Team-Building Exercise, Take 2

Back in April and May I did that 4-post series where I tried to compile a top-notch St. Louis Cardinals team while taking one player from each season. As I was going through it, I started to get the impression I probably could have put a better group together, so I fiddled around with it a bit over the summer and came up with this second group. So I'm going to compare them more or less side-by-side, using WARP3 as a comparative stat. As I understand it, WARP3 is adjusted so you can compare players from different eras, stadiums, leagues, etc.

Rotation:

Version 1 - John Tudor (1985 - 8), Chris Carpenter (2005 - 6.6), Bob Tewksbury (1992 - 5.7), Darryl Kile (2001 - 5.2), Joe Magrane (1989 - 4.8) = 30.3 WAR

Version 2 - Tudor (1985 - 8), Chris Carpenter (2005 - 6.6), Bob Tewksbury (1992 - 5.7), Darryl Kile (2001 - 5.2), Matt Morris (1997 - 4.8) = 30.3 WAR

Comments - It's a draw, but I felt pretty good about the rotation, so I didn't see much reason to screw around with it.

Bullpen:

Version 1 -Rickey Horton (1986 - 3.5), Ken Dayley (1990 - 1.5), Mike Perez (1993 - 3), Rob Murphy (1994 - 2), Tom Henke (1995 - 6.3), Rich Croushore (1999 - ?), Dave Veres (2002 - 1.4) = 17.7

Version 2 - Horton (1986 - 3.5), Dayley (1987 - 1.7), Perez (1993 - 3), Henke (1995 - 6.3), Croushore (1999 - ?), Veres (2002 - 1.4) = 15.9

Comments - Cost myself 1.8 wins, but that's mostly because I cut the bullpen down to 6 guys instead of 7, which let me add a sixth player to the bench. Yeah, I still don't know how much Croushore would be worth, but since he's on both teams, it doesn't really matter. Did get a slightly better version of Ken Dayley, so on average, each reliever is worth slightly more than they were in the first go-round.

Bench:

Version 1 - Jose Oquendo (1988 - 2.9), Eduardo Perez (2000 - 0.5), Yadier Molina (2004 - 0.9), Ryan Ludwick (2007 - 1.6), Brian Barton (2008 - 0.8) = 6.7

Version 2 - Rex Hudler (1990 - 1.9), Gerald Perry (1994 - 1.3), Tom Lampkin (1998 - 0.4), Perez (2003 - 1.3), Scott Spiezio (2006 - 2.6), Barton (2008 - 0.8) = 8.3

Comments - Lots of changes here, which reflect a change in my strategy. Namely, get the best seasons you can for your starters (while making allowances for my biases), and fill in the bench with the best you can find from what's left. At any rate, I gained 1.6 wins. The average bench guy on Version 2 is worth 1.38 WARs, while on Version 1 it was 1.34. So it's not a big difference, and it doesn't even make up for what I lost in the 'pen, but it'll show dividends in the starting lineup.

Starting Lineup:

Version 1 - Tom Pagnozzi (1991 - 4.8), Albert Pujols (2006 - 9.3), Delino DeShields (1997 - 3.3), Scott Rolen (2003 - 8.5), Ozzie Smith (1987 - 8), Ron Gant (1996 - 3.8), Willie McGee (1984 - 4.3), Brian Jordan (1998 - 4.7) = 46.7

Version 2 - Tony Pena (1988 - 4.7), Albert Pujols (2007 - 11.5), Jose Oquendo (1989 - 6.2), Scott Rolen (2004 - 11.6), Ozzie Smith (1991 - 8.5), Ray Lankford (2000 - 2), Willie McGee (1984 - 4.3) Brian Jordan (1996 - 5.7) = 54.5

Comments - There's the payoff. I ended up a little weaker at left field, but I picked up at least 2 wins at first, second, and third base, and another win in right field.

All told, Version 1 was worth 101.4 WAR, and Version 2, 109, so if I was trying to build a better team, mission accomplished. I'm sure it's not the best team possible. That would probably require '98-'99 McGwire at first, '02-'03 Albert in LF, '08 Ludwick in RF, '00-'04 Edmonds (maybe '92-'98 Lankford) in CF, and possibly '03 Renteria at SS, but this is my team, so none of those things are terribly likely to happen.