By now you have heard the remarkable comeback story of Josh Hamilton. Taken with the #1 overall pick in the 1999 MLB draft by Tampa Bay, Hamilton struggled with injuries and drug addiction culminating with a league suspension in 2004 for violating the notoriously strict MLB drug policy. Hamilton quit baseball for two full years until finally re-surfacing with the Reds in 2007. Hamilton’s magical 2008 season has all but guaranteed him the 2008 Comeback Player of the Year Award. Hitting .301, 31 home runs and 121 RBI’s at this point in the season has even sparked some MVP talk. Hamilton has inspired the “All Go-Away” team. These guys should consider taking a few years off too, or just giving it up all together.
Catcher- Kenji Johjima
Kenji came to the Mariners from Japan in 2006. Even Hideki Irabu is laughing at Johjima’s career thus far. Kenji, however, holds the distinction of being one of two MLB players to have the letter j in his last name twice (Jair Jurrjens).
Current 2008 stats: .209, 5 HR, 26 RBI
1B- Paul Konerko
Konerko’s production fell off drastically in 2007. In 2008, he has hit rock bottom. White Sox fans are calling for Josh Fields to replace him in the every day lineup.
Current 2008 stats: .239, 13 HR, 47 RBI
2B- Mark Ellis
Mark Ellis provided Athletics fans with hopes of a resurgence in 2007. In 2008, he is dead set on proving that 2007 was a fluke.
Current 2008 stats: .233, 12 HR, 41 RBI
SS- Khalil Greene
After an excellent rookie season, Khalil Greene was thought to a large part of the Padres’ future. Despite showing some power in 2007, Greene has only proven that he is a subpar hitter who shouldn’t be a part of anyone’s future. Give it up, Khalil.
Current 2008 stats: .213, 10 HR, 35 RBI
3B- Eric Chavez
The second Oakland Athletic to make the list makes you wonder if the Athletics front office is as good as perceived. Trading away five young stud pitchers while still holding onto a steadily declining and ever more injury-prone Eric Chavez. Maybe Billy Beane is the one that should be calling it quits.
Current 2008 stats: .247, 2 HR, 23 games
LF- Jacque Jones
Anyone who watched Jacque Jones in a Tigers uniform this year knows that the game can pass people by even at age 33.
Current 2008 stats: .147, 1 HR, 42 games
CF- Andruw Jones
Apparently hitting .222, losing a step defensively, and throwing your back out on every swing is good enough for $18 million a year. That’s how much the Dodgers are paying Andruw this year and next. After his contract expires next year, Andruw should consider hanging it up. For his back’s sake, if nothing else.
Current 2008 stats: .161, 3 HR, 74 games
RF- Ken Griffey, Jr.
It pains me to watch Junior these days. One of the greatest baseball players of his generation can now be seen striking out twice a night and making defensive miscues in right field at US Cellular. It just ain’t right. Hang it up Junior. Leave us with a few good memories.
Current 2008 stats: .246, 16 HR, 62 RBI
Closer- Eric Gagne
The man who once converted 84 consecutive save opportunities can now be seen blowing sixth inning leads in Milwaukee. Gagne is the only thing saving poor Armando Benitez from closing out games for this team.
Current 2008 stats: 4-3, 6.69 ERA
Starting Rotation- Barry Zito, Tom Glavine, Kenny Rogers, Livan Hernandez, Nate Robertson
This deadly rotation, chock full of southpaws, will surely keep the opposing team off balance. Mostly because the control of all five guys at this point in their careers is suspect at best.
Barry Zito’s current 2008 stats: 9-16, 5.45 ERA
Tom Glavine’s current 2008 stats: 2-4, 5.54 ERA
Kenny Rogers’s current 2008 stats: 9-13, 5.49 ERA
Livan Hernandez’s current 2008 stats: 11-11, 6.16 ERA
Nate Robertson’s current 2008 stats: 7-10, 6.30 ERA
Honorable Mention:
Gary Sheffield .223, 14 HR, 45 RBI
Josh Willingham .254, 11 HR, 41 RBI
Scott Rolen .249, 8 HR, 40 RBI
Joe Borowski 1-2, 7.56 ERA
Dontrelle Willis 0-1, 10.32 ERA
The Massacre
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And the all-outdated statistics award goes to THIS ARTICLE!
p.s. Konerko is OPSing .936 after the all-star break.
The White Sox play at US Cellular Field…not Cellular One.
this guys an idiot
where is MIKE HAMPTON???? are you kidding me?
Griffey cannot be seen making defensive miscues in right field each night because…well he doesn’t play right field. He’s a center fielder. Jermaine Dye plays right.
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