With the world at a stop the need for content, and creating your own content is at an all time high. We have nothing to talk about except for hypothetical situations. This week I've enlisted my friend Chris Erb to join me in a draft. The premise is simple, we're going to create 2 baseball teams, both teams will be made up entirely of fictional baseball players. After our draft the 2 teams are going to play a game and that will decide the winner. The game will be played tomorrow so be sure to come back tomorrow night to read how things turned out. The draft has a few rules. First of all it's a snake draft, since I'm the home team I've given Chris the first pick. Rule B) Whatever position is taken has to be filled by the person with the next pick, so you can't sandbag on your 1B and draft other guys after someone gets taken. The rosters will be all 8 position players, OFers can play anywhere, IFers have to play their position, we'll draft 3 pitchers, a starter, a reliever, and a closer, pitchers don't have to be relievers in the movie, you can have a SP be a RP. Finally we'll pick someone to manage our clubs and create a line up to be turned in. Finally, the game will contested right here in Dyersville at the stadium MLB is building for a game nobody is certain is going to happen. The game is a figment of our imagination so why not play it where imagination and baseball collide.
The hour is upon us and Commissioner Kevin Costner comes to the stage to welcome everyone to the draft, and announce that Chris is on the clock.
Round 1 Pick 1: Billy Chapel SP (Kevin Costner, For Love of the Game) Erb comes out swinging, picking up the commissioner, trying to buy some faith from the league offices. Chapel pitched a perfect game at age 37 and quickly retires. I'm guessing Chris is hoping he finds that magic again.
Round 1 Pick 2: Steve Nebraska SP (Brendan Fraser, The Scout) Nebraska is discovered by Yankees scout Al Percolo in Mexico. What Steve has in talent he loses with his erratic behavior, but when Nebraska has it he's unbeatable. In his most famous start (a World Series game vs St. Louis), he throws a perfect game with 27 strikeouts in 81 pitches and also hits 2 solo home runs. I'll take my chances with the mind games.
Round 2 Pick 1: Bobby Rayburn LF (Wesley Snipes, The Fan) Bobby Rayburn is my favorite movie baseball character ever. He's Barry Bonds, a 3X MVP who signs with the Giants and can't wear his favorite number. I'm putting Rayburn in LF hoping to snap my CF later in the draft.
Round 2 Pick 2: T-Rex Pennebaker LF (Brian White, Mr. 3000) T-Rex is what you want in LFer, he's got the pop to bat in the middle of the order, and the arrogance to boot. He pops 50 homers for the Crew that season and will fit nicely in the middle of the line up.
Round 3 Pick 1: Willie Mays Hayes CF (Wesley Snipes, Major League) If you look at any fictional team on the internet Willie is the CF for almost every team. He'll bat lead off and steal you 100 bases, provided his shoes are tied. He may run like Mays and hit like shit, but when he gets the ball on the ground he's almost impossible to get out. Plus he can make so many plays in the OF.
Round 3 Pick 2: Lonnie Ritter CF (Joseph Lattimer, Little Big League) Lonnie is the best fictional CF in the world but considering I have to pick my CF here, I gotta take him. He bats in the middle of the order for Billy Haywood's Twins, plays solid defense and provided his ribs are ok he'll do the job in CF for my team.
Round 4 Pick 1: Jack Elliot 1B (Tom Selleck, Mr. Baseball) When the Yankees decide it's time to move on from the aging Elliot they trade him, to Japan. Jack goes to Japan and finds great success, so much success he almost breaks the most treasured record in Japanese Baseball, held by his manager, by homering in 7 straight games. Instead of trying to break the record though Jack bunts and gets home 2 runs helping his team win the pennant.
Round 4 Pick 2: Clu Haywood 1B (Pete Vuckovich, Major League) It will be dueling Yankees 1B in this game, as Haywood led the league in every offensive category including nose hairs. Clu can also be a distraction for opposing base runners at 1B, he did get Willie picked off on Opening Day, and then hit a Grand Slam that has landed yet.
Round 5 Pick 1: Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez SS (Mike Vitar, The Sandlot) When you pickle the beast and win, you become a Legend, and as Babe Ruth teaches us, there's heroes and there's legends, heroes get remembered but legends never die. Benny had so many feats on the diamond, even a kid he was a prodigy. He knocked the guts out of the ball, hit a ball right into Smalls glove and played all 9 positions. He's the perfect SS for this game.
Round 5 Pick 2: Bugs Bunny SS (Bugs Bunny, Baseball Bugs) He can play all 9 positions, so why not Shortstop. Bugs has the versatility we need, and in a pinch he can pitch for us, he once stuck out the side in one pitch.
Round 6 Pick 1: Roy Hobbs RF (Robert Redford, The Natural) Took long enough for the best player to get picked. Hobbs was the best prospect in the world till he was shot on a train by a psychopath. He disappeared for a while before returning to baseball later in life. Playing for the New York Knights he showcased his "light tower power" and hit one of the most famous home runs in cinematic history.
Round 6 Pick 2: Alejandro "Butch" Heddo RF (Tom Milanovich, Rookie of the Year) Heddo has some pop. He lead the league in homers while playing for the Mets. He also takes Henry deep in his first pitch. He's a little big for the OF but I think he'll be fine with WMH patrolling CF.
Round 7 Pick 1: Jack Parkman C (David Keith, Major League II) Catcher is probably the 2nd deepest fictional position in movies, and Parkman is arguably the best of them. He has tremendous power and can name pitches.
Round 7 Pick 2: Dottie Hinson C (Geena Davis, A League of Their Own) She's best player in one of the best baseball movies ever. She puts an entire league on her back and carries them to the promised land. She has what you want in a catcher, great knowledge of the sport and when her pitchers are out of gas.
Round 8 Pick 1: Marla Hooch 2B (Megan Cavanagh, A League of Their Own) What a hitter!!!
Round 8 Pick 2: Mickey Scales 2B (Antonio Lewis Todd, Little Big League) A light hitting speedy defender, looks perfect on Chris's team. Don't be shocked though, every once in a while Mickey puts a charge into the ball when he gets aggressive and be's a hitter.
Round 9 Pick 1: Ray Mitchell 3B (Stoney Jackson, Angels in the Outfield) On a team that need divine intervention to be any good, Mitchell was the only player that was good before the Angels showed up. He'll hold down probably the toughest position in movie baseball to fill.
Round 9 Pick 2: Roger Dorn 3B (Corbin Bernsen, Major League) He isn't high priced talent, can still hit the ball, just can't field it, and I'll make sure he's out of town before his wife gets jealous, but Dorn is a pro and I can trust him to what's best for the team in any situation, including getting plunked if need be.
Round 10 Pick 1: Ryan Dunne RP (Freddie Prinze Jr., Summer Catch) Dunne has a lot of potential, that's why I only want to use him in short relief. If he can keep his head on he'll help us late in the game.
Round 10 Pick 2: Jim Bowers RP (Jonathan Silverman, Little Big League) Bowers is the perfect bullpen arm, he keeps the team loose, has some quirk to himself, but also doesn't take himself too seriously.
Round 11 Pick 1: Rick "Wild Thing" Vaughn Closer (Charlie Sheen, Major League) Wild Thing lives for the big moment, typically a starter, he was coming out of the bullpen in game deciding situations before it was cool. He'll dial up the fast ball when needed and throw triple digits.
Round 11 Pick 2: Henry Rowengartner Closer (Thomas Ian Nicholas, Rookie of the Year) He may be a kid, but he's got a rocket arm. If we're up late in the game and need someone to lock it down, we'll be turning to Henry so lock it down. He isn't just a one trick pony either, if he gets in a jam he's always got the floater.
Round 12 Pick 1: Jimmy Dugan Manager (Tom Hanks, A League of Their Own) Will be interesting to see what Dugan does with ballplayers and not girls. He's old school, will fight for his team and make sure nobody cries, because there is no crying in baseball.
Round 12 Pick 2: Billy Haywood Manager (Luke Edwards, Little Big League) Provided Billy doesn't watch "Night Nurses from Jersey" the night before the game he should be fine. He's 12 but demands respect from the players, and the employees of the Twins. Billy also has a few tricks up his sleeve, and one Bill Haywood has to be able to speak him mind to an umpire. This might be difficult for him since the game is National League rules and he doesn't have the DH.
The Line Ups will be:
Team Erb Team Bredeson
Willie Mays Hayes CF Bugs Bunny SS
Benny Rodriguez SS Marla Hooch 2B
T-Rex Pennebake LF Bobby Rayburn LF
Clu Haywood 1B Roy Hobbs RF
Jack Parkman C Jack Elliot 1B
Alejandro Heddo RF Steve Nebraska P
Ray Mitchell 3B Dottie Hinson C
Mickey Scales 2B Roger Dorn 3B
Billy Chapel P Lonnie Ritter CF
Reminder to come back tomorrow night for the game, let us know your thoughts on the draft, I know we left some talent out there but filling positions is tough.
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