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!

Previewing the NL Central in 2010

A division dominated by the St. Louis Cardinals, who finished with a 7.5 game lead over the second place Cubs. This year, I expect the Cards to stay atop the division.

1. St. Louis Cardinals
By far the class of the division, the Cardinals have two great offensive stars in Albert Pujols and Matt Holliday. Holliday will play in an outfield with Colby Rasmus and Ryan Ludwick, which is definitely a solid outfield. The infield contains Pujols, Brendan Ryan, and David Freese. At second base, there could be a battle between Skip Schumaker and Felipe Lopez, which I think Lopez will win. Yadier Molina will be the man behind the plate, and will return as one of the best defensive catchers in baseball. The bench will not be anything special, so health could be an issue for the Cards. The rotation will once again carry the great duo of Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainright, two Cy Young candidates from last year. Behind them will be veterans Brad Penny, Kyle Lohse, and Jaime Garcia. The bullpen will likely be book ended by closer Ryan Franklin, with Jason Motte and Kyle McClellan will be strong arms in the pen. Overall, I can see the Cardinals making another playoff appearance this year.

2. Milwaukee Brewers
The Brewers have always been a team in the playoff race, but have never been able to take the division. This year I think they will close the gap between them and the Cardinals, and be in the Wild Card hunt and possibly even the division hunt. The Brewers outfield is led by corner outfielders Ryan Braun and Corey Hart, two outstanding hitters, with recent acquisition, speedster Carlos Gomez in center. In the infield big Prince Fielder will start at first, with Rickie Weeks at second and Casey McGehee at third. The trade of JJ Hardy (to the Twins for Gomez) opened up the shortstop spot to top prospect Alcides Escobar, who will get his first full season at the major league level this year. Behind the plate is veteran Gregg Zaun, but catching prospect Jonathan Lucroy could come up late this year or early next year. The pitching in Milwaukee leaves tons to be desired, but should be made up for by the powerful offense. Yovani Gallardo is their ace, followed by veteran lefties Doug Davis and Randy Wolf, then Dave Bush and Manny Parra. The bullpen looks solid, with Todd Coffee, Mitch Stetter, and LaTroy Hawkins, followed by Trevor Hoffman to close out games. The Brewers have a solid team, but injuries and pitching depth could hurt them down the stretch.

3. Chicago Cubs
Year 102 for Cubs fans, and this year could be a year where the Cubbies make the playoffs. The outfield is led by Alfonso Soriano and Kosuke Fukudome at the corners, with Marlon Byrd in center. The infield has stayed the same this year, with power hitting corner guys Derrek Lee and Aramis Ramirez, and Mike Fontenot and Ryan Theriot provide solid defense up the middle. Geovany Soto will be behind the plate and will try to bounce back and return to 2008 form where he was rookie of the year. Carlos Zambrano and Ryan Dempster will lead the rotation, followed by 12 game winner Randy Wells, then Carlos Silva (acquired from Mariners for Milton Bradley) and Tom Gorzelanny finish off the rotation. The leading arms out of the bullpen this year will be Jeff Samardzija, Sean Marshall, and John Grabow. Carlos Marmol will likely do the closing for the Cubs this season. In the end, I think the cubs will a solid season, but might not make the playoffs.

4. Houston Astros
The Astros have a chance at staying in the playoff race later in the year, and could play one of their best season in a while. Their outfield is led by Hunter Pence and Carlos Lee, two dangerous hitters in the middle of their lineup. Speedy Michael Bourn starts in center, and will retain his role as leadoff man. The infield isn't as good as many, with Pedro Feliz at third, Tommy Manzella at short, Kazuo Matsui at second, and Geoff Blum will start the year at first, but will move out of the lineup when Lance Berkman returns from injuries. Behind the plate will be Humberto Quintero. The bench consists of JR Towles, Jeff Keppinger, Chris Johnson, Cory Sullivan, and Jason Michaels. The rotation is anchored by the aging Roy Oswalt, whom injuries are becoming a major concern for. Wandy Rodriguez will hope to build off of a solid season last year, followed by Brett Myers. Bud Norris and Felipe Paulino are two young pitchers with potential for high strikeout numbers, but sometimes struggle to get the ball in the zone. Sammy Gervacio and Chris Sampson will be arms out of the bullpen, as well as whoever doesn't get the closer job between Brandon Lyon and Matt Lindstrom. Overall, the Astros could have a good future, but they aren't ready for serious playoff contention yet.

5. Cincinnati Reds
The Reds made some expensive offseason moves (Aroldis Chapman 6/30.25 million), and are looking to improve. The outfield features power hitting RF Jay Bruce along with young Chris Dickerson and Drew Stubbs. The infield is pretty solid, with the right side containing the Reds' stars, Brandon Phillips and Joey Votto, with the left side showcasing the defensive talents of veterans Scott Rolen and Orlando Cabrera. Ramon Hernandez will do most of the catching for this ballcup this year. The bench contains Jonny Gomes, a solid hitter against left handed pitching, Laynce Nix, Juan Francisco, a third baseman with some potential, Paul Janish, Miguel Cairo, and Ryan Hanigan. The pitching rotation starts with two veterans in Aaron Harang and Bronson Arroyo, followed by youngsters Johnny Cueto, Homer Bailey, and Mike Leake. Leake was the eight pick in the first round of the 2009 draft, so he is really on a fast track. Aroldis Chapman, the Cuban defector signed in the offseason, will start the year in AAA and could come up early in the year. Edinson Volquez missed last year with Tommy John surgery, and had some setbacks in recovery putting his return later in the year than expected. Arthur Rhodes, Nick Masset, Daniel Ray Herrera, and Micah Owings will lead into solid closer Francisco Cordero. Youth and potential give the Reds high hopes for the future, but like the Astros need to let their young talent develop before they are serious contenders.

6. Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pirates are the basement of the NL Central, one of the worst teams in baseball, a team notorious for trading away stars to contenders right when they become all stars. The outfield has very solid potential, with Garrett Jones and Lastings Milledge, and future superstar Andrew McCutchen starring in the grasses of PNC Park. Andy LaRoche, Ronny Cedeno, Jeff Clement, and new addition Aki Iwamura star in an improved infield, and the catcher will be Ryan Doumit, who has enjoyed periods of success offensively in previous years. The bench will contain a good bat in Ryan Church, as well as Delwyn Young, John Raynor, Bobby Crosby, and Jason Jaramillo. Zach Duke, Paul Maholm, Ross Ohlendorf, Charlie Morton, and Daniel McCutchen make up the Pittsburgh rotation. Brendan Donnelly is a good acquisition for the bullpen, and Octavio Dotel will do the closing this year. The Pirates could have a bright future, but right now they don't have the pieces to rise from the bottom of the division.

So now that the Central is finished, the next preview will be about the NL East, followed by the AL division from West to East. Enjoy some great baseball this week!

Spring Training Previews: NL West

With Spring Training well under way and the regular season to start soon, baseball is definitely in the air. To get ready for the upcoming season, I am going to preview each division in the Majors, starting with the NL West and working my way through to the NL East. Teams will be ranked by where I think they will finish in the division.

1. Los Angeles Dodgers
The Dodgers had a very quiet offseason after their NLCS departure in the playoffs last year, mainly due to the high profile divorce of owners Frank and Jamie McCourt. Jamey Carroll was one of the Dodgers only signings, and he will most likely be used is a similar capacity as departed Juan Castro. Juan Pierre was traded to the White Sox leaving the Dodgers with Xavier Paul and Jason Repko to back up the outstanding outfield trio of MRamirez, Kemp, and Ethier. On the infield Rafael Furcal will hope to bounce back from his struggles from the previous year, and James Loney will have to look for a better offensive season. Ronnie Belliard should start at second but will receive pressure from Blake DeWitt and Chin Lung Hu for his job this year, similar to what Belliard did last year to Orlando Hudson. At third Casey Blake looks to stay the consistent bottom of the order hitter he's been for the Dodgers since he was traded from Cleveland two years ago. Russell Martin will try to improve after a horrid season last year. In the rotation, Clayton Kershaw will look to solidify himself as an ace in the NL, while Hiroki Kuroda and Vicente Padilla should remain as solid arms in the 2 and 3 slots. Chad Billingsley will be one of the main questions heading into the year, after a great first half, followed by a second half in which he was removed from the rotation in October. The fifth starter seems to have been given to knuckleballer Charlie Haeger, who looks to be impressive this year. The bullpen should be solid with Sherrill and Broxton at the back, but injury concerns with Hong-Chih Kuo and Ramon Troncoso could hurt the team. Overall though, the offensive ability of this team should lead them to another division title.

2. San Francisco Giants
The Giants had a good season last year, but did not end with postseason play. This year they signed utilityman Mark DeRosa, who should give them something either off the bench or in the lineup. The rotation will be the strong suit for Bruce Bochy's club, led by starters Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain. Barry Zito and Jonathan Sanchez finish out a possible four man rotation. If they go to a five man, it looks like Todd Wellemeyer, a spring training surprise would be added to the rotation. On the hitting side, San Francisco will likely struggle as much as they did last year. Pablo Sandoval and Bengie Molina return as their heavy hitters, and Aubrey Huff and Mark DeRosa are welcome additions that have solid sticks. Freddy Sanchez looks to return to the top form he was in a few years ago in Pittsburgh at second base, and Edgar Renteria returns at shortstop. Aaron Rowand and Nate Schierholtz close out the outfield. The bench is highlighted by speedy Eugenio Velez and utilityman Juan Uribe. Travis Ishikawa, Fred Lewis, and John Bowker could also see some time off the bench. Overall, San Francisco should compete for a playoff spot behind their strong rotation.

3. Colorado Rockies
After firing Clint Hurdle last year, the Rockies named Jim Tracy, former Dodgers and Pirates manager, and went 74-42 in his tenure, ending with a loss the the Phillies in the NLDS. Troy Tulowitzki looks to have another strong season at short, while Todd Helton and Chris Ianetta should be solid hitters in the lineup. Ian Stewart and Clint Barmes round out the infield. In the outfield Brad Hawpe looks to be a powerful hitter from the left side, as he killed the Dodgers last season. Dexter Fowler and Carlos Gonzalez will have a good battle over the centerfield spot, and Seth Smith takes the field in left. The rotation in led by flameballer Ubaldo Jimenez, followed by Jeff Francis and Aaron Cook. Jorge De La Rosa had a strong season last year before getting hurt just before playoff time and Jason Hammel returns after eating up 176 innings last year. The bullpen is led by Huston Street and Manny Corpas, as well as Taylor Buchholz. Ryan Spilborghs and Carlos Gonzalez lead the bench, followed by veterans Miguel Olivo, Jason Giambi, and Melvin Mora. Look for the Rockies, Giants, and Dodgers to be involved in a heavy fight for tops in the division.

4. Arizona Diamondbacks
The D'Backs are led by their young core of Upton/Reynolds/Drew, and looks to be built around Dan Haren in the rotation. Kelly Johnson and Adam LaRoche make up the left side of the infield as good additions to the team. Miguel Montero looks to be the starter at catcher, and Conor Jackson and Chris Young round out the outfield. The rotation looks to be led by Haren, and offseason acquisitions Edwin Jackson and Ian Kennedy. Rodrigo Lopez should be in the rotation, and the 5 spot should be up for grabs. Bob Howry and Aaron Heilman join Chad Qualls in the bullpen containing many young unproven pitchers. The bench consists of Gerardo Parra, Ryan Roberts, Rusty Ryal, Augie Ojeda, and Chris Snyder. Big first baseman Brandon Allen will likely start in AAA, but could come up this year. The Diamondbacks have a solid future, but right now they need to let their young pieces grown and develop.

5. San Diego Padres
The Padres struggled through last season, and with talks of dealing bright spot first baseman Adrian Gonzalez, the Padres are still the bottom of the NL West. Aside from Gonzalez, a power hitting first baseman, the infield consists of David Eckstein, Everth Cabrera, and Chase Headley. Yorvit Torrealba will likely get the nod behind the plate over Nick Hundley. Kyle Blanks leads the outfield, a powerful rookie who could be their best hitter aside from Gonzalez. Will Venable and Tony Gwynn Jr. provide speed and fielding in the outfield for the Pads. The rotation is led by Jon Garland and Chris Young. Kevin Correia will take the third spot, and young pitchers Clayton Richard and Mat Latos finish off the rotation and could develop into solid players. Heath Bell could finally step in to elite status as their closer, and Edward Mujica and Joe Thatcher should be the go-to arms in the bullpen. Oscar Salazar will be an extra infielder, and the two Hairston brothers (Scott and Jerry) will play good roles in the utility roles. The Padres have a developing farm system, and could rise in a few years, but for now, they are perennial bottom feeders.

The NL West should provide three solid teams this year, followed by developing teams in the D'Backs and Padres. Next we will take a look at the NL Central, and see if anyone can challenge Albert Pujols and the Cards.