Baseball

I have figured out the cause behind the struggles of Jeff Francoeur and Kelly Johnson.

Surprisingly, it is a very easy problem to fix.

Kelly's and Jeff's issues lie in their poor taste in music.

That's right, their walk-up music has immersed both in dreadful slumps.

Neither "Your Love" by The Outfield and "Summertime" by Kenny Chesney hardly strike fear into opposing pitchers. And, in my opinion, both fail to energize the two struggling sluggers.

How, you ask, can I attribute walk-up songs to on-the-field performance?

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This is not about a billy goat, a Bartman, or some new Century Club Curse hanging over the Chicago Cubs. Yes, the Cubs haven’t won a World Series in over 100 years now, but it’s no longer about a lack of talent or a propensity to choke.

Everybody wants to bury the Mets this week for their underachieving ways, but at least their struggles can be largely related to their lineup that has been decimated by injuries, a bullpen that lost its power set up man, and one misguided contract given to Oliver Perez.

When the Atlanta Braves made Jeff Francoeur their first round selection in 2002 MLB Draft, a lot of hype surrounded the kid from Parkview High School and for good reason.

A two-sport star in high school, Francoeur made headlines when he decided to turn down a football scholarship from Clemson University in order to play professional baseball.

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So I've been thinking to myself that this has to start getting interesting soon.

Like mass amounts of movement and time to start thinking that you are either in or you are out.

Eh, not the case.

In fact, probably the least movement ever, and some of the movement that I've created is debatable to begin with.

Three teams made positive moves and two teams made negative moves. But if I had the chance, I'd create another group that told us this team is actually worse than everyone and anything else and the Indians would be the only member of that group.

In last night’s 2009 Subway Series finale at Citi Field in Queens, the New York Yankees defeated the New York Metropolitans, 4-2, to capture five out of the six games played between the cross-town rivals this year.

Lost in the Blake Beavan and Michael Main hype from the 2007 draft, Tommy Hunter has quietly moved through the minor leagues faster than anyone else from that stellar draft.

Dear Jim,

Greetings!  You know, the All Star break is right around the corner, and the trade deadline is coming up faster than most people realize.  I thought now would be a good time for me to write you a letter asking for a small favor. 

I’m sure most Cubs fans have written letters like this asking you to do something like, for instance, land Jake Peavy in a monster trade deal, or go after Mark DeRosa and/or Kerry Wood again. But I’m going to ask for something else entirely:  I’d like to ask you to resign.

On May 7, Manny was being Manny and was suspended for 50 games for violating the MLB Drug Policy.

For the past week or so, he has been with the Dodgers single-A affiliate, getting warmed up to join the big leagues.

During his suspension, he has been eligible on the ballot to play at the All-Star Game in St. Louis.

Should he be an All Star with his lack of play this year?

Honestly, I don't think he should.

He has played a few games and his stats are good for just playing a few games, but nothing to cry about. He's been an All-Star 12 times already.

Oh, the eternal hope of spring, how fast you fade away.  I feel like a Cubs fan.  Actually, at least recently the Cubs have been making it interesting into September, this Arizona Diamondbacks team lost hope after April.

This season can only be described as the worst season in the history of the team.  Yes, even worse than the 2004 season, because everyone knew the team would be bad that year.

This team had hope, this team had expectations, and this team has crashed hard.