I still remember being utterly befuddled when I found out Billy Beane had signed Chris Singleton just two days before Christmas of 2002. It was the same sick feeling I had in my stomach when I learned that Beane had inked Emil Brown to a contract last offseason. Really? This guy? Does he haaave to be on our team? Yes, Karl. Yes he does.
But then spring training came around and something wonderful happened. Chris Singleton got injured! Sure it was only a minor strained hamstring or something, but still, it meant Singleton wouldn’t be ready for Opening Day. But then something terrible happened. Singleton actually wasn’t that injured and he played on the first day of the season anyways.
I don’t remember much about Singleton’s 2003, but I do remember that he always seemed incredibly slow for such a fast guy. And that swing. Uhh. So weak. Those hands. So slow.
Looking back at the stats—.245/.301/.340—Chris actually wasn’t as bad as I had hoped he had been. I mean, he cracked the mythical .300 OBP plateau, and statistically, he wasn’t even the worst outfielder on the roster that season. No, not by a long stretch. That honor belonged to Jermaine Dye and his .514 OPS. Although, Dye had torn cartilage in his knee and a separated shoulder, so then again, maybe Singleton was.
Local product, or not, I just never liked the guy. From the day he signed until the day he was released. I never had any intention of giving Chris a chance. It didn’t matter what he did, or what kind of stats he put up. I just didn't want him on the team. In fact, you might say that Chris Singleton is my least favorite Athletic ever. Ryan Langerhans and Rich Becker are up there too, but Singleton, he’s number one.
So what about you? Who’s your least favorite player to ever don the green and gold? Rational loathing welcome, although a mix of the rational and the irrational will probably work out best.
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