The Mangin MLB All-Decade Team: Roids and Greenies Welcomed

Posted on December 31, 2009

An official Major League Baseball sits in the grass before a game between the Oakland Athletics and the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park in San Francisco, CA on June 25, 2006. (Photo by Brad Mangin)

 

Welcome to my Major League Baseball All-Decade Team for 2000 – 2009. In unveiling my team I will name names and hold nothing back. There are no rules of eligibility to make my team, where every big-leaguer is an adult and can put whatever he wants into his body. In my clubhouse the All-Decade Team is free to help themselves to the big bowl of greenies over by the candy and to the beer in the cooler. The bathroom stalls are big enough to fit two of the team members at the same time so they can give each other a shot in the ass.

I have had a blast photographing Major League Baseball for the past decade and have had many chances to see my team members play in person at ballparks across America. I selected one player at each position- their REAL position. I did not move anyone around to make things easier. I also selected two starting pitchers- one righty and one lefty. I then selected my closer and manager. My tream plays in the National League so there is no designated hitter. 12 men in all made my All-Decade Team. Let’s meet my team!

First Base, Albert Pujols: This is one of the easiest choices on my team. This guy is a monster and might go down in baseball history as the greatest right-handed hitter ever. I first photographed Pujols in April of 2001 in Phoenix and I had no idea who he was. He won three Most Valuable Player Awards during this decade and is still going strong as we head into the new decade. His manager Tony La Russa has a bizarre man-crush on him as no one can find anything bad to say about him. He is the Tiger Woods of baseball. Whoops! Until Thanksgiving night of 2009.

Second Base, Jeff Kent: This is a guy who put up numbers rivaling Rogers Hornsby for second basemen in his career and clinched his Hall of Fame career by finishing out the decade strong with the Astros and Dodgers.  He began the decade by winning the 2000 National league MVP Award with the Giants and hit .300 in the decade, leading all second basemen with 216 home runs. I watched this guy play so many games in person with the Giants, and later with the Astros and Dodgers. Huge clutch hitter who could rake till the end. Not as bad with the glove as everyone said he was with the Mets earlier in his career. Played his career clean. Just think what he could have done if he would have hit the needle!

Shortstop, Derek Jeter: The Captain. The Joe DiMaggio of our era. Jeter capped off the decade leading the Yankees to the World Series Championship and being named Sports Illustrated’s “Sportsman of the Year.” He batted .317 in the decade, banged out 1,940 hits and collected four Gold Gloves for his brilliant play in the field. One of the best decisions he made in this decade was to stay single so he could have fun and not end up like Tiger Woods.

Third Base, Alex Rodriguez: Moved over to the hot corner when he joined the Yankees in 2004. Won three American League Most Valuable Player Awards during the decade (two at third base) and belted 238 homers over the 10-year span. Dated Madonna and Kate Hudson. Loaded his body up with steroids in early 2000’s. Really a different guy who has always tried way too hard to fit in with his teammates but also acted like an ass at times. Earned the nickname “A-Fraud” from teammates and particularly from clubhouse attendants who were said to resent his demands. A-Rod will enjoy the extra large bathroom stalls I have provided for my club.

Right Field, Ichiro Suzuki: I love this guy. I have shot Ichiro so many times in Oakland, Seattle and in Phoenix for spring training since he broke in during the 2001 season. Had more hits in the decade (2,030) than any other player and accomplished this number in only nine seasons, not ten. Batted .333 over the decade and became first big leaguer to get over 200 hits for nine straight seasons and also collected nine straight Gold Glove Awards. Had incredible 2001 season when he won both the American League MVP Award and American League Rookie of the Year Award. Has an incredible arm in right field. I was a fan during a freezing cold night game in Oakland in April of 2001 when he threw out A’s base runner Terrence Long trying to go from first to third on a single to right field. I was sitting in the upper deck behind home plate and will never forget seeing his throw nail T-Long at third. Greatest throw I ever saw. This future Hall of Famer also speaks great English- just not around the American media.

Left Field, Carlos Beltran: His monster career is slowing down a little bit as this decade draws to a close and he battles injuries in New York, but he had one Hell of a decade. He hit 251 home runs, stole 256 bases, drove in 920 runs and won three Gold Gloves for the Royals, Astros and Mets during the 2000’s. Had an insane post season for the Astros in 2004 and almost single-handedly took him past the Cardinals into the World Series. Thanks to his big October he was awarded with big contract to play for the Mets. Won three straight Gold Gloves for his stellar play in center field with the Mets from 2006-2008. Should be able to run down balls in the alley that my left fielder can’t get to.

Left Field, Barry Bonds: Greatest player I ever saw. Hands down. I was there to photograph all of his big homers, climaxing with #756 in August of 2007. Bonds was a great left fielder in his younger days, but by the time the 2000’s began his roided-up body slowed him down so much he did not win any Gold Gloves like the eight he won in the 1990’s. Collected four National League Most Valuable Player Awards in the decade and batted .322. If he wasn’t such a bad guy and would have admitted his steroid use like some other guys he would be entering the new decade as a beloved retired ballplayer. Still gets a huge ovation in San Francisco, is hated in every other city in the country.

Catcher, Jorge Posada: This is the unsung hero of the Yankees. Posada is one of the core guys left from the 1996 World Series team, along with Jeter and Mariano Rivera. Posada doesn’t have the numbers that some of the others might have, but his overall play and leadership is what gives him the starting nod on my team. The Yankees backstop made five All-Star teams in the decade and won five Silver Slugger Awards given to the best-hitting catcher in the league. On the downside of his career and not the best catcher in the league anymore, Posada had a great decade and will be calling the pitches behind the plate for my pitchers.

Right-Handed Pitcher, Roy Halladay: This guy has had an incredible decade and would be much more famous if he would not have toiled in Canada for the entire 10 years. Halladay won the most games (139) of any right-hander in the decade and had the most complete games (47) and shutouts (14) among all pitchers. His trade to the Phillies for the 2010 season will give him more exposure. Could have put up better numbers if the Blue Jays weren’t so awful during most of his tenure in Toronto.

Left-Handed Pitcher, Randy Johnson: The Big Unit. This guy literally scared the Hell out of opposing batters during his prime. Won three Cy Young Awards in a row (2000-2002) to begin the decade for the Diamondbacks and had the most strikeouts (2,182) of all pitchers. As a 45-year-old he gutted his way through an injury=plagued season to post an 8-6 record for the Giants in 2009 and won his 300th game. He definitely is not ending the decade as the best lefty, but for much of the 2000’s this future Hall of Famer and his devastating slider “Mr. Snappy” baffled hitters in both leagues.

Relief Pitcher, Mariano Rivera: Simply the best closer the game has ever seen. Rivera had the most saves in the decade with 397 and finished out the decade getting the final out of the 2009 World Series as his Yankees beat the Phillies in six games. Named to eight All-Star teams during the 2000’s, Rivera has always been his best when it mattered most- during the post season. In his career he has an 8-1 record with 39 saves and an ERA of 0.74 over 133.1 innings in October. With this guy anchoring my pitching staff we can’t lose!

Manager, Mike Scioscia: Thanks to this guy the Angels had a terrific decade, winning the 2002 World Series and making it to the post season seven times. Scioscia won the American League Manager of the Year Award two times (2002 and 2009) and led his club to a 900- 720 record for a .556 winning percentage. Scioscia was a great defensive catcher during his playing days with the Dodgers and blocked the plate better than anyone I ever saw. He manages his club like a National League skipper and this attitude helps the Angels play such competitive baseball each and every year. My All-Decade Team needs a great communicator in the dugout to deal with all of the big egos. Scioscia is the perfect guy.

Well there you have it. My All-Decade Team of the 2000’s. These guys can hit, field their positions and pitch a little bit. They are not afraid to seek some help if they start to feel a little run-down and this will help them late in the season and when they have to play day games after night games. Just tell us when and where you want to play us and we will be there. I like our chances.

Mangin 2000-2009 MLB All-Decade Team – Images by Brad Mangin