I'm always a bit gunshy about putting Negro Leaguers on the Birthday Teams unless they're obviously better than any eligble MLB player.

Today's catcher is obviously better than any eligible MLB player.

C: Josh Gibson
1B: John Mayberry Jr.
2B: Freddy Sanchez
3B: Elliott Maddox
SS: D'Angelo Jimenez
LF: Dave Kingman
CF: Andy Van Slyke
RF: Cy Williams

SP: Bob Rush
SP: Joaquin Andujar
SP: Dustin Hermanson
SP: LaTroy Hawkins
SP: Howie Reed
RP: Tom Henke
RP/Second Spitter: Roger McDowell

Not *that* one: Jack Daniels

The Negro Leagues were full of teams composed entirely of brothers, but probably not cornball brothers.

I'm always a bit gunshy about putting Negro Leaguers on the Birthday Teams

Obligatory.

Actually, how accurate are MLEs for Negro Leaguers? Don't we have a pretty good idea how good they were?

Obligatory.

I know, I know. There's no real reason that the Blanco Leagues are generally considered "major" and the Negro Leagues aren't, other than "that's the way it's always been done." Which is a justification I just hate. (Cue Bruce Hornsby.)

In (un?)fairness, I also generally don't include NPB, KBO, Cuban, and Mexican League stars on Birthday Teams.

Actually, how accurate are MLEs for Negro Leaguers? Don't we have a pretty good idea how good they were?

The stats are still, to this day, being collected and compiled in a lot of cases, aren't they? Certainly I haven't seen a lot of park effects data with Negro Leagues stats, and I'm fairly sure some of the parks had crazy dimensions that impacted the stats.

And I'm probably a bit more cautious than I need to be when it comes to MLEs that come from outside the confines of North American Caucasian Organized Baseball. The NPB MLEs I've seen seem to completely miss the mark more often than I'd like, and that experience has affected how I view NNL (et al) stats.

That's a pretty good team. No real weaknesses.

I have never heard of MLE's for the Negro leagues. Not even an attempt. I think that the level of talent is largely exaggerated. I read a recent book about integration of the major leagues, sorry can't remember the title, and most of the players in the Negro leagues, including some stars, didn't make it. Of course there were some really great ones that did. Even Aaron played a year, I believe.

Liriano 2/14 w/ PIT.

Liriano has made 52 starts over the last 2 years? My guess would have been 20. My guess of over 5 for the ERA was right on, though.

Casey McGehee to join Andruw Jones with the Rakuten Eagles.

Wonderful gif of Dickey's knuckleball in full crazy effect.