Category: slumps

Slow Starters: NL edition

A couple days ago, I posted my list of slow starters in the AL.  Now it’s the NL’s turn. 

Stats as of 4/27.

 

Dan Uggla, Atl .188, 8 rbis Those eight rbis come on 5 HR.  I’m not sure if that’s a good thing or bad thing.
Geovany Soto, Chi .227, 1 HR I’m thinking that unless Geo starts shaping up, his time is running out with the Cubs.
Ryan Dempster, Chi 1-2, 7.63 ERA Eight HR in 30 2/3 IP.  Yikes!
Hanley Ramirez, Fla .211, 3 SB hitting the same as John Buck
Carlos Lee, Hou .207 …but does have 13 rbis
J.A. Happ, Hou 1-3, 6.94 ERA lack of control isn’t helping
Jonathon Niese, NY 1-3, 5.10 ERA workhorse is leading Mets in IP, though
Albert Pujols, StL .250, 8 EBH I know he’s got 17 rbis but have you noticed?  He’s got more Ks than walks so far.
Madison Bumgarner, SF 0-3, 7.79 ERA I think a lot was expected from this Giant hurler

Slow Starts, AL edition

I’ve noticed that there have been a more than a few players in both leagues who have really not been pulling their weight.  Some are players who are hitting below their potential.  Some are just plain not hitting for any player relative to a full-time status they have. 

I’m including pitchers who are off to a stinky start as well.

This is my AL list in no particular order.  Stats as of 4/25.

Jacoby Ellsbury, Bos .219, 21 K I may be a little too gleeful about putting Ellsbury on this list.  I dropped him in my APBA league before our 2011 season.  Perhaps I should temper my glee.  He’s tied for the lead the Sox in homers.  Do I have the right Ellsbury??
John Lackey, Bos 2-2, 6.35 ERA Lackey just pitched a solid game yesterday (eight shutout innings) putting him at 2-2.  It may take a long time to get that ERA at a respectable level but he may be on his way.
Nick Markakis, Bal .208, .279 OBA A very untypical low OBA for the OF with the good eye.
Shin-Soo Choo, Cle .207, 2 HR The Indians can bat a .207 hitter #3 for only so long.
Torii Hunter, Ana .200, .255 OBA  
Vernon Wells, Ana .169, 1 HR, 4 rbi my Angel fan friend, DonS has plenty of frustrations with this guy
Ervin Santana, Ana 0-3, 5.51 ERA I’m not too down on Santana for two reasons.  Just 8 BB in 32+ innings plus he has 28 Ks in that same amount of time.  I’d give him time. 
Francisco Liriano, Min 1-3, 7.40 ERA,6.1 BB/9IP Last year was vindication for the Twins.  But can FL follow up? 
Jack Cust, Sea .171, 0 HR, 7 rbi Maybe no one expected much of Cust but he’s got 20 games and 70 at bats so far for Seattle.  My thoughts?  Seattle is devoid of power and Cust’s potential for the long ball is the only thing keeping him in the lineup

 

The Yankees’ Jorge Posada almost made this based on his .153 batting average but when six of your nine hits are homeruns, you get extra credit. 

No Wood on the ball

My favorite Halos fan went on a rant today over email:

  I don’t know whether you have noticed, but the Angels have given 224 at bats in 2010 to a player who has no positives. NONE.

  He is batting .147, slugging .210 and has an on-base % of .176. He has walked 6 times and struck out 70 times. He also is no threat to EVER win a Gold Glove. He has ONE stolen base (you can’t steal first base, and he’s not a base stealer anyway).

  Is this unprecedented in the history of baseball? Probably not, because baseball has a long history.

If you haven’t figured it out, he’s talking about Brandon Wood.  I checked his game log on B-R and wow… He’s getting his playing time for sure.  My buddy can rest assured that Wood is improving.  He’s got three hits in September (he only got one in August). <—- Sarcasm

Cardinals need rock-steady Albert Pujols back

When May ends, Albert Pujols will no doubt have recorded his worst month on record.  For the month, he’s currently hitting .256 with one homerun.  His slugging percentage?  .385.  He’s managed 10 rbis and 10 runs scored and has a .396 OBP which certainly isn’t embarrassing but quite honestly, I’m afraid something is wrong with the God of Baseball ™. 

Let’s put it in perspective.  In May, Cubs infielder Mike Fontenot had a better slugging percentage than Albert.

Not only that, MLB.com reports that Pujols denies having words with Tony LaRussa.  Let’s face it, if it gets by the editors at MLB.com than there is probably something to it.

This is a bad time for Pujols to go into the first slump of his career.  It’s possible that he could be a free agent at the end of this season should the team decline his option at $16 million.  I seriously don’t think that will be an issue but you never know. 

Add into the mix that Dan Lozano who is Pujols’ agent, is making an exit from Beverly Hills Sports Council to start his own agency.  Lozano plans to keep Pujols as a client. 

I’m no Cardinals fan but with them battling it out with the Reds, this is no time for their star player to get into a slump possibly fueled by a nagging injury (purely conjecture on my part) or to get involved in any dugout dramas.