Gert T 0 Report post Posted July 19, 2004 On the radio today, a Reds TV commentator was talking about how he saw nothing in Wily Mo Pena being a good OF at the major league level. While Wily Mo is not a superstar yet, I also felt the same way. So my question is (and going both ways) what players did you think would never be that good at the pro level had good-great careers and vice versa? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Vitamin X Report post Posted July 19, 2004 I was one of those who thought Leaf would be a better player than Manning. He really did have the stronger arm, but his character/arrogance/injury problems led to him being the infamous bust that he is. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dangerous A 0 Report post Posted July 19, 2004 Heath Shuler. Nuff said. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
the max 0 Report post Posted July 19, 2004 Most everyone had Eric Lindros as the next big thing in the NHL, the guy to lead the league into the millenium as its star. They were very wrong. I was wrong about Joe Thornton being the saving grace of the Bruins franchise, to step in for Bourque and be the man. But, at the same time, I thought Samsonov had 'bust' written all over him, the same with Bergeron. So, I was happily wrong there. I never thought the Pedro Martinez trade would work out as well as it did. I thought the Red Sox had gotten a very good starter, but what followed were the Pedro Martinez: Man or Machine? years in Boston. A no-hitter waiting to happen every five days. But, at the same time, I was wrong about so many numerous "big stars" in the Red Sox organization. "Stars" like Tim Naehring, Phil Plantier, Scott Cooper, Bob Zupcic, Aaron Sele, Jeff Suppan, etc. The list is a mile fucking long. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
the pinjockey 0 Report post Posted July 19, 2004 I thought the Eagles should have taken Ditka's "Draft for Ricky trade" and then taken Cade McNown with the Saints first rounder. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
starvenger 0 Report post Posted July 19, 2004 Baseball is notoriously bad at hyping draft picks as "the next big thing" or "can't miss". With the farm system set up as it is, these guys can get lost in the shuffle very fast. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gert T 0 Report post Posted July 19, 2004 Baseball is notoriously bad at hyping draft picks as "the next big thing" or "can't miss". With the farm system set up as it is, these guys can get lost in the shuffle very fast. Great point, earlier in the day the same guy (Chris Welch FSN Ohio) commented the same thing about Homer Bailey. Bailey was the USA Today Player of the Year and a "can't miss" but he also mentioned a few of the other Reds pitching prospects who were can't miss as well, to the point I don't remember both their names! I have to admit to I was in the same boat with Manning/Leaf. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NoCalMike 0 Report post Posted July 19, 2004 Desmond Howard as WR..... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Der Kommissar 0 Report post Posted July 19, 2004 Count me in for those who thought Leaf would be better. I also was PISSED when the Pistons decided to trade Grant Hill for only the two guys they had signed from Orlando(Ben Wallace + Chucky Atkins.) I always felt they should have tried to get a first rounder or something out of the deal, since teams seem to toss those around like candy anyway. In hindsight, I still would have loved to see a first round added, as it could have ended up being a decent first round pick. The Pistons still easily won the trade though. I was also pissed when they fired Rick Carlisle and hired Larry Brown. I couldn't figure out why they hired the older Brown to win them an NBA Championship, when, at the time, he had never won an NBA Championship. Guess I was wrong about that one. I thought the team of Charlie Batch and Germane Crowell were going to lead the Lions to the Super Bowl one day. I thought Matthieu Biron was going to be a star at one point. Given, I didn't exactly like when the Lightning traded Adrian Aucoin to get him, but I felt he'd turn into something. On the plus side, Rick Dudley has the honour of being one of the few to be schooled in a trade by Mike Milbury. He must be very proud. EDIT: How could I forget? Tim Biatkabutka(sp?) *shakes head* Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gert T 0 Report post Posted July 19, 2004 I thought the Rams made a mistake taking Torry Holt at #6 in the '99 Draft instead of Troy Edwards. I'm fired. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lt. Al Giardello 0 Report post Posted July 19, 2004 I thought MJ would tear it up in baseball. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HarleyQuinn 0 Report post Posted July 19, 2004 I thought Chris Canty was a fabulous selection for the Patriots in the 1997 Draft, ugh. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
EVIL~! alkeiper 0 Report post Posted July 19, 2004 Great point, earlier in the day the same guy (Chris Welch FSN Ohio) commented the same thing about Homer Bailey. Bailey was the USA Today Player of the Year and a "can't miss" but he also mentioned a few of the other Reds pitching prospects who were can't miss as well, to the point I don't remember both their names! The rule here is that high school pitchers are usually not prospects. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
UZI Suicide 0 Report post Posted July 20, 2004 I thought former Mariners minor league pitcher, 6'10" lefty Ryan Anderson a.k.a the "Little Unit" would dominate baseball for a long time. He was dominating in the minor leagues but some freak shoulder injuries hit him and I have no idea where he is now. My biggest flub would be thinking Ryan Leaf was better than Manning. Being a Pac-10 guy I was hugely favoring Leaf. I saw Leaf as a 4,000 yard passer every year and Manning just being an ok starter who would bounce around the league. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
EVIL~! alkeiper 0 Report post Posted July 20, 2004 I thought former Mariners minor league pitcher, 6'10" lefty Ryan Anderson a.k.a the "Little Unit" would dominate baseball for a long time. He was dominating in the minor leagues but some freak shoulder injuries hit him and I have no idea where he is now. Still in the Mariners' organization. Various arm injuries have kept him out of action entirely since 2000. A report from USA Today says he could begin playing again any time now. No clue on whether or not he has anything left. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DangerousDamon 0 Report post Posted July 20, 2004 I thought former Mariners minor league pitcher, 6'10" lefty Ryan Anderson a.k.a the "Little Unit" would dominate baseball for a long time. He was dominating in the minor leagues but some freak shoulder injuries hit him and I have no idea where he is now. Still in the Mariners' organization. Various arm injuries have kept him out of action entirely since 2000. A report from USA Today says he could begin playing again any time now. No clue on whether or not he has anything left. he was really great back in high school when he played at Dearborn Divine Child in Michigan. I was in like 6th grade and he was a senior, and his team played after our like middle school teams did. My dad who knew enough as a former draft prospect to make a somewhat reasonable analysis said that he would be a major league starting pitcher before he was 23 which i figure he would have been had not injuries got in his way. Hell the Tigers were thinking of taking the hometown star with the #1 pick in the 1998 Draft. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
EVIL~! alkeiper 0 Report post Posted July 20, 2004 He was good enough to play in the majors by 2001, when he was just 21. But that's the problem with pitching prospects. Injuries weed out a lot of them before they reach the big leagues. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lt. Al Giardello 0 Report post Posted July 20, 2004 Everyone should be honest on LeBron James. Alot of people thought he would bust and wanted him to bust. I didn't think he would be as great as he was this season, but I thought he would develop into a great player. But he proved everyone wrong. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
teke184 0 Report post Posted July 20, 2004 I remember back in the late 80s / early 90s, when the Braves sucked, they had to pass on a must-pick prospect at the #1 slot named Todd Van Poppel because he said he wanted to go to college first. He subsequently signed with the Oakland As, the defending World Series champions. They ended up taking someone who just sounded like a bust. I remember saying to myself "Chipper Jones? What the fuck kind of name is that?" Considering that Jones is a great player and Van Poppel is a Trivial Pursuit answer, I guess we know who got the better end of that one. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NoCalMike 0 Report post Posted July 20, 2004 Van Poppel was throwing in the mid-90's range right out of highschool, being an A's fan, I was so juiced to get him, what a damn bust he was. He had chance after chance after chance.... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kahran Ramsus 0 Report post Posted July 20, 2004 I thought Tracy McGrady would flop in Orlando without his cousin to hold his hand. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Salacious Crumb Report post Posted July 20, 2004 I'll agree about Willy Mo Pena. My friend and I were ripping on him pretty hard at the start of the season but he's been on fire since coming back with 13 HRs and a .295 average. He's been awesome as a pinch hitter as well. Todd Jones has been a pleasant surprise this year as well. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gert T 0 Report post Posted July 20, 2004 Pena was basically a joke of the Reds front office ineptitude and ownerships cheapness, as he had no business on the big league roster last season, but the Reds were out of options on Wily Mo. But I'll say I am getting full on the Wily Mo crow pie. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stahl 0 Report post Posted July 20, 2004 Kordell Stewart... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Anglesault Report post Posted July 20, 2004 After being really, really, really wrong on a certain Yankee about ten years ago (Who I will not name, because it embarasses me to this day) I've built up a long streak of pikcing the winners and losers to come through the organization. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lt. Al Giardello 0 Report post Posted July 20, 2004 After being really, really, really wrong on a certain Yankee about ten years ago (Who I will not name, because it embarasses me to this day) I've built up a long streak of pikcing the winners and losers to come through the organization. Brien Taylor??? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Mindless_Aggression Report post Posted July 20, 2004 I thought Michael Olowakandi was gonna be awesome. He had size, speed, agility and some good post moves. He also had the work ethic of a crippled baby calf. Tis a shame. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
therealworldschampion 0 Report post Posted July 20, 2004 I thought Larry Hughes was a good draft pick for the Sixers. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
smh810 0 Report post Posted July 20, 2004 I thought Matthieu Biron was going to be a star at one point. Given, I didn't exactly like when the Lightning traded Adrian Aucoin to get him, but I felt he'd turn into something. On the plus side, Rick Dudley has the honour of being one of the few to be schooled in a trade by Mike Milbury. He must be very proud. Dude, I was nauseated once I heard about that trade on the radio, here we are finally getting a No.1 Defenseman and we trade him for a prospect. I didn't care how good or bad he (the prospect) was it was a horrible mistake. As far as my blunders well, I was excited when the D-Rays picked up Ben Grieve... oh well. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Olympic Slam Report post Posted July 20, 2004 Van Poppel was throwing in the mid-90's range right out of highschool, being an A's fan, I was so juiced to get him, what a damn bust he was. He had chance after chance after chance.... My stack of Van Poppel rookie cards..........could they be any more worthless? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
