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Roberto Aguayo, Jonathan Drouin, Tim Beckham are coming for revenge

 
From left, former Bucs kicker Roberto Aguayo, ex-Lightning forward Jonathan Drouin and former Rays infielder Tim Beckham. [LOREN ELLIOTT | Times; DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times; Getty Images]
From left, former Bucs kicker Roberto Aguayo, ex-Lightning forward Jonathan Drouin and former Rays infielder Tim Beckham. [LOREN ELLIOTT | Times; DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times; Getty Images]
Published Aug. 19, 2017

Forget the Three Tenors.

Make it the Three Terrors.

The 2017 Unfulfilled Expectations Tour is about to hit Tampa Bay.

They ought to make T-shirts. And sell safety goggles. And garlic to wear around your neck.

Cut to the second week of the season, Bucs fans. The Bears will be in town Sept. 17, and with them possibly could be Robert Aguayo, whose second-round leg was recently jettisoned by the Bucs. The kick is up and it is ... Any Bucs fans worried? As if Nick Folk won't haunt you enough.

Then comes two of the sinking Rays' final three series of the season, against the Orioles and Lord Baltimore himself, Tim Beckham, the former not-Buster-Posey No.1 draft pick who was traded by the Rays and instantly became a wrecking crew, making like he was the one born in Baltimore, not Babe Ruth. Any Rays fans fearing a Beckham called shot?

And there is Dec. 28. That's when the Montreal Canadiens come to play the Lightning at Amalie Arena — the return of pucks bad boy, Jonathan Drouin, the former top Lightning draft pick who was traded this offseason. Bolts fans beware. He shoots, he scores! Happy Christmas.

What events these could be.

Foreboding and Dread are the opening acts.

Understand that the Bucs, Rays and Lightning had good reasons to give up on these three kings. They didn't live up to their billing here. Aguayo was awful. Beckham never found his stride despite loads of chances. Drouin once quit on his franchise and often forgot that a hockey rink has two ends.

Aguayo, Beckham and Drouin — as simple as ABD. They didn't match their promise here, but if they find themselves, look out. It happens in a lot of other places, former players tormenting their old teams. It doesn't mean that the ABD line will haunt their former franchises forever. But they could hum a few bars. That possibility is enough to start panic in our streets.

Fatalist Bucs fans can just imagine Aguayo beating them late in that September game. Rays fans can picture Beckham, man on fire. Think Lightning fans can't see Drouin averaging a point a game with Montreal?

The Rays haven't been all that haunted by their moves. Okay, drafting Bobby Abreu in 1997 and immediately trading him to the Phillies for: Kevin Stocker. Or leaving their former No. 1 pick Josh Hamilton unprotected in the 2006 Rule 5 Draft.

Buying out Vinny Lecavalier didn't haunt the Lightning much. Trading Brad Richards came back to sting a little. Likewise trading Dan Boyle. Marty St. Louis doesn't count. He wanted to be traded.

Bucs history is a house of payback horror. And that's just quarterbacks. Three QBs who the Bucs all but sent packing — Doug Williams, Steve Young and Trent Dilfer — went Super Bowls somewhere else. Actually, Dilfer returned to Tampa Bay to win his Super Bowl with the Ravens.

Aguayo is small potatoes next to that. He might not even become the Bears' kicker. His competition is Connor Barth, whom the Bucs dumped to make way for Aguayo the draft pick. Ain't life grand?

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There's a chance Aguayo could haunt the Bucs. Any Given Sunday kind of deal.

Beckham has possibilities, particularly because he is currently Beck-tastic! He was hitting .259 when the Rays traded him. Entering play Friday, he was hitting .298 — a .485 clip in 16 games with the Orioles, with an on-base percentage of .507 and an OPS of — roll over, Bambino — 1.386.

It can't possibly last forever, but it could linger long enough for the trap-doored Rays to meet Beckham in his current role of Mr. Crab Cakes. Avert your eyes, Rays fans, when he hits the Trop to end the season.

I'd say Drouin has the best shot at inflicting long-term pain. He's only 22. Let's see what he does without the Lightning and what the Lightning does without him.

The Unfulfilled Expectations Tour is on its way.

Good seats — and dread — are still available.

Contact Martin Fennelly at mfennelly@tampabay.com or (813) 731-8029. Follow @mjfennelly.