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      2010 MLB Preview: AL West

      March 24, 2010 /

      In order to help get you ready for the MLB season, we’re doing division-by-division rankings with quick overviews on how each club could fair in 2010. Next to each team, you’ll also find a corresponding number written in parenthesis, which indicates where we believe that club falls in a league-wide power ranking. Be sure to check back throughout the next two weeks leading up to the season, as we will be updating our content daily. Enjoy.

      All 2010 MLB Preview Content | AL East Preview | AL Central Preview | AL West Preview | NL East | NL Central | NL West

      Next up is the AL West.

      1. Los Angeles Angels (6)
      When I started to do the prep work for the AL West preview, I filled the top slot with the Angels without even giving it much thought. And why should I have? They’ve won the division six of the last seven years and baseball fans have just grown accustomed to the Halos being in the playoff mix every season. But immediately after I slotted them in the top spot, my stomach started to hurt and no, it wasn’t from the fish I ate last night. (Although hey, fish is still good even when it turns green right?) There’s no doubt that the Angels took a hit this offseason. They lost their ace (John Lackey), their leadoff man (Chone Figgins) and their top power source (Vladimir Guerrero), and usually when a team parts with that much talent, it suffers a setback. But this is why I’m not overly concerned about this club: the additions of Joel Pineiro and Hideki Matsui should pay dividends and if Scott Kazmir could ever stay healthy, he would ease the loss of Lackey. Plus, in Erick Aybar (their new leadoff hitter), Kendry Morales and Torri Hunter, the Halos still have a solid offensive core and their starting pitching is still in good shape with vets like Kazmir, Jered Weaver and Joe Saunders. Times are changing in L.A. and the Mariners and Rangers will push the Halos this season, but in the end they should be right back on top.

      Continue reading »

      MLB

      Five players that have made a name for themselves during March Madness

      March 24, 2010 /

      Most of the players on this list were stars during the regular season, but for one reason or another, they didn’t capture national attention until making serious noise in the NCAA Tournament.

      1. Omar Samhan, St. Mary’s
      Hands down the most quotable player in this year’s tourney, Samhan has led the Gaels on an unlikely Sweet 16 run. But St. Mary’s deserved to get there — the Gaels are better than Richmond and they proved on Saturday that they were better than a slumping Villanova team. The 6’11” Samhan was the key in both games. He posted 29-12 against Richmond and followed that up with 32-7 against Villanova. Moreover, he has been extremely efficient, hitting 75% from the field. St. Mary’s has the tools to beat Baylor, but the Bears have size and athleticism inside to give Samhan trouble.

      2. Ali Farokhmanesh, Northern Iowa
      Farokhmanesh is the one player on this list that didn’t average double-digits in scoring during the regular season. But he hit THE biggest shot of the tournament thus far when he drilled a three to give the Panthers a four-point lead in their upset of #1-seed Kansas. The shot was big, but his balls were even bigger. Before nailing the game-sealer, Farokhmanesh had missed seven straight shots in the second half and he launched the three early in the shot clock when UNI was nursing a one-point lead. After averaging just 5.6 points in his previous five games (on 6-29 shooting from deep, no less), the senior guard now has 33 points in two tournament games and has nailed 9-19 shots from long range. Here’s another look at his bracket-busting shot:

      Even a certain despicable historical figure has felt the impact of that shot.

      Continue reading »

      College Basketball, March Madness

      Chiefs, Browns, Seahawks all interested in CMU’s LeFevour

      March 24, 2010 /

      According to Central Michigan beat writer Drew Ellis of the Mount Pleasant Morning Sun, the Chiefs, Browns and Seahawks were all on hand to watch quarterback prospect Dan LeFevour work out at his Pro Day on Wednesday morning. The Panthers and Vikings also watched him go through passing drills.

      The most notable name on hand was new Kansas City offensive coordinator Charlie Weis, who told Ellis that he was specifically there to watch LeFevour. There was also a rumor that the Chiefs had dinner with LeFevour last night.

      Questions have been raised about LeFevour’s arm strength and there also is concern that since he played mostly out of the shotgun in college that he won’t be able to run a pro style system at the next level. According to Ellis, LeFevour may not have quelled scouts’ fears about whether or not he can make all the throws.

      “He did well throwing the short to intermediate passes today,” Ellis said. “But there was more loft on his deeper throws than you’d like to see and there wasn’t much velocity on his passes when he wasn’t throwing short. He might ultimately have to play in the West Coast Offense where accuracy is the most important thing.”

      Ellis’ last bit about the West Coast Offense provides reason why the Browns would be interested, but why the Chiefs? GM Scott Pioli insisted in late February that the team would not be in the market for a starting quarterback in this year’s draft and is committed to Matt Cassel after signing him to a six-year, $63 million contract last season. And after extending a second-round tender on Brodie Croyle, they seem to be set on Cassel’s backup too, so it’s a little perplexing why Weis would want to watch LeFevour.

      Another note from CMU’s Pro Day is that receiver Antonio Brown was garnering attention from the Vikings, Lions, Raiders and Dolphins. In fact, Miami held a private workout with him after he ran a 4.4 40-yard dash, which was an improvement over his 4.5 time at the combine. Brown’s stock has improved and he may wind up being selected before LeFevour.


      Photo from fOTOGLIF

      NFL, NFL Draft

      Wojciechowski: NFL outsmarted itself with OT change

      March 24, 2010 /

      The NFL adopted a new overtime format for the postseason, but not for the regular season. The official explanation was the possibility of player injuries. Gene Wojciechowski takes exception:

      But what about the possibility of injuries during those near-worthless preseason games? If NFL owners are so concerned about player safety, then deep-six half of those exhibition games. But they won’t because those games are financial rainmakers.

      Anyway, you can’t have it both ways. You can’t say you’re protecting your players in the regular season, but then not protect them in the preseason. And you can’t have one set of overtime rules in the postseason and another set in the regular season.

      He goes on to explain how the different rules for the regular season could affect the postseason:

      But what about the risks to the integrity of the game and the playoff process? By limiting the new OT rules to the postseason, a team could be eliminated from the playoff chase by a coin toss and ensuing field goal — the very scenario that prompted such league power brokers as Indianapolis Colts president Bill Polian to switch sides and push for the rules change.

      So NFL owners are essentially admitting the old rule was flawed, and the new rule is better; yet they’re still keeping the old rule even though it could affect which teams can play under the new rule? How can so many smart owners make such a basic mistake?

      As I’ve said before, the new system is better than the old system, but that isn’t saying much.

      Fantasy Football, News, NFL

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