Derek Jeter and Every MLB Team's Most Disappointing Offensive Player so Far
With two months of the 2011 MLB season in the books, there have been many compelling stories. Teams like the Cleveland Indians have come out of nowhere and find themselves atop the division, while in the very same division the Minnesota Twins find themselves with baseball's worst record.
Every team has a player or two that isn't doing what is expected of them, and even though baseball is a team sport, these players will need to improve in order to keep from costing games down the stretch.
The season is still young and many of these players will certainly improve on their current statistics by season's end, but to this point they have failed to live up to the expectations that they set for themselves heading into the season.
Oakland Athletics: Mark Ellis
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After finishing the 2010 season with a .291 batting average (his highest since batting .316 in 2005), expectations were high for Mark Ellis heading into 2011.
He hasn't yet lived up to the billing this season. After 54 games, Ellis is batting only .216 and has an on-base percentage more than 100 points lower than last season.
To make matters worse, he's on pace to walk less and strike out more than his 2010 campaign.
Seattle Mariners: Chone Figgins
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Chone Figgins has certainly failed to live up to expectations set before him when he signed with the Seattle Mariners before the 2010 season.
After posting a .291 career batting average and .363 on-base percentage with the Angels, he signed with the Mariners in hopes of continuing down that path.
After a disappointing 2010 season in which he went for .259 and .340, things have fallen off even more in 2011 as he is currently batting .190 and is getting on base at a percentage more than 100 points worse than last season.
L.A. Angels: Vernon Wells
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Even though it's still early and there is plenty of time for a positive return, the Angels organization may have a case of buyer's remorse on their hands as they wonder whether or not their acquisition of Vernon Wells was worth it.
After going deep 31 times and batting at a .273 clip in 2010, Wells has only four home runs so far this year and is batting 90 points lower than last season.
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Texas Rangers: Yorvit Torrealba
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The Texas Rangers haven't gotten all that they bargained for in bringing in Yorvit Torrealba to make another run at a World Series.
After batting 16 points above his career average with the San Diego Padres in 2010 (.271), he's hovering below .220 this season and has seen his productivity in terms of getting on base and driving in runs decrease significantly.
Minnesota Twins: Joe Mauer
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With multiple batting titles and a career .326 average to his name, you'd have to think that any time Joe Mauer takes the field he'd be a threat to produce on offense.
Unfortunately for the Twins, Mauer hasn't been on the field much in 2011. Playing in the first season of his lucrative seven-year, $184 million contract, Mauer has just taken the field in just nine games and has made only 38 plate appearances.
Kansas City Royals: Alcides Escobar
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In his first three seasons with the Milwaukee Brewers, Alcides Escobar batted .250 with a .298 on-base percentage and .634 OPS.
Since moving to the Kansas City Royals before the start of this season, Escobar has seen his productivity decline. Versus last year's numbers, his batting average has dropped 36 points, his slugging percentage has dropped 73 points and his OPS has taken a 109-point hit.
Chicago White Sox: Adam Dunn
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White Sox General Manager Kenny Williams made it clear that the signing of slugger Adam Dunn to a four-year, $56 million contract was a display of the team's intent to gun for an AL Central crown and possible World Series berth.
The White Sox aren't out of the division race, but Dunn hasn't exactly contributed to this point. In 49 games, Dunn is batting .185 and has gone yard only five times, far off the 2010 pace that led to 38 home runs and 103 RBI.
Detroit Tigers: Ryan Raburn
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After finishing the last two seasons with an OPS over .800, Ryan Raburn is currently a far cry from that number with an OPS of .563.
In 45 games Raburn has only 12 extra-base hits and is batting just under .200, 67 points lower than his career average.
Cleveland Indians: Shin-Soo Choo
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The Cleveland Indians have no doubt been one of the biggest surprises in baseball so far this season.
While many different players have stepped up to contribute to their success, Shin-Soo Choo hasn't exactly lived up to his reputation.
Batting under .250 this season, he's on pace to strike out near his career high and has only gone deep five times.
Baltimore Orioles: Derrek Lee
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The Baltimore Orioles brought in two big names in signing Vladamir Guerrero and Derrek Lee this past offseason. The signing of the two sluggers could certainly have vaulted the O's into a more respectable standing in the stacked AL East.
Not everyone has lived up to their billing, though. Derrek Lee is currently batting 50 points below his career average and has seen his strikeout numbers increase this season, while his power numbers appear to be on the decline.
Toronto Blue Jays: Travis Snider
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On a team with an offensive prowess such as the Toronto Blue Jays, it's easy to look like a subpar performer.
Travis Snider showed signs of true potential in his first few seasons with the team, as he has batted nearly .250 with an OPS around .750 in his time with the Jays.
This season has hurt those numbers. Snider is batting .184 right now and only has one home run to his name, a far cry from the 15-round trippers he took in 2010.
Tampa Bay Rays: Reid Brignac
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After a breakout season in 2010, Reid Brignac has shown signs that he may not be ready for his role.
He's currently slugging nearly 200 points lower than last season with an OPS 300 points lower. After batting nearly .260 last season, he is currently sitting south of .175.
Boston Red Sox: Carl Crawford
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The Boston Red Sox made one of the biggest free-agent acquisitions of this past offseason by signing Carl Crawford in an attempt to make it back to postseason action.
The Red Sox have overcome a slow start and currently sit only two games back of the Yankees in the division.
While Crawford appears to have stepped up his game a bit, he's still not playing like most fans would've expected. With offensive numbers down across the board compared to his career averages, Crawford will need to step his game up to regain the All-Star form that he showed for so many seasons in Tampa Bay.
New York Yankees: Derek Jeter
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Derek Jeter is undoubtedly one of the best to ever put on the pinstripes. For so many seasons, he led the Yankees to the postseason and time after time thrived when they needed him the most.
After seeing his offensive numbers decline in 2010, many wondered whether or not the Yankees would pay the premium it would cost to retain his services.
They did extend him for another three years, and at $17 million per season they're paying a great deal for the amount of productivity he's putting out. His numbers haven't declined significantly from last season (.264 BA, 16 RBI), but his age may be showing as his extra-base hits have taken a turn for the worse.
San Diego Padres: Jorge Cantu
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Jorge Cantu has had a solid eight-year career in baseball. With a .271 average and .757 OPS he's been a solid contributor to the numerous teams he's been a part of.
Batting under .200 this season, he appears to be having trouble adjusting to his role with the Padres. His strikeouts do appear to be down slightly, but he's also walking less.
L.A. Dodgers: Juan Uribe
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After spending two productive seasons in San Francisco, Juan Uribe moved down the California coast this past offseason to join the L.A. Dodgers.
Despite off-the-field issues surrounding the franchise, the Dodgers as a whole have been hitting the ball well. Uribe, however, has had his share of struggles early on.
Through 41 games Uribe is batting only .220 and has only 10 extra-base hits. He'll need a serious spike in productivity if he plans on coming near the 85 runs he batted in last season.
Colorado Rockies: Jose Lopez
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Batting just .208 in 38 games with the Rockies this season, Jose Lopez has clearly struggled early on in 2011.
The Rockies have clearly lost patience in Lopez as they designated him for assignment late last week while calling up Eric Young Jr.
San Francisco Giants: Miguel Tejada
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The Giants brought in one of the best infielders in recent years with the acquisition of Miguel Tejada this past offseason.
With a career average of .286 and .336 on-base percentage, his ability to run the base paths would come in handy as the Giants look to continue their NL West success.
Batting only .217 in 50 games this season, Tejada has some work ahead of him as he looks to regain his form.
Arizona Diamondbacks: Kelly Johnson
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Kelly Johnson enjoyed his most successful season as a big leaguer in 2010 as he batted .284 with an .865 OPS with the Diamondbacks.
His solid effort earned him a one-year, $5.85 million deal for 2011. He's driving in runs at a solid clip this season as he has 26 RBI and has gone deep 10 times, but his batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage and OPS have all gone south from his 2010 numbers.
Houston Astros: Chris Johnson
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As the Astros sit in the cellar of the NL Central, they have to wonder what it will take to turn things around.
It may start with improved play from Chris Johnson. After an impressive rookie campaign in 2010 in which he batted .308, he's experiencing a bit of a sophomore slump in 2011 with a much lower .216. In addition, he's on pace to strike out many more times than the 91 K's he tallied last year.
Chicago Cubs: Carlos Pena
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The Chicago Cubs were hoping that Carlos Pena would be a contributing factor to their success in 2011 when they signed him to a one-year, $10 million contract.
His average is slightly higher than the sub-.200 average that he posted in 2010, but his power numbers aren't there just yet as he appears poised to come up well short of the 28 home runs and 84 RBIs compiled last season.
Pittsburgh Pirates: Garrett Jones
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After driving in 86 runs and going deep 21 times in 2010, the fans in Pittsburgh were probably anticipating more of the same as 2011 rolled around.
Jones' on-base percentage has improved over last season, but his batting average has dipped down to .222 and after 46 games Jones has only gone yard six times.
Cincinnati Reds: Jonny Gomes
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With so many talented offensive players on their roster, a shortcoming is bound to be magnified when it appears.
Jonny Gomes is performing well below his career averages this season, as he currently boasts a batting average below .200. He's also on pace to fall well below the standard of 136 hits he set for himself in 2010.
Milwaukee Brewers: Yuniesky Betancourt
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Currently playing in the final year of a four-year, $13.75 million contract you'd think that Yuniesky Betancourt would have additional motivation to perform up to his standards to ensure a proper extension for his services.
After 52 games he isn't swaying too many critics in his direction. His average currently sits at .220 and he's on pace to fall short in on-base, slugging and OPS as well.
St. Louis Cardinals: Albert Pujols
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When you're as good as Albert Pujols is, nine home runs and a .267 batting average through 56 games are a disappointment.
Pujols' OPS currently sits nearly 300 points below his career average and he's on pace to finish with the lowest home run total of his 11-year career.
Washington Nationals: Adam LaRoche
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The Washington Nationals made a few high-buck moves this past offseason. One of those moves was the two-year, $16 million contract that the team gave to Adam LaRoche.
LaRoche came into the season boasting a .478 slugging percentage and a .815 OPS. Each of those statistics are more than 200 points lower this season as LaRoche adjusts to his role with the Nationals.
New York Mets: David Wright
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In eight seasons with the Mets, David Wright has been the model of consistency. His career average is a shade over .300 and he has five times hit more than 25 home runs.
This season Wright has struggled to a .226 average and appears poised to compile his lowest hit total since his rookie season.
Atlanta Braves: Dan Uggla
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After a successful first five big league seasons with the Marlins, Dan Uggla packed his bags and signed a lucrative contract with the Atlanta Braves.
Averaging better than 30 home runs per season and a .263 average in Florida, Uggla has only gone deep seven times this season and is batting only .178.
Florida Marlins: Hanley Ramirez
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After a very successful first few seasons with the Marlins, Hanley Ramirez's statistics are for the first time taking a noticeable hit.
Ramirez is batting nearly 100 points below his career average, and despite being known in part for his power he has only managed to put the ball over the fence four times.
His walk numbers appear to be increasing beyond his average, but the strikeouts don't appear to be decreasing in the interim.
Philadelphia Phillies: Jimmy Rollins
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When you look at batting average and on-base percentage, it wouldn't appear that Rollins has declined much. His walk numbers appear to be on the upswing, and with it his on-base percentage has improved over 2010.
What is worth noting however is the fact that it's only taken him 54 games to approach the number of times he went down swinging in 88 games last season.
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