Fantasy Baseball 2012: Albert Pujols Headlines the 'All-Disappointment Team'

The following slideshow touts Fantasyland's early season "All-Disappointment Team," a 15-player listing that details the struggles of some of baseball's most prominent hitters and pitchers through May 21.

To clarify, this list is not some prophecy of more doomsday stats from June to September, nor is it a full endorsement to trade certain players after seven weeks of middling production. Please have some perspective before invoking any knee-jerk trade discussions.

The only intentional omission: Toronto's Jose Bautista (11 HR, 26 RBI, 26 runs, three steals) is a disappointment in batting average only (.212). His peripheral numbers indicate he's a lock for 30 homers and 100 RBI by season's end.

Enjoy the show!

Note: All stats through May 21

Catcher: Geovany Soto, Chicago Cubs

2012 Stats: .161 BA, 3 HR, 6 RBI, 11 R 

A handful of backstops have fallen short of expectations in multiple categories this season (Mike Napoli, Joe Mauer, Alex Avila, Kurt Suzuki), but Soto has been the biggest across-the-board disappointment—a status that won't change for another three to four weeks (currently on the disabled list with a knee injury).

This pick comes with some empathy. It must be tough for Soto to function every preseason knowing that delusional real-world and fantasy owners are expecting a statistical repeat of his breakout 2008 season—.285 BA, 23 HR, 86 RBI, 66 R. 

The most damning part of Soto's current numbers? The six RBI, generously extrapolated to 34 by season's end, simply won't cut it in fantasy.

Adding insult to injury, Soto's struggles have opened the door wide open for Cubs prospect Welington Castillo.

First Base: Albert Pujols, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

2012 Stats: .212 BA, 3 HR, 18 RBI, 14 R, 1 SB

I tried to find some way—any way—to rationalize Pujols out of this ignominious spot among first baseman, but the numbers were simply too overwhelming.

Aside from below-average production in homers, RBI, runs and batting, Pujols has drawn only 10 walks to date, a clear sign that pitchers aren't living in fear of his previous 11 seasons of hitting dominance (the .256 on-base percentage confirms that.)

Collectively speaking, the Angels are also doing a lousy job bringing Pujols home on the 25.6 percent chance he gets on base. That can happen when a Hall of Fame slugger and light-hitting club struggle to be relevant in the first two months of the season. 

Second Base: Rickie Weeks, Milwaukee Brewers

2012 Stats: .158 BA, 4 HR, 9 RBI, 14 R, 2 SB

We could have gone with any Weeks family member to satisfy this slot.

Oakland's Jemile Weeks (2 HR, 5 RBI, 18 runs, 10 steals, .199 batting) has been sluggish out of the gate, much to the chagrin of fantasy owners everywhere.

But his brother, Rickie, has been the least flattering second baseman of the season—with sub-.300 rates in on-base percentage (.286) and slugging (.284) and unacceptable marks in batting and runs scored.

Yes, the loss of Prince Fielder from the Brewers lineup has adversely affected Weeks' fantasy status. But he is still too athletic and too supremely gifted to be batting .155 and posting a 24/54 walk-to-strikeout ratio.

Shortstop: Troy Tulowitzki, Colorado Rockies

2012 Stats: .262 BA, 5 HR, 18 RBI, 24 R, 1 SB

In the broader analysis, Jose Reyes (.252 batting, 20 runs) and Alexei Ramirez (one HR, 11 runs, .207 batting) have been greater disappointments this season.

But neither Reyes nor Ramirez were universally tabbed as elite prospects from Round 1 of roto drafts.

Neither were identified as true difference-makers among shortstops during the preseason, and Reyes and Ramirez aren't expected to carry fantasy teams on their backs sometime before October.

Within that context, Tulowitzki warrants the spot in this countdown.

The bad news: Tulowitizki is off the pace of his seasonal projections from spring training (31 HR, 95 RBI, nine steals, .303 batting).

The good news: His numbers to date may be deflating, but it's nothing a month's worth of unconscious production couldn't solve.

And that's his trademark.

Third Base: Aramis Ramirez, Milwaukee Brewers

2012 Stats: .219 BA, 2 HR, 16 RBI, 17 R, 2 SB

The only thing that saved Boston's Kevin Youkilis from claiming this spot was injury, as it's hard to characterize a player with only 18 games and 64 at-bats as a major disappointment—.219 batting average and poor homer output (two) aside.

As a result, Ramirez gets the dubious honor, even though he ranks second in doubles among third basemen (12) and is hitting at a respectable .255 clip since April 23.

Rankings like this must consider the totality of a season, and Ramirez—coming off a monster 2011—has largely been an underwhelming fantasy performer.

Even Ramirez's sub-.300 OBP and mediocre 16/25 walks-to-strikeouts ratio are out of character.

Utility Spot: Eric Hosmer, Kansas City Royals

2012 Stats: .174 BA, 5 HR, 20 RBI, 16 R, 1 SB 

Hosmer actually has more homers and steals than Red Sox first baseman Adrian Gonzalez, but the Kansas City kid's overall numbers are simply too wretched to ignore.

An on-base percentage below .250. A .316 slugging percentage. A lowly five doubles.

No matter the perspective (aside from a respectable walks-to-strikeouts rate), Hosmer serves as a cautionary tale in fantasy, a harsh reminder that not all hotshot rookies (Hosmer had 19 HR and 78 RBI in 2011) are locks to dominate in year two.

But all is not lost here. For starters, the Royals have no choice but to keep plying Hosmer with at-bats and regular playing time at first base, on the hope that he will rebound for the next four months and become a true fantasy force for the next 10-12 years.

It's been said here many times: The Royals, pitching problems aside, are slowly developing the pieces of a perennial playoff contender, and Hosmer is a major component of that rebuilding.

The day will come when he's an annual lock for 30 homers. So why not make a play for him now on the depressed-value trade market?

Utility Spot: Ike Davis, New York Mets

2012 Stats: .161 BA, 5 HR, 15 RBI, 12 R

Was it really just two months ago when I took heat from Mets fans for ranking Atlanta's Freddie Freeman well ahead of Davis in the scope of first basemen?

How sketchy has Davis been this season? From a seasonal, 15-day and 30-day perspective, Davis has a sub-.200 batting average in all three phases, and his .218 on-base percentage is barely more tolerable than his sub-.300 slugging rate.

Put it all together, and Davis' road to respectability—assuming he doesn't get demoted to the minors—will be a long one. But here's the thing: We're still talking about a young, power-driven asset who had a .925 OPS in 36 games last year.

Davis has the physical tools to be a sustainable fantasy fixture. He just needs more time to dig out of a curiously deep two-month hole.

Outfield: Alex Gordon, Kansas City Royals

2012 Stats: .238 BA, 4 HR, 18 RBI, 22 R, 1 SB

It wasn't easy to identify a big-name, high-round outfielder who's been struggling mightily this season.

Yes, Justin Upton, Shin-Soo Choo, Drew Stubbs, Jose Bautista and Cameron Maybin have been shaky at times, but they're also pulling their weight in homers and/or steals—the two most vital hitting categories in fantasy.

As a result, Gordon (.190 batting average with zero homers since May 7) draws the short straw here.

Bottom line: Gordon may be an April-May disappointment, but there's no reason to be alarmed for the long haul. He currently leads the Royals in runs, and his .328 OBP is right in line with his teammates' sneaky-good penchant for getting on base.

Outfield: Ryan Raburn, Detroit Tigers

2012 Stats: .144 BA, 1 HR, 6 RBI, 7 R, 1 SB

Raburn's dual-position eligibility (2B/OF) may have been fool's gold for fantasy owners.

Before Opening Day, that infield-outfield versatility was just cause for drafting him ahead of Astros second baseman Jose Altuve (.310 batting, nine steals) and/or A's outfielder Josh Reddick (11 HR, 24 RBI, 28 runs, five steals, .871 OPS).

But now, on the heels of a prolonged meltdown at the plate, Raburn (sub-.220 in OBP and slugging) carries no more weight than eminently replaceable hitters like Mark Reynolds, Josh Donaldson and Jack Hannahan. Ouch!

Outfield: J.D. Martinez, Houston Astros

2012 Stats: .216 BA, 3 HR, 21 RBI, 11 R

Before the March drafts, Martinez was a sneaky-good commodity in the outfield, the supposed breakout performer of an Astros club that was slowly producing fantasy talent.

On April 21, Martinez was hitting at a .340 clip with three homers and 13 RBI.

But since then, Martinez (.158 batting average with zero homers) cannot find a ray of sunshine in a month-long hitting funk that has essentially vanquished his preseason fantasy cachet.

As a result, many owners have quickly dropped Martinez, thinking he will be hitting under .200 from this point forward. 

I wouldn't wish a .158 meltdown on anyone, but there is a positive to derive from it: Martinez, who flashed 18-homer, 90-RBI, 100-run, .340-batting potential in the minors just two seasons ago is one of the best rock-bottom assets you will find in the marketplace.

Starting Pitcher: Ubaldo Jimenez, Cleveland Indians

2012 Stats: 4-3, 5.09 ERA, 1.70 WHIP, 28/32 K-BB

As bad omens go, I should have recognized Jimenez's potential for failure after he beaned ex-Rockies teammate Troy Tulowitzki during spring training, just days before the Indians' season opener. 

At the very least, I should have entertained the notion that Jimenez's unseemly numbers after getting traded to Cleveland last July (4-4, 5.10 ERA, 1.45 WHIP) could be repeated in his first full season with the Tribe.

And curiously enough, that's exactly where we stand with Jimenez, the one-time golden arm with Colorado who resembles nothing of a top-30 starting pitcher. 

In eight starts this season, Jimenez has yet to post a single quality fantasy outing (7 innings/6 or more strikeouts/2 or less walks/2 or less runs allowed). That's a disturbing trend.

It's almost a valid reason to dump him altogether in 12-team leagues.

Starting Pitcher: Adam Wainwright, St. Louis Cardinals

2012 Stats: 2-5, 5.77 ERA, 1.53 WHIP, 40/16 K-BB

It pains me that Wainwright qualifies for this countdown.

Just 15 months removed from Tommy John surgery (elbow), should he have been granted a full year of non-judgment before making fantasy assumptions about his long-term viability?

The cold response is this: If Wainwright can post a 40/16 K-BB ratio in his first season back from injury, then he also has the capacity to produce better ERA and WHIP totals. So, his current numbers are both unexpected and unacceptable.

During spring training, Wainwright was universally hailed as a top-30 pitching asset, so I don't feel too badly for attaching a 20s ranking then. Hopefully, Wainwright will show vast improvement over the next four months.

Since April 23, Wainwright has two wins and a 3.90 ERA. That's a start. 

Starting Pitcher: Tim Lincecum, San Francisco Giants

2012 Stats: 2-4, 6.04 ERA, 1.59 WHIP, 53/25 K-BB

There was a time in the not-too-distant past when Lincecum was deemed "unhittable" in fantasy circles.

There was also a time when he was a no-brainer lock for 200 strikeouts every season.

But now, it's time to face the sobering reality that Lincecum, for reasons still unknown, might not pitch his way out of this mini-tailspin.

By my count, he's 0-for-9 in quality fantasy starts for 2012. That's a galling assessment of a top-10 asset from the preseason.

It's also the impetus for exploring trade talks with pitching-needy owners in your league on the hope they will buy Lincecum on name-brand value—and not for his actual production on the mound.

Starting Pitcher: Yovani Gallardo, Milwaukee Brewers

2012 Stats: 2-4, 4.62 ERA, 1.46 WHIP, 48/25 K-BB

The last spot for starting pitchers could have easily gone to Dan Haren (1-5, 4.37 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 45/14 K-BB), Ian Kennedy (3-4, 4.47 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, 45/14 K-BB), Justin Masterson (1-4, 5.04 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, 38/29 K-BB) or Francisco Liriano (0-5, 8.31 ERA, 2.04 WHIP, 25/23 K/BB). 

But Kennedy and Haren have some redeeming value within their sluggish seasons, and Liriano and Masterson weren't top-40 assets heading into April.

In fact, it's very likely that Liriano went undrafted in most 12-team leagues. He was hardly a risky venture.

That leaves Gallardo for consideration. But if he has surrendered only one homer since April 7, or allowed three or fewer runs in seven of nine outings, then why is he part of this countdown?

It's a nit-picky critique, but Gallardo has had five outings of less than a 2-to-1 K/BB ratio—the acceptable minimum for fantasy pitching stalwarts. He's been tagged for 14 runs by the Cardinals in two games. He has also failed to go more than seven innings in an outing all season.

Milwaukee may have a sweet reliever setup of Francisco Rodriguez and John Axford, but how about one complete game from Gallardo? Or at least one where he makes it to the ninth inning?

Closer: Heath Bell, Miami Marlins

2012 Stats: 2-3, 7.63 ERA, 2.02 WHIP, 6 SV

It's hard to be hyper-critical of closers after seven weeks of play.

If a closer has a 4.50 ERA or 1.65 WHIP, I can live with it—as long as they're racking up saves.

If they look horrible in non-save situations from time to time, so be it. In the grand scheme, the outing essentially meant nothing anyway.

But if they're blowing 40 percent of their save opportunities, while posting a 7.63 ERA and sky-high WHIP, then I have no choice but to overreact here.

Yes, Bell recently wrested the closing duties back from Marlins reliever Steve Cishek. And yes, he has three saves, a 2.70 ERA and 0.90 WHIP since May 7.

But he's still a no-brainer pick for this list—with the chance to leave it when the next countdown comes around.