MLB Playoffs: 7 Most Embarrassing Individual Performers in Postseason History

Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

Every baseball fan has had "The Dream." You know, it's Game 7 of the World Series and there are two outs in the bottom of the ninth? The bases are juiced and your team's up or down by a run, depending on whether you wanted to toe the rubber for the save or get the game-winning hit.

Well this list is comprised of the seven players you'd least want to see step up to the plate or take the mound in that scenario—unless, of course, you are rooting against them.

Each player on this list has had at least a fair amount of success during his career, yet he has never been able to put it together in the postseason. 

Here are "The 7 Most Embarrassing Individual Performances in Postseason History."

7. Pat Burrell

Tony Medina/Getty Images

Appearances: Three

Key Stats: 31 G, .186 BA, .307 OBP, 5 HR, 13 RBI, 38 K

Pat Burrell has been a part of two World Series championship teams—with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2008 and the San Francisco Giants in 2010. He helped neither team achieve their status as champions.

In fact, in 34 at bats during the World Series, Burrell accounted for just one hit and 15 strikeouts. 

Maybe he brings good luck to his team, but I'll bet he's just as lucky while sitting on the bench.

6. Jason Kubel

Ed Zurga/Getty Images

Appearances: Three

Key Stats: 8 G, .069 BA, .156 OBP, .103 SLG, .260 OPS

This may be a small sample size seeing as the Minnesota Twins have lost in the ALDS each time Jason Kubel suited up for them in the postseason. Looking at Kubel's stats, it's not hard to see why.

Kubel has two hits in 29 postseason at bats, one of which was a double.

There's not much else I can say here aside from "buyers beware" come November.

5. Vladimir Guerrero

Jorge Lemus/Getty Images

Appearances: Six

Key Stats: 44 G, .263 BA, .664 OPS, 2 HR, 20 RBI

Vladimir Guerrero has been fairly consistent at hitting for average and for power over his 16-year career in Major League Baseball, but that all ends once October comes.

His batting average drops from .318 to .263, and even more staggering, his OPS drops from a shining .931 to a woeful .664.

He completely bottomed out during the 2011 World Series, going one for 14 as his Texas Rangers lost to the San Francisco Giants.

4. Reggie Sanders

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

Appearances: Six

Key Stats: 64 G, .195 BA, .283 OBP, .609 OPS, 7 HR, 25 RBI

Reggie Sanders bounced around to eight different ball clubs over his 17-year career and, unfortunately for four of the teams, he went to the playoffs with them.

Sanders was generally pretty good at getting on base during the regular season, but his .343 clip dropped to .283 in the playoffs. 

He enjoyed success in three out of the 14 playoff series in which he participated, winning a World Series with the Diamondbacks (2001) while losing in the Fall Classic with the Giants (2002) and Cardinals (2004).

3. Tim Wakefield

Nick Laham/Getty Images

Appearances: Nine

Key Stats: 18 G, 72 IP, 6.75 ERA, 1.472 WHIP, 1.6 HR/9

Tim Wakefield started out his postseason career with a bang, going 2-0 with two complete games for the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 1992 NLCS. He has fallen flat on his face ever since.

In six out of 10 total postseason series' since 1992, Wakefield has ERA's of at least 11.81. His HR/9 also jumps from 1.2 to 1.6 during the playoffs, most which have come at the worst possible time (Aaron Boone, anyone?).

2. Alfonso Soriano

Denis Poroy/Getty Images

Appearances: Five

Key Stats: 44 G, .213 BA, .263 OBP, .299 SLG, 4 HR, 18 RBI

While I can't go as far as to say Alfonso Soriano should be blamed for the Yankees losing both the 2001 and 2003 World Series' I can say with a surety that he in no way helped their cause.

Soriano went 11 for 49 during his two World Series appearances with the Yankees before his stellar encore with the Cubs, where in two trips to the playoffs he went three for 29 at the plate.

1. Mark Teixeira

Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

Appearances: Four

Key Stats: 29 G, .202 BA, .316 SLG, 3 HR, 12 RBI

Mark Teixeira is arguably the streakiest player in Major League Baseball these days, though he went against the grain with a solid April this past season.

Once October comes, however, Teixeira is as cold as a Wisconsin winter—as his K/BB ratio balloons from 1.50 to 2.00 while his slugging percentage drops from .532 to .316.

Whether it's because he's facing better pitching in the postseason or because he buckles under the big-game pressure, Teixeira is a far cry from his normal self in the postseason.

 

Jeffrey Beckmann is a MLB Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report. Follow Jeffrey on his new Twitter account for all of his latest work. You can also hear him each week on B/R Baseball Roundtable.