Clutch 09-2016: The Best That Never Was (ever going to be)

Mr. Clutch recently saw two similar ESPN “30 on 30” documentaries that detailed the life and times of two NCAA running backs that were both touted as “The Best” to play the game in college at that time. They were Maurice Clarett and Marcus Dupree. The latter of the two was literally the best ever at the position and that episode dons a similar name used here, which is “The Best That Never Was”. Two similar types of stories of kids traveling down a path of imminent success until controllable factors and unguarded protection got in the way.

Now, there are a boat load of stories like this out there, some of which were also featured on the ESPN show. A few of them had an even more tragic ending. These were cases where rising stars died an untimely death before making it to the show. Any old sports fan probably can name a few off the tip such as Len Bias or Ben “Benji” Wilson. These are certainly the worst of the worst since death, though in some cases self-inflicted, is something that not even Houdini was able to come back from – even though he swore he would.

Not being the Grim Reaper, or even one to focus on total failure, the view here will be on professional baseball players that had the cup of coffee, and in some cases a full pot, but just never delivered on the hype that surrounded them.  The reasoning behind that was really just because they were never that good.  These players had a lack of sheer top-level talent and an excess of sales and marketing. They are all nothing short of a shame as these players probably *could* have lived up to their potential if they would have just better utilized the opportunity that was dropped in their lap.

First up was an upcoming star pitcher by the name of David West. At least that’s how the Mets brass sold it. They promoted this guy as the next big thing, and though never proven, it was really all a fugazi.  David spent his first six years in the minors, with his last being his only good one. It was a decent year in AAA, which is what drove his value up as a possible diamond in the rough. In very limited action with the big club he didn’t do much, yet the rumors of his skills continued. The Mets didn’t play him often at risk of him continuing to be bad which would lead to plummeting value. Instead, they held and kept his price artificially high.

West was arguably the key cog in a five-for-one trade that brought Sweet Music to Flushing. Yup, the Twins were the suckers that thought they were getting a young stud for Old Man River. Well, Viola worked out pretty good for the Mets, though a sidebar to the trade was that a “Throw in” of the five was mediocre pitcher Rick Aguilera who ended up being an iconic closer. The Twins lucked out there because West was a complete bust for them. Overall West had a pretty bad baseball career including a return back to the minors 11 years after his major league debut. The biggest sucker of all was the Phillies – who paid him $1mm in 1995 after coming off a 4-10 season the year previous.  West holds the dubious record of pitching to an ERA of infinity in the 1991 World Series.

Next up is Brad Pitt, played by Billy Beane. Actually it’s the other way around as featured in the movie “Moneyball”. Beane was supposed to be the Mets savior when debuting in 1984. For years previous to that he was touted as the Mets outfielder of the future, with some of those touters even putting him ahead of the great Daryl Strawberry.  Putting up decent minor league numbers, Beane only had 18 at bats as a Met before they pulled the plug. Talk about a short leash. He then played a half a season for the Twins via a Mets trade (Yes the same Twins that would trade for West a few years later!). Billy’s career ended with a cup of coffee with the Tigers and Athletics. 300 career at bats spanned over five professional seasons with way less than stellar stats.

Fortunately for Beane – he was way better of a baseball general manager than a player. He, in partnership with Paul DePodesta (Who? Exactly, no fame or credit), came up with the low cost high output A’s teams of the early 2000’s. It was the use of Sabermetrics and the crux of the movie starring Pitt and a bloated Jonah Hill (Hill played the DePodesta role under a fake name). Beane doesn’t exactly fit the bill of this subject matter, since he did end up as a success. But, he is a pretty good example of a top prospect who had one of the worst careers that was not plagued by injuries or any other factors. He just flat out couldn’t do it on the big stage.

Last but not least is a blast from the past who technically never played for the Mets. My guess is you will smile or laugh when you hear the name Shawn Abner. Abner was one of those classic #1 draft picks who some “Genius” in the Mets organization thought was the best player out there in 1984. Not to add insult to injury, but a few players you may have heard of were drafted way after Shawn. Jay Bell at #8, Mark McGwire was #10 and Terry Mulholland was the 24^th pick. Three players that far far and away had better and longer careers than the Mets pretty boy.

It was pre-internet days but the word on the literal street was the Abner was going to be a star. He was so good that while in AAA the Mets threw him in the mix of a deal known simply as the swap of left fielders named Kevin. The Mets sent Abner along with gang banger Kevin Mitchell to Padres for farmer Ted Kevin McReynolds. Both Kevins did more for the Mets in a single season than Abner would do in his entire short-winded career. Abner was an athlete, now doubt, just not a major league baseball player. Another #1 bites the dust.