MLB best starting nine for each generation of fans

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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San Francisco Giants outfielder Barry Bonds
SAN FRANCISCO – AUGUST 07: Barry Bonds

MLB Millennial fanbase (born 1981 to 1996)

~MLB Players active between 1989 and 2004~

 

 

Biggest Snub(s): SP Greg Maddux (97.1 fWAR), Roger Clemens (92.3 fWAR)1B Rafael Palmeiro (67.4 fWAR), DH Edgar Martinez (65.3 fWAR), C Ivan Rodriguez (58.7 fWAR), 3B Robin Ventura (56.7 fWAR), 1B Jim Thome (54.3 fWAR)

The MLB players that Millenials grew up watching include an incredible trio of pitchers in Randy Johnson, Greg Maddux, and Roger Clemens. Oh, and don’t forget Pedro Martinez, who was better than all of them at preventing runs. He just didn’t pitch as many innings as Johnson, Maddux, and Clemens. Future Hall of Famer Mariano Rivera and recently-announced Hall of Famer Trevor Hoffman are the fresh arms in the bullpen.

Barry Bonds dominates among position players, with 63 more wins above replacement than the next-best player during this period (Jeff Bagwell). Bonds had 90 fWAR more than the next-best left fielder, Luis Gonzalez. In center field, Ken Griffey, Jr. is the clear choice, but his dominance isn’t anywhere close to Bond’s. Right field came down to Larry Walker, Sammy Sosa, Gary Sheffield, and Manny Ramirez, with Walker taking the spot.

One of the most challenging choices was at catcher, where Mike Piazza (61.1 fWAR) edged Ivan Rodriguez (58. fWAR). Both are in the Hall of Fame now. Another tough choice was at DH. Frank Thomas had 2.4 more wins above replacement than Edgar Martinez during this period, so he’s in the starting lineup, and Edgar is snubbed. Hopefully, he won’t be snubbed when it comes to Hall of Fame voting next winter.

The tough choices continued at second base, where Craig Biggio (62.9 fWAR) battled with Roberto Alomar (59.7 fWAR). I went with Biggio. Third base could have gone to Robin Ventura because he was worth a few more wins than Chipper Jones. Ventura benefited from the arbitrary endpoint of 2004. His entire career was from the 1989 to 2004 timeframe. Jones’ career lasted until 2012. I took Jones.

The tough choices continued at second base, where Craig Biggio (62.9 fWAR) battled with Roberto Alomar (59.7 fWAR). I went with Biggio. Third base could have gone to Robin Ventura because he was worth a few more wins than Chipper Jones. Ventura benefited from the arbitrary endpoint of 2004. His entire career was from the 1989 to 2004 timeframe. Jones’ career lasted until 2012. I took Jones.

The top five shortstops during this period were Alex Rodriguez, Barry Larkin, Cal Ripken, Jr., Derek Jeter, and Nomar Garciaparra. A-Rod out-WAR’d them all by about 10 wins, so he’ll start at short. Ripken’s career just didn’t match up well with this time frame. He played over 1000 games and won the AL Rookie of the Year Award and an AL MVP Award before this period began. With different starting and ending points, he would be the starter at shortstop. Blame Pew Research.