The best Possible 40 man Japenese Roster

You have a lot of non-Americans on America's best possible roster.

P Pedro Martinez
P Eric Gagne
P Bartolo Colon
P Mariano Rivera
2B Alfonso Soraino
3B Albert Pujols
SS Miguel Tejada
OF Maggilo Ordonez
OF Sammy Sosa
OF Manny Ramirez
OF Vladimir Gurrero
OF Juan Guanzalez
OF Andrew Jones
OF Ichiro Suzuki

- You have a lot of non-Americans on America's best possible roster.

A good snap-shot of the current state of baseball, perhaps? I like the idea of Cubans playing in the States, Americans playing in Taiwan, Taiwanese playing in Japan, Japanese playing in Korea, etc.

I meant the Major Leagues best possible roster, this team could easily defeat Japan, do you think so?

Not so easily. In baseball, whoever has the better pitching at the time of any short series usually wins, not what looks good on paper. So, if you took the best of NPB versus the best of MLB (irregardless of national origin) whoever has momentum can win.

This team could easily defeat Japan, do you think so?

Yes, the top baseball talent from around the world would defeat Japan's best. Thanks for the banal insight.

Who is the world's best? MLB and NPB both utilize talent from around the world. "1908," whether I'm right or wrong you don't have to be so rude and condescending.

I think the point 1908 is making is that if you take some of Japan's best players and put them on the other team, that puts Japan at something of a disadvantage. And I agree. I think if you took some of North America's best players and put them on a team with the best of Japan and Latin America, they'd have an advantage over a team made up of just American [U.S.A.] players.

If we're talking MLB vs. NPB, then while they both utilize talent from around the world, MLB utilizes far more of it. MLB's biggest advantage over NPB is its depth. That's the result of the gaijin limit in NPB. If NPB did away with it, I think it would draw level with the Major Leagues.

- Who is the world's best? MLB and NPB both utilize talent from around the world.

MLB is the best league in the world. The gap is closing, but recent sabermetric research puts the level of play in Japan between AAA and MLB, leaning closer to the latter, but there's still a significant difference. See CFiJ's post for a concise explanation as to why.

- "1908," whether I'm right or wrong you don't have to be so rude and condescending.

My comment wasn't directed at you, Kiyoshi, but I'll make sure to keep your sensitivities in mind from now on.

Winning or losing is still 80% pitching and I hate to be redundant but you cannot discount the big "MO" momentum going into any series.

So if Japan's all-star team challenged the MLB's all-star team, who would be on Japan's 40 man roster?

By the way, that was my question all along, what is your ultimate 40 man Japanese league [NPB] roster? Please do not include Hidiki Matusi, Kazuhiro Sasaki, Ichiro Suzuki, and that Ishii guy for the Dodgers.

I agree with "Guest." Likewise, the NPB roster should include non-Japanese players who have proven themselves in Japan.

Just tell me who would be on the NPB's all-star roster if they challenged the MLB All Stars? Please.

Well, with the exception of some players who were in Cuba with another tournament, the roster would probably look a lot like the one Japan sent against the Major League all-stars last November:

- Nichi-Bei 2002
- Nichi-Bei 2002 Game 2
- Nichi-Bei 2002 Game 3
- Nichi-Bei 2002 Game 4
- Nichi-Bei 2002 Game 5
- Nichi-Bei 2002 Game 6
- Nichi-Bei 2002 Game 7

If you missed it, Japan took the first three games of the Series, and not by a close margin, either. The Major Leaguers battled back and took the remaining four games, and thus the Series, but not blowing NPB out. It was one of the closest matched series' in a long while.

Why didn't Uehara pitch a second time?!!

Nonetheless, perhaps a better question would be, who wasn't on the roster who should have been?

Speaking of the Nichi-Bei series, I am trying to find the rosters of Japanese all-star teams for these years: 1996, 1992, 1990, 1988, 1986. I have the rosters of MLB players, but I missed the Japanese ones. Where can I find them (in English)?

Thanks a lot.

On a related note, Nikkan Sports last Monday (Jan. 6, 2003) gave their picks for their professional picks to the Japan "Dream Team" for the 2004 Athena Olympics. their starting members are:

P Uehara (Giants)
C Furuta (Yakult)
1B Ogasawara (Nippon Ham)
2B Imaoka (Hanshin)
3B Nakamura (Kintetsu)
SS K. Matsui (Seibu)
LF Y. Takahashi (Giants)
CF H. Matsui (Yankees)
RF Ichiro (Seattle)
DH Kiyohara (Giants)

Substitute pitchers:

Igawa (Hanshin)
Ishii (Dodgers)
Matsuzaka (Seibu)
Nishiguchi (Seibu)
Kawakami (Chunichi)
H. Ishii (Yakult)
Toyoda (Seibu)
M. Kobayashi (Lotte)

Substitute Fielders

Abe (Giants)
Nishi (Giants)
Nioka (Giants)
Iwamura (Yakult)
Fukudome (Chunichi)

Interesting how they have the Pacific League dominating in pitching and the Central League on the field (and at bat). And, of course, the Giants dominate any popularity contest.

This is the MLB's 25 man "Dream Team" roster:

Starting Lineup

C Mike Pizza
1B Jason Giambi
2B Alfonso Soraino
SS Alex Rodriguez
3B Albert Pujols
LF Barry Bonds
CF Vladimeer Guerreo
RF Sammy Sosa
DH Jim Thome

Pitchers

P Randy Johnson
P Pedro Martinez
P Curt Shilling
P Barry Zito
P Mark Mulder
P Tim Hudson
P Mike Mussina
P Matt Morris
P Roy Oswalt
P Marino Riveria

Bachup Position Players

Miguel Tejada
Manny Rameriez
Juan Guanzalez
Lance Berkman
Derek Jeter

Crud, I only have 24 men on my roster. To complete my team I would add Ichrio Suzuki. Yes, he counts as a major league player, I know. That guy is the ultimate version of Rickey Henderson.

I would also scratch Derek Jeter off for Chipper Jones.

So I guess if my MLB All-Star team played the NLB's all star team, my team would win by a mile.

You're comparing apples and oranges. Westbay-san listed a "dream team" made up of Japanese nationals, while you listed a multinational all-star team. A USA, Dominican or Venezuelan "dream team" would be more appropriate match-up.

Alright 1908, who would be on your Japanese Legaue Dream Team? Excluding Japense players in the MLB already because they play in America now, not Japan or Korea.

Since depth is MLB's main advantage, how 'bout you come up with your USA dream team or a team made up of Dominican all-stars instead? Like I said above, I agree that the top baseball talent from around the world would defeat Japan's best and, with all due respect, I don't think you're particularly insightful for suggesting it.

Here's the 30 man roster for my team. This is my favorite team out of all 3. This team has all my favorite players, and all the best players in the league. My 40 man roster has too many guys I hate, and my 25 man roster doesn't have some of my favorite players, so if I could choose any of these teams, I would choose this Major Legaue All Star Dream Team to challenge the Asian leagues' best 30 man roster. That would be a great matchup wouldn't it, even though this team would win?

Starting Lineup:

C Mike Pizza
1B Jason Giambi
2B Alfonso Soraino
SS Alex Rodriguez
3B Albert Pujols
LF Barry Bonds
CF Vladimeer Guerreo
RF Sammy Sosa
DH Jim Thome


Pitchers

P Randy Johnson
P Pedro Martinez
P Curt Shilling
P Barry Zito
P Mark Mulder
P Tim Hudson
P Mike Mussina
P Matt Morris
P Roy Oswalt
P Derek Lowe
P Tom Glavine
P Greg Maddux
P Marino Riveria

My Backups

SS Miguel Tejada
OF/DH Manny Rameriez
OF Juan Guanzalez
3B Chipper Jones
OF Lance Berkman
OF Maggilo Ordonez
IF Derek Jeter

Well it would be competive, but I think the MLB's ultimate 30 man roster would win because they beat Japan's all-star team in the seris in November, and they didn't have there best players. Only if they had a seris like that, the very best players from both leagues would be playing each other. Stll I think the MLB team would win.

All the best players in the world versus Japan, I'll go with the 30 man MLB Dream Team -- which would be your dream team DukeRules3. That's also my dream team.

Fine, who would be on Japan's 30 man roster, made up of players who play in the Japanese leagues, exculding Japanese players that play in the MLB?

I think the all-American team would be as folllows:

C Piazza
1B Helton (He can pure hit)
2B Kent
3B Rolen
SS Nomar
OF Bonds
OF Berkman
OF Giles (.450 OBP!!!)

SP Johnson
SP Schilling
SP Zito
SP Glavine
SP Maddux

RP Nen
RP Hoffman
RP Smoltz
RP Wagner

Bench:
Giambi
Thome
Hunter
L. Walker
M. Sweeney
C. Jones
Sheffield
Konerko

Isn't Larry Walker a Canadian?

Larry Walker is indeed Canadian. This is almost as bad as listing Don Mattingly at 2nd base on the other thread. Come on people-if you're not sure, then don't post erroneous information.

Oops, Walker is Canadian. My Bad. I dont know how I let that slip. Regardless, I think the All-American team looks pretty strong.

No A-Rod? Plus, I just can't see 5 first basemen on any 25-man roster.

I like this lineup better:

2B Durham (S) -- (I like Kent's bat as well but the team needs a leadoff hitter.)
SS Rodriquez (R)
LF Bonds (L)
C Piazza (R)
1B Giambi (L)
3B Rolen (R)
DH Thome (L)
CF Hunter (R)
RF Green (L) (Much better arm than Berkman or Giles)

Bench (assuming 9 pitchers): Lieberthal, Bagwell, Nomar, Chavez, Berkman, Giles and C. Jones

This board is about the Japanese league's best 30 man roster versus the Major Leagues 30 man roster I posted, so tell me whats your Major League 30 man roster.

Also your Dream team needs improvment ever heard of Tim Hudson and Roy Oswalt. Also Giambi is way better than Helton, Helton is only good because of the Altitude in Colorado, you know thin air.

Dude ever heard of Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter, and what about Mark Mulder.

1. A-Rod is Dominican

2. I know there are too many 1Bs on my squad, but it's so hard to pick between them. I totally forgot about Chavez, and I'll put him in there instead of Konerko.

3. I've seen Helton on the road, and the guy can just flat out hit. He hit 2 deep homers at Shea Stadium in NY, which is a great pitchers park. He's a very good fielder and I think he presents more of the total package than Giambi.

Also, I don't think that it is fair to compare a Japanese-Only team with the MLB All-Stars, as the MLB team is made up of many nationalities. In addition, how can you not allow Ichiro, Matsui, Nomo, Sasaki, etc. to not be on the Japanese team? That totally destroys their chances.

> 1. A-Rod is Dominican

Uh, A-Rod was born in New York and grew up in Miami...

A-Rod did live in the Dominican for a time... If he is American by birth, then he def. gets the SS spot...

Sorry about my inaccuracies, I've been under a lot of stress with midterms and such...

How about comparing this to America's all time players:

Position First Team Second Team Third Team
Pitcher 1 Kaneda, Yamada, Murayama
Pitcher 2 Inao, Bessho, M. Saito
Pitcher 3 K. Suzuki, Enatsu, Yoneda
Pitcher 4 Starffin, Koyama, Noguchi
Catcher Nomura, Fruta, Tabuchi
First Base Oh, Ochiai, Kiyohara
Second Base Rose, M. Takagi, Yamazaki
Third Base Nagashima, Kinugasa, Fujimura
Shortstop Toyoda, Fujita, Yoshida
Outfield 1 Harimoto, Yamauchi, Ichiro
Outfield 2 Yamamoto, Kadota, H. Matsui
Outfield 3 Fukumoto, Akiyama, Doi

The Major Legaue team isn't in any paticular order:

Pitcher 1 Clemens, Foufax, Ford, Marchial, W.Johnson
Pitcher 2 N.Ryan, Johnson, Seaver, Sphann, Roberts
Pitcher 3 Young, Maddux, Carlton, Walsh, Dean
Pitcher 4 Paige, Feller, Mathewson, Eckersley, Grove
Catcher Fisk, Bench, Pizza
First Base Mcquire, Gehrig, McCovey, Foxx, Kilbreew
Second Base Hornsby, Robinson, Lajoe, Morgan
Third Base Brett, Matthews, Shidmt, Molitor, B.Robinson
Shortstop Wagner, Ripken Jr., Banks, Yount, Smith
Outfield 1 Ruth, Willaims, Mantle, Di Maggio, Snider
Outfield 2 Aaron, Rose, Musial, Clemente, Speaker
Outfield 3 Mays, Cobb, Bonds, F.Robinson, R.Jackson

I like the dream team westbaystars posted. Just add Alex Cabera and Hideo Nomo.

Starting Linup:
P Uehara (Giants)
C Furuta (Yakult)
1B Ogasawara (Nippon Ham)
2B Imaoka (Hanshin)
3B Nakamura (Kintetsu)
SS K. Matsui (Seibu)
LF Y. Takahashi (Giants)
CF H. Matsui (Yankees)
RF Ichiro (Seattle)
DH Kiyohara (Giants)

Substitute Pitchers:
Igawa (Hanshin)
Ishii (Dodgers)
Matsuzaka (Seibu)
Nishiguchi (Seibu)
Kawakami (Chunichi)
H. Ishii (Yakult)
Toyoda (Seibu)
M. Kobayashi (Lotte)

Substitute Fielders:
Abe (Giants)
Nishi (Giants)
Nioka (Giants)
Iwamura (Yakult)
Fukudome (Chunichi)

How dare you! Eric Gagne isn't American. He's an amazing Canadian. Ichiro, Colon, Pedro Martinez, Tejada, etc. None of them are Americans. For shame, America, for shame.

The best Japanese pitcher is Tetsuhiro Monna.