#66: Todd “Ain’t No” Hollandsworth “Back Girl”
Raise your hand if you were clamoring for Todd Hollandsworth to start in right field over Sammy Sosa in 2004. Shame on you, you silly bastard. Hollandsworth was what he was, a nice part-time player and solid pinch hitter. What he wasn’t was a starting outfielder. Yet the Cubs were, for some reason, comfortable going into the 2005 season with Hollandsworth’s permulleted locks patrolling left field.
And they reaped what they sowed.
Hollandsworth was not good as a regular in 2005. It certainly didn’t help that he was part of an outfield which also consisted of Corey Patterson and Jeromy Burnitz, the three of them combining for more than 250 strikeouts against fewer than 100 walks. But, hey. At least they were all left-handed. Hurray?
Moreover, Hollandsworth’s legs were apparently made of some sort of porcelain-crystal-glass alloy which shattered at the first hint of any sort of running, jumping, sliding, or hitting, none of which are, of course, important to playing the game of baseball.
Oh, and Hollandsworth is the second guy on The Bottom 126 to look like Dave Coulier (a.k.a. Uncle Joey). Even his Baseball Reference page sponsor points it out. Reminding me of the lonely days of “Thank God It’s Funny” is never a good idea, Todd.
Low Point: June 27, 2004. Hollandsworth is having a productive season as a pinch-hitter and part-time player. Then, in a game against the White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field, Hollandsworth fouls a ball off his leg in the third inning. His shin shatters into a million tiny shards. Not only does it end Hollandsworth’s season, but Tom Goodwin has to take his place during the at-bat. He strikes out. Surprise!
Did You Know? In 1996, Hollandsworth won the NL Rookie of the Year while with the Dodgers, which was the 5th consecutive RoY for a Dodger, a Major League record. That streak started with former Dodgers first baseman Eric Karros.
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Comments
Bad Kermit Oh, damnit, Slak. You just made me look at Karros’s stats for that year. They’re way better than I remembered. Thanks a f@#$ing lot.
No, seriously. Thanks a f@#$ing lot.
Pre You can’t put Karros on the list, he was pretty decent if nothing special. He even took out that add in the tribune that I thought was cool of him. And, we got him and Grudz for Todd Hundley.
Bad Kermit I agree. For some reason, I remembered his numbers as far worse than they were (even though I always thought he was a cool guy, and he’s actually a good broadcaster). That’s okay. I had someone in reserve who I wanted on there, anyhow. Never fear, Karros-lovers. He’s not on the list.
Slaky Ok, I see where Pre has mentioned a few of my favorite things about EK. Long live Karros.
[...] re-sign Moises Alou after the 2004 season, and everyone was all, “Awesome! We have Todd Hollandsworth and Jason Dubois!” You don’t? That’s because no one said that. Look, Alou sucked [...]
CT
bocaj
StPatrick
TDubbs
BigFlax
*Raises hand*