Best to Worst: Divisions in Baseball

1. American League East
NY Yankees, Red Sox, Blue Jays, Rays, Orioles

Realistically, any of these 5 teams has a legitimate chance at taking home this division title in 2013. Last year, no one expected the Baltimore Orioles to win 93 games and take the Yankees to the final week of the season to determine the division champ, but they did. Buck Showalter led his group on a remarkable campaign, which saw them in contention the entire season and clinch their first playoff berth 1997 as one of the American League's Wild Card squads.

Courtesy of NorthJersey.com

There's also the Rays, who have been a fantastic team since they dropped the Devil from their name in 2008, and are constantly loaded with young talent and the ever-important pitching. You also have a reloaded Jays team, the aging but dangerous Yankees, and the huge question mark that are the Red Sox.

In all likelihood, the Red Sox won't be contending for higher than 3rd in this division, but they're talented enough to win games and give teams trouble.

2013 Favorites on Paper: Toronto Blue Jays
Why: On paper is much different than actually getting the season underway and playing, but "on paper" is a favorite discussion of those who wish to scrutinize and analyze before the games are played. In this case, the Jays are the new, sexy team of the AL East. They made a blockbuster trade with Miami, landing a new shortstop (Jose Reyes) and two new starters (Mark Buerhle and Josh Johnson), then went out and traded for reigning NL Cy Young winner RA Dickey. In addition to those, they also signed the enigmatic Melky Cabrera. Add these fellas to a lineup that smashed 198 homers in 2012, and you have a recipe for a team that should find success relatively quickly.

2. National League East 
Nationals, NY Mets, Braves, Marlins, Phillies

The only two teams that, most likely, won't be in contention are the Mets and Marlins. What with the Marlins, once again, selling off their entire roster at the behest of the sideshow ownership led by Jeffrey Loria, and the Mets being the Mets. That being said, the other three teams in this division are solid.

The Nationals are coming off a stellar 2012, owning the best record in baseball and surprising the world with their dominance. The Braves are also young and extremely talented, ready to go with some new acquisitions, the most notable being the Upton brothers. The Phillies also surprised a lot of people in 2012, but not for the reasons they were striving for. Led by a stout rotation headed by Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee and Cole Hamels, many expected the Phillies to once again run away with the NL East. However, that was not the case. They struggled to score runs and stay healthy, and looked like a generally old and tired team throughout. If they can bounce back and provide their pitching depth with an offense capable of holding their own, they should be in good shape for a revamped run at the division.

2013 Favorites on Paper: Washington Nationals

Courtesy of Bleacher Report

Why: After a great season in 2012, the Nationals will be back to prove it was no fluke. Bryce Harper will be a year older and more comfortable in his new digs, and he'll have a new outfield counterpart in the form of Denard Span. Also, the likes of Ryan Zimmerman, Ian Desmond, Danny Espinosa and Adam LaRoche form one of the better infields in baseball because of their defensive prowess coupled with their solid offensive abilities. The Nationals are also blessed with one of the most stout rotations in all the land, boasting Stephen Strasburg, who will be a free bird in 2013, along with last years Cy Young contender Gio Gonzalez, Jordan Zimmerman and recently-acquired Dan Haren. The Nats should be able to score with just about anyone, and out-pitch just about everyone.

3. American League West 
Athletics, Angels, Rangers, Mariners, Astros

Two years ago, this ranking would've seemed unlikely, or a stretch at best. But now, after a 2012 season which had two teams win over 90 games and another win 89, we have ourselves a fine division. The Oakland A's shocked everyone by capping an incredible season and topping the Rangers for the division crown in the last series of the season, and should be in a decent position to have another good campaign for 2013. The Rangers have been a steady powerhouse of the American League for 3 years running now, and the Angels will be reloaded for what should be a more successful run in 2013.

The only teams in this batch that really don't stand a chance are the Astros and Mariners. The Mariners have been inept for about a decade now, and despite improvements they probably won't be in any sort of position to make a run next season either. Their problem is they can't hit or score runs despite having a decent pitching staff. They should be better with the additions of Michael Morse, Kendrys Morales, and Raul Ibanez, but it won't be enough to get them anywhere just yet.

Courtesy of Sports Illustrated

Then there's the Astros. The Astros are just the Astros. Anyone who can name more than 6 players on this roster deserves a bonus because they're full of inexperienced youngsters who are just sniffing the bigs for the first time. They can't hit, they can't pitch, and they can't field as they were in the bottom 5 of each of these categories in 2012. It'll be a long adjustment period to the AL for the Astros, and they won't be good anytime soon. Nothing to see here.

2013 Favorites on Paper: LA Angels
Why: After calling up Mike Trout on April 28th, the Angels were the best team in baseball. They didn't make the playoffs, however, because prior to that date the Angels were abysmal. They dug themselves such a huge hole, that despite doing everything, and I mean everything, even Trout couldn't lead them into the postseason. That should all change in 2013 as he'll be there for the whole season, and he'll be joined once again by Albert Pujols who settled into the American League nicely after a minor acclimation period at the onset. Also coming to Southern Cali in 2013 is Josh Hamilton. The 2010 MVP will be a huge asset to the Angels, as he's arguably still the best offensive player in baseball and will add a new level of danger to their lineup. It also helps that they stole him away from the Rangers, their division foe. Combine their great lineup with the likes of Jered Weaver, CJ Wilson and Tommy Hanson holding down the fort on the mound, and you should have the talent to secure a division title in sunny LA.

4. National League Central
Reds, Cardinals, Brewers, Pirates, Cubs

Fortunately for the NL Central, or unfortunately depending on how you look at it, they rid themselves of the Houston Astros for 2013 who would've weighed down the collective mean of the group. Yet they still have the Pirates and the Cubs, who haven't been good for a while, so there's that. The last two seasons the Pirates have teased baseball fans everywhere by contending for the division title as late as the All-Star break, but in classic Pirate fashion they faltered horribly down the stretch and finished under .500 to carry that streak to 20 seasons. Imagine that: 20 straight seasons of having lost more games than you've won. Ineptitude at it's finest. But they are improving. Andrew McCutchen should be their face for the next decade, and he shows huge promise, finishing 3rd in the MVP vote last season after a spectacular season. The Cubs, on the other hand, won't be good for a while.

The Reds and Cardinals are clearly the top dogs in this division, and the Brewers are a distant third. Sure, they have Ryan Braun and Yovani Gallardo as their centerpieces, but that's about it. They've got some aging veterans, and some unknown youngsters but should be a decent team with all things considered.

Despite losing Albert Pujols to free agency and Adam Wainwright to injury in 2012, the Cards still won 88 games and nearly made it back to the World Series. There's just something about this team that seems to always get the job done, and they should once again in 2013 if all goes well. They've got a very good lineup, and an extremely deep rotation, even with the reported loss of Chris Carpenter for the season.

2013 Favorites on Paper: Cincinnati Reds

Courtesy of Zimbio

Why:  They'll have Joey Votto, hopefully, for a full season which will improve their struggling offense undoubtedly. Even without him for much of the latter half of the season, the Reds still won the Central by 9 games, good enough for the largest margin of any division winner in the MLB. Their pitching, led by Johnny Cueto, is among the best in baseball and should be quite solid once again. If they can hit even remotely better than they did in 2012, the Reds should have no problem snatching this division once again for 2013. Also, lest we forget that this team was only one win away from a berth in the NLCS as well.

Mr. do-it-all Brandon Phillips will be back, and the addition of Shin-Soo Choo should be a good boost for the top of the lineup. If all goes according to plan, the Reds should have little trouble winning this division.

5. National League West
Giants, Dodgers, Diamondbacks, Padres, Rockies

Coming in with the second worst division in baseball, is the NL West. This is the division from which the defending World Champion Giants hail, but it doesn't mean this division is much of anything. Save for a couple seasons, the Padres and Rockies are perennial cellar-dwellers, and should be chalked up for 4th and 5th place finishes once again in 2013. The Diamondbacks defined mediocrity last season with their 81-81 record, and perhaps could be a tad better in 2013, but not by much. Best case scenario for them is likely 3rd once again.

The Giants and Dodgers, two arch-rivals of Southern California are the two teams to watch here. The Giants are obviously talented given their championship just a few months ago, and the Dodgers are loaded with their recent additions. The issue for the Giants is their inability to score runs. Just like they did in 2010, however, they defied all odds by winning a title with a subpar offense and phenomenal pitching. Yes, Buster Posey won the NL MVP and batting title, but he can't do it all himself. The pitching will need more support, and I just don't know that they can get it from this lineup. Another interesting question mark for them is Tim Lincecum. Will he resemble the two-time Cy Young winner of a few years ago, or will he continue his inexplicable downward spiral? He may be the difference between a division title, and a wild card berth.

Courtesy of Fan Duel

2013 Favorites on Paper: LA Dodgers
Why: On paper, the Dodgers have it all. If healthy, and that's a huge if, they have an outstanding outfield which includes Matt Kemp, Carl Crawford, and Andre Ethier. They also acquired Adrian Gonzalez last August, and Hanley Ramirez in late July to provide more pop to their somewhat bland lineup. Add them to a rotation lead by 2011 Cy Young winner, and last years runner up, Clayton Kershaw and the recently signed Zack Greinke, and you're looking at a very dangerous team. If the Dodgers can stay healthy and continue to pitch well, they should certainly be considered the favorites for this division. The Giants should be their true test, but if they're firing on all cylinders they'll definitely be the cream of the crop of the NL West.

6. American League Central 
Tigers, White Sox, Royals, Indians, Twins

No offense to the Tigers, who made the World Series in 2012, but this division is downright embarrassing. Granted, they should be better in 2013, as the Indians should be improved, but it's still a division thats tough to watch. Last season, it took a meager 88 wins to win this division crown, and that's a number that 4 non-division-winners eclipsed last year. Had the Rays been in this division, they likely would have won 95-100 games and been a dominant force. Instead they played in the stout East and had to face the Yankees, Jays and Orioles regularly, winning 90 games in the process.

This isn't to say things can't get better. They were competitive in their own right and the division came down to the White Sox and Tigers in the last two weeks of the season. The Sox are young and on the rise with a good pitching staff, just probably not enough to grab this division just yet. The Royals always seem like they might get better, but eventually go back to being the old reliable of the bunch, losing somewhere in the vicinity of 90 games every year. I'd like to think they'll be better with the acquisition of James Shields, Wade Davis, and Ervin Santana, but I'm not exactly counting on it.

The Indians should be better with Terry Francona now leading the way, but it's tough to envision their pitching being much better than it was last year, which wasn't exactly good. As for the Twins, they pretty much had a firesale in the offseason, and you'd be hard-pressed to name anyone on their roster without the initials JM.

2013 Favorites on Paper: Detroit Tigers
Why: After reaching the World Series in 2012, the Tigers showed they can still ball despite their mediocre regular season. A team which included Justin Verlander, Miguel Cabrera, and Prince Fielder was expected to win more than 88 games and contend for the World Series, and at least they did the latter. They've got a great lineup, which will only improve with the addition of a healthy Victor Martinez and Torii Hunter, and a deep rotation.

Courtesy of Sporting News

They have the only pitcher to win an MVP in the last 20 years, Justin Verlander, and he's got a solid supporting rotation around him with the likes of Doug Fister, Anibal Sanchez, and Max Scherzer. They also have the only player to win the batting Triple Crown in the last 45 years in Cabrera. Needless to say, Detroit has a lot of stars.

If Austin Jackson continues his growth to superstardom at the top of their lineup, and things fall into place the way they should, the Tigers should have zero trouble winning this below-average division. Playing the Royals and Twins upwards of 18 times a piece is a gift that I'm sure they'll capitalize on, and they should march onwards towards October with another division title in hand.

NBA Midseason Awards

With the NBA season more than halfway over, people will begin number-crunching and analyzing every statistic known to man in order to cast their votes for their end-of-season picks. If the season were to end today, these are who I see best fit to walk away with the NBA's major awards.

MVP- Kevin Durant, SF, Oklahoma City Thunder

Courtesy of Washington Times

The Durantula is the face of a franchise for a squad that has only been in existence for 5 years, and he's done an admirable job making them highly recognizable among the league's best during his tenure. In summation, Durant is one of the most electric players in the league today. At 6'9'', he is probably an oversized small forward, but it fits the dynamism of his game that much better. He can pull up from just about anywhere and hit a shot over any defender, drive through the lane and jam from 5 feet out, or drive and pull up, making his defender sprawl out trying to contest his shot. Between him and LeBron, you'll potentially have the next decades worth of MVP awards sticking between two guys the way they play. And aside from the aforementioned LeBron, you won't find a more unique and dangerous offensive threat with the ball in his hands.

And with the way KD has performed to this point in the season, leading the league in scoring for the 4th straight year and also leading the way in minutes played, it's hard to argue against him. Currently, his team has the 2nd best record in the NBA sans James Harden, and Durant is the biggest reason why. With him enjoying a career year in terms of FG percentage, 3-point percentage, and en route to blast his career-high in assists, Durant is certainly a worthy candidate for the highly coveted MVP award, finally snatching it from the firm grasp of LBJ.

Honorable Mentions: James (MIA), Kobe Bryant (LAL), Chris Paul (LAC), Carmelo Anthony (NYK)

Rookie of the Year- Damian Lillard, PG, Portland Trail Blazers

In what's been a very solid rookie class, the one who stands out the most has to be Damian Lillard of Portland. Not only has he been a lightning rod in the Blazers offense, he's been a reliable ball handler who looks poised and experienced in a league suddenly loaded with point guard talent. He's been a catalyst for Portland's offense, being their primary floor general while averaging nearly 39 minutes per contest. His time played, coupled with his solid 18.5 PPG and 6.5 APG averages, makes you look at this guard out of Weber State and wonder what his future holds, as it certainly looks very bright.

Despite other big names such as #1 overall pick Anthony Davis and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, both out of Kentucky, Lillard has flown under the radar as an generally unheard of rookie mixed in the shuffle of the other notable rookies. Especially being in a market such as Portland, Lillard is also missing out on a little bit of publicity that he may otherwise receive if he were performing at this level in the likes of Los Angeles, Boston, or Chicago. Despite that, Lillard is certainly a budding star in a league full of them, and he'll likely be recognized at the end of the season for his efforts.

Honorable Mentions: Davis (NOH), Kidd-Gilchrist (CHA), Andre Drummond (DET)

Most Improved Player - Paul George, SF, Indiana Pacers

Courtesy of NBA.com

This award, probably the most arbitrary of all of them, is hardest to decipher because of what is exactly it means. Does it mean that this player is simply getting more playing time and executing, or does it convey someone who has done more with the same opportunity he's had in previous years? Regardless, I'm giving it to Paul George as he has enjoyed the similar playing time as previous years, but he's rounding into more of a leader that the Pacers expected when they drafted him 10th overall in 2010.

What stands out the most is that Indiana has gone the whole season without Danny Granger thus far, and George is making the absence of him look seemingly insignificant. He's obliterating his career high for PPG (17.6), assists (3.7), rebounds (7.6), 3-point percentage (39%), and minutes played (38), and looking like a superstar in the process. He's helped the Pacers to the third best record in the East, and look like serious contenders in a conference where there are only a few who look legitimate.

George has finally turned into the all-around player that Indiana thought they were selecting 3 years ago, and they're reliance on him is certainly paying off.

Honorable Mentions: Jrue Holiday (PHI), Greivis Vasquez (NOH), Serge Ibaka (OKC)

Defensive Player of the Year- Joakim Noah, C, Bulls

In a year without the services of Derrick Rose being readily available, Joakim Noah has kept the Bulls afloat with his breakout year. After being selected to his first All-Star roster, Noah has continued to prove why he's one of the best big men in the league, and why he's a borderline superstar for different reasons.

What Noah brings to the table are the intangibles. He brings effort, hustle, emotion, and leadership night in and night out. He's the type of player you hate when you play against him, but love if he's on your side. Aside from the things you can't calculate in statistics, Noah is also averaging career highs in blocks (2.1) and steals (1.3) per game. He's a big-time presence in the paint, and he's truly turned into one of the most efficient defenders down low in the post, making ball-handlers second guess their decisions to enter the paint. Similar to Tyson Chandler of last year, Noah has always been a good defender, but has elevated his game this year and is worthy of being recognized as the leagues best for 2012-13.

Honorable Mentions: Chris Paul (LAC), Marc Gasol (MEM), Tony Allen (MEM)

Sixth Man of the Year- Jamal Crawford, SG, Los Angeles Clippers 


In what is turning into a two-man race between Crawford and JR Smith of the Knicks, I give the edge to Crawford because of the difference maker he has been since his debut in Clipper red at the beginning of this season. He's an incredible playmaker, becoming notable for his excellent ball-handling skills and ability to create his own shot. He's also provided a huge relief to the likes of Chris Paul, being able to keep him fresh and keep the offense flowing while #3 is resting up on the bench. Crawford and Eric Bledsoe have led a second-unit that is undoubtedly the best in the NBA, and one that could arguably be a starting five on some of the leagues less talented teams.

Crawford has been a huge lift to a Clippers team that has looked like serious title-contenders in 2012-13, and his role off the bench has put him in a position to win this award for the second time in his career.

Honorable Mentions: Smith (NYK), Jarrett Jack (GSW), Kevin Martin (OKC)

Coach of the Year- Mark Jackson, Golden State Warriors

Always a contentious category, Coach of the Year is given typically to a guy who has led his team to places beyond original expectations. Mark Jackson certainly fits this category.

After an uninspiring first season at the helm which resulted in no playoff appearance and being 20 games under .500, Jackson has turned his team around to the utmost extent. Currently sitting as the 6th seed in an ultra-competitive Western Conference, Jackson has made the most of his teams talent and has turned them into one of the most exciting teams in the league. Players like Stephen Curry, Jarrett Jack, and Klay Thompson are enjoying career years under the tutelage of Jackson, and he's proving why many people thought he'd make a great coach while he sat as an NBA color commentator for a number of years after his playing career ceased. If the Warriors can clinch a playoff berth, or even improve upon their current standing, Jackson should be a shoo-in for this award.

Honorable Mentions: Mike Woodson (NYK), Frank Vogel (IND), Tom Thibodeau (CHI)

Super Bowl Continues to Prove It's Greatness

A 34-minute blackout, filling an empty void with terrible impromptu broadcasting, and the ridiculousness of Phil Simms were 3 things that made all football fans roll their eyes in disgust during last night's 47th edition of the Super Bowl, yet that didn't change anything. By the time the final whistle had sounded, this year's Super Bowl had once again shown why it is the single greatest sporting event in North American sports, and why nothing will change that for the foreseeable future.

Courtesy of Forbes

After two weeks of build up consisting of never-ending reminders that the Harbaugh coaches are indeed brothers, Ray Lewis loves God and is retiring, and Colin Kaepernick is really fast, we finally arrived at Sunday night, ready for the opening kickoff. There was no more need for useless chatter building hype, and insane pricking and pronging into the most unnecessary statistics, we could finally just kick back and watch what was certain to be a great game. One in which the 49ers were the favorites, and it was widely thought that they'd walk off the field as World Champs at the end.

But wait, after a 3 and out to start their first drive, followed by two Ravens scores, people started wondering what was going on. Suddenly it was the Ravens that looked like the juggernaut, both offensively and defensively, and the Niners were scampering to pick up the pieces. Yet before it could get better, it had to get worse. Joe Flacco found a falling Jacoby Jones deep down the middle of the field, where he made the grab and sprung up untouched, eventually dancing and spinning around the constantly-exploited Chris Culliver to jog into the endzone for a 56-yard score. Luckily for the Niners, they managed to convince David Akers to actually kick not one, but two kicks through the uprights, giving them their only points of the first half. It was 21-6 at the midway point, and the 49ers were certainly wondering what was going on.

After deferring the opening coin toss, the Ravens were set to receive the ball first in the second half. The kickoff found the back of the endzone, sending Jacoby Jones 8 yards deep to field it. Rather than taking a knee, Jones made a run for it, but he made it count. He split the seam and sprinted up the middle of the field, breaking a tackle and busting loose for a 108-yard return to the house. It was the longest play in Super Bowl history and the Ravens had picked up right where they left off. Then the lights went out. Literally.

A 34-minute power outage sent CBS into a frenzy, scurrying to do whatever they could to fill this incredibly awkward void. Players killed time by stretching, tossing the pigskin, and doing whatever they could to stay loose. Finally, the lights were turned back on in the SuperDome and the game was resumed. But the Niners must have found some secret in the confines of the dark, because once play continued it was all San Francisco, and Baltimore was nowhere to be found. They went on to score 17 unanswered points in the third quarter, thanks to touchdowns by Michael Crabtree and Frank Gore, and were now within 5 points of the Ravens who had staked themselves to such a huge lead.

What was once a one-sided, purple-filled blowout was now an actual ballgame. The Niners, and Colin Kaepernick, were flexing their proverbial muscles and were showing that the first half was just a fluke. The Ravens began the 4th quarter with a long drive that resulted in a goal-line stand by SF, and only 3 points for Baltimore. The 49ers continued holding momentum by driving right back down the field, and capping the drive with a 15 yard touchdown run by Kaepernick, the longest rushing score by a QB in Super Bowl history. After another Baltimore field goal, Kap led the Niners on another drive with just over 4 minutes left in the game. They needed a touchdown to take the lead, but after having 1st and goal following a 33-yard rush by Gore, San Fran was stopped dead in their tracks. Three straight pass attempts to Crabtree resulted in San Fran turning the ball over on downs and essentially clinching the game for the Purple Pain.

Joe Flacco was named MVP, thanks to his 287-yard, 3 TD performance, and he tied Joe Montana for the most touchdowns in the playoffs without throwing a pick. A 34-31 victory sent Ray Lewis into the sunset a champion once again, and once again proved the old adage that if a team gets hot at the right time, they can certainly run the table. But this game was more than the Ravens being crowned champs, it meant that American football was once again crowned the king of the four major sports. Nothing can even hold a candle to the power that football holds in this country, and the Super Bowl encapsulates that in one event.

Courtesy of CNN

Even when it looks like it's going to be a blowout, the Super Bowl has this magical way of drawing the viewers attention. If the lights had gone out with the Ravens holding a 22-point lead, and they had lost, we'd be hearing about this being the reason they lost for the next 6 months, and nobody needed that. Luckily for our sanity, the Ravens held on to avoid that ridiculous notion, but the Niners at least battled back to make it one hell of a game.

Not to mention that the Super Bowl is one singular event. It's not a series, unlike the other 3 sports which all require the winner to win 4 games to be crowned. You can settle in for one Sunday night, and know that by the end you'll be assured to see a victor. If you want to do that for the other sports, you'd need to set aside a week or longer in order to find out who comes out victorious.

The greatness of the Super Bowl lies in it's suddenness and it's ability to provide the unexpected. There's also a reason why it costs $4 million dollars to advertise for 30 seconds during this game, and it costs around $3,000 to buy a ticket. This is the hottest commodity in all of sports, and it's pitting the two best teams in the league against one another for the entire world to see. Simply put, there's nothing else like it, and currently nothing can rival it. At the pace that it's going, nothing will be able to rival it anytime soon, either. Baseball seems to be losing it's luster, given it's constant controversy and reluctance to join the 21st century. It's also too boring. In an age where people need things done lightning fast, and prefer to multi-task than to do one thing, football fits us perfectly. It's insanely fast, wildly violent, and anything can happen at any second. Unlike baseball where there's practically a minute between each pitch, and basketball where you really don't need to see much until the fourth quarter, football provides us with immediate satisfaction and it is fully encapsulated in the wonderment surrounding it's biggest draw, the Super Bowl. It's the greatest show we have in this country, and it consistently proves why every single year.