MLB Opening Series: Diamondbacks vs. Dodgers Fantasy Battle – Offense

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

We’re hours away from the MLB Opening Series in 2014, with the Arizona Diamondbacks and Los Angeles Dodgers getting things under way down in Australia.

To put a fantasy perspective on all of this, now seems like as good a time as any to compare what these teams have done from a fantasy perspective over the years. Since the Dodgers history would obviously give them a huge edge on the Diamondbacks we’ll just be looking at both teams since 1998.

The rules are simple.

• Each team gets one catcher, one first baseman, one second baseman, one third baseman, one shortstop, three outfielders, one utility guy, five starting pitchers, and two relievers. No repeat players at the positions that require multiple players.
• Standard fantasy categories. Runs, HR, RBI, SB, Average for hitters, Strikeouts, wins, saves, ERA, and WHIP.
• Career body of work does not matter. We’re only looking at single-season stats, and player can not have played with another Major League team in the season in question. I’m not factoring in steroids or any other PED’s. The numbers are all that matters.

Get it? Got it? Good. Let’s start the fun.

[table id=502 /]

Analysis: The Dodgers lose out a little bit not getting any of Mike Piazza‘s seasons, but they still take this one in a walkover. Miguel Montero was a better hitter than Paul Lo Duca over a few year stretch, but Lo Duca’s best season was much more productive than Montero’s.

Edge: Dodgers

[table id=503 /]

Analysis: Eric Karros was a really good hitter for a few year stretch, but didn’t quite fill up the fantasy stat-sheet like Paul Goldschmidt did last year. Honestly, if we went back to the Dodgers entire history in Los Angeles starting in 1958, Goldy’s 2013 would still get the overall edge on anyone the Dodgers could throw out. His season was just that good.

Edge: Diamondbacks

[table id=504 /]

Analysis: Wow. I knew Jay Bell had a great season in 1999, but I didn’t realize it was quite that dominant. Those numbers are enough to get a pretty significant edge over a guy who’s one of my all-time favorite players in Jeff Kent.

Edge: Diamondbacks

[table id=505 /]

Analysis: Another position with two very impressive seasons. But like second base, it’s not much of a contest. As great as Matt Williams was in 1999, Adrian Beltre was even better in 2004, trailing only in RBI.

Edge: Dodgers

[table id=506 /]

Analysis: We get our first big steal guy in Rafael Furcal. If I needed a home run, I’d take 2008’s Stephen Drew over Furcal, but not by a massive amount. If I needed pretty much anything else, Furcal gets the edge, and by a pretty wide margin.

Edge: Dodgers

[table id=507 /]

Analysis: Total coincidence that each team has an outfielder from 2000, 2001, and 2011. The fantastic season from Luis Gonzalez in 2011 makes this reasonably close, but the overall prowess of Matt Kemp, Shawn Green, and Gary Sheffield provides a sizable edge over Gonzalez, Steve Finley, and Justin Upton.

Edge: Dodgers

[table id=508 /]

Analysis: He was never much of a batting average guy, but Mark Reynolds did everything else exceptionally well in 2009. I think we sometimes forget how good Andre Ethier was for the Dodgers before his career became marred with consistent stints on the DL. He’s the much better overall player but for one year, it’s Reynolds.

Edge: Diamondbacks

[table id=509 /]

Analysis: Man, those power numbers are close. The Diamondbacks definitely lack in speed, as Tony Womack was just not good enough overall in 1999 to justify a spot on the list. Besides, even if I included him here instead of Reynolds, it would give Arizona an edge in steals, but they’d lose the RBI spot. Besides, we can’t really match guys up based on specific stats, as then I’d have to do the same with the Dodgers. Hence, we’re taking the best overall seasons.

Edge: The Dodgers Have a 3-2 edge in the offensive categories.

Click here for Part 2: Pitching.