2010 American League Preview

AL East

1. New York Yankees 95-67 - They remain the class of the AL East, and, well, the entire AL for that matter. With Curtis Granderson added to the top of the lineup, there will be no shortage of power in the Big Apple. Expect the Bombers to power their way through the AL again and re-meet an old foe in late October.

2. * Boston Red Sox 90-72 - They remain the deepest rotation in the majors, being able to add John Lackey into that mix certainly helps boast their claim. Theo Epstein's Sox had a quietly successful off-season in adding Marco Scutaro, Adrian Beltre and Mike Cameron. Yet, at the same time the Sox are not getting any younger either.

3. Tampa Bay Rays 87-75 - Only two years removed from a startling run to the World Series and it appears as if this team will remain in contention for quite some time. This young team as a cohesive unit will grow together and continue to stay right in the thick of things in the always tight AL East.

4. Baltimore Orioles 80-82 - Matt Wieters is the best prospect to touch a baseball diamond in quite some time and will help carry the O’s into this decade of turnaround for the club. This young team will only get better in time and can eventually challenge for a playoff spot in the coming years. Then again, this division never stops growing and is always competitive.

5. Toronto Blue Jays 70-92 - Toronto will deeply miss Roy “Doc” Halladay, yet their return was not all that bad (Kyle Drabek, Brett Wallace, Travis d‘Arnaud). Even with new young talent coming in, the Jays remain at the bottom of the AL East hill with no peak in sight, at least not until the rookies start to carry the team.

AL Central

1. Minnesota Twins 83-79 - The Twins will let their new Target Field work distinctly to their advantage (especially in April & October.) Joe Mauer is the best pure hitter in the AL and this team is ever-improving. And even with Joe Nathan out for the season, they will find ways to win as always.

2. Detroit Tigers 82-80 - It puzzles me how a team as deep as the Tigers does not take the Central by 8-10 games annually. Their line-up, even without Granderson, remains a force to be reckoned with. They are intelligently in a bit of a re-building mode while at the same time still managing to contend.

3. Chicago White Sox 78-84 - The Sox have talent and plenty of it to go around, yet they still can not manage to break through their ceiling. They are consistently right around the middle of the division and apparently not much will change this season. Another so-so season might be just the ammunition that GM Ken Williams needs to unload Manager Ozzie Guillen.

4. Kansas City Royals 72-90 - “The Great” Zack Greinke was dominate last season, which won him the Cy Young despite playing for a cellar-dweller. It is a shame that he can only pitch every five days though. The Royals are still quite young, yet are improving and making drastic strides in a weak division.

5. Cleveland Indians 69-93 - The Tribe will certainly round-up a weak Central. Grady Sizemore is at full health now, but he alone can not carry the Indians all season. They will enjoy the prospects from the Cliff Lee trade and someday soon benefit off of that deal. In the meantime, this team has a lot of growing up to do.

AL West
1. Los Angeles Angels 95-67 - The Angels, for whatever reason, never seem to slow down. They are like a fine wine, they tend to get better with age. Though the loss of star pitcher John Lackey will hurt, they continue to be the class of the AL West every season and that will not change in the new decade.

2. Seattle Mariners 91-71 - Cliff Lee & Felix Hernandez are fixing to be a fearsome duo for the Mariners this season. If healthy, Lee, who landed in Seattle as a Christmas present as part of a 3-team trade also involving Roy Halladay, will enhance the Mariners’ chances of swimming with the big fish in the AL. Offense will be the lone phase of the game that could potentially hold them back.

3. Texas Rangers 90-72 - The Rangers will win this division in the near future, yet this will not happen this season. Young talent everywhere is intricate to Texas’ success and ultimately should determine their future.

4. Oakland Athletics 73-89 - Oakland appears to be in an inescapable rut. They are currently in the toughest division in the AL and show no signs of immediate growth. Remember though, Billy Beane is crafty and can turn things around in an instant.

AL MVP - Mark Teixeira
AL Cy Young - Jon Lester

The McNabb-Reid Era: All Good Things Must Come to An End



Donovan McNabb remains the focal point of the Philadelphia sports scene, good or bad, number five is always on the minds of Philadelphia sports fans. Only this time, the reason has to do with his inevitable departure from The City of Brotherly Love. On May 5th, ironically 5/5/10, McNabb is owed a $6.2 million roster bonus from the Philadelphia Eagles. Thus, the Eagles are rushed to make a snap judgment on the future of their quarterback situation (currently holding three under contract.)

With the annual NFL Draft approaching in April, now is an opportune time to pull the trigger and ship McNabb in return for a “top-42” pick as the team has requested. For a man that has take the Eagles to five NFC Title Game appearances in the last nine seasons, there has sure been much criticism during his reign. Simply put, it has not always been easy to be Donovan McNabb in the city of Philadelphia.

McNabb has probably been the greatest QB to ever don Eagle green, yet the sudden emergence of Kevin Kolb has forced the Eagles to make a decision on McNabb’s future. After all, Kolb’s career must get started at some point, before it is too late. One thing is for sure in the midst of this trade banter, The Philadelphia Eagles are moving in a different direction and are now using their youth to get themselves back to the top of the NFC.

With LeSean “Shady” McCoy, DeSean Jackson, Brent Celek, and Kolb among others, the future is certainly now for Philadelphia. All of these recent top draft picks have contributed as a part of Philadelphia’s talented pool of youth, forcing the team to move aptly in terms of their future. The only task now is to keep money and happiness hand-in-hand with these young athletes, making them want to stay with the team.

Keep in mind that McNabb has received a “raw deal’ from the Philly faithful, they who have been restless for a Super Bowl Title. Over the last 11 years, the fans have been McNabb’s greatest asset and detriment at the same time. It was the cheesesteak loving” Philadelphians who booed on Draft Day in 1999. Yet, the very same fans packed Lincoln Financial Field six years later to cheer on McNabb’s journey to Jacksonville for Super Bowl XXXIX and to, in the process, witness his career come full circle.

Head Coach Andy Reid has vehemently supported his star QB amidst a heavy dose of critics. The Reid-McNabb Era has been quite fruitful, yet has not provided a cold February trek down South Broad St. So instead, the Syracuse product that came in as a fresh 22-year-old kid with unheralded talent will leave as a 33-year-old man with unfulfilled dreams and a laundry list of injuries to boot.

Yes, that is right folks, during his 11-year tenure under center for the Philadelphia Eagles, McNabb has transformed from boy to man. He has made this transition swiftly over the years and has become a success, yet the ring still remains evasive.

Maybe this Reid-McNabb Era will go on, and this piece I am currently writing will mean very little. But as of right now, all signs lead to Kevin Kolb being the starting QB in 2010.

Rumors surfacing out of Minnesota and Oakland may actually come to be true very soon. Minnesota must play the waiting game for right now with gunslinger Brett Favre before being able to make a decision. While Oakland makes perfect sense and can occur in an instant. D-Mac in Black & Silver seems quite appealing to Al Davis, even if the price includes shutdown corner Nnamdi Asomughaand/or the Raiders’ 39th overall pick in this year’s draft.

McNabb’s personality would be a breath of fresh air compared with the likes of the hardcore “Raider Nation,” his light-hearted approach to this physically draining sport is admirable, but it was often an issue in Philadelphia, thus the same question will move with him: Would it be tolerated in a place like Oakland, where winning football games alone is something monumental for the organization?

“Raider Nation” has enjoyed just 29 wins since their Super Bowl XXXVIIappearance, the sense of urgency is crystal clear. McNabb would have to deliver. The Raiders’ Al Davis is indeed a gambler and is known for his blockbuster deals. In acquiring Richard Seymour, DeAngelo Halland Randy Moss(all in separate trades/seasons, of course) the Raiders have proved that they do not shy away from impact deals moves whether they work or not.

Another simple and obvious reason for this trade. JaMarcus Russell. Bruce Gradkowski. Charlie Frye. Need I say more.