Adam LaRoche needs to take one for the team.

Adam LaRoche is without a doubt this year’s most disappointing player, and it’s not like he doesn’t have any competition. Garrett Atkins, Ryan Howard, Mark Redman and Bobby Abreu have all staked a claim, but LaRoche has outdone them all. He has been totally, completely, thoroughly 100 percent awful.

Currently, LaRoche is hitting an anemic .193 with four HR and only 20 RBIs. He’s slugging just .331. Ick.

On the plus side, LaRoche has walked 25 times and he’s been hit by a pitch once, which is halfway to his 2006 total — and we’re still a week away from June! If he keeps it up, he’ll match his career high of 4 HBPs, set in 2005.

I think LaRoche needs to embrace the HBP as a way of getting on base. After all, if quality players like Chase Utley and Craig Biggio can take one for the team on a regular basis, than surely LaRoche can stomach getting beaned on occasion.

Adam, it’s time to pull a Roger Dorn. Lean into it. Let it hit you. Cause god knows you haven’t been hitting it.

* Shout out to Danny for the LaRoche updates.