2006 National League Non-Stars
| 10
|
by user Justin Yost (JuTMSY4)
Welcome back for the second addition of my Non-Star Squad. Earlier this week I posted the AL Non-Star squad, and now I am presenting the NL Non-Stars. This squad, at times was much more difficult than the AL squad. The disparity among good and bad players (and teams) in the AL is much larger than the NL where everyone seems to suck equally. Really, you could put every starter on the NL All-Star squad on my non-star team and I don’t think at least I would mind, since many of these players stats are arguably skewed by the NL’s awfulness. Regardless, I’m going for those players who are just plain awful and shouldn’t be. Remember, this list isn’t about the worst player at every position, but the player with things like high expectations or a historical trend towards being good, but the result is just a really bad year. Without further adieu…
National League Non-Star Squad
Catcher
Brad Ausmus
This has been said before, but I’ll reiterate: Every time there is a catcher who sucks offensively, people claim he’s either good defensively or “calls a good game.” Ausmus is that type of catcher, especially this year. The Astros have been plain old average in pitching this year, ranking 7th in runs given up and Batting average against and 10th in team ERA. To Ausmus’s credit, he has been solid defensively, with a .996 fielding percentage and only 2 errors, good for a top 10 in the league. However, offensively, he is a travesty. His 1 home run and 18 RBIs are last among catchers with 100 or more Abs and his average (.239) and OBP (.309) are close to the bottom (4th and 3rd respectively) for catchers with at least 200 ABs.
First Base
Todd Helton
The temptation to pick Todd Walker was there, but he’s not a true first baseman nor does he play for a team that is even remotely good. Adam LaRoche was also a solid choice, but he’s been a decent power hitter for a struggling Atlanta Braves team. This lead me to Helton, who typically is among the tops in the league in Batting Average and OBP, but is around average for first baseman in power. This year, Helton checks in with a .304 average (5th among NL 1b, but well below is career average of .335) and .435 OBP (2nd , but around his career average). His 10 homers and 41 RBIs are below his career averages, much like last year and you really have to wonder about this guy post-steroid era. Non the less, Helton is probably the best baseball player on the list and shouldn’t be on here, but he makes the grade with a cloud of doubt.
Second Base
Marcus Giles
You knew a Brave had to make the list, and this is the perfect spot. Giles, normally a nice engine for the Braves has stalled out over 2006. His .249 average ranks last among NL second baseman, however he does still provide a decent OBP of .345, which is about average for 2b. His power numbers around the lower to middle of the pack (7 HRs, 32 RBIs) but when comparing him to the other second baseman, even in just his division, he’s probably the 3rd best, at best. His fielding, in a league that has numerous butchers at the position, is typically above average, even this year, which is good for the middle to top of the league.
Shortstop
Clint Barmes
After the whole injury deal last year, its hard not to pick on this guy, but with a year like this at the dish, you have to wonder what’s wrong. Barmes’s .209 average and .248 OBP, last among NL Shortstops, is pathetic, considering where he plays half his games and with that kind of lineup. What’s worse is his homerun total, 3, which ties him for 13th among NL shortstops with offensive powerhouse Omar Vizquel. His RBI total of 42 is respectable, but once again, he plays in an easy hitting ballpark with a solid lineup, especially with the rise of Brad Hawpe and Matt Holliday. The last straw is Barmes’s average fielding, which may not bother most, but when you can’t play at the plate, you better be able to play the field, ask Ozzie Smith or aforementioned Omar.
Third Base
David Bell
Had to pick on this guy sooner or later. Bell has just been terrible for a Phillies team that has been just terrible. His 4 homers and 25 RBIs are last among regular NL third baseman, and his .258 average and .332 are among the worst in the league as well. Not only that, but Bell is among the league losers in average with RISP and GIDP. You want more? His .944 (not that’s right!) and 12 errors are 2nd to worst among NL third baseman, second to only Chipper Jones. At least Chipper can hit a little…
Outfield
Adam Dunn, Barry Bonds & Lastings Milledge
This picks were probably the most interesting, as each has a ton of merit for both being on this list and not being even close to it. Dunn is close to the league lead in home runs (27) and has a nice RBI total (55), but his average of .233, which was below .220 about a week ago is almost laughable. Dunn’s homeruns account for more than half his RBIs and he recently just collected more singles than home runs (as of last week). His 99 strikeouts ranks first in MLB and puts him on pace to come close to his single season record of 195 (set in 2004), but it looks like he will hit about 185 at the current pace of 1.16 per game. Bonds cracks the list because he can barely walk, yet he plays 2 out of every three games. His .242 average with 11 homers and 35 RBIs is a credit to how much is truly is swing for the fences, which puts him on this list , however his .471 (unqualified) OBP, which would be tops in the league, displays how selective he is towards which balls he hits deep. This guy is the albatross of the MLB, please either move him to the AL or just force him to retire. Finally, Milledge, while still young and with high potential, looks like a buffoon in the field, sporting a .968 fielding percentage. His average and OBP have been sub-par for a highly touted rookie (.233 and .287), however his power numbers of 3 Home runs (one being a game saver) and 12 RBIs is respectable. The kid has talent, but he really flamed out in his first MLB opportunity. The real question is, can he be better than Cliff Floyd right now? That answer is Yes.
Starting Pitching
Cory Lidle, Mark Mulder, Andy Pettitte, Livan Hernandez & Greg Maddux
Lidle makes the list mostly due to my personal bias, but for an innings eater his 4-7 record with a north of 5 era is very disheartening. When you are at the top of the league in innings pitchers, its typically a good idea to give up less than 5 runs per 9, unfortunely, Lidle hasn’t gotten the message and neither have the Phillies. Mulder, along with Jason Marquis, Jeff Suppan and Chris Carpenter have been terrible for the Cards. While Carpenter has been hurt, the other three have poster 5+ ERAs (Mulder being the worst with a 6+ ERA) and yet somehow their records are a collective 6 games over .500. This goes to show how good the Cardinal’s offense really is, God Bless Albert Pujols. Pettitte cracks the list because he is supposed to be a defacto #2 pitcher with great junk. Perhaps he should get a bye because he is historically must better in the second half, but right now he has been terrible. For an Astros team that needs good pitcher, Pettitte’s 7 wins and 9 losses with a 5.37 ERA isn’t exactly going to cut it, just ask 2005 Roger Clemens who lead the league in ERA and only got 13 wins. Hernandez, who has been talked about in numerous trade rumors, makes the grade because not only has he been bad (6-8, 5.94 ERA), but he plays half his games in a pitcher’s park (given that he also has to play in Philly, but he also gets Shea). Finally, Maddux, who started the season off terrifically has just flamed out over the last two months or so. At one point he was 7-0 and near the top of the NL in wins, now he is 7-9 and his ERA is approaching 5. Sure Maddux doesn’t have the benefit of a good team behind him, but when was Atlanta’s offense ever that potent (or win in the post season!). I think Maddux, like Pettitte will turn it around, but with the Cubs, you never know.
Relief
Derrick Turnbow, Jason Isringhausen, Brad Lidge & Danys Baez
Turnbow and Isringhausen are among the league leaders in saves, but also among the top full-time closers in ERA (Turnbow: 4.78, Isringhausen: 3.75) and blown saves (6 a piece). Lidge also makes the grade because of his awful start and relegation to the set-up role. Not to mention his 5 plus ERA. Finally, Baez gets on the squad because of his high ERA (4.04) along with his pathetic save total (9) for a team that his putting together more wins than losses. Baez had over 30 saves with the Devil Rays last year, what’s happened. Perhaps knowing he is only keeping the spot warm for Eric Gagne makes him struggle, but I’d question moving him into the set-up role even if/when Gagne comes back.
Date
Fri 07/07/06, 6:34 am EST
