So I've heard a lot of panic because our LF bunch will probably be some combination of Brett Gardner and Randy Winn, and these guys are not world-beaters. However, it's hard to get all nail-gnawingly-nervous when you consider the offense that will likely come from other places on the team, and the solid pitching we will have. Even if they're not great, which I don't expect them to be, great teams with below-average players offensively are not exactly rare...
AL CHAMPIONS
2000 Yankees:
Shane Spencer 99 OPS+
Paul O'Neill 92 OPS+
Chuck Knoblauch 92 OPS+
Ricky Ledee 90 OPS+
Tino Martinez 89 OPS+
Scott Brosius 70 OPS+
overall team OPS+ 103
2001 Yankees:
David Justice 98 OPS+
Alfonso Soriano 90 OPS+
Chuck Knoblauch 82 OPS+
overall team OPS+ 100
2002 Angels:
Darin Erstad 86 OPS+
Bengie Molina 58 OPS+
overall team OPS+ 105
2003 Yankees:
Robin Ventura 96 OPS+
overall team OPS+ 114*
BESTTEAMEVAHOMGZSUPERCHAMPIONS 2004 Red Sox:
Gabe Kapler 77 OPS+
Pokey Reese 45 OPS+
overall team OPS+ 110
2005 White Sox:
they only had three regulars with an OPS+ over 100... the other guys were 96, 94, 93, 90, 86, 85.
overall team OPS+ 95
(in case you were wondering, overall team ERA+: 124)
2006 Tigers:
like the White Sox, they only had four regulars with an OPS+ over 100... the other guys were 99, two 98s, 97, 80
overall team OPS+ 99
2007 Red Sox:
Coco Crisp 83 OPS+
Julio Lugo 65 OPS+
overall team OPS+ 107
2008 Rays:
Akinori Iwamura 93 OPS+
Carl Crawford 89 OPS+
Jason Bartlett 83 OPS+
overall team OPS+ 101
2009 Yankees:
Melky Cabrera 99 OPS+
overall team OPS+ 122 (drools)
NL CHAMPIONS
(keep in mind, these guys also had the pitchers in their lineup)
2000 Mets:
Derek Bell 98 OPS+
Jay Payton 98 OPS+
Robin Ventura 98 OPS+
Mike Bordick 76 OPS+
overall team OPS+ 98
2001 Diamondbacks:
Matt Williams 92 OPS+**
Steve Finley 91 OPS+
Damian Miller 89 OPS+
Jay Bell 88 OPS+
Tony Womack 64 OPS+
overall team OPS+ 94
2002 Giants:
Rich Aurilia 92 OPS+
JT Snow 90 OPS+
Tsuyoshi Shinjo 78 OPS+
overall team OPS+ 110***
2003 Marlins:
Juan Encarnacion 97 OPS+
Alex Gonzalez 96 OPS+
Juan Pierre 94 OPS+
Todd Hollandsworth 93 OPS+
overall team OPS+ 97
2004 Cardinals:
Ray Lankford 99 OPS+
Tony Womack 91 OPS+
Edgar Renteria 88 OPS+
Mike Matheny 65 OPS+
overall team OPS+ 106****
2005 Astros:
Brad Ausmus 80 OPS+
Chris Burke 76 OPS+
Willy Taveras 75 OPS+
Adam Everett 70 OPS+
overall team OPS+ 90
(in case you were wondering, overall team ERA+: 120)
2006 Cardinals:
Juan Encarnacion 93 OPS+
David Eckstein 81 OPS+
So Taguchi 78 OPS+
Aaron Miles 74 OPS+
Yadier Molina 53 OPS+
overall team OPS+ 97
2007 Rockies:
Willy Taveras 89 OPS+
Kazuo Matsui 87 OPS+
Yorvit Torrealba 76 OPS+
overall team OPS+ 98
2008 Phillies:
Pedro Feliz 81 OPS+
Carlos Ruiz 63 OPS+
overall team OPS+ 98
2009 Phillies:
Jimmy Rollins 86 OPS+
Pedro Feliz 81 OPS+
overall team OPS+ 103
* FUCK YOU MARLINS
** How the mighty have fallen.
*** I dare suggest this was rather heavily weighed by Mr. Barrold Bonds and his 268 OPS+
**** probably on the strength of Pujols (172 OPS+), Edmonds (170 OPS+), and Rolen (157 OPS+)
Heck, the 1998 Yankees had Chad Curtis and his 90 OPS+ manning LF. The 2001 Mariners had four guys that were below-average offensively. I get the feeling the 2010 Yankees will be juuust fine.
