2007 Baseball “Ringers”

 

 

By Glenn Guzzo

 

            Strat-O-Matic Baseball gamers who have perpetually clamored for more players to complete realistic replays have created a monster – or, more precisely, have more monster “ringer” cards to use this year than ever, it seems.

 

            Call them “monsters” if you prefer. Although Ryan Braun gets in that group. Call them freaks. We call them ringers, remembering our playground days when guys of dubious eligibility were recruited for their ability to dominate the baseball, football or basketball games.

 

            In Strat-O-Matic card sets, these are the seldom-used players – injury replacements and late-season call-ups – who did so well in so few at-bats or innings pitched that they have eye-popping Strat cards.

 

            Strat-O-Matic cautions against overusing these players. Some leagues ban them outright. But others want the most sparkling cards they can find, and a Joe Dillon card is a treasure. Regardless, the very sight of these cards is entertaining.

 

            Traditionally, these are flash-in-the-pan pinch-hitters and relievers who will never repeat such gawker-quality numbers again. Remember 1996 Rudy Pemberton, the Boston outfielder who hit .512 in 41 at-bats?  Remember 1977 Roger Freed, who hit .398 and slugged .627 in 83 AB for St. Louis?

 

            The 2007 SOM card set gives us an unusually large group of players who belong in that league. Better yet, a lot of these guys have futures.

 

            We’re talking about Yankees reliever Joba Chamberlain, who had a 0.38 ERA in just 24 innings. We’re talking about Cubs catcher Geovany Soto, who hit .389 and slugged .667 in 54 at-bats. We’re talking about 72-AB Oakland first baseman Daric Barton who hit .347 and compiled a 1068 OPS. We’re talking about Houston outfielder Josh Anderson, who hit .358, had a .413 on base percentage and is rated a 2 defensively in left and center fields after a 67-AB debut.

 

            The group below can fill a lineup and then some. And it doesn’t even include St. Louis OF Rick Ankiel’s power-laden 172-AB card or Troy Percival’s scanty 40-IP reliever card.

 

            No, to qualify for this team, you have to have fewer than 125 AB or fewer than 40 IP. And you must be carded. No computer-only superstars with 5 AB or 4 IP will taint this collection. We have some standards.

 

 

 

            Typically, ringers are one-dimensional players whose freak cards are all offense. But the team we’ve assembled below can man an outfield with a 1 in center field and 2s in each corner, and add a 2 at shortstop. We’ve seen many worse defenses than that in stock teams and in draft leagues.

 

 

(Note: “chances” below refer to card chances out of 108 on each side of a player’s Advanced card. References such as “50-51 on base” mean 50 chances to get on base vs. LH opponents and 51 chances to get on base vs. RH opponents.)

 

Pitchers

Starter – Franklin Morales, Colorado … 39 IP, 3.43 ERA

            0 hit chances vs. LH batters

 

Reliever – Joba Chamberlain, NY Yankees … 24 IP, 0.38 ERA

            0 hit chances allowed vs. either LH or RH batters

 

Closer: Akinori Otsuka, Texas … 32 IP, 4 saves, 2.51 ERA

            9-20 on base, 0 HR chances, 3-rated closer

 

Catchers

            Geovany Soto, Chicago Cubs … 54 AB, .389 BA, .667 Slugging percentage

            54-52 on base, 62.5-83 total bases and 8 ballpark HR vs. RHP

           

            J. R. Towles, Houston … 40 AB, .375 BA, 1017 OPS

            vs. RHP: 38-44 hits, 43-53 on base, 45-70 total bases, +4 clutch

 

Infielders

1B – Daric Barton, Oakland … 72 AB, .347 BA, 1068 OPS

            56-52.5 on-base; vs. RHP: 78 total bases and 8 ballpark homers

 

2B (platoon) – Cody Ransom, Houston … 35 AB, .413 OBP

            50-51 on-base

 

            Delwyn Young, LA Dodgers … 34 AB, .381 BA, 1064 OPS

            vs. RHP: 54 hits, 91 total bases, 7 ballpark HR)

 

3B – Joe Dillon, Milwaukee … 76 AB, .342 BA, .500 slugging

            vs. LHP: 43 hits, 58 on base, 73 total bases, +4 clutch (vs. RHP: 42.5 on base)

 

SS – Jorge Velandia, Tampa Bay … 50 AB, .320 BA, 944 OPS

            55 on-base and 6 ballpark HR vs. RHP, ss-3 defense

 

            (defensive replacement – Ramon Santiago, Detroit … 67 AB, .284 BA

            37-33 on base, +4 clutch, *20 stealing, ss-2 defense

           

Outfielders

LF – Josh Anderson, Houston … 67 AB, .358 BA, .413 OBP

            45-38 hits, 53-51 on base, +4 clutch, 15 speed, lf/cf-2 defense

 

CF – Jacoby Ellsbury, Boston … 116 AB, .353 BA, 903 OPS

 

            (defensive replacement – Nyjer Morgan, Pittsburgh … 107 AB, .299 BA

            39-37 on base, 51 TB vs. RHP, cf-1 fielder, 16 speed, *17 stealing, A bunting

 

RF (platoon) – David Murphy, Texas … 105 AB, .343 BA, 936 OPS

            Vs LHP: 47 hits, 87 TB, +6 clutch (lf-2, rf-3 defense) vs RHP: 36 hits, 60 TB

 

            Timo Perez, Detroit … 90 AB, .389 BA, 960 OPS

            Vs. RHP: 50 hits, 78 total bases, +4 clutch

 

Bench:

1B/LF – Joey Votto, Cincinnati … 84 AB, .321 BA, 1008 OPS

            vs RHP: 35 hits, 65 total bases, 6.2 HR and 8 ballpark HR

 

1B/LF-RF – Shelley Duncan, NY Yankees … 74 AB, .554 slugging

            55-50 total bases, 11-12.5 HR, 8-8 ballpark HR

 

Utility IF – Donnie Murphy, Oakland … 118 AB

            Vs LHP: 60 total bases, 12.5 HR, 8 ballpark homers, ss-3, 2b-4, 3b-4 defense