when a team needs its star player to really step up and put the team on his shoulders.  The great ones do -- Delgado, Bonds, Guerrero, Hunter, Ramirez, etc. -- whether their team is slumping or not, these guys remain dangerous.
Our multi-million dollar baby on the other hand, would just as soon sit idly by and hit .215.  
Oh sure, "he'll heat up," and hit his 20-30 home runs (most of which will come in games in which one team or the other is up by 5+ runs,)and end up with a half-way decent average.
But let's face it -- does Eric Chavez really scare anybody? (Other than the catcher who knows he'll have to catch a foul pop with runners on base and less than 2 outs.) Do you even remember the last time he really came through with a clutch hit?  I can't. I can remember when Tejada did, when Byrnes did, when Ellis did, when Hatteberg did, even when Giambi did.  But I'll be damned if I can remember one time when Chavez won a game for us.
Eric Chavez is like Scottie Pippen. If he's got someone else on the team taking the pressure off -- if he doesn't have to be the man -- he'll do fine.  But ask him to be the leader, and this is what you'll get.
We gave the wrong guy the money.
I'm sorry -- I know I'll get the typical "you're over-reacting, it's too early, we love Eric" responses because most of you can't see past your green and gold glasses and would rather discuss "who's the cutest Athletic," or "what's the best food at the Coliseum," or "what did you get in first period English," but it's true.
The most uninspired, lackadaisacal, underachieving Athletic in recent memory ..... Eric Chavez hands down.