http://www.blueworkhorse.com/articles/mlb/cleveland-indians-all-decade-team Written by Shotgun Spratling Wednesday, 23 December 2009 07:05 After winning five consecutive division titles under manager Mike Hargrove to end the 1990s, the Cleveland Indians' front office decided it was time for a switch and tabbed Charlie Manuel as the manager that would finally get them over the hump. Manuel won 90+ games each of his first two seasons, but all it resulted in was a Division Series exit in 2001. It wouldn't be until 2007 that the Indians returned to the postseason. They finished one game shy of the World Series after blowing a 3-1 series lead against the Boston Red Sox. Then there was the diaspora as key pieces like C.C. Sabathia, Cliff Lee, and Victor Martinez were all traded away during the final two seasons C - Victor Martinez * The switch-hitting Victor Martinez burst onto the scene in 2004 during his first full season hitting .283 with 38 doubles, 23 homers and 108 RBI. The Venezuelan catcher was a fixture in the lineup for the next six seasons (with the exception of his injury plagued 2008 campaign) until he was traded to Boston this past summer. During his eight seasons in Cleveland, V-Mart hit .297 with 103 homers, 191 doubles, and drove in 518 runs averaging 37 doubles, 21 long balls, and 99 RBI in his four full seasons from '04 to '07. 1B - Jim Thome * Most fans may forget he was still with the Cleveland organization at the turn of the century, but Jim Thome was still mashing balls for the first three seasons of the decade. From 2000 to 2002, Thome walloped 138 balls out of the park while driving in an average of 116 runs per year. The Indians also got the lefty slugger's career year in 2002 when he launched 52 out of the park, scored 101, and drove in 118 while leading the league in walks (122), slugging percentage (.677), and OPS (1.122). 2B - Roberto Alomar * With guys like Ricky Gutierrez, a young Brandon Phillips, Josh Barfield, Luis Valbuena, and fatboy Ron Belliard to beat out, it is no wonder Roberto Alomar makes the All-Decade Team with only two years of service this decade. Alomar combined with Omar Vizquel to make one of the most formidable defensive middle infields possibly in the history of baseball. He also batted .322 and averaged 112 runs, 37 doubles, 20 jacks, and 94 RBI all while stealing 34 bags per year. SS - Omar Vizquel * Omar Vizquel may be one of the few position players to ever go into the Hall of Fame without significant offensive numbers when all is said and done. He has always been that good with the glove winning 11 Gold Glove awards, including nine consecutive with the Indians. The final two coming this decade as Vizquel spent the first five years of the decade flashing the leather and dropping jaws in a Cleveland uniform. He still put up a respectful .274 batting average with the Indians and was a clutch player in the team's only playoff appearance the first half of the decade hitting .409 and driving in six runs in the five-game series against Seattle. 3B - Casey Blake * A consistent force, Casey Blake, was the type of player that managers love. Never complaining, Blake did whatever was needed to help the team win, including playing a variety of positions from the stationary first base to the ever-ranging shortstop to the quickness of the hot corner to the strong-arm required right field. It didn't matter to Blake as long as he was in the lineup and getting a chance to swing. He consistently hit around 20 homers and 75 RBI each of his five and a half seasons. LF - Coco Crisp * Most people think of Coco Crisp as a centerfielder, but in 2004 and 2005 (his best seasons), Crisp spent more time in left field. Playing full time in '04 and '05, Crisp averaged 82 runs, 52 extra base hits, 70 runs batted in, and 18 stolen bases while batting .299 -- numbers he hasn't approached in any seasons since. CF - Grady Sizemore * The reason why Coco Crisp played left field and was eventually traded was because of the emerging All-Star taking over in centerfield. That would be Grady Sizemore. A two-time Gold Glover and three-time All-Star in his first five seasons, Sizemore is a fan favorite in Cleveland -- among the guys because of his fearless play & among the ladies because of his boyish good looks. In his five full seasons, Sizemore has averaged 107 R, 25 HR, 78 RBI, and 26 SB while hitting .276. RF - Manny Ramirez * In a decade of one year solutions (Juan Gonzalez, Trot Nixon, etc.), Casey Blake, and Jody Gerut, the right field selection goes to the same guy that would have been named to the 1990s All-Decade Team. Manny Ramirez was just as dominant for Cleveland in his only season of this decade as he was last decade. Despite only playing 118 games, Manny still put up incredible numbers -- .351, 92 runs, 34 doubles, 38 homers, and 122 runs batted in. He was an All-Star (his third of 11 consecutive), Silver Slugger, and led the league in slugging percentage (.697) and OPS (1.154). DH - Travis Hafner * For four seasons, Travis Hafner was one of the most feared American League hitters. From '04 to '07, he hit .296 and averaged 92 runs, 35 doubles, 32 homers, and 108 RBI. The left-handed designated hitter blasted 42 homers and 117 RBI in 2006 to lead the league in slugging percentage (.659) and OPS (1.097). Things came crashing down in 2008 when "Pronk" had to have arthroscopic shoulder surgery that has yet to allow Hafner to regain his previous form hitting only 21 total home runs and driving in 73 runs in two seasons combined. SP (RH) - Bartolo Colon * In his two and a half seasons with the Tribe this decade, Bartolo Colon pitched well as a key frontline starter. The Dominican with the power right arm posted a 3.67 ERA, a 1.34 WHIP and struck out 488 batters in 526.2 innings. Of course, this was before Colon blew up and needed his jerseys with a couple of extra "X"s in front of the "L". Bartolo was also the ace for Cleveland in the 2001 playoffs throwing eight innings of shutout ball in Game 1 for the win and coming back with a quality start in Game 4. SP (LH) - C.C. Sabathia * Indians' fans struggled to watch the 2009 World Series seeing former Cleveland aces heading the pitching staffs of both the Yankees and Phillies. But Carsten Charles Sabathia's team won the championship and he wins the All-Decade nod. Sabathia's overall numbers are a little bit better, but more important, he had a winning record every season until his half season in '08 before he was traded away. Sabathia finished with a 106-71 record, a 3.83 ERA and a 1.27 WHIP in eight seasons with the club. He won 17 games as a 20-year old in his 2001 rookie season; won 19 games and the Cy Young while leading the league in innings pitched in 2007; and was continuously a workhorse pitching 19 complete games while with Cleveland. RP - Bobby Howry * This selection might have been the toughest thus far in all of our All-Decade picks for any team. Cleveland has had some very impressive relievers this past decade, including Paul Shuey, David Riske, and Rafael Betancourt just to name a few. Betancourt had one of the most impeccable seasons in 2007 recording a 1.47 ERA and 0.76 WHIP allowing only 9% of inherited runners to score, but Bobby Howry barely edges out Betancourt. Howry had two amazing years going a combined 11-4 with a 2.57 ERA and a 0.99 WHIP in 115.2 innings. He also recorded 37 holds and allowed only 18% of inherited runners to score while Betancourt's numbers in a Cleveland uni this decade was over 30% even with the incredible '07 performance. CL - Bob Wickman * In four full seasons and two half seasons, Wickman compiled 139 saves and a 3.23 ERA. He was named in All-Star in 2005 when he had one of his best seasons recording a 2.47 ERA while leading the league with 45 saves. Wickman also was one of the most reliable closers during his Cleveland tenure converting 89% or more of his saves for five consecutive seasons. (In comparison, Mariano Rivera only has six seasons in his career with 89% or higher conversion rate.) --

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