I’m usually a big believer in being patient with your/my fantasy baseball team. I try not to make to many moves in April, but rather trust that I drafted well. Players can get off to a slow start in April for a number of reasons including cold weather.
Some players just get off to slow starts so I always give April as a grace period. During May I’m watching the statistics a little closer. I might make a move or two, but I don’t want to be jumping the gun so I still tend to be cautious, but after Memorial Day all bets are off and if my team is still not performing up to standards, than no one is safe. With that in mind let’s take a look at the most disappointing player at each position so far this season.
When Wieters was called up from AAA last season he was thought to be the second coming of Joe Mauer. He started off slowly in 2009 but looked great in August and September leading to fantasy owners assuming he would be a top five catcher this season. Well so far that has not come to fruition, not even close. The good news is that defensively he has been good so there is no worry about Baltimore sending him back down to the minors, but at this point you have to start wondering if Wieters is trying to become the catching counterpart to Adam Laroche. In other words, someone who has slow first halves before taking off in the second half.
Honorable Mention: Chris Ianetta
Pena’s RBI total almost got him off this list but that batting average just sticks out like a neon sign. What is even more remarkable is that he is playing in front of a fantastic lineup and has plenty of opportunities. Pena has been moved around in the lineup of late and one has to wonder if a benching could be in the works if his hitting doesn’t improve. Pena was never expected to hit for a high average. .240 would be acceptable if he were to be on pace for 35+ home runs, but so far he’s well short of that. These are not the numbers you would expect of someone in their free agent year.
Honorable Mention: Derek Lee, Chris Davis, Todd Helton.
Big things were expected out of Beckham this season. Like Wieters he is a second year player, but unlike Wieters he had no problems hitting from beginning to end last season, so there was no reason to expect the disaster that has become the 2010 season for Beckham. What should be of even bigger concern for fantasy owners is that there has been grumblings going on behind the scenes that Beckham may need a stint in the minors to figure things out. Could the position switch from third base to second base be what is causing his problems? Possibly, but everyone is denying that. I have my doubts also as Beckham’s biggest problem seems to be hitting the fastball and no matter where you play on the diamond that shouldn’t be a problem.
Honorable Mention: Chone Figgins
Another rookie who seems to have been overhyped. The development of Escobar was one of the main reasons why the Brewers dealt J. J. Hardy to Minnesota in the offseason. When you look at Escobar’s numbers, he wasn’t expected to hit for much power or drive in many runs, but what has happened to his speed? His main fantasy asset was his ability to steal bases and to this date he has two. That is just unacceptable. Everyone goes into slumps where you can’t hit the ball, but speed should never go into a slump.
Honorable Mention: J. J. Hardy, Yunel Escobar.
Yeah, who saw this coming? Ramirez has been nothing short of a disaster so far this season. Is he injured? Sure he has had a thumb injury of late but what’s his excuse for the rest of the season? Is his shoulder still bothering him from last season? Is he just one of those players whose skills erode quickly? There is no chance that you will be able to trade Ramirez for anything of value at this point in the season as his troubles have gotten wide publicity, but at this point I would certainly cut bait as there is no end in sight to his offensive woes.
Honorable Mention: Jose Lopez, Miguel Tejada.
Time may be running out on Upton in Tampa Bay as Desmond Jennings is getting closer and closer to being ready to play in the majors and his position, centerfield. Upton is in a two-year slump. Last year he was given a free pass as most thought the shoulder surgery he underwent after the 2008 season affected his play in 2009. Upton can no longer use that injury as an excuse as his shoulder has had more than enough time to heal. Upton’s attitude has also been called into question from time to time as he has sulked about being moved lower in the lineup, but someone batting around the Mendoza line doesn’t have the right to complain about batting in the bottom third of the order.
Another Oriole on this list, not that it should come as a surprise as the O’s are one of if not the worst team in baseball. Jones came out like gangbusters last season after Baltimore acquired the young outfielder from Seattle in the Erik Bedard deal. Jones made the All-Star and drove in the winning run for the American League in that game last season. Well it has been mostly downhill since. If you take away the first two months of the 2009 season, Jones has batted .233 with 11 home runs. Will the real Jones please stand up?
All you need to know about Lee is that when you hear about the players the Astros might try to trade before the deadline (Roy Oswalt, Lance Berkman); lee’s name is not mentioned. Is that because everyone knows he won’t play anywhere near what he is being paid? The Astros are really close to being blown up, and even if Lee were to return to his previous form he may not have all that much help around him.
Honorable Mention: Grady Sizemore, Kyle Blanks, Milton Bradley, Nolan Reimold, Nate McLouth.
Even before he was placed on the disabled list Beckett was getting batted around with surprising regularity. Beckett was supposed to be the ace of what is a very strong Boston rotation, but has had troubles starting from opening day. Some thought it was his contract situation that was bothering him, but once that was settled he still struggled, and now comes word that he won’t even throw for the next 10 days making it highly unlikely that he will return before the All-Star break.
Honorable Mention: Ben Sheets, Randy Wolf, Wandy Rodriguez, Rick Porcello, Carlos Zambrano.
With the news on Wednesday that Mariners outfielder Ken Griffey will retire on Thursday, can Hoffman be far behind. Hoffman has already allowed the most earned runs in a season since 1999. It’s time to bow out gracefully Trevor.
Honorable Mention: Brad Lidge, Mike Gonzalez, Franklin Morales, Chad Qualls, Frank Francisco, Bobby Jenks.
Tags: Adam Jones, Alcides Escobar, Aramis Ramirez, BJ Upton, Carlos Lee, Carlos Pena, Gordon Beckham, Josh Beckett, Major League Baseball, Matt Wieters, MLB, Trevor Hoffman
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