Overrated and Overstated

I don't know about you but there are a couple of players in Major League Baseball that seem to get a lot of credit for doing what other ballplayers seem to do everyday. Oh, and they get paid a lot more than others as well. I am tired of seeing these guys get attention they don't deserve so I am going to give the attention they DO deserve and put these guys in the overrated bin.

B.J. Upton, OF, Tampa Bay Rays. What exactly is this guy known for anyway? A remarkable 2008 Postseason? He can steal 40 bases? Great, so can Scott Podsednik. Because he managed to hit .300 just once in his career so far, in 2007? The fact is he isn't even the best Upton in baseball, with that honor going to Justin Upton who is three years his junior. B.J. Upton has been in baseball since 2004 when he made his debut as a 19 year old kid. There was a lot of promise with this kid but he has not become the player everyone he though he would be. The reason? He strikes out a ton. He has whiffed 704 times in 2,487 at bats. Not the absolute worse strikeout ratio in the league but last year he set a career high for strikeouts when his plate patience should be getting better. He is only a career .260 hitter and has only gone backwards since getting his .300 in 2007 with showings of .273 in 2008, .241 in 2009, and .237 last season. The good news is he is off to a much better start in 2011....yep, he is hitting .250. I could live with strikeouts if there was pop in a bat but B.J. has hit more than 20 only once, also in 2007, and has eclipsed 15 homers only one other time, last year when he hit 18. So what is B.J. Upton? Baseballreference.com lists his top ten similar batters as: Mark Teahan, Rob Mackowiak, Robert Rick, Glenn Braggs, Chris Singleton, Junior Felix, Mike Blowers, Nate McClouth, Oddibe McDowell, and Wes Helms. Not exactly a stellar group right there. B.J. Upton, you are overrated! But you do play a nice centerfield.

Nate McClouth, OF, Atlanta Braves. This is what happens when you have to have a representative from every team in the All-Star game, you get Nate McClouth. Nate played for the Pirates so of course he was going to make an All-Star team. But seriously, this guy is robbing the Braves of $6.5 million this year. He is living off of his age 26 season in 2008 where he led the NL in doubles with 46, hit 26 home runs, and drove in 94 with a .276 AVG. Every year since then his numbers have gone down. Granted injuries have played a role but nothing about him shouts MLB regular. Sorry Atlanta, you got a fourth outfielder here making $6.5 million. The good news is they can buy him out after this season for $1.25 million. But he can play defense.

Mark Reynolds, 3B, Baltimore Orioles. How does a guy who has 122 jacks in 578 games make this list? By striking out 782 times during his career. He has led the National League 3 times in 4 seasons in strikeouts with only his first season bringing him less than 130 strikeouts (129 in 111 games). Reynolds is now an Oriole, leaving behind the National League record books for potential American League ones. One might be able to live with Reynolds at the hot corner if he were a stellar fielder but he is not even replacement level in that department, posting a -3.2 dWAR (defensive wins above replacement) for his career. Oh, and he is a .242 career hitter who hit just .198 last season. Yes, the Diamondbacks put a .198 hitter in the lineup everyday last season. Why? because he hit 32 homers last year and 44 in 2009? Not worth it in my opinion. The good news is with him at the plate the Orioles fans can expect a breeze to keep them cool in what is going to be another long summer at Camden Yards. I am truly shocked anyone would give this guy an everyday job. Well, maybe there is hope after all...Reynolds has only struck out 15 times in 15 games this year....but has only 1 homer and is hitting .224. Wow. Upgrade in Baltimore? I think the Orioles would be better off with Brooks Robinson and he is 73 years old!