Rod Beaton's column at USA Today today contains this strange paragraph: "The Cubs are pleased with the sustained power production of their three 2004 MVPs. First basemen Brandon Sing, 24 (Class A Florida State League) and Brian Dopirak, 21 (Class A Midwest League) and second baseman Richard Lewis, 24 (Class AA Southern League) are three of many gems on the road to Wrigley."

The Cubs are pleased with Lewis's "sustained power production"? Lewis hit 13 home runs between West Tenn and Iowa last year, which more than doubled the 6 he hit in double-A in 2003. This year, Lewis has hit one less than one. Not only has he not sustained his power production, he hasn't sustained any kind of production. Lewis is hitting .203/.288/.254 in 37 games so far for Iowa.

Dopirak, as well, has not performed as well as last year after moving up from low-A to high-A ball. While he hit a home run once every 13.9 at-bats last year for Lansing, he has hit a home run once every 23.7 at-bats so far this year.

Only Brandon Sing of the three has sustained his power production. Sing has been simply dominating for double-A West Tenn this year, hitting .333/.461/.719 through 34 games.