American League West

* – indicates new to team
AVG – Batting Average
ERA – Earned Run Average
HR – Home Runs
RBI – Runs Batted In
SV – Saves

1. Los Angeles Angels
A stellar rotation will need a lot more run support to win the West.
2. Texas Rangers
Losing Cliff Lee and letting Vladimir Guerrero go will hurt their chances.
3. Oakland Athletics
Their great young rotation won’t get them as far with a revamped lineup.
4. Seattle Mariners
Eric Wedge has his work cut out for him turning around Seattle.

Player to Watch: 1B Kendry Morales LA Angels
I’m not going to say that Morales would have hit for over .300 and driven in over 100 runs had he been healthy last year. You all know that. What is important to watch with Morales this year is if he can return to that form? Everything was clicking with him and it was spreading to the rest of the lineup. Once his ankle was broken celebrating a walk-off home run at home plate, the momentum was shattered. That’s what the Angels have to get back. They were a contender with Morales last year. This year they still are with him and their starting staff. Should Morales make a full recovery and return to form, the Angels will have an easier time contending with the Texas Rangers.

Best Acquisition: OF David DeJesus Oakland Athletics
With a .289 career average, DeJesus won’t wow you, but playing in the spacious confines of Oakland Alameda County Coliseum he should easily approach that average. Not many know about him. All he does is quietly go about his business and put up impressive for the Kansas City Royals. His 2008 and 2009 seasons were his best. He hit 12 and 13 home runs, respectively and drove in at least 70 runs in those seasons. He isn’t the ideal number three hitter for Oakland or any team for that matter. However, he makes contact and isn’t an easy out for opposing pitchers. He plays all three outfield positions adequately and should help Oakland’s team batting average rise a few points (.256).

New Kid on the Block: 2B Dustin Ackley Seattle Mariners
The Mariners will bring him along slowly, but his debut is inevitable. What made him the second overall pick in 2009 was his bat. Drafted as a center fielder, he is being groomed as a second baseman simply because it’s the only open spot for him in the lineup. He is the ideal number two hitter, but with Ichiro and Chone Figgins at the top, Seattle will have him at the bottom of the order. They want to be careful to not anoint him the savior of their lackluster hitting. He will be good, but Ackley will first need to settle in and find his niche and then find a position. Rest assured the Mariners are making the right choice by bringing him up. They need all the help they can get.

Angels Lineup

1. 3B Maicer Izturis

.250 AVG 2 HR 13 RBI

2. DH Bobby Abreu

.255 AVG 20 HR 78 RBI

3. 1B Kendry Morales

.290 AVG 11 HR 39 RBI

4. RF Torii Hunter

.281 AVG 23 HR 90 RBI

5. LF Vernon Wells*

.273 AVG 31 HR 88 RBI

6. 2B Howie Kendrick

.279 AVG 10 HR 75 RBI

7. SS Erick Aybar

.253 AVG 5 HR 29 RBI

8. C Jeff Mathis

.195 AVG 3 HR 18 RBI

9. CF Peter Bourjos

.204 AVG 6 HR 15 RBI

Not many teams will cringe when they see this lineup, but don’t be fooled when you see Izturis’ name at the top. He’s a tough guy to get out and he is a good baserunner. Abreu had a down year and there are worries that it’s a sign he’s in decline. The Angels probably have another year or two left in Abreu. Still is patient as ever and is one of the best in hit and run situations. Morales will start the year on the DL. He shouldn’t be sidelined for long. His presence was dearly missed last year and putting him in the three hole will ease the pressure from the first two spots. Hunter did well when Morales went down last year. Even though it was apparent that he had lost some bat speed. Acquiring Wells was a nice move. Not the move they initially wanted to make, but still a good move. Wells had a nice bounce back year in Toronto. With his presence it should ease the burden on Hunter in the cleanup spot. Kendrick has long been considered one of the best hitters on the Angels. He has never been able to find a set spot in the lineup, but he should find a home in the sixth hole. Aybar and Mathis are interchangeable. If Mathis hits, he moves up in the lineup. If Aybar hits, he moves into the leadoff spot. If neither hits, they stay where they are. Bourjos is talk of spring training for the Angels. His defensive capabilities are unmatched in the organization. The key for him is if he can get the hang of major league pitching. If he can, the Angels will quickly move him into the leadoff spot, which will settle the rest of the lineup in their rightful place.

Bench

INF Alberto Callaspo

.265 AVG 10 HR 56 RBI

INF Mark Trumbo

.301 AVG 36 HR 122 RBI (AAA stats)

C Bobby Wilson

.229 AVG 4 HR 15 RBI

Callaspo gives the Angels a lot of versatility in the infield. He can play all four positions and isn’t a bad pinch hitting option either. He has decent pop, but will see the majority of playing time at the hot corner. Trumbo has a great chance this year. He probably would be on the roster if Morales was healthy to start the year, but with his impressive spring he deserves a shot. He has tremendous power potential, but the Angels hoped the same for Brandon Wood. Trumbo won’t be thrust into a power role, but he will have to be a steady bat. Wilson is a sound defender, but has a better bat than starter Jeff Mathis. He will get playing time and so will Hank Conger who will be waiting patiently for his chance to be the starting catcher.

Rotation

1. Jered Weaver

13-12 3.01 ERA

2. Dan Haren

12-12 3.91 ERA

3. Ervin Santana

17-10 3.92 ERA

4. Joel Pineiro

10-7 3.84 ERA

5. Scott Kazmir

9-15 5.94 ERA

It’s time for the rest of baseball to give respect to Mr. Weaver. He has proven himself in every season he’s played. He is primed for a 15-20 win season, barring run support and will contend for the best ERA and most strikeouts. Haren was acquired to help during the stretch run last year, but the Angels offense didn’t help in that time. Haren was still great and in a full season he should be just as good as Weaver. Santana returned to form last year. As the number two starter he had a nice strikeout to walk ratio (169-73), but gave up far too many hits (221). As a number three starter he should be superb so long as the hits are kept to a minimum. Pineiro was on his way to a 15 win season until an injury sidelined him in August that kept him out the rest of the year. When healthy he is a perfect complement to their rotation. Kazmir would be a steal as the number five starting pitcher if he has a bounce back year. After his rough outing in the 2009 playoffs he hasn’t seemed to get his groove back. As the lone lefthander in the rotation he has to improve his control (79 BB) and his ERA.

Setup

Scott Downs*

5-5 2.64 ERA

Closer

Fernando Rodney

14 SV 4.24 ERA

This was a major weakness for the Angels last year. Brian Fuentes had wore out his welcome and was dealt at the halfway point. Rodney was superb in the beginning of the season when Fuentes was hurt, but when he was relegated to the setup role, everything fell apart. When he was put back into the closer’s role, he never recovered. The success starts with him in the ninth inning. The Angels do have other options should Rodney struggle again. Kevin Jepsen and Jordan Walden are both hard throwing righthanders who will be in setup roles. Both have the stuff to save games, but no experience. The Angels signed two lefthanders in Scott Downs and Hisanori Takahashi who aren’t specialists at all. Takahashi can even start if necessary. Downs will be the primary setup man and is considered the lefthanded version of Scot Shields, who was apart of the Angels bullpen from 2001-2010. Should the ninth inning be stable, the Angels should be on their way back to the postseason.

Rangers Lineup

1. 2B Ian Kinsler

.286 AVG 9 HR 45 RBI

2. SS Elvis Andrus

.265 AVG 0 HR 35 RBI

3. LF Josh Hamilton

.359 AVG 32 HR 100 RBI

4. 3B Adrian Beltre*

.321 AVG 28 HR 102 RBI

5. RF Nelson Cruz

.318 AVG 22 HR 78 RBI

6. DH Michael Young

.284 AVG 21 HR 91 RBI

7. 1B Mitch Moreland

.255 AVG 9 HR 25 RBI

8. C Mike Napoli*

.238 AVG 26 HR 68 RBI

9. CF Julio Borbon

.276 AVG 3 HR 42 RBI

The Rangers still have a potent lineup. As long as a few key players stay healthy, Texas should still be one of the best hitting teams in baseball. Kinsler is the most important piece to their lineup. When healthy he can produce a 30-30 season for the Rangers. They have the luxury of putting him anywhere in the lineup and he will produce. Andrus is the ideal top of the order hitter. He can do all the little things for Texas. Setting up runners with a sac bunt, hit and run. Andrus has blazing speed and can steal 50 in any given season. The reigning AL MVP Josh Hamilton will look to duplicate his production from last season. Health is starting to become a concern with Hamilton which is why he will be moved to left field this season. He has become one of the best hitters in the game and it’s scary to think he could get better. Beltre was a good sign by the Rangers front office. He brings excellent defense at third and is still a good hitter as shown by his bounce back season in Boston last year. What remains to be seen is if he can repeat that kind of performance. Cruz has been on pace for big seasons the last two years in Texas, but injuries have shortened his seasons. Should Cruz remain healthy he could have a career year. Young was the talk of trade rumors before spring training started. Being the class act that he was he still showed up for camp and went about his business. If he stays, the Rangers will use him as a DH/super utility player. Rest assured he will see plenty of playing time in the field for Texas. Moreland had a good postseason for Texas. With that momentum he will be the first baseman that they’ve been looking for since the trade of Mark Teixeira. Napoli was apart of two trades in the span of 48 hours in the winter. Texas has a power hitting catcher who can also play first base and DH from time to time. His defense is suspect, but he does handle a pitching staff well. Borbon is still a mystery. He has decent pop in his bat, but he is better than the 15 stolen bases he recorded last year. The Rangers want to see more from him this year.

Bench

OF David Murphy

.291 AVG 12 HR 65 RBI

C Yorvit Torrealba*

.271 AVG 7 HR 37 RBI

INF Andres Blanco

.277 AVG 0 HR 13 RBI

Murphy next to Michael Young can play multiple postions. Besides the outfield Murphy can play first base sometimes. Murphy’s biggest tool is his bat. He’s a good spot starter for them and a great pinch hitter. He would start for most other teams, but feels at home as the fourth outfielder. Torrealba’s strength is his defense and he will see plenty of playing time for that. His bat is in decline, but can still contribute on occasion. Blanco is a defensive replacement for Texas. Hits for contact and is a decent baserunner. The Rangers depth isn’t a concern, but if say three or four starters go down, it will be an issue going forward.

Rotation

1. C.J. Wilson

15-8 3.35 ERA

2. Colby Lewis

12-13 3.72 ERA

3. Tommy Hunter

13-4 3.73 ERA

4. Matt Harrison

3-2 4.71 ERA

5. Derek Holland

3-4 4.08 ERA

A lot of turmoil in the Texas rotation after the failed re-singing of Cliff Lee. They gave it their all, but Lee chose to go back to the National League and now Texas has to move on. That also means Wilson will have to step into a larger role this year. He was fantastic in his transition from reliever to starter last year. Is he ready to be the teams ace is the question. He seemed to be all right without Lee and that should bode well for the Rangers going forward. Lewis is hoping to carry his great postseason performance into the 2011 season. His performance against the New York Yankees in the ALCS was a once in a life time performance. Look for Lewis to post similar numbers. Hunter was a pleasant surprise for the Rangers. The big righthander doesn’t over power hitters, but does get a lot of ground ball outs which is important at the hitters paradise in Arlington. Harrison and Holland are two young talented lefthanders who haven’t tapped their potential yet. The Rangers are hoping this is the year they both step into the rotation and establish themselves as competent starters. Brandon Webb and Scott Feldman will miss some time due to injury, but they figure to be apart of the pitching staff at some point this season.

Setup

Darren Oliver

1-2 2.48 ERA

Closer

Neftali Feliz

40 SV 2.73 ERA

This was the big reason the Rangers starters were as successful as they were in 2010 and why they clinched the AL Pennant. Feliz was the AL Rookie of the Year last year and with his dominant stuff, there was talk of him being in the rotation this year. He won’t, which is probably the best decision since there wasn’t a viable replacement this year. Feliz could approach 100 strikeouts this year. Setting up Feliz is the crafty veteran Oliver. He has redefined his career the last couple years as one of the best setup men in the game. He has deceptive stuff and can get batters from both sides of the plate out. Oliver will be joined by another lefthanded veteran Arthur Rhodes who is coming off his first All-Star season. Darren O’Day and Alexi Ogando are the righthanders for Texas. Both aren’t big strikeout pitchers, but can get the job done in the seventh and eighth innings to setup Feliz. Texas’ chances of repeating as AL West champions hangs with their bullpen.

Athletics Lineup

1. CF Coco Crisp

.279 AVG 8 HR 38 RBI

2. 2B Mark Ellis

.291 AVG 5 HR 49 RBI

3. RF David DeJesus*

.318 AVG 5 HR 37 RBI

4. LF Josh Willingham*

.268 AVG 16 HR 56 RBI

5. DH Hideki Matsui*

.274 AVG 21 HR 84 RBI

6. C Kurt Suzuki

.242 AVG 13 HR 71 RBI

7. 1B Daric Barton

.273 AVG 10 HR 57 RBI

8. 3B Kevin Kouzmanoff

.247 AVG 16 HR 71 RBI

9. SS Cliff Pennington

.250 AVG 6 HR 46 RBI

The theme of Oakland’s offense last year was speed without power. This year they still have speed, but some added power. Crisp brings the speed at the top. He was plagued by injuries last year, but still managed to total 32 steals. If he manages to stay healthy Oakland’s offense will have more consistent run scoring. Ellis is the ideal number two hitter for Oakland. Makes contact and is hard to get out. Always manages to get productive outs. DeJesus was the first major acquisition of the offseason for Oakland. A gap hitter who should do well in the spacious Coliseum. His defense is superb and should fit in nicely in right field. Willingham has 20 double, 20 home run potential. He has had trouble staying healthy a full season in Florida and Washington. Oakland is hoping they can keep him fresh with some stints as the DH and at first base. Matsui didn’t have a terrible year with the Angels last year. There weren’t many suitors for him and he was Oakland’s second option in the offseason. He should manage to put up similar numbers to last year playing in another pitchers park. Suzuki and Barton would be higher in the batting order if not for the acquisitions of Willingham and Matsui. Regardless Suzuki should continue to drive in runs and Barton has the potential for a .300-20 HR-100 RBI season. Kouzmanoff was tied for the team lead in RBIs and was a sound defender at third base. His only knock against him is he strikes out far too much. Pennington is another speedster that manager Bob Geren covets for his lineup. His defense is sound and his .250 batting average should go up this year.

Bench

OF Ryan Sweeney

.294 AVG 1 HR 36 RBI

INF Adam Rosales

.271 AVG 7 HR 31 RBI

OF/DH Chris Carter

.258 AVG 31 HR 94 RBI (AAA stats)

Sweeney is strictly a contact hitter. That should bode well for plenty of pinch hitting opportunities for him. He can play all three outfield positons for Oakland, but isn’t the best baserunner. Rosales was given an opportunity to play for a time when Ellis was out. He has decent power potential. He can play all over the infield. Not the a speedster, but can steal a few bags. Carter is the wild card for Oakland. He has tremendous power potential, but isn’t the best defender. He might have to start out in AAA for the beginning of the season, but his bat will make it hard for Oakland to keep him out for long.

Rotation

1. Trevor Cahill

18-8 2.97 ERA

2. Brett Anderson

7-6 2.80 ERA

3. Gio Gonzalez

15-9 3.23 ERA

4. Dallas Braden

11-14 3.50 ERA

5. Brandon McCarthy*

7-4 4.62 ERA (2009 stats)

When your top four starters are 27 years old or younger and post ERAs of 3.50 or better, that’s a great sign for the future of your ball club. Cahill made his first of what is to be many All-Star appearances for Oakland last year. He has solidified himself as the staff ace as a 23 year old. Following him is the lefthanded complement to Cahill in Brett Anderson. Injury shortened his season, but he was well on his way to posting Cahill like numbers. Gonzalez was quietly the most consistent starter last year. Cahill was getting the notoriety, but Gonzalez was racking up the strikeouts (171). Braden pitched a perfect game on Mother’s Day last year, but had almost fallen off the map after that. He led the team in complete games with 5 and is starting to mold himself into the younger version of Mark Buehrle. McCarthy isn’t expected to wow anyone, but Oakland would like someone to hold down the fifth spot. His stuff has diminished with all the surgeries on his arm, but he should do fine with a limited workload. If he should falter they do have Rich Harden back to maybe provide a spark at the back of the rotation.

Setup

Brad Ziegler

3-7 3.26 ERA

Closer

Andrew Bailey

25 SV 1.47 ERA

The Athletics have quietly built a good bullpen the last few years. Bailey is the reason for that success. The former AL Rookie of the Year has continued to put up great numbers in seclusion out west. Ziegler had a rough outing last year. He still has a deceptive under arm delivery that disrupts the hitters timing. Oakland would like to have a bounce back year from Ziegler. To help ease the burden on Ziegler Oakland signed Brian Fuentes and Grant Balfour. Fuentes could fill in to close to give Bailey a night off, but Oakland will use him in a setup role mostly. Balfour was becoming a great setup man in Tampa Bay the last couple seasons. He does have a wild side, but can get the job done for long stretches of the season. Oakland has depth in the bullpen and that might bode well for the great rotation.

Mariners Lineup

1. RF Ichiro Suzuki

.315 AVG 6 HR 43 RBI

2. 3B Chone Figgins

.259 AVG 1 HR 35 RBI

3. LF Milton Bradley

.205 AVG 8 HR 29 RBI

4. DH Jack Cust*

.272 AVG 13 HR 52 RBI

5. 1B Justin Smoak

.218 AVG 13 HR 48 RBI

6. CF Franklin Gutierrez

.245 AVG 12 HR 64 RBI

7. C Miguel Olivo*

.269 AVG 14 HR 58 RBI

8. 2B Brendan Ryan*

.223 AVG 2 HR 36 RBI

9. SS Jack Wilson

.249 AVG 0 HR 14 RBI

It can’t get much worse for Seattle. They were statistically the worst offensive team in baseball last year and that was with Ichiro playing 162 games. Ichiro will continue to get his .300+ batting average and over 200 hits. That’s a given. What isn’t is which Chone Figgins will show up? Seattle hopes they get the one who had a career year in 2009 with the Angels. The move to third base should put him at ease and with his turnaround after the All-Star break was an encouraging sign last year. Bradley was a huge disappointment last year. Seattle is hoping he can get back on track, but his history with new manager Eric Wedge isn’t good. Cust was signed to provide the power stroke for the middle of Seattle’s order. His production has slid the last few years and it remains to be seen if he can get it back. Smoak was the main piece acquired when they dealt Cliff Lee to Texas last year. Smoak has plenty of potential, but Seattle would be wise to ease his progression slowly. Gutierrez is a gold glove caliber defender in center field and is a better hitter than his .245 average last year. If he can return to form it will go a long way in improving the lineup. Olivo and Ryan were another pair of acquisitions to help shake up the lineup. Olivo should solve the problem at catcher on both offense and defense. Ryan had a terrible year in St. Louis, but a new environment should help hash out his mechanics. Wilson can still field with the best of them, but his bat is right near the bottom. Manager Eric Wedge has a lot of holes to fill, but he will be given time to find a set lineup.

Bench

OF Michael Saunders

.211 AVG 10 HR 33 RBI

INF Josh Wilson

.227 AVG 2 HR 25 RBI

OF Ryan Langerhans

.196 AVG 3 HR 4 RBI

This is an obvious weakness for the Mariners. Saunders is a sound defender and has decent power. His consistency has been a problem so far. Wilson is a defensive replacement at this point in his career. Not a great contact hitter, but he will see plenty of playing time with Jack Wilson in front of him. Langerhans has had moments of potential in his career. Seattle will give him another chance to fulfill that potential. He has good power to all fields, but it will be difficult to achieve great power numbers in Safeco Field.

Rotation

1. Felix Hernandez

13-12 2.27 ERA

2. Doug Fister

6-14 4.11 ERA

3. Jason Vargas

9-12 3.78 ERA

4. Erik Bedard

5-3 2.82 ERA (2009 stats)

5. Luke French

5-7 4.83 ERA

King Felix has definitely earned that nickname after his Cy Young 2010 season. With the terrible run support last year he still managed to give the lowly Mariners a chance to win every time he pitched. Seattle was right to bring him along slowly in the beginning of his career and it’s paying off big time. Whether the Mariners will be able to keep him long term is another dilemma. Fister and Vargas had great strikeout to walk ratios. Whether the Mariners will help out in the win column is the problem. If Bedard can return to the potential he showed at the end of his tenure in Baltimore, the Mariners will have a solid number two starter behind Hernandez. French will most likely be the fifth starter until Michael Pineda is ready to enter the rotation. French has control problems, but does show signs of pitching deep into games. Pineda has electric stuff, but it remains to be seen if Seattle thinks he can better help them in the rotation long term or in the bullpen.

Setup

Brandon League

9-7 3.42 ERA

Closer

David Aardsma

31 SV 3.44 ERA

The Mariners will use a variety of relievers this year, but the most important ones are Aardsma and League. Both can close games and both have dominant stuff for the eighth and ninth innings. League is the strikeout pitcher while Aardsma is the pitcher who works the strike zone. He goes for the out rather than try to blow you away. Both might be candidates for a trade during the season. If so, the Mariners will probably be more inclined to use Pineda as the future closer. Seattle has a lot of options for their bullpen, but they will need a lot more to get them back into contention.

National League West

* – indicates new to team
AVG – Batting Average
ERA – Earned Run Average
HR – Home Runs
RBI – Runs Batted In
SV – Saves

1. San Francisco Giants
With their stellar pitching intact, hard to imagine they don’t win the West.
2. Colorado Rockies
A healthy Tulowitzki will go a long way in getting them back in contention.
3. Los Angeles Dodgers
Don Mattingly takes over with a lot of talent at his disposal.
4. San Diego Padres
There was a lot of upheaval on the roster, but their pitching will carry them.
5. Arizona Diamondbacks
Kirk Gibson is in charge and he will command a young, but talented team.

Player to Watch: LF Carlos Gonzalez Colorado Rockies
He led the National League in batting (.336). Was a threat for the triple crown most of the year. He was in the running for the NL MVP award as well. What’s more to expect from the man they call ‘CarGo’? Well, for one they have him locked up for another 7 years in the Mile High City. He was given an opportunity to show his immense talents full time last year and it paid off. He is a five tool talent that was putting up MVP like numbers without star shortstop Troy Tulowitzki protecting him in the lineup. Also he played all over the outfield. He never once complained about not having a set position, but this year manager Jim Tracy has him penciled in the three hole in the lineup. CarGo will be the everyday left fielder entering this season and the Rockies expect him to continue to get better.

Best Acquistion: INF/OF Ty Wigginton Colorado Rockies
Not to say that Colorado had a lack of depth last season. They just didn’t get a lot of production from key players on the bench. Jason Giambi, Melvin Mora and Clint Barmes were let go and as a result the Rockies went after the best bat who could play multiple positions. Wigginton is on the up and up at this point of his career. He’s hit at least 20 HRs four of the last five seasons. His average hasn’t been higher than .285, which was back in 2008. The one thing in his favor is his versatility. He can play both corner infield positions as well as second base. If need be he can play either corner outfield positions, but is better in left. The Rockies hope they hit a home run (pardon the pun) in getting Wigginton. The Rockies will need him to provide a balance from the right side in their left-handed heavy lineup i.e, Ian Stewart and Todd Helton.

New Kid on the Block: 1B Brandon Belt San Francisco Giants
There has been a lot of talk and rightfully so about the Giants veterans. So many of them can play multiple positions if need be and many were clutch in their World Series run last year. However, the argument could be made that when NL Rookie of the Year C Buster Posey was called up, that was the turning point in the Giants season. That could happen again when Brandon Belt is called up. It’s no longer a matter of if, but when he’s called up. Belt is projected as a first baseman, but has played in the outfield to give him a better chance of playing right away. Easily the best hitter in their farm system (.352 career average). He’s ready to step in and contribute. The Giants will have to wait until May/June to call him up due to the veteran presence on their roster. Don’t be surprised to see Brandon Belt make the same noise that Posey made last year.

Giants Lineup

1. CF Andres Torres

.268 AVG 16 HR 63 RBI

2. 2B Freddy Sanchez

.292 AVG 7 HR 47 RBI

3. C Buster Posey

.305 AVG 18 HR 67 RBI

4. 1B Aubrey Huff

.290 AVG 26 HR 86 RBI

5. 3B Pablo Sandoval

.268 AVG 13 HR 63 RBI

6. LF Pat Burrell

.252 AVG 20 HR 64 RBI

7. SS Miguel Tejada*
.269 AVG 15 HR 71 RBI
8. RF Cody Ross
.269 AVG 14 HR 65 RBI

The Giants basically have the same lineup intact that brought them their first World Series title since moving to San Francisco back in 1958. Torres and Sanchez are the catalysts that have to get on base to make the noise for the middle of the order. The Giants were next to last in baseball in stolen bases, but Torres is among the best even though he totaled only 26 last year. Sanchez suffered through some nagging injuries last year. With the Giants depth they should be able to keep Sanchez healthy and fresh. He’s still among the best contact hitters at his position. Posey and Huff are the big bats. Posey in a full season could easily hit 20+ HR and drive in 100 runs. Huff led the team in the power categories last year and was rewarded with a two year deal. He should be able to continue that upward trend. Sandoval is the key. The Giants let Juan Uribe and Edgar Renteria go in large part because they believe Sandoval can return to his 2009 form. If he does it will make life easier for Burrell and Tejada. Both are past their prime, but both can still hit the mistake pitch for a home run. Ross was the hero of the NLCS against the Phillies. It surprised everyone because when he was acquired off waivers from Florida, he was considered the teams fourth outfielder at best. Opponents can’t overlook him at the bottom of the order.

Bench

INF/OF Mark DeRosa
.194 AVG 1 HR 10 RBI
OF Aaron Rowand
.230 AVG 11 HR 34 RBI
INF Mike Fontenot
.283 AVG 1 HR 25 RBI

Mark DeRosa is probably better suited to be the super utility man for the Giants. Last year he was slated to be the everyday left fielder, but a wrist injury sidelined him for the rest of the season. This year with Burrell and Ross holding down the corner outfield positions and Sandoval making a comeback at third, DeRosa doesn’t have a starting spot. The good thing is he can play those positions plus second and first base too. He will get his chances to play and it will greatly benefit the Giants if he’s healthy all year. Rowand is the odd man out as the everyday center fielder. He has lost a step defensively and since signing with the Giants in 2008 his batting average has dropped every year. He will get playing time, but not enough to justify his 12 million dollar salary. Fontenot was a scrappy hitter down the stretch for the Giants and in the playoffs. He plays adequate defense and is a great pinch hitting option for manager Bruce Bochy.

Rotation

1. Tim Lincecum
16-10 3.43 ERA
2. Matt Cain
13-11 3.14 ERA
3. Jonathan Sanchez
13-9 3.07 ERA
4. Madison Bumgarner
7-6 3.00 ERA
5. Barry Zito
9-14 4.15 ERA

This is the strength and the reason the Giants won the World Series. Lincecum was proof positive of why he was the winner of back-to-back NL Cy Young awards in 2008 and 2009 during the postseason. He couldn’t be stopped. A 4-1 record with 43 strikeouts to only 9 walks. The experience factor went out the window with him as the staff ace. Cain was just as good if not better going 2-0 in three starts giving up no earned runs. He’s been an underrated pitcher since the arrival of Lincecum, but after his postseason performance, everyone knows who he is now. Sanchez was inconsistent at times for the Giants, but when he’s in control of his pitches, it’s hard to make contact. People forget he did pitch a no-hitter back in 2009. Bumgarner was exactly what the Giants were expecting from him when they drafted him 10th overall in 2007. His performance in his one World Series start against the formidable Texas Rangers lineup was spectacular. Pitching 8 innings and giving up only 3 hits. Zito has become an after thought, but can still rack up the strikeouts. Back-to-back seasons of at least 150 strikeouts isn’t a sign of regression in my eyes. Being the fifth starter might be better for him at this point in his career.

Setup

Sergio Romo
5-3 2.18 ERA

Closer

Brian Wilson
48 SV 1.81 ERA

The bullpen was just as good as the rotation was for the Giants last year. Wilson led baseball in saves and was perfect in postseason with 6 saves. He might start the season on the DL due to a strained ribcage. If that’s the case the Giants have capable candidates in Romo, Jeremy Affeldt and Santiago Casilla. Romo and Affeldt were stellar in setting up Wilson during the postseason. Casilla was dominant down the stretch in his middle relief role. Lefty specialist Javier Lopez was a fantastic addition at the trade deadline. He was even better for the Giants in the postseason. The bullpen should be fine without Wilson for the first few games, but in the long term they need him to hold down the ninth inning.

Rockies Lineup

1. CF Dexter Fowler

.260 AVG 6 HR 36 RBI

2. 2B Jose Lopez*

.239 AVG 10 HR 58 RBI

3. LF Carlos Gonzalez

.336 AVG 34 HR 117 RBI

4. SS Troy Tulowitzki

.315 AVG 27 HR 95 RBI

5. 1B Todd Helton

.256 AVG 8 HR 37 RBI

6. 3B Ian Stewart

.256 AVG 18 RH 61 RBI

7. C Chris Iannetta

.197 AVG 9 HR 27 RBI

8. RF Seth Smtih

.246 AVG 17 HR 52 RBI

This is still a potent lineup from top to bottom. Fowler and Lopez are potentially great table setters. Fowler and his speed are a constant threat for the opposing defenses. Lopez makes good contact, but is inconsistent at times. With Gonzalez and Tulowitzki backing him up, look for Lopez to have a productive year. Gonzalez should continue his upward trend for the next decade as his potential continues to grow. Tulowitzki as with most stars has to stay healthy and play at least 140 games for Colorado to make a run at the division title and NL Wild Card spot. If Tulo’ can play a good majority of the season, look for MVP type numbers. Helton is on the down side of his career, but he can still hit for contact in this lineup. Stewart still has the potential for a 30+ HR season, but that window is starting to close. He will have to improve on his patience at the plate (career .332 OBP). Iannetta, besides Tulowitzki, is the key. He is better than the .197 average of last year. Injuries have been a factor in his development, but he is a great hitter and is improving his defensive play. Smith will be in a platoon in right field. He will be given every opportunity to play thanks to his quick swing and his tremendous stats against right handed pitching.

Bench

OF Ryan Spilborghs

.279 AVG 10 HR 39 RBI

INF/OF Ty Wigginton*

.248 AVG 22 HR 76 RBI

INF/OF Eric Young Jr.

.244 AVG 0 HR 8 RBI

Easily the strength of the Rockies is their versatility. Spilborghs can play all three outfield positions, but will be mostly in a platoon with Smith in right. Spilborghs has deceptive speed, but above average power. Wigginton will find a spot in the Rockies left handed heavy lineup. He can give Helton plenty of days off and help keep Stewart fresh when a left-hander is on the mound. Should Lopez struggle, Wigginton can even play second base. EY Jr. is a speed demon, but will struggle to find a consistent starting position. The likely spot is at second or center field. Unless there are injuries, Young will have to be a pinch run/hit specialist.

Rotation

1. Ubaldo Jimenez

19-8 2.88 ERA

2. Jorge De La Rosa

8-7 4.22 ERA

3. Jhoulys Chacin

9-11 3.28 ERA

4. Aaron Cook

6-8 5.08 ERA

5. Jason Hammel

10-9 4.81 ERA

Jimenez was off to a fast start last season. Everything was going right for him. His stellar start included a no-hitter and a start in the All-Star game. However, he hit a brick wall down the stretch, but managed to finish with a 19 win season and record 214 strikeouts. His high walk total of 92 is a bit of a concern. De La Rosa was re-signed for another three years. It’s a sign that Colorado wants to have a sense of familiarity in their rotation. The injury affected De La Rosa last year, but he should return to his 2009 form (16-9 4.38 ERA). Chacin was a pleasant surprise. Initially used out of the bullpen he was given an opportunity to start and was above average. In a full season he could approach 200 strikeouts and 15 wins. Cook and Hammel have to be the stable pieces at the back end. Cook is better than his 5.08 ERA and Hammel will need to improve his control. He gave up a team high 201 hits which resulted in his 4.81 ERA.

Setup

Rafael Betancourt

5-1 3.61 ERA

Closer

Huston Street

20 SV 3.61 ERA

This is the Rockies starters’ fall back option. With Street being healthy to start the season, Colorado should start out of the gate with a winning record. Street can save 40 games easily every year he plays. Betancourt is one of the most underrated setup men in the game today. Their depth with Matt Belisle and former Houston Astros closer Matt Lindstrom should help lessen the blow if Street should be hurt for a time this year. Franklin Morales had a disappointing year, but there’s no denying his potential and with the added depth it will give him another year to fine tune his craft. Manager Jim Tracy likes having options for his bullpen. The 2011 season has given him plenty to play with.

Dodgers Lineup

1. SS Rafael Furcal

.300 AVG 8 RH 43 RBI

2. 3B Casey Blake

.248 AVG 17 HR 64 RBI

3. RF Andre Ethier

.292 AVG 23 HR 82 RBI

4. CF Matt Kemp

.249 AVG 28 HR 89 RBI

5. 1B James Loney

.267 AVG 10 HR 88 RBI

6. 2B Juan Uribe*

.248 AVG 24 HR 85 RBI

7. LF Jay Gibbons

.280 AVG 5 HR 17 RBI

8. C Rod Barajas

.240 AVG 17 HR 47 RBI

There’s a lot that has to change for the Dodgers this year. First, they need a healthy season from Furcal. He’s no longer in his prime, but he is a consistent hitter and great in the leadoff spot. Blake is a bit banged up and might be on the DL to start the season. It would be a blow to their lineup which has had Blake in their lineup for at least 140 games the last two seasons. Ethier was on a tear until a hand injury slowed him down. He should get back on track this year and be the .300-30 HR-100 RBI player he’s capable of being. Kemp is better than the .249 average he batted last year. He did play in every game for the Dodgers, but he has to play to his potential and lower the strikeout total (170). Loney is strictly a gap hitter which works in pitcher friendly Dodger Stadium. He will need to pick up the power void left by the departed Manny Ramirez. Uribe is coming off a career year in home runs and runs batted in. He will have to duplicate those type of numbers for his three year contract. Gibbons played well in a September call-up last year and will be given an opportunity to platoon in left field. Barajas played well after being acquired from the Mets last August (.297-5 HR- 13 RBI in 25 games). Over the course of an entire year at Dodger Stadium is another story.

Bench

OF Marcus Thames*

.288 AVG 12 HR 33 RBI

INF Jamey Carroll

.291 AVG 0 HR 23 RBI

OF Tony Gwynn Jr.*

.204 AVG 3 HR 20 RBI

Thames will be in the platoon with Gibbons in left field. Tremendous power and a decent arm. He can also play first base if needed for the Dodgers. Carroll was great in spot starts, pinch hitting and pinch running situations for the Dodgers last year. That’s been his strength throughout his career. LA should expect the same from Carroll. Gwynn Jr. is an interesting acquisition. His average is a bit misleading. He’s better than that. His strength is defensively where he can track down a fly ball with the best of them. He’ll be utilized a lot in pinch run situations by manager Don Mattingly.

Rotation

1. Clayton Kershaw

13-10 2.91 ERA

2. Chad Billingsley

12-11 3.57 ERA

3. Ted Lilly

10-12 3.62 ERA

4. Hiroki Kuroda

11-13 3.39 ERA

5. Jon Garland

14-12 3.47 ERA

Kershaw is without a doubt the ace of this staff. He pitched more than 200 innings for the first time in his career. He’s also had an ERA of under 3.00 for the second consecutive year. This year should see him post at least 15 wins and another 200+ strikeout season. Billingsley is a solid number two. The last few years he’s gotten out to strong starts, but has slowed down into September. It would be wise for the Dodgers to ease him into the season and not overwork him early this time around. Lilly was a fantastic addition at the trade deadline going 7-4 with a 3.52 ERA in Dodger blue. Surprisingly he decided to stay in LA for less money and will help stabilize the middle of their rotation. Kuroda put up solid numbers as the third starter last year. As the fourth starter those numbers are spectacular. Garland was a great offseason addition. He might start the season on the DL. As will Vicente Padilla, who brings the Dodgers rotation to six members if necessary. Garland’s injury should only keep him out for the first few starts. When he comes back the Dodgers depth in the rotation is only matched by the division rival Giants.

Setup

Hong-Chi Kuo

3-2 1.20 ERA

Closer

Jonathan Broxton

22 SV 4.04 ERA

The key to the Dodgers success starts and ends with Broxton in the ninth inning. He will be given another chance to hold down the job, but he will be on an even shorter leash with Don Mattingly. Former manager Joe Torre gave him ample time last year after the All-Star break. Even Torre had to make a change. Kuo was starting to show signs of being overworked last year. He still managed to post a 1.20 ERA and save 12 games. He will be given the first opportunity to close if Broxton should falter. As long as Broxton stays on point, with Kuo the Dodgers signed another good setup man in Matt Guerrier. He eats up innings and can occasionally save a game or two. The hard throwing Kenley Jansen looks to be the closer of the future as long as he keeps his control in check. There’s good depth, but it’s all on Broxton’s right arm.

Padres Lineup

1. SS Jason Bartlett*

.254 AVG 4 HR 47 RBI

2. 2B Orlando Hudson*

.268 AVG 6 HR 37 RBI

3. 3B Chase Headley

.264 AVG 11 HR 58 RBI

4. LF Ryan Ludwick

.251 AVG 17 HR 69 RBI

5. 1B Brad Hawpe*

.245 AVG 9 HR 44 RBI

6. RF Will Venable

.245 AVG 13 HR 51 RBI

7. C Nick Hundley

.249 AVG 8 HR 43 RBI

8. CF Cameron Maybin*

.234 AVG 8 HR 28 RBI

San Diego traded away their best hitter in Adrian Gonzalez. In fact, they have totally revamped their lineup. However, in doing so they’ve put an emphasis on two things. Speed and defense. With the acquisitions of Bartlett and Hudson up the middle. The Padres have two of the best defensive players at their respective positions. Both are good contact hitters and can start rallies for the offense. Headley aside from Gonzalez was their most consistent hitter. Not a lot is expected from the Padres offense this year, which bodes well for another productive year from Headley. Ludwick and Hawpe individually or together won’t replace Gonzalez, but they both can hit for power. Ludwick will be counted on to be the run producer as well. A daunting task for a player that’s played at the bottom of most lineups. Venable has 20-20 potential. Petco Park prevents the 20 home runs from happening, but he can hit. He just needs to be more consistent. Hundley is an adequate defender and had his best offensive season of his career last year. Maybin will be getting a third chance at sticking with a major league club. Detroit parted ways with him in the Miguel Cabrera trade to Florida. The Marlins didn’t have a spot for him and the result is being the starting center fielder in San Diego. Maybin has a lot to offer in the speed category and on defense. He won’t be thrusted into the leadoff spot until his bat is up to speed.

Bench

INF Jorge Cantu*

.256 AVG 11 HR 56 RBI

OF Chris Denorfia

.271 AVG 9 HR 36 RBI

INF Everth Cabrera

.208 AVG 1 HR 22 RBI

Cantu figures to get plenty of playing time all over the infield. The most likely position will be in a platoon with Hawpe at first base. Cantu is a RBI machine. He drove in 95 and 100 for the Marlins in 2008 and 2009 respectively. Denorfia is a scrappy player. Makes good contact and is an above average defender in all the outfield spots. Cabrera is no longer the starter at shortstop. He’s a good defender, but his bat is what will keep him from playing in a lot of games.

Rotation

1. Mat Latos

14-10 2.92 ERA

2. Clayton Richard

14-9 3.75 ERA

3. Aaron Harang*

6-7 5.32 ERA

4. Tim Stauffer

6-5 1.85 ERA

5. Cory Luebke

1-1 4.08 ERA

Manager Bud Black has built a good staff at the top with Latos and Richard. Latos was homegrown in their system and Richard was part of the Jake Peavy deal with the Chicago White Sox. Latos showed signs of fatigue down the stretch last year. There shouldn’t be any problems in his second full season, but San Diego will keep an eye on that. Richard showed no signs of fatigue and he should be ready and able to be the Padres number two starter. Jon Garland and Kevin Correia left via free agency and in their place will be Harang and Stauffer. Harang should have a resurgence to his career playing in Petco as opposed to the hitter friendly Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati. Stauffer was spectacular, but that was mostly in relief. He only started 7 of his 32 games. Luebke will be given the first shot at a starting spot. If he should falter they do have another lefty in Wade LeBlanc and righthander Dustin Moseley to pitch in.

Setup

Mike Adams

4-1 1.76 ERA

Closer

Heath Bell

47 SV 1.93 ERA

San Diego’s pride and joy has been their bullpen since manager Bud Black’s arrival. Last year was their best year by far. There are a lot of working parts to this bullpen, but one thing is for sure. The closer is Heath Bell. He’s entering the final year of his contract and the rumors will swirl whether the Padres will trade him or not. If San Diego does start out with a winning record though, it will be hard to justify dealing him. Adams is being overlooked as an elite setup man. His numbers have been stellar in his three seasons in San Diego. Luke Gregerson and Joe Thatcher are perfect in middle relief. Chad Qualls was a great pickup for the sixth and seventh inning job. The Padres strength is in their pitching. It will become apparent this season.

Diamondbacks Lineup

1. SS Stephen Drew

.278 AVG 15 HR 61 RBI

2. 2B Kelly Johnson

.284 AVG 26 HR 71 RBI

3. RF Justin Upton

.273 AVG 17 HR 69 RBI

4. 1B Russell Branyan*

.237 AVG 25 HR 57 RBI

5. CF Chris Young

.257 AVG 27 HR 91 RBI

6. C Miguel Montero

.266 AVG 9 HR 43 RBI

7. 3B Melvin Mora*

.278 AVG 7 HR 45 RBI

8. LF Xavier Nady*

.256 AVG 6 HR 33 RBI

The only sure thing about Arizona’s lineup is at the top. Drew and Johnson had great seasons. Johnson especially. Both will be counted on to set the table for the rest of the lineup which will need all the help they can get. Upton had a down year. Look for him to renew his 30+ HR potential and improve his batting average with Don Baylor hired as the new hitting coach. Branyan was a non-roster invite to spring training. He will most likely win the starting job at first due to their lack of reliable options in the minors. Young had a nice bounce back year in 2010. Arizona hopes he continues that upward trend into what was promised to be a great career. Montero is starting to come alive with his bat. His defense is a bit behind, but there will be plenty of room for improvement with the signing of veteran Henry Blanco who is one of the best defensive catchers in the game. Mora and Nady are two veterans who will see plenty of playing time at their respective positions. Mora had an okay year in Colorado as the backup third baseman. Nady is a scrappy hitter who has struggled with injuries throughout his career. Both play the game the right way, which is what manager Kirk Gibson is looking for from his veterans this year.

Bench

INF Geoff Blum*

.267 AVG 2 HR 22 RBI

INF/OF Willie Bloomquist*

.267 AVG 3 HR 17 RBI

OF Gerardo Parra

.261 AVG 3 HR 30 RBI

Blum and Bloomquist are exactly what Gibson is looking for to fill in his bench. Both are tough, no nonsense players who give it their all and will play anywhere on the field when called upon. Blum is one of the best pinch hitters in the game and is above average defensively. Bloomquist was once considered to be an everyday player in Seattle, but injuries have relegated him to a utility role. He hasn’t shied away from it. His career is extended thanks to the move. A good contact hitter who can steal the occasional base. Parra is the fourth outfielder for Arizona. Makes good contact and has deceptive speed, but isn’t the best base stealer. Gibson has a good group, but there will be growing pains.

Rotation

1. Joe Saunders

9-17 4.47 ERA

2. Daniel Hudson

8-2 2.45 ERA

3. Ian Kennedy

9-10 3.80 ERA

4. Zach Duke*

8-15 5.72 ERA

5. Armando Galarraga*

4-9 4.49 ERA

Arizona would love to see some improvement from some on the starting staff. Saunders for one. He had his worst season as a professional. After being acquired for ace Dan Haren from the Angels, he did improve his ERA (4.62 to 4.25) and his strikeout to walk ratio (64-45 to 50-19). However, he wasn’t able to stop giving up hits. In only 13 starts for Arizona he gave 97 hits in 82.2 innings pitched. That has to change. Hudson was the lone bright spot. Once he arrived from the Chicago White Sox in a trade for Edwin Jackson, he took flight. His stellar record and ERA went well with an impressive strikeout to walk ratio (70-16). Kennedy also was stellar. His record doesn’t say it, but he nearly pitched 200 innings and struck out 168 batters. Duke and Galarraga are looking for second chances. Duke will miss the first few weeks of the season, but has good stuff to stick in the rotation. Galarraga is most famous for nearly throwing a no-hitter last year, but aside from that he hasn’t found a way to stay in the majors for an entire season. Barry Enright will probably be in the rotation for the injured Duke. Enright has above average stuff to get batters out. Not a wow factor.

Setup

Juan Gutierrez

0-6 5.08 ERA

Closer

J.J. Putz*

3 SV 2.83 ERA

There are a lot of options at the Diamondbacks disposal for the 2011 bullpen. The only sure thing is who their closer is. That man is J.J. Putz. He hasn’t been a full time closer since 2008, but that doesn’t mean he can’t close games. The Diamondbacks would love to see him approach the 30 save plateau for them. Gutierrez was the closer for part of the season recording 15 saves, but he wasn’t effective for most of the season. He figures to be a better setup man along with two new additions David Hernandez and Kam Mickolio. Both were acquired from Baltimore for 3B Mark Reynolds. Hernandez is a hard throwing righthander who will be in the mix for the setup job. Mickolio is a 6′ 9″ monster on the mound, but might need some seasoning first. Aaron Heilman figures to see some time in the bullpen as well. If not he could win a spot start once in a while. Arizona figures to have a work in progress leading up to Putz in the ninth.

NCAA Tournament Bracket

Here it is. My bracket. If you can’t decipher my handwriting, sorry, can’t help you. I will probably be throwing mine away after this weekend, but like the millions of people that take part in this, I can’t get enough of it. When I correctly predicted the Syracuse Orangemen to win the 2003 NCAA tournament, I was hooked. This year I’m going with the Ohio State Buckeyes to win it all. They’ve been consistently the best team all year. Jared Sullinger is a beast down low for them and they shoot the ball with tremendous ferocity. Notre Dame impressed me playing in the tough Big East conference. They won big games down the stretch and were perfect on their home court. We all think we have the perfect bracket, but all that matters is the love of the game.

Everyone Screwed It Up

I will admit that it’s a bit premature of me to discuss this when it’s quite possible that everything will be back to normal sooner rather than later. Lets be honest though, do you really think that will be the case? If you saw just a few minutes of the coverage in Wisconsin over whether the state should be able to take away collective bargaining rights of the unions, then you should believe that the owners and the players in the NFL are no closer to resolving their problems. Basically what I’m going to do is lay down exactly how I feel and what most of you already feel about this situation. Now I’ve had a few days to think it over, but one thing is absolutely clear in my mind. It came down to billionaire owners fighting with millionaire players. Exactly what they said wouldn’t happen.

The Owners

You can try to say that you don’t want there to be a lockout and that you want the players that you pay so much money to be able to play the game they love. That was a big fat lie with the 9 billion dollars you had set aside in television revenue to divide amongst yourselves when you locked out the players if it should come to that. Basically you guys had a stash of petty cash to help soften the blow you would have when there was no money to be had. You tried to act like something you weren’t, but I didn’t fall for it. Even if you hadn’t had the 9 billion set aside, I still believe for a second that you guys care about anything but your bottom line. Be honest with yourselves. You want to save as much as possible and you have every right to do that. Don’t lie through your teeth and tell me otherwise. Quit trying to put a happy face on it. You all waited til the last minute to talk and look where it got you.

The Players

I get that DeMaurice Smith is the new man in charge and he is changing things for the better for his clients. One thing I want to ask though. What the hell was up with that hat he was sporting this past week (pictured above)? Are we back in the 1920s? Is it the style to look like your apart of the mafia? He sure was playing hardball with the owners. Again, that’s his job. He didn’t back down from a lot of things. Namely wanting to see the owners financial dealings as far back as ten years. He and most of the players don’t want an 18 game schedule unless they are compensated. My only problem is that you knew of the owners intentions for wanting an 18 game schedule since the middle of the season. If you wanted to see the owners finance books as far back as a decade, why did you wait until March to ask for it? Why the hell did you wait until February to start talking with the owners? Sure, the owners didn’t have any urgency to talk either, but take the initiative and control the situation from the start. Quit acting like you’re doing some good by waiting until the last minute. To me, this is exactly what you wanted. No shock at all. You’re going to drag this along as long as you can and feel you’ve accomplished your ultimate goal of dismantling the NFL owners. That’s nice and all, but I don’t like phony people and you are one with a capital P.

Don’t take my word for anything. This is my observation and I believe that every single person involved screwed this up royally. There is still plenty of time before the season is scheduled to start, but I believe that both sides are so far apart that it will take a miracle for them to come to an agreement before that date. The entire month of March has been a big lie. Somehow we were to believe that both sides were making some progress, but all the non-stop coverage gave us no new information at all. The fact is Roger Goodell and DeMaurice Smith hate each other. They don’t want to see their side lose no matter what. This is the biggest cash cow in the sports realm in America. I would want a big slice of that pie too. I figured there would be a lockout and that the season would be interrupted or cancelled altogether. I hope that’s not true, but don’t be surprised if it is. No one wins. Everyone loses.

2011 NBA Mid-Season Report

Mid-Season Awards

MVP – Derrick Rose – Bulls

Rookie – Blake Griffin – Clippers

Coach – Gregg Popovich – Spurs

Defensive Player – Dwight Howard – Magic

Most Improved – Kevin Love – Timberwolves

Sixth Man – Lamar Odom – LA Lakers

Executive – Otis Smith – Magic

Elite Class

Boston Celtics (40-14)

The ‘Big Three’ (Garnett, Pierce, Allen) are averaging over 15 points per game and are shooting over 50 percent from the field. Rajon Rondo is leading the league is assists per game at 12.2. Glen Davis has been a force off the bench for the Celtics. Even with injuries to the O’Neal’s (Jermaine and Shaquille), Boston is getting by with the return of Kendrick Perkins. They are positioned nicely for a good run to one of the top three seeds in the Eastern Conference.

Miami Heat (41-15)

After a 9-8 start to the season, Miami went on a tear through the NBA. LeBron and Wade are putting up amazing numbers and Chris Bosh has been having a good year, but not what we’re accustomed to seeing from him. Even with injuries to Udonis Haslem and Mike Miller, the Heat were able to get through the middle of the season with decent production from James Jones and Zydrunas Ilgauskas. As long as LeBron, Wade and Bosh continue to produce and stay healthy, the Heat will be in contention through the Conference Finals.

San Antonio Spurs (46-10)

They have been playing perfect basketball all season long. Manu Ginobili is having another stellar season. Tony Parker isn’t showing any signs of slowing down. Tim Duncan is averaging a career low in points per game (13.4), but has been a great defender. The supporting cast has been spectacular. Richard Jefferson is having a bounce back year. DeJuan Blair is slowly becoming a great player around the basket. George Hill can play either guard position superbly. True to the Spurs great talent evaluators they found another gem in undrafted rookie Gary Neal. The Spurs are the real deal.

Contenders

Chicago Bulls (38-16)

Derrick Rose is without a doubt the MVP of the first half. If you don’t believe me, just look at what he’s been doing without Joakim Noah and Carlos Boozer for most of the season. With Boozer back and Luol Deng shooting near lights out, the Bulls haven’t had to play a shutdown defense as much with Noah out. When he returns, expect the Bulls to be able to compete with the likes of Boston, Miami and Orlando.

Orlando Magic (36-21)

They made a major decision before the New Year by trading Vince Carter, Marcin Gortat, Mickael Pietrus and Rashard Lewis. They received Gilbert Arenas, Hedo Turkoglu, Jason Richardson and Earl Clark. It dramatically changed the appearance of the team, but they continue to have Dwight Howard as their focal point. Jameer Nelson’s production has gone down a bit since the trade. However, Brandon Bass and Ryan Anderson have seen their numbers soar with extended playing time. Richardson and Turkoglu will have to produce at a high level if they are to get past Boston and Miami.

Dallas Mavericks (40-16)

They find themselves staring up at their cross state rivals in San Antonio. Dirk Nowitzki, thankfully is back in the fold after a knee injury sidelined him for nine games. Even with the season ending injury to Caron Butler, Dallas is getting great production from Jason Terry and Shawn Marion who is filling the void left by Butler’s injury. Tyson Chandler is having a career year for Dallas. The Mavericks depth in the frontcourt is the one thing that will help them down the stretch.

LA Lakers (38-19)

Everyone is trying to make something out of the Lakers struggles of late, but it all has to do with their attitude. They’ve appeared to be out of it and not ready to play. That will change as long as you have Kobe Bryant and Phil Jackson at the helm. Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom are having terrific seasons while Ron Artest is having the exact opposite. All three will need to be on their game and Kobe will have to get that killer instinct back for the playoff run.

Oklahoma City Thunder (35-19)

Kevin Durant is doing his thing. Leading the team and the league in scoring (28.9). Russell Westbrook is behind him with a respectable 22.2 points per game. Those two are fast becoming one of the best duos in the NBA. If you asked them, it isn’t all about them though. Jeff Green, James Harden and Serge Ibaka are big contributors to what the Thunder have built going forward.

Middle of the Pack

Atlanta Hawks (34-21)

Joe Johnson, Josh Smith and Al Horford have been playing great basketball. Jamal Crawford is still playing up to his usual role of the sixth man. Atlanta isn’t out of the conversation of contenders so much as what they will be able to do in the playoffs. They will get in, but what will the trio of Johnson, Smith and Horford be able to do? History shows that the Hawks will probably get through the first round, but might last past the semifinals again.

New York Knicks (28-26)

Even if they don’t acquire Carmelo Anthony before the trade deadline, they still have a lot to be happy about. Raymond Felton has been playing at a high level all year. Amar’e Stoudemire is proving his worth as an elite player. Danilo Gallinari and Wilson Chandler have actually increased their production from a breakout season a year ago. Landry Fields has been quite the find in the second round. The rookie is rekindling Knicks fans memories of John Starks. They can wait for Carmelo to be a free agent. The pieces they have are keepers.

Philadelphia 76ers (27-29)

They are getting great production out of Elton Brand for the first time since his arrival. He and Andre Iguodala are both great complements to each others game. Louis Williams is continuing to give the 76ers a prominent scorer off the bench. Jrue Holiday is starting to show signs of becoming a great floor leader in Philadelphia. Head Coach Doug Collins has found a nice mix that should keep the 76ers in the fold for the playoffs.

Indiana Pacers (24-30)

They made a coaching change by letting go Jim O’Brien and replacing him with assistant Frank Vogel on an interim basis. Since then the Pacers are 7-3. Thanks in part to the resurgence of Roy Hibbert and Darren Collison. Both have been disappointing thus far, but with Danny Granger being a consistent scorer for the Pacers both Hibbert and Collison picked a perfect time to get back on track. Mike Dunleavy is giving them what they need, which is a spark off the bench. They will be in a three team battle for the final spot going forward.

Charlotte Bobcats (24-32)

Still not quite sure if Larry Brown decided to quit, was fired or a little of both. Either way the Bobcats had to know it wasn’t going to last much longer with him. He was the interim, but will be the full time head coach, Paul Silas, has the Bobcats hopefully on the upswing for the final playoff spot. Leading scorer Stephen Jackson has been the source of trade rumors, but he and Gerald Wallace provide a good complement to each other. Charlotte will probably stay pat and worry about the roster after the season.

Portland Trail Blazers (32-24)

No team in the NBA has suffered more with the injury bug. Brandon Roy and Greg Oden both missing significant time this season. Roy will return, but will be limited in his playing time. LaMarcus Aldridge has been playing like an All-Star since Roy went down. Andre Miller and Nicolas Batum have increased their productivity and Wesley Matthews has been worth every penny the Blazers have given him this year.

New Orleans Hornets (33-25)

Things aren’t as bad as we thought in New Orleans. Chris Paul is healthy and playing at his usual All-Star level. David West is back to his former self. They are even getting consistent play from Trevor Ariza and Emeka Okafor has been a defensive stalwart for New Orleans. First year head coach Monty Williams has done a great job with so much turmoil to start the season. The Hornets should be in the playoff conversation the rest of the way.

Denver Nuggets (32-25)

Will they or won’t they trade Carmelo Anthony? If you’re Denver you have to do what’s best for the team, not the player. They should get something for him. Yet, they are still in the playoffs with him. Crazier things have happened, but you know that Denver’s window has pretty much shut. If Melo and Chauncey Billups are dealt, they do have a good core in J.R. Smith, Aaron Afflalo and Ty Lawson going forward with whatever they get for Anthony and Billups. Denver is in a lose-lose situation, but they need to make a decision now.

Utah Jazz (31-26)

The legendary head coach Jerry Sloan decided to call it a career recently. The real reason only he and the Utah Jazz know for sure, but we can leave the speculation alone for another time. Going forward Utah’s interim head coach Tyrone Corbin has a lot on his table. First to get Deron Williams’ focus back on basketball and not talking to the media. Second to find a cohesive second unit to help take the pressure off Williams, Al Jefferson and Paul Millsap. Utah was given a big blow losing Jerry Sloan and they could be in danger of falling out of playoff contention.

Memphis Grizzlies (31-26)

Zach Randolph and Rudy Gay are as good as it gets for Memphis. They couldn’t ask for a better inside outside combo. To help them along has been Mike Conley. To many analysts surprise, Conley has been a pretty adequate point guard after a subpar 2009-10 season. O.J. Mayo has been a disappointment and has been relegated to a bench role. He seems to fare better off the bench. Marc Gasol needs to be more aggressive around the basket. Memphis has a lot of offensive weapons, but not a lot of depth to make a serious run.

Outside Looking In

Milwaukee Bucks (21-34)

Brandon Jennings is back and healthy for the Bucks. It’s a good thing since they are on the outside of the playoff race, but they aren’t behind by much. Record aside, it’s been a disappointing year. Andrew Bogut hasn’t been the force inside like he was last year before getting hurt. The Jennings injury and the inconsistent play of John Salmons. Thankfully with the team getting healthy, they still have a chance, but high expectations look to have got the best of them.

Detroit Pistons (21-36)

They’ve had lineup problems and the issue of Richard Hamilton wanting more playing time. Overall they weren’t expecting to have a let down this year. Tayshaun Prince and Rodney Stuckey are having good seasons, but Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva are turning out to be $60 million dollar busts if they don’t pick up their game soon. Tracy McGrady is having a nice bounce back season, but it’s going unnoticed in Detroit.

Phoenix Suns (27-27)

They made a move with Orlando acquiring Vince Carter, Marcin Gortat and Mickael Pietrus for Hedo Turkoglu, Jason Richardson and Earl Clark. Since then, they’ve only managed to have a .500 record and are considered an outsider from the crowded field for the final playoff spots in the West. Steve Nash will not be traded and Phoenix doesn’t have many other assets to use in a trade. It’s best for them to finish the year with what they have and hope that they can start fresh with Jared Dudley, Gortat and Goran Dragic being more involved in the rotation.

Golden State Warriors (26-29)

Not a whole lot to the Warriors except for Monta Ellis, Stephen Curry and David Lee. With Dorell Wright and Reggie Williams, they basically have a five man rotation night in and night out. There has been a lot of talk about them eventually trading Ellis or Curry. It probably won’t happen until after the season as the Warriors don’t want to mess with the chemistry they’ve developed this season. Ellis has been a big time scorer for them and Curry has improved in the assist department this year, but both players are the same type of two guard scorer. Lee has struggled with injuries, but he is a capable double-double machine.

Houston Rockets (26-31)

The Rockets are just one player short of being in the thick of the playoff hunt. The one player would have been Yao Ming, but with his injury aside the Rockets might be looking to make a move to give Kevin Martin and Luis Scola some help. Both Martin and Scola are having terrific seasons and there has been talk of getting Carmelo, but it would be best for them to get someone like John Salmons who Milwaukee acquired from Chicago last year. Houston has had trouble at the point guard position where Aaron Brooks has been injured. Houston should be in the fold, but probably won’t until next year.

Waiting for the Lottery

New Jersey Nets (17-40)

Even if they acquire Carmelo Anthony, they won’t be in the mix for a playoff spot. They want to build towards the future and they will make a deal or two to position themselves for that. Going forward Brook Lopez is the future for the team. Devin Harris, if he’s not dealt, is still the point guard who will setup the attack. Sasha Vujacic has been a pleasant surprise since being acquired before the New Year. He and Jordan Farmar have been a good duo off the bench.

Washington Wizards (15-39)

John Wall has been as good as advertised for the Wizards. He and leading scorer Nick Young have been superb and Washington is building something for the future. With Andray Blatche and JaVale McGee in the frontcourt, Washington might have a good core that will help them compete in the near future. All they need is just a few more pieces to mix in and they will be just fine going forward.

Toronto Raptors (15-41)

There have been only two players that have consistently produced for the lowly Raptors this year. Andrea Bargnani is putting up All-Star like numbers. DeMar DeRozan is having a breakout year for Toronto. After that, it’s pretty much it. Jose Calderon might be better suited elsewhere as the Raptors have a trade piece to get something in return for the future. Not that they were any better with Chris Bosh, but they were a competitive team.

Cleveland Cavaliers (10-46)

When Mo Williams and Anderson Varejao went down with injuries, that seemed to take the life out of the rest of the team. With Williams returning and J.J. Hickson playing at a high level, the Cavaliers are starting to get out of the losing trend. However, don’t expect them to win more than 20 games the rest of the way. Most of the teams in the NBA don’t play with as little motivation as Cleveland does.

LA Clippers (21-35)

A horrible start to the season didn’t help them in their quest to be competitive. They did find some solace in knowing that Blake Griffin was exactly what they thought he was going to be when he was drafted last year. DeAndre Jordan will slowly make All-Star center Chris Kaman expendable if he continues to struggle staying healthy. Eric Gordon is having a career year with his scoring output. They have a good mix at point guard with Baron Davis and rookie Eric Bledsoe. They won’t get back in contention, but they have a good starting point going into next year.

Sacramento Kings (13-40)

Unable to find their identity, Sacramento is now looking into playing elsewhere next season. As if things couldn’t get any worse, first round pick DeMarcus Cousins is having a bit of a meltdown. With his frustration, the Kings are slowing losing any edge they might have had. Cousins is having a good year and Tyreke Evans is still producing at a high level. They will have to consider what their identity is going forward and whether they have the right coach in place.

Minnesota Timberwolves (13-43)

It goes to show you that if you give a player time, he will blossom. Kevin Love has done just that this year. He and Michael Beasley have led the Wolves in almost every major category and they might be on their way out if they don’t get help fast. There is no identity at the point. Jonny Flynn has struggled mightily. Luke Ridnour has salvaged it, but they are counting on Ricky Rubio to eventually save the day. It could be a disaster if they don’t fix the supporting cast pronto.