New York Yankees All-Time Team

I used to love taking a personal day off from work or school to hang out in New York City, especially in the spring. While we're at it, let's take a walk through Monument Park to marvel at the mighty Yankees All-Time roster.

The Yankees haven't won a World Series since 2009. That might not sound like a long time to fans in Cleveland or Seattle, but that's an eternity to a New Yorker.

Casey Stengel has an easier job than most All-Time Team managers. Just write the names of these legends on the lineup card and rest easy:

This team is too overpowered. Since we can't implement a salary cap we'll have to find another way to level the playing field. 

A-Rod is Seattle's problem now. Graig Nettles might not be able to match Rodriguez's production, but he certainly won't try to cheat.

Stengel has a lot of options off the bench.

Thurman Munson joined Joe Gordon and Jason Giambi on the Barnstormers - our "best of the rest" roster made up of players who couldn't catch on with an All-Time Team. That roster will be re-evaluated too; Earle Combs is among the new names 'Stormers skipper Joe Torre has to choose from.

As for the Bronx Bombers bench, Charlie Keller was chosen as the only natural left fielder. Can he keep his spot with increased competition?

	Yankees stats	WAR	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	OPS+
	*Charlie Keller	42.5	0.286	0.410	0.518	0.928	153
	Brett Gardner	44.3	0.256	0.342	0.398	0.740	100
	Roy White	46.9	0.271	0.360	0.404	0.764	121

Yeah, there's no minimum career hits requirement in this series. Keller stays.

Starting pitching isn't the Yankees' strength; Mariano Rivera is their career leader in pitcher WAR. Casey Stengel's rotation is a bit too left-handed as well. Could there be some competition?

	Yankees stats	WAR	ERA	ERA+	K/BB	WHIP
	*Andy Pettitte	51.3	3.94	115	2.27	1.373
	*CC Sabathia	29.4	3.81	112	2.95	1.272
	Red Ruffing	46.5	3.47	119	1.43	1.282
	Mel Stottlemyre	40.7	2.97	112	1.55	1.219

Sabathia looks like the odd man out here despite boasting the best strikeout-to-walk ratio. He's got Cleveland eligibility, and Ruffing is a Hall of Famer. Stottlemyre might actually be the best righty overall. Casey goes with his gut and keeps CC on board. Sorry, Cleveland.

Opponents better get some runs off those guys because the Yankee bullpen is untouchable.

There was one spot up for grabs in spring training...

	Yankees stats	SV	ERA	ERA+	K/BB	WHIP
	*Steve Hamilton	36	2.78	122	2.59	1.109
	Dellin Betances	36	2.36	177	3.65	1.043
	Mike Stanton	15	3.77	121	2.47	1.327

...and Dellin Betances won it handily. Aroldis Chapman has more Yankee years in his career than seasons in Cincinnati, but he'll stick with the Reds.

You probably won't see an All-Time roster that's harder to break through than the Yankees. That said, Aaron Judge is coming for Keller. If Gerrit Cole stays in the Bronx for a few more years, he's got an excellent chance at a rotation spot. And if Anthony Volpe and Jasson Dominguez are as good as Yankees fans say they are, they'll end up in Cooperstown, Monument Park, and an All-Time Team of the future.


TL; DR: Two changes from the original roster. Rodriguez and Hamilton out, Nettles and Betances in. This is starting to become a habit.


Come back tomorrow for an equally powerful All-Time Team, the Tampa Bay Rays.


Thanks for reading!


 
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