J. J. Hardy, 2013 Topps Update All-Star Stitches #ASR-JH

I've been holding onto this one for a while, but I'll post it for the sake of goofy superstition. J. J. Hardy is having an odd sort of season. After hitting 30, 22, and 25 home runs in his first three seasons in Baltimore, the Birds' All-Star shortstop has yet to go deep in 2014. It's not like the hits aren't falling for Hardy; he's batting .287, comfortably above his career average of .261, and his 14 doubles are nearly halfway to his career high of 31. Nonetheless, J. J.'s suffering a power outage reminiscent of Cesar Izturis. He's also had a rough week with the glove, committing a total of four errors last Thursday and Friday, leading to a pair of close losses. So I am offering up a piece of blue fabric that was supposedly part of an article of clothing worn by Hardy himself during last year's All-Star festivities in Queens. Look upon it and send your positive, power-hitting, clean-fielding vibes to #2.

"Think it'll work?"

"It would take a miracle."