Jan 14, 2008 here is how to get the best player in backyard baseballl 2003.

Best MLB players in Backyard Baseball 2001

In the previous post I showed you the rosters and set it up: Backyard kids vs. pros

Now here is the decision about the pro team… we have 31 potential players (more than an active roster) so let’s start with the easy cuts and an explanation:

Alex Gonzales: I feel bad doing this just the day before his birthday! With a 5 batting ranking and a 6 fielding ranking we have much better options. He does bring some speed but that isn’t redeeming enough.

Carlos Beltran: Hey, he’s still playing and collecting money! His batting stat of 5 isn’t high enough. He’s well-rounded but in this case we need specialists

Jeromy Burnitz and Marty Cardova: They were in this game! I had no idea… anyway they won’t be in this game.

Now we need to think about pitching.

It really comes down to three people: Curt Shilling, Randy Johnson and … SURPRISE Frank Thomas!

Each one has a 10 rating in pitching. For a game like this you want at least two pitchers so Frank Thomas makes the roster with his 7 batting and since Curt has a 8 fielding, 6 running and 5 batting (compared to Randy’s 3, 5, 5) we will keep Curt and cut the Big Unit.

On the team: Curt Shilling, Frank Thomas

I want our pitchers to be our worst hitters so anybody with a batting rating of 7 or lower is out: Barry Larkin, Ivan Rodriguez (NO, not Pudge!), Jason Giambi, Jason Kendall, Jeff Bagwell, and Kenny Lofton (A surprise considering I normally had him on my team)

That leaves 18 players left for 7 spots. We need to start making big cuts, so anybody with a fielding ranking of less than 5 has got to go: Jose Canseco and Shawn Green… wait that can’t be right! You mean that Mark McGuire and Mo Vaughn were good fielders? Nope, they are cut. I’m also cutting Valdimir Guerrerro since he was with the Expos.

13 players for 7 slots!

Since we have been focusing on hitting let’s take everyone with a 10 batting ranking: Mark McGuire and Sammy Sosa.

Hmm: You mean Barry Bonds didn’t get a 10? Must have calculated these things before the ‘roids but he and Ken Griffey Jr. should be in

Since we now have a surplus of outfielders let’s cut a bunch from the list: Juan Gonzales, Larry Walker, Raul Monesi and Tony Gwynn (underrated in this game)

3 slots for 5 players and it comes down to the infield. I’ll eliminate Alex Rodriguez since he only has a 7 batting rating (9 fielding but we have some guys with 10 fielding). I’ll eliminate Chipper Jones since I want a strong infield in fielding and he is an 8 (others are 10s).

So the list of players:
Frank Thomas
Curt Shilling
Mark McGuire
Sammy Sosa.
Barry Bonds
Ken Griffey Jr.
Cal Ripken Jr.
Derek Jeter
Nomar Garciapparra

So let’s deal with positions: I’m going to have Shilling start on the mound since his in-game experience should help him last awhile (Frank Thomas can come in for relief and we would move Curt to the outfield). I want Big Mac at first (position he has experience with) and Griffey at center (best fielding OF we have). I’ll put Bonds in Left and Sosa in right.

We have a big problem at catcher… since we cut Pudge (NO! Why did we do that?) we don’t have a good catcher. Luckily since we are playing with Backyard baseball rules we don’t have to worry much about catching so we will put Frank Thomas behind the plate.

For the infield: I always worry about Nomar’s arm so he will be at second, Cal played a lot of third so he will go there and Jeter will be at short.

Batting order:

Barry Bonds LF: with a 10 running rating he is our best option to lead off
Derek Jeter SS: 9 running and 8 batting with experience hitting out of the two hole
Sammy Sosa RF: Bringing the power
Mark McGuire 1B: Bringing the pain
Frank Thomas C: This is the slow part of the lineup, I don’t want really fast people to be hampered by the Big Hurt and Big Mac
Curt Shilling P: I don’t always think it’s a good idea to bat the pitcher 9, I would rather have guys on base for the top of the order
Ken Griffey Jr. CF: This is almost like a second lead-off spot and I trust that Ken can handle this
Nomar Garciapparra 2B: I think hitting behind Ken will be good and Nomah will be able to move him over
Cal Ripken Jr. (3B): I don’t think Cal will be disappointed with this ranking, he might have the smallest ego on this team and so he’ll bat last

Here is the post about the Backyard team

Best backyard baseball team

Backyard Baseball day continues! The MLB already picked their team and now the Backyard kids will pick theirs.

The pros did it by cutting players? Puh-lease, that’s not the way we do it in the Backyard we pick the best and then figure it out.

Our number one pick? It’s obvious: The Secret Weapon (not really a secret anymore): Pablo Sanchez!

He’s our captain no matter what language he does or doesn’t speak.

We will need grab some more heavy hitters so: Axeman Achmed Kahn, M.V.P. Jocinda Smith and Nugget Mikey Thomas.

Now we need some pitching and the best pitcher we know is Sugar Pop: Angela Delvecchio.

We heard Frank Thomas will be catching! We’re having stolen bases so let’s get some wheels: Wheelie Pete Wheeler and Lulu Luanne Lui

Achmed wants to play with his brother Amir (who might be a good pitcher but mostly will be using him in the infield)

Our last pick will be the very well-rounded (no pun intended, come on it’s Backyard Sports don’t make it evil) Flash Keisha Phillips

Angela Delvecchio (ultra-thrilled we didn’t pick her brother Tony) is pitching, Pablo is at short and can make a relief appearance (don’t believe that BS 5 rating for his pitching). Lulu will play second, Axeman is at third and we’ll put the MVP at first.

Let’s put Flash in center, Amir in left, Wheelie in right and Nugget behind the plate… mmmm, Nugget

Backyard Baseball Player List

The batting order:
Luanne Lui 2B: Speed first
Pete Wheeler RF: More speed but Wheelie is a better hitter than Lulu
Pablo Sanchez SS: Try to stop the Secret Weapon
Keisha Phillips CF: Speed and a good bat should protect Pablo
Achmed Kahn 3B: The Axeman should protect be awesome with his brother
Jocinda Smith 1B: Chanting M-V-P
Mikey Thomas C: Murder’s row continues
Amir Kahn LF: Much better with his brother
Angela Delvecchio P: Sugar Pop don’t care

Backyard Baseball Game

This should be a game for the ages!