Who would you start a franchise with?

[Mithcairion]

This came up in the Derek Jeter hits #3,000 (http://elementscommunity.org/forum/index.php/topic,28477.msg389105/topicseen.html) thread as a discussion that I have had with others, and now I'm wondering what you think:  If all the players in the MLB were cut from their current teams and there was a "draft" of sorts as to what team gets which players, who would you take to start your franchise?

The criteria for answering this question is simple:  Go according whatever you think is most important for a player to have if you're basing the rest of your team around him.  It can be a dominating power pitcher, a veteran 'coach on the field', a prodigious power hitter, whatever you think is most important.  All I'm looking for is really what player you would take first and why you would take him.  What I don't want is for people to go attacking each other and if/when this happens I will ask you to edit your post, or else I will lock the thread, so please don't ruin the fun for the rest of us.

I'll start us off.  Four years ago I named Derek Jeter as this player I would take to be the basis of my entire franchise, but doing this exercise today my mind has changed (Jeter is obviously four years older and the end, while not necessarily near, it is definitely in sight).  Today I would start with Adrian Gonzalez.  He has phenomenal contact and power numbers year after year, plays an outstanding defensive 1st base which, while not vital to a team, just ask a player who doesn't have a good defensive 1st basemen to throw to how much of a difference it makes, has always been a diligent worker and great teammate, and is still quite young so his best days may still be ahead of him.

Can't wait to see what people think!

[ddevans96]

As I touched upon on the other thread, two friends and I basically made a list of 20 players we would start a franchise with. The ones we all three of us had were Ichiro, Pujols, Jeter, and, and Helton (we're from CO but Helton's a good player regardless).

I can't remember or find my exact list, but I do recall that much. I'll probably make a new list later. This is pretty much the template we used:

Starting Infield -
1B:
2B:
3B:
SS:

Starting Outfield -
LF:
CF:
RF:
C:

Pitching Staff -
P:
P:
P:
P:
RP:
RP:

Alternates -
IF:
IF:
IF:
OF:
OF:
OF:

(Yeah, even in sports talk, someone insists on having a template )

[Chromatophore]

I'm biased towards my hometown so i'll have to say Ryan Braun.  He has outstanding plate coverage, he hits for power, he's a threat on the base paths, he is devloping skills in the outfield, and he is just 27 years old.

[Mithcairion]

Players that entered into the conversation for me:  Adrian Gonzalez (boy did he make my pick look good the last couple of nights), Troy Tulowitzki, Matt Kemp, Buster Posey (this was Joe Mauer as recently as a year ago, but his rash of inexplicable injuries both scares and saddens me), Jose Reyes, Felix Hernandez, Joey Votto, and Time Lincecum.  This is not to say others aren't worthy, just the ones that have a definitive edge over others that play the same position.

[Xsshstex]

The Beard!

[Corrin]

i would have to choose jeter. he is the best shortstop in the league. almost every year he wins a golden glove. if u dont have a good short stop ur gonna loose a lot of ur games. not only that but is is amazing at the plate

[cambovenzi]

i would have to choose jeter. he is the best shortstop in the league. almost every year he wins a golden glove. if u dont have a good short stop ur gonna loose a lot of ur games. not only that but is is amazing at the plate

He is not even close to the best SS in the league and hes getting very old.

If you want to pick a great young SS, Troy Tulowitski is your guy.

[sprtstr14]

I would start with Barry Bonds*! More home runs = more wins!

[Chromatophore]

i would have to choose jeter. he is the best shortstop in the league. almost every year he wins a golden glove. if u dont have a good short stop ur gonna loose a lot of ur games. not only that but is is amazing at the plate

He is not even close to the best SS in the league and hes getting very old.

If you want to pick a great young SS, Troy Tulowitski is your guy.

Or the guy on the cubs: starlin castro.

[Xsshstex]

I'd go with Albert Pujols..
tons of HR
an underrated; but great fielder;
and still young
and didn't use steroids *cough* ARod *cough*

[Mithcairion]

Pujols is definitely a worthy choice, it simply comes down to what you're looking for.  Frankly, his mysterious injuries scare me and make me think that his peak years will be shortened by a couple of years.  Seeing as how he's already closer to the end of those years than the beginning, this is what causes me to go in another direction.

[Chromatophore]

I'd go with Albert Pujols..
tons of HR
an underrated; but great fielder;
and still young
and didn't use steroids *cough* ARod *cough*

underrated? lol he won a gold glove