All-Decade Team: Chicago Cubs

With the decade coming to an end, it has got me thinking about some of the best players Chicago has had this decade.  And since I've been on a tear of negativity (thanks Crazy Uncle Milton and the Bad News Chicago Bears), I figured I'd provide some highlights from this decade.

Today, the All-Decade Team looks at the Chicago Cubs players that didn't suck.

C - Geovany Soto (2008) - 285/.364/.504/.868  23 HR 86 RBI - Made Cubs fans forget about Rick Wilkins' 1993 season.

1B - Derrek Lee (2005) -  335/.418/.662/1.080 46 HR 107 RBI 15 SB - Had it not been for Albert Pujols, Lee likely would have won the NL MVP that season. Had it not been for Scott Eyre and Rafael Furcal, Lee would have had a normally working wrist.

2B - Eric Young (2000) - .297/.367/.399/.766 6 HR 47 RBI 98 R 54 SB - I always felt EY was one of the most underrated Cubs of my time. I mean, when was the last time a Cubs player posted a .370 OBP out of the lead-off spot and stole 54 bases in 61 attempts. Too bad that came in an empty year on a team that went 65-97 with a line-up that featured Damon Buford in center field, and the Willie Green/Shane Andrews platoon at third base.

3B - Aramis Ramirez (2004) - 318/.373/.578/.951  36 HR 103 RBI - Looking back on it, Rami out OPSed Sammy Sosa and Moises Alou that season.  Arguably the most consistent offensive force that season. 

SS - Ryan Theriot (2007) - .266/.326/.346/.672 - Theriot's 2009 line (295/.347/.422 7 HR 36 RBI 10 SB) was better than his '07 line.  But when you consider Cesar Izturis was the Cubs' starting shortstop on Opening Day, I've never been so thankful to have Theriot on the Cubs.

LF - Moises Alou (2004) - .293/.361/.557/.919 39 HR 3106 RBI - Saved his best season in Cubbie blue pinstripes for his last. He'll always be remembered for that one moment in 2003, but really, how could you overlook a 36/100 year from a 37-year-old.

CF - Jim Edmonds (2008) - 256/.369/.568/.937 19 HR 49 RBI - Who would have thunk the most valuable Cub center fielder this decade would be a former Cardinal.  I spent eight years despising Edmonds, but when you OPS .937, you're all good in my world.  I even bought an Edmonds jersey, just because it pissed off Redbird Nation.

RF - Sammy Sosa (2001) - .328/.437/.727/1.174 64 HR 160 RBI - After watching Todd Hollandsworth, Jeromy Burnitz, Kosuke Fukudome and Milton Bradley in right, are you missing Slammin' Sammy's production yet?

UTIL - Mark Bellhorn (2002) - 258/.374/.512/.886 27 HR 56 RBI - You all thought I was going to go with Mark DeRosa, huh?  Fuck him.  Mark Bellhorn was Mark DeRosa before Mark DeRosa came to town with his broad shoulders stubble, New Jersey accent and Ivy League education.  "The Horn" posted an .886 OPS in 2002 and slugged the heck out of the baseball as he played third base, shortstop, second base, first base, center field and right field.

SP - Mark Prior (2003) - 18-6 2.43 ERA 3 CG 1 SHO 57 ER 245 K 1.103 WHIP - Should have been the beginning of a Hall of Fame career had it not been for you know who doing you know what...

SP - Jon Lieber (2001) - 20-6 3.80 ERA 5 CG 1 SHO 98 ER 1.149 WHIP - Believe it or not, Lieber is the only Cubs pitcher this decade to have a 20-win season.  That alone makes him eligible.

SP - Ryan Dempster (2008) - 17-6 2.96 ERA 1 CG 68 ER 187 K 1.210 WHIP - In 2007, he was the Cubs' much-maligned closer.  In 2008, he was 14-3 at home in the regular season.

SP - Carlos Zambrano (2004) - 16-8 2.75 ERA 1 CG 1 SHO 64 ER 188 K 1.216 WHIP - Arguably Big Z's best year. Lotsa punchouts, lotsa groundball outs. 

RP - Kerry Wood (2008) - 5-4 3.26 ERA 66.1 IP 34 SV 84K 1.085 WHIP - For years, Cubs fans pined for Woody to move to the bullpen.  And because of an injury plagued past, it came to fruition and did so in a marvelous fashion for a player who was the face of the franchise for 10 years.

RP - Carlos Marmol (2007) - 5-1 1.43 ERA 69.1 IP 1 SV 96K 1.096 WHIP - An All-Star in 2008, Marmol saved the Cubs in '07 with his versatility.

All-Decade Team: Chicago Bulls

With the decade coming to an end, it has got me thinking about some of the best players Chicago has had this decade.  And since I've been on a tear of negativity (thanks Crazy Uncle Milton and the Bad News Chicago Bears), I figured I'd provide some highlights from this decade.

Today, the All-Decade Team looks at the Chicago Bulls players that didn't suck.

PG - Derrick Rose (2008-09) - 16.8 PPG 6.3 APG .788 FT% .475 FG% - The bad news is that the Bulls are on their third different franchise-changing point guard this decade.  The good news is that D-Rose is already better than Jay Williams and Kirk Hinrich.  He'll be on next decade's list unless the Bulls find a way to screw this up.

SG - Ben Gordon (2006-07) - 21.4 PPG 3.6 APG .455 FG% .864 FT% .413 3PT% - Gordon was the Bulls' most consistent scoring threat in his time in Chicago.  So, how do the Bulls reward him?  By not offering a competitive offer to keep him away from signing with rival Detroit.

SF - Luol Deng (2006-07) - 18.8 PPG 7.1 RPG 1.2 SPG .517 FG% .777 FT%  - He played 82 games. That might be the most important stat of that season.  I was very close to putting Jalen Rose's 2002-03 season where he averaged more than 20 points per game, but Luol was a much better all-around talent.

PF - Elton Brand (2000-01) - 20.1 PPG 10.1 RPG 1.6 BPG 70.8% FT 47.6 FG% - He once figured to be the Bulls' cornerstone before being the cornerstone of a trade that set the franchise back.  Bulls haven't had a 20-10 guy since.  They definitely took him for granted.

C - Joakim Noah (2009-10) - Incomplete - I was very close to putting Eddy Curry's 2002-03 season (when he led the league in FG percentage) here, but I can't put a center that averaged four rebounds per game on an all-decade team.  Noah, manwhile, has turned the corner in his career and is averaging a double-double while becoming one of the team's leaders.

All-Decade Team: Chicago Bears

With the decade coming to an end, it has got me thinking about some of the best players Chicago has had this decade.  And since I've been on a tear of negativity (thanks Crazy Uncle Milton and the Bad News Chicago Bears), I figured I'd provide some highlights from this decade.

Today, the All-Decade Team looks at the Chicago Bears players that didn't suck.

QB - Rex Grossman (2006) - 3,193 passing yards, 23 TDs 20 INTs - Jay who?

RB - Matt Forte (2008) - 1,238 rushing yards, 477 receiving yards, 12 total TDs (8 rushing, 4 receiving) -It's never good when your best receiver is a running back.

WR - Marty Booker (2002) - 97 catches, 1,189 yards, 6 TDs - I honestly don't remember a Bears receiver ever catching 90+ balls.

TE - Desmond Clark (2006) 45 catches, 626 yards, 6 TDs - Greg Olsen should get the nod because of his awesome mic skills.  But Clark has done it on the field.

DE - Mark Anderson (2006) - 12 sacks - Has anyone seen this guy since his rookie season?

DT- Keith Traylor (2001) - Remember that one big-ass interception?

LB - Brian Urlacher (2005) - 98 tackles, 6 sacks, NFL Defensive Player of the Year - The face of the franchise.

DB - Mike Brown (2001) - Remember his game-winning interceptions?

K - Robbie Gould (2006) - 32/36 FGs (88.9%) 41/41 PATs (100%) All-Pro 1st Team - Better than Paul Edinger

P - Brad Maynard (2004) - 108 punts (led league) 4,638 yards - Offensive MVP for most years.

ST - Devin Hester (2006) - Um.  Yeah.  See below.