Here is the second part to the two-part series discussing the biggest busts in fantasy baseball of all-time. This week we delve into the pitchers who generated the most grief and heartache for many fantasy managers.

Year: 2008
In the preseason, Harang was ranked as one of the top pitchers in the league. He was coming off two 16-win seasons and 200-plus strikeouts in each. He was solidifying his position as a reliable starting pitcher in fantasy baseball. Harang followed that up by going 6-17 with a 4.78 ERA and 153 strikeouts. All his numbers were down across the board in 2008. A quick side note: this makes Harang a great value in 2009.

9. Scott Erickson
Year: 1993
Some may feel Erickson doesn’t belong on this list because he never was good enough to be that big of a bust. Well, Erickson was well on his way to being a top pitcher in the American League in the early ‘90s. In his first three seasons in the big leagues, Erickson was 41-24 with a 3.20 ERA. Those numbers seemed to just disappear in the 1993 season and for the rest of his career. Erickson went 8-19 with a 5.19 ERA and an ugly 1.54 WHIP.

8. Esteban Loaiza
Year: 2004
Loaiza went 21-9 with a 2.90 ERA and 207 strikeouts in 2003. He had never put up numbers quite like that before, so most managers were hesitant to draft him too early. On average, he was a top 50 pick, landing in the fifth and sixth rounds of most drafts. In 2004, Loaiza was a huge dud for both the White Sox and Yankees. He went 10-7 with a 5.70 ERA, 1.57 WHIP and just 117 strikeouts.

Year: 2001
This bust could be filed under biggest free agent busts as well. Hampton threw batting practice during his two miserable years in Colorado. Hampton went 15-10 with a 3.14 ERA for the Mets in 2000 and was 22-4 with a 2.90 ERA for the Astros in 1999. In 2001, Hampton posted a 5.41 ERA and 1.58 WHIP.

5. Curt Schilling
Year: 2005
A consensus second-round pick in 2005, Schilling had more success in the bullpen than as a starter. Battling injury, Schilling missed time and came back to chip in as the closer picking up nine saves. However, that aside, Schilling was a huge bust that year. A year earlier, his first season in Boston, Schilling was 21-6 with a 3.26 ERA and a remarkable 203 strikeouts versus only 35 walks. He was overvalued in most drafts because like most Yankees and Red Sox players, respective fans love to draft their players too soon. Well, they were rewarded with only 93 innings and a 5.69 ERA. 

Year: 1990
Hershiser was entering his prime in 1990 and already had six terrific seasons under his belt. Unfortunately, Hershiser would not pitch past April in 1990. In four starts, Hershiser was 1-1 with a 4.26 ERA. A year earlier, Hershiser posted a 2.31 ERA and 178 strikeouts. And the year before that, Hershiser won 23 games and the Cy Young award with a 2.26 ERA and 1.05 WHIP. Drafting him in 1990 must have been a huge disappointment.
 

1. Chris Carpenter
Year: 2007
How does the saying go again? You can’t win a fantasy league in the first couple rounds, but you can certainly lose one. Well, Carpenter serves as a fine example.  He was drafted seventh overall in my "public" league and kept in my keeper league, Carpenter had an ADP of 29.61 He lasted only six innings into the 2007 season. That's how you lose a fantasy baseball league.

Erik Bedard (2008), Justin Verlander (2008), Barry Zito (2007), Felix Hernandez (2006), Pedro Martinez (2006), Carl Pavano (2005), Jason Schmidt (2005), Javier Vazquez (2004), Roy Halladay (2004), Chan Ho Park (2002), Denny Neagle (1999), Hideki Irabu (1999), Juan Guzman (1994), Ron Guidry (1984)

Ron Guidry had 21(!) complete games in 1983 and followed that up with only 10 wins in 1984. Do you think the list accurately ranked the top ten pitcher busts? Who has been your biggest pitcher bust of all-time?

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How about Oliver Perez 2005?
written by Greg Marta, January 23, 2010

Oliver Perez was my prized keeper at $1 in 2005. Not only did he ruin that fantasy season but as a Met fan his specter still haunts me. Striking out 239 in is 196 innings lead to a 2.98 ERA and 1.15 WHIP in 2004. At the height of Barry Bonds flagrant roid usage he claimed Perez was the toughest pitcher to hit in all of baseball. The persistent train wreck started in 2005 which resulted in a 5.85 ERA, a putrid 1.67 WHIP and 7 wins. My only question about his 2005 season is how in the world did he manage to amass 7 wins (with the Pirates no less)?

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written by MichaelMuschiano, February 04, 2009

Lima and Langston- love it.

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written by MichaelMuschiano, February 04, 2009

I wouldn't be the least bit surprised, that's for sure.

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Great Suggestion
written by MichaelMuschiano, February 04, 2009

I like the follow-up idea and I might run with it for my blog post on Sunday. There are already a few guys that come to mind...

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written by Bippy the Shmoo, February 03, 2009

How about the follow up - pitchers who were an absolute fantasy bust and then followed up with an excellent year or years?

I will never forgive my $3 2007 Ervin Santana or my $1 2007 Cliff Lee, who were both demoted to AAA, torching my ERA, HIP, and Win standings before being sent to the minors, were dropped by me for 2008, and followed up with Cy Young caliber years.

But I'm not bitter. Scumbags.

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others
written by Jason Collette, February 02, 2009

Rich Hill and Ian Snell - 2008
Mark Langston - 1985
Jose Lima - 2000

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written by kevinorris, February 02, 2009

What are the odds that a year from now, Cliff Lee is on this list?

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