Some say the sophomore slump is a myth, but a documented list of players has suffered its full effects.

Just ask Eric Hinske. Coming off a rookie season in which he won the American League Rookie of the Year award with 24 home runs, 13 stolen bases and 99 runs, Hinske faded into relative mediocrity and never played at the same level. Past award winners Dontrelle Willis, Jason Jennings, Angel Berroa and Bobby Crosby have equally suffered from this tragic disease.

With the 2008 Major League Baseball season coming to a close this weekend, fantasy owners, specifically keeper leaguers, can start to think about 2009. This season’s exceptionally deep rookie class will give owners several second-year players to consider as keepers and early draftees next season. Read more »

The St. Louis Cardinals just seem to have Randy Johnson’s number.

In two starts against the Redbirds this month, Johnson has thrown just 9.2 innings and given up five home runs for a staggering 9.31 ERA. Considering that the Arizona Diamondbacks are in a tight race with the Los Angeles Dodgers for the NL West title, every game matters here in the final week of the season. The D-Backs have only been in the running for an NL West crown as their way into the 2008 postseason, so Johnson’s rough outing dug them a big hole.

In his start Tuesday night to the Cards, Johnson went six innings while giving up seven hits and five earned runs. He struck out just one batter and took his 10th loss of the season in the process. Trade-deadline acquisition Jon Rauch didn’t help matters by giving up four hits and two runs in his only inning of work. Rauch’s numbers since joining the Diamondbacks have been atrocious after posting 17 saves for the Washington Nationals. Rauch has gone 0-6 with a 6.56 ERA since leaving the nation’s capital. Read more »

Smell that cooking in the distance? Yep, that’s October baseball just right around the corner. Eight teams are still mathematically eligible for the playoffs, as of the start of play on September 23, and each team still feels that it has a chance to make the postseason.

We’ve seen a lot happen this season, from the emergence of the Rays to the Mets changing managers and collapsing once again when the calendar changed to September. The Angels are kings of the AL West again, while the Cubs repeat as champions in the NL Central. Read more »