I hope you aren’t sick of all-decade lists yet, because I got another one for you. When constructing an all-decade D-Backs team one is basically constructing an all-time D-Backs team, since the team played its inaugural season in 1998. Instead of doing a traditional all-decade team, you would know exactly who would be on it, I decided to do something different. I have assembled an all-decade D-Backs team by single seasons. Therefore Luis Gonzalez makes the team, but what Luis Gonzalez? The team is sorted by batting order, and includes a pinch hitter, pinch runner, defensive sub, four starting pitchers and two relievers. Once a certain player’s season is chosen he can’t be chosen again, therefore if I put 2001 Gonzo in LF and I can’t throw 2000 Gonzo in RF. Am I making sense?

RF- 2007 Eric Byrnes
Stats: .286-21-83, .353 OBP, 103 Rs, 50 SB

This format I am using is the only possible way Byrnes could ever make this team, his 2007 season was spectacular. I am cheating by putting Byrnes in RF even though he played LF, but it’s not that big of a stretch considering Byrnes played all over the OF in his years with the D-Backs. Byrnes would give the D-Backs a base-stealer at the top of the order as well as a bat that can hit for power and his OBP was high. By comparison Byrnes ‘07 season trumps any other corner outfielder’s season this decade whose last name isn’t “Gonzalez.” Although we can make strong cases for Reggie Sanders ‘01 season and Conor Jackson’s ‘08 season.

2B- 2007 Orlando Hudson
Stats: .294-10-63, .376 OBP, Gold Glove

The switch-hitting Hudson is an ideal fit in the two spot in this order. Hudson was the team’s #3 hitter during his ‘07 season due to his high average and plate discipline (.376 OBP!). Hudson is the franchise’s best defensive second baseman and won multiple Gold Gloves at the position. Hudson was also a fantastic clubhouse leader, another reason to have him on the roster. He just edges out Craig Counsell, who played the same position and hit in the #2 spot for the 2001 World champs.

LF- 2001 Luis Gonzalez
Stats: .325-57-142, .688 SLG %, 128 Rs

Not even remotely a surprise. Gonzo’s ‘01 campaign will probably be the greatest statistical season by a hitter in the team’s history, unless it is ever proven he was on steroids. Gonzo’s numbers were off the charts in almost every category and he even proved himself to be a clutch hitter. Gonzo had a below average arm in LF and didn’t have great range, but he almost never made an error and didn’t misplay many balls either, making him a great offensive player and an above average defensive player. Yeah, I’ll take that on this team.

3B- 2009 Mark Reynolds
Stats: .266-44-102, .543 SLG%, 24 SB

The right handed Reynolds, the second biggest power threat in team history, is an ideal candidate to bat behind Gonzo. Although known for his high strikeout totals (204 in 2008 and 226 in 2009), Reynolds is still an imposing presence at the plate who won’t have to carry an offense like he had to in his ‘09 season. Teams won’t be so quick to pitch around Gonzo. As an added bonus Reynolds even stole bases in ‘09, a rarity from a clean-up hitter. His average to below-average defense can be hidden on this team.

1B- 2005 Tony Clark
Stats: .304-30-87, .636 SLG%

Tony Clark’s 2005 season was maybe the finest under-the-radar hitting season in franchise history. Clark belted 30 homers and drove in 87 RBIs in only 349 ABs! Early in ‘05 he delivered clutch pinch-hit after clutch pinch-hit until he finally forced his way into the starting lineup. The switch hitter not only would have hit over 50 homers if he had the right amount of ABs, but he was also a good defensive player (thanks to his 6-7 height) and a great clubhouse presence.

CF- 2000 Steve Finley
Stats: .280-35-96, .361 OBP, 100 Rs, Gold Glove

Outside of 2001, Steve Finley had fantastic years for the D-Backs until he was traded in 2004. His ‘00 season might have been his finest. He made the All-Star team, hit the second most homers in his career and won a Gold Glove. What was remarkable about Finley is he often put up 30+ homer season without hitting in the middle of the lineup. 6th place in this lineup seems to suit him, and his great defense in center field is almost more valuable than his offensive production.

SS- 2008 Stephen Drew
Stats: .291-21-67, 44 2Bs, 11 3Bs, .502 SLG%

Drew’s ‘08 season is probably the only season of his career he didn’t disappoint. He had the finest power season in the history of D-Backs’ shortstops and played above average defense the entire year. His defense gives him the edge over Alex Cintron’s ‘04 Campaign and any of Tony Womack’s seasons. I’m not that excited about having a Drew brother on my all-decade team, however.

C- 2002 Damian Miller
Stats: .249-11-42

Miller’s ‘02 season makes it because this team needs a catcher that can play good defense and handle the pitching staff, exactly what Miller did in his years with the D-Backs. I also chose his ‘02 season because he made the All-Star game that year, although that was because Bob Brenly was the manager. He also had a good chance at being MVP of that All-Star game if it hadn’t ended in a tie. Honestly, one could probably replace Miller with Chris Snyder and there wouldn’t be much difference. Just remember we probably need to pick a nameless, reserve catcher so Randy Johnson has someone to throw to.

Pinch Hitter- 2002 Greg Colbrunn
Stats: .333-10-27

Choosing Colbrunn’s ‘02 season hurts because I have to leave Mark Grace off the list, but Colbrunn was one of the greatest pinch hitter’s I’ve ever seen. He was always a force late in games and seemed to deliver clutch pinch-hits every night. Grace was a better player, but Colbrunn was born to pinch-hit.

Pinch Runner- 2000 Tony Womack
Stats: 45 SB, 14 3Bs, 95 runs

Womack is the best base-stealer in D-Backs history, but starting in his ‘00 season he stopped getting on base (.307 OBP that year). Still, 45 steals and 14 triples makes him a dangerous base-runner late in games.

Defensive Replacement- 2001 Craig Counsell

Counsell never won any Gold Gloves, but he was an above average defender at almost every infield position. He’d be a good, late-game replacement for Mark Reynolds at 3B.

SP- 2001 Curt Schilling
Stats: 22-6, 2.98 ERA, 293ks in 256.2 IP, World Series MVP, 6 CGs

Schilling had more wins and Ks in ‘02, but I’m going with ‘01 for the post-season success. Schilling was 4-0 in the 2001 post-season. He only won one World Series game, but he made three terrific starts. Schilling is remembered nationally for the bloody sock in 2004, but he was never better in 2001 and he might have been the best big-game pitcher of the decade. The ‘01 Schilling is definitely who I want on my team. I also give him the nod over Randy Johnson because when game mattered the most, it was Schilling I would have rather had on the mound than RJ.

SP- 2001 Randy Johnson
Stats: 21-6, 2.49 ERA, 372 Ks in 249.2 IP, Cy Young, World Series MVP

The Big Unit’s ‘02 season featured more wins and a lower ERA, but his ‘01 campaign featured more strikeouts and the post-season hardware. From 00-04 Johnson was practically un-hittable, so it’s hard to go wrong with any season. ‘01 will always stand out, including his career high 13.4Ks per 9 innings! ‘01 was also the year he struck out 20 Reds in one game.

SP- 2007 Brandon Webb
Stats: 18-10, 3.01 ERA, 4 CGs, 236.1 IP

Webb may have won 22 games in 2008, but his ‘07 season was his finest as a D-Back. He improved on his controversial 2006 Cy-Young campaign and became the best pitcher on the best team in the NL. Webb even challenged Orel Hershiser’s consecutive scoreless inning streak late in the season. Webb’s sinker was never better in ‘07.

SP- 2009 Dan Haren
Stats: 14-10, 3.10 ERA, 223 Ks

Haren was historically good in the first half of the 2009 season, but his offense was so terrible that his record didn’t reflect how well he was pitching. Haren went through a second half swoon, but he pitched well enough to finish with 20+ wins.

RP- 2007 Jose Valverde
Stats: 2.66 ERA, 47 SV, 78 Ks in 64.1 IP

In 2007 Valverde set the franchise record for saves in a single season. Although his saves were often an adventure, he always found a way to get the job done and never seemed phased when he allowed a lead-off hit or inherited runners. His antics on the mound were often controversial, but they also were a display of extreme confidence in his own abilities. Valverde had the mental makeup a closer, something that can’t often be said about D-Backs relievers.

RP- 2002 Byung-Hyun Kim
Stats: 2.04 ERA, 36 SV, 92 Ks in 84 IP

In the early part of this decade Kim probably had the filthiest stuff of any D-Back not named Randy Johnson, but he was also the most inconsistent. When he was on he was completely dominate (remember that frisbee slider?), but he was often frazzled in the most clutch of situations. In ‘02 Kim made the All-Star team and was one of the best closers in baseball. In the playoffs, however, Kim again self-destructed. For his playoff failures Kim makes the team as a reliever, but not he closer.

Manager- Bob Brenly

Led the team to the World Series and made some of the most epic from-the-gut managerial decisions I have ever seen while doing so. He was also entertaining, so he gets the nod over Bob Melvin.