Munro: The All-Decade Canadian Team (2010 to 2019)
Etobicoke Rangers alum Joey Votto (Etobicoke, Ont.) is the first baseman on the Canadian All-Decade Team.
December 26, 2019
By Neil Munro
Canadian Baseball Network
It’s almost the end of the decade.
And that means all kinds of All-Decade teams no matter the sport.
The Canadian player of the decade is Cincinnati Reds 1B Joey Votto (Etobicoke, Ont.) and the pitcher of the decade is James Paxton, now with the New York Yankees.
Now, to form the All-Decade Canadian team we need some wishful thinking and some flexibility, but here goes:
_Behind the plate is Russell Martin (Montreal, Que.), who was with the Los Angeles Dodgers this season.
Russell Martin (Montreal, Que.) began the decade with the Los Angeles Dodgers and after tenures with the Pittsburgh Pirates, New York Yankees and Toronto Blue Jays returned to the Dodgers to close out the decade. He’s the catcher on the All-Decade Team.
Russell Martin 2010 to 2019 Stats
_ At first base is Votto, the former Etobicoke Ranger.
Joey Votto’s 2010-2019 Stats
Langley Blaze alum Brett Lawrie (Langley, BC) is the second baseman on the All-Decade Canadian Team. Photo: Wikiwand
_ Playing second is Brett Lawrie (Langley, BC), a grad of the Langley Blaze program.
Brett Lawrie’s 2010 to 2019 Stats
With Joey Votto at first base, some creative liberties were used to ensure that former North Delta Blue Jay and Minnesota Twins all-star Justin Morneau (New Westminster, BC) was on the All-Decade Canadian Team. He mans the hot corner on the squad. Photo: Wikipedia
_ At DH is Justin Morneau (New Westminster, BC), former North Delta Blue Jay. Morneau was drafted as a catcher and won the American League MVP award playing first.
Justin Morneau’s 2010 to 2019 Stats
Montreal-born slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is the shortstop on the All-Decade Canadian Team. Photo: Amanda Fewer
_ At shortstop is Vladimir Guerrero (Montreal, Que.) of the Toronto Blue Jays. With the shifts the Jays used he sometimes looked closer to the shortstop position than third base.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s 2010 to 2019 Stats
Victoria Mariners alum Michael Saunders (Victoria, BC) is one of the three outfielders on the CBN All-Decade Team.
_ In the outfielder are Michael Saunders, Tyler O’Neill and Jason Bay.
Saunders (Victoria, BC) was a Seattle Mariners draft and a Victoria Mariners grad, O’Neill (Maple Ridge, BC) played for the Langley Blaze and is a St. Louis Cardinal, while Bay (Trail, BC) honed his skills as part of a Trail Little League squad, coached by Canadian Baseball Hall of Famer Andy Bilesky, that competed in the 1990 Little League World Series.
Michael Saunders 2010 to 2019 Stats
Tyler O’Neill’s 2010 to 2019 Stats
Jason Bay’s 2010 to 2019 Stats
Atlanta Braves slugger Freddie Freeman’s parents were born in Canada and he suited up for Canada at the 2019 World Baseball Classic. He is the DH on the All-Decade Canadian Team. Photo: Amanda Fewer
_ At third base is Atlanta Braves Freddie Freeman., who had made 16 career starts at third. His parents are from Ontario as well and he played in the last WBC in Miami.
Freddie Freeman’s 2010 to 2019 Stats
Summary of Stats of 2010 to 2019 All-Decade Team Position Players
All-Decade Team Pitchers
Ryan Dempster (Gibsons, BC) was inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in St. Marys, Ont., in 2019. He is also a starting pitcher on the All-Decade Canadian Team. Photo: J.P. Antonacci
_ The best starters of the decade are Ryan Dempster, Jeff Francis, Jameson Taillon, Mike Soroka and Paxton.
Dempster (Gibsons, BC) is the ace of the MLB Network, Francis (North Delta, BC) won 17 games for the Colorado Rockies after pitching for the North Delta Blue Jays and Taillon was born in Lakeland, Fla., but since his parents are both from Ontario, he was WBC eligible. Soroka (Calgary, Alta.), of the Atlanta Braves, pitched for the Calgary PBF Redbirds as a teenager and Paxton (Ladner, BC) toed the rubber for the North Delta Blue Jays.
Ryan Dempster’s 2010 to 2019 Stats
Jeff Francis’s 2010 to 2019 Stats
Jameson Taillon’s 2010 to 2019 Stats
Mike Soroka’s 2010 to 2019 Stats
James Paxton’s 2010 to 2019 Stats
Relief Pitchers
With 143 saves over the past decade, Team Ontario grad John Axford (Port Dover, Ont.) has earned a spot in the relief corps of the All-Decade Canadian Team. Photo: Amanda Fewer
_ And in the bullpen are John Axford, Jesse Crain, James Henderson and Rowan Wick.
Axford (Port Dover, Ont.), a Team Ontario grad, has picked up 143 saves in his career, mostly with the Brewers and while he did not pitch in 2019, he hopes to pitch again next season. Crain (Toronto, Ont.) pitched 10 seasons with the Minnesota Twins and the Chicago White Sox. Former Okotoks Dawg Henderson (Calgary, Alta.) took over from Axford in 2013. Wick (North Vancouver, BC) was a big-time slugger with the Vancouver Cannons and then in the St. Louis Cardinals organization before being converted to the mound. He worked in 31 games for the Chicago Cubs.
John Axford’s 2010 to 2019 Stats
Jesse Crain’s 2010 to 2019 Stats
Jim Henderson’s 2010 to 2019 Stats
Rowan Wick’s 2010 to 2019 Stats
Summary of All-Decade Team Starting Pitcher Stats
Summary of All-Decade Team Relief Pitcher Stats
All-Decade Canadian Team
By Province: British Columbia 9, Ontario 5, Alberta 2, Quebec 2.