NFL Mock Draft

With the draft just about to get underway, I'll take a stab at my own mock draft. I anticipate several trades, teams moving in and out of the first round, but I did not take that in to account with the following predictions. Here it is:


Houston Texans: Mario Williams, DE, NC State
New Orleans Saints: D’Brickashaw Ferguson, T, UVA
Tennessee Titans: Vince Young, QB, Texas
New York Jets: Reggie Bush, RB, USC
Green Bay Packers: AJ Hawk, LB, OSU
San Francisco 49ERS: Vernon Davis, TE, Maryland
Oakland Raiders: Matt Leinart, QB, USC
Buffalo Bills: Brodrick Bunkley, DT, FSU
Detroit Lions: Michael Huff, DB, Texas
Arizona Cardinals: Winston Justice, T, USC
St. Louis Rams: Jay Cutler, QB, Vanderbilt
Cleveland Browns: Jimmy Williams, CB, Virginia Tech
Baltimore Ravens: Haloti Ngata, DT, Oregon
Philadelphia Eagles: Manny Lawson, OLB, NC State
Denver Broncos: Santonio Holmes, WR, OSU
Miami Dolphins: Donte Whitner, S, OSU
Minnesota Vikings: Tye Hill, CB, Clemson
Dallas Cowboys: Kamerion Wimbley, DE/OLB, FSU
San Diego Chargers: Antonio Cromartie, CB, FSU
Kansas City Chiefs: Tamba Hali, DE, PSU
New England Patriots: Bobby Carpenter, OLB, OSU
San Francisco 49ERS: Ernie Sims, OLB, FSU
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Chad Jackson, WR, Florida
Cincinnati Bengals: Chad Greenway, OLB, Iowa
New York Giants: Johnathan Joseph, CB, South Carolina
Chicago Bears: Ashton Youboty, CB, OSU
Carolina Panthers: DeMeco Ryans, LB, Alabama
Jacksonville Jaguars: Jason Allen, DB, Tennessee
New York Jets: Eric Winston, T, Miami
Indianapolis Colts: DeAngelo Williams, RB, Memphis
Seattle Seahawks: Davin Joseph, G, Oklahoma
Pittsburgh Steelers: Laurence Maroney, RB, Minnesota

More so than any other draft in sports, the NFL draft is an absolute crapshoot. None of these picks could happen, and the variable of trade would greatly shake this up. We'll see how it goes.

NFC Offseason in Review-NFC East

After a season in which three teams finished over .500 and four-time defending division champion slipped to the cellar, the NFC East looks even more formidable for 2006. Reigning division champion New York grabbed division rival OLB LaVar Arrington from Washington and Terrell Owens has jumped from Philly to Dallas. All four teams have addressed glaring needs and have legitimate postseason hopes. However, it is likely that no more than two of these teams will be playing deep in to January.

Dallas Cowboys: The T.O. show moves to Dallas where famed disciplinarian Bill Parcells is now in charge of the troubled talent. He replaces former bad boy WR Keyshawn Johnson in an upgrade of their receiving corps. If he can manage to stay out of Drew Bledsoe's face, the offense will greatly improve from his presence. It's painful to say, but their second biggest move may be adding the foot of K Mike Vanderjagt. The Cowboys lost several close games to inexperienced kickers and should not have that problem with the Peyton Manning proclaimed "drunken idiot"placekicker. Despite cutting veteran All-Pro Larry Allen, the offensive line should be fine with the addition of T Jason Fabini. The defense underwent changes with the retirement of LB Dat Nguyen, and the free agency departures of LB Scott Fujita and DT La'Roi Glover. The 'Boys addressed their LB issues with the signings of Akin Ayodele and Rocky Boiman, but left a huge hole on the interior of the defensive line.

Key Additions: WR Terrell Owens, K Mike Vanderjagt, LB Akin Ayodele, LB Rocky Boiman,
T Jason Fabini
Key Losses: G Larry Allen, DT La'Roi Glover, WR Keyshawn Johnson, TE Dan Campbell,
LB Scott Fujita

Washington Redskins: Despite a slow start to the '05 campaign, the Skins won six straight games to secure a playoff berth. They continued their torrid pace with an impressive win at Tampa Bay in the first round before being knocked off by Conference Champion Seattle. Big spending owner Daniel Snyder made a big splash at the beginning of free agency by nabbing one of the Super Bowl heroes WR Antwaan Randle-El. The air attack will also be bolstered by the addition of WR Brandon Lloyd who could thrive with attention focused on Randle-El and Santana Moss. Tight End Christian Fauria comes over from New England to replace departed starter Robert Royal. A deal with the Jets landed a sixth round pick in exchange for maligned backup QB Patrick Ramsey. In his place will be free agent addition Todd Collins. The defense also received a boost with free agents S Adam Archuleta and LB/DE Andre Carter signing to play in the nation's capital. They will more than capably fill the void left by the departures of S Ryan Clark and LB LaVar Arrington.

Key Additions: WR Antwaan Randle-El, WR Brandon Lloyd, TE Christian Fauria,
LB/DE Andre Carter, SS Adam Archuleta
Key Losses: LB LaVar Arrington, QB Patrick Ramsey, SS Ryan Clark, TE Robert Royal

Philadelphia Eagles: Even before the season could get underway, WR Terrell Owens began ripping this team apart. The TO-Donovan McNabb saga lingered for months and killed their chances of returning to a fifth straight NFC Championship game. Instead, the loudmouth WR had his season cut short by a team suspension and McNabb succumbed to a rash of injuries. The result was a disappointing 6-10 season and the departure of Terrell Owens. Without Owens and McNabb, the passing game struggled to get on track. The only receiver who has been added to McNabb's arsenal is Jabar Gaffney, but he has been very inconsistent in his young career. In case number five experiences injury troubles again, QB Jeff Garcia has proven to be a reliable backup. They've also brought in TE Matt Schobel as a backup to pass-catching TE LJ Smith and will help in two TE sets in the running game. Defensively the Eagles added a pair of starters in DE Darren Howard and LB Shawn Barber. Provided the defensive backs can return from injuries that set them back a year ago, it should be a formidable unit this year.

Key Additions: DE Darren Howard, QB Jeff Garcia, WR Jabar Gaffney
Key Losses: WR Terrell Owens, DE ND Kalu, LB Keith Adams, QB Mike McMahon

New York Giants: The defending division champions have a lot to prove after being thoroughly dominated in a home playoff game against Carolina. Young QB Eli Manning showed flashes of brilliance early in the season, but struggled down the stretch and in the playoffs. He will need to improve as star RB Tiki Barber should not be expected to carry the offense to the extent he had to a season ago. The offense ranked 3rd in the NFL a year ago in scoring offense and GM Ernie Accorsi seems content to let them have another year together. The only changes have occurred with the departure and arrival of offensive line depth. Everyone who saw this team play last year knew they needed to improve on two key areas this offseason: defensive backfield and linebacker. The era of the "Wills" seems to be at an end with CB Will Allen now in Miami and question marks surrounding the return of Will Peterson. In comes veteran Sam Madison, along wtih polished nickel back R.W McQuarters. Behind them will be former Ravens S Will Demps, taking over for Brent Alexander who is yet to find a new home. After having to start street free agents at Linebacker during late December and January, the Giants added LBs Brandon Short and LaVar Arrington. If Arrington can stay healthy, these will be tremendous upgrades.

Key Additions: LB LaVar Arrington, LB Brandon Short, S Will Demps, CB Sam Madison,
CB R.W McQuarters
Key Losses: LB Nick Greisen, S Brent Alexander, S Shaun Williams, DT Kendrick Clancy,
CB Will Allen

NFC Offseason in Review-NFC West

Aside from the success of NFC Champion Seattle, this division experienced a down year. Arizona, San Francisco, and St. Louis hold three of the first eleven picks in this year's draft which speaks volumes about the seasons they had a year ago. However, Arizona and St. Louis have added key pieces to their teams and look to compete with the defending division champion Seahawks.

Arizona Cardinals: Dennis Green's tenure in the desert has been similar to most coaches that have come before him: marked with very few victories. Not one to deal with losing, he went out and signed the marquee free agent of the 2006 class is RB Edgerrin James. Combine him with WR standouts Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald, the Cards may be sporting the most explosive offense in the West. To help improve their mediocre line the Cards brought in marginal starter G Milford Brown. The Cards lost much needed depth behind Kurt Warner with the departure of Josh McCown, so Vanderbilt's Jay Cutler could be heading to the desert early on Saturday. Defensively the essentially traded DT's with Russell Davis leaving via free agency and Kendrick Clancy coming in from New York. Clancy was stout against the run but his pass rush abilities are limited.

Key Additions: RB Edgerrin James, DT Kendrick Clancy, G Milford Brown
Key Losses: DT Russell Davis, QB Josh McCown, S Quentin Harris

San Francisco 49ERS: After securing QB Alex Smith with the number one pick in last year's draft, the QB carousel last year featured Smith, The Bachelor Jesse Palmer, and former rodeo cowboy Cody Pickett. That being said, the Niners recent struggles continued. Alex Smith looked like a poor man's Chad Pennington, (who arguably had the weakest arm of any starting QB before the shoulder injuries) floating balls that were easily intercepted. They expected big things from RB Kevan Barlow, but he and rookie Frank Gore struggled. Gone from the offense is talented but inconsistent WR Brandon Lloyd, but his replacement is free agent acquisition Antonio Bryant who posted good numbers in Cleveland a year ago. They've also added perennial Pro-Bowl Guard Larry Allen whose career is on the decline, but still capable of playing elite football. Defensively they've added CB depth with the signing of nickel back Walt Harris and trading for young CB Sammy Davis. However, the 49ERS offseason is marked more by who they've lost. Talented, but oft injured LB Julian Peterson took off for divisional foe Seattle. Long time blocking FB Fred Beasley is also gone, along with hybrid DE/LB pass rush specialist Andre Carter.

Key Additions: WR Antonio Bryant, G Larry Allen, CB Walt Harris
Key Losses: LB Julian Peterson, LB Andre Carter, FB Fred Beasley, WR Brandon Lloyd

St. Louis Rams: The greatest show on turf finally turned their offseason attentions to defense. With "offensive mastermind" Mike Martz (I use that term loosely as his offensive mind is SEVERELY overrated) finally out of the picture, the team might finally lose its obsession with passing offense and become a balanced team. Although starting SS Adam Archuleta and part time starter DT Ryan Pickett have found new homes, the defense underwent a serious upgrade. Marquee free agents LB Will Witherspoon and DT La'Roi Glover are headed to the RCA dome along with solid S Cory Chavous. Offensively the theme of free agency was depth. They added QB Gus Frerrote in case starter Marc Bulger continues to have injury problems. Running Back Tony Fisher, long time Green Bay backup, was brought in to backup Steven Jackson in short yardage situations.

Key Additions: LB Will Witherspoon, DT La'Roi Glover, S Cory Chavous, QB Gus Frerrote
Key Losses: SS Adam Archuleta, DT Ryan Pickett, DT Damione Lewis

Seattle Seahawks: The reigning NFC Champions have been busy in hopes of defending their NFC crown. Their key move was re-signing reigning MVP RB Shaun Alexander. After setting a new NFL record for TD's scored in a season, Alexander is determined the get the Hawks back to the big game. However, he will be without Pro Bowl LG Steve Hutchinson who signed a lucrative deal to play in Minnesota. Also departing is WR Joe Jurevicius who lead the team in receiving a season ago. The hole he leaves will be filled by WR Nate Burleson, brought in from Minnesota as retaliation for losing Steve Hutchinson. Veteran Tackle Tom Ashworth will provide solid offensive line depth and valuable experience from his success with the Pats. Their major acquisition was bringing in talented young LB Julian Peterson. He'll benefit from playing alongside last year's rookie sensation MLB Lofa Tatupu and boost an already solid LB corps. The defensive backfield took a hit with the losses of S Marquand Manuel and CB Andre Dyson. They recently acquired Mike Green to replace Manuel, but may use the draft to address both needs.

Key Additions: LB Julian Peterson, WR Nate Burleson, T Tom Ashworth, DT Russell Davis
Key Losses: S Marquand Manuel, CB Andre Dyson, WR Joe Jurevicius, G Steve Hutchinson

NFC Offseason in Review- NFC South

Possibly the biggest power players in the upcoming draft are the New Orleans Saints. Signing QB Drew Brees took them out of the QB market, leaving teams coveting Matt Leinart or Vince Young salivating at a chance to move up. If they can find a team willing to give up a number of picks, don't be surprised to see them move out of this slot. Two big time players moved in to the division during the offseason with the Falcons acquisition of DE John Abraham and the Panthers signing WR Keyshawn Johnson. Carolina and Tampa both made the postseason a year ago and the Panthers remain a favorite to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl.

Atlanta Falcons: Freestyling superstar Mike Vick failed to return the Falcons to the playoffs a year ago despite a terrific season from backfield mate Warrick Dunn. The Falcons have brought in T Wayne Gandy to help protect their star and try to keep him healthy the full year. Vick attempted to stay in the pocket more in '05 but with very little success. In order for the Falcons to return among the elite he needs to make things happen with his legs. He's got the double D's in the backfield with Dunn and TJ Duckett, along with safety valve TE Alge Crumpler. They have yet to find help on the outside with no real receiving threat emerging outside of Crumpler. Brian Finneran re-signed and Roddy White flashed potential in his rookie year. Big improvements were made on the other side of the ball with the acquisition of DE John Abraham. His ability to rush the passer opposite Patrick Kerney will make a formidable end duo. They also added veteran S Lawyer Milloy to anchor the defensive backfield.

Key Additions: DE John Abraham, S Lawyer Milloy, T Wayne Gandy
Key Losses: T Kevin Shaffer, S Bryan Scott

Carolina Panthers: Comeback player of the Year Steve Smith put up MVP numbers on his way to carrying the Cats to the NFC Championship game. The offense's biggest setbacks? Injuries to running backs and a number two receiver. They settled the latter problem by signing free agent WR Keyshawn Johnson and re-signed RB DeShaun Foster hoping he can stay healthy. The majority of changes this offseason have come on the defensive side of the ball. Starting linebackers Brandon Short and Will Witherspoon are gone, along with safety Marlon McCree. With Brenston Buckner either retiring or suiting up elsewhere and star Kris Jenkins suffering catastrophic injuries each of the last two seasons, DT Maake Kemeoatu and Damione Lewis have been brought in to fill up the interior of the defensive line. Former first round draft pick S Shaun Williams comes over from New York and will likely take over for McCree. Last year's first round draft pick Thomas Davis will switch from the defensive backfield to a full-time linebacker. He is a bit undersized but a tremendous athlete.

Key Additions: WR Keyshawn Johnson, S Shaun Williams, DT Maake Kemeoatu, LB Na'il Diggs
Key Losses: LB Will Witherspoon, LB Brandon Short, S Marlon McCree, RB Stephen Davis

New Orleans Saints: After Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans, the Saints were left without a home. They were forced to play their first "home" game in the Meadowlands and rotated between Baton Rouge and San Antonio for the rest. The chaos surrounding the team and region caused the team to struggle, along with the inconsistent play of QB Aaron Brooks. As has been a theme across football this season, gone are the head coach and QB from a struggling team. Instead of using their number two pick on a QB, the Saints signed Drew Brees to a six year deal. Deuce McCallister had his season cut short a year ago by injury, so they brought in speedster Michael Bennett for insurance. No matter who is handling the ball, there will be some holes up front. Star Center LeCharles Bentley will be snapping in Cleveland and Wayne Gandy was traded for defensive backfield help. Defensively their biggest move was bringing OLB Scott Fujita over from the Cowboys. They also added help in their defensive backfield, but lost solid DE Darren Howard.

Key Additions: QB Drew Brees, RB Michael Bennett, OLB Scott Fujita, S Bryan Scott
Key Losses: QB Aaron Brooks, C LeCharles Bentley, LT Wayne Gandy, DE Darren Howard,
OLB Sedrick Hodge

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Last season marked the emergence of young QB Chris Simms and rookie sensation Carnell "Cadillac" Williams. As has been the case in recent Bucs history, the defense paved the way to the postseason. They suffered a tough loss to Washington at home in the first round of the NFC Playoffs, but seem to be content with keeping their core together. The Bucs have done very little in the offseason, headlined by adding some Offensive Line depth. They also added FB Jerald Sowell to take some pressure off aging Mike Alstott. Backup QB Brian Griese bolted for the Windy City, leaving Simms completely in charge of the offense. The only projected starter who has left town was starting FS Dexter Jackson. However, the defense should get a little boost from the addition of versatile LB Jamie Winborn.

Key Additions: FB Jerald Sowell, LB Jamie Winborn, T Torrin Tucker
Key Losses: QB Brian Griese, FS Dexter Jackson, FB Jameel Cook

NFC Offeason in Review-NFC NORTH

With less than 48 hours until the Texans are on the board, rumors and smokescreens are filling the media. It's been a busy offseason that has drastically altered the landscape of the draft and needs to be taken in to account before assessing the draft. Today I'll take a look at the key gains and losses for the NFC. The most active division has been the NFC East. With major names switching teams within the division, rivalries should heat up. The biggest news this week has been Brett Favre's decision to return for at least one more season. As the words came out of his mouth, free agent cornerback Charles Woodson decided to join him in Green Bay to hopefully re-energize this organization. With these moves in mind, I'll start in the NFC North:

NFC NORTH:
Chicago Bears: The defending NFC North champs finished with the second best record in the NFC before fallling to Carolina in the second round. Chicago's defensive efforts last year brought back memories of Buddy Ryan's 46 defense that carried the Bears to their last Super Bowl victory during the 1985 season. The defense will lose playmaking cornerback Jerry Azumah to retirement, but have upgraded with the addition of Ricky Manning Jr. He could serve as the starter opposite Nathan Vasher, but more likely will be a nickel back. Unfortunately, before the ink could dry on a deal, Manning is being charged with assault with a deadly weapon. If legal troubles mount for Manning, this move could backfire because it cost the Bears their 3rd round draft pick in this year's draft. Offensively, the Bears struggled behind rookie quarterback Kyle Orton. He struggled to aide Thomas Jones' solid running efforts. Jones amassed over 1300 yards and helped control the clock. Last season's prize free agent acquisition Muhsin Muhammad was unable to produce with the quarterback instability. The Bears are hoping young quarterback Rex Grossman, who was once touted as a young Joe Montana, will finally avoid the injury bug that has cost him most of his early career. In case he can't, the Bears signed veteran QB Brian Griese who is more than capable of running the offense.

Key Additions: QB Brian Griese (UFA-TB), CB Ricky Manning Jr (RFA-CAR)
Key Losses: CB/KR Jerry Azumah

Detroit Lions: Mediocrity continued in the Motor City as Joey Harrington and his trio of WR's continued to fail to live up to their first round draft status. GM Matt Millen has come under intense scrutiny and with good reason. He has inexplicably drafted wideouts in the first round the past three years and God help him if he does it again this year. The trio, Roy Williams, Charles Rogers and Mike Williams, have underperformed and will be relied upon this year to finally stay healthy. Young RB Kevin Jones has shown flashes of ability, but must become more consistent. This year the Harrington experiment is over and the quarterback battle will be between free agent acquistions Jon Kitna and Josh McCown. They've added wide receivers Corey Bradford and Mark Furrey in the offseason creating a log jam on the outsides. If the young receivers can be revitalized by a new man under center, this could be a very potent offense. The addition of blocking TE Dan Campbell could be a big boost for their outside running game with speedy Kevin Jones. The other side of the ball is filled with question marks. They've failed to address this issue during the Free Agency period. Gone is playmaking Nickel CB R.W McQuarters and LB contributor Wali Rainer. Aside from adding DT depth, they've done little to improve a unit that has been torched the past few years.

Key Additions: QB Jon Kitna (UFA-CIN), QB Josh McCown (UFA-ARI), WR Corey Bradford (UFA-HOU), WR Mark Furrey (UFA-STL)
Key Losses: QB Joey Harrington, CB R.W McQuarters

Green Bay Packers: Green Bay's 2005 season can be described by one word: injuries. With offensive stars falling left and right, Brett Favre struggled through his worst season as a pro. His league high 29 INT's lead him to really debate his future which owned the headlines throughout the offseason. With Favre's decision hanging in the balance, the Packers did not do much to improve themselves for a while. That changed yesterday with the addition of marquee free agent cornerback Charles Woodson. In 2005 the Packers lost star WR Javon Walker in week one, starting RB Ahman Green soon after, and the injuries continued to mount throughout the season. Walker is not expected to return, but Green will come back to take some pressure of Favre. Defensively the Packers struggled to make plays. They actively pursued LB LaVar Arrington, but failed to sign him. They should address their glaring need at OLB by drafting AJ Hawk with their 5th pick should he be available. Along with Woodson they added S Marquand Manuel to bolster a defensive backfield that has had the second fewest interceptions in the NFL over the past 2 seasons.

Key Additions: CB Charles Woodson (Released OAK), S Marquand Manuel (UFA-SEA)
Key Losses: K Ryan Longwell, C Mike Flanagan, QB Craig Nall

Minnesota Vikings: After a rough start to 2005 that featured the infamous sex boat scandal and the loss of star QB Daunte Culpepper, the Vikes thrived under Brad Johnson to finish 9-7. The Vikings will again turn to Johnson as they shipped Culpepper to Miami for a second round draft pick. He will be the lone holdover in the Vikings backfield due to the additions of FB Tony Richardson and RB Chester Taylor. The running game will also be boosted by the acquisition of standout LG Steve Hutchinson. Gone from the offense is number one receiver Nate Burleson, so the passing game will need to rely on second year speedster Troy Williamson. Their major losses are on the other side of the ball. Starters S Cory Chavous and LB Sam Cowart left via free agency, along with nickel back Brian Williams. Special teams were given a boost with K Ryan Longwell leaving the frozen tundra for a shot to kick in a dome.

Key Additions: FB Tony Richardson (UFA-KC), RB Chester Taylor (UFA-BAL), LG Steve Hutchinson (RFA-SEA), K Ryan Longwell (UFA-MIN)
Key Losses: S Cory Chavous, LB Sam Cowart, CB Brian Williams, QB Daunte Culpepper

End of the Night Time Jinx?

For the first time since opening day the Yankees were victorious in a night game. Behind another strong outing from Mike Mussina, the Yanks dominated the Devil Rays by a 9-1 margin. Captain Derek Jeter lead the offensive effort with 3 hits including a first inning home run. Most importantly, Mussina continued his string of solid starts. Over the past week the Bombers have gotten solid starts from Mussina, Chacon, and Johnson which bodes well for correcting their early season problems. For Chacon and Johnson, they showed their ability to bounce back. After being roughed up in Toronto, Johnson no-hit every Oriole not named Miguel Tejada. His battery mate for this start was Jorge Posada, which is a terrific sign for Yankees fans. If Johnson can continue to pitch well with Posada behind the plate they do not need to take his bat out of the lineup every fifth day. Chacon has struggled throughout the season, but also tossed a gem against the Birds.

In other news, Brett Favre announced his intentions to return next season. The Favre saga has been a constant news focus throughout the offseason. It seems his holdout really stiffled the Packers ability to sign free agents so by leaving the team hanging he prevented them from building the type of team he would want to play for. However, now that he has made a decision I expect some activity out of Green Bay. Their prospects of signing free agent cornerback Charles Woodson should increase, along with accelerating a deal for Javon Walker. I expect these moves to be made in the next couople days, which could further complicate the draft picture. By Saturday afternoon I expect Woodson and Ohio St linebacker AJ Hawk to be joining Favre at Lambeau.

Up in Smoke

Breaking news out of Miami is that Ricky Williams has lost an appeal on his suspension for the 2006 season. Williams failed his fourth drug test, this time for an herb that was categorized as an amphetamine. His previous failed drug tests resulted from his affinity for marijuana. After sitting out the first four games of 2005, Ricky contributed over 700 yards over the last twelve. In the final two weeks of the season he topped the 100 yard mark and looked to be back in football shape. However, Ricky's career has been defined by his character issues rather than his dominant running.

At the University of Texas, Ricky established himself as one of the best college running backs of all time. He left school as NCAA's all-time leading rusher and grabbed the Heisman on his way to being the 5th pick in the 1999 NFL Draft to the New Orleans Saints. Legendary coach Mike Ditka sacrificed nearly his entire draft to move up to number five and pick up the braided talent. Ditka, widely respected for his success in Chicago, defended his bold move and sported fake braids of his own in support of his new star. Months later the duo appeared on the cover of ESPN the Magazine, with Ricky decked out in a wedding dress. Unfortunately, the honeymoon wasn't as romantic as the courtship. Although Williams produced two- thousand yard seasons in his three campaigns in the Bayou, he struggled to stay on the field and was sent to Miami after the 2001 season. In Miami he catapulted to one of the elite backs in the NFL, rushing for over 1600 yards and 16 touchdowns in his first season with the team. He backed that up with another productive season the following year in '03, but then the circus began.

Before T.O was making headlines with his antics, it was Ricky who set the standard for bizarre superstar activity. Just days before training camp opened, Ricky decided to leave the team. His teammates shunned him and pundits panned him for his lack of loyalty to the team. He explained his heart was not in it, but for a premier player making lots of money this was unacceptable. Then he began working his way in to the hearts of college stoners everywhere. It was announced he was pulling a Dave Chapelle disappearing act to smoke weed and practice holistic medicine. Back home teammates such as Jason Taylor lamented his decision, saying they would never welcome him back. When Ricky was informed he would have to pay the team back their money, he sat down with Mike Wallace of 60 minutes to explain his story. Men such as Taylor and Center Matt Birk, another outspoken critic, accepted his apology and looked forward to how he could contribute. While he certainly did not perform up to his past levels, he provided a solid 1-2 punch with rookie Ronnie Brown and helped lead the Dolphins on a late season surge. Unfortunately, he will not be able to help take them to the next level this season. Williams' tale is another sad story in sports. Despite having money, fame, and blessed with unbelieveable abilities, these men are no different than anyone else. They are susceptible to destructive lifestyles, and Williams has become another cautionary tale. He was given a second chance in Miami, and unfortunately failed again. Coach Saban has been supportive and it appears he will be allowed to come back. He vows to be back in '07, sports enthusiasts everywhere should hope so. It would be a great story of redemption for a once enormously talented back and demonstrate that people can overcome personal demons.

A New Number 56

The only question left in the LaVar Arrington situation is whether he'll have the audacity to ask LT for permission to wear his old number. According to ESPN.com, LaVar Arrington has reached an agreement on a 7 year, $49 million deal with the New York Giants. After a long courtship that sparked wide ranging speculation, it is such a relief that this ordeal is over. This is a tremendous move for the Giants, filling a glaring whole with a superstar talent. Giants doctors thoroughly examined the knees that have kept him off the field, and judging by the contract offer, must feel that he can produce at a high level. He rejoins former teammate Antonio Pierce in the linebacking corps and will be hungry to prove he is the same electric talent that took the league by storm in his first few years.

In the building next door to LaVar's new home, the Rangers open their first playoff series since 1997 against the hosting New Jersey Devils. The Devils come in riding an 11 game winning streak, and essentially the only goalie in the Eastern Conference with any playoff experience. By contrast, the Rangers come limping in to the playoffs with their talented, but injured goalie Henriq Lundqvist. Winning the gold medal in the last Olympics gave Lundqvist some experience, but this is his first taste of the postseason. The Rangers need someone aside from Jaromir Jagr to get it going offensively for them to have any chance in this series. This will be an exciting series, but the Rangers will be punished for losing their chance to wrap up a home ice advantage. The Devils should continue their winning ways and move on to the next round. However, if someone else can step it up for the blueshirts (Petr Prucha perhaps, alliteration not intended) they could continue their surprising season.

LA in NYC?

LaVar Arrington looks closer to solving the Giants' problems at Linebacker. The marquee free agent still available was in New York today for a physical and to presumably re-open contract negotiations. This move is significant for several reasons. First, Arrington refused to take a physical in his first trip to New York a month ago. Second, Arrington's representation said that they would like their client signed before the draft and New York is his only scheduled trip before next weekend. While I'd be foolish to consider this a done deal, it is appearing that he will end up in the Meadowlands.

In baseball news, the Cubs will be without star firstbasemen Derrek Lee who fractured his wrist in a collision with Dodgers SS Rafael Furcal last night. He is projected to be out 8-10 weeks, which is another devastating example of the Cubbies poor fortunes. More importantly, I lose my first round draft pick from my fantasy team. Lee joins CC Sabathia as two of my important players to already suffer injuries indicating I could be in for a long season. The A's bullpen also hurt my cause by blowing Barry Zito's wonderful start today.

The underrated story of the day comes out of Minnesota. Minnesota reserve RB Moe Williams was found guilty of disorderly conduct on the Vikings infamous boat scandal. He is the first player convicted out of the messy scandal that derailed the Vikings this season. The reason I consider it underrated is this: star quarterback Daunte Culpepper has already been dismissed with cornerback Fred Smoot and offensive tackle Bryant McKinnie with cases still waiting to be heard. Those two will also be dismissed due to star power. However, Williams role as a goal line back does not give him the necessary star credentials to avoid legal trouble. I find it hard to believe his actions were far different from players such as Culpepper yet he gets charged. Had Culpepper faced a jury I'm not suggesting he would have been exonerated, but I think stars have the ability to avoid being judged by such panels. It'll be interesting to see what happens with Smoot and McKinnie in their upcoming cases.

Countdown to the Draft

With day one of the NFL Draft just ten days away, speculation runs rampant as analysts everywhere try to predict what will happen. Mock drafts are being conducted on websites everywhere, but picking players in an accurate order is more difficult than a perfect bracket for March Madness. Even reviewing draft publications, each magazine sees team needs differently. Today San Francisco acquired an additional first round pick, Denver's # 22, in exchange for a second and third rounder. They are a team with many needs, but could this be a move to maybe land the number one? With the sixth overall pick they are close enough to the top to be appealing, and an additional first rounder is tempting. If they could reunite former high school teammates Reggie Bush and Alex Smith in the backfield of their home state, it could be a fantastic marketing move. Granted it would be better if they were closer to their Helix High stomping grounds near San Diego, but remaining in state seems good enough. The odds of this happening are slim to none, but could be an interesting storyline if it developed. For Denver, they still hold on to the 15th pick where they could address their glaring WR need with Santonio Holmes or Chad Jackson. They must feel confident that a solid running back will slip early in to the second round because it appeared they were poised to take DeAngelo Williams if they stayed at twenty two. However, he should be off the board by the time they pick in the second round.

In the NBA, the dreadful Knicks went out on a high note, defeating the New Jersey Nets reserves in a meaningless last game. However, the win did prevent them from dropping sixty games in this horribly embarassing campaign. Hopefully they will clean house (including management) and being to rebuild the franchise. Heading in to the playoffs, the defending champion San Antonio Spurs look to be the team to beat in the West. Their top competition should come from Dallas who finished with the second best record, but will be the fourth seed. In the Eastern Conference, it should be a three team competition between the Nets, Pistons, and Heat.

Trouble across the border?

The Yankees early season struggles continued tonight in an embarassing 10-5 loss. After an impressive top of the first inning that produced two homeruns and a 4-0 lead, the game went downhill. Filed under "most ridiculous stat of the night", Randy Johnson previously never lost in 145 decisions when leading by 4 runs or more at any point of a game. He gave three back in the first, followed by another three in the second, and seven total before departing in the fourth inning. Gary Sheffield had an embarassing fielding gaffe that cost the team a couple of runs, and Shawn Chacon again struggled out of the bullpen. At 6-7, the Yankees are falling far behind the red hot Red Sox. They did stumble out of the gate to an 11-19 start last season, but should not be playing sub .500 ball with the team the Boss has assembled. With five guys making more this season than the entire Marlins roster, this team should not look as inconsistent as it has. There's plenty of reason to believe they will rebound, but it better be soon.

Broadway Blues

The world's most famous arena may need to be renamed. It now houses the worst franchise in professional sports, the New York Knicks, and tonight the biggest chokers in hockey. With control of their playoff destiny, the Rangers got throttled 5-1 by Ottawa and have now fallen to the number six seed entering the NHL Playoffs. Instead of hosting their cross river rival New Jersey Devils, they head to the Meadowlands on Saturday for game one of the opening round. Although Ranger fans have to be ecstatic that this team is headed to the playoffs after being projected by some "experts" (no offence to loyal SI readers) to be the worst team in hockey, the way they collapsed at the end of the season is laudible. While some credit must be given to the Devils for putting together an unbelieveable 11 game winning streak to end the season, there is no excuse for allowing this division to slip through the cracks. Losing on Saturday at league bottom feeder Pittsburgh, the Rangers opened the door for the Devils heroics. Coupled with the Flyers win over the Islanders tonight, the Rangers were jumped by two teams on hockey's final night. The Rangers have been riddled with injuries, most notably to star goalie Henriq Lundqvist, but had many opportunities to secure the third seed.

In other sporting news, two Duke lacrosse players were charged in the rape scandal that has torn apart Durham. They were released after posting their $400,000 bail, but still face serious charges. This affair has been a major story for many news outlets because of the wide range of issues it involves. Durham is heavily populated by lower-class African-Americans, and the victim herself is black. Forty-six of the forty seven lacrosse players were white, and the alleged perpetrators are both affluent caucasians. Due to the association with a major college sports program, this issue gets a lot of press. However, while it certainly is a serious issue, it has received far too much coverage. This is not to show a lack of sympathy for the victim, or to suggest guilty parties should not be harshly penalized, but this story has received too much publicity. It is unfortunate, but it is also unfair to Duke students. Now they must be tormented for the alleged mistakes of only a few students. The actions of the accused should not reflect the school as a whole. Cameron Crazies bother me as much as the next guy, but it is unfair that the student body as a whole most suffer through this case.

The Weekend in Baseball

Due to popular demand, aka a comment from my sole reader, today's column will be dedicated to baseball. The first two weeks of baseball season have had some interesting story lines. Detroit Tigers first baseman Chris Shelton has emerged as an offensive force, belting a league-leading 8 home runs. Not surprisingly, he is tied with Cardinals superstar Albert Pujols whose three homeruns in consecutive plate appearances were the difference in the Red Birds Easter Sunday thrilling win over the Reds. Despite a roster overhaul that has limited the Red Sox offensively, the one-two punch of Curt "apparently my ankle is fine" Schilling and Josh Beckett has been the best in baseball. Their 1986 World Series opponent and beneficiary of Bill Buckner's fielding deficiencies, the New York Mets, are off to a franchise best 9-2 start. If any combination of pitchers can lay claim to being more effective than Beckett and Schilling in the early going, its Pedro Martinez and Tom Glavine. Not only have they found the fountain of youth, the Mets' rookie starter Brian Bannister has notched two early victories. Across town, questions about the Yankees pitching look very unsettled.

For the Bombers, the weekend series in Minnesota lingered on the verge of disaster. After the bats were silenced on Friday night, Jaret Wright only provided three innings on the hill on Saturday. However, the Yanks managed to rally off Twins ace Johan Santana and have a 5-4 lead for Mariano Rivera. As is the case with any time Rivera blows a save, a few seeing eye hits lead to two Twins runs and a 6-5 win for the home team. These are the type of losses that can crush a team. They battled back against a top tier pitcher, only to have their main guy lose it. Sunday provided an early test of their resiliency and the Yankees passed with flying colors. Against a solid starter, Brad Radke, the Yankees turned it on offensively. Backed by two Jason Giambi homers, along with power from Alex Rodriguez and Robinson Cano, the Yankees won handily by a margin of nine to three. Several things have stood out in the early going:

The Yankees need Octavio Dotel...immediately. Farnsworth and Sturtze have been very shaky in the setup role. After a slow start, Scott Proctor has been very impressive but does is not reliable enough to be "the guy" in front of Rivera.

The offense needs more consistency. They have been pummeling pitchers when they make mistakes, but in several games have not shown up. In the six wins, the offense has produced 64 runs. In six losses, they have managed a meager sixteen. The team has also stranded so many baserunners. They've been able to pile on in victories, but they have rarely knocked in runs in clutch situations.

What's going on with Randy Johnson? After pitching five brilliant innings on Thursday, he left the game despite reports of no physical problems. Johnson claims he was just "letting someone else get a chance", but that's not what he's paid to do. As Michael Kay pointed out on his radio show on 1050 ESPN Radio, the Yankees are not paying him 17 million dollars to hand the ball to someone else after five innings. He's being paid to pitch deep in to games and be the ace of this staff. Comments suggesting that he's getting others invovled are absurd and are of some concern.

Will the real Shawn Chacon please stand up? After teaming with Aaron Small to salvage the 2005 season, Chacon has struggled early. He's been unable to hit his spots and keeping the ball up in the zone. After getting knocked around as a starter, he came in relief on Sunday. Again, he got hit hard and had an early exit. With Jaret Wright struggling and Carl Pavano hurt, Chacon needs to produce.

Sunday's win was crucial for two important reasons. They showed they can battle back after a tough loss, and Chien Ming-Wang answered some questions. Wang looked shaky in his first two starts, but used an effective slider to record a career high 8 strikeouts to go with just one earned run. Known as a groundball pitcher because he relies heavily on a sinker, establishing the slider as an out pitch will be important. If he can support Mussina and Johnson it will take a lot of pressure of the struggling back end of the rotation.

Thoughts on the LaVar Arrington situation

With the NFL Draft a little over two weeks away, a flurry of signings could be made to help shape the draft picture. The Giants were busy early, signing six defensive backs to sure up their most glaring weakness. Since then, aside from the uneventful Grey Ruegamer signing, it has been the LaVar Arrington waiting game. Speculation has run rampant, from fan blogs reporting his signing (one going so far as to lock it in to a six year deal) to the New York Post stating any offer has been pulled. Most recently, the talk has been that it's a two team race between the Green Bay Packers and Miami Dolphins. Let's take a look at his prospects:

Green Bay Packers: This move would make a lot of sense for a team in desperate need of a defensive playmaker. Out of Arrington's potential suitors they have the most room under the cap for a big signing and would like to avoid having to rebuild. However, holding the #5 pick in the draft, OLB AJ Hawk should be available. Hawk would be more than capable to play alongside incumbent MLB Nick Barnett as a rookie and could be a star in this league for years to come. For Arrington, a guy who cares about winning, this does not seem to be a good fit. First, the Brett Favre situation should be significant. If Favre returns, they may have a shot to contend in the NFC North and would satisfy Arrington's need to win. If he doesn't, Arrington instantly becomes the face of the franchise, but on a rebuilding team. The reins would be prematurely handed to second year QB Aaron Rodgers, a guy whom the Packers do not seem sold on as the future. Their two keys offensively are aging RB Ahman Green and WR Javon Walker, both of whom are coming off injuries. Walker is unhappy and would like to be traded, and Green's days as an elite back are behind him. While Green Bay has the money which may ultimately lead to his signing, it is a move that neither party should make.

Miami Dolphins: This is a very promising landing spot for Arrington. They have a second year coach who knows how to win, a good mixture of young talent and veteran leadership, and a talented QB who should return to elite status. Defense has always been key to their success and Arrington would join a core of veterans who know how to play the game. Although New England has had a strangle hold on the AFC East, the Dolphins seem to have the talent on hand to knock them from their perch. From a marketing standpoint, this may not work out well for LaVar. The acquisition of Daunte Culpepper overshadows this move, and the defense already has poster boy Jason Taylor. In financial terms, which seems to be the biggest factor, he would stand to make more heading to New York. Another factor working against Miami is being in the AFC. Although I'm sure it's not as big of an issue as money, LaVar wants the opportunity to make Washington pay. In Miami, he would not get this opportunity.

Those are the two major players in the LaVar chase, as widely reported, but it seems the Giants are not out of this chase yet. First, this situation has grown eerily similar to the Plaxico Burress situation of a year ago. Let's review: he came in early to visit, got an offer that he didn't like, Giants proceed to pull the offer, no other team pushes hard enough, Plaxico lands with the Giants after hiring Drew Rosenhaus. Prior to signing, the Giants toy with the idea of bringing in WR David Terrell. They don't, and thankfully end up with Plaxico. Back to Arrington: he made the early visit, some media outlets report an offer was made, now they're reporting the Giants have pulled the offer, and no team has stepped up. The Poston's, Arrington's representation, are facing suspension from the NFL, so a new agent might not be out of the picture. The Giants brought in LB Chad Brown for a visit, who certainly is not enough to solve their LB issues, but could be a similar strategy to Terrell a year ago. Arrington stands to make a ton of money in endorsements if he were in New York, so if the Giants offer is near the other two, compensation would take the form of lucrative off the field deals. It seems the longer this drags out, the better chance Arrington will land in New York. He views them as a potential Super Bowl team, and would allow him to punish the 'Skins twice a year. Ernie Accorsi is on his way out the door and would love another ring before he goes. He has always puts an emphasis on pressuring the QB and Arrington definitely brings that element. The Giants have other needs (DT, DB, 3rd WR) that have not been taking care of during this entire ordeal. It seems Accorsi is saving that cap room for Arrington, but there could be other factors. If he can get Arrington to sign, the Giants could try and draft a playmaking DB that they still seem to lack (despite the flurry of signings) with the 25th pick.
An interesting side note for Giants fans, he wore #11 in College and #56 in the pros. Growing up as a Phil Simms and Lawrence Taylor worshipper, the omens seem to be in place for his signing. Whether he becomes a Giant or not, a decision just needs to be made. The varying reports have made this a very frustrating situation for the fans, but hopefully will end with Arrington solving the Giants LB issues.

Beware of the Tiger

As if Sunday at the Masters isn't enough to get golf enthusiasts excited, play will extend throughout the day due to Saturday's inclement weather. Torrential rain suspended play for several hours today forcing the leaders with the late tee times to play partial rounds. The last men to tee off, Chad Campbell and Rocco Mediate, only played four holes which leaves them with 32 to play on Sunday. When play resumed, players seemed to be relatively unaffected by the conditions. Most of the leaders played in the red in their shortened rounds, but there is a lot of golf to play on Sunday.

The leaderboard is stacked at the top, with all of the big five at two under or better. Campbell still remains at the top, but with only a one stroke lead on Mediate and Tim Clark. His bigger problems lay at three under with Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods looming. Mickelson has played well this week, but has cost himself strokes on the greens. His dominating performance at the Bell South last weekend and his solid play this weekend makes him a real legitimate threat going in to Sunday. However, the tournament feels like it is swaying in Tiger's direction. He had several nice up and downs today to save par and send him further in to the red. Through nine Tiger was two under on the day and constantly demonstrating why he is the man to beat. He did not strike the ball particularly well today, but made big saves from the sand and recovered from poor approach shots. Although he is three back, it looks like Tiger will take the green jacket for a fifth time.

While Sunday appears to be shaping up for a classic Phil versus Tiger showdown, there are several other players who could win. Chad Campbell does hold the advantage at this point, but 32 holes in one day and a Tiger chasing him should wear him out. The same goes for Mediate, who's played solid throughout the tournament but could get worn down by a long Sunday. Tim Clark looked very solid on Saturday and at one back could be an interesting sleeper pick. Fellow countrymen, and members of the big five, Retief Goosen and Ernie Els loom at two under. As Jim Nance astutely observed today, Els' lingering knee injury could cause problems in an extended Sunday round. Goosen's game should be lifted by his pairing with Woods, and could stick around late in the day. The last member of the big five, Vijay Singh, has been killed by his short stick. Known for his troubles with the putter, Singh's poor play on the greens will hurt his chances. The same goes for southpaw Mike Weir who has hit his irons tremendously well but has been attrocious on the greens. If the weather continues to be an issue, look for Miguel Angel Jimenez to be a factor. He shot three under through 17 to put himself in to contention and has a reputation of performing under adverse conditions.

Sunday is shaping up to be a classic from Augusta. With all of the big five in contention, along with U.S fan favorite Fred Couples, it should be a great day of golf. My money's on Tiger, but then again, who ever bets against him. I'd love to see Fred Couples, who is sitting just four strokes back at two under, make a push. However, it does not seem likely. Look for Tiger to put on the jacket in a teary ceremony amidst his father's ongoing health issues.

Release of NFL Schedule and Opening Day at Augusta

The NFL released the 2006 Regular Season schedule earlier today which included a full slate of exciting Monday Night Football games. A few matchups are generating loads of excitement, led by the September 10th Manning Bowl at Giants Stadium and Terrell Owens return to Philly on October 8th. Fans for Cincinnati and the Giants received the worst news with their teams facing the toughest schedules in the league. On the other end of the spectrum, the reigning NFC North champion Chicago Bears have the weakest opponents. As it has been pointed out by analysts throughout the day, it is tough to put too much weight in to the schedule at this point. Injuries and record turnovers make the NFL the toughest league to predict. A 6-10 team can become division champs the next year (ie '04-'05 Giants), and just as easily a conference champion can find itself in the division cellar (ie '04-'05 Eagles). A key injury or two could force a Super Bowl contender out of the playoff picture.

The Monday Night schedule looks very promising with key divisional matchups scattered throughout. On September 25th, the Superdome re-opens as the Saints face Mike Vick and the Falcons. In week seven the Giants head to Dallas for what should be a very important NFC East matchup. The Giants are 0-4 on Monday Nights in Dallas, but will need that to change to hang around arguably the toughest division in football. Cincinnati travels to Indy in week 15 for the most highly anticipated game on ESPN's debut season of Monday Night Football. Last year's regular season matchup may have been the best game of the year with both offenses scoring at will for a 45-38 shootout. Three other games really catch my attention but have received little publicity so far. The first of which takes place in week two with defending Super Bowl Champions taking on Jacksonville, who finished with twelve wins a season ago. In week six Chicago travels to the desert to face Arizona. Some people may be wondering why this game is intriguing, but this is not the same old Cardinals team. With Edgerrin James and two of the game's top young receivers in Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin, this Cardinals team could challenge last season's top defense. Finally, in week ten Tampa Bay travels to Carolina in a matchup of two division rivals and NFC playoff teams from a year ago. This game could be crucial in determining the NFC South Champion.

Switching to a different gear, today Golf's most exciting major kicked off in sunny Augusta, Georgia. On a side note, USA made a brilliant programming move by airing Happy Gilmore on the channel in the two hours leading to its four o'clock coverage. No golf movie can generate as much buzz for the tournament among younger viewers than this comedic masterpiece. Getting back to the tournament, Vijay Singh played a very clean round, topping the leaderboard at five under. He is joined atop the leaderboard by Rocco Mediate (-4) and Aaron Oberholser (-3), the latter aced a hole during Wednesday's par 3 challenge. Retief Goosen and Phil Mickelson are among a hanful of golfers sitting behind them at two under. Mickelson missed a very makeable, below the hole straight in birdie putt on 18 which prevented him from cracking 70. Tournament favorite and four time Masters champion Tiger Woods shot an even par 72 in a shaky first day. Tiger has said often that the first couple rounds do not make your tournament, but they certainly can broke you. Despite dealing with his father's illness, I expect Tiger to hang around. If he does, the leaders better beware on Sunday.

Dwight Gooden

One of the most talented pitchers of the 1980s and 90s is headed back to jail for violation of his probation. Former Met great Dwight "Doc" Gooden received a one year and one day jail sentence for abusing cocaine while on probation for speeding away from police at a drunk driving traffic stop. The terms of the probation prohibited Gooden from using alchohol and drugs. To monitor this he was subject to three random drug tests throughout the year. Gooden elected to serve his jailtime over a reinstatement of his probation which would have lead to a heavier jail sentence on the next violation. According to an article on ESPN.com, Gooden took responsibility for his actions:

"I have a problem, sir, with cocaine," Gooden, dressed in an orange jail outfit, told state Circuit Judge Daniel L. Perry. "I had a cocaine relapse."

This story comes at an interesting time in the baseball world. With the game heavily tainted by alleged steroid use, the fans have become accustom to hearing players pin their problems on others. Rafael Palmeiro went so far as to allege teammate Miguel Tejada was at fault for his failed steroid test, a claim with no substantitive evidence to support it. Although it is sad, it is almost refreshing that Gooden owned up to his actions. Last night on Barry Bonds' new reality show, Bonds on Bonds, he wept as he spoke of taking all the heat himself. If there's one thing I can give him credit for, he has elected not to bring anyone down with him.

It is hard for fans to accept when such amazing talents can self destruct. Unfortunately, the two bright young stars from the successful Mets teams of the mid 80's both followed the same path. Slugger Darryl Strawberry and fireballer Dwight Gooden both allowed cocaine to ruin their lives, and have struggled to kick the habit in their retired years. Doc Gooden exploded in to the pros at the young age of 19 with a tremendous fastball and knee-buckling curve. He made his debut on April 7,1984 and took home NL Rookie of the Year honors. At the age of 20, in just his second season, he won 24 games with an eye popping 1.53 ERA on his way to the 1985 NL Cy Young Award. He became the youngest player to win the award, an honor he holds to this day. After winning nearly 100 games in his first five seasons, injuries and drugs started to derail his career. Gooden ultimately made stops in Cleveland, Houston, Tampa Bay, and across town with the Yankees. His career totals were impressive despite his struggles, amassing 194 wins with a respectable 3.51 earned run average. With the Yankees he took home a World Series ring and pitched a no-hitter in May of 1996. As an adviser to the organization, he was largely responsible for persuading nephew Gary Sheffield to sign with the Yankees.

Despite the efforts of those around him, no one could save him from the demons that dimmed the lights on such a bright future. His story shows that anyone can be susceptible to addiction. Today's players can learn several things from him. First, the accountability he demonstrated in the courtroom should serve as an example for the alleged steroid users. I hope that when those who did abuse the substance are caught, they don't attempt to hide behind their trainers, teammates or anyone else they can manage to balme as several players have already chosen to do. Gooden stood in the courtroom and professed he had a problem, and did not look to blame anyone but himself. Next, Seattle phenom Felix Hernandez is drawing early comparisons to Doc Gooden with his dominating stuff at a comparable age. Hopefully phenomenal talent such as Hernandez can avoid the traps that some stars fall in to.

Growing up a huge fan of Gooden, his off the field actions have always troubled me. At several times since he left the game it seemed like he figured out how to turn his life around. Unfortunately he hasn't, and the great memories he conjured up for me as a kid continue to get scarred. Now I just hope that he can return from prison a rehabilitated man who will look to help a younger generation of stars avoid making the same mistakes he did.

Opening Day and the Final Four

Yesterday marked a huge day on the sports calendar with the opening of baseball season and the NCAA Men's Basketball championship game. A very exciting day of baseball culminated in the Yankees throttling of the Athletics 15-2 in Oakland. Led by Alex Rodriguez's second inning grand slam and a three run shot by Hideki Matsui, the most potent offense in baseball was firing on all cylinders. Newcomer Johnny Damon added three hits in seven at bats and Randy Johnson hurled seven innings of one run ball.
In either the saddest or funniest moment of opening day, depending on how you feel about Barry Bonds, a fan in San Diego threw a plastic syringe at Barry Bonds as he came off the field. Initially I thought the fan should be applauded for his creativity and the comedic value he produced. However, I've backed off on that after watching Bonds' reaction and the actions MLB has taken to increase security. Well I certainly do not hide my disliking of Barry Bonds, even prior to steroid allegations, fans may have begun to cross the line in their efforts to chide him. You can tell in his post game demeanor this event got to him, even though he claims it did not. Fans certainly have the rights to rag on players, and any athlete should be able to withstand most of what fans can yell at them, but they should not have anyone run on the field or have anything thrown on to the field in their direction. I'm sure the fan had no intention of hitting Bonds with the syringe, but irregardless nothing should be thrown on to the field of play. This may seem hypocritical after I loudly applauded Yankees fans' decisions to hurl bottles on to the field in protest of the scandalous Rodriguez-Arroyo play in Game Six of the 2004 ALCS, but that was before taking a step back to evaluate the bigger issue. Fans throwing objects at players has become a serious issue since the Pacers-Pistons brawl and must be curtailed by whatever means necessary. The syringe flinging covered up Bonds 1 for 4 debut in a Giants loss to division rival San Diego. Mike Piazza homered in his Padre debut, as did shortstop Khalil Greene to support Jake Peavy's strong outing.
In other games around the league, Curt Schilling seems to have rebounded from the injuries that affected him last year as he smothered a dangerous Texas lineup through seven innings. The Boston offense struck its big blows through the bats of David Ortiz and Jason Varitek. Mike Lowell homered in his Boston debut as the Sox held on for a 7-3 win. Japanese import Kenji Johjima homered in his first ML game, but Seattle dropped a 5-4 decision to the Angels. In the National League, reigning MVP Albert Pujols homered twice as the Cardinals pounded the Phillies. Jimmy Rollins extended his hitting streak to 37 games with an eighth inning double. Out in Los Angeles the Braves outslugged the dodgers 11-10 behind homeruns by Andruw Jones, Ryan Langerhans, and Adam LaRoche. Atlanta's division rival New York Mets held on to a 3-2 win at home against the Nationals behind a strong outing from Tom Glavine and a homerun by David Wright.
Finally, last night's championship game capped off a weekend of unexciting basketball in Indianapolis. This weekend was an eerie flashback to the last time Indy hosted and hopefully will change when it returns there in 2010. On a brighter note for Gator fans, they were able to redeem their 2000 Finals loss with a 73-57 victory over the UCLA Bruins. Led by Most Outstanding Player Joakim Noah, the Gators dominated from start to finish and the Bruins never made it close. Billy Donovan became just the third person in NCAA Men's history to play in a final four and coach a team to a championship. He joins Bobby Knight and Dean Smith, two of the greatest coaches of all-time. That is a very exclusive company to join and bodes well for the second youngest coach to win a championship (behind Bobby Knight). So often in the tournament the better team does not win, but it is safe to say the best team won last night.

Championship Game Preview

After an exciting three weeks of basketball, March Madness has dwindled to two teams. Tonight at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis the University of Florida takes on UCLA. Both teams won handily over the weekend to set up an exciting final for tonight. Florida is making its first finals appearance since they lost to Michigan St. in the same building in 2000. UCLA last advanced to the championship game when it defeated Arkansas to win the 1995 Championship. Since the game tips in just a little while, this will be just a brief preview of what to look for tonight:

UCLA: The Bruins have advanced to the Championship game with tenacious defense. They have held their last two opponents (Memphis and LSU) to just 45 points. The Pac-10 Champs are carried by their starting backcourt of Jordan Farmar and Arron Afflalo. They received a tremendous effort from Freshman forward Luc Richard Mbah a Moute in their semifinal win over LSU and need him to play well against Florida's formidable front court. Center Ryan Hollins and swingman Cedric Bozeman provide senior leadership for a very young team. They have tremendous depth, being able to go to a 9 or 10 man rotation.

Florida: The Gators boast a tremendous starting five, with four sophomores and one junior. The lone junior, Lee Humphrey, shot the Gators in to the finals with 6 three pointers against George Mason. Humphrey is joined in the backcourt by sophomore Taurean Green who gets to the basket and distributes very well. Sophomore swingman Corey Brewer is a very tough defender with a versatile offensive game. Fellow sophomores Al Horford and Joakim Noah join him in the front court and are both extremely athletic. Florida's length on defense drove George Mason crazy. Joakim Noah has been the star of the tournament and could be the key to this game.

PREVIEW: UCLA will need their frontcourt to play at the top of their game to stick with a very talented, big frontcourt of Florida. Florida's starting frontcourt is as good as there is in the country and they bring big men off the bench to spell Horford and Noah. UCLA will need to hit open shots and effectively score in the paint like it did against LSU. The Bruins hold a slight edge in the backcourt with Afflalo and Farmar, but only if they can hit some shots from beyond the arc. For UCLA to win they must keep the score down, which is not easy against the nation's best shooting team. Florida has played better than anyone else in the tournament and has a stronger starting five. UCLA has a lot of bench depth, but Florida has enough guys off the pine to keep their starters fresh. I've been predicting Florida since the Final Four was set and I'm sticking to it.
Prediction: Florida 67, UCLA 61

MLB Preview- Part II

With a full slate of opening games about to start, today I'll offer a preview of the National League. The National League representative Houston Astros failed to take a game in the World Series and have only won 2 of the last 8 fall classics.

NL Central:
Projected Finish:
1) St Louis Cardinals
2) Chicago Cubs
3) Houston Astros
4) Millwaukee Brewers
5) Cincinnati Reds
6) Pittsburgh Pirates

CARDINALS: The Cards continue to be the team to beat with incredible balance offensively and in their pitching. Albert Pujols has emerged as the premier right handed hitter in baseball and will continue to be the driving force for this offense.
Strengths: Balance. The Cardinals may be the most well balanced team in baseball with an excellent lineup, strong pitching, and well coached by future hall of Famer Tony LaRussa. Scott Rolen and Jim Edmonds can pick it as well as anyone at their positions to boost a solid defensive squad. Albert Pujols is the best all-around hitter in baseball and gets help up and down the lineup. David Eckstein was an All-Star in his first year in St. Louis and Scott Rolen should be ready for a full season. They have a deep bench with veterans Scott Speizio, Junior Spivey, and So Taguchi. The starting rotation is deep with Chris Carpenter coming off a Cy Young campaign and Mark Mulder a very solid number two. They've added Sidney Ponson who could be valuable if he can get his head back in the game.
Weaknesses: Not many. If anything, the bullpen could be tested. While there are a couple of proven arms in the pen, a few pitchers that could be relied upon lack experience. The health of Scott Rolen has been an issue the past couple of seasons and it is tough to predict whether Eckstein can repeat the success he had a year ago. Jim Edmonds is getting older and may start to cover less ground than we're accustomed to seeing.
Will Win the Division IF...They play like they should. This is the deepest, most talented team in the National League. Avoiding injuries such as Rolen has experienced the past few seasons is essential.
CUBS: Once believed to be the next dominant pitchers in baseball, Cubs starters Kerry Wood and Mark Prior have been derailed by injury. Both open the season on the DL causing concerns that baseball's longest World Series drought will continue.
Strengths: Derrek Lee is coming off a career year and looks to have found a comfort zone in Wrigley Field. Third baseman Aramis Ramirez also belted over 30 HRs a year ago giving the Cubbies a powerful 1-2 punch in the middle of the lineup. They added speedy CF Juan Pierre to set the table for the big sluggers and provide them with an upgrade in the field. Joining him in the outfield is Minnesota exile Jacque Jones who is capable of putting up some good power numbers. Carlos Zambrano has proven he can be the ace of this staff and will be relied upon heavily until Prior and Wood can return. The bullpen is full of arms who had successful campaigns a year ago.
Weaknesses: Starting pitching suffered a huge blow with the injuries to Wood and Prior. Greg Maddux is starting to show his age and unproven players are forced to step in to the rotation until their stars can return. Ryan Dempster is a liability as a closer with his control issues. There is some inexperience in the lineup with LF Matt Murton and SS Ronny Cedeno.
Will Win the Division IF...Wood and Prior can pitch most of the season. The two aces must come back healthy and effective. Dempster must find some control at the end of games and Lee needs to repeat his success from a year ago.
ASTROS: The Astros have had a tumultuous offseason with the question marks surrounding Roger Clemens and the contract issues regarding future hall of famer Jeff Bagwell. They made an impressive run to the World Series a year ago, but do not look capable of such a run this year.
Strengths: Pitching carried them to the World Series last year and will need to be as important this year. Gone from a year ago is Roger Clemens who was in Cy Young form and posted a paltry 1.86 ERA. Odds are he'll return to the team after May, but its not a sure thing. Roy Oswalt, Andy Pettitte, and Brandon Backe still form a talented trio at the front end of the rotation. Brad Lidge, despite some struggles in the playoffs, is still a top notch closer who is a great insurance at the end of games. The offense should get a boost from OF Preston Wilson who can post terrific power numbers but must cut back on his strikeouts. Morgan Ensberg emerged last year with 36 HRs and carried the offense through stagnant periods last year. Craig Biggio is still capable of pitching in offensively and will provide great leadership.
Weaknesses: The loss of Clemens will hurt the starting rotation. He may come back, but no one really knows at this point. The offense struggled often last year, especially when Clemens took the mound. They have some talented offensive players, but need to improve run production. The back end of the rotation will struggle to get wins with fourth starter Wandy Rodriguez and rookie Taylor Buchholz. Lidge struggled in the postseason and raised some questions about his effectiveness as a closer in big spots.
BREWERS: There's a lot of excitement in Millwaukee after a surpising .500 finish a year ago. There is a lot of young talent and plenty of reason to believe they can improve upon last year's success.
Strengths: Carlos Lee had a monster year for the Brew Crew in his first season slamming 32 homeruns and driving in 114 runs. Fellow Outfielder Geoff Jenkins has been a consistent performer in Milwaukee and had another solid campaign in '05 with 25 homeruns. The big story is 1B Prince Fielder whose last name and big time power stroke has the fans in Milwaukee expecting big things. Pitching phenom Ben Sheets will start the season on the DL but many prognosticators feel he could be due for big things in the year to come. Fellow starter Chris Capuano is coming off an 18 win season and gives the Brewers a nice 1-2 punch at the top of their rotation. Derrick Turnbow was another pleasant surprise and will be relied on to close. Although Danny Kolb struggled as a closer in his first season in Milwaukee, he could prove to be a valuable set up man for Turnbow.
Weaknesses: This team is very young and may be year or two away from making a serious playoff push. There are weak spots in the lineup and not enough pitching to overcome low scoring games. Ben Sheets injury is a major reason for concern as they can not afford to go long without him.
Will Win the Division IF...Their prospects grow up in a hurry. Prince Fielder, Rickie Weeks, and JJ Hardy are young talents who will be relied upon heavily and it is up to them to help shoulder the load taken on by Lee and Jenkins. Ben Sheets must stay healthy for the entire season and display the stuff that has made him such a feared pitcher.
REDS: Ken Griffey Jr re-emerged as one of the top hitters in baseball last year in his first relatively healthy year in Cincinnati. A recent trade brought starter Bronson Arroyo to help a pitching staff in need of arms.
Strengths: Griffey swung the bat well in the World Baseball Classic and looks to repeat his succesful season from a year ago. He is joined in the outfield by slugger Adam Dunn who blasted 40 homeruns in 2005. Felipe Lopez is a powerful switch hitting shortstop who should continue to help this season. The addition of Bronson Arroyo will bolster the starting rotation, but they need Eric Milton to regain the form that made him a hot free agent commodity a couple summers ago. Brandon Claussen could develop in to another solid Lefty for this staff and he will need to contribute this year.
Weaknesses: Starting pitching has question marks. Aaron Harang pitched to a solid ERA a season ago, but still only managed 11 wins. Eric Milton was a huge disappointment is his first year and Arroyo has never had to lead a staff. The closer role will be left to David Weathers, but he's been a career middle reliever. The lineup is shaky with not much production to be expected offensively from their infield outside of Lopez. Tony Womack struggled in his role with the Yankees, but returns to his natural second base position.
Will Win the Division IF...They can get offensive production from people other than Griffey and Dunn. Claussen becomes the dominant Lefty he's been projected to become and Milton can regain the form that made him such a sought after free agent.
PIRATES: The Pirates have been living in the NL Central cellar but have renewed hopes with some nice offseason acquisitions. A revamped offense could help the Bucs move up the Central standings.
Strengths: Bringing in Joe Randa, Jeromy Burnitz, and Sean Casey will be a big boost offensively. Jason Bay had a monster year batting over .300 with 32 homeruns, 101 runs batted in and 21 stolen bases. Pitching sensation Zach Duke exploded on the scene last year with an 8-2 mark and an ERA under two. The Bucs are also hoping to get productivity from last September call up Paul Maholm who won three of his four decisions at the end of the year. Closer Mike Gonzalez has had limited save opportunites the past couple of seasons, but has been electric out of the bullpen. He could have a very productive year closing out games.
Weaknesses: Outside of Duke and Maholm, there is little to be excited about in the starting rotation. The rest of the rotation pitches to high ERA's and not many wins. The bullpen is strong, but will probably have to pitch to maintain deficits as opposed to leads. It is also hard to expect some of the bullpen to repeat the numbers they posted a year ago, especially aging Roberto Hernandez. While Burnitz and Casey are certainly nice additions, the lineup with struggle to score runs. Jack Wilson was unable to follow up his strong '04 season and appears he could be more the .263 career hitter than the breakout star in 2004.
Will Win the Division IF...Some of the Steelers stars try their hand at baseball. The city was blessed with one title this year, and should not expect one from baseball. This team will be more competitive than people think, but a division title is out of the question.

AL West:
Projected Finish:
1) Los Angeles Dodgers
2) San Francisco Giants
3) Arizona Diamondbacks
4) San Diego Padres
5) Colorado Rockies

DODGERS: An offseason infield overhaul looks to give the Dodgers the edge over arch-rival San Francisco. The pieces seem to be in place for the Dodgers to regain the NL West Title they lost a year ago.
Strengths: Nomar Garciaparra, Rafael Furcal, and Bill Mueller have been added to a new look infield that gives the Dodgers a scary lineup. Jeff Kent continues to put up monster numbers and is the lone holdover at second base. J.D Drew's first season in LA was cut short by injury, but he could be a dominant offensive force. Jose Cruz has posted around 20 HRs in each of the last few seasons and should be good for that amount again this year. The Dodgers added Pitcher Jae Seo to improve the back end of their rotation. Eric Gagne appears healthy again which is bad news for the rest of the NL. Yhency Brazoban struggled to close games last year, but should be better returning to a setup role. Danys Baez should give the Dodgers even more bullpen help in getting the ball to lights out closer Gagne.
Weaknesses: Slated third and fourth starters Odalis Perez and Brett Tomko struggled with high ERAs last year, while their one and two guys Derek Lowe and Brad Penny did not manage to win enough games. While the bullpen has some live arms in Baez, Brazoban, and Gagne, the rest of the pen is littered with inexperience. Starting Catcher Dioner Navarro has only 55 career games under his belt and second year man Jason Repko will start in LF until injured Kenny Lofton can return.
Will Win the Division IF...they get consistent starting pitching and a healthy Eric Gagne returns. Their revamped offense should lead to a major increase in run production in a division that is wide open. Maybe more so than what they do, a distracted, unhealthy Barry Bonds may be the key to their division title hopes.
GIANTS: After a bizarre offseason that has included Barry Bonds dressed as Paula Abdul, Giants Idol sparked by the presence of actor Rob Schneider participating in Spring Training, and the decision of Bud Selig to appoint former Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell to investigate past steroid use, there have been loads of distractions out by the Bay. If Bonds plays 120 games or more, this division is theres for the taking. The big question is whether he will and I have a feeling he may not.
Strengths: A healthy Barry Bonds is the most intimidating offensive force in the game. He will not swing at a bad pitch and pitchers will not throw anywhere near him if the game is even potentially on the line. Fellow outfielders Randy Winn and Moises Alou produced big numbers in 2005 and picked up most of the offensive burden Bonds left behind. Ray Durham and Omar Vizquel can still pick it in the middle of the infield which will be important for some of the young pitchers. Jason Schmidt is coming off a down year but is still among the elite pitchers in the National League. Matt Morris brings his 14 wins from a year ago in St. Louis out to San Francisco to become a proven number two starter. Armando Benitez looked good in his first year in San Fran and should be a reliable closer when he returns from injury. Look out for youngster Matt Cain in the starting rotation. He's only 21 years old and could turn in to an impressive starter.
Weaknesses: Armando Benitez injury is disconcerting because it leaves the closer role to Tim Worrell. The bullpen is a bit shaky and need all their arms healthy. Their starters were inconsistent a year ago and need Jason Schmidt to shake off last years struggles. There are also tons of distractions surrounding this team and will be throughout the year with the steroid probe. Bonds pursuit of the HR records could also weigh on this team.
Will Win the Division IF...Bonds stays healthy. He doesn't need to hit 50 HRs, just being in the lineup changes the outcome of games. Alou will need to produce in order to force opposing pitchers to face Bonds more often than they'd like. As I mentioned earlier, if Bonds can play most of the season, the division title will go to San Francisco.
DIAMONDBACKS: The Diamondbacks struggled a year ago but managed to finish second in the very weak NL West. Starting pitching must improve from a year ago despite the loss of Javier Vazquez.
Strengths: The lineup has a few big bats in the hands of Shawn Green, Luiz Gonzalez, Chad Tracy and Tony Clark. Clark amassed 30 Homeruns to go with a batting average over .300 in an unbelieveably surprising first campaign in the desert. Third year man Chad Tracy was also incredibly impressive posting a .308 average with 27 round trippers. Defensively they got a major upgrade with the acquisition of 2B Orlando Hudson. Brandon Webb emerged as the staff ace and looks to improve again this year. Orlando "El Duque" Hernandez can really help this rotation if he can stay healthy. Russ Ortiz was supposed to be a clutch signing a year ago, but failed to produce in season one. Look for him to rebound and be closer to the pitcher the D'Backs thought they were getting when they signed him.
Weaknesses: Pitching. The starting rotation is a mess after its ace Webb. Hernandez and Ortiz could be helpful, but it's too early to consider them anything but a weakness. The backend of the rotation is not capable of much and the bullpen is a mix of washed up veterans combined with inexperienced youngsters. Offense will be limited from the Catcher position and middle infield.
Will Win the Division IF...Starters Hernandez and Ortiz rediscover how to pitch. Tony Clark must repeat his dream season from a year ago, but early indications are that he lost his starting job. Luis Gonzalez and Craig Counsell are the lone members remaining from the 2001 Champions and must instill that championship attitude in the clubhouse.
PADRES: The reigning NL West Champs do not look poised to repeat as their rotation looks much weaker than a year ago. However, the additions of Mike Piazza and Mike Cameron should bolster the team offensively.
Strengths: Jake Peavy returns as the ace of the staff after posting an impressive sub 3.00 ERA a year ago. Scott Linebrink has established himself as one of the top relievers in the National League and received help from rookie Clay Hensley a year ago. Trevor Hoffman is still an imposing closer who posted over 40 saves in 2005 and is fully capable of repeating that this year. Brian Giles has been an offensive force the last several years and Mike Piazza could relieve some of the pressure to hit for power. Ryan Klesko and Mike Cameron are both capable of big power numbers when they return from injury. Dave Roberts has tremendous speed and creates problems for opponents with his base stealing ability. Rookie Josh Barfield could produce big numbers and is a first year player to keep an eye on.
Weaknesses: Pitching will be an issue as the back end of the rotation is very much up in the air. Dewon Brazelton, Woody Williams, and Chan Ho Park will be responsible for the fourth and fifth starter roles but none have been impressive recently. Shawn Estes struggled a year ago, and despite a decent win total, so did Chris Young. The bullpen has a few reliable arms, but they can't pitch every game. Alan Embree is not the lefty specialist he used to be and the rest of the pen is inexperienced. Until Klesko and Cameron return, runs could be hard to come by. Piazza will need days off and Doug Mirabelli is not much of an offensive threat.
Will Win the Division IF...there is another down year in the NL West. This team is a few bats and pitchers short of a contender. Someone other than Jake Peavy must be relied upon to win games.
ROCKIES: Clint Barmes was enjoying a breakout season before a freak accident hauling deer meat derailed him. Todd Helton remains an offensive force but there's little else to be excited about with this team.
Strengths: Todd Helton consistently puts up solid offensive numbers in Coors Field and should continue to do so. His power numbers dipped a bit in '05, but expect them to bounce back this year. Matt Holliday had a productive season batting over .300 and driving in nearly 90 runs. Clint Barmes started off '05 hot and showed potential to be a solid big league player. Brian Fuentes emerged as a very solid closer, converting 31 of 34 save opportunities.
Weaknesses: Arguably the worst starting five in the major leagues. Only one projected starter for this year's staff posted an ERA under 5.00 a year ago. Not all of that can be blamed on the thin air in Coors. The bullpen will be forced to pitch a lot of innings and some of the veteran guys (Jose Mesa, Ray King) may get overworked. Fuentes is talented at the end of games, but will probably not get enough save opportunities. The offense will also struggle greatly and there's a decent chance Helton will be shipped by the deadline. Helton has no protection in the lineup and at this point its difficult to envision guys who could step up.
Will Win the Division IF...there is a complete roster overhaul. The guys on the current team are not talented or deep enough to compete. They have some pieces to build around with Holliday, Barmes, and Fuentes, but this will not be the year in Colorado.

NL East:
Projected Finish:
1) Atlanta Braves
2) New York Mets *
3) Philadelphia Phillies
4) Washington Nationals
5) Florida Marlins

BRAVES: The Braves are aiming for their 15th consecutive division title and I refuse to bet against them accomplishing that feat. GM John Schuerholz has put together a great mix of young talent and veteran stars and this season should be no different than the past fourteen.
Strengths: When you think of the Braves, you think starting pitching. This year is no different. John Smoltz can still fling it and Tim Hudson is capable of winning 20 games. Horacio Ramirez struggled at times last year, but is a solid contributor. Mike Hampton will begin the season on the DL, but can help toeing the rubber and from the plate. Jorge Sosa was impressive a year ago winning 13 of 16 decisions and posting a low earned run average. This team does not have to rely on its pitching with a very capable lineup of young stars and veterans. Andruw Jones is coming off a career year in which he hit 51 homeruns and still plays Center as well as anyone in baseball. Jeff Francoueur was impressive as any rookie from a season ago and given a full season should produce terrific numbers. Edgar Renteria joins the team and combines with 2B Marcus Giles for a tremendous middle infield. Chipper Jones has been as consistent a player as anyone over the past decade and should have a few more seasons left in the tank.
Weaknesses: The bullpen appears to be shaky as closing duties have been left to Chris Reitsma. He converted only 15 of his 24 save opportunites a year ago. Just getting the ball to Reitsma could be an adventure if the starters don't work late in to games. Mike Remlinger struggled in the American League and did not even closely resemble his old Braves days. The starting rotation appears solid, but could have cracks. There's speculation that GM Schuerholz no longer regards Horacio Ramirez as highly as he used to, and youngster Kyle Davies may be another year or two away from truly developing.
Will Win the Division IF...Youngsters Francoueur, Ryan Langerhans, and Adam LaRoche can continue to build on successful early careers. Andruw Jones does not need to hit over 50 homers again, but needs to continue to provide power in the middle of the lineup. Tim Hudson needs to assert himself as the ace of this staff and John Smoltz needs to prove he can still perform as a front line starter.
METS: General Manager Omar Minaya continues to pour money in to top notch free agents in attempts to knock the Braves off their perch. His moves this offseason may be enough to do just that.
Strengths: The signings of Carlos Delgado, Paul LoDuca, and Billy Wagner should greatly improve this team. Braden Looper struggled in his closer role from a year ago and bringing in formal divison foe Wagner gives the Mets a dominant closer. Carlos Delgado is the big bat in the middle of the lineup the Mets desperately needed and Paul LoDuca provides a steady backstop to replace the departed Mike Piazza. Carlos Beltran struggled in his first year at Shea, but has the tools to be a dominant player. His sophomore year in New York should be a productive one. Third Basemen David Wright is becoming a chic pick for NL MVP and deservedly so. He is a big time hitter and a very impressive fielder. Jose Reyes brings a lot of speed to the top of the lineup and manager Willie Randolph lets him fly. Since coming over from the Braves Tom Glavine has not been his old self, but he is still capable of winning a bunch of games. Pedro Martinez is battling a nagging injury, but is a very dangerous pitcher when healthy.
Weaknesses: While Glavine and Martinez are still a pretty formidable one-two punch, the rest of the rotation is questionable. Steve Trachsel battled injuries a year ago and Victor Zambrano was unimpressive in his first year in New York. Once he moved out to the bullpen, Aaron Heilman became very valuable to this team. However, they need other arms to help setup Wagner. The health of Pedro Martinez is crucial to the success of the starting rotation.
Will Win the Division IF...the starters can stay healthy. This is a very dangerous team if Beltran can rediscover his '04 playoff magic. There is no easy out in this lineup and the addition of Wagner will cover up some of the holes in the bullpen.
PHILLIES: The loss of Billy Wagner to the division rival Mets will hurt, but they are hoping veteran Tom Gordon can help fill the void. They have an offense that can score a ton of runs and a top heavy rotation.
Strengths: They have a very powerful lineup that should get even stronger as Ryan Howard no longer has to deal with departed Jim Thome. Howard could be in for a huge year as he belted 22 homeruns in just 88 games a season ago. Second baseman Chase Utley had a breakout year driving in over 100 runs and hitting 28 home runs. Bobby Abreu has established himself as a 30-30 guy who is among the game's premier players. Pat Burrell is another guy who can put up big power numbers and Jimmy Rollins is just 20 games shy of tying Joe Dimaggio's 56 game hitting streak (prior to today's games). Jon Lieber won 17 games in his first season as the Phillies number one starter and the rotation got solid contributions from Brett Myers and Corey Lidle. While Tom Gordon will certainly not be as effective as Billy Wagner, he can be a very effective closer.
Weaknesses: The starting rotation has question marks with unproven starters Gavin Floyd and Ryan Madson. Another issue will be gettin the ball to Tom Gordon. Arthur Rhodes was effective last year, but he's been inconsistent over the years. Aaron Fultz pitched tremendously well a year ago, but judging by his career numbers it could definitely be a fluke. Although Jon Lieber was effective last year, he is not too far removed from Tommy John surgery that cost him a year and a half. David Bell struggled from the plate last year and could be a weak spot in the lineup.
Will Win the Division IF...their starters can contend with the other tough lineups in the division. Ryan Howard emerges as the major power hitter he is expected to be and they got the offensive balance they are capable of. They are unfortunately stuck in the same division as the Mets and Braves but are certainly capable of winning the Wild Card.
NATIONALS: The first year in D.C was successful for manager Frank Robinson and the former Montreal Expos. They've brought in Alfonso Soriano, and despite threatening to sit if moved to the outfield, is scheduled to start in Left field.
Strengths: Alfonso Soriano helps bolster the middle of the lineup, bringing his career 30 plus homerun average to one of the toughest places to hit in baseball. Jose Guillen led the team in four baggers a year ago and is a solid number 3 hitter in the lineup. Nick Johnson has great patience as evidenced by his .408 on-base percentage of a year ago. The offensive prowess of Jose Vidro has declined over the past several seasons, but his defense keeps him at second and is still capable of putting up good numbers. Livan Hernandez is a solid number one starter who eats up a lot of innings. John Patterson pitched effectively a year ago and should continue to improve. Closer Chad Cordero performed unbelieveably last year when he piled up 47 saves with an ERA under two.
Weaknesses: The lineup has a lack of power. Jose Guillen led the team with 24 a year ago, but 21 away from home. Alfonso Soriano brings a big bat, but it is tough to go yard in the nation's capital. Brandon Watson is a liability at the top of the lineup despite possessing great speed. Third baseman Ryan Zimmerman had a hanful of at bats as a September call-up, but is entering his rookie year at only 21 years of age. There are also problems in the starting rotation after Hernandez and Patterson. Ramon Ortiz and Tony Armas are unreliable at best and will struggle to get wins.
Will Win the Division IF...Soriano accepts his position as an outfielder and drops his "me-first" attitude. His early days in Washington have been a huge distraction and could continue to plague the team. They need to add another proven bat and one of the late day starters needs to win 10 plus games. If the starters can go late in the games and get the ball to Cordero they can remain competitive.
MARLINS: Former Yankee Bench Coach Joe Girardi takes over after another infamous Marlins firesale. Dontrelle Willis and Miguel Cabrera remain, the rest of the roster is filled with names the every day fan will not know.
Strengths: Dontrelle Willis had a remarkable '05 and enjoyed his role as the ace of the staff. With AJ Burnett gone, he'll need to shoulder an even greater burden. Miguel Cabrera is one of the game's brightest young stars and is coming off a season in which he batted .323 with 33 homeruns and 116 runs batted in. First basemen Mike Jacobs hit 11 homeruns in just 30 games and is one of the many young prospects they look to rely on this upcoming season. The Marlins also expect major contributions from Shortstop Hanley Ramirez and Right Fielder Jeremy Hermida, two highly touted prospects given the opportunity to start.
Weaknesses: The entire roster is filled with unproven prospects. This team is probably a few years away from being competitive. After Dontrelle Willis there are no proven starters and there's no help jogging in from the bullpen. Closing duties are up to inconsistent Joe Borowski, but he should not face too many save opportunites. The lineup features many young stars, but also low priced veterans such as catcher Miguel Olivo. There are holes up and down the lineup and this team will struggle to compete.
Will Win the Division IF...it was 2008. This team is loaded with prospects, but most probably need a few more years. They are being thrown in to the fire and the results will not be pretty. Joe Girardi inherited a mess and will struggle to win games.

DIVISION CHAMPS:
Central: Cardinals
West: Dodgers
East: Braves
Wild Card: Mets

NL Champion: St. Louis Cardinals

WORLD SERIES: New York Yankees Over St. Louis Cardinals

This completes my two day MLB Preview, let the games begin...

MLB Preview

Tonight the MLB Regular Season was supposed to kick off with the defending World Series champion Chicago White Sox taking on the Cleveland Indians. These two teams will be competing for the AL Central crown all year long, so this is a great game to kick off the season. However, the game is stuck in a huge rain delay which may not be resumed. Today I will preview the AL, with a look at the National League tomorrow. Since two American League Central teams kick off the season, I'll begin my preview with an overview of that division:

AL Central:
Projected Finish:
1. White Sox
2. Cleveland Indians
3. Minnesota Twins
4. Detroit Tigers
5. Kansas City Royals

WHITE SOX: The defending World Series champs will again be bolstered by one of the strongest starting rotations in baseball. They added some power to the middle of their lineup with the addition of DH/1B Jim Thome. This team looks to repeat as division champs, and possibly World Series Champs.
Strentghs: Their starting rotation appears to be the best in baseball with the addition of Javier Vazquez. He joins southpaw Mark Buehrle, along with righties Jon Garland, Freddy Garcia, and Jose Contreras who all played key roles in the championship run from a year ago. They have a lot of power in the middle of the lineup with Thome, Paul Konerko and Jermaine Dye all capable of hitting over 30 home runs and driving in 100. The offense is strong top to bottom with speedy lead off hitter Scott Podsednik who will benefit from the big bats in the middle.
Weaknesses: Bobby Jenks was a pleasant surprise last year using his incredible velocity to blow hitters away at the end of games. However, this spring his fastball has lost a lot of pop and his control has always been an issue. Another issue will be finding Aaron Rowand's replacement. Rowand provided a sure-handed glove in Center but was shipped to the Phillies in the Thome deal. Rookie Brian Anderson is slated to fill this role but is very inexperienced.
Will Win the Division If... The starting pitching stays healthy. They have nice insurance in Pitcher Brandon McCarthy in case a starter goes down, but will only hold off the Indians with pitching. Jenks must also avoid a sophomore slump which many are projecting due to a very poor spring.
INDIANS: One of the biggest surprises of last season seems to be positioned to contend for the Division again this year. With some solid young talent and the experience of last year's near playoff push, this team should be tough to beat.
Strengths: Extremely talented lineup from top to bottom with a bunch of guys who can change a game with one swing of the bat. Victor Martinez is emerging as a premier catcher in the American league and the Indians expect big things from talented CF Grady Sizemore (who they recently rewarded a large contract extension). Bob Wickman has been a reliable closer and notched 45 saves a year ago.
Weaknesses: Starting pitching is a question mark behind CC Sabathia and Cliff Lee. Jake Westbrook looked good in the first half of last year, but struggled later in the season. Gone from the outfield is speedy Coco Crisp, who is being replaced by Jason Michaels. Michaels put up decent numbers in limited at bats last season, but is a definite downgrade from Crisp.
Will Win the Division If... Their 4th and 5th starters give them production. Paul Byrd and Jason Johnson both pitched over 200 Innings last year with decent ERAs and could improve their Win totals playing for a better offensive team. They got a lot of production from their young stars last year, if they continue to improve this could be the team to beat in the Central.
TWINS: For the first time since 2001 the Twins failed to win the Central last year. As has been the case with recent Minnesota teams they will need to rely on strong pitching and timely hitting.
Strengths: Johan Santana is arguably the most dominant starting pitcher in baseball and Joe Nathan has emerged as a quality closer. Torii Hunter covers a ton of ground and is still the best fielding Centerfielder in the American league. The signing of Luis Castillo gives them another proven bat at the top of the order and Tony Batista could provide the home run stroke sorely missing from this lineup.
Weaknesses: No one in the lineup really strikes fear in to opposing pitchers. Rondell White could provide a sure stroke in the middle of the lineup, but he's not nicknamed RonDL for nothing. The pitching staff has questions on the backend and holes in the lineup, particularly at Shortstop.
Will Win the Division if... Some of the risky off-season moves pay off. Tony Batista, Rondell White, Luis Castillo, and Ruben Sierra were all brought in to improve the offense. They have question marks with injuries and are all aging a bit. Brad Radke and Carlos Silva need to get more wins from the 2nd and 3rd starting roles and top notch prospects Francisco Liriano and Scott Baker could be contributors.
TIGERS: After last season's roster upgrade and the offseason addition of manager Jim Leyland, the Tigers look to continue to build on last year's improvements. Pitching was given a much needed boost with the additions of starter Kenny Rogers and closer Todd Jones.
Strengths: The lineup has many capable bats top to bottom and a healthier Magglio Ordonez. Placido Polanco hit for a great average last season and should keep those numbers up being protected by Ordonez, Pudge Rodriguez, and Dmitri Young. Kenny Rogers gives the Tigers a viable #1 starter until Jeremy Bonderman is ready, which could be as early as this season. Bonderman should be a 15-18 game winner this year. Todd Jones had a phenomenal year saving 40 games for the Marlins and could be a huge lift to the backend of the Tigers thin bullpen.
Weaknesses: Starting pitching is a huge question mark. Kenny Rogers should provide a lift, but he is aging and his recent temper flareups could create chemisty issues in his new clubhouse. The end of the rotation is not going to produce enough wins to keep this team alive in a very competitive division. Health issues are a major concern for Rodriguez and Ordonez, who are crucial to this team's success.
Will Win the Division If...The young pitchers find ways to win. Nate Robertson only won 7 games in 23 decisions, but showed decent stuff in stretches. Jim Leyland is a no-nonsense manager who must erase the bad feelings associated with the organization's consistent mediocrity. Ordonez and Rodriguez must stay healthy and provide punch in the middle of the lineup.
ROYALS: The last few years have tough as small market Kansas City has been unable to compete due to lack of marquee players. One consistent has been Mike Sweeney who the Royals hope can stay healthy and continue to produce.
Strengths: This offseason the Royals added 1B Doug Mientkiewicz, 2B Mark Grudzielanek, and OF Reggie Sanders to provide veteran leadership and bolster them offensively as well as defensively. Joining them in the lineup is 2003 AL Rookie of the Year SS Angel Berroa and RF Emil Brown who hit 17 homers with 86 RBI in his first season with the team last year.
Weaknesses: Starting pitching. Only one guy slated for the starting rotation notched more than 10 wins and had an ERA under 5.00 last year (Scott Elarton with 11 Wins and 4.61 ERA ). They are very inexperienced and should struggle with some tough lineups in the AL Central. Their closer Ambiorix Burgos has only one year under his belt and has not faced many save situations.
Will Win the Division IF...The other teams in the AL Central suffer catastrophic injuries. This team has a lot of needs but are not among the "buyers" in the league. The pieces added in the offseason would have to produce career years, along with the emergence of one or more of their top prospects from the minors to have a chance to get out of the cellar.

AL West:
Projected Finish:
1) Oakland Athletics
2) Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim*
3) Seattle Mariners
4) Texas Rangers

ATHLETICS: Billy Beane somehow manages to keep his teams competitive without spending. This organization is incredible at bringing along their starting pitching and their new big three of Rich Harden, Dan Haren, and Barry Zito should carry them to the division title.
Strengths: Starting pitching, namely the aforementioned big three of Harden, Haren, and Zito. However, slotted for the fourth and fifth starter positions are Esteban Loaiza and Joe Blanton who both are talented pitchers as well. Huston Street had a phenomenal rookie season as the closer and there's no reason to believe he won't repeat that this year. The lineup is filled with guys who can get on base, and the additions of Frank Thomas and Milton Bradley should help in run production. A healthy Bobby Crosby should also bolster an offense that often struggled last season. This team is also very deep so manager Ken Macha should be able to keep his team fresh throughout the season.
Weaknesses: Unless Frank Thomas experiences a re-birth in Oakland, there aren't too many threats for the long ball. Eric Chavez and Nick Swisher both produced solid power numbers last year, but need more help offensively. The bullpen has some young talent, but lack experience which could hurt them late in the season.
Will Win the Division IF... Their starters stay healthy. Rich Harden pitched very well, but only threw 128 innings. He needs to last the whole season to keep them in the race. They have been a great second half team over the past several years, but must have a good start to stay around the top with a very talented Angels team.
ANGELS: After falling in the ALCS to the White Sox in October, the Angels look to take the next step this year. They are lead by a talented starting rotation and a lineup of veteran hitters.
Strengths: Starting pitching carried them a year ago and looks to be the same story this year. The Angels added Jeff Weaver to deepen the rotation lead by ace Bartolo Colon. The Angels bolstered the best bullpen in baseball by adding lefty J.C Romero from the Twins to join reliable Scot Shields, Brendan Donnelly, and electric closer Francisco Rodriguez. Although he has struggled through some injuries, Vladimir Guerrero is still one of the most talented players in baseball.
Weaknesses: Their lineup has some holes. They lost Bengie Molina and have handed the Catcher position to untested rookie Jeff Mathis. Casey Kotchman takes over at first base, but has been limited to a bench role in his previous years. Garret Anderson and Darrin Erstad are starting to show their age and could begin to wear down. While pitching is a major strength, Jeff Weaver has to remain a question mark. He has great stuff but his ERA was a bit high for the NL and has struggled while playing for a contender.
Will Win the Division IF... Players other than Guerrero and Anderson can drive in runs. Darrin Erstad had the next highest RBI total for '05 with a mere 66. While the pitching will only need limited run support, they do need some. The new positional starters (Kotchman and Mathis)need to get acclimated to their roles quickly and the pitching staff must be able to work well with a new guy behind the plate.
MARINERS: The big buzz during the offseason was the acquistion of Japanese Catcher Kenji Johjima, but it's difficult to know what to expect from him. Adrian Beltre looked excellent during the World Baseball Classic and looks to re-gain his '04 form in his second year in Seattle.
Strengths: Felix Hernandez. The 19 year old phenom demonstrated last year why he's drawing comparisons to a young Doc Gooden. He has tremendous velocity and a knee buckling breaking ball that frustrated hitters in his limted work at the end of 2005. Closer Eddie Guardado is still capable of closing out games and provides an anchor in the bullpen. Ichiro has established himself as one of the premier leadoff batters in baseball and should benefit from a lineup with some big bats in the middle. Richie Sexson hit 39 HRs in his first season in Seattle and Adrian Beltre is capable of putting up similar stats. Raul Ibanez and Carl Everett can also drive in a lot of runs.
Weaknesses: Pitching is a concern for this team. While Hernandez is exciting, the rest of the staff struggled last year. Jamie Moyer is aging, Joel Pineiro struggled last year, and Gil Meche had an ERA over 5.00. Aside from Guardado, the bullpen is very thin and inexperienced. The lineup has some inexperience with young 2B Jose Lopez, OF Joe Borchard and SS Yuniesky Betancourt.
Will Win the Division IF...Starting pitchers rebound in 2006. Aside from Hernandez, the rest of the staff had tough campaigns in 2005. Jarrod Washburn and Joel Pineiro must return to'02 form to take some pressure off their bats. Kenji Johjima picks up MLB as easily as Hideki Matsui and Ichiro giving the Mariners further offensive production.
RANGERS: In an attempt to strengthen a very depleted pitching staff the Rangers signed Kevin Millwood to a lucrative long term deal. They sent talented but defensively troubled star 2B Alfonso Soriano to Washington that broke up the most offensively formidable infield in baseball.
Strengths: Chicks dig the long ball and these guys hit them in bunches. Mark Teixiera is coming off a monster year in which he hit 43 HRs and drove in 144 runs. Fellow infielders Hank Blalock and Michael Young are among the best at their position offensively and defensively. They get great offensive numbers from everywhere on the field except 2B which will be left to rookie Ian Kinsler. Kevin Millwood had a very impressive ERA pitching for Cleveland last year and could be the number 1 starter Texas has desperately needed. Francisco Cordero notched 37 saves last year and proved to be a solid closer.
Weaknesses: As has been the case for the past several years, Texas has no pitching. They attempted to fix this through some trades, but there are still question marks. Their fourth and fifth starters have a cominbed 17 career wins with very limited Major League experience. Unless Antonio Alfonseca revitalizes himself, the Rangers have no steady bridge to Cordero in the bullpen.
Will Win the Division IF...The offense can outslug opponents. Kevin Millwood and Vicente Padilla win a bunch of ball games with this lineup and get some help from the other starters. Alfonseca establishes himself as a reliable setup guy to hand games over to Cordero.

AL East:
Projected Finish:
1) New York Yankees
2) Boston Red Sox
3) Toronto Blue Jays
4) Baltimore Orioles
5) Tampa Bay Devil Rays

YANKEES: The Yankees title drought has lasted five years and Steinbrenner will not tolerate a sixth. The Boss has come on record saying the Yankees will win the championship this year and the Bombers look capable of backing him up.
Strengths: With the addition of CF Johnny Damon, the Yankees possess the most feared lineup in baseball. There is no easy out in this lineup and they will score in bunches. Randy Johnson struggled in the first half of the season, but regained his form late to notch 17 victories in his first season in the Bronx. Mariano Rivera posted another brilliant campaign in '05 and remains the best closer in baseball. They added a left handed specialist in Mike Myers and Kyle Farnsworth takes over as the setup man for departed Tom Gordon. If the starters can stay healthy they have great depth with Johnson, Mussina, Carl Pavano, Jaret Wright, Chien Ming-Wang, Shawn Chacon, and Aaron Small. The latter three played a huge role in taking the division last year and will help in either starting or bullpen roles this season.
Weaknesses: Injuries among the starting rotation is reason for concern. Carl Pavano and Jaret Wright have been riddled with injuries since signing lucrative deals last year. The bullpen is full of new pieces and finding the right guys to set up Rivera will take some time. Depth is a major issue and could be a concern for an aging lineup. The steroid investigations also could uncover new information that may serve as a huge distraction for Gary Sheffield and Jason Giambi.
Will Win the Division IF...The pitchers stay healthy. Their starting rotation is deep with a good mix of young talent and proven veterans. The bullpen was given a much needed boost with the additions of Ron Villone, Mike Myers, Kyle Farnsworth, and potentially Octavio Dotel. If the lineup produces anywhere near what it's capable of, no reason they do not represent the AL in the Fall Classic.
RED SOX: Most of the '04 Champion Red Sox are gone, but the team boosts a strong starting rotation and a bunch of sure-handed fielders. Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz should continue to be the most feared tandem in the league.
Strengths: Adding Josh Beckett will be a huge boost to the starting rotation. He is a young, talented pitcher who has already demonstrated success against arch rival New York. Ramirez and Ortiz are among the best run producers in baseball and should hold the new look line up together. The new infield is based more around defense, but Mark Loretta will constantly be on base and Mike Lowell has the potential for big power numbers. Wily Mo Pena will platoon in the OF, but has potential to be a big offensive force off the bench.
Weaknesses: Trading Bronson Arroyo might come back to hurt the Sox. With David Wells headed to the DL and Schilling coming off injury, a huge burden is put on Beckett, Tim Wakefield and Matt Clement. Highly touted prospect Jon Papelbon will be thrown in to the fire early. There are also big concerns about the back end of the bullpen with closer Keith Foulke's injury problems.
Will Win the Division IF... Beckett thrives in his first year in Boston. The closer role must be filled well by Foulke or hard throwing rookie Craig Hansen. This new set of players can establish the same chemistry as the '04 "Idiots" and Curt Schilling can rebound from injuries that limited him last year.
BLUE JAYS: The Jays made a big splash in the offseason by signing prize free agent starter AJ Burnett and closer BJ Ryan to huge deals. They also acquired Bengie Molina, Troy Glaus, and Lyle Overbay in their attempts to compete in the East.
Strengths: Roy Halladay is one of the top pitchers in baseball if he can stay healthy. AJ Burnett will be a very solid number two when returning from the DL and they should get consistency from Ted Lilly, Josh Towers,and Gustavo Chacin. BJ Ryan solidifies the closing role and is coming off a tremendous 36 save season with the Orioles. Vernon Wells continues to tease with his ability but could have a breakout year with some new pieces in place. Acquiring Molina, Glaus, and Overbay will be a big boost offensively as well as in the field.
Weaknesses: Health of starting pitching. AJ Burnett is already injured and Halladay has struggled to keep healthy the past couple years. The bullpen will struggle to hold leads and hand the ball over to Ryan. The lineup is short a powerful bat or two, but that could change if they are still in the race around the trade deadline.
Will Win the Division IF...Halladay can pitch 200+ innings the way he is capable of and Burnett can overcome his early injury. Vernon Wells needs to turn in to the player he demonstrates that he can be and they add another power hitter to the middle of the lineup before the deadline.
ORIOLES: The 2005 Campaign was clouded by the positive steroid test of 1B and potential Hall of Famer Rafael Palmeiro. Sammy Sosa failed to impress and is already out of town. The 2006 team looks to regain the success it experienced in the early part of '05.
Strengths: Melvin Mora and Miguel Tejada established themselves as one of the best left infields in baseball. Brian Roberts was having an MVP first half of '05 before slowing down and ultimately suffering a devastating injury. He should return to the lineup soon and could continue to improve. Corey Patterson arrives with a lot of talent and could thrive in a new environment. Javy Lopez will be able to split time behind the plate with the arrival of Ramon Hernandez and Kevin Millar will provide some veteran leadership. The starting rotation received a boost with the addition of Kris Benson, and Bruce Chen pitched very well for the Birds in '05.
Weaknesses: With the departure of BJ Ryan, the closing job has been handed over to Chris Ray who has very limited experience at the end of games. Outside of Latroy Hawkins (and even thats generous), the bullpen doesn't have many proven arms. The starting rotation has its share of question marks with high ERAs causing several of them problems.
Will Win the Division IF... New pitching coach Leo Mazzone can transform his young staff to resemble the rotations he put together in his years with the Braves. Javy Lopez benefits from splitting time behind the plate and rejuvenates his offensive production. Chris Ray can turn in to a solid closer.
DEVIL RAYS: The Devil Rays displayed a lot of young talent and skills reminiscent of the 2003 Marlins with their incredible team speed. Joe Maddon takes over for Lou Piniella as manager and inherits a team that could cause headaches for the contenders.
Strengths: Team speed. Outfielders Carl Crawford and Joey Gathright can create major problems on the base paths. Jorge Cantu, Aubrey Huff, Rocco Balidelli and Jonny Gomes all had terrifc seasons in '05 and should repeat this season. Scott Kazmir is a talented young starter who has shown flashes of his enormous potential.
Weaknesses: Pitching. There are more questions than answers in the starting rotation and in the bullpen. Kazmir and Mark Hendrickson were the only starters to notch over 10 wins in 2005, but Hendrickson had an ERA just under six. The bullpen is filled with journeymen and inexperienced younger players with no true closer.
Will Win the Division IF...Other pitchers establish themselves. The young players grow up in a hurry and can withstand the tough divisional schedule. Need everything to break in their favor, along with acquiring help along their starting rotation and bullpen.

AL Overview: DIVISION WINNERS
Central-White Sox
West-Athletics
East-Yankees
Wild Card- Angels

AL Champion: New York Yankees