Home Run Derby

It’s really early in the 2007 season, but there are some disturbing trends in baseball right now.  All of them in offensive statistics as hitting, scoring and roundtripping are all really low.

Let’s compare the first nine days of the regular season from 2004-2007.

MLB’s worst fears have been realized.  The Majors are in need of a jump start.  Surely it’s not the stars who are affected by this disease.  Let’s look at the number of players who have hit 3 Home Runs or more over the first nine days of the last four seasons.

It’s officially an epidemic.  Is the weather that much colder this season?  Are the pitchers that much better? 

By the way, Alex Rodriguez (a.k.a. “Mr April”) laughs at your early-season offensive woes.  His six (6) Home Runs are the most through 9 days of baseball over the past four seasons and he leads the HR category by two HR already.  And he’s hitting .357 with a 1.107 slugging percentage and 15 RBI.

The Chicago Cubs have succumbed to the demands of the weather Gods and cancelled today’s game against the Houston Astros due to inclement weather (snow on the field, rain all afternoon). 

What – was Miller Park unavailable or something? 

The game will be rescheduled for a later date (probably July 12 – the day after the All Star Break but before the Astros next visit Wrigley Field).  The game was not sold out, so when they officially announce the reschedule date, it could be a good buying opportunity for Cub fans.

The Cubs will make a mint on this.  The game moves from April to July and will be a guaranteed sellout.  They’ll sell more Beer at the rescheduled game than they would have sold Hot Cocoa today.