He represents the Lollipop Guild. Jazz Chisholm is quietly having a solid year. So why does everyone feel he's a goner?

 

AL second basemen

Weird night for Jasrado Prince Hermis Arrington Chisholm Jr. - a/k/a "Jazz."

His 6th inning HR basically beat the Tigers. He had a hand in three Yankee runs, in a 4-3 win. And in the post-victory glow, he pulled off a rarity: He publicly pissed off Aaron Boone.

Chisholm did this by sucking on a lollipop while in the field, at a time when the Yanks were losing 3-1. Bad optics - a Yankee to be slurping sweets, while his team seemed to be staggering to a 4th straight loss. Of course, everything changed after Chisholm's 2-run shot. But Boone learned about the lollipop during his postgame TV gaggle, in real time. Bad timing. You don't step on Superman's cape, you don't spit into the wind, you don't tear the mask off an old Lone Ranger, and you don't suck on a lollipop, even in a Yankee win. 

"I just don’t think he should have had a lollipop out on the field,” said Boone, the iron-fisted, hard-core disciplinarian. 

Weird, eh? Everything suggests that Jazz - at age 28, his peak, and, frankly, having a decent season - is a goner, come October. Why not? He is among that rare breed of ill-fated Yankees who wore #13, the devil's digits: A-Rod, No-Neck Williams, Mike Blowers, Curt Blefary, Alvaro Espinosa, Jim Leyritz, Joey Gallo, Vladimir Putin...  

His problem? Expectations. Last winter, Jazz vowed to become a "50-50" hitter - 50 HRs, 50 SBs - and win a $300 million contract. (If there's one sure way to piss off the Yankees, beyond joining the Lollipop Guild, boast about how much money you want.) On the surface, Chisholm's goal was outlandish. Below the surface, it was ridiculous. 

But but BUT...  a 30-30 season is possible, and that's not pickled pigs-feet. You can argue that Jazz, based on stats, is the AL's best 2B this season. (Ernie Clement of Toronto is in the chat.) But come October, he's out the door.

1. His contract is up. He'll want big money over many years.

2. Some team will be likely to bite.

3. The Yankees seem likely to keep Volpe and play George Lombard Jr., their top prospect, at SS.

4. Hell... everybody's probably gone. The season could be canceled due to a lockout.

Listen: There's one way Jazz and the Yankees can stay together. 

Win the World Series. That's all. The late No-Neck Williams (R.I.P.) would approve. What are the odds? Don't say fifty-fifty.