“Should I be who you want me to be?”
This was the question posed by LeBron James in his new Nike commercial. The commercial was released a couple of days ago, where I first saw it by watching the NBA opener, James’ Heat vs. Boston Celtics. After having discussed it in my Sports Ethics class, I thought it would be a good idea to blog about it.
I thought it was a good commercial to attempt to put LeBron back into the good graces. As most studies have shown, LeBron’s fan approval rating has dropped dramatically after his free agency saga and his “decision” on ESPN. The season opening game, was the first time that LeBron would be back into the full public spotlight, which I’m sure drew tons of TV ratings, which made it a brilliant idea to release the commercial.
For all of the people that claim that LeBron ruined his legacy by joining the Heat, they are out of their mind. Maybe, he took himself out of the race for greatest basketball player that ever lived. Maybe, he was unable to lift Cleveland on his back to the promise land. However, you can’t blame LeBron for leaving Cleveland and decide to be the number two man in Miami for a better chance to win a trophy in June.
The commercial had tons of humorous content in it, which must have been a reference to LeBron’s personality, which is well known to be goofy. The highlight must have been LeBron eating the doughnut, which I believe is a reference to Charles Barkley’s weight. Some people called it a low blow, but I don’t know the relationship of Charles and LeBron and if they would consider each other friends or not.
Overall, Nike did a good job attempting to raise their number one client’s image back to the popularity that it was before. LeBron’s image will heal over time, as fans will remember that he is the same player that won their hearts, and championships can heal everything (ex. Kobe Bryant).
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Monday, October 25, 2010
2010-11 Minnesota T-Wolves Preview
I’ll be the first to admit that I’m not a big fan of the NBA. Compared to college basketball, NBA lacks the defense, passion, fans, and simple traveling rules that I associate with real basketball. Thus to my lack of interest in the NBA, the Timberwolves will probably stay as my favorite team, although they have no chance of competing for the next five years. Yes, you read that correctly, the Timberwolves will not win more than 25 games in the season until after 2015 (however, I believe there is a certain possibility that the NBA will lockout next season). This preview will show their offseason moves with my feedback, and how I predict their starting lineup with fare this season.
Additions: Wesley Johnson (draft), Michael Beasley (trade), Martell Webster (trade), Luke Ridnour (FA), Darko Milicic (re-signed), Nikola Pekovic (draft), and Kosta Koufos (trade)
Subtractions: Al Jefferson, Ramon Sessions, Oleksiy Pecherov, and Ryan Hollins
**Additions and subtractions were taken from ESPN column
Darko Milicic re-signs
"With us, it was like manna from heaven... I haven't seen a big man pass like him." General Manager David Kahn became over the offseason, the dumbest general manager in sports. Kahn re-signed Milicic to a four-year, $20 million contract. He averages 8.3 points and 5.5 rebounds in 24 games, and they reward him with a huge contract? In an interview with Chris Webber, Kahn compared to Milicic to Vlade Divac, and says he will improve like Webber did in his career, which provoked the response, “We’re not going to talk about me and Darko in the same sentence,” from Webber. As surprising, this re-signing came after the Wolves drafted Wesley Johnson over DeMarcus Cousins. Would Cousins have been more productive than Milicic, and a better setting stone for the franchise?
Wolves grab Ridnour
Yes Jonny Flynn is going to be out for a month due to a hip injury leaving a void at point guard, but wasn’t Ramon Sessions a quality backup? The Wolves signed Ridnour to a four-year, $16 million deal, while moving Sessions to Cleveland. Ridnour had a career year on his contract season, shooting 47.8% from the floor, which is drastically better than his career averages. Ridnour is a good point guard for the triangle offense, but I would rather see Flynn traded if they don’t like the way he plays.
Wesley Johnson #4 overall
Wesley Johnson is a player that is good but he won’t be great. He is one of the oldest rookies in the NBA, but the T-Wolves should have opted for a guy that will be the next Kevin Garnett of the franchise. I’m not saying that Cousins will be the next great center but they definitely could have traded down and got somebody else. One rumor that I believe is that Kahn is setting up the team for when Ricky Rubio arrives next season. However, Rubio is overrated in my mind, no matter how many times Kobe Bryant says he is ready for the NBA.
Happy trails Al Jefferson
I was an Al Jefferson fan, and I think he will do well in Utah. Although he couldn’t play well with Kevin Love on his side, I think that he is a better player than Chris Bosh. With the trade of Jefferson, the team is Kevin Love’s, but he won’t put up the offensive numbers that Jefferson could. This wasn’t a smart move by the Timberwolves, as they didn’t improve enough this offseason to justify losing their best player.
Starting Lineup
PG- Luke Ridnour: Good pick ‘n’ roll point guard but isn’t a guy that can score well on his own. He is a decent defender, but doesn’t have the athleticism to cover the top point guards.
SG- Corey Brewer: Has a lot of energy and is a terrific defender. However, he doesn’t generate a lot of offense due to an inconsistent jump shot but if forced to slash to score.
SF- Wesley Johnson: Has a chance to win Rookie of the Year. I don’t think that’s because he is the best player of his class, but he will receive a lot of opportunities and playing time to succeed.
PF- Kevin Love: Fan favorite because of his hustle, but he isn’t a good defender due to his small size, and his offensive skills are limited in the post. It will be interesting to see how playing for Team USA affected him this summer.
C- Darko Milicic: An extremely inconsistent player that isn’t going to produce a lot of offense. He is a good passer, but on the Timberwolves, he will have no one to pass to.
Bench
Michael Beasley: Has the most potential on the team to become a great player, but if he can’t thrive with Dwayne Wade on his side, how is he going to thrive with nobody helping him this year.
Jonny Flynn: Horrible guard for the triangle offense. His offense is through penetration on the defense, but we will see how interested Flynn is in playing basketball this year. Injured for a month.
Martell Webster: Rambis was extremely high on Webster, saying that he saw a lot of potential in Portland. Has the tools to shoot 3’s and driving but will be suited for the triangle offense? Injured for six to eight weeks.
For a team that has already released a letter in the Star Tribune telling the fans that they won’t compete for a championship this year, but would like to see the arena filled for a team that is going through the rebuilding phase… I can’t picture the Wolves doing well this season in any ways. Kurt Rambis may be fired by the end of this year, but the over/under on the season for me is 19 wins.
Additions: Wesley Johnson (draft), Michael Beasley (trade), Martell Webster (trade), Luke Ridnour (FA), Darko Milicic (re-signed), Nikola Pekovic (draft), and Kosta Koufos (trade)
Subtractions: Al Jefferson, Ramon Sessions, Oleksiy Pecherov, and Ryan Hollins
**Additions and subtractions were taken from ESPN column
Darko Milicic re-signs
"With us, it was like manna from heaven... I haven't seen a big man pass like him." General Manager David Kahn became over the offseason, the dumbest general manager in sports. Kahn re-signed Milicic to a four-year, $20 million contract. He averages 8.3 points and 5.5 rebounds in 24 games, and they reward him with a huge contract? In an interview with Chris Webber, Kahn compared to Milicic to Vlade Divac, and says he will improve like Webber did in his career, which provoked the response, “We’re not going to talk about me and Darko in the same sentence,” from Webber. As surprising, this re-signing came after the Wolves drafted Wesley Johnson over DeMarcus Cousins. Would Cousins have been more productive than Milicic, and a better setting stone for the franchise?
Wolves grab Ridnour
Yes Jonny Flynn is going to be out for a month due to a hip injury leaving a void at point guard, but wasn’t Ramon Sessions a quality backup? The Wolves signed Ridnour to a four-year, $16 million deal, while moving Sessions to Cleveland. Ridnour had a career year on his contract season, shooting 47.8% from the floor, which is drastically better than his career averages. Ridnour is a good point guard for the triangle offense, but I would rather see Flynn traded if they don’t like the way he plays.
Wesley Johnson #4 overall
Wesley Johnson is a player that is good but he won’t be great. He is one of the oldest rookies in the NBA, but the T-Wolves should have opted for a guy that will be the next Kevin Garnett of the franchise. I’m not saying that Cousins will be the next great center but they definitely could have traded down and got somebody else. One rumor that I believe is that Kahn is setting up the team for when Ricky Rubio arrives next season. However, Rubio is overrated in my mind, no matter how many times Kobe Bryant says he is ready for the NBA.
Happy trails Al Jefferson
I was an Al Jefferson fan, and I think he will do well in Utah. Although he couldn’t play well with Kevin Love on his side, I think that he is a better player than Chris Bosh. With the trade of Jefferson, the team is Kevin Love’s, but he won’t put up the offensive numbers that Jefferson could. This wasn’t a smart move by the Timberwolves, as they didn’t improve enough this offseason to justify losing their best player.
Starting Lineup
PG- Luke Ridnour: Good pick ‘n’ roll point guard but isn’t a guy that can score well on his own. He is a decent defender, but doesn’t have the athleticism to cover the top point guards.
SG- Corey Brewer: Has a lot of energy and is a terrific defender. However, he doesn’t generate a lot of offense due to an inconsistent jump shot but if forced to slash to score.
SF- Wesley Johnson: Has a chance to win Rookie of the Year. I don’t think that’s because he is the best player of his class, but he will receive a lot of opportunities and playing time to succeed.
PF- Kevin Love: Fan favorite because of his hustle, but he isn’t a good defender due to his small size, and his offensive skills are limited in the post. It will be interesting to see how playing for Team USA affected him this summer.
C- Darko Milicic: An extremely inconsistent player that isn’t going to produce a lot of offense. He is a good passer, but on the Timberwolves, he will have no one to pass to.
Bench
Michael Beasley: Has the most potential on the team to become a great player, but if he can’t thrive with Dwayne Wade on his side, how is he going to thrive with nobody helping him this year.
Jonny Flynn: Horrible guard for the triangle offense. His offense is through penetration on the defense, but we will see how interested Flynn is in playing basketball this year. Injured for a month.
Martell Webster: Rambis was extremely high on Webster, saying that he saw a lot of potential in Portland. Has the tools to shoot 3’s and driving but will be suited for the triangle offense? Injured for six to eight weeks.
For a team that has already released a letter in the Star Tribune telling the fans that they won’t compete for a championship this year, but would like to see the arena filled for a team that is going through the rebuilding phase… I can’t picture the Wolves doing well this season in any ways. Kurt Rambis may be fired by the end of this year, but the over/under on the season for me is 19 wins.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
10-14 Jottings
I don’t have the time today due to mid-terms quickly approaching and it being homecoming week to write a full story on all of the things that I would love to cover but here are some quick jotting that I felt need to be put into print.
• Everyone is placing the Pittsburgh Steelers as the best team in the NFL, since they went 3-1 without a quarterback. However, I felt that they should be 2-2 before the season, and I am not fully convinced that they will be the best team. Their four-game stretch of at Miami, at New Orleans, at Cincinnati, and vs. New England will make up my mind.
• Will any team be more affected by injuries than the Green Bay Packers? Losing the best part of your running game hurts enough, but if Aaron Rodgers is out for an extended period of time, this season will quickly become a lost cause.
• LaceDarius Dunn is an extremely talented basketball player at Baylor, but if the reports are true that he punched his girlfriend in the face, which ended up breaking her jaw, then I feel strongly that he should be suspended for the remainder of the season. Domestic violence is a big problem, and athletes shouldn’t be given a pass around it.
• Midnight Madness begins for most basketball team’s around the country tomorrow, and I’m excited to see how Duke and Bradley basketball play out. Duke has been my favorite team since they won the championship in 2001, and I have close ties to the Bradley team as a manager. College basketball is my true passion for sports, and I can’t wait for it to get underway.
• I’m 4-0 in my baseball predictions thus far, but I will be shocked if the Giants can overcome the Phillies. The Phillies just have that team that has the perfect pitching, perfect combination of contact and power hitters, and I just don’t see them losing in a series where Roy Halladay has the potential of pitching three times.
• When Nebraska blows out Texas this weekend, I don’t want anyone to be surprised. Nebraska will be in the national championship game, and they deserve to be in there. That’s my bold college football prediction.
• Also, I think Wisconsin will upset Ohio State, giving us Oregon as the number one team in the country ranked by the polls and Boise State will probably be the number one team by the BCS computers.
• Tim Brewster, coach of Minnesota Gophers football, still has a job. If he somehow has a job by next fall, I will lose all hope in the direction that Gopher football is going in.
• I have read places that the over/under for the Minnesota Timberwolves are 25 wins. Give me the under. I don’t see how this team improved by losing Al Jefferson and signing Luke Ridnour, and re-signing Darko Milicic. I would probably take the under on 19 wins.
• All 33 Chilean miners are rescued. I’m amazed to how fast they got the miners out as it was predicted it could take over four months, but it was just over 69 days. Good job by the relief teams on doing their best to give them a safe and healthy return to their families.
• NHL hockey has started and I failed to notice. I might have a blog about hockey once or twice a year, but don’t expect much out of me in that department.
• NFL team with the bleakest future: Carolina Panthers
• NFL team with the brightest future: Cleveland Browns
• Cliff Lee can’t pitch until Game 3 of the ALCS. If CJ Wilson loses the first game and/or the Yankees can start the series 2-0, then feel free to pencil the Yankees into the World Series. Rangers must steal one and then hope to take the series to at least six games to give Lee multiple starts.
• Sports Illustrated put their top 32 broadcasting calls up today. Gus Johnson is currently my favorite announcer due to his enthusiasm and passion that you can hear through his voice. Best call of all-time in my opinion? Russ Hodges on the Giants winning the pennant. (#2 on the list)
• Sports Illustrated also got an agent to admit giving money to college players. This is a scandal that needs to be taken care of in the immediate future to insure that hundreds of players aren’t taken victims before their pro career begins.
• Classiest baseball scene of the season. The Giants halting their celebration to applaud the legend Bobby Cox. Great scene, and great honor for a Hall of Fame manager.
• Everyone is placing the Pittsburgh Steelers as the best team in the NFL, since they went 3-1 without a quarterback. However, I felt that they should be 2-2 before the season, and I am not fully convinced that they will be the best team. Their four-game stretch of at Miami, at New Orleans, at Cincinnati, and vs. New England will make up my mind.
• Will any team be more affected by injuries than the Green Bay Packers? Losing the best part of your running game hurts enough, but if Aaron Rodgers is out for an extended period of time, this season will quickly become a lost cause.
• LaceDarius Dunn is an extremely talented basketball player at Baylor, but if the reports are true that he punched his girlfriend in the face, which ended up breaking her jaw, then I feel strongly that he should be suspended for the remainder of the season. Domestic violence is a big problem, and athletes shouldn’t be given a pass around it.
• Midnight Madness begins for most basketball team’s around the country tomorrow, and I’m excited to see how Duke and Bradley basketball play out. Duke has been my favorite team since they won the championship in 2001, and I have close ties to the Bradley team as a manager. College basketball is my true passion for sports, and I can’t wait for it to get underway.
• I’m 4-0 in my baseball predictions thus far, but I will be shocked if the Giants can overcome the Phillies. The Phillies just have that team that has the perfect pitching, perfect combination of contact and power hitters, and I just don’t see them losing in a series where Roy Halladay has the potential of pitching three times.
• When Nebraska blows out Texas this weekend, I don’t want anyone to be surprised. Nebraska will be in the national championship game, and they deserve to be in there. That’s my bold college football prediction.
• Also, I think Wisconsin will upset Ohio State, giving us Oregon as the number one team in the country ranked by the polls and Boise State will probably be the number one team by the BCS computers.
• Tim Brewster, coach of Minnesota Gophers football, still has a job. If he somehow has a job by next fall, I will lose all hope in the direction that Gopher football is going in.
• I have read places that the over/under for the Minnesota Timberwolves are 25 wins. Give me the under. I don’t see how this team improved by losing Al Jefferson and signing Luke Ridnour, and re-signing Darko Milicic. I would probably take the under on 19 wins.
• All 33 Chilean miners are rescued. I’m amazed to how fast they got the miners out as it was predicted it could take over four months, but it was just over 69 days. Good job by the relief teams on doing their best to give them a safe and healthy return to their families.
• NHL hockey has started and I failed to notice. I might have a blog about hockey once or twice a year, but don’t expect much out of me in that department.
• NFL team with the bleakest future: Carolina Panthers
• NFL team with the brightest future: Cleveland Browns
• Cliff Lee can’t pitch until Game 3 of the ALCS. If CJ Wilson loses the first game and/or the Yankees can start the series 2-0, then feel free to pencil the Yankees into the World Series. Rangers must steal one and then hope to take the series to at least six games to give Lee multiple starts.
• Sports Illustrated put their top 32 broadcasting calls up today. Gus Johnson is currently my favorite announcer due to his enthusiasm and passion that you can hear through his voice. Best call of all-time in my opinion? Russ Hodges on the Giants winning the pennant. (#2 on the list)
• Sports Illustrated also got an agent to admit giving money to college players. This is a scandal that needs to be taken care of in the immediate future to insure that hundreds of players aren’t taken victims before their pro career begins.
• Classiest baseball scene of the season. The Giants halting their celebration to applaud the legend Bobby Cox. Great scene, and great honor for a Hall of Fame manager.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Duke 2010-11 Season Preview
Duke men’s basketball is my passion. The atmosphere in Cameron Indoor Stadium in every game can’t be matched in any other arena around the country. A few coaches may only precede the legacy of Coach Krzyzewski, but with the potential of his future, he may go down as the greatest coach in college basketball history. Last season’s national championship was one of the greatest moments that I had last year, through watching the team that I love, exceed their expectations to grab the biggest goal in college basketball.
Remember when Duke was in their drought? After they lost to VCU and were almost upset by Belmont. Duke went five seasons without a Final Four appearance, and struggled to advance through the Sweet 16. However, during their drought, Duke averaged 28 wins and always made the NCAA tournament.
Now, entering 2010, Duke is expected to be the best team in the country, and anything less than a Final Four appearance would be a failure. Coach K is starting to accumulate the best recruits in each class, the ones that eluded Duke during their drought. Here is my 2010 Duke men’s basketball season preview:
Point Guard: Kyrie Irving, FR, 6-2, 175 lbs (24.7 ppg, 6.5 apg at St. Patrick HS)
Kyrie Irving may be the most complete point guard at Duke since Jason Williams or Chris Duhon. At the USA U18 basketball tournament over the summer, he led the USA to a world championship by scoring 21 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists in the title game against Brazil. "Kyrie is really good," Krzyzewski said. "We'll see when I coach him on a day to day basis. He reminds me a little bit of Chris Paul with his toughness and his ability to change directions. He's a very, very good player." Irving will provide Duke with the run ‘n’ gun type game that they haven’t been able to use in recent years due to a lack of a playmaking point guard. Irving may only be at Duke for one season before departing for the NBA, but he should instantly become a Duke fan favorite, and show that he is the best point guard in the country.
Shooting Guard: Nolan Smith, SR, 6-2, 185 lbs (17.4 ppg, 2.8 rbg, 3.0 apg)
Nolan Smith enjoyed a breakout campaign last year. Smith was an inconsistent scorer as a sophomore, when it was hard to tell how he would project into Duke’s next great point guard. However, Duke changed their views on him going into his junior year to allow him to create his own space without being a point guard, which he excelled at driving the ball. "The main thing for Nolan is, he now has the confidence of an elite player," Duke assistant Chris Collins said. "He showed flashes his first couple of years, but there was inconsistency. I think [last season] necessity forced him to have to be there in a big way every single night. I think he will continue to build on that." Also, Smith is one of the best defenders for Duke, which will be important for them this season to be able to shut down the other team’s top guards. Expect Smith to improve upon last season, and become even more consistent this year as one of the top guards in the country.
Small Forward: Kyle Singler, SR, 6-8, 230 lbs (17.7 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 2.4 apg)
Singler’s stock during the NCAA tournament rose more than Kansas City Chiefs’ fans. It was a shock for me that Singler decided not to enter the NBA draft, as he was assured to be at least a first round draft pick. Singler emerged as Duke’s star last season, and his ability to do everything helped them to the championship. In previous years, it was thought that Singler didn’t have a position because he wasn’t athletic enough to cover small forwards’ and was too small to cover post players. However, Singler worked on his defensive skills, which led to him becoming one of the strongest defenders on the team, as he covered Baylor’s LaceDarious Dunn, West Virginia’s De’Sean Butler, and Butler’s Gordon Hayward. "I think Kyle's a great defender, not a good one," Krzyzewski said. "He can defend all types of players. He can defend one through five. We wouldn't put him on the one very often, but if he switched off, he could guard him. The thing that makes Kyle great [is that] Kyle wants to win very badly. Kyle plays very hard and smart. He's a warrior." Singler should continue to become one of the best players in college basketball and is a serious contender to be the national player of the year. If Duke is going to be national champions next year, Singler must have a great year.
Power Forward: Mason Plumlee, SO, 6-10, 230 lbs (3.7 ppg, 3.1 rpg)
The younger Plumlee brother, Mason, is the athletic one that holds tremendous potential for the future. Mason suffered a broken wrist before the season last year that held him back from having a major impact on the team, as he only averaged 14.1 minutes. "I think the one you want to see make the jump to becoming that elite guy is Mason," Collins said. "With his talent level ... his athleticism. He does have all the tools it takes. I always have believed that you normally see a big jump between freshmen and sophomore years. I think Mason, with his talent level and now his experience is poised to make a jump and become one of the elite front-line guys in our league." Plumlee is expected to make a major jump this year in the terms of statistics, as he will be the go-to-guy for the Blue Devils’ offense through the post. Plumlee has all of the tools to be one of the Duke greats, but it will be interesting to see how Duke utilizes him, and if he can support all the expectations for himself.
Center: Miles Plumlee, JR, 6-10, 240 lbs (5.2 ppg, 4.9 rpg)
The older Plumlee, Miles, was expected to receive a lot of playing time next year, but due to the presence of Lance Thomas and Brian Zoubek, he only averaged 16.4 minutes per game. "Miles was playing very good basketball," Collins said. "It gets lost in light of how well Zoubek played, but Miles was a guy who as the season went along, you could see him getting more and more comfortable." Although Mason has more potential, Miles is still a superb player, as he had seven double-digit scoring outings, and four double-digit rebounding efforts. Miles is going to have to help become the factor that Zoubek became at the end of last season. It will be interesting how the Plumlee brothers play together, and see how they co-exist in the same frontcourt.
Bench:
SG – Seth Curry, SO, 6-1, 175 lbs (20.2 ppg, 4.4 rps, 2.3 apg at Liberty in 2008-09)
SG – Andre Dawkins, SO 6-4, 190 lbs (4.4 ppg, 1.1 rpg, .379 3PT)
PF – Ryan Kelly, SO, 6-10, 230 lbs (1.2 ppg, 1.1 rpg)
PF – Joshua Hairston, FR, 6-8, 210 lbs (17 ppg, 10 rpg at Montrose HS)
PG – Tyler Thornton, FR, 6-2, 180 lbs (14.4 ppg, 5.1 apg at Gonzaga HS)
I have heard from knowledgeable people that Seth Curry is just as talented as his brother Stephen Curry. Curry also possesses a deadly shot, and after waiting a year due to transferring, he should play a big role either coming off of the bench or starting in a three-guard offense. "He can shoot the lights out, and those guys are going to find a way to get on the court." Collins said. "He's got the brains. He's got the confidence. He's versatile. I think he can play both guard spots. I think he can play with Nolan. He can play with Kyrie. I think the three of them could play together at times. It gives us a lot of options." Curry should hold a key role on the team to come through for the Blue Devils’ when Irving goes through his freshman growing pains.
Andre Dawkins came to college early, and it should benefit him, as he was one of the best shooters on last year’s team. Dawkins was playing excellent basketball until a tragic car accident that injured his mother and took the life of his sister as they were on their way to see him play. Dawkins is a sharpshooter that already must go through a life tragedy. It will be interesting to see how Dawkins’ progressed over the summer, but I can see him playing a prominent role in the run ‘n’ gun offense next to Irving.
Ryan Kelly was sick last summer, which prevented him from playing at the level he wanted until it was too late for him to earn significant playing time. Kelly isn’t an extremely athletic athlete, but he can shoot well from three, and could become a mismatch for his defenders. Until he can bulk up and play strong defense in the post, I expect his playing time to be limited.
Joshua Hairston and Tyler Thornton are both glue type players but as freshmen, their playing time will be limited. Hairston has already played with Irving on the USA U18 team, and Thornton should be used to the run ‘n’ gun offense after growing up in Washington D.C., which is a notorious city for producing run ‘n’ gun star players.
Overall, I expect Duke to come out on top of the ACC again, and should easily be a Final Four contender. The Blue Devils will be the target of every other team they face (including Bradley on Dec. 8th), but with the senior leadership of Singler and Smith, Duke should be able to come out on top, and win another national championship.
Contributing: Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook 2010-11
Remember when Duke was in their drought? After they lost to VCU and were almost upset by Belmont. Duke went five seasons without a Final Four appearance, and struggled to advance through the Sweet 16. However, during their drought, Duke averaged 28 wins and always made the NCAA tournament.
Now, entering 2010, Duke is expected to be the best team in the country, and anything less than a Final Four appearance would be a failure. Coach K is starting to accumulate the best recruits in each class, the ones that eluded Duke during their drought. Here is my 2010 Duke men’s basketball season preview:
Point Guard: Kyrie Irving, FR, 6-2, 175 lbs (24.7 ppg, 6.5 apg at St. Patrick HS)
Kyrie Irving may be the most complete point guard at Duke since Jason Williams or Chris Duhon. At the USA U18 basketball tournament over the summer, he led the USA to a world championship by scoring 21 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists in the title game against Brazil. "Kyrie is really good," Krzyzewski said. "We'll see when I coach him on a day to day basis. He reminds me a little bit of Chris Paul with his toughness and his ability to change directions. He's a very, very good player." Irving will provide Duke with the run ‘n’ gun type game that they haven’t been able to use in recent years due to a lack of a playmaking point guard. Irving may only be at Duke for one season before departing for the NBA, but he should instantly become a Duke fan favorite, and show that he is the best point guard in the country.
Shooting Guard: Nolan Smith, SR, 6-2, 185 lbs (17.4 ppg, 2.8 rbg, 3.0 apg)
Nolan Smith enjoyed a breakout campaign last year. Smith was an inconsistent scorer as a sophomore, when it was hard to tell how he would project into Duke’s next great point guard. However, Duke changed their views on him going into his junior year to allow him to create his own space without being a point guard, which he excelled at driving the ball. "The main thing for Nolan is, he now has the confidence of an elite player," Duke assistant Chris Collins said. "He showed flashes his first couple of years, but there was inconsistency. I think [last season] necessity forced him to have to be there in a big way every single night. I think he will continue to build on that." Also, Smith is one of the best defenders for Duke, which will be important for them this season to be able to shut down the other team’s top guards. Expect Smith to improve upon last season, and become even more consistent this year as one of the top guards in the country.
Small Forward: Kyle Singler, SR, 6-8, 230 lbs (17.7 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 2.4 apg)
Singler’s stock during the NCAA tournament rose more than Kansas City Chiefs’ fans. It was a shock for me that Singler decided not to enter the NBA draft, as he was assured to be at least a first round draft pick. Singler emerged as Duke’s star last season, and his ability to do everything helped them to the championship. In previous years, it was thought that Singler didn’t have a position because he wasn’t athletic enough to cover small forwards’ and was too small to cover post players. However, Singler worked on his defensive skills, which led to him becoming one of the strongest defenders on the team, as he covered Baylor’s LaceDarious Dunn, West Virginia’s De’Sean Butler, and Butler’s Gordon Hayward. "I think Kyle's a great defender, not a good one," Krzyzewski said. "He can defend all types of players. He can defend one through five. We wouldn't put him on the one very often, but if he switched off, he could guard him. The thing that makes Kyle great [is that] Kyle wants to win very badly. Kyle plays very hard and smart. He's a warrior." Singler should continue to become one of the best players in college basketball and is a serious contender to be the national player of the year. If Duke is going to be national champions next year, Singler must have a great year.
Power Forward: Mason Plumlee, SO, 6-10, 230 lbs (3.7 ppg, 3.1 rpg)
The younger Plumlee brother, Mason, is the athletic one that holds tremendous potential for the future. Mason suffered a broken wrist before the season last year that held him back from having a major impact on the team, as he only averaged 14.1 minutes. "I think the one you want to see make the jump to becoming that elite guy is Mason," Collins said. "With his talent level ... his athleticism. He does have all the tools it takes. I always have believed that you normally see a big jump between freshmen and sophomore years. I think Mason, with his talent level and now his experience is poised to make a jump and become one of the elite front-line guys in our league." Plumlee is expected to make a major jump this year in the terms of statistics, as he will be the go-to-guy for the Blue Devils’ offense through the post. Plumlee has all of the tools to be one of the Duke greats, but it will be interesting to see how Duke utilizes him, and if he can support all the expectations for himself.
Center: Miles Plumlee, JR, 6-10, 240 lbs (5.2 ppg, 4.9 rpg)
The older Plumlee, Miles, was expected to receive a lot of playing time next year, but due to the presence of Lance Thomas and Brian Zoubek, he only averaged 16.4 minutes per game. "Miles was playing very good basketball," Collins said. "It gets lost in light of how well Zoubek played, but Miles was a guy who as the season went along, you could see him getting more and more comfortable." Although Mason has more potential, Miles is still a superb player, as he had seven double-digit scoring outings, and four double-digit rebounding efforts. Miles is going to have to help become the factor that Zoubek became at the end of last season. It will be interesting how the Plumlee brothers play together, and see how they co-exist in the same frontcourt.
Bench:
SG – Seth Curry, SO, 6-1, 175 lbs (20.2 ppg, 4.4 rps, 2.3 apg at Liberty in 2008-09)
SG – Andre Dawkins, SO 6-4, 190 lbs (4.4 ppg, 1.1 rpg, .379 3PT)
PF – Ryan Kelly, SO, 6-10, 230 lbs (1.2 ppg, 1.1 rpg)
PF – Joshua Hairston, FR, 6-8, 210 lbs (17 ppg, 10 rpg at Montrose HS)
PG – Tyler Thornton, FR, 6-2, 180 lbs (14.4 ppg, 5.1 apg at Gonzaga HS)
I have heard from knowledgeable people that Seth Curry is just as talented as his brother Stephen Curry. Curry also possesses a deadly shot, and after waiting a year due to transferring, he should play a big role either coming off of the bench or starting in a three-guard offense. "He can shoot the lights out, and those guys are going to find a way to get on the court." Collins said. "He's got the brains. He's got the confidence. He's versatile. I think he can play both guard spots. I think he can play with Nolan. He can play with Kyrie. I think the three of them could play together at times. It gives us a lot of options." Curry should hold a key role on the team to come through for the Blue Devils’ when Irving goes through his freshman growing pains.
Andre Dawkins came to college early, and it should benefit him, as he was one of the best shooters on last year’s team. Dawkins was playing excellent basketball until a tragic car accident that injured his mother and took the life of his sister as they were on their way to see him play. Dawkins is a sharpshooter that already must go through a life tragedy. It will be interesting to see how Dawkins’ progressed over the summer, but I can see him playing a prominent role in the run ‘n’ gun offense next to Irving.
Ryan Kelly was sick last summer, which prevented him from playing at the level he wanted until it was too late for him to earn significant playing time. Kelly isn’t an extremely athletic athlete, but he can shoot well from three, and could become a mismatch for his defenders. Until he can bulk up and play strong defense in the post, I expect his playing time to be limited.
Joshua Hairston and Tyler Thornton are both glue type players but as freshmen, their playing time will be limited. Hairston has already played with Irving on the USA U18 team, and Thornton should be used to the run ‘n’ gun offense after growing up in Washington D.C., which is a notorious city for producing run ‘n’ gun star players.
Overall, I expect Duke to come out on top of the ACC again, and should easily be a Final Four contender. The Blue Devils will be the target of every other team they face (including Bradley on Dec. 8th), but with the senior leadership of Singler and Smith, Duke should be able to come out on top, and win another national championship.
Contributing: Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook 2010-11
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
10-12-10 NFL Update
The NFL season is ¼ done for every team, and as we approach Week 6, I will give a sentence or two synopses on each team.
NFC East:
Washington (3-2)
• This team has exceeded the expectation that I had for them. Haynesworth may still be a headache, but McNabb is showing the Eagles that they made a huge mistake keeping him in their division.
Philadelphia (3-2)
• Michael Vick has revived the offense to the same excitement when McNabb would throw to DeSean Jackson. They are 0-2 at home, so they should improve their record soon.
New York Giants (3-2)
• One of the most inconsistent teams, as some weeks they have Super Bowl potential, and other weeks they have Toilet Bowl potential. They have yet to play a division game, and that will hold the key if they can sneak into the playoffs.
Dallas (1-3)
• They have one more week against Minnesota before reaching for the panic button. They were the trendy pick to reach the Super Bowl, but the offense has sputtered, and dumb mistakes have cost this team a 3-1 record instead of 1-3.
NFC North:
Chicago (4-1)
• Cutler looks better and defense is performing well but they have only beat one team with a winning record thus far. Can Matt Forte start to get the running game working?
Green Bay (3-2)
• Injuries are the only reason this team is struggling. Their offense has been excellent, but they need to stay healthy to keep pace with the NFC elites.
Minnesota (1-3)
• Already struggled enough without Sidney Rice to force a trade for Randy Moss. Favre still hasn’t been consistent, and they have the worst offense in the points scored category.
Detroit (1-4)
• Not the best start, but with their franchise quarterback injured, and only a bad call by the referees from being 2-3. The Lions are becoming more respectable, and they should be taken as a joke for much longer.
NFC South:
Atlanta (4-1)
• Coach Mike Smith knows that they are extremely fortunate to be 4-1, but they are finding ways to win through Roddy White forcing fumbles, or the Saints missing chip shot field goals. If they keep finding ways to win, they will come out on top of the NFC South.
Tampa Bay (3-1)
• Josh Freeman is becoming the leader that the Buccaneers hoped he would become. They are 2-0 on the road, which speaks volumes for such a young squad.
New Orleans (3-2)
• Although their offense has sputtered up to this point, they are still a good team and finding ways to win through the ground game and defense. If the offense returns to their 2009 dominance, this could be a Super Bowl repeat team.
Carolina (0-5)
• Jimmy Clausen has been terrible, the offensive line has been terrible, and the defense has been terrible. This team is awful, time to start scouting for next year’s draft.
NFC West:
Arizona (3-2)
• They have pulled off some close wins, but when they lose, it’s brutal. In their two losses, the combined score is 82-17. I don’t know how they win without a solid run game or quarterback, but in the weakest division, they have a legitimate shot of making it to the playoffs with a struggling offense.
Seattle (2-2)
• Another inconsistent team, but they can’t win on the road. They are a decent team but I don’t seem them putting fear into anyone’s eyes.
St. Louis (2-3)
• Sam Bradford is maturing in front of everyone’s eyes. Steven Jackson has to be happy to finally be winning some games, and although this probably isn’t their year to make the playoffs, you can see that the Rams are going in the right direction.
San Francisco (0-5)
• Three of their five losses have been within three points. The 49ers still have a chance to compete in this division but they need to start winning close games. With an easy schedule upcoming (Carolina, Denver, St. Louis, Tampa Bay), they could easily jump the ship and go 5-5.
AFC East:
New York Jets (4-1)
• They may have underperformed over the first five games and they still walk away 4-1. The resurgence of LaDainian Tomlinson is one of the best stories in football and for my fantasy team.
New England (3-1)
• Although they gave up Moss, the Patriots will always be the Patriots. They are a good team, and to keep the chemistry strong, they had to do what they had to do. I expect them to give the Jets a run for their money on the division.
Miami (2-2)
• They struggled against their foes in the AFC East, but they should be able to turn it around in the future. I don’t see them competing for the division title, but they are a tough team.
Buffalo (0-5)
• This team is the laughingstock in football because their abysmal defense. They give up an average of 182 yards on the ground, and I can’t see this team winning more than two games this year.
AFC North
Baltimore (4-1)
• They are on of the most complete teams in the NFL, and after watching them each week; I still get the feeling that they are a long way from their full potential. When this offense starts to gel more, I’d be scared to see them in the playoffs.
Pittsburgh (3-1)
• They did an excellent job by winning with their third and fourth string quarterbacks. With Roethlisberger returning, I expect the Steelers to compete with the Ravens for the division title, if not for the top AFC Super Bowl contenders.
Cincinnati (2-3)
• Back-to-back losses to Cleveland and Tampa Bay doesn’t help them, and with their schedule about to become significantly harder, it is almost time for the Bengals to hit the panic button.
Cleveland (1-4)
• They are in rebuilding mode, but they are still fierce competitors, as they have had a lead in the second half of every game thus far this season. They will be good in the future, just not 2010.
AFC South
Houston (3-2)
• This team is extremely inconsistent, but their offense has a plethora of weapons. Will this be the year that the Texans finally jump over the hump into the playoffs?
Jacksonville (3-2)
• Jacksonville can win games in a variety of ways, and it’s impressive how they have done so far this year. Garrard is proving to be a winner, and its saving Jack Del Rio his job.
Indianapolis (3-2)
• Definitely not the Colts of the old, thanks to a horrific defense, especially since they are 0-2 against division rivals. They will pick it up once their injury concerns go away, but this isn’t the same Indianapolis that almost went 16-0 last year.
Tennessee (3-2)
• This is an intriguing team as they don’t dominate in any specific phase of the game, but they are rather just a solid team, and they could be that team that lurks for a playoff spot at the end of the season.
AFC West:
Kansas City (3-1)
• The Chiefs were a team that I had my eye on to become a sleeper this season due to the ability of their coaches. The Chiefs’ defense has surprised me beyond all reasonable expectations I had for them.
Oakland (2-3)
• The Raiders’ are finally becoming a special team, and although they don’t have the strongest quarterback situation, their defense has been excellent, and Darren McFadden has shown why he was so hyped coming out of Arkansas.
San Diego (2-3)
• San Diego has an on-and-off switch of when they want to play like a good team, and they just have had it off recently. Two blocked punts, was inexcusable last week, but Antonio Gates should lift this team by the end of the year to the division lead.
Denver (2-3)
• The Broncos have a lot of potential, as Kyle Orton has been excellent through the air, but without a strong running game, I can’t see the Broncos being a good team in the cold months of the year and reaching the playoffs.
NFC East:
Washington (3-2)
• This team has exceeded the expectation that I had for them. Haynesworth may still be a headache, but McNabb is showing the Eagles that they made a huge mistake keeping him in their division.
Philadelphia (3-2)
• Michael Vick has revived the offense to the same excitement when McNabb would throw to DeSean Jackson. They are 0-2 at home, so they should improve their record soon.
New York Giants (3-2)
• One of the most inconsistent teams, as some weeks they have Super Bowl potential, and other weeks they have Toilet Bowl potential. They have yet to play a division game, and that will hold the key if they can sneak into the playoffs.
Dallas (1-3)
• They have one more week against Minnesota before reaching for the panic button. They were the trendy pick to reach the Super Bowl, but the offense has sputtered, and dumb mistakes have cost this team a 3-1 record instead of 1-3.
NFC North:
Chicago (4-1)
• Cutler looks better and defense is performing well but they have only beat one team with a winning record thus far. Can Matt Forte start to get the running game working?
Green Bay (3-2)
• Injuries are the only reason this team is struggling. Their offense has been excellent, but they need to stay healthy to keep pace with the NFC elites.
Minnesota (1-3)
• Already struggled enough without Sidney Rice to force a trade for Randy Moss. Favre still hasn’t been consistent, and they have the worst offense in the points scored category.
Detroit (1-4)
• Not the best start, but with their franchise quarterback injured, and only a bad call by the referees from being 2-3. The Lions are becoming more respectable, and they should be taken as a joke for much longer.
NFC South:
Atlanta (4-1)
• Coach Mike Smith knows that they are extremely fortunate to be 4-1, but they are finding ways to win through Roddy White forcing fumbles, or the Saints missing chip shot field goals. If they keep finding ways to win, they will come out on top of the NFC South.
Tampa Bay (3-1)
• Josh Freeman is becoming the leader that the Buccaneers hoped he would become. They are 2-0 on the road, which speaks volumes for such a young squad.
New Orleans (3-2)
• Although their offense has sputtered up to this point, they are still a good team and finding ways to win through the ground game and defense. If the offense returns to their 2009 dominance, this could be a Super Bowl repeat team.
Carolina (0-5)
• Jimmy Clausen has been terrible, the offensive line has been terrible, and the defense has been terrible. This team is awful, time to start scouting for next year’s draft.
NFC West:
Arizona (3-2)
• They have pulled off some close wins, but when they lose, it’s brutal. In their two losses, the combined score is 82-17. I don’t know how they win without a solid run game or quarterback, but in the weakest division, they have a legitimate shot of making it to the playoffs with a struggling offense.
Seattle (2-2)
• Another inconsistent team, but they can’t win on the road. They are a decent team but I don’t seem them putting fear into anyone’s eyes.
St. Louis (2-3)
• Sam Bradford is maturing in front of everyone’s eyes. Steven Jackson has to be happy to finally be winning some games, and although this probably isn’t their year to make the playoffs, you can see that the Rams are going in the right direction.
San Francisco (0-5)
• Three of their five losses have been within three points. The 49ers still have a chance to compete in this division but they need to start winning close games. With an easy schedule upcoming (Carolina, Denver, St. Louis, Tampa Bay), they could easily jump the ship and go 5-5.
AFC East:
New York Jets (4-1)
• They may have underperformed over the first five games and they still walk away 4-1. The resurgence of LaDainian Tomlinson is one of the best stories in football and for my fantasy team.
New England (3-1)
• Although they gave up Moss, the Patriots will always be the Patriots. They are a good team, and to keep the chemistry strong, they had to do what they had to do. I expect them to give the Jets a run for their money on the division.
Miami (2-2)
• They struggled against their foes in the AFC East, but they should be able to turn it around in the future. I don’t see them competing for the division title, but they are a tough team.
Buffalo (0-5)
• This team is the laughingstock in football because their abysmal defense. They give up an average of 182 yards on the ground, and I can’t see this team winning more than two games this year.
AFC North
Baltimore (4-1)
• They are on of the most complete teams in the NFL, and after watching them each week; I still get the feeling that they are a long way from their full potential. When this offense starts to gel more, I’d be scared to see them in the playoffs.
Pittsburgh (3-1)
• They did an excellent job by winning with their third and fourth string quarterbacks. With Roethlisberger returning, I expect the Steelers to compete with the Ravens for the division title, if not for the top AFC Super Bowl contenders.
Cincinnati (2-3)
• Back-to-back losses to Cleveland and Tampa Bay doesn’t help them, and with their schedule about to become significantly harder, it is almost time for the Bengals to hit the panic button.
Cleveland (1-4)
• They are in rebuilding mode, but they are still fierce competitors, as they have had a lead in the second half of every game thus far this season. They will be good in the future, just not 2010.
AFC South
Houston (3-2)
• This team is extremely inconsistent, but their offense has a plethora of weapons. Will this be the year that the Texans finally jump over the hump into the playoffs?
Jacksonville (3-2)
• Jacksonville can win games in a variety of ways, and it’s impressive how they have done so far this year. Garrard is proving to be a winner, and its saving Jack Del Rio his job.
Indianapolis (3-2)
• Definitely not the Colts of the old, thanks to a horrific defense, especially since they are 0-2 against division rivals. They will pick it up once their injury concerns go away, but this isn’t the same Indianapolis that almost went 16-0 last year.
Tennessee (3-2)
• This is an intriguing team as they don’t dominate in any specific phase of the game, but they are rather just a solid team, and they could be that team that lurks for a playoff spot at the end of the season.
AFC West:
Kansas City (3-1)
• The Chiefs were a team that I had my eye on to become a sleeper this season due to the ability of their coaches. The Chiefs’ defense has surprised me beyond all reasonable expectations I had for them.
Oakland (2-3)
• The Raiders’ are finally becoming a special team, and although they don’t have the strongest quarterback situation, their defense has been excellent, and Darren McFadden has shown why he was so hyped coming out of Arkansas.
San Diego (2-3)
• San Diego has an on-and-off switch of when they want to play like a good team, and they just have had it off recently. Two blocked punts, was inexcusable last week, but Antonio Gates should lift this team by the end of the year to the division lead.
Denver (2-3)
• The Broncos have a lot of potential, as Kyle Orton has been excellent through the air, but without a strong running game, I can’t see the Broncos being a good team in the cold months of the year and reaching the playoffs.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
MLB Playoffs Preview
This year’s playoffs should be exciting as ever with all the new faces, teams, and prospects of winning a World Series title. For each team in the playoffs I will give 3 reasons why I believe they have what it takes to win it all, and then break down my predictions afterwards.
Tampa Bay Rays
1. David Price. This young pitcher has already showed his promise in October before, but that was as a reliever and as a rookie. Price has only lost one decision since July, and is the dominant pitcher that is going to strike fear into the opposing lineups. Although James Shields and Matt Garza aren’t as consistent as Price, all three of those pitchers can be deadly at times (Garza no-hitter), and give the Rays a chance to win each game.
2. The bullpen. Rafael Soriano and Joaquin Benoit are two of the best arms to close out any high-pressure games. Soriano close out two one-run games against the Yankees to beat them in September, enabling them to win the AL East division title. Soriano is tough as nails against right-handed hitters, as they are hitting .132 against him this season, with 35 strikeouts and only 15 hits against him. Joaquin Benoit is the specialist that is going to keep the Rays in the lead near the end of the game before handing the torch off to Soriano. Benoit slams the door on all hitters, as they hit .147 against him this season including 75 strikeouts in 204 at-bats. Another amazing statistic from Benoit is his ability to come in during bad situations. Opposing hitters are hitting .107 against him with runners in scoring position.
3. Manager Joe Maddon. Maddon is a small-ball type manager, but that’s all you need with the Rays shut down bullpen and strong starters. Carl Crawford and Evan Longoria are going to produce runs, but Maddon maximizes the average hitters’ potential to score enough runs just to beat the other team. Maddon is smart and he handled this team nicely, especially beginning the season where a fire sale could have been started had the Rays jumped off to a rocky start.
Texas Rangers
1. Cliff Lee. Lee was the most prized person during the trading deadline for this reason alone, to become an ace for the postseason. The Rangers helped their case by winning the division, and now they advance to the place where Lee dominated last year. During the postseason last year, Lee had a 1.56 ERA while going 4-0 in five starts. Even against the Yankees last season, Lee threw for 15 innings in two starts, winning both, while giving up zero earned runs in the first matchup with ten strikeouts. Also C.J. Wilson is a reliable number two starter with his ability to strike anyone out, but it will be interesting how he reacts to pitching in the postseason.
2. Josh Hamilton and their powerful lineup. Hamilton is likely to become this year’s AL MVP, but he isn’t the only dominant force in the lineup. Hamilton teams up with Nelson Cruz, Ian Kinsler, Michael Young, and Vladimir Guerrero, which forms one of the scariest lineups in the Major Leagues. However, the big question will be if Hamilton can recover from his ribs injury in September to be the same hitter that he was before the injury. It’s a storyline to watch, but if Hamilton is back, watch out for the Rangers to score runs.
3. Neftali Feliz. Feliz is a young closer, which can give manager’s the chills during the playoffs, but Feliz’s power pitching may be better suited for the playoffs. Feliz hasn’t given up a run since August 22nd, going through a perfect 16.2 innings since then. Feliz absolutely devastates left-handed hitters, holding them to a .127 batting average against him as well as 40 strikeouts compared to 15 hits. However, if Feliz gets into trouble, he is hittable, as hitters hit .245 with runners in scoring position, and .364 with the bases loaded.
Prediction: Rangers in 4.
I just can’t see the Rangers losing with Cliff Lee on the mound, and they are going to be able to provide their other starters with their potent lineup. Rays can play small-ball and have a great bullpen, but the Rangers are always one swing away from taking a big lead or jumping back into a game.
Minnesota Twins
1. Joe Mauer. The face of the Minnesota Twins is the player that can always keep the Twins rolling. Although his power from last season didn’t transfer over to this one, which frustrated fans for a long time, Mauer made up for it after the All-Star game. After the break, Mauer has hit .373 with a .447 on-base percentage. The Twins hit a home run by acquiring Jim Thome in the offseason, who has surprised everyone with 25 home runs in limited work.
2. Defense. The Twins defense has always been one of their strong points, as they don’t have many power pitchers that are going to generate a ton of strikeouts each outing. In the infield, JJ Hardy, Danny Valencia, and Orlando Hudson will always make the routine plays, and although they don’t have great range, they will make the plays that they need to make. Mauer is one of the best all-around catchers in baseball, and Denard Span is an exceptional athlete in center field. Although the corner outfielders don’t have good speed, they have decent arms and good work ethics to make the plays happen.
3. Ron Gardenhire. Gardenhire has traditionally been one of the best managers in baseball as the Twins always overachieve from a talent on paper standpoint. The Twins are the weakest team in the American League on paper, but with Gardenhire and the intangibles that he brings with his managing style will keep the Twins in most games but he will definitely face an uphill battle in the playoffs.
New York Yankees
1. C.C. Sabathia. In my opinion, should be the AL Cy Young winner, after he excelled through the season with a 21-7 record and 3.18 ERA. Although Sabathia has been hit hard and still won the decision, it’s the factor of his consistency to strike hitters out and his ability to pitch late into games. The Yankees bullpen isn’t their strongest point and with Sabathia, he can keep the bullpen fresh and almost guarantee that the Yankees will have a chance of winning that game if Sabathia starts.
2. Their offense. The lineup has hit its groove after the All-Star break with Alex Rodriguez, Curtis Granderson, Mark Teixiera, and Robinson Cano. The Yankees led the American League in runs scored as well as being third on the list in home runs. Against the Twins, their hitting isn’t going to face too many challenges if Carl Pavano or Francisco Liriano aren’t on their ‘A’ games.
3. Intimidation. The Yankees won both three game series against the Twins this season, and have always been the dominant factor over the Twins. Since 2002, the Yankees have dominated the Twins by going 54-18 against each other and 9-2 in the postseason. Overall, the Yankees scare a lot of teams and I don’t think that’s going to change in this postseason.
Prediction: Yankees in 4.
The Yankees are the superior team and have dominated the Twins for the last decade. Although the Twins do the little things that help them win games, they don’t have the pitching to shut down the Yankee offense, or the offense to hit Sabathia.
Philadelphia Phillies
1. Rotation. This may be the most dominant pitching staff in postseason history if they live up to their billing. Roy Halladay, Roy Oswalt, and Cole Hamels are the three starters and all of them have been number one starters within the last year. Halladay’s numbers have been ridiculous this year, 21-10, 2.44 ERA, 219 strikeouts, and only 30 walks in 250 innings. Halladay is one of the few pitchers that stayed sharp in September, as he went 5-0, going at least six innings in all of his starts. Roy Oswalt rejuvenated people’s opinions of him after going 7-1 after being traded to the Phillies, and dropping his ERA from 3.53 at the time of the trade to 2.76. Hamels mixes it up being the only left-handed pitcher, but is use to being pitching well in the postseason, and he shouldn’t have a problem doing it as the third starter. I wouldn’t want to face this rotation, and I will be surprised if a team can steal four games from them.
2. Lineup. This lineup is loaded with strong hitters such as: Chase Utley, Jayson Werth, Ryan Howard, Shane Victorino, and Raul Ibanez. Jimmy Rollins had a down year but will lead off to start Game One due to the absence of Placido Polanco, but Rollins is a great player when healthy. Polanco is a great contact hitter and exactly what the Phillies need with all of the power that they hold, but with injuries he may be limited in October. Ryan Howard is still the powerful hitter that Phillie fans have come to love although he strikes out a ton. However, a great sign is that Howard is finally learning how to hit southpaws, and that should be used to his advantage in the posteason. Overall, this lineup has a good balance of contact and power hitters and that will force mistakes by other team’s rotations.
3. Experience. The Phillies have reached the World Series the last two seasons, and they will still be motivated to win with newcomers Halladay and Oswalt coming to Philadelphia to get a ring. The Phillies know how to win, and anything less of a World Series title will be considered a failure due to the strength of pitching and lineup and the expectations that everyone has set upon them.
Cincinnati Reds
1. Joey Votto. The future National League MVP was the motor that drove this team. All around his performance lifted the Reds to the postseason. Votto almost had a triple-crown campaign hitting .324 with 37 home runs and 113 RBIs. Votto is extremely dominant with runners on base hitting .379 with 17 home runs and 93 RBIs. Votto should be a force for the future, and all baseball fans will get used to seeing his name at the top of most statistical categories.
2. Jay Bruce. Bruce is a young player that exploded onto the scene last year after coming out of the minors and wrecking havoc in the Majors. Bruce had a great second half this year hitting .309 with 15 home runs and 34 RBIs. Also, Bruce has improved tremendously against left-handed pitchers as he improved his average to .277 and hit 12 home runs, against his numbers last year with a .210 average and 2 home runs.
3. Aroldis Chapman. Chapman has the fastest fastball in the Majors with a 104 MPH heater. Chapman has been in a different world when pitching at home with a .080 batting average against him in 8.1 innings with 14 strikeouts. Chapman is an explosive reliever and rocks the energy inside of Cincinnati, which could get the fans revved up and give them the home field advantage
Prediction: Phillies in 3.
The Phillies just overmatch the Reds in every way and it doesn’t help that the Reds were able to coast to the playoffs since early September. Dusty Baker has done a great job hoisting this team’s potential to the playoffs, but there is no way I can see Oswalt or Halladay losing to them.
San Francisco Giants
1. Tim Lincecum. Lincecum has had a down year, and that is limited to a 16-10 record with a 3.43 ERA and 231 strikeouts. Lincecum had a miserable 0-5 August with a 7.82 ERA, but he returned with a pretty strong September and should be ready for the playoffs.
2. Rest of pitching staff and bullpen. Jonathan Sanchez has always been an inconsistent pitcher but he found more consistency this season and he will need to continue to be strong in the playoffs. Matt Cain has some devastating pitches and usually would be a #1 pitcher on most teams. However, Cain is a great number two with a 13-11 record this season, 3.14 ERA and 177 strikeouts. Cain struggled against the Padres’ in the last week, but other than that he hadn’t lost a decision since August 18th. The Giants’ bullpen has been fantastic with Brian Wilson closing out the games in a dominating fashion. Wilson had 48 saves with a 1.18 WHIP. If the Giants’ starters can bring the game to the bullpen in the late innings, consider the game a done deal.
3. Defense. Suprisingly, the older Giants’ fielders have been tremendous in the field this year. Pat Burrell, Aubrey Huff, and Edgar Renteria all have been excellent in the field according to defensive efficiency statistics. Although they have strong power pitchers, it is always a huge benefit when you have good fielders’ behind you.
Atlanta Braves
1. Jason Heyward. Heyward brings the electricity. At the beginning of the season he was the most hyped prospect, even comparable to the attention Stephen Strasburg received in the middle of the season. Heyward shows more maturity than years through his plate discipline and the fact that he doesn’t look like Vladimir Guerrero on breaking balls. Heyward still hit .277 with 18 home runs and 72 RBIs, but the thing that sticks out to me the most is the fact that he didn’t fall off after the All-Star break. It’s a long season and it can be tough for rookies to adjust right away as most fade by the end of the season, but Heyward is special, and he can begin his own legend with a strong postseason.
2. Tim Hudson. After last season, I figured that Hudson was washed up and that he would slowly realize it before retiring. However, he proved me wrong by going 17-9 with a 2.83 ERA for one of his best season in over five years. Hudson is a much better pitcher at home, and I figure that’s where he will spend most of his time unless the Braves are in an elimination game on the road. It will be interesting to see how the veteran reacts in the postseason.
3. Bobby Cox. The legendary Braves’ manager announced at the beginning of the season that this would be his last, and the Braves have responded better than anyone believed they would by reaching the playoffs and almost stealing the division from the Phillies. Cox is going to go down in history as one of the best managers in history, and how much better would it be than if he closed it out with a World Series ring?
Prediction: Giants in 5.
ALCS Prediction: Rangers over Yankees in 7.
NLCS Prediction: Giants over Phillies in 6.
World Series Prediction: Giants over Rangers in 6.
Tampa Bay Rays
1. David Price. This young pitcher has already showed his promise in October before, but that was as a reliever and as a rookie. Price has only lost one decision since July, and is the dominant pitcher that is going to strike fear into the opposing lineups. Although James Shields and Matt Garza aren’t as consistent as Price, all three of those pitchers can be deadly at times (Garza no-hitter), and give the Rays a chance to win each game.
2. The bullpen. Rafael Soriano and Joaquin Benoit are two of the best arms to close out any high-pressure games. Soriano close out two one-run games against the Yankees to beat them in September, enabling them to win the AL East division title. Soriano is tough as nails against right-handed hitters, as they are hitting .132 against him this season, with 35 strikeouts and only 15 hits against him. Joaquin Benoit is the specialist that is going to keep the Rays in the lead near the end of the game before handing the torch off to Soriano. Benoit slams the door on all hitters, as they hit .147 against him this season including 75 strikeouts in 204 at-bats. Another amazing statistic from Benoit is his ability to come in during bad situations. Opposing hitters are hitting .107 against him with runners in scoring position.
3. Manager Joe Maddon. Maddon is a small-ball type manager, but that’s all you need with the Rays shut down bullpen and strong starters. Carl Crawford and Evan Longoria are going to produce runs, but Maddon maximizes the average hitters’ potential to score enough runs just to beat the other team. Maddon is smart and he handled this team nicely, especially beginning the season where a fire sale could have been started had the Rays jumped off to a rocky start.
Texas Rangers
1. Cliff Lee. Lee was the most prized person during the trading deadline for this reason alone, to become an ace for the postseason. The Rangers helped their case by winning the division, and now they advance to the place where Lee dominated last year. During the postseason last year, Lee had a 1.56 ERA while going 4-0 in five starts. Even against the Yankees last season, Lee threw for 15 innings in two starts, winning both, while giving up zero earned runs in the first matchup with ten strikeouts. Also C.J. Wilson is a reliable number two starter with his ability to strike anyone out, but it will be interesting how he reacts to pitching in the postseason.
2. Josh Hamilton and their powerful lineup. Hamilton is likely to become this year’s AL MVP, but he isn’t the only dominant force in the lineup. Hamilton teams up with Nelson Cruz, Ian Kinsler, Michael Young, and Vladimir Guerrero, which forms one of the scariest lineups in the Major Leagues. However, the big question will be if Hamilton can recover from his ribs injury in September to be the same hitter that he was before the injury. It’s a storyline to watch, but if Hamilton is back, watch out for the Rangers to score runs.
3. Neftali Feliz. Feliz is a young closer, which can give manager’s the chills during the playoffs, but Feliz’s power pitching may be better suited for the playoffs. Feliz hasn’t given up a run since August 22nd, going through a perfect 16.2 innings since then. Feliz absolutely devastates left-handed hitters, holding them to a .127 batting average against him as well as 40 strikeouts compared to 15 hits. However, if Feliz gets into trouble, he is hittable, as hitters hit .245 with runners in scoring position, and .364 with the bases loaded.
Prediction: Rangers in 4.
I just can’t see the Rangers losing with Cliff Lee on the mound, and they are going to be able to provide their other starters with their potent lineup. Rays can play small-ball and have a great bullpen, but the Rangers are always one swing away from taking a big lead or jumping back into a game.
Minnesota Twins
1. Joe Mauer. The face of the Minnesota Twins is the player that can always keep the Twins rolling. Although his power from last season didn’t transfer over to this one, which frustrated fans for a long time, Mauer made up for it after the All-Star game. After the break, Mauer has hit .373 with a .447 on-base percentage. The Twins hit a home run by acquiring Jim Thome in the offseason, who has surprised everyone with 25 home runs in limited work.
2. Defense. The Twins defense has always been one of their strong points, as they don’t have many power pitchers that are going to generate a ton of strikeouts each outing. In the infield, JJ Hardy, Danny Valencia, and Orlando Hudson will always make the routine plays, and although they don’t have great range, they will make the plays that they need to make. Mauer is one of the best all-around catchers in baseball, and Denard Span is an exceptional athlete in center field. Although the corner outfielders don’t have good speed, they have decent arms and good work ethics to make the plays happen.
3. Ron Gardenhire. Gardenhire has traditionally been one of the best managers in baseball as the Twins always overachieve from a talent on paper standpoint. The Twins are the weakest team in the American League on paper, but with Gardenhire and the intangibles that he brings with his managing style will keep the Twins in most games but he will definitely face an uphill battle in the playoffs.
New York Yankees
1. C.C. Sabathia. In my opinion, should be the AL Cy Young winner, after he excelled through the season with a 21-7 record and 3.18 ERA. Although Sabathia has been hit hard and still won the decision, it’s the factor of his consistency to strike hitters out and his ability to pitch late into games. The Yankees bullpen isn’t their strongest point and with Sabathia, he can keep the bullpen fresh and almost guarantee that the Yankees will have a chance of winning that game if Sabathia starts.
2. Their offense. The lineup has hit its groove after the All-Star break with Alex Rodriguez, Curtis Granderson, Mark Teixiera, and Robinson Cano. The Yankees led the American League in runs scored as well as being third on the list in home runs. Against the Twins, their hitting isn’t going to face too many challenges if Carl Pavano or Francisco Liriano aren’t on their ‘A’ games.
3. Intimidation. The Yankees won both three game series against the Twins this season, and have always been the dominant factor over the Twins. Since 2002, the Yankees have dominated the Twins by going 54-18 against each other and 9-2 in the postseason. Overall, the Yankees scare a lot of teams and I don’t think that’s going to change in this postseason.
Prediction: Yankees in 4.
The Yankees are the superior team and have dominated the Twins for the last decade. Although the Twins do the little things that help them win games, they don’t have the pitching to shut down the Yankee offense, or the offense to hit Sabathia.
Philadelphia Phillies
1. Rotation. This may be the most dominant pitching staff in postseason history if they live up to their billing. Roy Halladay, Roy Oswalt, and Cole Hamels are the three starters and all of them have been number one starters within the last year. Halladay’s numbers have been ridiculous this year, 21-10, 2.44 ERA, 219 strikeouts, and only 30 walks in 250 innings. Halladay is one of the few pitchers that stayed sharp in September, as he went 5-0, going at least six innings in all of his starts. Roy Oswalt rejuvenated people’s opinions of him after going 7-1 after being traded to the Phillies, and dropping his ERA from 3.53 at the time of the trade to 2.76. Hamels mixes it up being the only left-handed pitcher, but is use to being pitching well in the postseason, and he shouldn’t have a problem doing it as the third starter. I wouldn’t want to face this rotation, and I will be surprised if a team can steal four games from them.
2. Lineup. This lineup is loaded with strong hitters such as: Chase Utley, Jayson Werth, Ryan Howard, Shane Victorino, and Raul Ibanez. Jimmy Rollins had a down year but will lead off to start Game One due to the absence of Placido Polanco, but Rollins is a great player when healthy. Polanco is a great contact hitter and exactly what the Phillies need with all of the power that they hold, but with injuries he may be limited in October. Ryan Howard is still the powerful hitter that Phillie fans have come to love although he strikes out a ton. However, a great sign is that Howard is finally learning how to hit southpaws, and that should be used to his advantage in the posteason. Overall, this lineup has a good balance of contact and power hitters and that will force mistakes by other team’s rotations.
3. Experience. The Phillies have reached the World Series the last two seasons, and they will still be motivated to win with newcomers Halladay and Oswalt coming to Philadelphia to get a ring. The Phillies know how to win, and anything less of a World Series title will be considered a failure due to the strength of pitching and lineup and the expectations that everyone has set upon them.
Cincinnati Reds
1. Joey Votto. The future National League MVP was the motor that drove this team. All around his performance lifted the Reds to the postseason. Votto almost had a triple-crown campaign hitting .324 with 37 home runs and 113 RBIs. Votto is extremely dominant with runners on base hitting .379 with 17 home runs and 93 RBIs. Votto should be a force for the future, and all baseball fans will get used to seeing his name at the top of most statistical categories.
2. Jay Bruce. Bruce is a young player that exploded onto the scene last year after coming out of the minors and wrecking havoc in the Majors. Bruce had a great second half this year hitting .309 with 15 home runs and 34 RBIs. Also, Bruce has improved tremendously against left-handed pitchers as he improved his average to .277 and hit 12 home runs, against his numbers last year with a .210 average and 2 home runs.
3. Aroldis Chapman. Chapman has the fastest fastball in the Majors with a 104 MPH heater. Chapman has been in a different world when pitching at home with a .080 batting average against him in 8.1 innings with 14 strikeouts. Chapman is an explosive reliever and rocks the energy inside of Cincinnati, which could get the fans revved up and give them the home field advantage
Prediction: Phillies in 3.
The Phillies just overmatch the Reds in every way and it doesn’t help that the Reds were able to coast to the playoffs since early September. Dusty Baker has done a great job hoisting this team’s potential to the playoffs, but there is no way I can see Oswalt or Halladay losing to them.
San Francisco Giants
1. Tim Lincecum. Lincecum has had a down year, and that is limited to a 16-10 record with a 3.43 ERA and 231 strikeouts. Lincecum had a miserable 0-5 August with a 7.82 ERA, but he returned with a pretty strong September and should be ready for the playoffs.
2. Rest of pitching staff and bullpen. Jonathan Sanchez has always been an inconsistent pitcher but he found more consistency this season and he will need to continue to be strong in the playoffs. Matt Cain has some devastating pitches and usually would be a #1 pitcher on most teams. However, Cain is a great number two with a 13-11 record this season, 3.14 ERA and 177 strikeouts. Cain struggled against the Padres’ in the last week, but other than that he hadn’t lost a decision since August 18th. The Giants’ bullpen has been fantastic with Brian Wilson closing out the games in a dominating fashion. Wilson had 48 saves with a 1.18 WHIP. If the Giants’ starters can bring the game to the bullpen in the late innings, consider the game a done deal.
3. Defense. Suprisingly, the older Giants’ fielders have been tremendous in the field this year. Pat Burrell, Aubrey Huff, and Edgar Renteria all have been excellent in the field according to defensive efficiency statistics. Although they have strong power pitchers, it is always a huge benefit when you have good fielders’ behind you.
Atlanta Braves
1. Jason Heyward. Heyward brings the electricity. At the beginning of the season he was the most hyped prospect, even comparable to the attention Stephen Strasburg received in the middle of the season. Heyward shows more maturity than years through his plate discipline and the fact that he doesn’t look like Vladimir Guerrero on breaking balls. Heyward still hit .277 with 18 home runs and 72 RBIs, but the thing that sticks out to me the most is the fact that he didn’t fall off after the All-Star break. It’s a long season and it can be tough for rookies to adjust right away as most fade by the end of the season, but Heyward is special, and he can begin his own legend with a strong postseason.
2. Tim Hudson. After last season, I figured that Hudson was washed up and that he would slowly realize it before retiring. However, he proved me wrong by going 17-9 with a 2.83 ERA for one of his best season in over five years. Hudson is a much better pitcher at home, and I figure that’s where he will spend most of his time unless the Braves are in an elimination game on the road. It will be interesting to see how the veteran reacts in the postseason.
3. Bobby Cox. The legendary Braves’ manager announced at the beginning of the season that this would be his last, and the Braves have responded better than anyone believed they would by reaching the playoffs and almost stealing the division from the Phillies. Cox is going to go down in history as one of the best managers in history, and how much better would it be than if he closed it out with a World Series ring?
Prediction: Giants in 5.
ALCS Prediction: Rangers over Yankees in 7.
NLCS Prediction: Giants over Phillies in 6.
World Series Prediction: Giants over Rangers in 6.
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Randy Moss to Vikings
This is just going to be a quick post but due to the large number of people populating my facebook with the hopes of Moss returning to Purple, I felt that I should address the issue.
Historically, Brett Favre has wanted to partner up with Moss since his final year in Green Bay after Moss expressed that he was unhappy in Oakland. Since then, Moss has exploded with Tom Brady after he was traded for a fourth round draft pick. Now, Moss is unhappy that the Patriots have expressed no interest in extending his contract until after the season, which I assume the big concern is the possible NFL lockout which would leave Moss without a contract and no leverage if it happened. The Vikings are in a desperate situation after starting the season 1-2 into the bye week, but offense has sputtered without Sidney Rice and Favre not being as sharp as he was last season. I'm surprised that the Vikings are reaching out to Moss, because this is a new coach and owner in which Moss left to the Raiders.
The big question is whether Moss would help the Vikings reach their goals of making a Super Bowl at the end of this season? I don't know the answer to that. It would bring a premier outside receiver, which the Vikings have lacked without Rice, but Favre hasn't been throwing the ball well this season, but it may provide more running lanes for Adrian Peterson. However, I'm not in true favor of this trade if their extension is worth a lot of money because after this season it is probable that Favre will retire, and I don't trust Tavaris Jackson to make the throws to keep Moss relevant in the passing game. My example is Sidney Rice and the non-factor that he was with Jackson at the helm. Rice's stats in his first two years:
2007- 13 games, 31 receptions, 396 yards and 4 touchdowns.
2008- 13 games, 15 receptions, 141 yards and 4 touchdowns.
2009 (w/ Favre)- 16 games, 83 receptions, 1312 yards, and 8 touchdowns.
As you can notice, Tavaris doesn't rely on his outside receivers the same way that Favre does. Will losing Moss affect the Patriots? Of course it will, but Brady has always been more comfortable throwing to Wes Welker, and I believe the clamoring that Moss did for a new contract didn't help the chemistry set in the Patriots locker room. With the reported 3rd round pick possibly coming their way, they would own an extra 1st, 2nd, and 3rd round pick for next year's draft, which is expected to be deep and a great way for the Patriots to rebuild their foundation as they have to compete with the New York Jets for the next couple of years.
Winner of this deal? Vikings in year one, however they must WIN the Super Bowl. Patriots win every year after.
Historically, Brett Favre has wanted to partner up with Moss since his final year in Green Bay after Moss expressed that he was unhappy in Oakland. Since then, Moss has exploded with Tom Brady after he was traded for a fourth round draft pick. Now, Moss is unhappy that the Patriots have expressed no interest in extending his contract until after the season, which I assume the big concern is the possible NFL lockout which would leave Moss without a contract and no leverage if it happened. The Vikings are in a desperate situation after starting the season 1-2 into the bye week, but offense has sputtered without Sidney Rice and Favre not being as sharp as he was last season. I'm surprised that the Vikings are reaching out to Moss, because this is a new coach and owner in which Moss left to the Raiders.
The big question is whether Moss would help the Vikings reach their goals of making a Super Bowl at the end of this season? I don't know the answer to that. It would bring a premier outside receiver, which the Vikings have lacked without Rice, but Favre hasn't been throwing the ball well this season, but it may provide more running lanes for Adrian Peterson. However, I'm not in true favor of this trade if their extension is worth a lot of money because after this season it is probable that Favre will retire, and I don't trust Tavaris Jackson to make the throws to keep Moss relevant in the passing game. My example is Sidney Rice and the non-factor that he was with Jackson at the helm. Rice's stats in his first two years:
2007- 13 games, 31 receptions, 396 yards and 4 touchdowns.
2008- 13 games, 15 receptions, 141 yards and 4 touchdowns.
2009 (w/ Favre)- 16 games, 83 receptions, 1312 yards, and 8 touchdowns.
As you can notice, Tavaris doesn't rely on his outside receivers the same way that Favre does. Will losing Moss affect the Patriots? Of course it will, but Brady has always been more comfortable throwing to Wes Welker, and I believe the clamoring that Moss did for a new contract didn't help the chemistry set in the Patriots locker room. With the reported 3rd round pick possibly coming their way, they would own an extra 1st, 2nd, and 3rd round pick for next year's draft, which is expected to be deep and a great way for the Patriots to rebuild their foundation as they have to compete with the New York Jets for the next couple of years.
Winner of this deal? Vikings in year one, however they must WIN the Super Bowl. Patriots win every year after.
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