MLB "Young Guns " Offense of 2009: Future All-Star Team?

By: Chris

Here is my take for the best collection of offensive players that are all aged 24 and under in the MLB. It will be interesting to see how these players turn out in the future and the prospect of them being studs vs. duds. (Note: This would also be a sick payroll team as most of these players are earning league minimum this year)

Catcher - Pablo Sandoval - (.340 AVG, .391 OBP, .965 OPS, 11 HRs, 38 RBIs, 33 Rs)

This coveted switch-hitting stud out of Venezuela has lived up to the hype and has really carried the rather offense-lacking San Francisco Giants lineup swinging a big stick so far this season. This guy looks to be a stud for years to come if he keeps up what he is doing so far.

1st Base - Chris Davis - (.209 AVG, .267 OBP, .707 OPS, 15 HRs, 31 RBIs, 31 Rs)

This was very tough as the young, 1st baseman stock was very low. Still, although Davis' average and on base numbers make you probably want to throw up that cheese burrito you just ate (it was in the fridge a few days), he still has immense potential and is considered by many to have an unlimited supply of power. His 15 HRs is not a bad start, yet one still has to take into consideration that he plays in Arlington. Still, this lefty-hitter starts at first for me.

2nd Base - B.J. Upton - (.249 AVG, .332 OBP, .715 OPS, 6 HRs, 50 Rs, 28 SB)

Yet again, 2nd basemen seemed to be in very low supply. Therefore I went with a bit of a cheap pick in choosing Upton, the clutch Tampa Bay Ray who has struggled a bit this season. Still, his speed on the base path and discipline at the plane makes this guy a clear pick (Note: I trust his ability to return defensively to 2nd base from Center Field)

Shortstop - Jed Lowrie - '08 (.258 AVG, .339 OBP, .739 OPS, 2 Hrs, 46 RBIs, 34 Rs)

Sure, this might seem like a big-time homer pick (as a matter of fact, it is), but there is some sense behind this pick. Even battling wrist pain last year (which hampered his stats a bit) Lowrie still put up respectable stats. It is this same injury that is keeping him out this season, by the way. Also, in 49 games at short he never made ONE error = great defense. Solid guy overall.

3rd Base - Evan Longoria (.306 AVG, .384 OBP, .959 OPS, 16 HRs, 63 RBIs)

No comment. I mean really, he is the best 3B in all of baseball right now so he is a lock for this team (he is only 23, unbelievable!). The sky is the limit for this kid, and I can only see him increasing exponentially in the next few years. He is a true pleasure to watch (this, coming from a Red Sox fan)

Left Field - Jeremy Hermida (.256 AVG, .355 OBP, .745 OPS, 8 HRs, 29 RBIs, 27 Rs)

Although 2009 has been a bit of an "off" season compared to the other two, Hermida is still showing that he has the power to put up around 18 homers in a season, even as he is struggling. His eye at the plate has actually improved so that is a good sign as well. Not exactly a Gold Glover in the field, yet is a serviceable defenseman. Adds a bit of pop to the lineup.

Center Field - Adam Jones (.309 AVG, .362 OBP, .878 OPS, 12 HRs, 44 RBIs, 50 Rs)

This guy has been one of the few, if not only, bright spots of the Orioles this season. His defense is absolutely filthy and he has proved that he can be more than apt at producing offensively. Combining both speed, power, and defense while keeping his batting eye and average in check, Jones is another MLB young gun looking at a bright future ahead.

Right Field - Justin Upton (.318 AVG, .399 OBP, .978 OPS, 14 HRs, 45 RBIs, 48 Rs, 10 SBs)

This guy has been coveted for a few years now, ever since he has been a 'spect early in the farm system. He is truly starting develop, even at the ridiculously young age of 21 he is doing it all. As you can see from the above stats, he gets on base, has power, has speed, and his defense is good as well. Overall, a great 5-tool player that looks to further flourish into a top-tier player in the MLB.

Designated Hitter - Denard Span (.280 AVG, .374 OBP, .751 OPS, 4 HRs, 24 RBIs, 40 Rs, 12 SBs)

This guy is great in the leadoff spot for the Twins as he has an amazing eye and can get on base. Once on-base, he is a threat on the base path as well which makes him an overall solid pick for this team, in addition to the above-average defense he plays after inheriting the position from Torii Hunter, although it is not up to par with that of Adam Jones.

The Lineup....

1. Denard Span (DH)

2. Adam Jones (CF)

3. Justin Upton (RF)

4. Evan Longoria (3B)

5. Pablo Sandoval (C)

6. BJ Upton (2B)

7. Jeremy Hermida(LF)

8. Chris Davis (1B)

9. Jed Lowrie (SS)

Wow.

NL Division Capsules

by: Jake

NL West

1. Los Angeles Dodgers
2. San Francisco Giants
3. Colorado Rockies
4. San Diego Padres
5. Arizona D-Backs

The surprise here is obviously the San Francisco Giants as they sit a distant 7 games back from the NL Leading Dodgers, but as of today (June 25) they hold the Wild card spot. The team has definitely flew under the radar as they have been getting stellar pitching from both Matt Cain and last years Cy Young, Tim Lincecum. Cain leads the team with a 9-1 Record and is surprisingly in Cy young contention himself, as he sports a 2.28 ERA with 76 Ks on the season. The pitching has not been the only surprise for the Giants as Aaron Rowand has kept up to his usual standards of a .300 avg with 8 HR while 3^rd baseman Pablo Sandoval is leading the team with a .335 avg and chipped in another 8 HR and 35 RBIs. While the Dodgers will run away with this division barring a gigantic collapse, the giants should be there in the end in strong contention for a Wild card berth.

NL Central

1. St. Louis Cardinals
2. Milwaukee Brewers
3. Cincinnati Reds
4. Chicago Cubs
5. Houston Astros
6. Pittsburgh Pirates

It doesn’t get any better than Albert Pujols, and that is evidenced by the fact that the Cardinals are hovering in first place with minimal help in the lineup with the exception of Chris Duncan and Yadier Molina who have been chipping in their fair share of hitting and defensive play on top of that. Their pitching has been a pleasant surprise as Carpenter has successfully come back from his surgery and looks to have returned to his previous form. The Brewers who stand in 2^nd place, 1 game back of the Cardinals have been the opposite as they have been relying on the strong hitting of Prince Fielder, Ryan Braun, Mike Cameron, and Craig Counsell to keep them alive in the division. As you look further down in the division you see the Reds and Cubs who have both struggled with consistency in both hitting and pitching.

NL East

1. Philadelphia Phillies
2. New York Mets
3. Florida Marlins
4. Atlanta Braves
5. Washington Nationals

Atop the worst division in the NL sit the defending World Series champion Phillies who have struggled at times to say the least. SS Jimmy Rollins is causing havoc in the media in Philadelphia with his “sub-par” .211 avg, as Manuel continues to hit him in the leadoff spot. The pitching of the Phillies has also been less than stable as Cole Hamels has not preformed to his potential, Brett Myers was lost for the year, and Brad Lidge has been the exact opposite of who he was last year. The Mets have their share of problems too as they have gotten bit severely by the injury bug, which has caused them to fail to gain ground on the Phillies during their mid-season hardships. While the Marlins and Braves are not out of reach, they just don’t have the talent that the other teams have to have a shot at winning the division

Manny playing in the Minors: Fair/Unfair?

By: Chris

Is it fair, or is it unfair that Manny Ramirez, currently under a 50-game suspension from the MLB for failing a drug test, is given the opportunity to start rehabbing in the minors before the suspension is over? In my opinion, the answer is a clear NO. To be frank, this guy is a flat out jack ass. After reading one of his quotes pre-game before his second rehab stint, this notion was just confirmed. He bluntly said, "People love me everywhere I go". Hey Manny, next time try to be a little more humble, please. Don't get me wrong, I loved him as a player and even personality (except his latter year[s] where things came crashing down) as a Red Sox player, but the fact is he is a cheater. In this day and age in baseball, I am doubting virtually every single power hitter in the league (Please, Pujols, tell me you're clean), and although this might seem ridiculous, some of my biggest baseball heros growing up, including Barry Bonds and Sammy Sosa, are cheaters and for that I have very disappointingly lost all respect for them. There is no chance in hell any of them deserve a shot to in the hall...

Back to Manny: The fact is, I still don't think he has realized or learned from what has happened. He comes up with the same bull**** as all cheaters, stating that they had no clue what their doctors were giving them. In this case, Manny was taking a female fertility drug. Are you kidding me? Not only should that be embarrassing in and of itself, but additionally this drug has been linked as something to diminish side effects at the end of a steroid cycle. The fact is, Manny keeps on lying yet still acts as if he is king. Therefore, why should he be given the opportunity to get a head start on his suspension and be available right when it ends? Last time I checked, the minor leagues also had drug policies which he clearly has violated, and albeit that he was not a player playing in that league during the time he tested positive, there is no reason why he should be playing now. Bottom line: Serve out your suspension, then make your way back into the league. Selig, how are you letting this happen?

No More Drives For Stallworth

by: Jake

No, Stallworth did not get traded to the Lions, his license was permanently suspended as a part of his plea agreement with the family of the man he killed while driving under the influence on March 14. The agreement may seem a joke as a 30 day prison sentence for killing someone seems to make a mockery of our legal system, but a deeper look reveals that there is indeed more than meets the eye.

            First off, when you look at the actual crime scene you can see that there is no crosswalk in sight. The man who was killed, named Mario Reyes, jaywalked across a busy street at 7:15 in the morning while running across to catch a bus. We’ve all done it before, but we know its wrong every time. This was the key to Stallworth’s defense as the fact that the man was illegally in the street puts much of the responsibility off of Stallworth. Also, from all reports, it has been determined that Stallworth did flash his lights at Reyes in a last ditch effort to warn him of his oncoming car. And not only that, but Stallworth immediately stopped his car and dialed 911 and tried his best to save the man even though there was no chance as he was going 50 mph upon contact. Stallworth also stayed at the scene and took all of the field sobriety tests that were demanded of him.

            After being arrested, his lawyer played off his clean record and repeated apologies to provoke a lighter sentence. Stallworth issued the standard, “I accept full responsibility for this horrible tragedy,” and also said, "I am truly sorry," at the sentencing hearing. This combined with the family of Reyes’ eagerness to put the tragedy behind them made for a quick agreement between the two sides. The final details of Stallworth’s sentence include: 30 days of jail, 2 years of home confinement (with provisions made to continue his football career), 1,000 hours of community service, a permanently suspended drivers license, and 8 years of probation. Also, Stallworth reached a financial agreement with the Reyes’ in which the amount was kept confidential.

            As to how this will affect his NFL career, he is currently suspended indefinitely and with the whole Vick ordeal, Stallworth may have to wait awhile to find out his suspension. Rams Leonard Little was given a 8 game suspension for a similar charge, and I expect Stallworth to receive the same.

            The saddest part of this whole tragedy is that this could have all been avoided if 1 or 2 things happened, Stallworth used any part of his 35 million dollar contract to call a cab or a driver, or something as simple as Reyes using the crosswalk 

Trip to Wrigley Field: June 19th 2009

By: Chris

Just a few days ago, I returned to Philly after having visited Chicago for a few days. While I was there, I visited Wrigley Field, considered by many to be baseball's mecca. The game was great, as the Cubs were down 7-2 going into the 8th, coming back to make it 7-6 entering the 9th. Then came Kerry Wood (another player from last year returning to Wrigley, along with the very-well loved Mark DeRosa, who got a standing O) to try and close it out. Derek Lee had something else in mind and smacked his second homerun of the game off Wood to send it to extras. Kevin Gregg took care of business in the top half of the 10th, and the game ended on a Theriot single to score Soriano to win the game. Here are a few pics taken at the beginning of the game...

Wrigley's famous rooftop seats across the street

Matt Forte (Chicago Bears Running Back) throwing out the first pitch. The fans went absolutely nuts when he came on the field!

View from the seats. They were pretty sick (Row 3). Some people were talking with the players (one Cubs fan was begging Victor Martinez to come to Chicago once he is a free agent in 2010, obviously frustrated with Soto's performance)

Alfonso Soriano at the plate. I love his batting stance and overall preparation (minus the fact that when he was on-deck he was posing for pictures for the fans, occasionally flashing a peace sign) Still a funny, yet a little cocky guy.

The Wrigley Field scoreboard which is all manual and only features one video board in the whole stadium right below it, displaying the "Welcome to Wrigley Field" message. There was no jumbotron or big screen at all, so replays were never seen inside the stadium. Very different experience compared to the high-tech and new Citizens Bank Park.

Overall, it was a great trip, great game, great stadium. The food was good too, and the fans were fun as well. (A lot better than expected, from what I have heard about Cubs fans)! Also, as a Red Sox fan, I can definitely feel their pain about the championship drought and curse. If the Cubs ever make it to the World Series (without the Red Sox facing them) I will definitely be rooting for the Cubs!

"Almost" Mid-Season MLB Awards

By: Chris

As teams are nearing 70 games, almost reaching the middle of the 2009 MLB Season, some players are really standing out as early favorites for the MLB Awards including MVP, Cy Young, etc. Here's my take:

MVP

American League:

Catcher - Joe Mauer - Minnesota Twins

(.425 AVG, .495 OBP, 1.245 OPS, 13 HRs, 41 RBIs, 38 Rs through 43 games)

This one was pretty obvious. The fact that through 43 games, the 2x batting champion is still keeping up these sort of godly stats is beyond me. Many have praised that he has one of the best swings ever, including Cal Ripken Jr. and other notable legends. He pretty much is single-handedly leading the Twins and keeping them only 2.0 games behind the division-leading Tigers. Mauer has also been solid defensively behind the dish, and if he can keep up both his offensive and defensive production by most importantly staying healthy, look for him to rake in this award for the 2009 MLB Season.

National League:

1st Baseman - Albert Pujols - St. Louis Cardinals

(.329 AVG, .448 OBP, 1.169 OPS, 26 HRs, 68 RBIs, 56 Rs, 9 SBs through 69 games)

Although this seems like the cliché pick, I had to go with Pujols. He is currently on a ridiculous pace to hit 61 HRs and 159 RBIs, which he obviously will likely not keep up, yet still speaks to his consistency that he displays year in and year out putting up solid stats for the Cardinals. Albert has the rare power/low K's/high BB rate combo. So far this season, Phat Albert has posted a walk to K ratio of 2.04. Compare this to Ryan Howard's 0.32 and Carlos Peña's 0.54, and one can see this is a pretty big feat. In fact, none of the Top 25 leaders in BB:K ratio have a ratio over one (that is, no one has more walks than Ks, and Pujols has DOUBLE the walks as Ks). This guy is a flat out stud, and one day, I hope he will be the Homerun King. Without a doubt, MVP in the NL goes to Pujols.

Cy Young

American League:

Starting Pitcher - Zack Greinke - Kansas City Royals

(8 Wins - 3 Losses, 101.0 IP, 106 Ks, 18 BB, 1.96 ERA, 1.02 WHIP)

Sure, his performance has tailed off a bit in his last few starts, but come on, how can Cy Young NOT go to Greinke? He has more strikeouts, lower ERA, and lower WHIP in comparison to the favorable Halladay pick. Overall, (see earlier article) Greinke has proven that he is one of the big boys now and can be the Royals' ace and go-to-guy. The thing with Greinke is he has never really had any health problems, while Halladay consistently has had a few DL stints throughout the past few years which further gives confidence to the Greinke pick. Furthermore, Greinke has actually tossed more complete games than Halladay, a feat rarely accomplished by any pitcher. Ultimately, Zack at least provided some hope and competition for the Royals organization early in, keeping them afloat atop the AL Central for a few early weeks, yet now because of how terrible the TEAM is they have faltered back. Look for Greinke to hopefully continue his dominant performance of offenses, leaving them befuddled with his deadly mix of pitches. Other notables: Roy Halladay (Toronto Blue Jays) and Justin Verlander (Detroit Tigers).

National League:

Starting Pitcher - Dan Haren - Arizona Diamondbacks

(6 Wins - 4 Losses, 101.0 IP, 96 Ks, 18 BB, 2.23 ERA, 0.82 WHIP)

Although the Diamondbacks are out of contention, it is hard not to go with Haren. Sporting an MLB-best 0.82 WHIP, Haren is showing that he is getting it done on his own, rarely relying on his defense to save him or clean up his mess. He allows few walks and hits, keeps the bases clear, and keeps the ball in the park. His win-loss statistic is a tough reflection of the lack of run support provided by the failing D-Backs offense, which during Haren's first three starts of the season (in which he allowed a total of 4 ER in 3 games) provided him with exactly ONE run over those three starts, accounting for 3 out of his 4 losses. At age 28, this Pepperdine product is in his prime, and deserves the recognition. In order to stay ahead of the race, he has to continue his dominating pitching stats, regardless of his team's performance, much like last year's winner Tim Lincecum. Other notables: Josh Johnson (Florida Marlins) and Tim Lincecum (San Francisco Giants)

Comeback Player of the Year:

American League:

Catcher/1st Baseman - Victor Martinez - Cleveland Indians

08: (.278 AVG, .337 OBP, .701 OPS, 2 HRs, 35 RBIs, 30 Rs, 24 BBs through 73 games)

09: (.330 AVG, .407 OBP, .942 OPS, 12 HRs, 53 RBIs, 48 Rs, 37 BBs through 69 games)

This comparison is virtually perfect, as the total games between both seasons are almost equal. It is clear to see the comeback that V-Mart has made after coming off his worst season of his career. In 2009 so far, he has returned to form as one of the best hitting Catchers (second to Mauer of course) in the majors. Last season was both a both injury and drought plagued season for Victor, but now he returns as a switch-hitting threat in the rather bare Cleveland Indians offense. Congrats, Victor, on the turn-around! Other notable: Carl Crawford (Tampa Bay Rays).

National League:

Starting Pitcher - Chris Carpenter - St. Louis Cardinals

2007/2008: (Both very injury-plagued seasons, totaling 21.1 IP over two years)

09: (5-1, 58.2 IP, 43 Ks, 9 BBs, 1.53 ERA, 0.72 WHIP)

Although his 2009 campaign has featured a few trips to the DL or bench, some were just as a precaution. The Cards are hoping Carpenter can return to that ace/go-to-guy status that he solely possessed years ago which has now been relinquished to the younger Adam Wainwright. If and when healthy, Carpenter can be flat out dominant, as seen from his starts so far this season, supported by the statistics mentioned above. Having already eclipsed the IPs over two years in 07/08 this season alone, Carpenter looks to build off this momentum and swing, yet at the same time focusing on staying healthy, in preparations to returning to full form. Therefore, it was clear to see that he deservingly is the NL Comeback player of the year. Other notables: Troy Tulowitzki (Colorado Rockies) and Robinson Cano (New York Yankees).

NBA OFFSEASON: FACT OR FICTION

By: Chris

And so... the NBA season concludes. Kobe Bryant and the Lakers stand at the pinnacle of the NBA, celebrating their victory with the upcoming parade, as other teams are focusing on regrouping, and reloading. Rumors are swirling, whispers of players opting out, trade rumors, draft rumors, etc are running wild. This article will try to separate Fact vs. Fiction

1. Hedo Turkoglu will return to the Magic next season: FICTION

Yes, the Magic are extremely limited in their cap space, however Chief Operating Officer Alex Martins has confidently stated, "the luxury tax won't be a hinderance". By paying the luxury tax, the Magic might have the cap space to sign Turkoglu, which is heavily occupied by the monster contracts of Dwight Howard and Rashard Lewis. Aside from the Magic's finance side, I think that Turkoglu can really hit the bank this offseason. During the playoffs, he showed he is a consistent threat, clutch shooter, and above average defender. He was key to the Magic playoff run and could do so for other teams as well. Look for Turkoglu to go for big-money to a destination where teams are looking for that one extra player to go over the top.

2. Allen Iverson will play next season: FACT

I think there is little doubt that AI will be playing ball next year, however if it is playing in the NBA... now that is a whole other issue. (I am joking of course) AI will be playing in the NBA next season but a large part of this debate factors into his accepting (or rather lack thereof) nature of coming off the bench. He was a terrible fit in Detroit's system and single-handedly managed to dismantle a team that was enjoying dynasty-like success in the Eastern Conference. At this point, Iverson has to get over his absurd ego and realize that he isn't the dazzling star of his days in Philly but rather an overrated, injury-prone, old veteran. Look for him to go to a major title contender, coming off the bench as sort of a "spark" if you can even call him that. All the best AI, just please, get over yourself!

3. The Lakers will be able to retain both Lamar Odom and Trevor Ariza: FACT

Although this goes against what many people are thinking (or probably hoping at this point), the Lakers will retain both Odom and Ariza. Both proved to be vital role players during the playoffs, and the fact that the Lakers have a great core of Bryant and Gasol paired with a plethora of role players, creating the best team in the NBA, it is hard to believe that Lakers management would risk losing any of that mojo. Coming off of a 3.1 million dollar salary in 08-09, Ariza (turning 24 later in June) will hit the bank. His three point shooting, hustle, and amazing defensive ability (perfectly demonstrated in his Game 5 shutdown of Hedo Turkoglu) makes this guy the real deal. Meanwhile, I can't see Odom going to any other team and feel as if he has really settled into LA, even coming off the bench at times, which makes him a perfect fit for the Lakers. Look for both to stick around with the Lakers, as LA's front office will do everything in their power to reel them in. Result of both re-signing: Lakers will make a run at the repeat.

4. Josh Smith will remain a Hawk in Atlanta: FICTION

Even though this discussion of Smith being traded, which has resurfaced offseason after offseason now in Atlanta, seems absolutely ridiculous to me, there is still a possibility it might happen. The fact is, the Hawks are having extremely hefty financial problems, and as the saying goes "This is a business, too". Still, trading away your franchise, athletic-freak player in Josh Smith for something rumored to be as little as a bunch of picks grouped together makes me furious. If I was a Hawks fan, I would feel completely betrayed. Last offseason, they let Childress go to Greece, now they want to get rid of Smith, leaving.... an aging Joe Johnson surrounded by sub-par talent which will further drive the Hawks into the depths of the Eastern Conference standings. Finally, tell me Mr. Rick Sund, how will things work out financially, when (albeit you will be shedding millions in getting rid of Josh Smith) yet half of your fan base will (might not, but SHOULD) abandon your team after you continually disrespect them by not doing anything to put a real, contending team out on the court. But again, financials DO play a part in this, so that is the only reason I could see this being a remotely intelligent idea.

5. Shaq will be playing alongside LeBron James next season: UNDECIDED

The fact is, conflicting reports from both camps make this a very difficult decision to call. Shaq, I'm sure, wants out of Phoenix which now with the success of the Lakers, seems even more like a dead-end to push for another championship run. Meanwhile, the Cavs who were lacking big-time in the frontcourt, would love to add a big man in the post that can bang like Shaquille can. Also, what better way to get back at now-defending-champ-Kobe who "couldn't do it without me? Kobe, tell me how my #$% tastes" as Shaq himself admitted. This move does make sense for both sides, but trades in the NBA aren't as easy as swapping flavors of candy you don't like after opening a bag. Cap, expiring contracts, etc. will play a huge role in this. Still, don't be surprised if Cleveland rolls the dice and pursues this deal.

Roger's Chance:

By: Chris

After a rather crazy past few days at the French open, in which we have seen Tennis' top stars including Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, even the King of Clay, Rafael Nadal leave after early round exits, the road is wide open for Roger Federer. Coming off of a clay court title in Madrid, against Nadal, Federer finally ended his title drought on a surface he is yet to conquer at a Grand Slam event. He looks poised to finally overcome the final Grand Slam obstacle lying in his career path. 

The Parisian venue has been Federer's Kryptonite; the past three years he has consecutively made it to the finals, however has never been able to finish it off. Usually standing in his way was his tormentor, Rafael Nadal. Now that him, and other top seeds, are eliminated, Federer looks like a heavy favorite heading into the final weekend.

It was not all cherry pickings for Federer, though. A few days ago against the German, Tommy Haas, Roger came back down two sets to pull through. His latest match versus Monfils, albeit a win in straight sets, still tested Federer. Even he admits, “We’re all nervous at this stage of the competition. I felt it. Yesterday I felt it, and I felt it again [yesterday] before the match. I was tired, I was nervous, and I didn’t feel really good." The pressure is mounting on Federer, who longs for this Grand Slam title especially, as it would give him the magic total of 13, tying Pete Sampras for most all-time. At the age of 27, Federer does not look like he will be stopping anytime soon either, perhaps not as late as Andre Agassi (late 30s), but still he is expected to play a few more years .

Federer plays his semi-final match on Friday, against Juan Martin del Potro (5th seed) by far the highest remaining seed. The other semi-final features young-gun Swede Robin Soderling, who handed Nadal the shocking defeat, and Fernando Gonzalez (12th seed). Look for Federer to take Del Potro relatively easily, and then in the Finals, hopefully come through to win, finally, his first French Open Grand Slam and tie Pete Sampras for Most-All time.

AFC East Preview

By: Jake

Last years division champs in the AFC East will have a tough time repeating as they now reside in one of, if not the most competitive division in the NFL. With Tom Brady back with a vengeance, Terrell Owens on the Bills, and the Jets with a seemingly legitimate QB, the ‘Phins will have a very hard time repeating. As it looks right now, the Patriots have to be the favorite despite their less than effective defense and Quarterback returning from a destroyed knee.
The rest of the division is anyone’s guess.

You could say that the Dolphins running game is near unstoppable with Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams, not to mention the drafting of Pat White to master the Wildcat offense. And the biggest question for this team is “Can Pennington do it again with the awful receivers?” The fact that he was able to do what he did last year with what he had is amazing to me and should be to anyone. In my opinion, I expect nothing more than a 3rd place finish in that division for them.

The Jets have undoubtedly the most exciting addition of any team in this division- Mark Sanchez. Their defense is set with Kris Jenkins anchoring the D-line and Gholston cant get any worse than he was last year. Also the additions of Bart Scott and Calvin Pace at LB will help cure the ills that were the line-backing spots from last year. In summation, the Jets have the potential to upset the Patriots this year but it all depends on how Sanchez adjusts to the NFL game. However, the Jets didn’t exactly make the transition to the NFL any easier on him by providing him with receivers like David Clowney and Chansi Stuckey.

The team very few people are talking about in this division is the Buffalo Bills. They made their biggest splash of the offseason by signing Mr. Malcontent T.O. If, and that’s a big if, T.O. and Lee Evans can Co-exist, the Bills also have an outside chance at winning the division even with Trent Edwards at QB. Their Defense is the part of the team that needs to step up as the offense is set at WR and RB with a serviceable QB at the helms. The Bills will need a big year out of Stroud and Schobel as Mc Kelvin and Mc Gee can only cover for so long before Chad Pennington throws for 300+ yards on them again.

Last, and certainly not least, the Patriots, who are undoubtedly the favorites to get first in the division and last in our hearts. One of the few questions about the 2009 Patriots is one of the biggest in football. Can Tom Brady come back from the devastating injury that ended his season? Although al reports say he’s looking and feeling fine, an injury like that must be taken seriously. The one other thing that could stop the Patriots from winning this division is their Defense. The pick of Mayo last year proved to be one of the best they’ve made in a while as he exploded as a rookie. But other than that, there isn’t much to write home about. Not much going on that makes you fear that defense.
All in all, my predictions for this division this year:

1. New England Patriots (It kills me but I have to)
2. New York Jets (Sanchez has the tools and the run game)
3. Miami Dolphins (I just don’t think Pennington can do it again)
4. Buffalo Bills (Tough luck losers in a strong division)