One thing I like about the All-Star starting lineups for 2024 is how they demonstrate the limits on putting together a great team. The lineup analysis here shows the AL squad capable of generating seven runs a game. Imagine a lineup with Adley Rutschman and Vladimir Guerrero bat eighth and ninth!
If you put that team in a 4.5 runs/game league, you would expect them to post a winning percentage of .708 or a 115-47 record. I like that number, as it is the mirror image of replacement level. Forty eight wins is sometimes used as replacement level, as it is the theoretical floor for wins by a major league team. So it’s not surprising, if you put together a superstar lineup, the ceiling for wins should be around 114.
It’s also the reason most organizations don’t try to have a lineup packed with superstars. Ninety five wins today means a trip to the playoffs. There’s no need to spend the money on the extra 20 wins, unless maybe you really need to win a World Series.
You can try getting really extreme with the LAT. Make a lineup of your favorite hitters, or even who you think are the greatest players at each position. Take their best season, or their three-year peak, and put in the OBP and Slugging percentages, and see how many runs you can generate. Maybe when I get time I’ll attempt this lineup:
- Barry Bonds, lf
- Willie Mays, cf
- Cal Ripken Jr., ss
- Babe Ruth, rf
- Ted Williams, dh
- Albert Pujols, 1b
- Mike Piazza, c
- Mike Schmidt, 3b
- Joe Morgan, 2b
Substitute as you like.