With a little over two months left in this year's baseball season, there is very little already decided. While it feels as if we have a pretty good idea of who the best and worst teams in the league are, a lot can change over the final two months, as there is a lot of baseball yet to be played. As many as 18 teams should still have realistic hopes that if they get healthy and catch a few breaks that they could be one of the eight teams that wind up still playing into October. With that in mind, I have given my opinion on where teams will end up and what will transpire over the next couple of months. I might be a mile off on some of these predictions, but here they are:
AL East: 1. Tampa Bay Rays 2. New York Yankees 3. Boston Red Sox 4. Toronto Blue Jays 5. Baltimore Orioles
I feel like the Rays pitching and superior athleticism will carry them surging past the Yankees into first in the east. New York will sorely miss Andy Pettitte's veteran presence over the next month or so. David Price will continue his dominance and James Shields and Matt Garza will find their form, while Evan Longoria, Carl Crawford and company tear the cover off the ball and tear up the basepaths in taking over the division. The Red Sox will fall by the wayside in the wild card race as Clay Buchholz fades and the bullpen outside of Ramon Ramirez and Papelbon will continue to struggle and the offense will struggle without the scrappy Dustin Pedroia. Toronto will continue to have a nice season and finish near .500 with their slugging lineup, and the Orioles will chalk up a season with the league's worst record as a learning experience for their young future stars, but that won't be enough to keep Juan Samuel in the manager's role on a more permanent basis.
AL Central: 1. Minnesota Twins 2. Detroit Tigers 3. Chicago White Sox 4. Kansas City Royals 5. Cleveland Indians
In what should be the tightest race in baseball for a playoff spot, I expect the Twins to hold off the Tigers and White Sox for the division title. Morneau will get healthy, and the strong fundamental baseball the Twinkies play will propel them to the playoffs. The Tigers have been a pleasant surprise this season with huge contributions from rookies Brennan Boesch and Austin Jackson, as well as an MVP caliber year from Miguel Cabrera. Unfortunately, the overuse of their bullpen due to an inconsistent starting staff will catch up with this team. They will fall just short to Minnesota again. The White Sox have been on a tear over the past month, but the bats will almost certainly cool off eventually, and the rotation has no one that scary with Peavy on the shelf. It also doesn't help them that they never know what to expect from Bobby Jenks in the ninth. All of those issues should drop them to third by season's end. The Royals will have a fairly successful year despite a 4th place finish. The young core of the team has really made strides, and now it's a matter of being able to keep the team together. The Indians have few positives to take from the season, and will finish last in the central.
AL West: 1. Texas Rangers 2. Oakland Athletics 3. Los Angeles Angels 4. Seattle Mariners
The Rangers' acquisition of Cliff Lee is the difference maker here. The lineup is lethal, and C.J. Wilson, Colby Lewis, and Tommy Hunter have done a nice job keeping the team at the top of the division, but Lee is a lights-out ace to anchor the staff, and the Rangers will run away with the west and have a legitimate shot to compete in the playoffs and win. The Oakland A's have quietly had a solid season. The rotation has been very solid, as has the bullpen, and the punchless lineup has shown improvement, particularly in Kurt Suzuki and Cliff Pennington. I think a strong second half puts the A's in front of the Angels, but still a ways behind Texas. The Angels' rotation outside of Weaver is not very strong, even with the addition of Dan Haren, who will help, and the lineup has been makeshift without Kendry Morales in the middle of it. Brandon Wood didn't develop the way he was supposed to, and the rest of the lineup is made up of fill-in type players aside from Howie Kendrick and Torii Hunter, which are hardly big-time sluggers themselves. The Mariners dug themselves a hole early in the season and never really started to climb out. Dealing Lee certainly doesn't help them, and they seem to be a lock for 4th in the west.
NL East: 1. Atlanta Braves 2. Philadelphia Phillies 3. Florida Marlins 4. New York Mets 5. Washington Nationals
The Braves are just going to be hard for anyone to catch. They have been one of the best teams in baseball since the start of May, and the Phillies have been too beat up to keep pace. The injury to Chase Utley kills their chances to overtake the Braves, who have a tremendous rotation and a solid bullpen if Billy Wagner doesn't break down. The lineup isn't overpowering, but everyone contributes. Martin Prado, Troy Glaus, Brian McCann and Jason Heyward have been the catalysts, but even the role players such as Omar Infante, Eric Hinske and a motley crew of others have helped as well. The Phillies have just as good a rotation, and a potent lineup, but the lack of Utley and a very volatile bullpen situation will send the two-time defending NL champs home before the postseason. The Mets rotation will struggle eventually, even if Johan Santana is lights out every start. The lineup is solid, but not overpowering, and the bullpen doesn't really frighten anyone until K-Rod comes in. I see the Marlins overtaking the Mets with some strong pitching from Josh Johnson and Ricky Nolasco, and a young lineup that is slowly getting better as Gaby Sanchez and Mike Stanton develop. The Nationals will put up a valiant effort to stay out of the cellar, but the talent is still a couple years away from being a serious contender in a strong NL east.
NL Central: 1. St. Louis Cardinals 2. Cincinnati Reds 3. Chicago Cubs 4. Pittsburgh Pirates 5. Milwaukee Brewers 6. Houston Astros
The central race may have been decided by the injury to Reds' starting third baseman Scott Rolen. His resurgence was a huge part of why the Reds' offense has been so good to this point in the season. The Cardinals just have too strong a pitching staff to be dethroned in the central. Adam Wainwright, Chris Carpenter, and Jaime Garcia make up the strongest 3-man rotation in baseball, and the Cards are still looking to add Roy Oswalt. If the lineup can get anything out of Matt Holliday down the stretch to help Albert Pujols and company, it could be a runaway. I do believe the Cubs have a run left in them as the rotation has been strong so far, and disappointing stars like Aramis Ramirez, Geovany Soto, and Derrek Lee get hot, but the Cubs may have done themselves in with a 6-15 record against the Pirates and Astros before this week, the two worst teams in the central to date. The run will give Cubs fans hope, but they will fall short of the postseason. Every year, one team at the bottom of the standings makes a run late in the season that makes their year seem respectable as they climb a couple spots in the standings. This year, that team will be the Pittsburgh Pirates. The young lineup is coming around fast, as Pedro Alvarez recently homered 4 times in 2 games, and Jose Tabata, Andrew McCutchen, Neil Walker, and a couple others have started to produce more consistently. The bullpen has a couple of solid arms in Joel Hanrahan and Evan Meek, and the young starting staff should have some stronger outings as they gain experience. The Milwaukee Brewers will head the opposite direction. They have no starting pitching to speak of after Yovani Gallardo, and if they deal a couple of bats away at the deadline, they will really scuffle the rest of the way. I see a big slide coming for the Brew Crew. The Astros simply have the least amount of talent in the majors on their roster. Only Lance Berkman, Wandy Rodriguez, Matt Lindstrom, Hunter Pence, Michael Bourn, and the likely soon-to-be-traded Roy Oswalt are worth mentioning as legitimate big leaguers. Carlos Lee is way over the hill and the rest of the team is just not good. They will finish last in the division, if not the whole NL.
NL West: 1. San Diego Padres 2. San Francisco Giants 3. Colorado Rockies 4. Los Angeles Dodgers 5. Arizona Diamondbacks
The Padres are for real. Great rotation, even better bullpen, and a lineup built around Adrian Gonzalez that comes through when it needs to. This team is built on pitching, defense, and timely hitting. They also make their own breaks by stealing a boatload of bases. They will hold off the rest of the division. The Giants will play well in the second half and will take down the wild card. They have the best rotation in this division, and their bullpen has been pretty solid as well. They at times struggle to put up runs, but rookie Buster Posey has given the Giants enough punch to make a difference in the playoff race. The Rockies have a chance if they get hot in the second half as they have the best lineup in the west, but they really don't have enough pitching after Ubaldo Jimenez, and even he has really struggled of late. I don't see the Rockies beating out San Fran. The Dodgers just seem to be a team without a real identity. They hit pretty well, but some of their sluggers have underachieved. Their rotation is pretty good, but really is one arm short, and they won't make a move given the owner's divorce still being unsettled. Plus, outside of Broxton, the bullpen isn't as good as it was a year ago. They will slip to the back of the west's lead pack. The Diamondbacks will not get out of fifth, and trading Haren really announced that to the rest of the division. Their lineup still is too agressive, despite having some good hitters, but the pitching is awful.
AWARDS
AL Manager of the Year: 1. Ron Washington, Texas 2. Joe Maddon, Tampa Bay 3. Cito Gaston, Toronto
Washington is the easy choice if the Rangers win the west. It was far from expected that Texas would be this good. Joe Maddon will get a lot of credit if the Rays win the east over New York, and Girardi and Gardenhire are expected to win with the teams they have. Ozzie Guillen will get some credit for the Sox turnaround, and Leyland for doing so well with such a young and beat up team, but if neither of them win the central, it will be Cito Gaston who will be third in the vote. Gaston took a Blue Jays team expected to be awful with the loss of Roy Halladay, and kept them afloat and around the .500 mark. With the team he has, no one expected that.
AL Rookie of the Year: 1. Brennan Boesch, Detroit 2. Carlos Santana, Cleveland 3. Austin Jackson, Detroit
It's hard to pick against Boesch if he doesn't fade down the stretch. There really isn't much of a rookie pool to choose from in the AL, unlike in the senior circuit. Santana came up too late to match Boesch's numbers, and Jackson has also done a very nice job replacing fan favorite Curtis Granderson.
AL Cy Young: 1. David Price, Tampa Bay 2. Jon Lester, Boston 3. C.C. Sabathia, New York
All of the finalists here are from the loaded AL East, mainly because no one can match the numbers these guys are putting up. Price has clearly been the best of these guys, with Lester not all that far behind. Sabathia hasn't been overpowering as he usually is, but his ERA is still just a shade over 3 and he will top the AL in wins, which help in the Cy Young vote. The only other guy I think could crack the top 3 is Cliff Lee if he has a strong run in Texas.
AL MVP: 1. Josh Hamilton, Texas 2. Miguel Cabrera, Detroit 3. Evan Longoria, Tampa Bay
This won't be fair, but it will happen if the Tigers don't win the central. Cabrera will pretty much have to win the triple crown to take home the MVP without a division title, and Hamilton will likely get the hardware with slightly lesser numbers in a better lineup. Cabby has carried the Tigers' offense so far, but will be hard-pressed to take them to the playoffs. I believe Longoria will get hot in the second half to be the best of the rest after Cabrera and Hamilton.
NL Manager of the Year: 1. Bud Black, San Diego 2. Bobby Cox, Atlanta 3. Dusty Baker, Cincinnati
Bud Black is an easy choice if the Padres win the west. It's a very unexpected result from a very good division. There will be a lot of push to get this award to Cox in his last season, but Black just has done too good a job to be bypassed to honor a legend. Dusty Baker has been a phenomenal manager for the Reds this year, and just being in contention will get him consideration.
NL Rookie of the Year: 1. Stephen Strasburg, Washington 2. Jaime Garcia, St. Louis 3. Buster Posey, San Francisco
Strasburg will get the award because everyone is dazzled by the stuff and the strikeout numbers, but Garcia will be more deserving. The Cardinals seemed thin in the rotation after Carpenter and Wainwright, but Garcia has been sensational, and he's been that since opening day. Buster Posey has been the best NL rookie hitter, and will be voted higher than other solid rooks Jason Heyward, Tyler Colvin, and Starlin Castro.
NL Cy Young: 1. Adam Wainwright, St. Louis 2. Josh Johnson, Florida 3. Ubaldo Jimenez, Colorado
Wainwright has been dominant and is getting better. The fact that he will have more wins and pitch on a division champion will get him the nod over Johnson, who will probably have a lower ERA. Jimenez will likely continue his second half struggles, but he will lead the majors in wins, and that is always tough to overlook in the Cy Young vote. Tim Hudson, Jaime Garcia and Roy Halladay will also deserve consideration at year's end.
NL MVP: 1. Joey Votto, Cincinnati 2. Albert Pujols, St. Louis 3. Adrian Gonzalez, San Diego
Votto will have the best numbers. Even though Cincy will miss the playoffs most likely, Votto will keep them in the hunt without Scott Rolen or a dangerous supporting cast. It will be tough for the voters to screw this up like they did by snubbing him for the all-star game. Pujols will have his usual strong numbers, but he will wind up second in the vote because anything less than superhuman out of him is considered a disappointment, and he is in a stronger lineup than Votto. Gonzalez carried the Padres offense on his back for much of the last two years, but his numbers have regressed a little this year, and he will miss out on a prime MVP opportunity.
PLAYOFFS
ALDS: Rays over Twins, Rangers over Yankees
ALCS: Rays over Rangers
NLDS: Padres over Braves, Cardinals over Giants
NLCS: Cardinals over Padres
World Series: Cardinals over Rays
The best three-man rotation in baseball and the bats of Pujols, Rasmus, Ludwick and Holliday carry the Cards past two teams that just don't hit enough and a Rays team that doesn't have a lights out starter other than David Price. It should be a fun season, and this could be completely wrong, but this is my take on how the rest of the season will play out.
Friday, July 23, 2010
Monday, July 5, 2010
How the MLB All-Star Teams Should Look
The Major League Baseball all-star teams were announced this past weekend, and the rosters have been surrounded by more controversey than any year I can remember. One analyst after another has been ripping apart the choices made by not just the fans, but also the players and managers. With that in mind, I decided to fix the all-star rosters myself. The basic criteria that I'm using is that I won't mess with players elected by the fans, there still must be at least one player from every team, and the roster spots should be a reward for the best on-field performance to this point in the season. So, without further ado. . . . .
The National League All-Star Team:
Starters - C Yadier Molina (the fans got this one so wrong), 1B Albert Pujols, 2B Martin Prado (replacing Utley), 3B David Wright, SS Hanley Ramirez, OF Ryan Braun, OF Jason Heyward (might not play), and OF Andre Ethier.
Reserves -
C Miguel Olivo - Olivo has outplayed actual selection Brian McCann across the board. He has fewer AB's, but more homers, RBI's, and a better average, plus he's throwing out more than 50% of base stealers. Enough said. If the fans had voted one of these two in instead of Molina, both would and should be there.
1B Joey Votto - The guy has been outstanding. Leads the NL in homers and OPS, and is top 5 in batting average and RBI's. Ryan Howard has had a fantastic season himself, but based solely on performance, the edge goes to Votto.
1B Adrian Gonzalez - They got this one right. The Dads are the best team in the NL so far, and Gonzalez carries their offense.
2B Brandon Phillips - Not a whole lot of competition for this spot. Phillips superb D and plethora of stolen bags give him the advantage over Danny Uggla.
SS Rafael Furcal - Jose Reyes was selected to replace Troy Tulowitzki on the roster, but he has only been playing like Jose Reyes for about a month. Furcal is having his best offensive season yet, and he hasn't been too bad of late either with a .500 avg, 15 runs, and 10 RBI's in his last 10 games into today.
3B Scott Rolen - No complaints here. Rolen has been absolutely resurgent in Cincy, and he belongs on the team.
3B Ryan Zimmerman - The Nationals' third sacker has been very solid this season and should be on the roster to replace the biggest shocker of an all-star I can ever remember in Omar Infante. I get that he can play anywhere on the field, but he isn't even an everyday player for Atlanta, enough said.
OF Michael Bourn - What can I say, the Astros need an all-star and Bourn has finally learned how to get on base and leads the NL in steals.
OF Marlon Byrd - The Cubs need an all-star as well, and Byrd has been one of the few bright spots.
OF Corey Hart - Having a breakout season, near the top of the league in homers, RBI's and slugging, plus he's hitting for a solid average and has cut down on his strikeouts.
OF Chris Young - He's the best Diamondback to this point in the season, and the vast improvements he's made at the plate plus stellar outfield defense warrant him being here.
OF Josh Willingham - This second National supplants underperforming Matt Holliday, who was on the team for name recognition only. Holliday hasn't been nearly the hitter he was in the 2nd half last season, and Willingham has quietly been very successful in Washington.
Pitchers -
SP Roy Halladay - Can't argue here. Already 7 complete games while the best full team not in Philly has thrown 8.
SP Ubaldo Jimenez - No way to keep him off the team with his crazy first half, despite recent slide.
SP Tim Hudson - Flat out the best pitcher on a very good Braves staff. No argument with Huddy on the team.
SP Adam Wainwright - He's been one of the best in the league as usual, and his spot on the all-star squad is a foregone conclusion when you pitch like he has.
SP Josh Johnson - He leads the majors in ERA and has been flat out dominant. I think it's safe to say he's fully recovered from his Tommy John surgery from a few years ago.
SP Yovanni Gallardo - He has carried the Brewers pitching staff thus far, and he's hit more homers than Omar Infante, so he's got that going for him. I can't find a reason he shouldn't be here.
SP Jaime Garcia - Garcia is in my mind the most glaring omission from the all-star rosters. He should be there instead of teammate Chris Carpenter. If people looked at numbers instead of names, they'd see that Garcia has been the best Cardinal hurler all season, and his ERA is second only to Johnson in the majors. Huge mistake that he was left off the team.
SP Mat Latos - The Padres have had the best team ERA in baseball, and not one of their pitchers made the team? That's gotta be a joke. Latos gets my nod to replace Tim Lincecum, whose numbers just don't add up to the rest of this list of starters. Latos has had 5 starts of 7 or more innings with no runs allowed. That's just ridiculous.
RP Evan Meek - The lone Pirate all-star, but he belongs. He has been absolutely lights out. It's nice to see middle relievers get some love this year.
RP Arthur Rhodes - Same as Meek, has been phenomenal in a lefty setup role and has every right to be here over an average closer.
RP Heath Bell - The guy leads the NL in saves and has the best ERA of any closer near the top of that list. How he isn't on the team is a mystery to me, and he should be there over Matt Capps.
RP Jon Broxton - He's been as electric as advertised, and about as dominant a closer as there is in the National League. No complaints here.
RP Brian Wilson - Wilson beats out tough competition from K-Rod, Marmol, and Billy Wagner for the last closer spot because he has been effective in a variety of roles. He's had a handful of 5-out saves and been used in tie games to give San Fran their best chance to win, and his numbers have been solid as well.
Note: If Heyward doesn't play he should be replaced with Matt Kemp or Colby Rasmus
The American League All-Star Team:
Starters - C Joe Mauer, 1B Justin Morneau, 2B Robinson Cano, 3B Evan Longoria, SS Derek Jeter, OF Carl Crawford, OF Ichiro Suzuki, OF Josh Hamilton, DH Vladimir Guerrero
Reserves -
C John Buck - Injury replacement for Victor Martinez, and there really isn't much to choose from at catcher. Buck's power numbers get him the nod.
1B Miguel Cabrera - No complaints here. Cabrera has been the AL version of Albert Pujols. He's a machine who just keeps hitting and driving in runs. Probably should have been voted to start, but Morneau does lead the league in hitting.
2B Howie Kendrick - Kinsler was picked to replace the injured Dustin Pedroia, but Kendrick has been the better player to this point in the season, and with the game being played in Anaheim, A second Angel on the roster wouldn't have hurt.
SS Elvis Andrus - Really not much else to choose from in the AL shortstop pool, and Andrus has been solid despite his zero home runs.
3B Adrian Beltre - He's hitting over .330 and on pace to drive in over 100 runs. For a guy the Red Sox brought in to improve their defense, he sure has provided plenty of firepower with the bat, and is a deserving choice.
1B/3B Kevin Youkilis - He simply has been better thus far than Alex Rodriguez. Girardi is the all-star manager and it's easy to see how A-Rod gets picked, but Youk is the more deserving candidate.
Utility Man Ty Wigginton - An easy selection to argue against, but the Orioles needed a player on this team and Wigginton is the only Oriole who has exceeded his expectations. Markakis, Luke Scott, Adam Jones, and Matt Wieters have all underperformed.
OF Torii Hunter - Can't argue with this pick. Hunter continues to be one of the most consistent, underappreciated players in the game.
OF Vernon Wells -Having a huge comeback year now that he is healed from a wrist injury that hampered him last season. People were beginning to doubt that this Vernon was still in there, but he has silenced those critics this season.
OF Brennan Boesch - Boesch started hitting when he got to the bigs at the start of May, and he hasn't stopped since. Jose Bautista may lead the league in homers, but that .230 average he's carrying is a killer. Boesch, meanwhile, with a month less of playing time has cracked 12 homers and driven in 44 runs while hitting a robust .340 and providing consistent lineup protection for AL MVP candidate Miguel Cabrera.
DH Paul Konerko - Konerko has 20 homers and close to a .300 average. He absolutely deserves this spot over Big Papi.
Pitchers -
SP David Price - Price has been the most exciting AL pitcher to watch in the first half, running up his strikeout and win totals while keeping his ERA near the best in the AL. He deserves to start for the American League team.
SP Jon Lester - Another dynamite season for Lester who has quietly become the best pitcher in the AL East. Price has been slightly better this season, but there is no pitcher I would rather have than Lester for one start in this division.
SP Cliff Lee - Lee has been unreal of late, and is clearly recovered from a strained oblique that sidelined him to open the year. His numbers are impossible to argue against.
SP Andy Pettitte - Pettitte was selected as an injury replacement for Clay Buchholz, but should have been on the team anyway. He's having one of his best seasons at a very advanced age.
SP Fausto Carmona - He is the one Cleveland Indian on this roster, and he has been the best player on that team. His 7-7 record is not his fault, and he is the most deserving Cleveland player.
SP Jered Weaver - Another Angel snub with the game in Anaheim. He leads the AL in strikeouts and is tied for the league lead in quality starts, and his numbers are much better than those of CC Sabathia. Weaver completely belongs on this team.
SP Felix Hernandez - The player who should have been the injury replacement for Buchholz, King Felix is the pitcher tied with Weaver in quality starts, and has an ERA about a run better than Phil Hughes, who is on the team.
SP Trevor Cahill - Cahill is the only A on the roster, and he is clearly the best pitcher in Oakland. Only Andrew Bailey could have supplanted him from this spot.
RP Matt Thornton - This is another middle reliever getting the respect he deserves. Thornton is a power lefty with filthy stuff, a silly number of strikeouts, and great peripheral numbers. He is the best setup man in the American League.
RP Mariano Rivera - He belongs here. He's getting old, but that cutter is still magic. He has a 1.11 ERA and just one blown save all year. Still the best closer in the game.
RP Rafael Soriano - He has been lights out at the back of the Rays bullpen, and his numbers are much better than those of young phenom Neftali Feliz. Feliz has the strikeout numbers, but Soriano's ERA is about half of what Neftali's is.
RP Joakim Soria - I have to put a Royal on the team, and Soria has been his usual consistent ninth inning force for Kansas City. DeJesus and Billy Butler have been solid, but Soria has been spectacular as always.
RP Jose Valverde - My final all-star selection, and a very deserving one. Valverde's ERA is an even 1.00, and that doesn't even tell the whole story of how good he's been for the Tigers. He has stabilized the back end of a bullpen that seems to have a different closer every year, and the standings reflect that.
Well, those are my all-star teams. Feel free to fix any selections you disagree with, but I think you'll agree that my picks are more correct than what MLB actually came up with. I mean, come on, OMAR INFANTE! REALLY!
The National League All-Star Team:
Starters - C Yadier Molina (the fans got this one so wrong), 1B Albert Pujols, 2B Martin Prado (replacing Utley), 3B David Wright, SS Hanley Ramirez, OF Ryan Braun, OF Jason Heyward (might not play), and OF Andre Ethier.
Reserves -
C Miguel Olivo - Olivo has outplayed actual selection Brian McCann across the board. He has fewer AB's, but more homers, RBI's, and a better average, plus he's throwing out more than 50% of base stealers. Enough said. If the fans had voted one of these two in instead of Molina, both would and should be there.
1B Joey Votto - The guy has been outstanding. Leads the NL in homers and OPS, and is top 5 in batting average and RBI's. Ryan Howard has had a fantastic season himself, but based solely on performance, the edge goes to Votto.
1B Adrian Gonzalez - They got this one right. The Dads are the best team in the NL so far, and Gonzalez carries their offense.
2B Brandon Phillips - Not a whole lot of competition for this spot. Phillips superb D and plethora of stolen bags give him the advantage over Danny Uggla.
SS Rafael Furcal - Jose Reyes was selected to replace Troy Tulowitzki on the roster, but he has only been playing like Jose Reyes for about a month. Furcal is having his best offensive season yet, and he hasn't been too bad of late either with a .500 avg, 15 runs, and 10 RBI's in his last 10 games into today.
3B Scott Rolen - No complaints here. Rolen has been absolutely resurgent in Cincy, and he belongs on the team.
3B Ryan Zimmerman - The Nationals' third sacker has been very solid this season and should be on the roster to replace the biggest shocker of an all-star I can ever remember in Omar Infante. I get that he can play anywhere on the field, but he isn't even an everyday player for Atlanta, enough said.
OF Michael Bourn - What can I say, the Astros need an all-star and Bourn has finally learned how to get on base and leads the NL in steals.
OF Marlon Byrd - The Cubs need an all-star as well, and Byrd has been one of the few bright spots.
OF Corey Hart - Having a breakout season, near the top of the league in homers, RBI's and slugging, plus he's hitting for a solid average and has cut down on his strikeouts.
OF Chris Young - He's the best Diamondback to this point in the season, and the vast improvements he's made at the plate plus stellar outfield defense warrant him being here.
OF Josh Willingham - This second National supplants underperforming Matt Holliday, who was on the team for name recognition only. Holliday hasn't been nearly the hitter he was in the 2nd half last season, and Willingham has quietly been very successful in Washington.
Pitchers -
SP Roy Halladay - Can't argue here. Already 7 complete games while the best full team not in Philly has thrown 8.
SP Ubaldo Jimenez - No way to keep him off the team with his crazy first half, despite recent slide.
SP Tim Hudson - Flat out the best pitcher on a very good Braves staff. No argument with Huddy on the team.
SP Adam Wainwright - He's been one of the best in the league as usual, and his spot on the all-star squad is a foregone conclusion when you pitch like he has.
SP Josh Johnson - He leads the majors in ERA and has been flat out dominant. I think it's safe to say he's fully recovered from his Tommy John surgery from a few years ago.
SP Yovanni Gallardo - He has carried the Brewers pitching staff thus far, and he's hit more homers than Omar Infante, so he's got that going for him. I can't find a reason he shouldn't be here.
SP Jaime Garcia - Garcia is in my mind the most glaring omission from the all-star rosters. He should be there instead of teammate Chris Carpenter. If people looked at numbers instead of names, they'd see that Garcia has been the best Cardinal hurler all season, and his ERA is second only to Johnson in the majors. Huge mistake that he was left off the team.
SP Mat Latos - The Padres have had the best team ERA in baseball, and not one of their pitchers made the team? That's gotta be a joke. Latos gets my nod to replace Tim Lincecum, whose numbers just don't add up to the rest of this list of starters. Latos has had 5 starts of 7 or more innings with no runs allowed. That's just ridiculous.
RP Evan Meek - The lone Pirate all-star, but he belongs. He has been absolutely lights out. It's nice to see middle relievers get some love this year.
RP Arthur Rhodes - Same as Meek, has been phenomenal in a lefty setup role and has every right to be here over an average closer.
RP Heath Bell - The guy leads the NL in saves and has the best ERA of any closer near the top of that list. How he isn't on the team is a mystery to me, and he should be there over Matt Capps.
RP Jon Broxton - He's been as electric as advertised, and about as dominant a closer as there is in the National League. No complaints here.
RP Brian Wilson - Wilson beats out tough competition from K-Rod, Marmol, and Billy Wagner for the last closer spot because he has been effective in a variety of roles. He's had a handful of 5-out saves and been used in tie games to give San Fran their best chance to win, and his numbers have been solid as well.
Note: If Heyward doesn't play he should be replaced with Matt Kemp or Colby Rasmus
The American League All-Star Team:
Starters - C Joe Mauer, 1B Justin Morneau, 2B Robinson Cano, 3B Evan Longoria, SS Derek Jeter, OF Carl Crawford, OF Ichiro Suzuki, OF Josh Hamilton, DH Vladimir Guerrero
Reserves -
C John Buck - Injury replacement for Victor Martinez, and there really isn't much to choose from at catcher. Buck's power numbers get him the nod.
1B Miguel Cabrera - No complaints here. Cabrera has been the AL version of Albert Pujols. He's a machine who just keeps hitting and driving in runs. Probably should have been voted to start, but Morneau does lead the league in hitting.
2B Howie Kendrick - Kinsler was picked to replace the injured Dustin Pedroia, but Kendrick has been the better player to this point in the season, and with the game being played in Anaheim, A second Angel on the roster wouldn't have hurt.
SS Elvis Andrus - Really not much else to choose from in the AL shortstop pool, and Andrus has been solid despite his zero home runs.
3B Adrian Beltre - He's hitting over .330 and on pace to drive in over 100 runs. For a guy the Red Sox brought in to improve their defense, he sure has provided plenty of firepower with the bat, and is a deserving choice.
1B/3B Kevin Youkilis - He simply has been better thus far than Alex Rodriguez. Girardi is the all-star manager and it's easy to see how A-Rod gets picked, but Youk is the more deserving candidate.
Utility Man Ty Wigginton - An easy selection to argue against, but the Orioles needed a player on this team and Wigginton is the only Oriole who has exceeded his expectations. Markakis, Luke Scott, Adam Jones, and Matt Wieters have all underperformed.
OF Torii Hunter - Can't argue with this pick. Hunter continues to be one of the most consistent, underappreciated players in the game.
OF Vernon Wells -Having a huge comeback year now that he is healed from a wrist injury that hampered him last season. People were beginning to doubt that this Vernon was still in there, but he has silenced those critics this season.
OF Brennan Boesch - Boesch started hitting when he got to the bigs at the start of May, and he hasn't stopped since. Jose Bautista may lead the league in homers, but that .230 average he's carrying is a killer. Boesch, meanwhile, with a month less of playing time has cracked 12 homers and driven in 44 runs while hitting a robust .340 and providing consistent lineup protection for AL MVP candidate Miguel Cabrera.
DH Paul Konerko - Konerko has 20 homers and close to a .300 average. He absolutely deserves this spot over Big Papi.
Pitchers -
SP David Price - Price has been the most exciting AL pitcher to watch in the first half, running up his strikeout and win totals while keeping his ERA near the best in the AL. He deserves to start for the American League team.
SP Jon Lester - Another dynamite season for Lester who has quietly become the best pitcher in the AL East. Price has been slightly better this season, but there is no pitcher I would rather have than Lester for one start in this division.
SP Cliff Lee - Lee has been unreal of late, and is clearly recovered from a strained oblique that sidelined him to open the year. His numbers are impossible to argue against.
SP Andy Pettitte - Pettitte was selected as an injury replacement for Clay Buchholz, but should have been on the team anyway. He's having one of his best seasons at a very advanced age.
SP Fausto Carmona - He is the one Cleveland Indian on this roster, and he has been the best player on that team. His 7-7 record is not his fault, and he is the most deserving Cleveland player.
SP Jered Weaver - Another Angel snub with the game in Anaheim. He leads the AL in strikeouts and is tied for the league lead in quality starts, and his numbers are much better than those of CC Sabathia. Weaver completely belongs on this team.
SP Felix Hernandez - The player who should have been the injury replacement for Buchholz, King Felix is the pitcher tied with Weaver in quality starts, and has an ERA about a run better than Phil Hughes, who is on the team.
SP Trevor Cahill - Cahill is the only A on the roster, and he is clearly the best pitcher in Oakland. Only Andrew Bailey could have supplanted him from this spot.
RP Matt Thornton - This is another middle reliever getting the respect he deserves. Thornton is a power lefty with filthy stuff, a silly number of strikeouts, and great peripheral numbers. He is the best setup man in the American League.
RP Mariano Rivera - He belongs here. He's getting old, but that cutter is still magic. He has a 1.11 ERA and just one blown save all year. Still the best closer in the game.
RP Rafael Soriano - He has been lights out at the back of the Rays bullpen, and his numbers are much better than those of young phenom Neftali Feliz. Feliz has the strikeout numbers, but Soriano's ERA is about half of what Neftali's is.
RP Joakim Soria - I have to put a Royal on the team, and Soria has been his usual consistent ninth inning force for Kansas City. DeJesus and Billy Butler have been solid, but Soria has been spectacular as always.
RP Jose Valverde - My final all-star selection, and a very deserving one. Valverde's ERA is an even 1.00, and that doesn't even tell the whole story of how good he's been for the Tigers. He has stabilized the back end of a bullpen that seems to have a different closer every year, and the standings reflect that.
Well, those are my all-star teams. Feel free to fix any selections you disagree with, but I think you'll agree that my picks are more correct than what MLB actually came up with. I mean, come on, OMAR INFANTE! REALLY!
Saturday, July 3, 2010
10 Players with the Most Weight of Their Franchise on Their Shoulders
As baseball welcomes in one of the most gifted rookie classes in recent memory and the NBA enters an offseason in which free agency can alter the landscape of the entire league, the young superstar players driving these leagues inevitebly wind up with incredibly large amounts of pressure on them to help their team win. With that in mind, I've compiled what I believe to be the ten players with the greatest amount of pressure on them from their team and their city. The list doesn't include too many hockey players due to the nature of that sport, in that the players who play the most other than goalies are on the ice less than half the game. It is impossible to put all of the pressure on one player. Also, any player on a team that has the money to add star players, or any player with a strong supporting cast will certainly be brought down a few spots on the list. So, with all that in mind, here are the players with the heaviest burdens to bear:
Near misses (the players who just miss the top 10):
Adrian Gonzalez (Padres): As fantastic a player as Gonzalez has been over the past few seasons, the Padres have been way too willing to shop him any time the team goes south. The front office has really put the pressure from the city and the fans on themselves rather than Gonzalez, despite the fact that more often than not, Adrian has to carry the offense.
Andrew McCutchen (Pirates): McCutchen is a tremendous young five-tool stud for Pittsburgh, but if the past has taught us anything, it's that the Pirates never have the money to hold on to it's young talent. They have jettisoned such solid players as Barry Bonds, Jason Bay, Jason Kendall, Freddy Sanchez, Mike Gonzalez and countless others. Whenever they notice a player has talent, they deal him for a handful of prospects.
Derrick Rose (Bulls): Rose would make the list easily if not for the ridiculous amount of cap room the Bulls have going into this free agent period, and would certainly be right back on it if the Bulls do not land LeBron, Wade, Bosh, Joe Johnson, or Amare' Stoudamire with all of that money.
Aaron Rodgers (Packers): Rodgers has a very solid supporting cast in Donald Driver, Greg Jennings, Jermichael Finley, and Ryan Grant, not to mention a very solid young defense, but if this team doesn't start winning playoff games and approaching championships, all of the blame will fall on Rodgers. It is never easy to win with the spectre of Brett Favre hanging over you, even if Favre only won one super bowl.
Jay Cutler (Bears): Cutler was touted as the missing piece to Chicago being a super bowl contender, and as a result, his horrible first season in Chicago has him feeling a lot of pressure. The supporting cast is not exactly world class, but this city expects results when it gives up a successful starting QB and a boatload of draft picks to get their QB.
Hanley Ramirez (Marlins): Ramirez may have caught the ire of his teammates and manager earlier this year for not running down a grounder after it riccocheted off of his shin, but his talent keeps him the anchor of the organization. He narrowly misses the top 10 due to the other young stars currently coming into thier own for the fish. First baseman Gaby Sanchez, outfielder Mike Stanton, and the power arm of Josh Johnson ease a little of the stress off of Hanley, and when this team opens its new stadium in Miami, they expect Hanley to lead a very strong baseball team.
And now for the top 10:
10. Adrian Peterson (Vikings): Brett Favre can only play so long, and Peterson is widely considered to be the best overall running back in the league, so the pressure for the offense to produce falls squarely on AP after this season. The Vikings still have one of the most stout defenses in the league and have veterans Sage Rosenfels and Tarvaris Jackson to succeed Favre at QB, and this team went 8-8 with Jackson at the helm two years ago. With a strong running game and great defense, and an improved Jackson, the Vikings do not expect a drastic dropoff without number 4, and the brunt of those expectations will be Peterson's to bear.
9. Kevin Durant (Thunder): Durant came out of nowhere this past season to be one of the most electric scorers in the league. Oklahoma City pushed the eventual champion Lakers as hard as anyone prior to the finals and Durant is the key piece to that success. Russell Westbrook and Jeff Green provide some support for the Durantula, but he is the face of this franchise that is on the rise, and given his young age, the team will expect him to continue his acension to elite player status.
8. Albert Pujols (Cardinals): Albert is simply considered to be the best player in baseball, and he's certainly the best hitter I've seen in my lifetime. Playing in St. Louis, he will always have a franchise that will make an effort to surround him with solid players and continue the franchise's proud history, but Pujols will always be the main attraction. Matt Holliday, Ryan Ludwick, and budding star Colby Rasmus cause Albert to be a few rungs down on this list than he would have been a few years ago, but there is no player that Cardinal fans believe in and root for more than Albert Pujols, and anything less than superhuman outputs seem unacceptable from this all-time great.
7. Jason Heyward (Braves): Jason Heyward came up to the big leagues this season as the most touted rookie slugger possibly since Alex Rodriguez in his debut with the Mariners, and a monster 3-run homer on opening day did nothing to temper expectations. The sound of his hits has been compared to a shotgun, and he has given a jolt to a long struggling offense. Chipper Jones' hints at retirement are as much a statement of belief that he finally has a new franchise player to turn the Braves over to as they are about his declining play and willingness to play for a new manager. Atlanta has always had fantastic pitching from Maddux to Glavine to Smoltz to Hudson to Lowe to Vasquez and now to Jurrjens, Medlen, and Tommy Hanson. The arms will always keep them competetive, but Heyward is the bat that has to do the rest.
6. Alex Ovechkin (Capitals): This is the only hockey player on this list and for good reason. Ovechkin is a one man wrecking crew when it comes to lighting the lamp. No matter who the Capitals surround Alex with, he will remain the face of the franchise while Malkin and Staal give Sid the Kid a cushion to fall back on in Pittsburgh. No player in the NHL is expected to do the things that Ovechkin is, and he has the cockiness necessary to believe he can do it.
5. Kevin Kolb (Eagles): When the Philadelphia Eagles sent Donovan McNabb packing, they put the entire franchise in Kolb's hands. Trading him to division rival Washington gave Kolb a difficult measuring stick to live up to. Despite being on two very different teams, Kolb will have to have the Eagles higher in the standings than those Redskins for fans to not be calling for his head. On top of that, the newfound legal troubles of Michael Vick have given the Eagles no other legitimate option at quarterback. Kolb just got thrown into the deep end without a life jacket. Brian Westbrook is also gone, and even with a successful season, LeSean McCoy is no Brian Westbrook. Kevin Kolb, through no fault of his own, is in a can't win situation. That is, unless he can win the whole thing and make Philly fans forget the name Donovan McNabb.
4. Evan Longoria (Rays): Longoria doesn't seem like the type to be this high on the list, but the truth is that while the Rays have been fantastically successful over the past couple of seasons, the attendance still doesn't quite show that. Money doesn't grow on trees for this team, and Longoria is locked into a long term deal in Tampa. Carl Crawford is likely gone at season's end, B.J. Upton has failed to live up to his hype settling in as a sub-.250 hitter, and Carlos Pena will never be a strong contact hitter. Other young players like Ben Zobrist, Jason Bartlett, and Sean Rodriguez are actually late bloomers who are not as young as you might think. The pitching staff is strong, but how many of those talented youngsters can the Rays afford long-term? Unless this team finds some unexpected fans or unexpected money, Longoria will be leaned on heavily to carry this team to success.
3. Joe Mauer (Twins): Joe Mauer is Minnesota. The hometown hero has been probably the best catcher in baseball since he arrived with the Twins, and no matter who the Twinkies surround him with, that city lives and dies with number 7. Morneau won an MVP award and is still second fiddle to Mauer. The Twins expect to have slightly better income with the new Target Field, but it certainly won't catapult them to the level of spending of big market teams in New York, Boston, Chicago, and L.A. Big money free agents will not be a common sight in the twin cities. The Twins pitching staff will always consist of undervalued, crafty control pitchers, and the offense will always be the type that has to play scrappy and manufacture runs. Big names are usually hard to find on the Twins roster, and for that reason Joe Mauer will always be the name most associated with the Twins, and therefore most responsible for their success or failure.
2. Stephen Strasburg (Nationals): Anytime your team turns your debut in to a team holiday with a snappy nickname, you know there is pressure on you to be great. And on "Strasmus," Stephen lived up to that with 14 strikeouts in seven innings to earn a victory. He has looked every bit the unstoppable force he was billed to be with three dominant pitches. With another top pick in 17-year-old slugger Bryce Harper and a solid young core of players at the major league level in Ryan Zimmerman, Jordan Zimmermann, Nyjer Morgan, Roger Bernadina, and Ian Desmond, the Nationals are expecting this team to head north in the standings over the next couple of seasons, and the heaviest weight of those expectations is on Strasburg. Anything short of being a Cy Young candidate each and every year will seem like a letdown after the way Strasburg has started, and he seems humble and hardworking enough to live up to those expectations.
1. LeBron James (Cavaliers?/Bulls?/Knicks?/Nets?/Heat?/Clippers?): Even without a team, the man who tops the list has to be LeBron James. No matter what team he decides to play for next season, he will have more pressure to produce wins than any other person in sports. Name one other player who no matter where he plays, anything short of a league championship and an MVP award would be a massive dissappointment. There aren't any. With LBJ having the freedom to choose where he plays and what free agents he wants to take with him, he will have no excuse that fans will accept if he doesn't bring home the hardware this year. Going back to Cleveland might make people more sympathetic to his plight, but since he's from Ohio his hometown fans wouldn't expect him to have come back if he didn't expect to win a title with the Cavs. To be put on the same pedastal with the greatests in NBA history like Jordan and Russell, LeBron needs to start winning championships, and soon. Anything short of multiple titles, and he won't be remembered much more fondly in history than guys like Clyde Drexler. Karl Malone, and Patrick Ewing who were great players but never had the consistent level of championship results of the greatests of all-time. LeBron belongs at that level. Now he just has to prove it.
Near misses (the players who just miss the top 10):
Adrian Gonzalez (Padres): As fantastic a player as Gonzalez has been over the past few seasons, the Padres have been way too willing to shop him any time the team goes south. The front office has really put the pressure from the city and the fans on themselves rather than Gonzalez, despite the fact that more often than not, Adrian has to carry the offense.
Andrew McCutchen (Pirates): McCutchen is a tremendous young five-tool stud for Pittsburgh, but if the past has taught us anything, it's that the Pirates never have the money to hold on to it's young talent. They have jettisoned such solid players as Barry Bonds, Jason Bay, Jason Kendall, Freddy Sanchez, Mike Gonzalez and countless others. Whenever they notice a player has talent, they deal him for a handful of prospects.
Derrick Rose (Bulls): Rose would make the list easily if not for the ridiculous amount of cap room the Bulls have going into this free agent period, and would certainly be right back on it if the Bulls do not land LeBron, Wade, Bosh, Joe Johnson, or Amare' Stoudamire with all of that money.
Aaron Rodgers (Packers): Rodgers has a very solid supporting cast in Donald Driver, Greg Jennings, Jermichael Finley, and Ryan Grant, not to mention a very solid young defense, but if this team doesn't start winning playoff games and approaching championships, all of the blame will fall on Rodgers. It is never easy to win with the spectre of Brett Favre hanging over you, even if Favre only won one super bowl.
Jay Cutler (Bears): Cutler was touted as the missing piece to Chicago being a super bowl contender, and as a result, his horrible first season in Chicago has him feeling a lot of pressure. The supporting cast is not exactly world class, but this city expects results when it gives up a successful starting QB and a boatload of draft picks to get their QB.
Hanley Ramirez (Marlins): Ramirez may have caught the ire of his teammates and manager earlier this year for not running down a grounder after it riccocheted off of his shin, but his talent keeps him the anchor of the organization. He narrowly misses the top 10 due to the other young stars currently coming into thier own for the fish. First baseman Gaby Sanchez, outfielder Mike Stanton, and the power arm of Josh Johnson ease a little of the stress off of Hanley, and when this team opens its new stadium in Miami, they expect Hanley to lead a very strong baseball team.
And now for the top 10:
10. Adrian Peterson (Vikings): Brett Favre can only play so long, and Peterson is widely considered to be the best overall running back in the league, so the pressure for the offense to produce falls squarely on AP after this season. The Vikings still have one of the most stout defenses in the league and have veterans Sage Rosenfels and Tarvaris Jackson to succeed Favre at QB, and this team went 8-8 with Jackson at the helm two years ago. With a strong running game and great defense, and an improved Jackson, the Vikings do not expect a drastic dropoff without number 4, and the brunt of those expectations will be Peterson's to bear.
9. Kevin Durant (Thunder): Durant came out of nowhere this past season to be one of the most electric scorers in the league. Oklahoma City pushed the eventual champion Lakers as hard as anyone prior to the finals and Durant is the key piece to that success. Russell Westbrook and Jeff Green provide some support for the Durantula, but he is the face of this franchise that is on the rise, and given his young age, the team will expect him to continue his acension to elite player status.
8. Albert Pujols (Cardinals): Albert is simply considered to be the best player in baseball, and he's certainly the best hitter I've seen in my lifetime. Playing in St. Louis, he will always have a franchise that will make an effort to surround him with solid players and continue the franchise's proud history, but Pujols will always be the main attraction. Matt Holliday, Ryan Ludwick, and budding star Colby Rasmus cause Albert to be a few rungs down on this list than he would have been a few years ago, but there is no player that Cardinal fans believe in and root for more than Albert Pujols, and anything less than superhuman outputs seem unacceptable from this all-time great.
7. Jason Heyward (Braves): Jason Heyward came up to the big leagues this season as the most touted rookie slugger possibly since Alex Rodriguez in his debut with the Mariners, and a monster 3-run homer on opening day did nothing to temper expectations. The sound of his hits has been compared to a shotgun, and he has given a jolt to a long struggling offense. Chipper Jones' hints at retirement are as much a statement of belief that he finally has a new franchise player to turn the Braves over to as they are about his declining play and willingness to play for a new manager. Atlanta has always had fantastic pitching from Maddux to Glavine to Smoltz to Hudson to Lowe to Vasquez and now to Jurrjens, Medlen, and Tommy Hanson. The arms will always keep them competetive, but Heyward is the bat that has to do the rest.
6. Alex Ovechkin (Capitals): This is the only hockey player on this list and for good reason. Ovechkin is a one man wrecking crew when it comes to lighting the lamp. No matter who the Capitals surround Alex with, he will remain the face of the franchise while Malkin and Staal give Sid the Kid a cushion to fall back on in Pittsburgh. No player in the NHL is expected to do the things that Ovechkin is, and he has the cockiness necessary to believe he can do it.
5. Kevin Kolb (Eagles): When the Philadelphia Eagles sent Donovan McNabb packing, they put the entire franchise in Kolb's hands. Trading him to division rival Washington gave Kolb a difficult measuring stick to live up to. Despite being on two very different teams, Kolb will have to have the Eagles higher in the standings than those Redskins for fans to not be calling for his head. On top of that, the newfound legal troubles of Michael Vick have given the Eagles no other legitimate option at quarterback. Kolb just got thrown into the deep end without a life jacket. Brian Westbrook is also gone, and even with a successful season, LeSean McCoy is no Brian Westbrook. Kevin Kolb, through no fault of his own, is in a can't win situation. That is, unless he can win the whole thing and make Philly fans forget the name Donovan McNabb.
4. Evan Longoria (Rays): Longoria doesn't seem like the type to be this high on the list, but the truth is that while the Rays have been fantastically successful over the past couple of seasons, the attendance still doesn't quite show that. Money doesn't grow on trees for this team, and Longoria is locked into a long term deal in Tampa. Carl Crawford is likely gone at season's end, B.J. Upton has failed to live up to his hype settling in as a sub-.250 hitter, and Carlos Pena will never be a strong contact hitter. Other young players like Ben Zobrist, Jason Bartlett, and Sean Rodriguez are actually late bloomers who are not as young as you might think. The pitching staff is strong, but how many of those talented youngsters can the Rays afford long-term? Unless this team finds some unexpected fans or unexpected money, Longoria will be leaned on heavily to carry this team to success.
3. Joe Mauer (Twins): Joe Mauer is Minnesota. The hometown hero has been probably the best catcher in baseball since he arrived with the Twins, and no matter who the Twinkies surround him with, that city lives and dies with number 7. Morneau won an MVP award and is still second fiddle to Mauer. The Twins expect to have slightly better income with the new Target Field, but it certainly won't catapult them to the level of spending of big market teams in New York, Boston, Chicago, and L.A. Big money free agents will not be a common sight in the twin cities. The Twins pitching staff will always consist of undervalued, crafty control pitchers, and the offense will always be the type that has to play scrappy and manufacture runs. Big names are usually hard to find on the Twins roster, and for that reason Joe Mauer will always be the name most associated with the Twins, and therefore most responsible for their success or failure.
2. Stephen Strasburg (Nationals): Anytime your team turns your debut in to a team holiday with a snappy nickname, you know there is pressure on you to be great. And on "Strasmus," Stephen lived up to that with 14 strikeouts in seven innings to earn a victory. He has looked every bit the unstoppable force he was billed to be with three dominant pitches. With another top pick in 17-year-old slugger Bryce Harper and a solid young core of players at the major league level in Ryan Zimmerman, Jordan Zimmermann, Nyjer Morgan, Roger Bernadina, and Ian Desmond, the Nationals are expecting this team to head north in the standings over the next couple of seasons, and the heaviest weight of those expectations is on Strasburg. Anything short of being a Cy Young candidate each and every year will seem like a letdown after the way Strasburg has started, and he seems humble and hardworking enough to live up to those expectations.
1. LeBron James (Cavaliers?/Bulls?/Knicks?/Nets?/Heat?/Clippers?): Even without a team, the man who tops the list has to be LeBron James. No matter what team he decides to play for next season, he will have more pressure to produce wins than any other person in sports. Name one other player who no matter where he plays, anything short of a league championship and an MVP award would be a massive dissappointment. There aren't any. With LBJ having the freedom to choose where he plays and what free agents he wants to take with him, he will have no excuse that fans will accept if he doesn't bring home the hardware this year. Going back to Cleveland might make people more sympathetic to his plight, but since he's from Ohio his hometown fans wouldn't expect him to have come back if he didn't expect to win a title with the Cavs. To be put on the same pedastal with the greatests in NBA history like Jordan and Russell, LeBron needs to start winning championships, and soon. Anything short of multiple titles, and he won't be remembered much more fondly in history than guys like Clyde Drexler. Karl Malone, and Patrick Ewing who were great players but never had the consistent level of championship results of the greatests of all-time. LeBron belongs at that level. Now he just has to prove it.
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