<p>Had the COVID-19 outbreak not effectively shut down the entire sports world, Major League Baseball would be opening its regular season this week. Alas, we’re left trying to pass the time this spring without our national pastime.</p><p>Marc Carig, a national baseball writer for The Athletic, came up with an interesting thought exercise to stimulate some discussion about the sport during this dead period. Last week, Carig tweeted out the following: "You must make the lineup for a baseball game that you absolutely must win."</p><p>Who would you pick? Just a starting nine, any players throughout history, presuming that each player you pick would be the peak version of himself. No designated hitter, no subs.</p><p>Thousands of responses poured in. Here’s the lineup that Carig filled out:</p>[sc:text-divider text-divider-title="Story continues below gallery" ]Click here to purchase photos from this gallery<p>LF Rickey Henderson</p><p>RF Babe Ruth</p><p>CF Mike Trout</p><p>1B Lou Gehrig</p><p>3B Chipper Jones</p><p>2B Rogers Hornsby</p><p>C Yogi Berra</p><p>SS Honus Wagner</p><p>P Pedro Martinez</p><p>So this got me thinking: Who would each of the high school baseball coaches in Johnson County choose in the same situation?</p><p>Some of those who responded skewed their answers toward more recent players, while others dug a little deeper in the archives:</p><p><strong>Keith Hatfield, Center Grove</strong></p><p>LF Barry Bonds</p><p>CF Mike Trout</p><p>RF Mickey Mantle</p><p>1B Mark McGwire</p><p>2B Craig Biggio</p><p>SS Derek Jeter</p><p>3B Alex Rodriguez</p><p>C Mike Piazza</p><p>P Nolan Ryan</p><p>"I win," Hatfield added confidently after submitting his choices.</p><p><strong>Scott Sherry, Whiteland</strong></p><p>CF Mike Trout</p><p>RF Willie Mays</p><p>LF Babe Ruth</p><p>3B Alex Rodriguez</p><p>1B Albert Pujols</p><p>2B Rogers Hornsby</p><p>C Ivan Rodriguez</p><p>SS Ernie Banks</p><p>P Nolan Ryan</p><p><strong>Andy Bass, Greenwood</strong></p><p>LF Ted Williams</p><p>CF Mike Trout</p><p>RF Hank Aaron</p><p>1B Albert Pujols</p><p>2B Joe Morgan</p><p>3B Brooks Robinson</p><p>SS Derek Jeter</p><p>C Johnny Bench</p><p>P Nolan Ryan</p><p><strong>Ryan Feyerabend, Franklin</strong></p><p>SS Derek Jeter</p><p>CF Ken Griffey Jr.</p><p>3B Chipper Jones</p><p>LF Barry Bonds</p><p>1B Albert Pujols</p><p>RF Sammy Sosa</p><p>C Johnny Bench</p><p>2B Roberto Alomar</p><p>P Randy Johnson</p><p>When asked about his pick in right field, Feyerabend said: "Sosa was a beast on some really bad teams."</p><p><strong>Steve Mirizzi, Indian Creek</strong></p><p>LF Ted Williams</p><p>RF Babe Ruth</p><p>CF Ken Griffey Jr.</p><p>3B Chipper Jones</p><p>2B Rogers Hornsby</p><p>SS Barry Larkin</p><p>C Johnny Bench</p><p>P Nolan Ryan</p><p>For what it’s worth, here were our staff lineup cards:</p><p><strong>Mike Beas</strong></p><p>1B Lou Gehrig</p><p>2B Jackie Robinson</p><p>SS Cal Ripken Jr.</p><p>3B George Brett</p><p>C Johnny Bench</p><p>RF Babe Ruth</p><p>CF Ken Griffey Jr.</p><p>LF Ted Williams</p><p>P Bob Gibson</p><p><strong>Ryan O’Leary</strong></p><p>2B Jackie Robinson</p><p>RF Mike Trout</p><p>LF Barry Bonds</p><p>CF Willie Mays</p><p>P Babe Ruth</p><p>SS Alex Rodriguez</p><p>1B Albert Pujols</p><p>3B Adrian Beltre</p><p>C Ivan Rodriguez</p><p>(<em>Note: Feyerabend and I were the only two that took batting order into account.</em>)</p><p>I had a hard time leaving out my all-time favorite player, Tim Raines, but there are just too many other all-time great outfielders — which is one reason I played slightly dirty and put Ruth on the mound. (Forced to pick a full-time pitcher, I’d most likely go with Pedro, whose peak was probably higher than anyone else’s.)</p><p>Even if the opposing team touches the Bambino up for a few runs, I’m pretty confident my lineup could more than make up the difference. And good luck finding a gap against my defense.</p><p>Anyway, who would you pick? Let us know at <a href="mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]</a>.</p>
