Seattle Mariners Opening Day Lineup/Pitching Rotation

Lineup

Ichiro- He is one of the best leadoff hitters of all time. There is no reason why he should lose his leadoff position.

Chone Figgins- So the Mariners will try this speed duo one more time this year. Figgins had one of his worst years offensively last season, so there is strong reason to believe in a bounce back year. Figgins has advanced on the learning curve (evidence from a strong second half of the season last year) and will be much better. Having two guys who can steal you 40 bases a season and get on base 36% of the time is something special.

Jack Cust- Jack Cust was brought in to bring some offense to this team. Luckily for the Mariners, Jack Cust is a fastball hitter. The pretty thing about this situation is that pitchers will throw mostly fastballs to try and hold either Ichiro or Figgins from stealing bases. This could work out perfectly. Here is a fun fact about Cust- he lead the MLB in strikeout and walks in 2008.

Justin Smoak- The Texas Rangers rushed Justin Smoak too fast and it showed last year. He was just not ready for the professional level at the beginning of last season.  After being send back down to AAA, Justin Smoak came back and showed the Mariners he still has a huge potential to be an impact bat. Though his projected numbers won’t be at an All-Star level, he will have made huge strides compared to last year’s averages.

Franklin Gutierrez- Franklin started off the season on fire, but quickly died down and ended the season with horrible numbers. If his bat could repeat his 2009 numbers, the Mariners would be very happy.

Miguel Olivo- Miguel played for the Mariners a few seasons ago and was absolutely terrible. Since then, he has improved his offensive game. If he could repeat his numbers from the last few seasons, Seattle would be pumped.

Michael Saunders- This is believed to be Michael Saunders year to prove whether he deserves to play professionally or in the minor leagues. He is still young and has tons of potential, but putting it all together will be key. Look for a strong showing from Saunders because he knows his job is on the line.

Brendan Ryan- Brendan Ryan will be the opening day second baseman for the Mariners. He is just holding this spot until Dustin Ackley is ready to be called up. There is not too much to say about Ryan, he is an average offensive player but a solid defensive player.

Jack Wilson- Jack Wilson will be the opening day short stop, but will likely get injured and someone will have to take over his position. Wilson changed his diet this offseason and lost a lot of weight, while also gaining a lot of muscle in his legs. We can always hope that these changes can make him more durable. Jack Wilson is just like Brendan Ryan. About average offensively for their position, yet above average on defense.

Pitching Rotation

Felix Hernandez- This is a no brainer. This is King Felix’s team and he is the true ace. He is considered to be one of the best pitchers in all of baseball. Hopefully this lineup can score more runs and get Felix some more run support to work with.

Jason Vargas- Vargas had a breakout year last year. Though he does not have the stuff to be considered a number 2 starter, he is the best option the Mariners have. Hopefully he will be able to keep improving his game.

Doug Fister- Fister also had a break out year last season. He was dominant in the first few months of the regular season until he injured his throwing arm and had to be placed on the DL. He was never the same pitcher after that. Hopefully he can bounce back and be a solid #3 pitcher.

Eric Bedard- Oh Eric Bedard. The people of Seattle had such high hopes for you and you could never stay healthy. When you were pitching, you were brilliant, but you were just always injured. Rumor has it that he is finally, FINALLY healthy. If he can pitch to his level of excellence, the Mariners could trade him in July for some good prospects. He owes us that.

David Pauley- David Pauley is just an average pitcher. There is nothing great about him, and he would fill in as the 5^th starting pitcher until Michael Pineda is ready to play on the major league level.

So there is my rough breakdown of the starting line up on opening day for the Mariners. Things could easily change due to injuries or young prospects winning a roster spot, but I believe this is how it will look.

2011-2012 Seattle Seahawks Schedule

Now that football is finally over, we can have an idea of what the Seahawks schedule will look like next season.  Since the Seahawks won their division and advanced to the playoffs, they will face a much more difficult schedule than if they were to not get in. The exact dates and times of the games will not be determined until late spring, but we now know who the Seahawks will face.

There will be the typical games against the other teams in the NFC West. So expect a home and away game against the Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers, and St. Louis Rams.

Now for the other 10 games. At home, the Seahawks will host the Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Atlanta Falcons. For their road schedule, they we square off against the Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins, Cincinnati Bengals, Baltimore Ravens and the Chicago Bears. This is going to be a much harder schedule than we saw last year. Hopefully it won’t be a miserable season….

Seattle Seahawks Draft (Part 3 of 3)

This is the last installment of my sports blog regarding who the Seattle Seahawks should select in this upcoming NFL Draft. Just to recap, I said the largest holes in the team were their offensive line, secondary, defensive line, and quarterback. Personally, the two largest holes which I think should be filled are the offensive line and the secondary. Seattle had one of the worst starting offensive lines in the league last year. And to make matters worse, both Sean Locklear and Chris Spencer are free agents. Chris Spencer is one of the worst starting centers, so an upgrade would be needed. Sean Locklear is actually pretty good in pass protection, only allowing five sacks all year (including playoffs), but is below average in rushing plays. Locklear is also very injury prone.  We need someone who is young and talented to help revamp this line. As for Seattle’s secondary, they were considered one of the worst in the NFL as well. Clearly you can see the trend. My strategy, as simple as it is, is to fix the biggest problems on the team first. For my projections, I tried my hardest to find players who will be available at that pick and which of those players would be best of the Seahawks. So with that, here are my selections for the first and second round of the NFL Draft for the Seattle Seahawks:

First Round: Pick #25:

The Seattle Seahawks will select Jimmy Smith, cornerback, out of Colorado. Smith has been climbing up the Mock Drafts, and for good reason. He is a big cornerback, 6’2 and 210 pounds, and can also run a 4.4, 40 yard dash. Someone with that size and speed is very rare. His stats might not be as impressive as you might think, but that is a good thing. Smith blanketed his opponents and the quarterback never threw his way. Smith has a very high ceiling and can end up being a great starting corner in the NFL. He is often compared to Antonio Cromartie of the New York Jets because of his height, weight, and athletic skill set, but is also considered a safer pick with less bust potential. He would work perfectly alongside Marcus Trufant until Smith was ready to take over as the #1 corner.

Second Round: Pick #57:

The Seattle Seahawks will select Marcus Cannon, Offensive Tackle, from TCU. Cannon is a big lineman, at 6’6 and 350 pounds. Cannon would step in immediately at Right Tackle to help secure a weak offensive line. Cannon has experience playing both right and left tackle, so if Russell Okung get injured and misses a game or two, Cannon can step in at the blind side. Another interesting fact, Cannon never allowed a sack during the 2009 season. Cannon has massive size and superb strength. He also is very agile for his size, making him a great run blocker. He would be an amazing upgrade on our roaster.

The reasons why I choose these two players:

Some of you are probably questioning my reasons for selecting a corner in the first round and a right tackle in the second. Question all you want, I am always open for criticism or a debate. The first argument I will most likely hear is why the Seahawks didn’t select a quarterback. It is true, the Seahawks need an upgrade. At this very moment, Charlie Whitehurst is our starting QB (scary). But I strongly believe that we will resign Matt Hasselbeck for one or two more seasons. Secondly, I do not think the quarterbacks who will still be around when the Seahawks draft will transition very well in the NFL. I could be wrong, and I am not claiming to be an NFL scout, but from what I have read, the remaining QB’s have serious issues. And third, and most important reason, look at the quarterbacks who will be in the draft next year. You have Andrew Luck, Matt Barkley, and Landry Jones. All three of those quarterbacks are projected to be drafted in the top 10 and are considered better than any quarterback in this year’s draft. That is a whole lot of greatness knocking at the door. Also, since the Seahawks advanced to the playoffs, they will automatically be given a harder schedule next year. This will cause another losing season. BUT, if you look at the players I recommended we draft this year, you will see that none of them are instant playmakers. Both will need a year to settle in and learn what it is like to play in the NFL. By the 2012 season, the Seahawks will have a pretty good offensive line, and a pretty good secondary. A solid QB could jump right in and make the team his. 

Another argument might be why we ignored upgrading the defensive life. This draft is very deep with extremely talented defensive linemen, BUT our D-Line is actually not that bad. I believe that during the fourth or fifth week, the Seahawks actually had the second best run defensive in the NFL. But that injury bug made a stop in Seattle, and it hit hard. At the beginning of the 2010 NFL Season, the defensive line was built around Red Bryant, a huge (6’4, 323 pound) defensive end. He would require a double team, freeing up our other linemen and linebackers to plug the holes. It worked perfectly until he had season ending surgery in week seven. Next season, the D-Line will have its main guy back, and they will continue to stuff the running game from the other team. 

One last point people could question about my Seahawks mock draft is why a cornerback in the first round and not an offensive linemen. The first reason, I think Jimmy Smith will transition into a great cornerback. His type of talent would not be available in the second round. Secondly, I believe that the first round should be reserved for left tackle, and we drafted one last year. Not to say it’s a bad thing to have too many first round talented offensive linemen, but it is a good thing to spread out draft picks to both sides of the ball. Most of the offensive tackles selected in the first round will be forced to transition towards the left side of the ball, because that position is more valuable. It’s the same with quarterbacks; many NFL teams will reach too early for a offensive tackle (whether he is better on the right side or left). I just feel that it was better to address the secondary with the first round, and still get a solid right tackle in the second round.

Well there you have it, my ideal picks for the first and second round of this upcoming NFL Draft. Please feel free to give feedback or question my choices. Also note, it was extremely depressing doing all this research and seeing the level of talent available if the Seahawks missed out on the playoffs.

Seattle Seahawks Draft (Part 2 of 3)

This is the second of three blogs about what the Seahawks should do in first two rounds of the NFL Draft. Like I previously stated, the main holes that the Seahawks have is at the offensive line, cornerback, defensive line, and quarterback. The Seahawks did have a losing season and have many more holes than those four positions, but these are the areas which I feel they need to address as soon as possible. Also, if somehow a great prospect drops to the Seahawks picks, I would say go for the solid talent. With so many holes on a team, drafting a player who is more of a luxury than a need can still be a good thing. Anyway, let’s take a quick look at some players who the Seahawks might target. I will only be naming a handful of players because there are so many players out there. But here is my list:

Offensive Line:

Offensive line is the biggest weakness on the Seahawks. They just don’t protect the quarterback or help push the run as much as they should. They had one of the worst lines in the NFL. Even more, Sean Locklear and Chris Spencer are free agents. These are just five of the possible selections. Here are a few college prospects who should be targeted:

·         Nate Solder, OT, Colorado – 6’9 - 315

o   Considered the top OT in this draft and will most likely not be available at pick #25.

·         Anthony Castonzo, OT, Boston College -6’7 - 308 pounds

o   A big lineman who is still filling out his body frame. He would be solid at a right offensive tackle in the pros. He is both good at pass protection and run blocking.

·         Gabe Carimi, OT, Wisconsin -6’7 - 327

o   Carimi’s knock is that he lacks good footwork and lateral agility to be a solid left tackle. Carimi has solid size and strength and is good at run-blocking. He projects as a great right offensive tackle if a team wants to use him there.

·         Mike Pouncey, OG, Florida -6’5 – 327

o   Does anybody remember how good the Seahawks were in 2005? Matt Hasselbeck had over 3,400 passing yards and a 24-9 Touchdown-interception ratio. Shaun Alexander also has 1880 rushing yards and 27 touchdowns. Yeah a large part of that success was having Steve Hutchinson and Walter Jones making an unstoppable wall on the left side. Now I am not saying that Russell Okung and Mike Pouncey would be that good, but if they were a fraction of that good, the Seahawks would still have one of the better lines in the league.

·         Tyron Smith, OT, Southern California- 6’5 – 280

o   Smith played right tackle in college and was a monster. People might think he is undersized at 6’5, but he is extremely fast and even more powerful. He is one of the fastest linemen in this draft. He would also be an instant upgrade of both the run and pass game.

Cornerback:

I feel that Seattle’s secondary is their second largest hole on the team. Kelly Jennings is a free agent, Lawyer Milloy is a member of AARP, and Marcus Trufant only had one good year and is not a true #1 shutdown corner. The one bright side is Earl Thomas (and he deserved to play in the Pro Bowl). But since we did use a first round pick on a safety this year, I think it is more important to address the cornerback position. There are also a lot of talented safeties in the later rounds. It’s also safe to say that both Patrick Peterson and Prince Amukamara are not available since they are both an elite prospect.

·         Brandon Harris, CB, Miami – 5’11 – 195

o   Brandon Harris has been considered a middle teens draft pick, but with two elite corners already in front of him and the cornerback position being more of a luxury than a need for most teams, he gets bumped back. Though Harris does not have the height advantage that many scouts want, he does have a very quick first step and amazing overall speed. By the end of his junior year, quarterbacks were scared to throw the ball his direction.

·         Jimmy Smith, CB, Colorado – 6’1 – 210

o   Smith is a guy who is climbing up all NFL scout’s big board. He is a large corner at 6’2, but is also fast. He has been known to run a 4.4 40-yard dash. For someone with his size and speed is a rare thing. He is considered a late first/early second round pick.

·         Aaron Williams, CB, Texas – 6’1 – 192

o   Williams is known for his size and his big hits. In three years, he has cause five fumbles, which is saying something for a cornerback. He is also known for being very athletic and has the skills to cover anybody pretty effectively. Also, Earl Thomas and Williams played together at Texas, so they already have great experience working together.

·         Ras-I Dowling, CB, Virginia – 6’2 – 200

o   Dowling would have been a lock first round pick in the draft last year. He went back to school to play his senior year and up fracturing his ankle. He only played three games last year. He is one player who has a lot to prove during the combine. He is a player who will be a mid to late second round pick.

Defensive Line:

This draft is extremely deep with talent on the defensive line. I will skip the first several draft prospects because there is no chance in hell that they would be available when the Seahawks draft a player. And since this draft is sooo deep with talent on the defensive line, I will only be naming a few players projected to be available when the Seahawks select their players.

·         Allen Bailey, DE, Miami – 6’4 -288

o   Bailey has potential to play either tackle or end. He recorded 11.0 tackles for loss and 7.0 sacks… he is a beast. All NFL scouts drool over his potential because he ceiling is huge. He still has to develop and put on some muscle, but he could be a force in the NFL.

·         Stephen Paea, DT, Oregon State – 6’1 -311

o   Paea is an interesting player. He just started playing football. He only played one year in high school, so he is very inexperienced. In 2009, Paea had 5.0 sacks and 11.0 tackles for loss. His 2010 was not as successful as 2009, but he was double teamed the majority of the time. In 2010 Paea only had 3 sacks and 8.5 tackles for loss. Paea is also known for his quickness and athleticism. He has great moves and often beats the offensive line. The only problem he faces is his size- at 6’1; many teams could be turned off.  Paea could be drafted anywhere from middle of the first round, to middle of the second.

·         J.J. Watt, DE, Wisconsin – 6’6 – 292

o   Watt’s is a player who can play either the 3-4 or the 4-3. He has a huge body frame at 6’6. He is also a work horse. He prides himself on being explosive and athletic. He will always be competing throughout the whole game.

·         Marvin Austin, DT, North Carolina – 6’3 – 305

o   Austin is hard to project. He is a solid run stopper and can put pressure on the QB. I have seen him being drafted in the early first round to the late first round. His size, strength, and versatility are his best weapons. The only thing that is hurting his draft value is that he was suspended and then kicked off the team for an NCAA violation. Whether an NFL team is willing to look past that will determine whether he will be available for the Seahawks on draft day.

Quarterback:

Matt Hasselbeck is old and the Seahawks need to find a replacement for him soon. Matt had a mediocre season at best, but was brilliant in the playoffs. His excellent stats in the playoffs probably secured him a roster spot on next year’s team. But even with that, there is no long term answer in place. I am also going to assume that Blaine Gabbert and Cam Newton are already off the board.

·         Ryan Mallett, QB, Arkansas – 6’6 – 238

o   Mallett is a huge player with a rocket for an arm. He can make any and every throw a coach could ever ask for. Scouts have also said that he easily has the best arm in the draft (and that was before Andrew Luck decided to return to school). The problem with Mallett, he is extremely slow and lacks strong leadership attributes. He could very well be a solid quarterback in the big league.

·         Jake Locker, QB, Washington – 6’3 – 230

o   Talk about someone wanting a ‘do-over’ in life. Last year Locker was project as an EASY top 3 draft pick. Now there is a chance that he won’t be selected in the first round. (So he lost about $50 million dollars) Locker has all the physical assets of being a solid quarterback, and he has a very high ceiling, but he still has not put it together. He is fast and makes great running plays, and has slightly above average arm strength. But his completion percentage is god awful. He would be a project for any team, but has the potential to get a great QB in the NFL.

·         Colin Kaepernick, QB, Nevada – 6’6 – 225

o   Kaepernick is an interesting prospect. He has great size at 6’6 and is actually a very good runner for his size. (Last year he threw for over 3000 yards and rushed over 1000 yards) The main problem with Kaepernick is that he doesn’t have a strong arm or is very accurate. His combine will say a lot about where he is selected, but will most likely be a second round pick.

·         Christian Ponder, QB, Florida State – 6’3 – 227

o   Ponder is considered the most complete quarterback in the draft now that Andrew Luck went back to college. He does not have any stand out qualities like the others listed above, but he is good in all aspects for a professional quarterback. His largest problem is he is injury prone. He has yet to play a full season. And with that, things only get worse. The NFL is longer and the players hit harder. Depending on his combine, Ponder will be a second to third round pick.

So there you go; my list of players the Seahawks will likely target in this upcoming draft. These all could easily change due to many reasons- the NFL Combine, trades, and free agent pickups, just to name a few. For my last installment of this blog topic, I will discuss my thoughts on what the Seahawks should actually do with their first two picks, so stick around.

First Day of Spring Training

That's right, baseball is finally here! Today is the first day for Pitchers and Catchers to arrive at Spring Training. But baseball will only get better from here on out. Since my favorite team is the Seattle Mariners, here is there schedule:

Pitchers and Catchers arrive to Spring Training: February 13th
First Workout: February 14th
Position Players Arrive to Spring Training: February 18th
First Full Workout: February 19th
Mariners First Spring Training Game: February 28th against the San Diego Padres

I will also be updating this blog to focus more around baseball from here on out. When I started this blog, I felt obligated to write about the NFL playoffs, but now that that is over, baseball and basketball will be my main focus. Get ready

2010 Seattle Seahawks Review

From a new head coach and GM, to a losing season, to winning the NFL West and beating the NFL defending Super Bowl Champions in the playoffs, this sure was an interesting season. Sure there will always be certain argument to be made about who they should have drafted, or if they should have lost to the Rams, or whatever, but this season did do one thing. It gave the football fans of Seattle hope. We now know that we are in good hands. We know that our team is heading in the right direction. And we know we have a few solid playmakers to help push this rebuilding process. I am getting excited for next season

Seattle Seahawks Draft (Part 1 of 3)

This is a three part blog post dedicated towards the first two draft picks that the Seattle Seahawks have in the 2011 NFL Draft. In the first round, the Seahawks have pick #25, and pick #57 in the second round. This blog will focus on the teams needs, the next blog will focus on possible players who they should target, and the last blog will focus on what I believe they should do. So let’s dive right in on the biggest problems the Seahawks face:

OG/OT: Yes, we did draft a blind side offensive tackle last year with the 6^th overall pick in Russell Okung, but we need someone on the right side. Sean Locklear is just not the same player he once was. He is often injured and is just not a dominate force who will not allow the defense past him. Grabbing an offensive tackle in the first two rounds will help build a solid young wall of talent for years to come. The Seahawks were also 31^st in the league in rushing yards, so an upgrade is definitely needed.

Corner: Seattle’s defense ranked 27^th in passing yards allowed at almost 250 yards per game. That is not good. Marcus Trufant is not the shut down corner that the money he is currently making says he is. As for Kelly Jennings (our second starting corner), well he is a free agent and will most likely not be back. That leaves a large hole that needs filling. Selecting a corner early in the draft will help fix this problem. Earl Thomas was an amazing safety selection in last year’s draft. With a new, talented corner drafted this year, plus the skills from Earl Thomas, the Seahawks backfield will be pretty impressive for years to come.

DL: On paper, our defensive line does not look so bad. They were 21^st in total rushing yards allowed with 119, caused 15 forced fumbles (ranked 9^th), and had 37 sacks (ranked 13^th). There was also a few key injuries (Red Bryant and others) that inflated these numbers a little bit. But the Seahawks are about one dominate line player away from having a great line. The Seahawks run a 4-3 style defense, and can either take a defensive tackle or end with these draft picks. Either way, it would create more depth, and also put a true playmaker in the game for us the majority of the time. A player who can put pressure on a quarterback AND stop the run is something every great team needs.

QB: Poor Matt Hasselbeck is getting old. He has also gotten so much blame for how bad his team has been. Sure, some of it has been his fault, but clearly not all of it. It is not his fault he hasn’t had a dominate running back, skilled receivers, or powerful offensive line the past few years. But unfortunately, he gets all the hate. I was just happy to see him play great during the playoffs. With all that said, it is time for a new quarterback. Matt is just not the same as he once was. Every team knows that during a rebuilding period, you need a young and talented quarterback. The important rule is not to reach too far out for a QB. The NFL is QB friendly league, and every team thinks that they need to draft one in the first round if there team had a bad season. Drafting a bad QB is the worst thing humanly possible for a team. Just to name a few, out of many, many examples- JaMarcus Russell, Alex Smith, and Brady Quinn. These players cost their teams millions of dollars and did absolutely nothing. None of them are even starting anymore. Seahawks- if you are going to draft a QB, please be smart about it. Don’t reach too far for a player who you think is a hidden gem.  

WR: Drafting a wide receiver in the early rounds can be a flashy pick, but it is always nice to have a deep threat. Now I am not saying that this should be our main focus, but nobody can predict the draft, and if an amazing receiver falls to us, it makes sense to give it a go. I am sure a lot of people will argue how we draft Golden Tate last year in the second round, or talk about the comeback year from Mike Williams, but a true #1 wide receiver is something you don’t pass on. None of our receivers had anything close to a 1000 yard, 6 touchdown season, so finding a true #1 could be key for many seaons.

So that is my four main areas that the Seattle Seahawks should target with their two picks in the first two rounds. Of course there are many more holes to be filled, especially from a team with a losing record, but a team can’t fix all their problems right away. I strongly believe that by improving these positions first, it will benefit the team so much more in the long run.

Super Bowl Wrap Up

So the 2011 Super Bowl has come and gone. The Green Bay Packers defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers 31-25 and Aaron Rodgers was named the Super Bowl MVP. My first reaction to this game- it was actually pretty boring. Sure the game had some exciting plays and a bit of momentum in the second half, but all in all, it just was not that great. Green Bay pretty much had control of the game the entire time. The Steelers had a little push during the second half, but they just kept turning the ball over. And every football fan knows that a general rule of thumb is whoever has the least amount of turnovers is generally the winner. The Steelers had three turnovers while the Packers had zero. That was the game.

But I would like to point out what I wrote in my previous blog post from January 23th:

 "For the Super Bowl, I have the Green Bay Packers playing the Pittsburgh Steelers in Dallas. This is the big one, the do-or-die game where anything can happen. And this year I have the Packers beating out the Steelers 34-21. I realize that that score is very inflated and will probably be closer to 17-14, but everybody likes to see big plays and a high scoring game. (And besides, where is the fun of making a drinking game out of a low score?) The defense of both teams will play sub-par and this will be an epic battle between two of the best quarterbacks in the league. This year though, Aaron Rodgers wins his first “major game” and moves out of being a top quarterback and into the conversation of elite quarterbacks. It will be a good old dog fight and it will make for one hell of a game."

I would just like to point out how much I rule. I was within eight points of the correct score, and the game did come down to a battle between the quarterbacks. Aaron Rodgers did man up and had over 300 yards passing, over 61% completion, and 3 touchdown passes. He also did something that Brett Favre has never done- win the Super Bowl MVP. Now hopefully all that BS talk about if Rodgers can be the franchise QB will end. Aaron Rodgers is now an elite quarterback and deserves just as much respect as the other greats.

It is a sad day for football fans. Yesterday was the last game for months. There is also a huge question mark if there will actually be a NFL season next year…only time will tell. But for now, the main thing we fans have to look forward to is the NFL Draft, which is the last weekend in April.

Super Bowl Prediction

So every year, Madden, a popular NFL Football video game, predicts the outcome of the Super Bowl. Interestingly, the video game has been correct six of the past seven years. This year, Madden has the Pittsburgh Steelers defeating the Green Bay Packers 24-20. Here is the highlight video:

This weekend will tell if Madden is correct once again with its prediction.

Here is a list of the past seven games Madden has predicted:

Super Bowl XXXVIII
Madden: Patriots 23, Panthers 20
Actual Score: Patriots 32, Panthers 29

Super Bowl XXXIX
Madden: Patriots 47, Eagles 31
Actual score: Patriots 24, Eagles 21

Super Bowl XL
Madden: Steelers 24, Seahawks 19
Actual score: Steelers 21, Seahawks 10 

Super Bowl XLI
Madden: Colts 38, Bears 27
Actual score: Colts 29, Bears 17
Super Bowl XLII -- WHOOPS
Madden: Patriots 38, Giants 30
Actual score: Giants 17, Patriots 14

Super Bowl XLIII 
Madden: Steelers 28, Cardinals 24
Actual score: Steelers 27, Cardinals 23

Super Bowl XLIV
Madden: Saints 35, Colts 31
Actual score: Saints 31, Colts 17

It is pretty impressive how accurate these games have been. Should be interesting to see this years outcome.

2011 NBA All Star Lineup

The NBA All Star Game is coming up. Here is my prediction of the entire roaster. Note that I waited until after the starting lineup was revealed because that is a popularity contest. Case in point- Yao Ming is the starter for the Western Conference once again despite playing only a handful of games this year.

Here is a look at the current starting lineup:

Eastern Conference:

Guard- Derrick Rose

Guard- Dwyane Wade

Forward- LeBron James

Forward- Amar’e Stoudemire

Center- Dwight Howard

Western Conference:

Guard- Kobe Bryant

Guard- Chris Paul

Forward- Kevin Durant

Forward- Carmelo Anthony

Center- Yao Ming*

*Since Yao Ming is injured and unable to play, a replacement player will be added to the lineup voted in by the NBA Commissioner, David Stern.

There is the starting lineup for each conference. Now before I name the All Star Reserves, I want to break down my ground rules for my selections.

1.       Rookies do not deserve to make the team. I understand that a lot of people will disagree with me and argue that Blake Griffin or John Wall or whoever deserves to go, but they don’t. First off, that player is on a horrible team, which makes their numbers inflated. When you are already the best player on your team as a rookie, you are on a pathetic team. Besides that, what has any rookie ever proved? All they have done is have good stats for 40-50 games. Fifty games is absolutely nothing for a professional basketball player. Each rookie needs to have at least one season under their belt before any All Star consideration.

2.      Your team’s record is a factor in determining whether you make it to All Star Weekend. Players who have lower stats but are the leader of a team with a great record deserves to make the All Star list over anybody on a losing team with great individuals numbers. There are many other factors that determine a team’s success other than individual statistics. For example, leadership, responsibility, hustle, diving for loose balls, not making stupid plays, and team defense are just to name a few. None of those categories will show up in any basic statistic measurement, but they are the most important categories for a team to be successful.

3.      The number of games a player has played for his team. If you are an amazing player and get amazing statistical numbers, but if you have been injured and only played half of the games for your team, you do not deserve a spot on the roaster.

With those basic rules, here is my list of the remaining 7 players for each conference of the 2011 NBA All Star Team.

Eastern Conference:

Guard- Rajon Rondo: Leads the league in assists and is the leader of the best team in the Eastern Conference.

Guard/Forward- Paul Pierce: Mr. Clutch for the best team in the Eastern Conference. He is averaging close to 20 points a night.

Guard- Raymond Felton: This is his best year ever as a professional basketball player. Besides the addition of Amar’e Stoudemire, Felton is the reason why the New York Knicks are no longer the laughing stock of the NBA.

Forward- Joe Johnson: Had a serious injury that was supposed to keep him sidelined for weeks. He ended up only missing a few games. He is also the leading scorer of the Atlanta Hawks.

Forward- Josh Smith: Smith fills the stat line in every aspect. He is an all around great player and is a defensive stopper in the paint.

Center- Andrew Bogut: The second best Center in the East. He averages close to 3 blocks and 12 rebounds a game.

Guard/Forward- Stephen Jackson: Jackson has been the leader on the Bobcats this year. This last spot came down to Jackson or Danny Granger, and since the Bobcats have the better record, Jackson wins my vote.

Western Conference:

(This list was a lot harder to create because there is so much more talent in the West this year)

Forward/Center- Tim Duncan: He is the best player on the best team in basketball. His numbers are down this year, but when it comes down to the playoffs, he will be averaging 20 points and 12 rebounds a game.

Forward- Dirk Nowitzki: Dirk is the best shooting 7 foot basketball player of all time. He leads his team with 23 points per game, while the Dallas Mavericks are the third best team in the West.

Guard- Russell Westbrook: His maturity and leadership since last year is amazing. A true All Star for years to come.

Forward/center- LaMarcus Aldridge: Does anybody remember when the Portland Trailblazers were the team of the future? Well due to a horrific injury bug, they are barely staying alive in the West. Aldridge has been one of the only true bright spots for the team. This is by far his best year and his numbers across the board are all up. Without him on this team, the Blazers would be in the running for the biggest upset team this decade.

Guard- Deron Williams: Williams is the man in Utah. He is that rare breed of point guards who can average over 20 points and 10 assist. He has a deadly combination of speed and power that make him almost impossible to guard. I actually think he is the best point guard in the league.

Guard- Tony Parker: This vote came down to either Parker or Steve Nash. I had to give Parker the vote because he is on the best team in the league. I do feel bad for Nash though, always competing and putting up solid numbers, yet Phoenix’s time to win has come and gone.

Forward- Lamar Odom: Now I know a lot of people will disagree with this pick, but this is Odom’s year. He has never made an All Star team in his career, yet he has been one of the best versatile big men this decade. This has been Odom’s best year statistically since 2003. He is an amazing rebounder, plays excellent team defense, creates matchup problems for every team, and is the heart and soul of the Lakers. He will most likely win the 6^th man award this year. The LA Lakers have also been to the NBA Finals the last three years, winning the last two, and Lamar Odom deserves a lot of the credit. And besides, the All Star game is hosted in LA this year, let the kid play on his home court.

*Starting Center- Pau Gasol: Since Yao Ming is injured, he will need a replacement. The NBA commissioner will decide who the starting center will be, but I strongly believe it will be Pau Gasol. He started at center the majority of the season while Andrew Bynum was recovering from surgery. He has proven to be a solid player, and was the best center in the Western Conference this year.

Well there is my list of the reserves for the 2011 NBA All Star Team. I know a lot of you will disagree with me, which it totally fine, so feel free to voice your opinion. It is a hard job to create a list of the remaining seven best players, especially with so much talent in the NBA. This should be a fun game to watch.

Predictions: I believe the Eastern Conference has a better starting lineup than the West, but when it comes to depth, the West has them beat by a long shot. The Western Conference will win 134-122.