Baseball is an amazing game of momentum, streaks and slumps. It seems when things are going well and your team is winning the momentum is in your favor and there's nothing you do can wrong. The confidence and optimism that the team owns gives a feeling of superiority over their opponent. That you can win no matter what the situation. It's something we need to teach our kids about baseball.

It works the opposite way too. When a player and/or a team are not performing well, self-doubt raises it ugly head and the negativity continues into a slump. Great baseball players and teams are those that can stay focused and maintain a positive attitude and eventually break out of the slump.

I can give you two examples of major league baseball teams having their destiny intercepted by slumps and lack of momentum. The New York Mets and Milwaukee Brewers were in a position to get into the playoffs in the 2007 season. But both teams collapsed in the last month of the season. And believe it or not both are in the same situation this year.

Is it just coincidence? I think not! Momentum, slumps and streaks take it's toll on the Psyche of the baseball players, managers and front office personal. When things go wrong some teams will make desperation moves to get back on track. But the reality is sometimes this backfires and causes team dissension, negativity, and eventually failure.

Fast forward to the 2008 season. At the end of August 2008, both teams again looked destined for the playoffs. The Mets fired it's manager earlier in the year, it seemed to right the ship. Milwaukee fired it's man anger with less than 20 games to go.

Now that it's late September both teams still have a shot at the playoffs but nothing good is happening. Could it be because the failures at the end of the previous year are still fresh in their minds?

Is it just coincidence or is there something to it? Many people don't believe in baseball karma but that is exactly what's happening. The failure of the previous year is leaving the organizations with self-doubt and negativity. Both teams have tried to break it by making drastic roster changes and knee jerk reactions.

To be successful as a baseball team and player there must be unity, positive thinking and optimism. Without it and you are doomed to failure.