Not Pulling Their Weight: 10 MLB Stars Having Poor 2010 Seasons

Baseball is a funny game, the line that separates the all time greats, and the unknowns is far more thin than in any other sport.

In a game where the best in world fail seven out of ten times, you need a little luck on your side. For some, that luck never comes. For others, it shows up, only to leave again like a cruel mistress in the night,

Here are ten former stars in the league who, for whatever reason, seem to have lost the edge on their opponents, and have been brought back down to the ranks of mere mortals.

Chone Figgins

Getting it started off a member of the most disappointing team in all of baseball.

Chone Figgins was signed in the offseason to hit after Ichiro, giving the Mariners an excellent 1-2 punch at the top of the order to set the table for the heart of lineup.

Well, things haven't really panned out as well as they had imagined.

To date, Figgins have managed just .226 AVG, and a .336 OBP, far below his career averages.

Jake Peavy

Just a couple years removed from his Cy Young Award winning season as a member of the San Diego Padres, Peavy seems to be an entirely different pitcher altogether this year.

In his first full season as a member of the White Sox, Peavy has managed just a 5-5 record, with a dreadful 5.62 ERA.

Melky Cabrera

Acquired in the offseason from the New York Yankees, Cabrera was supposed to Anchor the Braves outfield, and provided solid offense. Neither has happened thus far in Atlanta.

In 65 games, Cabrera has managed just 18 RBI, and is slugging a paltry .338.

Todd Helton

Throughout much of his career, Todd Helton has been a truly overlooked, and underrated player.

With a career AVG of .325, and an OBP of .425, the man has been the model of consistency, and is a borderline Hall Of Famer.

However, the years seem to be catching up with him in 2010, as we have seen him post a meger .321 SLG percentage, while hitting just a pair of Home Runs.

Felix Hernandez

King Felix has simply not been the same dominating force he was 2009.

After finishing 2nd in the Cy Young voting, he has regressed in 2010 into an inconsistent hurler, who you never know what you're going to get from on a given night.

He hasn't been awful, posting a 3.61 ERA (More than a full run higher than in '09), and handing out 88 K's, but when he's been bad, he's been real bad.

While he dominated in April, he faltered in may, going 0-3 with an ERA near 5.

He's done better in June, but has still been inconsistent.

Aramis Ramirez

There simply is no reason for the awful season that Ramirez is having.

Between 2001, and 2009, Ramirez was arguably the finest offensive third sacker in the game, hitting at least 26 home runs 7 times.

After missing half of the '09 season due to injury, Ramirez was expected to come back and once again anchor the Cubs powerful offense.

However, Ramirez has had the by far the worst season of his career. He's managed just 5 Home Runs, and is hitting an abysmal .168.

Josh Beckett

In 2010, Josh Beckett has been anything but the Cy Young caliber flame thrower we have seen in the past.

Back problems have landed him on the DL,and have been a huge factor in his lackluster stat line.

Thus far, he has only managed to post a 1-1 record, with a grossly high 7.29 ERA.

Trevor Hoffman

When a closer loses it, it never seems to happen gradually, it always seems to happen all at once.

So is the fate of Trevor Hoffman, arguably the greatest closer of all time.

After an all-star appearance last year, he has failed to keep his role as closer for the Brewers in 2010, blowing 5 saves, and posting an ERA of 9.43.

Aaron Hill

Aaron Hill came out of nowhere last year to hit 36 home runs, and drive in 108 while posting a solid .286 AVG.

So far in 2010, he has yet to live up to the standards he set last season.

He's got 10 home runs, but is still managing just a measly .375 slugging percentage, and a dreadful .194 batting average.

Zack Greinke

Much like Felix Hernandez, Greinke is not to blame for his poor record, just 2-8 on the year, but also like Hernandez, he has not been the same pitcher he was in 2009.

Last year on his way to the Cy Young Award, Greinke dominated hitters in a fashion that hadn't been seen by a Royals pitcher since the days of Brett Saberhagen.

This year, however, he seems to have regressed back to a simply above average pitcher that hitters are no longer afraid of.