia Athletics in 1901 then moving to Kansas City in 1954 and finally moving to Oakland in 1968) and the Minnesota Twins(originally the Washington Senators from 1901 to 1960 before moving and becoming the Minnesota Twins in 1961) join the New York Yankees(originally the Baltimore Orioles in 1901 and 1902 before moving to New York to be the Highlanders from 1903 to 1912 and finally settling in as the Yankees in 1913) and the Boston Red Sox(known first as the Boston Americans from 1901 to 1907 before changing their name to the Red Sox in 1908).

BOSTON RED SOX (1901-2008, 7 World Championships, 12 Pennants, 19 Playoff Appearances)

GENERAL MANAGER: Bill James , Boston Red Sox Special Consultant/Writer

40-Man Roster

Catchers (3): Carlton Fisk, Jason Varitek, Sammy White

Infielders (13): Wade Boggs, Joe Cronin, Bobby Doerr, Jimmie Foxx, Nomar Garciaparra, Larry Gardner, Billy Goodman, Mike Lowell, Frank Malzone, David Ortiz, Pete Runnels, George Scott, Mo Vaughn

Outfielders (11): Dom DiMaggio, Dwight Evans, Harry Hooper, Jackie Jensen, Fred Lynn, Manny Ramirez, Jim Rice, Reggie Smith, Tris Speaker, Ted Williams, Carl Yastrzemski

Pitchers (13): Roger Clemens, Lefty Grove, Ellis Kinder, Derek Lowe, Pedro Martinez, Jonathan Papelbon, Mel Parnell, Dick Radatz, Bob Stanley, Luis Tiant, Tim Wakefield, Joe Wood, Cy Young

MY LINEUPS

vs. LHP
1. Tris Speaker (CF)
2. Wade Boggs (3B)
3. Ted Williams (LF)
4. Jimmie Foxx (1B)
5. Manny Ramirez (RF)
6. Joe Cronin (SS)
7. Bobby Doerr (2B)
8. Carlton Fisk (C)

vs. RHP
1. Speaker (CF)
2. Boggs (3B)
3. T. Williams (RF)
4. David Ortiz (1B)
5. Carl Yastrzemski (LF)
6. Pete Runnels (2B)
7. Billy Goodman (SS)
8. Fisk (C)

Bench:Foxx/Ortiz, Runnels/Doerr, Cronin/Goodman, M.Ramirez/Yastrzemski, Jason Varitek, Larry Gardner, Dwight Evans

Rotation
1. Cy Young
2. Pedro Martinez
3. Roger Clemens
4. Lefty Grove
5. Luis Tiant

Bullpen
Mel Parnell
Dick Radatz
Ellis Kinder
Derek Lowe

Closer
Jonathan Papelbon

On the Farm:Sammy White, Mo Vaughn, Frank Malzone, Mike Lowell, George Scott, Nomar Garciaparra, Fred Lynn, Reggie Smith, Harry Hooper, Jackie Jensen, Jim Rice, Dom DiMaggio, Joe Wood, Bob Stanley, Tim Wakefield

Five Questions…

• Will Pedro win the strikeout title?
• Does Varitek’s ability to switch hit get him the backup catcher spot over Sammy White?
• Will it take Jim Rice 15 years to crack this starting lineup?
• Should there be a platoon at first or does “Big Papi” deserve the starting job outright?
• Will simulated Manny be a head case too?

MINNESOTA TWINS (1901-2008, 3 World Championships, 6 Pennants, 12 Playoff Appearances)

GENERAL MANAGER: Ross Bernstein , Author

40-Man Roster

Catchers (3): Earl Battey, Rick Ferrell, Joe Mauer

Infielders (11): Rod Carew, Joe Cronin, Gary Gaetti, Kent Hrbek, Joe Judge, Harmon Killebrew, Chuck Knoblauch, Justin Morneau, Buddy Myer, Roy Smalley, Cecil Travis

Outfielders (8): Bob Allison, Tom Brunansky, Goose Goslin, Torii Hunter, Heinie Manush, Tony Oliva, Kirby Puckett, Sam Rice

Pitchers (18): Rick Aguilera, Bert Blyleven, Scott Erickson, Dave Goltz, Eddie Guardado, Tom Hall, Walter Johnson, Jim Kaat, Dutch Leonard, Jack Morris, Joe Nathan, Camilo Pascual, Jim Perry, Brad Radke, Jeff Reardon, Johan Santana, Frank Viola, Early Wynn

MY LINEUPS

vs. LHP
1. Rod Carew (2B)
2. Kirby Puckett (CF)
3. Goose Goslin (LF)
4. Harmon Killebrew (3B)
5. Kent Hrbek (1B)
6. Joe Cronin (SS)
7. Tony Oliva (RF)
8. Earl Battey (C)

vs. RHP
1. Carew (2B)
2. Joe Mauer (C)
3. Goslin (LF)
4. Killebrew (3B)
5. Hrbek (1B)
6. Cronin (SS)
7. Oliva (RF)
8. Puckett (CF)

Bench:Battey/Mauer, Justin Morneau, Chuck Knoblauch, Gary Gaetti, Roy Smalley, Heinie Manush, Torii Hunter

Rotation
1. Walter Johnson
2. Johan Santana
3. Dutch Leonard
4. Bert Blyleven
5. Frank Viola

Bullpen
Eddie Guardado
Tom Hall
Early Wynn
Jeff Reardon

Closer
Joe Nathan

On the Farm:Rick Ferrell, Buddy Myer, Cecil Travis, Joe Judge, Tom Brunansky, Bob Allison, Sam Rice, Jim Kaat, Rick Aguilera, Scott Erickson, Dave Goltz, Jack Morris, Camilo Pascual, Jim Perry, Brad Radke

Five Questions…

• Why does it always seem like the Twins are counted out yet still are so good?
• How much would you pay to see Walter Johnson pitch?
• Don’t you have to find a way to get a guy named Heinie some at bats?
• Can there really be a wrong choice amongst the closers available for this club?
• Can Rod Carew win the batting title?

NEW YORK YANKEES (1901-2008, 26 World Championships, 39 Pennants, 47 Playoff Appearances)

GENERAL MANAGER: Matt Dahlgren , Author

40-Man Roster

Catchers (3): Yogi Berra, Bill Dickey, Jorge Posada

Infielders (10): Babe Dahlgren, Lou Gehrig, Joe Gordon, Derek Jeter, Tony Lazzeri, Don Mattingly, Graig Nettles, Phil Rizzuto, Alex Rodriguez, Red Rolfe

Outfielders (7): Joe DiMaggio, Rickey Henderson, Reggie Jackson, Mickey Mantle, Roger Maris, Babe Ruth, Dave Winfield

Pitchers (19): Ed Figueroa, Whitey Ford, Lefty Gomez, Rich Gossage, Ron Guidry, Waite Hoyt, Catfish Hunter, Ed Lopat, Sparky Lyle, Carl Mays, Herb Pennock, Andy Pettite, Vic Raschi, Allie Reynolds, Dave Righetti, Mariano Rivera, Red Ruffing, Mel Stottlemyre, John Wetteland

MY LINEUPS

vs. LHP
1. Rickey Henderson (LF)
2. Alex Rodriguez (3B)
3. Babe Ruth (RF)
4. Lou Gehrig (1B)
5. Joe DiMaggio (CF)
6. Derek Jeter (SS)
7. Tony Lazzeri (2B)
8. Jorge Posada (C)

vs. RHP
1. Mickey Mantle (LF)
2. A. Rodriguez (3B)
3. Ruth (RF)
4. Gehrig (1B)
5. J. DiMaggio (CF)
6. Jeter (SS)
7. Bill Dickey (C)
8. Lazzeri (2B)

Bench:Posada/Dickey, Henderson/Mantle, Yogi Berra, Joe Gordon, Graig Nettles, Phil Rizzuto, Reggie Jackson

Rotation
1. Whitey Ford
2. Herb Pennock
3. Lefty Gomez
4. Waite Hoyt
5. Andy Pettite

Bullpen
Sparky Lyle
Dave Righetti
Goose Gossage
John Wetteland

Closer
Mariano Rivera

On the Farm:Don Mattingly, Babe Dahlgren, Red Rolfe, Roger Maris, Dave Winfield, Ed Figueroa, Ron Guidry, Ed Lopat, Carl Mays, Red Ruffing, Mel Stottlemyre, Vic Raschi, Allie Reynolds, Catfish Hunter

Five Questions…

• If Steinbrenner ran this team and they didn’t win, how much money would he spend to get better?
• How confident would you be if you were a Yankees pitcher with this lineup?
• Does Babe Ruth win the MVP?
• How many players end up with 100 RBI?
• Does simulated A-Rod fold in the playoffs, too?

OAKLAND ATHLETICS (1901-2008, 9 World Championships, 15 Pennants, 23 Playoff Appearances)

GENERAL MANAGER: Jonathan Mayo , MLB.com Writer/Authorand Joe Cronin , MLB.com Multimedia Producer

40-Man Roster

Catchers (3): Mickey Cochrane, Terry Steinbach, Gene Tenace

Infielders (11): Frank Baker, Sal Bando, Bert Campaneris, Eric Chavez, Eddie Collins, Jimmie Foxx, Jason Giambi, Carney Lansford, Mark McGwire, Tony Phillips, Miguel Tejada

Outfielders (7): Jose Canseco, Ty Cobb, Rickey Henderson, Reggie Jackson, Bob Johnson, Billy North, Al Simmons

Pitchers (19): Chief Bender, Vida Blue, Bill Caudill, Jack Coombs, Dennis Eckersley, Rollie Fingers, Keith Foulke, Lefty Grove, Ken Holtzman, Rick Honeycutt, Tim Hudson, Catfish Hunter, Jason Isringhausen, Paul Lindblad, Mark Mulder, Eddie Plank, Huston Street, Rube Waddell, Barry Zito

MY LINEUPS

vs. LHP
1. Rickey Henderson (LF)
2. Eddie Collins (2B)
3. Frank Baker (3B)
4. Reggie Jackson (RF)
5. Al Simmons (CF)
6. Jimmie Foxx (1B)
7. Mickey Cochrane (C)
8. Bert Campaneris (SS)

vs. RHP
1. R.Henderson (LF)
2. E.Collins (2B)
3. F.Baker (3B)
4. R.Jackson (RF)
5. A.Simmons (CF)
6. Foxx (1B)
7. Cochrane (C)
8. Campaneris (SS)

Bench:Gene Tenace, Mark McGwire, Tony Phillips, Sal Bando, Jose Canseco, Billy North, Ty Cobb

Rotation
1. Rube Waddell
2. Eddie Plank
3. Lefty Grove
4. Chief Bender
5. Tim Hudson

Bullpen
Huston Street
Keith Foulke
Rick Honeycutt
Rollie Fingers

Closer
Dennis Eckersley

On the Farm:Terry Steinbach, Jason Giambi, Eric Chavez, Carney Lansford, Miguel Tejada, Bob Johnson, Barry Zito, Mark Mulder, Jason Isringhausen, Vida Blue, Bill Caudill, Jack Coombs, Catfish Hunter, Ken Holtzman, Paul Lindblad

Five Questions…

• Is there a deeper pitching staff in the league?
• Does this team “run away” with the title of fastest team?
• Originally a catcher, does Jimmie Foxx take some time behind the plate and open up playing time for McGwire and Giambi?
• Who should be the closer?
• Are the historical Athletics actually better than the historical Yankees?

And how will the best division in the SHL finish?

Prediction

1. Athletics
2. Yankees (Capturing the Wild Card)3. Red Sox
4. Twins

American Atlantic MVP – Babe Ruth, YankeesAmerican Atlantic Cy Young – Rube Waddell, Athletics