Mike Leone of FF Toolbox.com ranks the top 10 fantasy pitching busts as the season draws near.
1. Carlos Zambrano, SP, Chicago Cubs
Carlos Zambrano is no longer a top fantasy pitcher. He has never had the best head on his shoulders and has always walked too many batters (2nd in majors in walks last season). Now, there are a couple of more red flags that should be associated with Zambrano. Last year, Zambrano threw more pitches than anyone else in the majors. Couple that with the fact that he may have been overthrowing in an attempt to prove that he deserved a large contract and you have an injury risk on your hands. His K/IP dropped from .981 to .818, which is certainly alarming….
2. Dontrelle Willis, SP, Detroit
I know I’m picking on the Tigers pitching, but there is just too much hype surrounding Willis. Often when a player gets traded, he receives a lot of unwarranted attention. It seems that people forget how mediocre or below-average that player was before. This is the case with Willis. He was awful last year; opponents hit .294 off of him in the lowly NL where you face a pitcher instead of a DH. Imagine what AL hitters will do to him (last year the NL hit .268 and the AL hit .272). On top of that, only 6 pitchers walked more batters than Willis last season…
Interesting. I doubt anyone would fall off their chair if Willis craps out again, but Zambrano as the biggest pitching bust in ’08? Sure, fantasy publications might overvalue him a tad, but he should sniff 18 wins again and I wouldn’t be shocked if he gets his K’s back around 200. He should also have more run support this year as the Cubs continue to improve their lineup.
