Earlier in the week, a local sports radio guy posed the question to his callers:
"Star Wars Character draft, who's your no. 1?" (this from the @DamonBruce Twitter feed)
Well, I was so geeked out over the start of Spring Training, I thought he meant baseball players. Turns out he meant basketball.
No matter, I brought up the question to The Good Man over lunch, which led to a rousing conversation about our all-Star Wars character baseball team.
The Good Man and I parted ways on a lot of the position players, but that's ok. Debate is the heart of baseball.
Herewith are my starting nine (you'll note I'm sticking to Episode 4,5 and 6 characters. I'm old fashioned that way):
First Base (and batting switch): Luke Skywalker. They guy can do yoga and is bendy. I need a guy who can stretch it out to grab the ball. He can "use the force" to figure out when a ball is coming hot down the line. Gotta keep it from rattling around in that weird right field corner at AT&T Park.
Second Base: Boba Fett. Solid hands. Decent footwork. Backed up by Yoda at short. Yeah, I'm ok with this choice. (yes, I know Fett is a bad guy. Go with me on this.)
Short: Yoda. Who else do you know that could pick it from the shoelaces and do a 360 to first for a double play? Gotta be Yoda.
Third: Obi Wan. Solid hands but an old guy. Too much action at first, third is his spot. I need him to nail down the hot corner and keep runners from scoring. I think an Obi to Yoda to Luke double play combination is *hot*. Keeps runners off balance. Yeah.
Left Field: Lando Calrissian. Look, Billie Dee is the MAN. He's gotta bat clean up, can take it over the wall and look good doing it. Yup.
Center: Wedge Antilles. The guy's an ace pilot. He's lean. He can run. He's got a good eye. I'll bet he knows how to take a good route to the ball and can dominate that deep outfield at AT&T Park.
Right Field: Han Solo. Ok, the guy's kind of a bumbler. I want him where he can do the least damage. I'm betting he can bat ok (but probably slump-y like Aaron Rowand) and can probably handle right (except I worry about him at AT&T Park). He'll sometimes take a crappy route to the ball and you'll want to put your head through the television. But mostly solid. The Good Man has Han Solo in left on his lineup card. I may agree with him...don't know.
Catcher: Chewbacca. Furry Man has got the plate *sealed off*. Plus I bet he's got a cannon on him. I see NO ONE stealing second with Chewy behind the plate. The Good Man has Chewbacca at third, and there is a good case to be made for that. I'm sticking with catcher. He's a little tall for the job, but I think his knees can take it.
Pitcher: Well Darth Vader of course. Look, who else do you know in the Galaxy that has the control to throw a nasty 68 mph sinker followed by a 98 mph right up broadway and keep the batters off balance? He's as ugly as Eric Gagne and twice as mean. You need a pitcher who can play mind games with the batters and Darth is your guy.
Here's the lineup card I'm exchanging at the plate:
CF Wedge Antilles. Leadin' us off with speed on the base paths.
1B Luke Skywalker. The guy can get on base and load 'em up for the 3 and 4 hitters.
C Chewbacca takin' it deep or at least moving the runners.
LF Lando Calrissian batting cleanup. Might switch with Chewy if he's on a streak.
3B Obi Wan
2B Boba Fett
S Yoda. Not a power hitter but he gets on base.
RF Han Solo. Where he can do the least damage.
P Darth Vader
Because where I come from, the pitcher has to bat. No designated hitter in my galactic ballgame.
I invite your own thoughts on the lineup. I can be persuaded....
