Ranking MLB's 10 Most Tortured Fanbases of 2013

MLB fanbases entered 2013 with best-case scenarios in mind for their teams. Since the calendar turned, fans with the following allegiances have been tortured—or at least sorely disappointed—by news and performance.

Keep in mind, we've taken everything since January 1 into consideration. That's why the surprising-competitive New York Yankees, for example, nearly made the list.  They have been overwhelmed with injuries since the winter months.

However, as you'd expect, most of the top 10 is comprised of sub-.500 major league clubs.The free-spending underachievers out west and cellar dweller north of the border vied for the top spot.

10. St. Louis Cardinals

2013 record: 20-12

Entering May 8, the St. Louis Cardinals have won 17 of their past 25 to pad their cozy lead in the NL Central.

It's been a turbulent year, nonetheless.

On the evening of January 19, Stan "The Man" Musial passed away. The most successful player in franchise history experienced a full life (92 years) and died of natural causes. It was still alarming for those who remembered his public appearance during the 2012 NLCS just three months earlier.

The gloomy Chris Carpenter news broke a few weeks later. He seemed "likely to retire" back then, though there's new optimism that he can return to the Cardinals this summer as a reliever, according to Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Meanwhile, two projected members of the active roster have been officially ruled out for 2013. Rafael Furcal and Jason Motte, both of whom contributed to St. Louis' latest championship, underwent Tommy John surgeries.

In Motte's absence, the Cards own MLB's ugliest bullpen earned run average. Mitchell Boggs (sent down to Triple-A) and Joe Kelly have been disasters.

9. Washington Nationals

2013 record: 17-15

The Washington Nationals were the sexy World Series pick this spring. Nobody expected that entering May 8, the Cleveland Indians and Pittsburgh Pirates would own better records.

Besides Bryce Harper, none of the regular players has an OPS above .800. The left side of the infield, Danny Espinosa (.594) and Adam LaRoche (.567), is really testing this fanbase's patience. LaRoche's start, which has included an 0-for-26 slump (via MASNSports.com), is particularly disappointing considering how people pleaded for the front office to re-sign him in free agency.

While Gio Gonzalez could very well be innocent of any drug abuse, his link to the anti-aging clinic Biogenesis has brought plenty of negative attention to the Nationals. Thus far, he hasn't come close to replicating his stellar 2012 campaign.

After five series within the division, Washington has won only two (both vs. the Miami Marlins).

8. Houston Astros

2013 record: 9-24

Houston Astros fans were prepared for overall struggles, but even after Tuesday's win, the team is behind the sluggish pace of the 1962 New York Mets. They were 12-21 through the same number of games en route to suffering 120 losses.

Homegrown guys like Jason Castro, Lucas Harrell, J.D. Martinez and Brett Wallace haven't progressed as anticipated. At the very least, weren't the veteran free agents supposed to be respectable? Rick Ankiel (35 SO in 65 PA) was designated for assignment earlier this month and Erik Bedard (9.98 ERA in 5 GS) has been demoted to the bullpen.

The Astros have already needed 17 different pitchers in 2013. Their lineup is on pace to shatter the single-season strikeout record.

The quickest way to piss off a fanbase is futility at home. Houston has a pathetic 5-12 mark at Minute Maid Park.

7. Miami Marlins

2013 record: 10-24

Of course, this fanbase was intrigued by what Giancarlo Stanton would do in 2013. However, there was also faint hope that the lineup would feature some other run producers.

An admission of uncertainty from Logan Morrison in January put that in doubt (via Juan C. Rodriguez, Sun Sentinel). He hasn't played an inning for the Miami Marlins yet and has only just began to participate in extended spring training, according to Manny Navarro of The Miami Herald. Justin Ruggiano is healthy, but not nearly the offensive threat he was last summer.

Now back to Stanton, who seldom put balls in play through Miami's first nine games (.167/.342/.233, 0 RBI, 12 SO). The Marlins went 1-8 in that span and were shut out four times. The franchise centerpiece missed a week with a bruised shoulder, got hot in late April and then went to the disabled list with a strained hamstring.

In the meantime, scoring is even more of a concern:

"

0 runs through 8 innings.So what's new guys?

— Marlins Fan Problems (@MarlinsFanProbz) May 1, 2013"

The club's biggest overachiever, right-hander Kevin Slowey (1.81 ERA, 0.94 WHIP in 44.2 IP), is thriving as much as any National League pitcher this side of Matt Harvey. But hardly anyone notices because, due to weak run support, he has recorded only one victory.

Understandably, very few fans have bothered attending. Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald reports that the Marlins will take action to make it look like the Fish still get decent crowds.

6. Chicago Cubs

2013 record: 13-20

On-field struggles should have been expected of the 2013 Chicago Cubs. It's just been frustrating for fans to see much of the $100-plus million of free-agent spending go to waste.

Edwin Jackson's $52 million contract accounted a lot of that. The Cubs have lost all but one of his seven starts, and his 6.39 ERA and 1.63 WHIP cannot be tolerated. Jackson is on pace for fewer than 180 innings for the first time since 2007.

Chicago retained Shawn Camp from last season. He's showing his appreciation with a .353 batting average against. Potential closer Kyuji Fujikawa (12.46 ERA) was even worse before landing on the disabled list. The Japanese veteran received a multi-year deal, as did Scott Hairston, who owns an anemic .100/.152/.400 batting line against left-handed pitching.

Most of the bench is counterproductive, and Carlos Marmol (12/13 SO/BB, 3 HBP in 14.0 IP) is still the same old Carlos Marmol.

But perhaps the biggest concern weighing on this fanbase is the Wrigley Field drama. Chairman Tom Ricketts has threatened to move the Cubbies from their nearly-century-old home, writes Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune. North Siders tell Mark Guarino of the Christian Science Monitor that they aren't totally on board with the renovation plans that would modernize Wrigley with a 6,000-square-foot scoreboard.

5. Philadelphia Phillies

2013 record: 16-18

Eliot Shorr-Parks of NJ.com recaps Roy Halladay's worrisome spring training, which led to even uglier results early in the regular season. The average Philadelphia Phillies fan hoped for a strong bounce-back campaign from the would-be free agent and a reasonable contract extension to lock him into the starting rotation through the rest of his career. Instead, Halladay will celebrate his 35th birthday on the disabled list, wondering if he'll ever regain velocity or learn how to pitch with reduced stuff.

Most of the club's offseason acquisitions have been disappointments (all with the exceptions of Mike Adams and Michael Young).

Ben Revere can't get anything out of the infield. He has exactly one extra-base hit through 29 appearances. John Lannan pitched below replacement level before straining his knee, while Delmon Young's ankle surgery delayed his 2013 debut. His batting line of .150/.250/.350 since activation leaves a lot to be desired.

Then we have catcher Carlos Ruiz, the undisputed MVP of last year's Phillies. Since returning from a 25-game amphetamines suspension, he has contributed nothing from an offensive standpoint. There is growing skepticism that he will never replicate his 2012 success.

4. Toronto Blue Jays

2013 record: 13-21

All the highly-paid, reputable starting pitchers that general manager Alex Anthopoulos worked so tirelessly to acquire are under-performing. Mark Buehrle, R.A. Dickey and Josh Johnson have a cumulative 6.31 earned run average and total of 22 home runs allowed in 18 starts.

It figures that J.A. Happ—the one rotation member who had actually been decent thus far—takes a line drive to the head* (via MLB Memes).  

The Toronto Blue Jays boast a minus-44 run differential, which is 28th in Major League Baseball (ahead of only the Houston Astros and Miami Marlins). That's largely because Jose Reyes (sprained ankle) is out, Brett Lawrie has been slow to re-acclimate since his season-opening DL stint, and J.P. Arencibia and Colby Rasmus strike out at astronomically high rates.

Fans don't seem to be blinded by the star power. According to ESPN.com, the 'Jays haven't come close to filling up the Rogers Centre.

*In all seriousness, wish Happ a speedy and complete recovery.

3. Chicago White Sox

2013 record: 13-18

The apocalypse must be approaching. How else does a Chicago White Sox club with Adam Dunn and Paul Konerko at is center rank last in the majors in on-base percentage?

Both veterans have typically been very disciplined. Unfortunately, Dunn's decision to be more aggressive early in counts is resulting in a .569 OPS, eerily identical to what he finished with during a miserable 2011 campaign (via Mark Gonzalez, Chicago Tribune). Captain Konerko, on the other hand, is simply deteriorating at age 37. During his 15 seasons on the South Side, he has seldom struggled putting balls in play or contributing defensively. Retirement could be looming for the first baseman/designated hitter.

Jeff Keppinger, Chicago's big free-agent acquisition, looks like a terrible $12 million investment. His .397 OPS is the lowest among all qualified major leaguers. Though White Sox fans must appreciate his versatility, they can't fathom how an everyday guy has zero walks or home runs.

The American League's most anemic offense is always challenged to score, and on some nights, just getting a baserunner is a chore. Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports isn't a White Sox fan, though many of the die-hards probably had the same thought while watching on Tuesday night:

"

The way the #WhiteSox are going, I will be surprised if #Mets’ Harvey does NOT throw a perfect game.

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) May 8, 2013"

For the record, Alex Rios broke up the perfecto in the seventh inning (albeit on an infield single).

On the pitching side of things, Daryl Can Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times writes that Gavin Floyd will miss the rest of 2013 as well as a large chunk of 2014 following elbow surgery. He leads the White Sox with 62 victories since 2008, but may never take the mound again on the South Side.

ESPN.com shows us that the team's historically weak attendance is still pretty terrible.

2. Los Angeles Angels

2013 record: 11-21

Nearly half of the MLB teams—14 of them, to be precise—opened up this season with payrolls north of $100 million, according to USA Today (h/t The Arizona Republic). The Los Angeles Angels have the lousiest record of them all.

MLB.com's Alden Gonzalez was among the scores of reporters to make a fuss about Mike Trout's spring training weigh-in. Fans were then put in an awkward position to defend a team that finished dead last in the Cactus League standings.

The pitching staff, which allowed 7.63 runs per game during the preseason, frankly hasn't improved much. Ernesto Frieri and C.J. Wilson have less command than they did in 2012, and Joe Blanton is embarrassingly hittable. Proven ace Jered Weaver worked with disturbingly low velocity before injuring his elbow on April 7. He hasn't returned to a major league mound since.

The 240-pound elephant in the room is Josh Hamilton. Year one of his five-year, $125 million contract is thus far a train wreck, as he whiffs constantly without providing any power. His .248 on-base percentage entering May 8 ranks among the league's worst (per FanGraphs).

ESPN's Pedro Gomez reminds Angels fans how dominant Hamilton was for the rival Texas Rangers last season:

"

Wow! Josh Hamilton has 2 HR, 9 RBI and is batting .208 through 31 games. At same point last year he had 18 HR and 41 RBI and .402.

— Pedro Gomez (@pedrogomezESPN) May 6, 2013"

L.A. has been stuck below the .500 mark since April 4.

1. Los Angeles Dodgers

2013 record: 13-19

The only other major league club with comparable costs and injury concerns, the New York Yankees, has started off much better despite lesser expectations.

The 15-day disabled list reads like a 2009 All-Star roster: Chad Billingsley, Zack Greinke, Ted Lilly and Hanley Ramirez.

Greinke, of course, was brutally tackled by San Diego Padres outfielder Carlos Quentin. The only good news out of Chavez Ravine in recent days, via Mark Saxon of ESPNLosAngeles.com, is that the right-hander could soon begin a rehab assignment.

Ramirez has really been tormenting this fanbase. He missed most of April due to a thumb injury sustained during the World Baseball Classic, then sent out this enthusiastic tweet:

"

Off the DL yayyyyy!!!

— Hanley Ramirez (@HanleyRamirez) April 30, 2013"

The shortstop batted .455/.500/.909...and now a strained hamstring has forced him back to the sidelines.

Matt Kemp owns a modest seven-game hitting streak that is gradually boosting his numbers to respectability. All in all, however, he hasn't been half the hero on the field that he is off of it (via YouTube).

The Dodgers are in the NL West cellar because they have been pitiful against their division rivals (5-15). Through five-and-a-half weeks, those obnoxious San Francisco Giants supporters have all the bragging rights.

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