Date: Mon, 05 Feb 96 22:05:46 EST
To: bosox@world.std.com
Subject: Poll on top Sox team since 1970

On the opinion poll that's circulating on the best team of Red Sox based solely
on post-1970 performance, here's what VORP has to say -- I've constructed an "A"
team and a "B" team:

    A         B
C   Fisk      Gedman
1B  Vaughn    Scott
2B  Reed      Barrett
3B  Boggs     Petrocelli
SS  Valentin  Burleson
LF  Yaz       Greenwell
CF  Lynn      Burks
RF  Evans     Reggie Smith
DH  Rice      Easler

The two teams actually comprise 18 of the top 20 players of that timespan by VORP;
the missing players are Bernie Carbo, who was #18 and Jerry Remy #19, who just
beat out George Scott who made the B-team at 1B.

And yes, I know Petrocelli was a first and foremost a shortstop -- but 
his years at 3B hurt his VORP, and Burleson was slightly ahead of him in
career VORP (plus, pre-1970 performances were excluded).  If you want the
next best third baseman, take Carney Lansford.

Other notes: Boggs is ahead of the rest of the post-1970 crowd in career value,
and with #2 Rice, and #3 Evans are lightyears ahead of the rest of the pack
(Yaz's best years are excluded from consideration).  Cecil Cooper lost to 
Scott by less than 10 runs for the B-team first baseman.  The worst position
player over this span?  Marc Sullivan.

Here's your pitching staffs:

    A	       B
SP  Clemens    Boyd
SP  Tiant      S. Siebert
SP  Lee        Boddicker
SP  Eckersley  Viola
SP  Hurst      Tudor
		
RP  Stanley    D. Drago
RP  Burgmeier  D. Lamp
RP  G. Harris  B. Campbell
		
Swing          Moret

I included Roger Moret at Swing because he split his appearances
almost exactly in half between starting and relief, and couldn't decide
where to put him.  And it allowed me to include Bill Campbell, a 
semi-hero of my youth.

Surprises (to me at least): Siebert, Greg Harris, Dennis Lamp, and Moret.

And as if there was any doubt -- Clemens leads this group by a 2-to-1 margin
over his next closest competitor (Stanley).

The worst pitcher since 1970?  Mike Smithson.