Championship Teams' Roster Makeup

by drodd on Jun 9, 2011 5:00 PM CDT

I read everyone's comments about what Jim Hendry should do to build the best Cubs team. I have been thinking about what the best mix of player's wins championships. I looked at the past 3 World Series winners to see how they got their players whether they were free agents, trades, from the draft, etc. I also included the 2011 Cubs roster to compare. The Cubs have a similar formula from the past 3 champs.

2008 Phillies World Series Roster:
8 free agents
8 draft
6 trade
1 amateur free agent
1 waivers
1 rule 5 draft

2009 Yankees World Series Roster:
10 free agents
8 draft
1 Purchased
3 amateur free agent
3 trade

2010 Giants World Series Roster:
10 free agents
9 draft
4 Trade
1 amateur free agent
1 waivers

2011 Cubs Opening Day Roster:
8 free agents
6 trade
8 draft
3 amateur free agent

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, managing editor (unless it's a FanPost posted by Al). FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.

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So basically...

sign some FAs, hope some prospects are legit, and make a couple of trades.

I guess there’s more….All three teams had legit ace type pitcfhers (Hamels/CC/Lincecum)….All three had slightly erratic power RH arms as #2s (Myers/Burnett/Cain)…monster 1B for the Yankees and Phillies…monster 2B bats for the Yankees and Phillies…SSs played the role of “Heart and soul” for the Yankees and Phillies….

by SenorGato on Jun 9, 2011 5:17 PM CDT reply actions

I am so freaking drunk right now

I did three Dewars’ rocks while watching the Mavs-Heat. I did another two Morgan rocks later. I did a Glenfidditch rocks later and just polished off a pint of Ben & Jerry’s.

I LOVE YOU ALL! BITE ME!

"It's all in the game, yo"

by Worf on Jun 9, 2011 11:56 PM CDT reply actions

Wait . . . you had the Dewars FIRST??

Then Glenfiddich when you were already drunk? Wrong order!

Worf, Worf, Worf . . . . what were you thinking?

by Shanghai Badger on Jun 10, 2011 7:33 AM CDT up reply actions

No kidding, goes the other way...

Polish off the ice cream, down the fidditch and when you’re drunk go nice and cheap white label

by bdlugz on Jun 10, 2011 9:08 AM CDT up reply actions

Its a bit simplistic

to look at it this way. I wrote a pretty lengthy breakdown last year on what i believed separated the Cubs from consistent contenders and it wasn’t necessarily a higher reliance on FA, but it was the lack of flexibility the Cubs left themselves with year after year.

While it may look like the Cubs have a similar roster makeup and thus are approaching things similarly, its been very different and not just with the level of talent the Cubs have been able to develop but with the different routes they’ve taken with respect to FA as well.

One of the Cubs biggest issues is they haven’t allowed themselves to “get lucky” by maintaining flexibility. The Cubs don’t allow themselves to have a Andres Torres like cheap minor league FA come out of nowhere because they don’t have room for the guy. They don’t allow themselves to be potential players in every FA class because they tie up multiple roster spots to long-term deals. And they don’t allow themselves opportunities to get surprise development out of the system because they haven’t had the space.

http://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2010/5/8/1464019/what-differentiates-the-cubs-from

follow me on twitter for fantasy sports analysis @http://twitter.com/DrewDinkmeyer or get the full analysis at www.fantistics.com

by DartmouthCubsFan on Jun 10, 2011 8:15 AM CDT reply actions

Agreed

You have Fukudome and then get MB for 3 years, when you could have gotten Abreau for 1 year. Only when Hendry has lacked payroll flexibility – this year – did he think about a one year deal to fill a position player – Pena. Before, it would have been another 3 year deal.

Also, the specific roles the players in the different categories is important – starter vs. bench. The Phillies had Howard, Utley, Rollins, Victorino, and Burrell all from their system. That’s a lot of ABs from your own system.

"Easy on the words, brother,'' Quade said.

by RiskyBusiness on Jun 10, 2011 11:14 AM CDT up reply actions

I'ts not this easy...

…the key to this whole thing (at least in the short term) is not where the players come from, it’s which players you choose.

"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel

by MPH73 on Jun 10, 2011 9:23 AM CDT reply actions

How about the quality of the free agents or traded players?

never forget...
1.7%
anything is possible...

by wrigleyrocker12 on Jun 10, 2011 11:07 AM CDT reply actions

Also, what players were used to acquire those players through trade?

I think I speak for everyone here when I say, "Wait, what the hell are you talking about?"

by Ross on Jun 10, 2011 11:14 AM CDT reply actions

Championship dynasties are built on young cheap talent and superstars

This is literally how the Yankees put together all those world series titles. They spent all their money on developing and retaining the best catcher-shortstop-center field combination in baseball so that they could get cheap and effective corner outfielders and corner infielders. (Arod came later).

Here is the core of the late 90’s Yankees team:
Jeter – drafted
Williams – signed at 17 years old
Posada – drafted
Andy Petitte – drafted
TIno Martinez – traded to Yankees by Mariners
Paul O’Neil – traded to Yankees by Reds
Chuck Knoblach – traded to Yankees by Twins
Orlando Hernández – signed as free agent (defected from Cuba)

Develop a team – Then sign the free agent hired guns to fill in. The Cubs are doing it backward.

by subtle on Jun 10, 2011 11:56 AM CDT reply actions