The Mid-Season Weight Race

With the acquisition of CC Sabathia, the Milwaukee Brewers make a bold leap up the rankings of the heaviest 25-man roster in baseball. The Chicago White Sox are still in first with a cumulative active roster weight of 5,660 pounds, but the Brewers are not far behind:

1) White Sox - 5,660 lbs
2) Nationals - 5,510 lbs
3) Dodgers - 5,410 lbs
4) Reds - 5,395 lbs
5) Brewers - 5,365 lbs

The White Soxs are a well-rounded team effort, led by franchise stalwarts Jim Thome (6'3, 255) and Jose Contreras (6'4, 255). The Nationals are carried by several standouts, notably closer Jon Raugh (6'11, 290), first base prodigy Dmitri Young (6'2, 300) and outfielder Wily Mo Pena (6'3, 270).

The loss of Sabathia has tumbled the Indians to 24th at a slim 5,040 pounds, tied with the Tampa Rays and just behind the Phillies. The Detroit Tigers carry the lightest roster, at a positively Calista Flockhart-like 4,985 pounds. The quiet heroes of their roster are the bean-pole pitching duo of Freddy Dolsi (6'0, 160) and Casey Fossum (6'1, 160).

The addition of Sabathia also bolsters the Brewer's rise through the ranks of heaviest pitching staff in the majors. However, even with their new ace's baggy bulk, the Brewers still only crack the top 10. The biggest move on this front was the Yankee's quiet addition of Sidney Ponson (6'1, 260) who pushes the Yankees into the lead with a 12-man pitching staff weighing a combined 2,730 pounds. The Orioles are second at 2,725, although they currently carry 13 pitchers. At the other end of the rankings are the pitching-thin (literally) Tigers at 2,195 and the youthful and svelte Rays at 2,235 pounds.

Finally, as it is approaching All-Star weekend, here is this year's All-Star light and heavy pitching rotations.

Light rotation:
Tim Lincecum, 5' 11", 170 lbs
Roy Oswalt, 6' 0", 185 lbs (bad season, good track record)
Scott Kazmir, 6'0, 190 lbs
Zack Greinke, 6'2, 185
Tim Hudson, 6'1, 170

Heavy rotation:
CC Sabathia, 6'7, 290
Carlos Zambrano, 6'5, 255 lbs
John Lackey, 6'6, 245
Brad Penny, 6'4 260 (bad season, solid frame)
Felix Hernandez, 6'3, 230 lbs

And the Weighted Cy Young winner of the first half is Athletics pitcher Justin Duchscherer (6'2, 200 lbs), who after 101 innings thrown has an era lower than his weight (1.78 era).

~Sources: espn.com and mlb.com roster information on 07/09 and 07/10/2008