Dave Cokin’s Hardcore Baseball: All-Flop Pitchers

Let’s wrap up the first quarter All-Flop team with the pitchers. These aren’t necessarily the guys having the worst seasons, but they’re the ones that I feel failed to live up to expectations by the widest margin.

Also, while it may not be very benevolent on my part, I don’t cut any slack for injuries. It may well be a great excuse for poor productivity, but the bottom line is that the player in question still has to be labeled as a big bust. Here’s my five-man rotation with a closer as well.

Brandon Webb, Diamondbacks: Great pitcher, but useless on the sidelines. One start, four innings, six runs and only a hope that he’ll return sometime next month.

Chien-Ming Wang, Yankees: Yikes! Three starts, six innings, 23 hits, 23 runs. Needless to say, 0-3, and then some phantom injury. Actually, I’m going to remain convinced the Yankees simply played it smart by DL’ing Wang and it looks like he’s ironed things out and is about ready to make the return trip to NYC. But those three April disasters guaranteed Wang a spot on this list.

Scott Kazmir, Rays: Kazmir has completely lost his slider and is getting absolutely crushed. He’s 4-4 overall, which isn’t terrible. But a 7.69 ERA is and there’s nothing to indicate he’s going to snap out of this brutal funk. Ratios are way off, peripherals stink. Can’t help but wonder what’s happening here.

Ricky Nolasco, Marlins: Huge breakout last season, and Nolasco was brilliant in spring training. All downhill since. 2-4, 7.78 and only one quality start to date. He’s also been unlucky, but that’s not enough to offset his miserable numbers. The upside is that his ratios are still good and he seems to be throwing it well. Looms therefore as a strong buy low fantasy candidate.

Francisco Liriano, Twins: Liriano looked like a future Cy Young winner when we first saw him throwing for the Twins. Big heat and secondary stuff that was flat out filthy. That Liriano may never surface again. Velocity is okay, but not nearly what it was pre-injury and his command is not very good these days. 2-5, 6.04,m just four quality starts. There are still flashes of brilliance, but those outbursts are now sporadic at best.

Brad Lidge, Phillies: Plenty of closers to choose from for the first quarter All-Flop team, but Lidge wins out. Only two blown saves, but he’s been all over the place and is hardly reliable right now. 18.1 IP, 24 hits, 11 BB, not exactly shutdown numbers. Lidge has always been really streaky, so this could continue. Phillies fans hope not.

I’m outta here for the four-day weekend, so the next update will be on Tuesday with a look at this week’s call-ups. Enjoy the holiday, and stay safe.