I checked Jackie Robinson, and he played third his final year, so he'd be a good pick there: .275/.382/.412, 10 HR, 12 SB, 4.5 bWAR. And I forgot about Clemente, so he's the third outfielder. Need a DP combination.
― clemenza, Wednesday, 4 January 2023 02:15 (one year ago) link
The shortstop is a worse ending than Koufax: Ray Chapman, who died mid-August after getting hit in the head by Carl Mays. .303/.380/.423, 4.0 bWAR.
Which reminded me of maybe the second-greatest last season by a starter, better even than Mussina: Jose Fernandez. 16-8, 2.86, 253 K, 4.60 K/BB, 4.4 bWAR.
Shoeless Joe should technically be on there, but I'll stick with Bonds/Williams/Clemente.
Still need a second baseman.
― clemenza, Wednesday, 4 January 2023 05:39 (one year ago) link
Lou Whitaker at 2B: .292/.372/.518, 14 HR, 1.5. (1995, so the cusp of the offensive boom.)
SP - Koufax, Fernandez, Mussina, TudorCloser - WagnerSet-Up - Rivera, Henke
C - Posey1B - Clark2B - Whitaker3B - J. RobinsonSS - ChapmanOF - BondsOF - WilliamsOF - ClementeDH - Ortiz
Done! You can close the thread now.
― clemenza, Wednesday, 4 January 2023 16:03 (one year ago) link
Wow. Making Rivera set up!
― FRAUDULENT STEAKS (The Cursed Return of the Dastardly Thermo Thinwall), Wednesday, 4 January 2023 16:48 (one year ago) link
I did think about that: "This is ridiculous." But Wagner's last season is demonstrably better than Rivera's...I'm not being consistent by leaving off Shoeless Joe, had the highest final-season WAR ever (over 7.0). So I'm making him honorary bookie for the club.
What was the best final season for a manager? Did anyone win a WS and retire? Seems almost inconceivable.
― clemenza, Wednesday, 4 January 2023 19:37 (one year ago) link
tony larussa did.
but then he came back. he did not end up, in the end, retiring on top
― Karl Malone, Wednesday, 4 January 2023 19:45 (one year ago) link
Did a very quick check of about a dozen guys high on the career-wins list; Bobby Cox (91 wins) and Walter Alston (90) were the best, but neither won their division. Weirdly, some of those I checked appear to have been fired partway through the season.
― clemenza, Wednesday, 4 January 2023 19:58 (one year ago) link
Dave Roberts, Aaron Boone, and Buck Showalter: if any of you want to retire, you can be on my team.
― clemenza, Wednesday, 4 January 2023 19:59 (one year ago) link
And Dusty Baker x 10!
Billy Martin LOL
― immodesty blaise (jimbeaux), Wednesday, 4 January 2023 20:04 (one year ago) link
His .588 winning percentage (40-28) definitely the best I've encountered so far--2.5 games behind the Tigers and he got fired. What kind of erratic, hair-trigger GM would ever do such a thing?
― clemenza, Wednesday, 4 January 2023 23:07 (one year ago) link
Grady Little and Dusty Baker were fired after 95 and 97 win seasons respectively.
Little came back to manage the Dodgers for another two years though. He had a lifetime .552 winning percentage and never had a losing season. The problem: he's Grady Little.
I don't think anyone expected Dusty to come back after getting fired in Washington, but he did and good for him.
― NoTimeBeforeTime, Thursday, 5 January 2023 08:38 (one year ago) link