Tagged: Torii Hunter

All-Decade Team: Outfield

All-Decade.png
The infield side of the All-Decade Team was rather simple considering the results; each selection was unanimous. Now it’s time to see who the best outfielders and utility man of the past ten years were. 
Seth from SethSpeaks.net, John from TwinsGeek, Nick from Nick’s Twins Blog, and Michael from RandBall, were again the participants who helped choose the players on the All-Decade Team.
Left Field
Who played: Jacque Jones, Lew Ford, Shannon Stewart, Jason Kubel, Delmon Young
Seth
Stohs
John
Bonnes
Nick
Nelson
Michael
Rand
Alex
Left
Field
Jacque
Jones
Shannon
Stewart
Shannon
Stewart
Jacque
Jones
Jacque
Jones

Jacque Jones and Shannon Stewart occupied left field for the majority of the decade. Jones was in the outfield for seven seasons in Minnesota, while Stewart played in Minnesota for three and a half seasons. 
Stewart’s biggest credit was becoming an integral part of the lineup in 2003 when the Twins acquired him from Toronto in a mid-season trade. Jones began his career in Minnesota in 1999, and played six of his seven seasons during the decade. In seven seasons with the Twins, Jones hit .279 with 132 homeruns and 476 RBI.
CenterfieldWho played: Torii Hunter, Carlos Gomez, Denard Span

Seth
Stohs
John
Bonnes
Nick
Nelson
Michael
Rand
Alex
Centerfield
Torii
Hunter
Torii
Hunter
Torii
Hunter
Torii
Hunter
Torii
Hunter

Torii Hunter is the unanimous selection for the centerfield of the decade, and he’s the most sensible option. Hunter manned centerfield in Minneapolis for 11 seasons, and was in the outfield in eight of the ten years during the decade.
In 11 seasons with the Twins, Hunter hit .271 with 192 homeruns and 711 RBI. Hunter made the All-Star Game twice, won eight Gold Glove awards, and was the 2007 recipient of the Marvin Miller Man of the Year award.
Right FieldWho played: Matt Lawton, Dustan Mohr, Jacque Jones, Michael Cuddyer, Denard Span

Seth
Stohs
John
Bonnes
Nick
Nelson
Michael
Rand
Alex
Right
Field
Michael
Cuddyer
Michael
Cuddyer
Michael
Cuddyer
Denard
Span
Michael
Cuddyer

Michael Cuddyer was on the Minnesota Twins’ roster in nine of the ten years during the decade. While his position was changing each year and in some cases each day, the past four years have seen Cuddyer primarily in right field.
In nine seasons with the Twins, Cuddyer has hit .270 with 107 homeruns and 429 RBI. Last season, Cuddyer received an MVP vote after he helped lead the Twins to the playoffs with a late season run. Cuddyer hit .276 in 2009 with 32 homeruns and 94 RBI while switching to first base in September to once again show off his flexibility. 
UtilitySome options: Denny Hocking, Nick Punto, Michael Cuddyer, Denard Span, Jason Bartlett

Seth
Stohs
John
Bonnes
Nick
Nelson
Michael
Rand
Alex
Utility
Nick
Punto
Nick
Punto
Jason
Bartlett
Michael
Cuddyer
Nick
Punto

Michael Cuddyer is a sensible choice having played first base, second base, third base, left field, right field, centerfield and designated hitter over the past nine seasons. Already the right fielder on most ballots however, the titles falls to another player.
Nick Punto has been with the Twins for six seasons, and has played seven of the nine positions as well. During his time with the Twins, Punto has hit .239 with 11 homeruns, 174 RBI and 83 stolen bases. 
Bartlett doesn’t get the title, but he spent three seasons and a handful of games in Minnesota. During that time, he hit .272 with 10 homeruns, 92 RBI and 39 stolen bases.