MLB: The Worst Players of the 2011 Season

With the season quickly winding down, talk of this year's award winners is heating up. The usual names are being tossed around for all of the major awards, but why not give some recognition to some other players?

These guys definitely aren't in the running for the major awards. Heck, some of them may not be in the running for a spot on a major league roster next season.

Whether it be a product of injuries, inconsistencies or just sheer bad luck, each of these players has endured and grinded through a really tough season.

I would now like to informally acknowledge the absolute worst players of the 2011 season.

American League LVP (Least Valuable Player)

Simply put, Adam Dunn has just had an atrocious season. In 115 games in 2011, Dunn has managed a line of .167/.296/.291, easily all the lowest totals of his otherwise successful career.

This sudden decline from a perennial 40-home run hitter can't solely be attributed to the fact that he had to transition to American League pitching this year. Sure, you'd expect a small drop off, but not .100 points.

In 470 at bats, he's hit just 11 home runs and knocked in 42 runs. When the White Sox signed him prior to the season, they were expecting him to anchor the offense and provide consistent power in the middle of the order.

He has done neither.

As the season has progressed, he has even been bumped from the DH spot in favor of youngster Dayan Viciedo, who has performed pretty well in just 21 games.

Dunn is a huge reason why the White Sox fell out of the playoff race, and he better hope he's still got something left in the tank for next season. If he doesn't, he may just become the most expensive bench piece in the entire league.

Dishonorable Mention: Alex Rios, David DeJesus, Jorge Posada

American League Jose Lima Award Winner (Worst Pitcher)

The worst pitcher in the American League this season was Jeff Francis. He is currently second in the league in losses with 16 (Jeremy Guthrie has 17), and has pitched to a lack luster 4.82 ERA.

His other stats aren't very pretty either. In 183 innings of work for the Royals, he has allowed 224 hits, 19 home runs, a .301 batting average against and WHIP of 1.44.

I'm fully aware that Francis is a contact pitcher, which most likely is a good excuse for a high hits total and high BAA. But, 224 and .301 are inexcusable.

On the plus side, Francis came back successfully from injury this season and stayed healthy enough to start 31 games for Kansas City this year.

Dishonorable Mention: Jeremy Guthrie, Fausto Carmona, AJ Burnett 

American League Quadruple-A Player of the Year (Worst Rookie)

Given the decent amount of hype he received before coming over from Japan, Tsuyoshi Nishioka is the season's worst rookie performer.

He came to Minnesota with hopes of starting at one of the team's middle infield positions and, in just 68 games so far this season, he has still yet to impress.

Nishioka owns a line of .226/.278/.249 so far this season, with no home runs and 19 RBIs. He has scored just 14 runs and five out his 50 hits have gone for extra bases (all doubles). 

He has struck out 43 times while walking just 15, and he is two-for-six this season in stolen base attempts.

In a season where seemingly nothing has gone right for the Minnesota Twins, you can just chalk this one up as another failed experiment.

Dishonorable Mention: Casper Wells

American League Blow the Game Award (Worst Closer)

The Baltimore Orioles have not had a good season. All of there pitchers have been completed shelled throughout the course of the season, and Kevin Gregg is no exception.

In 60 appearances this season, 56.2 innings, Gregg has blown seven saves, allowed seven home runs and pitched to a 4.62 ERA. Oh yeah, I almost forgot; his WHIP sits at a lofty 1.69. 

Obviously, these are not numbers you want to see from your closer.

Gregg's career as a closer might just be over. Come to think of it actually, I'm not sure why it didn't end a few years ago.

Dishonorable Mention: Matt Capps

American League Aluminum Glove Award (Worst Fielder)

Thank god Mark Reynolds can hit—kind of.

Reynolds is clearly not known for his glove. He's known for his colossal home runs and his unhealthy amount of strikeouts.

He's having his typical season with the bat. Currently, he sports a .221 average with 34 home runs and 183 strikeouts.

With the glove, though, he's hit rock bottom.

In 984.1 innings in the field this season, at both third and first base, Reynolds has made 26 errors. His fielding percentage of .897 is the worst of a position player in the league.

It has not been a good year in the field for the powerful righty.

Dishonorable Mention: Elvis Andrus, Cliff Pennington

National League LVP (Least Valuable Player)

Casey McGehee had a fantastic season last year for the Brewers; a season good enough to solidify his role on this year's squad.

Unfortunately for the big third basemen, he has disappointed this year.

Aside from hitting three home runs in a game early in the season against the Cardinals, McGehee really hasn't had much to write home about.

He currently sports a .227/.284/.351 line with 13 homers and 67 RBIs. He has also struck out 103 times while walking just 45 times.

McGehee has already played in 150 games this season and, lucky for him, the Brewers are having a very good year. If they were struggling, many would have put some of the blame on McGehee for not being the run producer they believed he could be.

With the only other option being Craig Counsell, McGehee will be back next season and probably have a much better year than he had in 2011.

Dishonorable Mention: Jayson Werth, Kelly Johnson, Jason Bay

National League Jose Lima Award Winner (Worst Pitcher)

J.A. Happ, playing for a very bad Astros team, has had a very bad season himself.

Happ is currently second in the league with 15 losses (Hiroki Kuroda has 16), and has a lofty 5.48 ERA. His WHIP of 1.56 is horrific, and his six wins are one of the lowest wins totals in the league.

He has allowed 21 bombs this season and opposing batters have hit .270 against him.

Happ seemed to be a completely different pitcher this season than he was last, but the young lefty will surely turn it around. He has great stuff, great control and a power arm that will eventually turn into a middle of the rotation starter.

For now, he's pitching like nothing more than a No. 5 starter.

Dishonorable Mention: Derek Lowe, Brett Myers, Jason Hammel

National League Quadruple-A Player of the Year (Worst Rookie)

Many people joke that the Mets are a bunch of minor leaguers playing in the bigs, but at least one of them actually is. 

Jason Pridie has not been successful at all in his 93 games this season. In 187 at bats, he has four home runs, 20 RBIs and a .219 batting average. He's struck out 56 times and walked just 21. Out of his 41 hits this season, 13 have gone for extra bases.

Pridie is known more as a defensive outfielder, I suppose. In 109 total chances this year, he's made just two errors with two outfield assists.

Regardless, his bat is nowhere near major league ready, and it may never be. Pridie is a 28-year old rookie, so if it hasn't developed by now, I wouldn't count on it for next season.

Dishonorable Mention: Jordan Lyles

National League Blow the Game Award (Worst Closer)

Carlos Marmol has electric stuff. Unfortunately, he can be erratic from time to time.

Such has been the case this season. Marmol's 1.33 WHIP and 42 walks in 71.1 innings have led him to blowing nine saves in 2011.

Despite all the walks, he has been relatively dominant. Opponents hit just .208 against him, he's struck out 94 and he has converted 34 of his 43 opportunities.

Marmol is a very good closer and a valuable piece of the Cubs bullpen. He will surely bounce back next season and never look back on his inconsistent 2011.

Dishonorable Mention: Leo Nunez

National League Aluminum Glove Award (Worst Fielder)

I hate to bash McGehee like this, because he is a good ball player. Unfortunately, it's just been an all around failure for him in 2011.

Like Reynolds, he has the lowest fielding percentage amongst position players at .941. In 340 chances he's made 20 errors. 

McGehee has totaled almost 400 more innings in the field than Reynolds, so his 20 errors is much more acceptable than Reynolds' 26.

But, to be fair, he does have the lowest fielding percentage in the National League.

Dishonorable Mention: Starlin Castro, Ian Desmond, Yuniesky Betancourt 

In Closing...

All in all, it's been a great year for baseball.

Derek Jeter, Jim Thome and Mariano Rivera have all joined illustrious company and have all but solidified their already strong cases for first ballot bids to Cooperstown.

Many stars have put together strong campaigns, and Justin Verlander seems to have separated himself from the rest of the American League elite.

The AL MVP race will be tight, as will the NL's, but whoever wins will, of course, be deserving.

Here's to an exciting postseason, thanks for reading.

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