The Canon Review 2011 Baseball Preview Midseason Review

Since the baseball season has reached the All-Star break, I figured it's the proper time to review the picks that I made at the beginning of the 2011 MLB season. You can go back and review the preview here if you want. As it turns out, my picks weren't exactly spot on. For example, who would have thought that the Pittsburgh Pirates, Cleveland Indians, and Arizona Diamondbacks would be in the thick of the playoff race at the All-Star break? Clearly not me. So without further adieu, here's a look at my picks and how they've held up so far.

Predictions (* = Wild Card)       Current Record:

American League

AL East
1. Boston Red Sox               1. Boston Red Sox (55-35)
2. New York Yankees*         2. New York Yankees (53-35)*
3. Toronto Blue Jays            3. Tampa Bay Rays (49-41)
4. Tampa Bay Rays              4. Toronto Blue Jays (45-47)
5. Baltimore Orioles             5. Baltimore Orioles (36-52)


Hey, remember when the Red Sox got off to an 0-6 start and everybody was panicking about the Sox? Well, since then they're 55-29 and now have the best record in the American League. While OF Carl Crawford has yet to live up to expectations for the Sox, the team's other big acquisition, 1B Adrian Gonzalez, has more than held up his end of the bargain, leading the A.L. in hits, RBIs, and batting average. The Yankees have had some injury trouble, but solid performances from 2B Robinson Cano, SP C.C. Sabathia, 1B Mark Teixeira, and CF Curtis Granderson have put the Bronx Bombers neck in neck with the Red Sox. The Rays are probably one of the four best teams in the AL, but only two teams can make it in the playoffs out of the A.L. East, and it looks like the Rays will be the team on the outside looking in. 3B/OF Jose Bautista has been the best hitter in baseball for the Blue Jays, leading the league in home runs and OPS. But the Jays pitching staff is too inconsistent for them to contend this year. The Orioles got off to a hot start, but the team's young pitching staff still has some growing up to do (last in the AL in ERA) before the Orioles can return to respectability.


AL Central
1. Chicago White Sox           1. Detroit Tigers (49-43)
2. Detroit Tigers                   2. Cleveland Indians (47-42)
3. Minnesota Twins              3. Chicago White Sox (44-48)
4. Kansas City Royals         4. Minnesota Twins (41-48)
5. Cleveland Indians            5. Kansas City Royals (37-54)


The Tigers have gotten little to no production from four different lineup spots (2B, 3B, LF, CF) and their pitching outside of ace Justin Verlander has been inconsistent, but they still enter the All-Star break leading the division and with players like Verlander, 1B Miguel Cabrera, and C/DH Victor Martinez leading the charge, Detroit should stay in the race the rest of the way. The Indians surprised the entire baseball world with their fast start, but a combination of injuries and starting pitching woes (especially from Fausto Carmona) have brought the Tribe back to earth. Still, they're only half a game back in the American League's most wide open division. The White Sox have not played up to expectations, but if some of those disappointing players (DH Adam Dunn, SP John Danks, 2B Gordan Beckham, CF Alex Rios) can round into form, then the White Sox have to be considered legit contenders. The Twins have had injuries to both C Joe Mauer and 1B Justin Morneau, their closer Joe Nathan never returned back to form, and ace SP Francisco Liriano has been a disappointment. Yet they remain only 6.5 games out of first, so a hot second half could push the Twins back into the playoffs. The Royals still seem to be a year away, although they have gotten good play out of rookies like 1B Eric Hosmer and set-up man Aaron Crow. Honestly, I think Cleveland drops out of it, and the Tigers and White Sox will duke it out down the stretch, with Chicago winning by a nose.


AL West
1. Texas Rangers                 1. Texas Rangers (51-41)
2. Oakland Athletics            2. L.A. Angels of Anaheim (50-42)
3. L.A. Angels of Anaheim  3. Seattle Mariners (43-48)
4. Seattle Mariners             4. Oakland Athletics (39-53)

The Rangers have had a few injury problems, but they're right on pace with last year's mark at the All-Star Break (50-38). If they can get better starting pitching, the Rangers should be able to hold off the Angels, who have great pitching but are offensively challenged. The Mariners have great pitching led by starters Felix Hernandez and Michael Pineda, but their offense is just offensive to watch (.224/.290/.331). The Athletics are a lot like the Mariners, but just not as lucky. This is going to be a two-team race at the end, and as long as the Rangers' big bats can stay healthy, they should hold off the Angels.

National League

NL East
1. Philadelphia Phillies        1. Philadelphia Phillies (57-34)
2. Atlanta Braves*              2. Atlanta Braves (54-38)*
3. Florida Marlins               3. New York Mets (46-45)
4. Washington Nationals    4. Washington Nationals (46-46)
5. New York Mets              5. Florida Marlins (43-48)


The Phillies have relied on their excellent starting pitching led by Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee to carry an offense that has been average at best to the majors best record. Sure, the Phillies could use another bat and an arm in the bullpen, but as long as Halladay, Lee, and Cole Hamels take their scheduled turns and Roy Oswalt can get back in the swing of things, then the Phillies are the team to beat in the NL. The Braves have used a similar strategy to lay claim to the second best record in the NL, and the Wild-Card spot should be theirs to lose, especially if 2B Dan Uggla and RF Jason Heyward can come back from rough first halves. The Mets have suffered injuries to 3B David Wright, 1B Ike Davis and LF Jason Bay, but their biggest concern has to be the injury SS Jose Reyes suffered last week, as the free-agent to be has carried the Mets thus far. The Nationals have gone through injuries and a managerial change, yet they still find themselves at .500 despite a poor first half from free agent acquisition OF Jayson Werth (.215/.319/.362). The Marlins played well the first two months, then struggled mightily in June, which resulted in 80-year old Jack McKeon becoming the new manager. It's not likely that McKeon will drag his team over .500 with ace SP Josh Johnson out indefinitely and superstar SS Hanley Ramirez having his worst season to date. At the end of the day, expect the Phillies and Braves to grab playoff spots, and the Mets and Nats to fight it out for third.
 
NL Central
1. Cincinnati Reds              1. St. Louis Cardinals (49-43)
2. St. Louis Cardinals         1. Milwaukee Brewers (49-43)
3. Milwaukee Brewers       3. Pittsburgh Pirates (47-43)
4. Chicago Cubs                  4. Cincinnati Reds (45-47)
5. Houston Astros               5. Chicago Cubs (37-55)
6. Pittsburgh Pirates           6. Houston Astros (30-62)

Baseball's most wide-open race resides here in the NL Central, where four teams are within 4 1/2 games of each other. The Cardinals waived their opening day closer, Ryan Franklin, during the season, and have been without superstars 1B Albert Pujols and LF Matt Holliday for stretches of the season. But now both men are back, Fernando Salas has filled the closer role, and thanks to an offense led by OF Lance Berkman (.290/.402/606), the Cardinals are tied for first place. The Brew Crew has been carried by 1B Prince Fielder and OF Ryan Braun on offense to go with a strong starting rotation. If SP Zack Grienke improves on his 5.45 ERA in the second half, then watch out for the Brewers. The Pirates, a team without a winning season in 19 years, find themselves only a half a game out of first place. A lot of the credit for that goes to CF Andrew McCutheon and a pitching staff that ranks fifth in the NL in ERA. The Reds lead the league in runs scored, but their pitching staff (14th in ERA) has been a disappointment, particularly SP Edinson Volquez and RP Arlodis Chapman. The Cubs are still the Cubs, an overpaid mess of a team going nowhere fast, although SS Starlin Castro has been one of the best hitting shortstops in the game. The Astros are in rebuilding mode at this point, which is something the Cubs should consider. At the end of the day, I'll stick with the Reds pulling out another division title, if only because I'm not sold on any of these teams, so I might as well stick with my original pick.

NL West
1. Colorado Rockies           1. San Francisco Giants (52-40)
2. San Francisco Giants      2. Arizona Diamondbacks (49-43)
3. Los Angeles Dodgers     3. Colorado Rockies (43-48)
4. San Diego Padres           4. Los Angeles Dodgers (41-51)
5. Arizona Diamondbacks  5. San Diego Padres (40-52)

Giants baseball may be torture (15th in the NL in runs scored), but once again manager Bruce Bochy and a strong pitching staff have made it work, as the Giants are in first place at the All-Star break despite a season ending injury to C Buster Posey and getting next to nothing out of SS Miguel Tejada. The Diamondbacks have played with a new spark under manager Kirk Gibson, and to the surprise of many, find themselves right in the thick of the hunt, thanks in large part to OFs Chris Young and Justin Upton. The Rockies have a reputation of being a second half team, which is a good thing because they'll need a strong second half to make the postseason this year. Better pitching from ace Ubaldo Jimenez would help. The Dodgers are just a mess right now, and not even the talent of players such as CF Matt Kemp, RF Andre Ethier, and SP Clayton Kershaw will push the Dodgers into the pennant race. The Padres just can't score enough runs, and with the trade deadline approaching, the team is looking to trade star closer Heath Bell for a package of prospects. Where Bell ends up could make the difference for a contender, which is the only impact the Padres will have on the pennant race this season. I would like to stick with the Rockies, but I think they're too far behind the Giants to catch up, so the Giants are my choice.

World Series Predictions: Rangers over Rockies

One day, I'm going to learn not to expect huge things from the Rockies, as they seem to have the pieces for a great team but just can't put it together for whatever reason. So instead, I'm saying the Phillies will match up with the Rangers in the 2011 World Series, with the Rangers winning a close series in at least six games. Sure, it might be a gut feeling, but I think the Rangers have the talent to pull it off and win the first World Series in their franchise's history.

Awards Predictions:

AL MVP:

1. Adrian Gonzalez, 1B, Red Sox (.354 BA/.414 OBP/.591 SLG, 128 hits, 17 HR, 77 RBI)
2. Josh Hamilton, OF, Rangers (.301/.357/.542, 11 HR, 49 RBI, 54 games)
3. Evan Longoria, 3B, Rays (.239/.321/.459, 11 HR, 42 RBI)
Dark Horse: Justin Morneau, 1B, Twins (.225/.281/.338, 54 games, injured)

Midseaon Picks:
1. Gonzalez
2. Jose Bautista, 3B/OF, Blue Jays (.334/.468/.702, 31 HR, 65 RBI)
3. Miguel Cabrera, 1B, Detroit Tigers (.311/.430/.549, 18 HR, 59 RBI)
4. Curtis Granderson, OF, New York Yankees (.269/.361/.575, 25 HR, 63 RBI, 79 runs, 15 SB)


Gonzalez has been everything the Red Sox could have ever hoped for and more when they traded for him in the offseason, carrying the Sox to the league's best record and leading the league in many major categories. Bautista's team may not be as successful as the Red Sox, but the Blue Jay has reinvented himself over the past two years and has become the most dangerous hitter in the game with the possible exception of Albert Pujols. Once again, Cabrera is putting together another solid season for the AL Central leading Tigers, but he's a little short of Bautista and Gonzalez thus far. On a team full of stars, Granderson has arguably been the best of the bunch for the Yankees, providing a devastating mixture of power and speed for opponents and leading the A.L in runs scored and triples to go along with his stellar numbers. As for my other preseason picks, well, they've all been hurt, and only Hamilton has really had a solid season thus far.


NL MVP:

1. Albert Pujols, 1B, Cardinals (.280/.357/.500, 18 HR, 50 RBI)
2. Troy Tulowitzki, SS, Rockies (.268/.337/.468, 17 HR, 57 RBI)
3. Joey Votto, 1B, Reds (.324/.438/.507, 13 HR, 55 RBI)
Dark Horse: Jason Heyward, OF, Braves (.226/.315/.404, 9 HR, 69 games)

Midseason Picks:
1. Andrew McCutchen, OF, Pirates (.291/.390/.505, 14 HR, 54 RBI, 15 SB)
2. Brian McCann, C, Braves (.310/.381/.514, 15 HR, 50 RBI)
3. Lance Berkman, OF, Cardinals (.290/.404/.602, 24 HR, 63 RBI)
4. Jose Reyes, SS, Mets, (.354/.398/.529, 124 hits, 15 3B, 30 SB)

Perhaps I may be overstating McCuthen's contributions this year, but on a team that's not exactly full of superstars, McCuthen's been the one consistent in the lineup and the biggest reason why the Pirates are within half a game of first place. McCann's been a very important part of the Braves success this season, as he's been the one shining light in an offense that has been inconsistent throughout the season. Berkman leads the NL in OPS and home runs, not bad for a guy that was considered finished after his disastrous stint with the Yankees last year. Reyes leads the NL in batting average and triples and is second in stolen bases, but he is currently on the DL with a leg injury, so that might hurt his MVP chances going forward. While Pujols isn't having a season up to his usual standards, he's still having a mighty fine season and could find himself in the discussion with a strong second half. Votto's no slouch either, as he leads the NL in on base percentage and is in the top 10 in many major offensive categories. Tulowitzki needs a big second half to get back in the discussion, while Jason Heyward has had the sophmore jinx thus far in 2011 and has no chance of an MVP Award this year.


AL Cy Young Award:
1. Felix Hernandez, SP, Mariners (8-7 win-loss record, 3.19 ERA, 140 strikeouts)
2. Jon Lester, SP, Red Sox (10-4, 3.31, 110 SO)
3. C.C. Sabathia, SP, Yankees (13-4, 2.72 ERA, 126 SO)
Dark Horse: John Danks, SP, White Sox (3-8, 4.21 ERA, 65 SO)


Midseason Picks:
1. Justin Verlander, SP, Tigers (12-4, 2.15 ERA, 147 SO)
2. Jared Weaver, SP, Angels (11-4, 1.86 ERA, 120 SO)
3. Josh Beckett, SP, Red Sox (8-3, 2.27 ERA, 94 SO)
4. Sabathia

In a season where there are many great pitchers, it was hard to limit worthy choices to four. To me, Verlander's been the best of the best so far, showcasing overpowering stuff and giving the Tigers a chance to win every time out. Weaver's had his best season yet, leading the AL in ERA, Beckett has had perhaps his best season yet as well, giving the Red Sox the ace to go along with Jon Lester, who hasn't been too bad himself. Sabathia's going to get his wins playing for the Yankees, but make no mistake about it, he's still one of the best pitchers in the game. Hernandez hasn't been quite as dominant as he was last season, but he hasn't been bad either. As for John Danks, well sometimes you go off on a limb and it crumbles beneath you.


NL Cy Young Award:
1. Roy Halladay, SP, Phillies (11-3, 2.45 ERA, 138 SO, 6 Complete Games)
2. Tim Lincecum, SP, Giants (7-7, 3.06 ERA, 132 SO)
3. Cliff Lee, SP, Phillies (9-6, 2.82 ERA, 137 SO)
Dark Horse: Clayton Kershaw, SP, Dodgers (9-4, 3.03 ERA, 147 SO)

Midseason Picks:
1. Halladay
2. Jair Jurrjens, SP, Braves (12-3, 1.87 ERA, 65 SO)
3. Cole Hamels, SP, Phillies (11-4, 2.32 ERA, 121 SO)
4. Tommy Hanson, SP, Braves (10-4, 2.44 ERA, 109 SO)

Halladay, Lee, and Hamels are three of the top ten pitchers in baseball, and each man is going to be in the running for the Cy Young this year. Thus far, Halladay has just the slightest of edges. A strong case could be made for Jaur Jurrjens, as he leads the NL in ERA and batting average against. Hanson is second in the NL in WHIP (1.016), fourth in ERA, and in the top ten in most important pitching categories. Apparently, that's not enough to get into the All-Star game, but it should be. Kershaw's been pretty good himself, as has Lincecum, but they're a slight notch below the top contenders for this award.

AL Rookie of the Year Award:
1. Jeremy Hellickson, SP, Rays (8-7, 3.21 ERA, 68 SO)
2. Michael Pineda, SP, Mariners (8-6, 3.03 ERA, 113 SO)
3. Kyle Drabek, SP, Blue Jays (4-5, 5.70 ERA, demoted to minors)
Dark Horse: Mike Moustakas, 3B, Royals (25 games .228/.294/.283)

Midseason Picks:
1. Pineda
2. Hellickson
3. Jordan Walden, CP, Angels (20 Saves, 2.84 ERA, 41 SO in 38 IP)
4. Mark Trumbo, 1B, Angels (.260/.305/.483, 17 HR, 41 RBI)

Pineda's been a revelation for the Mariners rotation this year, having a season that's right up there with Mariners ace Felix Hernandez. Hellickson's effectively replaced Matt Garza in the Rays rotation and given Tampa Bay another young arm to go with David Price and James Shields. The Angels entered the year with some questions in the bullpen, and Walden has been the answer saving 20 games, though he has also blown five. Trumbo's been a bit inconsistent, but he has provided the Angels with some much needed power, leading the team in home runs and total bases. Drabek hasn't exactly replaced Roy Halladay, the man he was traded for, while Moustakas spent the first part of the season in the minors and has yet to catch up to big league pitching.


NL Rookie of the Year Award:
1. Freddie Freeman, 1B, Braves (.274/.347/.459, 13 HR, 43 RBI)
2. Arlodis Chapman, SP, Reds (4.57 ERA, 22 walks in 21.2 IP)
3. Brandon Belt, 1B, Giants (19 games, .211/.328/.281)
Dark Horse: Craig Kimbrel, RP, Braves (2.35 ERA, 28 Saves, 70 SO in 46 IP)

1. Kimbrel
2. Danny Espinosa, 2B, Nationals (.242/.332/.460, 16 HR, 52 RBI) 
3. Freeman
4. Dillon Gee, SP, Mets (8-3, 3.76 ERA, 60 SO)



Kimbrel has had some rough patches, but when he's on, he's unhittable, striking out 13.7 batters per nine innings. What Espinosa lacks in batting average, he makes up for in power, leading the Nationals in home runs and RBIs. Freeman has been one of the few solid bats in the Atlanta lineup while playing great defense at first. Gee got off to a 7-0 start, but has cooled off a little since then. Still, an 8-3 record isn't too shabby. Both Chapman and Bolt struggled early on and were sent down to the minors, so it's unlikely they'll get any ROY votes.

Well, thanks for reading the 2011 Canon Review Baseball Preview Midseason Review. Yes, it is a long title. If you have any thoughts about this topic or other posts, then feel free to share those thoughts either by leaving a comment or by sending me an e-mail at KtheC2001@gmail.com.

      

Your Canon Review 2010-11 NBA Preview Midseason Review

With the NBA on its annual All-Star break, I figured it would be a good time to look back at the predictions I made back in October and see just how well I've done in predicting the 2010-11 NBA season up to this point. My guess is, not that well, but I guess we'll see. If you want, you can see my predictions at this page right here.

Eastern Conference (Conference Rank in parentheses)

Atlantic Division:

Predictions:                                Current Record:

1. Boston Celtics (3)             1. Boston Celtics (1)- 40-14

2. New York Knicks (7)        2. New York Knicks (6)- 28-26

3. New Jersey Nets (11)       3. Philadelphia 76ers (7)- 27-29

4. Philadelphia 76ers (12)     4. New Jersey Nets (12)- 17-40

5. Toronto Raptors (15)        5. Toronto Raptors (14)- 15-41

The Celtics may be a bit long in the tooth, but the NBA's best defensive team is chugging right along with the East's best record and four All-Stars (SF Paul Pierce, PG Rajon Rondo, SG Ray Allen, and PF Kevin Garnett). The addition of PF Amare Stoudemire has brought the Knicks back to respectability and should lead to their first playoff birth in seven years. How far the Knicks go may depend on whether they acquire SF Carmelo Anthony before the trade deadline and whether Amare's knees hold up, but even with Carmelo, it's hard to see the Knicks advancing past the second round. The 76ers have been somewhat of a surprise this year, as they've played really well as of late. With an excellent core of young players led by PG Jrue Holliday, the 76ers seem to have a bright future, although they're still likely a year away from seriously contending in the East. The Nets have seemingly concentrated all their efforts in trying to get Carmelo Anthony. As a result, this has been a lost season for the Nets. The Raptors should have a lot of room under the salary cap, so that's something.

Central Division:

1. Chicago Bulls (4)            1. Chicago Bulls (3)- 38-16

2. Milwaukee Bucks (6)      2. Indiana Pacers (8)- 24-30

3. Indiana Pacers (8)            3. Milwaukee Bucks (10)- 21-34

4. Cleveland Cavaliers (13) 4. Detroit Pistons (11)- 21-36

5. Detroit Pistons (14)       5. Cleveland Cavaliers (15)- 10-46

I expected the Bulls to be pretty good this year, but they've been better than I expected and are look to be legitimate NBA Title contenders. With PG Derrick Rose making the leap to superstardom, the Bulls have a 38-16 record despite missing PF Carlos Boozer and C Joaqium Noah for long periods due to injury. With Noah coming back after the All-Star Break, the Bulls will finally be able to field their whole team, a scary thought for their opponents. The Pacers seem to have found new life under interim coach Frank Vogel. Whether that lasts remains to be seen, but the Pacers really need C Roy Hibbert to become more consistent. The Bucks have taken a big step backwards and are the most disappointing team in the NBA, even with the strong defensive play of C Andrew Bogut. A lack of scoring (the Bucks are the lowest scoring and worst shooting team in the NBA) has been the main problem, and unless PG Brandon Jennings can develop into more of an offensive threat in the second half, the Bucks will struggle to make the postseason. The Pistons have an outside shot at the playoffs, as long as rookie PF Greg Monroe continues to develop. But the Pistons are also looking to trade SF Tayshaun Prince and SG Richard Hamilton, so chances are they're playing for next year. When LeBron James left Cleveland during the offseason, most experts expected the Cavaliers to struggle, and in that regards the Cavaliers haven't disappointed, embarking on a 26 game losing streak at one point this season. The good news is, there's nowhere to go but up for the Cavs.

Southeast Division:

1. Miami Heat (1)              1. Miami Heat (2)- 41-15

2. Orlando Magic (2)         2. Orlando Magic (4)-  36-21

3. Atlanta Hawks (5)          3. Atlanta Hawks (5)- 34-21

4. Washington Wizards (9) 4. Charlotte Bobcats (9)- 24-32

5. Charlotte Bobcats (10) 5. Washington Wizards (13)- 15-39

At the beginning of the season, some were saying that the Miami Heat would challenge the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls 72-10 record. Well, that was a bit of an overstatement. Nevertheless, the Heat are still top contenders to the NBA title, even if they're not head and shoulders above the league. The Magic made two huge trades during the season to acquire SF Hedo Turkoglu, SG Jason Ricahrdson, and PG Gilbert Arenas. While the trades have made Orlando a more dangerous team on offense, they also left the frontline thin, as C Dwight Howard is putting in a lot of minutes. Orlando still can make a title run, provided that Howard isn't completely worn out come playoff time. The Hawks are equally capable of thrilling and frustrating their fans. Even though they have a new coach in Larry Drew, the Hawks have basically the same strengths and weaknesses as last year's team, and it's hard to see them getting past the second round of the playoffs. The Bobcats have a winning record since Paul Silas took over as coach and have a good chance to make the playoffs for the second straight year. They have no chance of getting out of the first round though, despite the best efforts of PF Gerald Wallace. I thought the Wizards would do better than they have this season, as the Wizards seem to have a lot of trouble winning road games. The Wizards are going to go as far as PG John Wall will take them, and despite his talent, he's had some growing pains this season, making the Wizards a very inconsistent team.

Western Conference:

Southwest Division:

1. Dallas Mavericks (3)      1. San Antonio Spurs (1)- 46-10

2. San Antonio Spurs (6)     2. Dallas Mavericks (2)- 40-16

3. Houston Rockets (7)     3. New Orleans Hornets (6)- 33-25

4. New Orleans Hornets (8) 4. Memphis Grizzlies (8)- 31-26

5. Memphis Grizzlies (12)    5. Houston Rockets (12)- 26-31

At the beginning of the season, I thought that the Spurs were a bit over the hill and that while they would have a good season, it wouldn't be a great season. Well here we are at the All-Star Break and San Antonio has the best record in the league, and SG Manu Ginobili has never been better. Even though PF Tim Duncan has lost a step, the Spurs are very much in the Championship hunt. The Mavericks have received a big boost from the newly acquired C Tyson Chandler, and PF Dirk Nowitzki is his usual excellent self. The Mavs' have the pieces to make a title run, especially now that PG Roderique Beaubois is back from injury. PG Chris Paul and PF David West have powered the Hornets to a good start, and as long as they stay healthy, the Hornets should return to the playoffs after a one-year absence. The Grizzlies are getting the job done despite SG O.J. Mayo taking a step back. However, with SF Rudy Gay out for a month due to an injured shoulder, odds are that the Grizzlies will not be able to hold on to their current position of 8th in the Western Conference. The Rockets are a good team that would probably coast to a playoff berth in the Eastern Conference, but despite the play of SG Kevin Martin and PF Luis Scola, the Rockets look like a team that will be on the golf course instead of in the playoffs come April.

Northwest Division:

1. Oklahoma City Thunder (1) 1. Ok. City Thunder (4)- 35-19

2. Utah Jazz (4)                 2. Portland Trailblazers (5)- 32-24

3. Denver Nuggets (5)                3. Denver Nuggets (7)- 32-25

4. Portland Trailblazers (10)       4. Utah Jazz (8)- 31-26

5. Minnesota Timberwolves (15) 5. Minnesota T'wolves (15)- 13-43

I predicted the Oklahoma City Thunder to finish with the Western Conference's best record during my NBA Preview, and I think I was a bit hasty and proclaiming them an elite team. That being said, the Thunder are still a very good team who could make some noise in the playoffs, but might need another piece or more time before becoming a legitimate NBA contender. Portland's had a lot of injury troubles this year, as C Marcus Camby and SG Brandon Roy have both missed large chunks of the season. However, the 'Blazers are still winning as PF LaMarcus Aldridge is having his best season yet and SG Wes Matthews is actually proving to be worth the big money contract he signed during the offseason. It's hard to predict the future for the Nuggets until the Carmelo Anthony situation is resolved, as there's no telling what the Nuggets roster will look like come Thursday (the day of the NBA trade deadline). The resignation of Jazz coach Jerry Sloan sent shockwaves throughout the NBA universe, and the Jazz haven't played well since Tyrone Corbin took over. The Jazz have enough talent to make the playoffs, but whether PG Deron Williams and company can pull it together remains to be seen. The Minnesota Timberwolves should thank God every day that they have PF Kevin Love, as without him this team would be dreadful. Well, more dreadful than they already are. At least they're not the Cavs.

Pacific Division:

1. Los Angeles Lakers (2)    1. Los Angeles Lakers (3)- 38-19

2. Phoenix Suns (9)                  2. Phoenix Suns (10)- 27-27

3. Los Angeles Clippers (11) 3. G'State Warriors (11)- 26-29

4. Sacramento Kings (13)   4. L.A. Clippers (13)- 21-35

5. Golden State Warriors (14) 5. Sacramento Kings (14)- 13-40

The Lakers got off to a hot start, but recent struggles have caused some panic for the defending champs. As long as SG Kobe Bryant, C Pau Gasol, and PF Lamar Odom are healthy, the Lakers still have to be among the favorites for the NBA title, not matter how poorly SF Ron Artest is playing. The Suns seem to be playing better as of late, and as long as PG Steve Nash is healthy, the Suns should contend for a playoff berth. The Warriors have an outside shot at making the playoffs this year, but they're going to need PF David Lee to step up his game to go with the stellar play of Gs Monta Ellis and Stephon Curry if they want to make the postseason. The Clippers have the most exciting rookie in years in PF Blake Griffin and a budding star in SG Eric Gordon, which makes for a solid foundation to build upon. They won't make any noise this year, but they should be a factor in the postseason picture next year. Then again, it is the Clippers so who knows what will happen. The Kings have an awfully young team, and as such have made a lot of mistakes that a young team tends to make.

MVP:

Preseason Picks: 

1. Kevin Durant, F, Thunder (28.9 points per game, 7.0 rebounds per game)

2. LeBron James, F, Heat (26.1 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 7.3 assists per game, 1.6 steals per game)

3. Kobe Bryant, G, Lakers (25.4 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 4.8 apg)

Dark Horse: Dwight Howard, C, Magic (22.8 ppg, 13.8 rpg, 2.1 blocks per game)

Midseason Picks:

1. James 

2. Derrick Rose, G, Chicago Bulls (24.9 ppg, 8.2 apg)

3. Howard

4. Chris Paul, G, New Orleans Hornets (16.2 ppg, 9.6 apg, 2.5 spg)

The game's biggest star, James has brought his talents to South Beach and is every bit the player he was in Cleveland. Durant leads the NBA in scoring and has a chance to win the MVP, but there are other candidates with better cases than him. One of which is Derrick Rose, who has stepped up his game this season and has the Bulls off to a great start despite injuries to his two best teammates, Carlos Boozer and Joakim Noah. Kobe Bryant has been his usual stellar self, although the Lakers recent struggles have taken him out of the MVP picture for now. Howard is the game's best big man, and without his considerable talents the Magic would struggle to make the playoffs. Even though he leads the league in steals, Chris Paul doesn't have the best numbers, but he is the heart and soul of the New Orleans Hornets, and without his play the Hornets would be amongst the Timberwolves and Kings at the bottom of the standings.

Defensive Player of the Year:

Preseason Picks:

1. Howard, C, Magic

2. James, F, Heat

3. Joakim Noah, C, Bulls (24 games played, 11.7 rpg)

Dark Horse: John Wall, G, Wizards (1.7 spg)

Midseason Picks:

1. Howard

2. Rajon Rondo, G, Celtics (2.4 spg)

3. Andrew Bogut, C, Bucks, (2.8 bpg, 11.5 rpg)

4. James

Howard has won the past two Defensive POY Awards, and I see no reason why he shouldn't win his third straight award. As for the other contenders, Rondo has become one of the best, if not the best, on-ball defenders in the NBA, while Bougt is the NBA's leading shot blocker and James continues to reek havoc on the defensive end for the Heat. Noah has missed too many games due to injury to be considered for the award, while I was a little too high about John Wall's defense at this point in his career. To his credit, he would rank in the top 10 in steals per game if he played enough games to qualify.

Rookie of the Year

Preseason Picks:

1. Blake Griffin, F, Clippers (22.8 ppg, 12.6 rpg)

2. John Wall, G, Wizards (15.0 ppg, 8.9 apg)

3. DeMarcus Cousins, F/C, Kings (14.0 ppg, 8.3 rpg)

Dark Horse: Tiago Splitter, C, Spurs (4.1 ppg. 2.7 rpg)

Midseason Picks:

1. Griffin

2. Wall

3. Landry Fields, F, Knicks (10.1 ppg, 7.1 rpg)

4. Greg Monroe, F/C, Pistons (7.4 ppg, 6.4 rpg)

Blake Griffin has been so impressive and is so far ahead of the field that he could take the rest of the season off and win this award in a landslide. The only issue left to settle is who's second. Wall is 7th in the NBA in assists per game, but turns the ball over a bit too much for the Wizards' liking. Fields has been a surprise as the second round pick has started every game for the Knicks and played well. Monroe started slow, but has really come on as of late. Cousins has good numbers and has shown signs of brilliance, but he has also displayed some of the attitude problems that many experts feared he would show, and is awfully inconsistent. Splitter has no shot at this award as he doesn't play nearly enough minutes to make an impact for the Spurs.

NBA Finals Prediction: Heat over Lakers in 6 

As of late, I've made a trend out of changing my picks in the middle of the season, only to have those same picks come true at the end and making me look like a fool for changing my mind. So, even though I'm not really sold on either team's chances (although I do still think that the Heat will win, it's the Lakers getting out of the West that seems unlikely to me), I'm going to stick with my original selection. However, the Celtics, Bulls, Spurs, Mavericks, and maybe even the Magic have good enough teams to win it all this year. But at the end of the day, I still expect LeBron, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh to carry the Heat to the title.

Well, thanks for reading the Canon Review NBA Preview Midseason Review. Remember, if you have an idea for a future review, or thoughts about this post, than share those ideas either by leaving a comment or sending me an e-mail at KtheC2001@gmail.com.  

The Canon Review 2010 College Football Preview Midseason Review

Believe it or not, the 2010 College Football season is halfway over. So, with that in mind, it's time to take a look at my picks before the beginning of the season and see just how poorly I've done. In case you want to look back at those picks, you can click the link here.

ACC: Originally, I had Boston College and Virginia Tech in the ACC Championship game at the end of the year. Well, Boston College has not done as well as I had hoped, as they have had issues at the quarterback position. As for Virginia Tech, they have had a disappointing season as well up to this point, but still are in the lead in the ACC Coastal Division and gave N.C. State their only loss. With Georgia Tech and Miami both having up-and-down seasons of their own, Virginia Tech is still in prime position to clinch the Coastal Division title. As for the Atlantic division, it looks as if it's shaping up to be a two team battle between N.C. State and Florida State, with the October 28th battle between the two likely to decide which team will play in the ACC Championship game. If I were a betting man, I'd say Florida State will be the team that emerges, and ultimately wins the ACC.

Big East: It's highly likely that the WAC and Mountain West Conferences are better than the Big East, but since the Big East winner has an automatic spot in the BCS, they're going to get more attention. The Big East has only one team ranked in the top 25, which just happens to be my preseason choice to win the conference, West Virginia. On one hand, West Virginia is only a 6-point loss to #9 LSU. On the other hand, West Virginia isn't as consistent as one would like, as a near-loss to Marshall clearly showed. Although West Virginia is the favorite, the race is still wide open, as there's time for early disappointments Pitt and Connecticut to right the ship, and the surprising Syracuse Orangemen could be a factor as well. Overall though, I still feel pretty confident that West Virginia will take the conference.


Big Ten: Wisconsin was my preseason pick to win the conference, and if they beat #1 Ohio State at home this Saturday, then the Badgers have quite a good shot at winning the Big Ten. It would be silly to count out the Buckeyes, as they really have only two tough games (at Wisconsin, at Iowa) standing between them and a perfect season. Michigan may have college football's most exciting player in QB Denard Robinson, but their defense is offensive, and will keep them from being a serious threat. Michigan State is the other undefeated team in the Big Ten (Ohio State is also undefeated), and they get a break by not playing Ohio State this year. Iowa was thought to be a serious contender at the beginning of the year, and with home games against both Michigan State and Ohio State, Iowa may still be the favorite to win the conference. At the end of the day, even though I picked against Ohio State at the beginning of the year, I find it hard to choose against them now. But I'm doing it anyway, as I'm just not convinced that they can run the table. Give me Iowa this time around.

Big Twelve: I picked Texas at the beginning of the year, and that's going to be wrong. The Longhorns already lost to Oklahoma and are big underdogs this Saturday against a Nebraska team still angry over last year's defeat to Texas in the Big 12 Championship game. It looks like Nebraska and Oklahoma will represent the North and South divisions, respectively, in the Big 12 Championship Game. However, both teams should face major challenges from rivals Missouri and Oklahoma State, respectively, as both teams are also undefeated. When the dust clears, I expect Nebraska to finish their final season in the Big 12 as the conference champion.


Pac Ten: I must say that I was spectacularly wrong in picking Washington to win the conference this year, as they have clearly shown not to be a championship level team at this point. I also felt that the race would be wide-open all season with a number of quality teams contending for the crown. Well, while the Pac Ten does have a plethora of quality football teams, the #2 Oregon Ducks have emerged as the clear favorites, especially after their big win against then #9 Stanford earlier this season. Yes, Arizona is also a very good team, but not quite at the level of Oregon. If there is one team that could derail Oregon from a championship season, it could be the Ducks' rivals the Oregon State Beavers. Yes, the Beavers have lost two games this season, but both of those losses came on the road against top 5 teams (Boise State, TCU). Plus, the Beavers looked mighty impressive in dispatching Arizona last week, and Oregon has to come to their home stadium at the end of the year. If the Beavers get past Stanford the previous week, then we could be looking at a de facto Pac Ten title game in the final week of the season. With all that said, I'm still picking Oregon to win the conference.

SEC: Alabama's loss to South Carolina last Saturday shook up the whole landscape of the conference. In the East, South Carolina is in the lead, and is really the only team in that division playing at a high level. The team's biggest test left is a trip down to The Swamp to face the Florida Gators in a game likely to decide the Eastern Champion. Since both Florida and Georgia have disappointed, it may be the Gamecocks' year to finally play in the SEC Championship Game. In the West, Alabama's loss leaves LSU and Auburn as the two lone undefeated teams in the conference. You can make the argument that LSU has been more lucky than good, and we shall see in the next two weeks just how good the Tigers are as they play both Auburn and Alabama in back-to-back games. Auburn has been powered by QB Cam Newton and a top-notch offense, and could very well take the Western crown. It would also be unwise to count out Arkansas. However, Alabama, despite their loss last week, is still the best team in the conference, and will prove that by winning the West and avenging their loss to South Carolina in the SEC Championship game.


Other Conferences: In the WAC, preseason favorite Boise State has not disappointed, beating BCS teams Virginia Tech and Oregon State thus far and currently ranking #3 in the polls. The Broncos have a tough test upcoming against Nevada, but should be able to win the WAC once again. Over in the Mountain West conference, TCU has a battle on their hands with Utah, and the two would be BCS-busters meet November 6th in Utah and what is likely to be the only loss for one of these two teams, provided Air Force doesn't shock TCU and Utah between then. I picked TCU at the beginning of the year, and I will not change my mind now. In Conference USA, QB Case Kessum's season ending injury has put preseason favorite Houston in a difficult spot and has opened the door for a number of teams to step in. Right now, that team looks to be SMU, so that's who I'll go with. Even though I picked Temple to win the MAC at the beginning of the season, last week's lost to Northern Illinois has convinced me to go in a different direction, as now I feel Northern Illinois will be the MAC champs. In the Sun Belt conference, Troy crushed my preseason pick Middle Tennessee St. last week by a 29 point margin, and very little stands between Troy and a conference title.

National Championship: With Alabama losing last week, I have had to change my original pick, as I feel that at least two teams will go undefeated and leave Alabama out of the title game. I still have Boise State playing for the title, but I have replaced Alabama with Oregon. This might prove to be advantageous for the Broncos, as they beat the Ducks last season. That, and the fact that Boise State has proven it can beat top-notch competition on a regular basis, is why I'm picking Boise State to shock the world and win the 2010 National Championship.


Heisman Trophy: Well, my preseason pick of Washington QB Jake Locker did not work out so well. As for my other contenders, Ohio State QB Terelle Pryor has done everything expected of him, while West Virginia RB Noel Devine has been good, but not great so far. Alabama RB Mark Ingram has battle injuries this season, and Houston QB Case Kessum is now out for the season due to injury. My darkhorse was Florida QB John Brantley, and well, that's just not going to happen this year, as Brantley has struggled this year. The current favorites right now are Pryor and Michigan QB Denard Robinson, who in spite of his poor performance last week against Michigan State, has put together one heck of a season thus far. Boise State QB Kellen Moore is getting some consideration, as are the Oregon Ducks duo of RB Lamichael James and QB Darron Thomas. Other than Robinson, Auburn QB Cam Newton may be the most valuable player to his team so far this season. Also, QBs Ryan Mallet of Arkansas, Andrew Luck of Stanford, and Nebraska's dual threat Taylor Martinez all could win the trophy with a monster second half. Ultimately, it's Robinson's to lose at this point, as long as he doesn't have another game like last week's. If not Robinson, look for Pryor or James to take home the Heisman.

Well, thanks for reading. Hopefully the second half of the College Football season will be as interesting as the first, and hopefully the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets will run the table from here on out. Remember, if you have any thoughts about this or other posts, or ideas for future posts, than let us know them either by leaving a comment or by sending me an e-mail at kthec2001@gmail.com.