1997 v. 2003: Right Field

We have already taken a look at the catcher, first base, and second base, third base,  short stop,  left field, and center field positions. Here is a look at how the current team that you guys have voted on looks like:

• Catcher: Ivan Rodriguez
• First Base: Derrick Lee
• Second Base: Luis Castillo
• Short Stop: Edgar Renteria
• Third Base: Mike Lowell
• Left Field: Miguel Cabrera
• Center Field: Juan Pierre
• Right Field:

We are now headed to the home stretch of our position players version of this poll. This is an interesting team so far, filled with lots of talent. Today I will start up the poll for right field, next week we will take a look at how the batting order for the Marlins all-world series team should look like. Two weeks from now we will look at starting pitching and then closer. Then the team will be complete. Lets get started with right field today:

On On June 24, 1993, Gary Sheffield was traded along with Rich Rodriguez to the Florida Marlins for Trevor Hoffman, José Martínez and Andres Berumen. Sheffield at first was opposed to playing for an expansion team, such as the Marlins, but ultimately opened up, and boy are Marlins fans glad! Sheffield had an all-star campaign in 1993 and at the end of the season, the Marlins gave him a four-year deal that made him the highest-paid player at the third base position. The Marlins would however move Sheff to right field in 1994. Sheffield hit a Marlins franchise record 42 homers in 1996. Gary was a huge part of the Marlins 1997 team. Sheffield put up monster numbers. He was traded before the 1998 season to the Los Angeles Dodgers in a blockbuster deal. On May 14, 1998, Sheffield was traded along with Manuel Barrios, Charles Johnson, Bobby Bonilla, and Jim Eisenreich to the Los Angeles Dodgers for Mike Piazza and Todd Zeile.

The Florida Marlins traded Ryan Dempster to the Cincinnati Reds for Juan Encarnacion, Wilton Guerrero and Ryan Snare. The ironic part of this trade was that the Reds acquired Dempster to gear up for a potential playoff run, that never happened. The Marlins did it to rebuilt. Flash forward one year, and the Marlins benefited a World Series run because of the trade. Encarnacion helped the Marlins secure a World Series championship, and then was shipped to the Dodgers that December. He was however brought back in mid-2004 in a trade with the Dodgers. The Marlins acquired Encarnacion along with Paul Lo Duca and Guillermo Mota for Brad Penny, Bill Murphy, and Hee-Seop Choi.

Even in one of his worst seasons as a pro, Sheff posted all around better numbers then Encarnacion. When you think of a Marlins World Series, a name you will always remember will be Gary Sheffield, not Juan Encarnacion. Not to take anything away from Encarnacion, he did his part to help the Marlins win, just Sheffield is a superior player.

The voting on this poll, just like the last one figures to be one sided. Please go ahead and vote anyways for the Marlins best World Series right fielder. This will complete all the position players. Next week we will be looking at how to set up the batting order. I will also be examining based on their seasons, using WAR, how many games this team would actually win due to their batting.