Premier League Preview Extraordinare

Who? What a simple question, one that can have so many answers. A question that can be asked for so many things this Premier League season. Its almost time for a brand new season in the Premier League, an American fans can rejoice for that. This year, NBC's coverage looks to be the real deal, showing all the matches live and many on network television. With the growth that the sport has had recently, this coverage will spark even more growth. With both the Premier League and MLS available to fans more often, more fans will come. But thats off season talk, and enough of that because the season is just days away! Time to break down the new additions, the new managers and find out who will be successful this season. The Premier League is always full of questions, and all of these start with a simple, "Who?"

                                                         Who got better?

Michu is an underrated star

While the transfer window seemingly gets more and more ludicrous by the year, but some teams always make sensible moves that could see their team climb the standings. One such team is West Ham United, who were able to sure up their defense by adding Romanian captain Razvan Rat and keeper Adrian both on Free Transfers. Adding Andy Carrol and Stuart Downing will strengthen the attack for the Hammers.
Swansea has also spent some smart money this window, Spanish star Michu scored nearly half of their goals this season, but this season he will have some help. 12 Million was enought to bring in striker Wilifred Bony, who was already scored two in the Europa League for the Swans this year. Jonjo Shevley from Liverpool and Jordi Amat from Espanyol are smart signings as well.
For the past few seasons, one promoted teams can launch their way into the top half. Last year, Cardiff City tore through the English Championship, this year they should be even better. They have broken their transfer record multiple times this season, and have found some relief for their stars Craig Bellamy and Aron Gunnarsson.




Who didn't get better at all? 

Moyes is no longer with Everton

An 8th place finish for West Bromwich exceeded everyones expectations, in large part due to the breakthrough of Belgian strike Romelu Lukaku. This season his 17 goals are gone, and he is being replaced by former Chelsea striker Nicholas Anelka. A 34-year-old Anelka and 32-year-old Peter Odemwingie are not a good way to replace Lukaku's production.
Everton lost David Moyes to Manchester United and brought in Roberto Martinez, who is a popular manager among the media, so a new manager means new signings, right? Not neccecarily. All three of their signings played last season at the same Wigan club that Martinez managed, the one that got relegated. Not exactly a reason for excitement.
Liverpool has made some solid signings this summer, but look at the list of players leaving the club. Jamie Carragher, Andy Carroll, Jonjo Shevley, Jay Spearing and Stuart Downing. Many of those players were ridiculed during their time at Anfield, but they will be tough to replace. And the suspension to star Luis Suarez could really put Liverpool in a hole early.
Last season's promotion surprise was Southampton and striker Rickie Lambert, who may not be able to repeat his 15 goal season again, so no help on the offensive end could see the Saints drop into a relegation battle.

Who's not sure if they're better or not?

The never boring Berbatov

In a very similar situation to Swansea, Fulham was very reliant on the always interesting Dimitar Berbatov for goals, what remains to be seen though is if he will get enough help. Always looking for a bargain, getting Adel Taarabt from QPR on a loan should be beneficial for the Cottagers, but the potential signing of Darren Bent could help vault Fulham into contention for a Europa League spot.
Aston Villa had another young Belgian striker carry them this season, Christian Benteke nearly won young player of the year in the Premier League, but it remains to be seen how useful new signings like Leandro Bacuna and Jores Okura will be.
Sunderland will certainly get some more viewings in America due to the signing of Jozy Altidore, with the World Cup coming up, fans will certainly want to see the young American to continue to score goals.
In a league full of great names, Norwich City's marquee signing Ricky Van Wolfswinkel is certainly one of the best.



Who gets relegated?

Holloway is one of many characters managing
a Premier League team this year

Crystal Palace had a dramatic entry into the Premier League, winning the playoff over Watford, but as much as I want Ian Holloway to remain in the top flight, their stay in the Premier League will be a short one, but cherish each and every Holloway press confrence.
With no real star power Hull City will more than likely struggle to stay up, but the signing of Allan McGregor is certainly a smart one for the Tigers.
For a team with so much history, it really is a shame that Newcastle will struggle this season, but there is little optimism to find between last year's 16th place finish and the underwhelming transfer season.
Stoke City is suddenly full of Americans. Geoff Cameron, Maurice Edu and Brek Shea will be joined by Juan Agudelo in the winter window. But despite all of that freedom on the team, will have a tough time transitioning away from the physical style that Tony Pulis made Stoke so famous for.

Who will be playing in the Champions League?

Will Bale stay or go?

Gareth Bale, umm I mean Tottenham nearly made the breakthrough into the Champions League, but came up short, now rumors of Bale's departure are coming in daily, but the signings made will certainly help the club. Paulinho and Roberto Saldado will be solid, and if Bale can remain, they will push hard for a top spot.
Stop me if you've heard this one before, Arsenal signs a young promising French player... Yeah its a little played out, but after missing out on Higuain, Yaya Sanogo is still the only signing Arsenal has made so far. If Arsenal will continue their streak in the top-4, current players like Santi Carzola and Lucas Podolski need to step up.
Its no secret that Manchester City likes to spend money, but why constantly spend it on attacking players? Fernandinho, Jesus Navas, Stephan Jovetic and Alvaro Negredo are all excellent players, but they already have Sergio Aguero, Edin Dzeko, Samir Nasri, Yaya Toure, David Silva and James Milner. Maybe Pelligrini and City could be revolutionizing soccer with the 1-3-6 formation?

Who will win the League? 

The Special One is back in London

The day all Manchester United feared most has come, Sir Alex Ferguson is no longer the Red Devils manager and its a new era at Old Trafford. It also looks that there will be mostly the same squad as last season's championship team, so if the Champions are to be dethroned, someone will have to come and take it.
Chelsea looks the most likely to take the throne from Man United. Jose Mourinho is managing the club. They have added Andre Schurrle to their attack, and Lukaku is returning from his loan at West Bromwich. Throw in the strong midfield and backline that they have and I see them as the favorites to win the league.

League Predictions:
Winners: Chelsea
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2. Man United
3. Arsenal
4. Man City
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5. Tottenham
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6. Swansea
7. Liverpool
8. West Ham
9. Everton
10. Fulham
11. Aston Villa
12. Norwich
13. Cardiff City
14. Southampton
15. Sunderland
16. West Brom
17. Newcastle
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18. Hull City
19. Stoke City
20. Crystal Palace

Grading the USMNT Transfers

Soccer fans you have almost made it! The silly season has reached its final month and the start of the season for major European leagues is in sight. Transfers and rumors have been flying around all summer, and Americans have had their range of moves. From the fairly simple moves of players like Hurculez Gomez and Eric Lichaj to the chaos that was #DempseyWatch2013. Now that it seems that most of the news for Americans has simmered down, its time to grade these moves.

Danny Williams from Hoffenheim to Reading

Initially, this move seemed like a headscratcher. One of the "Germericans" leaving the Bundesliga for the English Championship? Diving deeper though, it was really the only move that the 24-year-old midfielder could make. Hoffenheim and Williams both had terrible seasons, Hoffenheim was nearly relegated and Williams was benched towards the end of the season, only making one appearance in the last two months of the season. After falling out of favor with Hoffenheim, Williams needed to make a move to keep his development and playing time steady so recently relegated Reading came calling. While a move in the Bundesliga might not have possible, Williams needed to look at a club where he could start from day one in the midfield, and that might not be the case in Reading, keeping me skeptical about this move.

Grade: C+

Eric Lichaj from Aston Villa to Nottingham Forest

Jurgen Klinsmann has stressed for as long as he's been the US coach that the way to get into the National Team picture is to get regular playing time, and that seems to be the only thing eluding Eric Lichaj recently. Also just 24 years old, a regular spot in a starting 11 is the most important thing for Lichaj. While Demarcus Beasley has performed admirably at Left Back recently for the Nats, he's not a permanent nor long term answer, so Lichaj being able to provide depth and competition along with Fabian Johnson is huge for the USMNT.

Grade: B+










Carlos Bocanegra from Rangers to Chivas USA

Carlos Bocanegra is coming back to MLS? Awesome, thats a great move for him at this stage in his career! Who is he going to play for?.....Who?....Chivas??? Nevermind.

Grade: F














Clarence Goodson from Brondby to San Jose Earthquakes

Clarence wins round one in the battle of US centerbacks making a return to MLS. The former Brondby man has found himself in a good situation with San Jose and that is the best possible thing for him and his World Cup chances, especially because he could be competing directly with Carlos Bocanegra for that last centerback spot to Brazil. He may not be the most smooth in the back and has caused some unnecessary stress for US fans everywhere. If he can fix his tendency to get caught ball watching his strange ability to end up with the ball two feet from an open net can come up huge for the Americans in Brazil.

Grade: A-

Jozy Altidore from AZ Alkmaar to Sunderland

Jozy is now scoring goals. Lots of goals. He's gotten 38 goals in 67 appearances in Holland, and is now scoring the National Team. So a transfer seemed imminent. Scouts were at every US game he played in, and rumors for nearly every league surfaced. Eventually Jozy shattered his own transfer record for an American, moving to Sunderland for $13 million. The move to the Premier League is a nice one, but I can't help but feel that Jozy might have made this move one summer too soon. The possibility of Jozy getting another 10-20 goals for AZ right before the World Cup and keeping him in form would be great. Then some good performances and a couple goals in Brazil could've meant even more money for Jozy at a bigger, dare I say possibly a Champions League quality team.

Grade: B

Clint Dempsey from Tottenham to Seattle Sounders

Dempsey launched US fans everywhere to a search in every international airport in America. Causing twitter to explode and fans everywhere to ask, "What? Dempsey? To Seattle??" This move was the epitome of the silly season and let me just say that I LOVE THIS MOVE! While fans in England and a few Americans see Dempsey giving up on his dream for the Champions League that was his ambition when he left Fulham. This move has a completely different feel for me, a move that has more thought towards his preparation for the World Cup and the USMNT. This move is also huge for the MLS. A player who could start for most Premier League teams wanting to move to MLS at the age of just 30. The pairing of Dempsey and Eddie Johnson cannot be overstated either. Those two playing together everyday could develop quite a partnership. Johnson could have also had something to do with this move as well, and if thats the case, thank you Eddie Johnson

Grade: A+

Breaking Down the USMNT's June, and How Landon Donovan Can Fit In Again

Its been a great month for the USMNT

Remember back before the Hex when the US was coming off a loss at Jamaica, having only a very underwhelming four points after three matches? Or in February after a loss in Honduras when a column came out questioning Jurgen Klinsmann's leadership, making it appear there could be a problem in the Yank's locker room? That certainly seems like a long time ago, long before the United States pulled off four straight wins and the flood gates have finally opened for Jozy Altidore. After a gutty performance and getting a scoreless draw in Mexico City has turned the tables for the United States. Now the United States are sitting pretty at the top of the Hex, just a couple steps away from Brazil and some are questioning if this is the best the National Team has ever looked. Suddenly the team looks like what was envisioned when Klinsmann took control. The ball is moving around the pitch, chances are being created and dangerous runs are being made. The team as a whole has really started to gel together, they are playing more as a unit. The extended time together has really paid dividends and has created an impressive run of success.

Belgium 4 - USA 2 (Cameron, Dempsey)

Cameron has become very versatile

While letting in four goals is never good, this game was not as nearly as painful as the score indicated. With the starting 11's in for the first half, the United States weathered the chances that Belgium brought and a set piece goal by Geoff Cameron had the two teams 1-1 at halftime. Subs were made and eventually the athleticism of Christian Benteke  and Romeu Lukaku wore down the US and made it a tough 4-2 result. Despite the ugly scoreline, things were learned. Most importantly that the spine of the US defense going forward is the MLS duo of Omar Gonzales and Matt Besler.

USA 4 - Germany 3 (Altidore,Own Goal, Dempsey 2)

Deuce is still in form for the Yanks

When Graham Zusi's picture perfect cross came into the box, and Jozy had cleared his mark, it seemed like you could tell how the entire match was going to go. Altidore struck it true, right into the back of the net and you could feel the pressure that had grown from all the goals he had scored in the Dutch League. Then Marc-Andre ter Stengen's disaster own goal doubled the lead. A pair of beautiful Dempsey goals sent the crowd at RFK into a frenzy with the 4-1 lead. The two late goals by Germany made for a couple nervous moments, but that can be attributed to a lack of focus due to some incredibly unlikely circumstances. The most important take away from this match was the formation and strategy the US used, using Dempsey in a supporting role freed up Altidore to make up runs that devastated the German back line and freed up space in the midfield for Dempsey and Jermaine Jones to work. Also, a solid performance from Brad Evans put him in the lineup for the next match, which proved pretty important.

USA 2 - Jamaica 1 (Altidore, Evans)

Lets all take a minute to thank Brad Evans

For the first time in the Klinsmann era, the US had the same lineup two games in a row, and it worked well in the first half. Again, Zusi to Altidore was the first goal, and it agains was a beauty. The US looked the better team for the entire match, however, they just couldn't get that second goal. When a team can't get that second goal, there is usually an equilizer. Sure enough Jermaine Beckford got a goal late and looked to send the Yanks home with just a point. But then Brad Evans happened. In a World Cup qualifying cycle there is always an unexpected performance in a road game that ends up being huge. Last cycle Conor Casey's two goals against Honduras was that performance, this year? It was Brad Evans.

USA 2 - Panama 0 (Altidore, E. Johnson)

Sometimes you need a Grown Ass Goal

With all the warm and fuzzy feelings from the late win at The Office, the US was set to have a dominant performance at home. With the game coming at Seattle, it was expected to be a spectacle. The crowd, the goals, the win, all of it, and everyone delivered. The fans were fantastic, after the match the players gave praise to possibly the best United States crowd ever. Aside from that, Altidore scored again, the second goal came from a grown ass man, to the delight of his hometown crowd. Even Damarcus Beasley came flying into the box and was just a post away from scoring one of the most beautiful goals in US Soccer history.

Eddie Johnson's backheel to Michael Bradley led to a beautiful arial pass that Dempsey chested down to Altidore. Beasley came flying in on a 50 yard run and collected a beautiful through ball from Altidore, if only his shot ended up just a couple inches to the right, we would be talking about the most amazing goal from the United States.

USA 1 - Honduras 0 (Altidore)

4 Games for Jozy. 4 Goals for Jozy.

Heading into the match, chants of "We're going to Brazil" came from the American Outlaws. Nine points were in the grasp of the team, and the best possible end to the Qualifiers were in sight. The US again kept attacking. They created chances and looked like the more dangerous team. The United States kept searching for a goal that they thought would surely come. It took over 70 minutes, but in the most poetic way possible it came from Altidore. It was another goal that came from steady build up from the midfield, giving Altidore a goal in four straight matches.

Overall Thoughts:

Being one of the giants in CONCACAF, the US always gets compared to fellow giant, Mexico. Part of the feeling that the US is on top can also be attributed in part to their struggles. In 2013, the US has looked full of movement and winning games they need to. Mexico has looked predictable and not as dangerous as a team with Giovani Dos Santos and Chicharito should. The US have gone 5-2-2 in 2013, scoring 13 goals during that time. Mexico has gone 2-1-8 and only scored 9 goals despite playing two more matches. That run included four scoreless goals in World Cup Qualifiers. What the United States is doing so much better is the build up in the midfield. Michael Bradley has teamed up with both Jermaine Jones and Geoff Cameron masterfully. They have sent balls out wide to Fabian Johnson and Zusi or letting Dempsey and Altidore make their runs. This increased movement is what has been promised by Klinsmann when he took the job.

Where does Landon fit in the US attack?

So how can Landon Donovan make a smooth transition back in? With the National Team firing on all cylinders, the most important thing will be putting in Donovan without messing with the rhythm others have found. The good news is that the formation that Klinsmann has started using will work well with Donovan out on the right wing replacing Zusi. Donovan's best goals come from the counter attack, which is still part of the way the United States plays, but is not the focal point like it was with Bob Bradley. Also with Altidore scoring goals, they will want to keep it that way, two of those last four goals came from crosses from Zusi, the one making way for Donovan, in fact over half of Jozy's goals in a USA uniform have come from a high or low cross inbetween the six yard box and the penalty spot. While Zusi clearly can send in a better cross, Donovan can still whip in a low ball into the box for Jozy's and Dempsey's runs, he also has a dynamic that Zusi doesn't have.

Here is the start of first goal against Jamaica. It starts with Zusi taking his man on one-on-one, Zusi can send in a great cross, but he can't cut it inside like Donovan can. In this shot, there is plenty of room between the backline and the midfield, room created due to the runs of the two forwards. With Donovan in the game, another attacking element is created, one that can stretch the centerbacks and give Altidore and Dempsey even more space in the box. Zusi will be a solid right wing for the Yanks for years to come, but for the upcoming World Cup, the way the United States is playing now could be set up perfectly for Donovan's return. Well whether or not Jurgen has planned for this is not certain, but he definitely deserves some credit for the growth this team has displayed.

Breaking Down the College World Series

Beautiful TD Ameritrade Park

My predictions on who would make it to Omaha didn't go so well. I only got LSU, Indiana and North Carolina right. The postseason has been very interesting, the regional round was largely chalk, only Oregon and Virginia Tech were the only hosts to not win their regional. The number 1 seeds in the regional round went a combined 47-7. However the super regionals were completely different. the hosts were only 8-10 and only three national seeds are making the trip to Omaha. Omaha still has plenty of great teams and story lines this year. Even though my hometown team isn't making the trip, I still will watch the games fondly remembering my two trips to the College World Series wishing I was at the greatest event in all of baseball.

Previewing the Omaha 8:

Mississippi State Bulldogs: 9th Appearance (48-18)

How they got here: Got through a tough regional with South Alabama and went to the final day against Central Arkansas, but the Bulldogs got their revenge from losing a weekend series to the Bears earlier this season. Then moved on to Virginia and took down the Cavaliers with a pair of 6-5 wins.

Mississippi State is making their first appearance in Omaha since 2007 with a very balanced team, highlighted by a stellar bullpen. While their starting rotation doesn't have stellar numbers, the bullpen has been there the entire season. Ross Mitchell has the most impressive numbers on the team. He has a 12-0 record without making a start this season to go along with a 1.35 ERA. Jonathan Holder has a 1.31 ERA and leads the team with 18 saves. They also can rely on Chad Girodo and Ben Bracewell to get outs late in the game. At the plate, the Bulldogs are led by a duo with tons of power. Hunter Renfroe and Wes Rea have had success all year against some excellent SEC pitching. Renfroe was taken by the San Diego Padres with the 13th pick and is hitting .360 with 15 homeruns and 61 RBI's. Rea is hitting .288 with 7 homeruns. 6th round pick Adam Frazier will be the table setter for these two, he's hitting .349 and leads the team with seven triples.

What to expect: A little bit of everything, and Renfroe getting intentionally walked.

Oregon State Beavers: 5th Appearance (50-11)

How they got here: Cruised through their regional, had a tough time getting past a pesky Kansas State team who took the first game of the Super Regional, but the Beavers came back and won the next two.

The Beavers are led by their pitching, and have the best weekend rotation in Omaha and possibly the country. The trio of Matt Boyd, Andrew Moore and Ben Wetzler have been elite all season long. All three have ERA's under 2.15 and the three starters have combined for a record of 33-5. Boyd has been the senior leader all season. The sixth round pick has struck out 110 batters this season. Moore has been the freshman sensation this year, with a 1.36 ERA and only allowing a .194 average. The rotation is key for Oregon State making a deep run, with the bullpen having recent struggles, Boyd was brought in to make the save in the final game against Kansas State. At the dish, Dylan Davis and Michael Conforto lead the Beavers. They are the top-2 for the Beavers in RBI's, homeruns, slugging percentage and total bases.

What to expect: Elite starting pitching, and some unusual bullpen decisions.

Indiana Hoosiers: 1st Appearance (48-14) 

How they got here: Tore through their regional, outscoring opponents 26-11, then took on the mountainous task of sweeping the Florida State Seminoles.

This year the closest thing to Cinderella is the newcomers from the hoosier state, but Indiana doesn't play like underdogs. Being the first Big 10 team to make the College World Series since the 1980's could make them easy to over look, but that would be a huge mistake. There are plenty of solid pitchers in the Hoosier's staff, they feature a team ERA of 2.67 and opponents are only hitting .249 against them. Their two best players were both taken by the Minnesota Twins in this year's draft. Ace pitcher Aaron Slegers in the 5th round and 3B Dustin DeMuth in the 8th. Slegers has come on strong this season and taken the top spot in the rotation, his 9-1 record and 2.13 ERA has been among the best in the Big 10. DeMuth has been the leader at the plate for Indiana, and he does it all. He hits .389, has 5 homeruns, and 11 stolen bases. Aside from DeMuth Indiana also has some real power threats. Sam Travis and Kyle Schwarber both have over 50 RBI's and 10 and 18 homeruns, respectively.

What to expect: Indiana has already done more than anyone else in their program's history, but will not be satisfied by going 0-2.

Louisville Cardinals: 2nd Appearance (51-12)

How they got here: Easily made it though their regional, and then upset the #2 seeded Vanderbilt Commodores in Nashville.

Louisville will give Oregon State a run for their money when it comes to who has the best starting rotation. Jeff Thomson and Chad Green have been the best 1-2 punch in the Big East, while Dace Kime has recently held down the Sunday spot for the Cardinals. The biggest gem in the Cardinals pitching staff though is closer Nick Burdi. Burdi has hit 100 on the radar gun multiple times this season while piling up 16 saves and 68 strikeouts. In over 34 innings of work, he has posted a minuscule 0.78 ERA. The sophomore will definitely be a top pick in next years draft. The Cardinals standout in the field is also the runner up of the best name in Omaha, Coco Johnson. He is hitting .333 with 8 homeruns and 22 stolen bases. This season, Louisville has shown that they like to put a lot of pressure on opposing defenses. They have stolen 150 bases in 195 attempts, led by Adam Engel who has an incredible 41 stolen bases this season.

What to expect: If the Cardinals jump to the early lead and Burdi gets a save chance, just shut it down.

North Carolina Tar Heels: 10th appearance (57-10) 

How they got here: Its been a marathon for the Tar Heels to get to Omaha, but a 13 inning thriller in the regional led them to a long 3 game series against South Carolina to make their 6th appearance in eight years.

The #1 seed in the tournament has looked a little vulnerable in the tournament so far, but by the end of the game, they've shown why they earned the top national seed. The Tar Heels are solid all around, a 2.52 team ERA, a .305 average, fielding at a .975 clip. North Carolina has all the tools to win it all but have looked incredibly beatable in the past few weeks. The Heels are led by Golden Spikes contender and 6th overall pick Colin Moran. He is hitting .357 on the season, racked up 13 homeruns and 84 RBI's. Moran has been clutch all season and will be a threat no matter what the situation is. The winner of the best name in Omaha goes to Skye Bolt, who is also a solid hitter for the Heels. He is hitting .349 and has 10 stolen bases to go along with 6 homeruns. On the mound, Kent Emanuel has been the leader of the staff with a 2.11 ERA, Trent Thomson has been the top reliever featuring a 1.29 ERA.

What to expect: Expect high drama with these Tar Heels, and probably to win some games the have no business winning.

NC State Wolfpack: 2nd Appearance (49-14) 

How they got here: Methodically mowed down their opponents going 5-0 so far in the postseason.

There's always that one team that doesn't statistically jump out as far a team stats, but always seems to find a way in the biggest moments. That team this year is NC State. Most of the teams in Omaha can do better than the Wolfpack's 3.09 ERA, and their team .279 batting average, but they still find a way to win. In fact, Brad Stone has been NC State's sunday starter and has posted a 5.28 ERA this season. One player who has impressed however, is Carlos Rodon. He is just a sophomore and for his career he is 18-2. He has the ability to be simply dominant, this season he has struck out 170 batters and walked only 42. Like the Wolfpack, Rodon has been more and more dominant as the season has gone on and if he continues to show his stuff in Omaha, even the elite lineups that will face him will have a hard time getting hits.

What to expect: NC State will probably get out hit, and look like they shouldn't be in the game, but they will have a shot to win.

UCLA Bruins: 5th appearance (44-17)

How they got here: Pitched their way through a tough regional, and right by a stingy Cal St Fullerton team.

UCLA is a big surprise to me in Omaha because, well, they don't hit very well. Hitting .251 as a team and having nobody on your team hitting over .300 usually isn't a recipe for success in postseason baseball. Instead they completely rely on pitching and defense, led by the arms of their two 6th round draft picks Nick Vander Tuig and Zack Weiss. Vander Tuig leads the team in innings pitched and strikeouts, all while posting a 2.37 ERA. Weiss has made 41 relief appearances for the Bruins after being a starter for them last season. He has posted a 2.33 ERA in over 38 innings of work. The "top" hitter for UCLA would be Pat Valakia, who is hitting .257 with five home runs and 44 RBI's. As a team UCLA is excellent at manufacturing what few runs they need, this means getting walks, and boy do they have a good collective eye. The Bruins have more walks (264) than they have RBI's (261).

What to expect: Smallball. Lots and lots of smallball.

LSU Tigers: 16th appearance (57-9) 

How they got here: Looked pretty bad in a weak regional, but got through it and out dueled the Oklahoma Sooners.

What great matchups we have on this side of the bracket! Rivals NC State and North Carolina, and the excellent pitching and west coast style of UCLA against the powerful LSU Tigers. LSU certainly knows how to hit the baseball. Just ask Raph Rhymes who is hitting .343 on the year and flirted with hitting .500 for a good bit of last season. But wait, theres more! Freshman all-american Alex Bregman is currently hitting .380, while Mason Katz is at a .366 clip with 15 homeruns. Sean McMullen and Christian Ibarra are also threats to get big hits. The Tigers can also pitch, in the duel of the postseason so far, Aaron Nola was able to out-duel Oklahoma stud Jonathan Grey in a 2-0 win. Cody Glenn and Ryan Eades will also face stiff chalenges for anyone going up against them. Many are comparing them to the 2009 Champion team that tore through Omaha.

What to expect: A solid team top to bottom, but can lay an egg that can keep them from a title.

Who will emerge as the champions this year? Another Pac-12 team? Will an SEC squad reclaim the title? Will the ACC get their first title since 1954?

On one side, it will be an incredible fight between Louisville and Oregon State, but the lack of bullpen for the Beavers keeps them out. While LSU is able to fight past North Carolina to make for a Louisville vs. LSU final, with the Louisville Cardinals winning 2-0.

Previewing the Road to Omaha

The field of 64 has been set for the NCAA Baseball Championships, and much like March Madness, there are plenty of story lines before a game is even played. There are some fantastic potential match-ups, intriguing contrasts of styles, and of course those on the outside looking in. There is always debate on who the selection committee should have put in and left out. Plenty of upsets in mid-major conference tournaments only shrunk the bubble and made it tougher for the committee. So some thoughts on the tournament, starting by looking at the overall makeup of the tournament.

Carolina deserves the last
hosting spot.

First the 16 hosts, which certainly had some interesting selections. First there is the debate for the final hosting spots. Going into the conference tournaments it seemed that Clemson and South Carolina had a pretty safe hold on those spots, but then those two went a combined 0-5 in their tournaments, opening the door for Virginia Tech who came out of nowhere and went an incredible 16-4 in their last 20 games. Many wondered if Arkansas would overtake the Gamecocks for that last spot, while many thought a 3rd place finish in the SEC and a sweep at Columbia would be enough, the Hogs were unable to control their own destiny with games earlier in the season. The Hogs went 0-6 in trips to Arizona and Nebraska, if the Hogs change that to just a 3-3 record, then they've got a 40-17 record and their RPI rises closer to 20, a resume that would have surely gotten them a host. Instead, I believe the Hogs rightfully missed a host spot.

Looking at the eight national seeds, there were two major things that surprised me. First that Florida State got a national seed above NC State, and that SEC Champions LSU were the #4 seed. The Seminoles and Wolfpack had nearly identical resumes. one was 44-14, the other had 44-15 record. Florida State's RPI was 8, NC State's was 7. The two things that I thought put NC State in front was a better SOS and the fact that NC State went 2-1 in the ACC Tournament while the Seminoles lost their last four games. I also thought the SEC Championship was for the number 1 overall seed, and boy was I wrong, not only did Vandy finish ahead of LSU, but LSU dropped to the #4 seed. Dropping below Oregon State was especially surprising, although Oregon State does feature one of the top rotations in the country. It starts with Andrew Moore who has a record of 12-1 with a 1.44 ERA, Max Engelbrekt (10-3, 2.09 ERA) and Ben Wetzler (7-1, 2.10 ERA) round out an impressive lineup that will be a tough out for any team in a super regional.

Now for the bubble teams, where I think two teams have major arguements. Lets look at some blind resumes.

Team A: 49-10, RPI 38
Team B: 29-28, RPI 35
Team C: 33-23, RPI 43
Team D: 33-22, RPI 50

49 wins should have the Camels
in the tournament.

I would argue team A and C should get in especially Team B and C finished one game apart in the same confrence, the thing is they didn't. Teams A and C are Campbell and Auburn, Teams B and D are Florida and San Francisco. I don't care one bit in this case that Florida had a stronger SOS than Campbell, they won TWENTY more games than the Florida Gators did. I don't care what schedule the Camels had, a team with almost 50 wins needs to be in over a team that couldn't even get 30. At the end of the season, Auburn proved they earned more than San Francisco as well. Auburn ended SEC play with series wins and a 6-3 record over Ole Miss, Florida (Seriously, how did they get in?) and Arkansas. That alone should have pushed them ahead of both Florida and San Francisco. They ended their season with a tough loss to Alabama, but the incredibly stupid format of the SEC Tournament prevented them from getting another chance.

There are always regionals that are more appealing than others, but there are a few in particular that I am most interested in.

Eshelman is one of the many elite
pitchers in the tournament

Southern California is the place to be for the regionals this year. The winners of the Los Angeles and Fullerton regionals will matchup in the Super Regionals, and these to me will be the most entertaining and competitive regionals. I mean just look at the Fullerton Regional. Cal State Fullerton, Arizona St, New Mexico. Columbia gets a free ticket to see these three teams. New Mexico can rake, with 10 players hitting over .300. DJ Peterson has some outstanding numbers this season, hitting .411 with 18 home runs. Fullerton pitchers, especially Thomas Eshelman, can be lights out. Eshelman is 11-2 with a 1.68 ERA. While I love Sun Devils baseball and they will certainly have a say in the result of the regional, Eshelman going up against the Lobos lineup could be the highlights of the regionals.

With the dead bats, Bryant's
31 homers is impressive.

Any of these teams makes for a great matchup for the Los Angeles regional, that could feature a cross town matchup between the Toreros and the Aztecs, a underrated Cal Poly team taking on Pac-12 giants UCLA. The Bruins and Cal Poly both are not teams that statistically jump out at you, in fact, Cal Poly only has three starters hitting about .300, UCLA has none. Their best hitter, Kevin Kramer is only hitting .290. San Diego features the one of the top hitters in college baseball, Kris Bryant. He is hitting .340 , 62 RBI's and has a NCAA leading 31 home runs. Any combination of these teams would make for great Super Regionals, There are a great mix of strengths as well. We can see great pitchers go up against premier hitters no matter the matchups.

No one wants to face Stanek or the
Razorback's pitching staff

While watching the selection show, I was pretty certain the Hogs were getting sent to Kansas State's regional, I was much more interested in who their first game would be against. When Bryant flashed up on the screen, I asked the same one word question every Razorback fan had, "Who?" Looking at the regional as a whole, the Wildcats definitely got the short end of the straw with their draw. Bryant is an unknown by many, but they hung tough with Oregon State and Ohio State early in the season, so they won't just roll over. Wichita State may have been an upset in the Missouri Valley, but they are not to be taken lightly either. The Arkansas Razorbacks though is the killer. Undoubtedly the toughest #2 seed in the tournament, no one wants to go up against ace and future first round pick Ryne Stanek. Kansas State has one of the stronger lineups in the country, with five starters hitting over .330, however, the Big 12 doesn't have a pitching staff that compares to the Hogs. Trey Killian has the Hogs highest ERA at 3.19, to put that in perspective, Kansas State has only three with a better ERA. The Manhattan regional has 15 pitchers with an ERA below 2.00, Arkansas has nine of those 15.

All across the country there is potential for marquee pitching matchups. In Raleigh we could see NC State's Carlos Rodon (8-2, 3.48 ERA) take on Bobby Whal from Ole Miss. (9-0, 1.99 ERA) Vanderbilt will not have a cakewalk for their first game. East Tennessee State will throw out Kerry Doane who is 13-1 with a 1.99 ERA and has thrown an impressive 12 complete games. Oklahoma could send either Jonathan Grey (9-2, 1.55 ERA) or Dillon Overton (9-2, 2.89 ERA) against the red hot bats that the Virginia Tech Hokies have. Mississippi State also has a tough road, playing a #4 seed that took 2 of 3 earlier in the season in Central Arkansas. South Alabama is another tough out behind their solid lineup.

Prediction Time!
Chapel Hill: North Carolina
Columbia: South Carolina
CWS Pick: The Tar Heels are just too good for the Gamecocks trying to make their 4th straight CWS, it will be a tough fight but in the end North Carolina 2-1


Raleigh: Ole Miss
Eugene: Oregon
CWS Pick: Ole Miss fail in the Supers again, Oregon 2-0.

Fullerton: Cal State Fullerton
Los Angeles: Cal Poly
CWS Pick: Many will consider the Mustangs a huge cinderella, but they should't. They will make it to Omaha, Cal Poly takes the series 2-1.

Blacksburg: Oklahoma
Baton Rouge: LSU
CWS Pick: LSU 2-0, The Tigers wont let last years let down to Stony Brook happen again.

Nashville: Vanderbilt
Louisville: Louisville
CWS Pick: Louisville hasn't faced the level of competition Vandy has an it will show, Vanderbilt 2-0.

Bloomington: Indiana
Tallahassee: Alabama
CWS Pick: Alabama is rolling after taking out a struggling Seminole team, but can't get past a Indiana squad that claws out two wins, Indiana 2-1.

Charlottesville: Virginia
Starkvegas: South Alabama
CWS Pick: The Jaguars have flown under the radar all season and take the Cavaliers by surprise, South Alabama 2-1.

Corvallis: Oregon State
Manhattan: Arkansas
While picking the Guachos of Santa Barbara was tempting, the two best pitching staffs going at it for the last spot in Omaha is too much to pass up, and for my homer pick, Stanek and company play with a chip on their shoulder and Arkansas gets a 2-1 series win.

MLB's 25 Under 25- The Finale!

Down to the final eight best young players in the big leagues. So far there have been plenty of shortstops and strong pitching. Will it be more of the same? Lets find out.

#8 Manny Machado 3B Baltimore Orioles
Last year the fighting Buck Showalters took the MLB by surprise last year and are contending in the AL East again, a major part of this is Machado. He was always projected to be a plus hitter, but in his first full season he is exceeding expectations. Currently, he leads the majors in doubles and is hitting .318. At only 20 years old, he has a WAR of 2.6 and has earned his way in the top of the Baltimore order quickly.

#7 Stephen Strasburg RHP Washington Nationals

Strasburg has stuggled
since being shelved
last season.

One of the most highly touted prospects in recent memory, Strausburg has all the tools to become an ace. A fastball that can touch triple digits, a two-seamer with late bite, and a 12-6 curve that falls in the low 80's. He gets tons of strikeouts and ground ball outs. Theres just one problem this year. He's only 2-5 this year. The Nationals wer criticized for sitting him at the end of last season for health reasons, and he has not been the same since sitting out. While still having loads of potential, it seems he still hasn't reached his ceiling.

#6 Clayton Kershaw LHP Los Angeles Dodgers
As long as Kershaw has been around, it seems like a surprise that he is still just 25. He has already racked up a record of 66-39 and its only gotten better as he progresses. Since 2011, he has been one of the most dominant pitchers in all of baseball, but hasn't gotten the attention he deserves. Kershaw has excellent stuff, a dominant fastball and a nasty curve that just falls off the table. Those tools are why he's been a 200+ strikeout pitcher since 2010.

#5 Paul Goldschmidt 1B Arizona Diamondbacks

Goldy has powered Arizona
to the top of the NL West

If you don't know about Paul Goldschmidt yet, do yourself a favor and look at some highlights. He's putting up numbers like nobody's business right now. In the NL he ranks 3rd in RBI's, 2nd in HR's, and 1st in OPS. Hes a throwback to the old school power hitting first baseman, but what sets him apart is that he also hits for a high average. Currently he has a a .323 average and an on base percentage of .408, which is rare for a power hitter.

#4 Matt Moore LHP Tampa Bay Rays
Many think that Kershaw or Strasburg are the top young pitchers, but they are both being outperformed by Matt Moore down in Tampa. Moore tore through the minors with his fastball in the upper 90's, tight spinning curve and changeup, as well as excellent control. After an average rookie campaign, he's now tearing through major league hitters. He's currently 8-0, best in the majors, with an ERA that slowly moved up to 2.29. Every game Moore has started this year, hes gone over 100 pitches, and the Rays have gotten the win.

#3 Justin Upton OF Atlanta Braves

2/3 of the outstanding Atlanta Outfield

Probably the biggest acquisition this off season, a move away from Arizona was in the cards for Upton, and reuniting with his brother in Atlanta made for a perfect situation. Now part of the best outfield in the Majors, Upton is hitting .273, which is the mark for most of his career. The big difference this season however is the power. He currently leads the NL with 14 homeruns, and is halfway to his career high of 31 in less than 1/3 of the games.

#2 Bryce Harper OF Washington Nationals

Somedays you just hit a wall

Harper has all the physical tools, he was by far the most talented prospect when he was drafted. The thing keeping Harper from the top spot is questions about his mental abilities and maturity. At just 20, it should be expected that it should improve. Combine that with his
power and speed and you could have a franchise player on your hands. Until then, you get moments of greatness, and moments where he runs into a wall. Literally.

#1 Mike Trout OF Los Angeles Angels

Trout has all the tools to be a star

If it wasn't for Miguel Cabrera winning the triple crown, Trout would have won both the rookie of the year and the MVP. The 21 year old has played less than 200 big league games and is already the complete package in centerfield. He has excellent defensive ability, plenty of power and stole 49 bases last season. He's only hitting .293 as it seems all of the Angels are struggling this season, but that hasn't stopped him from racking up 34 RBI's and 9 stolen bases.

Some thoughts on the list.

-I was surprised by the amount of shortstops that were deserving of being on this list. 6 of the 15 position players were shortstops, and 5 of those were in the NL.

-Speaking of the NL, they had 18 of the 25. The NL East led the way with seven players. Equalling the entire AL.

-While most of the players were pushing 25 years old. The top of the list was much younger, the three players under 21 were all in the top 7.

-Just missing the list were players like Will Middlebrooks from Boston, Mat Latos in Cincinnati, Dustin Ackley in Seattle and Eric Hosmer in Kansas City

-Some of the best players that missed the list due to age were 26 year olds Andrew McCutchen and Yu Darvish, those two would've certainly taken the top two spots had they qualified.

MLB's 25 Under 25- Part 2

Time for Part 2! Lets get started.

#16 Patrick Corbin LHP Arizona Diamondbacks

Corbin is one of the bigger
surprises in the MLB.

So far this season, Arizona has won all eight of Corbin's starts. Only in one of those eight did the opponent get more than two runs. The 23 year old is currently 6-0 with a 1.52 ERA, among the league leaders in both categories. He has a deceptive fastball that can touch 94 MPH, and excellent control of his slider and changeup. Part of the trade for Dan Haren, he was overshadowed by big name prospects like Tyler Skaggs and Trevor Bauer but he has been the first to earn a spot in a major league lineup.

#15 Starlin Castro SS Chicago Cubs
The lovable losers are always looking for reasons for optimism, and Castro shows all the tools to be a star. Excellent range at the shortstop position, speed on the base paths, and potential for days. Castro is batting .295 for a career and has stolen over 20 bases the last two seasons. The more time he will get in the big leagues, the better he will get, its only a matter of polishing the physical tools that are already there.

#14 Starling Marte LF Pittsburgh Pirates
Marte was a pretty quiet signing in the 2007 season for the Pirates, now he is seen as the future of their outfield along with superstar Andrew McCutchen. His tools are constantly improving and its showing with a .312 batting average this season and 10 stolen bases already. He is an excellent baserunner, capable of getting 30+ stolen bases in a season. Plate discipline is the major issue he needs to work out, but if he gets on base, he's always a threat.

#13 Aroldis Chapman LHP Cincinnati Reds
The secret has long been out on Chapman. He throws gas. He's got power, a fastball in the high 90's and a hard slider makes him an excellent power pitcher. The question was whether to put him in the rotation or the bullpen. So far he has been put in the closers role and Cincinnati cannot complain about the results. So far he has a 3-1 record, 8 saves in nine opportunities and a 2.41 ERA.

#12 Matt Harvey RHP New York Mets

The best the Mets have

Harvey has had the fastest rise to stardom as well as the most recent. Harvey did well in 10 starts last season, but only got a 3-5 record. This season he's single handedly carrying the Mets, which makes it difficult for the Mets since he only plays once every five games. The Mets are 7-2 with him starting, and they are 10-22 without him. He has earned a 5-0 record with an outstanding 1.55 ERA, not giving up more than 3 runs in a game.

#11 Elvis Andrus SS Texas Rangers

Andrus' speed is his biggest
weapon

Capable of making the spectacular play, but sometimes missing the routine, Andrus is another on this list with exceptional physical tools. His speed is shown in his range in the field and his baserunning, already 135 stolen bases in his career. He is a solid contact hitter and has an average of .275 for his career. He's not a home run hitter, he has yet to hit one this season, but his speed should more than make up for it, he already has three triples this season.

#10 Shelby Miller RHP St. Louis Cardinals
Miller was the Cardinal's first pick in the 2009 draft, so expectations for him have been high. His fastball in the high 90's and excellent control of his change up made him nearly ready for the big leagues right away. When he rose up to the majors, he delivered. He's allowed just eight earned runs in eight starts and has struck out 57 batters with just 51 innings pitch. His tools are certainly there, and it looks that he will be a mainstay in the Cardinals rotation for the long haul.

#9 Jean Segera SS Milwaukee Brewers

This guy is second in the majors
in batting average.

Coming up from the minors, Segera looked to be a jack of all trades, master of none type of player. That he would be a low risk player that could be part of a steady lineup. Instead, Segera is currently hitting .364, seven home runs and stolen 14 bases. After just 41 games, all three are definitely not just average. Segera has speed, a little bit of power and can field his position, and with a current WAR of 2.6, which is one of the highest in the league, he is now a major key in the Brewers success.


The finale is coming soon! Stay Tuned.