Cards Cove: My Cardinals All-Decade Team

The Post Dispatch had the people vote on the All-Decade team but I have a much more in-depth process...picking who I like.

Here's who the Cardinal Nation voted for in the P-D:

SP — CHRIS CARPENTER (84% of 5,388 votes)
RP — STEVE KLINE (43% of 2,082 votes)
Closer — JASON ISRINGHAUSEN (97% of 5,243 votes)
C — YADIER MOLINA (85% of 7,377 votes)
1B — ALBERT PUJOLS (no vote)
2B — FERNANDO VINA (46% of 9,352 votes)
3B — SCOTT ROLEN (97% of 10,523 votes)
SS — EDGAR RENTERIA (68% of 8,891 votes)
LF — REGGIE SANDERS (42% of 6,208 votes)
CF — JIM EDMONDS (no vote)
RF — RYAN LUDWICK (57% of 7,031 votes)
Bench –SO TAGUCHI (26% of 8,304 votes)

My selections differ slightly, so here we go:
The years the player was with the Cards in the decade is in parentheses.

Starter - Chris Carpenter (04-09)
Despite battling injuries, Carp is clearly the Cards pitcher of the decade. He has compiled a 68-24 record, 2.91 ERA, and 4.02 K/BB. He also took home the Cy Young in 2005, finished 2nd on the ballot in '09 and 3rd in '06. Between 2005-06 he compiled 12 complete games and 7 shutouts.

Runner-up: Adam Wainwright (05-09)
(46-24, 3.17 ERA, 2009 Gold Glove, got final out in 2006 World Series)

2nd Runner-up: Matt Morris (00-05)
(82-48, 3.81 ERA, 2.84 K/BB, 2 time All-Star)

Reliever - Steve Kline (01-04)
This is a tough category, because it seems like our bridge from starter to closer has been weak for as long as I can remember. Kline was the best I could find in the '00s. He pitched in 300 games and had a 2.69 ERA.

Runner-up: Russ Springer (03, 07-08)
(11-3, 3.03 ERA, 2.84 K/BB, 1.062 WHIP)

Closer - Jason Isringhausen (02-08)
I know things didn't end on a good note with Izzy, but the numbers speak for themselves. Izzy was clearly our closer of the decade. He had a 2.98 ERA in the decade with 217 saves. He was an All-Star in 2005 and led the league in saves in '04 with 47.

Runner-up: Ryan Franklin (07-09)
(14-13, 2.91 ERA, 56 saves)

Catcher - Yadier Molina (04-09)
What started out as another Cardinal defensive specialist catcher, Molina has turned his game into a complete one. While his BA is an average .269 for the decade, in the last 2 seasons it is .298. He also almost as many walks (178) over the decade strikeouts (202). He was an All-Star in '09 and a Gold Glover in '08 and '09. Over the decade, he has thrown out an amazing 46% of would-be base stealers.

Runner-up: Mike Matheny (00-04)
(3 time Gold Glover, 35% caught stealing)

First Base - Albert Pujols (01-09)
Duh. Batting .334, 366 HR, 1112 RBI, 61 SB, 811 BB, only 570 K, 1.055 OPS, 8 time All-Star, '01 Rookie of the Year, 5 time Silver Slugger, 1 Gold Glove, 3 time MVP, top 10 in MVP voting every year, and top 4 in MVP voting 8 of 9 years. Triple Crown winner for the decade. Like I said...Duh.

(Distant) Runner-up: Will Clark (00)
(Only 51 games, .345 BA, 12 HR, 42 RBI, 1.081 OPS, 22/24 BB/K)

Second Base - Fernando Vina (00-03)
Vina batted .285 with the Cards. He was a 2 time Gold Glover and stole 48 bases. He only had 8 more strikeouts than walks. From the random department, he led the league in 2000 with 28 HBP.

Runner-up: Aaron Miles (06-08)
(.289 BA, .364 BA in '06 Postseason, in '08 he played every position but catcher and 1B)

Third Base - Scott Rolen (02-07)
Things ended rough in St. Louis for Rolen, but Jocketty is a genius for getting this guy from Philly for Timlin, Polanco and Bud Smith. Rolen batted .286 for the Cards and hit 111 HR. He was also a 4 time All-Star, won 3 Gold Gloves, and finished 4th in MVP voting in '04.

Runner-up: Placido Polanco (00-02)
(.303 BA, 107 RBI)

Shortstop - Edgar Renteria (00-04)
Renteria hit .293 and stole 111 bases in his time with the Cards in the '00s. He was a 3 time All-Star, 3 time Silver Slugger, and 2 time Gold Glover. He also received MVP votes in '02 and '03.

Runner-up: David Eckstein (05-07)
(.297 BA, 113/107 BB/K, 2 time All-Star, received MVP votes in '05, batted .364 in '06 World Series and was World Series MVP)

Left Field - Matt Holliday (09)
The Cards left field has been an array or mediocrity until Holliday came along in '09. In his 63 games in a Cardinal uniform, he batted .353, hit 13 homers, drove in 55 runs, and had an OPS of 1.023. I look forward to seeing Holliday on the All-Decade Team for the 2010's too.

Runner-up: Reggie Sanders (04-05)
(.265 BA, 43 HR, 121 RBI, 35 SB, 10 RBI in 2005 NLDS)

Centerfield - Jim Edmonds (00-07)
Duh...again. This duh isn't as big as Pujols' duh, but it is still definitely a duh. Jimmy batted .285, hit 234 doubles, 241 homers, drove in 713 runs and had a .947 OPS. He was a 3 time All-Star, 6 time Gold Glover, 1 time Silver Slugger, and received MVP votes 5 seasons finishing fourth on the ballot in 2000 and fifth in 2004.

(Distant) Runner-up: Skip Schumaker (05-09)
(I know he's a second sacker now, but he was the 2nd best CF we had this decade. He his .301 this decade.)

Right Field - Ryan Ludwick (07-09)
The past couple of years, Ludwick has finally broken out of his minor league shell. He has batted .280, hit 73 homers, 262 RBI, and has given support behind Pujols in the lineup. He was an All-Star and a Silver Slugger in '08.

Runner-up: Larry Walker (04-05)
(.286 BA, 26 HR, 79 RBI, was on fire in '04 playoffs, batting over .330, and hit 6 home runs and drove in 11 runs.)

Bench - So Taguchi (02-07)
So batted .283 with the Cards this decade coming off the bench and spot starting. He was a huge fan favorite as well.

To recap, here is my All-Decade Cardinal team: