The Canon Review 2010 NFL Preview

Tomorrow marks the start of another NFL season. Which more than likely means that Sundays in the near future will not be full of activity at The Canon Review. But I digress. The 2010 NFL season may be the last NFL season you will ever see, or at least the last season you see with a 16 game schedule. With the CBA expiring next year and the players union and the owners at odds with each other, it's possible that the 2011 season may be delayed. Also, NFL Commissioner Roger Goddell is making a hard push for an 18 game schedule, and so far during his career, whatever Goddell wants, Goddell gets. So this more than likely be the last season of the NFL as you know it. So the question is, who's going to win the Super Bowl? For that and more, read on.

Season Predictions: (* = Wild Card)

AFC East:
1. New England Patriots
2. Miami Dolphins*
3. New York Jets
4. Buffalo Bills

Everybody seems to be high on the Jets' chances, but if you recall, the Patriots actually won this division last year. Tom Brady is now two years removed from his reconstructive knee surgery, and he should be more mobile than he was last year. Wes Welker is coming off a major knee injury himself, but Brady still has a lot of quality targets to throw to such as WRs Randy Moss and Julian Edelmen. Defensively, the secondary is a little young and the defensive line will miss Ty Warren, who will miss the 2010 season due to injury. However, Brandon Spikes will team up with Jerod Mayo to give the Patriots two top inside linebackers, and Bill Belicheck is still among the best defensive coaches in the game, so he should have the Patriots defense ready to play. The Dolphins have a superior running game led by RBs Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams, and WR Brandon Marshall gives emerging QB Chad Henne an elite receiver to throw to. Defensively, the Dolphins will need someone, whether it is rookie DE Jerrid Odrick or OLB Cameron Wake or somebody else to provide a pass rush, but the Dolphins did sign this year's top defensive free agent in ILB Carlos Dansby. I look for Marshall and Dansby to help lead the Dolphins to a wild-card spot. The Jets will be stout on defense, led by All-pro CB Darrelle Revis, but I don't like their offense very much. For all the hype around him, QB Mark Sanchez did not play that well last year, and he will be without his top receiver Santonio Holmes for the first four games of the season. Also, it remains to be seen if RB Shonn Greene can handle the load of being the team's number one running back. The Bills have three good running backs in rookie C.J. Spiller, Marshawn Lynch, and Fred Jackson. The problem is, the Bills forgot to build a decent offensive line to block for them, and their quarterback situation is still a mess. Defensively, the Bills have some decent players, but rushing the quarterback will be a problem. The Bills will contend for the top pick in the 2011 NFL Draft.

AFC North
1. Baltimore Ravens
2. Pittsburgh Steelers*
3. Cincinnati Bengals
4. Cleveland Browns

The Baltimore Ravens have a loaded squad this year. With the addition of Anquan Boldin, the Ravens have finally added an elite receiver to team up with WR Derrick Mason. Added to that is a strong running game led by all-purpose threat Ray Rice and a solid offensive line. If QB Joe Flacco continues his improvement, the Ravens may very well be the team to beat in 2010. The Steelers will be without star QB Ben Roethlisberger for the first four games of the season, but their strong defense gets back S Troy Polamalu and DE Aaron Smith back from injury, so the Steelers should be able to hold the fort until Roethlisberger gets back. I expect the Steelers to continue to be one of the toughest teams to play in the NFL. The Bengals won the division last year, and added big-name WR Terrell Owens. But Owens and WR Chad Ochocinco has clearly lost a step, and the Bengals were huge beneficiaries of a light schedule last year, so even though they have a talented defense led by LB Ray Maualuga, expect the Bengals to take a step back this year. The Browns, quite frankly, do not have enough talent to be a threat in the AFC North, although RB Jerome Harrison could become one of the top backs in the NFL running behind a talented offensive line.

AFC South
1. Indianapolis Colts
2. Tennessee Titans
3. Jacksonville Jaguars
4. Houston Texans

Another season with Peyton Manning as the Indianapolis quarterback should, and will mean another division title for the Colts. Yes, they are a little beat up along the offensive line, but Manning and co. should keep on trucking, and the talented defense gets back S Bob Sanders from injury, although it remains to be seen just how long Sanders will remain healthy. The Titans ended the season on an 8-2 run, and RB Chris Johnson ran for over 2,000 yards last season. If I felt better about the Titans' defense, I would have picked them to grab a wild card spot, but I feel that there are too many holes, particularly in the front seven. The Jaguars always play hard and have talented players, such as RB Maurice Jones-Drew and CB Rashean Mathis on both sides of the ball, but the Jags have got to find some way to rush the quarterback. Maybe free agent DE Aaron Kampman will give the team a boost in that area. There are some people that feel that this might be the Texans' year to make their first appearance in the postseason, and QB Matt Schaub and WR Andre Johnson are two big reasons why, as both are superb players. However, as I look at their defense, I wonder just how they expect to stop anybody, especially with OLB Brian Cushing missing the first four games due to suspension. Expect the Texans to be on the wrong end of a lot of high-scoring shootouts.

AFC West
1. San Diego Chargers
2. Denver Broncos
3. Oakland Raiders
4. Kansas City Chiefs

The Chargers are probably the only halfway-decent team in this division. They have a great passing game led by QB Philip Rivers, and rookie RB Ryan Mathews should provide a boost to the running game. Defensively, they have a few issues, but less issues than any other team in this division. Denver will definitely miss OLB Elvis Dumerveil as he misses the season due to injury, and they failed to replace WR Brandon Marshall adequately, so unless journeymen WRs Jabar Gaffney and Brandon Lloyd suddenly improve, Denver could struggle to score some points. On defense, their secondary is talented but older than dirt, and the Broncos' front seven is a little light on talent. The Raiders are picked by some experts to be a surprise team this year, and QB Jason Campbell is a definite improvement over JaMarcus Russell. But Campbell has no one to throw to except for TE Zach Miller. Defensively, CB Nnamdi Asomugha is a world-class player, and rookie LB Ronaldo McLain will help this defense, although it's still just an average group at best. The Chiefs have a strong running attack with RBs Thomas Jones and Jamaal Charles, but I still have my doubts about QB Matt Cassel and head coach Todd Haley, and their defense, even with star rookie S Eric Berry, still looks as if it's going to suck.

NFC East
1. Dallas Cowboys
2. New York Giants
3. Washington Redskins
4. Philadelphia Eagles

Originally, I had the Cowboys as my NFC representative for the Super Bowl, but after taking a closer look at their roster, I had to adjust my choice. Nevertheless, the defending division champs should be strong again this year, as QB Tony Romo has a whole bunch of weapons in his arsenal, and if the offensive line holds up, Romo could have another big year. Defensively, OLB DeMarcus Ware is one of the best players in the game, and OLB Anthony Spencer may be the breakout star of 2010. The Giants have a solid offense led by QB Eli Manning and WR Steve Smith, but their offensive line has seemingly aged ten years over the last year. The Giants' defense fell apart last year, and other than DE Justin Tuck, their defense lacks impact players. The Redskins made a big splash in hiring coach Mike Shanahan and trading for QB Donovan McNabb, and all that will get this mediocre squad is an 8-8 finish. The Eagles traded McNabb and are relying on Kevin Kolb to carry the load, but I have my doubts about whether he can or not. It would help if their offensive and defensive lines were a little more talented.

NFC North
1. Green Bay Packers
2. Minnesota Vikings*
3. Chicago Bears
4. Detriot Lions

The Packers are loaded on offense, as QB Aaron Rodgers has a lot of talented players such as WRs Greg Jennings and Donald Driver and TE JerMichael Finley to spread the ball around to. Defensively, the team has had another year to adjust to coordinator Dom Capers' 3-4 scheme, and NT B.J. Raji and OLB Clay Matthews are two talented players who should improve in their second year in the league. The Vikings have QB Brett Favre back for another season, but health issues have left his receiving corps mighty thin, but the Vikings are still a top defensive team and Favre has elite RB Adrian Peterson behind him to carry the offensive load. The Bears, in my mind, could go either way. On one hand, the defense has added DE Julius Peppers and gets ILB Brian Urlacher back from injury. On the other hand, the defense was awful last year and the offense, particularly QB Jay Cutler, was inconsistent at best. If new offensive coordinator Mike Martz can help Cutler harness his talent, and a wideout on the Bears steps up, they could be a strong team. I just don't see it though. The Lions have some talented players in WR Calvin Johnson and DT Ndamukong Suh, and are headed in the right direction, but they are probably a year away from becoming a contender.

NFC South
1. Atlanta Falcons
2. New Orleans Saints*
3. Carolina Panthers
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Falcons finished 9-7 last year despite the injuries of a lot of key players. Now, those players, such as RB Michael Turner, are back, and CB Dunta Robinson and rookie OLB Sean Witherspoon should help the defense. If DE John Abraham can return to his 2008 form, the Falcons could have a top defense to go with a high powered offense led by QB Matt Ryan and WR Roddy White. The Saints are looking to repeat as Super Bowl champions, but their defense has a few holes in it and will miss veteran S Darren Sharper as he recovers from injury. Their offense, led by QB Drew Brees, should be as potent as last year, and the Saints may not repeat as champs, but they will be in the postseason. The Panthers lost DE Julius Peppers to free agency and are breaking in a new quarterback in Matt Moore. The youngest team in the NFL has a solid running game with backs DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart, but the team en masse might be too inexperienced to compete this year. The Buccaneers are still in rebuilding mode, and while the recent trend in the NFC South is for last year's worst team to finish first the next year, the Bucs simply don't have the team to perform that feat this year.

NFC West
1. Arizona Cardinals
2. San Francisco 49ers
3. St. Louis Rams
4. Seattle Seahawks

This division could very well feature four of the worst ten teams in the NFL. Arizona has issues at QB now that Kurt Warner has retired and the team waived what was to be his replacement in Matt Leinart. San Francisco also has issues at quarterback, as Alex Smith has yet to prove he can be at least an average quarterback. The Rams have RB Steven Jackson and some decent young players, but they're still a year away. The Seahawks are blowing up the team, and don't expect Pete Carroll's bunch to compete this year. Ultimately, I went with Arizona because they have the best coach in the division in Ken Whisenhunt, the best player in Larry Fitzgerald, and enough talented players on both sides of the ball so that new QB Derek Anderson won't have to carry the whole load. Don't be surprised if the team that wins this division finishes with a losing record, as that's how bad the NFC West is this year.

AFC Championship Game: Ravens over Colts
NFC Championship Game: Packers over Falcons
Super Bowl: Ravens over Packers

In the AFC, I look for a playoff rematch, as the Ravens and Colts look to be the two best teams in the conferences. This time, the Ravens will be the victor, as their offseason improvements to the offense will give them the edge, provided that S Ed Reed is back and healthy by then, which I'm saying he will be. In the NFC, the Falcons are hungry and talented enough to make a Super Bowl run, but the Packers seem to have the most talented team in the conference and perhaps the league, and QB Aaron Rodgers will cement his status as one of the NFL's elite quarterbacks this year. In the Super Bowl, look for the Ravens, with their fearsome defense and potent offense, to win it all in Dallas.

NFL MVP:
1. QB Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers
2. QB Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts
3. QB Tom Brady, New England Patriots
Dark Horse: QB Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons


It's a quarterback's league these days, as seven of the past nine years have seen a quarterback take the MVP award. Peyton Manning has four of them himself, and is a perennial contender for the award. Tom Brady also is a former MVP winner who still looks as if he's in the prime of his career. It would also be a mistake to discount the New Orelans Saints' QB Drew Brees, and if the Falcons have a big year, Matt Ryan might get some MVP votes his way. But, as I stated before, I think Rodgers will become an elite quarterback this year, so much so that he will be this year's most valuable player.

NFL Most Outstanding Offensive Player
1. Adrian Peterson, RB, Minnesota Vikings
2. Aaron Rodgers
3. Chris Johnson, RB, Tennessee Titans
Dark Horse: Larry Fitzgerald, WR, Arizona Cardinals

Yes, there is a difference between the MVP and the Most Outstanding Offensive Player, after all, Johnson was last year's recipient, and looks to be a favorite this year. All of the quarterbacks mentioned as MVP candidates will be contenders for this award as well, and Larry Fitzgerald may have to prove that he's the best receiver in football in order to keep the Cardinals afloat. However, I'm going to go with Peterson. Last year, Peterson took a back seat to Brett Favre, but with the injuries to the Vikings' receiving corps and Favre's health in question, the Vikings will have to turn to Peterson to carry the load, and Adrian Peterson has proven in the past that he's more than capable. Don't be surprised if Peterson turns in a 1,800 yard plus season with over 15 touchdowns.

NFL Most Outstanding Defensive Player
1. DeMarcus Ware, OLB, Dallas Cowboys
2.Troy Polamalu, S, Pittsburgh Steelers
3. Patrick Willis, ILB, San Francisco 49ers
Dark Horse: Darrelle Revis, CB, New York Jets

Willis is a tackling machine who gets lost in the shuffle because he plays for a poor team. But make no mistake, he's a star. Revis and Polamalu are impact players in the defensive backfield for their respective teams. Revis is able to lock up any receiver, even stars like the Patriots' Randy Moss, while Polamalu does a little bit of everything for the Steelers. Ware is the best pass rusher in the game, with a 20-sack season already on the resume. It wouldn't surprise me if he had another 20 sack season this year.

NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year
1. Ryan Matthews, RB, San Diego Chargers
2. Jahvid Best, RB, Detroit Lions
3. Sam Bradford, QB, St. Louis Rams
Dark Horse: Dez Bryant, WR, Dallas Cowboys

Matthews has been promised 250 carries by San Diego coach Norv Turner, and Matthews has the skill to make those carries go for a lot of yardage. Don't be surprised if Matthews puts up 1,200 yards this season. Best is a speedy back who should get plenty of opportunities in Detroit, while Bradford is a talented quarterback who might take a beating in St. Louis, but should put up at least a decent season. Bryant is a talented wideout who may replace the underachieving Roy Williams in the lineup early in the season, as he's too much of an impact player to keep on the bench for long.

NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year
1. Ndamukong Suh, DT, Detroit Lions
2. Eric Berry, S, Kansas City Chiefs
3. Rolando McClain, ILB, Oakland Raiders
Dark Horse: Derrick Morgan, DE, Tennessee Titans

Suh might be the best defensive tackle prospect to enter the league since Warren Sapp entered in 1995. He's big, bad, quick, and should make an immediate impact on the Lions' defense. Berry is a defensive playmaker who could become the next Troy Polamalu, without all of the hair. McClain was the leader of last year's Alabama Crimson Tide defense, who won the national title, and steps right into the Raiders lineup from day one. Morgan has been nicked up with injuries, but the All-American from Georgia Tech is one of the quickest linemen in the league, and if he's able to get on the field and learn the Titans' scheme, he could make a huge impact right away.

Coach Most Likely to lose his Job
1. John Fox, Panthers
2. Lovie Smith, Bears
3. Jack Del Rio, Jaguars
Dark Horse: Andy Reid, Eagles


For whatever reason, Fox and the Panthers seem to be at an impasse, as Fox is in the last year of his contract and the Panthers have shown little interest in bringing him back next year. Unless the Panthers have a huge year this season, I expect Fox to leave one way or another, and he'll probably find a new coaching job not long after leaving Carolina. Smith has led the Bears to a Super Bowl in 2006, but the Bears have done little since then and patience is running thin. Del Rio will begin his eighth season as the Jaguars' head coach, but interest in the team is at an all-time low, and the Jaguars have had losing seasons the last two years, so a third one could mean curtains for Del Rio. The Eagles made a huge change by trading Donovan McNabb, and they may be looking to make another change if they have a disappointing year. Patience is running thin amongst the Eagles' fan base with Andy Reid, and if the Eagles struggle early, the calls for his head could be defining in Philadelphia.

Well, that's the 2010 Canon Review Football Preview. Hopefully I'll get a few things right. If you have any thoughts about the upcoming NFL season, or want to submit an idea for a future review, than feel free to do so either by leaving a comment or by sending me an e-mail at KtheC2001@gmail.com.

Your Canon Review 2010 College Football Preview Extravaganza

Today marks the start of the 2010 College Football season. Normally, I'm pretty pumped about the start of a new season, but this year it seems like the college football season has sneaked up on me for whatever reason, so I'm not quite as excited as usual. Heck, it almost seems as if the NBA Finals just ended last week. I guess that time really does fly. Anyway, with the start of the college football season at hand, I decided to make a few predictions and see if any of them will hold up at the end of the season. Below are my picks for each conference champion, my prediction for the National Championship and winner, and my Heisman Trophy prediction. Let's get this started, shall we?

ACC: The good news is that the ACC seems to have more quality teams this year than in recent years, but don't expect any team from the conference to compete for a National Title. In the Atlantic division. Clemson has a talented defense but must replace All-American running back C.J. Spiller. Florida State returns All-ACC Quarterback Christian Ponder, but it might take more than a year to rebuild the defense, which was just awful last year. I expect Boston College to represent the Atlantic division in the ACC Title Game. RB Montez Harris is a premier playmaker, and an already tough defense gets a big boost from All-American LB Mark Herzlich's return from his bout with cancer. In the Coastal division, there are four teams that have a legitimate shot at winning the conference. Defending champ Georgia Tech returns playmaking QB Josh Nesbitt, but may have lost too many quality players to repeat this year. Miami has talent all over the field, but it remains to be seen if they can show consistency throughout the season. North Carolina may have the most talented team in the conference, but an offseason full of off-the-field issues may keep some of that talent, including star DT Marvin Austin and WR Greg Little, off the field. Virginia Tech is my pick not only to win the Coastal Division, but to also win the conference as a whole. Offensively, they have two running backs in Ryan Williams and Darren Evans that have 1,000 yard seasons in their college career, while Tyrod Taylor is a playmaker at quarterback. Defensively, they only return four starters, but head coach Frank Beamer and Defensive Coordinator Bud Foster are two of the best and the business, and they should be able to build yet another strong defense in Blacksburg.

Big East: There are four teams with a legitimate shot at taking home the crown this year, but don't expect the National Champion to come from this conference. Defending champion Cincinnati has a new head coach and lost a lot of players from last year's team, but QB Zach Collars should be one of the top quarterbacks in the nation. This may be Connecticut's best chance at winning a Big East crown, as they have a lot of returning starters coming back and RB Jordan Todman is one of the best in the nation. Even though Pitt lost to Utah tonight, they are too talented to dismiss from contention at this point, and RB Dion Lewis is a bonafide Heisman candidate. My pick, however, is West Virginia. Yes, they have questions at quarterback, but with receivers Jock Sanders and hotshot freshman Ivan McCartney, as well as Heisman candidate RB Noel Devine, the offense should be potent enough to complement a solid defense and bring coach Bill Stewart his first conference title.


Big Ten: Every team in the conference outside of Minnesota should have a decent chance at making a bowl game this year, but realistically there are only three teams with a legitimate shot at winning the conference this year. Ohio State is being thought of as a National Championship contender, and with good reason, as QB Terrelle Pryor leads a talented offense that complements their always stout defense. However, Ohio State has a tough schedule, playing Miami next week and other Big Ten powerhouses Iowa and Wisconsin on the road. Iowa, who wrapped up a stellar season last year with a win in the Orange Bowl, brings back a tough defense led by All-American DE Adrian Clayborn, but QB Ricky Stanzi must be more consistent this year. Wisconsin has a potential All-American in RB John Clay and a solid defense led by S Jay Valvi and LB Chris Borland, which I feel will be enough to get the Badgers the Big Ten title.

Big Twelve: Nebraska will win the Big 12 North, of this I am sure. Even though they lost DT Ndamukong Suh and their quarterback situation is questionable at best, the talent on the defensive side of the ball alone should be enough for Nebraska to steamroll over the other Big 12 North teams, escepially since Missouri recently dismissed RB Derrick Washington from their team. In the Big 12 South, it should once again be a battle between Texas and Oklahoma, although Texas A&M QB Jerrod Johnson may be good enough to upset a few of the big boys of the Big 12. Oklahoma has a strong defensive line, and with playmakers such as RB Demarco Murray and WR Ryan Broyles, they will be able to put up points. Texas lost a large amount of players, but as the saying goes, they don't rebuild, they reload. If QB Garrett Gilbert lives up to the hype, and I believe he will, than Texas will repeat as Big 12 champions.


Pac-Ten: The most wide open of the Power conferences this year, as there are six teams with a good shot at taking the title home. Defending champ Oregon has had a rough offseason, but with RB LaMichael James and DE Kenny Rowe leading a veteran team, the Ducks still must be taken seriously. USC still has oodles of talent on both sides of the ball, but a lack of depth could submarine Lane Kiffin's first season as head coach of the Trojans. Arizona has eight returning starters on offense, including QB Nick Foles, but in order to win the Wildcats must overcome an inexperienced defense. Stanford is led by QB Andrew Luck and coach Jim Harbaugh, two men many expect will be in the NFL sooner rather than later, but like Arizona, must become better on defense. Oregon State has two potential All-Americans in WR James Rodgers and RB Jacquizz Rodgers, and yes they are both brothers. If QB Ryan Katz develops quickly and if Oregon State can survive a tough early schedule, than the Beavers have a good shot. My pick, however, is Washington. QB Jake Locker is the best player in the conference and may be the top pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, and he is surronded by top notch skill players on offense. They have to get better defensively, but in a wide-open race, Locker and company will put up enough points and restore the Washington program to its previous heights.

SEC: In the West division, defending National Champion Alabama has to be the choice here. Yes Arkansas has Heisman candidate QB Ryan Mallett, and Auburn and LSU are tough teams as well. But the Crimson Tide are just too talented, with a core led by Heisman winner RB Mark Ingram and LB Donta Hightower. In the East, some are picking South Carolina as a potential dark horse, and they did look good tonight against Southern Miss. But I have a hard time believing that QB Stephen Garcia can lead the Gamecocks to glory, and coach Steve Spurrier may feel the same way. That basically leaves Florida and Georgia. While Georgia WR A.J. Green is a beast, and the offensive line is among the best in the nation, the Bulldogs may have a hard time adjusting to the new 3-4 scheme on defense. Plus, it would help if the Bulldogs didn't have a player arrested every week. That leaves Florida, who lost QB/Savior Tim Tebow and a host of other talented players, but coach Urban Meyer has a whole bunch of talented players willing to show what they can do, and they should do well enough to get to the SEC Championship Game. However, nobody's going to beat out Alabama this year, barring major injuries or suspensions, of course.


Other Confrences: Boise State and TCU are preseason top-10 teams who some feel have a shot at the National Championship. Therefore, it stands to reason that they are my picks to win the Wac and Mountain West conferences respectively. However, TCU will face a challenge from Utah and BYU on the way. In the MAC, Temple, led by sophomore sensation RB Bernard Prince, should be able to win that conference. Houston has the best team and the best player (QB Case Kessum), so they should be able to win the conference. Although, SMU and UCF may have something to say about that. In the Sun Belt, Middle Tennessee St., led by dual-threat QB Dwight Dasher, should win easily if Dasher isn't suspended due to off-field issues. If he misses too many games, look for Troy to become the favorite.

National Championship Game: Boise State comes in to the season ranked number 3, and many people believe that if they get past Virginia Tech on Monday Night, they have a wide open path to the National Championship game provided that two or more major conference teams do not finished undefeated. Well, I'm going to say that the Broncos beat Virginia Tech and everybody else in their path, and will play for all the marbles. But the dream will end there, as Alabama becomes the first repeat national champion since the 1994-95 Nebraska Cornhuskers.


Heisman Trophy: Well, if my PAC-10 prediction comes true, than Washington QB Jake Locker will have to put together a Heisman worthy season. Of course, you can't count out last year's winner, Alabama RB Mark Ingram. West Virginia RB Noel Devine and Pittsburgh RB Dion Lewis also could easily put together huge seasons, and don't be surprised if Oklahoma RB Demarco Murray, Boise State QB Kellen Moore, and Houston QB Case Kessum makes a run at the trophy as well. The preseason favorite seems to be Ohio State QB Terrelle Pryor, but I'll go slightly against the grain and select Jake Locker as the 2010 Heisman Trophy winner. The top 5 contenders are:


1. Locker
2. Pryor
3. Devine
4. Kessum
5. Ingram
Dark Horse: Florida QB John Brantley.

Well, that was a little longer than I expected, but what can you do? Over the next few months, it will be fun to see whether I hit any of my predictions, or the 2010 College Football season proceeds to make me look like a fool. Well, thanks for reading, and 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.

The Canon Review 2010 MLB Preview

Normally, The Canon Review does not do previews. After all, it goes against the whole concept of The Canon Review title. However, as I have said before, I'll write about any topic requested by the readers of The Canon Review, and reader Ben W. wanted me to preview the 2010 MLB season, which starts tonight, so preview it I shall. So let's just dive right in, shall we?

AL East (*=Wild Card)
1. New York Yankees
2. Tampa Bay Rays*
3. Boston Red Sox
4. Baltimore Orioles
5. Toronto Blue Jays


I have the Yankees first, although this is going to be a very tough division, as the Yankees, Rays, and Red Sox are arguably three of the top five teams in baseball. The Yankees have a great lineup led by 1B Mark Teixeira, SS Derek Jeter, and 3B Alex Rodriguez. However, it remains to be seen if new CF Curtis Granderson and new DH Nick Johnson can effectively replace the production of former Yankees Johnny Damon and Hideki Matsui. The Yankees pitching should be better with the addition of Javier Vazquez, but he wasn't very effective as a Yankee in 2004, so time will tell. The Rays have a great young lineup, but must get a better year out of CF B.J. Upton. It also remains to be seen if SS Jason Bartlett and RF/2B/Util Ben Zobrist can come close to matching their surprising production from 2009 (My take, Zobrist should be fine, but Bartlett will slip. Pitching wise, the Rays have a chance to be as good as anyone, especially if young pitchers David Price and Wade Davis develop quickly. Plus, with the addition of Rafael Soriano, the Rays bullpen should be more settled than last year. I have the Rays making the playoffs as this year's Wild Card Team.

The Red Sox are a very good team, but I do have questions about their offense, as 2B Dustin Pedroia 1B Kevin Youkilis, and C Victor Martinez are all very good, but the rest of their lineup is a question mark. The Red Sox emphasized defense over offense in the offseason, and while CF Mike Cameron, 3B Adrian Beltre, and SS Marco Scutaro have good gloves, it remains to be seen if their offense will be up to snuff. The Red Sox should have good pitching with Josh Beckett, Jon Lester, and new acquistion John Lackey making for a top-notch starting rotation, but ultimately, I think the Rays and Yankees will be better. If the Red Sox were in any other division, they would be the favorites to win it, but in a stacked division, somebody's got to finish third, and the Red Sox are my choice for that unfortunate distinction. As for the other teams, the Orioles seem to have a plan in place, and good young players, but they are at least a year or two away from contending. The Blue Jays, meanwhile, are starting over, and this will be a rough year, even with star hitters like2B Aaron Hill and RF Adam Lind.

AL Central
1. Minnesota Twins
2. Chicago White Sox
3. Detroit Tigers
4. Cleveland Indians
5. Kansas City Royals

This should be a two-team battle throughout the season. The Twins have the better lineup, led by 2009 MVP C Joe Mauer, 1B Justin Morneau, DH Jason Kubel, and RF Michael Cuddyer, all of which have the potential for 30 HR and 100 RBI seasons. However, their pitching is a question mark, as Scott Baker is the only starter that I would consider above average. If former phenom Fransisco Liriano can regain his pre-injury form, than the Twins will be much better off. Meanwhile, All-Star closer Joe Nathan will miss 2010 for the Twins, although they do have enough talent in their bullpen, so while Nathan will be missed, the Twins should find someone that will be a decent closer (Jon Rauch is the current favorite for that role). The White Sox should have a heck of a rotation, with Jake Peavy, Mark Buehrle, Gavin Floyd, and John Danks all capable of being aces on other teams' staffs. However, their lineup is a bit of a mess. If LF Carlos Quentin can come back from injury, and CF Alexis Rios can start giving a damn again, than the White Sox will have enough power to compete. If not, expect a lot of low scoring games at The Cell this year.

The Tigers nearly won the division last year, but even with star pitcher Justin Verlander and star 1B Miguel Cabrera, there are just too many question marks for me to pick them to win the division. However, the AL Central is pretty weak, so the Tigers could get lucky. I would expect a .500 season though from the Tigers. The Indians are in the same boat as the Tigers, as they have a few good players such as CF Grady Sizemore and RF Shin-Soo Choo, but they also have a lot of questions, particularly with their pitching staff. The Royals, even with 2009 Cy Young Winner Zack Greinke and top closer Joakim Soria, should continue to suck, unless about eight guys have career seasons, the Royals will likely lose at least 95 games. Too bad, because Greinke really is a top-notch talent.

AL West
1. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
2. Texas Rangers
3. Seattle Mariners
4. Oakland Athletics

Other than the ridiculously stacked AL East, this might be the most competitive division in baseball, as you can make a case for all four teams to win the division. The Angels, winners of the division for the last three years, and five of the last six, suffered major losses with the departure of free agents 3B Chone Figgins and SP John Lackey. However, the Angles should have the deepest rotation in the division, especially if Ervin Santana bounces back, and have a powerful lineup led by 1B Kendry Morales, CF Torii Hunter, and RF Bobby Abreu. Plus, they added Hideki Matsui from the Yankees to be their new DH, and if 2B Howie Kendrick and 3B Brandon Wood can finally live up to their immense potential, than the Angels could have a very potent offense. The Rangers can hit the ball, and rookie CF Julio Borbon should be an excellent leadoff man for the team, but while the Rangers have pitching talent, most of it is either unproven (Derek Holland, Matt Harrison) or a health rish (Rich Harden). Watch out for prospect Neftali Feliz, who has a 100-mph fastball and should be a key contributor to the Rangers this season, either out of the bullpen or in the rotation. Ultimately, I chose the Angels over the Rangers because while the Rangers have talent, I trust the Angels' players to perform a bit more than I do the Rangers.

The Mariners are a chic pick to win the division this year, according to a lot of people that follow baseball. However, I don't see it. While the Mariners should have great pitching, led by Felix Hernandez and Cliff Lee, two of the top 10 starting pitchers in baseball, the rest of the rotation is a bit of a question mark, and while closer David Aardsma had a great season last year, it remains to be seen if he can do it again. Meanwhile, the Mariners have emphasized defense over offense the past two seasons, and while it did lead the team to a surprising 85 win season last year, it also has left the lineup a bit lacking in power. While Ichiro Suzuki is a top notch leadoff hitter who should bat around .325 this season, the Mariners may not have anyone to drive him, unless they believe that 1B Casey Kotchman will finally develop into a power hitter, that LF Milton Bradley will stay healthy and happy, and that DHs Ken Griffey Jr and Mike Sweeney can turn back the clock five years or so. The Mariners were an 85 win team last year, and even with the addition of Lee, I don't see them winning more than that this year. As for the Athletics, if they get enough hitting, then they might be able to compete. However, they are relying on a lot of question marks in the lineup, like 1B Daric Barton and RF Ryan Sweeney, who have yet to develop the way people thought they should some 3 or 4 years ago. The pitching should be good, especially if Ben Sheets is healthy and Justin Duchscherer is over his physical and mental problems, but the A's probably won't have enough offense to compete.

NL East
1. Philadelphia Phillies
2. Atlanta Braves*
3. New York Mets
4. Florida Marlins
5. Washington Nationals


The Phillies won the World Series in 2008 and went back to the World Series last year, and in the offseason added Roy Halladay, arguably the best pitcher in baseball. Despite trading Cliff Lee, the Phillies are the odds-on favorite to represent the NL in the World Series again. Offensively, the Phillies have oodles of power, led by 2B Chase Utley, 1B Ryan Howard, and RF Jayson Werth. Add to that expected bounce-back seasons from SS Jimmy Rollins and SP Cole Hamels, and the Phillies are loaded. The Braves may have the best rotation in the league, led by young gun Tommy Hanson, Jair Jurrjens, and veteran Tim Hudson, who has looked sharp in spring after recovering from elbow surgery. Offensively, the Braves are led by C Brian McCann, and are hoping from a bounce-back season from 3B Chipper Jones. However, the Braves player everybody is excited about is rookie RF Jason Heyward, who is the most hyped prospect since Alex Rodriguez and is only being compared to guys like Hank Aaron. While expectations may be out of control, it looks as if Heyward, only 20, will at least be a solid right fielder this year, and should only get better in the next few years. I expect a .270 BA and 20+ HR from Heyward this year, which should be enough to help the Braves make the playoffs as a Wild Card team.

The Mets are a mess from the ground up, but still have some talented players in 3B David Wright, SP Johan Santana, and new LF Jason Bay. The Mets battled a lot of injury problems last year, and with CF Carlos Beltran and SS Jose Reyes already on the Disabled List, 2010 may be more of the same. If the Mets are healthy and have their heads on straight, they have enough talent to win 90 games. However, I wouldn't expect the Mets to be any better than a .500 team this year. The Marlins have and MVP Candidate in SS Hanley Ramirez, and two potential aces in Josh Johnson and Ricky Nolasco, but ultimately do not have enough talent to hang with the Phillies and Braves. They should be good, however, and if they get a few breaks, the Marlins could be a team to watch for. The Nationals have two star hitters in 1B Adam Dunn and 3B Ryan Zimmerman, but ultimately are not a very good team. The most interesting thing about the Nationals will be when and if phenom SP Stephen Strasburg is called up to the majors. Expect him up by mid-May, as Strasburg is just too good for the Nats to keep in the minors.

NL Central
1. St. Louis Cardinals
2. Milwaukee Brewers
3. Chicago Cubs
4. Cincinnati Reds
5. Houston Astros
6. Pittsburgh Pirates

Other than the Cardinals, I really don't like the chances of any team in this division. The Cardinals have the top hitter in the game in 1B Albert Pujols and the two best pitchers in the division in Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright. Picking the Cardinals to win this division is the easiest choice in this baseball preview, even if some people believe the Brewers or Reds might win. The Brewers should be a decent team, as 1B Prince Fielder and LF Ryan Braun are top-notch hitters, and the staff, led by Yovani Gallardo, should at least be decent, if not as good as the Cardinals and Cubs. Speaking of Chicago, if Carlos Zambrano has his head on straight, and if Ted Lilly recovers from injury, the Cubs have the makings of a very good pitching staff. Their offense might be a different story, as too many players are either a little old (1B Derrek Lee), coming off of bad seasons (C Geovany Soto), or both (LF Alfonso Soriano). The Cubs look like a mediocre team to me.

Some people are high on the Reds' chances this year, but I am not one of them. Their pitching is promising, but I'd like it a little more if Edison Volquez wasn't out for the season. Their hitting could be decent, provided that RF Jay Bruce recovers from an off season and 1B Joey Votto is a successful as he was last year. The Astros are poorly built team, although they have a few good players such as RF Hunter Pence, 1B Lance Berkman, and starting pitchers Roy Oswalt and Wandy Rodriguez. Unfortunately, there's not a lot of help around them, and Berkman's going to start the season on the DL. The Pirates have had 17 straight losing seasons, and there is no reason to believe that this year won't be number 18. If things go well, the Pirates might have a winning season in 2011, but they are too inexperience to make any noise this year.

NL West
1. Colorado Rockies
2. Los Angeles Dodgers
3. Arizona Diamondbacks
4. San Francisco Giants
5. San Diego Padres

This division could become a four way battle between the Rockies, Dodgers, Diamondbacks, and Giants. Ultimately, I picked the Rockies because they have the least weaknesses of any team in this division. Their pitching staff, led by ace Ubaldo Jimenez, should be very good, especially if starter Jeff Francis and closer Huston Street can come back from injuries suffered during spring training. Their offense is good, led by SS Troy Tulowitzki and potential superstar CF Carlos Gonzalez. The Dodgers still have a solid lineup, led by their outfield of Manny Ramirez, Matt Kemp, and Andre Ethier. However, their rotation is a mess after Clayton Kershaw and Chad Billingsley, and both of them have questions about their durability. At least they have a top closer in Johnathan Broxton, and if they find a pitcher or two to go with Kershaw and Billingsley, and if 1B James Loney can finally hit for power or C Russell Martin plays like he did in 2007 and 2008 instead of the way he played last year, the Dodgers could make the postseason for the third straight year.

There are some people that feel that this is the year the Diamondbacks' young talent finally lives up to their promise, I am not one of them, but I will say that the team has a couple of stars in RF Justin Upton, 3B Mark Reynolds (despite the strikeouts) and SP Dan Haren. Ultimately, it won't be enough this year. The Giants have excellent pitching, led by two-time Cy Young winner Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain, but other than 3BPablo Sandoval, the Giants lack offense, and unless you believe that CF Aaron Rowand, 1B Aubrey Huff, and SS Edgar Renteria will regain their previous form, Don't hold your breath on that happening this year, though. The Padres have some good young players, like SP Mat Latos, LF Kyle Blanks, and SS Everth Cabrera, but are at least a year away from contending. The only suspense surronding the Padres is if and when they trade star 1B Adrian Gonzalez. I would hope they could keep Gonzalez, a San Diego native, but the small-market Padres might not be able to afford a player of his caliber.

Award Predictions:
AL MVP:
1. Joe Mauer, C, Twins
2. Mark Teixeira, 1B, Yankees
3. Kendry Morales, 1B, Angels
Dark Horse: Nelson Cruz, RF, Rangers

Mauer, who recently signed an 8-year, $184 million extension, was last year's MVP, and his excellent fielding and powerful bat make him the favorite to win the award again and become the first catcher to win 2 MVP Awards since Johnny Bench in 1970 and 1972. Both Teixeira and Morales are powerful first basemen in the prime of their careers, and both should be the top RBI men on contending teams. Since MVP voters love RBIs, that should give both Teixeira and Morales an advantage. Keep an eye on Nelson Cruz, a powerful right fielder for the Texas Rangers. If the Rangers make the playoffs, Cruz will be a large reason why, and he also has the ability to hit 40 home runs this season.

NL MVP:
1. Chase Utley, 2B, Phillies
2. Albert Pujols, 1B, Cardinals
3. Ryan Braun, LF, Brewers
Dark Horse: Justin Upton, RF, Diamondbacks

In recent years, both 1B Ryan Howard and SS Jimmy Rollins have won MVP awards for the Phillies. However, many people believe that Utley has been the largest reason for the Phillies' success over the past few years. Other than Albert Pujols, Utley may be the best hitter in the NL, and I think that 2010 will finally be the year Utley gets his own Most Valuable Player Award. Pujols is a three time MVP winner, and at 30, is still in the prime of his career. Braun is one of the best hitters in the game, and has the potential to hit 40-45 home runs this season. Upton might be the most talented player in baseball, and at 22, is just starting to put it all together. The sky's the limit for Upton, and if the Diamondbacks sneak into the playoffs, Upton will be a large reason why.

AL Cy Young Award:
1. Felix Hernandez, SP, Mariners
2. C.C. Sabathia, SP, Yankees
3. Zack Greinke,  SP, Royals
Dark Horse: Brett Anderson, SP, Athletics

Hernandez is an elite pitcher playing his home games in a pitchers park with the game's best defense behind him. Even if the Mariners don't score enough for King Felix, Hernandez has the stuff and should dominate the league in 2010. Sabathia is an ace pitcher playing for the best team in the league, so he should have a high win total to go along with his usual high strikeout total and low ERA. If so, Sabathia could nab his second Cy Young Award. Greinke was the best pitcher in the American League last year, and there's no reason to believe that he won't have an excellent season in 2010. Keep an eye on Anderson, an immensely talented 22-year-old who many experts believe will have a breakout season in 2010.

NL Cy Young
1. Roy Halladay, SP, Phillies
2. Tim Lincecum, SP, Giants
3. Chris Carpenter, SP, Cardinals
Dark Horse: Ubaldo Jimenez, SP, Rockies

Halladay has a lot of factors going for him. For one, he'll be on the best team in the NL instead of a mediocre Blue Jays squad. Also, he'll be pitching in the National League, which is much easier for pitchers. Halladay is likely to win at least 20 games this year, and some feel he could get 25 wins. That might be a little much, but Halladay is my pick for Cy Young Winner. Lincecum has won the last two, so it would be stupid to discount him. As long as he's healthy, Lincecum should be a Cy Young contender for the next decade or so. Carpenter also is a former Cy Young Winner, and pitched well enough to win last year. As long as he's healthy, Carpenter is one of the best pitchers in the game. Jimenez has electric stuff and while Coors Field is still a hitter's park, the effects are not as extreme as they were a decade ago, making it possible for Jimenez to put together a Cy Young caliber season for the Rocks.

AL Rookie of the Year:
1. Wade Davis, SP, Rays
2. Scott Sizemore, 2B, Tigers
3. Brian Matusz, SP, Orioles
Dark Horses: Lou Marson/Carlos Santana, C, Indians

Davis is expected to be the Rays fifth starter for now, but has the stuff and command to be a key starter for Tampa Bay this year. Don't be surprised if Davis wins 15 for the Rays and puts up an ERA around 3.50. Sizemore will start at second base for the Tigers, and has a solid glove and pop in his bat. While fellow rookie CF Austin Jackson may be getting more headlines for the Tigers, Sizemore is considered more ready to excel at the major league level. Matusz is one of the top pitching prospects in the AL, and impressed many in his few starts last year for the Orioles. If the Orioles score enough runs, Matusz could have a very good rookie year. Marson will start at catcher for the Indians, but many people feel that Santana has more potential and is the better hitter of the two. If Marson struggles, look for Santana to be called up from the minors. However, Marson has enough talent to contend for the Rookie of the Year Award himself, so it should be interesting to see what happens in Cleveland.

NL Rookie of the Year:
1. Jason Heyward, RF, Braves
2. Alcides Escobar, SS, Brewers
3. Stephen Strasburg, SP, Nationals
Dark Horse: Pedro Alvarez, 3B/1B, Pirates

Heyward has been talked about in terms usually revered for Chuck Norris (i.e. "Jason Heyward will win Rookie of the Year twice" or "Jason Heyward covers more ground than grass"). In fact, it is widely believed that while the Boogeyman may check under his bed for Chuck Norris, Chuck Norris checks under his bed for Jason Heyward. While Heyward has been incredibly hyped, he should be good enough to deliver on at least some of it, as the Braves have wisely decided to start him in right field this season. Escobar may not be able to cover more ground than grass, but he is a solid player and will be the Brewers' everyday shortstop. Strasburg will start the season in the minors due to financial reasons, but he should be back by May and much like last year's ROY, Chris Coughlin, Strasburg very well could win the award despite spending a month or so in the minors. Alvarez might be the Pirates best hitter other than CF Andrew McCutheon, but his glove needs work and like Strasburg, the Pirates may have kept him in the minors due to financial reasons. There's no doubt that Alvarez can rake, though, and he could be in the Pirates lineup before you know it.

World Series Prediction: Phillies over Yankees in 6

Like last year, these two teams are clearly the class of their respective leagues, although the Red Sox, Rays, Angels, Cardinals and Braves might disagree. But in my mind, at least, we will see a repeat of last year's World Series, only this year the Phillies, led by new acquistion Roy Halladay and new closer Ryan Madson, should have the pitching to shut down the Yankees' bats. Add that to the Phillies' potent offense, and Philadelphia will celebrate their second World Series title in three years. 


Well, that was long, but hopefully it was at least a decent preview for the 2010 season. It should be an exciting season, even if you are a Royals fan, because at least you have Zack Greinke pitching every fifth day. Thanks for reading, and let me know your thoughts on the 2010 MLB season if you any.