The Perfect Line-up

I'm about to have my fantasy draft next week, and after pouring over dozens of possibilities and outcomes, I came up with this question: if you were making a real-life fantasy team, what would be the best possible line-up? The factors you have to include are skill-set, place in the line-up and defense. Here's what I came up with:

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  1) Jose Reyes, SS
  2) Chase Utley, 2B
  3) Albert Pujols, 1B
  4) Alex Rodriguez, 3B
  5) Travis Hafner, DH
  6) Carlos Beltran, LF
  7) Joe Mauer, C
  8 ) Vernon Wells, CF
  9) Ichiro Suzuki, RF
  
  I defy anyone to come up with a better line-up.

 

I'll tweak yours:

1) Ichiro Suzuki, RF
2) Chase Utley, 2B
3) Albert Pujols, 1B
4) Alex Rodriguez, 3B
5) Carlos Beltran, LF
6) Travis Hafner, DH
7) Vernon Wells, CF
8 ) Joe Mauer, C
9) Jose Reyes, SS

 

I understand flip-flopping Suzuki & Reyes, but why drop down Hafner? So he wouldn't clog up the bases ahead of Beltran?

 

Boy, if someone had been asleep the past three years and woke up to see the names Utley, Hafner and Reyes in there, they would have been stunned.

But I do believe you nailed it. I've only just recently realized how valuable Reyes has become.

 

If you\'d like this lineup for the postseason, then I\'d replace A-Rod with David Wright.

 

Nah, I'd put in Miggy Cabrera. He already has a ring.

 

I hate the Red Sox, but no David Ortiz?

 

I think Hafner is just as good, maybe even better, than Ortiz. Papi did hit 54 last year, but Hafner lost out on 100 at-bats b/c of getting hit by a pitch. Pronk trumps Papi in all the percentages (avg, obp, slg). You could go with either one of these guys, but since I blame Big Sloppi and the rest of that damned team from Boston for ruinning my super-senior year, I'm going for the dude with the better nick-name and with six grand slams in the first half of last year.

 

What, no Joe Crede?

 

I'd put Grady Sizemore in center and Vlad Guerrero in right.

 

Partially. I also like Beltran more as a hitter, and batting him fifth should give Hafner more run-producing opportunities.

I'd also consider flip-flopping Beltran and Utley, just for the speed factor.

 

Whoever hits for more contact and isn't strikeout prone has got #2.