With the MLB All-Star game fast-approaching and the rosters just recently revealed, we should also make sure to take time and appreciate the selected stars’ greatness. However, I think it’s more fun to pick on the players who have been utter disappointments this season. Thus, I’ve put together the “All-disappointment team.”
C Jonathan Lucroy – Coming off his MVP-caliber season in 2014, many thought the pitch-framing wizard would pick up right where he left off with the bat. But so far, that’s been anything but true. Lucroy is showing absolutely no power at the plate (.069 ISO), his on-base percentage is flirting with .300 instead of .380 and his strikeouts are up. He looks nothing like the hitter he was a year ago.
1B Joe Mauer – If the season ended today, it would be the first time Joe Mauer finished as a below-average hitter in his career (minimum 100 games). His decline has been progressing for some time now, but I don’t think anyone expected him to be replacement level.
2B Robinson Cano – Plagued by a low BABIP, Cano’s batting average is nowhere near where it should be at .252. To add to that, his OBP is .292, meaning his value as an offensive hitter is very minimal. His zone-contact percentage is the second-lowest of his career and his whiff rate of 8.8% is a career-high. At 32, Cano is supposed to just be finishing his prime, but from the looks of it, it looks like he’s finishing as a ballplayer.
NEW YORK, NY – MAY 23: Adrian Beltre #29 of the Texas Rangers hits a single in the third inning against the New York Yankees on May 23, 2015 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
3B Adrian Beltre – Yes, Beltre is 36 years old, but he was worth 5.7 WAR in his age 35 season. Did we really expect this big of a drop off? He’s created 30% fewer runs than league average and is not helped by a .251 BABIP, which is just about 100 points lower than it was in 2014. Beltre’s gone deep just six times. Where’s his power?
SS Starlin Castro – Castro has been one of MLB’s worst players so far in 2015. Often thought of as one of the best shortstops in the game, Castro looks clueless at the plate. Fifty-six percent of his batted balls are grounders, and his line drives have dropped significantly. The hits just aren’t coming. Imagine how good the Cubs would be if Castro actually lived up to his potential.
LF Christian Yelich – In 2013 and 2014, his first two years in the big leagues, Yelich produced identical offensive numbers. In both seasons, he posted a .341 wOBA and 116 wRC+. That’s not a bad way to start a career. However, the expected improvement from Yelich hasn’t happened in 2015. In fact, he’s declined, both offensively and defensively. He’s barely an above-average run-creator (101 wRC+) and after being 13 runs above average in left field a year ago, his defensive runs saved now sits at 2. Yelich is extremely young at 23. He’s supposed to be improving, not going backward.
CLEVELAND, OH – MAY 27: Michael Bourn #24 of the Cleveland Indians scores on a hit by Roberto Perez #55 during the third inning against the Texas Rangers during the third inning at Progressive Field on May 27, 2015 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
CF Michael Bourn – Bourn’s career in Cleveland hasn’t worked out the way the Indians had hoped. He’s struggled to stay healthy and hasn’t performed when he is. But 2015 has been even more brutal for Bourn, so much so that I don’t know how long Terry Francona can keep putting him out there. His -0.7 WAR says he’s below replacement-level, his 65 wRC+ means I’m a better hitter than him and his ability to crush fastballs has vanished. Bourn continues to disappoint Indians’ fans, making him the perfect player for the All-disappointment team.
RF Carlos Gonzalez – Gonzalez was once considered an MVP candidate almost every year (when healthy). Now he’s about as valuable as Chandler Parson’s recruiting efforts. He wasn’t a good hitter in 70 games last season and has been even worse in 78 games this season. I mean, the guy has so much talent offensively and is playing at the best hitter’s park in MLB, and yet, he isn’t doing squat with the bat. If I’m Colorado, I try to move him before the trade deadline.
P Rick Porcello – I think Dave Dombrowski knew what he was doing when he traded Rick Porcello to the Red Sox, because Porcello’s performance in Boston has been nothing short of pitiful. Because of a 14.5 HR/FB% and a high BABIP, Porcello has suffered with a 5.90 ERA; only Kyle Kendrick and Kyle Lohse have given up more runs per nine innings. By a wide margin, Porcello has been the most disappointing pitcher in baseball this season.
