All-Decade Team: Infield

Every baseball hack in the free world is chiming in on this, so I figured what the hell ... today the infield, tomorrow the outfield and pitchers.

INFIELD

• C Jorge Posada. With due respect to Minnesota's Joe Mauer, he played only a bit longer than half the '00s. So, Posada is my pick -- for above average offensive production, being the mark of consistency, winning two titles and handling a revolving-door staff of high-priced pitchers. Not to mention doing all those things with such a storied franchise as the New York Yankees. Honorable mentions: Jason Varitek, Mauer.
• 1B Albert Pujols. A no-brainer if there ever was one. In fact, anyone who doesn't pick the Cardinals' slugger as the Player of the Decade better have a pretty convincing argument. Honorable mentions: Ryan Howard, Mark Teixeira.
• 2B Chase Utley. My inclination here was to split the pick between Jeff Kent for the first half of the decade and Utley for the second half. With a gun to my head, I'll take Utley for winning the title on '08 and doing everything in his power to win the thing in '09. Honorable mentions: Kent, Luis Castillo, Placido Polanco.
• 3B Alex Rodriguez. Criticism abounds with the highest-paid person in any profession. One thing you cannnot dispute is A-Rod's production. And let's give him a little credit for learning a new position in the name of winning. Honorable mentions: Miguel Cabrera, Chipper Jones.
• SS Derek Jeter. Another pick that would be tough to challenge. Great all-around player, true leader, consummate professional, hardly a flaw in his game or in his character. Jeter is the the type of player every owner, GM and manager dreams of starting a franchise with. Honorable mentions: Miguel Tejada, Jimmy Rollins, Omar Vizquel.