Every year, I enjoy spending the weekend before baseball starts stowed away on my couch feverishly pounding away at my laptop to write up my omniscient pre-season picks. This year, however, with the season beginning mid-week half-a-world away and then pausing for a few days and then restarting, with a one-day match-up solely intended to pimp the Nationals new stadium, I found myself having a hard time wrapping my mind around the fact that the season was—in fact—beginning.
It grew even harder to believe when I was trudging around Minneapolis’ snow-filled streets in a blizzard on my way to the Metrodome to watch the Twins’ home opener. I mean seriously…a blizzard…on Opening Day?! Can’t wait until that new open-air stadium opens up in Minneapolis!!
Either way, after dropping close to $70 on overpriced Dome Dogs, nachos and warm beer…there is now no doubt that baseball season is upon us. With nearly a week of exhilarating play already under our belts, it’s about time I get my butt in gear and hammer out my belated pre-season picks.
AMERICAN LEAGUE
CY YOUNG
My Pick – Roy Halladay – Toronto Blue Jays
Doc Halladay might not be the strikeout machine he once was, but he is still a stud on the hill and the unquestioned ace for one of the best rotations in all of baseball. As is often the case for Halladay, health will be the major concern heading into this season. With other potential front-runners for the AL Cy Young such as Scott Kazmir, John Lackey and Josh Beckett all spending time on the DL early in the season, Halladay needs to remain healthy himself to distance himself from the pack.
Halladay’s 2008 Line: 19 W – 3.48 ERA – 156 K
In the Mix: Erik Bedard – Seattle Mariners & CC Sabathia – Cleveland Indiants Dark Horse: Javier Vazquez – Chicago White Sox Really Dark Horse: Rich Harden – Oakland Athletics
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
My Pick – Evan Longoria – Tampa Bay Rays
I realize Longoria is the fashionable pick—but there’s a reason he’s the fashionable pick—the dude can flat-out rake. In Spring Training he hit .262 with three home runs and ten runs batted in. Throw in his .407 on-base percentage and his .595 slugging percentage and there’s no doubt why the rest of the roster was begging the Rays management to insert Longoria into the Opening Day lineup. Unfortunately, fiscal rationale took over and the Rays sent Longoria back to Triple A where he’ll wait until May for his call-up, ala Ryan Braun last season, at which point one can expect Longoria will be entrenched at third base for a long, long time.
Longoria’s 2008 Line: .280 – 21 HR – 89 RBI
In the Mix: Joba Chamberlain – New York Yankees & Jacoby Ellsbury – Boston Red Sox Dark Horse: Carlos Gomez – Minnesota Twins Really Dark Horse: Alexei Ramirez – Chicago White Sox
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER
My Pick – Alex Rodriguez – New York Yankees
Honestly, given the way A-Rod absolutely obliterated everything in his path last season, it’s really hard to knock the guy. Plus, who was even close to touching A-Rod for overall stats last year? Who’s that you say? No one. Sure his numbers have historically dipped off following his MVP seasons, but let’s take note that we’re talking about a guy who has had multiple MVP seasons for this statement can be made. How many multi-time MVPs are still hanging out in big league locker-rooms? I bet you can count them all on one hand. Things could always change as the season progresses, but hands down A-Rod is still the best player in the game today and now that he has the whole “biggest contract in the history of history” thing taken care of…now he wants a ring, expect an even more focused A-Rod in 2008 and beyond.
Rodriguez’s 2008 Line: .317 – 53 HR – 121 RBI
In the Mix: David Ortiz – Boston Red Sox & Miguel Cabrera – Detroit Tigers Dark Horse: Vladimir Guerrero – Los Angeles Angels Really Dark Horse: Josh Hamilton – Texas Rangers
NATIONAL LEAGUE
CY YOUNG
My Pick – Johan Santana – New York Mets
Let’s be honest, I’d be a fool not to pick Santana. Although, I’d also be an even bigger fool if I tried to act like the NL wasn’t full of quality pitching with the likes of Jake Peavy, Brandon Webb, Dan Haren, John Smoltz, Pedro Martinez, Carlos Zambrano, Rich Hill, Chris Young, etc…etc…etc…
However, of all those names, Santana is still the best of the bunch. Anyone who looks at the numbers Santana put up in Minnesota would have to expect an increase with a move to the lighter line-ups of the NL and the lack of a designated hitter. Santana has always been a pitching machine, but now he’s got long-term security, a strong line-up behind him and most importantly he has the best shot to win a ring he’s had in his entire career, be afraid National League…be very afraid.
Santana’s 2008 Line: 23 W – 2.87 ERA – 234 K
In the Mix: Jake Peavy – San Diego Padres & Brandon Webb – Arizona Diamondbacks Dark Horse: Roy Oswalt – Houston Astros Really Dark Horse: Pedro Martinez – New York Mets
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
My Pick – Johnny Cueto – Cincinnati Reds
Sure, by the time I’ve written this I’ve already had the advantage of watching him humiliate the Diamondbacks, but anyone who has been following Cueto’s already impressive career knows that he is for real. In just 348 minor league innings Cueto struck out 357 batters and notched a 3.28 ERA and a 1.10 WHIP. For those of you who aren’t stat junkies, let me break that down so you’ll get what I’m saying…CUETO IS AWESOME!!! Yeah, I think that sums it up. Throw in the fact that he’s slotted into the third-spot in the rotation behind Aaron Harang and Bronson Arroyo and just keep looking better…the only potential threat to Cueto’s success is the man in the dugout, Dusty Baker. With young arms Edison Volquez and Homer Bailey in addition to Cueto all in the fold for the Reds, many are nervous that Baker will wear them out as he is believed to have done with Mark Prior and Kerry Wood. Here’s to hoping that Cueto, Volquez and Bailey can all avoid the wrath of Dusty the Destroyer.
Cueto’s 2008 Line: 13 W – 3.48 ERA – 178K
In the Mix: Jay Bruce – Cincinnati Reds & Geovany Soto – Chicago Cubs Dark Horse: Kosuke Fukudome – Chicago Cubs Really Dark Horse: Cameron Maybin – Florida Marlins
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER
My Pick – Matt Holliday – Colorado Rockies
Last year should have been Holliday’s year, no doubt about it. Sure Jimmy Rollins had a great season, but much like Ryan Howard the year before, he wasn’t the Most Valuable Player in the National League. This year Holliday figures to leave no doubt that the award belongs on his mantle. He just turned 28 in January and is gaining not only more power as he gets older, but also a better eye at the dish. With the incentive of playing for a long-term deal also in the mix and a chance to return to the World Series, Holliday has nothing but motivation heading into the 2008 campaign and it’s a well-known fact that when great players get motivated, they get down-right scary. Expect Holliday to put up some scary numbers in 2008.
Holliday’s 2008 Line: .331 – 41 HR – 138 RBI
In the Mix: Albert Pujols – St. Louis Cardinals & David Wright – New York Mets Dark Horse: Rickie Weeks – Milwaukee Brewers Really Dark Horse: Ryan Zimmerman – Washington Nationals
AMERICAN LEAGUE
EAST
Red Sox Blue Jays - WC Yankees Rays Orioles
CENTRAL
Indians Twins Tigers Royals White Sox
WEST
Angels Mariners Rangers Athletics
NATIONAL LEAGUE
EAST
Mets Phillies - WC Braves Nationals Marlins
CENTRAL
Brewers Cubs Reds Astros Cardinals Pirates
WEST
Padres Rockies Diamondbacks Dodgers Giants
DIVISIONAL SERIES
Padres over Phillies (3-1) Mets over Brewers (3-2)
Blue Jays over Angels (3-1) Red Sox over Indians (3-2)
CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES
Mets over Padres (4-2) Red Sox over Blue Jays (4-1)
Coming into the 2006-2007 season, the general consensus was that Kansas City Chiefs running back Larry Johnson was going to run away (pun intended) with not only the rushing title, but the MVP as well. Now here we are in week 16 and Larry Johnson has just as many touchdowns as Marion Barber III and only 25 more rushing yards than Frank Gore.
Meanwhile, San Diego Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson has been breaking records on a weekly basis in route to one of the greatest single-season performances in the history of the NFL. To date Tomlinson has over 1,600 yards, 28 rushing TDs, 2 passing TDs and 3 receiving TDs on nearly 400 yards through the air.
He has already broken the single season touchdown record set just one year ago by Shaun Alexander and is on pace to shatter any and every scoring record that stands in his way. My question, however, is this: Is LaDainian Tomlinson the NFL MVP this season?
I realize most people would be quick to throw down and immediate yes and others would be willing to stab me in the kidney before I even finish asking the question, but here is my theory. There may be one player in the NFL who is more important to his team this year than Tomlinson is to the Chargers.
That player is former Chargers quarterback and the current New Orleans Saints QB Drew Brees.
Brees turned his career around in San Diego just when the Chargers brought Philip Rivers in. With Rivers looking over his shoulder Brees helped turn the Chargers around and return the franchise to glory, however, when Brees injured the same shoulder Rivers was looking over last season the Chargers decided he wasn’t worth the gamble and let him walk, opting instead to let Rivers take the helm.
Although the Rivers experiment has been an obvious success, one would have a hard time trying to convince anyone that Brees has struggled since his departure from sunny San Diego.
Thus far Brees is leading the league in passing yards with 4,240 yards and completions with 339. Brees has also tossed 25 touchdowns, one behind perennial leader Peyton Manning. But beyond the stats Brees has helped turn a once down-trodden Saints franchise into not only a winning team, but a team with a chance to go deep into the playoffs.
With a cool head and steady leadership, Brees has been able to guide the Saints into the playoffs while at the same time not isolating or singling out any of the young talent surrounding him.
MVP voters may struggle this year as a result of Brees’ incredible play and the turn-around in New Orleans. Tomlinson has the statistics, there is no doubt about that, but if you removed him from the Chargers squad the team still has a potent offense and a solid running back in Michael Turner who is averaging 6.4 yards per carry. But if you take Brees out of the Saints huddle you are looking at a team that would be lucky to be above .500.
Personally, my vote goes to Brees.
I’d love to hear some comments and criticisms on this one.
I am a 24-year-old aspiring baseball writer. I grew up to stories of Willie Mays, the Miracle Mets and the Bronx Zoo from my father. Although my playing days never amounted to much, baseball has always remained my passion. I recently moved to Boston from the midwest and I am enjoying the hype and hysteria of living at the heart of Red Sox Nation. As you can tell from my avatar the Twins are my team, a result of being born and raised in Iowa and attending college in Minnesota. If you're ever in the mood to talk baseball, or any sport for that matter, you can drop me a line or leave a comment on my blog.
Doc Halladay might not be the strikeout machine he once was, but he is still a stud on the hill and the unquestioned ace for one of the best rotations in all of baseball. As is often the case for Halladay, health will be the major concern heading into this season. With other potential front-runners for the AL Cy Young such as Scott Kazmir, John Lackey and Josh Beckett all spending time on the DL early in the season, Halladay needs to remain healthy himself to distance himself from the pack. 
Honestly, given the way A-Rod absolutely obliterated everything in his path last season, it’s really hard to knock the guy. Plus, who was even close to touching A-Rod for overall stats last year? Who’s that you say? No one. Sure his numbers have historically dipped off following his MVP seasons, but let’s take note that we’re talking about a guy who has had multiple MVP seasons for this statement can be made. How many multi-time MVPs are still hanging out in big league locker-rooms? I bet you can count them all on one hand. Things could always change as the season progresses, but hands down A-Rod is still the best player in the game today and now that he has the whole “biggest contract in the history of history” thing taken care of…now he wants a ring, expect an even more focused A-Rod in 2008 and beyond.
Sure, by the time I’ve written this I’ve already had the advantage of watching him humiliate the Diamondbacks, but anyone who has been following Cueto’s already impressive career knows that he is for real. In just 348 minor league innings Cueto struck out 357 batters and notched a 3.28 ERA and a 1.10 WHIP. For those of you who aren’t stat junkies, let me break that down so you’ll get what I’m saying…CUETO IS AWESOME!!! Yeah, I think that sums it up. Throw in the fact that he’s slotted into the third-spot in the rotation behind Aaron Harang and Bronson Arroyo and just keep looking better…the only potential threat to Cueto’s success is the man in the dugout, Dusty Baker. With young arms Edison Volquez and Homer Bailey in addition to Cueto all in the fold for the Reds, many are nervous that Baker will wear them out as he is believed to have done with Mark Prior and Kerry Wood. Here’s to hoping that Cueto, Volquez and Bailey can all avoid the wrath of Dusty the Destroyer.
Coming into the 2006-2007 season, the general consensus was that Kansas City Chiefs running back Larry Johnson was going to run away (pun intended) with not only the rushing title, but the MVP as well. Now here we are in week 16 and Larry Johnson has just as many touchdowns as Marion Barber III and only 25 more rushing yards than Frank Gore. 
I realize most people would be quick to throw down and immediate yes and others would be willing to stab me in the kidney before I even finish asking the question, but here is my theory. There may be one player in the NFL who is more important to his team this year than Tomlinson is to the Chargers.
With a cool head and steady leadership, Brees has been able to guide the Saints into the playoffs while at the same time not isolating or singling out any of the young talent surrounding him. 
