The New York Baseball All-Decade Team: Pitching Staff

This decade was great for the Yankees—winning two World Series—but not great for the Mets, only making the playoffs a couple of times.

In fact, in the first World Series of the decade, the two New York teams faced each other in the Subway Series. The Yankees won the series in five games with Derek Jeter named MVP.

Previously, I wrote an article on The New York Baseball All-Decade Team: Position Players, and I mentioned that I would do a pitching staff.

This is The New York Baseball All-Decade Team: Pitching Staff.

Some Yankees and Mets pitchers from this decade will forever be key components in the franchise's history, such as Roger Clemens, Andy Pettitte, and Mariano Rivera.

First Starter: Roger Clemens, Yankees

Roger Clemens was a member of the Yankees from 1999-2003 and returned back to the Yankees later in 2007.

As a member of the Yankees, Clemens won two World Series, won the AL Cy Young award in 2001, and was a two-time All-Star. Clemens won his 300th game as a member of the Yankees in 2003.

Clemens' Yankees stats include 83 wins, 42 losses, a win percentage of .664, 1,014 strikeouts, and an ERA of 4.01 in 175 games pitching as a Yankee.

Second Starter: Andy Pettitte, Yankees

Andy Pettitte was a member of the Yankees from 1995-2003 and returned to the team in 2007.

As a Yankee, Pettitte has been in the 1996 and the 2001 All-Star Game. Pettitte has also won five World Series as a Yankee and was the MVP of the 2001 ALCS.

Pettitte's Yankees stats include 192 wins, 109 losses, a win percentage of .638, 1,722 strikeouts, and an ERA of 4.02 in 384 games pitching as a Yankee.

Third Starter: Mike Mussina, Yankees

Mike Mussina was a member of the Yankees from 2001 until his retirement after the 2008 MLB season.

As a member of the Yankees, Mussina won three Gold Gloves while also pitching very well for the Yankees.

Mussina's Yankees stats include 123 wins, 72 losses, a win percentage of .631, 1,278 strikeouts, and an ERA of 3.88 in 249 games pitching as a Yankee.

It will be interesting to see if Mussina gets into the Hall of Fame when it comes the time that he can be inducted in.

Fourth Starter: Pedro Martinez, Mets

Pedro Martinez was a member of the Mets from 2005-2008.

As a member of the Mets, Martinez was in two All-Star games and had his 3,000th strikeout while with the team.

Martinez's Mets stats include 32 wins, 23 losses, a win percentage of .582, 464 strikeouts, and an ERA of 3.88 in 79 games pitching for the Mets.

Fifth Starter: Al Leiter, Mets and Yankees

Al Leiter was a member of the Mets from 1998-2004 and would later go to the Yankees in 2005.

As a member of the Mets, Leiter was in the 2000 All-Star Game and helped lead the Mets to the Subway Series as one of the teams' best starting pitchers. Leiter also won the Roberto Clemente Award in 2000. Leiter retired as a Yankee during Spring Training in 2006.

Leiter's Mets stats include 95 wins, 67 losses, a win percentage of .586, 1,106 strikeouts, and an ERA of 3.42 in 213 games pitching for the Mets. Leiter's Yankees stats include four wins, five losses, a win percentage of .444, 45 strikeouts, and an ERA of 5.49 in 16 games pitching for the Yankees in 2005.

Set-Up Man: Duaner Sanchez, Mets

This was by far the hardest spot to pick because neither team had an amazing set-up man this decade.

Sanchez was a member of the Mets from 2006 until Spring Training this season. Sanchez played great for the Mets, until he was injured in a car accident a couple years ago.

Sanchez's Mets stats include 10 wins, two losses, a win percentage of .833, 88 strikeouts, and an ERA of 3.48 in 115 games pitching for the Mets.

Closer: Mariano Rivera,Yankees

Who else could it be?

Rivera, along with Andy Pettitte, came up from the minors in 1995 for the Yankees.

As a Yankee, Rivera has established himself as one of, if not the best closer in MLB history. Rivera has been in 10 All-Star games as a Yankee, has won five World Series, the AL Rolaids Relief Man award five times, has been the leader in the MLB in saves three times, and was the 1999 World Series MVP along with being the 2003 AL Championship Series MVP.

Rivera's career stats include 71 wins, 52 losses, a win percentage of .577, 1,006 strikeouts, 526 saves, and an ERA of 2.25 in 917 games pitching as a Yankee.