The Face of OTHER Franchises

[GenoSeligPrieb]

I didn't want to hijack Brian's thread to veer off in this direction, but when you hear, for example, The 2007 Pirates, whose image comes to mind? I see them as a perennially underfunded, losing team, and no one embodies that overriding mindset of losing better than Kevin McClatchy.

 

Others, for better or worse:

 

Reds: Adam Dunn. Griffey reflects better on this franchise, of course, but Dunn is a plodding 3TO creature who fits that horrible ballpark best.

 

Cardinals: Given their amazing luck in bringing back the dead, it would have to be Troy Percival..

 

Cubs: Derrek Lee (If they stunk this year, it would have to be the same-ol' same-ol' Mark Prior).

 

Astros: Craig Biggio. Aging, not as productive anymore, a remnant of the old days.

 

Braves: Chipper Jones. Expensive, home-grown talent retained by Schuerholz, and surprisingly having a resurgent season..

 

Mets: Typically overpaid, big money free agent, Carlos Delgado.

 

Marlins: It's still the D-Train, for now. In fact, he's more typical, inthat, his big payday is coming soon, and it won't be in a Florida unform, so he fits the bill.

 

Nationals: Nick Johnson. Typically acquired in a salary dump deal, from the Yankees o less, now he heads to the DL every other month, as the franchise amasses losing seasons.

 

Phillies: Chase Utley. Normally, you'd say Ryan Howard, but in typical bad-luck Phillie fashion, this superstar sustains a significant injury, marring an otherwise decent season.

 

Diamondbacks: Eric Byrnes. Playing WAY over his head, brash, lucky, his exorbitant contract extension would normally come back to haunt Arizona management, but if they go belly-up again, they can just ask Bud for another loan. (If they were having a bad season, the prime candidate here would have to be the irresponsibly wasteful, bloated contract of a Randy Johnson).

 

Giants: Barry Bonds. Old, very expensive, slow, no longer has defensive range, and although he doesn't reeally care, Bonds deserves to be surrounded with last place talent.

 

Padres: Jake Peavy. (Couldn't be one of their hitters, now, could it? http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/wink.gif )

 

Rockies: Matt Holliday. Homegrown, young-ish, productive All-Star (albeit with the help of the home ballpark, of course).

 

Dodgers: Brad Penny. Expensive, successful starting pitcher shrewdly acquired in a salary-absorbing deal from a poor team.

 

Red Sox: David Ortiz. Slow, againg, expensive, doing just enough this year to keep them in 1st place, but with closer to his maximum contribution, Boston runs away with the division.

 

Orioles: Re-signed manager Dave Trembley. Rewarded handsomely by Peter Angelos for doing a below-average job.

 

Yankees: Roger Clemens. Ridiculously overpaid, unnecessary, signed out of spite, VERY probably fueled by chemical enhancements, ultimately past his prime.

 

Devil Rays: Casey Fossum. Overhyped former Plus-Arm-With-a-High-Ceiling acquired from one of the richest teams, for a real major leaguer, and who has failed miserably with this penny-pinching franchise. The fact that they released him makes him an even better candidate.

 

Blue Jays: JP Ricciardi. Overhyped, and despite plenty of resources, spends too much money on some questionable players.

 

White Sox: AJ Pierzynski. Combative, aging, underachieving, overpaid loser.

 

Tigers: Dave Dombrowski. Keeps pressing all the right buttons, winning wherever he goes.

 

Indians: Grady Sizemore. Clutch hitter, power, speed, great defense, another rising star acquired in a smart trade.

 

Twins: Michael Cuddyer. Homegrown, affordable, gritty, but his production is way down in 2007, and ultimately not productive enough to be a contributor to a playoff run.

 

Royals: Dayton Moore. Typically hired away from a rich team like the Braves by a small market franchise hoping he can produce the same magic, although with 1/4th the payroll.

 

Mariners: Jose Guillen. Wise free agent signing, relatively affordable, having a solid rebound season.

 

Angels: Garrett Anderson. Still productive, albeit aging, and expensive, a great veteran to have.

 

A's: Kiko Calero. Acquired in a salary dump deal for a rotation star, disappointing.

 

Rangers: Sammy Sosa. Decent home run power in a tiny ballpark, but other stats not as encouraging, past his prime, very possibly chemically-enhanced, a last place kind of player (see: Bonds, Barry).

[PlayerHader]

Face of the franchise or player who seems to be a microcosm of the franchise at this point in time? You seem to be going towards the latter.

Don't know how you could have anyone but Pujol's for the Cardinals otherwise.

[don1481]

IIRC Casey Fosum was released by the DRays

Which is exactly Geno's point - it's funny (and fitting) because Fossum was let go.

 

As for Geno's list... Chase Utley (ironically enough) broke his wrist (or was it hand?) and has been on the DL for awhile. Would the revolving door of third OFs that they've had this season almost be a more appropriate choice?http://static.yuku.com//domainskins/bypass/img/smileys/laugh.gif

[valpocrewsader]

Face of the Cubs has to be Zambrano. Combatitive, cocky, childish, annoying ... a punk who's way too in to himself. What sums up the current Cubs organization and fanbase better?

[homer]

What sums up the current Cubs organization and fanbase better?

 

http://www.tvdance.com/picture-cube/steve-bartman/steve-bartman-01.jpg

 

 

[GenoSeligPrieb]

Don gets the gist of this tongue-in-cheek list of mine.

I mean, c'mon, Casey Fossum carrying the banner for your franchise? That's where I was going with this whole long-winded exercise...

[dlk9s]

I skimmed some of the "faces" that were on ESPN.com and had to laugh at one: Andy Pettitte for the Yankees.

[Team Canada]

Orioles: Re-signed manager Dave Trembley. Rewarded handsomely by Peter Angelos for doing a below-average job.

 

Isn't Trembley 29-25 since taking over?

[jaybird2001wi]

Looks like we got an owner that could rival the Selig days:

 

Peter Angelos

The face of the Oriole franchise is Peter Angelos. There should be no team for which this is the case, but in Baltimore it's unfortunately the way of things. A team that was once defined by great players is now in the shadows behind its inept owner who has robbed the franchise of a proud tradition. The team isn't without a fan base that would much prefer to have its first thoughts of the team be Brian Roberts or Ramon Hernandez. Baltimore is home to a wonderful fan base that adores the Orioles, but during the past decade, Peter Angelos has worked hard to ensure that his name is the first thought anyone has upon seeing the color orange. He's accomplished this by blundering just about every possible chance he's had to do something right for this team. A day will eventually come when the cleanup hitter or a star pitcher is the face of the Orioles franchise. But that day is sadly not yet upon us.

[DannoMac21]

Reds: Ken Griffey Jr

 

Cardinals: Albert Pujols

 

Cubs: Carlos Zambrano

 

Astros: Craig Biggio

 

Braves: Chipper Jones

 

Mets: Carlos Beltran

 

Marlins: Dontrelle Willis

 

Nationals: Ryan Zimmerman

 

Phillies: Ryan Howard

 

Diamondbacks: Eric Byrnes.

 

Giants: Barry Bonds

 

Padres: Jake Peavy

 

Rockies: Matt Holliday

 

Dodgers: Brad Penny

 

Red Sox: David Ortiz

 

Orioles: Miguel Tejada

 

Yankees: Derek Jeter

 

Devil Rays: Carl Crawford

 

Blue Jays: Vernon Wells

 

White Sox: Ozzie Guillen

 

Tigers: Justin Verlander

 

Indians: Grady Sizemore.

 

Twins: Johan

 

Royals: Sad to say, but Alex Gordon

 

Mariners: Ichiro

 

Angels: Vlad Guerrero

 

A's: Dan Haren

 

Rangers: Sammy Sosa.