10 MLB Players Who Get Booed by Their Home Fans the Most

The fans are probably the most important part of baseball and all sports. These fanatics sometimes use their life savings just to attend games.

They cancel a date, play hookey or abandon friends. Anything just to smell and breathe the same air as the ball players and wolf down a hot dog and beer at the stadium.

With all of the sacrifices avid fans make, they want their money’s worth. Some choose to cheer and others look to catch a foul ball. The angry types take out their frustrations with a losing team by screaming at a hated player.

A lot of factors are considered in booing a home-field player, but money and performance are probably the most important. A player can instantly become the most hated member of his team by making an inappropriate comment.

Here is a list of the most heckled players in baseball.

Honorable Mentions: Alex Rios, Alfonso Soriano

10. Brad Lidge, Philadelphia Phillies, Reliever, Salary 12 million dollars

Everyone knows the famous homerun Lidge gave up to Albert Pujols in the 2005 NLCS.

Since then, he has never been the same. With injuries and a horrible persona, Lidge is not a player Philly fans want to see close games.

9. Hanley Ramirez, Florida Marlins, Shortstop, Salary 11 Million Dollars

Witnessing Ramirez hustle for a hit is something you will see once in your lifetime. His laziness on the field is what Marlin fans have grown to hate about him.

Ramirez is one of the best shortstops in the league and will remain one for years to come, but unless he hits about .350 and starts to show he actually cares about the organization he plays for, he won’t be liked.

8. A.J. Burnett, New York Yankees, Starting Pitcher, Salary 16.5 Million Dollars

Burnett was supposed to help the Yankees who are constantly struggling to find decent starting pitchers. If anything, Burnett made has made the team’s pitching problems worse.

Since joining the Yankees in 2009, Burnett has gone 31-33, not a good record for any Yankee pitcher.

7. Vernon Wells, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Right Field, Salary 26.6 Million

Wells was a very good player for the Toronto Blue Jays in his 12 years with the team.

His veteran leadership, fielding and batting were expected to help the Angels go head-to-head with the Rangers this year. Well, the Angels are right in the thick of things with the Rangers, but it is no thanks to Wells.

This year, he is batting .204 and only has 74 hits in 92 games.

6. Rich Harden, Oakland Athletics, Starting Pitcher, Salary 1.5 Million Dollars

Rich Harden was supposed to be the next big thing. His stuff was there, but like Kerry Wood and Mark Prior, injuries got the best of him.

He is constantly on watch, and managers usually keep him to 95 pitches or less because of the big injury fear.

When he gets rocked and pulled out of the game early, fans leap at the chance to boo him. I can’t say I blame them.

5. Adam Dunn, Chicago White Sox, First Base/DH, Salary 12 Million Dollars

Talk about huge disappointments. Dunn has been a reliable home run hitter his entire career, but making the switch from the National to the American League has made Dunn struggle immensely.

It is never good when Dunn steps up to the plate. It is usually a strikeout or fly ball out.

The unfortunate part of this is the fact that the White Sox have no one to replace Dunn because when they wanted to trade for him, no one wanted any part of him. They’re going to have to stick it out and hope Dunn miraculously gets better.

4. Carlos Zambrano, Chicago Cubs, Starting Pitcher, Salary 18.8 Million Dollars

Zambrano is one of the biggest hot heads in baseball and his teammates know it. No fan wants to see teammates fighting one another, and Zambrano has been in numerous altercations with his teammates and manager.

I’m sure Zambrano’s few supporters disappeared after he cleared out his locker threatening to retire this year.

In addition, his pitching is inconsistent. Zambrano lets his emotions get the best of him, something a pitcher, above all, should not let happen.

3. Jason Bay, New York Mets, Left Field, Salary 18.125 million dollars

From beloved to hated. It is pretty hard to like Bay because I’ve actually never heard him speak, but when he played at the beginning with the Red Sox, fans were in love.

After having great years with the Pirates and Red Sox, the Mets were hoping for similar results.

In his two seasons with the Mets, Bay has only a combined total of 15 home runs.

Like most of the Mets’ big investments, Bay has turned into a player the Mets can’t wait to get rid of.

2. Alex Rodriguez, New York Yankees, Third Base, Salary 32 Million Dollars

There is honestly nothing to like about this guy. He doesn’t respect the game or the commissioner, he took steroids and he likes to start fights with his teammates. He was accused of giving his opponents signs from his own team’s pitchers, and only plays for teams that offers the biggest wad of cash.

It is not hard to find an excuse to boo Rodriguez, and New York fans are happy to jump at any opportunity. Rodriguez is one of the greatest players of all-time, but his poor postseason performances and his attitude toward baseball has made him one of the most hated players in all of sports.

1. J.D. Drew, Boston Red Sox, Outfield, Salary 14 Million Dollars

Drew has contributed nothing to the Red Sox even though they are having a banner season.

It is never good when a player gets injured, but it turned out to be a blessing in disguise for the Red Sox. Young prospect Josh Reddick is having a better year then the overpaid Drew.

Drew has had a few good years in the league, but his main bugaboo is injuries and inconsistency.