Chasing The Storm 2036-7 The Season's Biggest Disappointment

[njherdfan]

As every baseball fan, and really every person, knows, not everything in life can go right. Sometimes, despite the best-laid plans, the result won't match your expectation. With that piece of advice in mind, let's take a look at the players on the Seattle Storm who didn't quite live up to expectations, and see whether there's hope for a better tomorrow.

This year Seattle's biggest disappointment was, without question, Pat Crum. As franchise icon Juan Escobar's bat began to slow down with age, and his glove became significantly worse, Seattle fans weren't worried. They knew that they had a prized prospect waiting to come up: in 2035, Crum posted a .904 OPS in AAA, and he posted a .982 OPS the previous season in AA. Seattle fans were sure that, even if he didn't quite match those impressive numbers, he would be a positive force in Seattle's line up.

To put it mildly, that is not what happened. Crum struggled out of the gate, and he never seemed to find his swing. Despite starting for most of the season, Crum only posted an OPS of .728, and he was gradually dropped down in the batting order throughout the season. As if he was proving a point, Juan Escobar, who many Seattle fans had believed was finished, posted an OPS of .825.

Heading into this offseason, Seattle fans are wondering what to expect out of Crum. With Escobar signed to a cheap extension, it's possible that many Seattle fans will be clambering for the beloved franchise icon to be the everyday first baseman. While it's unlikely that Seattle will simply close the door on Crum after only one season, it's clear that Crum's honeymoon in Seattle is over, and he will need to produce if he wants to keep his roster spot next season.