BASEBALL

Eric Chavez is your prototypical infielder, with his perfect blend of batting skill and fielding expertise.

MLB 2005 - Eric Chavez (Oakland Athletics)

Analysis: Despite suffering a broken bone in his right hand, which caused him to miss most of June, Chavez's power numbers seemed to be up in 2004. He hit 29 home runs in both 2003 and 2004, despite playing in 31 fewer games than in 2003, and he seemed on track to beat his RBI total from the same year. His team, however, didn't fare as well, missing the play-offs for the first time in four years.
Grade: B

A terrible performance was punctuated by some unfortunate medical news for Jason Giambi, making 2004 his worst year in memory.

ESPN Baseball - Jason Giambi (New York Yankees)

Analysis: Those back-to-back, 41 home run seasons must seem like a lifetime ago to Giambi, who suffered the most disastrous year of his career in 2004. Hampered by fatigue for most of the season, Giambi's numbers slipped across the board, leaving many Yankee fans to wonder why their team shelled out millions for such lackluster performance. It wasn't until reports surfaced of a benign tumor on Giambi's pituitary gland that people started taking the situation seriously. Without a doubt, 2004 will be a season to forget for JG.
Grade: D

Jeter can do no wrong in the eyes of Yankees fans. That is, until New York drops another World Series chance.

All-Star Baseball 2005 - Derek Jeter (New York Yankees)

Analysis: Ho hum, another year, another solid performance from the Yankee's golden boy. There's more than one reason Jeter has a virtual death grip on the hearts and minds of New York sports fans--charisma, great talent, a voracious appetite for winning, and a relatively ego-free approach to the game. Jeter's 2004 performance was as close to his career year of 1999 as he'll likely ever see again. It's just too bad the team surrounding him couldn't have repeated their 1999 World Series championship.
Grade: B+

A tale of two Pujols: team MVP in the regular season, a no-show in the World Series.

MVP Baseball 2004 - Albert Pujols (St. Louis Cardinals)

Analysis: The cover boy for MVP Baseball 2004 looked to live up to the game's name during the 2004 MLB regular season, posting his fourth straight year of hitting more than 120 RBIs and 30 home runs. The 2004 postseason, however, was a much different story for Pujols. Basically invisible during the Cardinals' World Series loss to the Red Sox, Pujols managed just five hits and zero RBIs. A postseason that Pujols, and the rest of his St. Louis teammates, will put behind them.
Grade: A (regular season), C- (postseason)

Sammy Sosa's days in Chicago may be drawing to a close after a dismal 2004.

MLB Slugfest: Loaded - Sammy Sosa (Chicago Cubs)

Analysis: Baseball games looking to further enhance their simulation aspects for 2005 should consider adding a "whine" button for whenever Sammy Sosa appears onscreen. The slugger, once known for his genial personality, has become the proverbial red-ass since the infamous "corked bat" scandal of 2003. This year, Sosa missed games because of sneeze-related injuries; he spread around blame quicker than a Vegas blackjack dealer; and walked out of the park early during the last regular season Cubs game. Is it any wonder Chicago is looking to off-load the 35-year-old posthaste?
Grade: C-

Martin St. Louis brought the Stanley Cup to Tampa Bay. They should rename the city after him.

HOCKEY

ESPN NHL 2K5 - Martin St. Louis (Tampa Bay Lightning)

Analysis: Much like Ben Wallace in the NBA, Martin St. Louis' season was marked by his leading the Tampa Bay Lightning to a championship win. Louis topped off his career year by winning the Pearson Award as the NHL's most outstanding player in June of this year. This kind of success has meant one thing for St. Louis during the extended off-season: a long-term contract with the Lightning, which he is still in the process of negotiating. Could St. Louis and the rest of the Lighting successfully defend their Cup in 2004-2005? Apparently Gary Bettman and the NHLPA don't want you to know.
Grade: A

Markus Naslund is one of the best Swedish imports since IKEA furniture.

NHL 2005 - Markus Naslund (Vancouver Canucks)

Analysis: The Canucks' left-winger didn't match his incredible 2002-2003 performance, but an 84-point season is nothing to sneeze at. With the NHL lockout, Naslund has rejected courting offers from Swedish hockey league teams, choosing instead to stay in Canada to train with other Vancouver-based NHL players. Will we see him play again this year? Let's hope so.
Grade: B