NBA Season Preview - Western Conference

The NBA season is just days away from tip off and in order to be prepared for 82 games of action you need to know who is good, who is bad and who will be ugly.

So, here are my predictions for the Western Conference (Eastern Conference tomorrow) and a quick little note on what you need to be aware of.

1. LA Lakers - They made lots of changes in the offseason so it may take the regular season for all the new parts to fit together, but when you have this many all-stars and future hall of famers players together, even if they are cohesive they can still win. Kobe, Nash, Howard, Gasol and World Peace....scary sight for any opponent.

2. San Antonio Spurs - The model franchise. Title contenders year in and out, they have run into some bad luck in the post-season the past two years, but they are still deep and a threat in the West. Tim Duncan is on his last legs so he'll start to rely even more on Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili.

3. Oklahoma City Thunder - The Thunder feature the second best scorer in the league in Kevin Durant and that alone would be enough to carry them to the three seed, but they also have a top five point guard in Russel Westbrook. The trade of James Harden on the eve of the season might put them behind the eight ball in terms of team chemistry, but they got some good parts in return. Might not be a title contender this year, but will have the Spurs consistency in terms of being title contenders.

4. Denver Nuggets - A very sexy pick to be a top of the conference team in the West. They are doing it without one bonafide superstar. It is conceivable that the Nuggets could not have an all-star this season but end up in the Western Conference finals. They have improved their defence, but still need to find a reliable crunch time scorer.

5. LA Clippers - Lob City is back! They have so much depth it is almost laughable, unfortunately it is depth all at the same position and no one is quite certain how coach Vinny Del Negro is going to get them all playing time. Blake Griffin needs to be more of an all-around player than a human highlight film for SportsCentre.

6. Utah Jazz - The major story coming out Utah this pre-season is that Enes Kanter dropped 50 lbs and is ready to make an impact in his second season. The Jazz have support for Kanter if he ends up getting pushed around in the post with Al Jefferson. The supporting cast isn't too shabby either with Mo Williams running the point, Paul Millsap, Derick Favors and Randy Foye. Much has been made of the Nuggets depth and youth, but this Jazz team might give them a run for their money.


7. Portland Trailblazers - New uniforms! Beside the slightly new look, the Blazers actually have some talent and could cause trouble in the playoffs. Perennial all star LaMarcus Aldridge will lead and has support in Wesley Matthews and Nicolas Batum. Besides the big three, rookies Damian Lillard and Meyers Leonard have both played well in the pre-season. Lillard is even getting some rookie of the year buzz.

8. Memphis Grizzlies - The Grizz might have blown their championship chances when they failed to use Zach Randolph's magic playoff run a couple of years ago. They still have two of the best big men in Randolph and Marc Gasol but the rest of the roster leaves alot to be desired.

9. Minnesota Timberwolves - The T-Wolves have alot of "try hard" players supporting one super star in Kevin Love. The issue with the super star is injury. Love broke his hand during the preseason and is out for 6 weeks. While it isn't a huge part of the season, it might be enough to put Minny behind early and unable to climb outta their hole. They also have the injury to Ricky Rubio that will delay their success this season. The interesting players to watch here are Brandon Roy and Andrei Kirilenko. Kirilenko returns after a season away from the NBA and Roy returns after retiring before last season. If these two can regain their form, an playoff spot isn't out of the question.

10. Golden State Warriors - The success and/or failure of the Warriors will be based on the health of its best players - Steph Curry and David Lee. Unfortunately for the Warriors they are already hurt and no one is sure when they will be back or if they can stay healthy.

11. Dallas Mavericks - Mark Cuban got his championship and has decided a second one is not necessary. The rag tag bunch of players will not give the Mavs much hope of making the playoffs this year. Dirk Nowitzki is still around and will have to carry much of the scoring load. Vince Carter, OJ Mayo and Darren Collison (filling in for Jason Kidd) will have to try and make the best of the situation.

12. New Orleans Hornets - First overall pick Anthony Davis will make an immediate impact but unfortunately he is only the start of the rebuilding process in New Orleans that might take a few more drafts. Eric Gordon is a quality starter and will make it his mission to guide the ship.

13. Houston Rockets - Although they acquired a couple of nice pieces in the offseason in Omar Asik, Jeremy Lin and now James Harden, GM Daryl Morey has a quick trigger finger and is trying to rebuild quickly. It will be interesting to see if he has any more moves up his sleeves.

14. Sacramento Kings - A great fantasy basketball roster, but put them on an actual basketball court and disaster. Tyreke Evans is probably the player who has the most talent, but no idea how to use it. DeMarcus Cousins is another player that needs to find a way to harness his skills and become an all star. They are still bummed to not be in Anaheim.

15. Phoenix Suns - Oh boy. Put the ping pong balls in the hopper for these guys. Unless you are following Jared Dudley on Twitter there is no real point to turn in to watch these guys.

Toronto Blue Jays 2011 Season Preview: A Good Season to be a Fan

The expectations for the Toronto Blue Jays have not been this high since the mid-90’s. With a team that finished 85-77 and in fourth place in a difficult AL East in 2010, which ended up being about 15 wins better than what was supposed to happen, the leap to the next level in 2011 is a dream that fans in Toronto are hoping becomes a reality.

The magic number to make the playoffs in the American League will be 95 wins and for the Jays to improve to that threshold they need to keep doing the things that made them potent in 2010 – hit the ball extremely well for power, hope that the other big three in the AL East stumble slightly and finally play well against the NL during inter-league games.

In 2010 the Jays were led by heavy bats who hit home run after home run and a deep pitching staff. Although the formula for success will be relatively the same for 2011, some of the faces and places have changed.

The pitching staff was the biggest surprise of last season. The young staff was thought to be developing and several of the pitchers who were supposed to lead the team ended up injured but the Jays still managed to put lots of quality starts together. They hope the same will happen this year. With 99% of the pitching staff, including all the starters under the age of 30, there is a bright future in Toronto.

After the trade of Shaun Marcum to the Brewers, Ricky Romero and Brandon Morrow will be the top two starters this year. Romero finished 2010 with 14 wins and as the ace of the staff in 2011 he’ll be asked to win at least that many and should oblige. Although Morrow didn’t get the high win totals of some of the other members of the staff last season, he should be able to win at least 14-15 games this season. Morrow arguably has the best ‘stuff’ of anyone on the staff and will provide quite the 1-2 punch with Romero.

The third, fourth and fifth starters this season will probably flux throughout the season depending on injury and innings count. To start the season, the Jays will have top 50 prospect Kyle Drabek make the jump to the majors. A lot is expected of Drabek since he was the key piece of the Roy Halladay deal. Brett Cecil who finished 2010 with the team lead in wins is back and if he can continue his pace the Jays will definitely have a chance at the 95 wins. Jo-Jo Reyes, Jesse Litsch and Mark Rzepczynski will also all get chances to take the hill for the Jays this season. All are hard throwing, young pitchers who will hopefully be able to give 6-7 innings a start and then make way for the strong bullpen.

The closer spot will only have one question this season, who is going to get the ball? To start the season it will be Jon Rauch taking over from the inconsistent Kevin Gregg. Others that will get the ball at the end of the game will Frank Francisco or Octavio Dotel. In a scenario with everyone healthy, Francisco should be the guy with the ball at the end of the game, but it is always nice to have options. Jason Frasor returns as the set-up man and will be counted on to be a shut down pitcher and hold the lead when called upon.

Other names that fans will see out of the bullpen this year include Shawn Camp, Carlos Villanueva, David Purcey and Casey Janssen.

Now that the pitching staff has been set, the players that will score the runs to protect them need to be covered. The outfield has had the biggest makeover. With the magnificent trade to unload the contract of Vernon Wells there was the open spot in centrefield. Newly acquired Rajai Davis from the Oakland A’s brings speed and enough offence to make up for the year on, year off Wells. Travis Snider has claimed left field as his own. He will need to be more consistent as a young player, but it seems Jays management has confidence in him to be the man going forward. For awhile it seemed like the weak link in the outfield might be in right, but that is no more as manager John Farrell has decided that reigning home run champion and the Jays newly minted face of the franchise, Jose Bautista will be the everyday right fielder. Although it would be nice to see Bautista hit 50 home runs again, it will be tough for him as opposing pitchers will be on the look out for that sweet swing.

In the role of back-up outfielders will be Juan Rivera, Jayson Nix and Cory Patterson. Also, lurking are Scott Posednik and young farm hand Anthony Gose.

The infield defence may be a little inconsistent at times and could cause some pain to the Jays pitching staff. They will probably make up for it with their bats, but the more sure handed they can be, the more likely the Jays are to get closer to that magic 95 wins. Returning to the hot corner is Edwin Encarnacion. Encarnacion gets a bad rap for his defence but he covers a lot of ground, and as long as he can keep his throws accurate enough he will have a fine season. The person at the other end of EE’s throws is Adam Lind. The young star has moved to first base and has proven himself defensively. He needs to return to his 2009 offensive form again though and that could make him an all-star. The middle of the infield is strong with former all-star Aaron Hill manning second base. Hill is also a player who needs to return to his 2009 offensive form. Hitting for a .206 average despite hitting 26 home runs just isn’t going to cut it. At shortstop is Yunel Escobar. A solid defensive player who also adds some speed on the base paths will turn the double without problems and help keep those ERA’s down.

Behind the plate this year is super prospect JP Arencibia. After making his debut last year with a bang, Arencibia was frustrated at the plate and then was relegated to back-up duty behind Bengie Molina. This year, he is the undisputed starter and needs to make the most of his opportunity. Molina will still get the opportunity to play enough as he will catch Brandon Morrow and probably Jo Jo Reyes.

With all the shifting in positions in the infield, the everyday DH ends up being Juan Rivera. Arriving from the Angels as part of the Vernon Wells deal, Rivera has to be consistent at the plate and provide the protection for the likes of Hill, Lind and Encarnacion and his job will be complete.

There you have the team that will take the field for the Blue Jays this season and try once again to make Canada proud by bringing the playoffs North of the border.

NBA Preview

With the start of the NBA season, there are many storylines, players and teams to look out for.

A quick link to the Oye Times website and you will see my thoughts on the upcoming NBA Season.

The preview has been broken up into 3 parts. Part one can be found here and part two here. Part three will go up tomorrow so check back.

Enjoy...

NFL Preview and Predictions - NFC East

A series of reviews, predictions and ramblings on what to expect in the upcoming NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE season. As always, don't hold me to these.

NFC East
This is BY FAR the toughest division in the NFL at the moment, my prediction could be right or it could go totally the other direction. No idea.

Dallas Cowboys
America's team is hoping to make owner Jerry Jones's dream come true - host a Super Bowl in his own stadium. They definitely have the talent to go all the way, but as always, will they be able to pull it together in the playoffs. QB Tony Romo will be the key to the offense as always and since he is not dating Jessica Simpson the curse might have warn off. As in years past, he is surrounded by offensive talent at wide receiver. Miles Austin returns after his breakout year and is joined by Roy Williams, Jason Witten, Patrick Crayton and rookie Dez Bryant. In the backfield a trio of running backs will get the ball (not good for fantasy), Felix Jones, Marion Barber and Tashard Choice. The defense is good but not spectacular. Led by DeMarcus Ware who will put pressure on qb's all day and he will be supported by some great talent at linebackers James Hardie and Keith Brooking. This team has the talent, but can they make it out of the tough division.


Washington Redskins
A new era has dawned in Washington. A new QB, a new coach and lots of new running backs have led to optimism, but can everyone come together fast enough to win this year. The new coach is former Broncos boss Mike Shanahan, the new QB is former Eagle Donovan McNabb, and they have added Larry Johnson and Willie Parker in the backfield with Clinton Portis. All of them are aging, but together they might be one good running back. McNabb never really had great talent at wide receiver until last season, so the mix of young and old receivers shouldn't bother McNabb. Santana Moss leads the receiver group, and this season will get help from youngster Devin Thomas and off course tight end Chris Cooley will be a great escape valve for McNabb. The defense features some head cases, but that isn't always a bad thing when your job is to run over people. Defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth seems to be over his training camp conditioning and headaches, DeAngelo Hall is a shut down corner and Brian Orakpo is starting to come into his own off the end. The Redskins have put together the roster, it is now a question of working together and executing - all that with a very tough schedule.

New York Football Giants
Two years removed from a Super Bowl title and the New York Football Giants have a great shot to make it an all Manning Super Bowl. QB Eli Manning leads the Giants into battle and he has proven to be a great leader for his team. Behind him is the too headed monster of Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs. Although they will share lots of workload, Bradshaw should be the primary back by the end of the season. The ball in the air will be picked out by wide receiver Hakeem Nicks and Steve Smith. The wide receiver group is deep as evidenced by the forced retirement to David Tyree. The defense is quick and should be able to put lots of pressure on the quarterback, which will make the secondary look good. Anytime you can put a front four on the field of Justin Tuck, Osi Umenyiora, Pierre-Paul Thomas and Mathias Kiwanuka the opposing quarterback will be on his back.


Philadelphia Eagles
A new era in Philadelphia, the Donovan McNabb era is over and his inability to win in the playoffs are packed away. He is replaced by Kevin Kolb and his 3 career starts. Everyone seems to think that Kolb will be just fine, but with the pressure that comes with playing in Philly it will be interesting to see if he can make it through the season. Longtime standout Brian Westbrook is gone replaced by second year man LeSean McCoy and ex-Bronco Mike Bell. The wide receiver group is led by DeSean Jackson and tight end Brent Celek. The defense has always been good and this group will be no exception. The secondary stands-out with Asante Samuel and Ellis Hobbs. If at first these Eagles don't succeed, look out for flying objects from the stands!

NFL Preview and Predictions - NFC North

A series of reviews, predictions and ramblings on what to expect in the upcoming NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE season. As always, don't hold me to these.

NFC North

Green Bay Packers
The Packers could not overcome the ghost of Brett Favre last season, losing both games to the Vikings. If the Packers want to win the division and the conference, beating Favre would go along way. At quarterback, Favre's replacement Aaron Rodgers has developed extremely well. Last season was great statistically and this season there shouldn't be any drop off considering the weapons at his disposal. Veteran wide receivers Donald Driver and Greg Jennings are big play threats and sure handed which makes Rodgers job somewhat easier. The tight end position which has always featured a stand-out in Green Bay gets the heir apparent in Jeremichael Finley. Finley should be featured prominently in the red zone and this could be his break-out year. The one problem on the offense is the o-line. Rodgers was sacked 50 times last season and if they can't figure out how to slow the opposing pass rush, Rodgers might not be the starter for all 16 games. The defense is coming off a great season as well that featured defensive player of the year, Charles Woodson. The defense created turnovers and points and this years unit should be no different. The age of the secondary (Woodson and Bigby) is a concern, but shouldn't threaten to derail this season.

Minnesota Vikings
We can finally write this preview because we finally know that Brett Favre will play again. The old warrior returns to the purple and gold to the promised land. Favre took a beating last year, especially in the NFC Championship gave vs. the Saints. Look for more teams to use that game plan to pressure the pivot. If Favre is hurting, he can always just hand the ball off to the best running back in the game in Adrian Peterson. Peterson can tear through defenses, eat up the clock and take the pressure off Favre. If he solves his fumble-itis, and stays injury free, just give him the 2000 yards and 10-15 touchdowns. The defense still has some injury concerns going into the season including middle linebacker EJ Henderson, but it won't be defense that wins this team a Super Bowl.

Detroit Lions
There is always a couple of teams that come out of the group of mediocre to poor teams and surprises and I believe it might be the Lions this season. They have finally landed a draft pick that produced (QB Matt Stafford) and this year's picks look solid as well. With the QB position solidified, the Lions have begun to develop the talent around him. Running back Kevin Smith is joined by draft pick from Cal Jahvid Best. Best is a big play threat and Lions fans will be reminded of the times when Barry Sanders would break off 80 yard runs. Wide receiver Calvin Johnson is joined by free agent Nate Burleson and tight end Tony Scheffler. These weapons will give Stafford the confidence to get the ball downfield. The defense has only been slowly building and with coach Jim Schwartz being defensive minded, it will be a shock to no one when the Lions produce a stingy defense similar to what the Titans had when Schwartz was there.

Chicago Bears
Last season the Bears made a big splash acquiring Jay Cutler, but that ended with a belly flop because Cutler liked passing to the guys in opposing jerseys better. This season will not only be a referendum on Cutler but also on the coaching staff led by Lovie Smith. If Lovie can lead than the Bears have a chance at .500 if not, they could find themselves with a long road to regain a foot hold in the conference. For the Bears to have a chance, running back Matt Forte needs to regain his 2008 form. In case he doesn't, the Bears have brought in Chester Taylor as an expensive every down, but hopefully just third down back. Cutler still doesn't have have targets on the outside, but will need to get Devin Hester the ball as often as possible and hope for the big play. The defense is ageing and will hope that Brian Urlacher can bounce back from injury. The secondary will face the biggest challenge going up against the three top quarterbacks within the division. It will be a long season at Soldier

NFL Preview and Predictions - AFC North

A series of reviews, predictions and ramblings on what to expect in the upcoming NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE season. As always, don't hold me to these.

AFC North

Baltimore Ravens
Many peoples favourite to be contender to be playing in the Super Bowl, but they will have to get through one of the toughest divisions. The Ravens made lots of bold moves in the off-season, one of the biggest being Anquan Boldin from the Arizona Cardinals and the other is Donte Stallworth. Quarterback Joe Flacco adds these two targets to the consistent Derrick Mason. This gives Flacco the options he never had before which will only make him and the Ravens better. Flacco still has the option to check down to his running back, Ray Rice. One of the best all around running backs in the league with the ability to catch passes out of the backfield, but also break free for the home run style run. The new look offense will be a relief to the defense who have been carrying the flag for the Ravens for the past decade. The Ravens defense is ferocious led by Ray Lewis, Terrel Suggs and Ed Reed. You can't overlook the defensive line that can put four guys on the field who are 350lbs or more. The Ravens will be an AFC to be reckoned with this season and a real Super Bowl contender.

Cincinnati Bengals
One of my favourite teams because the cheerleaders are named the "Ben-Gals". The Bengals made headlines and will continue to make headlines because they have two of the biggest news makers in the NFL in Chad OchoCinco and Terrell Owens. The acquisition of Owens will delay the growth of players like Andre Caldwell and rookie Jordan Shipley from Texas. Quarterback Carson Palmer will have to find a way to spread the ball around and also include running back Cedric Benson. Benson had a very productive year in 2009 and will look to repeat his year. The defense has a great secondary with Leon Hall and Jonathan Jospeh, plus the ageless Roy Williams at safety. If the rest of the team can keep themselves out of jail, these Bengals just might challenge the division - a division they went unbeaten in last year.

Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers are going the wrong way. There star quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is suspended for the first 4-6 games of the season and they shipped out Super Bowl MVP Santonio Holmes because of his off-field actions. Without Big Ben for the first month and a half of the season they will need a major contribution for veteran Byron Leftwhich or young inexperienced Dennis Dixon. Coach Mike Tomlin hasn't made it clear which QB will fill the void. Last year Fast Willie Parker lost his 5th gear and the clear number 1 running back this season will be Rashard Mendenhall. Whoever is still at QB will have the reliable Hines Ward to throw to (just don't expect him healthy for every game) and the improving Mike Wallace. The defense is counting on the return of Troy Polamalu and more kick ass seasons from LaMarr Woodley, James Harrsion and Ryan Clark. The Steelers will be fun to follow all season because you will never be certain what team will take the field. In this division they better come prepared every week though.

Cleveland Browns
Oh the Brownies! With their iconic Orange uniforms, I just want them to be good. A Browns game on TV always looks so good. Unfortunately, this season I think the uniforms will be much better than the team. The Browns are the proud new owners of Jake Delhomme's rubber arm. Delhomme lands in Cleveland with lots to prove after imploding in Carolina. The Browns have gotten rid of Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson so the team is Delhomme's to run with. If he does falter, they still have Seneca Wallace and rookie Colt McCoy to fall back on. Running back James Harrison will carry the bulk of the work load, although it will be interesting to see how Peyton Hillis (formerly of the Denver Broncos) is after missing time with injury. Josh Cribbs is the Browns loan threat at wide receiver and he is actually more dangerous on special teams. The Browns risk throwing him off his game like the Bears did with Devin Hester a few years ago, and then they would be left without a wide receiver or a special teams player. The defense isn't that exciting, but the player to look for his rookie Joe Haden, the rookie corner from Florida. The Browns will struggle in 2010+, I just hope that the Cleveland fans can take it.

NFL Review and Predictions - NFC South

A series of reviews, predictions and ramblings on what to expect in the upcoming NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE season. As always, don't hold me to these.

NFC South

Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons have done everything right since Michael Vick tore their team apart by getting suspended. They have built through the draft, made some key signings and are now poised to contend. The Falcons are flying under the radar (no pun intended) due to the fact quarterback Matt Ryan had a less than spectacular second season, but he still has all his weapons and they will assist in bringing him back to form. The two headed running tandem of Michael Turner and Jerious Norwood will shoulder most of the load, while TE Tony Gonzalez, WR’s Roddy White, Michael Jenkins, Brian Finneran and Harry Douglas look to be on the receiving end of many Ryan passes. The defense is decent with one of the best young middle linebackers in Curtis Lofton and young pass rusher Kroy Biermann. This is a team that will challenge and make some noise in the playoffs.

New Orleans Saints
The defending Super Bowl Champions. They deserve lots of credit for last season. They were a middle of the pack team (NFL.com had them ranked 15th at the start of the season) and used good fortune and timely plays to win the Lombardi Trophy. Some of that fortune is bound to wear off this season and it is normally the case where one Super Bowl team has a “hang over” from the year before and does not perform as well. I believe it will be the Saints, not the Colts. Drew Brees is still an MVP type quarterback and everyone still wants to see Reggie Bush be an every down back. How will he perform without his Kardashian good luck charm? Marques Colston leads the receiver group that also features Devery Henderson and Lance Moore (that is why Brees is an MVP candidate). The defense which seemed to be always in the right spot last year will have to be that again if the Saints have a chance. Darren Sharper and Jonathan Vilma lead the defense which will have a lot of people gunning for them.

Carolina Panthers
Jake Delhomme is gone and it’s about time. After miserable playoff performances the reigns are handed over to Matt Moore who finished 2009 with three excellent games. It will be hard for him to keep the momentum when fans will keep clamouring for rookie Jimmy Clausen to get reps. Whichever quarterback is on site, just better learn to hand the ball off well. The Panthers were third in rushing last season and Jonathan Stewart and DeAngelo Williams are both back to carry the rock again. It’s a good thing they have a running game, because Steve Smith is there only receiving threat and he has been beat-up (broke his arm in the off-season). The defense is good but not great. Jon Beason is a rock solid linebacker, but he doesn’t have enough around him, especially with Thomas Davis out for the year after tearing his ACL and being replaced with unheralded Dan Connor. The Panthers are hoping one of their quarterbacks pan out and a defense can step up, so they can return to the playoffs.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The rebuilding division continues in Tampa. The Bucs have been on a consistent slide downward ever since winning the Super Bowl in 2002. The highlight of last season was a win wearing their throwback creamsicle uniforms. This season might be more of the same. The Bucs are counting on 2009 first round draft pick Josh Freeman to be poised under centre and for their young wide receivers (Sammie Sloughter and Arnelius Benn). Kellan Winslow (SOLDIER) provides the veteran leadership with Cadillac Williams still getting the majority of the carries. He will be challenged by former Giants running back Derrick Ward. The defense in Tampa has never really been a question. They get a boost from this year’s first round pick Gerald McCoy. He joins all-pro linebacker Barrett Rudd and veteran Ronde Barber. Tampa could surprise this year is the offense can click, but expect them to need at least one more draft before making an impact.

American League Preview - All Rolled Into One

Okay..so I'm cheating a little with my AL preview since the teams got in their first games Sunday and yesterday.

AL WEST

Anaheim Angels - They somehow manage to keep retooling and winning. One of the model franchises that is often overlooked. With perhaps the best 1 thru 5 rotation and it will only get better once Scott Kazmir returns from the DL. The power at the plate replaced one elder with another (Matsui for Guerrero).

Texas Rangers - After that walk-off win in the first game against the Jays could this be there year? Ace Scott Feldman will have to duplicate his 2009 season and Nelson Cruz, Josh Hamilton and Ian Kinsler will carry the load on offense.

Seattle Mariners - Although they made some power moves in the offseason, they kind of feel like the Washington Redskins. Make a big splash, but get no return for your dollars. Felix Hernandez is the undisputed ace and in my opinion the best pitcher in the AL now that Halladay is gone. Acquiring Cliff Lee was a nice touch. They have both speed and power on the base paths. If Ken Griffey Jr. can keep his weight under control he could have one last hurrah in the city where he started his career.

Oakland A's - The A's have turned into the feeding system for the rest of major league baseball. This year their project is Ben Sheets. If he performs well, just like Matt Holliday last year they will deal him to the highest bidder in September. Other than assigning Jack Cust to the minors, Eric Chavez coming back from injury and, wow...there is nothing else. Welcome to AAA.


AL CENTRAL

Minnesota Twins - The Twinkies have turned the corner. Not even 10 years ago they were tapped by MLB as one of two teams to contract. Now they are an AL power. Led by Justin Morneau and Joe Mauer and supported nicely by the speedy Denard Span in center field and the defensive wizard Orlando Hudson at second, these guys are good. The pitching staff is underated and new closer Jon Rauch has big shoes to fill with the loss of Joe Nathan for the year. If they don't win the division it might not happen as the wild card will probably come from the AL East.

Detroit Tigers - Another team that has spent some money the last couple of seasons, acquiring the likes of Magglio Ordonez, Carlos Guillen, Miggy Cabrera and now Johnny Damon. If they can put it together along with rookie CF Austin Jackson, they could do some damage. The pitching staff has been brought along slowly and allowed to develop and the Tigers are finally having it pay off with Verlander, Porcello and Bonderman anchoring the rotation.

Chicago White Sox - Not even Barack Obama can bail these guys out. With the hot headed Ozzie Guillen as manager you never really know what to expect from the South Siders. Some good starting pitching with Jake Peavy and Mark Buehrle and closer Bobby Jenks will be able to close the door in late innings. The line-up is filled
with aging veterans (Andruw Jones, Alex Rios, AJ Pierzynski and Carlos Quentin), but if they can come through, they could challenge the top of the division.

KC Royals - Once an after thought in the division, they now boast one of the top pitchers in the game Zack Greinke. He carried this team last season and will need to repeat his Cy Young performance for the Royals to be contenders. In the field they are nothing special. The player to watch will be Rick Ankiel to see him continue his journey from pitcher to everyday player.

Cleveland Indians - Once the pride of the division, the Indians are now back to playing like they did in Major League the movie. Unfortunately for them ace Jake Westbrook can only start every 5th day. The offense will be carried by Grady Sizemore and DH Travis Hafner. Not much to cheer about.


AL EAST

NY Yankees - A murderer's row of hitters and pitchers await any team that has to face the Yankees this season. Whether you are facing their number 9 hitter or 5th starter it will be a test. I could name you all the players, but just wait for the All-Star game.

Tampa Bay Rays - With a good combination of speed and power, and a chip on their shoulder after missing the playoffs last season, look for a rejuvenated Rays squad. Led by Evan Longoria, Carl Crawford and BJ Upton this will be an exciting team to watch. Rafeal Soriano is the new closer coming over from Atlanta and he will need to adjust to the pressures of the AL East quickly. Also, the continued maturation of David Price will be important to their success.

Boston Red Sox - The Sox made the change from power to defense this year and although Baseball Prospectus people might applaud the move it will be interesting to see if the moves will pay off with wins. The signings of Mike Cameron and Marco Scutaro won't score runs but they will prevent them. Also preventing runs will be the pitching staff. Like the Yankees, starters 1 thru 5 will provide a tough test for opposition batters.

Baltimore Orioles - If they were in any other division they might be contenders, but playing Yankees, Rays and Red Sox 60+ times will give you more losses than you thought. Building around a young core, similar to what the Rays did just a few years ago look for them to compete day in and out. The outfield is one of the best in baseball with Nolan Reimhold, Adam Jones and Nick Markakis. Catcher phenom Matt Wieters is now in his second year and will be able to handle the pitching staff that much better. The pitching staff isn't their strength of the club, but Kevin Millwood is a solid rock at the top of the rotation. Better luck next year.

Toronto Blue Jays - I dread writing this review because they are the home town team. You want them to succeed, make the playoffs and win championships. Unfortunately, the Jays are far from all of those things, especially after trading away their best player in the off-season. Toronto has pitching depth, that is without question, but their starters are no better than a number 3 in most rotations (even with how good Shawn Marcum pitched opening day). The bullpen is stable and with three viable options at closer, manager Cito Gaston should be able to get saves out of one of them. The line-ups lacks real power even though Gaston believes that 6 Jays can hit 20 home runs. Although Gaston isn't known for giving young players much of a chance he needs to try to do that this season. The likes of Travis Snider, Randy Ruiz, Mike McCoy and most of the pitching staff needs to see if they can cut it in the big leagues. GM Alex Anthopolous will win executive of the year if he can find someone to take Vernon Wells of his hands, but this will probably only happen if Wells can repeat his 2006 season. Lyle Overbay, Tony Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion need to be the good veteran presence, while Adam Lind and Aaron Hill continue to play like all-stars. If everything comes together the Jays might be able to avoid 100 losses and 5th place, if not Jays fans will understand the plight of Leafs fans.

National League Preview - NL East

The major league baseball season is just a week away and to get you prepared here is the shallowest preview and predictions you will find. The third and final (thankfully) installment on the National League.

NL East

Philadelphia Phillies – The prohibitive favourite from the National League and now the SI pick for World Series champs, the Phillies have what it takes to get back to the show. Led by the newly acquired Roy Halladay who is set to dominate the NL, and backed-up by a formidable pitching staff that includes Cole Hamels (who will no doubt benefit from learning from Halladay), Joe Blanton, JA Happ and the ageless Jamie Moyer. Although, they got rid of Cliff Lee those five can compete with any teams rotation. The bullpen is just as solid with the anchor being closer Brad Lidge, especially if he can get back to 2008 form. The batting order will be a “murder’s row” for the opposition. Whether you want to hit around Ryan Howard, Jimmy Rollins or Chase Utley, someone will always be behind them to pick up the slack. The one player that has made a splash this spring is Jayson Werth who showed up to training camp with a caveman beard. Fun times for fans in Philly who normally just like to whine and throw batteries at Santa Claus.

NY Mets – Mets fans want to win so badly and this team will take them to brink, but can they break through. A lot will depend if star players can stay healthy and happy. The Mets signed the highest profile free agent of the winter in Jason Bay. He makes his return to the NL, where he had more success than in Boston (although he wasn’t a slouch by any means). He was under intense media pressure in Boston and that won’t change in NY with the tabloids. Backing up Bay will be other superstars that need to produce so the Mets can have a chance at October. Jose Reyes, David Wright and Carlos Beltran all need big seasons for CitiBank Place to stay afloat.

Atlanta Braves – OH MY GAWD its Jason Heyward! If you need to know one name in the National League this season it is Jason Heyward. After quickly progressing through the Braves minor league system the young slugger has done enough in spring training that manager Bobby Cox said he would be stupid if he left Heyward out of the opening day line-up. The Braves look good on paper behind Heyward, but they are getting long in the tooth with Chipper Jones and Troy Glaus minding the corners. Other young stars that need to continue to produce are catcher Brian McCann and CF Nate McClouth. The pitching staff is led by second year man Tommy Hanson, if he can avoid the sophomore slump, he should finish close to 20 wins. Closing games for the Braves will be Billy Wagner, at least until his arm falls off mid-June. The Braves are a trendy pick to challenge for the wild card, but they need some more depth to challenge the top of the division.

Florida Marlins – Only if the owners could keep the team together for more than a season they could challenge for a World Series trophy year after year with the talent that has gone through Miami. This year they are led by NL MVP runner-up Hanley Ramirez. With power, speed and ability to get on base not normally demonstrated by shortstops, Ramirez will be the key to the Marlins. Another player to watch for is centrefielder Cameron Maybin. Coming off surgery, he will have a chance to prove he can play and produce. The pitching staff needs to be consistent this season for the club to avoid a 90 loss season. Jason Johnson and Ricky Nolasco will spearhead the staff and Leo Nunez will reprise his role as the closer for the teal and black. Don’t expect big things from the Marlins this season, but three years from now when their youngsters develop…look out.

Washington Nationals – Remember in the NL Central preview we talked about how the Pirates are the team that nobody recognizes. Say hello to the team that finished second in the ESPN poll – the Washington Nationals. The Nationals have tried to sign free agents the last couple of winters, but unfortunately they haven’t had many takers. The offense is led by first baseman Adam Dunn and aging catcher Ivan Rodriguez. The pitching staff has Jason Marquis as the ace and youngster John Lannan as the number two. Lannan in particular has turned heads and will look to stay on the right side of .500 this season. Meantime, the best pitcher/player, Stephen Strasburg, has been sent down to Double A. Strasburg, the top pick last year had a great spring, but no one is surprised that he is starting his career in the minors, the big question is when he gets the call up. No matter when Strasburg shows up, the odds for the Nationals to win the division (+10000) say all you need to know about their chances this season.

National League Preview - NL Central

The major league baseball season is just a week away and to get you prepared we continue the shallowest preview and predictions you will find.

NL Central

St. Louis Cardinals – The class of the NL Central and a good bet to be playing in October, they have one giant cog that makes them tick – Albert Pujols. The slugging first baseman is the most feared hitter in baseball. He makes pitchers make mistakes and those that stay away from him will have to face the other deadly hitters in the Cards lineup, namely Matt Holliday and Ryan Ludwick. The pitching staff is no slouch either. At the top of the rotation is Cy Young candidates Adam Wainwright and Chris Carpenter. They are supported by Kyle Lohse and Brad Penny, a very formidable 4 man rotation. Ryan Franklin will be the teams closer again after finishing with 38 saves last year. The Cardinals are the favorites and if they can avoid injury to their stars, look for at least 100 win season from them.

Chicago Cubs – The lovable losers are back in contention! Although, they might not win the division they will do their best to be in the Wild Card hunt come September. The Cubbies have assembled some decent talent, but the question remains can manager Lou Pinella put it all together to win under the intense pressure that comes in Chicago. The Cubs will be led by those holding down the corners – Aramis Ramirez at third and Derek Lee at first. The outfield is solid with Soriano, Byrd and Fukodome and will get on base and score runs. The pitching staff has had some injury concerns, including those to Ted Lilly. Look for closer Carlos Marmol and ace Carlos Zambrano to anchor the Cubs this season and allow them to contend.

Milwaukee Brewers – These guys are not shy to hit the cover off the ball. I think the Brewers ownership built the team to hit home runs so they could keep Bernie Brewer employed and going down the HR Slide. With the likes of Prince Fielder and Ryan Braun you are likely to see some fireworks when the Brewers play. Those fireworks unfortunately, just won’t be coming from the Brewer bats. An inexperienced pitching staff will keep the Brewers short of the playoffs, no matter how much future Hall of Famer Trevor Hoffman will keep the 9th inning clean.

Cincinnati Reds – The Reds have some youngsters that they will be counting on heavily this season. Namely, Canadian first baseman Joey Votto. Votto battled depression last season but not even that could keep him from finishing in the NL Top 5 in batting average (.322), OBP (.414) and slugging percentage (.567) in '09. The other bat they will be counting on is LF Jay Bruce. Bruce will have to up his production slightly for the Reds to a chance to move up in the standings. The pitching staff has some “names”, but some of those pitchers are a little passed their best seasons. The Reds will have a tough time finishing near the top of the Central.

Houston Astros – The Astros have long counted on their veterans to produce, all the way back to the Biggio and Bagwell days. This season, they will look to the last remaining ‘B’, Lance Berkman to lead the way. With veterans Cliff Leff, infielder Kaz Matsui and up and coming RF Hunter Pence filling in the rest of the day to day, it will be tough sledding for the Astros this year. The pitching staff is light, with the sole bright spot being Roy Oswalt. Oswalt is fighting injury to start the season, but will be the ace of the staff. The Astros are a good distance from contending in the NL Central.

Pittsburgh Pirates – Memorize these names – Ryan Doumit, Jeff Clement, Akinori Iwamura, Ronny Cedeno, Adam LaRoche, Garrett Jones, Andrew McCutcheon, and Lastings Milledge. If you know these guys you are better than most general managers. The Pirates are the least regonizable franchise according to an ESPN survey and there is a 95% chance that all of these guys will be dealt by September. The ace of the pitching staff is Zach Duke and it will be tough for him to take the hill every 5 days knowing his team doesn’t have much chance of winning. Good luck Bucs fans…

National League Preview - The NL West

Although the National League has taken a backseat to the American League for the last couple seasons, and many people refer to it as “AAAA” baseball, they have taken giant steps forward this season.

With the Phillies trading for the arguably the best pitcher in baseball in Roy Halladay, the Mets signing prized free agent Jason Bay and boasting the elite power hitters in the game, Albert Pujols, Hanley Ramirez, Ryan Howard and Prince Fielder, the NL should definitely be considered stiff opposition during the All-Star Game and the World Series.

The major league baseball season is just a week away and to get you prepared here is the shallowest preview and predictions you will find. First up –

National League West

LA Dodgers – The class of the NL West and they will battle for the NL Pennant when all is said and done. The player that will get the most press will once again be Manny Ramirez, but it will be for his off-field activities rather than his on field actions. The player to watch is center fielder Matt Kemp. Kemp finished among the Top 10 outfielders in runs (97), steals (34) and RBIs (101) in '09. They are solid up the middle with Canadian Russell Martin behind the plate controlling the young pitching staff. Watch for Clayton Kershaw and Chad Billingsley both to come close to 20 wins and Jonathan Broxton is solid as the closer. Enjoy the season Dodger fans!

Colorado Rockies – First baseman and perennial .300 hitter Todd Helton anchor The Rockies. He will get great support around the infield from one of the game’s best shortstops Troy Tulowitzki and the U.S.A catcher from the last World Championship Chris Iannetta. The outfield and offence will lean on Brad Hawpe, who will have lots of chances to drive in runs with the speedy Dextor Fowler taking over full-time in centerfield. The pitching staff is led by the unheralded Ubaldo Jimenez who had 15 wins last season and looks to continue to make a name for himself as a elite pitcher, even if he has to work at Coors Field. Behind Jimenez in the rotation is Aaron Cook and shutting the door at the end of the game is former Oakland closer Huston Street. Street can be shaky but should match his 35 saves from last season. The Rockies have the pieces to make some noise in the NL West but must get all-star seasons from key players to have a chance at the playoffs.

SF Giants – Barry Bonds still hasn’t retired and they could probably use his power (HGH or not). There strength lies with the pitching staff, with ace and reigning Cy Young winner Tim Lincecum at the top of the rotation. Lincecum is followed in the rotation by Barry Zito, who is solid but, will never live up to the huge free agent contract he signed. All-Star catcher Pablo Sandoval has been moved from behind the plate to third base because of the signing of Benji Molina. Three time All-Star Freddy Sanchez escapes from Pittsburgh and will try to continue his fine form in the Bay Area. The Giants need to prey on the weak opponents for a chance to catch the Dodgers/Rockies or claim the Wild Card.

Arizona Diamondbacks – After getting career season from Mark Reynolds, the Dbacks need to hope he can duplicate his form and those around him can step up to contribute. Besides 3B Reynolds, Arizona needs a big season from youngsters Justin Upton (RF) and shortstop Stephen Drew. After playing for teams last season, Adam LaRoche hopes he found a home in the desert and will get lots of opportunity at first base to succeed. The pitching staff is strong and will keep the Dbacks in games. The top of the rotation features Cy Young candidate Brandon Webb and Dan Haren. They are solid in the bullpen with closer Chad Qualls who will continue to get the ball in ninth inning. Not far behind the Rockies and Giants, but will need great seasons from their All-Stars to contend.

SD Padres – In a constant rebuilding mode, the Padres and their fans (are there any?) will be in for a long season. The one bright spot is power first baseman Adrian Gonzalez. Unfortunately, it is likely he will be gone before the end of the season to a contender that can pay (Yankees/Red Sox). Another bright spot is young outfielder Will Venable and the return of Tony Gwynn (yes, it is his son) to San Diego. The pitching staff doesn’t have a full-fledged ace, but if they ever have a lead going into the ninth, look for Heath Bell to be the closer and the face of the franchise for the year.

2010 Predictions

With 2009 on the way out and we welcome 2010 in a couple of days. Now they we have spent a couple of weeks looking back at 2009 and the decade, it is time to look forward and no longer dwell on the old - bring on the new! Here is the Sandwich Shoppe's fearless (and somewhat illogical) predictions.


Five Predictions for 2010

1. The NBA stops play at the end of the regular season, and declare the Lakers champions so that the greatest off-season EVER can commence. With Lebron James, Dwayne Wade, Chris Bosh, Joe Johnson, David Lee, etc...all free agents the landscape of the NBA could change greatly with a couple of signings.

2. The Phoenix Coyotes are finally sold to Jim Balsillie who, in a radical move takes the team to Russia! The Coyotes officially defect from the NHL to the KHL. This allows the NHL to expand by a team and they decide to add a team in Las Vegas! The first major sport to expand into Sin City. People in Hamilton, Winnipeg and Quebec City are devastated.

3. NASCAR and IndyCar racing merge and work on a combined schedule where they race the same tracks every weekend to make super events. The IndyCar's go off on Saturday and the NASCAR guys and gals race on Sunday's. This would allow the best drivers to race against each other every weekend and fans would get tons of racing for their money.

4. Tiger Woods returns as the bad boy of golf. He parades a different women out at every tournament. He even dates Lindsay Lohan at one point. With his golf game going downhill quickly - right before the start of the PGA Championship he starts to date Kate Hudson and wins the tournament by 10 shots.

5. TV ruins sports. By this, I mean that the invention of HD and the PVR has changed the way we watch sports. As fans we are more critical of officials, more critical of of the broadcasters and we don't watch commercials anymore (except for during the super bowl). With the immediate nature that broadcasters give us replays and zoom in on controversial calls, it has started to ruin sports. There are several huge sporting events this year and at least one will be ruined by TV. The World Cup, Super Bowl, Olympics or all of the above will have a controversial call because of the TV broadcast and for one reason or another it will not be reviewed or changed and this will overshadow the spectacle.

6. 2010 Champions - NFL: SD Chargers, NBA: Denver Nuggets, NHL: LA Kings, MLB: Philadelphia Phillies, World Cup: England, Olympic Hockey: Not Canada, Oscars Best Movie: Up In The Air, NCAA Basketball: Syracuse, The Masters: Sergio Garcia, PBA Bowler of Year: Jason Thomas.

Super Bowl XLIV

Everyone has been waiting with baited breath to see which teams the Sandwich Shoppe predicts for the Super Bowl in Miami this February. After lots of debate, reviewing the game tapes and picking names out of a hat, this is the playoff and Super Bowl predictions;

Playoff and Super Bowl Predictions

AFC
Patriots
Chargers
Colts
Steelers

Wild Card:
Ravens
Titans

AFC Divisional Championship
Chargers vs. Colts


NFC
Eagles
Packers
Seahawks
Falcons

Wild Card:
Saints
Vikings

NFC Divisional Championship
Packers vs. Falcons


Super Bowl
Falcons vs. Chargers

Champions
San Diego Chargers


It's not going out on limb much by picking a 9-1 team to win the Super Bowl, but this team has so much talent. The issue this year will be them keeping focused on winning football games rather than twittering (Merriman and Cromartie), staying out of trouble with the law (Merriman) and away from injuries (Merriman and Tomlinson).

As always, looking forward to an entertaining year is expected from the NFL.

NFL Preview - Part II

Here is the other side of most superficial NFL preview.

NFC East
Philadelphia Eagles – Who did they sign in the off season, I didn’t hear? The Eagles were very close to appearing in the Super Bowl last year and improved themselves on both sides of the ball. They did lose a couple of key clubhouse members, one being Brian Dawkins. Also, they lost outstanding LB Stewart Bradley in the first practice of the year with a torn ACL. They will be strong contenders.

Dallas Cowboys – Who did they lose in the off season, I didn’t hear? Tony Romo has a great backfield in Marion Barber and Felix Jones, we just aren’t sure who he will be throwing the ball to besides Jason Witten. The defense is strong and the special teams will be a show all season while at home because of the giant scoreboard in the middle of the field.

New York Giants – Recently the Giants released Super Bowl hero David Tyree, another more significant loss was running back Derrick Ward to Tampa. That leaves Brandon Jacobs as “thunder” without the “lightning”. The Giants will have a chip on their shoulder this season, but in the back of their minds will always be questioning how good they could have been with Plaxico Burress.

Washington Redskins – Jason Campbell was supposed to be the next one in Washington, but the Redskins decided to spend all summer trying to acquire another quarterback. It will be interesting to see how he bounces back with all the drama surrounding him. Clinton Portis and Santana Moss lead the offense and Albert Haynesworth will take his big contract and try and clog the middle of the defense. It will be a long season for the ‘Skins.

NFC North
Green Bay Packers – You all know that I am a Packers fan, so you shouldn’t be surprised I pick them to win the division. With tons of weapons on offense, Rodgers, Ryan Grant, Donald Lee, Donald Driver and Greg Jennings, the Pack won’t have trouble putting up points. Last year’s problem of stopping people from getting points will hopefully be solved by going to the 3-4 defense. This might take some sting out of Aaron Kampman, but LB Nick Barnett will be a force on the field and off with his twitter ramblings.

Minnesota Vikings – The QB that shall not be named will lead a formidable offense. Adrian Peterson is one of the most dominant running backs in the game. He still has games where he disappears and has a tendency to fumble. The defense is going to be tough, led by Jared Allen. These guys will be good, but just like the past two seasons, expect the QB to be the downfall late in the season.

Chicago Bears – The Jay Cutler era begins in Chicago. The first pro-bowl caliber QB to start in almost 20 years in the windy city. The Bears have the same problem as many other middle of the road clubs, no real threat at wide receiver and a tough schedule. Matt Forte hopes there is no sophomore slump in his future, because he we will once again the most touches out of anyone on the roster. The defense will again be led Brian Urlacher and must avoid injuries to have a shot at the playoffs.

NFC South
Atlanta Falcons – The surprise team from last year, won’t sneak up on anyone this year and they have even made themselves better. They acquired TE Tony Gonzalez as another target for QB Matt Ryan. Also at his finger tips will be RB Michael Turner and WR Roddy White.

New Orleans Saints – Can Drew Brees replicate his near record breaking season? I doubt it, but he has the tools to try and make it happen. Reggie Bush, Pierre Thomas, Marques Colston and Devery Henderson all can make an impact. The Saints will be in lots of high scoring games this season and if the defense can hold up their end up of the bargain, the Saints could be very dangerous.

Carolina Panthers – Will Jake Delhomme be able to recover from throwing four interceptions in the playoffs last season. Panthers fan hopes he has a short memory or it leads him to handing the ball off to DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart all season. Either way, it looks like the Panthers have missed their window to make a run at the Super Bowl.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers – This is a team in transition. No starting quarterback that is going to put the fear into any defense. There is nothing good to say hear other than, welcome back Carnell “Cadillac” Williams. When he plays in week 1 vs. Dallas, he will become the first player to return from surgery on both his patella tendons. Impressive!

NFC West
Seattle Seahawks – The Seahawks consistently were winning this division, because everyone else in the division sucked so bad. Finally, someone stood up to them and combine that with having a huge amount of injuries, the Seahawks fell hard. They should return to form this year with a healthy Matt Hasselback, TJ Whosyourmomma, Deion Branch. Their only suspect position is at running back. A strong defensive line and linebacker core will hold opponents at bay.

Arizona Cardinals – It has been a trend for the Super Bowl runner-up not to make the playoffs the following season. It will continue this year. The Cards are one injury to Kurt Warner to being in lots of trouble, no matter if they have the most talented wide receiver core in the league. Tim Hightower and Beanie Wells will combine to form a young and potentially dominant backfield. It will need to be seen if they can get enough touches though. The Cards changed defensive coordinators after losing the Super Bowl, but don’t know if that will be enough.

San Francisco 49ers – It has been a while since the bay area saw a winning team and it will be another season. The Niners have decided that Shaun Hill is their man this year. He should have the support of top pick Michael Crabtree, but after some bad advice and thinking he should have gone higher in the draft he is holding out and it looks like his rookie season is lost. Frank Gore is still a hard-nosed runner who can take over a game, if the Niners get up on a team. Patrick Willis is one of the best linebackers in the game. He covers the entire field and will keep opposing quarterback’s on their toes.

St. Louis Rams – They suck.

The World’s Most Superficial NFL Preview

The following is the most superficial preview of the 2009 NFL season that kicks off Thursday night with the defending champion Pittsburgh Steelers versus the team with the best regular season record last year, the Tennessee Titans. It should be an interesting season full of twists, turns and surprises. Will the Detroit Lions win a game? Will Tony Romo date another blonde singer? Will Brett Favre retire and unretire again – that won’t be a surprise, he will….

Without further ado, preview and predictions…

AFC East
New England Patriots – Tom Brady returns. That is the story line for the franchise this season. Bill Belichek proved he could win without his star quarterback, but it will be much easier with Brady behind center. The defense is special and led by Jared Mayo who will be one of the best linebackers in football in the next couple of seasons.

Buffalo Bills – Terrell Owens make his presence known. The Bills made a splash in the offseason with by signing the malcontent wide receiver. Will he make the offence better? It hasn’t worked so far in the preseason as the Bills fired after the last pre-season game. They have a favorable schedule and if they can run the K-Gun properly their playoff drought will end.

Miami Dolphins – After a huge turnaround last season the Dolphins, they will try to repeat the fate. The schedule gets more difficult and Chad Pennington’s arm is likely to fall off at any given time. Also, now that the wildcat is out of the bag, defense coordinators around the league will be ready.

New York Jets – Dirty Sanchez. The rookie QB will try to turn around the fortunes of the Jets, but it will be difficult when both running backs are unhappy with their contracts, no star receiver to throw to and a mediocre defense. On a positive note they get to move into a beautiful new stadium next year.

AFC West
San Diego Chargers – The cream of the division. They could easily go 6-0 in the division. They feature one of the best offenses. LT, Phillip Rivers, Gates and Vincent Jackson. A fast, hard hitting defense who are ball hawks will make the offenses job that much easier.

Kansas City Chiefs – A new regime in KC. They brought in players this offseason that know how to win. A new starting QB in Matt Cassell is in the spotlight and he will work well with outstanding WR Dwayne Bowe. Larry Johnson was once an elite running back. He has been hurt the last couple of seasons, but with some pressure off of the running game, he has a chance to return to form. If last year’s first round pick Glenn Dorsey can be a force on the inside, this team will have a chance at .500.

Denver Broncos – Another new regime, however this transition has not been smooth. Rookie head coach Josh McDaniel immediately lost the confidence in his QB Jay Cutler and had to trade him to Chicago. Now he has pissed off star receiver Brandon Marshall. To win in the NFL you need all-pro’s, McDaniel has lost two already.

Oakland Raiders – What to say about this mess. JaMarcus Russell needs to be better and he will get his chance. After bringing in Jeff Garcia to be the back up, he was unexpectedly released at the end of the pre-season. Russell has weapons at his disposal. Running back Darren McFadden is explosive and is a game changer. They also drafted wide receiver Darius Hayward-Bay who has 4XL size hands. Russell should be able to throw it anywhere and this guy should catch it. Russell will get more help in the 2010 draft when the Raiders draft near the top…

AFC South
Indianapolis Colts – Peyton Manning does not like to lose. He works too hard for the Colts not to come back and be on top of this division. Manning still has Reggie Wayne and Anthony Gonzalez will be a much bigger part of this offense. Rookie running back from UCONN Donald Brown will partner with Joseph Addai to form a great backfield.

Tennesse Titans – Vince Young wants to win a Super Bowl and be the MVP. He might have a chance to get the ring, but it will be as a back-up unless he Tonya Harding’s Kerry Collins. LenDale White comes to camp 40 lbs lighter because he didn’t drink Patron tequila in the offseason. The defense loses overrated nosetackle Albert Haynesworth. Anyone who is only on the field for only two downs a series can’t be that important.

Houston Texans – It is always a “breakout” year for the Texans. They seem to have the talent to push them over the top, but play in a tough division that won’t let them get over the hump. No one is questioning that decision to choose Mario Williams first overall anymore and he should make his first appearance in the pro bowl this season. Having a chance to join him in Miami this year will be running back Steve Slaton and wide receiver Andre Johnson should be there again.

Jacksonville Jaguars – This team is in transition. David Garrard needs to prove that he is a top quarterback otherwise they will have to re-tool. Unfortunately, he doesn’t have much to work with because Torry Holt comes in as the number one receiver. One player he can use and will be used all the time is Maurice Jones-Drew. A top fantasy player MJD will get lots of touches since all-time Jag is Fred Taylor is now with the Pats.

AFC North
Pittsburgh Steelers – The defending Super Bowl champions will be in the picture again this season. The defense is one of the best in the NFL and can pressure from all angles because of their depth at linebacker. Big Ben still has Hines Ward and Santonio Holmes to work with as well as Fast Willie Parker and the return of Rashard Mendenhall who returns after a season ending injury last year in the first couple weeks of the season. A tough opponent all season.
Baltimore Ravens – Sophomore Slump? Joe Flacco hopes not. He will work hard to keep up the success he had last season and his weapons return. The dependable Derrick Mason and the exciting Ray Rice. The defense will always be the story in B-More though with Ray Lewis and his intimidating presence.

Cincinnati Bengals – Carson Palmer hopes somebody shows up to play on Sunday’s with him. After the HBO Hard Knocks series followed them around during training camp it seems they are a loose clubhouse (child, please), but will that translate into wins. First round pick Andre Smith held out, reported overweight and then broke his foot in his second practice. It will be a tough season for Cincy, but they do have the best named cheerleading squad in the NFL – the Ben-Gals.

Cleveland Browns – Oh Shit! Brady Quinn will start at QB, but Derek Anderson is waiting in the wings just in case. Braylon Edwards is still an elite wide receiver, he just needs a consistent presence at quarterback. The defense is led by linebacker D’Qwell Jackson. He is one of the best in the NFL and if the Browns aren’t careful he will end up on someone else’s roster before the Browns are at the top of the heap.

EPL Preview - Tottenham Hotspur

As some of you fans might be aware the Barclay (I still call it the English) Premier League starts up for real the weekend of August 15 and 16.

There were many changes in the EPL this off season. Manchester United lost the best player in the world in Ronaldo to Real Madrid, Arsenal dumped lots of salary and even typically bottom feeding clubs like Hull and Manchester City made big splashes.

My favorite club - Tottenham Hotspur were also busy during the transfer period and look to have a side that could challenge for a spot in Europe. Since the Spurs are my favorite team, they will be well represented in this blog and you my loyal readers will have to learn to love them. For you I present the top ten preview of the Spurs for the 2009/10 season.

NL Central Preview

The National League Central is complicated place where all the teams seem to have a chance to win the division, except the Pirates. You have the star crossed franchise, the team with the MVP and perhaps best player in the league, and a couple of up and coming franchises who have built through the minor leagues but lose big name players to the Yankees.

Chicago Cubs
On paper one of the most staked team in the majors and a favourite to win not only the NL Central, but the World Series. At the corners they start Aramis Ramirez and Derek Lee who have the potential to combine for 60 homers. Although they are a little thin up the middle, depth and experience should get them through the season. An extremely talented outfield is led by left fielder Alfonso Soriano and Fukodome. Fukodome needs to have a good start to the season to ensure that he stays manager Lou Pinella's good books. The pitching staff is strong led by Carlos Zambrano, Ted Lilly, Rich Harden and Ryan Dempster. Any team would certainly take those four starters. The bullpen is adequate as long as closer Carlos Marmol doesn't have to face anyone from the Netherlands. Look for the Cubs to win 100 games this season.

St. Louis Cardinals
Although it was the Brewers who made a push last year and won the wild card, look for the Cards to bounce back and make that same move this year. A solid, but not spectacular pitching staff will keep them in games. Led by Adam Wainwright and Chris Carpenter. They show their age in the 5th starter spot with Joel Pineiro. In the bullpen, the closer role is still up for grabs, but will probably go to Chris Perez. The offense is where this team should really shine. Automatic All-Star and MVP candidate Albert Pujols will lead the way and will have protection in Rick Ankiel and Ryan Ludwick. Ludwick could be the x-factor as he will need the same type of season as last year (37 hr, 113 rbi and .299 avr) for the Cards to challenge in the NL Central.

Milwaukee Brewers
Last year the Brew Crew took a step forward and took the NL wild card. Although they are now without ace CC Sabathia, the pitching staff is decent with everyone former Blue Jay - Dave Bush, Jeff Suppan and Brandon Looper and youngster Yovani Gallardo who started 4 games for the Brewers last year, got no decisions, but had a 1.88 era and had 20 K's in 24 innings of work. The closer role is solid with Trevor Hoffman. The line-up is strong with Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder as the heavy hitters. Corey Hart has the energy and ability to hit 20 hr and 100 rbi this season as well as swipe 20 to 30 bases. Catcher Jason Kendall will provide veteran leadership behind the plate for the pitching staff. The Brewers will again be in the mix for the NL wild card and if they can get Billy Brewer off his perch enough times it just might happen for them.

Houston Astros
It has now been a few years since the "Killer B's" of Biggio and Bagwell owned the NL Central, but a new breed of players are starting to make an impact in Minute Maid Park. Hunter Pence and Carlos Lee will own the OF, while the infield will certainly be able to do some damage with Geoff Blum/Aaron Boone platoon, Miguel Tejada, Kaz Matsui and Lance Berkman around the horn. The question is at catcher where any one of 3 players could start. The pitching staff is pretty thin behind ace Roy Oswalt. Brandon Backe and Mike Hampton will try and get wins at the back end of the rotation. Closer Jose Valverde will try and duplicate his 44 save season from last year. The Astros are getting closer to the top, but will still need to make some moves behind the plate and get some pitching help to compete with the Cubbies and Cards.

Cincinnati Reds
These are your parents Big Red Machine. Although the Reds have some very good starting pitching in Aaron Harang, Edinson Volquez, and Bronson Arroyo. Closer Francisco Cordero is a solid closer for the Reds when they are able to get the game to him. The bats and speed are there in certain spots. Joey Votto and Jay Bruce will lead the team in all offensive categories. The rest of the line-up is made up of veterans trying to get one last hurrah. If the veteran presence doesn't produce wins they should at least provide leadership for the young team the Reds are building.

Pittsburgh Pirates
Nothing has gone right for the Pirates the last couple of seasons. There young talent hasn't developed and being a small market team they can't spend like the Cubs to keep up in the arms race. The one thing they have going for them this year is Eric Hinske. Does that say enough about the future of the 2009 Pirates? Other than Hinske they have Jack Wilson and Freddy Sanchez who are a very good double play combo. With Adam Laroche at first, the infield can get on base and cause problems for opposing pitchers, unfortunately it just won't be enough and the Pirates might be out of contention before April is over.

Season Preview - AL West

Every Wednesday The Sandwich Shoppe will take a look at a different division in MLB and by the time the season starts in April we should be about half way there...makes it much easier on predicting the future.

American League West

The AL West always seems to get overlooked. There is usually one team that is predicted to run away with the division while the other three rebuild. That is no different this year. The Los Angeles Angels are clearly the most talented team in the division and maybe in the whole American League, but the A's, Mariners and Rangers have been making progress, developing prospects and might surprise some teams.

1. LA Angels of Anaheim

As mentioned the dominant team of the division. Look for them to get close to the 100 win mark by beating up on the teams in their own division. They have a solid starting rotation, especially the top 3 with Lackey, Santana and Saunders. The 4 and 5 starters either have some miles on their arm (Weaver) or a starter with no miles (Mosley or Adenhart). Expect Lackey to come close to the 20 win barrier if not break it. In the bullpen they probably had the most significant loss of any team with K-Rod (Francisco Rodriguez) going in free agency to the Mets. Brian Fuentes will have a tough time replacing him, but they will get him a lot of work and he'll be able to settle into the role nicely. Unheralded bullpen savior Scott Shields will probably see his role expanded and become a household name as the Angels rack up the wins and Shields heads to the All-Star game.

As for the line-up, it will be potent and opposing pitchers will fear going through these hitters two, three and four times a game. The strength will be in the outfield, where there is an abundance of talent, which probably means the Angels will have to move one of them before the season starts. Patrolling the grass in the outfield will be Bobby Abreu, Torii Hunter and Vlad Guerrero. With Gary Matthews Jr., Juan Riviera and yougster Reggie Willits as back-ups they could field two teams. The infield is solid, although not spectacular. They will have a difficult time replacing the power at first base with the loss of Mark Texiera, but the Angels are hoping that Kendry Morales, another youngster can put up some numbers. He will have enough protection from those Angels in the Outfield (sorry).

2. Oakland Athletics

Full disclosure - when not cheering for the Blue Jays, I do cheer for the A's.

No one can quite figure out the Oakland A's. Is Billy Beane trying to produce a winner this year? Is he stockpiling talent with expiring contracts to trade for more prospects? No one can figure this man out.

The A's go into the season with questions in the starting rotation, but the rest of the team around them will be very solid. Bringing back Oakland folk hero and steroid poster boy Jason Giambi to play first and DH, along with recent additions Orlando Cabrera and Nomar Garciaparra will solidify the infield that already boasts Kaz Suzuki, Eric Chavez and former rookie of the year Bobby Crosby. Moving to the bench will be Daric Barton and Jack Cust, who will also see some time at DH. In the outfield, the A's will be led by Matt Holliday, who arrives from Colorado during an off-season trade. Holliday will play out the final season of his contract in Oakland and how long he stays in green will depend on how close the A's are to the playoffs in July/August. Joining Holliday will be Ryan Sweeney and Travis Buck. If one of these two guys fail to produce look for Cust or prospect Aaron Cunningham to get a look from second year Manager Bob Geren.

The pitching staff, especially the starting rotation is young and inexperienced. Most die-hard fans won't even recognize 4 of the 5 starters. Justin Duchscherer will be the ace of the staff, but he is coming off some injury trouble and might not make as many starts as the A's need. The bullpen will keep Oakland in the playoff hunt. With the closer role being shared by Brad Ziegler and Joey Devine and the long relief being held down by veteran Russ Springer they will get alot of work this summer.

If they are in the running come August for one of the four playoff spots, GM Billy Beane could be looking to acquire the final pieces for a playoff push, if he can get other teams to trade with him.

3. Texas Rangers

Every winter the Rangers spend money on big name free agents and every summer they end up falling on their rears. This winter was no different. The Rangers signed reclamation project Andruw Jones to try and help them to the promised land.

The Rangers offence will provide lots of run support to the pitching staff. If they struggle or go through any droughts it could be difficult for the Rangers to get wins. In the outfield will be all-star Josh Hamilton. Hamilton coming off his Cinderella season, hitting .304 with 32 HRs and 130 RBIs and a monster of an all-star game home run derby performance, will be the key. Pitchers will try and go around him so he needs protection Michael Young, who is moving to third base and catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia. The reason for Young moving to third is rookie shortstop Elvis Andrus who has never played above Double-A, but seems to have believers. Just as insurance the Rangers have Frank Catalanotto and Hank Blalock on the bench.

All this offence and a pitching staff that is on the verge of being a top staff. Led by Kevin Millwood and Vincet Padilla, the top two will pull the other 3 along. The bullpen is led by Brendan Donnelly who was a stand-out with the Angels a couple of years ago and was solid last year, his first as a Ranger. The closer role goes to Frank Francisco who only had 10 saves last year but is developing quite nicely into a top tier closer.

4. Seattle Mariners

The Mariners made one huge splash this winter by signing Ken Griffey Jr. who broke into the big leagues with Seattle in 1989. Other than that, they made many smaller moves that will help transform the 101 loss team from a year ago into a respectable big league team again. They are building some interesting pieces - a young talented pitching staff, lots of speed, but not alot of power to light up SafeCo Field.

The pitching staff of the Mariners will carry them through the season. "King Felix" will continue his development into one of the elite starters in the American League and will be one of the only untouchables as the Mariners continue to tinker with their roster. The rest of the rotation looks great on paper with Erik Bedard, Carlos Silva and Jarrod Washburn, but if they aren't getting run support, their records might not look good on paper. The bullpen will be a bigger question mark. With no outright closer to end games, the job will fall on the shoulders of Mark Lowe and David Aardsma.

The offence will have trouble producing runs. A huge lack of power in the line-up, will end up putting a lot of stress on small ball. In the outfield they have the consistent Ichiro in right field, but in centre and left they have newly acquired Endy Chavez and Franklin Gutierrez who will provide spark, but no pop. Around the infield you will find some good talent which might allow the Mariners to make some good deals to contenders in August. Adrian Beltre at 3rd, Betancourt at 2nd, Russ Branyan at 1st and Kenji Johjima behind the plate is a decent line-up. The Mariners are getting better, but even in the AL West they won't have a chance to compete for a playoff spot this year.