The Pecan Park Eagle

Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez is my Night Train All Star Catcher.

The 20th century went out with a bang of talent that was some near time later found suspect of using performance-enhancing substances. I passed on one of the three most famous of these (Mark McGwire) in favor of another (Barry Bonds), but not because of the steroid cloud. In spite of his lights out years in 1998-1999, McGwire’s performance during the whole period here was not up to snuff with the overall hitting job turned in by Bonds from 1986 to 2000.

As per usual, feel free to agree, disagree, or modify my picks the way you see it. I will always listen – and maybe even change one or two of mine, if you make me a strong enough case for so taking that action. If my disagreements hold up to your objections, you will know it here by the fact that nothing will change on “my ballot.” But so what? Our opinions belong only to us. Ever try to cash one at the bank?

Just one note. I left “DH” off the selections chart yesterday because it is a position that exists only in the American League. Informally, I will say here that there i someone from this era who deserves, at least, an unofficial nod, even on something as minor as this era appraisal. – Hail to Edgar Martinez, the arguably most famous and effective DH of all time. This era was also his time to shine.

Here are my Night Train (1986-2000) 20th Century All-Stars:

RH Pitcher: Roger Clemens

LH Pitcher: Tom Glavine

C : Ivan Rodriguez

1B: Frank Thomas

2B: Roberto Alomar

3B: Wade Boggs

SS: Barry Larkin

LF: Barry Bonds

CF: Ken Griffey, Jr.

RF: Tony Gwynn

Please note that I have recovered some considerable memory of the American League in this era. It’s because we have now entered an era in which the American League deserves to be better remembered.

That’s it from me. Let’s hear from you.

Texas Baseball History Goes Way, Way Back!

Lone Stars of the Diamond, like most good reference books, is a work that lingers. I couldn’t resist having a minor run this morning at organizing my all-time native Texan team of former college players. In the short run, all I could do was come up with a roster I wouldn’t mind taking to spring training for the sake of allowing performance to whittle things down from there – with one major exception. If Tris Speaker goes 0 for 50 in spring training, he will still be my starting center fielder on Opening Day.

If you’re wondering where Roger Clemens is because you don’t know any better, he’s missing, of course, because he wasn’t born in Texas. He was born in Ohio. Otherwise, had he been a native Texan, Roger Clemens would have been my Opening Day starting pitcher, no matter what.

Here’s the spring training roster, with all of these guys showing up in their primes. Brad Mills should be so lucky, but that’s not how these kinds of all star teams work. We fans can put this kind team together and not be impeded by reality. If we were, I’d hate to consider what this team would cost us at today’s market values:

C – Matt Batts, Baylor; Chris Snyder, Houston; Jason LaRue, Dallas Baptist

1B – Lance Berkman, Rice; Norm Cash, Sul Ross; Eddie Robinson, Paris JC

2b – Davey Johnson, Texas A&M; Chuck Knoblauch, Texas A&M; Debs Garms, Howard Payne

3b – Grady Hatton, Texas; Max Alvis, Texas; Pinky Higgins, Texas

SS – Spike Owen, Texas; Roger Metzger, St. Edward’s; Ben Zobrist, Dallas Baptist; Topper Rigney, Texas A&M

LF – Don Baylor, Blinn JC; Bibb Falk, Texas; Ox Eckhardt, Texas; Steve Henderson, Prairie View A&M; Jose Cruz, Jr., Rice; Glenn Wilson, Sam Houston State; Aubrey Huff, Miami

CF – Tris Speaker, Texas Wesleyan; Curt Walker, Southwestern; Michael Bourn, Houston; Max West, North Texas; Jim Busby, TCU

RF – Beau Bell, Texas A&M; Ernie Koy, Texas; Keith Moreland, Texas; Carl Warwick, TCU; Hunter Pence, UT Arlington

P  –  John Lackey, UT-Arlington

P –  Doug Drabek, Houston

P –  Woody Williams, Houston

P – Burt Hooton, Texas

P – Tex Carleton, TCU

P – Bert Gallia, St. Mary’s

P – Murray Wall, Texas

P – Dou Rau, Texas A&M

P – Huston Street, Texas

P – Greg Swindell, Texas

P – Bill Henry, Houston

P – Calvin Schiraldi, Texas

P – Joel Horlen, Oklahoma State

P – Dennis Cook, Texas

P – Tex Hughson, Texas

P – Kip Wells, Baylor

P – Ryan Wagner, Houston

Have a great weekend, everybody!