The Chicago White Sox are currently 20-23, but that’s good for just fourth in the AL Central.  A team that has never been shy about making bold moves and entered the season nearing a $120 million payroll, they could easily decide to tear things down (somewhat) and look towards rebuilding for 2014 and beyond.

Who could be on the move?  Let’s take a look:

5) Jake Peavy – Starting Pitcher
He’s under contract for $14.5 million for 2014 and has a vesting option for 2015 (at $15 million).  While Peavy would obviously provide a boost to any rotation, that’s a hefty investment for a pitcher who has struggled with injuries.  In fact, 2012 was the first time since 2007 that he made at least 30 starts (from 2009-2011 the most appearances he made in a season was 19).

He hasn’t hit the DL, yet, in 2013 though he did have a start pushed back (going from 4/26 to 5/8).  He’s going to have to prove that he’s healthy  and the White Sox could have to eat some of the potential money owed to him to get a deal done.  It’s possible, though feels like a long shot.

4) Alex Rios – Outfielder He’s signed through 2014 with a 2015 option, so it’s easy to imagine the White Sox holding onto him.  However there are teams, like the New York Mets, who are desperate to improve their outfield talent.

Rios is currently hitting .301 with 10 HR and 8 SB through 43 games, a year after hitting .304 with 25 HR and 23 SB.  Of course it wasn’t long ago (2011 to be exact) where he hit .227 with 13 HR and 11 SB in 537 AB, so we all know that he is far from a consistent producer.

At 32-years old, the White Sox could move him figuring that his value may never get higher again.  They also have numerous outfield prospects, at various stages of development, who could potentially step in to fill the void.  Could the White Sox opt to trade Rios, a notoriously up-and-down player, if offered a few young arms?  It certainly wouldn’t be shocking.

3) Paul Konerko – First Baseman He was acquired by the team prior to the 1999 season and has been a fixture in the lineup ever since.  Now 37-years old and a free agent after the season, could the team reward him for his service by giving him a chance to win a title one more time?

He obviously has struggled thus far this season (.220, 4 HR, 17 RBI), but just a year ago he hit .298 with 26 HR so it’s hard to imagine that he just completely lost it in one fell swoop.  There’s still power in his bat and he actually has been hitting the ball extremely hard (24.6% line drive rate).

If made available he would be the perfect addition for a team looking for some pop from the right side of the plate.  The question is if the White Sox are willing to trade a player with such a long tenure.  If he’s not part of the 2014 plans (and it is easy to say he isn’t), they definitely should investigate it.

2) Matt Thornton – Relief Pitcher
Left-handed relievers are at a premium, which is the only reason Thornton’s name is even on this list (and of course the White Sox willingness to be creative in ways to improve their talent).  The White Sox own a $6 million option for 2014, so if they have aspirations of competing next year it could may sense to hold onto him.

While his numbers have continued to impress this season, his strikeout rate is actually down significantly (4.61 K/9), continuing his recent trend (9.50 in ’11, 7.34 in ’12).  Having average 95.2 mph on his fastball throughout his career, he’s at 93.8 mph this season.

Now may actually be the best time to trade him, if they can, while there is still perceived value.

1) Jesse Crain – Relief Pitcher
He’s a free agent at the end of the season, will turn 32-years old on July 5 and has been lights out (0.89 ERA).  Throw in an 11.07 K/9 and doesn’t that sound like something contenders are going to be willing to pay for?  He’s likely going to command a hefty price tag on the free agent market, meaning he may not return to Chicago.  If they are out of the penant race the White Sox should absolutely cash in on his value.

Who is performing well at this point? Who deserve recognition? Let’s take a look at how things currently fall:

Make sure to check out all of our MLB 25-Years Old Or Under lists:

• Catchers
• First Basemen
• Second Basemen
• Shortstops
• Third Basemen
• Outfielders
• Pitchers

by Joel Gibson

So far the NBA playoffs have brought us a lot of surprises. Some bad, like Russell Westbrook’s injury, and some good, like the emergence of the fun to love Golden State Warriors. While some things have stayed the same in round two, such as the Heat being the most dominant force on the court, there have still have been some surprises along the way.

Here are what I believe are the five biggest surprises so far in the second round of playoff action.

5) Kawhi Leonard’s rebounding:

Leonard came into the league as a hard-nosed, high-character player with some clear limitations. The expectations for his career changed in a major way when he got drafted by the Spurs.

The Spurs are notorious for getting the best out of players both mentally and talent-wise (look up Green, Danny). Leonard is still a very young player with a lot to learn. That has not stopped the Spurs from getting exceptional production from their upcoming star.

He has really come on in these playoffs and showed his all-around game. As the starting small-forward Leonard has become Duncan’s “right-hand-man” and nearly matched the greatest power-forward of all time in rebounds in this series.

The rise of Leonard is happening before our eyes, right now.  Tune in and watch it happen.

4) D-Wade’s Struggles:

Wade has had a peculiar season. In some ways, Wade has seen new highs in his game. In others, Wade has never looked so worn down.

With Wade fully embracing his role as “the second banana” for the Heat he scored at a career-high efficiency level. Now that the team runs through LeBron, Wade no-longer needs to jack-up contested threes (which he never should have been shooting anyways). Instead Wade has had the liberty to pick his spots and do what he does best.

On the down-side, even if Wade was not ready to accept his new role as the secondary scorer for the Heat he was never healthy enough this season to even put up a fight. All year, Wade has been in-and-out with injuries and appeared a step slower and less explosive.

As a long-time Wade fan (who hates the Heat), I had hoped that Wade had just coasted through the regular season in order to save his best-performances for the post-season (as a basketball fan it makes sense, as a Heat hater, not so much). This has not been the case.

Consider this, thus-far in the playoffs Wade has scored more than 20 points in only one game so far. If you told me this would happen at the beginning of last-year’s playoffs, I never would have believed you.

I like to think that most people (like myself) assumed that Wade had another gear that he was going to shift into this post-season. It seemed logical that Wade was only nursing his injuries as much as he could and that the physical shooting guard would pull through in the playoffs. Thus far, that has not been the case.

Wade has always brought his best into the playoffs. Seeing him struggle like this is surprising despite him never having been healthy this year to begin with.

3) Bogut’s rise from the grave

There once was a time when basketball experts raved about a particular center for Milwaukee. Experts claimed he was the second-best defensive center in the league (behind a healthy and motivated Dwight Howard). Then came the injuries and the player was largely forgotten about.

Above is the tale of Andrew Bogut until this postseason. In a “Reverse-Wade” effect, Andrew Bogut who has not been healthy this year, or last year or even the year before that has come through.  He is arguably the second biggest reason (no pun intended) the Warriors have been competitive with the Spurs.

Bogut’s performance against the Spurs has Warriors fans raving about how they have the most under-rated and under-appreciated center in professional basketball. They might be right. In fact, I think they are.

The Spurs are a team that plays inside-out . When Bogut is in the game, he cuts off the Spurs penetration and plays terrific defense on Tim Duncan (which is a daunting task by the way).

He has dominated the boards . In the five games the Warriors have played against the Spurs, only one has he not collected at least 11 rebounds. Make no-mistake, if David Lee and Andrew Bogut were in reversed situations (Bogut only capable of playing 10 minutes max and Lee had not minutes restriction) the Warriors would not stand a chance in this series.

I dare to hope, this is the dawn of Bogut being healthy for extended periods of time again. If next season Bogut builds on his current play and is even healthier, watch out for this team in the future.

2) Stephen Curry’s passing:

When Stephen Curry burst onto the national scene with his heroic performances at Davidson it became clear that Stephen Curry was not only one of the most gifted shooters to ever grace the court but also a fantastic scorer in general.

In his second season at Davidson Curry was given the reigns to his team and appointed the point-guard position. The transition from shooting-guard to point-guard is the toughest there is for a basketball player. However, Curry handled his transition quite gracefully.

What no-one expected was that Curry would be the leading distributor among currently-active players. Curry has been phenomenal in these playoffs (for the most part at least, those ankles are definitely holding him back some).

Curry’s ability to distribute the ball is the polar-opposite reason of why Rajon Rondo led the league in assists this season. Curry can shoot from anywhere and defenses always have to look contest his shot. Rondo on the other hand, led the league because defenses give him so much space to shoot that they also give him room to see the floor.

The only things that are holding Curry back from a sure-fire rise to super-stardom are his troublesome ankles. These playoffs have shown that Curry is not only an elite scorer, but an elite distributor as well. If you are a basketball fan, pray that his ankles hold up so that we can watch one of the most entertaining players in recent memory.

1) Mike Conley’s ascension from “That guy I think is the Grizzlies starting point-guard” to “The most consistent point-guard still standing”:

Casual NBA fans are now just realizing how good Mike Conely is (us basketball geeks have known it for a while now) . The Grizzlies are not the most exciting team to watch and from a visual stand-point traded away their most entertaining player this season in Rudy Gay.

What’s more, is that the Grizzlies have quietly been one of the league’s most consistent teams all season. However, it seems that the only time they got any real attention this year (prior to the playoffs that is) is when they traded away their talented but overpaid swingman.

Conely is a tough player who will probably never get the credit and attention he deserves. He is one of the best defensive point-guards in the game. His offensive game has flourished this post-season (up from 14.6 points and 6.1 assists per game in the regular season to 18.1 points and 7.3 assists per game). He is as tough-minded as he is physically strong.

It has been fun watching Conely thrive and take advantage of the Thunder’s young point guard Reggie Jackson this postseason. He also showed no fear when he matched up with the best all-around point-guard in the league last round in Chris Paul.

These playoffs have shown just how good Mike Conely truly is. He is arguably the Grizzlies second most important player behind Marc Gasol. Surprisingly, now even casual NBA fans know it.

]]> http://rankingsprofessor.com/?feed=rss2&p=996 0 http://rankingsprofessor.com/?p=980 http://rankingsprofessor.com/?p=980#comments Thu, 16 May 2013 12:11:01 +0000 rotoprof http://rankingsprofessor.com/?p=980 Continue reading →]]> Which prospects are on the verge of making an impact in the Major Leagues?  This weekly column will rank the ten who are closest (as well as other names that are being closely considered).  Keep in mind that while talent is factored in opportunity plays a major role, so there may be some “lesser” prospects who rank fairly highly on the list (ITC = In the Conversation; NR = Not Ranked):

1) Christian Yelich – Miami Marlins – Outfielder (3)
2013 Statistics – .316, 5 HR, 21 RBI, 20 R, 2 SB over 95 AB
Why He’s Here – Rebuilding franchise in need of talent

The season is already lost for the Marlins, there is no timeframe for Giancarlo Stanton to return and they have already summoned two players directly from Double-A (Marcell Ozuna & Derek Doetrich). Yelich has erupted in May (after missing a lot of April) to hit .370 with 5 HR, 13 RBI and 14 R (he went 3-6 with a double and 2 HR yesterday). Even more impressive may be his strikeout to walk ratio of 8 to 9. All that stands in his way of playing time is Juan Pierre, but is that something that should really stop them? They might as well go with a full blown youth movement, and you would think it’s only a matter of time before they do.

2) Zack Wheeler – New York Mets – Starting Pitcher (2)
2013 Statistics – 2-1, 3.74 ERA, 47 K, 18 BB over 43.1 IP
Why He’s Here – Mets rotation issues plus Wheeler’s hot streak

He was awful early, but has been on fire over his last three starts (20.0 IP, 3 ER, 14 H, 3 BB, 19 K). The Mets have a clear need in the rotation and their season is quickly spiraling out of control, though they still don’t seem to be in a rush to bring him to the Majors. Is it because of Super 2 status? Most likely, so he may not join the Mets until mid-June. However, with the way he’s pitching, it’s only a matter of time.  Unfortunately, while the injury is considered minor and he’s only expected to miss one start, a clavicle injury just gives the Mets justification that they are keeping him down for reasons other than money and is the only reason he’s not atop the rankings.

3) Wil Myers – Tampa Bay Rays – Outfielder (1)
2013 Statistics – .259, 4 HR, 24 RBI, 21 R, 2 SB over 139 AB
Why He’s Here – He’s arguably the elite prospect in the game

The Rays are a team that is always evolving, with significant talent always waiting in the minor leagues to contribute. There is no questioning the talent of Myers, it’s just a matter of when the Rays deem the time to be right to bring him to the Majors. Among the highest scoring teams in May, the urgency isn’t there at the moment, but that likely won’t stop them.

4) Kevin Gausman – Baltimore Orioles – Starting Pitcher (ITC)
2013 Statistics – 1-4, 3.35 ERA, 39 K, 4 BB over 40.1 IP
Why He’s Here – Struggles at the back of the Orioles rotation

The Orioles have starting pitchers (they have actually already used nine) though they own a 4.59 ERA. Freddy Garcia? Jake Arrieta (sure there’s talent, but it has never translated)? Even Miguel Gonzalez, who was a nice story last season owns a 4.58 ERA. Meanwhile Gausman is rolling at Double-A with 39 K, 4 BB and a 1.65 GO/AO over 40.1 IP. With Dylan Bundy sidelined he is the team’s top prospect and, at 22-years old, could reasonably make the jump without pitching at Triple-A. Let the countdown for his arrival begin.

5) Nick Franklin – Seattle Mariners – Shortstop (7)
2013 Statistics - .339, 4 HR, 16 RBI, 25 R, 5 SB over 109 AB
Why He’s Here – Seattle’s lack of offense in the middle of the infield

When will the Mariners decide that it is time to forfeit a little bit of defense for a significant improvement in offense? Mariner shortstops have been an embarrassment while Franklin possesses 20/20 potential and has posted a 16 to 24 strikeout to walk rate at Triple-A. He has little left to prove and, considering how shallow middle infield is, his potential value is significant.

6) Jake Odorizzi – Tampa Bay Rays – Starting Pitcher (6)
2013 Statistics – 4-0, 3.83 ERA, 47 K, 15 BB over 44.2 IP
Why He’s Here – David Price likely to miss a start

He has had control issues, at times (4 BB in two of his past five starts), and the strikeouts have disappeared lately (11 K in last 17.2 IP, despite 6 yesterday). That said, with David Price looking like he is going to miss a start it is likely Odorizzi or Chris Archer gets the opportunity for the spot start.  Archer, who went 3.0 IP on 5/11 (hadn’t pitched since 4/30 prior to that), is scheduled to start today.  Without an off day, the fact that Odorizzi would be on regular rest definitely gives him the advantage in taking the ball.  It’ll likely be one and done (for now), unless we learn Price’s injury is more serious than originally expected.

7) Gerrit Cole – Pittsburgh Pirates – Starting Pitcher (ITC) 2013 Statistics – 3-1, 2.55 ERA, 31 K, 20 BB over 42.1 IP Why He’s Here – Finally starting to produce

He appears to have solved his control issues, with 5 BB over 19.0 innings in three May starts. We all know the upside and, with the Pirates proving to be competitive early on the pressure is going to mount to get their best talent to the Majors to contribute. Sure the Pirates have pitchers getting healthy, but do any of them have the pure talent of Cole? It will be interesting to see when the team decides to add him into the rotation, but for now he is going to have to wait his turn.

8) Drew Pomeranz – Colorado Rockies – Starting Pitcher (5)
2013 Statistics – 5-0, 3.18 ERA, 44 K, 14 BB over 39.2 IP
Why He’s Here – Colorado’s need for help in the rotation

He had a blowup on May 5, but he bounced back strong and continues to show a good strikeout-to-walk rate and generate groundballs (1.40 GO/AO). The Rockies pitching has been good, thus far, but their signing of Roy Oswalt proves that they know they are going to néed reinforcements. Once considered a top prospect, Pomeranz is going to once again get an opportunity to perform.

9) Billy Hamilton – Cncinnati Reds – Outfielder (ITC)
2013 Statistics – .232, 2 HR, 12 RBI, 21 R, 21 SB over 151 AB
Why He’s Here – Finally heating up

Since May 7 the light switch finally turned on for Hamilton as he owns an eight game hitting streak (14-40 with 2 HR, 4 RBI, 11 R and 4 SB).  The problem is, Chris Heisey is closing in on a return and that is going to slow down his potential rise to the Majors. With his speed, however, the moment he steps onto a Major League diamond he brings the potential to win a stolen base title.

10) Jesse Biddle – Philadelphia Phillies – Starting Pitcher (4)
2013 Statistics – 2-3, 2.95 ERA, 51 K, 20 BB over 42.2 IP
Why He’s Here – The injuries to Roy Halladay & John Lannan

Jonathan Pettibone has pitched well, but he is no lock to continue producing (84.3% strand rate). Tyler Cloyd has also been added to the rotation, and considering his 5.40 ERA at Triple-A this season is he someone you would trust? The Phillies could go outside the organization, but it’s hard to imagine them making a big splash. All signs would point to Biddle eventually getting the shot, though he has struggled a bit lately (8 ER over 11.2 IP in his last three starts).

In The Conversation:
Jared Cosart – Houston Astros – Starting Pitcher (ITC)
The Astros are in dire need of starting pitching. That’s not a big secret, given their 6.43 ERA from their starters this season. Cosart, meanwhile, is thriving in the Pacific Coast League with a 2.08 ERA and amazing 3.18 GO/AO. He’ll turn 23 at the end of May and has thrown 66.2 innings at Triple-A the past two seasons. The time is nearing for him to get his chance.

Kyle Gibson – Minnesota Twins – Starting Pitcher (10)
Gibson is going to get his shot, but the ceilings of Gerrit Cole and Kevin Gausman, along with equally strong potential opportunities, knock Gibson from the Top 10 (as does recent news that he could be injured). Of course, a 4.86 May ERA doesn’t help his cause, either. However, he has 38 K vs. 12 BB and a 2.27 GO/AO ration, showing the necessary skills to enjoy success in the Major Leagues.

Grant Green – Oakland A’s – Second Baseman (9)
While Green deserves consideration, Jemile Weeks is also waiting in the wings to try and regain the second base job. Plus, sooner or later Hiroyuki Nakajima should return to the Majors, just adding another option. It’s not to say that Green doesn’t deserve a chance or shouldn’t be considered, but it’s hard to include him in the Top 10.

Zach Lee – Los Angeles Dodgers – Starting Pitcher (NR)
The Dodgers went from having an excess of starting pitching to scraping the bottom of the barrell and now suddenly seem to have enough bodies once again.  However, sooner or later they are going to need another starting pitcher and Lee should be heavily considered at that point.  He’s fared well at Double-A, with a 2.61 ERA and 36 K over 41.1 IP.  He’s walked 14, but that looked even better before he struggled in his last start (5 BB in 3.2 IP).  With 21 career starts at Double-A, he likely will soon get a shot at Triple-A and then is just a phone call away.

James Paxton – Seattle Mariners – Starting Pitcher (NR)
He struggled in April, but in his three May starts he has gone 1-1 with a 1.15 ERA, 22 K, 5 BB and a 1.56 GO/AO over 15.2 IP. With Danny Hultzen still out of action and Taijuan Walker having control issues at Double-A (23 BB in 47.2 IP), Paxton is likely the first in line should a need arise in the rotation.

Josh Phegley – Chicago White Sox – Catcher (NR)
Do the White Sox really trust strikeout machine Tyler Flowers as their catcher?  He has some pop, but he’s hitting .210 and has struck out 32 times in 100 AB.  He could get a little bit of a longer leash, considering the White Sox have the fifth best ERA (3.47 heading into Wednesday), but we’ll just have to wait and see on that one.  Phegley, meanwhile, has been on fire at Triple-A (.327, 9 HR in 110 AB).  Is he a later bloomer (he’s 25-years old) or is it a mirage?  Time will tell, but the White Sox have no reason not to try and find out.

Jurickson Profar – Texas Rangers – Shortstop (ITC)
New week, same story for Profar. He’s one of the elite prospects in the game, but he has no path to playing time in the Major Leagues.

George Springer – Houston Astros – Outfielder (NR)
He plays for a team that needs a significant boost in talent and isn’t scared to mix things up.  While he has 49 K in 139 AB, something that he desperately needs to improve upon, he also has 13 HR (as well as 10 doubles) and 10 SB.  He would immediately be the most talented outfielder in Houston, though it’s hard to imagine a very strong average.

Oscar Taveras – St. Louis Cardinals – Outfielder (8)
He’s banged up, which is what ultimately cost him his spot in the Top 10. Of course, the fact that Jon Jay has woken up isn’t doing him any favors either. He’s back to needing at least one injury, and maybe two (thanks to Matt Adams producing) before he gets his opportunity.

Yordano Ventura – Kansas City Royals – Starting Pitcher (ITC)
The Top 3 in the Royals rotation have been extremely good, but Wade Davis & Luis Medoza have had their issues.  The team has Luke Hochevar and Bruce Chen in the bullpen, but both have thrived in their roles and it may not make sense to move them.  Enter Ventura, who is 3-0 with a 1.57 ERA, 47 K and 14 BB over 34.1 IP at Double-A.  He hasn’t allowed a run in his past three starts (16.1 innings) and hasn’t allowed more than 2 ER in any start this season.  There are concerns about his ability to stick in the rotation, long-term, but thus far he’s proving that he can do it.  The Royals could turn to him if the back of the rotation doesn’t straighten itself out soon.

Keep An Eye On:
Alex Wood – Atlanta Braves – Starting Pitcher (NR)
He went five consecutive starts (29.0 IP) without allowing an earned run and owns a 0.82 ERA, 45 K, 11 BB and 1.75 GO/AO at Double-A. The problem is that Atlanta’s starters have been solid (3.83 ERA) and Brandon Beachy is on his way back (where he could easily replace Julio Teheran in the rotation).  Without an obvious role it’s hard to consider him in the mix, but he’s definitely a pitcher we all want to keep a close eye on.

Out of the Conversation:
Yaisel Puig – Los Angeles Dodgers – Outfielder (ITC)
He is in the same boat as Profar, though with the Dodgers struggling they have more of a reason to try and force him into the lineup. An Andre Ethier trade makes a lot of sense, though there’s no guarantee Puig even gets the first opportunity. His teammate, Joc Pederson, is hitting .348 with 8 HR and 11 SB and is arguably more deserving of a shot.

Anthony Rendon – Washington Nationals – Third Baseman (ITC)
He stepped in when Ryan Zimmerman was on the DL and has been raking at Double-A in May.  He’s going to need another injury to get an opportunity, though he should be back at some point in 2013.

Mike Zunino – Seattle Mariners – Catcher (ITC)
He continues to strikeout at an alarming rate, with 14 K vs. 0 BB in May.  He would’ve had a golden opportunity, given the struggles of Jesus Montero, but the Mariners have no real reason to rush Zunino.  He’ll be back in the mix before long, but right now his troubles at Triple-A keep him out of the mix.

After a first round that lasted for what seemed as long as the regular season did, we are now down to eight teams. With every round, both the intensity and the beards will grow. While these eight teams advanced, they are still not without question marks. The second round will certainly be exciting, and there will be some tense moments. That is about all that can be guaranteed.

Here are my predictions at how the second round will transpire along with my rankings of the playoff teams:

Eastern Conference
Penguins over Senators; 5 games
Bruins over Rangers; 7 games

Western Conference
Blackhawks over Red Wings; 5 games
Sharks over Kings; 7 games

One of the few things most hockey fans can agree on is that Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin are two of the best players in all of hockey. You can use various statistics and metrics to analyze players, but the evidence is pretty unavoidable. Crosby and Ovechkin are the cream of the crop.

While Ovechkin needed the full 48 games to compile 56 points, good for the third most this season behind Martin St. Louis and his league leading 60 points, Crosby only needed 36 games to tally the same 56 points. The third nominee, John Tavares, was 17th in the league in scoring with 47 points. All three players made the playoffs, but all three had vastly different impacts on their teams. Let’s take a look at what that means to the Hart Trophy race.

3. Sidney Crosby.
Crosby was the best player in the league this season. The Penguins were neck and neck with the Blackhawks all season for honors as the best team, but Pittsburgh did not have any issue with the Eastern Conference. When he was in the lineup, Crosby was simply dominating with 56 points in 36 games while was +26. That makes him the best player in the league, but I’m not sure it makes him the most valuable.  The Penguins won the division by 15 points and the conference by 9, so even without him they were still the class of the east. This is not to take anything away from the season he had, and he clearly makes the Penguins a better team, but this season there were players more valuable to their teams.

2. Alex Ovechkin.
At the beginning of the season I did not think Ovechkin would even be in the conversation for the Hart Trophy. It took some time for the Capitals to adjust to new coach Adam Oates’ system, and Ovechkin was shuffled between left and right wing. Then it all clicked, the Capitals got hot and Ovechkin led Washington to a division title. Granted the Southeast Division is not the toughest division in hockey, but they still won their division. The power play was his domain, as he put up 16 points with the man advantage. In almost any other year I would say that this would be his year to take the Hart Trophy. He led a team to the playoffs that appeared ready to play out the string early in the season, but in actuality all Ovechkin and the Capitals did was meet their preseason expectations.

1. John Tavares.
Tavares does not have the name recognition or past success as Crosby and Ovechkin, so that makes his season that much more deserving of the Hart Trophy. It is not like the former first overall pick has been a disappointment so far in his career, but this season he took the next step. Prior to this year the Islanders had not made the playoffs since 2007, but Tavares led them to the 8th seed. Not only must Tavares be the offensive leader of the Islanders, but he is also the pulse of the team and he did it without much help. The Islanders count on him to be the beginning and the end of their offensive, and he is also the physical target of opponents. He played all 48 games for the Islanders and scored 47 points (28 goals and 19 assists). Based just on points and status, this is not Tavares’ award to win until you add the intangibles into it. If you are going by the root and true meaning of the award, to me, Tavares was the most valuable player on his team this year.

What do you think? Am I giving too much weight to intangibles and overrating Tavares’ season while bypassing the best two players in the league, or is this really the root of the award?

Who is performing well at this point?  Who deserve recognition?  Let’s take a look at how things currently fall:

Make sure to check out all of our MLB 25-Years Old Or Under lists:

• Catchers
• First Basemen
• Second Basemen
• Shortstops
• Third Basemen
• Outfielders
• Pitchers

The first round of the playoffs was exhilarating. The match-ups were exceptional. The effort put forth by every team (yes, even the Hawks) was terrific. The individual performances (looking at you Chris Paul) were exactly what fans wanted to see from their stars.

On top of that, the first round was full of drama. Expiring contract guys (Jarrett Jack and yes, you again Chris Paul) stepped up and proved their worth. Expectations for contending teams were significantly deterred by major injuries (The Thunder when they lost Westbrook). Even injury prone veterans showed flashes of their former production (Andrew Bogut).

Now the second round of playoffs are here! It is hard to believe but things are only going to get increasingly more exciting. Teams now have more at stake. Some of the best talents have pulled through and are defining what their careers are going to look like through their play (Mike Conely and Stephen Curry). For others, this is a last shot at a championship and a possible way to go out on their own terms (looking at you Tim Duncan).  Which match-ups are the most exciting to watch this round?

4) Memphis Grizzlies vs. Oklahoma City Thunder:

This is not to say that this match-up will not be extremely exciting to watch. Kevin Durant is playing. Trust me, that alone makes this match-up thrilling to watch.

Without Russell Westbrook, the Thunder’s offense (and even their defense) has lost a major spark. They are carrying themselves differently. The offense has become predictable. On offense Serge Ibaka is playing like he has been hit with horse tranquilizers (not that watching him shoot mid-rangers is particularly exciting, but still).

Then there are the Grizzlies. I love how they play, but I could probably fall asleep watching them. The Grizzlies are a “grind-it-out” team. They play fantastic defense both as a team and individually. This does not necessarily translate into “exciting basketball”. It does translate into “winning basketball” though.

The Grizzlies will likely pull out the series as Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph will power and post their way onto the scoreboard all series long. I am predicting a six-game series (which is exciting). Just do not expect it to be the most thrilling match-up on television.

3) Miami Heat vs. Chicago Bulls

I know! LeBron James (the best player alive) is in this series. I know. LeBron by himself puts this series in contention for second most exciting current series.  The Heat play beautiful basketball. They have two of the best finishers in the game as well as a plethora of elite shooters. They play outstanding defense and they pass the ball like the “3 seconds or less” Suns teams of old.

Chicago on the other hand is full of hard-nosed players that make smart hustle plays instead of exciting plays. They play with their hearts on their sleeves and are tenacious on the defensive side of the ball. Without Derrick Rose, they are far from the most exciting team to watch.

Speaking of which, if Rose were to return (highly unlikely) the national spotlight would immediately become blind to all else. This series would be the most exciting series without a question. A healthy Rose could make this team a real contender.

Seeing as how that most likely will not happen we will take a look at the other individual match-ups. Part of the reason why this series is ranked so low is because the individual match-ups are lacking. Deng vs. James is hardly a discussion. Deng is a good player but LeBron is historically great. Wade vs. Butler? The only question is seeing how well Butler can hold up against Wade. Right now, it’s not a match-up. Noah vs. Birdman? I am not even going to entertain the question.

This series will still be exciting to watch and is off to a great start with Chicago stealing game one (and likely angering and waking the sleeping giant that was dormant inside the Heat until now). For this round, it is ranked so low for its lack of star powered match-ups.

2) New York Knicks vs. Indiana Pacers

Both of these franchises have suffered through years of irrelevance. They both fell to the bottom of the herd after being perennial contenders. Now, they both have been resurrected and rebuilt into legitimate contenders who are constructed to take on (notice I did not say “beat”) the defending champs.

Not only do both of these franchises have decorated histories with retired hall-of-famers (Patrick Ewing and Reggie Miller to name a couple) but they have one of the most notorious rivalry histories is the history of sports. These two teams are the polar opposites of each-other. The “Big City” versus the “Country Town”. For years, fans have hated each-other. Now they finally have a chance to go head-to-head once more.

The Knicks have one of the most polarizing stars in the league in Carmelo Anthony. His ability to score in every way imaginable is well-documented throughout the world. They also have two hall-of-famers and former champs in all-star center Tyson Chandler and former all-star Jason Kidd. They have an under-rated point guard in Raymond Felton. They also have one of the most explosive talents at the guard position in J.R. Smith. This team is loaded with flashy talent.

The Pacers on the other hand are loaded with gritty, tough-it-out guys. They have George Hill who does everything well but is probably most gifted on the defensive end. They have another defense first guy in Lance Stephenson who is known for his toughness at shooting guard. Their front court has Roy Hibbert who is a terrific defender that cares nothing about his individual statistics. Then there is the fantastic David West who has blessed the league for what seems like forever with his strength and overall production as a “do-it-all” type player. Lastly, they have the league’s most improved player in Paul George who is the salvation for Pacers basketball.

The Pacers are not always exciting to watch like the Knicks. However, their fundamentally sound and team-oriented play is destined for great things in the playoffs whether it be this season or next. Considering the history of this match-up and the individual match-ups (Melo vs. George, Felton vs. Hill, Chandler vs. Hibbert, possibly Amare vs. West) this should be a surprisingly entertaining series. Also, Carmelo was held to 10 of 28 shooting in the first game. Be ready to watch the league’s best scorer catch fire in the next game or two to balance out his percentages.

1) Golden State Warriors vs. San Antonio Spurs

Before I say anything else, let me clear something up. THE SPURS ARE AN EXCITING TEAM TO WATCH NOW! People are under the impression that the Spurs are still boring to watch. It has been years since the Spurs refused to do anything else besides get in half-court sets and throw the ball into the post. Now they run the floor. They are one of the quickest paced teams in the league led by one of the quickest point guards in the league, Tony Parker.

Now, that being said let’s talk about this series. Anyone who watched the first game of this series was thrilled. Stephen Curry was phenomenal (and played an insane 58 minutes. Despite being ice-cold the first half Tony Parker found his groove and made some clutch acrobatic shots. Danny Green tried to show National Television that he actually has the league’s best stroke (but to no avail, hard to compete with the guy scoring 44 points). Kawhi Leonard showed that despite being young he has a killer instinct inside him. Andrew Bogut showed that game six of the Denver series was not a fluke.

On top of all that, the game went into double overtime!  Both teams ran the floor and made exciting plays. The game seemed like it would never end and I did not even want it to. I had hoped for a third overtime.

The Warriors are my favorite Cinderella team this post-season. The chances of them pulling off an upset over these veteran Spurs is highly unlikely. Monday showed that these Warriors are not going down without a fight.

There is no-doubt in my mind that these Warriors built around the super-young nucleolus of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Harrison Barnes are going to be in the playoffs for many coming years. This match-up is the perfect test for them since they are facing the perennial contending Spurs. Do not miss a game of this match-up. It may turn out to be a turning point in Warriors franchise history.

1) Wil Myers – Tamp Bay Rays – Outfielder (1)
2013 Statistics – .276, 3 HR, 17 RBI, 17 R, 2 SB over 116 AB
Why He’s Here – Premier prospect/Rays need for RFer

Tampa Bay right fielders are hitting .239 with 3 HR and 1 SB. In other words, they have gotten virtually no production from the position. How long do you really let one of the premier hitting prospects in the game sit at Triple-A while you have an obvious need? The answer should be not much longer.

1a) Burch Smith – San Diego Padres – Starting Pitcher (NR)
2013 Statistics – 1-2, 1.15 ERA, 37 K, 6 BB over 31.1 IP
Why He’s Here – He’s starting on Saturday

Shockingly, the Padres have tabbed Smith to start on Saturday so he has to be included here.  He is making the jump from Double-A, but he has the stuff to thrive (especially given his home ballpark).  According to Bill Center of the San Diego Union-Tribune (click here for the article): “The tools: a fastball that tops out at 98 with an improving curve, change-up and 93-mph sinker that he picked up from Lake Elsinore and San Antonio teammate Donn Roach.”  He has used that sinker to post a 1.67 GO/AO to go with his impressive strikeout-to-walk rate.  For more on Smith, check out Rotoprofessor’s profile by clicking here.

2) Zack Wheeler – New York Mets – Starting Pitcher (3)
2013 Statistics – 2-1, 4.00 ERA, 40 K, 17 BB over 36.0 IP
Why He’s Here – Mets struggles/finally turning corner in PCL

It has only been two starts, but Wheeler is finally showing the potential at Triple-A that we have all heard about. At this point the Mets will likely wait for the Super 2 deadline to come and go, because the fact is what rush are they really in? Figure him for an ETA of early-to-mid June, which will give him ample time to produce.

3) Christian Yelich – Miami Marlins – Outfielder (4)
2013 Statistics – .338, 3 HR, 15 RBI, 14 R, 1 SB over 71 AB
Why He’s Here - Arguably swinging hottest bat in minor leagues

He is clearly starting to hit at Double-A and we all know that the Marlins aren’t shy about pushing their prospects. Where he is going to play is a different question, especially once Giancarlo Stanton is healthy (since Justin Ruggiano is finally showing signs of producing).  That said, it is hard to argue with what he has done recently.  According to CBS Sports heading into Wednesday Yelich has “managed five doubles, four triples, two home runs and 13 RBI during his 13-game hitting streak.”  He’s going to force the team’s hand before long if he keeps producing like this.

4) Jesse Biddle – Philadelphia Phillies – Starting Pitcher (ITC)
2013 Statistics – 2-2, 2.56 ERA, 40 K, 16 BB over 31.2 IP
Why He’s Here – Injuries have created a need

He is not under consideration for a rotation spot now, but with Roy Halladay’s return questionable at this point how can the Phillies not consider it? He is the premier prospect for the team and, if they want to have any chance of competing with the Braves and Nationals, they will need all hands on deck.

5) Drew Pomeranz – Colorado Rockies – Starting Pitcher (5)
2013 Statistics – 4-0, 3.51 ERA, 40 K, 12 BB over 33.1
Why He’s Here – Rockies need help in back of rotation

Sure, the Rockies added Roy Oswalt but it is not like there is only one potential hole in the rotation. In fact, of the five pitchers to make at least five starts four of them have a ERA of at least 4.18 and three are at 4.75 or above. If the team wants to stay in contention they are going to need to find pitching who can excel at Coors Field. Pomeranz hasn’t shown it in the past, but maybe his prior failures will help him thrive this time around. According to Minor League Central, since 2011 he has posted a 44.5% groundball rate, 10.17 K/9 and 3.45 BB/9 in the minor leagues. He should get an opportunity and has the ability to thrive.

6) Jake Odorizzi – Tampa Bay Rays – Starting Pitcher (ITC)
2013 Statistics – 3-0, 2.65 ERA, 39 K, 13 BB over 34.0 IP
Why He’s Here – Roberto Hernandez’ inconsistency

When you help combine for a no-hitter, you are going to get the edge over the competition (i.e. Chris Archer). Odorizzi went the first 7.0 innings, walking 4 and striking out 3. Control has been a bit of an issue (3.44 BB/9), though not a major one. With Roberto Hernandez struggling in the Majors (up until his last start anyways), the time for a move is quickly approaching.

7) Nick Franklin – Seattle Mariners – Shortstop (6)
2013 Statistics – .344, 3 HR, 14 RBI, 20 R, 5 SB over 90 AB
Why He’s Here – Seattle’s lack of offense from the middle infield

Sure Dustin Ackley has finally shown some signs, but the Mariners continue to get nothing out of their shortstops offensively (.129, 0 HR, 2 SB). That’s just unacceptable and it is only a matter of time before they turn to Franklin, though they may forfeit a little bit of defense in the process (.943 fielding percentage at SS prior to 2013). Given how anemic the other options have been, it seems like a trade off they would be willing to make.

8) Oscar Taveras – St. Louis Cardinals – Outfielder (2)
2013 Statistics – .308, 3 HR, 16 RBI, 14 R, 3 SB over 104 AB
Why He’s Here – Premier prospect waiting for an opportunity

With Jon Jay starting to hit, it looks like the Cardinals are going to be able to keep TVeras in the minors for now. However, sooner or later he is going to force his way into the Major League picture. He has too much talent and the Cardinals are a title contender. They need to have the best contributing, not marinating at Triple-A.

9)  Grant Green – Oakland Athletics – Second Baseman (NR)
2013 Statistics – .294, 4 HR, 16 RBI, 24 R, 3 SB over 126 AB
Why He’s Here – A’s need for help at 2B

He’s currently getting a chance to play second at Triple-A, and he’s playing well.  Sure the A’s got a HR that wasn’t from Adam Rosales last night, but they could soon give Green a look to him over current mediocre options like Eric Sogard and Rosales (Oakland 2B are hitting .244 with 0 HR and 2 SB). It’s not that Green is an “exciting” alternative, but he does possess 10/10 potential, if not more.  It’s only a matter of time at this point.

10) Kyle Gibson – Minnesota Twins – Starting Pitcher (NR)
2013 Statistics – 2-4, 3.32 ERA, 35 K, 11 BB over 40.2 IP
Why He’s Here – Questionable starting pitching in Majors

The Twins remade their starting rotation this offseason, not that it did any good. Their starters own among the worst ERAs in the league, coming in the 5.00 neighborhood. They are going to be forced to dip into the minor leagues and Gibson represents the option closest to contributing. He missed most of 2012 due to Tommy John surgery, but he is clearly healthy now and has the stuff to excel immediately. Coming off his best start of the season (9.0 shutout innings with 8 K), it’s getting close to his arrival.

Graduated:
Allen Webster – Boston Red Sox – Starting Pitcher (7)

In the Conversation (in alphabetical order):
Trevor Bauer – Cleveland Indians – Starting Pitcher (NR)
He should be a better option than this, especially coming off seemingly strong starts in the Majors and a follow-up in the minors.  However, both “strong” starts were full of control issues.  In his last Triple-A start he went 6.2 IP walking 4, hitting 4 batters and throwing a wild pitch.  He has immense upside, but until he can consistently harness his control he has to be considered a wild card.

Gerrit Cole – Pittsburgh Pirates – Starting Pitcher (ITC)
While he is finally working deeper into games, the control continues to be an issue. He has at least two walks in five straight starts, with at least four in three of them. Throw in no more than five strikeouts in any start and he needs to show some significant improvement before he is considered for the Majors (especially with several pitchers coming off the DL).

Jared Cosart – Houston Astros – Starting Pitcher (NR)
The Astros need help in their rotation, plain and simple. Cosart is making a strong case to get an opportunity, as he has done an amazing job generating groundballs (2.80 GO/AO) in the high-powered Pacific Coast League. He was at 2.01 last year, so don’t consider it an aberration either. In order to survive in Houston, that is going to go a long ways, as well as fixing his control issues (4.00 BB/9 in ’12, 3.82 this season).  However, at this point the team is saying that he is not in the immediate plans.

Kevin Gausman – Baltimore Orioles – Starting Pitcher (ITC)
With Dylan Bundy on the DL Gausman is the Orioles’ premier pitching prospect and could be looked to for a boost.  Considering he has 32 K vs. 1 BB in 35.2 IP at Double-A, there’s a lot to like from the southpaw.

Billy Hamilton – Cincinnati Reds – Outfielder (9)
If he was hitting he probably would’ve been up by now, but you can’t steal first base and he is hitting under .200 at Triple-A. The window of opportunity is closing, especially with Sin-Shoo Choo thriving atop the order.

Jurickson Profar – Texas Rangers – Shortstop (ITC)
Nothing has changed for Profar. Until the Rangers open up a position he is going to remain on the outside looking in.

Yasiel Puig – Los Angeles Dodgers – Outfielder (ITC)
The question is when the Dodgers will open up a spot for him to play, because right now the outfield is crowded.  Could the team’s struggles lead to a trade of Andre Ethier?  It’s possible, though we’ll have to wait and see.  Until there’s a path to playing time, like with Profar, he can’t be considered an option.

Anthony Rendon – Washington Nationals – Third Baseman (NR)
He is back in the minors after filling in for an injured Ryan Zimmerman. All it is going to take is another injury, or continued struggles from Danny Espinosa, and Rendon could quickly find himself back in the mix. If it is the latter, he may have to wait for Steve Lombardozzi to also fail, which is why he is not in the Top 10.

Yordano Ventura – Kansas City Royals – Starting Pitcher (NR)
There are questions regarding whether he is a starter or reliever long-term, but right now he is looking impressive in a starting role. He has posted back-to-back 10 K starts (over 11.0 innings) and owns a 1.84 ERA, 41 K, 11 BB line at Double-A. An innings limit could cost him, but it is easy to imagine him getting a shot if/when the Royals need an extra starter.

Mike Zunino – Seattle Mariners – Catcher (ITC)
He got off to a hot start (he does have 29 RBI), though things have turned for Zunino at Triple-A.  The fact that he has 31 K over 91 AB tells us all we need to know.  Until he turns things back around he’s not going to get the call, but his potential (and the struggles of Jesus Montero) keep him relevant.

Just Missed:
Miguel Sano – Minnesota Twins – Third Baseman (NR)
He’s currently at Single-A, so it’s hard to imagine him making much of an impact.  However, he is destroying the ball and should get bumped to Double-A before long.  Once that happens he could be considered on the verge, unless he hits a bump in the road.  While it’s still unlikely he makes a major impact this season, the talent is clearly there.

Omitted Due To Injury:
Dylan Bundy – Baltimore Orioles – Starting Pitcher
Alex Castellanos – Los Angeles Dodgers – Outfielder (10)
Travis d’Arnaud – New York Mets – Catcher
Danny Hultzen – Seattle Mariners – Starting Pitcher

Out of the Conversation (for now):
Joey Terdoslavich – Atlanta Braves – Outfielder (ITC) – Team is going wi Evan Gattis in the outfield instead of giving Terdoslavich a chance.

Michael Wacha – St. Louis Cardinals – Starting Pitcher (ITC) – There is no obvious opportunity and only 19 K over 34.2 IP, especially with a 0.80 GO/AO, limits his potential at this point.

Nick Castellanos – Detroit Tigers – Outfielder (8) – Simply isn’t hitting as Andy Dirks has begun contributing.

George Springer – Houston Astros – Outfielder (ITC) – While the other numbers are impressive, too many K to think he can handle the jump from Double-A.

It’s that time. While we are in the midst of playoff excitement, the NHL award nominees have been announced. Let’s take a look at who we have winning the Norris Trophy for the best defenseman in the lockout shortened season.

Taking a look at the nominees, P.K Subban Kris Letang, and Ryan Suter, it is clear that offense is what this award is about. The three nominees all had the highest point totals for defenseman this season. At one point this award was about defense and two way players. That is not to say Suter and Subban are not physical and can’t play defense, but there are better, more physical options on the blue line. Plus Letang could very easily play forward.

3. Kris Letang
I will concede that Letang is a very talented defenseman. This season Letang scored 5 goals and registered 33 assists giving him 38 points in 35 games. That makes him a very good offensive player and that played a huge part in him being +16 on the season. Letang is a huge part of Pittsburgh’s power play, but he is also the beneficiary of some very talented teammates.  Even strength is really where he proves his worth to the Penguins as this is where he registered 25 of his points including 4 of his 5 goals. My main knock on Letang is that while he is skilled, he is also somewhat a product of his team and the system.

2. Ryan Suter
While it may be on the long side, there is no doubting that Suter deserved the contract he received from the Wild this summer. The whole team got off to a slow start, but they did recover enough to make the playoffs. Out of the three finalists Suter takes on the biggest responsibility as a defenseman, which is his actual position. He played close to half the game this season (his average of 27.15 minutes per game was the most in the league), and most of those minutes were against the other team’s top offensive threat. While shouldering the defensive load, he still scored 32 points (4 goals and 28 assists). It should also be noted that he was the only of the three candidates to actually play in each game. The one negative is that he was only a +2. Granted a lot of that is due to the start the Wild got off to and his defensive assignments, but it is still hard to have a Norris winner with only a +2. Well at least for me.

1. P.K. Subban
After a holdout to start the season, Subban only played in 42 games though  that did not matter. In those games he scored 38 points netting 11 goals to go with 27 assists. What is more impressive is that his 38 points were second on the team as Max Pacioretty led the Canadians with 39. Subban truly was the best player for Montreal this season regardless of position. He was a +12 and did what a defenseman is supposed to do, which is to be a physical force. That is one of the main things I look for out of my Norris Trophy winner. I want somebody that sets the tone for the team on the blue line and is the defensive identity of his squad. This season that was Subban, in all aspects of the game.

So, did I get it right or wrong? What do you think?