Winners, Losers at the Trade Deadline

Winner: Boston Red Sox

Yoenis Cespedes
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When any team trades three pitchers who started a game in the World Series for them the season before, you expect the worst. However, the Red Sox got back great pieces. Yoenis Cespedes is a very good player and is now playing in a pitchers park. He will be an All-Star playing in Fenway Park. His power numbers will surge being able to pull the ball off and over the Green Monster. Not only that, Cespedes is a good defender with a cannon of an arm. Joining Cespedes in the Red Sox outfield is Allen Craig. Craig has struggled this season after being an All-Star last year. However, he has not been fully healthy this year. There is a very good chance Craig returns, either this year or next year, to being a very good hitter. The one thing I wonder about getting Cespedes and Craig is that they are joining an outfield with lots of young players. I think getting rid of Stephen Drew is a smart move. He was stalling the progress of their young players. I think they could have gotten more for Andrew Miller. 

Winner: Oakland Athletics

Jon Lester is a huge pick-up for the Athletics. They have always struggled in October.  He is a big-game pitcher who is having a fantastic season. Jonny Gomes is also a nice pick-up as a platoon player. He hits southpaws very well. You also have to remember that the Athletics also picked up Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel earlier in the month. My one problem with the Lester deal is the man the A's gave up: Yoenis Cespedes. As I already discussed, Cespedes is an All-Star talent. I never though that Cespedes would be out of Oakland so quickly. He is a free agent after next season, so the A's would have had at least until next July before they thought about trading him. The A's also got Sam Fuld from the Twins for Tommy Milone. Fuld was released by the A's earlier in the year, so reacquiring him is interesting. He will most likely platoon with Gomes in left field. The Athletics are in win now mode and you cannot blame them for it. 

Winner: Detroit Tigers

David Price
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I am all in on the Tigers. Their rotation looks dominant, absolutely dominant. 2011 Cy Young and MVP Justin Verlander, 2012 Cy Young Winner David Price, 2013 Cy Young Winner Max Scherzer, 2013 ERA Leader Anibal Sanchez, and Rick Porcello, who is in the middle of a career year. All five guys are top guys on any staff. The one factor I think goes under the radar is that one of those starters will be in the bullpen in the playoffs. I would assume it to be Porcello because he usually goes to pen in the playoffs. This would help the Tigers sketchy bullpen. Remember, they also added Joakim Soria earlier in the month. Even though he has struggled, he should be a good fit by playoff time. 

Winner: Seattle Mariners 

The Mariners did not make any big splashes, but they made key moves to help them down the stretch. They traded for Chris Denorfia, a versatile outfielder, who will be a good fit with them. And then they joined in on the David Price deal, acquiring CF Austin Jackson from Detroit and only giving up Nick Franklin. Jackson has struggled the past two years after three good seasons. Lloyd McClendon was the hitting coach in Detroit before becoming the manager of Seattle before the season. If anyone could help fix Jackson's hitting woes, it would be McClendon. Also, Jackson fills two major needs for Seattle: Right Handed Bat and Center Fielder. He improves the Mariners and makes them a bigger player in the playoff hunt.

Winner: Milwaukee Brewers

Gerardo Parra
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On a day where Lester and Price captured the headlines, the Brewers made an under-the-radar trade that will pay dividends in the playoff race and in the playoffs. They acquired OF Gerardo Parra from Arizona for two minor leaguers, LHP Anthony Banda and OF Mitch Haniger. I would expect Parra to take over Khris Davis' spot in left field or move Ryan Braun back to left (where he played from 2008-12) and put Parra in right. Parra is going to be an impact player for Brewers. He is fantastic defender with a rocket arm and a decent hitter at the plate. Plus, he bats left-handed, which is a surprising key. Scooter Gennett is the only usual starter that bats left handed so Parra gives the Brewers more lineup diversity. Parra will be a key for the Brewers down the stretch.

Loser: Philadelphia Phillies

The Phillies desperately wanted to make a deal by the deadline, but they could not. They have been holding off rebuilding for a while and now that they are trying to, they cannot get anything done. They have a lot of parts that they could have gotten prospects and young players for. These include Marlon Byrd, Cliff Lee, Jimmy Rollins, Cole Hamels, Chase Utley and Ryan Howard. The Phillies needed to make a move and were expected to make a move. The fact they didn't on a day with more then a dozen moves is shocking. They missed out big time.

Loser: Houston Astros

I really don't understand this trade. They traded RHP Jarred Cosart, UTL Enrique "Kike" Hernandez, and OF Austin Wates to Miami for 3B Colin Moran, OF Jake Marisnick, RHP Francis Martes, and a draft pick. Jarred Cosart is a top of the rotation pitcher and could be a team ace for the future. Hernandez was fantastic in Triple A (.337/.380/.508) before being moved up to the big club, where he has been playing well. He may become a important piece on a playoff team. Wates is a speedy outfielder currently in Triple-A that has potential. Those are three interesting players who may have been a part of the Astros future. Moran may be a good player, whilee Marisnick has big potential

Loser: Tampa Bay Rays

Willy Adames
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It is always tough to give away a franchise player, but you can always expect to get a lot in return. The Rays did not get a lot and that makes them losers at the deadline. They got middle infielder Nick Franklin from Seattle and LHP Drew Smyly and minor league SS Willy Adames from Detroit. Franklin hit extremely well in Triple-A last year, but hit .222 with Seattle in 2013 and .128 in 17 games with Seattle this year. He has potential, but he will need to hit to be a major league starter. Smyly is good starting pitcher, maybe a 3 or 4 starter, but no All-Star. The key piece for them is Adames. Adames is an 18-year old shortstop from the Dominican Repblic. He is currently in his second professional season. He played in Rookie ball in 2013, but was playing with the Tigers' Class A franchise this year. Adames is a raw talent and the Rays are clearly high on him. However, they could have definitely gotten at least one more player for Price. The Rays did not get enough for the Price deal to it to be considered at least somewhat successful.

Jury Out: New York Yankees

The Yankees picked up three hitters before the deadline: Chase Headley on July 22nd and Stephen Drew and Martin Prado today. Headley has played well in New York, but he will never play like he did in 2012. Of the three players, I like Martin Prado the best because he is the most versatile, is a very good fielder, and is good hitter. Stephen Drew is a great defender, but he has never played second base in the majors or the minors. He also has not hit at all this year. Time will tell whether these deal work out. The Yankees also picked up Brandon McCarthy on July 8th and he has been great, going 3-0 with a 2.55 ERA and a 3.05 FIP. 

Jury Out: St. Louis Cardinals

John Lackey
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The Cardinals made two moves for starting pitchers on the last two days before the deadline. They acquired RHP Justin Masterson from Cleveland for OF James Ramsey and then John Lackey and minor league LHP Corey Littrell from Boston for OF/1B Allen Craig and RHP Joe Kelly. These moves are clearly made to boost their rotation that experienced injuries and some struggles. However, their rotation has not been the problem, it is their line-up. They have had little slugging from them and have had difficulty scoring. They have the second-to-last runs scored in the majors with 387. Both starters they received are good but inconsistent. The big question is whether or not they missed out on an opportunity to get a bat. 

Jury Out: Washington Nationals 

With Ryan Zimmermann is out indefinitely, the Nats decided to go out and get infielder. They got Asdrubal Cabrera for the Indians for Zach Wolters. Cabrera, who was playing short in Cleveland, will be playing second base in Washington. That means Anthony Rendon will move to third base, where he is most comfortable. Cabrera has gold glove potential, but he is a streaky hitter. His versatility is a big key, but we need to see how he performs in DC to see if the Nationals are winners or losers. 

Winner: Baseball

What a day for baseball! After a very uneventful and boring deadline day last year, this deadline day was exciting, interesting, and fascinating. First the two big Red Sox deals, then the Price rumors with the smaller deals, and then 15 minutes before the deadline, the Price deal is made. The day was a roller coaster ride. These trades will impact teams for many years to come. This was the best trade deadline of any sport in years and a great day for baseball.

Is Jose Altuve the Best Baseball Player in the Majors?

Jose Altuve
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The Houston Astros are 42-63, second worst in the major leagues. They have a run differential of -107 and their hitters have the second most strikeouts of any team. Astros' pitchers have the third worst ERA (4.47) and WHIP (1.41) in the majors. They are on their way to their sixth straight losing season and possibly their fourth straight 100+ loss season. There have been few bright spots on the Astros in these last few years. One of those bright spots has been Jose Altuve, an unheralded prospect who is leading the major leagues in hitting and made his second All-Star Game this year. While Mike Trout, Troy Tulowitzki, Jonathan Lucroy, and other star players are being discussed as MVP, Altuve is not being heavily considered. However, he may be the best player in the league this year.

Altuve is 5'6", 175 pounds, so he is never going to be a man who hits many home runs, but he can hit the ball with the best of them. He is currently hitting .344, which is first in the MLB. He has 148 hits, most in the majors, with 30 doubles, tied for fourth in the majors. He has also only struck out 39 times and has averages one strikeout per eleven at-bats, which is third best in the league. Not only is he raking at the plate, but he is also making a fantastic baserunner. He is second in the majors in stolen bases with 42, and has only been caught five times. 

Defensively, Altuve has been good. He is second in the majors in putouts (192), assists (295), and double plays turned (72). His 4.98 range factor per nine innings is fourth in the league. Some other advanced defensive metrics have Altuve as a middle of the pack second baseman, but he still very good defensively. 

The sabermetrics are not very high on Altuve. His fWAR is 3.6, which is 19th the majors, and his rWAR is 3.9, which is 22nd. With his production this year, I would think they would be higher. His secondary average is not in the top 75 and his 1.6 win probability added is 44th in the majors. He is top ten in a few sabermetrics. He is fifth in the league in offensive runs above replacement level, eighth in the majors in runs created with 77, and first in runs above replacement level. 

Jose Altuve
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Altuve has been great this season. His combination of hitting and speed has not been seen in the majors in the last few seasons. The problem with Altuve is he is on one of the worst teams in the majors who may lose 100+ games for the fourth straight season. That is the reason Altuve is not in the MVP race. While most sabermetrics do not due Altuve justice for his production, he should be put into the best baseball players of the year category. He is not the best, but he is playing exceptionally and should be rewarded for it. He is a player that plays the game with a lot of heart and does the little things exceptionally well. Altuve is in elite tier of second baseman and should be there for a long time.  

2014 World Lacrosse Championships

2014 World Lacrosse Championship Logo
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The 2014 World Lacrosse Championships were held in Denver from July 10-19. Thirty-eight teams competed in the championships in nine different divisions, up from twenty-nine teams in the 2010 World Lacrosse Championships. There were nine countries competing for first time: Belgium, China, Columbia, Costa Rica, Israel  Russia, Thailand, Turkey, and Uganda. The Blue Division featured the sixth highest ranked countries in the world: Australia, Canada, England, Iroquois, Japan, and USA. The top four teams, Australia, Canada, Iroquois, and USA, automatically made it to the playoffs. The other eight divisions featured four teams and was not based on rankings. The top team in each of the other eight divisions were placed into the play-in bracket for a chance to play for the gold medal. Here are four things you should remember about this year's World Lacrosse Championship.

Placement Games

The World Lacrosse Championships have placements games for 37th place to 1st place. Colombia beat Costa Rica 11-4 in the 37th place game. In the game for 35th place, Korea defeated Argentina. China scored eight goals in the first half to put away Uganda early and win the 33rd place game 14-7. France blew out Russia 15-7 in the 31st place game. In the 29th place game, Thailand trounced Spain 12-6. Belgium scored with about a minute to go to beat Austria 7-6 in the 27th place game. Norway routed Slovakia 14-3 in the 25th place game. In the game for 23rd place, Mexico defeated Bermuda 12-8. Hong Kong beat Turkey 10-4 in the 21st place game. Latvia crushed Poland 17-7 in the 19th place game. Wales annihilated Italy in the 17th place game with an 18-6 win. Switzerland score six goals in the second half to the Netherlands two to win the 15th place game 9-6. In the 13th place game, Finland score six straight goals against the Czech Republic after going down 1-0 and ended winning the game 11-7. Sweden won 8-6 against New Zealand in the 11th place game. Germany beat Ireland 8-6 in the 9th place game. In the 7th place game, Israel defeated Japan, 15-10. Israel's seventh place finish was the best of first time competitors, while Japan's eight place finish was the worst of any team in the Blue Division. England held back a late comeback against rivals Scotland to win the 5th place game, 15-13.

Iroquois Finish In Third; Get First Ever Medal

Miles Thompson
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The Iroquois Nationals are the only Native American sports team that competes in any sport internationally. They were one of the favorites for the 2010 World Championships in England. However, they did not compete in the tournament. The English government did not  accept their passports and would not allow the team to come to play in the country. They came into the 2014 World Championships with high hopes. They went 3-2 in the Blue Division, losing only to the USA and Canada. They beat Scotland 10-8 in the quarterfinal behind Miles Thompson's four goals and two assists. But, they lost to Canada in the semi's 12-6. In the third place game, they faced Australia. Australia had medaled in every World Lacrosse Championships up to the game. The Iroquois dominated the game, never losing and only being tied for a few minutes in the first period. They led 6-3 at the half and then went on a scoring spree in the second half. The Iroquois scored ten goals and eight consecutive goals to end the game and secure the 16-5 victory. Miles Thompson scored three goals and had an assist, while his brothers Jeremy (one assist, two ground balls), Jerome (one goal, one assist), and Lyle (two goals, two assists) all were key contributors to the win. Randy Staats has three goals and Warren Hill had eleven saves.

All-World Team

The All-World Team featured four players from Canada and the United States and two Iroquoian players. Dillon Ward of Canada was the goalie of the All-World Team and also the Most Valuable Player and Oustanding Goalie. He made 62 saves in the tournament and a save percentage of .633. The three attackers on the team are Canada's Curtis Dickson, USA's Rob Pannell, and Iroquois' Lyle Thompson. Pannell won the Outstanding Attackman. The three midfielders were David Lawson and Paul Rabil (Winner of the Outstanding Midfielder) of the US, and Jason Thompson of Iroquois, Lyle's older brother. USA's Tucker Durkin, Canada's Brodie Merrill, and Canada's Kyle Rubisch were the defenders on the All-World Team and Durkin was the Oustanding Defensemen. 

USA-Canada Final

Canada celebrating their win
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The United States and Canada faced off in the Finals for the fifth consecutive time. The United States won the 2010 Championship by a score of 12-10 and also won the first game of the tournament, 10-7. However, Canada got the last laugh this year as they won the 2014 Championship Game, 8-5. The first half was low-scoring with the half-time score being 3-1 in favor of Canada. Kevin Crowley scored all three goals for Canada, while Kevin Leveille scored the United States goal. Leveille scored the first goal of the second half to bring the score to 3-2, Canada. Then Canada score fire unanswered goals to go up 8-2 and put the game out of the US' reach. The US scored three goals at the end, but could not gain enough momentum to come close to Canada. Crowley scored five of Canada's eight goals, while Dillon Ward made ten saves. 

LeBron James's Returns To Cleveland; More NBA Free Agency Notes

LeBron James during his first stint in Cleveland
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LeBron James is heading back to Cleveland. 

Let that sink in.

After four seasons of winning basketball in Miami, four seasons of losing basketball in Cleveland, and four years of hatred in Cleveland, the best basketball player in the world is going home.

And I totally get it. When you read his announcement letter, he makes his reasons for going very clear. LeBron missed Cleveland and feels a responsibility to win and be there for Northeast Ohio. "My relationship with Northern Ohio is bigger than basketball." The part of the letter that most interests me is when he says, "Miami, for me, has almost been like college for other guys." That makes a lot of sense looking back at his time in Miami. LeBron had always lived in Northeast Ohio area and when he left he had to face adversity and live in a new environment. Remember, LeBron never went to college. This was probably as close to college as he will ever get and he needed to have an experience like that to reach the level he is on.

This is the best move for LeBron. He has a much brighter future in Cleveland. In Miami, the team was getting too old for LeBron to be confident that he can win not just a title in three years, but in this upcoming year. In Cleveland, he can be the leader, the unequivocal leader to this young team 

LeBron James and Kevin Love
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The questions around Cleveland are not done. Kevin Love is on the trade market and would Cleveland pull the trigger? The initial offer for Love is rumored to be Anthony Bennett, Dion Waiters, and a future first-round pick. However, this year's number one pick Andrew Wiggins is expected to be the key piece in the deal. This may be a bigger decision than signing LeBron. I would give up Wiggins for Love without a doubt. But, I am not as high as Wiggins as others and I believe Kevin Love is one of the top players in the league. Love is a double-double machine that can shoot a fantastic three-ball. I think a trio of LeBron, Irving, and Love would be a better "Big 3" then the LeBron, Wade, Bosh trio in their prime year. However, if I could get Love and keep Wiggins, I would. 

The next question is who does LeBron convince to join him in Cleveland. Ray Allen and Mike Miller have been rumored to join LeBron in Cleveland and both would be great choices. Not only are both experienced veterans that are great shooters, they will be great in the locker room. If Kevin Martin comes with Love to Cleveland he would be a great pick-up. Anthony Morrow would be a good fit as a sharpshooter. I think they will need another three and possibly a stretch four. 

Kyrie Irving and LeBron James
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This may be LeBron's toughest season coming up. He will be taking a team with pretty much no playoff experience and will try to bring them to the promise land. However, I think that they can do definitely win the Eastern Conference championship and they have a legitimate chance to win the NBA Title. The projected starting line-up of Irving, Wiggins, LeBron, Tristen Thompson, and Anderson Varejeo is very good starting lineup. Irving is a superstar. Wiggins has a high celling, Thompson is a good, young power forward. Varejeo is also a good player,is the only remaining player from LeBron's last season in Cleveland, and are friends. If they get Love, then they have a perfect complement to LeBron. David Blatt, the rookie head coach of the Cavs, will not be an issue. He has been a great head coach in Europe and will be able to quickly adjust. It is now LeBron's time to shine as the leader of his hometown team and bring them title. 

More NBA Free Agency Notes

The most interesting division in the NBA is now the Central Division. Cleveland is now the most interesting team in the league. Chicago and Indiana are the biggest threats to the LeBron in the East. Detroit is an interesting team headlined by one of the most dymaic big men in the league in Andre Drummond. And Milwaukee has Jabari Parker, the best player in  the most recent draft.

Chris Bosh and Dwight Howard
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With LeBron out of Miami, it is widely believed that Chris Bosh is going to go to Houston. Bosh is still a great player and would be a great fit in Houston's core with James Harden and Dwight Howard. He would not have to guard the interior and would be given the opportunity to shoot a lot of jump shots. If they can also retain Chandler Parsons, they would have a tremendous amount of talent. That would be a very interesting and a top three team in the West. It would not surprise me if they would be considered the favorite in the West heading into next season. 

It is now reported that Carmelo Anthony has narrowed his choices to New York and Chicago. The Bulls would be the best choice to win championships and I have believed that since the beginning of free agency. The Knicks would give him a larger and longer contract then the Bulls would give him. 

I think Dwayne Wade goes back to Miami. Unlike LeBron and Bosh, he has stayed with one team, the Heat, for his whole career and he definitely feels close with Pat Riley and Mickey Arison. I also do not believe that there are many teams aggressively going after Wade. The only team that I think may be able to bring him out of Miami would be Chicago, just because Chicago is his hometown and he would not have to be a part of another rebuilding process.

How crazy would it be if in the 2015 NBA Playoffs, LeBron faces Miami and Wade in the first round, Carmelo led Chicago in the Eastern Conference Finals, and Houston with Bosh in the NBA Finals. That may be the most interesting playoffs ever.

NBA Draft 2014 Preview

Mock Draft

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1. Cleveland Cavaliers: Andrew Wiggins, G, Kansas
2. Miwaukee Bucks: Jabari Parker, F, Duke
3. Philadelphia 76ers: Dante Exum, G, Austrailia
4. Orlando Magic: Marcus Smart, G, Oklahoma State
5. Utah Jazz: Noah Vonleh, F, Indiana
6. Boston Celtics: Joel Embiid, C, Kansas
7. Los Angeles Lakers: Julius Randle, F, Kentucky
8. Sacramento Kings: Aaron Gordon, F, Arizona
9. Charlotte Hornets: Doug McDermott, F, Creighton
10. Philadelphia 76ers: Dario Saric, F, Croatia
11. Denver Nuggets: Nik Stauskas, G, Michigan
12. Orlando Magic: James Young, F, Kentucky
13. Minnesota Timberwolves: Gary Harris, G, Michigan State
14. Phoenix Suns: Adreian Payne, F, Michigan State
15. Atlanta Hawks: Rodney Hood, F, Duke
16. Chicago Bulls: PJ Hairston, G, Texas Legends
17. Boston Celtics: Tyler Ennis, G, Syracuse
18. Phoenix Suns: Elfrid Payton, G, Louisiana-Lafayette 
19. Chicago Bulls: TJ Warren, F, NC State
20. Toronto Raptors: Clint Capela, F, Switzerland
21. Oklahoma City Thunder: CJ Wilcox, G, Washington
22. Memphis Grizzlies: Cleanthony Early, F, Wichita State
23. Utah Jazz: Zach LeVine, G, UCLA
24. Charlotte Hornets: Jarnell Stokes, F, Tennessee
25. Houston Rockets: Kyle Anderson, F, UCLA
26. Miami Heat: Shabazz Napier, G, UCONN
27. Phoenix Suns: Jusef Nurkic, C, Bosnia and Herzegovina
28. Los Angeles Clippers: Jordan Clarkson, G, Missouri 
29. Oklahoma City Thunder: Glenn Robinson III, F, Michigan
30. San Antonio Spurs: KJ McDaniels, G, Clemson

Rants and Raves

Jabari Parker
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• Jabari Parker is the best player in this draft and I would pick him number one. However, I think Wiggins goes at one because he may be able to garner more interest in a trade and would be a better fit. 
• The next best players are Marcus Smart and Julius Randle.
• Parker's teammate at Duke, Rodney Hood, could be one of the better players in this draft. His ability to shoot and score can make him a threat from the wing for any team.
• I am selling Andrew Wiggins stock. He proved very little this year at Kansas and his shooting percentages are way too low for someone who is going to play the wing. Even though he has elite athletism, I would stay away from Wiggins.
• I have questions about Noah Vonleh. He did not do a lot at Indiana and that lack of playing time makes me wonder if he is ready to play at this level.
• While Dante Exem and Dario Saric are getting most of the headlines involving international players, Clint Capela has great potential. He is 6'10-6'11 with a wingspan of 7'4.5" and incredible leaping ability. If he can improve his offensive game, Capela could become an outstanding power forward. 
• There are some fantastic shooters in this draft in Gary Harris, Rodney Hood, Nik Staustaks, James Young, among others. 
• Aaron Gordan is a talented player. Even if he never develops a good mid-range jumper, he can be an important member of a winning team.
• Kyle Anderson is a very unique player. His ability to be a point forward and a stretch 4 will be very intriguing for teams from as early as pick 11 to as late as pick 30. 
• Sim Bhuller out of New Mexico State is an interesting player. He does not have much potential, but at 7'5", 360 pounds, he is worth at least being picked up as an undrafted free agent.
• Walter Tavares is a 7'3 center from Cap e Verde playing for Gran Canaria. He would be a great 2nd round for a pick willing to let him improve in Europe for a couple more years and then come across the Atlantic.
• Aaron Craft is worthy of a second round pick due to his defensive tenacity. 

2014 FIFA World Cup Preview

Group A: The Hosts and The Hopefuls

1. Brazil: If the hosts are to win glory, they need to give it their all on the pitch and block out what might be going on outside of the stadium.

2. Croatia: Luka Modric will be the force behind all Croatia attacks and if he can get the ball to the their strikers (Mario Mandzukic, Ivica Olic), they can have some success.

3. Cameroon: Samuel Eto'o and Alex Song are greta players, but they can't win by themselves, they are going to need others to step up.

4. Mexico: After struggling to qualifiy for the World Cup, Mexico will struggle in on the big stage.

Underrated Star - Hulk, FW, Brazil: While Neymar gets all the attention, Hulk can be even more effective as the main goal scoring threat up front. Coming off a 21 goal season fro Zenit St. Petersberg, Hulk is a dark horse for the Golden Boot.

Group B: The Two Finalists from Four Years Ago

1. Spain: The defending champs and two-time European champs are again one of the favorites to win the World Cup again and become the first team since Brazil in 1962 to win back-to-back championships.

2. Netherlands: The runner-ups of the 2010 World Cup Finals, the Netherlands are going to have to play up to their potential to make a run. If they can hide the facts that their defense sucks.

3. Chile: Chile has a lot of potential to make a big impact in this tournament. Led by Arturo Vidal, they 

4. Australia: The lowest ranked team in the tournament in the FIFA Rankings (62nd), Australia has little to no chance of advancing in the knockout stage

Question Mark to Watch: Diego Costa, ST, Spain: The biggest problem the defending champs have faced is finding a consistent threat at the striker position. Costa, after a successful club season, may be that man.

Group C: Wide Open

1. Ivory Coast: Led by Didier Drogba and Yaya Toure, the Ivory Coast have a ton of talent. The problem has always been winning with all that talent. They should at least make it to the knockout round. 

2. Japan: Japan has a very good team that struggled in Brazil last year for the Confederations Cup. However, they will make up for their losses last year this time around. 

3. Colombia: The loss of striker Radamel Falcao would have all but ruined their chances in almost any other group. However, they have a chance to make through in this group.

4. Greece: Ten years ago, Greece pulled off one of the most shocking tournament wins in national team history when they won the 2004 Euros. This year, they will need to capture a lot of that magic to make a serious run in the knockout rounds.

Midfielder to Watch - James Rodriguez, MF, Colombia: Without Falcao, Colombia is in need of someone to step up. That man will be the 22 year-old who currently plays for AS Monaco. Rodriguez is a playmaker who can set up himself and others. He is going to make a name for himself in this tournament if Colombia makes an impact. 

Group D: Group of Death Jr. 

1. Uruguay: With Luis Suarez healthy for the tournament, Uruguay can make another run into the semi-finals

2. Italy: While their defense has more holes than a screen door and they do not have the talent they are accustomed to, Andrea Pirlo and Mario Balotelli will connect to score some goals and get them out of the group.

3. England: Even with Wayne Rooney and Daniel Sturidge up top, their midfield and defense is too suspect and inexperienced for the Three Lions to make a run.

4. Costa Rica: Will have a difficult time playing against the more experienced and talented squads.

Playmaker to Watch - Nicolas Loderio, MF, Uruguay: Uruguay's potential front line of Edinson Cavani, Diego Forlan, and Luis Suarez is deadly, but they need someone behind them to set them up. That man is Loderio. He is going to be the playmaker for this squad and for them to make a deep run, Loderio needs to play at a world class level.

Group E: 

1. Switzerland: The Swiss are hiding in the shadows and are ready to pounce on unsuspecting prey. If they can stay confident, the number six team in the FIFA Rankings will shock fans across the globe

2. France: Were lucky to get a favorable draw, but a serious run was all but shattered when star winger Frank Ribery was ruled out for the tournament

3. Ecuador: Ecuador could 

4. Honduras: Honduras is in for a tough time in Brazil. They will have a chance to steal a couple of points, but advancing to the knockout round is very wishful thinking.

Breakout Star - Grandit Xhaka, CM, Switzerland: While Xherdian Shaquri will most likely get most of the headlines, Xhaka will be the playmaker in the middle for Switzerland and he could be a breakout star and become a transfer target after the tournament

Group F: Argentina and the Question Marks

1. Argentina: They have a surplus of attackers that can score with ease (Lionel Messi, Sergio Aguero, Gonzalo Higuain). If their questionable defense can play well, Argentina will

2. Bosnia and Herzegovina: Bosnia and Herzegovina is making it's first ever appearance in the World Cup and thanks to a favorable draw, are in line to make it to the knockout round.

3. Nigeria: Nigeria has had a great past two years. However, they have not had much success in the World Cup. 

4. Iran: Iran has some good and promising young players, but they do not have enough experience to make a serious impact.

Forward to Watch: Vedad Ibisevic, CF, Bosnia and Herzegovina: Ibisevic and Edin Dzeko will both be playing at the striker spot. Dzeko is the better and more intimidating striker and will get more attention. Because of that, Ibisevic 

Group G: The Group of Death

1. Germany: The strongest midfield in the tournament will dictate games and if they can make up for the lack of depth up front, they will be in the finals

2. Portugal: Everything lies on Christian Ronaldo's shoulders. How far they go will depend on how far he can take them.

3. USA: Even without Landon Donovan, the US squad is still a decent roster. Michael Bradley and Clint Dempsey are great players in the field and Tim Howard ranks amount the best in the world in net. 

4. Ghana: While Ghana is not highly ranked in the FIFA Ranking, they have made it to the knockout round the last two World Cups (They were a shootout away from the semi's). They are always a threat to produce some magic.

Winger to Watch - Nani, RW, Portugal: With Cristiano Ronaldo possibly not at full strength, Nani is going to have to play extremely well. If he can create for himself and others, it will leave more room for Ronaldo to do work on the opposite wing.

Group H: One Lock and Three Others

1. Belgium: Led by Vincent Kompany in the back and Eden Hazard on the wing, the Red Devils have the potential to make a deep run in the tournament

2. Russia: After struggling in the 2012 Euros and failing to reach the 2006 and 2010 World Cups, Russia has a good chance to redeem themselves and make it to the knockout round. 

3. South Korea: The South Korean squad is full of young and up-and-coming stars (Five players are returning from 2010). They have the potential to make a big run in the tournament.

4. Algeria: Algeria is just happy to be in the tournament. They may win a game, but it would be hard pressed anyone who has Algeria being in the top two of the group. 

Keeper to Watch: Thibaut Courtois, GK, Belgium: Courtois shined on loan for Athletico Madrid this season and if he shines in the World Cup, he may force Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho to move away from current goalie Petr Cech. 

Euroleague Final Four Recap

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The 2014 Euroleague Final Four, played at the Mediolanum Forum in Milan, featured the three of the top five winning clubs in Euroleague history and a team that has been in the Final Four three of the last four years. CSKA Moscow, FC Barcelona, Maccabi Tel Aviv, and Real Madrid. Real Madrid has won the most Euroleague Championships with eight heading into the finals, while CSKA Moscow has six and Maccabi Tel Aviv had five heading in as well. In the last four Final Fours, all four made an appearance against a club from Greece. In 2010, FC Barcelona beat Olympiacos in the finals, Maccabi Tel Aviv lost to Panathinakos in 2011, Olympiacos defeat CSKA Moscow in 2012, and Olympiacos won again in 2013 over Real Madrid. 

The semi-final games were Moscow-Maccabi and Barcelona-Madrid. The first game was the match-up between Moscow and Maccabi. Heading into the fourth quarter, CSKA held a 55-45 lead. But, the Electra had a comeback in the fourth quarter and brought the game to 67-63 with under a minute left. Maccabi's David Blu hit a three pointer, his fifth of the day, to bring Maccabi within one point. Then, Maccabi got the ball back off a turnover and Tyrese Rice hit a lay-up with 5.5 seconds left. CSKA still had one final shot. They got the ball into the hands of Sonny Weems, who missed he game-winning three as time expired. Maccabi won 68-67. 

Sergio Rodriguez
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The second semi between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid was expected to be a great match-up. Not only were they two teams from the league (Liga ACB), but they are also fierce rivals and have faced off in the Liga ACB Finals the last two years. However, the game ended up being a blowout. While the first half was relatively close (Real had a 45-37 lead at the half), the second half was not. Madrid outscored Barca 26 to 11 in the third quarter and 27 to 14 in the fourth quarter and also had a 26 to one run in the middle. The final score was 100-62, the largest difference in final score ever in a Euroleague Final Four game. For Real Madrid, Sergio Rodriguez, the Euroleague Regular Season MVP, had 21 points in less then 21 minutes and Nikola Mirotic had 19 points.

Before the Final, Barcelona and Moscow played a third place game. Barcelona pulled out the victory, 93-78. Juan Carlos Navarro had 20 points in less than 18 minutes. Navarro became the career leader in three pointer made at the Final Four with 31 and moved up to fourth on the Final Four scoring charts with 168 points. 

Tyrese Rice
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The Final was great. The game was close throughout. Through three quarters, Real Madrid had a slight 55-53 lead. However, with one minute left to play, Maccabi had taken the lead and was up by four. Rodriguez then drew a foul and hit both of his free throws. After getting a stop on defense, Rudy Fernandez took a jumper for Real and missed, but Ioannis Bourousis got the offensive rebound and drew a foul. He went to the line and hit two free throws to tie the game at 73. Maccabi still had a chance to win the game. Tyrese Rice took a potential game-winning three pointer, but missed. Alex Tyus missed a contested tip-in and the game went to overtime. This was the first overtime game in a Euroleague Final since 1969, a game that also featured Real Madrid. The overtime was all Maccabi, outscoring Real 25-13 and earning a 98-86 win. Rice score 21 of his 26 points in the fourth quarter and overtime and was named Euroleague Final Four MVP. This is Maccabi sixth Euroleague championship and their first since 2005.

2014 NFL Mock Draft for Round One

#1 Houston Texans: Jadeveon Clowney, DE, South Carolina
#2 St Louis Rams: Greg Robinson, OT, Auburn
#3 Jacksonville Jaguars: Blake Bortles, QB, Central Florida
#4 Cleveland Browns: Johnny Manziel, QB, Texas A&M
#5 Oakland Raiders: Sammy Watkins, WR, Clemson
#6 Atlanta Falcons: Jake Matthews, OT, Texas A&M
#7 Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Khalil Mack, OLB, Buffalo
#8 Minnesota Vikings: Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Louisville
#9 Buffalo Bills: Eric Ebron, TE, UNC
#10 Detroit Lions: Darqueze Denard, CB, Michigan State
#11 Tennessee Titans: Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, S, Alabama 
#12 New York Giants: Taylor Lewan, OT, Michigan
#13 St. Louis Rams: Mike Evans, WR, Texas A&M
#14 Chicago Bears: Aaron Donald, DT, Pittsburgh
#15 Pittsburgh Steelers: Justin Gilbert, CB, Oklahoma State
#16 Dallas Cowboys: Calvin Pryor, S, Louisville
#17 Baltimore Ravens: Odell Beckham Jr, WR, LSU
#18 New York Jets: Marquese Lee, WR, USC
#19 Miami Dolphins: Zach Martin, OT, Notre Dame
#20 Arizona Cardinals: Anthony Barr, OLB, UCLA
#21 Green Bay Packers: Ryan Shazier, OLB, Ohio State
#22 Philadelphia Eagles: CJ Mosley, ILB, Alabama
#23 Kansas City Chiefs: Brandin Cooks, WR, Oregon State
#24 Cincinnati Bengals: Kyle Fuller, CB, Virginia Tech
#25 San Diego Chargers: Jason Verrett, CB, TCU
#26 Cleveland Browns: Jordan Matthews, WR, Vanderbilt 
#27 New Orleans Saints: Bradley Roby, CB, Ohio State
#28 Carolina Panthers: Cyrus Kouandijo, OT, Alabama
#29 New England Patriots: Stephon Tuitt, DE, Notre Dame
#30 San Francisco 49ers: Kelvin Benjamin, WR, Florida State
#31 Denver Broncos: Demarcus Lawerence, DE, Boise State
#32 Seattle Seahawks: Xavier Su'a-Filo, OG, UCLA

Chicago or Colorado: Which Team Has Had The Better Players So Far?

Colorado Rockies Logo
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Chicago White Sox
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The MLB season may be barely a month in, but it is never too early to evaluate the performances of teams. While neither the Chicago White Sox or the Colorado Rockies are leading their divisions, both have been playing better then expected and have received some fantastic play from their players. Both teams have players that fill up the league's leader board in both of their leagues and in major league baseball overall. Both are ranked in the top three in hits, runs, RBIs, doubles, extra base hits, total bases, weighted runs created plus, batting average, batting average on balls in play, slugging percentage, OPS. While looking at league leaders, I asked the question: which team has had the better players so far? 

Catcher: Tyler Flowers vs. Wilin Rosario

Tyler Flowers
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Wilin Rosario
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Flowers has been on a tear to start the year. The catcher is hitting .359, has an on-base percentage of , and OPS+ of 127, and a . He is also thrown out 35% of the runner trying to steal against him. Rosario has gotten off to a decent start. He is hitting just under .250, but his on-base percentage is about .276, which is abysmal. He  needs to get that up at least 50 points. He is also throwing out runner at a 33% clip. Flowers has had a monster start to the season and has been better then Rosario without a doubt. 

First Base: Jose Abreu vs. Justin Morneau

Jose Abreu
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Justin Morneau
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Abreu has been off to a monster start so far. The rookie from Cuba has already hit ten home runs (most by a rookie in the month of April ever) 32 RBIs (also most by a rookie in April) ,and is making a name for himself in the big leagues. Morneau has been on a tear this April with a slash line of .357/.381/.643. This is one of the toughest ones to call. Both players have about the same rWAR, roWAR, and rdWAR. In the end, I say the rookie wins this matchup because of the roll he has been on and the excitement he has brought to the south side of the Windy City.

Second Base: Marcus Semien vs. DJ LeMahieu

Marcus Semien
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DJ LeMahieu
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LeMahieu is playing like an above average second baseman, while Beckham has been having a lot of trouble. LeMahieu is hitting .305 with an on-base percentage of .363. He is not hitting for much power, but he is getting the ball in play. Semien has been struggling at the plate hitting only .233 with a .294 on-base percentage and a .379 slugging percentage. Not only that, he is tied for the most outs created by any player in either league so far. The advantage is to LeMahieu for being the better player.

Shortstop: Alexei Ramirez vs. Troy Tulowitzki

Alexei Ramirez
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Troy Tulowitzki
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The Rockies have the best player in the league and a top ten player in the league. Troy Tulowitzki has been outstanding so far. Tulowitzki is the current league leader in rWAR  (3.0), on-base percentage (.486), slugging percentage (.753), OPS+ (223), runs created (33), and offensive win percentage (.916). Not only that, Tulowitzki has been impermeable at shortstop. While Ramirez is the leader in the AL in batting and has played great, he is not even in the same area code of Tulowitzki right now. 

Third Base: Conor Gilliapse vs. Nolan Arenado

Nolan Arenado
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Conor Gilliapse
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Conor Gillapse has been playing well at third. He is hitting over .300, but was just recently placed on the DL with a bruised hand. Arenado has been playing fine. He is not on a complete tear, but he is also hitting over .300, but needs to draw more walks. Both of these guys are playing well and their numbers are very similar. This position is a push. You can pick either one as the better player so far and your point can be proven. 

Left Field: Alejandro De Aza vs. Carlos Gonzalez

Carlos Gonzalez
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Alejandro De Aza
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At first glance, this matchup would seem to be easily won by Carlos Gonzalez just based on past performance. However, Gonzalez comes away with the victory due to the fact De Aza has played awful during the first month of the season. De Aza is hitting .191 and getting on base at a percentage of .255. Gonzalez is not doing much better (His slash line is .240/.288/.433), but at least he is giving the Rockies something at the plate.

Center Field: Adam Eaton vs. Charlie Blackmon

Adam Eaton
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Charlie Blackmon
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No one has been an all-around better player the Tulowitzki so far. His teammate, Charlie Blackmon, however, has been close.Blackmon first appeared with the Rockies in 2011 and was splitting time between the big league club and Colorado Springs, the Rockies Triple-A affiliate until he won the starting centerfield and leadoff spot this year. He has proved that the Rockies made the right choice with his play. He currently lead the league in batting average and is runner up or in the top five in many other categories, including OPS, rWAR, fWAR, Adjusted OPS, runs and created. He has also only struck out seven times. Eaton at this point cannot compare to Blackmon.

Right Field: Dayan Viciedo vs. Michael Cuddyer

Dayan Viciedo
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Michael Cuddyer
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Viciedo has started doing something he has never done since coming up to the majors in 2010 and that is hit for average. In his first four season, he hit .264 with a .306 on-base percentage. This year, Viciedo is hitting .341 with a .406 on-base percentage and a .506 slugging percentage. Cuddyer was on the DL for part of the season, but he is back and is also playing well. The 2013 NL Batting Champ is hitting .317, has an on-base percentage of .373 and a .533 slugging percentage. This is a really tough matchup to pick. It's a push, but I am leaning towards Viciedo.

Bench/DH: Chicago (Gordon Beckham, Jordan Danks, Adam Dunn, Leury Garcia, Paul Konerko, Adrian Nieto) vs. Colorado (Brandon Barnes, Charlie Culberson, Corey Dickerson, Jordan Pacheco, Josh Rutledge, Drew Stubbs)

Adam Dunn
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Brandon Barnes
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Adam Dunn is the White Sox's DH. Dunn has never been a guy to hit for average, but if he continues to .280, his current batting average, he would have his best batting average of all-time. This would also be the same for his on-base percentage (currently .409) and OPS+ (currently 154). Gordon Beckham was injured for most of the first month of the season, but now that he is back, he has taken over the starting second base spot. Brandon Barnes has been off to a hot start with .333 batting average and .410 on-base percentage. Dickerson has also been off to a hot start while starting on the outfield while Michael Cuddyer is on the DL. He has an OPS of .941 and an OPS+ of 145. The bench advantage goes to the Rockies, who have players on their bench who are playing better then their regular starters.

Ace Starting Pitcher: Chris Sale vs. Jorge De La Rosa

Chris Sale
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Jorge De La Rosa
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Sale has been tremendous. He's 3-0 with a 2.30 ERA, 0.841 WHIP, 2.32 FIP, and a 190 ERA+. That WHIP immediately jumps of the screen at me and says he has been impossible to hit. There is just one problem with Sale; He is currently on the DL and has been since the 18th of April. De La Rosa has been mediocre so far. He has a 2-3 record, 5.23 ERA, 4.51 FIP, and 79 ERA+. Even with the injury, the win goes to Sale due to his sheer dominance and the lack-luster start for De La Rosa.

Rest of Starting Rotation: Chicago (John Danks, Felipe Paulino, Jose Quintana, Andre Reizino) vs. Colorado (Tyler Chatwood, Jordan Lyles, Franklin Morales, Juan Nicasio)

Jordan Lyles
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Jose Quintana
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Jordan Lyles has been the best starter for Colorado so far, with a 3-0 record, 2.93 ERA, 1.109 WHIP, 3.54 FIP, and 141 ERA+. Everyone else has been decent or below average. Jose Quintana and John Danks have been good for the White Sox. Quintana is 1-2 with a 1.333 WHIP and a 8.0 strikeouts per nine innings ratio. John Danks has been 2-1 and with an ERA of 3.48 and a WHIP of 1.419. Pauilno has struggled in his starts, while Rienzo has been mediocre. While neither rotation is in the top part of the league, the White Sox is better then Colorado's through April. 

Closer: Matt Lindstrom vs. LaTory Hawkins

Matt Lindstrom
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LaTroy Hawkins
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Lindstrom has not had as many opportunities to get the save in as many games as Hawkins (Lindstorm has three saves compared to Hawkins nine), but both have been effective pitchers. Hawkins, however, has been better and by a lot. He has a better ERA (2.38 to 3.75), WHIP (1.059 to 1.583), FIP (3.91 to 4.70), and ERA+ (177 to 119), among other things. The most telling stat for me is Lindstrom's strikeouts per walk is 1.00. That needs to improve for him to keep pitching well.

Bullpen: Chicago (Ronald Belisario, Maikel Cleto, Scott Downs, Zach Putnam, Jake Petricka, Daniel Webb) vs. Colorado (Matt Belisle, Rex Brothers, Tommy Kahnle, Boone Logan, Adam Ottavino)

Jake Petricka
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Adam Ottavino
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Adam Ottavino has been excellent coming out of the pen. His numbers are unbelievable. He has a 0.73 ERA, 0.811 WHIP, 1.17 FIP, and a 576 ERA+. It is very unlikely that he keeps up those numbers for the rest of the year, but if he can keep pitching well, he should be an All-Star and possible breakout star. He may even overtake Hawkins for the closer role. Rex Brothers has also been pitching well out of the Colorado pen. Jake Petricka has been very good out of the pen for Chicago, as has Zach Putnam and Daniel Webb. The Rockies have had the best bullpen so far, mostly because they Ottavino.

Winner: 

While both teams have great players, so far Colorado has had the better players. Almost all of their position players are hitting over .300. It seems like everyone on the Rockies is on a hot streak. Even though their pitching is not great, having a guy who is as dominant as Ottavino really helps. The team from the Mile High City has a lot of players playing great baseball. 
Note: Stats are as of the morning of 4/30