After winning at least 15 games each of the past five seasons, who could have predicted that Mark Mulder would win just six games and post an ERA almost double what it was last year? Who knew that reigning AL Cy Young winner Bartolo Colon, Mark Prior and Eric Gagne would combine for two wins and one save? Every season, a ton of players around the diamond flop because of injuries, poor play or loss of a job. This year was no different. After combining for 113 homers and 344 RBI in 2005, Derrek Lee, Gary Sheffield and Hideki Matsui have hit 100 less home runs and have driven in 288 fewer runs. In this edition of Inside the Numbers, we are going to break down 2006’s biggest busts in fantasy – and don’t expect to see Pam Anderson or Angelina Jolie on this list.

Mulder and the One-Win Boys
Mark Mulder, SP STL 6-7, 7.14 ERA, 50 K, 35 BB in 93.1 IP
Mark Prior, SP CHC 1-6, 7.21 ERA, 38 K, 28 BB in 43.2 IP
Kerry Wood, SP/RP CHC 1-2, 4.12 ERA, 13 K, 8 BB in 19.2 IP
Bartolo Colon, SP LAA 1-5, 5.11 ERA, 31 K, 11 BB in 56.1 IP
John Patterson, SP WAS 1-2, 4.43 ERA, 42 K, 9 BB in 40.2 IP

It’s a bit odd that Oscar Villarreal (9-1) has more than twice the victory totals of Prior, Wood, Colon and Patterson… combined. Mulder just revealed that he is considering season-ending surgery for his left shoulder. He’s got just one victory in the past 2 1/2 months and is doing more damage every time he throws. After amassing 88 wins in the past five years, the southpaw should just mail in this season. The Cubs supposed aces have been magnates for injuries throughout in their careers, and neither won more than one game in ’06. They both have the potential to be dominating on the mound, but have just 30 combined wins the past three seasons.

Under par at the plate
Derrek Lee, SP CHC .271 (35-for-129), 4 HR, 17 RBI, 22 R, 5 SB
Gary Sheffield, OF NYY .309 (38-for-123), 4 HR, 19 RBI, 19 R, 5 SB
Hideki Matsui, OF NYY .261 (31-for-119), 5 HR, 19 HR, 21 R
Barry Bonds, OF SF .255 (75-for-294), 19 HR, 58 RBI, 57 R
Jim Edmonds, OF STL .260 (87-for-335), 18 HR, 65 RBI, 50 R, 4 SB
Morgan Ensberg, 3B HOU .232 (79-for-340), 20 HR, 51 RBI, 59 R
Dmitri Young, OF/1B DET .265 (40-for-151), 7 HR, 22 RBI, 19 R
Aaron Rowand, OF PHI .262 (106-for-405), 12 HR, 47 RBI, 59 R, 10 SB
Marcus Giles, 2B ATL .270 (123-for-455), 10 HR, 50 RBI, 77 R, 9 SB
Brian Giles, OF SD .266 (130-for-488), 11 HR, 65 RBI, 70 R, 7 SB

Lee, Matsui and Sheffield have nearly identical power numbers due to season-long maladies. All still hold faith they can return in September, but are obviously very risky options if you are still in a fantasy race. Bonds needs 30 home runs to tie Hank Aaron (755) for the all-time lead. He’s got 19 now, including his first two-HR game on Tuesday against Atlanta. If he can stay healthy for another season, and that’s a big IF, he could break the historic record sometime around August 2007. The Giles brothers have had some value at times this season, but they can each call 2006 a career-worst campaign.

Aces Wild
Pedro Martinez, SP NYM 9-5, 3.84 ERA, 125 K, 35 BB in 122 IP
Jake Peavy, SP SD 7-13, 4.51 ERA, 174 K, 50 BB in 161.2 IP
A.J. Burnett, SP TOR 6-6, 4.53 ERA, 73 K, 26 BB in 91.1 IP
Tim Hudson, SP ATL 11-10, 4.85 ERA, 112 K, 64 BB in 182 IP
Mark Buehrle, SP CHW 11-11, 4.71 ERA, 85 K, 41 BB in 175.2 IP
Dontrelle Willis, SP FLA 9-10, 4.01 ERA, 126 K, 67 BB in 179.1 IP
Oliver Perez, SP/RP PIT/NYM 2-10, 6.78 ERA, 68 K, 56 BB in 81 IP

Pedro started out great, but faltered mightily the past couple months. In fact he’s got as many trips to the disabled list as victories since the All-Star break. Hudson, Buehrle, Burnett and Willis are 37-37 , while former Padre teammates Oliver Perez and Jake Peavy wish they were close to .500 pitchers. With the jury still out on Perez, the rest of the guys on the list are bona fide Cy Young candidates when they are on their game, and should both bounce back stronger next year.

Unable to close the door
Eric Gagne, RP LA 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 1-for-1 S, 3 K, 1 BB in 2 IP
Derrick Turnbow, RP MIL 4-8, 24-for-32 S, 5.86 ERA, 62 K, 35 BB in 51.2 IP
Brad Lidge, RP HOU 0-4, 27-for-32 S, 89 K, 32 BB in 60 IP

Gagne once slammed the door 63 straight times over two seasons a few years back, and was unquestionably the best closer in the NL for a three-year period. He recorded an amazing 161 saves from 2002 to 2004 with an ERA below 2.00, but has been held to just nine saves the past two seasons. Be cautious with him next year. Although Turnbow and Lidge were nasty early on, the two have each been ousted from their closer’s role several times throughout the season.

Below expectations behind the dish
Jason Varitek, C BOS .243 (74-for-304), 11 HR, 50 RBI, 40 R
Javy Lopez, C BAL/BOS .257 (86-for-335), 8 HR, 35 RBI, 36 R
Mike Lieberthal, C PHI .254 (46-for-181), 6 HR, 27 RBI, 17 R

Varitek’s absence might be the biggest reason they’ve fallen out of contention in the AL East. His chemistry with Boston’s pitching staff is being severely missed as the Red Sox have gone from in first place to 7 1/2 games behind New York. Lopez is hitting .214 (12-for-56) with no home runs and four RBI in about four weeks in Beantown, and obviously isn’t the answer.

What other players would you consider major busts this season? I’d love to hear your feedback. Matt@CREATiVESPORTS.com