2011 MLB All-Disappointment Team by Position
With Baseball's 2011 campaign almost one-third of the way through, I decided to compile a list of the biggest disappointments this season, thus far.
From players who signed huge contracts in the off season to players who have seemingly lost everything they once had that made them great, here is my All-Disappointment team by position.
* This list excludes players who have spent any significant time on The Disabled List.
Catcher/DH: Jorge Posada
1 of 10
Season Stats
.169 Batting Average
6 home runs, 16 runs batted in
13 runs scored
We all knew that Jorge could not hit forever, but I certainly didn't expect such an abrupt halt in production.
He has been upstaged the entire season by his supposed "backup" Russel Martin. Jorge is pressing hard and simply not getting it done.
With stud catching prospect Jesus Montero waiting in the wings, I suspect that Jorge's playing time may decrease even more when August rolls around. Joe Girardi and the Yankees have some tough decisions to make.
First Base: Adam Dunn
2 of 10
Season Stats
.180 Batting Average
5 home runs, 23 runs batted in
.326 Slugging Percentage
71 strikeouts
Although more of a DH than a First Basemen, Adam Dunn has struggled mightily this season after signing a 4 year, $56 million contract with the White Sox.
Dunn has never been one to hit for a high average, but usually he makes up for it with his power.
He is on pace for around 200 strikeouts and fewer than 20 home runs. If Dunn cannot hit for power, then he has little to offer any Major League team.
Second Base: Dan Uggla
3 of 10
Season Stats
.175 Batting Average
7 home runs, 16 runs batted in
.241 on base percentage
Dan Uggla, much like Dunn, seems to be pressing too hard after switching teams in the off season. Also, like Dunn, was signed to a large contract (5 years, $62 million) before the start of the 2011 season.
Uggla has been a thorn in the side of Atlanta's offense. He has always been a classically slow started offensively, but to this point in the season he has shown no signs of life at the plate.
Uggla has been moved down to seventh in the Atlanta batting order.
.png?w=256)
Third Base: Chone Figgins
4 of 10
Season Stats
.191 Batting Average
.232 on base percentage
7 stolen bases, 5 caught stealing
18 runs scored
If you thought that Chone Figgins was bad in Seattle last year, then try sitting through an at-bat of his this season and see what you think of his encore performance. His days in Seattle are numbered, and clearly he deserves to be released or benched.
Figgins has been nothing but a disappointment for Seattle ever since they signed him to a large contract two seasons ago. Seattle is in the hunt for the AL West division lead, but it strictly the result of great starting pitching.
Chone Figgins and the rest of their offense has been hampering their success all season.
Shortstop: Hanley Ramirez
5 of 10
Season Stats
.210 batting average
4 home runs, 17 runs batted in, 6 doubles
.615 OPS
30 runs scored
While Hanley's numbers don't appear to be as poor as some of the others players on the list, he has perhaps been the biggest disappointment this season.
The Marlins have found production from other players like Mike Stanton and Chris Coghlan, but imagine where they might be if Ramirez was playing up to his full potential.
This is a man who many consider to perennial MVP candidate and one of the best players in baseball.
This season he is simply not producing. His six doubles are a telling stat when you think of three seasons ago when he hit almost 50.
Outfield: Carl Crawford
6 of 10
Season Stats
.235 batting average
4 home runs, 17 runs batted in, 26 runs scored
7 stolen bases, caught stealing 4 times
.268 on base percentage, .362 slugging percentage
You had to know Carl Crawford would find his way on this list, at some point or another. Where to begin?
Crawford, like Dunn and Uggla, switched teams in the off season and signed an enormous (seven years, $142 million to be exact) and has definitely struggled to live up to the hype.
While Boston fans are not known for their patience, Crawford has been wretched this season and deserves most of the slander. He has, however, come on as of late and his average is now in the .200's, after spending most the season below the Mendoza line.
In addition to his hitting woes, he also seems to have forgotten how fast he is. He is on pace for, around, 20 stolen bases. That is more than half of his career average for stolen bases per year, which is 47.
Of all the players on the list, I think Carl Crawford will be the one most likely to resurrect his season and become a major contributor to his The Red Sox.
Outfield: Alex Rios
7 of 10
Season Stats
.201 batting average
4 home runs, 13 runs batted it
.253 on base percentage, .306 slugging percentage
4 stolen bases
Alex Rios is a guy you might not have considered to be a disappointment. He tends to slip under the radar playing next to the talented Carlos Quinton.
Before this season Rios appeared to have emerged from the shadows and proved himself to be a very solid contributor for the White Sox. This season he has done little offensively to help his team.
Though not as bad as Adam Dunn, Rios is barely batting .200 this season and his lack of production at the plate has plagued the White Sox this season. In addition to pitiful hitting, he's not getting on base and has drawn only 14 walks all season.
If he continues to struggle than the White Sox may consider benching him.
Outfield: Nick Markakis
8 of 10
Season Stats
.244 batting average
4 home runs, 17 runs batted in, 4 doubles
.311 on base percentage, .318 slugging percentage
4 stolen bases
Nick Markakis' numbers don't look too terrible compared to others on the list. His batting average isn't good by any standards, but compared to Alex Rios or Dan Uggla's it looks quite respectable.
Markakis, over the past few season, was quietly becoming one of baseball's rising stars. This season he has not been able to match his previous success.
When Kanye West wrote "Power," he certainly did not have Nick Markakis in mind. In his career he has averaged 35 doubles per season and 75 runs batted in; this season he is on pace for 12 doubles and around 50 runs batted in.
Starting Pitcher: John Danks
9 of 10
Season Stats
0-8 record
5.25 ERA
.293 batting average against
46 strikeouts in 70 innings pitched
My third White Sox on the list, to be entirely honest I don't like the Sox, but this might have been the easiest pick on the list.
John Danks has still not won a game this season, and has an ERA well over 5. Though never anywhere near a superstar, Danks had established himself as solid starter over the past few season and his success was directly linked to the White Sox' success as an overall pitching staff.
He has struggled with locating his pitches and has given up 11 home runs, thus far. Opponents are hitting nearly .300 off of him. I'm not sure how much longer the Sox will stick with him as a starter.
Reliever- Joakim Soria
10 of 10
Season Stats
3-3 record
6.00 ERA
7 saves, 5 blown saves
removed from Closers Role
If you would have asked me who I thought the best Closer was in baseball at the beginning of the year I would have probably told you Joakim Soria. I guess I was dead wrong.
He has struggled so much this season that Kansas City has opted to move him from the closers role in favor of Aaron Crow.
Soria was for many years the bright spot in the very grim world of Kansas City baseball, but now that his team has found minor success his talents are nowhere to be found.
Obviously, he is locating his pitches poorly and making bad pitch decisions, but as is the case with many closers, I believe that his biggest problem is his mental makeup.
He has lost confidence and as a closer, that just won't cut it.
.png?w=480)
.jpg?w=600 "Colts Release Kenny Moore")
