The Journey to the Return

The Alex Rodriguez story is one that may leave you scratching your head or wondering if it's real or just make believe. It's a cautionary tale , a tale that shows you even baseballs biggest stars are humans just like me and you. Alex Rodriguez was suspended by Major League Baseball for PED use for a whole year. During that time he was training both physically and mentally and is looking to make a return. ESPN Magazine chronicled his return and JR Moehringer wrote an excellent piece on the return. He was with Alex for six months and got to see the real A- Rod. JR described Alex and all the struggles he has dealt with. He described his struggle with getting abandoned by his dad and not going to college. He described Alex as a guy who loves the game and his family. He was able to show us more of the human side. He made you feel bad for him and shocked you by describing all his demons. He also spoke about the apologies he wants to make and how he is trying to become a better guy. He also discussed how hard it would be for Alex to tell his true story to his daughter Natasha. The bottom line is Alex made a mistake just like many others. Either move on from him or forgive it's simple.

Obviously it has been a bumpy road for Alex since last winter. First he went through surgery. He was then suspended 211 games. He appealed the suspension and rehabbed. Alex played In the minors and worked his way back. Rodriguez passed on his knowledge to the minor leaguers and often payed for all of there meals. The minor leaguers were thrilled to have him. He returned to the Yankees in August. Rodriguez dealt with the boos and the critics all year. They were deserved and self inflicted. However he was focused on the Yankees making the playoffs. He hit 7 home runs including a monster homer off of Ryan Dempster after he had been intentionally hit. The Yankees did not make the playoffs however and his fight with baseball resumed after the season. Once the appeal was over MLB suspended Rodriguez for all of 2014. After a long fight Rodriguez quit and took his medicine. Alex made his apologies recently and the focus shifted to his return.

On Monday A-Rod reported for Spring Training a few days early. He did some baseball activities and spoke to the media. He also posed with some fans for pictures and signed autographs for every fan. Rodriguez said he was just happy to be back playing the game he loves. He said he just wants to make the team. He said he made a lot of mistakes and he cringes when he thinks about it. He said he is PED free. Rodriguez will work extremely hard to produce for the Yankees. The Yankee players will be happy to have him back. The Yanks may still be mad but the truth is they need the right handed bat. People seem excited to see what Alex can do as Yankee ticket sales were already up 35% the other day.

Alex Rodriguez despite being an all time great felt that he had to resort back to PED's. In mid 2010 he met Tony Bosch and decided he needed some help. Rodriguez felt even at his stature he had something to prove. Once again he proved he was not comfortable in his own skin. He was not comfortable being Alex and his demons got the best of him again. When Rodriguez was 18 he was a Golden boy , baseballs next legend. He has now turned into a pariah , a guy the back page of the newspaper keys on , a guy we sometimes make bigger than the game , a guy we dehumanize. Rodriguez showed us that even the biggest of stars can fall. He has showed us that baseball players are just like anyone else. They have their flaws and their issues that go back to their early years. Rodriguez's story is a cautionary tale. A tale that shows us even someone as big as A-Rod can be punished. His story also shows us that even some one who has made as many mistakes as Alex can get another chance and even another chance.

 After reading the Espn article I though about how much of a shame the Rodriguez story is. A guy with as much talent as Rodriguez was so naive. A guy with as much talent felt he was never good enough. A guy who chose to play baseball is embarrassed to tell people he didn't go to college. Many former teammates said that they life him personally he just always was trying to prove something. He was always trying to fit in and be comfortable. Rodriguez has been his own worst enemy. His youth has haunted him and has shaped him at the same time. If you forgive Alex Rodriguez that's fine , if you don't that's fine too. I'm sure everyone has done something wrong in their life. If you ever stole , cheated , or did something else are you exempt from forgiveness ? Of course not. No one is telling you should forgive A-Rod and no one is telling you shouldn't. If your a Yankee fan you should want him to produce because that will only help your team. He was the key component of the 2009 team. If your a baseball fan whether you like him or not you will tune In that's for sure. What will Alex bring In 2015? Your guess is as good as mine. I am not saying I support PED use however I think A-Rod
can still show us something. Who am I to say he doesn't deserve another shot. I think everyone does.

By Peter Vitella
@realpete13

Sports Bros

Episode 43: Crab Overlords

On this week’s episode of the Sports Bros Podcast, Jordan Hall and Jordan Ryan talk NBA Trade Deadline, NFL Scouting Combine, giant marlins, and teach you proper social media etiquette.

To vote for the winner of this week’s opening question, be sure to head over to www.jordanrhall.com/vote

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Moneyball

In honor of the Oscars tonight and Spring Training starting lets take a look back at the Oakland Athletics and Moneyball. Moneyball stars Brad Pitt and also has Jonah Hill and Philip Seymour Hoffman. Moneyball depicts the Oakland Athletics and how they assembled a winning team with such a low pay roll. The movie also depicts Billy Beane and his transformation from failed draft pick to superstar general manager. The movie shows Billy Beane turn down a huge offer from the Boston Red Sox and stay with the Athletics and his daughter.

By Peter Vitella
@realpete13

NFL 2015 Scouting Combine

Top 5 Performances from Saturday

1. Jameis Winston-Quarterback-Florida State: The 2013 Heisman Trophy winner stood out today for many reasons. He might not of stood out in the 40 yard dash after running close to a 5.00 but he did stand throwing. As Winston threw exceptional with having a lot of velocity on his passes as he went 16 of 16 without missing a throw today as he put on a clinic as a he threw today.


2. Marcus Mariota-Quarterback-Oregon: The 2014 Heisman Trophy winner ran the fastest 40 yard dash today as a Quarterback today as he ran a 4.52. But the Qb has a to work on throwing the football from under center as heads to his pro day later of next month. Most teams will need him to pass out of this stance for there system.


3. Kevin White-Wide Reciever-West Virginia: In my eyes the best Reciever in the draft today proved me right today as he stood out by running a 4.3 in the 40 yard dash today and also showed us that he can be a very versatile reciever as having both size and speed. He can become a great Reciever quick in the league and could become a sure top 10 pick in this springs draft.

4.Melvin Gordon-Running Back-Wisconsin: The 2014 Heisman Trophy runner up showed why he was the best running back in the draft today as he had a 4.5 in the 40 yard dash today. Also as he was running the drills as they do at the NFL combine he made those look so easy and as he wasn't nervous and not running them infrong of any one. He should be going to a team on the first night of the draft.

5.J.J Nelson-Wide Reciever-UAB: The fastest player of the combine this year was J.J Nelson who ran a 4.29 in the 40 yard dash who wasn't to far away from the record of 4.24 set by Chris Johnson. After not knowin to much about J.J I learned today that he is fast and good be a very good return man and weapon in some offenses in the NFL.

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Can these Players Bounce Back in Fantasy

Can these Veterans Bounce Back

Are you done with these guys in fantasy ? Or can they still help you win ?

Joey Votto - Votto is one if the best hitters in baseball when healthy. In 2012 Votto struggled to stay healthy and home run and RBI total dipped. In 2013 Votto played 162 games but just had 73 RBI. However he did hit 305 with 24 home runs. Last year Votto battled injuries and just had 220 at bats. He hit only 255. Votto when healthy is a high on base guy and a high average guy. In cbs and Espn format drafts Votto is a buy low guy so far and the rewards can be high.

2015' projection - 304 AVG , 23 HR , 87 RBI , 418 OBP

Matt Cain - In 2012 Cain was one of the best pitchers in baseball. In 2013 his era jumped from 2.79 to 4.00. However Cain was excellent in the second half and everyone figured it was just one bad half. In 2014 Cain saw his era jump even higher to 4.18 , he also battled an elbow injury. Cain is another buy low candidate but his whip and era have increased every year and that is not what you like to see.

2015' projection - 12-8 , 3.66 era , 1.15 whip , 170 K

Prince Fielder - Fielder saw his power numbers dip in each season with the Tigers. We saw 30 homers and then 25 , still solid stats. However in 2014 we expected at least 30 in that Texas ball park and we saw just 3 in 150 at bats. Fielder missed most of the season with a neck injury. Fielder is getting older and his home run numbers are decreasing but Fielder has always been healthy in his career.

2015' Projection - 268 AVG , 30 HR , 85 RBI , 404 OBP

Shin Soo Choo - Choo really went backwards from his 2013 season that landed him the big contract in Texas. He saw all of his major stats drop. His average dropped from 285 to 242 and his homers dropped from 21 to 13. He also stole 17 less bases. He also went from 107 runs scored to just 58. His OBP and RBI total dropped also. I don't think he will be this brutal this year but it's hard feel comfortable taking him after being so bad. However we have witnessed him having big bounce back years before. He does bring you some numbers in a lot of departments.

2015 ' Projection - 265 AVG , 17 HR , 59 RBI , 75 R , 10 SB , 380 OBP


By Peter Vitella
@realpete13

NL Central

NL Central

Cardinals

Strength - The Cardinals have an extremely deep lineup. They are very balanced and have a great mix. Jason Heyward will most likely bat In the two hole and add both power and speed to the lineup. The Cardinals have veterans like Matt Holliday and Yadier Molina in the middle of the lineup. Kolten Wong and Matt Adams are emerging players.

Weakness - All around the Cards are pretty solid all around. Like any team they will count on some un proven players in the bullpen. They will also count on guys like John Lackey and Lance Lynn to have another good season. The Cards also need Michael Wacha and Adam Wainwright to be healthy.

Wild Card Players - Matt Adams is a huge guy. The Cards need him to have a big power season. If Adams can hit 25 home runs it will be huge for the team.The Cards also need Yadier Molina to be healthy. If he is in the lineup it adds another great hitter and also leadership.

Cubs

Strength - The Cubs have a great farm system. We know about their star prospects. The question is when they will all be ready and when they will be able to contribute. The Cubs however have three prime corner stone players in Anthony Rizzo , Starlin Castro , and Jon Lester.

Weakness - The Cubs may not be ready yet. We have to see when players like Kris Bryant , Addison Russell and Albert Almora will be ready to perform. We also need to see players like Javier Baez and Jorge Soler emerge.

Wild Card Players - Is Javier Baez ready ? Last year we saw the highs and the pop. We also saw him strike out like crazy. Baez can be a guy who hits 30-40 home runs. With players like Baez it can take some time but if he is ready he can be a huge duo with Rizzo.

Pirates

Strength - Andrew McCutchen , Gregory Polanco , and Starling Marte make up a an outfield that has a lot of speed and power. They also have a lot of power and speed in Josh Harrison. The Pirates will steal a lot of bases and score a lot of runs.

Weakness - The Pirates need Jordy Mercer to produce at short stop. They are handing him the full time job. The same can be said for Francisco Cervelli. Cervelli will be the full time starter for the first time in his career.

Wild Card Players - The Pirates are short on players who hit 25+ home runs however Pedro Alvarez has hit over 30 in his career before. He was brutal last year however the Pirates need him to bounce back.

Reds

Strength - Well Joey Votto and Jay Bruce are bounce back candidates. They struggled last year but in the past they have been two of the better players in the game. Votto a former MVP and Bruce an all star. They also have Todd Frazier who is a great power hitter.

Weakness - The Reds appear to be rebuilding. They traded Mat Latos and did not add much at the major league level to improve the team. The Reds have definitely down greater the team and need some bounce back years to go.

Wild Card Players - Joey Votto is a former MVP. He needs to and can get back to those MVP numbers. Votto is one of the better hitters in the game and if he hits the Reds will be better than as bad as they may be.

Brewers

Strength - The Brewers have a solid outfield combo in Ryan Braun and Carlos Gomez. Braun has had some injuries however he is an MVP candidate when he is healthy. Gomez is emerging as one of the best players and biggest stars in baseball.

Weakness - The Brewers traded away their long term ace in Yovani Gallardo.  However they still have some veteran arms. Personally I believe the weak point for the team is the bullpen. Unless they bring K-Rod back or add a bullpen piece. I do not trust Jonathon Broxton as the closer.

Wild Card Players - Khris Davis has so much power. Last year he was just so inconsistent. The Brewers need him to stay consistent and he can shock some people and hit 30 homers.

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Peter Vitella
@realpete13

Dunk Contest: The Top 5 Best Dunks

In honor of last weekend's All Star festivities, more specifically the Sprite Slam Dunk Contest, I would like to pick out five outstanding dunks. We had a tremendous, young group of guys like Giannis Antetokounmpo, Zach LaVine, and Victor Oladipo performing this year. I think they put on a great show on Saturday night. Although there have been hundreds of dunks in the Dunk Contest, only five can make it. Enjoy!

5. Paul George Lights It Up

In the 2012 Dunk Contest, Paul George suited up for his first, and only Dunk Contest. There, he faced athletes like Jeremy Evans and Derrick Williams. With an underrated group of dunkers, George stood out. So, George stepped up to the plate. He shut down all the lights in the arena, and he appeared. He appeared in a neon-green headband, sleeve, shoes and a taped up jersey. In addition to all of the lighting, George pulls off a Vince Carter-esque 360 windmill. In the end, Evans took the title, but I think we all know that George's dunk would have had 10's across the board in the old Dunk Contest format.

4. Little Nate Gets Up

From one neon-green outfit to another, number four on the list features Nate Robinson. In 2006, 5'9" Nate Robinson won the Sprite Slam Dunk Contest. There, he faced off against Andre Iguodala, where some say Nate stole the title from him. Now, three years later, Nate found himself back into the final round of the contest, this time against Superman himself, Dwight Howard. So Nate grabs his opponent, Dwight Howard, and decides to dunk over him. He pulls it off and wins the second of three Dunk Contest Championships. 

3. The Man With the S on his Chest

Speaking of Dwight Howard, he also put on a show in the 2008 edition of the Dunk Contest. Dwight took off his Orlando Magic jersey and revealed a Superman shirt. He then had Magic PG Jameer Nelson tie a Superman cape around him. Then, the former tandem put a piece of tape down on the floor, signaling where Dwight would take off. Then, Dwight took flight. Dwight soared so high and so far that he threw the ball into the hoop. Although he didn't physically dunk the ball, it showcased his all-around athletic ability.

2. Air Jordan

One of the best to ever play the game was possibly the best dunker of all time. I will be showcasing two of the famous dunks ever. The first, is Jordan's "Kiss the Rim" dunk. Jordan started off at the wing and turned on the baseline and took off. He elevated, basically sideways, and slammed it down. If you watch the dunk over, Jordan almost his head on the rim. The crowd roared, and it was one of Jordan's many iconic dunks. The other was the "Take Flight" dunk. In 1998, Jordan backed up and took off from the free throw line. This dunk was definitely a sight to see. The double-clutch, the glide, the finish, was, and still is, a classic. 

1. VC Runs the 2000 Dunk Contest

In the 2000 NBA Dunk Contest, Vince Carter tore the house down, with not one, not two, and certainly not three, but four dunks. All four are considered the best Dunk Contest dunks of all time. To start, Carter took off for a 360 degree windmill. He slammed it home with such authority that Kenny Smith thought it was over. Obviously, that dunk got a 50. Next, was a dunk from out of bounds. Carter jumped, and completed another windmill dunk. Unfortunate for Carter, he only got a 49 on it. Carter advanced into the Championship Round with these two dunks. To start off the final round, Carter did a between the legs dunk with help from teammate Tracy McGrady. After, Vince Carter pointed to the scoreboard ending his third phenomenal dunk. To end the night, Carter got up so high that his whole forearm was in the basket. With that dunk, Carter showed how athletic he is and how high he can jump. With these four dunks, Carter won the 2000 NBA Dunk Contest. 

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@_SwagggyT

The Trade that Changed Baseball

Alex Rodriguez and The Trade

Eleven years ago today the New York Yankees and The Texas Rangers pulled off a blockbuster trade that would change baseball forever. Alex Rodriguez the best shortstop in baseball would go to the Yankees and agree to play third base. The 2003 AL MVP would change positions for Derek Jeter. Rodriguez and Captain Derek Jeter would team up to be one of the most talked about and best left side of an infield ever.

The Early Lows

Alex Rodriguez and the Yankees were up 3-0 on the Boston Red Sox in the 2004 ALCS. Rodriguez
batted 339 in the 2004 playoffs however things changed for A-Rod when the Yankees blew the series.
 Of course their was the famous play when he slapped the glove of Bronson Arroyo. Rodriguez took some criticism and the next year A-Rod had a miserable postseason. In 2006 A-Rod had another brutal postseason and Joe Torre even dropped him all the way down to eight in the order. In 2007 the Yankees had another bad postseason and Alex was not much better.

Derek Jeter Relationship

The Papers and the media made a lot of drama out of the frayed relationship between Jeter and Alex Rodriguez. When the Yankees lost postseason series people worried about the chemistry between the two stars. However when they won the World Series no one questioned the friendship. Personally I
never believed that they were not friends. If they weren't why would they always be together in the dugout sitting together ? The papers and the news always over blew the relationship. Jeter and A-Rod played in many all star games together and always will have an odd friend ship. They definitely had their differences but their friendship was apparently strong enough to make it work. They had their highs and their lows. They make their case for one of baseballs best dynamic duos ever.

The Early Highs and the MVP Awards

Alex Rodriguez won two MVP Awards in his career with the Yankees. In 2005 Rodriguez blasted 48 home runs. He also batted 321 with 130 RBI. In 2007 Alex Rodriguez had possibly his best season ever. Rodriguez hit 54 homers swiped 24 bags and knocked in 156 RBI. Rodriguez hit his 500th
home run in the 2007 season. A-Rod was named to the All Star team with the Yankees from 2004-2008. He had at least 30 homers and 100 RBI in every one of those seasons. Rodriguez also opted out of his contract and signed a 10 year $275 million deal.

The Admission and the Post Season Hero

In February 2009 Alex Rodriguez admitted that he used PED's during the 2001-2003 seasons with the Texas Rangers. It was shocking to many baseball fans. On top of all of this A-Rod would get hip surgery and miss the first month of the baseball season. When he returned he hit a home run on the very first pitch he saw. During the 2009 season Rodriguez hit two homers in one inning on the last day of the season to get to 30 homers and 100 RBI once again. Rodriguez would silence the critics and have a monster postseason. Rodriguez would have a monster ALCS and ALDS before hitting a game winning double in the World Series. Perhaps two of A-Rods biggest homers ever were his game tying homerun off of Joe Nathan and his extra inning game tying homer off of Brian Fuentes. The Yankees would win their 27th World Series and A-Rod was the best player throughout the postseason run.

2010-2012

A-Rod would have another 30 home run and 100 RBI season with the Yankees. He would make it to another All Star game. He would also belt his 600th career home run. In 2011 Rodriguez would be named an all star once again. However injuries would hurt his second half. For the first time in 13 years Alex would not have a 30 homer and 100 RBI seasons. In 2012 Rodriguez battled more injuries and hit a low point in his career when he was pinch hit for in the postseason. The Yankees were bounced out of the ALCS by the Tigers and Rodriguez took a lot of the blame despite most of the team playing terrible. Rodriguez hit just 118 during the whole postseason. During the offseason Rodriguez would under go more surgery and the surgery would sideline him for some time in 2013.

2013 and the Biogenesis Suspension

In 2013 Alex Rodriguez was Suspended for his involvement in the Biogenesis case. However he appealed the suspension and was able to play when he returned from injury in August. Rodriguez added a boost to the Yankees lineup and his return added some ratings and excitement. He played in just 44 games and hit 7 home runs. His two biggest homers were the record breaking grand slam against the San Francisco Giants. A-Rod hit the grand slam that helped the Yankees win the game , it broke the all time grand slam record. Perhaps the best moment was when he was intentionally hit by Ryan Dempster against the Boston Red Sox. He then responded by blasting a home run. After the season Alex continued to defend himself however his efforts were for nothing. Rodriguez was suspended for all of the 2014 season. The suspension left a man who breathes baseball off the field for the first time in probably 30 years. Now the suspension is over and Rodriguez looks to make his
return.

11 years since the deal

So did the trade work out? Of course the trade worked out. Alex Rodriguez put up monster numbers. Rodriguez even without playing in 2014 and being injured from 2011-2013 is still fifth in WAR amongst active players. Rodriguez is sixth all time in home runs in Yankee history , despite just ten seasons. A-Rod may have cost the Yankees a lot of money however he has also made them a lot of money. Rodriguez has helped the ticket sales , tv ratings and memorabilia sales. A-Rod has become one of the most notable figures in Sports history for the good and bad. If A-Rods first 11 years are indicative of anything we have no idea what to expect from the next few. Rodriguez has had moments that are not pretty during the Yankee tenure , however he has had some great moments as well. The main reason it worked out is because the Yankees one the 2009 title and he was a major part of it.

By Peter Vitella
@realpete13

Al Central

AL Central

Tigers

Strength - The Tigers lost some pieces however they still have a tremendous 3-4 combo in the lineup with Miguel Cabrera and Victor Martinez. The Tigers also acquired Yoenis Cespedes. This team will not be short on power as all three players had at least 100 RBI. The Tigers also have a solid 1-3 with David Price , Anibal Sanchez , and Justin Verlander in the rotation.

Weakness - The Tigers bullpen is a major question mark once again. It looks like the Tigers will stick with Joe Nathan to close. The Tigers are shaky throughout and it hurt them once again in the playoffs last season.

Wild Card Players - Justin Verlander is a former CY Young and MVP winner. He has to be better than he was last year if the Tigers are to return to the playoffs. Max Scherzer is gone and Verlander has to be back to what he was in 2013. He may never be the guy with an era under 3 but his 2013 numbers have to be closer to that season.

Royals

Strength - The Kansas City Royals went to the World Series thanks to a dominant bullpen. The Royals have one of the best closers in baseball in Greg Holland and Wade Davis had one of the best seasons as a set up man. The Royals bullpen is filled with flame throwers.

Weakness - The Royals lineup is never the strongest. They parted ways with one of their longest

tenure veterans in Billy Butler. The Royals need production from their young players. They can't afford for any more inconsistent seasons. Eric Hosmer needs to truly break out into the star we have seen in the past.

Wild Card Players - I think Eric Hosmer can truly break out into a star baseball player this season. We have seen it in the past and if Hosmer can stay at his best he will be an all star. The Royals need him
to be their top hitter and replace Billy Butler in every way.

Indians

Strength - The Indians have a very power full lineup. The Indians will be looking for Nick Swisher and Jason Kipnis to bounce back. They also acquired Brandon Moss.  They also have Michael Brantley coming off an MVP type year. Carlos Santana and Yan Gomes also had powerful seasons.

Weakness - The Indians have a bullpen with a lot of players we are not sure about. Cody Allen showed us he can pitch In the ninth but you have to question who is going to get the baseball to him. You have to also see if he will have another good year because he is unproven.

Wild Card Players - Nick Swisher had a miserable year however he has had some big seasons in the past. The Indians are not short on power but imagine if Nick Swisher can bounce back and belt 20-25 home runs it makes the lineup that much deeper.


White Sox

Strength - The White Sox made some impressive moves this off season but perhaps the Pitching staff
was bolstered the most. The White Sox who already have Chris Sale and Jose Quintana , added Jeff Samardzija. The White Sox rotation will be very strong as Chris Sale is one of baseballs best pitchers.

Weakness - The Sox are relying on some un known talent at 2nd and 3rd base. The Sox have Carlos Sanchez and Conor Gillaspie at those positions. The Sox put a lot into the team and need both guys to contribute for this team to play well.

Wild Card Players - Sanchez and Gillaspie will need to be productive for this team. They also have Emilio Bonifacio. He can play many positions and can bring speed to the table. The mix of the three infielders can be good if they all play up to potential.

Twins

Strength - The Twins have plenty of veteran presence on this team. Joe Mauer is a former MVP primed for a big season and Tori Hunter makes his return to the Twins lineup. They also have Phil
Hughes and Kurt Suzuki.


Weakness - The Twins are still weak in some spots in the starting rotation. Ricky Nolasco had a terrible year. They also have some holes in the lineup and even the bullpen. The Twins will rely on some bounce back players and some breakout players.

Wild Card Players - Joe Mauer had a down year for really the first time in his career. This can be the year that Mauer is back to All Star status. Mauer was still getting used to not catching and I think that move will ultimately benefit him in every form of the game. Kenny Vargas showed off some power last year. A full season of him can be a big one for the Twins.


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By Peter Vitella
@realpete13

NL West

NL West

Dodgers

Strength - Anytime you have a rotation featuring the best pitcher in baseball Clayton Kershaw and a former Cy Young Winner in Zack Greinke you are dangerous.
Kershaw is clearly the best pitcher in all of baseball. Greinke had another great season on the mound. Hun Jin Ryu is an excellent third started and the addition of Brandon McCarthy will help the rotation even more.

Weakness - The Dodgers always make the playoffs but have been bounced year after year. With a top payroll and all this talent we need to see more from the Dodgers in the playoffs.


Wild Card Players - Jimmy Rollins is a former MVP and Rollins can contribute to this lineup. I think
the move to a contender can definitely rejuvenate him. Joc Pederson may finally get the chance to be in the Dodgers starting lineup. Pederson is a top prospect and a highly touted player. Pederson can potentially bring an impact along the lines of what Yasiel Puig brought when he emerged.

Giants

Strength - Once again the Giants have a talented and veteran pitching rotation. The Giants have pitchers who are proven winners and guys who can eat up innings. The Giants have post season legend Madison Bumgarner. They also have Matt Cain coming back from injury. The Giants also have veterans Jake Peavy , Tim Hudson , and Ryan Vogelsong. They also have Tim Lincecum and Yusmeiro Petit. Of the three Vogelsong , Lincecum , and Petit two of them will most likely contribute from the bullpen. The Giants have starters who can produce as starters who can be comfortable pitching from the bullpen.


Weakness - The Giants will never have the best lineup we know that. However they always find a way to win and be competitive. The Giants will have to scrap runs together even more this season as they lost Pablo Sandoval and Mike Morse.


Wild Card Players - Tim Lincecum showed us flashes of him being the freak last years. This can be the year he fully reinvents himself as a starter or it can be the year he moves to the bullpen. If he were to make the move to the pen I think we can see many benefits from this. Lincecum has shown us in the postseason how good he can be in the role.

Padres

Strengths - The Padres lineup is greatly improved and so has the starting rotation. The Padres added to the outfield and now have Justin Upton , Matt Kemp , and Will Myers. The Padres also have a strong rotation with Andrew Cashner , Tyson Ross and James Shields.

Weakness - The Padres  are taking a gamble. They made some big moves and will rely on some new players to make big strides. We have seen these teams fail in the past but the Padres have as good a shot as any.

Wild Card Players - Jedd Gyorko had a down year last year. Middle infield power is rare and we have seen him put up big numbers in the past. Gyorko will need to bounce back because the Padres can not just rely on the new additions. Andrew Cashner is proving how good he can be. The main concern is
his health. The Padres  need him to be healthy.

Diamondbacks

Strengths - The Diamondbacks have one of the best players in baseball in Paul Goldschmidt. He is a
monster bat and is young. He is ready for another great season. Mark Trumbo is another power bat
and he can protect Paul Goldschmidt.

Weakness - The Diamondbacks are really weak in their starting rotation. The Diamondbacks rotation consists of a lot of cast offs and pitchers who are 4's and 5's. Jeremy Hellickson will need to really bounce back and return to form.

Wild Card Players - Aaron Hill is a former all star and he has had big seasons in his own right. Hill has had some down years and injuries but the D'backs need a healthy year from him. The same can be said from former AL Rookie of the Year Jeremy Hellickson.

Rockies

Strengths - The Rockies have one of the most powerful lineups in baseball. Troy Tulowitzki is the best shortstop in baseball of course the Rockies need him to stay healthy. Charlie Blackmon and
Corey Dickerson had monster breakout seasons and so did Nolan Arenado. Justin Morneau won the batting title. Carlos Gonzalez when healthy is one of the best players in baseball and the Rockies lineup will be even better if he can play a full year.

Weakness - The Rockies play in the thin air and the ball flys out of the park. The Rockies pitching is never their strong suite. Jorge De La Rosa will be the ace of the staff and he too has battled injuries. The Rockies will rely on some questionable pitchers in both their bullpen and rotation.

Wild Card Players - When healthy Carlos Gonzalez is one of the best players in baseball. If the Rockies can keep him in the lineup the entire year they will have one of the best lineups in all of baseball.


Peter Vitella
@realpete13

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AL West

AL West 

Athletics 

Strength - The A's always put together a competitive team. They find a way to score runs and find a way to have certain players have career years. Once again the A's are still pretty deep at starting pitching. Sonny Gray had a very good year last year and so did Scott Kazmir. The A's will need Kazmir to have another great year. Jesse Chavez had flashes also. Drew Pomeranz also had some nice moments on the mound. The A's also have Jarrod Parker and AJ Griffin coming back some time during the season.

Weakness - Obviously the A's are missing three big power bats from the beginning of last season. They have lost Yoenis Cespedes , Josh Donaldson , and Brandon Moss. The Athletics appear to be very weak with offense however they have many players who they will count on to have career years. That will be the difference between a horrible year and another playoff year.

Wild Card Players - Ike Davis has displayed power in his career however we have seen him land on some tuff times. Davis had some tuff years with the Mets and did not have a huge role with the Pirates last year. Brett Lawrie was acquired when the A's traded the Blue Jays Josh Donaldson. Lawrie was a top prospect and every year we are waiting for his breakout. Can this be the year he breaks out ? A change of scenery can be good for Lawrie. 

Angels

Strength - The Angels have a powerful lineup. They have league MVP Mike Trout and one of the best players ever in the presence of Albert Pujols. Pujols bounced back to have a very good year last year and we saw Mike Trout have his best power year. Kole Calhoun belted 17 home runs. 

Weakness - The Angels are pretty solid all around however they need to rely on some of their pitchers if they are to make the playoffs again. Matt Shoemaker had a great year but we have to see if he can 

continue it. Andrew Heaney may get a chance despite struggling in his first call up last year. Jered Weaver is aging but still effective and we have to see when Garrett Richards returns. The Angels need CJ Wilson to bounce back. We saw his whip jump from 1.13 to 1.45 and his era jump from 3.38 to 4.51. It's hard to call this rotation the weakness because I like it but Wilson will be key. So will the recovery of Garrett Richards. 

Wild Card Players - Josh Hamilton is a former MVP and all star. He has had some of the best seasons around. Hamilton has already been injured and will miss 4-6 weeks. Many people do not expect much from Hamilton but that does not mean he can't return to All star status. That will be key for the Angels lineup. 

Mariners 

Strength - The Mariners have Felix Hernandez and Hisashi Iwakuma. They are both all star pitchers. Hernandez is clearly one of the best pitchers in baseball. James Paxton is also a very talented arm and I expect him to make great strides this season. The Mariners also have a top prospect in Taijuan Walker. The Mariners can use him to have a big season. 

Weakness - The Mariners have improved the lineup as Nelson Cruz will be able to protect Robinson Cano. Cano will have an even better season than last year now with the protection. The Mariners will swing and miss a lot. They will have a lot of hitters who will have low batting averages such as Mike Zunino , Austen Jackson  , Logan Morrison , and Brad Miller.

Wild Card Players - James Paxton showed us flashes of how good he can be. If 2015 is the year he breaks out and stays healthy the Mariners can have one of the best rotations in baseball. Paxton has a 2.66 era in 17 career starts. Taijuan Walker is clearly a highly touted prospect and the Mariners are not counting on him to break out yet but if he does imagine the benefits.

Rangers 

Strength - The Rangers will have a powerful lineup once again. Prince Fielder appears to be healthy and he will match up nicely with Adrian Beltre. Sin Soo Choo and Mitch Moreland can bounce back and put up nice power numbers. The Rangers have a great ballpark for hitters. 

Weakness - The Rangers have a lot of players who they are unsure of. They have many players who need to have bounce back seasons. How will Robinson Chirinos produce , how will Nick Martinez produce , who will play left field and second base? The Rangers will have question marks to overcome. 

Wild Card Players - Jurickson Profar was a former top prospect however now we are unsure were he
will play do to the various injuries. Profar does not have a guaranteed starting job. He has played in 

just 37 MLB games the past two seasons. This could be the year that Profar performs the way he was projected. 

Astros 

Strength - The Astros have a lot of power bats in their lineup. They also have some guys who can get on base and hit for some average. Jose Altuve Is easily one of the best players in baseball. George Springer , Chris Carter , Jason Castro , Evan Gattis , and Jon Singleton will hit the ball out of the park. 

Weakness - The Astros clearly do not have a clear cut ace. Dallas Kuechel had a great season but the Astros need him to have another big season. The Astros could not land Ryan Vogelsong and will count on some mediocre pitchers at the back of the rotation. They have some guys in the rotation who we just do not know what to expect. 

Wild Card Players -  Jason Castro was an All star in 2013. Last year he struggled but the Astros need him to bounce back and have a good season. Castro can be a vital part of the batting order. Jon Singleton showed some power last year however he fell on some hard times with the bat. If he puts it all together he can have a 30 home run season. 

@realpete13

Peter Vitella 

Check out the AL East and NL East Articles. These are not standings previews those are to come. 

http://theleaguesports.blogspot.com/2015/02/al-east.html

http://theleaguesports.blogspot.com/2015/02/nl-east.html

Sports Bros Podcast

Episode 43: Kidney Message

This week on the Sports Bros Podcast, Jordan, Shane, and Brad talk about Kanye at the Grammys, Syracuse’s self imposed post season ban, Yoan Moncada, the Ohio State/ Michigan recruiting battle, and talk sheep and goats.

To vote for the winner of this week’s opening question, be sure to head over to www.jordanrhall.com/vote

Don’t forget to follow the Bros on Twitter

@jordanhall23

@SportsBrosPod

www.jordanrhall.com

www.facebook.com/sportsbrospodcast

Give our buddies a download and listen to their great Podcast. 

@Realpete13

@Theleaguesport 

NL East

NL East

Nationals

Strength - The Nats starting rotation is clearly the best in baseball. Some people are talking about it being the best ever and we have not even played a game. I will hold off on that but I do know the Nats were one of the best teams last year and now they add Max Scherzer. Scherzer will be the number one. You also have Stephen Strasburg and Jordan Zimmerman who are also number ones and two of the best arms in the game. Doug Fister and Gio Gonzalez are aces in their own rights and Tanner Roark who was excellent shifts to the pen.

Weakness - In the past the weakness has been the experience factor but they have been relevant for some time now and I don't see much weakness on this team. The only weakness would be getting over the hump and avoiding getting bounced in the NLDS.


Wild Card Players - Is it possible to be as good as Bryce Harper and be a wild card player? It is possible because if Harper can stay healthy and play his game all year he is an MVP candidate and one of the best players in baseball. Ryan Zimmerman is also a wild card because when healthy he has been great. He is a great hitter and is a big RBI production. He needs to stay healthy.

Mets

Strength - The Mets have a dominant pitching staff. I say their staff is right behind the Nationals and close to as good as the Dodgers. The Mets get back their ace Matt Harvey and will have Jacob deGrom last years NL Rookie of the Year on their side. They also have Zach Wheeler who still has some growth. Dillon Gee and Jon Niese have had a lot of success also. Niese will be the lone lefty.
The Mets also have some touted pitching prospects and you can't forget about Bartolo Colon.

Weakness - The Mets failed once again to make a splash for a big bat. The Mets did pick up Michael Cuddyer however the question is will he be enough. The Mets have to depend on players like David Wright and Curtis Granderson to bounce back    and sometimes it's hard to depend on older players.

Wild Card Players - David Wright needs to be the Wright of old. The Mets need him to have a solid season. Wright can do it. Wright is a constant and a leader and a big season is needed if the Mets are going to make the playoffs. Matt Harvey is also a wild card because we have to see If he is going to be fully back and ready to go or if they are going to baby him. Will he be back to his old self?

Phillies

Strength - Philly is going through a tuff time. I don't see them being a good team this year however anytime you have Cliff Lee and Cole Hamels you would have to consider that your strength. The rest of the rotation is shakey to say the least.

Weakness - The Phillies are old and past their primes. A lot of the players they invested big in are finished as top players or are still really good and the Phillies are trying to trade them in the case of Lee and Hamels. This team has holes everywhere.

Wild Card Players - Ryan Howard was once one of the most feared hitters in baseball. If he can get back to something along those lines it would be great for the lineup. Dominick Brown was a 30 homer guy two years ago , last year he was terrible. He is still young and can bounce back.

Marlins

Strength - The Marlins play in a very big ballpark and they have a lot of pitching depth to go along with it. The Marlins probably will not get Jose Fernandez back until June but they recently acquired Mat Latos. We also saw big steps from Henderson Alvarez and Zach Cosart. The Marlins also acquired David Phelps and Dan Haren. Tom Koehler had a nice year also.

Weakness - The Marlins have improved with the bats and arms. They are pretty strong all around however they still have some players who they need to come through. There weakness has to be that they just have some players they are hit or miss.

Wild Card Players - Mike Morse can be a big bat for the Marlins lineups. He when healthy is a powerful bat and gets super hot. The Marlins need to keep him out of deep slumps and keep him healthy. David Phelps had some success with the Yankees and now he is in a better scenario. I think he can have a very good year for the Marlins.

Braves

Strength - The Braves traded away and got rid of a lot of players. They appear to be a bad team this year however they still have their strengths. They have Freddie Freeman who is one of the best hitters in the NL and Craig Kimbrel as the closer. These are two strong pieces.

Weakness - The Braves cut down on the strikeouts in the offseason however they still have hitters who have a ton of strike out potential. These hitters do not have as much power potential however. The Braves traded Jason Heyward , Justin Upton , and Evan Gattis and clearly downgraded at these positions. They appear to be rebuilding a little.

Wild Card Players - Mike Minor and Shelby Miller both had down seasons however if they come back and have good seasons the Braves will not be as bad as expected. Minor was dominant two years ago and showed flashes of it last year down the stretch.

Check out the Al East Preview also

http://theleaguesports.blogspot.com/2015/02/al-east.html

By Peter Vitella 

@Realpete13 

AL East

AL East

Yankees

Strength - The Yankees definitely have some depth now with versatile players like Stephen Drew and Garret Jones coming to the team. They also have plenty of options at the corners with Alex Rodriguez , Mark Teixeira , Chase Headley , and Jones. The Yankees have plenty of players who can move around and spell some older players.

Weakness - The Yanks are extremely old and injury prone. Their roster will be filled with players like Carlos Beltran , A-Rod , Teixeira , CC Sabathia , and Brian McCann. The pitching staff is also a concern because of health not so much age. Michael Pineda and CC have clearly had their injury issues over the past few years. Ivan Nova is coming off of Tommy John Surgery and Mashahiro Tanaka clearly has his elbow problems.


Wild Card Players - Michael Pineda is clearly an ace when healthy. He can be a Cy Young candidate if he stays on the mound all season. With the bat the Yankees have a guy with over 600 homers who is considered to be an unknown. Alex Rodriguez is coming back. We have seen guys like Raul Ibanez have monster seasons at age 40 and 41 so why should we rule it out for A-Rod.

Red Sox

Strength - The Red Sox have a lineup filled with All Stars and sluggers. David Ortiz is still having monster years. The Red Sox have added the big bats of Hanley Ramirez and Pablo Sandoval. I think Hanley will put up monster seasons for Boston. Then Dustin Pedroia is the Red Sox heart. Pedroia was injured but will have a major bounce back season. The Sox also have some young players like Mookie Betts and Xander Bogaerts.

Weakness - The Red Sox pitching staff is littered with questions. The Sox do not have a clear cut ace. A lot depends on what Clay Buchholz can do this season. The Red Sox also need a big year from Rick Porcello. Porcello had a great year last year but has never had a full year of consistent dominance before. Wade Miley has been up and down and a move to the AL can't really help. Justin Masterson has had his struggles and so has Joe Kelly. Kelly has great stuff and can be great for the staff.

Wild Card Players - Clay Buchholz and Joe Kelly can each be all stars if they can put everything together. They both have had flashes of dominance and Buchholz has had big years before. The Red Sox have some wild card bats in guys like Allen Craig and Shane Victorino  have been all stars in the past. Right now they don't have a job. One of them can still be traded but whatever they do can still
be beneficial. Brock Holt is also a player who showed us what he can do. Hopefully the he gets
playing time because he is good.

Rays

Strength - Even without David Price the Rays pitching staff is still very talented.
Alex Cobb is turning into one of the best pitchers in all of baseball. Cobb has dominated in the AL East his whole career. The Rays also Chris Archer and Drew Smyly young pitchers who continue to improve. The Rays also have a very talented pitcher in Matt Moore returning from Tommy John
Surgery.


Weakness - The Rays lost some bats. The bats always seem to be the problem. The Rays traded away Myers and Zobrist. They will count on James Loney , Desmond Jennings and John Jaso to protect Evan Longoria. The question for the Rays will be can they scratch out enough runs to support the
pitching staff.

Wild Card Players - Desmond Jennings has showed us flashes of being a star baseball player. The Rays will need him to have a strong season. The Rays also need a big season from Matt Moore coming back from injury. Moore has shown how great he can be. Without Price the Rays can really use him to have a big year. Jennings and Moore need to fully develop.

Blue Jays

Strength - The Blue Jays obviously have one of the best 3/4 lineup combos in baseball. The Jays also have speed with Jose Reyes. The Jays have finally added an extremely talented and gritty catcher in Russell Martin. Martin is a catcher who can slug 20 homers. The Jays also traded for Josh Donaldson who is another hitter who can give you 30 homers and 90-100 RBI.

Weakness - Besides Marcus Stroman and RA Dickey it is safe to say that the Jays are a little weak on the mound. Mark Buehrle is a trusted veteran but is better suited as a 4 or 5 than a 2 or 3. Drew Hutchison , and Marco Estrada will give up a lot of home runs and the AL East will be a tuff place to play. The bullpen is filled with question marks and Brett Cecil will take over as closer. I am more worried about who gets him the ball rather than if he can close. Perhaps the Jays can still add a veteran reliever.

Wild Card - It looks like the Jays will go with Justin Smoak at first base. Smoak has clearly had his problems but he has also showed us that he has power. The move from Seattle can really benefit Smoak. Smoak has been trying to break out for sometime now and the move may be his make or break. It also allows Encarnacion to mainly DH.

Orioles

Strength - Even with some subtractions the Orioles still have a pretty powerful club. They also have a good mix of some speed. Adam Jones is obviously the best player on the team. He can do it all and is a major power bat. This should be the year that Manny Machado puts everything together. Despite losing Nelson Cruz I think Steve Pearce can be a guy who can hit 20-25 homers.

Weakness - The Orioles clearly do not have an ace yet again. They have a rotion filled with mostly threes. They have Chris Tillman as their number one. The Orioles have made the playoffs without a clear cut ace but that has not translated into a World Series appearance.

Wild Card - Steve Pearce will be getting a lot more at bats now that Nick Markakis and Cruz are gone. Pierce showed a lot of pop last year and has the potential to be a guy who can hit 20-25 homers. Chris Davis has had his up and downs but the question will be can David be the guy from two years ago or is he more inclined for 30 homer seasons. Either way Davis should bounce back in a big way , just how big is what makes him a wild card.




By Peter Vitella
@realpete13

2014-2015 NBA Midseason Rewards

Most Valuable Player 

          Stephen Curry Golden State Warrior point guard is my early MVP. Steph has a had a remarkable first half of the season by averaging 23.7 points per game and also is averaging 8.1 assists per game and also has a fantastic 3Pt field goal percentage at 40.4 and this is all in 47 games and playing 33 minutes per game. Steph has a lead his Warrior squad to 39-9 and this is 2nd in the NBA behind the Atlanta Hawks. Another ribs key to Currys success is with his so called Splash brother Klay Thompson who is another great player who is having a career year also. 

Most Improved Player 

          This award goes to Jimmy Butler of the Chicago Bulls who is having a great year in his 3rd year out of Marquette. Butler is averaging 20.6 points per game and 6.0 Rebounds and has a 46.1 Field goal %. This has all been in 39 minutes per game and 46 games played. Last season he averaged 13.1 points per game and 4.9 rebounds and has his field goal percentage up at nearly 7 points with 39 field goal percentage per game. You can see how much he improved just by looking at these stats. 

Rookie of the Year 

         Andrew Wiggins hasn't been the most consistent this season but Andrew the # 1 pick in last summers draft has been good enough to be this season ROY. Andrew showed that he is talented by showing some games with 25 or more points in 3 different games this season. But this season he has averaged 15.3 points per game and 4.2 rebounds with a .43 field goal percentage. This guy could be a solid player in this league once he starts to become more familiar with the NBA. 

Defensive Player of the Year 

         The team that has one of the most underrated defense in the league because they get overlooked by there offense. This is why I believe that Draymond Green is the DPOY because he a tough nose defender who doesn't let people get angles on him and has been good most of time when there center Andrew Bogut is out he mostly helps out in the low block and is an inforcer down low. He also is very versatile standing at 6 foot 7 who can guard many people on the court. He can guard a guy like Derek Rose who is a point guard or a guy like Kevin Durant who is a forward. 

Sixth Man of the Year

         This award goes to yet another Warrior who is Marreese Speights. The Forward from Golden State is averaging 12.2 points per game and is also averaging 5.3 rebounds and 47 field goal percentage. This guy is a key component coming off the bench when guys like Draymond Green is off the floor. Standing at 6 foot 10 he adds a physical specimen to Golden State's front court.  

Coach of the Year 

        The Hawks have had much success this season and team is led by coach Mike Budenholtzer. The Hawks have had the best record in the NBA with 42-9. They have had many players that stepped up this season and that will be Atlantas big 3 led by Jeff Teague, Al Horford and Paul Millsap. They have compared this team to the way the San Antonio Spurs play who Budenholzer coach for as An assistant for many years. This is why I believe that coach Mike Budenholzer is the COY. 

Follow me on Twitter 

@EvanGrubin

New York Giants Receiving Core

     The New York Giants have a great group of receivers. If they all play next year, Eli Manning will have many guys to throw to. I would like to briefly talk about three receivers on the Giants, O'dell Beckham Jr., Victor Cruz, and Rueben Randle.

   

     O'Dell Beckham Jr. is a very talented receiver. He is extremely althetic and ran a 4.31 40 yard dash at the draft combine. He put together a great season while winning the Offensive Rookie of the Year Award. In only 12 games, he finished the year in the top 10 in receiving yards and touchdown receptions. He is hard to tackle in the open field and has great hands. He showed his catching ability with his famous one handed catch against the Dallas Cowboys. He also showed his great leaping ability by making that catch. Beckham draws the attention of defensive backs which can help Victor Cruz and Rueben Randle get open more.

     Victor Cruz is another great receiver on this team. With the Giants, he won 1 Super Bowl. Throughout his whole career, Cruz has 264 receptions. He and Beckham have a very similar style of play. They both have great speed and are hard to tackle in the open field. This season Cruz was injured in week 6 and was ruled out for the entire season.  Before getting hurt, Cruz was playing great. Cruz has no trouble getting open.

     Rueben Randle is a great player. This season he played every game and finished the season with 938 receiving yards. He is 6'2" and 208 pounds. He is bigger and taller than Cruz and Beckham. If he plays next season, Eli Manning should consider throwing him the ball in the red zone more often. In Randle's last 2 games of the season, he played great. In those two games combined, he caught 1 touchdown and got 290 receiving yards.

Is Tom Brady the Best Ever ?

Tom Brady just won his fourth ring and can easily be considered the best Quarterback of all time. Brady has made six appearances to the Super Bowl and won four. He is a former MVP and is high up on all of the major Quarterback stats lists. Brady is not done , far from it. The Pats are already favorites to return to the Super Bowl next year. Even if Brady doesn't win next year you figure he has at least three years left. There is definitely a chance that Brady can win another ring before he is done. Brady is fifth on the all time touchdown list and needs just eight more for 400. Brady is also fifth on the all time passing yards leaderboard. Tom Brady has knocked off the Rams , Panthers , Eagles , and now the Seahawks. After winning three Super Bowls right away it took Brady ten years before winning another. Brady was still in the playoffs every year except one while playing for the Patriots. He now has the most wins ever in playoff history and the most passing touchdowns.

Their will always be an argument of who is better Brady or Montana but Brady has made six Super Bowl appearances in the free agent era. He has done it at a time that Quarterbacks rule the game. In a game where Quarterback records fall all the time Brady remain consistent and on top of his game. Brady has passed for 392 touchdowns and Montana 273. Brady has passed for over 53,000 yards and Montana for over 40,000 yards. Granted the game is different now but Brady's numbers aren't slightly better than Montana's they are clearly better. Tom Brady has won two MVP awards and three Super Bowl MVP awards. Montana and Brady have the exact amount of Super Bowl Rings , Super Bowl MVP awards and League MVP Awards. Brady and Montana are clearly the two best ever. Personally I believe Brady is now the best ever and he is not even done.

Peter Vitella 

@Realpete13 

Sports Bros Podcast

Another great podcast by the Sports Bros Podcast give them a download!

Episode 41: A Crap Ton of Llamas

On this week’s episode of the Sports Bros Podcast, Jordan, Walter, and Brad talk all things Super Bowl, discuss Jonathon Football’s trip to rehab, hail Duke as the best team in the land, talk National Signing Day, and play Bro Down.

To vote for the winner of this week’s opening question, be sure to head over to www.jordanrhall.com/vote

Don’t forget to follow the Bros on Twitter

@jordanhall23

@w_lehmann22

@SportsBrosPod

www.jordanrhall.com

www.facebook.com/sportsbrospodcast

Peter Vitella from the League Sports Blog 

@Realpete13 

Transformation Tuesday: Tom Brady

From Nothing to Something

Tom Brady: 4-time Super Bowl Champion and 3-time Super Bowl MVP. Yeah, right, said any fan of football in the late 90's and early 00's. Well, yeah, Tom Brady just won the 4th Super Bowl of his career, tying Terry Bradshaw and Joe Montana for the most by a quarterback. Brady also won his 3rd Super Bowl MVP, now sharing the record with none-other than Joe Montana. Brady definitely had a slow start to his career, but over the years, you have seen tremendous improvements. Tom Brady, a young California kid, has come a long way. 

Before the NFL

Brady attended Junípero Serro High School where he was a three-sport athlete, playing baseball, basketball, and football. He was even drafted by the Montreal Expos as a catcher. Brady, obviously passed on baseball. Instead, he then attended the University of Michigan to play football. Brady would not find the field for the first two years of college, which led to severe frustration and anxiety. He would even go as far as to hire a sports physiologist. However, Brady would become the starter in his junior year, where he broke various records, including one for the most completions in a season, with 214. The Michigan star would go on to win Citrus and Orange Bowls. Next, he would enter the 2000 NFL Draft.

NFL Career

The image above is a very popular photo. Brady, at 6'0" and 211 pounds, is seen out-of-shape and not NFL-ready. Brady would look to overcome such challenges in his career. At the NFL Combine, Brady ran a historically low 5.28 40-yard dash. He also had a 24.5 vertical leap. Overall, he put up a terrible showing. But still, in the 2000 NFL Draft, Brady was selected with the 199th pick in the 6th round, by the New England Patriots. Here, he united with Bill Belicheck, who we all know had a long term plan for Brady (much like we have seen with Jimmy Garoppolo now). In his rookie season, Brady again couldn't find the field. But during the 2001 season, his time had finally come. 

Super Bowl #1

Brady would replace the injured Drew Bledsoe in Week 2. Brady would secure the the starting job with outstanding play. He finished the season with 2,843 yards and 18 touchdowns. In his first playoff game, Brady would be subject to one of the most controversial plays in NFL history, the Tuck Rule. Down by three in the 4th quarter and driving, Brady fumbled the ball, but was eventually overturned and changed to a incomplete pass. Brady would win that game and the next, and was going to Super Bowl XXXVI. This game was a tight one, and it came down to the end. Brady, started at their own 17 yard line with 1:21 left and no timeouts, drove down field to set up a game-winning field goal by Adam Vinatieri. This was Brady's first Super Bowl win and the first of his Super Bowl MVP's. 

Super Bowl #2

The New England Patriots started out 2-2, but then won 12 straight games to finish 14-2. Brady would return to the Super Bowl in the 2003 Playoffs for Super Bowl XXXVIII. Brady cruised through the AFC Divisional and Conference Championships games against the Titans and Colts. Once again, the ball was put in Tom Brady's hands. With the game knotted up at 29 and 1:08 to go, Brady drove his team down field for another game-winning field goal, a 32-29 victory over the Panthers. Brady totaled 354 yards and 3 touchdowns. Brady would again win Super Bowl MVP. Now, Brady was 2 for 2 in Super Bowls.

Super Bowl #3

The following year, Brady and the Pats cruised through opponents, again finishing 14-2. The New England Patriots again found themselves in the Super Bowl, this time facing the Philadelphia Eagles. Brady would get the job done again, winning Super Bowl XXXIX. Brady threw for 236 yards and 2 touchdowns. However, he did not win MVP honors, for that went to a Tom Brady receiver, Deion Branch. Branch caught 11 passes for 133 receiving yards. This was the Patriots 3rd title in the last 4 years. 

Super Bowl #4

The Patriots would not return to the Super Bowl again until 2007, this time with Randy Moss, Dontè Stallworth, and Wes Welker. This Super Bowl had a different feeling to it. The Pats were trying to complete a perfect season, but the New York Football Giants were in their path. In Super Bowl XLII, it would be the Giants, and not the Patriots, winning the Super Bowl. Of course, it was Eli Manning leading a game-winning drive, with an outstanding helmet-catch by David Tyree. Brady would finish with 266 yards, 1 touchdown, and his first Super Bowl loss. Brady was now 3-1 in his Super Bowl career.

Super Bowl #5

Brady's Patriots would once again meet Eli Manning's Giants in the Super Bowl. This time, it was Super Bowl XLVI in Indianapolis. Brady played well the entire game, but again fell victim to Eli Manning's late game heroics. It was a Mario Manningham sideline catch and a Ahmad Bradshaw touchdown that would deliver the final knockout punch. Most notably, Brady had 2 touchdowns and 1 interception. This would drop Brady to a 3-2 Super Bowl record. He was 0-2 against the Giants and Eli Manning. He will forever remember the Tyree and Manningham catches that would hold him from being 5-0 in the Super Bowl.

Super Bowl #6

All of that leads us to now, a Super Bowl XLIX matchup with the Seattle Seahawks. The Seahawks and their number 1 defense were coming off their first Super Bowl win against the number 1 offense Denver Broncos. The first half ended with Russell Wilson and Tom Brady trading blows. The game was tied 14-14. Early in the fourth quarter, the Patriots found themselves in a hole, down 24-14. Once again, it was Brady time, something we were all used to seeing on the big stage. Brady drives down the field with ease. Boom, one touchdown, and it is already 24-21. A defensive stop and the ball has found Brady again. With no more than 4 minutes left in the game, Brady just picks apart Seattle and replacement corner Tharold Simon for another touchdown. Well, Brady's done it again. However, Russell Wilson and the Seahawks had other plans. Wilson and Jermaine Kearse hook up on a tremendous bobbling catch in the red-zone. It is not the first time Brady's seen something like this. Then, on the 1-yard line, Wilson is picked off by Malcolm Butler, the savior. Brady is a 4-time Super Bowl Champion and a 3-time Super Bowl MVP, finishing with all 4 Patriot touchdowns. 

In the Long Run...

From a 6th-round pick, to the picture above.

Brady is definitely the greatest playoff QB of all-time, better than Montana and Bradshaw. Brady should really be 6-0 in the Super Bowl, but it just wasn't meant to happen, and he has to live with it. The great part about it, is that he's 37 years young and still has plenty of football left. Tom Brady: A 4-time Super Bowl Champion and a 3-time Super Bowl MVP. Yeah, right. 

Follow Me on Twitter

@_SwagggyT

Top 50 Early Outfielder Rankings

Top 50 Early Outfielder rankings
1. M. Trout
2. G. Stanton
3. A. Mccutchen
4. J. Batista
5. C. Gomez
6. A. Jones
7. R. Braun
8. M. Brantley
9. J. Ellsbury
10. J. Upton
11.  M. Kemp
12. Y. Puig
13. B. Harper
14. G. Springer
15. H. Pence
16. C. Dickerson
17. C. Gonzalez
18. M. Holliday
19. N. Cruz
20. Y. Cespedes
21. C. Blackmon
22. A. Gordan
23. S. Marte
24. B. Hamilton
25. M. Betts
26. W. Myers
27. J. Bruce
28. S. Choo
29. J. Solar
30. J. Hayward
31. C. Yelich
32. J. Werth
33. B. Gardner
34. M. Trumbo
35. G. Palanco
36. C. Kalhoun
37. R. Zimmerman
38. J. Harrison
39. J. Martinez
40. M. Ozuna
41. K. Davis
42. B. Zobrist
43. M. Byrd
44. Y. Tomas
45. B. Moss
46. A. Pollock
47. M. Cuddyer
48. O. Arcia
49. C. Granderson
50. D. Span
By: Joseph Vitella

Game Preview: Super Bowl XLIX

Time- 6:30 pm

Location- University of Phoenix Stadium, Gendale, Arizona

Super Bowl Sunday has finally come and its the matchup that all football fans wanted to see. The Patriots and Tom Brady will be looking for their fourth Super Bowl victory to continue their dynasty. The Seahawks are looking to win back to back Super Bowls. They would be the first team to do that since the 2003-2004 New England Patriots.

The Seattle Seahawks enter the game as 1 point favorites after the Patriots spent most of the week as 1 point favorites. The Seahawks are led by running back Marshawn Lynch, quarterback Russell Wilson, safety Kam Chancellor, and cornerback Richard Sherman. The Legion of Boom will look to stop Patriots star receiver Rob Gronkowski and Julian Edelman. The Seahawks offense will also be under a microscope as many believe if the Hawks cannot run then the game will be over. Wide receiver Doug Baldwin was outspoken when the wideout group was questioned. If the Seahawks want to repeat as champions, Russell Wilson will have to come up big both in the running and passing games.

The New England Patriots come into Arizona looking to avenge their Super Bowl 42 loss in Arizona as well as their loss to the Seahawks in 2012. Tom Brady will lead his troops into battle against one of the best defenses of all time but Brady is ready. Tight end Rob Gronkowski will play a huge role in the offense as if the Patriots can get him going early and often the run game will open up and this game might get out of hand. On the defensive side of the ball cornerbacks Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner look to silence the critics as the will want to prove that they are the best defense on the field. The defensive line with Vince Wilfork, Chandler Jones, and Sealver Siliga will be given a tough task in stopping Marshawn Lynch.

Key Players 

Patriots- Rob Gronkowski, Tight End: Rob Gronkowski or Gronk as he is better known, will have to have a big game for the Patriots. The All-Pro tight end will look to beat Kam Chancellor in one of  the best match-ups in Super Bowl history. Gronk has helped Tom Brady all season with huge plays and if the Patriots want to walk away with a fourth Super Bowl title, Gronk will have to spike a couple of balls in the end zone.

Seahawks- Russell Wilson, Quarterback: The former third round pick will look to win his second consecutive Lombardi Trophy in the desert. Wilson is a true dual threat as he lead the league in rushing yards for a quarterback and he was near the tops in passing yards. The Pats will look to contain him in the pocket but Wilson will be looking to prove he can adjust and win. If Seattle wants to start a dynasty Wilson will have to play his game and then some.

Predictions
After a long season for both teams and the NFL it is fitting for the season to end in a battle of the top teams from each conference. The Patriots come in as underdogs but this is not the first time it has happened. After a difficult regular season, the Patriots rebounded to make the Super Bowl. Similarly, the Seahawks struggled out of the gate but still made the Super Bowl. In a matchup for the ages, the Patriots will walk out of the desert with another Lombardi Trophy for their collection. The Patriots will win in overtime 23-17 on a Brady to Gronkowksi connection for the win.

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