Biggest Loser list: Huff coming off

When the first pitch of the Atlanta Braves-San Francisco Giants game occurs around 9:40 EST tonight, the monkey will officially leap off the back of Giants’ first baseman Aubrey Huff.

For a day, Huff Daddy, as he was jokingly referred to for three years in the Orioles clubhouse, is the second active biggest loser in baseball heading into tonight's game. Huff had played 1,479 games without appearing in a playoff game. He’s certainly aware of it. When his Detroit Tigers lost in a one-game tiebreaker last season, Huff joked with friends that it was obviously his presence that killed the Tigers’ playoff chances.

Huff was third on the list behind St. Louis outfielder Randy Winn (1,717 games) and Texas infielder Michael Young (1,508). But Young escaped infamy Wednesday when the Rangers beat the Tampa Bay Rays.

Three of the top four should shed biggest loser status this postseason. No. 4, Philadelphia’s Mike Sweeney, is on the Phillies’ active roster and likely will get into a playoff game at least as a pinch-hitter.

If and when he does, the Orioles will then have three biggest losers in the active Top 10, though two may not be with the team in 2011.

With the departure of Young, Huff and Sweeney, Brian Roberts will move up to sixth with 1,194 games played without a playoff appearance. Corey Patterson (who wasn’t active when the Cubs made the playoffs) will be ninth with 1,097 and Ty Wigginton will be 10th with 1,060.

Thanks to Bill Arnold of Beyond the Box Score for helping me with the list.

Assuming Huff and Sweeney are out, the new Top 10 is: Randy Winn, 1,717; Adam Dunn, 1,448; Vernon Wells, 1,393; Frank Catalanotto, 1,265; Jack Wilson, 1,251; Brian Roberts, 1,194; Felipe Lopez, 1,137; Lyle Overbay, 1,138; Corey Patterson, 1,097; Ty Wigginton, 1,060.



(baltimoresun.com)