Seattle Mariners All-Decade Team 2000-2009

If Seattle had a sports-themed amusement park, the roller coaster ride would probably be called the “Moose-a-lini,” “Marinator,” or “M’s-Sir-Mount-able.”

For some, a roller coaster is a frightening event. Others enjoy the thrill of getting jolted and twisted through the ups and downs and upside-downs.

Depending on the constitution of the average baseball fan in Seattle, the first decade of baseball in the new millennium may have been either orgasmic or revolting, as there were more highs and lows for the Mariners than the scariest coaster at Six Flags.

That initial climb the coaster uses to gain momentum started in the mid-‘90s and carried the Mariners to scream-filled playoff appearances in 2000 and 2001, vaulting over the apex of wins in the history of the American League along the way.

The “M-inator” was cruising along until 2003, winning 90-plus games each of the first four years of the decade.

Then, as carnie-rides often do, the bottom dropped out and the free-fall started, as 99 losses piled up in 2004.

Watch out! Here comes the double loop-to-loop as the ride finishes: 93 losses in ’05; 84 losses in ’06; 88 wins in ’07; 101 losses in ’08; and 85 wins in ’09.

The M’s also had no shortage of thrill seekers. The turnstiles were smoking while they herded new players in and out of the “roster-coaster” lineup. Still, more adrenaline junkies relentlessly stood in line to take part in the 2009 makeover of the most unpredictable team in baseball.

Looking back at the last 10 years, there has been a revolving door of average, great, and not so great players to earn an income in the Pacific Northwest. After Ken Griffey Jr., Jay Buhner, and Edgar Martinez all played every year of the 1990s, not a single player put on a Mariner uniform for the entire decade between 2000 and 2009.

However, many played several years at a level that left Mariner fans smiling, laughing, and screaming with joy as they headed for the exits.

The following 25-man roster represents the best the Mariners had to offer during the first 10 years of the century. It will not include all the players, but rather the best team that could be put together position by position.

For instance, Jay Buhner played right field. So does Ichiro. Only one gets the roster spot. Sorry Jay—it was yours in the ‘90s, and this is the team of the ‘00s.

The best yearly statistics of the 25 players are listed individually on the final page. Can any team in baseball put together a better decade roster than what the Mariners could?

Catcher: Kenji Johjima

The main man behind the dish during the first five years of the 2000s was Dan Wilson. He was followed by Kenji Johjima and a few prospects, projects, and career backups.

It really comes down to the defensive-minded Dan and the offensive output of Kenji.

The twilight of Wilson’s career was evident, as he played in more than 115 games just one season during the decade. His batting average was erratic, and his power was almost nonexistent with the exception of a 10-homer year in 2001.

He was still able to excel defensively, call a good game, and manage the pitching staff effectively.

Johjima was instant offense. He came over from Japan in 2006 and smacked 18 home runs, tying a franchise record for catchers. He followed that with 14 long balls in 2007.

His production started to dwindle as pitchers found his weaknesses, and he lost playing time to catchers Adam Moore and Rob Johnson in 2009. Despite having two years left on his contract, Kenji opted out to return to playing in his home country.

Wilson was the epitome of a role model in his years with Seattle. There are few Mariner players who did more for charities and meant more to the community. Dan was “the man” during the M’s playoff teams of 1995-1997 and 2000-2001.

However, his best work was done in the '90s, and Johjima’s 32 homers in two years win him the position for the team of the 2000s.

First Base: John Olerud

Talk about a roller coaster ride. The first base position for the Mariners in the decade was a prime example of ups and downs while being occupied (mostly) by just three players: John Olerud (2000-2004), Richie Sexson (2005-2008), and Russell Branyan (2009).

The production was great from 2000-2002, dropped in 2003, plummeted in 2004, soared in 2005 and 2006, collapsed in 2007-2008, and ended with a big finish in 2009.

Olerud was the model of consistency in 2001-2002 with his batting average at .300, home run totals of 20/21, and RBIs around 100 each year. He was clutch, coming up with big hits with runners in scoring position while anchoring the cleanup or fifth spot in the lineup. His stellar defense solidified the right side of the diamond.

However, in 2003-2004 his production took a considerable drop-off while battling injuries with a total of 15 homers, and his average dropped to just .245 during 78 games in 2004.

Sexson was the knee-jerk reaction to Olerud’s decline. As the replacement at first base, he signed a huge free agent contract with the Mariners along with Adrian Beltre in 2005.

Sexson proved healthy after a lost season to injury in 2004 while with the Arizona Diamondbacks, belting 39 homers and driving in 121 runners his inaugural year with the Mariners. Another solid season followed in 2006 with 34 home runs and 107 RBI. Both seasons showed acceptable batting averages of around .260.

The trend of injury causing declining production continued at the position, as his totals for 2007-2008 plummeted to just 32 homers and 93 RBI combined and abysmal averages of .205 and .218 respectively.

Branyan was a pleasant surprise in the final year of the decade and can’t be overlooked in this conversation because his production was one of the only bright spots offensively on the anemic 2009 team. The Mariners improved their overall record by 35 games over their 2008 record and finished well over .500 for the season despite being outscored by their opponents.

Although Branyan’s 31 home runs, 76 RBI, and .251 average were better than expected, his late-season injury and short history with the M’s gave him little chance at capturing a position on the all-2000s team. Sexson was more of a liability with his free-swinging strikeout totals, so the position of the decade belongs to the more reliable and consistent John Olerud.

Olerud also wore a batting helmet while playing defense because of a brain aneurysm he suffered through during his collegiate years at Washington State University. That makes him the logical choice for the position of the decade, as he is better equipped to survive the dangers of a roller coaster disaster.

Second Base: Bret Boone

Ah, the steroid era: nothing better than a carnie (alledgedly) on performance-enhancing drugs.

Bret Boone was a beast in 2001, winning the Silver Slugger award and making the All-Star team. He was a second baseman who hit like a corner infielder. He was Chase Utley before Chase Utley. Boone had 37 homers, led the league with 141 RBI, and batted .331 while playing solid defense.

The Mariners were juggernauts in 2001 with unbelievable offense, defense, and pitching. Maybe Bret couldn’t pitch, or maybe they just didn’t try him out on the mound, but he was underrated defensively and turned a mean double play as the M’s led the league in fewest runs allowed.

Boone was the Mariners’ offense for a few years. From 2001-2003 he averaged 30 home runs and 112 RBI. Bret even had double-digit stolen bases from 2002-2004.

In 2005, his offense declined, and steroid rumors were circling. He never recovered fully from the slide and was traded to the Minnesota Twins in 2005.

Jose Lopez was never linked to steroids. He sure can hit, though, for a second baseman. He isn’t as good defensively as Boone, but he isn’t terrible. He and Russell Branyan were the main offensive weapons for the Mariners in their turnaround 2009 season.

Lopez’s power is developing, and he appears poised to make a run for team of the 2010s if he stays in Seattle. He has gradually gotten better each year, culminating in 25 home runs and 96 RBI last year. He is one of just a few Mariners capable of hitting 20-plus homers in 2010.

Boone’s monster numbers for four years give him the roster spot on the team of the decade and maybe even the all-time Mariner team.

Third Base: Adrián Beltré

The Mariners’ third base position was in flux for half of the decade. Platoon-type players shared the duties on the hot corner from 2000-2004.

There were some shining moments by plug-and-play guys like David Bell, Mark McLemore, Jeff Cirillo, and Willie Bloomquist, but there were no standout performances for any given season.

In 2004, Adrian Beltre had a breakout contract season with the Los Angeles Dodgers, hitting 48 homers. Desperate for offense and stability at the corner infield spots, the M’s loosened, dare say, ripped apart the purse strings and emptied the bank account to sign free agents Richie Sexson and the talented Mr. Beltre.

Adrian never came close to repeating his breakout season while in Seattle, but he was solid when healthy, averaging 19 home runs and 88 RBI from 2005-2008. Injuries limited him to just eight homers in his 2009 contract year, and he bolted for big money once again, signing with the Boston Red Sox this offseason.

However, he was a vacuum defensively, contributing to his modest offensive numbers with exceptional value every half an inning while occupying the dirt near the dugout.

The Mariners’ team of the decade looks great on paper with Adrian Beltre penciled in at third base despite the lack of really productive offensive statistics from the position.

Shortstop: Alex Rodriguez

Alex Rodriguez started his career in Seattle as a perfect baseball player. He was humble, hard-working, and beyond gifted. He was a great interview, always saying the right things and giving perfect sound bites.

His play on the field began lifting his name into conversations with some of the game’s all-time legends.

Alex’s final year in Seattle was supposed to be one of contract negotiations, as the Mariners tried to keep the young phenom in the Northwest for years to come. Unfortunately for Mariners fans, A-Rod would choose free agency and sign the richest contract in the history of baseball with the Texas Rangers.

His parting gift to the M’s was a very nice season where he hit 41 homers, drove in 132 RBI, stole 15 bases, and batted .316. Not a bad year for a 24-year-old. It seems like $250 million is about the right amount to be rewarded over 10 years for that kind of production.

After Alex bolted for “greener” pastures, the Mariners turned to Carlos Guillen as their shortstop. Remember, Guillen was part of the Randy Johnson trade with Houston. He played entirely too average from 2001-2003 and was never a force to be reckoned with offensively.

Realizing Guillen wasn’t the shortstop of the future, he was traded, and the M’s went with a combination of shortstop stopgaps like Willie Bloomquist and Rich Aurilia. They were actually a downgrade at the position.

In 2005 Yuniesky Betancourt took the reins of the job and held it until 2009, when he was traded to Kansas City. In his stint with the Mariners Betancourt showed signs of promise, but he was no more of an offensive threat than Guillen was.

The decade ended with Jack Wilson at shortstop following a late-season trade with Pittsburgh.

Finding a player of the decade in this mess is difficult, but there is only one real choice. Alex Rodriguez hit more home runs in one season than Guillen and Betancourt hit combined in their six-plus years! The two successors had only 31 total stolen bases from 2001-2009. Guillen batted .260 for two years. Betancourt was a tad bit better, around .280 over four years.

Shamefully, A-Rod gets the nod on the team of 2000, as he contributed more in one season than all others contributed for the following nine years.

Outfielders: RF - Ichiro; CF - Mike Cameron; LF - Raul Ibanez

Rickey Henderson, Carl Everett, Al Martin, Stan Javier, Ruben Sierra, Quinton McCracken, Adam Jones, and Scott Podsednik all spent time shagging fly balls in the outer limits of Safeco Field during the 2000s.

Collectively, their career stats would be a pretty good statistical mountain of achievements from which it would be hard to choose which players would fill out an all-time outfield roster of a decade (in Ruben Sierra’s case, choose any four decades!).

However, none of the aforementioned spent enough time starting in Seattle to even create a trash heap of offensive or defensive statistics to qualify for even honorable mention on the Mariners team of the last decade.

There are really only three outfielders that played enough games as a regular to warrant consideration at the respective outfield positions.

Right field belongs to Ichiro Suzuki. Maybe he’d be the choice for right field even for the “All-Major-League Team of the Decade” (hmmm, do I smell a sequel article?).

Ichiro has been a constant in the M’s right field since 2001, when he proved that Japanese players can be stars in America by winning the Rookie of the Year and MVP Awards and was crowned the AL stolen base champion in his first year in the Majors.

Since then, he has been an unstoppable force of consistency with nine All-Star Games, an All-Star Game MVP, nine Gold Gloves, three Silver Slugger awards, two batting titles, winner of the Commissioner’s Historic Achievement Award, nine consecutive seasons with at least 200 base hits (MLB record), and, deep breath, the all-time single-season hit record (262).

Enough said. That kind of production would put him in elite company in the history of baseball, and nothing has been mentioned of his exceptional defense and the cannon of an arm he uses to gun down baserunners who try to score on a short sacrifice fly or take an extra base.

The other two outfield spots are held by Mike Cameron in center and Raul Ibanez in left field.

Cameron came over from Cincinnati in the Ken Griffey Jr. trade. He was a defensive “centerpiece” in the outfield and combined speed with power at the plate. Although his batting average was a deficiency, he averaged 22 homers and 26 stolen bases in his four years in Seattle.

There are only two Mariners to ever have five hits in a game twice in one season: Ichiro Suzuki and Raul Ibanez. Ibanez joined the M’s in 2004 in his second tour with the team and batted a career-high .304 and also ranked third defensively in the majors among qualifying big league left fielders in UZR.

His defensive ability made fans wonder what was going on as he was shuffled back and forth between DH and left field the following four years as the Mariners ushered Carl Everett and Jose Vidro in and out of the lineup.

All Raul did in his five years in Seattle was average 22 home runs, 98 RBI, and a .291 batting average. He was a leader in the clubhouse and was a good role model in the community. With the revolving door in left field during the 2000s in Seattle, he was the most productive.

DH: Edgar Martinez (righty); Ken Griffey Jr. (lefty)

Does anything really need to be said about these two Hall of Fame candidates? Sure, both of them were at the end of their careers while with Seattle in the 2000s, but that’s what the designated hitter position is partially designed for.

Opposing pitchers would likely lose sleep knowing they would be facing one or the other of these offensive powerhouses, with the advantage going to the batter as they would platoon against a righty or lefty pitcher respectively.

The platoon would also give the Mariners late inning pinch-hitting possibilities to offset a pitching change. Can you hear the heartbeat of the pitcher race as the announcer states, “Now pinch-hitting, Edgar Martinez!”

Martinez was in the late stages of his career during the early part of last decade. All he did from 2000-2004 was hit 111 homers, drive in 481 RBI, and bat around .294. That’s a career for many players and was Edgar’s “old-timer” seasons that included a considerable drop-off in production his last season.

During the decade, “Papi” collected three All-Star Game appointments, two Silver Slugger awards, a Roberto Clemente Award, and was inducted into the Mariners Hall of Fame in 2007.

There are not many Mariners who can match those accolades, and “Gar” is the best designated hitter ever to play the game. The DH spot on the All-Decade team is definitely Edgar’s.

However, he has to share the position with his longtime friend and teammate that helped him become the savior of baseball in Seattle. After all, it was Griffey who scored the winning run on “The Double” by Edgar to win the 1995 AL Division Series against the Yankees and made it possible for baseball to exist the last decade in the Northwest.

When he steps up to the plate this April, Griffey will be the only player in M’s history to play in four different decades ('80s, '90s, '00s, and '10s) as a Mariner.

His only year in Seattle during the last decade wasn’t a monumental success, but the role he played in turning around a mindless, bickering, angry, unfocused clubhouse in 2008 into a fun-loving group of winners in 2009 is more important than any statistics piled up by any other DH.

Griffey ended up with 19 homers in just 117 games, but his batting average dropped faster than the stock market on Black Friday. The home run total is still pretty impressive for two-thirds of a season in spacious Safeco Field while battling some injuries. He has 630 career home runs and hit the 5,000th home run in Mariners history last July.

When the Mariners won 4-3 against the Texas Rangers in their last game of 2009, Griffey and the usually reserved Ichiro Suzuki were both mobbed with hugs by teammates and carried into the dugout. Anyone who can get Ichiro involved in hugging has a special gift they bring to the team and deserves to be on this team as well.

Starting Pitchers: Felix Hernandez, Jamie Moyer, Freddy Garcia, Aaron Sele, Joel Pineiro

With all the hype surrounding Cliff Lee and Felix Hernandez this year, there may be some Mariner fans wondering how people have forgotten about the pitchers that have graced the Seattle baseball scene in the past decade.

Sure, Lee and Hernandez could be the best one-two punch in the Majors this year, but there is no counting the chicks before the eggs hatch. It is yet to be seen whether or not they will even be a better combination than what the M’s have had over the last decade.

In 2009, Hernandez was 19-5 with a 2.49 ERA. Cliff Lee was 7-9 in Cleveland with a 3.14 ERA and was 7-4 with a 3.39 ERA in Philadelphia. That means Lee was almost pedestrian, just one game over .500 and an ERA that was lower in Cleveland, where he had a worse win/loss record, no doubt the result of better offense in Philly. Combined last year, Hernandez and Lee would have totaled 33 wins.

In 2001, Jamie Moyer had 20 wins and Freddy Garcia added 18 more. Garcia also led the league in ERA at 3.05 and in innings pitched. In 2003, Moyer had 21 wins and Joel Pineiro chipped in 16 wins. Gil Meche was the third best pitcher on the staff that year with 15 wins, one more than what Lee totaled last season.

So, the benchmark for Lee and Hernandez to reach for just to be the best in the past decade in Seattle would be 38 wins combined (Moyer/Garcia) or at least 37 (Moyer/Pineiro). That would mean Hernandez would have to repeat last year’s performance and Lee would have to match it!

The starting pitchers for the Mariner team of the decade are pretty formidable and obviously include Felix Hernandez, mostly for his 2009 performance.

Moyer is the only Seattle pitcher to notch 20 wins in two different seasons. He was an All-Star in 2003 and should have been one in 2001.

Freddy Garcia was an All-Star in 2000 and 2001. Garcia had 16-plus wins three times in Seattle, twice in the '00s.

Aaron Sele is a pitcher whose Mariner accomplishments seem to be forgotten, probably because of his poor showing in 2005 in his return to Seattle. However, in 2000 he won 17 games as he was the first right-handed M’s starter to be named an All-Star. He added 15 wins in 2001.

Joel Pineiro compiled 30 wins from 2002-2003. He also was very effective and versatile as a member of the bullpen and as a spot starter for several seasons.

Honorable mention goes to Gil Meche with a 55-44 overall record as a Mariner and to Paul Abbott winning 17 games in 2001.

Here’s to Lee and Hernandez kicking off the 2010 decade with a bang, but it’ll be a challenge to top the past decade’s best in Seattle and should be a fun ride.

Bullpen: Kazuhiro Sasaki, Arthur Rhodes, Jeff Nelson, Ryan Franklin, Rafael Soriano, Shigetoshi Hasegawa

Seattle’s roller coaster ride was evident in every position during the 2000s except for right field (Ichiro) and at the end of the bullpen. Kazuhiro Sasaki, Eddie Guardado, J.J. Putz, and David Aardsma have proven steady and reliable shutdown pitchers to seal victories over the last 10 years.

“Everyday Eddie” was solid, and Aardsma was a very pleasant surprise, but the battle for closer of the decade comes down to Sasaki and Putz.

Sasaki was an imported player that set Major League records for Japanese-born players, including most saves (45) and save opportunities (46) in a season, and was twice selected to play in the All-Star Game.

Sasaki's 37 saves in his initial season with the Seattle remain a MLB record for saves by a rookie of any nationality. His 45 saves in 2001 are a Mariners record.

Putz was brilliant in 2007, going 6-1 with 40 saves and a 1.38 ERA. He is the only Mariner closer to be named the “Rolaids Relief Man of the Year.”

“Kaz” is the closer for the team of the 2000s based on his 119 saves from 2000-2002. Putz has 103 saves in his entire career.

The lefty/righty setup specialists of Arthur Rhodes and Jeff Nelson formed an impenetrable wall at the end of games. They combined with Sasaki to form what is arguably the best bullpen in history during the 2001 season. They didn’t have the flair of Cincinnati’s “Nasty Boys,” but their stats are unbelievable.

Ryan Franklin was extremely solid in relief for the Mariners in 2001, pitching in 38 games with a 3.56 ERA in 78 appearances. In 2002, his ERA rose a little bit as he made 12 spot starts and pitched 118 innings.

Joel Pineiro also pitched as a relief/starting pitcher in 2001 with an overall ERA of 2.03. He started 11 games and threw 75 innings. A manager would have a ton of flexibility rotating either of these guys in and out of the rotation or in long relief.

Shigetoshi Hasegawa threw 68 innings of relief in 2002 and had a nice 3.20 ERA. In 2003 he really stepped up, setting the Mariners’ all-time single season ERA record at 1.48 while throwing 73 innings. He was as unhittable as any middle reliever has ever been for one year.

Rafael Soriano is the former Atlanta Braves closer and currently resides at the end of the Tampa Bay Rays’ bullpen. He is a converted outfielder the M’s tried unsuccessfully as a starter in 2002. In 2003 he found a home as a middle reliever, throwing 53 innings with a paltry 1.53 ERA. After two years of injury-plagued seasons he came back in 2006, throwing 60 innings with a 2.25 ERA.

Bench: C - Dan Wilson; IF - Mark McLemore; OF - Franklin Gutierrez; IF/OF - Russell Branyan

Dan Wilson could be the better choice at starting catcher because of his ability to handle a pitching staff, but chicks dig the long ball, and that sends Dan to the bench as mostly a platoon catcher with Kenji Johjima on this team.

Mark McLemore was a great starter and utility player in Seattle from 2000-2003. He played outfield, second base, third base, and shortstop. McLemore batted mostly in the first two spots in the lineup and had 69 steals in two seasons in just 263 games.

Always professional in the clubhouse and on the field, he brings versatility and leadership to the team.

Franklin Gutierrez is a phenomenal defender in the outfield and can play all three outfield positions, giving him the edge over Jay Buhner on the all-decade team despite having less power potential. “Guti” is developing offensively and brings a combination of speed and power off the bench as well as his glove.

Russell Branyan’s only season in Seattle secured him a spot on the team’s bench because of his power potential and because he has played first base, third base, left field, right field, and designated hitter positions during his career.

These players contribute position coverage, power, speed, defense, and leadership to the team like no others could.

There are some left off the team who may be good players, like Buhner, Jose Lopez, Carlos Guillen, Randy Winn, and David Bell, but the starters have already been justified, and the bench needs players with diversity and specific skill sets for different game situations.

Similar to an All-Star team, there are always arguments for the players who get “snubbed,” but a manager is trying to put together the best all-around talent to make up the best team, not just selecting the best players.

Check out the next page to see how the team roster looks, along with the best statistics for a single season of the 2000s for each of the players.

By the Numbers

C: Kenji Johjima (2006)
G AB H HR RBI SB AVG
144 506 147 18 76 3 0.291

One of three Japanese players to make the team of the decade, he is probably the least popular of them.

1B: John Olerud (2002)
G AB H HR RBI SB AVG
154 553 166 22 102 0 0.300

College “Player of the Year” while at Washington State University, he was an outstanding pitcher as well. Surprised he never pitched in the bigs.

2B: Bret Boone (2001)
G AB H HR RBI SB AVG
158 623 206 37 141 5 0.331

Part of three generations of “Boones” in the Majors.

3B: Adrian Beltre (2007)
G AB H HR RBI SB AVG
149 595 164 26 99 14 0.276

Will miss his defense, but he never came close to the 48 HRs he hit with the Dodgers.

SS: Alex Rodriguez (2000)
G AB H HR RBI SB AVG
148 554 175 41 132 15 0.316

The selfishness and steroids came after he left the friendly Northwest.

RF: Ichiro Suzuki (2004)
G AB H HR RBI SB AVG
161 704 262 8 60 36 0.372

Power and speed? Ichiro doesn’t try to hit homers yet had double-digit home run totals in three of his nine seasons.

CF: Mike Cameron (2001)
G AB H HR RBI SB AVG
150 540 144 25 110 34 0.267

Forget the steroids. That was after his days with the Mets.

LF: Raul Ibanez (2006)
G AB H HR RBI SB AVG
159 626 181 33 123 2 0.289

Not bad for a guy who never had 500 at-bats in a season until he turned 30 years old.

DH: Edgar Martinez (2000)
G AB H HR RBI SB AVG
153 556 180 37 145 3 0.324

Edgar also hit a grand slam to win Game Four of the 1995 ALDS against the Yankees to tie the series at two games apiece.

DH: Ken Griffey Jr. (2009)
G AB H HR RBI SB AVG
117 387 83 19 57 0 0.214

Griffey has lost weight and toned up. Will he hit 25 home runs in his first season of his fourth decade of playing?

Bench

Dan Wilson (2002)
G AB H HR RBI SB AVG
115 359 106 6 44 1 0.295

Came to the plate with “Whatta Man” playing on the loud speakers (nickname was “Dan the Man”).

Russell Branyan (2009)
G AB H HR RBI SB AVG
116 431 108 31 76 2 0.251

If his back didn’t give out, would Casey Kotchman and Ryan Garko be in Seattle?

Mark McLemore (2001)
G AB H HR RBI SB AVG
125 409 117 5 57 39 0.286

He was a huge contributor for Seattle but also played for the division rival Angels and Rangers.

Franklin Gutierrez (2009)
G AB H HR RBI SB AVG
153 565 160 18 70 16 0.283

Could he hit 25 homers in 2010?

Starters

Felix Hernandez (2009)
W L ERA G GS IP
19 5 2.49 34 34 238

Signed to a five-year deal in the offseason, he is poised to take his pitching to the next level.

Jamie Moyer (2003)
W L ERA G GS IP
21 7 3.27 33 33 215

Moyer was 20-6 with a 3.43 ERA in 2001 and didn’t make the All-Star team. He also won three games in the postseason. He made his first All-Star Game in 2003 as a 40-year-old.

Freddy Garcia (2001)
W L ERA G GS IP
18 6 3.05 34 34 238

Freddy added a 16-win season in 2002.

Joel Pineiro (2003)
W L ERA G GS IP
16 11 3.78 32 32 211

Combined with Jamie Moyer for 37 wins, while Gil Meche contributed 15 wins this year.

Aaron Sele (2000)
W L ERA G GS IP
17 10 4.51 34 34 211

This was Sele’s third consecutive season with 17-plus wins (1998-1999 with the Angels).

Bullpen

Kazuhiro Sasaki (2002)
W L ERA G GS SV IP
4 5 2.52 61 0 37 60.2

Had more saves (45) in 2001 but was more dominant in 2002.

Arthur Rhodes (2001)
W L ERA G GS SV IP
8 0 1.72 71 0 3 68

One of the most dominant relievers of his era.

Jeff Nelson (2000)
W L ERA G GS SV IP
8 4 2.45 73 0 0 69.2

Fifty-five career postseason appearances ranks second all-time behind only ex-teammate Mariano Rivera.

Ryan Franklin (2001)
W L ERA G GS SV IP
5 1 3.56 38 0 0 78.1

Franklin also started 64 games from 2003-2004, pitching 200-plus innings both years.

Rafael Soriano (2003)
W L ERA G GS SV IP
3 0 1.53 40 0 1 53

Rafael also had a 2.25 ERA in 60 IP in 2006.

Shigetoshi Hasegawa (2003)
W L ERA G GS SV IP
2 4 1.48 63 0 16 73

This season got him on this team narrowly over George Sherrill, Julio Mateo, Jose Paniagua, Ryan Rowland-Smith, and Ron Villone.