AL's biggest busts [Forum Archive]

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AL's biggest busts

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Posted by: min0 lee

If someone erected busts for all of baseball's Biggest Busts of 2006, the vast collection could encircle a baseball stadium.
There are so many busts, in fact, that I am breaking them up by league. Today it's the American League, tomorrow the National League. Even in AL, the supposed "good" league, there are plenty of dropoffs and dropouts, downfalls and disappointments.
It's hard to know what happened to all these guys, so I've consulted a longtime big league scout to help ferret out the problem or problems. With some it may be a little about age; with others it's surely injuries. With a few, the problem may be more chemical in nature. Another possibility, of course, is that many of these guys have simply stunk, that their bad years can be filed under the heading, "Hey, it happens.''
Here are the AL's Biggest Busts of 2006 (I'm grading on a curve, against expectations):
25. Adam Kennedy, 2B, Angels. He once hit three home runs in a playoff game but has hit only two this year. "Weird uppercut swing,'' the scout said.
24. Carl Everett, ex-Mariner. This obvious bust (.658 OPS) wanted to bust up manager Mike Hargrove's office after being informed that he might have to take a seat. If anything, he should have been grateful to Grover, who gave Everett more at-bats than he deserved.
23. Aaron Boone, 3B, Indians. The famed Red Sox killer has posted a meager .372 slugging percentage. "I never thought he was the player he was given credit for,'' our scout said. "He's always been pull happy, and everyone's known for years to pitch him away.''
22. Bobby Crosby, SS, A's. Offensively, he's been a complete washout (.338 slugging percentage). "It's got to be his back,'' the scout surmised. "It's hard to do anything with a bad back.''
21. Carl Pavano, P, Yankees. Samuel Beckett has a sequel: Waiting for Pavano.
20. Josh Towers, P, Blue Jays. Take away his 1-9 mark and 9.11 ERA and the Blue Jays are where they expected to be.
19. Joey Gathright, OF, Royals. Numbers tell the story: zero home runs, 17 stolen bases, .221 batting average, .582 OPS.
18. Julian Tavarez, P, Red Sox. Duck when he enters. Batters are hitting .298 against him.
17. Chris Shelton, 1B, Tigers. What a rags-to-riches-to-rags story this is. A cover boy in April and a minor leaguer by August. The scout said, "I still think he can hit.'' Shelton certainly could early. Had nine home runs through 13 games, and only seven in 89 since.
16. Jonny Gomes, DH, Devil Rays. His season mirrors Shelton's except he got to stay in the majors (if you consider the D-Rays the majors). "He's playing hurt,'' the scout said. "His shoulder has to be killing him.''
15. Felix Hernandez, P, Mariners. The scout is still predicting big things for the power pitcher who has suffered a severe sophomore jinx. "He might have thought that all he had to do was throw his glove out there,'' the scout said. "I still see him as a top-of-the-rotation guy. It's just a matter of maturing. He sure has enough weapons.''

Posted by: min0 lee

14. Randy Johnson, P, Yankees. "He doesn't have that mystique anymore,'' the scout said. "He doesn't sustain the nasty down-and-in slider like he used to, and like [Ron] Guidry or Steve Carlton threw. He's OK, but hitters are a lot more comfortable now than they used to be.''
13. Richie Sexson, 1B, Mariners. He's OK, but not by $50 million standards. He has 11 homers since the break.
12. Adrian Beltre, 3B, Mariners. Between Sexson and Beltre, the tab's up to $114 million. Benefit of great timing: 48 homers in walk year, 35 since.
11. Josh Beckett, P, Red Sox. Boston gave up a lot, surrendering top prospects Hanley Ramirez and Anibal Sanchez, agreeing to take on Mike Lowell's high contract, then extending Beckett's at $10 million per. In recent weeks it all looks regrettable. "His stuff is still there," the scout said, "but he's deep in counts, and some games he can't get his breaking ball over.''
10. Juan Uribe, SS, White Sox. He had a big year last season, but he's an out-machine now, with a .270 on-base percentage. "He's a very aggressive high-ball hitter,'' the scout said. "He expands the zone and doesn't have patience.''
9. Daniel Cabrera, P, Orioles. He looked like a world beater in the World Baseball Classic, but control problems led to a trip to the minors (86 walks in 112 2/3 innings). "He has electric stuff,'' the scout said, "but when is the light going to go on?''
8. Bruce Chen, P, Orioles. He's 0-7 this year, compared with 13-10 (.565) in 2005.
7. Mark Buerhle, P, White Sox. There's speculation he may be ailing, but our scout said no, he just looks tentative. "He looks like he's whistling through the graveyard,'' he said. "The cutter that used to be in is getting far too much of the plate. Very disappointing.''
6. Mark Teixeira, 1B, Rangers. On the verge of superstardom and maybe a $100 million contract, he's fallen off similarly to A-Rod, except without the fanfare. On the plus side, 12 of his 21 home runs have come since the break.
5. Jhonny Peralta, SS, Indians. Cleveland has succeeded by signing young players long-term, but sometimes the faith it shows backfires. Peralta got a five-year deal in March, and his slugging percentage is down from .520 last year to .390 this season. "I thought this guy was going to be a special player,'' the scout said, "but now it doesn't always look like he's ready to play.''
4. Eric Chavez, 3B, A's. He still brings a great glove and attitude to the park, but his hitting has tailed off to the point where he's almost a non-factor. While he hasn't gone on the disabled list, he has admitted to forearm injuries. "It's all about him hurting,'' the scout said. "He's not the kind of guy to tail off like this.''
3. Brad Wilkerson, OF, Rangers. He belted 32 home runs in 2004, but the main piece in the Alfonso Soriano trade has hit only 26 since.
2. Coco Crisp, OF, Red Sox. The scout said, "He's a little man who doesn't want to play the little man's game.'' The result is a lowly .708 OPS.
1. Alex Rodriguez, 3B, Yankees. First there was the error streak (five quick ones), now there's the strikeout streak (11 in 15 at-bats). A .492 slugging percentage is OK for mortal men. But for the $252 million man? Fuhgettaboutit.

Posted by: min0 lee

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/200...sts/index.html

I see too many Yankees on there.
The Yankees really need to see a lawyer about getting their money back from Pavano. He's a pussy.

Posted by: Triple Threat

Quote:

Originally Posted by min0 lee

1. Alex Rodriguez, 3B, Yankees. First there was the error streak (five quick ones), now there's the strikeout streak (11 in 15 at-bats). A .492 slugging percentage is OK for mortal men. But for the $252 million man? Fuhgettaboutit.

They've started calling him K-Rod on ESPN. Tuesday night in the Bronx might be brutal.

Posted by: Triple Threat

Quote:

Originally Posted by min0 lee

The Yankees really need to see a lawyer about getting their money back from Pavano. He's a pussy.

Check this out on today's Yahoo sports.

--------

Pavano has two broken ribs

By RONALD BLUM, AP Baseball Writer
August 28, 2006

NEW YORK (AP) -- Yankees pitcher Carl Pavano has a pair of broken ribs, the result of a car accident several weeks ago that he initially didn't tell the team about.

Pavano, who hasn't pitched in the major leagues since June 2005 due to shoulder, back, buttocks and elbow injuries, is still scheduled to make a rehabilitation start Wednesday at Triple-A Columbus.

New York general manager Brian Cashman said Monday that Pavano has made three rehab starts with the rib injury. He disclosed it to the team Saturday after feeling discomfort in his most recent minor league outing.

"Of course I'm angry," Cashman said, adding that "it's extremely frustrating" and "it's extremely disappointing."

Cashman still hopes Pavano would be able to pitch in the major leagues this season.

Pavano signed a $39.95 million, four-year contract as a free agent before the 2005 season. He was 4-6 with a 4.77 ERA in 17 starts for New York last year.

Posted by: min0 lee

Quote:

Originally Posted by Triple Threat

Oh I know, I read it in the Daily news. A lot of the players a whispering negative things about him.
Some are wondering if he's just scared to play in NY.

I just makes me sick, I know he's hurt but damn....how brittle is this guy.

Posted by: boilermaker

Quote:

Originally Posted by min0 lee

17. Chris Shelton, 1B, Tigers. What a rags-to-riches-to-rags story this is. A cover boy in April and a minor leaguer by August. The scout said, "I still think he can hit.'' Shelton certainly could early. Had nine home runs through 13 games, and only seven in 89 since.

This was very perplexing. Along with the hitting went the glove and the decision making also. Cost them a couple games that I can remember. Wonder if he'll be back on 9/1

Posted by: min0 lee

Quote:

Originally Posted by Triple Threat

They've started calling him K-Rod on ESPN. Tuesday night in the Bronx might be brutal.

Very brutal....I dislike him at first now I just feel so sorry for him.

Posted by: min0 lee

Quote:

Originally Posted by boilermaker

This was very perplexing. Along with the hitting went the glove and the decision making also. Cost them a couple games that I can remember. Wonder if he'll be back on 9/1

It's obvious his confidence is shot. Baseball is funny that way...there's too much time to think and it just screws your mind up. If they were to just have fun and not think and worry so much they would be better off.
This goes for A-Rod as well.

Posted by: IainDaniel

Suprised AJ Burnett isn't on there.

He has pitched decent when he has pitched. But you never know if that arm is going to act up, and take him out for 2 months +

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