1982 Milwaukee Brewers
Pitching Staff
1. Mike Caldwell (RHP) - age 33
2. Pete Vuckovich (RHP) - age 29
3. Don Sutton (RHP) - age 37
4. Moose Haas (RHP) - age 26
5. Bob McClure (LHP) - age 30
6. Randy Lerch (RHP) - age 27
7. Doc Medich (RHP) - age 33
8. Jim Slaton (RHP) - age 32
9. Dwight Bernard (RHP) - age 30
10.Jerry Augustine (LHP) - age 29
11.Jamie Easterly (LHP) - age 29
12.Rollie Fingers (RHP) - age 35
Batting Order vs Lefties
1. Paul Molitor (3B) bats right - age 25
2. Robin Yount (SS) bats right - age 26
3. Cecil Cooper (1B) bats left - age 32
4. Gorman Thomas (CF) bats right - age 31
5. Ted Simmons (C) bats both - age 32
6. Don Money (DH) bats right - age 35
7. Ben Oglivie (RF) bats left - age 33
8. Charlie Moore (RF) bats right - age 29
9. Jim Gantner (2B) bats left - age 29
Batting Order vs Righties
1. Paul Molitor (3B) bats right - age 25
2. Robin Yount (SS) bats right - age 26
3. Cecil Cooper (1B) bats left - age 32
4. Ben Oglivie (LF) bats left - age 33
5. Gorman Thomas (CF) bats right - age 31
6. Ted Simmons (C) bats both - age 32
7. Roy Howell (DH) bats left - age 28
8. Charlie Moore (RF) bats right - age 29
9. Jim Gantner (2B) bats left - age 29
Bench
1. Ned Yost (C) bats right - age 27
2. Ed Romero (2B/SS) bats right - age 24
3. Marshall Edwards (OF) bats left - age 28
4. Mark Brouhard (OF) bats right - age 26
5. Larry Hisle (DH/PH) bats right - age 35
2021 Toronto Blue Jays
Pitching Staff
1. Robbie Ray (LHP) - age 29
2. Hyun Jin Ryu (LHP) - age 34
3. Alek Manoah (RHP) - age 23
4. Jose Berrios (RHP) - age 27
5. Steven Matz (LHP) - age 30
6. Ross Stripling (RHP) - age 31
7. Tim Mayza (LHP) - age 29
8. Tayler Saucedo (LHP) - age 28 *
9. Ryan Borucki (LHP) - age 27
10.Kirby Snead (LHP) - age 26
11.Adam Cimber (RHP) - age 30
12.Trevor Richards (RHP) - age 28
13.Julian Merryweather (RHP) - age 29
14.Nate Pearson (RHP) - age 24
15.Anthony Castro (RHP - age 26
16.Bryan Baker (RHP) - age 26 *
17.Jordan Romano (RHP) - age 28
Batting Order vs Lefties
1. George Springer (CF) bats right - age 31
2. Marcus Semien (2B) bats right - age 30
3. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (1B) bats right - age 22
4. Bo Bichette (SS) bats right - age 23
5. Teoscar Hernandez (DH) bats right - age 28
6. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (LF) bats right - age 27
7. Randal Grichuk (RF) bats right - age 29
8. Alejandro Kirk (C) bats right - age 22
9. Santiago Espinal (3B/2B) bats right - age 26
Batting Order vs Righties
1. George Springer (DH) bats right - age 31
2. Marcus Semien (2B) bats right - age 30
3. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (1B) bats right - age 22
4. Bo Bichette (SS) bats right - age 23
5. Teoscar Hernandez (RF) bats right - age 28
6. Corey Dickerson (LF) bats left - age 32
7. Reese McGuire (C) bats left - age 26
8. Cavan Biggio (3B) bats left - age 26 *
9. Jarrod Dyson (CF) bats left - age 36
Bench
1. Danny Jansen (C) bats right - age 26
2. Breyvic Valera (2B/3B) bats both - age 29
3. Santiago Espinal (3B/2B) bats right - age 26
4. Corey Dickerson (OF) bats left - age 32
5. Jarrod Dyson (OF) bats left - age 36
* - currently in Minors
In this comparison of teams from yesteryear to today we see many parables between both rosters as they both had the dominant offensive statistics.in MLB for the years studied (1982 and 2021)
Both were teams that had an incredible scoring ability, evidenced by both teams hammering more than 200 Home-Runs in the season in the years studied. The Brewers were known as the 'Harvey Wallbangers' in 1982 for their hitting proficiency, showcasing Molitor as the catalyst for the offence to get things started and steal bases at a healthy rate. After Molitor the pitcher had to take on A.L MVP Robin Yount, perhaps the greatest hitting shortstop in the history of the game. Cecil Cooper batted third and was a left-handed machine in hammering out hit after hit. Then the pitcher had to take on deep threats Gorman Thomas and Ben Oglivie both 40 HR a year power. Ted Simmons was arguably the greatest switch-hitting catcher of all-time and many looked at Jim Gantner as a plugger and a team player, Charlie Moore as a good defensive rightfielder, and Don Money and Roy Howell held the fort as the teams' DH tandom. They were simply dynamite offensively and they almost won the World Series that year of 1982 losing a tight seven game affair against the St. Louis Cardinals and Ozzie Smith. The Brewers Starting Pitching was strong (maybe not to this years' 2021 Toronto Blue Jays standard) and showcased Mike Caldwell, Pete Vuckovich, Don Sutton (picked up at the trade deadline), Moose Haas, Bob McClure, (and swingman Jim Slaton). They had poor relief aside from Rollie Fingers (perhaps the best closer in the game that year) and Jim Slaton a swingman who was 10-6 with seven starts.
The 2021 Toronto Blue Jays are a special team for many reasons. The 2021 Toronto Blue Jays showcase power like perhaps no team before them. They have a collective 7 men (once Springer belts his twentieth Home-Run of the year) with 20+ Home-Runs on the year. Vladdy Jr., Semien, Teoscar, Bichette could each have 30+ Home-Runs should Bichette get hot over the last 6 games of the season. Even leaving Vladdy Jr. and Marcus Semien out of the equation the offence is still powerful showcasing the exploits of Gurriel Jr., Grichuk, Alejandro Kirk, Reese McGuire, Bichette, Hernandez (and Cavan Biggio upon his return for the playoffs). The Jays pitching this year has been strong from the starters. Ray, Ryu, Manoah, Berrios, and Matz (and even Ross Stripling could be worked into the equation) are all capable starters. Romano is arguably the best closer in the American League and has shown he's got the poise for the job. With Adam Cimber and Trevor Richards in the mix alongside Julian Merryweather, Nate Pearson, Bryan Baker, and Tim Mayza (with another three lefties at the ready) the bullpen just needs to settle.
Starting Pitching
Advantage Toronto Blue Jays (9-8)
Relief Pitching
Even (7-7)
Catchers
Milwaukee Brewers - Ted Simmons 8/10
Toronto Blue Jays - Alejandro Kirk/Reese McGuire/Danny Jansen 6/10
Advantage Milwaukee Brewers
1st Basemen
Milwaukee Brewers - Cecil Cooper 8.5/10
Toronto Blue Jays - Vladimir Guerrero Jr. 9.5/10
Advantage Toronto Blue Jays
2nd Basemen
Milwaukee Brewers - Jim Gantner 6/10
Toronto Blue Jays - Marcus Semien 9.5/10
Advantage Toronto Blue Jays
3rd Basemen
Milwaukee Brewers - Paul Molitor 9/10
Toronto Blue Jays - Santiago Espinal/Cavan Biggio 6/10
Advantage Milwaukee Brewers
Shortstops
Milwaukee Brewers - Robin Yount 9.5/10
Toronto Blue Jays - Bo Bichette 8.5/10
Advantage Milwaukee Brewers
Leftfielders
Milwaukee Brewers - Ben Oglivie 8/10
Toronto Blue Jays - Lourdes Gurriel Jr. 8/10
Even
Centerfield
Milwaukee Brewers - Gorman Thomas 8/10
Toronto Blue Jays - George Springer 8/10
Even
Rightfield
Milwaukee Brewers - Charlie Moore 6/10
Toronto Blue Jays - Randal Grichuk 7/10
Advantage Toronto Blue Jays
DH
Milwaukee Brewers - Don Money/Roy Howell 6.5/10
Toronto Blue Jays - Teoscar Hernandez 9/10
Advantage Toronto Blue Jays
Bench
Milwaukee Brewers - 7
Toronto Blue Jays - 7
Even
The reality is that it will be history who decides who the better team was. Should the Jays make the playoffs this year they'll be remembered as perhaps the greatest offence of today's' age like was said of the 'Harvey Wallbangers' of 1982.
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