The 2012 Major League All-Mediocre Team!

In the spirit of awards season, I figured I should take a little time to recognize some of the outstanding performances of the 2012 major league season. But, everyone else has been doing that for months. So I'm gonna do something I find a little more fun. Which gives us:

The 2012 (First Annual!) Major League Baseball All-Mediocre Team!

In the interest of thoroughness, I've assembled not only a starting lineup, but a full 25-man roster!

First, some fun (and surprising) facts about this year's team:
- The 2012 MLB A-M Team earned $116,129,000 in payroll, which would represent the ninth-highest payroll in the MLB (6th in the AL, 4th in the NL).
- The team hit a combined 217 home runs in 2012, which would be second, behind only the New York Yankees.
- Using only RBI and ER as metrics, the all-mediocre team scored a whopping 846 runs, and allowed only 615, which would rank 1st and T-11th, respectively.
- 14 of the 25 players are in the American League (8 batters, 6 pitchers) compared to 11 in the National League (5 batters, 6 pitchers). 7/8 starting position players are from the AL.
- 17 teams are represented on this list. Atlanta, Chicago (AL), and Tampa Bay each have three representatives.

The rules for this were agreed upon by our all-star panel of judge, and are as follows:

Batters -

1. Using OPS+ measurements on Baseball-Reference, I've selected the players closest to an even 100, representing the league average.

2. Players listed must have qualified for the Major League batting title*, and can only be represented in their primary position (Hanley Ramirez, for example, would thus be ineligible at Shortstop this season).

*Based on the taxing nature of the position, the Plate Appearance minimum for Catchers is 400, instead of the necessary 502.

3. Because we're shooting for mediocrity here, those below 100 are selected over those equally above 100 (i.e. someone with a 98 OPS+ would be selected over someone with a 102 OPS+).

4. Also in the spirit of mediocrity, candidates who were closest to 100 overall were selected (i.e. someone with a 103 OPS+ would be selected over someone with a 96 OPS+).

5. In the event of a tie, salary was the next tiebreaker. What better gauge of mediocrity than the underwhelming bang for your buck?

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Catcher - Alex Avila, Detroit Tigers - 100 OPS+
$510,000
.243/.352/.384
9HR, 48RBI

First Base - Carlos Pena, Tampa Bay Rays - 94 OPS+
$7,250,000
.197/.330/.354
19HR, 61RBI

Second Base - Marco Scutaro, Colorado Rockies and San Francisco Giants - 99 OPS+
$6,000,000
.306/.348/.405
3HR, 44RBI

Third Base - Kevin Youkilis, Boston Red Sox and Chicago White Sox - 99 OPS+
$12,250,000
.235/.336/.409
19HR, 60RBI

Shortstop - Alcides Escobar, Kansas City Royals - 98 OPS+
$1,000,000
.293/.331/.390
5HR, 52RBI

Left Field - Desmond Jennings, Tampa Bay Rays - 97 OPS+
$487,000
.246/.314/.388
13HR, 47RBI

Center Field - Michael Bourn, Atlanta Braves - 99 OPS+
$6,850,000
.274/.348/.391
9HR, 57RBI

Right Field - Nelson Cruz, Texas Rangers - 101 OPS+
$5,000,000
.260/.319/.460
24HR, 90RBI

Bench:

Dan Uggla, 2B Atlanta Braves -- 98 OPS+
$13,000,000
.220/.348/.384
19HR, 78RBI

Jimmy Rollins, SS Philadelphia Phillies -- 98 OPS+
$11,000,000
.250/.316/.427
23HR, 68RBI

Hunter Pence, RF Philadelphia Phillies and San Francisco Giants -- 103 OPS+
$10,400,000
.253/.319/.425
24HR, 104RBI

Dayan Viciedo, LF/IF Chicago White Sox -- 96 OPS+
$2,500,000
.255/.300/.444
25HR, 78RBI

Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Boston Red Sox -- 95 OPS+
$2,500,000
.222/.288/.454

25HR, 59RBI

Pitchers -

1. Using ERA+ measurements on Baseball-Reference, I've selected the players closest to an even 100, representing the league average

2. Starting pitchers must have qualified for the ERA title; Relief Pitchers must have pitched a minimum of 50 innings.

3 - 5 are the same as above, substituting ERA+ for OPS+ as necessary.

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Starting Rotation:

Matt Moore, Tampa Bay Rays -- 100 ERA+
$1,000,000
177.1 IP, 3.81 ERA
2.16 K/BB, 1.348 WHIP

C.J. Wilson, Los Angeles Angels -- 99 ERA+
$10,000,000
202.1 IP, 3.83 ERA
1.90 K/BB, 1.344 WHIP

Phil Hughes, New York Yankees -- 99 ERA+
$3,200,000
191.1 IP, 4.23 ERA
3.59 K/BB, 1.265 WHIP

Gavin Floyd, Chicago White Sox -- 101 ERA+
$7,000,000
168 IP, 4.29 ERA
2.29 K/BB, 1.363 WHIP

Edwin Jackson, Washington Nationals -- 98 ERA+
$11,000,000
189.2 IP, 4.03 ERA
2.90 K/BB, 1.218 WHIP

Bullpen:

Ryan Webb, Miami Marlins -- 99 ERA+
$481,000
60.1 IP, 4.03 ERA
2.20 K/BB, 1.525 WHIP

Jamey Wright, Los Angeles Dodgers -- 102 ERA+
$900,000
67.2 IP, 3.72 ERA
1.80 K/BB, 1.507 WHIP

Vicente Padilla, Boston Red Sox -- 97 ERA+
$1,500,000
50 IP, 4.50 ERA
3.40 K/BB, 1.480 WHIP

Brad Brach, San Diego Padres -- 97 ERA+
$480,000
66.2 IP, 3.78 ERA
2.27 K/BB, 1.245 WHIP

Cristhian Martinez, Atlanta Braves -- 103 ERA+
$491,000
73.2 IP, 3.91 ERA
3.42 K/BB, 1.344 WHIP

Chris Resop, Pittsburgh Pirates -- 96 ERA+
$850,000
73.2 IP, 3.91 ERA
1.92 K/BB, 1.425 WHIP

Steve Delabar, Seattle Mariners and Toronto Blue Jays -- 105 ERA+
$481,000
66 IP, 3.82 ERA
3.54 K/BB, 1.091 WHIP