Most Disappointing Team Ever?

by cjdahl on Dec 12, 2007 1:06 PM PST

Joe Ponanski, writer for the local Kansas City newspaper, has a great blog covering a number of baseball topics. If you haven't read it, I'd recommend a visit.

However, in a recent blog entry, he strikes a bit too close to home.

http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2007/12/12/the-most-underachieving-team-ever/

Ouch.

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I lived through it

I didn't need Ponanski to tell me how disappointing it is that a team that loaded couldn't even win the AL, much less the WS. Sigh.

I love Joe Ponanski, though.

Nice Guys Finish Third - Hopelessly lost, but makin' good time.

by pdb on Dec 12, 2007 1:16 PM PST reply actions

Pons is a great writer

but I don't think his portrayals are that accurate. 1996 for instance he says "this is one of the great underachieving teams ever."

That team had zero pitching. They had a total of three pitchers eclipse 100 innings and their ERAs were 5.30, 5.35 and 5.73. They didn't underachieve, they had no pitching and still went 85-76.

There was the offense still and the pitching got good full seasons from Moyer, Fassero and Johnson, but then OH GOD NOT HIM pitched the rest of the innings.
See above, but also make everyone a notch worse.
Johnson sucks and leaves, Brian Hunter singlehandedly ruins baseball for the next 3 years.

5 seasons in total over which they played 6 games under their pythag. It was disappointing management for sure that never surrounded the stars with anything even resembling support, but it was never the team's fault. They didn't underachieve.

by Matthew on Dec 12, 2007 1:23 PM PST reply actions

Management = Part of Team

When they're not with you, you're usually fucked.

Detect-O-Vision

Favor the Bold

by IcebreakerX on Dec 12, 2007 1:41 PM PST up reply actions

Wrong

Moyer came on in 1996.
Randy was traded in July, 1998, after quitting on the team.
A-Rod wasn't A-Rod until 1998.
Bobby Ayala was still blowing games.
Tino Martinez left after the 1995 season we were left with marginal players at 1B, a prime power. hitting position, until Olerud came aboard in 2000.
Wilson was a solid player, but nothing spectacular at the plate.
LF was still a blackhole.

The only two guys you could count on between 1995-1999 was Griffey, Edgar, and Buhner. Everyone else was coming or going. Most every team has 3 guys they can count on in any given year. The argument is lame because the stars did not align properly. 1995 was our best opportunity and Griffey was MIA for 3 months (we were fortunate to even make the playoffs).

He should be looking at the Yankees over the last 7 seasons if he wants to base it off of player talent.

by Wilder83 on Dec 12, 2007 1:43 PM PST reply actions