Previewing the NBA's Christmas Day Games

Tomorrow on Christmas Day, all 5 NBA games will be nationally televised. Each features a solid matchup. Let's look at each of tomorrow's matchups.

Chicago Bulls (18-9) at New York Knicks (17-12), 12 PM EST, ESPN
The Bulls have won 9 of their last 10 games, and come into Madison Square Garden against the Knicks who are going through a rough patch in the season here. Despite losing Joakim Noah to thumb surgery, the Bulls got star post player F Carlos Boozer, who is averaging 21.2 points and 9.7 rebounds in his last 10 games. New York attempts the most 3-pointers in the league, and Amare Stoudemire had 9 straight games with at least 30 points earlier in the month. Both teams have played well recently, but I think if the Knicks shooters show up, they might be able to win this game.
Pick: New York Knicks

Boston Celtics (23-4) at Orlando Magic (17-12), 2:30 PM EST, ABC
The Celtics have won 14 straight games, and are red-hot. The Magic have built up an even stronger team through trades this week, acquiring Gilbert Arenas, Jason Richardson, Hedo Turkoglu, and Earl Clark, trading away Rashard Lewis, Vince Carter, Mickael Pietrus, and Marcin Gortat. The amazing thing about the Celtics' win streak is the fact that they've suffered some important injuries during the streak. Guards Rajon Rondo and Delonte West, and C Shaquille and F Jermaine O'Neal have both missed time, and starting C Kendrick Perkins still hasn't played all year. The Magic are still getting together as a team, and even without Rajon Rondo, I think the Celtics extend their winning streak.
Pick: Boston Celtics

Miami Heat (22-9) at Los Angeles Lakers (21-8), 5 PM EST, ABC
The marquee matchup of the day pits the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers against LeBron James, Dwayne Wade, and Chris Bosh and the Miami Heat. The Heat have struggled against top teams this year, losing twice to the Celtics and twice to the Mavericks already this year. The Lakers are coming off one of their worst losses of the season, losing by 19 at home to a Bucks team without Brandon Jennings. Dwayne Wade is questionable for the game. Both teams are extremely motivated to win this game, but I think the Lakers will come out on top.
Pick: Los Angeles Lakers

Denver Nuggets (16-11) at Oklahoma City Thunder (20-10), 8 PM EST, ESPN
The Thunder are coming off a loss on Wednesday against the Knicks, and take on the Nuggets on Christmas day. The Nuggets are going to short-handed on Christmas, as Carmelo Anthony will be missing the game due to the death of his sister. The Thunder have played well at home this year, and I think that without Anthony, the Nuggets will fall to the Thunder.
Pick: Oklahoma City Thunder

Portland Trailblazers (15-14) at Golden State Warriors (10-18), 10:30 EST, ESPN
The final matchup of the day may not have the marquee records and teams, but both teams have top players and this should be a great matchup. The Blazers are searching for their 4th consecutive win. LaMarcus Aldridge is leading the Blazers in Brandon Roy's absence, averaging 29.3 PPG over this week. Monta Ellis of the Warriors, always an explosive scorer, is pushing it even further this week, averaging 35 PPG this week. Both players are on a tear, but I see the Warriors winning this game due to injuries to key players for the Blazers.
Pick: Golden State Warriors

Merry Christmas and enjoy the games!

College Basketball Previews: Previewing the Pac 10

College basketball season has just started to get under way, so it's time to preview the major conferences. First up is the Pac 10.

Conference Review
In 2009, the Pac 10 had a very down year. Traditional powers such as Arizona and UCLA struggles mightily, and the conference had just 1 NCAA Tournament bid (Washington). This year, however, the conference looks to be on the rise again.

Predictions

1. Washington (Last Year: 26-10, 11-7)
Washington is the clear favorite in the conference this year. They lost top scorer Quincy Pondexter to the draft, but return Isaiah Thomas and Matthew Bryan-Amaning. Freshman Terrence Ross should provide a solid scoring option on the wing. Washington was a surprise Sweet 16 team last year, and could make it there again this year.

2. UCLA (14-18, 8-10)
Yes, UCLA was much worse than they usually are last year. However, this year, the team looks to have a solid chance at getting back into the NCAA tournament. G Malcolm Lee showcased his potential last year for the Bruins, F Tyler Honeycutt has been predicted by many to be a lottery pick and 1st Team All-Pac 10 member, and F Reeves Nelson is returning from a season in which he earned a starting job. Freshman C Josh Smith should give the Bruins a low post scorer that they sorely missed last season. The big question for the Bruins will be at PG. Junior Jerime Anderson has not lived up to the expectations, and after him they senior Mustafa Abdul-Hamid and JUCO transfer Lazeric Jones. If UCLA can solve the PG problems, watch out.

3. Arizona (16-15, 10-8)
Despite missing Nic Wise from last year's 4th place finishing team, Arizona has a very solid team that should compete in the Pac 10 this season. Sophomore Derrick Williams is coming off a freshman season in which he averaged 15.7 PPG and 7.1 RPG. Kyle Fogg also returns after scoring 11.1 PPG last year. Overall, Arizona has a pretty good team, and could be the 3rd Pac 10 team in the Big Dance.

4. USC (16-14, 8-10)
USC had a rough season last year after announcing self-imposed sanctions in the middle of the season, banning the team from postseason play. This year, the ban has been lifted, and the team is looking to get into the tournament. USC returns F Nikola Vucecic (predicted by many as a 1st Team All-Pac 10) and Alex Stephenson, who both should provide good scoring for USC. Overall, this is a team that might be on the bubble come March.

5. Arizona State (22-11, 12-6)
Arizona State finished 2nd in the conference last year, but lost their best big man Eric Boateng. Arizona State doesn't seem to have any replacements for Boateng, and their low post and rebounding play should suffer. Arizona State is an average team, and I don't think they will make the tournament this year.

6. Washington State (16-15, 6-12)
Washington State finished last in the conference last year, but returns three stellar scorers. Klay Thompson led the league in scoring last year, and they also return Reggie Moore and DeAngelo Castro. The Cougars probably won't do much in the national spotlight, but should improve this season.

7. California (24-11, 13-5)
Cal was one of the best teams in the conference last year, and won the regular season championship, but lost 4 of their top players. Jerome Randle, Patrick Christopher, Jamal Boykin, and Theo Robertson all graduated and have left Cal, and now this team is left with a team that probably won't compete this year.

8. Oregon State (14-18, 8-10)
Oregon State made some strides last year (they were winless in conference the year before) under Coach Craig Robinson, and should continue to get better this year, but won't be one of the top teams in the conference.

9. Stanford (14-18, 7-11)
Stanford will have one of the youngest teams in the Pac 10 this year, with 9 freshman on their roster, and 0 seniors. Stanford doesn't seem to have the talent to compete with the rest of the Pac 10.

10. Oregon (16-16, 7-11)
Oregon's basketball team is not doing as well as their football team is this season. This team lost multiple players from last year, and are also in the middle of an NCAA investigation over improper benefits received by former players. In general, the Ducks basketball program is a mess.

The Pac 10 should improve from last season, but still is one of the worse Big Six conferences.

Halladay Throws a No-Hitter in the NLDS; Is He the NL Cy Young Winner?

In a great pitching performance, off-season acquisition Roy Halladay led the Phillies to a 4-0 victory over the Reds in game 1 of the NLDS with a no-hitter. Halladay threw 5 perfect innings, then gave up a walk to Jay Bruce, but still finished with a no-hitter. Halladay was 21-10 with a 2.44 ERA this year for the Phillies. Is Roy Halladay the favorite for the NL Cy Young?

Halladay had a very strong season, but there are a couple of pitchers who are also legitimate candidates for the award. Let's take a look at the each pitchers case for the award.

Roy Halladay, Phillies
Halladay came to the Phillies in an off-season trade with the Blue Jays and was a huge success for the Phillies. Halladay was 21-10 this season with a 2.44 ERA and a 1.04 WHIP. He threw a perfect game earlier in the year against the Marlins on May 29, and threw a no-hitter in his first playoff appearance against the Reds today.

Adam Wainwright, Cardinals
Wainwright is a little bit of a long shot due to his late season arm injury, he did have a solid year that including a 20-11 record. Wainwright had an ERA of 2.42 and a WHIP of 1.05. Wainwright's batting average against is lower than Halladay's at .224 (Halladay's is .245). Wainwright's Cardinals did not make the playoffs, which may lower his chances of winning, but Wainwright definitely had a solid season.

Ubaldo Jimenez, Rockies
Ubaldo Jimenez started off the season booming, throwing a no-hitter against the Braves on April 17. At the All-Star break, Ubaldo was 15-1 with a 2.20 ERA, and looked like the sure Cy Young winner. However, Jimenez really started to fall off a little bit in June, with 4.41 ERA, and then a 6.04 ERA in July. His final post All-Star game stats are a 4-7 record with a 3.80 ERA, which is nowhere near the dominance of his start to the season. He finished the year with a 19-8 record and a 2.88 ERA. His WHIP finished at 1.15, and a BAA of .209.

Overall, while all three of these pitchers had great seasons, I think the final rankings are:
1. Roy Halladay
2. Ubaldo Jimenez
3. Adam Wainwright

It's been a great first day in the playoffs so far, with a 5-1 win by the Rangers over the Rays, and the 4-0 no-hitter victory for the Phillies over the Reds. The Yankees-Twins game starts in about 10 minutes on TBS.

MLB Playoffs: Twins Are the First to Clinch

As we come down the stretch of the Major League Baseball season, the pennant races are really beginning to heat up. The first team to clinch a position in this year's postseason is the AL Central champion Minnesota Twins. Let's take a look at the Twins season, and how they may fair in the postseason.

Hitting
The hitting for the Twins has been pretty good, despite the loss of Justin Morneau. Denard Span leads the team with 24 stolen bases. Orlando Hudson has been decent in the 2-spot, hitting .271. Joe Mauer has hit well despite a power outage (just 9 HRs this year), but he has a .331 batting average. Jason Kubel has hit out the cleanup spot much of the year, hitting 19 HRs this year. Michael Cuddyer has 14 HR and 78 RBI for Minnesota, and Jim Thome has been spectacular hitting 25 HR to lead Minnesota. Delmon Young has had a breakout year, with 18 HR and 105 RBI. Danny Valencia has been playing 3rd Base for the Twins, hitting .328 in 76 games. J.J. Hardy has been decent at SS for the Twins, hitting .274 in 97 games. While Justin Morneau may not return for post season play, IF Nick Punto (.249 in 84 games), IF Alexi Casilla (.277 in 63 games) and OF Jason Repko (3 HR in 50 games) round out the bench for Minnesota.

Starting Pitching
The ace of this Minnesota pitching staff has clearly been 26-year-old Francisco Liriano. Liriano has a 14-9 record, a 3.48 ERA, and a 1.26 WHIP. Carl Pavano has won 17 games this year, and has thrown 2 shutouts this year. He has a 1.16 WHIP and has thrown the most inning of anyone on the staff this year at 210 innings. Scott Baker has been injured been hurt, and has a record of 12-9 with an WHIP of 1.33. Kevin Slowey has an impressive 1.27, with a record of 13-6. Nick Blackburn has started 24 games, and thrown 149.2 inning. He has been one of the weaker pitchers for the Twins, with an ERA 5.23.

Bullpen
The bullpen was hurt at the beginning of the year with the loss of all-star closer Joe Nathan, but the bullpen has been good enough for Minnesota this year. Brian Duensing has been great for them, starting 11 games, and coming in for relief in 40 games. He has a WHIP of 1.13 and a 2.19 ERA. Matt Guerrier and Jesse Crain have combined for 131 innings. Jose Mijares has also contributed 29 innings. The closer this year is Jon Rauch has 21 saves, which isn't exactly spectacular, but he has been serviceable.

Overall, the Twins have a decent team, but I don't think they are favored over the Yankees or Rays, whom they will probably face in the playoffs.

Predicting the American League Playoff Race

After finishing up the National League earlier in the week, now it's time to look at the American League.

AL West: Texas Rangers
I really can't see any way the Rangers do not win the division in 2010. The A's are a distant 8 games back in second place, and the Angels even further at 10.5 games back. Josh Hamilton has returned to his MVP-type hitting, leading the team with a .362 batting average and 31 HR. The RBI leader has been free agent pickup Vladimir Guerrero, who came over from the Angels in the offseason. Guerrero has shown that he still can hit, and he has provided the Rangers with another threat alongside Hamilton, Nelson Cruz, and Michael Young. The pitching is a little less stable, with mid-season acquisition Cliff Lee struggling and possibly missing a start with back injuries. Lee has been listed as questionable for a start Tuesday, and was unable to throw a bullpen session Saturday. CJ Wilson and Colby Lewis lead the team in the major pitching categories, and Rich Harden is off the DL and has looked pretty good so far. Neftali Feliz is looking like a definite AL Rookie of the Year candidate with his 34 saves in 37 opportunities. Overall, while the Rangers may have some questions regarding the rotation, barring a complete collapse, I think the Rangers will cruise into their first postseason since 1999.

AL Central: Minnesota Twins
The Twins have had a stellar year in the AL Central, and with a 79-57 record, they are 3.5 games up on the second place Chicago White Sox. Joe Mauer has carried the offense, and Delmon Young is having a breakout season knocking in 93 RBI. Justin Morneau was placed on the 60-Day DL with a concussion, but with Jason Kubel and Jim Thome, they are making up for the loss of Morneau's power. Carl Pavano has been the surprise leader in wins for Minnesota, accumulated 15 so far this season. Francisco Liriano is having an impressive season with a 3.27 ERA and 178 strikeouts. He has thrown a career high 165.1 innings so far (his most prior to this year was 136.2). They have a pretty decent schedule going into September, playing Kansas City twice, Cleveland twice, Oakland once, Toronto once, Detroit once, and a big series against the White Sox starting September 14. The Twins are a very good team, and are definitely in the hunt for another postseason birth.

AL East New York Yankees
The Yankees have been battling it out with the Rays for most of the year, and have barely pulled away now with a 2.5 game lead over Tampa. Robinson Cano is having a brilliant season, with a .318 batting average, 26 HR and 91 RBI. Mark Teixeira has 30 HR and 99 RBI, and the team has been going without Alex Rodriguez, who was placed on the 15-day DL with a calf injury. He may be activated Sunday, the first day of his eligibility. C.C. Sabathia has been great for the Yankees, with 19 wins, a 3.02 ERA, and 165 strikeouts. Phil Hughes was an All-Star this year, but has struggled in the second half. The Yankees have a pretty tough schedule in September, playing Baltimore twice, Texas once, Tampa Bay twice (one is a 4 game series), Boston once, and Toronto once. The Texas and Tampa series are very important, and Boston is dangerous, but they are pretty much out of both the wild card and division races.

AL Wild Card: Tampa Bay Rays
The Rays definitely have a shot at winning the division, but if they lose to the Yankees in that race, I don't see them failing to win the wild card. Carl Crawford is hitting .298, and Evan Longoria has 19 HR and 90 RBI. David Price is having a remarkable season, with 16 wins, a 2.92 ERA, and 161 strikeouts. Matt Garza has been good in the rotation, while Jeremy Hellickson, Wade Davis and Jeff Niemann have had their moments in the rotation. Joaquin Benoit and Rafael Soriano have helped out in the bullpen for Tampa. Soriano has 41 saves to only 2 blown saves. The Rays definitely have the talent to make the playoffs, it seems like it's more a question of whether they win the division or the wild card.

Predicting the Playoff Teams in the National League

With the season winding down, and the calendar turning to September, it's time to start predicting the final four teams in each league. First, let's look at the National League.

NL West: San Diego Padres
The Padres have the best record in the NL, and currently lead the NL West. They have a 4.5 game lead over the Giants. The schedule down the road will be tough, as they play the Rockies twice, the Dodgers twice, the Giants once, the Cardinals once, Cincinnati once, and the Cubs once. Only the Cubs, who they close out the season with, are below the .500 mark. The Padres have a very good bullpen, and their starters have been solid this season. If Adrian Gonzalez and Ryan Ludwick can power the offense, the Padres pitching can lead them deep in the playoffs.

NL Central: Cincinnati Reds
The Reds are another surprise team in the NL, and have proven that they can definitely stick in the playoff race. They currently lead the Cardinals by an astounding 7 games, considering the fact that the last time the two teams met, the Cardinals swept the Reds. The Reds have an easier schedule than the Padres do, as in September they play the Cardinals, the Rockies, the Pirates, the Diamondbacks, the Astros (twice), the Brewers, and the Padres. The Pirates, Diamondbacks and Astros are all below .500, and those three teams account for about 43% of the team's games in September. The only questions I have about the Reds concern the health of Edinson Volquez, and how the bullpen holds up. Rookie Aroldis Champan has just been called up and will likely pitch out of the bullpen the rest of the year, and is postseason eligible. In his first start, he reached 102 MPH. The offense led by Joey Votto and Brandon Phillips should be solid.

NL East: Atlanta Braves
The Braves are 3.5 games up on the defending NL champion Philadelphia Phillies. The Braves have done this with a combination of solid hitting and good pitching. Rookie Jason Heyward has been on a tear late in the season here for Atlanta, struggling with some injury issues in the middle of the year. Chipper Jones and Troy Glaus are on the DL, and the team has acquired 1B Derrek Lee. Tim Hudson has been phenomenal for the Braves this season, with 15 wins and an impressive ERA of 2.24. In September, the Braves will take on the Mets (once, but finish up a series against them the first two days of September), the Marlins (twice), St. Louis, Washington (twice), and then what could be a crucial series against the Phillies in the second to last week of the season. I think the Braves definitely have the talent to win this division.

NL Wild Card: San Francisco Giants
The Giants currently are behind the Phillies by 1.5 games, but I think their pitching will lead them to the postseason this year. Tim Lincecum obviously hasn't been himself in August (0-5, 7.82 ERA), but I think Lincecum can bring himself back in September. Matt Cain and Jonathan Sanchez also give them a three-deep rotation that can match any in the NL. Buster Posey is showing how much of an impact he can make in the majors (a big one, 9 HR and 40 RBI in the last two months) and is really giving the Giants an offensive force. If the offense holds up, the Giants could make the playoffs. The schedule, as it is for most of the NL West teams, will be tough due to the fact that the 4 top teams play each other almost constantly down the stretch in September. They play LA twice, Colorado, San Diego, Arizona, Milwaukee, and Chicago. The last three aren't as strong, but Arizona had a great August and the Brewers have Prince Fielder and Ryan Braun, a very dangerous combo.

Taking a Look at the NL West After the Trade Deadline

After the trade deadline in baseball, we can now take a much more accurate look at the division races. We'll start with the NL West, where the Padres have surprisingly taken over the division, with the Giants, Rockies, and Dodgers not far behind. The Diamondbacks have had a very disappointing season, and were sellers at the deadline.

1. San Diego Padres (64-46)
The Padres have been the surprise of the National League, and boast the best record in the NL. Adrian Gonzalez has been very good for the Padres, leading them in all three offensive categories (BA, HR, RBI). The staff has been led by Mat Latos, who also leads the team in each of the three major pitching categories (Wins, ERA, Strikeouts). At the deadline, the Padres acquired OF Ryan Ludwick (from the Cardinals) and SS Miguel Tejada (from the Orioles). I think the Ludwick trade was a great move for San Diego, as they are able to provide a solid hitter behind Adrian Gonzalez. However, the Tejada move doesn't really do much for the Padres. Tejada played third in Baltimore, a position held by Chase Headley, and the SS spot is taken by Everth Cabrera. Tejada is not an everyday starter and clearly doesn't have his old hitting ability (he's hitting just .267 with 8 homers this year), so I don't see where he can help the Padres. Overall, the Padres will need their pitching to stay consistent to maintain their division lead in the the tight NL West.

2. San Francisco Giants (63-49)
Coming into the season, everyone knew that the Giants pitching would be fantastic, as their staff contains Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain, Jonathan Sanchez, and Barry Zito. But the biggest question mark about San Francisco surrounded their offense. Who would be their big hitter? Aubrey Huff had been brought in, and Pablo Sandoval showed promise last year. Huff leads the team in HR's with 20, but Sandoval has really gone downhill. He's hitting .263 with 6 HRs. Buster Posey, the rookie catcher for the Giants, has been sensational, hitting .342 with 8 HRs in 61 games in the majors. Another surprise has come from Andres Torres, an outfielder who is hitting .289 with 11 HRs and 45 RBI. The Giants added bullpen pieces at the deadline (Ramon Ramirez from Boston, and Javier Lopez from Baltimore), but many expected them to heavily go after a big bat. With Adam Dunn being placed on waivers by the Nationals, expect the Giants to go after him.

3. Colorado Rockies (58-53)
The Rockies have had a decent season, but are in third in the NL West coming into August. Carlos Gonzalez is having a great year offensively for the Rockies, hitting .327 with 25 HRs and 77 RBI. The Rockies pitching was led in the first half by Ubaldo Jimenez, who threw a no-hitter earlier in the year and was one of the leading candidates for the Cy Young Award. However, after the All-Star break Jimenez has not pitched as well, which could be a cause for concern for Colorado, as they will definitely need the hard throwing righty down the stretch. The team did not make any moves at the deadline. The Rockies can definitely compete, but will need Jimenez, and a healthy Troy Tulowitzki to win this division.

4. Los Angeles Dodgers (58-54)
The Dodgers are probably the team in the division with the most question marks coming down the stretch. Is Manny healthy? Is GM Ned Coletti searching for his next waiver jackpot? The Dodgers have made back-to-back NLCS appearances, but they might not even make the playoffs this year. Andre Ethier started off the year very well, but has fallen after his batting practice injury to his hand earlier in the season. Matt Kemp has had disappointing numbers, especially when some thought this would be his breakout year. James Loney leads the team in RBI with 68. Young Clayton Kershaw is having a solid year, leading the team in all 3 major pitching categories (wins, ERA, strikeouts), and is showing signs of future greatness. Chad Billingsley has recently come on strong, and Hiroki Kuroda and Vicente Padilla have been decent. The biggest problem for LA has been the fifth starter spot, which they hope has been filled up with the acquisition of LHP Ted Lilly from Chicago along with IF Ryan Theriot (in exchange for IF Blake DeWitt and two minor leaguers). There are also rumors that the Dodgers have claimed Adam Dunn off of waivers. Overall, I'm not sure if the Dodgers have enough in the tank for a run at the postseason.

5. Arizona Diamondbacks (44-69)
The Diamondbacks were thought by many to be ahead of San Diego coming into the year, and maybe even a wild card contended. However, the team has struggled this season with pitching issues, especially in the bullpen. Kelly Johnson has been a good pickup offensively at second base, providing them with a good hitter, and Chris Young was an All-Star. Justin Upton and Mark Reynolds have had decent years. On the pitching side, the year has just been miserable for Arizona. Brandon Webb still has not returned, and Dan Haren was traded to the Angels. Edwin Jackson, who hurled a no-hitter against Tampa Bay earlier in the year was traded to the White Sox in exchange for RHP Daniel Hudson, who has been good in his first few starts in a D'Backs uniform. The bullpen has just been terrible, causing fits for D'Backs fans and coaches. The team traded away Haren (LAA), Jackson (CWS), closer Chad Qualls (TB), and C Chris Snyder (PIT). This has been a tough year for Arizona, and they are obviously out of contention this year.

So with the NL West done, stay tuned for a look at the NL Central this week!

Which NBA Team Has Improved the Most This Offseason?

Many teams this season have made some important transactions in the free agent market. Obviously, the Heat have improved a lot with LeBron James and Chris Bosh joining, so I won't include them in this list. Teams I will look at will be the Bulls, Lakers, Jazz, and the Celtics.

1. Chicago Bulls
The Bulls have almost become the Utah Jazz East, signing three former Utah players (F Carlos Boozer, G/F Kyle Korver, and G Ronnie Brewer). These three players, along with G CJ Watson, and F Kurt Thomas, have greatly improved the Bulls team. Also, they fired coach Vinny Del Negro, and hired Tom Thibodeau. They did lose Brad Miller and Kirk Hinrich, but Boozer can fill the hole in the post nicely for Chicago, and Watson, Brewer, and Korver can fill in there. Derrick Rose is a very good young PG, and Joakim Noah is a solid rebounder and post player. The Bulls will definitely be playoff contenders next season.

2. Los Angeles Lakers
Yes, the defending champs have improved. They not only kept coach Phil Jackson and PG Derek Fisher, but they also signed G Steve Blake, F/C Theo Ratliff, and F Matt Barnes. Barnes is the key signing for the Lakers, giving them a top defensive perimeter player off the bench. Ratliff is also a good shot blocker and a decent back-up in case injury strikes Andrew Bynum again. They lost Jordan Farmar (to the Nets) and Josh Powell (to the Hawks), but Steve Blake can run the point with the 2nd unit for the Lakers, and Ratliff can replace Powell.

3. Utah Jazz
The Jazz did lose several players (Boozer, Brewer, and Korver as mentioned before, as well as G Wesley Matthews), but the sign and trade deal with Minnesota that landed them Al Jefferson was huge. Jefferson will be a great fit in the Jazz offense, and Raja Bell is a great defender, and has a history of matching up against Kobe Bryant.

4. Boston Celtics
The Celtics had a great offseason in terms of keeping their team together. There were rumors that Ray Allen might leave, or that Paul Pierce would go elsewhere, but the Celtics were able to retain these two, as well as G Nate Robinson and G Marquis Daniels. Coach Doc Rivers also has agreed to return to the team. F Rasheed Wallace retired, and F Tony Allen signed with Memphis and F Shelden Williams signed with Denver, but these three losses shouldn't hurt the Celtics that much. F Jermaine O'Neal was the Celtics only major free agent signing, but he can replace Wallace (and Williams, who didn't contribute much to the team), but Allen could be missed as a spark off the bench.

Overall, I think the Bulls made the most improvements, followed by the Lakers, the Jazz, and the Celtics.

World Cup Semifinal Preview

The first World Cup on the continent of Africa has so far been a great one. With shocking demises from Italy, France, and even round of 16 loser England, as well as the rise of Uruguay and Paraguay from the South American teams, and the continental support of Ghana, the last African team to be eliminated in the tournament. Now, there are only four teams remaining as we head into the semifinals; Uruguay, the Netherlands, Germany, and Spain. The first semifinal is Tuesday and 2:30 ET between Uruguay and the Dutch.

Uruguay has been the surprise semifinalist of the group, a country with about the population of Connecticut (roughly 3.5 million people). The team has gone 4-0-1 so far in the tournament, drawing in their opener against France, but propelling themselves forward with victories over South Africa, and Mexico in group play, followed by wins against South Korea in the round of 16, and a thrilling PK victory over Ghana in the quarterfinals. They have been led by star strike Luis Suarez, who has scored 3 goals in the tournament, but will be suspended for the semifinal match after his red card in the Ghana match on his heroic (or cheap, depending on your point of view) handball at the goal line to stop a goal for Ghana in the 120th minute. Diego Forlan also has three goals, and will have to lead the Uruguayans. Also suspended for Uruguay is defender Jorge Fucile.

The Dutch are one of the hottest teams on Earth right now, unbeaten in their last 24 matches. Led by midfielder Wesley Sneijder, who has 4 goals in this tournament. The Dutch had an impressive victory over Brazil in their quarterfinal match, coming from behind after an early goal from Brazil's Robinho. The Dutch definitely have the talent to win the Cup, but many believe overconfidence could be their downfall. The Dutch supporters have been alive in South Africa, with a sea of orange in the crowd in Dutch matches.

My Prediction: the Netherlands win 1-0. Uruguay has solid defense, but they haven't shown the ability to score outside of penalty kicks. I think the Dutch will advance into the World Cup.

In the other semifinal, we have a matchup of more traditional powers in Germany and Spain. The second semifinal is Wednesday at 2:30 ET.

For the Germans, coming into the World Cup it looked like there could be trouble for the team when captain Michael Ballack went down with an injury that will keep him out of the entire cup. Germany's team this is year is led by young stars Miroslav Klose, Lukas Podolski, and Bastian Schweinsteiger. Thomas Müller, a forward who has scored 4 goals for Germany will be suspended for this match, which could be a blow to the Germans attacking force.

Spain is one of the top teams in the world, but fans were worried after a loss to Switzerland in the Spanish opener. The team bounced back, and has been solid in its last 4 matches, all of which were wins. History is against the Spaniards though, as no team has ever won the World Cup after losing their first match. David Villa leads the charge for the Euro 2008 champs, scoring 5 goals in the tournament, all but one of the team's total goals (the other was scored by Andres Iniesta. Spain's major concern has to be striker Fernando Torres, who is coming off of knee surgery and has not looked the same in this World Cup.

My Prediction: Spain wins 3-2. I think Spain's force will come alive and overwhelm the young German team, and lead to a Spain-Netherlands final.

It will be interesting to watch both matches, and the final. Good luck to all 4 teams!

2010 NBA Mock Draft: End of the First Round

After finishing with picks 1-10 and 11-20, it's time to close out the first round with picks 21-32.

21. Oklahoma City Thunder - C Solomon Alabi, Florida State
The Thunder have two picks here, the first at 21, and the second at 26. The Thunder are one of the most up an coming teams in the NBA, and have a great young core with Russell Westbrook, James Harden, Kevin Durant, and Jeff Green. They still lack a big man to guard the low post, and Alabi is one of the best low post defenders in the class. He has terrific size and length which allow him to block shots at ease. He is an improving post scorer, but will mainly be used as a lock down defender and shot blocker.

22. Portland Trailblazers - F Damion James, Texas
James is a very capable scorer at the forward position. He shows great ability to get his shot off and attack the basket. He has great length and is very strong. He has a very strong work ethic, and is very mature. Standing 6'7", it's not clear where his position is exactly in the NBA, but it looks like somewhere at the 3.

23. T-Wolves – F Quincy Pondexter, Washington

24. Hawks – G Dominique Jones, South Florida

25. Grizzlies – G/F Lance Stephenson, Cincinnati

26. Thunder – F Gani Lawal, Georgia Tech

27. Nets – PG/SG Armon Johnson, Nevada

28. Grizzlies – F Nemanja Bjelica, Serbia

29. Magic – G Terrico White, Ole Miss

30. Wizards – F Craig Brackins, Iowa State

Sorry for the lack of analysis, but I had to rush to get this post in before the draft (8 ET on ESPN). Click on the links to view each player's DraftExpress profile (where I got most of my info). Enjoy the draft!

2010 NBA Mock Draft: Picks 11-20

After finishing the first ten picks, now I'm going to look at the next 10 picks, from 11 to 20. The first pick in this group goes to the New Orleans Hornets.

11. New Orleans Hornets - F/C Donatas Motiejunas, Lithuania
A European 19 year-old is an unknown in the US, but many scouts are very high on him. He has the ability to go to both sides, and is a huge matchup problem for any big men (he's 7'0") with his versatility. He is also very quick and agile, and he also possesses strong ball handling skills. Motiejunas also has improved on the low post, and has great offensive potential. He's still a project, but he can definitely improve on both sides of the ball to get better.

12. Memphis Grizzlies - G James Anderson, Oklahoma State
The Grizzlies don't really have that many teams, and were in the hunt for the eighth seed for a while. Anderson is a great shooter, and can provide them some extra depth at the guard position (they already have OJ Mayo and Ronnie Brewer), but Anderson is a strong offensive player, and I think the Grizzlies could use some more young offensive talent.

13. Toronto Raptors - F Xavier Henry, Kansas
The Raports have some good players, but they are in need of a strong wing player to start for them. Henry is very big for a wing, and has a very NBA-ready body. He's polished offensively, and plays defense at a very high level. He could fit into the gaping hole Toronto has on the wing.

14. Houston Rockets - C Hassan Whiteside, Marshall
Whiteside is a freakish athlete (he measured a 7'7"wingspan in a pre-draft camp) who was largely unknown coming into the season. However, he emerged as the CUSA Freshman of the Year, and he led the NCAA in blocked shots. He is still very raw, but has shown some great potential to known down mid-range shots and handle the ball.

15. Milwaukee Bucks - G Gordon Hayward, Butler
Hayward was a surprise entrant from National runner-up Butler. The sophomore star of the team, he possesses a solid jumper and good speed. The Bucks drafted Joe Alexander a few years ago, a similar player to Hayward, but Hayward seems much more skilled.

16. Minnesota Timberwolves - F/C Larry Sanders, VCU
Sanders became a prolific and efficient scorer this year at VCU, and now looks like a productive player in the paint. He is a great athlete and a huge wingspan, but needs to add strength to grow into a solid NBA player. The Timberwolves have Kevin Love and Al Jefferson in the front court, but Sanders is a solid player to add.

17. Chicago Bulls - F Paul George, Fresno State
George is a late bloomer and very unknown in college basketball, but he is very dynamic and fluid. He could put on some weight, but he stands a solid 6'9". George played AAU with future UCLA-bound guards Malcolm Lee and Jrue Holliday. George could definitely find some untapped potential and become a solid player.

18. Miami Heat - F/C Epke Udoh, Baylor
A lot of mock drafts have Udoh going much higher, even in the lottery, but I think Udoh still has more to prove as a post player to be drafted that high. He is a great shot blocker and athlete, and the Heat can definitely use someone down low, and to try and keep Dwayne Wade.

19. Boston Celtics - G Elliot Williams, Memphis
Williams, a transfer from Duke, is a little bit of a reach for the Celtics here, but they really need to start finding the eventual replacement for Ray Allen, and Williams can definitely score with a great deal of ease. If he improves his shooting a little bit, he can be a very potent offensive threat for Boston.

20. San Antonio Spurs - F Luke Babbitt, Nevada
Babbitt is another unknown player who will most likely be drafted in the first round. He is not that athletic, but is a solid scorer inside and out. He stands 6'7", so he probably won't be able to play PF, but can still be a solid player for San Antonio.

So with picks 11-20, I'll finish out the rest of the first round, and talk about other guys, who could be taken in the first round and early second round. Sorry for the delay in this post. Enjoy!

2010 NBA Mock Draft: Picks 1-10

After the draft lottery on Tuesday, the Washington Wizards received the first pick in the 2010 NBA Draft. The Wizards, a team that's season contained the Gilbert Arenas-Javaris Crittenton gun incident, and the trading away of All-Star caliber players Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison. Overall, the Wizards appear to be in a rebuilding mode. Let's take a look at the top 10 picks in the draft.

1. Washington Wizards - PG John Wall, Kentucky
With Arenas being a distraction, I think the Wizards are going to cut ties with their veteran point guard. Wall is a great player, and can help the Wizards rebuild their team. Pairing Wall, a great play maker, with their other 1st round pick (30th overall) could provide the Wizards a dynamic duo for the future.

2. Philadelphia 76ers - F Wesley Johnson, Syracuse
Many people are saying that Evan Turner should be the pick here, and I do feel Turner is the better player. However, if the the 76ers take Turner, they will have 4 guards in Turner, Lou Williams, Jrue Holliday, and Andre Iguodala, and none of them are great jump shooters. Johnson is a solid wing player, who can catch and shoot at a great percentage (he shot 41% percent from 3 last year at Syracuse).

3. New Jersey Nets - F Derrick Favors, Georgia Tech
While Evan Turner is still the best player on the board, he just doesn't fit well with New Jersey. The Nets already have 4 players of their future lineup complete (Devin Harris, Courtney Lee, Terrence Williams, and Brooke Lopez), and Favors could fit in with their new lineup. Favors did not produce stellar numbers at GT, but his potential is great enough to justify being drafted this high.

4. Minnesota Timberwolves - G Evan Turner, Ohio State
In my opinion, Turner is the best player on the board, but none of the top 3 teams have needs at the 2 guard. The Timberwolves should try to build around Jonny Flynn and their big men Al Jefferson and Kevin Love. Evan Turner would be a great piece to add to the lineup, and Corey Brewer is turning out to be a solid pro. If the Timberwolves could get Turner, they could have a bright future.

5. Sacramento Kings - F/C Greg Monroe, Georgetown
Monroe is a great post player, and an above average passer. Monroe had decent stats at Georgetown in his two year career, and still has some untapped scoring potential. Pairing Tyreke Evans and Monroe can provide a solid duo for the Kings. If Wes Johnson is available here, I could see the Kings taking him to give them a wing presence, but if he isn't Monroe is a decent pick.

6. Golden State Warriors - F/C DeMarcus Cousins
Cousins was one of the most dominating post players in college last year at Kentucky. He could provide a post presence that the Warriors have lacked the past few years. The Warriors have a dominant back court with Monta Ellis and Stephen Curry, and Cousins could give them a player to feed the ball to in the low post.

7. Detroit Pistons - F Al-Farouq Aminu, Wake Forest
The Pistons, a perennial playoff team, had a pretty bad year this season, but Aminu can help them reload and possibly contend for a spot next year. The Pistons have some good pieces in place with Rodney Stuckey and Ben Gordon. Adding Aminu could provide them with a good low post player to rebound and score. Aminu also has a solid mid-range jumper.

8. Los Angeles Clippers - F Patrick Patterson, Kentucky
The third Kentucky player in the top 10, Patterson might not have as high a profile as Cousins and Wall, but he can have a huge impact for the Clippers. With Patterson, Blake Griffin, and Eric Gordon, the Clippers can try to create a young nucleus to push them closer to playoff contention in a few years.

9. Utah Jazz - C Cole Aldrich, Kansas
The Jazz have some good young player in Deron Williams and Wesley Matthews, but with Carlos Boozer possibly leaving, and Mehmet Okur injured, the Jazz low post game could really suffer next year. Aldrich is a great shot blocker as well as a great offensive big man. He can replace Boozer as their main scorer down low if Boozer chooses to leave Utah in the free agent period.

10 Indiana Pacers - F Ed Davis, North Carolina
The Pacers have Danny Granger, but not many other players they can count on. Ed Davis had a very limited career at North Carolina, playing as a role player in his freshman year, and breaking his wrist in his sophomore year and missing the entire season. Still, Ed Davis has a lot of potential to be a great forward, and the Pacers here are just taking the best player available.

Be sure to check out picks 11-20 which will hopefully be up this week. In the NBA Playoffs, the Celtics have a 3-1 lead on Orlando, and the Lakers have a 2-1 lead on Phoenix. In the NHL Playoffs, the Flyers and the Blackhawks have advanced to the Stanley Cup Finals. Philadelphia won 4-2, and the Blackhawks swept the San Jose Sharks. Enjoy this week in sports!

Photo from http://dieboltdesigns.blogspot.com/2010/05/john-wall-wizard.html

Where Does Rajon Rondo's Playoff Performance Place Him Among NBA PG's?

In the Boston-Cleveland series, the leader of the Celtics for the entire series was PG Rajon Rondo. In the Celtics 2008 title run, Rondo was the young PG feeding the ball to the Big Three and staying conservative. This year, Rondo is the leader of the team, the NBA's leader in steals, and a walking triple-double threat. Rondo had been criticized by many for his lack of a jump shot, and the fact that his supporting cast is one of the best in the NBA. After this great postseason, where does Rajon Rondo rank among the top NBA point guards?

First we must start with who the best point guard in the NBA is. There are three guys I think can be mentioned here. Chris Paul, Deron Williams, and Steve Nash. Paul was hurt for the majority for the 2009-2010 season, playing in 45 games and 18.7 PPG and 10.7 APG. Williams had nearly identical numbers, with 18.7 PPG and 10.5 APG in 76 games. Steve Nash, the only of these three still in the playoffs, played in 81 games and amassed more assists, but slightly less points. Nash averaged 16.5 PPG and 11.0 APG this year for the Suns. I think when healthy, Chris Paul is the best PG in the NBA, followed by Steve Nash and then Deron Williams. While all three are close, Paul's playmaking ability puts him above the pack.

In the next tier is where I think Rondo can be mentioned, a group containing Derrick Rose, Tony Parker, Chauncey Billups, and Rondo. Rose is just a sophomore player, but has impressed many with his ability to lead the Chicago Bulls. Rose had a great year this year with 20.8 PPG and 6.0 APG. In the Bulls short playoff run (they were eliminated by Cleveland in the first round), Rose elevated his play to 26.8 PPG and 7.2 APG. Tony Parker was hurt for much of this season, starting only 50 games. However, Parker averaged 18.6 PPG this year, but I would take Rose over Parker right now. Chauncey Billups of Denver scored more points than ever in his entire career (19.5 PPG), but saw a drop in his assists, averaging only 5.6 APG, while he had previously averaged a high of 8.6 APG. Rondo 13.8 PPG and 9.8 APG. In addition, Rondo was the leader in steals with 2.3 SPG. In the playoffs, Rondo had 18.0 PPG and 11.1 APG to lead the Celtics past the Cavs in the conference semifinals. Of this group, I would take Rondo, followed by Rose, Billups and Parker.

So my PG rankings in the NBA look like this:
1. Chris Paul, Hornets
2. Steve Nash, Suns
3. Deron Williams, Jazz
4. Rajon Rondo, Celtics
5. Derrick Rose, Bulls
6. Chauncey Billups, Denver
7. Tony Parker, Spurs

Other players deserving mention are Russell Westbrook, Andre Miller, Brandon Jennings, and Monta Ellis.

With the conference semifinals complete, the two matchups are Lakers-Suns and Celtics-Magic. Enjoy!

Previewing the Western Conference Semis

Taking a break from the NFL Draft recaps, let's take a look at the NBA playoffs. The Eastern Conference still has one series (Bucks-Hawks) going to game 7, but the Western Conference bracket is set for the semis. Let's take a look at each matchup.

(1) LA Lakers vs. (5) Utah Jazz
The Lakers played a solid series against the young Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round, winnning 4-2 on a Pau Gasol putback buzzer beater to win in game 6. The Jazz defeated the Nuggets 4-2 in a very good series for Utah. Kobe had a good first round, averaging 21.8 PPG, but Pau Gasol is really the Lakers' key player. Gasol averaged a double-double against OKC, with 20 PPG and 11 RPG. Deron Williams played a huge series against the Nuggets, averaging 28 PPG and 12 APG. Carlos Boozer also average a double-double, with 23 PPG and 12 RPG. The Jazz had three other players average double figures, in Paul Millsap, CJ Miles, and Wesley Matthews. I feel that the Jazz have great guard play, and that Williams should play well against veteran Derek Fisher for the Lakers, but the Jazz are similar to the Thunder in that they don't have a real big man to compete with Bynum and Gasol. I like the Jazz roster, but I think the Lakers advance to the Western Conference Finals in 6 games.

(3) Phoenix Suns vs. (7) San Antonio Spurs
The Suns beat the Blazers in 6 games, with solid play from Jason Richardson averaging 24 points a game. Amaré Stoudemire contributed 20 PPG and 6 RPG. Steve Nash provides solid play at the PG postition, and Channing Frye has emerged this year as a decent offensive option. For the Spurs, they topped second seeded Dallas in 6 games. Manu Ginobli and Tim Duncan each averaged 19 PPG, and Tony Parker and George Hill amassing a combined 30 PPG. The key to this series will be the Suns' ability to handle the three guard attack San Antonio will throw at them, with Hill, Parker, and Ginobli. A key for San Antonio will be the play of Richard Jefferson. If he can play better than the Dallas series (8 PPG), the Spurs can throw a multitude of scorers at Phoenix. Phoenix needs to get Jason Richardson going to win this series. I'll take San Antonio in 7.

Tomorrow the Celtics-Cavs series starts, and the Eastern Conference bracket is yet to be finalized. I'll post a preview of the Eastern Conference later this weekend. Enjoy the playoffs!

NFC North Draft Recap

Chicago Bears
Round 3: S Major Wright, Florida – Great in coverage and has great range, but needs to be more instinctive.
Round 4: DE Corey Wootton, Northwestern – A tall defensive end with solid skills, but major injury concerns.
Round 5: DB Joshua Moore, Kansas State – A solid junior who can locate the ball in coverage and fits well in the Bears defense.
Round 6: QB Dan LeFevour, Central Michigan – A great college QB, LeFevour has a lot of questions about his NFL game.
Round 7: T J’marcus Webb, West Texas A&M – Massive tackle with maturity issues, but great size.

The Bears had limited picks, and took chances on unproven players from the college level.

Detroit Lions
Round 1: DT Ndamukong Suh, Nebraska – The Lions take the best player available, Suh will be the cornerstone of the Lion defense.
Round 1: RB Jahvid Best, Cal – A dynamic playmaker, Best has potential to be the best RB in the class.
Round 3: DB Amari Spievey, Iowa – A solid zone defender, Spievey is a well-built corner for Detroit.
Round 4: T Jason Fox, Miami (FL) – A good athlete, but fell this far due to a left knee injury.
Round 7: DE Willie Young, NC State – A great built DE, Young struggles against the run game.
Round 7: WR Tim Toone, Weber State – This year’s “Mr. Irrelevant”, Toone is undersized but very productive.

I like the Lions draft, getting Suh and trading back in to get Best. The others are solid projects and developmental players, although Fox could pressure Jeff Backus for a starting job.

Green Bay Packers
Round 1: OT Bryan Bulaga, Iowa – A great fit in Green Bay, Bulaga provides Aaron Rodgers some much needed protection.
Round 2: DT Mike Neal, Purdue – A player that lacks burst off the edge, Neal may struggle to start.
Round 3: S Morgan Burnett, Georgia Tech – A great ball hawk, Burnett has solid range, but struggles tackle running backs.
Round 5: TE Andrew Quarless, Penn State – A solid talent, but he falls this low due to bad interviews during the postseason.
Round 5: T Marshall Newhouse, TCU – A natural athlete at tackle who could move to guard in the Packers scheme.
Round 6: RB James Starks, Buffalo – A big back, Starks has some major durability issues.
Round 7: DL CJ Wilson, East Carolina – Wilson may have trouble finding a role in the Packers defense, but he’s a solid lineman in a 4-3.

I’m lukewarm on the Packers draft, as Bulaga is a great o-line prospect, but most of the others don’t seem like NFL starters.

Minnesota Vikings
Round 2: CB Chris Cook, Virginia – Cook is a great size/speed prospect, and a great press coverage man. He could move to FS at the next level.
Round 2: RB Toby Gerhart, Stanford – A tough physical runner, Gerhart should be a solid backup for Adrian Peterson
Round 4: DE Everson Griffin, USC – A great athlete, but has major bust potential.
Round 5: G Chris DeGeare, Wake Forest – Should help in the great run game the Vikings have.
Round 5: LB Nate Triplett, Minnesota – A great downhill attacker, he provides a great physical presence inside.
Round 6: QB/WR Joe Webb, UAB – Webb is a very tall, fast player, who will move to WR after playing QB at UAB.
Round 7: TE Mickey Shuler, Penn State – A solid blocker and pass catcher, Shuler was the backup at Penn State last year.
Round 7: LB Ryan D'Imperio, Rutgers – Limited in space, he is a solid tackler inside the box.

Solid draft by Minnesota, getting Cook, Gerhart, and Griffin, all three have great potential to make an impact now. Just a note, the Vikings signed undrafted free agent QB Ryan Perilloux from Jacksonville State (former LSU QB). Perilloux could compete with Tarvaris Jackson and Sage Rosenfels for the Brett Favre backup job.

After recapping the NFC North, next up will be the NFC South. Enjoy!

NFC West Draft Recap

Arizona Cardinals
Round 1: Dan Williams, DT, Tennessee – 6’3” nose tackle to anchor the Arizona defense. Solid rush and pass defender
Round 2: Daryl Washington, LB, TCU – 6’3” 233 lbs linebacker who can play outside well. Plays well sideline-to-sideline.
Round 3: Andre Roberts, WR, The Citadel – Slot receiver who can separate and make plays after the catch.
Round 4: O’Brien Schofield, DE, Wisconsin – Great value in round 4, polished pass rusher. Torn ACL at Senior Bowl.
Round 5: John Skelton, QB, Fordham – 6’5”, 258 lbs big armed QB. Compared to Joe Flacco. Raw, but good upside.
Round 6: Jorrick Calvin, DB, Troy – Talented corner who missed the 2009 season with academic issues.
Round 7: Jim Dray, TE, Stanford – Physical player, could contend for back of the depth chart spot.

San Francisco 49ers
Round 1: Anthony Davis, OL, Rutgers – Fills void at right tackle. Some maturity issues, and major bust potential.
Round 1: Mike Iupati, OL, Idaho – Mammoth lineman to help run game. “Most physically gifted guard in the last five years”
Round 2: Taylor Mays, S, USC – Physical freak, hard hitter, but struggles with coverage
Round 3: Navorro Bowman, LB, Penn State – Athletic linebacker that moves like a DB
Round 6: Anthony Dixon, RB, Mississippi State – Powerful running back that can break tackles.
Round 6: Nate Byham, TE, Pittsburgh – Tough and physical TE, helps in the run game.
Round 6: Kyle Williams, WR, Arizona State – Great athlete and can be a slot man and return man.
Round 7: Phillip Adams, DB, South Carolina State – Tough small school corner, and runs well.

Seattle Seahawks
Round 1: Russell Okung, OL, Oklahoma State – Okung is the most pro-ready pass protector in the draft, and will fill gaping holes in the O-Line.
Round 1: Earl Thomas, S, Texas – Great pick here as Pete Carroll gets a very talented ball-hawking safety.
Round 2: Golden Tate, WR, Notre Dame – A tough receiver who can create after the catch, Tate projects to be a solid slot guy at the next level.
Round 4: Walter Thurmond III, CB, Oregon – Polished ball skills, and was top senior CB in the draft, but fell due to a right knee injury.
Round 4: EJ Wilson, DE, North Carolina – Shows quickness as a pass rusher, but will be at his best on 1st and 2nd down against a running attack.
Round 5: Kam Chancellor, S, Virginia Tech – Plays well in the box, but struggles in space. Could move to LB.
Round 6: Anthony McCoy, TE, USC – A great prospect who helps in the run and passing game. Fell this far because of a failed drug test at the combine, but reunites with college coach Pete Carroll
Round 7: Dexter Davis, DE, Arizona State – Good pass rusher, who projects as a nickel rusher in the NFL.
Round 7: Jameson Konz, WR, Kent State – Great athlete with size and speed, but doesn’t have a true position. Creates good mismatches in the aerial attack.

St Louis Rams
Round 1: Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma – Franchise QB for the Rams and clearly the best in the draft.
Round 2: Rodger Staffold, OT, Indiana – A solid pick here to protect Bradford in the future.
Round 3: Jerome Murphy, CB, South Florida – A physical corner, Murphy struggles in space, but presses well and brings great toughness to the field.
Round 4: Mardy Gilyard, WR, Cincinnati – Great hands and can create with the ball, Gilyard is a solid slot guy, and will team up with Donnie Avery as Bradford’s targets.
Round 5: Michael Hoomanawanui, TE, Illinois – A physical TE that will help block.
Round 5: Hall Davis, DE, Louisiana-Lafayette – Solid DE prospect, but lacks burst needed to be NFL pass rusher.
Round 6: Fendi Onobun, TE, Houston – A former basketball player who has great speed numbers for a player his size. Very raw, but great skills.
Round 6: Eugene Sims, DE, West Texas A&M – Good pass rusher, but nothing more than a project guy.
Round 7: Marquis Johnson, DB, Alabama – A tough corner who can find the football and presses well off the line.
Round 7: George Selvie, DE/OLB, South Floida – A former 1st team All-American, Selvie needs to develop more moves to make a team as a pass rusher.
Round 7: Josh Hull, LB, Penn State – A solid 2 down player, Hull helps in the run game, and plays well inside the box.

Overall, I liked the 49ers draft a lot, and the Seahawks did a good job as well. The Rams had a solid draft, but I wasn't a fan of the Cardinals draft. Coming up soon will be the NFC North wrap up. Enjoy!

2010 AL East Preview

The AL East has been widely regarded as the toughest division in baseball, and this year they will try to live up to their reputation. Last year, the World Champion New York Yankees came out of this division, and we will see whether they can repeat.

1. New York Yankees
The defending World Series Champs, the Yankees lost Hideki Matsui and Johnny Damon, but gained All-Star CF Curtis Granderson from the Tigers in exchange for OF Austin Jackson. The outfield this year will contain Granderson, Brett Gardner, and veteran Nick Swisher. Outfielders off the bench will be Randy Winn and Marcus Thames. The infield is anchored on the left side with A-Rod and Derek Jeter providing All-Star caliber play on both sides of the scorecard. Up and coming second baseman Robinson Cano and power hitting first baseman Mark Teixeira make up the rest of the infield. Ramiro Pena will be the utility man for the Bronx Bombers this season. Jorge Posada will start at catcher, with Francisco Cervelli backing him up. Nick Johnson will be the everyday DH for the Yankees, and could spell in the outfield and at first base. The pitching staff is lead by big ace CC Sabathia, coming off a 19-8 season last year. Following him will be AJ Burnett, Andy Pettite, Javier Vazquez, and Phil Hughes. Alfredo Aceves and Damaso Marte will work in the 6-7th innnings, while Joba Chamberlain will set up for Mariano Rivera. The fountain of catchers will flow for the Yankees in the next few years, with Jesus Montero, Austin Romine, and Gary Sanchez all top prospects in the orginization. Overall, this team should be in the position to repeat their championship from last year.

2. Boston Red Sox
The Red Sox made a few moves in the offseason following an ALDS loss to the Angels, including signing veterans OF Mike Cameron, and 3B Adrian Beltre. Cameron will start in center, with Jacoby Ellsbury in left, and JD Drew in right field. Bill Hall and Jeremy Hermida will spell in the outfield for the Red Sox this year. Veteran pickups Adrian Beltre and Marco Scutaro will start on the left side of the diamond, while Dustin Pedroia and Kevin Youklis will provide solid offense and defense on the right side. Mike Lowell will spell at corner infield positions, and Bill Hall will play Behind the plate will be Victor Martinez, who can provide solid offense for the Sox. Captain Jason Varitek will back up the former Indian. At DH will be Big Papi, David Ortiz, who has struggled to find his stroke hitting the ball both last year, and early on this year. The pitching rotation is up there for the best in baseball, with Josh Beckett, Jon Lester, and John Lackey, three legitimate aces. Knuckleballer Tim Wakefield and youngster Clay Bucholz round out the rotation. Daisuke Matsuzaka will probably be up with the Red Sox soon, after throwing 11 scoreless innings in two starts so far in AAA Pawtucket, recovering from neck and back injuries. Daniel Bard, Ramon Ramirez, and Manny Delcarmen will pitch in long relif, with Hideki Okajima setting up for closer Jonathan Paplebon. Young pitcher Casey Kelly could be up in the Major Leagues as early as later this season. I think the Red Sox have a chance to make the playoffs again this year, but maybe as the Wild Card again.

3. Tampa Bay Rays
The Rays have been the victims of playing in such a difficult division in previous years, and this year will probably be similar. They have a good team, but with the Yankees and Red Sox, they may not make the playoffs. Speedy left fielder Carl Crawford and five-tool CF BJ Upton team up with RF Gabe Kapler in the Rays outfield this year, with Fernando Perez and Pat Burrell on the bench. Evan Longoria looks to further improve on a 33 HR year last year, with Jason Bartlett, Ben Zobrist, and Carlos Peña finshing out the infield. Willy Aybar, Reid Brignac, and Sean Rodriguez will play off the bench as infielders. James Shields and Matt Garza are at the top of a talented young rotation, with Jeff Niemann, David Price, and Wade Davis finishing it off. Andy Sonnanstine, Grant Balfour, and Dan Wheeler will lead up to closer Rafael Soriano. The Rays are a very talented young team, and will compete in the tough AL East, but I don't see them returning to the postseason this year.

4. Toronto Blue Jays
The Blue Jays traded away SP Roy Halladay to the Phillies this offseason, acquiring SP Kyle Drabek, 3B Brett Wallace, C Travis d'Arnaud. The Jays will look to build through the draft and the minor leagues. This year, the outfield will consist of Travis Snider, Vernon Wells, and Jose Bautista. Adam Lind will spell in left, as well as playing DH everyday. Edwin Encarnacion will start at third for the Jays, followed by Alex Gonzalez at short, John McDonald at second, and Lyle Overbay at first. All-Star and 2009 Comeback Player of the Year Aaron Hill is expected to return from injury this week and take over at second base. Mike McCoy will back up at shortstop, with Jarrett Hoffpauir off the bench at second, and Randy Ruiz will back up at first and DH. John Buck, a former Royal, will be behind the plate, with Jose Molina backing him up. The rotation without Halladay will be led by Shawn Marcum, who will try to get back to 2007 form when he won 12 games for Toronto. Brian Tallett and Ricky Romero are two promising young starters, with Brandon Morrow and Dana Eveland closing out the rotation. Jeremy Accardo and Scott Downs will lead up to Kevin Gregg and Jason Frasor. The Blue Jays have a good future, and their rotation will be strong in the future, as they will add Kyle Drabek, the centerpiece of the Halladay deal soon. This year though, the Jays will fall short of the top 3.

5. Baltimore Orioles
The Orioles have been the perennial bottom feeders of the AL East in recent years, and the trend should continue this year. The O's acquired some talented veterans in the offseason, but not enough to get them past the Blue Jays. The outfield will conatin Nolan Reimold, Adam Jones, and Nick Markakis, making the outfield a very decent group. Lou Montanez will back up at each outfield spot, with Luke Scott playing OF and DH. Miguel Tejeda will play 3rd for the O's this year, with veteran SS Cesar Izturis to his left, and Julio Lugo at second. Garrett Atkins, a former Rockie, was acquired in the offseason and will start at first. Ty Wigginton will be a pinch hitter and corner infield back up for Baltimore this year. Super prospect Matt Wieters will be behind the plate and will attempt to live up to the massive hype surrounding him, with Craig Tatum backing him up. Former Ranger Kevin Millwood and Jeremy Guthrie head the rotation, with talented young lefty Brian Matusz developing right behind them. Brad Bergesen and David Hernandez make up the bottom of the rotation. Will Ohman and Mark Hendrickson will pitch in relief, with Cla Meredith and Jim Johnson pitching the eighth and ninth innings. The Orioles need to keep developing pitchers and hitters, and could have success down the road, but the pieces are not there in Baltimore to seriously compete in the AL East.

With all of the divisions wrapped up, let's go through the AL Playoffs. In the NL Playoffs, I predicted the Phillies to top the Rockies and Dodgers to advance to another World Series. Here are my predictions for the AL Playoffs:

AL West Champs: A's
AL Central: Twins
AL East: Yankees
AL Wild Card: Red Sox

ALDS: Yankees over A's
ALDS: Twins over Red Sox
ALCS: Yankees over Twins

World Series: Yankees over Phillies in 6

So, my predictions for the 2010 season are that the Yankees will beat the Phillies in a rematch of last year's World Series and come up with the same result. I will be updating on baseball, the NBA playoffs, the NFL Draft, and many other things later in the week. Enjoy!

2010 AL Central Division Preview

Last year, this competitive division needed 163 games to decide the champion of the division. This year we could see a very similar scenario in which several teams in this division could compete for a playoff spot. Let's take a look at each team in the AL Central.

1. Minnesota Twins
The winners of the 163rd game, the Twins lost to the Yankees in the ALDS last season. This year in the Twins outfield, Jason Kubel and Delmon Young will split time in left field, with Denard Span and Michael Cuddyer returning to provide sparks offensively. Kubel and Jim Thome will also split time at DH, with Thome getting the bulk of the work at DH. On the infield, Brendan Harris will start at 3rd, with JJ Hardy (acquired in the offseason from Milwaukee) at shortstop and veteran Orlando Hudson at second. Justin Morneau and AL MVP Joe Mauer will provide big bats for the Twins offense this year. On the bench will likely be Jason Kubel, Nick Pinto, Alexi Casilla, and Drew Butera The rotation doesn't have a true ace, but Scott Baker and Nick Blackburn will do their best at the top of the rotation. Carl Pavano, Kevin Slowey, and former prospect Francisco Liriano make up the rest of the pitching staff. The loss of Joe Nathan will greatly hurt the Twins bullpen this year, but Jon Rauch will step into the All-Star's shoes for the Twins this year. Jesse Crain, Pat Neshek, and Jose Mijares are names we will hear often in the Twins bullpen. The Twins have a powerful offense, and the pitching is definitely coming along. Overall, I see this team making the playofss again this year.

2. Chicago White Sox
The White Sox had a disappointing year last year in terms of their finish in the division (3rd Place, 79-83). In the outfield Juan Pierre, the speedster acquired in a trade from Los Angeles, will start in left, with Alex Rios looking to bounce back in center and Carlos Quentin will play right field. Veterans Paul Konerko and Mark Teahen will play corner infield positions, with Alexei Ramirez and Gordon Beckham, two solid young players will start in the middle infield. AJ Pierzynski will do the catching for Chicago this year. Andruw Jones will likely DH for the ChiSox, and will try to return to his Atlanta form. The bench consists of Mark Kotsay (OF, .292/3 HR/18 RBI), Omar Vizquel (SS, .266/1/14), Jayson Nix (2B, .224/12/32), and Donny Lucy (C, Did not play last year). The pitching staff will be headed by two strong pitchers, Mark Buehrle, who threw a perfect game last year, and Jake Peavy, who was injured for most of the year last year and was acquired from San Diego at the trade deadline. Gavin Floyd and John Danks (11 wins and 13 wins respectively last year) will make up the bottom of the rotation with Freddy Garcia. The bullpen will see Scott Linebrink, Matt Thornton, and JJ Putz this year, with Bobby Jenks closing games. The White Sox have a good rotation, but need a heavy hitter to contend for a World Series, but will definitely play well in divisional play.

3. Detroit Tigers
The losers of the 163rd game last year, the Tigers traded away all-star centefielder Curtis Granderson to the Yankees, and SP Edwin Jackson to the D'Backs. Johnny Damon, acquired in free agency, will start in left field, with former Yankee prospect Austin Jackson in center. Magglio Ordoñez will try to rebound from a disappointing season last year (9 HR/50 RBI) as the Tigers everyday rightfielder. Carlos Guillen will play DH, as well as spell at 3rd and in the outfield. The infield in led by All-Star first baseman Miguel Cabrera, with Ramon Santiago, Adam Everett, and Brandon Inge around the rest of the diamond. Gerald Laird will start the year behind the plate, but Alex Avila could take his spot later in the year. Second baseman prospect Scott Sizemore could take over for Santiago later in the year. Also on the bench will be OF's Ryan Raburn and Don Kelly. In the rotation, Justin Verlander, the hard throwing rigty, will be the ace, with newly acquired Max Scherzer (acquired in the Edwin Jackson trade from Arizona), and Dontrelle Willis, returning from injuries and an anxiety disorder should be solid starters. Rick Porcello will try to avoid a sophomore slump this year and maintain his solid numbers from last year (14 wins). Veteran Jeremy Bonderman will finish the rotation, but he has been suspended for three games. In the bullpen, we will see Phil Coke, Fu-Te Ni, and Joel Zumaya. José Valverde will be the closer for Detroit this year. The Tigers are a good team, but there are too many question marks for them to make the playoffs this year.

4. Kansas City Royals
Yes, the Royals, the perennial bottom feeders of the AL Central. I think these Royals will rise above the Indians for the 4th spot in the division. A revamped outfield that contains Scott Podsednik and Rick Ankiel, along with RF David DeJesus. In the infield, Alberto Callaspo will start at 3rd, with Yuniesky Betacourt and Chris Getz make up the double play dou for the Royals, and heavy hitter Billy Butler starts at first. Behind the plate will be veteran Jason Kendall. The DH will be Jose Guillen. On the bench will be Mitch Maier, Willie Bloomquist, Mike Aviles, and Bryan Pena. A rotation led by a Cy Young winner is always solid, and KC has Zack Greinke at the head, followed by Luke Hochevar, Kyle Davies, and Brian Bannister. Robinson Tejada, Juan Cruz, and Kyle Farnsworth are the top arms in the pen, with Joakim Soria as the closer. The Royals have some prospects developing (3B Mike Moustakas, 1B Eric Hosmer, P Daniel Duffy) and could get much better when all their pieces fall into place. This year, however, will be a stepping stone for future years in Kansas City,

5. Cleveland Indians
The Indians are a struggling team that needs prospects to come up soon for them to compete with the rest of the central. The outfield is a bright spot, with Michael Brantley in left, Grady Sizemore in CF, and Shin Soo Choo in right. In the infield, Jhonny Peralta will start at 3rd, with Asdrubal Cabrera at short, Luis Valbuena at second, and Matt Laporta at first. Behind the plate will be Lou Marson, with high ranked prospect, C Carlos Santana in AAA this year, and likely to appear in the majors soon. The DH will be veteran Travis Hafner. Austin Kearns, Andy Marte, and Mike Redmond make up the bench for the Indians. The pitching staff is where Cleveland falls apart, with Jake Westbrook, Fausto Carmona, Justin Masterson, David Huff, and Mitch Talbot in the rotation. None of these guys are true aces, which will cause Cleveland to struggle a lot. Masterson, Huff, and Talbot have potential, but are not top of the rotation quality yet. Overall I think the Indians are not a very good team, and will likely struggle to stay in the race for the Central very long.

So in the Central, I have the Twins winning the division. The next preview will be the AL East, one of the more powerful divisions in baseball. Make sure to check out the exciting division containing the Yankees and Red Sox!

2010 AL West Season Preview

The American League West should be a very close division in 2010, with all four teams having a legitimate shot at winning the division. I have the A's finishing first with the Angels in 4th, but the general consensus seems to have the four teams in the exact reverse order.

1. Oakland A's

Oakland will be relying on pitching and defense in the 2010 season. The outfield defense, with Rajai Davis, Coco Crisp, and Ryan Sweeney, will have three legitimate center fielders playing at the same time, and should track down a ton of fly balls. Sweeney also was among the leaders in outfield assists in 2009 with 11. Around the infield, Mark Ellis and Cliff Pennington are above average at 2B and SS, and Kevin Kouzmanoff and Daric Barton are sure-handed at the corner infield positions. The A's overall defense should be among the best in the league. The pitching staff has a few question marks, but also has much more depth than last year. At age 22, Brett Anderson should be the staff ace. Anderson had an ERA of 4.06 as a rookie in 2009, but in the second half, his ERA dropped to 3.48 with an outstanding 4.3 K/BB ratio. Fellow rookie Dallas Braden had a 3.89 ERA in 22 starts in 2009. Ben Sheets and Justin Duchscherer are both returning from injuries, but have been All-Stars in recent years. 24 year old Gio Gonzalez will be the #5 starter, and averaged 9.9K/9 IP as a rookie. Also in the mix is Trevor Cahill, who won 10 games as a 21 year old rookie in 2009. The A's bullpen should also be very strong, led by 2009 Rookie-of-the-Year Andrew Bailey, and also including Michael Wuertz, Joey Devine, Brad Ziegler, and Craig Breslow. Offense is the big question mark for the A's. The A's finished 9th in the league in scoring last year, and need continued offensive improvement from Barton, Suzuki, and Sweeney. If the players at the Major League level don't hit, the A's have some outstanding prospects at the AAA level who should be ready later this year, including 1B Chris Carter, who has slugged 67 HR over the last two years, and OF Michael Taylor, who hit .320 with 20 HR and 21 SB last year between AA and AAA.

2. Texas Rangers

After winning 85 games in 2009, the Rangers are looking for their first playoff berth since 1999. Somewhat surprisingly, the Rangers had the 4th best pitching staff in AL, as measured by ERA+, and only the 9th best offense. The team had great hitting from 2B Ian Kinsler, OF Nelson Cruz, and 3B Michael Young, but had disappointing seasons from 1B Chris Davis, CF Josh Hamilton, and their young catchers Jarrod Saltalamachhia and Taylor Teagarden. The Rangers are looking for rebound seasons from these players, as well as contributions from newcomers Vladimir Guerrero, Ryan Garko. The pitching staff has added SP Rich Harden (from the Cubs) and Colby Lewis, who had an incredible 8.0 K/BB over the last two years in Japan. Harden and Lewis will join Scott Feldman, C.J. Wilson, and Brandon McCarthy in the rotation. The Rangers have great pitching depth, as Derek Holland, Tommy Hunter, and Matt Harrison should all be ready to contribute. The bullpen is led by closer Frank Francisco and setup man Neftali Feliz, who finished 2009 with a 1.74 ERA and 39K/8BB in 31 IP.

3. Seattle Mariners

The Mariners were the most improved team in the Majors in 2009, improving by 24 wins to a record of 85-77. In the offseason, the team added All-Stars SP Cliff Lee and IF Chone Figgins, and the Mariners should be contenders once again in 2010. Like the A's, the Mariners are built around pitching and defense, but have a questionable offense. The defense is led by Frankiln Gutierrez, who is probably the best CF in baseball right now, even if the Gold Glove voters haven't realized it yet. RF Ichiro Suzuki and SS Jack Wilson are also excellent defensive players. Offensively, the Mariners were last in Runs Scored in the AL in 2009, and they lost their leading HR hitter from last year, Russell Branyan, to free agency. The offense will be boosted by the addition of Figgins, as well as 1B Casey Kotchman and OF Milton Bradley, but it is hard to see the Mariners even achieving an average offense. The starting pitching is led by two of the best pitchers in the AL, Felix Hernandez and Cliff Lee. But Lee will be on the DL until at least May, and the rest of the rotation, Ian Snell, Ryan Rowland-Smith, and Doug Fister, is shaky. In the bullpen, closer David Aardsma had 38 Saves, but still averages 5 BB/9, which is too high for long-term success. Brandon League may end up taking Aardsma's position as the season progresses.

4. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

The Angels have won the AL West for three straight seasons, but lost four key players from the 2009 team in IF Chone Figgins, OF Vladimir Guerrero, SP John Lackey, and RP Darren Oliver. That group was replaced with OF Hideki Matsui, SP Joel Piniero, and RP Fernando Rodney. In addition to Piniero, the starting pitching includes Jered Weaver, Ervin Santana, Joe Saunders, and Scott Kazmir, although Kazmir is already on the DL. This group does not have a pair of aces like the Mariners or the upside and depth of the Rangers and Athletics, and I think will be a disappointment for the Angels this year. The closer will be Brian Fuentes, with Fernando Rodney, Scott Shields, and Kevin Jepsen pitching the 7th and 8th innings. Offensively, the Angels finished 2nd in the AL in runs scored in 2009, but had career years from four players - Kendry Morales, Torii Hunter, Erick Aybar, and Juan Rivera. I think they will have a hard time scoring runs as they did last year, and will probably finish in the middle of the pack offensively.

Summary

All 4 teams in the AL West are capable of winning the division. The A's have a lot of question marks, especially offensively, but also have a wealth of talent at the AAA level that should be able to contribute if needed. The Rangers have a good mix of offense and pitching, although their two most promising pitchers, Neftali Feliz and Derek Holland, haven't been given important roles yet. Seattle may have the two top pitchers in the division in Felix Hernandez and Cliff Lee, but has a weak offense and will be without Lee for a month. The Angels always seem to find a way to contend, but it will be tough this year without Figgins, Lackey, and Guerrero. All four teams will probably win between 75 and 85 games this year, and I am picking the A's to finally break the Angels' string of division titles.

NL East Season Preview

Questions surround the division on the east coast in the national league this season, and the teams in it. What will Roy Halladay's impact be? Is Jason Heyward the real deal? Can the Mets stay healthy? Will the Marlins contend? Will Stephen Strasburg become a star? The answers are next.

1. Philadelphia Phillies
The reigning back-to-back NL champions should compete for another appearance in the World Series this year. The outfield of Raul Ibañez, Shane Victorino, and Jayson Werth should provide solid numbers for the Phils, while the infield of Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, Jimmy Rollins, and Placido Polanco provides the offensive star power. Behind the plate will be Carlos Ruiz, who provided timely hits late in the postseason for them last year. On the bench, the Phillies have Ben Francisco, Gregg Dobbs, Juan Castro, Ross Gload, and Brian Schneider. Roy Halladay joins the pitching staff in a deal that involved the parting of ways between the organization and Cliff Lee, who was sent to the Mariners. Halladay is predicted by many to win the NL Cy Young, and is joined on the pitching staff by Cole Hamels, JA Happ, Jamie Moyer, and Kyle Kendrick. In the bullpen, Jose Contreras, Antonio Bastardo, and Chad Durbin will pitch a lot. Ryan Madson will start the season as the closer until Brad Lidge returns. Overall, the Phillies have a very good team and will likely play deep into October.

2. Atlanta Braves
After years of making the playoffs, the Braves have restocked for a very plausible playoff run. In the outfield Melky Cabrera, newly acquired from the Yankees for Javier Vazquez, will start in left, with Nate McLouth in center and super prospect Jason Heyward. I believe Heyward will live up to the hype and be a very solid outifielder for years to come in Atlanta. Chipper Jones, Yunel Escobar, Martin Prado, and Troy Glaus make up a Braves infield that will provide solid defense and offense. Brian McCann, an all-star catcher, will be behind the plate catching a solid Atlanta rotation. The bench includes David Ross, Eric Hinske, Omar Infante, Brooks Conrad and Matt Diaz. In the rotation, Derek Lowe, Jair Jurrjens and Tim Hudson make up the top part, while prospect Tommy Hanson and Japanese import Kensin Kawakami make up the bottom part of an outstanding group. The bullpen contains Jo-Jo Reyes, Peter Moylan, and Takashi Saito, with Billy Wagner closing. The Braves have a very good pitching staff, and a solid offense. They can definitely make a serious run at a playoff spot this season.

3. Florida Marlins
The Marlins are a very young team in the experienced NL East, but have a very good young core to rely on this season. In the outfield, NL Rookie of the Year Chris Coghlan returns in left field, with top prospect Cameron Maybin in center, and Cody Ross will start in right field. Jorge Cantu will play third, with star shortstop Hanley Ramirez and all-star second baseman Dan Uggla up the middle. At first will be Gaby Sanchez, a solid offensive prospect who needs to develop defensively. John Baker will do the catching for Florida this season. On the bench will be Ronny Paulino, Mike Lamb, Emilio Bonifacio, Brian Barden, and Wes Helms. The pitching staff looks strong with Josh Johnson and Ricky Nolasco at the front. Anibal Sanchez, Chris Volstad, and Nate Robertson make up the rest of the rotation in Florida. Renyel Pinto will be a key player out of the bullpen, and Leo Nunez will do the closing for the Marlins. The Marlins are definitely on the rise, and I think they will have a better year this year, but still aren't ready for playoff contention.

4. New York Mets
After an injury plagued season cost the Mets last year, they revamped in the free agent market and will try to rebound this year. Recently acquired power hitting left fielder Jason Bay will provide offense, while Angel Pagan and Jeff Francoeur finish out the outfield. David Wright will try to rebound from his power outage last season, and Alex Cora, Luis Castillo, and Mike Jacobs will finish off the infield. Rod Barajas will be behind the plate catching a pitching rotation headed by Johan Santana. The rest of the rotation is pretty underwhelming, with John Maine, Mike Pelfrey, Oliver Perez, and Jonathan Niese. Ryota Igarashi and Pedro Feliciano will be good arms out of the bullpen, and Francisco Rodriguez will close out games. I think the Mets have an OK offense, but I don't like the pitching staff enough to put them ahead of the Marlins and Braves.

5. Washington Nationals
The Nationals had a miserable season last year, earning them the top pick in this year's First Year Player Draft, in which they will likely select phenom catcher Bryce Harper. This year, the outfield contains Josh Willingham and Willie Harris on the corners, and rising CF Nyjer Morgan. On the infield, the corners are the strengths, with Adam Dunn and Ryan Zimmerman giving them the offensive spark they need. Veteran Adam Kennedy will start at second, while prospect Ian Desmond gets the nod at shortstop. Ivan Rodriguez will be behind the plate, and the veteran backstop will look to be a mentor to the young pitching staff in Washington. John Lannan has developed into an OK left hander at the top of the rotation, while Jason Marquis, Craig Stammen, and Garrett Mock finish out a mediocre rotation. Stephen Strasburg, the pitching phenom from San Diego State who was drafted in the 2009 Draft, will start the year AAA and could come up to the majors and join the Nationals rotation. The bullpen leaves a lot to be desired, with Brian Bruney, Jason Bergmann, and Miguel Batista in the pen, with Matt Capps in the closer role. The Nationals need to continue to get good prospects and develop them in order to compete in the future, and these next few years will be transitional into the Strasburg/Zimmerman/Harper era.

With the NL East done, I am now done with the National League. Here are my postseason predictions for the NL:
NL West Champ: LA Dodgers (2)
NL Central Champ: St. Louis Cardinals (3)
NL East Champ: Philadelphia Phillies (1)
NL Wild Card: Colorado Rockies (4)
Phillies over Rockies
Dodgers over Cardinals
Phillies over Dodgers
I think the Phillies will make a third straight World Series appearance, with an identical NL bracket against them. Next up will be the AL, which will start in the West and move towards the East. Enjoy this weekend in baseball!