Has social media networking killed the old fan clubs? Remember when you could just write a letter to your favorite baseball player and include a baseball card and sometimes you would get it back and it would be autographed? Those days are gone. Now – some players refuse to sign autographs, and fan clubs have died down, except on social networking sites like MySpace and Facebook. After taking a few days to search Facebook’s database, I have compiled a list of the top 10 most popular baseball players on Facebook. I think you might be a little surprised with some of the players that are or are not on this list.

10. Jason Bay, Boston Red Sox – 3,448 fans – There’s no doubt that Bay has been boosted a level on the popularity scale after being traded to the Red Sox. Bay’s Facebook page has a few images posted by fans and one video. One of Bay’s fans, Tim Peng from Boston, posted a topic on his discussion board asking others if “Bay was better than Manny.” After 24 responses, it seems the public has spoken and they have chosen Bay over Manny.

9. Joe Mauer, Minnesota Twins – 3,487 fans – Mauer has kind of been the face of the Twins through the past few seasons even when Johan Santana was still pitching in Minnesota and even when teammate Justin Morneau was named AL MVP. Mauer has a great image around Major League Baseball and is a real likable player. Mauer’s Facebook page doesn’t have a lot of posts, but it does have a couple of photo albums and fan pictures. There is also a link to a video clip when Mauer let a news crew inside his offseason home – “Cribs” style.

Check out the rest of the top 10 after the jump.

8. Jacoby Ellsbury, Boston Red Sox – 3,571 fans – Ellsbury is a surprise to this list, but those Boston fans love their young players and Ellsbury should be around for awhile. Ellsbury’s Facebook page is rather detailed. It contains many fan photos, along with a descriptive biography and several news links. From his page, we also learned that Ellsbury’s favorite food is homemade Navajo tacos. The latest post from a fan on Ellsbury’s page was from Alia Doyle, who left this note for him, “Jacoby ur awesome and mad hot!!!!”

7. David Wright, New York Mets – 4,362 fans – Wright is the only Mets player to appear in this top 10 list. From Wright’s Facebook page, we learn that his interests are “Mets Baseball, World Series, and Triple-Crowns.” 113 fan pictures are available to view on Wright’s page, along with a few posts from fans, including one from Ryan McCarthy, who tells Wright to tell Aaron Heilman to “suck it.” I wonder if Wright passed that message on to Mr. Heilman?

6. David Ortiz, Boston Red Sox – 4,798 fans – Big Papi has been a huge favorite in Boston since his arrival. His knack for coming through in the clutch has rightfully earned him a spot on this list. Ortiz’s Facebook page is, like many I’m sure, fan created. It includes many photos from a fan that attended Spring Training and a very interesting topic for discussion. James Pecori asks others, “Is David Ortiz a Hall of Famer?” Good question, James. I suspect he’s well on his way to Cooperstown, although one fan does disagree, stating that Ortiz came on way too late in his career.

5. Manny Ramirez, Los Angeles Dodgers – 4,905 fans – We start out the top five with Big Papi’s former teammate, Manny Ramirez. Since Ramirez has been shipped out to L.A., I wondered how many fans missed him in Boston? I’m sure Bay is doing a great job in left field, but should the Red Sox make the postseason, it could be a different story. Manny’s Facebook page begins with a picture of Ramirez sporting a Dodger blue hat and shades. Ramirez’s page has a good number of fan photos along with a link to his official Web site. Manny has over 500 wall posts from fans, including one from Alieh Karimi that reads, “Red or Blue, we love you!” Oh, that is so true.

4. Alex Rodriguez, New York Yankees – 5,176 fans – Believe it or not, A-Rod isn’t tops on this list. He isn’t even tops on his team on this list. But the highest paid player in baseball still has a strong fan base. His Facebook page has some images from fans, but not quite as many wall posts as Ramirez. Though Mohamed Mohamud wrote, “alex rodriguez is like micheal jordan but baseball.” If you need a translation, try babel fish. But I think Mohamed likes A-Rod.

3. Ryan Braun, Milwaukee Brewers – 5,425 fans – Braun has to be the surprise of the list. Maybe not the fact that he made the top 10, but the fact that he is so high in the rankings. Braun’s career has blossomed in the short time he has dawned a Brewers jersey. Braun’s Facebook page has a short bio with a couple of video clips from home runs he has hit this season. There is also a recent discussion where a fan asked if he had a girlfriend and another answered that he does. It seems there are a lot of bummed out fans after hearing that news. However, Braun is still well-liked, especially by Taylor Pohlman, who tells him, “you are dominating on my fantasy team!!!” I’m sure Braun is happy to hear he can help out your fantasy teams.

2. Josh Hamilton, Texas Rangers – 10,578 fans – Our top two on today’s top 10 list are running away with the fan count. Hamilton has exploded in popularity this season after completing a comeback to professional baseball. Too bad I didn’t have the numbers from before his show at the All-Star Home Run Derby and after for the fan count on Facebook. Anyway, Hamilton’s Facebook page has some images, including one of his book, titled “Beyond Belief.” Hamilton’s page boasts almost 600 wall posts, including this one from Tyler Duplaga, who says, “hahah…he makes the rangers fun to whatch again.” I really didn’t think anyone watched the Rangers. I thought they only saw the highlights of Hamilton!

1. Derek Jeter, New York Yankees – 11,324 fans – If there is anyone in baseball that can handle having so many fans, it’s someone that is cool under pressure, like Derek Jeter. The only player to earn the nickname Mr. November, Jeter has always been a fan favorite, not to mention a ladies favorite. Jeter’s Facebook page looks more like a shrine, where it seems he has more female friends. Jeter’s wall is littered with wedding proposals and girls fighting for the top spot and claiming rights to the Yankees’ shortstop. One fan, Kristine Beck from Salt Lake City, Utah, tells Jeter “it is my goal to go to all the MLB stadiums wearing my Derek Jeter jersey.” But she doesn’t stop there. “If you ever need a date in Salt Lake PLEASE look me up…” Good to know Mr. Jeter won’t be lonely if he ever has to go play in Salt Lake City.

Post from: EveryJoe

Thursday 10 – Facebook’s top baseball players

1. How can anyone avoid this story? In case you tried, you can’t now – Brett Favre has been traded to the New York Jets. The Jets didn’t waste any time getting a replica Favre #4 jersey online to buy. Several things have come to light since Favre is out of Green Bay, like the amount of pressure Aaron Rodgers now has. Also – how do you feel about Chad Pennington? Since Favre’s arrival in New York, it looks like Pennington will be released. Maybe the Packers will pick him up?

2. Nolan Ryan spoke out on the Dan Patrick Show about Roger Clemens’ denial about using steroids.

3. Manny Ramirez arrived safely in Los Angeles and here’s the video to prove it. Check out the 2:30 mark where Manny says he’s “not a hockey player.”

4. Joba Chamberlain is heading to the disabled list. Here’s a link with Peter Gammons discussing the injury. Dr. James Andrews did get his hands on Joba, but no surgery…. for now.

5. Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Jeff Karstens took a perfect game into the eighth inning until Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Chris Young broke it up with a double. Since being acquired from the New York Yankees, Karstens is 2-0 with a 0.00 earned run average.

6. Earlier this week, I wrote a post about how Mark Cuban is still interested in buying the Chicago Cubs. However, now he told someone that he thinks the management is doing great things and that he would “stay out of the way.”

7. Since joining the Los Angeles Angels, Mark Teixeira has increased the Halos chance of winning not just the American League but also the World Series. However, there is an article in today’s Baltimore Sun about Teixeira’s comments of playing in his hometown of Baltimore. One fan even has a “Bring Mark Teixeira Home” Web site.

8. The Detroit Tigers lost again. That’s six in a row. Looks like Detroit is going back down the ladder and could be in store for a return to the form of the teams from the 2001-03 time frame.

9. The 2008 Olympics Opening Ceremony is scheduled for Friday. Will you watch, even though the games have already started?

10. Paris Hilton’s fake campaign ad is… well.. disturbing.

Post from: EveryJoe

Thursday 10 – Linking you up

I’ll kick things off with a commercial that wasn’t on my first list, but while watching another, it was recommended and I loved it. It’s a Dunkin’ Donuts spot with former Boston Red Sox player Johnny Damon and General Manager Theo Epstein. Damon has a secret and Epstein is reaping the benefits of knowing what it is. Take a look.

The next video is one that I would consider the greatest commercial of all-time that involves MLB players. Here’s a hint, “Come on, Alice!” It stars Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine with an appearance by Mark McGwire. Have a look at why chicks dig the long ball.

Before running across this next video on YouTube, I had honestly never heard or seen it before. But, this is a hilarious video. It’s about the New York Yankees and a new dance move. Seen in the commercial are David Cone and Luis Sojo, talking about what Orlando Hernandez has done in the nightclub scene.

The best part of this next commercial is the very end. It’s really slow at first, but the line fired off by former MVP Justin Morneau makes it worth the wait. Several All-Star players wait in line for a store to open and Morneau appears to jump at the front of the line. Take a look.

Let’s take a trip back to the mid-70s for this next clip. Did you know Pete Rose could sing? If you didn’t, you do now… Check it out.

The Seattle Mariners have some great marketing people. I’ve run across about 10-15 commercials that could have made this list and some that are just great commercials, but this is one of the best. It seems long ago since Ken Griffey, Jr. wore a Mariners jersey with the number 24 on the back, but I bet Seattle fans would love to see this on the field.

Here’s another great spot highlighting Griffey from Nike. Griffey takes aim at a fan’s sign that says, “Hit it here!”

Here’s another local team commercial. This one is from this season – a Minnesota Twins preseason spot. The entire Twins pitching staff is standing out on the field and about to sing you a song. Make sure you take a look at the groundskeeper that is watering the field during the song.

This next commercial is the only one that I’ve seen that even comes close to the Maddux and Glavine long ball spot. It’s a Pepsi commercial where Vladimir Guerrero and Alex Rodriguez have a little hitting contest that ends when the lights go out. Have a look.

The last commercial I have today is another fairly recent commercial by Vitamin Water. It stars David Ortiz and Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher on the badminton court. The slam of the shuttlecock by Ortiz is hilarious.

I’m sure I missed some other very funny commercials. So, let me know about it. Which commercial do you think is the funniest? Also, make sure you check back next Thursday for 10 of the worst commercials ever made that star MLB players.

Post from: EveryJoe

Thursday 10 – Funniest MLB player commercials

Top 10 Most Disappointing Major League Baseball Players of 2008

10. Roy Oswalt – Houston Astros – Oswalt has been one of the most consistent pitchers in the past few years, yet this season he has hit more speed bumps than anyone could have imagined. The Astros were counting on Oswalt’s consistency to help lead a pieced-together pitching staff, yet the Weir, Mississippi native is just 5-7 on the year with a 5.04 earned run average. Oswalt has also allowed 17 home runs this year.

9. Freddy Sanchez – Pittsburgh Pirates – Just two years ago, this former NAIA All-American won the National League batting crown with a .344 average. Now, however, Sanchez is hitting only .229 and has struck out 35 times. In 2006, when he won the batting title, Sanchez struck out only 52 times.

Sorry Ryan Howard, but you have to be on this list with that horrible batting average. Photo: Newscom

8. Ryan Howard – Philadelphia Phillies – I’m sure some of you are surprised that Howard’s name is on this list. Well, you shouldn’t be. How can I leave a guy that is hitting just .221 off this list? Yes, Howard has 19 home runs and 62 runs batted it, but he’s hitting only .221! Also, the former NL MVP has racked up 101 strikeouts in 272 at bats. In case you were wondering, that means Howard strikes out once every 2.7 at bats. UNBELIEVABLE!

7. Barry Zito – San Francisco Giants – Ah, yes. Barry Zito. I have no idea what has happened to Zito since he left Oakland, but he’s not the same. He’s not earning his $126 million contract. The former Cy Young winner is 2-10 with a 5.88 ERA this season for the Giants. He also has walked more hitters (44) than he has struck out (38).

6. Paul Konerko – Chicago White Sox – It’s hard to believe that Konerko could already be nearing the end of his career. But, that could be what is happening with his stats. Konerko is hitting just .215 for the White Sox. It’s not just the power that has dropped off for Konerko, it’s also the power numbers. He has only eight home runs and 30 RBI this season. His inability to help the White Sox, along with the slumping numbers of Jim Thome could mean Chicago misses the playoffs for the third straight season.

5. Carlos Delgado – New York Mets – Delgado, like Konerko, is showing signs of slowing down. Delgado hasn’t hit .300 in a season since he joined the Mets. This season, he is hitting only .238 and has power numbers similar to that of Konerko’s with nine homers and 32 RBI. Delgado didn’t have a stellar season in 2007 either, but his 2008 season has been especially disappointing.

4. Andruw Jones – Los Angeles Dodgers – To be fair, Jones had a horrible season with the Atlanta Braves last year. However, he is doing even worse in L.A. this year. Jones is batting well below the Mendoza Line at .165 in 133 at bats. He’s not hitting with power this year, since he has only two home runs and not driving in runs either (seven total RBI). I doubt Joe Torre ever thought before the year began that Jones shouldn’t be in the lineup instead of mulling over the whole Juan Pierre controversy. Either way, Jones’ stats are pathetic and he could easily be the biggest free agent signing bust of the year.

3. Khalil Greene – San Diego Padres – A couple of things Greene needs to finally figure out; he’s not at Clemson University anymore and he’s not using an aluminum bat. Greene flat out tore it up at the plate in college. But, he hasn’t figured it out at the professional level. This season, he’s hitting just . 226 and has a .271 on base percentage. Greene has also struck out 69 times and drawn only 16 bases on balls.

2. Bill Hall and Rickie Weeks – Milwaukee Brewers – I have to put both of these guys together at the number two slot. Both have had absolutely horrible starts to the 2008 season. Hall is hitting only .216 in 213 at bats this season. He owns a .285 OBP and has whiffed 60 times, while earning only 18 walks. Weeks is just as bad, batting just .210 this season.

1. Justin Verlander – Detroit Tigers – Coming into the 2008 season the Tigers were one of the top favorites to contend for the AL title. There’s no secret that Verlander was going to be the ace of the pitching staff and again be dominant. Except, he hasn’t been. Verlander is just 3-9 this season with a 4.55 ERA. He has scouts wondering why his arm slot has dropped causing his velocity to fall and his breaking ball to flatten out. He’s won at least 17 games in his last two seasons, yet this year, he could lose that many.

Just missing the list are Robinson Cano, Jason Isringhausen, Ian Snell, Brett Myers, Gary Matthews Jr., and Jim Thome.

Post from: EveryJoe

Thursday 10 – Most disappointing players of 2008

Here it is:

Top 10 Worst Major League Baseball Teams of 2008

10. Houston Astros – Sure, many experts didn’t expect the Astros to compete in the National League Central this season. Mainly because of the Astros’ suspect starting pitching rotation. After you get past Roy Oswalt – it was expected that Houston was in trouble. Well – unfortunately, even with Oswalt on the mound this season, Houston is having problems. If it weren’t for Lance Berkman, the ‘Stros could already be in the NL Central cellar. However, Berkman’s offensive numbers have helped keep Houston in the middle of the division so far. Yet, the Astros are falling fast and could drop far enough out of contention before the All-Star break even makes it here.

9. Cincinnati Reds – The Reds are the worst team in the NL Central. Even super rookie Jay Bruce hasn’t been able to right the ship. However, the Reds will not finish in the cellar this season, but don’t expect a playoff run either. The problem with the Reds is plain-and-simple. No pitching. Sure, Edinson Volquez is having a great season, but what about the rest of the staff? How about looking at earned run averages that are all above 4.30. Three of the other four starters have ERA’s above five, including Matt Belisle, who boasts a 7.28 ERA. Combined, the entire Cincinnati staff has a 4.54 ERA.

8. San Diego Padres – If it were not for the great pitching by the Padres, San Diego would be the worst team in baseball. San Diego’s offense is struggling. Coming into Thursday, the Padres had score less runs that everyone in the National League, except the Washington Nationals. At 3.6 runs per game – you are expecting a lot out of your pitching staff. The Padres pitching staff has done a good job this season, keeping this team out of the NL West cellar, however, the entire offense boasts only one hitter with a .300 batting average. As a team, San Diego is batting .243 overall and has struck out 528 times (7.9 per game) this season. If only Jake Peavy could hit like Micah Owings (or any of the offensive player could hit like Ownings for that matter).

7. New York Mets – Surprised? I am. This team should not be on this list. Not with the players they have on their current roster. Sure, if the Mets don’t get into contention anytime soon with the hot Florida Marlins, you can bet Willie Randolph’s days will be numbered. Before we go on and blame this underachieving season on injuries – I will say that the Mets have been playing a little better lately. However, it’s still not good enough to be the team everyone expected them to be before the 2008 season began. Only one .300 hitter (with over 100 at bats) is on the roster (Ryan Church). This team seemed to be lifted by the return of none other than Fernando Tatis, but even he can’t help out that much. The problem is too many players on the offensive end that are just trying to get through another season. Carlos Delgado is getting old. Carlos Beltran is not the big-money player everyone thought he was in the 2005 playoffs. Even David Wright is not putting up the best numbers right now. With the best pitcher in baseball (Johan Santana) and a couple of the best young stars (Wright and Jose Reyes), this team needs to get things together, and quick.

6. Washington Nationals – Do you remember opening night (well, opening night in the United States) this season on ESPN Sunday Night Baseball? The Nationals started Odalis Perez and won the game on a walk-off home run by Ryan Zimmerman. Nats fans were celebrating the opening of their new ballpark with a bang. Well – that’s ages ago (at least it seems like). Now, the Nationals are the worst team in the NL East. The team batting average is .234 and the pitching staff has combined for a 4.56 ERA. Skipper Manny Acta is in for a long season. The Nationals just don’t have the star power to really put up much of a fight this year and most likely will end up with the worst record in the National League.

5. Kansas City Royals – Much like the Nationals, the Royals started out the year looking like a .500 ball club. However, things change fast. Kansas City has slipped to the bottom of the American League Central, even below the woeful Detroit Tigers. The Royals are just too young across the board to even compete. The offense is churning out only 3.7 runs per game, while the pitching staff is allowing 4.8 runs per game. Manager Trey Hillman is in a race, but it’s not for the divisional lead. He’s in a race to keep his job and he seems to be losing. The only question is whether Hillman or Seattle Mariners manager John McLaren gets the ax first.

4. New York Yankees – Yes, I know the Yankees are .500 now. Congratulations. It seems that the order of the universe is almost restored, Hank. Except, it’s not. New York is at the bottom of the AL East, tied with the Toronto Blue Jays and the Baltimore Orioles. They are chasing the Boston Red Sox and the Tampa Bay Rays. Never thought you would hear that one, right? The Yankees seem to be that team that just can’t catch a break this year. Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter and Jorge Posada have all caught the injury bug at one time or another this year. And the pitching staff is in shambles. Joba Chamberlain was supposed to be inserted into the rotation to help stop the bleeding, but he hasn’t really taken off in that role. I doubt anyone in New York would have guessed that Mike Mussina would be the owner of the best ERA in the starting rotation (3.82). Now – if the Yanks want to catch the Red Sox or even the Rays, they need to start clicking right now. They can’t wait until after the All-Star break. They need to get momentum going into the All-Star break and begin putting together 4-5 game win streaks regularly.

3. Detroit Tigers – Like the Yankees, the Tigers had high expectations. Many thought they would see a Tigers-Yankees AL championship series. However, that idea is in danger. The Tigers acquired Dontrelle Willis and Miguel Cabrera prior to the season with hopes of having one of the best offensive lineups in the league. Yet, Cabrera hasn’t produced and Willis has been shipped down to the minors. The entire pitching staff is having problems this season. Justin Verlander hasn’t been dominating and his velocity has slipped. The Tigers’ best pitcher was brought up to take Willis’ spot in the rotation early on in the season (Armando Galarraga). Yes, Detroit has had many injuries. But, give me a good reason why they are just above the AL Central cellar. I don’t think anyone can really explain it.

2. Seattle Mariners – The Mariners recognize that they are not doing well this year. However, they are playing the blame game. The pitching staff is complaining that catcher Kenji Johjima’s pitch selection is leading to the sixth-worst ERA in the majors this season. Management decided to blame hitting coach Jeff Pentland for the fourth-worst batting average in the majors (.247) and fired him. How does the acquisition of Erik Bedard look now? Bedard is 4-4 with a 4.26 ERA. Not exactly ace-like numbers. On the offensive side of things, not one player (not even Ichiro) is hitting over the .300 mark. Skipper John McLaren better pack his bags and keep them packed. He’s the next to go.

Matt Holliday and the entire Colorado Rockies team are heading for the worst record in baseball if things don’t change quick. Photo: Newscom

1. Colorado Rockies – How do you go from winning the NL pennant a year ago to being the worst team in the NL the very next season? I’m not sure how it happened, but things are not looking up for the Rockies. Now – looking at the Rockies stats, they aren’t the worst in the league. However, they aren’t the best either. Colorado is near the bottom in ERA (4.74) and close to the middle in batting average (.256). It’s been the slow starts by many of the offensive players that have really hampered the Rockies. Matt Holliday is hitting .314 but only has eight home runs. Todd Helton is hitting .294 and Troy Tulowitzki has been really slow to get going this season with a .193 average. No one has expected the Rockies pitching staff to ever be the best in the league, especially pitching in the thin air. However, outside of Aaron Cook (9-2), no Rockies pitcher has over two wins. I think it’s safe to say that there will not be a repeat appearance in the World Series for the Rockies this season.

Post from: EveryJoe

Thursday 10 – Worst Major League Baseball teams of 2008

Top 10 Biggest Major League Baseball Draft Busts

10. Adam Johnson – Johnson was the second overall pick in the 2000 amateur draft by the Minnesota Twins. The Cal State Fullerton alum did make it to the big leagues, but not for long. Sure, he had a little more than a cup of coffee with the twins, but they didn’t exactly keep him around for dinner. Johnson spent seven seasons in the minor leagues, posting winning seasons off the mound only twice, including his first year of professional baseball. However, Johnson was twice called up by the Twins, where he posted a 10.25 career earned run average. He did, however, manage to pick up a major league win in 2001. Johnson was released by the Twins in 2005. He was signed as a free agent by the Arizona Diamondbacks in January 2005, and then released less than two months later. He then caught on with the Oakland Athletics farm club before being release in 2006, ending his career.

9. Al Chambers – Chambers was the top overall selection of the 1979 draft by the Seattle Mariners. Before I talk about Chambers, you should know that Seattle picked him over Andy Van Slyke that year. In fact, Van Slyke was the third outfielder taken in the first round. But Chambers was the number one pick out of John Harris High School in Pennsylvania. Chambers did play in three separate seasons with the Mariners, collecting 25 hits. Yet, he batted just .208 and hit two home runs. In case you are wondering – that Van Slyke guy was a three-time All-Star with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

8. Bryan Bullington – Bullington was the number one overall pick by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2002. True, many of you know that Bullington is still an active player and was actually called up recently. But, the Ball State alum has been a bust so far. Bullington is winless in six appearances with the Pirates, including three as the starter. He has also accumulated a 5.89 lifetime ERA in the big leagues. The right-hander, who has taken a while to develop, was picked in front of a slew of today’s current starts, like Prince Fielder, B.J. Upton, Jeff Francis, and Cole Hamels. Bullington is just the latest of the Pirates’ top draft picks that didn’t exactly bloom.

The majors wasn’t the only thing that was a bust for Kris Benson, so was his marriage, which ended after his ex-wife, Anna, divorced him for cheating on her. Photo: Newscom

7. Kris Benson – It was another solid pick by the Pirates, as they selected Benson with the number one overall pick in the 1996 amateur draft. Benson is more known as being the ex-husband of Anna Benson than winning 68 games in the ‘Show.’ However, this Clemson University product never really became the pitcher he was hyped up to be. Benson pitched for Pittsburgh, the New York Mets and the Baltimore Orioles before injuries caught up to him in 2006. His page on Baseball-Reference.com says it all, as a fan posted the following, “WE STILL MISS PICTURES OF YOU IN THE NY POST, ANNA!” I guess he’s a Hall of Famer in some guys’ books for having Anna by his side at one time (she divorced him because he cheated on her), but he was a total draft bust.

6. Paul Wilson – For a school that is so rich in baseball tradition like Florida State, it’s probably not good to know that the only Seminole player to ever be drafted number one overall in the amateur draft is Paul Wilson. However, FSU is hoping Buster Posey goes number one to the Rays to break that streak. Anyway, Wilson was taken number one overall by the Mets in 1994. He made it through only one big league season with the Mets and posted a 5-12 record on the hill before being traded to Tampa Bay for Bubba Trammell and Rick White. Wilson did last seven seasons in the big leagues and collected 40 wins, but again, not enough from a number one overall pick.

5. Shawn Abner – Another player that did not help the Mets organization. Abner was the number one overall pick in the 1984 amateur draft. It wasn’t the most talented draft pool, but Abner was picked out of Mechanicsburg Area (PA) High School over Mark McGwire, Norm Charlton and Jay Bell. Abner spent six seasons in the majors and posted a lifetime .227 batting average.

4. Mark Merchant – Merchant was the number two overall selection in the 1987 amateur draft by the Pirates. Another draft bust by Pittsburgh as Merchant never made it to the big league level. He did, however, played six seasons in the minors, reaching the Class AAA level four times with three different organizations. Merchant was picked after Ken Griffey, Jr., and ahead of Kevin Appier, Craig Biggio and Travis Fryman.

3. Matt Anderson – Anderson was the number one overall pick of the 1997 amateur draft out of Rice University. The Detroit Tigers selected the 6-4 righ-handed flamethrower ahead of J.D. Drew, Troy Glaus, Vernon Wells, Lance Berkman (also a Rice product), and Adam Kennedy. I never understood this selection. Anderson was never a top-notch pitcher in baseball, though he did throw hard. His career lasted seven seasons, all but one of which was with Detroit. The worst part about this – to this day, I still have a Matt Anderson bobblehead doll that was handed out at Comerica Park. It’s still wrapped and it’s package and in mint condition. I had two, but someone bought one of them on Ebay for 10 bucks a few years ago. Any takers?

2. Brien Taylor – One of the most memorable draft busts in history took place in 1991, when the New York Yankees made Taylor the number one overall pick. Taylor was one of the first memorable baseball players that was under the influence of Scott Boras. Taylor was advised by Boras to hold out for more money (shocker!), similar to what Todd Van Poppel had received from the Oakland A’s in 1990. George Steinbrenner gave in just before Taylor was about to enroll at Stanford, but that was just the beginning of the end for Taylor. He played seven seasons of minor league ball, never advancing above Class AA before suffering a torn labrum, which happened in a bar fight. Though Taylor may be known as one of the most memorable draft busts, he still signs as many autographs as possible. He also holds the distinction as the only number one overall pitcher selected in the amateur draft to not make it to the major league level.

1. Steve Chilcott – Chilcott was the number one overall pick in the 1966 amateur draft by the New York Mets. Chilcott was a catcher out of Antelope Valley High School in California. However, he never played in the major leagues. But the biggest problem with Chilcott was the fact that the Mets took him over Reggie Jackson, who was selected with the number two pick by the Kansas City A’s. We all know how Jackson turned out. A Hall of Famer that hit over 500 home runs in his career and earned the nickname of Mr. October for his clutch play in the postseason. Chilcott, on the other hand, is known as the only position player to be drafted first overall and never make it to the major leagues.

But wait, there’s more this week. BONUS! The draft can’t be all that bad. Take a look at these players that are considered draft diamonds or finds.

1965- Johnny Bench was the 8th catcher taken and was the 36th overall pick.
1970- Goose Gossage drafted in the 9th round by Chicago White Sox.
1976- Wade Boggs drafted in the 7th by the Red Sox.
1979- Don Mattingly picked in the 19th round by the Yankees.
1990- Jorge Posada drafted in the 24th round by the Yankees.
1996- Roy Oswalt picked in the 23rd round by the Astros.
1999- Jake Peavy selected in the 15th round by the Padres.

You want more draft history notes? Read this article by ESPN writer Jerry Crasnick. Enjoy the draft!

Post from: EveryJoe

Thursday 10 – Biggest draft busts

So, if this hasn’t been confusing enough already, let’s take a look at this week’s top 10.

Top 10 Worst MLB Debuts by All-Star Players (since 1988)

#10 – Dan Haren, 2003 – After being drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in 2001, Haren made his MLB debut with the Cards on June 30, 2003. Haren’s first season in the big leagues was not kind to the right-hander, who posted a 3-7 win-loss record. Haren pitched 72 and two-thirds innings for St. Louis, while posting a 5.08 earned run average and allowing nine home runs. Haren was traded halfway through the 2004 season to the Oakland Athletics.

#9 – Curt Schilling, 1988 – Schilling was a September call up by the Baltimore Orioles in 1988, where he pitched only 14 and two-thirds innings. The righty posted an 0-3 record while giving up three long balls and seeing his ERA balloon up to 9.82. Schilling also walked 10 batters, while striking out only four in his debut season. Schilling had been acquired from the Boston Red Sox just over a month prior to his MLB debut. The six-time all-star lasted only two more seasons in Baltimore before being traded to the Houston Astros.

#8 – Vladimir Guerrero, 1996 – Guerrero was also a September call up in 1996 with the Montreal Expos. Now known as one of the most free-swinging players in the game today, Guerrero only struck out three times in his debut season, which saw him have 27 at bats. Guerrero also posted a .185 batting average and a .185 on base percentage. He had just five hits in his first big league season, one of which was a solo home run.

#7 – Manny Ramirez, 1993 – Before Manny was being, well, Manny, he was… well, just another guy. Ramirez’s debut season in 1993 started on September 2, with the Cleveland Indians. Ramirez spent only two seasons in the minors before being called up, where he hit a measly .170 in 53 at bats for the Indians in 1993. He did swat a pair of home runs and drive in five during his debut season. In 1994, Ramirez would go on to finish second in the Rookie of the Year voting.

#6 – Larry Walker, 1989 – Another former Montreal Expos player makes this distinguished list after Walker appeared in the big leagues for the first time in 1989. Walker batted only .170 in 47 at bats, while striking out 13 times. The 1997 MVP had only eight hits in his debut season. Though most people won’t remember this horrible season for Walker, he will forever be remembered as the guy that caught a fly ball and tossed into the stands, then realized there were only two outs. Walker then went back into the stands and took the ball away from a fan to throw it into the infield to stop a runner from advancing.

#5 – Derek Lowe, 1997 – Lowe made his MLB debut with the Seattle Mariners on August 26, 1997. The right-hander went 2-4 with the Mariners before being traded along with catcher Jason Varitek to the Boston Red Sox. Lowe went 0-2 for Boston in ‘97 and finished the season a combined 2-6 with a 6.13 ERA in 69 innings pitched. However, Lowe was a favorite for many hitters that season, giving up 11 home runs. In case you are wondering, Lowe and Varitek were traded for Heathcliff Slocumb. Lowe and Varitek each appeared in two All-Star games while wearing a Boston jersey, while Slocumb lasted only one more season with the Mariners.

#4 – Troy Glaus, 1998 – Glaus was brought up July 31, 1998, as the Anaheim Angels were in the middle of a heated race for the AL West crown. Most likely, Glaus received the call up to provide a little pop to the third base position, which was being poorly held down by Dave Hollins. However, Glaus was not the answer as the 6-5 UCLA product batted .218 and his only one home run in 165 at bats. Glaus did drive in 23 runs, but struck out 51 times during his debut season. Though Glaus went to three All-Star games and won the Silver Slugger award twice while wearing an Angels uniform, he was unable to help Anaheim overtake Texas during the ‘98 season and finished three games out of the AL West title.

Former Atlanta Braves southpaw Steve Avery had a rough debut season in 1990, posting a 5.64 ERA with a 3-11 record.

#3 – Steve Avery, 1990 – Avery really had two debuts as he attempted a comeback during the 2003 season, however, Avery’s true debut season of 1990 was rough for the Michigan native. Avery posted a 3-11 record for the Atlanta Braves with a 5.64 ERA in 99 innings pitched. The southpaw did post a complete game shutout, however he also allowed seven home runs during his debut season. Surprisingly enough, Avery did not lead the Braves in losses during the ‘90 campaign. He was one of three Braves pitchers to be saddled with 11 losses that season, however Tom Glavine led Atlanta with 12 losses.

#2 – Alex Rodriguez, 1994 – That’s right. Even A-Rod can have a bad season. After the Mariners shipped out Omar Vizquel, Rodriguez was called up on July 8, to assist with the shortstop duties, which were being held down by Felix Fermin. A-Rod’s time at the plate was limited in ‘94, as he batted just .204 in 54 at bats. The future Hall-of-Famer had only two RBI in his debut season and struck out 20 times (37% of the time or once every 2.7 at bats – OUCH!). Yes, it got a lot better for Rodriguez two years later when he finished second in the MVP voting.

#1 – Eddie Guardado, 1993 – Do you remember when Guardado wasn’t “Everyday Eddie?” Fans in Minnesota sure do. During the 1993 season, Guardado was called up on June 13, 1993, as a starting pitcher. The left-hander posted a 3-8 overall record with the Twins during his debut season. He also posted a 6.18 ERA in 94.2 innings pitched and allowed 13 home runs. Batters hit at a .319 clip against Guardado and compiled 123 hits, including 52 that went for extra bases. Obviously, the Twins figured out that Guardado was not a starting pitcher, but it wasn’t until the 2000 season that “Everyday Eddie” was born. Guardado has made two trips to the All-Star game, including the 2002 season when he finished 15th overall in the MVP voting.

There were many other All-Stars that just missed the list, including John Smoltz (1988), Andy Ashby (1991), Miguel Tejada (1997), David Justice (1989) and Johan Santana (2000). Do you think someone was left off of this list? Let me know.

Photo: Newscom

Post from: EveryJoe

Thursday 10 – Worst MLB debut seasons by All-Star players (since 1988)

10. Randy Johnson – The Big Unit – What a site it would be for Randy Johnson to walk out to trade lineup cards and go over ground rules. The 6-10 lefty would make for great television to see him running out to argue a call with an umpire.

9. Scott Rolen – One can only imagine that Rolen’s problems with managers in the past (i.e. Tony LaRussa) could lead to seeing how confrontational he would be as a manager. Maybe we could make Rolen and Jeff Kent co-managers? Hmm…

8. Richie Sexson – Big Sexy – Obviously, he would have some of what Randy has going for him with the height status, but the reason I’m picking Richie is for the fact that he can start a brawl for absolutely no reason. Some poor rookie pitcher tosses one too close to his lead off hitter and here comes Big Sexy running out of the dugout throwing his sharpie or whatever is close to get the brawl started.

7. Gabe Kapler – He’s already tried it before. Plus, if the team ever needs a pinch hitter he can activate himself and swat a home run. We’ll call it the “Roger Dorn” rule.

6. Brendan Ryan – Because there’s always one manager in the league that no fan seems to know anything about.

5. Brandon Backe – One announcer during the 2005 World Series said that Backe had the best “Thatta Boy” cheer he’s ever heard. Backe is always talking on the bench when he’s not pitching. As a manager, he’d make a good cheerleader and keep his team loose and pumped up.

4. Kevin Millar – Cowboy Up – Known for his clubhouse antics, Millar would really keep the guys on his squad on their toes.

3. Billy Wagner – When he gets older, this guy is going to be just like Jim Leyland. That old school attitude that says exactly what he is thinking and doesn’t care who is listening.

2. Manny Ramirez – Manny Being Manny – That’s all that really needs to be said. Think about what a team would be like with Manny in charge. Everyone would have dreads that almost completely covered their numbers on their backs, and it would be required to high-five a fan after making a play in the field.

1. Carlos Zambrano – Talking to himself on the mound, getting into fights with teammates. Are we sure this guy isn’t related to Lou Piniella? Zambrano has a really fiery-nature about him and can become really animated, really quick. Think Ozzie Guillen (for quotes) plus Hal McCrae (for locker room outbursts). Now we’re talking! Zambrano wins!

Let me know in the comments section who you think would be interesting to have as a manager.

Photo: Newscom

Post from: EveryJoe

The Thursday 10