Rafael Palmeiro

2013

There was no outlook written for Rafael Palmeiro.

2006

Apparently Viagra wasn't Palmeiro's only method of pharmaceutical enhancement in 2005, as he celebrated his 3,000th career hit even while knowing he tested positive for steroids earlier in the season and later was suspended 10 games for the violation. Whether or not you choose to believe Palmeiro, his reputation has been tarnished to an extent that he probably won't get a shot at ending his career on a high note as he not only is regarded by fans as a cheater, but also by other players as a traitor because he named names of fellow teammates to baseball and Congress to shake some of the heat. Even if he resurfaces somewhere in 2006, the 41-year-old would receive so much flak that he'd be less effective than in 2005, easily his worst season since 1989.

2005

Palmeiro’s critics blamed his age and declining bat speed. He blamed inconsistencies in his approach to the plate, trying to overcompensate for exaggerated pull shifts. Any way you slice it, the 40-year-old’s home run and RBI totals dropped off significantly in 2004, ending an incredible streak of 10 consecutive non-strike years with at least 37 home runs and 104 RBI. The most surprising thing was that Palmeiro batted only .189 against lefties, against whom he had hit well in the past. The Orioles brought Palmeiro back to be their regular DH in 2005, though he’ll likely sit against many southpaws. He should have a better batting average as a result.

2004

Was 2003 the first signs of old age catching up with Palmeiro? He posted just a .826 OPS against right-handed pitchers, though he was much better (.962) against lefties than normal. He hit just .240/.337/.452 on the road, so a move away from The Ballpark to Camden Yards doesn't bode well. An August where he hit .347 saved him from further disaster, or he would have had three straight months of sub-.247 average to finish the season. His walks dipped a bit, but his K:BB remains solid, so there's some skill left, but a career-low in doubles is troubling. He's been a 40-homer threat each of the last 10 years, but the batting average is starting to slip.

2003

Palmeiro slipped a bit against lefties this year (.220 average in 159 at-bats) but remained his usual steady self. He was a monster after the All-Star break, posting a .401 on-base percentage while slugging .585. He loves hitting at the Ballpark, and is a consistent .280/40 HR/110 RBI threat with increased value in leagues that use on-base percentage as a scoring category. Calf and ankle hampered him in May and June, so expect the occasional nagging injury to bother him from time to time given his age.