The star-studded New York Yankees had a magnificent decade of the 2000′s, albeit with lofty expectations and often times never reaching their ultimate goal of winning a World Series. The decade still produced a Cy-Young winner in Roger Clemens, 20-game winners in Clemens, Mike Mussina, a two-time MVP in Alex Rodriguez and appeared four times in the World Series winning two of them. Removed one-year from the decade now comes time to rank these players chronologically. Our list might surprise some as our criteria was ranked on 50% stats, 25% accolades, and 25% playoff performances. So without any further ado here are your top 10 Yankees of the 2000′s.
10.) Robinson Cano
Cano may seem low on this list, but remember he didn’t break into the big leagues until 2005, and his monster season came in 2010, one year removed from the decade. Still with that said, Cano showed why he is widely considered the best hitting 2nd basemen in the game. During the 2000′s decade Cano would average 17 homers, 79 RBI’s a season to go along with a .307 batting average. Three out of his five season in the decade Cano would hit .300 or higher, while hitting .297 hit rookie year. Not to sound cliché, but it’s just a matter of time before he is a batting champion. Cano would finish runner-up to rookie of the year award in 2005. In 2006, he would be an all-star starter in just his second season in the big leagues. However, he was forced to withdraw due to a strained hamstring. He also won the Silver Slugger award that year. Add a World Series ring to boot and it catapults Cano into the top 10. Even with his achievements at the 2nd base position in 2000′s decade, it’s hard to ignore that he’s only hit .300 once in six-playoff series. Add to the fact that he hit under .200 in three of those series this seems like fair spot for Robinson Cano.
9.) Bernie Williams
At first glance most Yankee fans will see Bernie at number 9 on this list and say I’m crazy. Well the stats don’t lie, and Bernie tailed off significantly in the final four years of his Yankee days averaging a meager 15 home runs and 64 RBI’s in his twilight years. Thus he must go number 9 on this list. Williams still played 7 years in the decade hitting 136 homers to go along with 576 RBI’s for an average of 17 bombs, 82 RBI’s and a .286 batting average. He was a two time all-star and hit over .300 three-times during this span. His playoff heroics helped make Bernie into one of the most popular Yankees during his tenure. Bernie undoubtedly would have been higher on this list had we taken into account his 90′s achievements, and stats. Williams played in 14 playoff series in the 2000′s hitting over .300 five-times. He hit 11 bombs and is the all-time playoff RBI king. His 51 extra base hits are also a record. Unfortunately, a good chunk of these achievements took place in the 1990′s. Bernie was a true champion and one of the faces of the Yankee dynasty of the late 90s and early 2000′s.
8.) Hideki Matsui
Looking at both Matsui and Bernie Williams’ stats they are practically facsimiles. Matsui holds slight leads in home runs, RBI’s, and batting average in the decade. Both played 7 years while Matsui hit 140 homers, drove in 597 RBI’s while batting .292. Matsui was a two time all-star while placing second for rookie of the year. Hideki hit 10 career playoff homers while batting over .300 four times in 11 playoff series. His .312 career playoff batting average is pretty remarkable as well considering he was a high-profile signing from Japan and had monumental pressure on him to perform at a high level in which he succeeded. Both Williams and Matsui won rings and had plenty of clutch hits, but the fact that Matsui had slightly better numbers across the board, puts him ahead of Bernie on this list.
7.) Roger Clemens
Say what you want about the “Rocket” at the end of the day he usually came out on top. Playing only four in a half season’s with the Yankees during the decade, Clemens recorded a stellar 69-28 record with a 3.93 ERA. Notching a Cy Young award and was a two-time all-star to boot, Clemens was the most decorated starting pitcher for the Yanks in the 2000s in terms of accolades. Clemens in the playoffs had a little Jekyll and Hyde in him, but there is no doubting his “clutchness” in big games for the Yanks. A 5-3 record in 11 series and played in three World Series while winning one. Five times in playoff series he had an ERA under 2.00 in the playoffs which is astounding. The “Rocket” may have been higher on this list but one season came during the 90′s decade, which limited his time to four in a half years which also discarded another World Series win, and his stats being a touch lower.
6.) Jorge Posada
was a mainstay at Catcher for the Yanks in the 2000s establishing himself as one of the premier Catchers of the game. He averaged 21 homers and 82 RBI’s a season throughout the decade, which could have been higher had it not been for injury shortened 2008 season which limited him to 51 games. Five-time all-star, five-time Silver Slugger winner and also reaching the 2o homer plateau 8 out of 10 seasons of the decade. His finest season came in 2003 when he hit 30 bombs and drove in 101 RBI’s. Also, his biggest hit also came that year when he hit a bloop double in the 8th inning of game 7 of the ALCS to tie the game at five against their fierce rivals, the Boston Red Sox. The Yanks would eventually win the game in the 11th inning by a memorable Aaron Boone walk off home run. Posada also has more home runs, RBI’s and hits then any other catcher in the 2000′s decade. Arguably could be higher on this list it’s hard to ignore only three times in 18 playoff series did Posada hit over .300 in the decade of the 2000s, while struggling to throw out base runners. Derek Jeter may have been the captain, but there was never any question who the leader in the clubhouse was, and that was Posada.
5.) Mike Mussina
“Moose” was the most winning pitcher for the Yanks during the 2000′s decade. Playing 8 seasons for the Yanks Moose recorded an overall record of 123-72 with a 3.88 ERA. He had 12 complete games and 8 shutouts, truly being overshadowed by the other more prominent Yankees that came and left during the decade. Although he had a losing record at 5-7 during the playoffs he did post an ERA under 4.00 five times out of 12 playoff series. Mussina played in two World Series during the decade and while not winning the coveted title, he did post a 1-1 record during the fall classic. Moose was a three-time Gold Glove winner while posting a 20 win season in his last year with the Yanks before retiring. Mussina’s longevity during the decade and being the Yankees most winning pitcher propelled him above the aforementioned Roger Clemens. Playing twice the seasons the “Rocket” played during the decade while having 10 more complete games and 7 more shutouts warrants him at the five-spot on this list.
4.) Andy Pettitte
One of the toughest decisions on this list was where to put Yankee favorite and hero, Andy Pettitte. While playing 7 years for the Yanks and posting a 111-63 record he clearly had similar stats to Mike Mussina. Pettitte had 9 complete games and two shutouts while being an all-star once. Label him with the steroid users in the Mitchel Report and some would put him below Mussina. In an era where probably 75% of big leaguers were using PED’s Pettitte claimed to use it once while in Houston and being injured. Being the stand up, devoted Christian Pettitte is, most believe him. Pettitte, however, played in four World Series being apart of two championship teams. He was 3-3 in the fall classic while being the MBL’s all-time wins leader in the playoffs. He was not just one of the most clutch Yankee pitchers of all-time he arguably was one of baseball most clutch pitchers of all-time. Playing in 14 series during the decade he was 11-4 and 9 times he had an ERA under 3.00 during these series. Truly a remarkable playoff warrior for the Yanks thus he deserves to be number four on this list.
3.) Mariano Rivera
The top three are very difficult in most lists to name, this one may be the toughest. Rivera no doubt is the best all-time closer ever to play the game of baseball which is remarkable. But at the end of the day I can’t possibly justify a closer being ahead of the next two guys on this list. Mo is a hero in every Yankee fan’s heart and his stats and saves are ridiculous. In fact he was instrumental in the Yanks beating the Red Sox in the 2003 ALCS game 7 where he pitched THREE innings in an eventual thrilling walk off home run by Aaron Boone. Six times Mo had an ERA under 2.00 while twice notching 50 plus saves. Eight times during the decade Mo was an all-star, while coming in second and third in the race for the Cy-young as a closer! Seems like video game stats and in any list you could have Mo easily be number one, but these next two Yanks play in every game so thus having more of a hand in deciding the Yankees fate.
2.) Alex Rodriguez
A-Rod has stats second to none, he was a two-time MVP winning during his Yankee tenure in the decade while being a 5 time all-star. We could sit here all day and write about his accolades, there is no debate over that. A-Rod’s problems he endured besides the scandals, and steroids came during the playoffs where he suddenly became a pariah amongst baseball circles and the media as he could not come through in the clutch or anything for that matter. I’m not going to hate on A-Rod because without him the Yanks may of not made the playoffs during a few years of the 2000s decades as he continually did come through during the regular season. Every season with the Yanks, Rodriguez hit over 30 home runs and drove in over 100 RBI’s while batting over .300 three times and stealing over 20 bases three times. Averaging 40 home runs and 119 RBI’s a season for the Yanks he clearly had the best stats of any Yankee including Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera. Playoffs and World series are apart of this list to and even though he was instrumental in beating the Twins in the ALDS hitting a game tying two run homer off Joe Nathan (one of the best closers in the game) he repeatedly choked during huge moments for most of the decade in the playoffs. A-Rod will forever be known as one of the most polarizing players to play the game of baseball but there is no doubting he is a stat machine and is the owner of a nice World Series ring that he was just as important as any other Yankee in obtaining.
1.) Derek Jeter
If Jeter wasn’t number one on this list I’d lose any credibility I have so we won’t even test those waters. All jokes aside, this really isn’t a surprise as Jeter was a 8 time all-star during the decade while hitting over .300 8 times as well. A rock at short stop Jeter will go down as one of the most popular Yankee’s of all-time which is truly saying something for their rich history of players. Should have been the MVP in 2006 as Big Papi, David Ortiz has since been guilty of taking steroids in which Jeter has never been accused of anyone being suspicious of. Four-time Silver Slugger winner, and Gold Glove winner Jeter like A-rod has the stats also to back up his worth. Playoffs is where Jeter separated himself from many others as he became a living legend with his ability to come through in the clutch while making many all-time great plays, like the cutoff throw he made to the Posada throwing out Jeremy Giambi. The great plays he has made over the years are endless. Eleven time Jeter would hit over .300 in playoff series, while 7 times he hit over .400 in playoff series. Another remarkable feat for one of the great Yankees of all-time. Jeter is in a class all on his own and is not just the captain of the Yanks but also is the face of the 2000s decade for this historic franchise.
Original Story:
