Consider: your favorite team has worked hard to upgrade their lineup so that, on paper, it is one of the more fearsome collections in the entire league when spring training gets underway. It had balance from the left and right side, it had players that would work the count and take a walk if needed, it had power coming from all angles and it felt very complete.
It was a good lineup.
Now?
Well...
- the left fielder is having trouble staying above the Mendoza line
- the catcher and first baseman have paltry slugging percentages compared to their standards from previous seasons
- the right fielder is now the DH and the DH is now the right fielder
- the third baseman seems to have slunk back into old habits and is struggling badly
- the shortstop(s) have struggled to drive the ball with any kind of authority
Oh, now the second baseman is hurt.