MLB Predictions: 10 Players Who Face Make-or-Break Seasons in 2011
The 2010 MLB season featured plenty of breakout performances. From Joey Votto and Carlos Gonzalez to David Price, there were plenty of new stars in the game.
On the other end of the spectrum, we have players who already have experienced success in their careers, but in 2010, they were considered disappointments. Whether it be due to injuries, age or just poor performances, here are 10 players that need to play much better in 2011.
Todd Helton
1 of 10
At 37, Helton has suffered through years of back problems and last year marked one of his worst years as a pro.
Helton posted a .256 batting average and .367 slugging percentage (career lows) in 118 games.
From 1998 through 2006, Helton hit .334 with 281 home runs and posted a 1.027 OPS (on-base percentage plus slugging percentage).
He was one of the top offensive players in baseball and the face of the Rockies franchise.
Considering he makes over $10 million this season, Helton needs to regain form for the Rox to succeed.
AJ Burnett
2 of 10
After being one of the top free agents on the market in 2009, the Yanks threw a truckload of cash at Burnett. He has compiled a 23-24 record in pinstripes with a 1.45 WHIP. The club lost all faith in him and even held him out of starting and playoff games.The fans are not happy.
Not quite the output the Yanks expected when he signed for five years and $82.5 million.
Burnett compiled 50 wins for the Jays in his last four seasons in Toronto (with one season in Marlins), so why is he struggling so bad in another A.L. East city?
The Yankees need Burnett this season and another poor season is a death sentence.
Matt Kemp
3 of 10
Joe Torre and Kemp were not a good mix, as he was constantly tossed around the lineup.
Kemp really struggled last season as a baserunner. Kemp, who stole 35 bases in 2008 and 34 in 2009, was thrown out on 15 of his 34 stolen-base attempts.
The new coaching staff will preach aggressiveness. With a change in the coaching staff and a happy Matt Kemp, the Dodgers centerfielder will be allowed to play up to expectations.
After a sub-par 2010 campaign (.249, 28 HR, 89 RBI), you can expect Kemp to return to his 2009 form (.297, 26 HR, 101 RBI.).
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Grady Sizemore
4 of 10
It’s amazing how much can change in two years.
Grady Sizemore was a legitimate MVP candidate and SI cover boy in 2008.
Over the last two injury-plagued seasons, Sizemore hit just .239. He’s the very definition of a five-tool talent when healthy, but will he stay healthy?
Sizemore is still just 28 and can easily regain form for the Tribe. It seems as if he has just been very unlucky with injuries in the past two seasons.
He was bothered by synovitis in his left (throwing) elbow all season long in 2009 and was eventually shut down so he could have surgery to repair the condition in early September. The elbow was fine in 2010, but his left knee wasn't. Sizemore originally injured the joint sliding into a base in April and he then re-injured it on another slide against the Orioles on May 16th.
Sizemore still has the talent as long as he can stay on the field.
Chone Figgins
5 of 10
Chone Figgins has had a great career—up until 2010.
Coming off an All-Star season in which he led the AL in walks, Figgins got off to a very slow start and didn't really help a struggling Seattle offense, hitting a dismal .258.
In his first month as a Mariners uniform, Figgins hit just .200 and did not contribute much of note.
Overall in the first half of 2010, Figgins hit .235 without a single home run.
This is very disappointing for a career .287 hitter.
At least he has shown off his perennial speed, but that isn't enough to make up for a disappointing year overall for the speedster.
His career numbers suggest he will bounce back in 2011.
Jose Lopez
6 of 10
Jose Lopez had a nightmarish season for the Mariners in 2010.
In 2009, Lopez was a power hitter and showed stellar plate discipline. Now in 2010, all of that seems all for naught.
In '09, Lopez smacked a career high 25 home runs and drove in a career-high 96 runs. He struck out a mere 69 times. It seemed like the sky was the limit for the 27-year-old.
Last season turned into a complete disaster. He hit just .239 with just 10 homers and 58 RBI. Some considered Lopez as a premier power hitter for his position last year, but after a dreadful '10, Lopez has a lot of work to do.
Lopez has the potential to return to his '09 form, but will he?
Pablo Sandoval
7 of 10
Sure, the Giants won the World Series, but it wasn't because of Sandoval.
After an outstanding 2009 that featured a .330 average, 25 home runs and 90 RBI, he regressed immensely in 2010. He only hit .268 while smacking 13 homers and 63 RBI.
A weird stat: he grounded into 26 double-plays last season after only grounding into 16 his previous two seasons.
He showed up to camp last season out of shape and he had arguments with manager Bruce Bochy over it. He never really proved his coach wrong and slumped for most of the season.
I expect Sandoval to put in the work this offseason and report to Spring Training in much better shape.
Gordon Beckham
8 of 10
Beckham burst out onto the scene in '09 by collecting 28 doubles and 63 ribbies in just over 100 games. He also flashed a bit of power with 14 homers.
White Sox fans across the city touted Beckham as the third baseman of the future.
Unfortunately for Beckham and White Sox fans, he was a huge disappointment in 2010. He hit a mere .252 while experiencing a major power outage (nine HRs) and an RBI drop off to 49—yet he played in 28 more games for Chicago last season.
He went through a few wicked slumps and was never able to sustain any sort of consistency.
If the White Sox want to contend in 2011, they are going to need a bounce back season from the young Beckham.
Carlos Lee
9 of 10
Carlos Lee got off to a horrible start and simply could never regain form last season.
He got off to the worst start of his career by hitting zero home runs, driving in five runs and hitting just .177. Pretty bad for a guy making around $20 million!
Lee was supposed to carry the load when Lance Berkman was traded, but he failed mightily, finishing with a .246 average and only 24 home runs and 89 RBI.
He had three consecutive 100-RBI seasons since signing a six-year, $100 million contract with the Astros before '10.
Lee is the face of the franchise for the 'Stros and needs to play much better in 2011 to justify his sky high salary.
Derrek Lee
10 of 10
Lee was one of the foundations of the Cubs organization before a terrible 2010 sent him packing.
Overall, he had a disappointing season, hitting a mere .260 with 19 homers and 80 RBI. He did post an .849 OPS in 151 plate appearances down the stretch for the Braves, but still looked old and feeble at the plate.
Not awful, but nowhere near his stellar 2009 (.306, 35 HR, 111 RBI) or his career-best year of 2005 (.335 46 HR, 107 RBI.)
So what does the future hold for Derrek?
Hard to say.
He is now 35 and nagging injuries don't mix with future success.
Can Lee prove that he still has one last solid season left in him?
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