Stepping up ... and falling down

Originally Published: August 11, 2004

Josh Beckett is among a few notable players who greatly impressed one season and then disappointed in the next.

Email Share

STAY AHEAD OF THE GAME Become an Insider Today

By Rob Neyer
ESPN Insider
Archive

Baseball players aren't robots.

You knew that already. It's not hard to think of players -- Luis Gonzalez, Melvin Mora, Roy Halladay -- who, with little or no warning, suddenly become a different sort of player. A better player. A slightly less rosy subject are the other sort of players, the ones who look like they've become a better player but, as it turns out, really haven't. Below are my nominations for the best examples of this phenomenon over the last five years.

To continue reading this article you must be an Insider

ESPN The Magazine subscribers

Activate your Insider account »
Need more information?

View Insider Benefits »

ESPN MLB