5 Winners

The NFL draft is finally over!  I don't believe in giving grades because it takes three years to evaluate a team's draft but I do think there were some clear winners and losers.  Here's a few teams whose drafts stood out above the others in a good way. Click on the team links to see who they selected.

Winners

Cincinnati Bengals- The Bengals first four players should start right away.  Charles Johnson reminds me of Julius Peppers and could be a steal if he decides to play hard on more than 50% of the downs.  Chase Coffman is a viable offensive threat which hopefully will be utilized by Carson Palmer (considering he's never had a TE who could catch, I hope he is not confused).  The only pick I question is 6th round pick Bernard Scott who has been arrested 5 times in four years.  He should fit right in.

Buffalo Bills - Buffalo decided not to reach for a tackle with the #11 pick instead choosing the best pure pass rusher available in Aaron Maybin.  They also selected two interior linemen who should step in right away to improve one of the league's worst lines at run blocking.  Fourth round pick Shawn Nelson is being declared the steal of the draft and 6th round pick Corey Harris could end up being a solid starter.  Any time you get a starter in the 6th round you had a good draft.  Their last pick of the day made little sense to me though.

Seattle Seahawks - Seattle passed on taking Matt Hasselbeck's replacement.  Normally  a decision like this should be questioned but Seattle probably took the best player in the draft in LB Aaron Curry.  Second round pick Max Unger will step in and start a center right away also.  Deon Butler is the new Bobby Engram and Courtney Greene will be a stud on special teams as a worst case scenario.  Taking QB Mike Teel in the 6th was just silly.  Seattle will make the playoffs this year.

Houston Texans - Brian Cushing will be the team's main pass rusher off the end beginning on day 1.  This move should should help EVERYONE on the defense.  Connor Barwin is a DE who can also line up at TE.  James Casey is already better than Owen Daniels in my mind and could be an immediate offensive threat.  I think Houston had a great draft.

Green Bay Packers - I'm not sold on Clay Matthews being a solid NFL linebacker but with GB moving from a 4-3 to a 3-4 he can play next to AJ Hawk which should help hide each of their weaknesses.  BJ Raji was an absolute steal at #9.  TJ Lang was a nice pick for a team with an aging O-line and John Meredith could develop into a solid guard.  I think Green Bay's overall draft hinges on the success of Matthews but right now it looks like one of the best.

Talladega Afternoons, where cars take flight...

IF YOU DIDN'T SEE ANY RACE HI-LIGHTS OR DON'T CARE ABOUT NASCAR, THIS HEADLINE MIGHT GET YOU TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE: Carl Edwards was leading the race, got spun out and caught air at 200 mph with 100 yards to the finish. He climbed out of his flaming, destroyed Claritin Ford Fusion and jogged to the finish line, a la Ricky Bobby.

(photo courtesy of usatoday.com)

This being my first post on SportsTemps...I better act like I know what I'm talking about. If you only watch one NASCAR race in your entire life, this was the race to watch.



A few things you need to know first:

• The NASCAR race season is comprised of 36 points-races, plus a few other races that don't count in the overall standings.


• This weekend's race at Talladega Superspeedway was the 9th of the season.


• Talladega is a restrictor-plate track, meaning a special plate is put over the engine's carburetor to restrict the air/fuel intake and limit overall horsepower and speed of the cars.

Talladega and Daytona are the only restrictor-plate tracks in the NASCAR circuit. These tracks are huge (2.66 and 2.5 miles per lap, respectively) with extremely steep banking through the turns, and allowing a car to run without a restricted engine would result in speeds of well over 210 miles per hour. Since the tragic death of Dale Earnhardt at Daytona Superspeedway in the 2001 Daytona 500, NASCAR has come up with many safety innovations to help protect the fans and drivers. However, the restrictor-plate was made mandatory at these two tracks a few years earlier in 1998.

The fastest official qualifying lap at Talladega had an average speed of just over 212 miles per hour by Bill Elliot in 1987. The fastest speed ever recorded on that track was a test-run without a restrictor-plate by retired NASCAR legend Rusty Wallace in 2004. He reached 228 at one point on the back straightaway and ran an average of 221 mph for the full lap.

The restrictor-plate now allows cars to top out around 190 in their qualifying laps. Once multiple cars get together in a group, they can push or "bump-draft" each other to get up to speeds in the 199-201 range. Though still dangerous, this apparently keeps the engineers and physicists happy as cars shouldn't be able to catch any real air when crashing at these speeds.

Restrictor plates also have a huge down-side. Cars grouped together drive faster than a lone car on a breakaway. Much like the peloton in the Tour de France, breakaways are quickly caught as the group cuts through the wind resistance better and sucks the leaders back in. Drivers never touch the brake pedal and spend more time looking in the rear view mirror than out the windshield. Just letting off the gas for a split-second will get you slammed from behind. With 30+ cars grouped together, one small mistake can result in dozens of cars wrecking because there's no room to stop or swerve at 190 miles per hour when you're surrounded. Talladega is even more notorious for this than Daytona, and therefore, every Talladega race brings the threat of the "Big One"...a wreck wiping out a huge chunk of the field. This happens at least once in nearly every race on NASCAR's biggest track. No amount of skill can save you when everyone around you is wrecking. You can try to stay towards the front of the pack, but you run the risk of being the one who starts the wreck. Or you can hang around at the back of the pack to give yourself stopping room if a wreck does occur, but you run the risk of losing the draft and falling waaaaay back in the race, and even possibly getting lapped.

Usually, races at Talladega are exciting at the begging, then the drivers settle down during the middle, then wild at the end again. This year's Aaron's 499 at Talladega was really no different. Just 7 laps into the 188-lap race, Jeff Gordon, one of the best drivers in the sport, and maybe the best active driver in restrictor-plate races, got bumped in the middle of a turn by this year's Daytona 500 winner, Matt Kenseth. At the time, Gordon was running about 10th and near the front of a 40-car pack. Gordon wobbled up the track a little, then down into Kenseth again, then back up into David Gilliland, and the subsequent smashup left about 20 cars with damage. 5 cars never returned to the race, and another 4 had to make serious repairs before returning just to limp around and salvage a few extra points.

The next 165 laps were mostly uneventful. A few cautions for debris on the track, the occasional single-car spin, but no real casualties. Then, with 8 laps to go, someone let off the gas, and when the trickle-down effect reached Juan Pablo Montoya, he took a shot to the rear from Denny Hamlin's FedEx Toyota Camry that sent ten cars near the back of the pack crashing into the walls and each other.

After the cleanup, 24 cars restarted on the lead lap for a shot at the win. Carl Edwards has become a championship threat over the last 2 seasons, but he has always had a black cloud over his head at restrictor-plate tracks. He's never finished in the top 5 and wrecks without finishing the race about half the time. Today he spent most of the race near the back, trying to avoid getting caught up in another big wreck.

When the green flag dropped with 4 laps to go, Edwards was running in 9th. Ryan Newman was leading, and Dale Earnhardt, Jr. was in 2nd. Newman and Junior immediately hooked up, and pulled out to a big lead over the pack. With a little over 1 lap to go, Brad Keselowski got behind Edwards and started pushing him toward the leading duo. The trick with Talladega is to make the final pass early enough to have a run on the leader and get by him to win, but not so early that you get hung out alone and someone else comes blazing by you just before the finish. Earnhardt Jr. couldn't get around Newman coming off the final turn while the Edwards/Keselowski train was steaming by them both on the outside. Keselowski ducked below Edwards, and Edwards tried to slide down in front of him to block, but Keselowski had already cleared Carl's rear bumper. The result was Edwards's car spun hard left and the rear wheels lifted off the track as Brad drove high for the win. Meanwhile, Newman and Earnhardt were still fighting for 3rd, and Carl's driver-side rear wheels came down right on Ryan Newman's hood. The shock lifted Carl's car completely off the track and into an upside down helicopter spin which slammed the outside wall and safety fence in what is a top 3 most ferocious wreck I've seen watching NASCAR live (all at Talladega, and 2nd involving Carl...).

Keselowski went on to win, Earnhardt Junior 2nd, and Newman skidded mostly sideways across the finish line for 3rd. Carl's car came to a rest about a football field short of the finish line while the rest of the field safely drove by. I thought he was surely unconscious and probably hurt, but he unhooked his window-net and climbed out of his still burning wreck. He then jogged past the rescue crew to the finish line, helmet and all.

Carl is not one of my favorite drivers, but he has the best TV personality of all NASCAR drivers by far, and I'm certain he's seen the Will Farrell movie named for this track. Of course, none of Carl's post-race antics mattered as his car has to cross the line to technically finish the race, but he earned the same finishing position as he would have if his car had crawled across last on the lead lap. In the post race interview, Carl simply said, "...I want my wife and mom to know I'm okay...its pretty scary when you're upside down...I've never hit the wall with anything other than the side of my car before...I guess we'll just keep doing this for NASCAR until somebody gets killed [in a restrictor-plate race]."

Are the Marlins for real?

After 12 games in this young season, the Florida Marlins are 11-1 with a run differential of +32.  Both marks are best in the majors but is it just a hot streak or a sign of things to come?  Here are a few trends I have noticed:

• Rookie 3b Emilio Bonifacio started off 14-24 (.583) in his first five games but since then has gone 3 for 29 (.103) with 0 walks.
• Cameron Maybin is hitting .206/.289/.235
  
• Cody Ross has 2 walks in 45 plate appearances 
  
• John Baker is hitting .333/.421/.545

Now, Maybin is going to hit but the other three bullet points should be cause for concern.  John Baker was the main focus of Moneyball but he's not really this good.  Cody Ross has always had plate disicplate problems but this is bad even for him.  And scouts were saying even during Bonifacio's hot start that he's just an "average" player.  I love Florida's pitching but their offense will have to get more from Maybin if they are going to be playing in October.

Season Preview: Florida Marlins

2008 Record: 84-77  .522

Run differential: +3 (8^th)

2008 payroll: $21,811,500

2008 represented yet another season in which the kids in the south sun exceeded all expectations.  Finishing with a winning record despite trading away their two best known players in Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis is yet another testament to GM Larry Beinfest. Having the lowest payroll in the majors is not considered a handicap to this organization.  Instead it gives them an excuse to play minor leaguers who are ready for The Show.  When these players start to get expensive they are shipped off like Scott Olsen and Josh Willingham were this past offseason.  The catch is these guys aren’t stars but instead are cheaper than the alternatives in other organizations.  Even getting something for Kevin Gregg and Mike Jacobs who were candidates to be non-tendered is impressive.

2009 appears to be much like 2008 for the Fish.  Expectations are low, payroll is even lower, but the talent is here.  The organization even locked up Hanley Ramirez, who is arguably the best player in baseball, to a long-term contract. Plans for a new stadium finally appear to be in the works also.  There is no guarantee this will increase revenue for the franchise but you can bet that ownership is banking on it.  With the pipeline of young talent showing no signs of drying up and their best player locked in for several years, it would be foolish to bet against this team having an awful season.  The continuation of smart management decisions coupled with the growth of young players, could allow this franchise be building the next mini-dynasty.  It’s just up to ownership and the fans in Miami to determine how long it lasts.

Likely opening day roster:

Pos.	Name	Salary	How Acquired
C	John Baker	$.4 M	Acquired in trade w/ Oak 3/07
C	Ronny Paulino	$.44 M	Acquired in trade w/ SF 3/28/09
1b	Jorge Cantu	$3.5 M	Acquired in trade w/ TB 7/07
2b	Dan Uggla	$5.35M	Selected in Rule V draft '05.
3b	Emilio Bonifacio	$.4 M	Acquired in trade w/ Was 11/08
SS	Hanley Ramirez	$5.5 M	Acquired in trade w/ Bos 11/05. Signed extension 5/08
LF	Jeremy Hermida	$2.25M	Drafted #11 overall 2002
CF	Cameron Maybin	$.4 M	Acquired in trade w/ Det 12/07
RF	Cody Ross	$2.25M	Contract purchased from Cin 5/2006
Inf	West Helms	$1.9 M	Acquired in trade w/ Phi 4/08. Signed extension 10/08
Inf	Andy Gonzalez	$.39M	Signed as FA 1/13/09
Of	Ross Gload	$1.9 M	Acquired in trade w/ KC 4/09
UT	Alfredo Amezaga	$1.3 M	Claimed off waivers from Col 4/05
SP	Ricky Nolasco	$2.4 M	Drafted #11 overall 2002
SP	Josh Johnson	$1.4 M	Drafted 4th rd 2002
SP	Chris Volstad	$.4 M	Drafted #16 overall 2005
SP	Anibal Sanchez	$.4 M	Acquired in trade w/ Bos 11/05
SP	Andrew Miller	$5.4 M	Acquired in trade w/ Det 12/07
Cl	Matt Lindstrom	$.41 M	Acquired in trade w/ NYM 11/06
SU	Leo Nunez	$.415M	Acquired in trade w/ KC 10/08
RP	Scott Proctor	$.75M	Signed as FA 1/5/08
RP	Renyel Pinto	$.404M	Acquired in trade w/ ChC 12/7/05
RP	Logan Kensing	$.66 M	Drafted 2nd rd 2003
RP	Dan Meyer	$.4 M	Claimed off waivers from Oak 11/08
RP	Hayden Penn	$.4 M	Acquired in trade w/ Bal 4/1/09

Payroll obligations to former players: none

Say hello to: Ross Gload, Emilio Bonifacio, Wes Helms, Hayden Penn, Dan Meyer, Leo Nunez, Ronny Paulino, Jose Ceda

Wave goodbye: Mike Jacobs, Kevin Gregg, Scott Olsen, Josh Willingham, Arthur Rhodes, Matt Treanor, Mark Hednrickson, Joe Nelson, Sergio Mitre

Rookies: Emilio Bonifacio, Gaby Sanchez, Cameron Maybin

Non-Roster Invitees to Watch: Kiko Calero

Potential breakout: Cameron Maybin

Welcome to Earth: Chris Volstad, Jorge Cantú

Likely to rebound: Hanley Ramirez (kidding), Josh Johnson, Jeremy Hermida

Strengths: There is a lot of power in this lineup

Weaknesses: Infield defense is iffy unless last season’s improvements from Ramirez and Uggla were for real

Optimal batting lineup (position, name, bats, Avg/OBP/Slg, HR, SB, EqA):

3b Bonifacio B  .248/.305/.344  0, 6  .231

LF Hermida L  .249/.323/.406  17, 6  .260

SS Ramirez R  .301/.400/.540  33, 35  .324

2b Uggla R  .260/.360/.514  32, 5  .299

1b Cantú R  .277/.327/.481  29, 6  .280

CF Maybin R

Rf Ross R  .260/.316/.488  22, 6  .280

C Baker L  .299/.392/.447  5, 0  .301

Prediction: 4th place NL East.

 

Season Preview: Arizona Diambondbacks

2008 Record: 82-80  .506

Run differential: +14 (7^th)

2008 payroll: $66,202,712

On May 1^st Arizona was 20-8 and had outscored its opponents by 56 runs.  Justin Upton looked like the next Ken Griffey Jr. and the trade for Dan Haren solidified a rotation that appeared to be the best in the league.  Shortly thereafter the offense went to sleep.  Chris Young only managed to hit .248, Eric Byrnes severely injured both hamstrings to the point where his future may be in question, and Chad Tracy had another disappointing season.  The bullpen wasn’t without blame either.  A year after having a fantastic season that caused many to include him among the league’s best relievers, Tony Pena put up numbers more along his career line (4.33 ERA, 80 hits in 72 IP).  Adam Dunn was acquired in a trade late in the season to try and resurrect a struggling lineup and Conor Jackson was shifted to left field in an effort to replace Byrnes.  These moves were made much too late, because in the end, Arizona missed out on the playoffs by just two games.

Now, Arizona did not make many moves this past offseason but there are still several reasons to like this club.  First is that the improvements of Stephen Drew and Justin Upton are for real. Upton is just 21 meaning the sky is the limit and Drew will probably make the All-Star team.  Although Chris Young’s batting average tanked last year his walk rate improved.  Replacing the departed Orlando Hudson, Felipe Lopez should at least be able to play 150 games giving the lineup additional stability.  If Eric Byrnes is able to play most of the season I think there will be a real offensive explosion in the desert.  Also, Max Scherzer and Jon Garland join a rotation, which is arguably already the league’s best with Webb, Haren, and innings eater Doug Davis.  Arizona is the rare case where just sitting back and letting the kids grow older represents a  greater gain than any free agent move.  Since the Dodger’s did little to improve this offseason, expect a dogfight for the division crown.

Likely opening day roster:

Pos.	Name	Salary	How Acquired
C	Chris Snyder	$3 M	Drafted 2nd rd 2002
C	Miguel Montero	$.401M	Signed as amateur FA from Venezuela 2001
1b	Conor Jackson	$3.05 M	Drafted #19 overall 2003
2b	Felipe Lopez	$3.5 M	Signed as FA 12/12/08
3b	Mark Reynolds	$.397M	Drafted 16th rd 2004
SS	Stephen Drew	$1.5 M	Drafted #15 overall 2004
LF	Eric Byrnes	$11 M	Signed as FA 12/27/05
CF	Chris Young	$1.75 M	Acquired in trade w/ ChA 12/05
RF	Justin Upton	$.393M	Drafted #1 overall 2005
Inf	Chad Tracy	$4.75 M	Drafted 7th rd 2001
Inf	Tony Clark	$.8M	Acquired in trade w/ SD 7/08. Resigned 2/09
Inf	Augie Ojeda	$.712M	Signed as FA 12/07
Of	Alex Romero	$.39 M	Signed as amateur FA from Venezuela 2002
SP	Brandon Webb	$6.5 M	Drafted 8th rd 2000. Signed extension 1/06
SP	Dan Haren	$5.5 M	Acquired in trade w/ Oak 12/07. Signed extension 8/5/08
SP	Doug Davis	$8.75 M	Acquired in trade w/ Mil 11/25/06
SP	Jon Garland	$6.25 M	Signed as FA 1/29/09
SP	Max Scherzer	$1 M	Drafted #11 overall 2006
Cl	Chad Qualls	$2.53M	Acquired in trade w/ Hou 12/07
SU	Jon Rauch	$2 M	Acquired in trade w/ Was 7/22/08
RP	Tom Gordon	$.5 M	Signed as FA 2/6/09
RP	Scott Schoenweis	$3.6 M	Acquired in trade w/ NYM 12/12/08
RP	Tony Pena	$.43 M	Signed as amateur FA from D.R. 2002
RP	Yusmiero Petit	$.412M	Acquired in trade w/ Fla 3/07
RP	Travis Blackley	$.405M	Signed as FA 12/19/08

Payroll obligations to former players: none

Say hello to: Scott Schoenweis, Felipe Lopez, Jon Garland, Tom Gordon

Wave goodbye: Connor Robertson, Randy Johnson, Orlando Hudson, Brandon Lyon, Adam Dunn, David Eckstein, Juan Cruz

Rookies: none

Non-Roster Invitees to Watch: Gerardo Parra

Potential breakout: Justin Upton, Stephen Drew

Welcome to Earth: I see no one on this team that is likely to decline.  Maybe a bullpen guy?

Likely to rebound: Chris Young

Strengths: The best 1-2 punch of any rotation in the NL.

Weaknesses: Strikeouts. Reynolds whiffed 200 times last year and Young, Byrnes, Upton, and the combined at-bat total for the catchers are all a threat to swing and miss 150+ times.

Optimal batting lineup (position, name, bats, Avg/OBP/Slg, HR, SB, EqA):

CF Young R  .248/.315/.443  22, 14  .258

SS Drew L  .291/.333/.502  21, 3  .277

1B Jackson R  .300/.376/.446  12, 10  .285

RF Upton R  .250/.353/.463  15, 1  .272

3B Reynolds R  .239/.320/.458  28, 11  .266

LF Byrnes R  .209/.272/.369  6, 4  .219

C Snyder R/Montero L  .272/.260

2B Lopez R  .283/.343/.387  6, 8

Prediction: 1^st place NL West. Lose in NLCS.

 

Season Preview: Milwaukee Brewers

2008 Record: 90-72  .556

Run differential: +61 (4^th)

2008 payroll: $80,937,499

Last season the Brewers made the playoffs for the first time since they went to the World Series in 1982.  The lineup was a testament to what a good minor league system can do.  Rickie Weeks, Prince Fielder, Ryan Braun, Corey Hart, JJ Hardy, and Bill Hall were offensive centerpieces that were all drafted and developed through their minor leagues.  Even CC Sabathia, who picked up the Brewers and carried them all the way to the finish, was acquired by trading one of their top minor league talents.  Sabathia’s performance is one that will be remembered for the ages as he went 9-0 in his first 11 starts and made his last three starts on three days rest.  Ben Sheets finally was healthy enough to pitch in as he had his best season since 2004.  Despite the manager merry-go-round in the final month, the Brew Crew took the Wild Card.  Meeting the Phillies in the first round spelled doom though but the team’s overall performance brought optimism that Sabathia could be resigned and the team could try again.

Needless to say the offseason did not go well.  Sabathia left for the Bronx and Ben Sheets’ arm injury was more severe than originally thought so he is still unsigned.  This prevented Milwaukee from getting any first round compensation (Mark Teixeira was declared a higher ranking free agent by the Elias compensation system).  Furthermore, closer Salomon Torres retired.  Now Milwaukee will have to rebuild the rotation and bullpen in order to get back to the playoffs.  They should be able to count on big seasons from Braun and Fielder and this could finally be the year Weeks breaks out.  No more horrible bullpen moves will plague this team (although a horrible bullpen may) with Ken Macha, whose teams have never won fewer than 88 games, now at the helm.  Even so the Cubs appear to be just too good.

Likely opening day roster:

Pos.	Name	Salary	How Acquired
C	Jason Kendall	$4.25 M	Signed as FA 11/07
C	Mike Rivera	$.395M	Contract purchased from Ind Lg 5/05
1b	Prince Fielder	$6.5 M	Drafted #7 overall 2002
2b	Rickie Weeks	$2.45 M	Drafted #2 overall 2003
3b	Bill Hall	$6.8 M	Drafted 6th rd 1998
SS	JJ Hardy	$4.65 M	Drafted 2nd rd 2001
LF	Ryan Braun	$.745M	Drafted #5 overall 2005
CF	Mike Cameron	$10 M	Signed as FA 1/11/08
RF	Corey Hart	$3.25 M	Drafted 11th rd 2000
Inf	Mike Lamb	$.4 M	Signed as FA 9/08. Resigned 12/9/08
Inf	Craig Counsell	$3.4 M	Signed as FA 11/06. Resigned 1/09
Of	Brad Nelson	$.39M	Drafted 4th rd 2001
Of	Tony Gwynn, Jr	$.4 M	Drafted 2nd rd 2003
SP	Yovani Gallardo	$.404M	Drafted 2nd rd 2004
SP	Jeff Suppan	$12.5 M	Signed as FA 12/06
SP	Manny Parra	$.39M	Drafted 26th rd 2001
SP	Braden Looper	$4.75 M	Signed as FA 2/13/09
SP	David Bush	$4 M	Acquired in trade w/ Tor 12/7/05
Cl	Trevor Hoffman	$6 M	Signed as FA 1/8/09
SU	Mitch Stetter	$.39M	Drafted 16th rd 2003
RP	David Riske	$4.25 M	Signed as FA 12/5/07
RP	Jorge Julio	$.95 M	Signed as FA 12/4/08
RP	Seth McClung	$1.67M	Acquired in trade w/ TB 7/28/07
RP	Todd Coffey	$.8 M	Claimed off waivers 9/08. Resigned 12/9/08
RP	Carlos Villanueva	$.413M	Signed as FA from D.R. 2002

Payroll obligations to former players: none

Say hello to: Jorge Julio, RJ Swindle, Braden Looper, Chase Wright, Trevor Hoffman

Wave goodbye: Russell Branyan, CC Sabathia, Joe Dillon, Salomon Torres, Eric Gagne, Brian Shouse, Ben Sheets, Ray Durham, Guillermo Mota

Rookies: Alcides Escobar, Matt Gamel

Non-Roster Invitees to Watch: Trot Nixon, Chris Capuano, Chris Duffy

Potential breakout: Rickie Weeks

Welcome to Earth: Jason Kendall, Jeff Suppan

Likely to rebound: Corey Hart

Strengths: Power.  Braun and Fielder could each hit 40 homers and Weeks, Hart, Hardy, Hall, and Cameron could all hit 20.

Weaknesses: Rickie Weeks and Prince Fielder might be the worst defensive players at their respective positions.  Trevor Hoffman should not be closing games.

Optimal batting lineup (position, name, bats, Avg/OBP/Slg, HR, SB, EqA):

RF Hart R  .268/.300/.459  20, 23  .264

SS Hardy R  .284/.345/.491  24, 2  .283

1B Fielder L  .276/.372/.507  34, 3  .300

LF Braun R  .285/.335/.553  37, 14  .298

CF Cameron R  .243/.331/.477  25, 17  .282

2B Weeks R  .234/.342/.398  14, 19  .268

3B Hall R/Lamb L  .239/.214

C Kendall R  .246/.327/.324  2, 8  .237

Prediction: 2^nd place NL Central

 

Wednesday Widgets

• Pat Burrell has a new crib he'd like to show everyone.  
  
• ARod's injury gives Yankee fans just another reason to hate him
• Denver's new coach was on Bill Belichik's staff last year.  He is quickly learning not everyone likes the "New England way"
• 3 straight undefeated seasons is pretty impressive

Big Ten Basketball Renaissance

The Big Ten is in the midst of a renaissance. With a deluge of elite coaches manning the ranks of the conference, the future is extremely bright for this old Midwestern college fraternity. With seasoned floor generals like Tubby Smith, Bo Ryan and Tom Izzo mixing with young proteges like Matt Painter and Tom Crean, each university is employing an elite basketball mind amongst its sidelines. With Thad Matta’s Buckeyes, Bruce Webber’s Illini, and Tom Crean’s Hoosiers all bringing in top ten recruiting classes next year, anything is possible for the conference with no real weak-links. Even annual doormats Northwestern and Penn State are showing signs of building competitive programs. No longer will the ACC be considered top dog for the next five years. No longer can Dick Vitale fawn over the mighty Blue Devil and Tar Heel basketball programs. And no longer can the Big 10 be associated with sluggish defensively focused basketball styles.
With all of this improved basketball on the pipeline, one wonders which teams will rise and fall? Next year Purdue will sport its best team since their ’94 Glenn Robinson Elite Eight team. The Boilermakers arch-rival; the infraction laden Indiana Hoosiers are beginning to rise from the ashes of NCAA sanctions by obtaining a highly rated recruiting class. Will both Indiana teams be able to share the throne of basketball power in Indiana? Same can be said for the three-headed monster of Michigan State, Michigan, and Ohio State. With each college fighting over recruits in the same fertile prep grounds of Michigan and Ohio; which school will see a decline in success? Tubby Smith’s arrival in Minneapolis has also spelled possible doom for Bo Ryan’s Badgers and their recent Big 10 success. Iowa’s hire of Todd Lickliter will also limit the effectiveness of the Ryan style of play and the many winning seasons it produced in Madison. Every team within this conference seems to have a shot at a special season within this upcoming decade. So sit back and enjoy the reemergence of one of the finest basketball conferences in the country.

Season Preview: LA Dodgers

2008 Record: 84-78  .519

Run differential: +52 (6^th)

2008 payroll: $118,588,536

Last season’s Dodger squad was one marred with injuries and disappointment.  Rafael Furcal, Brad Penny, Nomar, Jason Schmidt, and Andruw Jones all failed to live up to expectations and missed substantial playing time.  This necessitated the Dodgers to make some bold moves to strengthen their roster during the stretch run.  Acquisitions of ManRam, Casey Blake, and Greg Maddux helped give them to the division crown for the first time since 2004.  Strong pitching allowed them to sweep past the Cubs and move to the NLCS where they lost to the eventual champion Phillies.

This season’s squad is unlikely to have the same injury luck but if lightning strikes twice it is doubtful there is enough depth to keep the team on top.  Brad Penny and Derek Lowe are both gone from last season’s rotation.  Clayton Kershaw and James McDonald are both ready to step in but there is reason to expect they’ll tire with the number of innings they will be needed to pitch.  The oft-injured Jason Schmidt and Randy Wolf are also expected to be contributors.  If these three things work out then the Dodgers may be the best team in the league but it’s most likely only one will.

Offensively the Dodgers are set.  The lineup is a blend of power and speed and is evenly balanced with left and right-handed hitters meaning runs will come in bunches.  James Loney, Matt Kemp, Andre Ethier, and Rafael Furcal are good bets to improve on last season’s performance and though Manny won’t hit .396 again, having him in the cleanup spot for a full season will pay huge dividends.

This is a Dodger team that has championship expectations and rightly so, but if the rotation has issues it could be a rough summer in Dodgerland.

Likely opening day roster:

Pos.	Name	Salary	How Acquired
C	Russell Martin	$3.9 M	Drafted 17th rd 2002
C	Brad Ausmus	$1 M	Signed as FA 1/26/09
1b	James Loney	$.411 M	Drafted #19 overall 2002
2b	Orlando Hudson	$3.38 M	Signed as FA 2/20/09
3b	Casey Blake	$5 M	Acquired in trade w/ Cle 7/08. Resigned 12/08
SS	Rafael Furcal	$6.5 M	Signed as FA 12/05. Resigned 12/08
LF	Manny Ramirez	$25 M	Acquired in trade w/ Bos 7/31/08. Resigned 3/09
CF	Matt Kemp	$.406M	Drafted 6th rd 2003
RF	Andre Ethier	$3.1 M	Acquired in trade w/ Oak
Inf	Mark Loretta	$1.25 M	Signed as FA 12/10/08
Inf	Blake DeWitt	$.39 M	Drafted #28 overall 2004
Of	Juan Pierre	$10 M	Signed as FA 11/06
Of	Delwyn Young	$.39 M	Drafted 4th rd 2002
SP	Chad Billingsley	$.5 M	Drafted #24 overall 2003
SP	Hiroki Kuroda	$10 M	Signed as FA from Japan 12/07
SP	Clayton Kershaw	$.39 M	Drafted #7 overall 2006
SP	Randy Wolf	$5 M	Signed as FA 2/6/09
SP	Jason Schmidt	$12 M	Signed as FA 12/06
Cl	Jonathan Broxton	$1.83 M	Drafted 6th rd 2002
SU	Hong-Chih Kuo	$.392M	Signed as amateur FA 1999
RP	Cory Wade	$.39 M	Drafted 10th rd 2004
RP	Claudio Vargas	$.4 M	Signed as FA 12/31/08
RP	Greg Miller	$.39 M	Drafted #31 overall 2002
RP	Eric Stults	$.39 M	Drafted 15th rd 2002
RP	Guillermo Mota	$2.35 M	Acquired in trade 11/07. Resigned 1/14/09

Payroll obligations to former players: Andruw Jones, Esteban Loaiza

Say hello to: Mark Loretta, Orlando Hudson, Randy Wolf, Brad Ausmus, Claudio Vargas

Wave goodbye: Greg Maddux, Scott Proctor, Nomar Garciaparra, Andruw Jones, Jeff Kent, Derek Lowe, Chan Ho Park, Brad Penny, Takashi Saito, Joe Beimel

Rookies: James McDonald

Non-Roster Invitees to Watch: Shawn Estes, Yhenzy Brazoban, Eric Milton, Ivan DeJesus, Doug Mientkiewicz

Potential breakout: Andre Ethier, Matt Kemp, Clayton Kershaw

Welcome to Earth: Hiroki Kuroda

Likely to rebound: Rafael Furcal missed most of last season due to injury.  He is apparently healthy this season.

Strengths: Infield defense.  Strong, balanced offense

Weaknesses: No depth in the rotation.  Jason Schmidt, who did not pitch last season and only threw 25 innings in 2007, is penciled in as the #4 starter

Optimal batting lineup (position, name, bats, Avg/OBP/Slg, HR, SB, EqA):

SS Furcal B  .357/.439/.573  5, 8  .347

C Martin R  .280/.385/.396  13, 18  .288

RF Ethier L  .305/.375/.510  20, 6  .310

LF Ramirez R  .332/.430/.601  37, 3

1B Loney L  .289/.338/.434  13, 7  .274

CF Kemp R  .290/.340/.459  18, 35  .282

2B Hudson B  .305/.367/.450  8, 4  .281

3B Blake R .274/.345/.463  21, 3

Prediction: 2^nd place NL West

 

Season Preview: Chicago Cubs

2008 Record: 97-64  .602

Run differential: +184 (1^st)

2008 payroll: $118,345,833

Last season the Cubs had the best record in the NL and the best run differential in the majors on their way to breezing to the NL Central crown.  But their Cubbieness came out of hiding in October as the Dodgers sent them home by sweeping them in the first round of the playoffs.  As disappointing an ending like that is, the Cubs should be confident going into the 2009 season.

There were several changes made to the roster during the offseason.  Kerry Wood was let go in free agency so the younger and more talented Carlos Marmol close games, Jason Marquis was sent packing to Colorado, and Mark DeRosa was traded to Cleveland for some middling minor league pitchers.  These moves allowed the Cubs to sign right fielder Milton Bradley who immediately brings a new intensity to the team.  DeRosa’s positional flexibility will be missed but he had what is most likely to be his career season offensively last year.  Health issues have always been a problem for Bradley but hitting has not.  Aaron Heilman, Luis Vizcaino and Kevin Gregg were acquired in separate deals to provide a link from one of the National League’s best starting staffs to Marmol.

The new lineup really isn’t much different than last seasons.  Disappointing free agent Kosuke Fukudome will be moved to center where he will platoon with Reed Johnson.  While neither of these guys should be expected to excel defensively, this platoon should maximize their offensive strengths as they replace Jim Edmonds’s torrid half season in Wrigley.  The expected Mike Fontenot and Aaron Miles platoon at second base should allow the Cubs to get the most offense out of this position of any team in the division. 

If the Cubs can get 140 innings out of Rich Harden--and that is definitely a big if--this team should have no problem retaining their crown as division champs.  And as we see each year, once you make the playoffs anything can happen.

Likely opening day roster:

Pos.	Name	Salary	How Acquired
C	Geovany Soto	$.401M	Drafted 11th rd 2001
C	Paul Bako	$.725M	Signed as FA 1/30/09
1b	Derrek Lee	$13 M	Acquired in trade w/ Fla 11/03. Resigned 4/06
2b	Mike Fontenot	$.405M	Drafted 21st rd 1999
3b	Aramis Ramirez	$15.65 M	Acquired in trade w/ Pit 7/03. Resigned 11/06
SS	Ryan Theriot	$.5 M	Drafted 3rd rd 2001
LF	Alfonso Soriano	$13 M	Signed as FA 11/06
CF	Reed Johnson	$3 M	Signed as FA 3/25/08
RF	Milton Bradley	$5 M	Signed as FA 1/6/09
Inf	Aaron Miles	$2.2 M	Signed as FA 12/31/08
Of	Kosuke Fukudome	$11.5 M	Signed as FA from Japan 12/07
Of	Joey Gathright	$.8 M	Signed as FA 12/16/08
UT	Micah Hoffpauir	$.39 M	Drafted 13th rd 2002
SP	Carlos Zambrano	$17.75 M	Signed as FA 1/15/09
SP	Ryan Dempster	$8 M	Signed as FA 1/21/04. Resigned 11/08
SP	Ted Lilly	$12 M	Signed as FA 12/06
SP	Rich Harden	$7 M	Acquired in trade w/ Oak 7/8/08
SP	Sean Marshall	$.327M	Drafted 6th rd 2003
Cl	Carlos Marmol	$.575M	Signed as amateur FA from D.R. 1999
SU	Kevin Gregg	$4.2 M	Acquired in trade w/ Fla 11/13/08
RP	Luis Vizcaino	$3.5 M	Acquired in trade w/ Col 1/6/09
RP	Chad Gaudin	$2 M	Acquired in trade w/ Oak 7/8/08
RP	Aaron Heilman	$1.63 M	Acquired in trade w/ Sea 1/20/09
RP	Neal Cotts	$1.1 M	Acquired in trade w/ ChA 11/06.
RP	Angel Guzman	$.401M	Signed as amateur FA from Venezuela 1999

Payroll obligations to former players: Jason Marquis

Say hello to: Kevin Gregg, Joey Gathright, Aaron Miles, Luis Vizcaino, Milton Bradley, Paul Bako, Aaron Heilman

Wave goodbye: Kerry Wood, Bobby Howry, Mark DeRosa, Jason Marquis, Jim Edmonds

Rookies: Jeff Samardzija

Non-Roster Invitees to Watch: Corey Koskie, So Taguchi, Mike Stanton, Chad Fox

Potential breakout: Micah Hoffpauir

Welcome to Earth: I don’t see Milton Bradley playing 140 games again

Likely to rebound: Kosuke? I’m not sure anyone will really have a better season but if I had to pick someone I’d pick Fukudome.

Strengths: The Cubs have one of the league’s top offenses and rotations to go with an intelligent manager.

Weaknesses: Several guys with injury issues and very few left handed hitters.

Optimal batting lineup (position, name, bats, Avg/OBP/Slg, HR, SB, EqA):

SS Theriot R  .307/.387/.359  1, 22  .267

LF Soriano R  .280/.344/.532  29, 19  .291

RF Bradley B .321/.436/.563  22, 5  .337

3B Ramirez R  .289/.380/.518  27, 2 .300

C  Soto R  .285/.364/.504  23, 0  .291

1B Lee R .291/.361/.462  20, 8  .282

2B Fontenot L/Miles B  .305/270

CF Johnson R/Fukudome L  .270/.263

Prediction: 1^st place. NL Champs