All right, back to the fun stuff....Today I looked at NL teams.

1. 1997 and 2003 Florida Marlins

These teams probably couldn't be a greater study in contrasts. One (1997) was a team of aging veterans that supplied mostly average-to-below-average seasons for their careers. The other (2003) was a team of incredible overachievers in their starting rotation and especially in the field. Overachieving youth versus underachieving veterans: any wonder they're filling the seats in Miami?

2003 Florida Marlins

Luis Castillo, 2B: .314/.381/.397 (.293/.368/.357 career). His second best overall season, although he posted his best SLG, due to his best power season.

Mike Lowell, 3B: .275/.350/.530 (.280/.344/.469 career). Arguably one of his best seasons – third best OBP, best SLG, even with a lower batting average. Highest HR total in his career.

Alex Gonzalez, SS: .256/.313/.443 (.248/.295/.399 career). His best full season in his career, including his best full season OBP and SLG.

Juan Pierre, CF: .305/.361/.373 (.301/.348/.372 career). His second best season, which includes his highest SB total and highest BB total for his career. Also his second-best hits total (tied with his 2006 hits total).

Dontrelle Willis, SP: 3.42 runs average, 5.95 IP/GS, 1.282 WHIP (4.21 runs average, 6.23 IP/G, 1.364 WHIP career). The D-Train made his big splash in 2003, and was a key rookie contirbutor to the Marlins’ effort. The D-Train has had trouble replicating this season.

Mark Redman, SP: 3.87 runs average, 6.58 IP/GS, 1.222 WHIP (5.15 runs average, 5.67 IP/G, 1.427 WHIP career). Easily his best season in a journeyman’s career – the Marlins were the third team of the eight teams he played with from 2001-2007.

What more can you ask for? A young rookie, actually two (including Josh Beckett, but I felt I said enough about him in the last installment) come onto the scene and pitch two of their best seasons, opening the doors to unrequited promise (especially in Willis' case). Look at Mark Redman! Goodness, that season in 2003 should guarantee the left-hander a job through approximately 2020, if he wants it. Again, what more could you ask for from your low rotation?

 Ignoring a bullpen full of your average chumps and nobodies, I thoroughly enjoyed watching the 2003 Marlins offense break the hearts of my obnoxious floormates that October (they were watching Game 6 in the dark. Figures.) What more can you ask for that overachievers at 2B, SS, and CF, with world class speed to boot? That's begging for a championship, especially with a solid veteran behind the plate calling games. Mike Lowell makes an appearance once again. I'm beginning to think that he's one hell of a good luck charm....perhaps the Brewers should have tried to acquire him.

1997 Florida Marlins

Charles Johnson, C: .250/.347/.454 (.245/.330/.433 career). Johnson’s second best season, only to his excellent 2000 campaign. One of his best power seasons, and his best season for walks.

Kevin Brown, SP: 2.92 runs average, 7.19 IP/GS, 1.180 WHIP (3.75 runs average, 6.70 IP/G, 1.222 WHIP career). Brown’s second best all-around season, surpassed only by his 1996 campaign, and maybe matched by his 2003 season.

Livan Hernandez, SP: 3.64 runs average, 5.66 IP/GS, 1.235 WHIP (4.58 runs average, 6.74 IP/GS, 1.426 WHIP career). A key rookie contribution by one of the best middle rotation innings eaters in baseball. This season remains one of his best, even if it is shortened.

Average or below average veteran seasons:

Jeff Conine, 1B: .242/.337/.405 vs. .285/.347/.443

Bobby Bonilla, 3B: .297/.378/.468 vs. .279/.358/.472

Moises Alou, OF: .292/.373/.493 vs. .303/.369/.516

Devon White, OF: .245/.338/.370 vs. .263/.319/.419

Gary Sheffield, OF: .250/.424/.446 vs. .294/.396/.519

Alex Fernandez, SP: 3.59 ERA, 1.248 WHIP vs. 3.74 ERA, 1.275 WHIP

Al Leiter, SP: 4.34 ERA, 1.480 WHIP  vs. 3.80 ERA, 1.386 WHIP

Pat Rapp, SP: 4.47 ERA, 1.583 WHIP vs. 4.68 ERA, 1.550 WHIP

Robb Nen, RP: 3.89 ERA, 1.514 WHIP vs. 2.98 ERA, 1.213 WHIP

1999 and 2000 Yankees, eat your hearts out. I mean, these Marlins put on a clinic! If it weren't for Craig Counsell, Mr. Right-Place-Right-Time, where would this team have been?

I'll never forget the size of Livan Hernandez's strike zone in the playoffs that year -- probably bigger than El Duque's leaky raft! I'll also never forget Livan Hernandez's curveball that postseason. That season, the Marlins received a key contribution from a young pitcher, and one of their veterans (Brown) actually performed very well.

And who doesn't love Charles Johnson?

Oddly enough, if you asked me, I'd probably admit that I'd take Bobby Bonilla, Moises Alou, Devon White, and Gary Sheffield on my team in some regard. Just not in 1997!

2. 2006 St. Louis Cardinals

This one is almost as fun as the 2002 Anaheim Angels. Talk about the virtues of getting hot at the right time. This team went through the season with almost every starting position player playing below-average or below their career norm in some way, shape, or form -- except for, of course, Albert Pujols.

Chris Carpenter, SP: 3.29 runs average, 6.93 IP/GS, 1.069 WHIP (4.51 runs average, 6.19 IP/G, 1.330 WHIP career). One of Carpenter’s best season, second only to his 2005 Cy Young campaign. Well above-average contribution for his career.

Albert Pujols, 1B: .331/.431/.671 (.332/.423/.619 career). Okay, cheating here again, but let’s celebrate another exceptional season. Not his best all-around power season, although he did hit his career high HR, but arguably his best all-around season, including extra base hits and walks.

Average or below average veteran seasons: Yadier Molina, Aaron Miles, Scott Rolen, So Taguchi, and Jim Edmonds, as well as:

David Eckstein, SS: .292/.350/.344 vs. .285/.350/.361

Juan Encarnacion, OF: .278/.317/.443 vs. .270/.317/.441

Jason Marquis, SP: 6.02 ERA, 1.523 WHIP vs. 4.57 ERA, 1.429 WHIP

Jeff Suppan, SP: 4.12 ERA, 1.453 WHIP vs. 4.60 ERA, 1.428 WHIP

Jason Isringhausen, RP: 3.55 ERA, 1.457 WHIP vs. 3.60 ERA, 1.321 WHIP

3. 2001 Arizona Diamondbacks

Goodness! Can the NL quit sending boring teams to the World Series? In 2001, Luis Gonzalez suddenly hit more doubles for home runs, and the Diamondbacks had great pitching performances from Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling.

2001 Arizona Diamondbacks

Luis Gonzalez, OF: .325/.429/.688 (.284/.367/.481 career). Easily Gonzalez’s best season ever. His 2B power suddenly became HR power, and he posted a HR total that is 26 higher than his previous best. Also drew a career high 100 walks.

Curt Schilling, SP: 3.02 runs average, 7.33 IP/GS, 1.075 WHIP (3.64 runs average, 5.73 IP/G, 1.137 WHIP). Probably Schilling’s second-best season, compared to his 2002 campaign. An exceptional season by a very good pitcher.

Once again: average to below-average seasons from veterans:

Damian Miller, C: .271/.337/.424 vs. .262/.329/.411

Jay Bell, 2B: .248/.349/.400 vs. .265/.343/.416

Matt Williams, 3B: .275/.314/.466 vs. .268/.317/.489

Tony Womack, SS: .266/.307/.345 vs. .273/.317/.356

Steve Finley, OF: .275/.337/.430 vs. .271/.332/.442

Let it be know that I probably would not take Damian Miller, Jay Bell, Matt Williams, Tony Womack, or Steve Finley on my team in any regard.

What is it with World Series teams and underperforming veterans? By this metric, the New York Mets and New York Yankees should be the clear frontrunners for the 2008 Fall Classic.

4. 1995 Atlanta Braves

Okay, this team is more fun...

1995 Atlanta Braves

This team escapes average analysis. It’s not difficult to analyze this team – firstly, they received 86 starts from Tom Glavine, John Smoltz, and Greg Maddux, all of whom had very good seasons; Maddux’s was exceptional.

The offense is one of the more interesting models in this group of teams – it includes young Ryan Klesko and Chipper Jones making their first real MLB “splashes.” Jones was above average offensively at 3B, and Klesko was excellent in the outfield.

The Braves had their share of below-league average veterans (Mark Lemke, Jeff Blauser, and Marquis Grissom up the middle), and underachieving vets (Fred McGriff and David Justice).

Chipper Jones, 3B: .265/.353/.450 (.310/.405/.550 career). Okay, so Jones’ rookie season was well-below his exceptional career at the hot corner. But, I’m including his season here because, frankly, 48 extra base hits (including 23 HR) and an OBP above .350 is not too shabby for a 140 G rookie contribution.

Ryan Klesko, OF: .310/.396/.608 (career .279/.370/.500 career). Klesko made his first splash at the MLB level for an extended period of time in 1995. In his first season with 100 starts, he hit 50 extra base hits, including 23 HR, and posted one of his best career OBP, and a SLG that would not be matched (of course, the SLG is high because of his smaller number of AB). Klesko was hardly a mere league average player throughout his career, but this contribution is worth noting because he really jumped onto the scene.

Mark Wohlers, RP: 2.23 runs average, 49 GF/25 SV, 1.160 WHIP. This season is notable because although it was not Wohler’s best for G, GF, or SV, it might have been his most complete season in terms of runs allowed, control, and hits allowed; for that reason, I think his 2005 campaign is arguably his best career season.

So, if you happen to have one John Smoltz, one Greg Maddux, and one Tom Glavine lying around, and you can add a young Chipper Jones and Ryan Klesko, and you can find a Mark Wohlers, we know for certain that you're in very good shape.

I really wish that we could find a team that thwarts this "good pitching wins championships" cliche -- I suppose I already forgot that we looked at the 2006 Cards. This team is really intriguing because even though they have the veteran underachievers, they also have two young studs breaking onto the scene.

I'm saving one last team for a special post...