Reputations precede you in pro sports. And they can enslave you.

It’s easy to spoil us—we who don’t play the game. We who merely watch and follow and pound out Tweets and blister athletes in 140 characters or less.

We got used to Magglio Ordonez, the Tigers right fielder. Every late winter/early spring, when the reports of how the Tigers were shaping up started to flitter in from Florida, we’d do a mental evaluation, position-by-position. When we came to Maggs, it was a simple evaluation.

Friday afternoon at Cellular Field in Chicago, Cubs starter Carlos Zambrano erupted after allowing the White Sox to score four runs in the first. Apparently, Big "Z" was upset with Derrek Lee's effort on Juan Pierre's leadoff double.

I am not sure whether Lee could have gotten to the ball or not, but with Zambrano and the team struggling as much they are, it is not the time to show a lack of effort.

Lee needs to step up and take some accountability for the Cubs' poor start. He is supposed to be their leader, but he is just not getting the job done.

Jonathan Papelbon should be looking over his shoulder. At first considered the rock of the Red Sox bullpen, Papelbon is quickly eroding his own reputation and opening the door for the more consistent, if still more raw, Daniel Bard.

Still, despite certain trade rumors to the contrary, this writer is confident that Papelbon won't be dealt this season.

That's not to preclude a move as early as this offseason, particularly if Papelbon continues to struggle shutting the door.

Kincaid’s is supposed to have one of the best hamburgers in America. 

Each morning they grind a fresh batch of prime beef, g rilled to perfection, served on a bulky roll, and garnished with your choice of any or all kinds cheese, crisp lettuce, sliced tomatoes, grilled onions, and jalapenos.  Yummy. 

The 2010 season has been a disaster for the Chicago Cubs so far.  They are eight games back from first place, and only have a 3.2 percent chance of making the playoffs at the moment.  Unless Lee, Ramirez, Zambrano, and Dempster can get their confidence back, I don't think the Cubs can make it.  

Putting this season aside, the Cubs' future is looking pretty swell.  I'd say that they have about seven prospects who will help in the immediate future, including Starlin Castro and Andrew Cashner.

The mystery is over.  No need to even have a vote.  We now know who the Most Valuable Player in the National League is.

It isn't Albert Pujols, Adrian Gonzalez, or Ubaldo Jimenez.  He plays in the National League East, but he isn't Hanley Ramirez, David Wright, Jason Heyward, or Ryan Zimmerman.  

The 2010 NL MVP plays for the Philadelphia Phillies, but he isn't Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, or Roy Halladay.

The 2010 National League Most Valuable Player is none other than Jimmy Rollins.

While the San Diego Padres are locked in a scoreless battle with the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday night, I figured we'd get an update on the team as they made what I would call a minor move earlier today.

According to Jordan Bastian of MLB.com, via Twitter , the Padres acquired catcher/infielder Kyle Phillips from the Blue Jays for a player to be named later.

As seasons and almost more importantly aimless offseasons pass by, we Royals fans have had to adjust our expectations for contention, with the carrot on the proverbial stick predictably staying two years away. Not so long ago, we were looking to 2010 as the year that .500 would be attainable—the year that respectability would be ours.

After getting swept by the Milwaukee Brewers, the Twins have definitely hit the lowest point of their season. The pitching was awful, and the offense matched that effort.

Again, Nick Blackburn couldn't get out of the third inning, and the offense couldn't muster a single run.

The Twins rewarded Blackburn with a four-year, $14 million contract that includes an $8 million option for 2014 in March of 2010.

As soon as phenom pitching prospect Steven Strasburg was drafted No. 1 overall by the Washington Nationals, baseball fans were awaiting the next Gibson or Ryan to take the mound.

As time went by in the minor leagues, Strasburg dominated the competition and a move to the majors became a reality for him.

Finally the Nationals called up Strasburg on June 8th for a home game against the Pittsburgh Pirates. In that game he dominated with 14 strikeouts and earned a win.