2011 MLB All-Star Game: Who Makes Each League's All-Decade Rosters?

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With the Midsummer Classic quickly approaching, I've taken the time to construct the all-decade rosters for each league.

Players were looked at based on a few criteria.

1) The only statistics and awards that were able to be considered were those post-2000. Meaning players with storybook careers who played in two decades but faded away after 2000, were not able to considered, i.e. Ken Griffey Jr.

2) A player who has had solid careers with two different teams in separate league's may only be considered for one league's roster, i.e. Roy Halladay, Johan Santana.

3) Players formerly implicated in the steroid era were chosen based upon their play on the field. Meaning steroids or no steroids, you may be considered. After all, this is the All-Star game and not the Hall of Fame.

Eight field starters, one starting pitcher and a designated hitter were selected. Followed by seven reserve fielders and six pitchers for the bullpen.

Take the time to notice how players may fit together and how dominant these guys were at the time in which they were chosen for.

Remember that players were chosen for what they did at the prime of their careers.

The Catchers

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American League: Ivan Rodriguez, Detroit Tigers

Pudge played in six All-Star games as the AL catcher this past decade, including all four with the Tigers. Add in his five Gold Gloves since 2000 and this is a sure-fire selection.

National League: Mike Piazza, New York Mets

Five-time All-Star, three-time Silver Slugger as a National League catcher. A much deserved honor for the greatest home run hitting catcher in history.

The First Basemen

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American League: Mark Teixeira, New York Yankees/Texas Rangers

Four-time Gold Glove award winner and two-time All-Star. Tex has batted over .300 three times since coming into the league in 2003.

National League: Albert Pujols, St. Louis Cardinals

Need we fret over why Pujols is on this roster. Arguably the best and most consistent player of the past decade.

The Second Basemen

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American League: Brian Roberts, Baltimore Orioles

BR is kind of a default selection here because second base in the American League has always been notoriously weak at the position.

He was great on defense and one of the best double hitters of the last 10 years. His backdoor addition to this squad takes nothing away from his career, though.

National League: Chase Utley, Philadelphia Phillies

Undeniably the best second basemen in the game today. Five-time consecutive All-Star, he's a defensive wizard and magician at getting on base. No arguments here.

The Shortstops

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American League: Derek Jeter, New York Yankees

The newest member of the illustrious 3,000-hit club is the clear stand out at a position that has been littered with great talent over the years. Nine-time All-Star since 2000? I think yes.

National League: Jimmy Rollins, Philadelphia Phillies

Just like Jeter, consistent talent at the sports most talent-laden position. Rollins has the kicker, though. The 2007 NL MVP is a three-time All-Star, and if you throw him on this roster, the double play combo alongside of Utley. Right choice.

The Third Basemen

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American League: Alex Rodriguez, New York Yankees

A-Rod is a no-brainer on this roster, either here or at Shortstop but for the sake of Jeter, he'll stick here. This three-time AL MVP has made every single All-Star game since the year 2000. Incredible.

National League: Scott Rolen, St. Louis Cardinals

Seven-time All-Star, five-time Gold Glove award recipient is easily the best defensive third basemen of this generation. Although his better days may be behind him, Rolen in his prime is one of the best there's ever been.

Starting Outfielders

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American League: Manny Ramirez, Boston Red Sox; Ichiro Suzuki, Seattle Mariners; Vladimir Guerrero, Los Angeles Angels

Easy: Manny in left, Ichiro's speed in center, and Vlad's cannon for an arm in right. A perfect balance of contact and power hitting on offense.

Combined, this Hall of Fame caliber outfield has two MVP awards, nine Gold Gloves, 17 Silver Slugger award and an astounding 27 All-Star game appearances. 

National League:  Barry Bonds, San Francisco Giants; Andruw Jones, Atlanta Braves; Jim Edmonds, St. Louis Cardinals

This is one of the most defensively sound outfields that can be constructed from players of the past decade. A mind-boggling 14 Gold Gloves are possessed by Edmonds and Jones alone, and Bonds himself holds four NL MVP's.

This stout defense is complemented just as nicely by potent power hitting, but in the end, who even wants to pitch to Bonds?

Designated Hitters

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American League: David Ortiz, Boston Red Sox

Big Papi has made seven of the last eight All-Star teams of the Bo Sox and from 2004-2007 finished in the top four in MVP voting each year. One of baseball's great clutch home run hitters.

National League: Todd Helton, Colorado Rockies

It's unfortunate, but the only reason that Todd Helton is here is because The Machine also plays first base. He's a future Hall of Fame player and deserves a spot on this coveted roster.

Starting Pitchers

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American League: Roy Halladay, Toronto Blue Jays

"Doc" Halladay is the best pitcher in the game today. Now, even though he currently deals for the Phillies in the National League he does have six All-Star game appearances and one Cy Young Award in the AL as the Blue Jays ace.

It's his nine years he spent in Toronto this past decade that inks his name on this roster.

National League: Randy Johnson, Arizona Diamondbacks

Even though The Big Unit's career was coming to a close near the mid-2000s, there's no denying his spot as the starting pitcher. Three consecutive Cy Young Awards to begin the decade is simply incredible.

He's a strikeout machine, throws gas and has All-Star pedigree. What else could you ask for as your starter?

The Reserves

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American League:

Carl Crawford (OF), Tampa Bay Rays

Miguel Tejada (SS), Oakland/Baltimore

Robinson Cano (2B), New York Yankees

Joe Mauer (C), Minnesota Twins

Jason Giambi (1B/DH), New York Yankees

Josh Hamilton (OF), Texas Rangers

Torii Hunter (OF), Los Angeles Angels

An American League reserve roster that contains four former MVP's and a combined 30 All-Star game appearances. Torii Hunter has nine Gold Gloves alone.

National League:

Ryan Howard (1B), Philadelphia Phillies

Matt Holliday (OF), Colorado Rockies

Lance Berkman (1B/OF), Houston Astros

Miguel Cabrera (OF), Florida Marlins

Edgar Renteria (SS), St. Louis Cardinals

Jeff Kent (2B), San Francisco Giants

Carlos Beltran (OF), New York Mets

These National League reserves boast two former MVP's (Howard, Kent) and an impressive 33 combined AS game appearances.

Due to not hitting the pitcher, many of these players are capable of playing multiple positions and DH to compensate. Overall very strong lineup.

The Bullpens

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American League:

Pedro Martinez, Boston Red Sox

Mariano Rivera, New York Yankees

CC Sabathia, Cleveland Indians

Cliff Lee, Cleveland Indians

Johan Santana, Minnesota Twins

Andy Pettite, New York Yankees

Pitching behind The Doc are the likes of three former Cy Young Award winners in Pedro, Johan and Cliff Lee. Never hurts when the most dominant closer in the game's history is sitting there as well.

National League:

Tim Lincecum, San Francisco Giants

Chris Carpenter, St. Louis Cardinals

Trevor Hoffman, San Diego Padres

Eric Gagne, Los Angeles Dodgers

Roy Oswalt, Houston Astros

Cole Hamels, Philadelphia Phillies

The eighth and ninth innings for this NL squad are all locked down with Gagne and Hoffman in the pen. As for starters, a fine compliment of young arms and experienced vets round out rest of the pitchers.

Lineups, Stats and Conclusion

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American

1. Ichiro

2. Derek Jeter

3. Manny Ramirez

4. Vladimir Guerrero

5. Alex Rodriguez

6. Mark Teixeira

7. David Ortiz

8. Brian Roberts

9. Ivan Rodriguez

National

1. Jimmy Rollins

2. Chase Utley

3. Albert Pujols

4. Barry Bonds

5. Jim Edmonds

6. Andruw Jones

7. Scott Rolen

8. Mike Piazza

9. Todd Helton

 

Interesting Stats:

-The National League starting outfield has belted a monstrous 954 home runs since 2000. The AL, 851.

-The starting pitchers have a combined 3,939 strikeouts since the turn of the millennium.

-14 Most Valuable Player awards given to members

-12 Cy Young awards given to roster members

 

Conclusion:

In my opinion, the American League is just too strong here. From three to seven in the batting order, you have the ability to hit the ball out of the park on a given pitch.

Pitching is just as strong as the National League's, so with that I say, American League wins, but only by a run. 10-9.