ABOUT AT BAT

MSNBC.com baseball analyst Ted Robinson gives his take on the hits and misses by players, managers, umpires and owners in Major League Baseball.

Robinson has an extensive background in covering the sport. He called the play-by-play on NBC's Major League Baseball Game of the Week telecasts from 1986-89. Additionally, he has been the lead play-by-play announcer for the Minnesota Twins, the television and radio play-by-play voice of the San Francisco Giants, and a member of the New York Mets broadcast team.



Five most disappointing teams

Posted: Wednesday, July 04, 2007 11:14 AM

Last week I listed my five most surprising teams of the first half of the season. As we hit the halfway pole this week, here are the five most disappointing clubs.

CHICAGO WHITE SOX: The World Series aura has crumbled. It's hard to believe the White Sox sat on top of the baseball world just two years ago. The team is going to be remade. Free-agent-to-be Mark Buehrle has reportedly agreed to a below-market deal, but management won’t include a no-trade clause. A compromise on a partial no-trade provision probably gets the deal done. If not, there are plenty of suitors ready to deal for the left-hander before the July 31 trade deadline  -- the Mets reportedly at the front of that pack. Jermaine Dye, also on his way to free agency at the end of the season, is a leading candidate to be moved before this month is out. What to watch most here: Do the White Sox stay with the volatile and controversial Ozzie Guillen as their manager?

TEXAS: Ron Washington was a well-regarded choice as manager, someone who would entice other players to choose Arlington as a destination. But getting players to come to Texas will be difficult as there are too many whispers of internal conflict. And, as always, the Rangers hit, but they don’t pitch.

There could be good news on the horizon, but it won't come from on the field. Rather it will involve the team's finances. If A-Rod opts out of his contract with the Yankees at the end of the season, the Rangers, who dealt him to New York but are still paying part of his lucrative salary, are off the hook for $27 million in future obligations.

SAN FRANCISCO: Another plan gone awry. Barry Bonds was brought back for his run at the all-time home run record in a year when the All-Star Game comes to San Francisco, yet the team has shown no energy and no offensive punch. The Giants need to be sellers at the trade deadline, but it’s hard to see that there's much they can offer other clubs that would bring to San Francisco much-needed younger players.

HOUSTON: Not much has worked well for the Astros. Carlos Lee has been the intended big bat, and Hunter Pence appears to be a young gem, but there is not enough pop (where have you gone, Morgan Ensberg?), Jason Jennings has yet to flourish away from Denver, and the bullpen is in disorder with the struggles of Brad Lidge.

YANKEES: Obvious and unavoidable. They neither planned nor spent for a sub-.500 first half. And everyone who cares is looking for a reason to be optimistic. Other than a lighter second-half schedule, nothing of an optimistic nature has been evident. How long will the team's aging owner George Steinbrenner put up with such mediocrity given the Yankees have a $200 million plus payroll? That question is one of the most intriguing ones in baseball this season. 

MAIN PAGE

Email this EMAIL THIS

Comments

I 'm a Yankees diehard, and not evena  New Yorker. I felt hopeless a month in and haven't gained a shred of optomism since. Ted Robinson is correct. It's fire sale time, and we need to hunker down for 3-4 years of mediocrity and maybe even disaster in order to restock during the blundering of the last five seasons. The Yankees can no longer spend truck loads of cash to rent Randy Johnson or Roger Clemens. They need to invest in long term prospects and that probably means getting hammered on the field and going through three or four hapless managers over the next five years. Where have you gone Billy Martin ?

misha, Austin TX (Sent Wednesday, July 04, 2007 1:15 PM)

Phew - I was afraid I'd see the Phillies on this list.  Hopefully they'll go on a tear after the All-Star break.  Certinaly they're capable of it!

Jordy C, Canterbury, NH (Sent Thursday, July 05, 2007 2:01 PM)

I BELIEVE MR. STEINBRENNER HAS SHOWN UNBELIEVABLE RESOLVE IN THIS DISAPPOINTING YEAR.... BUT AS IT IS SAID..... THE FAT LADY HAS NOT SUNG YET,,, IT ISNT OVER TIL ITS OVER.  WATCH THE BOMBERS AS THEY COME OUT OF THE ALLSTAR BREAK... THEY ARE MY TEAM AND ALWAYS WILL.  KEEP THE FAITH,,,,,,,BRIAN KATZ

BRIAN KATZ NEWPORT BEACH, CALIFORNIA (Sent Friday, July 06, 2007 10:20 AM)

about the Astros:

Lidge has come a long way from the disappointment we all felt after the homerun from Pujols that still hasn't landed. He's solid now, almost back to Lights Out status. With so much young talent, there's no place for Ensberg, which makes me sad. Don't count them out yet - remember 2005, when they were atrocious and ended up in the Series.

Carolina, Houston (Sent Friday, July 06, 2007 6:24 PM)

how could you not put the St. Louis Cardinals in here? World Champions no less.

wayne, mahomet, il. (Sent Sunday, July 08, 2007 12:42 AM)

As a Yankee fan since 1969 (when the Yanks were mediocre and the Mets ruled NY), I lived through 1978 and am not giving up on the Yankees at all.  I expect all true Yankee diehard fans to feel the same!  GO YANKS!

John Sain, Union City, NJ (Sent Monday, July 09, 2007 6:52 PM)

Man another season in the hole for my beloved Giants. I am finally fed up with Bonds and the jurassic park crew!!! Like I always say.....maybe next season!!!!

Dave T., Anchorage, Alaska (Sent Monday, July 09, 2007 7:04 PM)

i love the Yankees, and i believe A-Rod will lead them to a Victory.I have Faith

joan chiavarone,hamilton nj (Sent Monday, July 09, 2007 7:56 PM)

I think the list is actually very accurate. I'm glad you didn't put the team with the worst record in MLB, Tampa Bay, on the list of disappointing teams.  In that division, just surviving the season and winning some games is an accomplishment and about all that can be expected until some better type of salary cap situation is enacted.

Ike Johnson, Milwaukee, Wisconsin (Sent Tuesday, July 10, 2007 1:15 AM)

The Yanks have a ridiculous payroll, an all-star lineup, and absolutely no excuse for not being the best team in MLB.  I still, to this day, cannot understand why anyone in their right mind would support such a waste-of-space franchise.  Even if they were, in fact, the best team in the league this year, it doesn't negate the fact that they are no more than an overpaid and overrated pop icon. . . a gravitational nucleus for ESPN's drooling analysts.  

And let me reemphasize how their performance rates this year.  How could this not be the number one disappointment in the '07 season?  The only redeeming quality this ball club has to offer is that it gives the millions of Yank-nayers, like myself, something to cheer for when it doesn't meet the plethara of ridiculous expectations it creates for itself.  If you still are a Yankees fan to this day, do everyone else a favor and ask yourself this question. . ."why?"  

Josh (Sent Tuesday, July 10, 2007 10:49 AM)

I do not understand this mentality that the Yankees have been a failure over the last 5 years.  Yes, this year is a big disappointment, but the season isn't over yet. But, over the last 5 years they have averaged 100 wins/season with the best or second best record in baseball for all 5 years, won the division each year and went to 2 world series. any team can win in a 5 game series. They have a great team that has played lousy.  These same guys are capable of playing great ball and catch the other teams.  No firesale is needed.

Dan, Bethesda, MD (Sent Tuesday, July 10, 2007 5:08 PM)

It's pretty tough to argue with any of Ted's choices. The fall of the White Sox has been spectacular, to say the least. They really looked like a good blend of youth and veterans when they won it all a couple of years ago. The Yankees are a really close second to the White Sox as most disappointing team.

Steve Adams, New Hope, MN (Sent Thursday, July 12, 2007 2:22 AM)

"If you still are a Yankees fan to this day, do everyone else a favor and ask yourself this question. . ."why?" - Josh

Why not, they are the team of my youth, since 1969, my first game.  They've won 7 championships in my lifetime.  I've seen 6, and was at Yankee Stadium to witness 2 of them in person.  They've made the playoffs 10 years in a row.  The owners put their money into the team, not their pockets as others do. Now, ask yourself, why do you root for your team?  

John Sain, Union City, NJ (Sent Thursday, July 12, 2007 2:46 PM)

26 World Titles for the Yankees? No more needs to be said.

S. McCoy, Rootstown, Ohio (Sent Tuesday, July 17, 2007 6:47 PM)

Not surprised to see the SF Giants on this list.  A major problem for them has been the signing of "old timers" at the expense of a very pathetic farm system.  I'm afraid Giant fans are in for some tough times for years to come. Go Barry & when you go...KEEP GOING!!!

Keith Nelson, Fresno,CA (Sent Tuesday, July 17, 2007 8:29 PM)

TEXAS?

I'm confused. If Texas is a disapointment to you than that meens you had hope for them in the first place. That sir makes you either an idiot or a victom of extreme memory loss. Perhaps you've forgotten that the Rangers are one of the worst franchises in baseball and always have been. A side from a few lucky division titles in the early 90's we Ranger fans have be constantly jabbed an poked for years. If I here one more excuse of why TX can't attract decent pitching talent I'll shoot myself. disappontment......This way beyond disappointment.....When's football season start?      

Duncan, Fort Worth, TX (Sent Thursday, July 19, 2007 4:38 PM)

The Yankees will overtake the Red Sox. With a starting lineup of Clemens, Pettitte, Wang, Hughes, and Mussina. With Karstens coming off the DL, to help an over burdened bullpen, and starters pitching further into the game. With rising consistency in the second half from Matsui, Abreu, Cabrera, and Phillips, the return of Mientkievicz for defense, Alex Rodriguez's and Derek Jeter's MVP like season and the offensive firepower of Posada. It's a great team that has underperformed, lost confidence at times, gone through much injury,and now turned things around. Here come the Yankees!

David Schoen (Sent Friday, July 20, 2007 6:28 PM)

I would hope that the Giants don't dump Barry Bonds after this season. He is a great draw, and will bring in the fans to see him hit 800 HR. Build a young team, but retain Bonds for 2 more years or whatever Health permits. We should all be pleased to see the greatest hitter of all time, and allow him to finish his career with the Giants. He has so much ability left, and will not stay long enough to reprise the Willie Mays of 1973.By the way Aaron had 755 HRs in 12634 AB, and Bonds has 753 HRs in 9730 ABs. That's 2904 less ABs. And dont't forget the 6 RBIs yesterday.

David Schoen (Sent Friday, July 20, 2007 6:40 PM)



SEND A COMMENT

PLEASE READ: All comments must be approved before appearing in the thread; time and space constraints prevent all comments from appearing. We will only approve comments that are directly related to the blog, use appropriate language and are not attacking the comments of others.

Message (please, no HTML tags. Web addresses will be hyperlinked):

Your name, city and state (John Doe, Seattle, Wash.): 

 Your e-mail address (jdoe@msnbc.com):

Your website (it's okay if you don't have one):

Remember me? (We'll keep it private)