Q.  Where is SSI on Colby Rasmus these days?

A.  In my view, the important feature of the chess position here is that ... how shall we put it, in technical terms ... Colby Rasmus has gone Jim Carrey Number 23 Bat-Crazy on us.

In 2009, he had a whale of a shot at a Hall of Fame type career -- center field, lefty, 275/360/500 already at age 22.  Beautiful.  The new Grady Sizemore, without the south o' the border black bag in the trunk of the Maserati.

Hey, those of you who have been Rasmus fans -- you weren't wrong.  At age 22, and even the first few months of last year when he was 23, this kid looked like Dustin Ackley -- if Ackley spent the next two years going bananas.

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But in 2010, Young Frankenstein saw his creation get up off the slab and start trashing the lab, babe. Colby Rasmus came into camp arrogant, started swinging from his backside -- and, unfortunately for Rasmus, the quarters started piling into the payoff tray.  He spent three months slugging .550 and now we're talking MVP candidate.

Second half 2010, the pitcher found the solutions, his performance nosedived...

... and in 2011, pitchers are proving that it was no accident.  

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Q.  Why do you figure it's a trend, rather than an adjustment?

A.  Add to the above picture, the fact that the Cardinals have indeed been trying to help restore his sanity, and he's been telling them exactly what they can do with their advice.

In this particular case, it looks clear that the Cardinals' management is on the level here.  Rasmus has gone all Charlie Sheen Major League II/III, bought into the glitz and glamor, and ruined his game.

("Ruining" is relative.  The guy still hits for a 110 OPS+ and 4.8 runs per game.  But he's coming from the NL to the AL, too.)

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Q.  Anything in the F/X on it?

A.  Notice that Rasmus has suddenly started whiffing on anything bendy, while crushing straight fastballs.

This year, Rasmus' results by Pitch Type are simply hilarious.  After fastball, the columns read like the stock returns on Beta tapes.  You'll never in your life see a more consistent, or damning, tale of the tape than that one.

This is 100% consistent with the concept of greed.  You're talking about a lazy approach, a desire to whale away at mistakes, get the glory 3-run shot with the minimum thought or effort possible.

Eric Wedge would have loved the guy, eh?

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Q.  Some guys do adjust back from his position.

A.  Right -- supposing that Rasmus were to appear in a Campbell's Soup commercial with Matt Hasselbeck, take charm-school lessons from Franklin Gutierrez, or something... well, Rasmus still has the talent he was born with.

There have been too many Ruben Sierras, Cesar Cedenos, Kal Danielses, Joe Charboneaus, Clint Hurdles, and even Corey Pattersons :- ) come down the pike.  Rasmus' K's have been at 150 since he got ego'ed out. I'll believe his humility when I see it.

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