The Nightmare Team: The Worst San Francisco Giants Of All-Time (Infield)

A few years back Down Goes Brown compiled a list of the worst Toronto Maple Leafs of all-time and called it the Nightmare Team. I thought that was an great idea and decided to compile a list of the worst San Francisco Giants of all-time. The Giants very own nightmare team.

Now when I say the worst Giants players of all-time, I really mean the worst players I've ever seen with my own eyes. I'm sure there were some horrific Giants players from the late 70's to the early 80's but I never saw them. Maybe I should have my dad compile the list of worst Giants from 1958-1993.

My list is basically the worst Giants of the Brian Sabean era. And trust me, there has been some horrific Giants players during the Sabean era. Most of them signed as free agents, but also some that were actually drafted by the Giants. So without further ado, here are the worst San Francisco Giants of all-time, the infield.

Catcher

A.J. Pierzynski (2004)
Why We Hate Him: Just the mention of Pierzynski's name and you'll see Giants fans eyes turn red. Pierzynski was a part of the worst trade in Giants history. He was traded for Joe Nathan, Francisco Liriano, and Boof Bonsor which of course was the worst Giants trade in Giants history. In fact Giants GM Brian Sabean never heard the end of this trade until the Giants won the World Series last year.

On the field and at bat Pierzynski was awful. He lead the league in double plays in 2004, had an OBP of .319, Slugging % .410, and an OPS+ 86.

Off the field, Pierzynski may have been one of the worst Giants clubhouse presence ever. He kneed trainer Stan Conte in the groin, was sold out by Giants teammates to the press for being a "cancer", and was despised by Brett Tomko. What made things worse was that after one season with the Giants, Pierzynski signed a contract with the White Sox and immediately won a World Series while Nathan and Liriano became mainstays with the Twins.

Redeemable Qualities: None. The guy was a terrible player and a worse human being.

Honorable Mention, Eliezer Alfonzo (2004-2005): This may not be fair to Alfonzo because he had to replace an injured Mike Matheny, but he was terrible in his time he played for the Giants. In 2004 he may have hit 12 home runs in 87 games but he struck out 74 times with only 9 walks.


1st Base

Lance Niekro (2005-2007)
Why we hate him: He sucked a lot of people in. In 2005, Niekro platooned with an aging JT Snow. In 278 AB's, Niekro hit 12 home runs and 16 doubles. Giants fans were frothing at the mouth for a young player who came up through the farm to be given his chance to start everyday. That came in the 2006 season and Niekro promptly sucked. I should have known he was going to suck in 2006, because he only had an OBP of .295 when he split time with Snow with 53 strikeouts and 17 walks. Niekro would eventually be bench for Shea "Why didn't no one congratulate me for adopting a third world baby" Hillenbrand.

Redeemable Qualities: He might become the anti-Rick Ankiel in a couple of years.

Honorable Mention, Shea Hillenbrand (2006): Hillenbrand and the immortal Vinnie Chulk were traded to the Giants in mid-2006. The Giants still didn't make the playoffs.

2nd Base

Ray Durham (2003-2008)
Why we hate him: I gotta give Durham credit. He suckered the Giants out of 34 million in five years. In 2002, Durham helped the A's reach the postseason as an outstanding mid-season acquisition. He signed a 3-year deal with the Giants the following season and matched his totals with the A's. Only one problem though, he played a full season with the Giants so those numbers sucked. Then in 2006, Durham's contract year no less, he hit 26 home runs and suckered the Giants into another contract. And then Durham went right back to sucking and was thankfully traded in 2008 to the Brewers to never be seen again.

Redeemable Qualities: Even though he suckered the Giants into another contract, that 2006 season was incredible to watch in hindsight.

Honorable Mention, Emmanuel Burriss (2008-Present): Burriss is a Bochy special. He can play multiple positions but can't play none of them well.

Shortstop

Miguel Tejada (2011-Present)
Why we hate him: Between Rich Aurilia and Omar Vizquel, shortstop has been a black hole for the Giants. I could have picked players like Nefi Perez, Brian Bocock, and even Edgar Renteria. I'm going with Tejada for one simple reason though. His pouty facial expressions and lifting up his arms over his head like he did nothing wrong after grounding out or hitting a pop fly pisses me off.

Redeemable Quality: His injury lead the Giants to trade for Orlando Cabrera. Which means there isn't a redeemable quality about Miguel Tejada.

Honorable Mention, Brian Bocock (2008): It's a little unfair to place Bocock as the honorable mention because he had to start for an injured Vizquel when he had never played beyond Single A. That being said, he was a deer in the headlights.

Third Base

Jose Castillo (2008)
Why we hate him: Joe Castillo represents everything that was wrong with the Giants from 2005 to 2008. The Giants were terrible through those years and Castillo playing in 112 games in 2008 represented that era. Castillo grounded into 16 double plays in 394 ABs. That's a double play for every 24 ABs. Castillo finished the 08 season with the Giants with a -0.5 WAR and was thankfully released in favor of Pablo Sandoval.

Redeemable Quality: Mercifully cut to make way for Pablo Sandoval.

Honorable Mention, Pedro Feliz (2000-2007): I don't think there has been a player that has frustrated Giants fans more.

(The series will continue tomorrow with the Outfielders and Pitchers)