Call to the pen
Fansided

MLB best starting nine for each generation of fans

By Bobby Mueller

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - OCTOBER 02: Los Angeles Dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully is congratulated on the last game of his 67-year career by hall of famer Willie Mays and San Francisco Giants CEO Larry Baer during the fourth inning at AT
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - OCTOBER 02: Los Angeles Dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully is congratulated on the last game of his 67-year career by hall of famer Willie Mays and San Francisco Giants CEO Larry Baer during the fourth inning at AT /
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MLB Generation X Team

~MLB Players active between 1973 and 1988~

 

Biggest Snub(s): 3B George Brett (78.4 fWAR), 2B Bobby Grich (62.8 fWAR), 1B Keith Hernandez (59.9 fWAR), 1B Darrell Evans (57.1 fWAR), 1B Rod Carew (54.7 fWAR), SP Bert Blyleven (78.0 fWAR)

One of the more difficult choices for this MLB squad was at first base, where Keith Hernandez, Darrell Evans, Eddie Murray, and Rod Carew all had between 59.9 and 54.7 fWAR between 1973 and 1988. Evans played more games at third base than at first base and Carew spent a good portion of his career at second base, so it came down to Hernandez and Murray. I went with Murray because his offensive value is higher than Hernandez and defensive metrics from the 1970s and 1980s aren’t as reliable as offensive metrics from that time.

At second base, Joe Morgan beat out Bobby Grich by just two wins. It’s the story of Grich’s life, forever underrated. George Brett couldn’t match Mike Schmidt at third base, but he’s the best snub on the bench. The outfield options for this lineup included seven players with 50 or more WAR. I went with Rickey Henderson in left, Andre Dawson in center, and Dwight Evans in right. Dave Winfield, Jim Rice, and Chet Lemon missed the cut, and Robin Yount got the nod at shortstop.

One of the biggest MLB stars of the 1970s, Reggie Jackson, is the DH. He played many more games in right field during his career, but his glove wasn’t as good as Dwight Evans, so he’s the DH. Ken Singleton is ready to step in if Jackson needs a day off or if manager Billy Martin decides to bench “Mr. October.” On a related note, if Martin is fired at some point during the season, Earl Weaver will take the reigns.

Bert Blyleven had more fWAR than Nolan Ryan from 1973 to 1988, but it was very close (78.0 to 76.5). I went with Ryan because he was nearly as valuable and had 1000 more strikeouts than any other pitcher during this time. Plus, he’s Nolan Ryan. He could toss a no-hitter in any given start.

This was the first generation of famous relief pitchers. Goose Gossage takes his place in this team’s bullpen, with Rollie Fingers, Bruce Sutter, and Lee Smith ready to fill in if needed. A little further down the list are submariners Kent Tekulve and Dan Quisenberry, for those moments when you absolutely, positively need a ground ball from a pitcher who looks like your company’s IT guy.

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