[MLB] Team of the Decade

[Turd Ferguson]

As the dust has settled on this decade as far as baseball goes, it's time to find out and discuss who we all think was the best team of this decade was. This is primarily going to discuss championship teams (and of course, comedy options)... but if you have an argument for a team that should be mentioned, then by all means go for it.

In chronological order...

New York Yankees

Team Record: 965-651
World Series wins: 2 (2000, 2009)
World Series losses: 2 (2001, 2003)
Playoff appearances: 9 (2000-7, 2009)
Best record: 2002, 103-58
Worst record: 2000, 87-74

The Yankees bookended this decade with World Series wins. They came into 2000 as the most dominant team in baseball and having a lot of momentum as two-peat World Series Champions. It's also worth mentioning that despite having their worst record in 2000, that was still a World Series year for them. The Yankees suffered the end of a dynasty in 2001 in one of the most exciting World Series in history in 2001, when they fell to the D-Backs.

In 2003, they barely made it past the Red Sox in the ALCS and wound up losing in the World Series to the Marlins. In 2004, they had the Red Sox on the ropes and wound up losing four games in a row, something that was a near impossibility and the only time an up 3-0 team lost four in a row in baseball history. They languished in the years following that as bridesmaids but not brides, including a low point in 2008, not making the playoffs... until 2009 happened.

They added CC Sabathia, AJ Burnett, and Mark Teixiera to an already stacked team, in moves that had a lot of scrutiny at the time. It was worth it for them as they won the World Series. As the decade ends, the Yankees are now riding a new wave of momentum. They closed the decade on a good note.

Arizona Diamondbacks

Team Record: 805-815
World Series wins: 1 (2001)
World Series losses: 0
Playoff appearances: 3 (2001, 2002, 2007)
Best record: 2002, 98-64
Worst record: 2004, 51-111

The Diamondbacks, entering the decade, were a team in its infancy. Despite the fact that most expansion teams usually take a couple years to become competitive, the D-Backs posted 100 games in 1999, and had 90 win teams in the first half of the decade. Powered by a 1-2 punch of Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling, the D-Backs toppled the Yankees in one of the most thrilling World Series games of all time, doing the impossible and overcoming Mariano Rivera in Game 7. Since then, the D-Backs haven't met that kind of success, with playoff exits, a rebuilding process, and giving Eric Byrnes a giant contract.

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

Team Record: 900-720
World Series wins: 1 (2002)
World Series losses: 0
Playoff appearances: 6 (2002, 2004-5, 2007-9)
Best record: 2008, 100-62
Worst record: 2001, 75-87

I cannot stand the way the Angels play baseball. SMALLBALL at its finest, with bunting, stealing, intangibles, and fundamentals being valued more than how traditional baseball is played. Still, they're very successful.

They won in 2002 due to their bats and pitching, and not the scrappiness and grittiness of David Eckstein.

They have been the titans of the AL West though, and always a dangerous team to take on in the playoffs. Despite many comical losses to the Red Sox in the playoffs, they finally beat them in 2009.

Florida Marlins

Team Record: 811-807
World Series wins: 1 (2003)
World Series losses: 0
Playoff appearances: 1 (2003)
Best record: 2003, 91-71
Worst record: 2007, 71-91

The Marlins go large for each World Series that they've won, and once they get to that point, they immediately start a firesale and retool. At the beginning of the decade, they were still losing teams until they won in 2003, powered by Josh Beckett, AJ Burnett, Dontrelle Willis in their rotation, and the bats of Mike Lowell, Ivan Rodriguez, and Derrek Lee. Then the firesale gradually started to take place, but rather than be terrible teams following their World Series wins, they showed a lot of fight, contending for the Wild Card when people don't expect them to, and playing playoff spoiler for some teams.

The Marlins could have another World Series under their belt soon with them continuing to make some noise and having quite possibly the best all-around player in baseball in Hanley Ramirez.

Boston Red Sox

Team Record: 920-699
World Series wins: 2 (2004, 2007)
World Series losses: 0
Playoff appearances: 6 (2003-5, 2007-9)
Best record: 2004, 98-64
Worst record: 2001, 82-79

In the year 2000, it was rough for Red Sox fans, coming off a tough ALCS loss to the Yankees in the prior year. It was also apparent that the Yankees had a commitment to winning, and the Red Sox for the most part, really didn't. They also had a much-maligned GM in Dan Duquette (who honestly got a lot more guff than he should have... he was terrible in some places, but he also was one of the architects of the 2004 team, and had some great trades), and while Sox fans were thirsty for a World Series, the Yankees had won three World Series in a row.

2001 was even worse, as Nomar Garciaparra, the face of the franchise, was hit in the wrist in Spring Training, and was never the same again. The Red Sox clubhouse was full of guys who hated each other. After a complete restructuring of the team by rookie GM Theo Epstein, the Sox were back in 2003 and made it back to the ALCS, suffering a heartbreaking loss to the Yankees in a game the Sox could have won if Grady Little hadn't left Pedro Martinez in.

Following this, the Red Sox promised a win in 2004. They traded for Yankee killer Curt Schilling. Schilling vowed to give the Red Sox at least one World Series. However, it was hard to believe in the team where a trade for Alex Rodriguez fell through and the Yankees swooped in and got him. After a midseason trade of malcontent Nomar Garciaparra, the Red Sox acquired the pieces that were necessary for a World Series run. It took a historic comeback against the Yankees, and Curt Schilling's ankle bleeding all over the place for it to happen, but it did. For the first time in 86 years, the Red Sox were World Series Champions. The Curse was reversed.

During the next two years, they re-tooled, acquiring another Yankee killer in Josh Beckett, defensive whiz and a comeback candidate in Mike Lowell... only trading their top prospect in Hanley Ramirez and three additional prospects to get it done. In 2007, they did it again, coming back down 3-1 against the Indians in the ALCS.

For fans who stuck with the team during its low points, this was sweet victory... winning one World Series seemed unfathomable, another one was gravy.

Chicago White Sox

Team Record: 857-764
World Series wins: 1 (2005)
World Series losses: 0
Playoff appearances: 3 (2000, 2005, 2008)
Best record: 2005, 99-63
Worst record: 2007, 72-90

In 2000, the White Sox were swept in the first round by the Mariners. It took four years for them to make the playoffs for them to do it again. When they made the playoffs again, they won the World Series.

The White Sox made an incredible playoff run, I'm sure just based on pure motivation to not have a clubhouse genocide by the certifiably insane manager Ozzie Guillen, they won for the first time since the 1919 Black Sox scandal.

St. Louis Cardinals

Team Record: 913-706
World Series wins: 1 (2006)
World Series losses: 1 (2004)
Playoff appearances: 7 (2000-2, 2004-6, 2009)
Best record: 2004, 105-57
Worst record: 2007, 78-84

The Cardinals had a rollercoaster decade. In 2000, they beat the Braves (Division winner), and lost to the Mets (wild card). In 2001, they tied for the division and lost to the D-Backs. In 2002, they beat the D-Backs and lost to the Giants. In 2004, they had 105 wins and still lost to the Red Sox in the World Series. In 2005, they were beaten by the Astros in the NLCS, a team they beat by 11 games for the division.

In 2006, they finished 83-78. They somehow wandered into the World Series against the most dominant team in baseball that year, the Detroit Tigers, who had just one loss in the playoffs. Seemingly, the Cards didn't have a chance, especially when the NL was supposedly weaker than the AL.

The Cardinals won and shocked the world.

Philadelphia Phillies

Team Record: 850-769
World Series wins: 1 (2008)
World Series losses: 1 (2009)
Playoff appearances: 3 (2007-9)
Best record: 2009, 93-69
Worst record: 2000, 65-97

The Phillies had nothing to celebrate for most of the decade. They were major underachievers, and also suffered their 10,000th loss in franchise history. Every year, they contended for the playoffs, but couldn't break the glass ceiling. 2007 was a statement year as they finally won the division. Since this point, they continued to emerge as a dominant team, and the best overall in the NL, winning the World Series in 2008, and making it and putting up a fight against the Yankees in 2009. the Phillies lived and died by Brad Lidge though, and it makes one think what could have happened if Lidge was in his 2008 form in the 2009 World Series. The Phillies are quite possibly the best team of the last three years.

 

[gd]

I'd go with the Red Sox, just because of what they had to endure to get there. The ALCS with the Yankees was one of the best things I've ever seen. They also proved themselves as more or less equals to the Yankees at this point as the two teams are lumped together. When you think of baseball in the 2000s, you'll think of the Sox.

 

[Turd Ferguson]

That's the thing, I almost gave it to the Yankees based on the fact that they had the equalizer with winning the World Series this year, and had more trips to the playoffs. But with their payroll and the amount of superstars that they have, it should be elementary for them to not only make the playoffs, but win the World Series every year. 2008 was an absolute embarrassment.

The Red Sox finally had a World Series in 2004, and went through hell to get there. In 2007, the Indians had them on the ropes as well, and they overcame adversity again. I think as far as more significance and for their wins goes, as well as being the best run team from top to bottom in baseball, it has to go to the Red Sox.

Plus, it could be me just speaking as a homer, but I think the Yankees' failures carry more weight than their successes.

 

[gd]

That's the thing, I almost gave it to the Yankees based on the fact that they had the equalizer with winning the World Series this year, and had more trips to the playoffs. But with their payroll and the amount of superstars that they have, it should be elementary for them to not only make the playoffs, but win the World Series every year. 2008 was an absolute embarrassment.

The Red Sox finally had a World Series in 2004, and went through hell to get there. In 2007, the Indians had them on the ropes as well, and they overcame adversity again. I think as far as more significance and for their wins goes, as well as being the best run team from top to bottom in baseball, it has to go to the Red Sox.

Plus, it could be me just speaking as a homer, but I think the Yankees' failures carry more weight than their successes.

I don't think there's any homerism involved. I mostly hate Boston sports, but I really became a fan of the Red Sox. They produced some of the most memorable games in a while including the Bloody Sox Game and Ortiz's multiple walk offs. Regardless of where you're from, you have to respect what they've done.

 

[jmt225]

It's Boston, and it's not even close.

Seriously, the AL Final against the Yankees in 2004 I think should be forever recognized as the greatest comeback in sports. For that reason alone they've deserve the title for 'Team of the Decade'. But then you add the fact they won 2 World Series this decade when it took them God knows how long to win their first since I believe 1910 or something like that, and also the fact that this decade Boston has consistently made the playoffs and been a threat to win the World Series every year for the most part... how could anyone vote against them? Moreover, they also EARNED their championships and playoff victories I would like to add, rather than bought them. So, that's just another thing you can add to it.

Keep in mind I'm not a big baseball fan at all, but this couldn't be a clearer decision as far as I'm concerned.

 

[Mr. TM]

Two teams in the East and two teams in the West could have been all that needed to make this poll. Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees, St. Louis Cardinals, and the Philadelphia Phillies. But I think it comes down to the two American League teams, who account for all the All Star wins during the time. So if it came down to it, The Yankees and the Red Sox are the choices. The Yankees started the decade the way they ended the 90s, by winning the World Series. But the Red Sox dominated the middle of the decade. And now the Phillies are dominating the end of the decade.

I pick the Yankees. They had a better 90s than 00s, but I cant take away from what they have done this decade. Had a great season in 2002 (then again, the Mariners had a great 2001 season, and look what happened there.

The Yankees were the team to beat, in 2001 as the Diamondbacks won, in 2004 as the Red Sox won, in 2003 a young team challenged and won. It is a team that has made the playoffs every year except once where they still were a competitive team. They almost won 1000 games in 10 years.

 

[X]

I'm obviously not going to pretend to be looking at this from an unbiased viewpoint as a life long Red Sox fan, so obviously they're going to get my vote here. Not only did they win 2 World Series and make the playoffs nearly every year, but they've exploded in popularity and have become America's team at this point, far more than the Yankees which have become more and more hated every year. Look no further than their WS win this year. They won the title, and absolutely no one cared. They talked about it for maybe five minutes on Sportscenter, they had a parade that didn't make the news anywhere except for NY, and in general no one gave half a shit. Probably because they bought their championship by committing nearly a BILLION fucking dollars to baseball players. Yes, you did just read the words "billion dollars" and "baseball players" in the same sentence.

Plus they easily have the most memorable WS win of the decade in 2004, as well as two of the most memorable ALCS if not the two greatest ALCS of all time in their 2004 comeback against the Yankees and their 2007 comeback against the Indians. No brainer here for me.

 

[It's...Baylariat!]

No love for the Cubs? Nah, they're good, but not team of the decade. That goes to Boston. Hands down. All Boston did during this decade was become the first team in MLB history to overcome a 3-0 deficit, did that while being the 'road' team, and doing that against their most hated rival, the Yankees. Not to mention sweeping a solid Cardinals team that would end up World Champions, also. THEN..after all of that, they do it again in 2007.

To go from cursed to possible dynasty at one point, that's says a whole lot. The Red Sox are the team of the decade.

 

[TheProdigy]

I'm what you would call a Yankee hater, however you have to give them the proper credit.

Yes, Boston is a great team, and that comeback in 0-4 was incredible. However, the Yankees are well, the Yankees. They will ALWAYS have the magnifying glass focused on them, and any failures will be magnified. Always have, always will. I think the second world series this decade solidified the team of the decade status.

Had Philly won, Boston takes the cake easily. This isn't a landslide though, as like you said Boston snapped an incredibly long drought in the process of the 0-3 hole, and the Indians had them on the ropes. I still think that with overall win %, the fact that they made the playoffs all but one year, and the year they didn't they were considered losers. If the Red Sox don't make the playoffs, yes fans are mad, upset, whatever...but they are not considered complete and utter failures.

It's a great debate and can go either way, but I think if you have to name one it belongs to the Yankees.