The Banter has been around for slightly over a year now. Over this time, posts have been pretty unpredictable.
Regular readers have asked numerous times for a more predictable schedule. I think it is time to comply...or at least try really hard to comply.
Beginning on February 7th, the tentative schedule for postings will look like this:
Mondays: Weekend Recap or Trades That Make Sense (various sports)
Tuesdays: Separated at Birth
Wednesdays: Op-Ed / Interviews / Mock Drafts / "What If" segments
Thursdays: Fantasy Baseball Postings for SportsGrumblings (in season only)
Friday: Weekend Picks
Let me know your thoughts.
As always, thanks for your continued support.
UPDATED: Wednesday deliverables (thanks Lance)
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Big Week at The Banter
First, a link from MLBTR.com (half-way down the article).
Next, the first (of many) posts at SportsGrumblings gets published.
And finally, Henry Abbott of ESPN.com links to a Banter article in his Monday Bullets blog (top story). A quick recap: Banter gets the lead, Wayne Winston hits cleanup, John Hollinger bats tenth, and Mark Cuban finds himself in the 15-hole.
Exciting times.
Next, the first (of many) posts at SportsGrumblings gets published.
And finally, Henry Abbott of ESPN.com links to a Banter article in his Monday Bullets blog (top story). A quick recap: Banter gets the lead, Wayne Winston hits cleanup, John Hollinger bats tenth, and Mark Cuban finds himself in the 15-hole.
Exciting times.
Monday, February 1, 2010
Previewing The Fantasy Third Basemen
Note this article also be found on my new site, here.
The top-tier talent still exists, but the third base position lacks the depth we have become accustomed to in the past. By my count, only two players eligible at the position can be considered true five-category threats, Alex Rodriguez and David Wright. In fact, last season only seven third basemen stole more than nine bases and one of those guys, Emilio Bonifacio, probably should not be drafted as he only contributes in that one category.
As you will see, two themes resonate throughout the article: health and opportunity. One without the other does little.
Here’s the breakdown:
The First Rounders
1) Alex Rodriguez, NYY: A-Rod has delivered his fantasy owners at least 30 homers and 100 RBI every season since 1997. He no longer runs like he used to but can still be counted on for 15-20 stolen bases all while contributing a solid batting average. The only worry here revolves around the health of his hip which caused him to miss the first month of the 2009 season. All reports seem to indicate the hip can sustain a year of wear and tear meaning he should be the first 3B off the board in your draft.
2) David Wright, NYM: Like A-Rod, Wright missed time last season with an injury which helped to contribute to the career low numbers he produced in homers, runs, and RBI. A move to a new pitcher-friendly park did not help matters. However, Wright’s ’09 season seems to be the anomaly. At 27, he figures to see his power return to their 2005-8 levels with any luck. Despite the time missed, Wright stole 27 bases, second most among third basemen.
The Second Rounders
3) Evan Longoria, TB: Longoria, aka (by me) “A-Rod Lite”, should be good for 300-100-100-10 which more than justifies an early round pick. Like Mark Reynolds (details below), if Longoria can cut down on the strikeouts, he can bump up his average too.
4) Mark Reynolds, Ari: Reynolds had an incredible 2009 season finishing fourth in the Majors with 44 homers. He also added 24 stolen bases despite never having topped 11 in any professional year prior. So why isn’t the former Virginia Cavalier a shoo-in first rounder? Batting average. Reynolds racked up an incredible 223 strikeouts, 37 more than the next closest player, on his way to a .260 average. If Reynolds can put the ball in play even a bit more than he has in the past, his average could climb into a level of respectability making him a steal in the second round.
The Third-Fifth Rounders
5) Aramis Ramirez, CHC: When healthy, Ramirez has been a four category stud. He has garnered MVP votes in four of the past six seasons. Unfortunately, he missed half of last season with injury. Can he bounce back? My guess would be yes. After returning from the separated shoulder he suffered, Ramirez picked up right where he left off (a good sign for this year), and he will only be 31 on Opening Day.
6) Pablo Sandoval, SF: The Panda had a huge 2009 season and reportedly lost some weight meaning he might steal some bases this year too. Sign me up.
7) Kevin Youkilis, Bos: Youk’s power and RBI numbers took a dip last season but still produced at a more than adequate level to warrant a top-5 round pick. He will hit in the middle of a solid lineup. No red flags here.
8) Ryan Zimmerman, Was: The pride of DC won’t let the Nats lose 100 games but will he put up 30-100-100 for his fantasy owners? Probably not as he has only reached 30 homers, 100 runs once, and 100 RBI twice but the potential is there. I could not fault any owner who bumps Zimm up a few slots on this list.
9) Chone Figgins, Sea: He stole 50% more bases than the next closest third baseman. Plus, he will certainly help you with runs scored. For whatever reason, he cannot seem to sustain the high batting average. Look at his last five seasons: .290, .267, .330, .276, .298. Expect at least a small drop-off.
10) Chipper Jones, Atl: Despite playing in 143 games, Jones’ numbers were completely underwhelming. He will be 38 in April and seems like he is slipping down a slippery slope. Does he have one more year left in him?
The Mid-Rounders
11) Michael Young, Tex: Last season, Young set a career high in Slugging Percentage, a great sign. He’s always reliable for a high batting average and figures to get a ton of RBI opportunities in this potent lineup.
12) Gordon Beckham, CWS: Beckham more than held his own during his rookie year, and big things are expected this season. A position switch might be in store (second base), but for now we will enjoy his production at third. Positional flexibility never hurt anyone.
13) Adrian Beltre, Bos: Acquired because of his defensive prowess, Beltre finds himself in a great hitting situation. A rejuvenated Beltre figures to thrive now that he won’t have to play half his games in spacious Safeco.
14) Mark DeRosa, SF: DeRosa’s best asset might be his versatility both for the Giants and your fantasy team. He should qualify at 2B, 3B, and OF, but 20 homers and 80 RBI will play anywhere in your lineup. Plus, he boosts your team’s GPA.
15) Jorge Cantu, Fla: Despite being the subject of numerous trade rumors throughout the offseason, Cantu will again find himself serving as protection for Hanley Ramirez. That means he will have plenty of RBI opportunities. He will help in batting average too.
The Late Rounders
16) Casey McGehee, Mil: We have a very small sample size to work with here but, aside from a slightly below average contact rate, raises no red flags. Do not expect 30 homers but in the late rounds, you already knew that.
17) Miguel Tejada, Bal: Tejada will most likely not be eligible at third base when the season starts meaning he will need a caddy for the first few weeks, and he will be turning 36 in May. However, at this point, he offers the best value.
18) Casey Blake, LAD: Blake is a steady, unsexy, option at third base. Pencil him in for .280-20-75. Boring but dependable.
19) David Freese, StL: One of two rookies (Brandon Wood) that figures to play regularly beginning on Opening Day, Freese must overcome some off-the-fields issues in order to gain the trust of the Cardinals’ brass. For the sake of fantasy owners, we hope his 25-homer power erases those memories in a hurry. Hitting in a lineup with the likes of Albert Pujols and Matt Holliday often makes players overachieve. Works for me.
20) Mark Teahen, CWS: Teahan has been penciled into the 3-hole of the White Sox making him an attractive late round option. Do not expect power but he can be useful.
21) Brandon Inge, Det: Only draft Inge if you are either a) dumping batting average or b) planning to draft Joe Mauer. He has power but it comes with a steep price.
Guys Getting Fresh Starts
22) Kevin Kouzmanoff, Oak: Kouz is making a lateral ballpark move (Petco to Oakland Coliseum). His new digs should see him him surrounded by better hitters which could bump him runs and RBI.
23) Pedro Feliz, Hou: Feliz has had an OPS between .694 and .717 each of the last five seasons. Another guy making a lateral ballpark move (from hitter friendly Citizen’s Bank Park to hitter-friendly Minute Maid Park), Feliz should deliver more of the same.
24) Garrett Atkins, Bal: Atkins leaves the hitter heaven of Coors where he struggled mightily last season. He will be given a starting job, something he could not keep last year, and will probably hit in the heart of the O’s lineup. Worth a shot.
25) Edwin Encarnacion, Tor: Miscast as a third baseman (terrible defensively), Encarnacion was acquired in midseason from Cincinnati. He has tape measure power but cannot make consistent enough contact to be a dependable fantasy threat.
Next Best
Each of these players has at least one giant red flag associated with him.
Scott Rolen (Cin), Troy Glaus (Atl), and Mike Lowell (Bos): (Injury): Rolen missed 34 games last year, Glaus missed all but 14 games last season, and Lowell had offseason wrist surgery (adios power). They all need to be drafted (in this order) and should go off the board any time after Round 15.
Adam Kennedy (No team): Kennedy remains unemployed but proved to be a useful player last season when given the opportunity.
Three Former Prospects That Should Not Be Forgotten
Less than three years ago, these three were the beacons of hope for the perennially-struggling teams in San Diego, Kansas City, and Pittsburgh. Now, they are almost afterthoughts. It shouldn’t be this way. I expect these guys to be fantasy starters in deeper leagues by year end.
Chase Headley, SD: Two years ago, the plan was to build around Adrian Gonzalez, Jake Peavey and Headley. Obviously, things have changed a bit.
Alex Gordon, KC: The best hitting prospect in the game three years ago, Gordon needs to make the most of the starting opportunity he was handed. He also needs to stay healthy.
Andy LaRoche, Pit: LaRoche was a prospect in the Dodgers system until they traded him in the Manny Ramirez-Jason bay deal. If he’s not careful, he will be watching Pedro Alvarez take his job. Can competition bring out the best from LaRoche?
The One-Category Guys
If it gets late in the draft and you see you are missing one category and a third baseman, these are four you might want to consider.
Ian Stewart, Col (Homers): He will kill your batting average but he has 30 homer power.
Placido Polanco, Phi (Runs): Like Tejada, he will not be 3B-elgible for the first few weeks, but he moved into a great situation in a great park. He might be able to help in batting average too although his average took a dip last season.
Martin Prado, Atl (Batting Average): Figures to hit .300 near the top of the Atlanta lineup.
Jhonny Peralta, Cle (RBI): Hitting in the 6-hole offers Peralta consistent opportunities to knock runs in.
Emilio Bonifacio, Fla (Stolen Bases): As mentioned above, he is probably free agent fodder but desperate times call for desperate measures and Bonifacio can be useful.
The Prospects
Brandon Wood, LAA: Looks like Wood will finally get his chance this year in Anaheim err, LA. ETA: Opening Day
Brett Wallace, Tor: A terrible body but a terrific hitter. ETA: June
Todd Frazier, Cin: Frazier probably fits best in the outfield as he struggles on defense but if presented with the chance to play, he could be useful. ETA: June
The top-tier talent still exists, but the third base position lacks the depth we have become accustomed to in the past. By my count, only two players eligible at the position can be considered true five-category threats, Alex Rodriguez and David Wright. In fact, last season only seven third basemen stole more than nine bases and one of those guys, Emilio Bonifacio, probably should not be drafted as he only contributes in that one category.
As you will see, two themes resonate throughout the article: health and opportunity. One without the other does little.
Here’s the breakdown:
The First Rounders
1) Alex Rodriguez, NYY: A-Rod has delivered his fantasy owners at least 30 homers and 100 RBI every season since 1997. He no longer runs like he used to but can still be counted on for 15-20 stolen bases all while contributing a solid batting average. The only worry here revolves around the health of his hip which caused him to miss the first month of the 2009 season. All reports seem to indicate the hip can sustain a year of wear and tear meaning he should be the first 3B off the board in your draft.
2) David Wright, NYM: Like A-Rod, Wright missed time last season with an injury which helped to contribute to the career low numbers he produced in homers, runs, and RBI. A move to a new pitcher-friendly park did not help matters. However, Wright’s ’09 season seems to be the anomaly. At 27, he figures to see his power return to their 2005-8 levels with any luck. Despite the time missed, Wright stole 27 bases, second most among third basemen.
The Second Rounders
3) Evan Longoria, TB: Longoria, aka (by me) “A-Rod Lite”, should be good for 300-100-100-10 which more than justifies an early round pick. Like Mark Reynolds (details below), if Longoria can cut down on the strikeouts, he can bump up his average too.
4) Mark Reynolds, Ari: Reynolds had an incredible 2009 season finishing fourth in the Majors with 44 homers. He also added 24 stolen bases despite never having topped 11 in any professional year prior. So why isn’t the former Virginia Cavalier a shoo-in first rounder? Batting average. Reynolds racked up an incredible 223 strikeouts, 37 more than the next closest player, on his way to a .260 average. If Reynolds can put the ball in play even a bit more than he has in the past, his average could climb into a level of respectability making him a steal in the second round.
The Third-Fifth Rounders
5) Aramis Ramirez, CHC: When healthy, Ramirez has been a four category stud. He has garnered MVP votes in four of the past six seasons. Unfortunately, he missed half of last season with injury. Can he bounce back? My guess would be yes. After returning from the separated shoulder he suffered, Ramirez picked up right where he left off (a good sign for this year), and he will only be 31 on Opening Day.
6) Pablo Sandoval, SF: The Panda had a huge 2009 season and reportedly lost some weight meaning he might steal some bases this year too. Sign me up.
7) Kevin Youkilis, Bos: Youk’s power and RBI numbers took a dip last season but still produced at a more than adequate level to warrant a top-5 round pick. He will hit in the middle of a solid lineup. No red flags here.
8) Ryan Zimmerman, Was: The pride of DC won’t let the Nats lose 100 games but will he put up 30-100-100 for his fantasy owners? Probably not as he has only reached 30 homers, 100 runs once, and 100 RBI twice but the potential is there. I could not fault any owner who bumps Zimm up a few slots on this list.
9) Chone Figgins, Sea: He stole 50% more bases than the next closest third baseman. Plus, he will certainly help you with runs scored. For whatever reason, he cannot seem to sustain the high batting average. Look at his last five seasons: .290, .267, .330, .276, .298. Expect at least a small drop-off.
10) Chipper Jones, Atl: Despite playing in 143 games, Jones’ numbers were completely underwhelming. He will be 38 in April and seems like he is slipping down a slippery slope. Does he have one more year left in him?
The Mid-Rounders
11) Michael Young, Tex: Last season, Young set a career high in Slugging Percentage, a great sign. He’s always reliable for a high batting average and figures to get a ton of RBI opportunities in this potent lineup.
12) Gordon Beckham, CWS: Beckham more than held his own during his rookie year, and big things are expected this season. A position switch might be in store (second base), but for now we will enjoy his production at third. Positional flexibility never hurt anyone.
13) Adrian Beltre, Bos: Acquired because of his defensive prowess, Beltre finds himself in a great hitting situation. A rejuvenated Beltre figures to thrive now that he won’t have to play half his games in spacious Safeco.
14) Mark DeRosa, SF: DeRosa’s best asset might be his versatility both for the Giants and your fantasy team. He should qualify at 2B, 3B, and OF, but 20 homers and 80 RBI will play anywhere in your lineup. Plus, he boosts your team’s GPA.
15) Jorge Cantu, Fla: Despite being the subject of numerous trade rumors throughout the offseason, Cantu will again find himself serving as protection for Hanley Ramirez. That means he will have plenty of RBI opportunities. He will help in batting average too.
The Late Rounders
16) Casey McGehee, Mil: We have a very small sample size to work with here but, aside from a slightly below average contact rate, raises no red flags. Do not expect 30 homers but in the late rounds, you already knew that.
17) Miguel Tejada, Bal: Tejada will most likely not be eligible at third base when the season starts meaning he will need a caddy for the first few weeks, and he will be turning 36 in May. However, at this point, he offers the best value.
18) Casey Blake, LAD: Blake is a steady, unsexy, option at third base. Pencil him in for .280-20-75. Boring but dependable.
19) David Freese, StL: One of two rookies (Brandon Wood) that figures to play regularly beginning on Opening Day, Freese must overcome some off-the-fields issues in order to gain the trust of the Cardinals’ brass. For the sake of fantasy owners, we hope his 25-homer power erases those memories in a hurry. Hitting in a lineup with the likes of Albert Pujols and Matt Holliday often makes players overachieve. Works for me.
20) Mark Teahen, CWS: Teahan has been penciled into the 3-hole of the White Sox making him an attractive late round option. Do not expect power but he can be useful.
21) Brandon Inge, Det: Only draft Inge if you are either a) dumping batting average or b) planning to draft Joe Mauer. He has power but it comes with a steep price.
Guys Getting Fresh Starts
22) Kevin Kouzmanoff, Oak: Kouz is making a lateral ballpark move (Petco to Oakland Coliseum). His new digs should see him him surrounded by better hitters which could bump him runs and RBI.
23) Pedro Feliz, Hou: Feliz has had an OPS between .694 and .717 each of the last five seasons. Another guy making a lateral ballpark move (from hitter friendly Citizen’s Bank Park to hitter-friendly Minute Maid Park), Feliz should deliver more of the same.
24) Garrett Atkins, Bal: Atkins leaves the hitter heaven of Coors where he struggled mightily last season. He will be given a starting job, something he could not keep last year, and will probably hit in the heart of the O’s lineup. Worth a shot.
25) Edwin Encarnacion, Tor: Miscast as a third baseman (terrible defensively), Encarnacion was acquired in midseason from Cincinnati. He has tape measure power but cannot make consistent enough contact to be a dependable fantasy threat.
Next Best
Each of these players has at least one giant red flag associated with him.
Scott Rolen (Cin), Troy Glaus (Atl), and Mike Lowell (Bos): (Injury): Rolen missed 34 games last year, Glaus missed all but 14 games last season, and Lowell had offseason wrist surgery (adios power). They all need to be drafted (in this order) and should go off the board any time after Round 15.
Adam Kennedy (No team): Kennedy remains unemployed but proved to be a useful player last season when given the opportunity.
Three Former Prospects That Should Not Be Forgotten
Less than three years ago, these three were the beacons of hope for the perennially-struggling teams in San Diego, Kansas City, and Pittsburgh. Now, they are almost afterthoughts. It shouldn’t be this way. I expect these guys to be fantasy starters in deeper leagues by year end.
Chase Headley, SD: Two years ago, the plan was to build around Adrian Gonzalez, Jake Peavey and Headley. Obviously, things have changed a bit.
Alex Gordon, KC: The best hitting prospect in the game three years ago, Gordon needs to make the most of the starting opportunity he was handed. He also needs to stay healthy.
Andy LaRoche, Pit: LaRoche was a prospect in the Dodgers system until they traded him in the Manny Ramirez-Jason bay deal. If he’s not careful, he will be watching Pedro Alvarez take his job. Can competition bring out the best from LaRoche?
The One-Category Guys
If it gets late in the draft and you see you are missing one category and a third baseman, these are four you might want to consider.
Ian Stewart, Col (Homers): He will kill your batting average but he has 30 homer power.
Placido Polanco, Phi (Runs): Like Tejada, he will not be 3B-elgible for the first few weeks, but he moved into a great situation in a great park. He might be able to help in batting average too although his average took a dip last season.
Martin Prado, Atl (Batting Average): Figures to hit .300 near the top of the Atlanta lineup.
Jhonny Peralta, Cle (RBI): Hitting in the 6-hole offers Peralta consistent opportunities to knock runs in.
Emilio Bonifacio, Fla (Stolen Bases): As mentioned above, he is probably free agent fodder but desperate times call for desperate measures and Bonifacio can be useful.
The Prospects
Brandon Wood, LAA: Looks like Wood will finally get his chance this year in Anaheim err, LA. ETA: Opening Day
Brett Wallace, Tor: A terrible body but a terrific hitter. ETA: June
Todd Frazier, Cin: Frazier probably fits best in the outfield as he struggles on defense but if presented with the chance to play, he could be useful. ETA: June
Looking Back at the Gasol-Gasol Deal
Two years ago today, the Lakers traded Marc Gasol, Kwame Brown, Javaris Crittenton, Aaron McKie, and their 2008 and 2010 first rounders to the Grizzlies for Pau Gasol and their 2010 second round pick. The Gasol-Gasol deal helped to shape these two franchises (possibly three if you read further) into what they are today.
At the time, Laker GM Mitch Kupchak was hailed as the second coming of Albert Spaggiari. Memphis GM Chris Wallace, who had already ruined the lives of many Celtics' fans while serving as its team's GM, now infuriated another fan base.
Gregg Popovich, coach of the rival San Antonio Spurs said about the trade, "What they did in Memphis is beyond comprehension. There should be a trade committee that can scratch all trades that make no sense. I just wish I had been on a trade committee that oversees NBA trades. I would have voted no to the LA trade."
Not exactly a glowing peer review.
However, now that we have been offered some perspective, how bad was this deal for the Grizz, and how great was it for Lakers?
From Memphis GM Chris Wallace's standpoint, it allowed his team to clear the approximately $60 million remaining on Gasol's contract off their books. Why pay all that money to the best player on a team constructed to win 15 games per season? In essence, they were hitting the reset button and starting fresh.
As fate would have it, Marc Gasol has turned into an above average center. In fact, it has been debated that he is more worthy of the 2010 NBA All Star selection than his brother, Pau.
McKie was immediately released and Brown was let go at season's end. The only value they provided was the clearing of cap space.
Crittendon, before being suspended for the now infamous Gilbert Arenas gun incident, was traded to Washington for a conditional draft (a pick that Memphis had previously sent to the Wizards for Juan Carlos Navarro). As an aside, is it possible to think that without the Gasol-Gasol deal the gun incident never happens? Seems plausible to me and now Wizards' fans have a reason to hate Chris Wallace too.
The Grizz used the Lakers' 2008 first rounder to select Donte Greene only to trade him to New Orleans for Darrell Arthur. After running into some off-the-court trouble (marijuana-related), he proved to be a serviceable big man for Memphis in 2009. A torn pectoral has shelved him for the entirety of this season. He figures to be an 8th or 9th man for a decent NBA team.
The swap of the Lakers' 2010 first rounder for the Grizz's 2010 second rounder provides another small upgrade (about 15 picks).
From the Lakers' perspective, this deal was and still is a slam dunk (possibly the worst pun of my writing career). Pau helped the Lakers reach the 2008 NBA Finals where they lost to the Celtics. In 2009, the Lakers won the NBA Finals. In 2010, the Lakers again have the makings of a Championship-caliber team as they currently own the League's second best record (37-11; half a game behind the Cavaliers).
Overall, the deal was pretty solid for both teams. It's easy to pick on Chris Wallace, but I think we (including Coach Pop) owe him a bit of an apology.
The cap space created from the deal allowed Memphis to take on Zach Randolph. Te team is much better positioned now to make a run in the West than it had been when the trade was made. (Critics can argue that keeping Gasol and drafting OJ Mayo would have resulted in a similar outcome, but I am not so sure.)
UPDATE: I missed the best part: these teams play each other tonight!
At the time, Laker GM Mitch Kupchak was hailed as the second coming of Albert Spaggiari. Memphis GM Chris Wallace, who had already ruined the lives of many Celtics' fans while serving as its team's GM, now infuriated another fan base.
Gregg Popovich, coach of the rival San Antonio Spurs said about the trade, "What they did in Memphis is beyond comprehension. There should be a trade committee that can scratch all trades that make no sense. I just wish I had been on a trade committee that oversees NBA trades. I would have voted no to the LA trade."
Not exactly a glowing peer review.
However, now that we have been offered some perspective, how bad was this deal for the Grizz, and how great was it for Lakers?
From Memphis GM Chris Wallace's standpoint, it allowed his team to clear the approximately $60 million remaining on Gasol's contract off their books. Why pay all that money to the best player on a team constructed to win 15 games per season? In essence, they were hitting the reset button and starting fresh.
As fate would have it, Marc Gasol has turned into an above average center. In fact, it has been debated that he is more worthy of the 2010 NBA All Star selection than his brother, Pau.
McKie was immediately released and Brown was let go at season's end. The only value they provided was the clearing of cap space.
Crittendon, before being suspended for the now infamous Gilbert Arenas gun incident, was traded to Washington for a conditional draft (a pick that Memphis had previously sent to the Wizards for Juan Carlos Navarro). As an aside, is it possible to think that without the Gasol-Gasol deal the gun incident never happens? Seems plausible to me and now Wizards' fans have a reason to hate Chris Wallace too.
The Grizz used the Lakers' 2008 first rounder to select Donte Greene only to trade him to New Orleans for Darrell Arthur. After running into some off-the-court trouble (marijuana-related), he proved to be a serviceable big man for Memphis in 2009. A torn pectoral has shelved him for the entirety of this season. He figures to be an 8th or 9th man for a decent NBA team.
The swap of the Lakers' 2010 first rounder for the Grizz's 2010 second rounder provides another small upgrade (about 15 picks).
From the Lakers' perspective, this deal was and still is a slam dunk (possibly the worst pun of my writing career). Pau helped the Lakers reach the 2008 NBA Finals where they lost to the Celtics. In 2009, the Lakers won the NBA Finals. In 2010, the Lakers again have the makings of a Championship-caliber team as they currently own the League's second best record (37-11; half a game behind the Cavaliers).
Overall, the deal was pretty solid for both teams. It's easy to pick on Chris Wallace, but I think we (including Coach Pop) owe him a bit of an apology.
The cap space created from the deal allowed Memphis to take on Zach Randolph. Te team is much better positioned now to make a run in the West than it had been when the trade was made. (Critics can argue that keeping Gasol and drafting OJ Mayo would have resulted in a similar outcome, but I am not so sure.)
UPDATE: I missed the best part: these teams play each other tonight!
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Damon's Dilemma
All dressed up with nowhere to go...
As of 1/29/2010, 10% of eligible Americans are unemployed. Johnny - which to my surprise is actually his given name - Damon stands squarely among them. (I know, not many in that group have earned $97m over the last 14 years but bear with me during my attempt at dramatic introduction). It is clear that Damon wants to play, but does anyone want him to play for them?
It does not help that his agent, Scott Boras, has held out for a two-year deal, but in my professional opinion, I would jump at the next (first?) offer of $5m* or more per year for two reasons.
1) Damon is worth this much. Sure, he played in Coors East which inflated his power numbers, but, still, the man can hit. He tied a career high in home runs (24) and posted a career best OPS+ (126). He was also 12-12 in stolen base attempts proving that although he is not the speedster he was, he can still get the job done.
As a model of constistency, he has played in at least 141 games in every year since 1996 but has never been K'd more than 98 times in a season (2009).
2) Not many more teams, if any, have a need for his services.
In my mind, the only three teams that could possibly entertain the thought of Damon starting in the outfield would be Detroit, San Diego, and Washington.
The only two teams willing to offer the starting DH role would probably be Tampa Bay and Chicago. Toronto (Randy Ruiz), Oakland (Jack Cust), and Seattle (Griffey) all seem committed elsewhere.
Kansas City and Cleveland might be interested in him as well but would probably have to dump bad contracts first (Jose Guillen and Travis Hafner, respectively).
So where does he end up?
My top three choices:
1) Chicago White Sox - Right now, Andruw Jones would be the team's starting DH.
2) Detroit - He might actually be an upgrade defensively over Carlos Guillen in LF.
3) San Diego - I thought they were going cheap this offseason until they signed John Garland.
*This offseason Vlad signed for $5m, Matsui signed for $6.5m, Mike Cameron signed for $7.7m. To me these players are extremely similar. Boras can save face if he gets a deal at least equal to that of Vlad.
As of 1/29/2010, 10% of eligible Americans are unemployed. Johnny - which to my surprise is actually his given name - Damon stands squarely among them. (I know, not many in that group have earned $97m over the last 14 years but bear with me during my attempt at dramatic introduction). It is clear that Damon wants to play, but does anyone want him to play for them?
It does not help that his agent, Scott Boras, has held out for a two-year deal, but in my professional opinion, I would jump at the next (first?) offer of $5m* or more per year for two reasons.
1) Damon is worth this much. Sure, he played in Coors East which inflated his power numbers, but, still, the man can hit. He tied a career high in home runs (24) and posted a career best OPS+ (126). He was also 12-12 in stolen base attempts proving that although he is not the speedster he was, he can still get the job done.
As a model of constistency, he has played in at least 141 games in every year since 1996 but has never been K'd more than 98 times in a season (2009).
2) Not many more teams, if any, have a need for his services.
In my mind, the only three teams that could possibly entertain the thought of Damon starting in the outfield would be Detroit, San Diego, and Washington.
The only two teams willing to offer the starting DH role would probably be Tampa Bay and Chicago. Toronto (Randy Ruiz), Oakland (Jack Cust), and Seattle (Griffey) all seem committed elsewhere.
Kansas City and Cleveland might be interested in him as well but would probably have to dump bad contracts first (Jose Guillen and Travis Hafner, respectively).
So where does he end up?
My top three choices:
1) Chicago White Sox - Right now, Andruw Jones would be the team's starting DH.
2) Detroit - He might actually be an upgrade defensively over Carlos Guillen in LF.
3) San Diego - I thought they were going cheap this offseason until they signed John Garland.
*This offseason Vlad signed for $5m, Matsui signed for $6.5m, Mike Cameron signed for $7.7m. To me these players are extremely similar. Boras can save face if he gets a deal at least equal to that of Vlad.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
NFL Mock Draft - 1st Round
Now that we know most of the first round draft order, here's my first attempt at how it will all shape up:
1. Rams: Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska - The best defensive player available in the draft since Steve Emtman. I fully expect this to turn out better than it did for the Colts in 1990 (not saying much) as Suh is a beast who does it all along the defensive line.
2. Lions: Gerald McCoy, DT, Oklahoma - Detroit finished 25th in rush defense, 29th in sacks registered, and dead last in pass defense (265 yds/game). Needless to say, defense will be a focus early and often. Joe Haden also makes sense here.
3. Bucs: Eric Berry, S, Tennessee - A protege of Monte Kiffin, who coincidentally figures to put in a good word with the Tampa Bay brass, Berry is a difference maker on the defensive side of the ball.
4. Redskins: Russell Okung, OL, Oklahoma State - The offensive line was a disaster as evidence by the 46 sacks allowed and 27th ranked rushing offense this season.
5. Chiefs: Derrick Morgan, DE, Georgia Tech - Despite addressing the defensive line in the first round of the last two drafts, the Chiefs finished 31st in the league in rushing defense. Third time has to be the charm, right?
6. Seahawks: Joe Haden, CB, Florida - A match made in rainy heaven. Seattle finished 30th in pass defense, and Haden is a remarkable athlete capable of shutting down an opponent's top receiver.
7. Browns: Dez Bryant, WR, Oklahoma State - The Browns were putrid throwing the ball this season (worst in the league with 140 yards/game through the air). Bryant provides them with a much needed weapon. As an added bonus, we would get to see T. Boone Pickens do backflips after two Cowboys get picked in the top 7.
8. Raiders: Anthony Davis, OT, Rutgers - If he plays up to his potential, Davis will be a perennial Pro Bowler, but he has some off-the-field issues, something Oakland is used to. Rumor has it, much to the delight of Al Davis, he's also the fastest offensive tackle in this year's class (that was a joke).
9. Bills: Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma - Buffalo needs a franchise quarterback, and Bradford can be just that.
10. Jaguars*: Rolando McClain, LB, Alabama - Jacksonville registered the fewest sacks in the league this season and lacked defensive leadership. McClain consistently pressured the passer while at Alabama, and his intangibles cannot be questioned.
11. Broncos*#: Earl Thomas, S, Texas - Denver's defense is in desperate need of some youthful energy and skill.
12. Dolphins: Navorro Bowman, LB, Penn State - Miami's linebacking corps was painfully slow. Navorro, another in a long line of Nittany Lion LBs, flies around the field and makes plays from sideline to sideline.
13. 49ers: Jimmy Claussen, QB, Notre Dame - Alex Smith is clearly not the answer, and San Francisco has had some success with quarterbacks from Notre Dame.
14. Seahawaks^: CJ Spiller, RB, Clemson - Spiller is a Reggie Bush-type (not necessarily a positive comparison anymore) gamebreaker that can do a little of everything.
15. Giants: Carlos Dunlap, DE, Florida - New York's defense crumbled like feta cheese against the NFL's elite teams. Surprisingly, the biggest problem was along the defensive front. Dunlap, off-field issues aside, has Top 5 talent.
16. 49ers&: Sergio Kindle, LB/DE, Texas - Everyone seems to love these hybrid LB / DEs, and Kindle was awesome during the BCS title game. His stock is sky-high.
17. Titans: Patrick Robinson, CB, Florida State - A slight reach here but Tennessee was 31st in passing defense this season.
18. Steelers: Bruce Campbell, OT, Maryland - Only the Packers surrendered more sacks than Pittsburgh.
19. Texans*: Jason Pierre-Paul, DE, South Florida - Like the Chiefs, Houston has unsuccessfully tried to address their defensive line recently in the draft. Still, they really struggled getting pressure on the quarterback.
20. Falcons*: Taylor Mays, S, USC - Atlanta finished 28th in pass defense. Mays has had trouble in coverage and misses too many tackles, but he's a physical freak.
21. Bengals: Golden Tate, WR, Notre Dame - Aside from Ochocinco, Cincy lacks dependable receivers.
22. Patriots: Jon Dwyer, RB, Georgia Tech - My preseason Heisman pick failed to live up to expectations, but he's a nice upgrade over the Maroney-Morris-Faulk-Taylor quartet.
23. Packers: Trent Williams, OT, Oklahoma - Objective #1 for Green Bay = Keep Rodgers upright.
24. Eagles: Dan Williams, DT, Tennessee - Philly's D was shredded and Williams could be the run-stuffer they lacked.
25. Ravens: Aaron Hernandez, TE, Florida - The versatile tight end will become a dependable pass catcher for Joe Flacco.
26. Cardinals: Jermaine Gresham, TE, Oklahoma - Whether it's Kurt Warner or Matt Leinart under center, Gresham will provide the Cards' signal caller with a security blanket.
27. Cowboys: Brian Price, DE, UCLA - Dallas' pass rush deserted them when they were needed most.
28. Chargers: Everson Griffin, DE, USC - Defense has to be the focus for the Bolts.
29. Jets: Arrelious Benn, WR, Illinois - Another target for Mark Sanchez.
30. Vikings: Tim Tebow, QB, Florida - Sure, he's not a polished passer but the guy is a punishing runner (who doesn't fumble). Although I admit the fit is not perfect, I highly doubt Tebow falls out of Round 1.
31. Colts: Brian Bulaga, OT, Iowa - Keeping Peyton healthy has to be the key to any season in Indy.
32. Saints: Terrence Cody, DT, Alabama - New Orleans has plenty of offense and should focus their first four picks on the defensive side of the ball.
* Subject to coin flip
# Acquired from Bears
^ Acquired from Broncos
& Acquired from Panthers
1. Rams: Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska - The best defensive player available in the draft since Steve Emtman. I fully expect this to turn out better than it did for the Colts in 1990 (not saying much) as Suh is a beast who does it all along the defensive line.
2. Lions: Gerald McCoy, DT, Oklahoma - Detroit finished 25th in rush defense, 29th in sacks registered, and dead last in pass defense (265 yds/game). Needless to say, defense will be a focus early and often. Joe Haden also makes sense here.
3. Bucs: Eric Berry, S, Tennessee - A protege of Monte Kiffin, who coincidentally figures to put in a good word with the Tampa Bay brass, Berry is a difference maker on the defensive side of the ball.
4. Redskins: Russell Okung, OL, Oklahoma State - The offensive line was a disaster as evidence by the 46 sacks allowed and 27th ranked rushing offense this season.
5. Chiefs: Derrick Morgan, DE, Georgia Tech - Despite addressing the defensive line in the first round of the last two drafts, the Chiefs finished 31st in the league in rushing defense. Third time has to be the charm, right?
6. Seahawks: Joe Haden, CB, Florida - A match made in rainy heaven. Seattle finished 30th in pass defense, and Haden is a remarkable athlete capable of shutting down an opponent's top receiver.
7. Browns: Dez Bryant, WR, Oklahoma State - The Browns were putrid throwing the ball this season (worst in the league with 140 yards/game through the air). Bryant provides them with a much needed weapon. As an added bonus, we would get to see T. Boone Pickens do backflips after two Cowboys get picked in the top 7.
8. Raiders: Anthony Davis, OT, Rutgers - If he plays up to his potential, Davis will be a perennial Pro Bowler, but he has some off-the-field issues, something Oakland is used to. Rumor has it, much to the delight of Al Davis, he's also the fastest offensive tackle in this year's class (that was a joke).
9. Bills: Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma - Buffalo needs a franchise quarterback, and Bradford can be just that.
10. Jaguars*: Rolando McClain, LB, Alabama - Jacksonville registered the fewest sacks in the league this season and lacked defensive leadership. McClain consistently pressured the passer while at Alabama, and his intangibles cannot be questioned.
11. Broncos*#: Earl Thomas, S, Texas - Denver's defense is in desperate need of some youthful energy and skill.
12. Dolphins: Navorro Bowman, LB, Penn State - Miami's linebacking corps was painfully slow. Navorro, another in a long line of Nittany Lion LBs, flies around the field and makes plays from sideline to sideline.
13. 49ers: Jimmy Claussen, QB, Notre Dame - Alex Smith is clearly not the answer, and San Francisco has had some success with quarterbacks from Notre Dame.
14. Seahawaks^: CJ Spiller, RB, Clemson - Spiller is a Reggie Bush-type (not necessarily a positive comparison anymore) gamebreaker that can do a little of everything.
15. Giants: Carlos Dunlap, DE, Florida - New York's defense crumbled like feta cheese against the NFL's elite teams. Surprisingly, the biggest problem was along the defensive front. Dunlap, off-field issues aside, has Top 5 talent.
16. 49ers&: Sergio Kindle, LB/DE, Texas - Everyone seems to love these hybrid LB / DEs, and Kindle was awesome during the BCS title game. His stock is sky-high.
17. Titans: Patrick Robinson, CB, Florida State - A slight reach here but Tennessee was 31st in passing defense this season.
18. Steelers: Bruce Campbell, OT, Maryland - Only the Packers surrendered more sacks than Pittsburgh.
19. Texans*: Jason Pierre-Paul, DE, South Florida - Like the Chiefs, Houston has unsuccessfully tried to address their defensive line recently in the draft. Still, they really struggled getting pressure on the quarterback.
20. Falcons*: Taylor Mays, S, USC - Atlanta finished 28th in pass defense. Mays has had trouble in coverage and misses too many tackles, but he's a physical freak.
21. Bengals: Golden Tate, WR, Notre Dame - Aside from Ochocinco, Cincy lacks dependable receivers.
22. Patriots: Jon Dwyer, RB, Georgia Tech - My preseason Heisman pick failed to live up to expectations, but he's a nice upgrade over the Maroney-Morris-Faulk-Taylor quartet.
23. Packers: Trent Williams, OT, Oklahoma - Objective #1 for Green Bay = Keep Rodgers upright.
24. Eagles: Dan Williams, DT, Tennessee - Philly's D was shredded and Williams could be the run-stuffer they lacked.
25. Ravens: Aaron Hernandez, TE, Florida - The versatile tight end will become a dependable pass catcher for Joe Flacco.
26. Cardinals: Jermaine Gresham, TE, Oklahoma - Whether it's Kurt Warner or Matt Leinart under center, Gresham will provide the Cards' signal caller with a security blanket.
27. Cowboys: Brian Price, DE, UCLA - Dallas' pass rush deserted them when they were needed most.
28. Chargers: Everson Griffin, DE, USC - Defense has to be the focus for the Bolts.
29. Jets: Arrelious Benn, WR, Illinois - Another target for Mark Sanchez.
30. Vikings: Tim Tebow, QB, Florida - Sure, he's not a polished passer but the guy is a punishing runner (who doesn't fumble). Although I admit the fit is not perfect, I highly doubt Tebow falls out of Round 1.
31. Colts: Brian Bulaga, OT, Iowa - Keeping Peyton healthy has to be the key to any season in Indy.
32. Saints: Terrence Cody, DT, Alabama - New Orleans has plenty of offense and should focus their first four picks on the defensive side of the ball.
* Subject to coin flip
# Acquired from Bears
^ Acquired from Broncos
& Acquired from Panthers
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Really, Sports Guy?
*Over the years, Bill Simmons has written a bunch of things which I am sure he regrets. Happens to all writers, of course. But, I doubt he has ever wanted to take back two sentences quicker than these two from his last article. Describing Sammi Sweetheart from "Jersey Shore," he said:
At first glance, super attractive. Upon further review, more trouble then it's worth.
1- Sammi Sweetheart is not attractive at any glance. There's no debating this.
2- Being a seasoned writer, Simmons should know the difference between "then" and "than." (This is a pet peeve of mine.)
At first glance, super attractive. Upon further review, more trouble then it's worth.
1- Sammi Sweetheart is not attractive at any glance. There's no debating this.
2- Being a seasoned writer, Simmons should know the difference between "then" and "than." (This is a pet peeve of mine.)
Friday, January 15, 2010
MLS Draft?!
I fancy myself a (mock) draft aficionado, and I had no idea the MLS Draft occurred this week? Very disappointing performance on my part. For that, I apologize.
I actually don't know very much about the MLS, but here is my 30,000 foot (meaningless) take:
-Apparently high schoolers are eligible for selection. No one makes a big deal of this (NBA, take note).
-Two 17-year olds were drafted.
-One 24-year old was drafted.
-Soccer is a top-heavy game. In total, the top five teams in the nation accounted for 69% of this year's first round picks (11 of 16).
-25% of this year's first round picks (4 of 16) played at Wake Forest.
-19% of this year's first round picks (3 of 16) played at UCLA.
-For what it's worth, Wake Forest ended UCLA's season in the national quarterfinals, 2-0.
-Harvard finished in the Top 10 and had two guys drafted. Who knew?
-The Southeastern, Mid-South, Southern, and America East conferences each had the same number of players selected (1).
-No player from the Big 12 Conference was selected.
-All other BCS conferences were represented.
-The Columbus Crew drafted the two guys (both in the first round) with the two coolest names: Bright Dike (that has to win name of the year in the MLS, no?) and Dilly Duka.
They followed those picks with Kwaku Nyamekye, another great name, three rounds later. Nice work out of Ohio.
I actually don't know very much about the MLS, but here is my 30,000 foot (meaningless) take:
-Apparently high schoolers are eligible for selection. No one makes a big deal of this (NBA, take note).
-Two 17-year olds were drafted.
-One 24-year old was drafted.
-Soccer is a top-heavy game. In total, the top five teams in the nation accounted for 69% of this year's first round picks (11 of 16).
-25% of this year's first round picks (4 of 16) played at Wake Forest.
-19% of this year's first round picks (3 of 16) played at UCLA.
-For what it's worth, Wake Forest ended UCLA's season in the national quarterfinals, 2-0.
-Harvard finished in the Top 10 and had two guys drafted. Who knew?
-The Southeastern, Mid-South, Southern, and America East conferences each had the same number of players selected (1).
-No player from the Big 12 Conference was selected.
-All other BCS conferences were represented.
-The Columbus Crew drafted the two guys (both in the first round) with the two coolest names: Bright Dike (that has to win name of the year in the MLS, no?) and Dilly Duka.
They followed those picks with Kwaku Nyamekye, another great name, three rounds later. Nice work out of Ohio.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
NFL Mock Draft - 1st Round (Updated 1-24)
Now that we know most of the first round draft order, here's my first attempt at how it will all shape up:
1. Rams: Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska - The best defensive player available in the draft since Steve Emtman. I fully expect this to turn out better than it did for the Colts in 1990 (not saying much) as Suh is a beast who does it all along the defensive line.
2. Lions: Gerald McCoy, DT, Oklahoma - Detroit finished 25th in rush defense, 29th in sacks registered, and dead last in pass defense (265 yds/game). Needless to say, defense will be a focus early and often. Joe Haden also makes sense here.
3. Bucs: Eric Berry, S, Tennessee - A protege of Monte Kiffin, who coincidentally figures to put in a good word with the Tampa Bay brass, Berry is a difference maker on the defensive side of the ball.
4. Redskins: Russell Okung, OL, Oklahoma State - The offensive line was a disaster as evidence by the 46 sacks allowed and 27th ranked rushing offense this season.
5. Chiefs: Derrick Morgan, DE, Georgia Tech - Despite addressing the defensive line in the first round of the last two drafts, the Chiefs finished 31st in the league in rushing defense. Third time has to be the charm, right?
6. Seahawks: Joe Haden, CB, Florida - A match made in rainy heaven. Seattle finished 30th in pass defense, and Haden is a remarkable athlete capable of shutting down an opponent's top receiver.
7. Browns: Dez Bryant, WR, Oklahoma State - The Browns were putrid throwing the ball this season (worst in the league with 140 yards/game through the air). Bryant provides them with a much needed weapon. As an added bonus, we would get to see T. Boone Pickens do backflips after two Cowboys get picked in the top 7.
8. Raiders: Anthony Davis, OT, Rutgers - If he plays up to his potential, Davis will be a perennial Pro Bowler, but he has some off-the-field issues, something Oakland is used to. Rumor has it, much to the delight of Al Davis, he's also the fastest offensive tackle in this year's class (that was a joke).
9. Bills: Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma - Buffalo needs a franchise quarterback, and Bradford can be just that.
10. Jaguars*: Rolando McClain, LB, Alabama - Jacksonville registered the fewest sacks in the league this season and lacked defensive leadership. McClain consistently pressured the passer while at Alabama, and his intangibles cannot be questioned.
11. Broncos*#: Earl Thomas, S, Texas - Denver's defense is in desperate need of some youthful energy and skill.
12. Dolphins: Navorro Bowman, LB, Penn State - Miami's linebacking corps was painfully slow. Navorro, another in a long line of Nittany Lion LBs, flies around the field and makes plays from sideline to sideline.
13. 49ers: Jimmy Claussen, QB, Notre Dame - Alex Smith is clearly not the answer, and San Francisco has had some success with quarterbacks from Notre Dame.
14. Seahawaks^: CJ Spiller, RB, Clemson - Spiller is a Reggie Bush-type (not necessarily a positive comparison anymore) gamebreaker that can do a little of everything.
15. Giants: Carlos Dunlap, DE, Florida - New York's defense crumbled like feta cheese against the NFL's elite teams. Surprisingly, the biggest problem was along the defensive front. Dunlap, off-field issues aside, has Top 5 talent.
16. Panthers*: Sergio Kindle, LB/DE, Texas - Everyone seems to love these hybrid LB / DEs, and Kindle was awesome during the BCS title game. His stock is sky-high.
17. Titans*: Patrick Robinson, CB, Florida State - A slight reach here but Tennessee was 31st in passing defense this season.
18. Steelers: Bruce Campbell, OT, Maryland - Only the Packers surrendered more sacks than Pittsburgh.
19. Texans*: Jason Pierre-Paul, DE, South Florida - Like the Chiefs, Houston has unsuccessfully tried to address their defensive line recently in the draft. Still, they really struggled getting pressure on the quarterback.
20. Falcons*: Taylor Mays, S, USC - Atlanta finished 28th in pass defense. Mays has had trouble in coverage and misses too many tackles, but he's a physical freak.
21. Bengals: Golden Tate, WR, Notre Dame - Aside from Ochocinco, Cincy lacks dependable receivers.
22. Patriots: Jon Dwyer, RB, Georgia Tech - My preseason Heisman pick failed to live up to expectations, but he's a nice upgrade over the Maroney-Morris-Faulk-Taylor quartet.
23. Packers: Trent Williams, OT, Oklahoma - Objective #1 for Green Bay = Keep Rodgers upright.
24. Eagles: Dan Williams, DT, Tennessee - Philly's D was shredded and Williams could be the run-stuffer they lacked.
* Subject to coin flip
# Acquired from Bears
^ Acquired from Broncos
1. Rams: Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska - The best defensive player available in the draft since Steve Emtman. I fully expect this to turn out better than it did for the Colts in 1990 (not saying much) as Suh is a beast who does it all along the defensive line.
2. Lions: Gerald McCoy, DT, Oklahoma - Detroit finished 25th in rush defense, 29th in sacks registered, and dead last in pass defense (265 yds/game). Needless to say, defense will be a focus early and often. Joe Haden also makes sense here.
3. Bucs: Eric Berry, S, Tennessee - A protege of Monte Kiffin, who coincidentally figures to put in a good word with the Tampa Bay brass, Berry is a difference maker on the defensive side of the ball.
4. Redskins: Russell Okung, OL, Oklahoma State - The offensive line was a disaster as evidence by the 46 sacks allowed and 27th ranked rushing offense this season.
5. Chiefs: Derrick Morgan, DE, Georgia Tech - Despite addressing the defensive line in the first round of the last two drafts, the Chiefs finished 31st in the league in rushing defense. Third time has to be the charm, right?
6. Seahawks: Joe Haden, CB, Florida - A match made in rainy heaven. Seattle finished 30th in pass defense, and Haden is a remarkable athlete capable of shutting down an opponent's top receiver.
7. Browns: Dez Bryant, WR, Oklahoma State - The Browns were putrid throwing the ball this season (worst in the league with 140 yards/game through the air). Bryant provides them with a much needed weapon. As an added bonus, we would get to see T. Boone Pickens do backflips after two Cowboys get picked in the top 7.
8. Raiders: Anthony Davis, OT, Rutgers - If he plays up to his potential, Davis will be a perennial Pro Bowler, but he has some off-the-field issues, something Oakland is used to. Rumor has it, much to the delight of Al Davis, he's also the fastest offensive tackle in this year's class (that was a joke).
9. Bills: Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma - Buffalo needs a franchise quarterback, and Bradford can be just that.
10. Jaguars*: Rolando McClain, LB, Alabama - Jacksonville registered the fewest sacks in the league this season and lacked defensive leadership. McClain consistently pressured the passer while at Alabama, and his intangibles cannot be questioned.
11. Broncos*#: Earl Thomas, S, Texas - Denver's defense is in desperate need of some youthful energy and skill.
12. Dolphins: Navorro Bowman, LB, Penn State - Miami's linebacking corps was painfully slow. Navorro, another in a long line of Nittany Lion LBs, flies around the field and makes plays from sideline to sideline.
13. 49ers: Jimmy Claussen, QB, Notre Dame - Alex Smith is clearly not the answer, and San Francisco has had some success with quarterbacks from Notre Dame.
14. Seahawaks^: CJ Spiller, RB, Clemson - Spiller is a Reggie Bush-type (not necessarily a positive comparison anymore) gamebreaker that can do a little of everything.
15. Giants: Carlos Dunlap, DE, Florida - New York's defense crumbled like feta cheese against the NFL's elite teams. Surprisingly, the biggest problem was along the defensive front. Dunlap, off-field issues aside, has Top 5 talent.
16. Panthers*: Sergio Kindle, LB/DE, Texas - Everyone seems to love these hybrid LB / DEs, and Kindle was awesome during the BCS title game. His stock is sky-high.
17. Titans*: Patrick Robinson, CB, Florida State - A slight reach here but Tennessee was 31st in passing defense this season.
18. Steelers: Bruce Campbell, OT, Maryland - Only the Packers surrendered more sacks than Pittsburgh.
19. Texans*: Jason Pierre-Paul, DE, South Florida - Like the Chiefs, Houston has unsuccessfully tried to address their defensive line recently in the draft. Still, they really struggled getting pressure on the quarterback.
20. Falcons*: Taylor Mays, S, USC - Atlanta finished 28th in pass defense. Mays has had trouble in coverage and misses too many tackles, but he's a physical freak.
21. Bengals: Golden Tate, WR, Notre Dame - Aside from Ochocinco, Cincy lacks dependable receivers.
22. Patriots: Jon Dwyer, RB, Georgia Tech - My preseason Heisman pick failed to live up to expectations, but he's a nice upgrade over the Maroney-Morris-Faulk-Taylor quartet.
23. Packers: Trent Williams, OT, Oklahoma - Objective #1 for Green Bay = Keep Rodgers upright.
24. Eagles: Dan Williams, DT, Tennessee - Philly's D was shredded and Williams could be the run-stuffer they lacked.
* Subject to coin flip
# Acquired from Bears
^ Acquired from Broncos
Monday, January 11, 2010
NFL Mock Draft - 1st Round
Now that we know most of the first round draft order, here's my first attempt at how it will all shape up:
1. Rams: Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska - The best defensive player available in the draft since Steve Emtman. I fully expect this to turn out better than it did for the Colts in 1990 (not saying much) as Suh is a beast who does it all along the defensive line.
2. Lions: Gerald McCoy, DT, Oklahoma - Detroit finished 25th in rush defense, 29th in sacks registered, and dead last in pass defense (265 yds/game). Needless to say, defense will be a focus early and often. Joe Haden also makes sense here.
3. Bucs: Eric Berry, S, Tennessee - A protege of Monte Kiffin, who coincidentally figures to put in a good word with the Tampa Bay brass, Berry is a difference maker on the defensive side of the ball.
4. Redskins: Russell Okung, OL, Oklahoma State - The offensive line was a disaster as evidence by the 46 sacks allowed and 27th ranked rushing offense this season.
5. Chiefs: Derrick Morgan, DE, Georgia Tech - Despite addressing the defensive line in the first round of the last two drafts, the Chiefs finished 31st in the league in rushing defense. Third time has to be the charm, right?
6. Seahawks: Joe Haden, CB, Florida - A match made in rainy heaven. Seattle finished 30th in pass defense, and Haden is a remarkable athlete capable of shutting down an opponent's top receiver.
7. Browns: Dez Bryant, WR, Oklahoma State - The Browns were putrid throwing the ball this season (worst in the league with 140 yards/game through the air). Bryant provides them with a much needed weapon. As an added bonus, we would get to see T. Boone Pickens do backflips after two Cowboys get picked in the top 7.
8. Raiders: Anthony Davis, OT, Rutgers - If he plays up to his potential, Davis will be a perennial Pro Bowler, but he has some off-the-field issues, something Oakland is used to. Rumor has it, much to the delight of Al Davis, he's also the fastest offensive tackle in this year's class (that was a joke).
9. Bills: Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma - Buffalo needs a franchise quarterback, and Bradford can be just that.
10. Jaguars*: Rolando McClain, LB, Alabama - Jacksonville registered the fewest sacks in the league this season and lacked defensive leadership. McClain consistently pressured the passer while at Alabama, and his intangibles cannot be questioned.
11. Broncos*#: Earl Thomas, S, Texas - Denver's defense is in desperate need of some youthful energy and skill.
12. Dolphins: Navorro Bowman, LB, Penn State - Miami's linebacking corps was painfully slow. Navorro, another in a long line of Nittany Lion LBs, flies around the field and makes plays from sideline to sideline.
13. 49ers: Jimmy Claussen, QB, Notre Dame - Alex Smith is clearly not the answer, and San Francisco has had some success with quarterbacks from Notre Dame.
14. Seahawaks^: CJ Spiller, RB, Clemson - Spiller is a Reggie Bush-type (not necessarily a positive comparison anymore) gamebreaker that can do a little of everything.
15. Giants: Carlos Dunlap, DE, Florida - New York's defense crumbled like feta cheese against the NFL's elite teams. Surprisingly, the biggest problem was along the defensive front. Dunlap, off-field issues aside, has Top 5 talent.
16. Panthers*: Sergio Kindle, LB/DE, Texas - Everyone seems to love these hybrid LB / DEs, and Kindle was awesome during the BCS title game. His stock is sky-high.
17. Titans*: Patrick Robinson, CB, Florida State - A slight reach here but Tennessee was 31st in passing defense this season.
18. Steelers: Bruce Campbell, OT, Maryland - Only the Packers surrendered more sacks than Pittsburgh.
19. Texans*: Jason Pierre-Paul, DE, South Florida - Like the Chiefs, Houston has unsuccessfully tried to address their defensive line recently in the draft. Still, they really struggled getting pressure on the quarterback.
20. Falcons*: Taylor Mays, S, USC - Atlanta finished 28th in pass defense. Mays has had trouble in coverage and misses too many tackles, but he's a physical freak.
* Subject to coin flip
# Acquired from Bears
^ Acquired from Broncos
1. Rams: Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska - The best defensive player available in the draft since Steve Emtman. I fully expect this to turn out better than it did for the Colts in 1990 (not saying much) as Suh is a beast who does it all along the defensive line.
2. Lions: Gerald McCoy, DT, Oklahoma - Detroit finished 25th in rush defense, 29th in sacks registered, and dead last in pass defense (265 yds/game). Needless to say, defense will be a focus early and often. Joe Haden also makes sense here.
3. Bucs: Eric Berry, S, Tennessee - A protege of Monte Kiffin, who coincidentally figures to put in a good word with the Tampa Bay brass, Berry is a difference maker on the defensive side of the ball.
4. Redskins: Russell Okung, OL, Oklahoma State - The offensive line was a disaster as evidence by the 46 sacks allowed and 27th ranked rushing offense this season.
5. Chiefs: Derrick Morgan, DE, Georgia Tech - Despite addressing the defensive line in the first round of the last two drafts, the Chiefs finished 31st in the league in rushing defense. Third time has to be the charm, right?
6. Seahawks: Joe Haden, CB, Florida - A match made in rainy heaven. Seattle finished 30th in pass defense, and Haden is a remarkable athlete capable of shutting down an opponent's top receiver.
7. Browns: Dez Bryant, WR, Oklahoma State - The Browns were putrid throwing the ball this season (worst in the league with 140 yards/game through the air). Bryant provides them with a much needed weapon. As an added bonus, we would get to see T. Boone Pickens do backflips after two Cowboys get picked in the top 7.
8. Raiders: Anthony Davis, OT, Rutgers - If he plays up to his potential, Davis will be a perennial Pro Bowler, but he has some off-the-field issues, something Oakland is used to. Rumor has it, much to the delight of Al Davis, he's also the fastest offensive tackle in this year's class (that was a joke).
9. Bills: Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma - Buffalo needs a franchise quarterback, and Bradford can be just that.
10. Jaguars*: Rolando McClain, LB, Alabama - Jacksonville registered the fewest sacks in the league this season and lacked defensive leadership. McClain consistently pressured the passer while at Alabama, and his intangibles cannot be questioned.
11. Broncos*#: Earl Thomas, S, Texas - Denver's defense is in desperate need of some youthful energy and skill.
12. Dolphins: Navorro Bowman, LB, Penn State - Miami's linebacking corps was painfully slow. Navorro, another in a long line of Nittany Lion LBs, flies around the field and makes plays from sideline to sideline.
13. 49ers: Jimmy Claussen, QB, Notre Dame - Alex Smith is clearly not the answer, and San Francisco has had some success with quarterbacks from Notre Dame.
14. Seahawaks^: CJ Spiller, RB, Clemson - Spiller is a Reggie Bush-type (not necessarily a positive comparison anymore) gamebreaker that can do a little of everything.
15. Giants: Carlos Dunlap, DE, Florida - New York's defense crumbled like feta cheese against the NFL's elite teams. Surprisingly, the biggest problem was along the defensive front. Dunlap, off-field issues aside, has Top 5 talent.
16. Panthers*: Sergio Kindle, LB/DE, Texas - Everyone seems to love these hybrid LB / DEs, and Kindle was awesome during the BCS title game. His stock is sky-high.
17. Titans*: Patrick Robinson, CB, Florida State - A slight reach here but Tennessee was 31st in passing defense this season.
18. Steelers: Bruce Campbell, OT, Maryland - Only the Packers surrendered more sacks than Pittsburgh.
19. Texans*: Jason Pierre-Paul, DE, South Florida - Like the Chiefs, Houston has unsuccessfully tried to address their defensive line recently in the draft. Still, they really struggled getting pressure on the quarterback.
20. Falcons*: Taylor Mays, S, USC - Atlanta finished 28th in pass defense. Mays has had trouble in coverage and misses too many tackles, but he's a physical freak.
* Subject to coin flip
# Acquired from Bears
^ Acquired from Broncos
Sunday, January 10, 2010
DiamondView Comments
Beyond the Boxscore, a favorite site of mine, has been running a series of "DiamondView" articles which graphically plot four pieces of information as compared to the league average (by position) in an easy-to-comprehend format: on base percentage, power, fielding, and baserunning.
Here are some things I learned and noticed:
*AL East
--The Yankees clearly focused on getting on base and hitting home runs.
--The Rays should have been better than they were last season. Interestingly, the Rays excelled where the Yanks struggled and vice verse.
*Yankees
--Jeter was awesome this year.
--Johnny Damon should be a DH.
--Melky Cabrera: epitome of a league-average outfielder.
*Red Sox
--Jacoby Ellsbury might be a fantasy owner's dream, but he was pretty terrible this season.
--Over the last six months, this team has addressed their most pressing needs (VMart behind the dish, Scutaro at short, Cameron in center and Beltre at third) and has become the team to beat. Plus, they added the league's best free agent arm in John Lackey. Wow.
*Tampa Bay:
--Jason Bartlett, a guy who always had a glove-first reputation, dominated offensively while struggling mightily on defense.
--Ben Zobrist: beast
--Dionner Navarro: not so much
*Blue Jays
--Aaron Hill had a good year, but his exploits were a bit overblown.
--How does Rod Barajas keep a job in the Majors?
--For those of you unconvinced the Blue Jays aren't regretting that Vernon Wells deal (there must be someone out there), let me know what you think after reading this.
--87 was the highest score in a category that any member of this team achieved. Thank goodness for Doc Halladay.
*Orioles
--Aubrey Huff might have seen his last regular duty.
--According to The Sporting News, three teams are interested in Melvin Mora's services. If true, the general managers of those three teams will probably be searching for work elsewhere before too long.
--Nick Markakis struggled but the O's may have something with Nolan Reimold.
--Aside from Cesar Izturis' defense, no one rated at 83 or better in any single category.
I love these graphs. Keep them coming BtB.
Here are some things I learned and noticed:
*AL East
--The Yankees clearly focused on getting on base and hitting home runs.
--The Rays should have been better than they were last season. Interestingly, the Rays excelled where the Yanks struggled and vice verse.
*Yankees
--Jeter was awesome this year.
--Johnny Damon should be a DH.
--Melky Cabrera: epitome of a league-average outfielder.
*Red Sox
--Jacoby Ellsbury might be a fantasy owner's dream, but he was pretty terrible this season.
--Over the last six months, this team has addressed their most pressing needs (VMart behind the dish, Scutaro at short, Cameron in center and Beltre at third) and has become the team to beat. Plus, they added the league's best free agent arm in John Lackey. Wow.
*Tampa Bay:
--Jason Bartlett, a guy who always had a glove-first reputation, dominated offensively while struggling mightily on defense.
--Ben Zobrist: beast
--Dionner Navarro: not so much
*Blue Jays
--Aaron Hill had a good year, but his exploits were a bit overblown.
--How does Rod Barajas keep a job in the Majors?
--For those of you unconvinced the Blue Jays aren't regretting that Vernon Wells deal (there must be someone out there), let me know what you think after reading this.
--87 was the highest score in a category that any member of this team achieved. Thank goodness for Doc Halladay.
*Orioles
--Aubrey Huff might have seen his last regular duty.
--According to The Sporting News, three teams are interested in Melvin Mora's services. If true, the general managers of those three teams will probably be searching for work elsewhere before too long.
--Nick Markakis struggled but the O's may have something with Nolan Reimold.
--Aside from Cesar Izturis' defense, no one rated at 83 or better in any single category.
I love these graphs. Keep them coming BtB.
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Sunday, January 3, 2010
AGonz to the Mets?
The Mets recently signed Jason Bay. To me, this makes three things very obvious:
1. Spending $16m a year on a hitter despite the glaring need for pitching means the Mets plan to win a lot of high-scoring ballgames this year.
2. The Mets could care less about developing the farm system. Bay costs them their second round pick in the upcoming Rule 4 Draft. (I guess the thinking is that aside from David Wright and Jose Reyes, their track record of developing prospects has been abysmal so why ever bother.)
3. Money is not short despite the Madoff scandal.
With that in mind, why not attempt to trade for Adrian Gonzalez?
I have to think an offer of Fernando Martinez, Jennry Mejia, Reese Havens and Josh Thole would be enough to get the job done.
Sure, from the Mets' point of view, the cupboard would be empty. However, as mentioned earlier, that doesn't seem to bother them. On the bright side, Gonzalez has proven he can hit with abundant power in a hitter unfriendly environment, Petco Park. Plus, he will only cost $10m over the next two years. Look at the Met lineup with AG in the mix:
SS Reyes
3B Wright
CF Beltran
1B AG
LF Bay
C Bengie Molina (signing inevitable)
RF Francouer
2B Castillo
The pitching would still be a mess, but this lineup is incredible.
From San Diego's perspective, they get 24 years of control over four players that have varying degrees of potential.
Martinez- Met fans are all too familiar with FMart. He has been on the radar for four years now. Still only 21, he has 30-homer potential and projects to be a .300+ hitter with speed. All Star potential.
Mejia- Dominated in the lower levels but struggled in Double A and in the Arizona Fall League. Still, his fastball can play at any level. Once he develops the secondary pitches, he can be a top of the rotation arm. All Star potential.
Havens- Played shortstop last season but probably projects as a second baseman going forward. A patient hitter should add pop. Slightly above average second baseman.
Thole- A Major League-ready catcher (something the Padres would like in any deal)that figures to hit for a high average despite a lack of power. Average Major League catcher.
San Diego won't be competing for the next two years anyway. This haul would be worthwhile for them.
1. Spending $16m a year on a hitter despite the glaring need for pitching means the Mets plan to win a lot of high-scoring ballgames this year.
2. The Mets could care less about developing the farm system. Bay costs them their second round pick in the upcoming Rule 4 Draft. (I guess the thinking is that aside from David Wright and Jose Reyes, their track record of developing prospects has been abysmal so why ever bother.)
3. Money is not short despite the Madoff scandal.
With that in mind, why not attempt to trade for Adrian Gonzalez?
I have to think an offer of Fernando Martinez, Jennry Mejia, Reese Havens and Josh Thole would be enough to get the job done.
Sure, from the Mets' point of view, the cupboard would be empty. However, as mentioned earlier, that doesn't seem to bother them. On the bright side, Gonzalez has proven he can hit with abundant power in a hitter unfriendly environment, Petco Park. Plus, he will only cost $10m over the next two years. Look at the Met lineup with AG in the mix:
SS Reyes
3B Wright
CF Beltran
1B AG
LF Bay
C Bengie Molina (signing inevitable)
RF Francouer
2B Castillo
The pitching would still be a mess, but this lineup is incredible.
From San Diego's perspective, they get 24 years of control over four players that have varying degrees of potential.
Martinez- Met fans are all too familiar with FMart. He has been on the radar for four years now. Still only 21, he has 30-homer potential and projects to be a .300+ hitter with speed. All Star potential.
Mejia- Dominated in the lower levels but struggled in Double A and in the Arizona Fall League. Still, his fastball can play at any level. Once he develops the secondary pitches, he can be a top of the rotation arm. All Star potential.
Havens- Played shortstop last season but probably projects as a second baseman going forward. A patient hitter should add pop. Slightly above average second baseman.
Thole- A Major League-ready catcher (something the Padres would like in any deal)that figures to hit for a high average despite a lack of power. Average Major League catcher.
San Diego won't be competing for the next two years anyway. This haul would be worthwhile for them.
Saturday, January 2, 2010
NCAA Bowl Game Notes
I love the college football bowl season. Even so, I would love realllllly love a playoff.
I digress, here are some thoughts while watching this week's games:
*I love Toby Gerhart, the college player. In fact, I think he should have won the Heisman Trophy. However, as a caucasian running back, he is fighting 40+ years of NFL history. I am not saying it's impossible for him to succeed at the next level, but when was the last time a white tailback did anything in the League?
*Two Gambling Rules to Always Follow:
1) Never bet against any of the Armed Forces. (Navy, Air Force, Army, the Coast Guard JV team, etc). Just don't do it.
2) Never bet a significant amount of money on a team coached by Les Miles.
You will thank me later.
*Tracy Wolfson > Sam Ryan > Erin Andrews. There's no debating this.
I digress, here are some thoughts while watching this week's games:
*I love Toby Gerhart, the college player. In fact, I think he should have won the Heisman Trophy. However, as a caucasian running back, he is fighting 40+ years of NFL history. I am not saying it's impossible for him to succeed at the next level, but when was the last time a white tailback did anything in the League?
*Two Gambling Rules to Always Follow:
1) Never bet against any of the Armed Forces. (Navy, Air Force, Army, the Coast Guard JV team, etc). Just don't do it.
2) Never bet a significant amount of money on a team coached by Les Miles.
You will thank me later.
*Tracy Wolfson > Sam Ryan > Erin Andrews. There's no debating this.
Friday, January 1, 2010
NFL Picks: Week 17
The Picks
Colts +9
Giants +9
Cowboys -3
Patriots +8
Bengals +10
*****************
Season Record: 43-37
Colts +9
Giants +9
Cowboys -3
Patriots +8
Bengals +10
*****************
Season Record: 43-37
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