One City, Two Teams: What a 2011 Chicago MLB All-Star Team Would Look Like
If you can't beat them, join them, right? Well in the case of the Chicago Cubs, if you can't beat anybody, join somebody.
Here we will divulge into what could be if Chicago ever decided to combine both its Major League Baseball teams, the Chicago White Sox and the Chicago Cubs. This team would contend for a World Series title immediately, but I'm not sure this will be in any future plans for the city of Chicago. Anyways, it's always fun to see what kind of team a city would field if it took the best players from both clubs.
Here is a lineup of the best baseball talent the Windy City has to offer.
Catcher: Geovany Soto (Cubs)
1 of 13
The young, 28-year-old Cubs backstop is coming off a solid comeback season from a dreadful sophomore slump the year before. If you don't remember, Soto won the NL Rookie of the Year award in 2008 and has great potential that has yet to be displayed. He hit a solid .291 this spring and will be looking to get back to his rookie form.
I give him the advantage over A.J. Pierzynski of the White Sox based on a few things. Soto is younger, better defensively and has the potential to be one of the better hitting catchers in all of baseball. Pierzynski is a key piece in the White Sox clubhouse and usually finds himself in the middle of all the action, but skills are skills and age is inevitable.
First Base: Paul Konerko (White Sox)
2 of 13
This one was quite easy to pick. The long-time White Sox captain is coming off a stellar campaign in 2010, and resigned with the south-siders in hopes to capture another World Series title.
Pauly is looking to continue right where he left off, and if batting average is any indication of that, he is looking good. Konerko finished the 2010 season with a batting average of .312 and finished this past spring training regiment with a batting average of .310.
On the other side of town, newcomer Carlos Pena will try to fill the rather large shoes left at first base by Derrek Lee. Pena has great power from the left side, which should suit him well at Wrigley Field. However, Pena must learn to hit more for contact and less for power if he is ever going to want consideration for Chicago's elite baseball squad.
Second Base: Gordon Beckham (White Sox)
3 of 13
Bacon! Everyone loves bacon! I'm not too sure if Ozzie Guillen loves bacon or not, but when he's discussing his second baseman, Gordon Beckham, it sure sounds like it.
The White Sox first-round draft pick and top prospect of two years ago, Gordon is coming off somewhat of a sophomore slump. He managed to pick up some of the pieces and finish last season with a batting average of .252, and has a career average of .260 over his two years of duty.
We have only seen the tip of the iceberg from this kid when it comes to his full potential. The former Georgia Bulldog stand-out hit a promising .284 this spring and now has a full year at second base under his belt. Remember fans, Gordon was drafted as a shortstop and played his rookie season at third base. He then was switched over to second base to make room for Mark Teahen (why again?).
The Cubs traded infielders Ryan Theriot and Mike Fontenot last season and acquired Blake DeWitt from the L.A. Dodgers who received Theriot. DeWitt showed good signs in Chicago last year, but had a pretty awful spring training.
.png?w=256)
Third Base: Aramis Ramirez (Cubs)
4 of 13
This one was quite the no-brainer when comparing a Major League mainstay to a platoon of unproven guys with a wily old veteran mixed in. When focused, Aramis Ramirez is a game-changer, both with the lumber and the leather.
Last year wasn't the most picturesque year for Ramirez and the Cubs, but having played in 124 games as opposed to 82 the year prior is a good sign for things to come. Although he only hit .241 last season, he still managed to launch 25 balls out of the ballpark and hit an encouraging .346 this spring. If Aramis comes to play from Opening Day onward, look for him in a starting role come All-Star time.
On the South Side of town, the Mark Teahen experiment at third base is all but wrapped up. This season, the White Sox will look to showcase young power hitter Dayan Viciedo at third, along with rookie Brent Morel and the immortal Omar Vizquel. If Teahen proves to be the player that used to just kill the White Sox in clutch situations, look for this team to really get serious about a title.
Shortstop: Alexei Ramirez (White Sox)
5 of 13
Known as the Cuban Missile to many of the White Sox faithful, Alexei Ramirez burst onto the Major League scene in 2008 and contended for the AL Rookie of the Year. Alexei has been steadily improving his approach at the plate, and has already vastly improved his defensive prowess. Alexei had the tendency for the more flashy looking defensive stop, rather than the most effective defensive way to play the ball.
Alexei's signs of improvement really shined last season when turning two with second baseman Gordon Beckham. Those two can seemingly make something out of nothing, like a behind-the-back, no-look twin killing.
Ramirez finished last season with a solid .282 batting average, hitting 18 home runs and driving in 70. Look for Alexei to have a breakout season and burst onto the national scene.
The Cubs, on the other hand, have the best young prospect in the city of Chicago. Last season, in his first year in the big leagues, Cubs shortstop Starlin Castro hit an even .300 in 125 games played. In order to garner to the position as Chicago's top shortstop, Castro must improve his defense (27 errors) and must be more productive on the basepaths (10 of 18 in stolen base attempts).
Left Field: Juan Pierre (White Sox)
6 of 13
A good leadoff hitter can work wonders for a ball club's lineup, and that's exactly what the White Sox needed when they went and got Pierre from Los Angeles a year ago. Some may think that Alfonso Soriano, the highly paid, overrated left fielder for the Cubs is the best left fielder in town. Sorry, but that is just not the case. Juan Pierre is clearly deserving of this spot and provides the White Sox with speed, defense and intelligence at the top of the order.
Juan Pierre had a very productive first year in a White Sox uniform, hitting .275 in the leadoff spot and stealing 68 total bases. How did Soriano do? He hit .258 and stole five total bases. Soriano did however hit 24 long balls and drove in 79 runs, but Pierre's 47 runs batted in from the leadoff position is even more impressive (especially when he only hit three home runs).
Defensively, Pierre was outstanding, committing only one error all of last season. Soriano had seven. The intangibles Pierre provides puts him over the top as Chicago's best left fielder, not to mention him being a class act and one of the nicest athletes I've personally gotten the chance to meet.
Center Field: Alex Rios (White Sox)
7 of 13
This one was a close call between the aforementioned Rios and Cubs center fielder Marlon Byrd. Both players played well in their first full year with their respective teams, with Rios hitting .284 last season and Byrd hitting .293.
Rios was able to slug 21 balls out of the yard while driving in 88 runs, while Byrd only managed 12 long balls and 66 runs batted in. What sets Rios aside is his speed and threat on the basepaths. Rios was able to swipe 34 bases in 2010, 29 more than Marlon Byrd.
Each player had a solid spring showing, with Marlon Byrd hitting a whopping .431. These guys are also able to flash some leather and know how to properly read a ball off the bat when making a play.
Both players remain mainstays for each team's lineup, but the younger and more athletic Rios takes the cake when it comes to patrolling Chicago's center field.
Right Field: Carlos Quentin (White Sox)
8 of 13
This one was also pretty close, but not between two vital pieces as it was in center field with Rios and Byrd. Carlos Quentin wins this battle against cross-town right fielder Kosuke Fukudome for the starting job on Chicago's elite squad.
Carlos and Kosuke both had lackluster performances during the 2010 season. Quentin batted .243, but also hit 26 home runs and drove in 87. Quentin looked to improved at the plate this spring, working with hitting coach Greg Walker and changing some of his swing mechanics. This resulted in a .328 spring batting average and five home runs.
Fukudome looks as if he is headed in the opposite direction after a 2010 campaign that saw the Japan native hit .263 with 13 long balls and 44 runs batted in. Fukudome only hit .173 this spring, compiling more strikeouts (11) than hits (nine). If Fukudome doesn't start playing up to his contract, he won't be welcome on the North Side for long (a la Alfonso Soriano).
Both players could improve in the field as well. Quentin's main fielding issue is his tendency to miss a cut-off man or throw a ball way off line. Fukudome, in retrospect, has trouble adjusting to the ball off the bat, letting the wind of Wrigley Field get the best of him at times.
DH: Adam Dunn (White Sox)
9 of 13
This one was too easy. The White Sox (AL Central) have a full-time Designated Hitter, while the Cubs (NL Central) do not.
Adam Dunn will provide much-needed power from the left side of the plate, and will do a good job in protecting guys like Paul Konerko and Alex Rios in the lineup.
Starting Rotation: White Sox
10 of 13
Here is how each rotation is projected to look in 2011:
White Sox
Mark Buehrle
Jake Peavy (15 day DL)
John Danks
Gavin Floyd
Edwin Jackson
Cubs
Ryan Dempster
Carlos Zambrano
Matt Garza
Randy Wells
Andrew Cashner
The White Sox take this battle of starting rotations regardless of Jake Peavy's stint on the DL to start the year. Just the fact that Peavy was able to pitch in spring training coming off of shoulder surgery to repair a detached muscle, something that had not been done before with a pitcher, is amazing. Chris Sale will most likely get the call in place of Peavy for a few starts, which will be a good evaluator for the organization's top prospect.
The White Sox rotation is solid from top to bottom, is much more experienced and to my knowledge, no anger issues seem to appear. The Cubs rotation is a good one as well, but the inexperience of Cashner and the adjustment of leagues for Matt Garza is enough to put the southsiders on top. At least the Cubs can forget about Carlos Silva.
Bullpen: Cubs
11 of 13
Here is how each bullpen looks entering the 2011 MLB season:
White Sox
Phil Humber
Sergio Santos
Tony Pena
Chris Sale
Will Ohman
Jesse Crain
Matt Thornton (closer)
Cubs
Jeff Samardzija
Marcos Mateo
James Russell
John Grabow
Sean Marshall
Kerry Wood
Carlos Marmol (closer)
Both teams look to have solid bullpens coming out of spring training. I feel as though the White Sox bullpen is a little more well rounded from top to bottom, but what gives the Cubs the edge is their 1-2 punch to end a close game. Kerry Wood is back where he is comfortable at the friendly confines of Wrigley Field, and Carlos Marmol, in my opinion, is the best closer in baseball...IF he can locate the strike zone. Marmol has the uncanny ability to load the bases via walks and get out of it via consecutive strikeouts. This one is very close, but I got to go with the stronger tail end, located on the North Side.
Manager: Ozzie Guillen (White Sox)
12 of 13
The charismatic manager of the White Sox has become a household name due to his emotionally-driven rants, wacky antics and passion for the game he loves.
Ozzie Guillen brought a World Series trophy to Chicago, something that hadn't been done in the 88 years previous. He also has lead the White Sox to two AL Central Division Championships.
Cubs manager Mike Quade has yet to coach in a meaningful game.
2011 Season Slogan: White Sox
13 of 13
White Sox slogan: All in.
Cubs slogan: It's a Way of Life (W being famous W-flag flown after a Cubs victory).
This one is simple, the White Sox are all in without a doubt, resigning slugger Paul Konerko and bringing in big bat Adam Dunn.
I'm not too sure where the Cubs marketing staff is going with their slogan, but it is quite clever with the flag and all. But I wonder what kind of way of life they are talking about. If losing year in and year out is a "way of life" to be proud of, then by all means Cubbie staff members, let the whole world know exactly who the best loser is!
.png?w=480)
