With the Midsummer Classic just around the corner, voting for both the National League and American League is well underway.
The NL is paced by the hot bats of Chase Utley, Lance Berkman, and Chipper Jones. There are also a few Cubs rooks in the mix, with catcher Geovany Soto and outfielder Kosuke Fukudome at the top of their respective positions. Teammate Alfonso Soriano is the leading vote-getter for all OF, with Fukudome second.
In the AL, Josh Hamilton has been the story, looking for a triple crown with incredible numbers. He is second among AL outfielders behind Manny Ramirez of the Red Sox. Rangers teammates Ian Kinsler and Michael Young are also making their case, jumping up to second in their respective positions. As expected, four Red Sox players and two Yankees players have the lead in different positions.
With all the good that has been happening this year—the Josh Hamilton story, Chipper Jones and his quest for .400, Chase Utley setting records at second base—there have been equal parts ugly.
With every season we expect greatness from many players, but sometimes the production simply does not follow the potential.
On July 15, it is safe to say we will not see this lineup. Let’s call it the All-Junk Team. It is a roster of players who have underachieved considerably and will not be making the trip to Yankee Stadium just over one month from now.
Catcher: Victor Martinez, Indians
No home runs. Zero. Catcher usually isn’t the position were we find an abundance of offense, but over the past few seasons Victor Martinez has been one of, if not THE best catcher in the league.
But this season has been a nightmare for V-Mart, who has been in a big-time power slump which has helped to pull down the Cleveland offense. Usually a perennial All-Star candidate, this year Martinez will be home at the break, hopefully nursing his bad hamstring back to health.
Runner Up: Ivan Rodriguez, Tigers
1B: Carlos Delgado, Mets
When you’re the cleanup hitter in the lineup of a contending team, .245 with eight homers and 26 RBI just won’t cut it. It has been an ugly start to the season for many of the New York Mets, with Delgado at the forefront of the mess. The entire team seems to lack focus and passion at this point, and the most important person to change that has to be Delgado.
- B/R Ticket Guide
He is aging, and is now far from his All-Star years when he made the AL team twice and put together 10 straight 30-homer seasons. However, all the Mets need is a little consistency. And they need it soon, or the season may be quickly lost.
Runner Up: Richie Sexson, Mariners
2B: Robinson Cano, Yankees
It has not been a pleasant year in the Big Apple when it comes to baseball. Robbie Cano, the future at second base for the Yanks, the man with 97 RBI last season and a .342 average in ’06, has taken a nose dive. His average is finally steadily above .200, but the consistency is lacking and the power is also absent.
Cano was meant to play a big part in the ever-evolving Broadway play that is the Yankees. Sadly, he forgot his lines.
Runner Up: Asdrubal Cabrera, Indians
SS: Khalil Greene, Padres
Nobody has ever mistaken Greene for Tony Gwynn, though some have mistaken him for Spicoli from "Fast Times at Ridgemont High." Greene has never been an average hitter, but he has some pop from the shortstop position.
Everything has gone wrong for him this year. He is hitting below .200, has only five homers, and is striking out a ton. His play in the field is what is keeping him in the lineup—he has committed just three errors this year. The Padres aren’t very good, and one reason is Greene, who was supposed to take the next step in becoming a complete player. Hasn’t happened. Dude.
Runner up: Troy Tulowitzki, Rockies
3B: Miguel Cabrera, Tigers
Are you kidding, Miguel? I know, you’re still only 25 years old, but come on. You have had four straight seasons of 110+ RBI and are a surefire 30 homers each year. You’re basically destined for Cooperstown.
And then you get traded to Detroit, receive a fat contract for over $150 million and play for a team that looks like the rebirth of the ’27 Yankees, only to give us eight bombs and 38 RBI through 63 games? Time to step it up, bro. No All-Star Game for you, that’s for sure. And probably not for any of your Tigers friends either.
Runner Up: Ryan Zimmerman, Nationals
OF: Andruw Jones, Dodgers
Usually it takes three outfielders to field a team. But when you have one
stink-bomb as big as Andruw, there isn’t enough room for two others. After signing a $36.2 million, two-year deal before this season to anchor centerfield and give some pop to a stale Dodger lineup, Jones crapped this season out. It was ugly from the get-go and just when you thought it couldn’t get worse, it did. He landed on the disabled list.
Clearly, his swing has been disabled for two seasons, but the Dodgers failed to notice. He swings too hard and has never been a contact hitter. His line this year: 43 games, .165 avg., 2 HR, 7 RBI, $18.1 million. Talk about throwing money away.
Runners Up: Nick Swisher, White Sox; Eric Byrnes, D-Backs
SP: Dontrelle Willis, Tigers
One half of the duo that was believed to bring a World Series title to Detroit has completely flamed out. Willis has lost all control of every pitch, has no velocity on any of them, and now finds himself the richest minor-leaguer in all the land.
D-Train was sent down to single-A Lakeland to work on his mechanics and hopefully find a way back to the 22-win season he put together just three years ago. He is being paid like a big boy—it's now time to pitch like one.
Runner Up: Barry Zito, Giants
RP: Eric Gagne, Brewers
After putting together the greatest run by a relief pitcher in the history of the game just a few years ago, Gagne has fizzled out. Arm troubles have been a major source of the ugliness, but there might also be a screw loose up top. After joining the Red Sox from the Rangers late in the 2007 season, Gagne completely lost it, but still parlayed a decent playoffs into a $10 million deal from the Brewers.
Sadly, the end of the road might be coming for Gagne as a closer. His arm is hurting, his numbers are terrible, and his name has popped up in the steroids scandal. Those 84 saves in a row seem like ages ago, don’t they?
Runner Up: Jason Isringhausen, Cardinals
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5 months ago
Good stuff. I'd like to add a DH category:
1. Travis Hafner
2. Jim Thome
from 5 months ago
Ya, Hafner definitely fits the DH role.
from 5 months ago
hafner has played like crap since he signed his extension two years ago.
5 months ago
As a lifelong Braves fan, I have to say that Andruw is absolutely worthless, and I couldn't have been happier when they finally got rid of him (of course he's great with the whole defense thing, but when you strike out seven times a game it kind of cancels out). Definitely one of the most overrated players of the past 10 years
5 months ago
Even before I read JJ's comment, I was going to comment that Hafner NEEDS to be on this list somewhere.
5 months ago
You fuhgot Barry Zito...
5 months ago
What has happened to Andruw Jones and Miguel Cabrera? This season they have been absolutely horrific! One Dodger fan said earlier this year that when Jones was up in the ninth with two outs, he just walked out of the park, because he knew they were going to lose.
from 5 months ago
Three words:
Out. Of. Shape.
5 months ago
Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Wills - What a bust trade for the Detroit Tigers? I think the entire Detroit Tigers team can be an all-junk team. They have really declined from last year's outburst of wins. Can you say fluke? I think Detroit can.
from 5 months ago
you cant blame them for making the trade tho. i mean Miggy is younger then most rookies and hes been in the league for like 5 years. Willis just sucks, but he was a throw in from Florida, just to dump the salary.
5 months ago
you can throw the Yankee's young guns in there too...Hughes and Kennedy failed to win a single game and both ended up on the DL. The future could be scary for the Yanks...
5 months ago
I forgot the DH position, and rightfully so, Hafner would have been on that.
5 months ago
This list is perfect. Great formers, who are worthless at this point.
5 months ago
great article got my pick of the day.. Andruw Jones really can't hit anything anymore... Cabrera recieved that huge contract and while he isn't doing well hes not doing as bad as some of the others...
5 months ago
well done. well done
5 months ago
I heard the Marlins forced the Tigers to take Dontrelle with Miggy. Just another crafty move by the Marlins. I've been sayin he's overrated for a few years now, and I'm glad the D-Train has left the Miami station.
from 5 months ago
Marlins are an amazing judge of talent. Growing up in Philly, I envy basically their every move.
5 months ago
great picks. coming soon: Barry Zito v. Dontrelle Willis.
5 months ago
Cano is a second half guy and was last year too. He won't be on the junk team by the end of the season.
Andruw Jones is on another planet mentally. I watched him up close at Fenway last year when he struck out an amazing 5 times. Kason Gabbard was responsible for most of those Ks (Kason Gabbard!).
I loved the pre-season mentality of Gagne supporters who thought he would return to form as a closer, as opposed to middle/set-up relief in Boston. Yeah, um, so much for that. If he can't put it together on a decent NL team with young talent and solid run support, then it's time to pull the plug on his 9th inning sideshow.
5 months ago
I know he's not as a bust as the others, but I'd add on NL outfielder Braves OF Matt Diaz. Not a big name, but he has found himself riding the bench and being started over new and upcoming players Greg Norton and Gregor Blanco on a regular basis because of his low .250 Batting average and just 14 RBI's in 42 games.
5 months ago
Tyler, how can you say Andrew Jones is one of the most overrated players of the last ten years? Is averaging over 30 HR and 100 RBI over the last 11 years overrated? Not to menton he is one of the greatest defensive outfielders ever with 12 gold gloves. Any ATL pitcher will tell you how much they loved him roaming the outfield. True, he's never been a guy who hit for average, only a 261 batting average. Which isn't great but it's not terrible either.
However, im not going to say he's good now. Im glad he's not playing for ATL anymore but don't tell me he was overrated with ATL.
from 5 months ago
Could it be said that perhaps Andruw was one the players who juiced and then lost the power? He isnt a name that we have heard being speculated about, but there is a real possibility he is part of that party.
5 months ago
Well-written piece.
It's amazing that there are three Rangers players in the running for All-Star, with two leading categories in hitting.
5 months ago
Gagne...steroids?
5 months ago
I agree with you guys on Hafner and Thome. Pronk hasn't been the same since the extension and his shoulder injury late last season. If you want, I'll work on an all-surprise team for you guys and have it up tonight.
5 months ago
Why is it everytime a player production goes down it means he was on steroids. Andrew Jones did not exploded into a muscular monster. His production has been consistent over the years so I doubt he was doing roids. Since he first came into the league he was hitting 30 HR a year. He is a spratic hitter, he's either on fire, or can't hit a thing.
5 months ago
I could have put Giambi and Ryan Howard at first base too...both guys have been off their game.
from 4 months ago
How can you put Ryan Howard there? He's one of the most productive first basemen in baseball. Despite his low batting average, he is in the top 5 in home runs, first in the NL and second in MLB in RBI's. He is 1 RBI away from tying Greg Luzinski for most RBI's before the All-Star break for a Phillie. Howard is also top 5 in runs scored. So, how can you say he's on the "All-Junk Team"??
5 months ago
I probably would have given Zito the nod to start this Starless night.....after all, the Giants paid him big money to anchor a roster, and he's now what, 2-10?
You wonder if the Giants would finally get fed up enough, and ship him back across the bay. Some players just don't play well elsewhere.
Feel sorry for Willis though. Enjoyed him as a pitcher, every other year, he'd have a good season, then follow it with a flat year.
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