The hype surrounding Beckham came shortly after his appearance in the College World Series which ultimately lead to his selection in the first round of the amateur draft. A prospect with so much praise, Beckham sojourned just weeks at the minor league level before his promotion to the big league club at just 22.

Now in his third major league season, the power hitting second baseman hasn’t measured up to the hype that forecasted a breakout 2011. Instead Beckham has struggled offensively, batting ninth in the White Sox everyday lineup.

Entering the final weekend in May, Beckham's .234 average has fans on Chicago's south side in collective wonder as to why one of the organization's brightest stars has yet to shine. "He went through a lot of tough times last year and overcame it, came back and was the player we thought he was going to be," Guillen said of Beckham to Y! Sports amidst Beckham’s recent 2-22 slide. "But right now, he's striking out quite a few times, and that worries me."

General Manager Kenny Williams has assembled one of baseball's top offensive clubs with several additions in recent years including Adam Dunn (.191, 5 HR, 22 RBI), Juan Pierre (.635 OPS & 7 SB), and the resigning of first baseman and team leader Paul Konerko; with the exception of Konerko, all have disappointed in 2011. With a litany of talented offensive players surrounding the young Beckham, manager Ozzie Guillen has put his second baseman in a position where Beckham can flourish without the pressure that often accompanies budding stars in one of the game's most media heavy cities.

2011 will provide Beckham will his second consecutive full season in Chicago and playing alongside veterans like Omar Vizquel (whose numbers look more like the 1999 version of Vizquel rather than what’s expected of the 41-year-old SS) and Paul Konerko will surely give guidance to a potential organizational building block in Beckham. 

“Hype” is a more fitting term for a developing prospect like Gordon Beckham, meanwhile the struggles of Tampa Bay slugger Evan Longoria are far more disappointing considering he’s coming off of back-to back stellar seasons for a Rays team dependent on their third base star. Through Longoria struggles (.220, 2 HR, 9 RBI in 23 GP) he’s maintained a positive approach at the plate with a .330 OBP, which has been enough so far to keep his Rays afloat. 

"I've got to continue to have good at-bats,” Longoria told RotoWire after a 1-5 outing versus Detroit. “Hopefully that plan and that approach will keep carrying over from day to day.'' Like Beckham, Dunn, and Pierre, Longoria is sure to turn it on when the calendar turns to June. 

Texas’ Ian Kinsler too has fallen victim to the hype entering 2011, manifesting a meager .238 average through his first 50 games. In order to the Rangers to have World Series aspirations the production of Kinsler will be an integral piece of the Texas lineup going forward. With the return of Josh Hamilton and Nelson Cruz, Kinsler will feel less of a burden and possibly resort back to the same form that solidified him as one of baseball’s top second basemen. 

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