Baseballs MVP Race Will Be One For The Record Books: Who Will Win The Award?

November is upon us and we have entered into that time of year when all sports fans turn there attention to the NFL, college football and the start of college basketball. With that said, it is still time to announce the end of the year MLB awards.

It will be interesting to see which players come away with this years awards. The race is extremely tight in the American League, where there are four candidates who have a legitimate shot at winning the award. While in the National League, it will be a foot race between three sluggers.

In the AL, the race is between; Robinson Cano, Josh Hamilton, Jose Bautista and Miguel Cabrera. All four of these players had very strong statistical seasons in many areas of the game. When it comes to MVP awards, a non playoff team member should never win over a playoff team participant. Therefore, the AL race is between Cano and Hammy.

Both of these players had very nice seasons while helping to lead their teams into this years playoffs. With over .300 batting averages and nice doses of power, each hitter was able to get the job done at the plate.

Hamilton missed almost all of September and because of this, definitely lost some stat numbers. This may have a small effect on some of the votes. Since Cano is a second baseman he will also get some extra votes do to his position.

When it is all said and done, I believe Josh Hamilton will come away as the 2010 AL MVP. His .352 average is just straight remarkable and this will be the difference maker when it comes to the voters.

In the National League, the race will also be a close one. Albert Pujols and Joey Votto will be the top two finishers, with Carlos Gonzalez finishing in third place.

My playoff rule is in effect here once again as Votto is the only player of the group who helped lead his team into this years playoffs. However, when it comes to statistics, Votto is also better then the rest.

All three, hit over 30 home runs, scored over 100 runs and drove in over 100 while batting above .300. When it comes to the deeper statistics, Votto was on a whole new level. With his .600 slugging percentage and his .424 OBP he clearly proved to the world that he deserves this years coveted award.

The MVP awards will be announced to the public next week and all baseball fans should look for Josh Hamilton and Joey Votto to come away as the recipients.

Who Will Play for the BCS National Championship Game?

We are currently approaching the end of the college football season, and it has been quite an exciting one to say the least.

The real question at this point in time is who will be playing for the National Championship.

This is a difficult question, because there are four undefeated teams sitting at the top of the rankings who all deserve a chance at national championship glory.

With that said, let’s break down the contenders and predict the championship game.

Auburn is currently undefeated and sit at the top of the very strong and talented SEC. However, Auburn has a very difficult remaining schedule, where they will have to beat two very talented teams.

When they lose one of these games, which will happen, Auburn will not be going to the BCS championship game.

In two weeks, the Tigers will travel to Tuscaloosa to take on Alabama. The Crimson Tide will show up to this game and will come away with a very important victory for them. This win will cause major chaos when it comes to the BCS rankings system.

When Alabama upsets Auburn, it will pave the way for either TCU or Boise State to make a push for the championship game.

In my opinion, if Auburn loses to Alabama but beats South Carolina for the SEC championship, they are still a better team then undefeated TCU or Boise.

But with the BCS system, they will not be going to the championship game.

Oregon is in a similar position to Auburn: If they win out, they will be going to the title game. All the flying Ducks have to do is win their final two games and nothing will bounce them from the top rankings spot.

When it is all said and done, Oregon will be one of the two teams that will play for this year's title. They were tested against Cal this weekend but proved to the country that they can play defense. Their offense will never be that sloppy again, and they should run the table against Arizona and Oregon State in the upcoming weeks.

When it comes to both Boise and TCU, each team is clearly playing do or die football right now, which means they cannot lose another football game.

Neither team will end up losing another game and one of them will end up playing Oregon. The real question is, which of these teams will be ranked ahead of the other?

The Broncos are a better team then the Horned Frogs, and if they finish the year undefeated, they should be ranked higher. Their marquee win against Virginia Tech and their future win against Nevada will be more impressive than TCU's.

The Horned Frogs win against Utah is becoming less and less valuable, and in many ways, Nevada is probably a better team then the Utes. VT is a better team than anyone on TCU's schedule, and you can even make the case that Boise dominated Oregon State on a higher level then TCU did.

With all of this said, if Auburn loses and Oregon remains undefeated, I see Boise State and Oregon going to the 2010 BCS Championship.

David Lee Makes His Glorious Return To The Big Apple

Its nice to recognize a dude that played his heart out despite the guarantee of constant failure during the Isiah Thomas era. David Lee deserved every second of the standing ovation he got from the Garden faithful. What he didn't deserve was the absolute decimation he was allowed to perform by Knick defenders.

Once the whistle blew and the ball is tipped all emotional ties are to be cut. I love David Lee, its crazy to see him wearing #10 and in a Golden State uniform, but even he knows this is all business. Knocking out his former teammate's front teeth, bloodying his elbow and exposing bone while snagging a double-double in the process. Classic D.LEE hustle and grit. He wanted to win last night, that was evident from the get go. The Knicks however played sloppy and looked lost, jacking up a three whenever and where ever.

The Knicks blew that game last night, end of story. This failing behind big early, and then making runs at a come back in the 3rd and 4th quarter are not going to work for a team that hopes to make the playoffs. Props to Stoudamire for holding it down with a double-double of his own last night. That clean up dunk on Lee's face was nasty, but once again it was all for naught seeing as the end result of the game was not optimal. It was only fitting for Lee to pull down the nail in the coffin rebound, followed by knocking down two free throws for poetic justice

Got to play better, plain and simple. I have faith in this team.

San Francisco In Pictures- AT&T Park, Golden Gate Bridge, Trolley Cars and Seafood

Continuing on with the summer baseball road trip, I traveled to the west coast to tour what their stadiums had to offer. First up was the beautiful AT&T ball park.

The stadium and the city of San Francisco are absolutely amazing. Beautiful scenery and amazing culture every where you look. AT&T Park, home of the Giants was incredible. It's very new, has some neat features and is situated right on the bay.

I was particularly amazed by the structure of the stadium and the landing point that is situated in right field. As I walked in I felt a chill, as I thought about all the steroid infested home runs that Barry Bonds hit. It was a rare occurrence but I had wonderful seats for the ballgame. First row, right on top of the dugout down the first base line. The seats were out of this world and really added to the experience of the game.

The park really is wonderful and is by far one of the best the game has to offer. There is so much to do within the stadium, such as the massive glove and Coke bottle in center field, to the views of the bridge and the bay. There even is an old cable car to check out.

I also had a great time exploring the city. The Golden Gate Bridge is a beautiful structure and enjoyed walked across it and taking in the views of the city. The pier, rides on the cable cars, fresh seafood and exploring all the hidden sectionx of the city was also a treat.

Everyone should take the time to travel to San Francisco and definitely checkout their wonderful ball park!

Detroit In Pictures- Comerica Park, GM Building and Motown Hot Dogs

After driving through Canada and across the Michigan border, we finally reached Detroit. I was excited about checking out Comerica Park, as I had heard some great things about the stadium. Before the game started we decided to take a trip to the GM building.

After seeing what the city of Detroit had to offer, we quickly made our way over to the ball park to catch the opening day celebrations. We explored all around the outside area of the stadium and there was so much to see. From massive Tigers to some cool bars, we had a blast. Jets flew over the stadium and Kid Rock was on hand for the opening pitch.

The inside of the stadium is great, its a new park so there is alot to offer. I walked around every area and it seemed like almost every section offered a decent view of the field. All in all they did a wonderful job in the design of the ball park. I am a big fan of stadiums that offer the fan a skyline view, so that was also something nice.

After enjoying opening day at the park, we stopped by the famous American Coney Island and Lafayette Coney Island before hitting the open road. Both hot dogs were great!

Who will be selected in this years NBA draft and who should be selected

Tonight is the NBA draft, one of my favorite events in the world of sports outside of the actual games.

I love the NBA draft as it is shorter than the NFL draft by a long shot and allows me to relive the year in college basketball.

It’s nice to see some great players who entertained me on the college court take the next step in their careers and enter the NBA.

Here is who each lottery team will take, as well as who they actually should select with their pick.



1. Washington Wizards: John Wall

Should Select: John Wall

No-brainer pick here for the Wizards as Wall is clearly the best player in this year’s draft class.

He has the potential to be a superstar in the league and immediately becomes the franchise player for a team that desperately needs one.



2. Philadelphia 76ers: Evan Turner

Should Select: Evan Turner

Turner is the most NBA-ready player to enter the league this year.

He was a remarkable player in college and should be an impact player from day one.

The 76ers have holes at other positions on their roster but it would not be smart to pass up on a sure thing for other players who could very well become busts.



3. New Jersey Nets: Wesley Johnson

Should Select: Derrick Favors

The Nets have options at this pick and will have plenty of cap room on hand to make a splash with the free agent pool.

Johnson is a great player and is pretty NBA-ready when it comes to making an immediate impact for his team.

That being said, I prefer Favors with this pick.

I think he has too much upside to pass on.

However, by selecting Johnson the Nets can then try and lure a big market power forward.

They just need to make sure they can sign a premiere player.



4. Minnesota Timberwolves: Derrick Favors

Should Select: Wesley Johnson

This pick obviously depends on who the Nets select at the third spot. Whoever the Nets select, the T’wolves with choose the other.

With that said, Minnesota would prefer to land Wes Johnson.

He can stretch the defense and would become a stronger player on the perimeter for their squad.

If they do select Favors, they will most likely continue to field trade offers for Al Jefferson.



5. Sacramento Kings: DeMarcus Cousins

Should Select: DeMarcus Cousins

The Kings have been debating about what big man to select, Greg Monroe or DeMarcus Cousins.

Monroe has the attitude and Cousins has the upside.

With the fifth selection, the Kings would be making a poor decision by choosing Monroe over Cousins.

His upside is tremendous and he has the potential to become a premiere player as time progresses.



6. Golden State Warriors: Ekpe Udoh

Should Select: Greg Monroe

The Warriors will take a big man with this selection and it pretty much comes down to Udoh or Monroe.

Udoh’s stock has been rising as of late due to some impressive workouts with various teams.

However, Monroe is the safer selection here and I believe that the Warriors should take him.



7. Detroit Pistons: Greg Monroe

Should Select: Greg Monroe

If Monroe is still available with the 7th pick, the Pistons will jump all over him.

He is an amazing passer and will be a very solid player in the league for years to come.

He is a safe pick who can do a lot for his squad.



8. Los Angeles Clippers: Al-Farouq Aminu

Should Select: Al-Farouq Aminu

He has the potential to be an All-Star at some point in his NBA career.

During his time at Wake Forest, I always looked for him to finally become that premiere player.

However, he never really took advantage of his game at the college level.

I believe that he will improve as a pro and should be a nice selection for the Clippers.



9. Utah Jazz: Cole Aldrich

Should Select: Ed Davis

The Jazz will want to get a big man with their pick.

If Monroe or Udoh drop to them, they will clearly select one of the two.

I am not a huge Aldrich fan as he has never impressed me with anything but his ability to block shots.

I like Davis a lot and feel that he is the safer and better pick.

But with the uncertainty of Carlos Boozer returning to the squad, Aldrich could be the safer choice.



10. Indiana Pacers: Ed Davis.

Should Select: Ed Davis

He is not necessarily NBA-ready at this point in time but he is does have the potential to do a lot for his team.

He can score a decent amount of points and he plays very solid defense.

Over time, Davis has the ability to become a good player for the Pacers.



11. New Orleans Hornets: Luke Babbitt

Should Select: Luke Babbitt

I am a huge Babbitt fan.

The kid is a tremendous shooter and would fit nicely with Chris Paul.

He is a premiere perimeter threat and if he can improve on his defensive, he will become that much more valuable.



12. Memphis Grizzlies: Gordon Hayward

Should Select: Paul George

A strong wing player who is a great shooter, Hayward would make a nice addition to a young Memphis team.

I like George more at this pick but he is an under the radar player when it comes to this draft.

It will be interesting to see what team scoops him up.



13. Toronto Raptors: Paul George

Should Select: Paul George

He has been very impressive as of late during his workouts and his upside is tremendous.

He played for Fresno State, so his name is not nearly as familiar as some other players.

If he is still available, the Raptors will be happy to select him with their first round pick.



14. Houston Rockets: Xavier Henry

Should Select: Patrick Patterson

The Rockets would prefer for someone like Aldrich to fall to them at the 14th spot.

If that does not happen, they will be left with a few choices.

Henry is a great shooter and he would fit in nicely on the Rockets squad.

Houston needs size and if Patterson is there, they should take him with their pick.



15. Milwaukee Bucks: Patrick Patterson

Should Select: Patrick Patterson

If he is available when the Bucks hit the clock, Milwaukee will jump all over Patterson.

They traded for Corey Maggette to help score some points and now can add a power forward to the mix.

This would be a great pick for the Bucks.



Here are your first 15 selections for the 2010 NBA draft.

It should be an exciting evening filled with some interesting picks and potential trades.

Enjoy it.

2010 MLB All-Star Game: What the National League Starting Lineup Should Be

After taking a look at the American League All-Stars for this year's game, I will now take the time to discuss who should be suiting up for the National League.

Once again, a few of the current voting leaders do not deserve to be in the starting lineup. Here is who should be taking the field first:



Catcher: Miguel Olivo

The Rockies catcher is off to a great start. He is hitting about .300 and has some nice power every time he steps to the plate.

Even though Chris Iannetta has been taking some at-bats away from him, Olivo has still compiled a very nice season to this point.



First Base: Joey Votto

Albert Pujols will obviously be elected to serve as the National League’s first baseman for yet another season. His numbers have been strong, just not as dominant as past years.

With that said, Joey Votto has compiled a very impressive season of his own and deserves some recognition. He is hitting for a higher average then Pujols, and has scored more runs than the former All-Star. Votto is my man to be starting at the right corner.



Second Base: Martin Prado

The little-known second baseman from the Atlanta Braves is having a stellar season.

He is close to hitting for a .340 average, and leads all players at his position with hits. He scores a ton of runs for his squad, while consistently getting on base. Martin Prado should be the leading vote-getter while representing the infield.



Third Base: David Wright

None of the National League candidates to start at third base are having truly amazing seasons.

This year’s class is led by David Wright and Scott Rolen. Wright has had a solid year and continues to be able to mix a decent average with consistent power and speed. Rolen has really rebounded well this year and is having a very strong season.

It is a tough decision, but I give the nod to Wright.



Shortstop: Hanley Ramirez

Another relatively slow position for the National League is at the shortstop spot.

Had he not been injured, I would have given my vote to Troy Tulowitzki. However, with Tulowitzki out, my vote goes reluctantly to Hanley Ramirez.

The Florida Marlins shortstop is a star, but he is having somewhat of an off season, and his no-hustle escapades last month really rubbed me the wrong way. However, he is the best player at his position and should be in the starting lineup.



Outfielders: Ryan Braun, Andrew McCutchen, Andre Ethier

Ryan Braun is having yet another very impressive season as he continues to be the face of the Milwaukee Brewers franchise. Braun is a great young player who should continue to be a member of the All-Star game outfield for years to come.

My second and third All-Star selections for the outfield were difficult, and really shows how much stronger the American League has been this year.

McCutchen is having a great season as he continues to improve as an everyday hitter. He hits over .300, steals a lot of bases, and scores plenty of runs. The Pirates are a pathetic team, but McCutchen is the one good thing going for that franchise.

Before going down with a finger injury, Ethier was having an MVP-type season.

He has slowed down a decent amount since returning from the disabled list, and I look for him to improve as time goes on. He still is putting up strong numbers and should earn his starting position.

That is what the 2010 MLB National League All-Star team should look like. With less than two weeks to go, it should be interesting to see how it all plays out.

The Way the MLB All-Star Starting Lineup Should Be

The 2010 MLB All Star weekend voting deadline is on the horizon. So this morning, I logged onto the Internet and compiled a ballot of my own.

When it comes to fan voting, I have to admit that I am a believer in the system. I obviously hate when a popular player makes the starting lineup who is either having an off year or who has been injured. With that said, it's nice to have the fans make their case heard and have their players begin the game.

After looking over the ballot, I have selected my players to create what should be the starting lineup for this year's festivities. My votes are based around what players have done throughout this season at this point in time. I will also compare my votes to the current vote leaders in the respective positions.



American League

Catcher: Joe Mauer

Mauer currently leads the American League in votes at any position. He has had a solid year, is the best catcher in his league, and deserves to be starting behind the plate. Mauer was hurt during the beginning part of the season and has yet to catch up to his stellar pace from last season. With that said, I believe Mauer will heat up and compile another very strong season.




1b: Miguel Cabrera

The Detroit Tigers first baseman is having one of the best years of any player in the league. He hits for a high average and leads the American League in both home runs and RBI’s. With a little luck, Cabrera has a shot at competing for the triple crown. Justin Morneau is the current vote leader and is having a very good year. His numbers are close to Cabrera’s and he does deserve a spot on the AL roster.



2b: Robinson Cano

The second base position is a very obvious selection. At this point in time, Robinson Cano is the best player in the league and the MVP so far. He is hitting above .370 and has really found his power stroke to all places of the field. He is the current leading vote getter at his position and will be the starting 2b for his squad.



3b: Evan Longoria

Another obvious selection is the Tampa Bay Rays third baseman, Evan Longoria. He is having a truly unbelievable year while being able to mix power with speed. He is the face of his franchise and will represent them while in Los Angeles this year. He will win the position and become this year's third base starter.



SS: Derek Jeter

Jeter currently has the second most votes of any player at any position in the American League. He is having a solid year, and as one of the most popular players in the league, he will become this year's starter. He deserves this honor, as he is having the most complete year of any player at his position.



Outfield

This is the most difficult decision when it comes to picking the three most deserving players to fill the outfield. The current vote leaders are Ichiro, Carl Crawford, and Nelson Cruz. All three are having stellar years, and Cruz has put together unbelievable numbers considering he has been to the disabled list twice during the season.

However, none of the three leaders get my vote. The best outfielder in the league right now happens to be Vladimir Guerrero. His stats have been completely out of this world, and he is playing like the Vlad of five years ago. He is near the top in almost all of the offensive categories and should be a starter.

My second outfielder happens to come from the same team. Josh Hamilton has turned his play up to a whole new level and has compiled an unbelievable month. He has great stats at this point and is the second best outfielder at this point in time.

My third choice was difficult, as I like both candidates. Crawford and Alex Rios are both having extremely strong seasons. Rios happens to be having a better one. After a few lackluster seasons, Rios has found his place in Chicago and also deserves to be a starting all star.

The voting will end soon, so get out there and vote for the players that most deserve this honor. This year's All Star weekend should be another fun and eventful time for baseball.

Two of The Leagues Best; Johnson and Revis, Fight For New Contracts

Two of the NFL’s best and young players are currently holding out for larger contracts during the early part of this year’s offseason. Both Chris Johnson and Darrelle Revis are not practicing for their respective teams as they fight for new contracts. Both Johnson and Revis had monster seasons for the Titans and the Jets last year and do deserve guaranteed money from their franchises.
Last year, Johnson put up 2,006 total rushing yards, which ranks 5th all-time. Johnson is only set to make $550,000 for the upcoming season. Johnson is clearly one of the top two rushers in the league and may even be more valuable to his team then Adrian Peterson. The Titans are going nowhere this season without him and need to offer him a contract as soon as they can. With that said, he is a multi-talented player who will help his team for years to come. Johnson has also made his case known to the public via his Twitter account. “Its like how u expect ur players to give they all and put their bodies on the line when you not willing to give them what they deserve.” Hopefully the Titans can complete a deal with Johnson and cross two of their immediate distractions off their list. The “distraction” known as Vince Young is a completely different story.
On the other hand, the Jets pro bowl corner is also sitting out while he seeks a new contact. Revis, like Johnson, completely dominated his position this year. He shutdown some of the leagues best receivers on a weekly basis and made it known around the league that being on Revis Island is no walk in the park. Revis did show up at practice today but spent most of his time sitting on the bench. His latest contract offer contained to guaranteed money, something Revis clearly desires with his new deal. The Jets need to be very careful about how they approach Revis. They have a very strong team at this point and have the pieces to make another run in the playoffs. Revis is a major part of their success and they need to be careful with him while negotiating a new deal.
It will be another offseason filled with star players threatening not to play, while they argue for bigger and better contracts. It will be interesting to watch what happens as two franchises deal with two of the best players in the league.

Oregon-Oregon State battle in the Civil War for a ticket to the Rose Bowl

When Oregon State goes into Autzen Stadium to do battle with the Oregon Ducks on Thursday night, it will be an epic showdown for the ages. It might not award either team a berth in the National Title game, but it will punch a ticket to the second biggest bowl there is-the Rose Bowl.

Besides this weekend's SEC Championship game between Alabama and Florida, there is no bigger game than the "Civil War." In fact Oregon-Oregon State might be the second best college football game all season long.

Oregon is 9-2 with only one of those losses coming in the very talented Pac-10 to Stanford and the other was to the undefeated Boise State Broncos.

Oregon State has three losses, two of them have come against Pac-10 opponents; USC and Arizona. Their other loss was early on in the season to the undefeated Cincinnati Bearcats.

Both teams have gone through very difficult schedules, only losing to other top conference teams and undefeated outside of the Pac-10.

Both teams feature exciting and fast running backs who can change the game at anytime. Last years Pac-10 player of the year, Jaquizz Rodgers leads the way for the Beavers while LaMichael James has been on fire lately for the Ducks.

The teams are pretty equal at running back, however the edge goes to the Ducks at the quarterback position. Jeremiah Masoli is an absolute gamer and has been able to take over games all season long. Beavers quarterback Sean Canfield has also had an impressive season.

Canfield rarely makes and mistakes and has been playing is best football as of late. He and James Rodgers have great chemistry, so expect a big game out of the other Rodgers brother as well.

Masoli on the other hand can make things happen through the air as well rushing the ball. He had a spectacular game in his last performance at Arizona, accounting for three touchdowns through the air and on the ground.

This is definitely a game that could go either way. Oregon has the home-field advantage, but the Beavers are playing better. Oregon has struggled as of late against some tough teams, while the Beavers have been playing weaker competition.

The Ducks will come out firing on all cylinders and quickly prove that they are a dominant team while at home. Masoli will control the ball and continue to beat up the Beavers defense as the game rolls on. In the end the Ducks will be playing in Pasadena on New Year's for the Rose Bowl.