Top 10 Busts of 2008

1. Rich Hill

Preseason Prediction: 200 Innings 14 Wins 178 K 4.00 ERA 1.27 WHIP

Final: 19.2 Innings 1 Win 15 K 4.12 ERA 1.58 WHIP

Way to stink it up Rich! Sure that 15 Ks in 19.2 innings looks like a good start but pair that with 19 walks and 9 earned runs. I feel sorry for the people that took Rich way too early or spent over $15 on him hoping he would have a great season with the Cubs new offense. Thankfully I was not one of these.

2. Eric Byrnes

Preseason Prediction: 92 Runs 22 HR 86 RBI 38 SB .273 AVG

Final: 28 Runs 6 HR 23 RBI 4 SB .209 AVG

I was a person (sucker) who bought into Byrnes’ career year, who wouldn’t!? I used a keeper spot on him hoping for a 25 HR 40 SB season and got nada. Looks like the D’Backs don’t want him anymore either and he may have some value playing for the Mets. But what a crapper he laid on his owners!

3. Jason Isringhausen

Preseason Prediction: 3 Wins 32 Saves 49 K 2.90 ERA 1.20 WHIP

Final: 1 Win 12 Saves 36 K 5.70 ERA 1.65 WHIP

Sure he is older, declining stats, plays for a declining offense but he averaged 30 saves the last 4 seasons. Had season-ending surgery and is on the free agent market. But this may be last we hear of Izzy ever closing in the big leagues.

4. Aaron Harang

Preseason Prediction: 221 Innings 16 Wins 193 K 3.79 ERA 1.24 WHIP

Final: 184 Innings 6 Wins 153 K 4.78 ERA 1.38 WHIP

Uh yeah, could there have been a worse season by a pitcher that everyone expected to excel behind a young offense and in a weak division. Harang may be responsible for the most attempted suicides by fantasy owners. In my money league he was traded, with John Maine, for Jake Peavy. Nice work to try and get as much value as you can out of this disaster in Cincy.

5. Ian Snell

Preseason Prediction: 204 Innings 13 Wins 172 K 3.93 ERA 1.30 WHIP

Final: 164 Innings 7 Wins 135 K 5.42 ERA 1.76 WHIP

Sure the Pirates, suck we all know this. We expected Snell to become a dependable 3^rd starter and he was barely worth starting most of the season. Snell ended his season on most waiver wires because Pittsburgh traded most of their good players away.

6. Ryan Zimmerman

Preseason Prediction: 96 Runs 26 HR 102 RBI 7 SB .285

Final: 51 Runs 14 HR 51 RBI 1 SB .283

Sure he did comeback from an injury to put up decent numbers, but it was too little too late for many of his owners who had to scour the NL-only player pool for a decent replacement (Clint Barmes?, Blake DeWitt!?). He had one long DL stint, came back, and then caught the flu for the last of the season.

7. Brandon Phillips

Preseason Prediction: 99 Runs 28 HR 97 RBI 30 SB .291

Final: 80 Runs 21 HR 78 RBI 23 SB .261

Wow! What a drop across the board! A massive decline for a 27-year-old and tack on almost 100 strikeouts and only 39 walks. He might regain some power but I am not buying next year.

8. Troy Tulowitzki

Preseason Prediction: 110 Runs 26 HR 89 RBI 9 SB .294

Final: 48 Runs 8 HR 46 RBI 1 SB .263

Anybody named Troy is usually a douchebag.

9. Jeff Francoeur

Preseason Prediction: 86 Runs 29 HR 110 RBI 7 SB .290

Final: 70 Runs 11 HR 71 RBI 0 SB .239

Big Frenchie stunk it up and was even sent down to the minors, so he could hit crappy there too. He has regressed and may be the Braves’ 4^th outfielder next year.

10. Todd Helton:

Preseason Prediction: 97 Runs 18 HR 87 RBI 2 SB .310

Final: 39 Runs 7 HR 29 RBI 0 SB .264

Sure, I’ll pick on the old guy. He has always been a steady source of decent power and a great average in his time at Coors Field. That time is running short as the Rockies have a talented farm system that needs to be let lose on the weak NL West.