The start of the San Fransisco Giants dynasty, which would see them win 3 World Series championships within a 5-year span, something that is extremely difficult to do. A core unit of players, arguably led by the emergence of first round pick Buster Posey, would become a real problem for teams during even-years for the first half of 2010.
1.) Félix Hernández, Seattle Mariners: 13-12 and a Cy Young
King Félix was a dominant starter for several years in Seattle, even when the rest of his team was lacking in talent. It is incredibly rare to see one of the worst teams in baseball to produce a Cy Young, but Hernández was too good to ignore. Having a winning record on a team with 101 losses seems impossible, but when you pitch 6 complete games, you make it a point to not allow anyone to spoil your gems. A 2.27 ERA, paired with 232 strikeouts sure helps, along with leading the Majors in innings pitched with 249.2.
2.) Ubaldo Jiménez, Colorado Rockies: 3.19 ERA at Coors Field
The high altitude in Denver, Colorado has been well documented, and has been a nightmare for pitchers. The challenges are so prevalent, that it is a real recruiting issue for the Rockies to bring in top of the line pitchers. One player of recent memory who was able to overcome the thin, mountain air was Ubaldo Jiménez, who also put together an electric first half that shocked the league. Before the All-Star break, Ubaldo went 15-1 with a 2.20 ERA. A portion of his dominance occurred on the road, but he was also able to take care of business at home, something many Rockies have been unable to do from the mound.
3.) Dallas Braden, Oakland Athletics: Perfect Game on May 9th, 2010
Dallas Braden did not have a perfect career, but none of that matters. Braden managed to do what only 23 other players have managed to do, and he did so on Mother’s Day. Dallas’ 2010 season would be the best season of his short career, and it would also be his last full season before he retired in 2011. Braden worked fast, and allowed a lot of batters to just put the ball in play while his defense had his back all game.
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