[Ed. Note: If the NBA is where amazing happens, then Fraudtober is where amazingly bad baseball happens. It seems that every October brings a goat -- and being a Cubs fan -- I know October failure when I see it. So after every round of playoffs, there will be a poll after the jump to see who will be named each round's OctoberFraud. In the end, we'll take all the winners and pit them against one another.]
Matt Holliday was not the only star to fall in October. Check out the rest of the OctoberFrauds after the jump.
Holliday's struggles are well documented. He hit only .167 (2-for-12) in the NLDS after posting a .353/.419/.604/1.023 line in 270 plate appearances for the St. Louis Cardinals after posting who were expected to be the National League's representative in the World Series. His homer, one of only two dingers hit by the Cards, gave his team a 1-0 lead in Game 2. But it was his error that opened the flood gates to a Dodgers come-from-behind win, and eventually, a sweep at the hands of the Dodgers.
But he's not the only Cardinal up for the LDS OctoberFraud award. Teammate Joel Pineiro took to the bump for Game 3 and struggled. After going 15-12 with a 3.49 earned run average and 1.145 WHIP, one of Dave Duncan's pet projects allowed four runs on seven hits in four innings in the Redbirds' Game 3 loss.
After winning Game 163, the Minnesota Twins were swept out of the playoffs as All-Star closer Joe Nathan was amazingly bad in his two outings. In Game 2, Nathan allowed a game-tying two-run home run to Alex Rodriguez in what turned out to be an extra-inning loss. He would go on to allow two more runs in the team's Game 3 loss, as well.
Nathan's numbers: 9.00 ERA, 3.00 WHIP, 1 blown save, 5 hits, 2 IP
Boston Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon was more like Papelboned... am I right? In two innings of work, Papelbon posted an 0-1 record, 13.50 ERA, 3.00 WHIP and allowed three earned runs and four hits. His blown save ended the Red Sox's season while sending the Angels to an ALCS showdown with the Yankees.
Let the trade rumors begin!
The only hugs Colorado Rockies closer Huston Street received might have been from Phillies fans, because for the second straight game, Street picked up the "L" as Philadelphia escaped the NLDS to set up another showdown with the Dodgers.
Street's numbers are astonishingly bad, especially for someone who converted 35 saves and notched a 3.06 ERA. In 2.2 IP, Street allowed six hits, four earned runs and posted a 3.38 WHIP en route to failing his October test.
So, who wears the goat horns after the LDS round?
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