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.
Some pretty big names joined the free agent list when they were not tendered offers to stay with their clubs. Jonny Gomes slugged the baseball pretty well in his brief time with the Reds, but it wasn’t enough for Cincinnati to want to throw cash his way. Gomes is a high energy outfielder, with as much power as anybody in the game. Then there’s Colorado Rockies thirdbaseman Garrett Atkins, in an effort to save money, the Rocks are turning over the hot corner duties to Ian Stewart. Jack Cust nailed 84 big flies in Oakland for the A’s the last three seasons, but was surprisingly let go. Another surprise was when Pittsburgh decided to cut ties with their closer, Matt Capps, but it’s the Pirates, so what would you expect? The Washington Nationals also decided not to bring back their closer, if they have a better option, I haven’t heard it. Starting pitcher Scott Olsen was also asked not to return to Washington, probably due to his poor attitude, but he throws the ball with his lefthand so somebody will take a flier on him. Chien-Ming Wang won’t be returning to the Bronx, I can kind of see this, what with Wang’s history of injuries, they can go out there and pretty much sign whomever they want.