Bobby Beat 2003 v7: Season Wrapup: The Ugly

[jiminyhopkins]

Sigh. So here we are. You thought "The Bad" was bad? Ha. Read on.

Center Field
Someone call John Fogerty, maybe he can play this position. Because the Bobwhites sure can't. In fact, Daniel Kerber, one of the players at the centerpiece of the Ken Howell trade, completely lost the ability to play the position. The scouts no longer even rate him there. Kerber was so bad that he recorded a -23.4 Zone Rating, a -3.7 WAR, and a -14.2 VORP in his 355 at bats. Comical "highlights" of Kerber's unique play earned him heavy rotation on SportsCenter for all the wrong reasons. Now, strictly a left fielder, Kerber's days in Washington are most likely over, due to LF being capably manned by the likely JL Rookie of the Year, Jim Wilson. And it doesn't get much better, because for the remainder of the season, CF was manned by waiver wire pickups Doogie Howser and Vince Valiant, who batted .235 and .243, respectively.

Jan $tarr
Yeah, this guy was supposed to be the No. 1 starter for a Bobwhite team that looked to finish above .500 for the first time since 1997. As you may have noticed, it didn't quite work out that way. Jan $tarr had pitched well for the club in 2000 and 2001, but his 2002 season was cut short by an arm injury that scuttled the remainder of that season and made his $15 million contract an albatross. Starr lost a staggering 15 MPH of velocity, being reduced from a 100 MPH flamethrower to tossing it up there in the mid eighties. Washington stuck with him, however, but that faith was short-lived, as the once dominating hurler was released in June with an ERA close to 8.

Shane Christen
Christen, ominously, may be mirroring that career path. An important part of the Ken Howell trade with Las Vegas, the former Bobwhite Christen returned to DC into the open arms of Bobby fans as the #2 starter. But the enthusiasm was short lived. A string of nagging injuries, including two DL stints, has marred the second phase of his Washington career. While he still throws in the upper 90's, Shane has become quite vulnerable to the tune of a 1.5 WHIP and a 6.35 ERA. Not to mention being busted down to mopup duty, having been replaced in the rotation by the likes of waiver claimee Gary Lammond. Shane, making $8.5 million this coming season, may get bought out himself.

How much uglier can it get? It has been nearly SEVEN seasons since the Bobwhites have had any sort of importance in the JL's Atlantic Division. GM Sean Marko keeps making promises to the fans. How much longer will he be able to get away with it?

[salas]

[quote="jiminyhopkins"]Sigh. So here we are. You thought "The Bad" was bad? Ha. Read on.

Center Field
Someone call John Fogerty, maybe he can play this position. Because the Bobwhites sure can't. In fact, Daniel Kerber, one of the players at the centerpiece of the Ken Howell trade, completely lost the ability to play the position. The scouts no longer even rate him there. Kerber was so bad that he recorded a -23.4 Zone Rating, a -3.7 WAR, and a -14.2 VORP in his 355 at bats. Comical "highlights" of Kerber's unique play earned him heavy rotation on SportsCenter for all the wrong reasons. Now, strictly a left fielder, Kerber's days in Washington are most likely over, due to LF being capably manned by the likely JL Rookie of the Year, Jim Wilson. And it doesn't get much better, because for the remainder of the season, CF was manned by waiver wire pickups Doogie Howser and Vince Valiant, who batted .235 and .243, respectively.


Wow, I could've at least given you Philip Hazely...at least a tick above replacement level...