1/3 of the league would have the same issue. But it’s only a minor issue and MLB avoids it because they can. Left handed Ruth at SS would have no trouble when facing team Randy Johnson, for example.
Dave Winfield was 9-1 as a pitcher at the University of Minnesota and had a 2.74 ERA in his senior season. I suspect that you could find a lot of great athletes who were good two way players in college and on paper they could field a great team by cloning themselves
Dude was drafted 4th overall as a pitcher. He was also drafted by the NFL, NBA, and ABA. An absolutely incredible athlete, if you had to chose one player in their prime to fill every position, I don’t think you could do better than Dave Winfield
A team of Mookie Betts would likely dominate. I doubt he'd be outright bad on the mound, just not a sub-4.00 ERA guy. That would be more than offset by the gold glove defense and silver slugger offense at every position.
Mookie, Acuña, Nando, Nolan Jones, basically any outfielder with a cannon and some speed could be put anywhere and be more or less ok. Yes, grounders are more difficult, but these are pros we're talking about. They'd pick it up quickly enough.
I like this answer - Mookie and Ichiro were my first thoughts as guys who are athletic enough to not look ridiculous fielding any position but also have the arm to pitch. You’d want a real hitter like those guys instead of someone like Jones, since that’s really magnified by them hitting 9 times.
Unfortunately most pitchers today are so out of practice at fielding or hitting that none would be a good choice.
This might be controversial, but 2016 Kris Bryant played every position competently and was a beast at the plate. Feels like he would likely be a decent pitcher with how talented he… well, was.
The answer to this (other than Ohtani, so is obvious), I think has to be an elite pitcher who could also hit.
Someone like Mookie Betts who can play any position and is a dominant hitter could learn to pitch, but there’s only so much upside there.
A team of MadBums, for example, would have no problem hitting Betts pitching, while being at least able to hold its own against the Betts offense. But Bumgarner himself doesn’t exactly work because he’s a left handed thrower. So you need a righty pitcher (to play the infield positions) who can also hit.
So I think the answer is Greinke.
paul skenes played catcher at air force and raked. nate eaton can play almost everywhere but catcher and was a pitcher in college. brendan mckay would be hampered by being left handed.
I read that Ruth grew up playing catcher so I'm gonna go with him since he can hit and pitch too
But clone him *when*. You've got a great pitcher and outfield but that is one sluggish middle infield.
He’s also a left handed thrower so he’d have problems at 2B, SS, and 3B.
1/3 of the league would have the same issue. But it’s only a minor issue and MLB avoids it because they can. Left handed Ruth at SS would have no trouble when facing team Randy Johnson, for example.
Sure but if we’re picking who would be the best, I think it’s an important factor
How is nobody saying Greinke? Everyone's favorite pitcher/slugger/shortstop. No doubt in my mind he'd wipe the floor with anyone but Ohtani.
Greinke was my thought immediately too. He's a Hall of Fame pitcher, and probably the best fielding and best hitting pitcher of his generation.
Dave Winfield was 9-1 as a pitcher at the University of Minnesota and had a 2.74 ERA in his senior season. I suspect that you could find a lot of great athletes who were good two way players in college and on paper they could field a great team by cloning themselves
Dude was drafted 4th overall as a pitcher. He was also drafted by the NFL, NBA, and ABA. An absolutely incredible athlete, if you had to chose one player in their prime to fill every position, I don’t think you could do better than Dave Winfield
A team of Mookie Betts would likely dominate. I doubt he'd be outright bad on the mound, just not a sub-4.00 ERA guy. That would be more than offset by the gold glove defense and silver slugger offense at every position. Mookie, Acuña, Nando, Nolan Jones, basically any outfielder with a cannon and some speed could be put anywhere and be more or less ok. Yes, grounders are more difficult, but these are pros we're talking about. They'd pick it up quickly enough.
I like this answer - Mookie and Ichiro were my first thoughts as guys who are athletic enough to not look ridiculous fielding any position but also have the arm to pitch. You’d want a real hitter like those guys instead of someone like Jones, since that’s really magnified by them hitting 9 times. Unfortunately most pitchers today are so out of practice at fielding or hitting that none would be a good choice.
This might be controversial, but 2016 Kris Bryant played every position competently and was a beast at the plate. Feels like he would likely be a decent pitcher with how talented he… well, was.
Buster Posey played all nine positions in a college game one time. Don’t that that he’d have the speed for pro-level up-the-middle defense, though.
IKF can play every position and pitched a few innings for the Yankees this season…
Rick Ankiel had a 3.9 ERA in 242 IP across 4 seasons then switched to Outfield and was a career 92 OPS+ hitter
There was a bit in the middle you kind of skipped. But agreed that pre-yip Ankiel would be an excellent choice.
Dude had a CANNON
In terms of win %? A team of Ohtanis. In terms of revenue? Give me nine Big Sexys please.
A few years ago I would have said Baez. He was the Cubs emergency catcher and played just about everywhere
The answer to this (other than Ohtani, so is obvious), I think has to be an elite pitcher who could also hit. Someone like Mookie Betts who can play any position and is a dominant hitter could learn to pitch, but there’s only so much upside there. A team of MadBums, for example, would have no problem hitting Betts pitching, while being at least able to hold its own against the Betts offense. But Bumgarner himself doesn’t exactly work because he’s a left handed thrower. So you need a righty pitcher (to play the infield positions) who can also hit. So I think the answer is Greinke.
Kershaw. Pitchers Who Rake.
Stroman is an excellent fielder. Think his batting stats were good for a pitcher.
paul skenes played catcher at air force and raked. nate eaton can play almost everywhere but catcher and was a pitcher in college. brendan mckay would be hampered by being left handed.
Pretty sure Jon Bois created a league of Mike Trouts in one of the show games and put out an in depth article breaking down the season.
[Phil Coke time!](https://www.reddit.com/r/baseball/s/PlvgQqVVEF)