SAN JOSE (AP) - Now for the seasoned veterans (for the youngsters see Part I of this article). These players are all forty years old, or will have that milestone birthday this season. A few are not starters on their major league clubs, but the fact they are still around says something. Long Beach has the majority of five of these players.

Designated Hitter: George Sisler, Long Beach Lobsters

Leading off for this fictional group is a left handed perennial All-Star. Possibly the best speed ever at first base as he has swiped 583 bases in his sixteen years. A career .343 hitter who rarely strikes out, or walks for that matter, he is possibly one of the best pure hitters around. His downside, if you could call it that, is the power production and defense from first base. He has averaged only 17 home runs and 63 RBIs a year and committed 114 errors in his career, about seven a season.

Center Fielder: Gabby Brumley, Berlin Brewmasters

A prototypical five category producer, this defensively minded center fielder has consistently performed over his sixteen years in the big leagues. A .316 lifetime batting average is a testament to a good eye at the plate. He has averaged 115 runs, 27 home runs, 82 RBIs, and 56 stolen bases a year. Amazing numbers in the top of the lineup from a player who has never tested positive for steroids. One of a rare few players with 3000 career hits and nearly 2000 runs created.

First Baseman: John Garcia, Terhan Knights

The third hitter for this group has played for eight different teams in his fifteen years. This lefty first baseman with good defensive ability has managed to maintain a respectable .291 lifetime batting average. He also has a good eye at the plate, evidenced by more walks than strike outs, and can hit the ball to all parts of the field, as more than half of his 919 home runs and doubles (average of 30 doubles and 27 home runs a season) were hit to the opposite field. The best statistic though is in 2374 games, he has made one error. The lack of errors he attributes to using the same philosophy in the field as for hitting, and that is to keep his eye on the ball.

Shortstop: Nathan Frias, Long Beach Lobsters

This switch hitting shortstop is a defensive wonder and hits cleanup here. He has made ten errors in over 2300 games played, holding a .999 fielding percentage. Amazing. He attributes his skills to learning how to play the position without a glove in his native country of Guatemala. Over his fourteen years in Weaverball, he has averaged 31 home runs, 84 RBIs, 80 runs, and 33 doubles per season. As many power hitters do over though, he has struck out often, walked less, and hit only .274.

Second Baseman: Carlos A. Hernandez, Terhan Knights

Batting fifth for this lineup is a player who has fielded his position for his entire 14 year career, over 2364 games, and has yet to make an error. He says he has maintained the streak with mostly luck and a few generous calls from official scorers. The offense is just as good as the defense though. This power right handed bat has a lifetime .307 batting average with over 500 home runs, 1400 runs, and 1400 RBIs. Monster numbers from a guy who has made the turning of a double play an artform, which he attributes to ballet classes his mother made him take as a youngster.

Left Fielder: Tony Montana, Honolulu Volcanos

Most of his career was with the New York Nukes, but despite a want to stay with the team that brought him up, the front office declined to resign him a few years ago and he joined the Volcs as a free agent. His career averages merit the big contract, hitting .287 with 104 runs, 40 home runs, and 107 RBIs a season. His defense has always been spectacular, never committing an error in the outfield, and even once leading the league in outfield assists.

Third Baseman: Alfredo Hernandez, Vancouver Mounties

A solid player throughout his career, he has soft hands and a great arm. After starting off as a pitcher in college, he was moved to the hot corner when he signed with New York Nuke’s minor league affiliate Springfield Isotopes. Consistent production and ability to hit the ball all over the field has led to a career .284 average, over 1300 runs, 500 doubles, 400 home runs, and 1300 RBIs. He is somewhat of an iron man as well, playing 159 or more of the 162 games in 13 of his 16 years, and 9 of those were complete season appearances.

Right Fielder: Vladimir Guerrero, Bombay Elephants

At age 42, he is the oldest of the batting bunch, and also has the most experience in the league with 23 seasons under his belt. Injuries have plagued this veteran outfielder most of his career and he has never lived up to his potential. After bouncing between rehabilitation assignments, the minor leagues, and benches for a few ball clubs, the Elephants finally made him a starter at age 36. For four glorious seasons he finally enjoyed the atmosphere of the big leagues, playing 140 games each season, and contributing both on and off the field. He will be more known for his charity work and clubhouse leadership than numbers put up on the board.

Catcher, Sparrow Hostetler: New York Nukes

He is perhaps the best catcher never to see the big leagues. Currently, he has the career home run and double crowns for AAA baseball, as well as the strikeout and walk leader. Known for reading pitchers and calling a great game, he has been a player coach for the New Jersey Carjackers most of his career, being called up a couple times to fill in when injuries merited. In those seven games ever, he had 13 at bats, 3 hits, and 5 strikeouts, two by Stan Englund, who was playing for the Los Angeles Riots at the time.

Starting Pitcher: Pete Alexander, Long Beach Lobsters

Going 177-104 lifetime after starting on an Edmonton Orcas team that won 18 and 17 games in back to back years is a testament to this ace starter. His 2.14 career ERA is sparkling. He has started all but one of his 351 games, and picked up a save in the game he did not start. In nearly 2600 innings pitched, he has struck out almost as many with 2487, relying on a steady 96 mile per hour fastball and killer curve. He also has maintained a 1.26 WHIP and 16.8 K/BB ratio, meaning having only walked 147 batters, ever.

Starting Pitcher: Stan Englund, Honolulu Volcanos

Starting second with a career 2.83 ERA is this fine fastball/sinker pitcher. He has gone 232-166 over his lifetime in over 3500 innings. Most of that time has been a starter. His two sidearm pitches have led to over 2700 strikeouts and a fine 11.6 K/BB ratio, as well as an opponent batting average of .229. He attributes much of his success from watching old films of Hall-of-Famer Randy Johnson and studying the Big Unit’s flamethrower arm angle.

Starting Pitcher: Sean Johnson, New York Nukes

Playing for five different teams in 22 years means ability to pitch. He has started, done middle relief, setup, and even closed games one season. Holding a career 3.34 ERA slates this southpaw as the third starter in the fictional pitching staff. He has pitched over 2500 innings and his control has been good, holding a 3.79 K/BB ratio. Though the fastball was never in the nineties, his change up could hit in the sixties and when both pitches looking exactly alike coming at batters, it has be devastating.

Starting Pitcher: Atilla Szanyi, Moscow Red Army

Perhaps the best first name in Weaverball belongs to this fourth starter. With a rough clubhouse personality and stare-down demeanor on the mound, one would not expect him to be a knuckleball pitcher. Still, it works, as he has amassed over 3500 strikeouts in over 3000 innings pitched while maintaining a lifetime 3.72 ERA. Having a good slider and curveball also help with the nice numbers. Unfortunately, playing most of his career on non-contending teams have left him with only 150 career wins.

Starting Pitcher: Sleepy Maxon, New York Nukes

Another journeyman pitcher who has also done it all starts fifth in this rotation. Though his career ERA does not say much at 4.66, his left-handedness has. As a starter or reliever, his three-quarters style has baffled many hitters. His bread and butter pitch is an old time Screwball that learned from Hall-of-Famer Mark Langston, and he has taught it to several younger pitchers throughout the league. A nice sinker and curveball that hangs more often than not have labeled him a “junkball pitcher”. However, he is still playing while others are not.

Relief Pitcher: Fareed Shah, Cairo Scorpions

A career middle reliever, this control pitcher has solidly performed throughout his career, even closing 32 games. Throughout his almost 1000 innings pitched he has upheld an ERA under 5.00. Lack of “stuff” more than lack of control has hampered his game. But, a great arm and knowledge of the game has helped him become a valuable part of any bull pen. When to pitch what and how to approach certain batters have made him a clubhouse leader, even if he himself cannot always do as he tells.

Relief Pitcher: Red Callahan, Rio de Janerio Capybaras

This control pitcher has started much of his career. He boasts four solid pitches including a fastball, sinker, slider, and curve. He has amassed nearly 130 wins in over 2300 innings pitched and held an ERA just over 4.00. He also has 1200 career strikeouts to go with a 4.61 K/BB ratio. His nickname comes not from his hair color, but from his early days in Honolulu when he turned that color every time after eating Kim Chee at a favorite Korean eatery.

Relief Pitcher: Clyde Mercedes, Edmonton Orcas

This curveball, sinker, change-up pitcher has been called up a few times from the AAA in his career. He has good pitches with a good arm, just bad location and bad decisions on the mound. Though, at 42 years old, he has one more chance in the show before the cleats are hung on the wall, which is all he asked before signing on to be a minor league coach with the Ottawa Otters next season.

Relief Pitcher: Albert Ostrowski, Stockholm Swedes

This reliever has pitched in three Weaverball games in three years. A spectacular curve ball and solid fastball have helped him to several minor league records, including innings pitched, strikeouts, and walks for the Sacramento Snipers. However, his lack of control and arm strength have kept him in AAA and at age 40, he will probably retire there, but that will not keep him from this roster.

Relief Pitcher: Carlos Almanzar, Chernobyl Mutants

A 3.85 career ERA boasts well for this strong armed control pitcher who relies mostly on a solid fastball. Using a decent sinker and slider, he has held opponents to a .276 batting average. He has done it all, from tossing five complete games to saving 67 victories. Only 70 wins in over 1000 innings pitched may not seem like many, but he has been good enough to amass nearly 600 strikeouts and maintain a 5.22 KK/B ratio.

Relief Pitcher: Kevin Haid, Long Beach Lobsters

This journeyman reliever has the honor of being the oldest active player in Weaverball at 44 years old. In 400 innings pitched, he has kept a 3.21 lifetime ERA and .240 opponent batting average. Mostly a setup pitcher with 68 holds, he has picked up 19 saves as well in his 273 games pitched. Although his fastball and curveball are both good, neither are thrown very hard nor with precision, which can be attributed to early Tommy John surgery after a minor league injury.

Closer: Chris Brookens, Long Beach Lobsters

A late bloomer, he learned a killer sinker pitch after struggling with mastering his fastball. This has helped him to a 2.44 career ERA in almost 300 innings pitched. He has earned 74 saves and held 41 games as well during his ten years in the big leagues. He has given up only 234 hits and struck out 224, while opponents have only hit .212 off of him. Though a bit wild at times, he bears down under pressure, only allowing 14 of 89 inherited runners score.

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