The All Decade Team - Websoulsurfer Style

Wednesday December 9, 2009

The Websoulsurfer All Decade Team 2000-2009

We have come to the end of a decade - 2000-2009.

That got me started thinking about who were the best players of the decade. The best hitters, the best pitchers, the best by position. I decided to put together a team of the best players.

Let me start by saying that anyone tainted by steroids is not included, regardless of their stats. To be on MY all decade team you have to be a player worth rooting for, and cheaters are not worth rooting for in my book.

I also did not include a DH. In my opinion, to be considered as a great BASEBALL player you have to play the field.You don't have to be the BEST fielder at your position, but you have to be a good enough player to HAVE a position in the field.

Here is my team:

1B - Albert Pujols    - 172 OPS+ 366 HR 1112 RBI .334/.427/.628 3230 TB    
No one else even comes close. When his career is over he will probably start on my All Time Team.

2B - Jeff Kent         - 130 OPS+ 216 HR 850 RBI .300/.371/.518 2462 TB
Most Home runs by a 2B ever. Was at his peak during those years and retired after 2008.

SS - Derek Jeter    - 121 OPS+ 161 HR 727 RBI .317/.387/.456 2793 TB 219 SB
While I don't like the Yankees as a whole, Jeter has been the best SS in the last decade.

3B - Chipper Jones    - 147 OPS+ 273 HR 921 RBI .311/.413/.547 2700 TB
Only 3 players hit more HR & only 2 had a better OPS+ in the decade. Enough said.

LF - Brian Giles     - 136 OPS+ 209 HR 806 RBI .289/.400/.494 2543 TB
136 OPS+ puts him in rarified air. 209 hr while playing 6+ years in Petco. Amazing player.

CF - Ichiro Suzuki     - 118 OPS+ 84  HR 515 RBI .333/.378/.434 2646 TB 341 SB
6 seasons leading league in hits. 9 straight 200 hit seasons. Gold Glove fielder.

RF - Vladimir Guerrero    - 146 OPS+ 315 HR 1037 RBI .323/.392/.569 3080 TB
Vlad the impaler lead AL outfielders in HR and RBI in the decade. 4th best OPS+

C  - Ivan Rodriguez    - 110 OPS+ 161 HR 643 RBI .298/.335/.477 2207 TB
Best defensive catcher since, well, maybe ever. AND he can hit.

RHP - Pedro Martinez    - 112 Wins  3.01 ERA  .691 win %  152 ERA+
LHP - Johan Santana      - 122 Wins  3.12 ERA  .670 win %  143 ERA+

Closer - Trevor Hoffman - 363 Saves 2.77 ERA 8.8 K/9 4.22 SO/BB 90% Saves
466 GF. 403 Save opportunities of 546 appearances. Only 18% of inherited runners scored

On this one I am a little biased. Ok, a lot biased.
What Trevor did on a weak Padres team that won only 606 games in his 9 seasons as a Padre is astounding. 363 saves on two teams that only had 4 winning seasons in 10.
363 saves when your teams only won 686 games.
Hoffman entered 365 of 466 games in high levereage situations. (Rivera only 389 of 589 games.)

Honorable Mention

At some positions it was either very close or the player I chose was head and shoulders better than the next best choice so I have added an Honorable Mention category.

1B - Todd Helton     - 145 OPS+ 260 HR 981 RBI .331/.436/.569 3021 TB
2B - Chase Utley    - 129 OPS+ 161 HR 585 RBI .295/.379/.523 1730 TB 2003-2009
SS - Miggy Tejada    - 116 OPS+ 251 HR 1046 RBI .297/.347/.481 3010 TB
3B - Scott Rolen    - 124 OPs+ 201 HR 832 RBI .285/.368/.497 2321 TB
LF - Lance Berkman     - 148 OPS+ 309 HR 1026 RBI .300/.413/.559 2887 TB
CF - Jim Edmonds    - 140 OPS+ 261 HR 768 RBI .280/.389/.548 2175 TB
RF - Bobby Abreu    - 132 OPS+ 216 HR 993 RBI .297/.402/.492 2851 TB 295 SB
C  - Mike Piazza    - 127 OPS+ 187 HR 567 RBI .285/.360/.512 1667 TB 2000-2007
C  - Jorge Posada     - 124 OPS+ 208 HR 849 RBI .283/.386/.878 2177 TB

RHP - Roy Halladay      - 139 Wins  3.40 ERA  .668 win %  133 ERA+
LHP - Randy Johnson    - 143 Wins  3.34 ERA  .647 win %  137 ERA+

Closer - Mariano Rivera - 397 Saves 2.08 ERA 8.4 K/9 4.88 SO/BB 90% Saves
589 GF. 437 save situations of 651 appearances. 32% of inherited runners scored
Awesome. Simply awesome, but his team won 965 games. They never had a losing season.