
No. 1: 2010 San Francisco Giants
Starters
C Buster Posey
1B Aubrey Huff
2B Freddy Sanchez
3B Pablo Sandoval
SS Juan Uribe
LF Pat Burrell
CF Andres Torres
RF Nate Schierholtz
Key Bench Players
C Bengie Molina
1B Travis Ishikawa
SS Edgar Renteria
OF Aaron Rowand
OF Cody Ross
The 2010 season was the beginning of a dynasty.
Homegrown pieces like 23-year-old Buster Posey, 23-year-old Pablo Sandoval and 20-year-old Madison Bumgarner all emerged as key contributors, while the roster also had a good collection of veteran talent.
That all culminated in the team’s first playoff appearance since 2003 and the first championship by the Bay, and the offense played a major role.
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There were just 35 players during the 2010 season who made at least 400 plate appearances and had an OPS+ over 130. The Giants had two of them—Aubrey Huff (142) and Buster Posey (133).
Huff led the team with 26 home runs and 86 RBI after joining the Giants on a one-year, $3 million deal in free agency. Posey won NL Rookie of the Year by hitting .305/.357/.505 with 18 home runs and 67 RBI in 108 games. Shortstop Juan Uribe chipped in 24 home runs and 85 RBI.
This team also provided a renaissance for several journeyman outfielders.
Andres Torres had 67 extra-base hits and 26 steals, Cody Ross caught fire down the stretch and won NLCS MVP after he was claimed off waivers in August, and Pat Burrell posted a 136 OPS+ with 18 home runs in 96 games after he was cut loose by the Tampa Bay Rays in May.
The 2010 season was truly an incredible year, and I get a little misty just thinking about it. The team had great pitching, but the offense was an equally important ingredient in the success of a team that became an even-year powerhouse.