If you could build your team around one Red Sox great?

[Youk Of The Nation]

A comment I made in the gamethread, based on a comment by someone else, got me thinking about this hypothetical scenario and where everyone would stand.

 

The situation: It is Game 7 of the World Series. Both you and your opponent are building a new team from scratch, but the only players available to you are current and former Red Sox players, all of them in their primes.

 

The question: You pick first. Who do you take to build that team around.

 

Personally, I think for most people this would come down to two choices. Either Ted Williams, arguably (a weak argument against, probably) the greatest hitter in the history of baseball, or Pedro Martinez, arguably the best pitcher the Sox have ever had.

 

My answer? Pedro. I can't find these exact stats, but I am willing to bet that the percentage of games Pedro struggled, compared to the number of games he pitched, is a lot lower than the percentage of at-bats that Ted Williams did not reach base. Granted, the number of ABs for Ted and the number of GS for Pedro are drastically different, but my point is that it seems much more likely that in a one-game playoff, Pedro could shut down an opposing team far more easily than Ted Williams could carry his team offensively if his pitcher struggled.

 

Pedro was dominant at his prime, maybe more dominant than any pitcher any of us have seen in our lifetimes. If I had one chance to win it all, I'd start Pedro, and sacrifice any other pitcher or position player to do it.

 

Who would everyone else pick? Williams? Pedro? Or someone else? Juilo Lugo, perhaps?

[redsoxrules]

Definately Pedro

[Elktonnick]

Definately Pedro

 

George Herman Ruth

[2004 ALCS]

In one game? Pedro. A good smartass answer would be Babe Ruth though since he could pitch and hit. But then I imagine that some other smartass would point out that more modern players are overall more skilled because of a larger player pool, better nutrition and exercise, more variance in pitch types, etc.

[Youk Of The Nation]

In one game? Pedro. A good smartass answer would be Babe Ruth though since he could pitch and hit. But then I imagine that some other smartass would point out that more modern players are overall more skilled because of a larger player pool' date=' better nutrition and exercise, more variance in pitch types, etc.[/quote']

 

 

In a pitching duel I'd take Pedro over Ruth, and I'd think about it even less than I would think about using my brake pedal if I saw Dane Cook crossing the street in front of me.

 

Over a season, I'd take Ruth or Williams, probably Williams, but if it all comes down to one game, I want Pedro to take the ball and handle it from there. You don't need Williams to go 4-4 or Ruth to hit three homers when the other team isn't getting past second base.

[2004 ALCS]

In a pitching duel I'd take Pedro over Ruth, and I'd think about it even less than I would think about using my brake pedal if I saw Dane Cook crossing the street in front of me.

 

Over a season, I'd take Ruth or Williams, probably Williams, but if it all comes down to one game, I want Pedro to take the ball and handle it from there. You don't need Williams to go 4-4 or Ruth to hit three homers when the other team isn't getting past second base.

 

I would also take Pedro over Ruth in a pitching duel. My point was that Ruth could pitch and hit in the same game. If players of his era could compete with modern day players, a compelling case could be made for him.

[jacksonianmarch]

I guess the question is whether the player would follow the same career path or whether we'd be taking a guy from a different era and throwing him into this more advanced one. If you knew you could get a .300+BA, record # of walks and 714HR, how would it not be Ruth? And I am surprised nobody took Ted Williams, he'd be #2 on my list

[mvp 78]

Butch Husky

[redsoxrules]

I guess the question is whether the player would follow the same career path or whether we'd be taking a guy from a different era and throwing him into this more advanced one. If you knew you could get a .300+BA' date=' record # of walks and 714HR, how would it not be Ruth? And I am surprised nobody took Ted Williams, he'd be #2 on my list[/quote']

 

Pedro had sick numbers in his prime and he was doing it with everybody juicing

[jacksonianmarch]

Pedro would be the modern day player. But if you told me Ted Williams would hit 521 HRs while missing a few seasons, then I think you'd take it

[Youk Of The Nation]

But we aren't talking about a career. We're talking about one game. One game to decide your season. Do you trust Williams to go 4-4 and have it be enough to cover whatever your pitcher gives up, or do you trust Pedro to shut the other team down so all you need is one or two runs?

[2004 ALCS]

I guess the question is whether the player would follow the same career path or whether we'd be taking a guy from a different era and throwing him into this more advanced one. If you knew you could get a .300+BA' date=' record # of walks and 714HR, how would it not be Ruth? And I am surprised nobody took Ted Williams, he'd be #2 on my list[/quote']

 

When talking about one game the edge obviously goes to the pitcher.

[SoxSport]

1. Ruth

 

2. Pedro

 

3. Williams

 

In 1919-20 Ruth was one of the best pitchers in baseball for the Red Sox, and also one of the best hitters--leading the majors in HRs. He played RF when he wasn't pitching. He did it all.

[lospunchados]

Pedro, then Williams

[afjay]

Ted Williams

[jung]

If for one game...Pedro without question....good pitching will beat good hitting just about anytime so I would have to bet on Pedro for the same reason that for one hockey game I would take a goalie instead of a scorer

[Laser Show]

Pedro. I'd trust him to strike out Ruth, Maris, Mantle, and DiMaggio in order in the 1st. (yes 4 k's, Salty can't catch worth a damn)

[Youk Of The Nation]

Pedro. I'd trust him to strike out Ruth' date=' Maris, Mantle, and DiMaggio in order in the 1st. (yes 4 k's, Salty can't catch worth a damn)[/quote']

 

 

[YAZMAN]

Pedro, no questions asked. It's far easier for pitcher to give up more runs than one guy can knock in on his best days. In the playoffs, it's really the team that allows the fewest runs that wins.

[kapsis21]

Pedro's stuff was filthy back in the days. his fast ball moved so much it was not humanly possible to hit that pitch..

i would put Schilling out there too!. he was clutch in these scenarios.

[The Boomer]

I'm obviously at outlier here, but here goes.

 

Logically

Williams

Clemens

Pedro

 

Emotionally

Fisk

Pedro

Papi

[Elktonnick]

I said Ruth earlier but I think most missed the point. The premise of the thread is build your team around one player. The Yankees in the twenties did exactly that and a dynasty was the result. Prior to that trade the Boston Red Sox were the Yankes of their era. After the trade well the Yankees became the Yankees that we know today. One shudders to think how different the game would be if that trade never happened.

 

BTW the greatest Red Sox pitcher was neither Pedro nor Clemmens. If I were to have one Red Sox pitcher in his prime it would be Cy Young.

 

I know the eras are different and players today are bigger and stronger but given the time in which they played it's Ruth and Young.

[Laser Show]

I said Ruth earlier but I think most missed the point. The premise of the thread is build your team around one player. The Yankees in the twenties did exactly that and a dynasty was the result. Prior to that trade the Boston Red Sox were the Yankes of their era. After the trade well the Yankees became the Yankees that we know today. One shudders to think how different the game would be if that trade never happened.

 

BTW the greatest Red Sox pitcher was neither Pedro nor Clemmens. If I were to have one Red Sox pitcher in his prime it would be Cy Young.

 

I know the eras are different and players today are bigger and stronger but given the time in which they played it's Ruth and Young.

 

The scenario is actually that it is Game 7 of the World Series and you're building your team for it from scratch. We're not building a team for years to come, but only for that 1 game. It's gotta be 99-00 Pedro.

[ellsburyforMVP]

Everyone always talks about Pedro's 1999 season as " the s*** " But give me 2000 Pedro ( sox just couldn't score for him ) and I'll build a dynasty around him

[Laser Show]

Everyone always talks about Pedro's 1999 season as " the s*** " But give me 2000 Pedro ( sox just couldn't score for him ) and I'll build a dynasty around him

 

Pedro's 2000 was the most dominant season in baseball history, by a hitter or pitcher, IMO. And his 2000 was a lot better than his absolutely amazing 1999, which just puts it into perspective.

[Elktonnick]

Pedro's 2000 was the most dominant season in baseball history' date=' by a hitter or pitcher, IMO. And his 2000 was a lot better than his absolutely amazing 1999, which just puts it into perspective.[/quote']

 

Cy Young and Joe Wood had better years. Young had the 12 or 13 best single season era in baseball history. I'd still take Cy Young in his prime. The best pitcher I ever saw was Bob Gibson in 1967. Too bad he never played for boston.

[jung]

I think Bob Gibson is one of baseball's greatest pitchers. I used to love to watch him pitch for the same reason I liked watching Drysdale and Koufax pitch....tremendous determination and competitiveness....wanted to blow you off of home plate...not at all afraid to pitch inside and with good reason.

 

However those guys did not have to pitch to guys pumped up on steroids. I think what Pedro did in his career is inhuman....not logical.....very likely something we will never ever see again. Also, by the time Pedro came along we already had the lower mound and more hitter friendly strike zone. All things being equal....I have got to give it to Pedro.

[cbbosox]

I'm 44 so i will pick from players i have seen.

One game i'm going with Pedro Martinez and if i had a #2 David Ortiz(in his prime can you think of someone more clutch?)

[Elktonnick]

I'm 44 so i will pick from players i have seen.

One game i'm going with Pedro Martinez and if i had a #2 David Ortiz(in his prime can you think of someone more clutch?)

 

Manny in his prime was better than Ortiz.

[ellsburyforMVP]

I'm 44 so i will pick from players i have seen.

One game i'm going with Pedro Martinez and if i had a #2 David Ortiz(in his prime can you think of someone more clutch?)

 

Watching manny and papi hit 3-4 was amazing....... I dare someone to name a duo better in the last 20? Years