Our first thought in building RedEye’s ex-Chicago All-Star team was to simply make a list and pick out the best. But that’s too easy. Where’s the difficulty in picking Luis Gonzalez over Doug Glanville?
No, we like a challenge. Since so many players left Chicago for budgetary reasons, we should be held to the same limitations.
So instead of signing ex-White Sox catcher Charles Johnson at $9 million, we settled on the dependable Damian Miller at $3 million. You’ve got to make choices, and it didn’t help our budget that we added a 26th roster spot for a designated hitter.
Using an imaginary budget of $66,036,114 (the MLB average in 2004), we created a complete team of former Chicago baseball players. It may not be the Yankees but look closely and tell us it can’t compete for the wild card in either league.
Forget winning the World Series, though.
The ex-Cub factor would be too great to overcome.
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STARTING LINEUP
First base: Rafael Palmeiro
($4 million). He has 534 homers and still producing, but at a bargain price.
Second base: Tony Womack ($300,000) He’s making the minimum and playing like the veteran he is.
Third base: Bill Mueller ($2.1 million) Character counts, but so do his hits and homers.
Shortstop: Royce Clayton ($650,000) He plays in Colorado, and … honestly, there was nobody else.
LF: Luis Gonzalez ($8.25 million)
Great, great hitter, and an even better person.
CF: Mike Cameron ($4,333,333)
Terrific in the field and rejuvenated at the plate.
RF: Carl Everett ($3 million)
We were under budget and needed a solid hitter.
DH: Rondell White ($2.75 million)
Finally playing DH where he belongs.
Catcher: Damian Miller ($3 million)
Affordable catchers who can hit, at least this year, are rare.
STARTING PITCHERS
LHP: David Wells ($1.25 million)
Putting up quality starts almost every outing.
RHP: Steve Trachsel s ($5 million)
A little overpriced but knows how to win.
LHP: Wilson Alvarez ($1.5 million)
On the verge of an amazing comeback.
RHP: Bartolo Colon ($11 million)
His 220 innings and 15-plus wins are hard to find.
LHP: Dontrelle Willis ($353,500)
He’s the real thing and dirt cheap.
BULLPEN
RHP: Tim Worrell ($2.75 million)
The former closer who can handle the set-up role.
LHP: Ray King ($900,000)
He’s an effective lefty out of the pen.
RHP: Chad Bradford ($965,000)
Because Billy Beane loves him.
RHP: Brooks Kieschnick ($380,000)
Is he a pitcher or a hitter?
Both, and good ones too.
RHP: Tom Gordon ($3.5 million)
Still solid, and Worrell can’t pitch every day.
Closer: Keith Foulke ($3.5 million)
Why would we want him?
His 0.43 ERA. Hello.
BENCH
IF: Tony Graffanino ($1.1 million)
He’s hitting .333 in KC.
IF: Julio Franco ($750,000)
Great price for top utility guy, plus it’s just fun that he’s 45.
IF: Kenny Lofton ($2,985,551)
He’s still an effective leadoff man, although overpriced.
IF-OF: Jose Hernandez ($500,000 estimated)
He’s versatile and has power.
IF: Todd Zeile ($1 million) Herbert Perry was too expensive at $1.7 million.
Ex-Chicago All-Stars total payroll: $65,817,051
And finally, our coaching staff:
Manager: Tony LaRussa, St. Louis
Hitting coach: Lee Elia, Tampa Bay
Pitching coach: Burt Hooton, Houston
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Edited by Chris Malcolm (ccmalcolm@tribune.com) and Chris Courtney (cdcourtney@tribune.com)
