Grade-F Sizemore

Last night the Tribe put up 9 runs against the Angels and collected 18 hits. Everyone on the team had at least one hit, and seven players had two or more. Oh, everyone except one guy: Grady Sizemore.

Going into the 2010 season, ESPN ranked Sizemore 14th overall in the American League, meaning they projected him to be the 14th most valuable player in the AL on the Player Rater at seasons end. He was projected as the 4th most valuable outfielder, and ranked 11th among batters.

Yahoo! was even more optimistic, ranking Grady 11th overall in the AL, and positing a little green upwards arrow next to his name, predicting that soon he'd be shooting up the board to an even meatier spot.

Fanball.com was drooling in expectations, ranking him 8th overall in the AL.

On February 22nd, 2009, over a month before last year's season started, I worked out a trade with another manager, over the phone, to get Grady. I gave up Bobby Abreu (he had been shipped to the Angels in the off season) and an 8th Rd Draft pick that became Pat Burrell.

At the time, it looked like a steal. A 26-year-old All-star coming off a 30/30 season and about to enter his prime for a 35-year-old outfielder and Pat Burrell.

Ignoring Burrell completely, the trade has not worked out. Grady was hurt most of last season and struggled when he did play. Abreu had a terrific season and in 2010 he's picked up right where he left off.

So far in 2010, Grady is batting .191 with no homers, only 1 steal, and he's struck out 16 times.

ESPN has him pegged for 24 homers, 25 SB, and 97 runs. He best get crackin'.

Based on his various rankings and ADP, and excluding injured guys, I'd say he's the biggest bust of the year so far.

Unless you count this one.

NOTE ADDED 5/08/10: It looked like Sizemore was finally breaking out of his slump last night, hitting a towering homer to right in his first at bat and singling in his next plate appearance. Mother nature would not let it be though, as torrential rain halted the match before the 5th inning could even begin. The stats were lost in the douwnpour and the game was postponed, making Grady's first dinger and 2-for-2 start unofficial and uncounted.