All-Decade Team: Outfielders and Pitchers

OUTFIELDERS:

• LF Barry Bonds. He was finished after the 2007 season, but in a three-year span (2001-03), Bonds did a decade's (or more) worth of damage. The most impressive aspect of Bonds' domination during those seasons was not the number or frequency of home runs, but how he managed to hit all those dingers as opposing pitchers and managers were letting him see so few strikes. Honorable mentions: Manny Ramirez, Johnny Damon, Carlos Lee.


• CF Torii Hunter. Yes, Carlos Beltran had better numbers, but Hunter was hands-down the best defender at the position for most of the decade. Plus, he exuded what we'll call, for lack of a better term, the "Jeter Effect," especially during his years in Minnesota. Honorable mentions: Beltran, Andruw Jones.


• RF Ichiro Suzuki. If not for some amazing years from one Vladimir Guerrero, this would have been no contest. As it is, Ichiro, by far the toughest out in baseball since he entered the majors in 2001, wins pretty handily. Honorable mentions: Guerrero, Bobby Abreu.

PITCHERS:

• RHP Roy Halladay. The numbers game easily goes to Halladay, and he compiled those stats with a mostly mediocre Toronto offense behind him and a so-so bullpen to pick him up. Honorable mentions: John Smoltz, Tim Hudson.


• LHP Randy Johnson. It's hard to argue against the Unit's three straight Cy Youngs to start the decade, but when it comes to consistency and reliability, CC Sabathia comes in a close second. Honorable mentions: Sabathia, Johan Santana.


• Closer Mariano Rivera. The closer role seems to be changing with each season, but the one constant has been Rivera. Honorable mention: Trevor Hoffman.