Wasn't this supposed to be a year of bigger and better for Brian McCann?

Catchers

Brian McCann, Atlanta Braves

It was supposed to be the 3 M’s (Mauer, McCann, Martinez) and everyone else.  Well, two of those three are on this list starting with McCann.  Despite the success of the Braves as a team, McCann has not been the fantasy force that many expected as the 2007 season was set to begin.  A repeat in home runs, from last year’s 24, wasn’t necessarily expected, but few if any thought he would see such a drop in the batting average.  While he has been productive, by virtue of the fact that he plays catcher, he has not delivered enough to merit the draft position or fantasy dollars likely spent on him this season.  Those that kept him on the cheap merely have an at-value or slightly above producer for their team.

Joe Mauer, Minnesota Twins

To expect a repeat of the .347 average was probably lofty and his .303 is hardly a serious disappointment, but many predicted an increase in power and he is on pace to cut nearly 50% off of his 2006 total.  The dips in four of the five categories are no doubt a disappointment for fantasy owner everywhere.

First Basemen

Lance Berkman, Houston Astros

The Astros have been awful this year, but the team went out and got Carlos Lee to help Berkman.  Lee has been excellent, Berkman not so much.  The giant drops in run production are hampering fantasy owners especially at a position known for power.  The 29 HR-100 RBI pace is hardly something to sniff at, but when you consider that Berkman has not hit below .288 since his 1999 cup of coffee, his .259 pace is clearly hurting his owners.

Carlos Delgado, New York Mets

Delgado’s precipitous drop in power has been well-documented in the fantasy ranks and has his owners griping almost daily.  Worse yet is that he is scheduled to play more games and garner almost 100 more at-bats.  That makes the average drop sting more and the home run plummet even more eye-popping.  He started to show signs of life after the break, but is once again in a slump.

Paul Konerko, Chicago White Sox

Konerko, like Delgado, came out of the break looking poised to have a big second half, but he has also hit the skids in August.  If he keeps pace, he won’t see a huge drop in home runs (just three from the 2006 total of 35), but the run production drop is due in large part to the White Sox inept offense.  That is outlined by the fact that 16 of Konerko’s 23 home runs have been solo shots.

Richie Sexson, Seattle Mariners

The Mariners have been the feel-good story of 2007, but not because of Sexson.  Just imagine where they might be if he was producing the way he normally does.  Last year, Sexson had a brutal first half followed by one of the best second halves in the entire league.  He has not been able to replicate that feat in 2007.  Batting average is always an area of opportunity for Sexson, but this year he is just a rock to his team’s overall average.