Sport Chit Chat

With surprises there is always the other side of the story, the duds, let downs and players with promise that just vastly underperformed.  Maxmillien here to give what I think are the biggest letdowns of 2008 thus far.

Biggest Letdown Player: Boston Red Sox Catcher Jason Varitek
Ok so here’s the deal.  Varitek may not truly be the biggest disappointment.  ESPN cited Andruw Jones and their argument is very well put.  If Jones continues like this he will have the worst hitting season ever!  But I chose Varitek because he has personally hurt me.  Early in the season I traded for him.  The deal was A.J. Pierzynski and Mark Buehrle for Jason Varitek and Dustin McGowan.  Varitek has been disgraceful since I aquired him.  His average is down to .220 (and has dipped below that) and he was at one time mired in a 6-63 slump!  Making matters worse, he was selected to the All Star game, marking possible the most ridiculous All Star Game starter since Yanic Perrault started for The Phoenix Coyotes in the NHL All Star Game a few years ago.  Varitek, discover your bat so I can start you again!

Biggest Letdown Pitcher: San Franscisco P Barry Zito
Now this may be a cop out because for being paid so much he manages to do so little.  But to the MLB leader in losses, at a record of 2-12 with an ERA of 5.62 and a WHIP of 1.79, Zito is just pathetic.  He has yet to crack 100 Innings Pitched this season and has only mustered 62 K’s in his 97 IP.  Honorable mention must go to Brad Penny, Aaron Harang & Justin Verlander but Zito’s combo of overpaid, terrible numbers and the fact that he is on my leagues waiver wire puts Zito here.

Biggest Letdown Team: Toronto Blue Jays
Perhaps this is a homer pick as I have had to live through ever moment of Blue Jays hype and then letdown, but the Toronto Blue Jays came into this season with so much promise.  After a ridiculous May there was tons of hype that the Jays may for once play meaningful games in September.  Then there was the crash down.  Several losses in a row, capped by an almost no-hitter from ex-Jay Dave Bush led to the firing of Coach John Gibbons and the hire of long lost relic Cito Gaston.  Since then the Jays have been mediocre to bad and GM J.P. Riccardi has almost all but forfeited the season for good.  When the hitting was bad, the pitching was great and when the pitchers started to stumble, the bats come alive.  Injuries to 2B Aaron Hill, OF Vernon Wells, P Dustin McGowan and Shawn Marcum have all left a sour taste in Blue Jays fans mouths. Sitting 9.5 games back the Jays must scrap another promising season and begin to re-build again, count on the firing of GM Riccardi.