She is young, rich, and famous. I am less young, less rich, and less famous, but have a more stable personal life and a less annoying tendency of singing about it. It's a close battle.
The only way to break the tie is this: Which wins? A team of MLB players older than Luke in MN or a team of players younger than Taylor Swift?
I am 34.5. T-Swizzle is 23.
This is my team:
Position | Player | Bday | WAR |
C | A.J. Pierzynski | 12/30/1976 | 2.3 |
1B | Paul Konerko | 3/5/1976 | 2.4 |
2B | Mark Ellis | 6/6/1977 | 1.4 |
SS | Derek Jeter | 6/26/1974 | 2.0 |
3B | Aramis Ramirez | 6/25/1978 | 3.6 |
LF | Alfonso Soriano | 1/7/1976 | 1.9 |
CF | Andres Torres | 1/26/1978 | 1.7 |
RF | Torii Hunter | 7/18/1975 | 2.8 |
DH | David Ortiz | 11/18/1975 | 3.1 |
IF | Rafael Furcal | 10/24/1977 | 1.5 |
IF | Clint Barmes | 3/6/1979 | 1.5 |
C | Miguel Olivo | 7/15/1978 | 1.6 |
OF | Carlos Beltran | 4/24/1977 | 2.2 |
SP | Cliff Lee | 8/30/1978 | 5.7 |
SP | Roy Halladay | 5/14/1977 | 4.5 |
SP | Kyle Lohse | 10/4/1978 | 3.1 |
SP | Tim Hudson | 7/14/1975 | 2.5 |
SP | Ryan Vogelsong | 2/10/1975 | 2.5 |
CL | J.J. Putz | 2/22/1977 | 1.0 |
SETUP | Octavio Dotel | 11/25/1973 | 0.8 |
SETUP-L | Matt Thornton | 9/15/1976 | 0.6 |
RP | Grant Balfour | 12/30/1977 | 0.7 |
RP | Jason Grilli | 11/11/1976 | 0.8 |
RP-L | Darren Oliver | 10/6/1970 | 0.4 |
Long | R.A. Dickey* (SP) | 10/29/1974 | 2.4 |
53.0 |
I used ZIPS WAR projections for 2013. Because I am just that old, Chase Utley, Jimmy Rollins, and Adrian Beltre all just missed the age cutoff. Still, it's a pretty strong team, especially the pitching.
Here is Tay's team:
Position | Player | Bday | WAR |
C | Salvador Perez | 5/10/1990 | 3.3 |
1B | Manny Machado* (3b) | 7/6/1992 | 2.7 |
2B | Henry Rodriguez | 2/9/1990 | 1.2 |
SS | Jurickson Profar | 2/20/1993 | 3.7 |
3B | Starlin Castro* (SS) | 3/24/1990 | 3.9 |
LF | Bryce Harper | 10/16/1992 | 4.7 |
CF | Mike Trout | 8/7/1991 | 7.4 |
RF | Anthony Gose | 8/10/1990 | 2.2 |
DH | Brett Lawrie* (3b) | 1/18/1990 | 4.5 |
IF | Jean Segura | 3/1/1990 | 2.4 |
IF | Jose Altuve | 5/6/1990 | 2.4 |
C | Gary Sanchez | 12/2/1992 | 1.7 |
OF | Rafael Ortega | 5/15/1991 | 1.3 |
SP | Shelby Miller | 10/10/1990 | 2 |
SP | Jordon Lyles | 10/19/1990 | 1.6 |
SP | Erasmo Ramirez | 5/2/1990 | 1.6 |
SP | Joe Wieland | 12/1/1990 | 1.5 |
SP | Trevor Rosenthal | 5/29/1990 | 1.4 |
CL | Kelvin Herrera | 12/31/1989 | 0.7 |
SETUP | Dylan Bundy* (SP) | 11/15/1992 | 0.6 |
SETUP-L | Paco Rodriguez | 4/16/1991 | 0.3 |
RP | Henderson Alvarez* (S) | 4/18/1990 | 0.5 |
RP | Carter Capps | 8/7/1990 | 0.1 |
RP-L | Martin Perez* (SP) | 4/4/1991 | 0.4 |
Long | Trevor Bauer* (SP) | 1/17/1991 | 1.2 |
53.3 |
These guys really are kids. Giancarlo Stanton, Jason Heyward, Jesus Montero, Eric Hosmer? Too old. Elvis Andrus, Stephen Strasburg, Mike Moustakas, Chris Sale? Way too old.
I have to hand it to Taylor, it's still a good team. Brett Lawrie and Manny Machado are going to be a bit wasted at DH and 1B and the pitching is not stellar, but the position players are stunning.
So, who gets the win Twinkie Town?