ATB 14 Hall of Fame Inductees

http://www.alltimebaseballsim.net/ATB_Hall_of_Fame.htm

20 Resims: #7 Ee-Yah Orators

At the end of each season owners may submit a new lineup that is used in the 20 Resim competition.  This competition is purely for speculation and is used as a gauge to determine who had the best draft.  The true ATB champion remains the World Series winner.

20 seasons are automatically simulated and compiled.  No lineup changes are allowed and injuries are turned off.  Through a formula that considers Win-Loss record, Playoff Appearances, and Pythagorean Record the teams are ranked in order from worst to first.

Special thanks to Justin B who provided the formula and methodology behind the raw park OPS values, which provides a new way to interpret park factors.

Similar to the 8th ranked Brighton Shadows, Mike S’ Ee-Yah Orators were a team that showed hints of greatness but ultimately fell short of elite thanks to a few questionable draft picks. 

The Orators featured many of the key elements all memorable teams draft.  A great pitching staff?  Check, see Pedro Martinez and reliever Rafael Betancourt.  Superb defense?  You bet with Hughie Jennings, Chase Utley, and Keith Hernandez taking the field every day few teams were better.  Position scarcity?  Covered – King Kelly and the aforementioned Jennings.  What they needed, however, was a middle of the order type of player, and what they drafted was Larry Doby in the 4th round. 

We can’t pin everything on Doby. Utley was anemic at the plate, 5th Rounder Josh Hamilton was a disappointment, and with those holes, carrying Jimmy Williams and Tommy Holmes in the lineup everyday became problematic as well.  In a park that only slightly favored pitchers, six regulars (including 2 platoons) didn’t crack a .700 OPS.

Getting back to their lack of a middle of the order batter, here are the resim results for their round 4, 5, and 6 selections:

Doby: .247 / .325 / .345 in centerfield
Hamilton: .291 / .318 / .418 in left
Holmes: .267 / .310 / .287 in right

Playing the “what if” game again, how about Lip Pike (.754 OPS) in center field, Albert Belle (.869 OPS) in left, and Goose Goslin (.750 OPS) in right field.  Each was available at the time the Orators drafted, and the difference is pronounced to say the least.

Overall however, this was still a very good team.  The pitching was great thanks to Pedro and a quality bullpen (see below).  The rotation was better than many expected, with Deacon Phillippe, David Cone, and Larry Dierker all measurably better than the average ATB starter.

Cap Anson was a great find (.373 OBP), even if drafted perhaps a bit early, and King Kelly is still a top flight catcher despite a pronounced dip in results (.308 / .383 / .362) vs. ATB Career line of .328 / .413  / .398).

The team won 7 division titles, was 5th in Run Differential, and made the playoffs 9 of 20 times.  They are also our first team to win 100 games in any single re-sim season and sunk below 80 wins just twice.

800 OPS Batters:
Not one player was even close to .800  Remarkable for the 7th ranked team

Sub 4.00 ERA Starters
Pedro Martinez: 2.50 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 20 W, 280 IP
Deacon Phillippe: 3.90 ERA, 1.34 WHIP
David Cone: 3.59 ERA, 1.33 WHIP
Larry Dierker: 3.76 ERA, 1.35 WHIP

Sub 3.25 ERA Relievers
Rafael Betancourt: 2.44 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 37 Saves
Greg Holland: 3.20 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, 84 IP
Mike Myers: 2.61 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 61 IP
Jonathan Broxton: 3.14 ERA, 1.52 WHIP, 45 IP

Best Value Draft Pick
Either Holland (24th) or Jim O’Rourke (again in the 24th) with a .706 OPS.

Bust Draft Pick
Rd 4: Larry Doby, who had an OBP close to .400 in the 79 resims.

Tally so Far
#24 - Downsouth Brews
#23 - Leesburg Snow
#22 – dogphin29
#21 – Team America World Police
#21 – Uncle Robbie’s Daffiness Boys
#19 – Indiana Black Sox
#18 – Haven Tommyknockers
#17 – Planet 10 Red Lectroids
#16 – North Podunk Banana Bears
#15 – Willets Point “Mechanics”
#14 – Saginaw Slammers
#13 – Helena Handbasket
#12 – Rusty Kuntz Traveling All Stars
#11 – Spanish Harlem Pinata Beaters
#10 – DC Chips
#9 – John McDonald Fanclub
#8 – Brighton Shadows
#7 – Ee-Yah Orators

Sweep! Stewart strong in Otherton's 7th win in a row

NLCS Game 4
Otherton Fishbiscuits @ Ee-Yah Orators

In what might be the best playoff run in ATB history, the Otherton Fishbiscuits win their 7th consecutive contest and sweep the Ee-Yah Orators 6-2 in game 4 of the NLCS.  Starter Lefty Stewart went 7 strong innings and five different Fishbiscuit batters drove in a run in the win.

Clinging to a 3-2 lead, Otherton put the game out of reach in the 9th.  Greg Holland opened the inning for the Orators but after recording the first out, gave up 3 consecutive singles and a stolen base, letting in two runs.  He was relieved by Bruce Ruffin who gave up another single, another run, and ultimately the season.

Starting Pitchers Results
Stewart (OFB): 7.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 3 K
Martinez(EYO): 7.0 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 7 K

Terry 5-hits has Otherton on cusp of first World Series bid

NLCS Game 3
Otherton Fishbiscuits @ Ee-Yah Orators

In an exiting game that saw eight different lead changes or lead ties, the Otherton Fishbiscuits took a commanding 3 games to 0 lead over the Ee-Yah Orators.  First Basemen Bill Terry paved the way with 5 hits, a walk, a key stolen base, and the ultimate game winning single in the 10th.

Ken Tekulve was brought in to protect a 1-run lead in the bottom of the 9th but blew the save on a Josh Hamiilton double that scored King Kelly.  The Orators had a chance to win it, but left runners on 1st and 2nd with no outs, letting Tekulve off the hook, and sending the game into extra innings. 

Neither starting pitcher performed particularly well, each giving up 3 runs on 10 hits.  Fred Clarke, Max Carey, and Placid Polanco had two hits each for Otherton; King Kelly and Cap Anson went 3-6 in the loss for Ee-Yah.

The Orators try to avoid the sweep tomorrow, sending Pedro Martinez to the mound on short rest.  He'll face Lefty Stewart.

Starting Pitchers Results
Joss(OFB): 5.0 IP, 10 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 0 K
Cone(OFB): 5.0 IP, 10 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 2 K

National League Cy Young Award

The Otherton Fishbiscuits' Addie Joss is the National League Cy Young Award winner.  Joss outpaced Pedro Martinez by receiving 8 of 15 first place votes and only missing a vote on 1 ballot.  Joss not only had a stellar W-L record at 23-14 and a superb ERA of 2.60, he led both leagues in innings pitched at 294.  Voters took that into consideration when comparing to Martinez, who may have had slightly better rate stats but threw 40 less innings.

Cy Blanton came in third and was on more ballots than Martinez.

(# Ballots) Total Points (1st, 2nd, 3rd Place Votes)
(14)56 - Addie Joss, OFB (8, 5, 1)
(13)37 - Pedro Martinez, EYO (4, 4, 5)
(14)30 - Cy Blanton, HT (2, 4, 8)
(2) 8 - Walter Johnson, HH (1,1,0)
(2) 4 - Jesse Tannehill, NPB (0, 1, 1)

Top of the order solves Phillippe, Fisbiscuits win 6-2

NLCS Game 2
Ee-Yah Orators @ Otherton Fishbiscuits

The Otherton Fishbiscuits take a commanding 2-0 series lead after a relatively easy 6-2 win against the Ee-Yah Orators.  Bill Terry and Honus Wagner, batting 1st and 2nd for Otherton, banged out 8 hits with 3 runs and 3 RBI.  Ken Griffey Jr. added a 3-run home run and the Fishbiscuits never looked back.

Deacon Phillippe, the Orator starter, wasn't sharp and couldn't get an out in the third inning.  The pen was of little help, giving up 10 hits and 3 runs in 6 innings.

With ace Addie Joss (23-14, 2.60) facing David Cone (15-13, 4.05) tomorrow (after a simulated off day) the Fishbiscuits are in the drivers seat to be awarded NL representatives in the World Series.

Starting Pitchers Results
Phillippe(EYO): 2.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 3 K
Hahn (OFB) :::: 6.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 6 K

National League Reliever of the Year

The NL Reliever of the Year is Jonathan Papelbon of the Haven Tommyknockers.  Papelbon had one of the best years in ATB history with a 1.23 ERA and 0.95 WHIP and 41 saves.  Papelbon received 8 of 15 votes for first place and was left off one ballot.

Cla Meredith, Mariano Rivera, and Kent Tekulve also received 1st place votes.

(# Ballots) Total Points (1st, 2nd, 3rd Place Votes)
(14)56 - Jonathan Papelbon, HT (8, 3, 1)
(9) 33 - Cla Meredith, JMF (4, 4, 1)
(6) 20 - Mariano Rivera, NOT (2, 3, 1)
(8) 12 - JJ Putz, RKA (0, 2, 6)
(2) 6 - Kent Tekulve, OFB (1, 0, 0)
(1) 3 - Dick Hall, JMF (0, 1, 0)
(2) 2 - Mike Myers, EYO (0, 0, 2)
(1) 1 - Joakim Soria, OFB (0, 0, 1)
(1) 1 - Rafael Betancourt, EYO (0, 0, 1)
(1) 1 - Joe Neale, NOT (0, 0, 1)

Pedro dominant, but Otherton scraps out 4-3 extra inning win

NLCS Game 1
Gold Country Gossamers @ Bertrand Island Carnies

Despite a 9 inning, 10 strike out performance from Pedro Martinez, the Ee-Yah Orators cough up a slim lead late, and ultimately lose to the Otherton Fishbiscuits in extra innings.  Starter for the Biscuits Pete Alexander battled control issues but had excellent stuff, keeping his team in the game and ultimately left with the score tied 3-3.

In the bottom of the 8th star shortstop led of the inning with a triple and and two batters later scored on a Hank Aaron liner to center.  Later in the 10th Wagner also started the game winning rally with a 1-out single off of Mike Myers.  Ken Griffey Jr. then singled, forcing injured player/coach Hughie Jennings to make a pitching change.  In came an inconsistent Ted Niedenfuer who gave up a long fly to Aaron, allowing Wagner to tag up to third.  Fred Clarke won it on a roped single between first and second, scoring Wagner.

Earlier in the 5th, the Biscuits managed two pick off two Orator runners.  Mike Moynahan, playing shortstop in place of Jennings, walked to lead off the inning.  Jimmy Williams singled to put runners on second and third and setting up an improbable end to the inning.  Alexander fired a first pitch fastball for a ball, and catcher Johnny Kling noticed Moynahan taking his time getting back to second between pitches.  He fired, Moynahan never saw the throw, and was picked off standing up.  After a strikeout of Larry Doby for the second out, Alexander took things into his own hands and picked Williams off of first before the first pitch to the next batter.  It was an ugly inning to say the least.

With Martinez losing to the Fishbiscuits #4 starter, the Orators are seemingly in serious trouble.  The Fishbiscuits, yet to name a Game 2 starter, will likely turn to Noodles Hahn on full rest rather than Addie Joss on short rest.  Both are arguably better than the Orator #2 and #3 starters Larry Dierker and Deacon Phillippe.

Starting Pitchers Results
Martinez (EYO): 9.0 IP, 8 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 10 K
Alexander(OFB): 8.0 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 5 BB, 6 K

LDS Most Valuable Players

Gold Country over Sparta 4-3
Preacher Roe (GCG):  3 GS, 23 IP, 21 H, 3 BB, 6 K, 1.17 ERA, 3 QS

Bertrand Island over Brighton 4-0
Ty Cobb (BIC): .588 / .632 / 1.118, 2 2B, 2 3B, HR

Otherton over Rusty Kuntz 4-3
Hank Aaron (OFB): .444 / .467 / .815, 2B, 3 HR, 9 RBI

Ee-Yah over North Podunk (4-0)
King Kelly (NPB): .500 / .556 / .625, 3B, 6 R

Series Preview: Ee-Yah vs Otherton

The National League Championship Series match up between the Ee-Yah Orators and Otherton Fishbiscuits may be more one-sided than anticipated. One one hand, owner Mike S has been an ATB faithful since day one and owns one of the best managerial records in our history.  On the other hand, Brian B, a relatively new owner, is enjoying his first post season birth in five tries.

Rotation

Pedro vs Addie.  The top two contenders for the NL Cy Young award face off, leading their respective teams in every meaningful pitching category.  Joss won an ATB high 23 times this year, and Martinez owns an ATB best 0.97 WHIP (among starting pitchers).

For arguments sake, lets call these two pitchers about equal, at least for this season.  Looking at the back end of the rotation, Larry Dierker and David Cone are about as good as Lefty Stewart and Pete Alexander.  That leaves the difference in quality between #2 starters Noodles Hahn and Deacon Phillippe.  Hahn, as the stats show, is simply the better pitcher.

Edge:  Otherton

Bullpen

Both teams win games, 91 for Otherton vs 86 for Ee-Yah, thanks in part to quality bullpens.  The Orators have two studs in Mike Myers and Rafael Betancourt, and similarly the Fishbiscuits counter with Kent Tekulve and Joakim Soria.  The back ends of the pen are equally solid as well.

Edge:  Equal.

Lineups

Otherton batted .274 / .317 / .375 with 659 runs scored.  Ee-Yah batted .283 / .346 / .360 with 673 runs scored.  Thus on paper at least, it is clear the Orators have the better lineup.  However, please remember that arguably their best player, Hughie Jennings, is shelved for entire post season after getting injured on a hit-by pitch.  This exposes an otherwise very good lineup.

Otherton's lack of ability to get on base is countered by their ability to hit the long ball, and hold a 111 to 49 edge on Ee-Yah.  Hank Aaron led both teams in home runs with 45.

Edge:  Otherton, but only because Hughie Jennings does not factor into it.

Series Edge:  It's Otherton's series to lose.  Typically the team that features Pedro Martinez automatically has a large edge in starting rotation, but Joss is having a phenomenal season and has the ability to match Pedro pitch for pitch.  With Jennings out, the edge goes to Otherton.

Martinez and Doby send Ee-Yah to the NLCS

NLDS Game 4 
North Podunk Banana Bears @ Ee-Yah Orators

All season long the Ee-Yah Orators took a back seat to the first place North Podunk Banana Bears.  In the playoffs however, it has been the exact opposite and the underdog Orators completed the 4 game sweep tonight.

The Orators scored early and often, compiling 10 hits and 4 walks in the first four innings, breaking the game open in the third on a Josh Hamilton 2-run double.

The Bears got to Pedro Martinez in the 6th, knocking him from the game after scoring 1 runs on 2  hits and a walk.  The Orator relief corps allowed two more runs to score, one in 6th and another in the 7th, but ultimately kept the Bears at bay.

Similar to the Brighton Shadows, Mike G is another new owner, and piloted his team to the second best record in ATB.  Great job.

Starter Lines:

Gomez (NPB):::: 2.2 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 2 BB, 2 K
Martinez(OFB):: 5.0 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 1 BB, 2 K

Hamilton walk-off caps and incredible 8-7 Orator win

NLDS Game 3
Ee-Yah Orators @ North Podunk Banana Bears

Words cannot describe the emotions felt when watching this contest.  Yes, it's a computer game, but this was one wild affair.

A Great pitchers duel turned blowout, turned 9th inning comeback, turned 9th inning heartbreak.

The Orators broke open the game by scoring five in the 6th, capped by the second of Tommy Holmes' three doubles.  They slowly coughed the lead up, letting in 7 runs cross the plate in the last 3 innings, blowing through an incredible 7 pitchers in the process.  The Banana Bears ultimately tied the game at 7 when Jonathan Broxton walked Joe Morgan with the bases loaded.  Broxton redeemed himself by further getting out of the jam by striking out Sam Wise and retiring Lenny Dykstra on a pop-out to center, but the damage had been done.

In the bottom of the 9th, after seeing the lead evaporate, Josh Hamilton had enough.  He took the first pitch offering from Mike Jackson deep into the night over the right field fence, ending the game, and effectively ending the Banana Bear's season.

North Podunk will rely on Lefty Gomez (12-8, 3.81) to keep hopes alive, but the southpaw faces the best pitcher in ATB history, Pedro Martinez (18-9, 2.64)  in game 4 tomorrow night

Starter Lines:
Tannehill (NPB): 5.2 IP, 8 H, 5 R, 0 BB, 3 K
Cone(EYO)::::::: 6.2 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 4 BB, 3 K

Repeat performance: Phillippe 6-1 CG win for Ee-Yah

NLDS Game 2
Ee-Yah Orators @ North Podunk Banana Bears

With 96 wins in the regular season, the Banana Bears were heavily favored heading into the NLDS against the Ee-Yah Orators.  Things haven't progressed according to plan however, as the Orator rotation has tossed back to back complete game wins, jumping to a 2-0 lead as the series heads to Ee-Yah.

On this night it was Deacon Phillippe who employed a "bend but no break" philosophy.  While seemingly on the ropes for much of the night, Phillippe never allowed the big hit, stranding nine runners.

In a game that was much closer than the final score indicates, the Orators scored five in the sixth on 5 hits, a hits batsmen, and a walk.

Starter Lines:
Phillippe(EYO): 9.0 IP, 9 H, 1 R, 3 BB, 3 K
Brecheen (NOB): 5.0 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 1 BB, 3 K

Pedro dominates Banana Bears in 6-1 victory

NLDS Game 1
Ee-Yah Orators @ North Podunk Banana Bears

Behind 8 strong innings from Pedro Martinez, the underdog Ee-Yah Orators took the series opener from the North Podunk Banana Bears.  Martinez walked one and struck out 8, keeping the Bears batters off balance all evening

The Orator batters scored 4 on Kevin Millwood in 2 innings, highlighted by a 3-run second innings that featured 4 singles.

Starter Lines:
Martinez(EYO): 8.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 9 K
Millwood(RKA): 1.2 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 3 BB, 2 K

Orators and Banana Bears Announce Playoff Rotation

• Pedro on short rest

Tale of the Tape - Orators @ Banana Bears

(stats as of sim 11c)

Batting Edge - Banana Bears
Pitching Edge - Equal

Sim 12C Complete

And that about does it...

The only race is between the Fishbiscuits and All-Stars for home field advantage versus each other.

However, a huge blow was dealt the Orators - Hughie Jennings is out for the rest of the season with a 32 game injury.  The Handbasket's Cliff Melton nailed him with a 2-1 fastball in the 1st and just like that the already heavily favored Banana Bears look like a lock to advance to the 2nd round.

Standings Summary

National League Week 9

All eyes were pointed East this week as the New Orleans Thrill came out of the season long funk with a 12-2 sim, leapfrogging three teams in the process, and taking the lead in the NL East Wild Card race.  Few pitchers were better than Scott Stratton who went undefeated in 3 starts, pitching two complete games and giving up just 20 hits in 27 innings.  Mike Schmidt teed off with 6 homers and 20 RBI and might be the best third basemen in the game.

After an 8-5 week, the North Podunk Banana Bears, however, still feel they are the team to beat. They maintained a 3 ½ game lead on the division and appear to be in cruise control; Reggie Jackson led the team with 5 home runs while Lefty Gomez maintained a 1.90 ERA in 3 starts (23.2 IP).  Just a game out of the Wild Card, the Haven Tommyknockers made some noise as well, winning 9 of 13 contests.  Their bullpen was top notch, with no member recording an ERA over 3.00.

The rest of the East struggled and are starting to fall out of the playoff hunt.  After starting the week with a 3 ½ game lead in the Wild Card, the Ee-Yah Orators will finish it 3 ½ games out.  The White Rats, a +47 Run Differential team fighting with bad luck all year, are 4 ½  games out while the Saginaw Slammers are all but finished, 8 ½ out of the Wild Card.

The NL West remains an incredibly tight four horse race that is simply too close to call.  The Otherton Fishbiscuits finished last week in first, but are now in third.  John McDonald Fanclub moved from fourth to first and Helena dropped from 3rd to 4th.  The All Stars went 8-7 and maintained the Wild Card lead but just a ½ game.

The best player in the division might have been Cla Meredith, who pitched in 8 games, recorded 7 saves, and didn’t give up a run in over 10 innings for the Fanclub.  While much of the rest of the staff struggled, the offense more than made up for it giving the team a 10-4 record on the week.  Joe Sewell and Brooks Robinson batted close to .400; Rod Carew and Tommy Tucker approached a .400 OBP, and Albert Belle, Carl Yastrzemski, Mickey Mantle, and George Hall combined to hit 10 home runs and a .550 slugging.  The Fanclub's record over the past two weeks is 18-9.

There are several key series during Sim 10:

• Otherton twice travels to John McDonald for a total of 7 games
• Wild Card hopefuls from each league, the All Stars and Tommyknockers, face off in a 3 game set
• New Orleans faces those Tommyknockers twice on road;
• In between of which, they stay home for a 3 game series with Helena.  We’ll learn a lot about the Thrill over these 9 games.

Standings Summary - Week 7

National League
Our biggest story in the NL has been the resurgence of the Ee-Yah Orators.  Winning 10 of 14 this week, the Orators are now in the East Wild Card lead and perhaps more importantly, are squarely in the positive for team run differential.  Three standouts on offense were Cap Anson (.421 Avg), Hughie Jennings (.417 AVG), and Tommy Homes (4 HR, .667 SLG).  The top end of the rotation also pitched extremely effectively - David Cone, Pedro Martinez, and Deacon Phillippe combined to go 7-1 with a 2.01 ERA.

The rest of the East played within a game or two of .500.  The Banana Bears struggled with just 6 wins, but still have a 4 game lead on Orators for the division crown.  Meanwhile, the Slammers are just a 1/2 game out of the wild card and the entire rest of the division should not be considered out of the race either.

In the West, the Otherton Fishbiscuits continue to pour it on and opened up a 3 game lead over the Handbasket this week.  At 8-4, Otherton relied heavily on the bullpen this week.  Incredibly, their top 7 relievers combined hold the opposition to absolutely no runs in 26+ innings.

Helena continues their up an down season, waiting to string together a few solid consecutive weeks like they had been doing in April and May.  Over the past month they've played only .500 or so baseball, winning 14 of 26.  Hot on their heals are the All Stars, just 1/2 game out of the Wild Card, and John McDonald, just 2 games out.  Be sure to check out this shellacking, a 20-2 Fanclub victory over Hanbasket.

And while the Snow and Brews aren't playoff bound, the Brews at least put together a solid effort this sim at 7-4.  Their pitching continued to disappoint (4.86 team ERA) but the offense was good enough to win a few close contests.  Robbie Cano led the way with a slash line of .382 / .400 / .500.

All Star Rotation - National League

NL All Star Rotation and Bullpen

Yesterday we saw that both the NL and AL lineups were fairly similar in overall quality.  While both teams offer superb pitching, there is a slight and noticeable edge for the AL

Average Starting Pitcher Line
AL: 9-3, 2.24 ERA, 100 IP, 83 H, 26 BB, 60 K, 1.07 WHIP, 2.36 RCERA
NL: 8-4, 2.85 ERA, 107 IP, 93 H, 22 BB, 75 K, 1.08 WHIP, 2.60 RCERA

Average Relieve Pitcher Line
AL: 4-1, 1.25 ERA,, 49 IP, 32 H, 11 BB, 32 K, 0.89 WHIP, 1.60 RCERA
NL: 2-1, 1.44 ERA,, 37 IP, 23 H, 11 BB, 20 K, 0.99 WHIP, 1.91 RCERA

The NL rotation is headed by the 12-1 Cy Blanton.  The righty started quickly out of the gate and hasn't slowed down since; his 7.1 H/9 is the best the NL. 

Greg Maddux and Noodles Hahn follow in the 2nd and 3rd slots.  Maddux is enjoying another career type of season with a 10-2 record and 1.04 WHIP, while Hahn has struggled with injury and is just 4-6 despite a 1.37 ERA.

Surprisingly, Sandy Koufax is still going strong and gets the nod for fourth starter.  Koufax has a 2.69 RCERA and is second in the league in strikeouts behind the NL's 5th starter, Pedro Martinez.  With a pedestrian 3.62 ERA Martinez was a difficult choice, but his peripherals are still among the best in the league. 

The pen features JJ Putz and his ATB best 0.28 ERA at closer.  Backing him up is Jonathan Papelbon and his own league best 0.76 WHIP.  The rest of the reliever corps is rounded out by Joe Berry in long relief, Hideki Okajima as the lefty setup, and Kent Tekulve as the righty setup.

Oh so close:

Lefty Stewart (OFB) - 2.54 ERA
Kevin Millwood (NPB) - 2.54 ERA
Jesse Tannehill (OFB) - 11 Wins
Harry Brecheen (NPB) - 2.89 RCERA
Mike Adams (NPB) - 1.73 ERA, 7 Wins in relief
Rafael Betancourt (EYO) - 2.23 CERA