MLB's most disappointing players of 2011

Every season begins with a healthy dose of optimism for both teams and individual players. But inevitably some of those high expectations fall short -- sometimes way short. So in this, the 103rd consecutive year in which the Chicago Cubs will not win the World Series, we list our most disappointing players of 2011.

10. Jason Heyward, OF, Braves. Heyward has seemingly dealt with injuries all season long, but had only one three-week stint on the disabled list. Otherwise, the skills that made him the runner-up in the 2010 NL Rookie of the Year voting have been largely absent. His batting average is down 50 points, his on-base percentage is down over 70 points and slugging down more than 60 points. At one point this month, Jose Constanza was starting regularly ahead of him. Heyward's still only 22 and there are undoubtedly great things ahead, but this season has been a bust.

PHOTO GALLERY:  2011's most disappointing players

9. Ichiro Suzuki, OF, Mariners. One of the most consistent hitters in baseball history, Ichiro is about to have his streak of 10 straight seasons with at least 200 hits come to an end. The proud owner of a .326 career average that ranks second to Albert Pujols among active players, the now 37-year-old Suzuki is hitting just .273. Seattle's anemic offense could be partly to blame, but up until now he's been immune to the disease that's plagued the rest of his teammates.

8. Jayson Werth, OF, Nationals. Perhaps the seven-year, $126 million contract Werth signed in the offseason made it almost impossible for him to live up to expectations, but it shouldn't have been a surprise that his numbers in Washington didn't match those he put up in Philadelphia.Was he supposed to be a table-setter or a run-producer? Turns out he's been neither. He hasn't hit in a consistent spot in the lineup and has scored only 65 runs (compared to 106 in 2010). And after three straight seasons slugging around .500, Werth has fallen to .388 this year.

7. John Lackey, SP, Red Sox. A free-agent signing in 2010 who was pegged as a staff ace, Lackey has become a staff anchor. Following Monday's debacle when he was staked to an 11-5 lead and couldn't finish the fifth inning, Lackey's ERA stands at a wickedly bad 6.49. In the franchise's 110-year history, no one with more than 150 innings pitched has even had an ERA over 6.00.

6. Brian Matusz, SP, Orioles. Speaking of horrid ERAs, the O's lefty could end up with the highest one for a single season EVER. Matusz gave up six earned runs in 1 2/3 innings in that same game against the Red Sox to push his ERA up to 10.68. If he doesn't pitch again this season, he'll eclipse Roy Halladay's 10.64 ERA for the 2000 Blue Jays as the worst in history (minimum 40 innings). Of course, Halladay was able to fix things eventually ... maybe Matusz will too.

5. Pedro Alvarez, 3B, Pirates. A popular breakout pick after he hit .270 with 13 homers and 53 RBI in the second half of last season, Alvarez had a slow start compounded by a leg injury in mid-May. But even during his rehab assignment in the minors, the sweet swing never returned. In 221 at-bats with the Pirates, Alvarez has just four homers, 16 RBI and a .190 average. Even worse, he's struck out in 34% of his at-bats ... and when he does put the ball in play, he's hitting ground balls 55% of the time.

4. Edinson Volquez, SP, Reds. An outstanding first half way back in 2008 (12-3, 2.29 ERA) is really the only indication Volquez has ever shown that he can be a truly effective pitcher in the majors. Ever since, he's either been injured or ineffective. Yet the Reds still tabbed him as their 2011 Opening Day starter. He was demoted to the minors in early July and hasn't shown any improvement since he was recalled earlier this month. His full-season totals: 5-6 record, 5.87 ERA and 62 walks in 96 2/3 innings (5.8 BB/9 -- second-worst among NL starters).

3. Carl Crawford, OF, Red Sox. Another high-profile offseason signing that hasn't quite worked out as Boston execs expected, Crawford is on track for career-lows in batting average (.255), on-base percentage (.292) and stolen bases (18). He's also missed some time with injuries, but someone with his elite speed in one of the best offenses in baseball should have more than 62 runs scored, no matter where he hits in the lineup. Plus, the move to Fenway Park's tiny outfield has taken away one of Crawford's greatest assets, his fabulous range on defense.

2. Hanley Ramirez, SS, Marlins. Shoulder surgery ended his season early, but things started going south long before that. After yet another in-season managerial change, Ramirez showed a brief spark when Jack McKeon took over, however it couldn't help salvage his worst season in the majors. After four straight years with at least a .300 average, 20 home runs and 90 runs scored, Ramirez finished 2011 hitting just .243 with 10 homers and 55 runs.

1. Adam Dunn, DH, White Sox. When it comes to high expectations and low production this season, Dunn tops everyone. After averaging 40 homers and 100 RBI over the past seven seasons, he signed a four-year, $56 million free-agent deal to play his home games in the majors' most homer-friendly ballpark. Perhaps the move to the American League and the unfamiliarity of the DH role were factors, but Dunn has been a colossal bust. His .167 batting average would be the lowest in major league history for anyone with at least 400 plate appearances. And those ultra-consistent power numbers? Vanished. With a week left in the season, Dunn has 11 home runs, 42 RBI and 165 strikeouts in 115 games.