LeBron James - The Greatest Ever?

LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers just won the 2015-16 NBA Title, the first major sports championship for the city of Cleveland in 52 YEARS.  He of course won the Finals MVP, and after appearing in six straight NBA Finals with two different teams, finally won one for his hometown team.  People are starting to debate if he is the greatest ever.  Of course, the one to compare him to would be His Airness, Michael Jordan.  Is LeBron catching MJ?  You betcha.  Will he surpass him?  That'll be up to basketball fans for years to come.

LeBron's career has taken many turns.  Drafted straight out of high school, he and the Cavs struggled to have much success, but he did bring them to the NBA Finals in 2007, but they were swept by the San Antonio Spurs.  In 2010, LeBron was heavily criticized for leaving the Cavaliers and joining the Heat to play with his good friends Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, but he cannot be criticized for leaving the Cavs.  LeBron was given very little help, with no significant post players or ball handlers around him.  Sure, he basically left the Cavs empty-handed, but is it his fault they couldn't acquire any significant players before or after he left?  They certainly had the cap space after he left, but nope.  LeBron was hated by many, including Cavs owner Dan Gilbert, and many fans were photographed burning his jersey.  But can you really blame him?  The Cavaliers refused to give him much help, so he had to go somewhere where he could get help.  LeBron wanted to win, and the Cavs wouldn't let him.  LeBron knew he would never be seen as great, staying in Cleveland and never having success in the playoffs thanks to ownership and management not providing him with talented players around him.

So LeBron went and won two championships in Miami in 2012 and 2013.  After having experienced success, he felt the only thing better than winning championships was to win them for Cleveland.  So he headed back to the Cavaliers.  Some forgave, some still remembered the hurt they felt.  But this time, LeBron was given help in the form of draft pick Kyrie Irving and trade acquisition Kevin Love.  And just yesterday, those three were instrumental in getting the Cleveland Cavaliers their first championship.

Most people would still agree that MJ is better than LBJ, but LBJ still has plenty of years to go.  I believe LeBron in his prime would win one-on-one against Michael, because of his advantage physically.  He's not any slower, and would more than likely out muscle MJ in the post.  But in terms of best player, we have to wait and see.  And even when LeBron's career is over we'll probably still not know.  That's fine with me.  There are countless debates throughout sports and entertainment about who is better: Ruth or Aaron, Montana or Brady, Woods or Palmer, Batman or Superman, Hepburn or Streep, etc.  Basketball will have it's Jordan and James, and basketball fans should not only be fine with that, but embrace it.  Some might be perturbed that MJ might not be solely known as the greatest ever, but if LeBron keeps winning, he deserves to be in that conversation.

I'll just be happy to have been able to watch them both.  Heck there will be even be the third person who might be saying Kobe was the greatest ever, or an old-timer who will say Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Wilt Chamberlain, Magic Johnson, or Oscar Robertson.  I don't think LBJ will ever surpass MJ, but as long as people speak of him in the same breath and debate him with Michael Jordan, I think that would Mr. James happy enough.

2013 Seattle Mariners Predictions

Edited to include players more likely to make roster, name's are in RED.

With my 2013 MLB Predictions already out, it is time to stick to my favorite team, the Seattle Mariners, and talk about how they will do this year.  I have already predicted a record of 79-83, which would be an improvement of 4 games.  We'd like to see more improvement than that, but I just don't see it happening until either the Rangers or Angels become mediocre/bad again.  I just think 79-83 is a good benchmark for this season.  If they do worse than that, then I would not consider it a successful season.  If they do better, then I would consider it a successful season.  Like I've done previous years, I will go over each potential player for the 25 man roster and at the end I'll pick who will lead the team in certain categories.  First, the hitters:

Catchers:
Jesus Montero - .260 avg, 29 home runs, 91 RBI
I expect Montero to have a better season than last.  He should start almost every game, most at catcher.  He may even see time at 1st base.  I'd like to see him at the #5 spot in the order.  I feel that's a spot in the order without too much pressure on it.

Kelly Shoppach - .250 avg, 5 home runs, 20 RBI
Shoppach will only see spot duty as the backup catcher this year, and with the youngster Mike Zunino waiting in the wings (and probably promoted this season), Shoppach could be on his way out before the end of the season.  I highly doubt he'll be this year's John Jaso.

Infielders:
Dustin Ackley - .300 avg, 15 home runs, 51 RBI
I expect this to be a breakout season for Dustin.  He doesn't have to hit too many home runs.  He worked on his batting mechanics a lot this offseason, and he is willing to do anything to improve on his dreadful previous season.  I may be too optimistic with my .300 batting average prediction, but if anyone on this team is going to hit .300 or better, it's him.  He's a guy who could someday earn a batting title--if he gets his act together.

Robert Andino - .240 avg, 2 HR, 12 RBI
I don't expect much from Andino this season.  He's virtually the replacement for Munenori Kawasaki and he will put up similar numbers.  He'll primarily be used to give guys like Ackley, Seager, and Ryan days off.

Kendrys Morales - .270 avg, 21 HR, 95 RBI
Morales is a much-welcomed addition to this hitting-deprived team.  He will be a middle of the order mainstay this season, so I expect 20+ HR and 80+ RBI this season from him.  Hopefully he will make the Vargas-Morales trade look like a good move by Jack Zduriencik. 

Brendan Ryan - .230 avg, 10 HR, 45 RBI
I don't know why we continue to go with Ryan other than his defense.  He is a below average hitter and always is found at the bottom of the lineup card.  However, he is a defensive wizard who actually makes guys around him (Seager, Ackley) play better defense too.  I definitely feel I am being generous with my offensive prediction for him, but he might surprise us. 

Kyle Seager - .260 avg, 18 HR, 60 RBI
I think Kyle has a limited ceiling.  What I mean by that is I think he played his best baseball last season.  Let's hope not.  I want to believe he can hit even better.  Maybe with talent around him in the lineup he can get even better.  Let's hope he doesn't have to carry the team offensively again.

Justin Smoak - .250 avg, 24 HR, 72 RBI
It's time for the big southern guy to step up.  We traded Cliff Lee to get this guy.  I would love to be surprised and see him hit .270 with 30+ HR and 100+ RBI, but I feel that is being too optimistic.  I think this year is his final time to prove to everyone in the organization he can be an everyday starting 1st baseman. 

Outfielders:
Jason Bay - .210 avg, 2 HR, 12 RBI
I don't expect Jason to play much, if at all this season.  I may be wrong.  But if he does make the opening day roster, he may not last too long.  You can't keep washed-up players for too long wasting a roster spot, which is something the Mariners have been notorious for the past decade. 

Franklin Gutierrez - .280 avg, 15 HR, 65 RBI
This guy simply cannot catch a break.  It's not that he's injury prone (technically he is).  It's that he is unlucky.  Getting beaned in the head while going back to first on a pickoff attempt.  Having stomach problems.  He needs to just get a healthy season in.  And this year, I believe he will and he will put up some decent numbers. 

Raul Ibanez - .260 avg, 12 HR, 32 RBI
Raul is something of a wild card with this team.  He could not even make the team.  He could make the team and only be used as a bat off the bench.  Or he could start at least half of the team's games.  No one really knows at this point.  I'll go with the middle option, having him as a bat off the bench (and occasional DH). 

Michael Morse - .275 avg, 20 HR, 65 RBI
I think Morse's numbers will go down now that he is back in the unfriendly hitters confines of Safeco Field.  But even with the above numbers that I predicted, he will still be a good middle of the order bat.  There just seems to be a logjam of corner outfielders/1st basemen/DH's. 

Michael Saunders - .280 avg, 25 HR, 91 RBI
I think the Canadian Condor will have a breakout season.  He will get most of his starts in right field and I think it's his time.  The fences have been brought in, and he will utilize every bit of the Safeco Field... field.  I also think participating in the World Baseball Classic will give him a little bit more motivation for this season. 

Casper Wells - .240 avg, 5 HR, 17 RBI
I don't see Casper having much playing time this year for some reason.  He's a decent player and a heck of a 4th outfielder, but he's run out of options.  I'm thinking someone else will pick him up this year.  Only time will tell.

Starting Pitchers:
Felix Hernandez - 17-12, 3.23 ERA
I see Felix having a very decent, but not oustanding season.  He will of course lead the ballclub in many pitching statistics, but it'll be a season just shy of Cy Young consideration.

Joe Saunders - 12-12, 4.20 ERA
Saunders will step in as the #2 on this team and will put up Vargas-like numbers (which is slightly above average). 

Hisashi Iwakuma - 13-10, 3.45 ERA
Iwakuma is going to be consistent this year, hopefully.  We resigned him for good reason.  He's probably a good #4 or 5, but until one of our big three emerge (Hultzen, Walker, Paxton), Iwakuma has to be a #3.

Brandon Maurer - 4-7, 4.69 ERA
I believe Brandon will have an up and down season.  He will have really good starts, but he will have really bad starts, too.  More of the latter, I am afraid.  But him being up in the bigs gives one of the big three time to develop in the minors.

Blake Beavan - 9-12, 4.34 ERA
My same day birthday buddy (Both of us were born January 17, 1989) apparently worked on his mechanics.  I'm worried, though, because Beavan is a flyball pitcher who gives up a lot of home runs, and we just moved the fences in at Safeco.  Just keep the ball down, Blake.

Previously included: Jon Garland, Erasmo Ramirez

Bullpen (No stats except for the closer):
Charlie Furbush
Furbush did really well in the relief role last season, when he was healthy.  I think he'll be continued to be used as a situational lefty and occasional two inning guy.  His best spot clearly is the bullpen.

Josh Kinney
Starts the year on the 60 Day DL

Kameron Loe
Many consider him mediocre, but he has pitched in Texas for a lot of his career.  I think he'll settle down more in Seattle.

Lucas Luetge
Here's a guy who could be a dominant LOOGY (Lefty One-Out Guy).  He is still pretty young so he can only get better.

Stephen Pryor and Carter Capps
I expect big things from both of these guys in the bullpen.  They both have great stuff and they're both young.  Someday, one of these guys will be our closer.  The question is though: Which one?

Oliver Perez 
We almost have too many lefties in the pen, but I guess better to have too many than too few.  Oliver Perez, a former starter, has shown he is definitely better suited for the bullpen now.  Heck, if the rotation suffered a lot of injuries, I'm sure he could step in if need be.

Tom Wilhelmsen, 37 saves, 3.01 ERA
Here's hoping he has just as good 2013 as he did 2012.  Wilhelmsen stepped in for League last year at closer and did marvelously.  But he's got a couple of young arms in Capps and Pryor waiting in the wings.  If Tom struggles, Wedge might be quick to put Pryor or Capps in as closer, especially if one of those two pitch well enough.

Alright, now that you know how each player will do, here's the lineup I expect to be the most-used (or at least the opening day one):

1. Michael Saunders, LF
2. Franklin Gutierrez, CF
3. Kendrys Morales, DH
4. Michael Morse, RF
5. Jesus Montero, C
6. Justin Smoak, 1B
7. Kyle Seager, 3B
8. Dustin Ackley, 2B
9. Brendan Ryan, SS

Bench:
Robert Andino, INF
Raul Ibanez, OF/DH
Kelly Shoppach, C
Casper Wells/Jason Bay, OF

Now, for the statistical leaders, in case you couldn't gather it from above:
HR leader: Jesus Montero
RBI leader: Kendrys Morales
Avg. leader: Dustin Ackley
Stolen Bases leader: Michael Saunders
Pitching wins leader: Felix Hernandez
Strikeouts: Felix Hernandez
Saves: Tom Wilhelmsen

Now, some of my personal awards, just for the fun of it:
John Jaso unsung hero award: Raul Ibanez
Kyle Seager breakout star: Michael Saunders
Carl Everett/Milton Bradley waste of space award: Jason Bay
Brandon League unreliable pitcher award: Kameron Loe
Rookie of the Year: Danny Hultzen
Clutch hitter award: Dustin Ackley

Well, let's hope for a positive 2013.  I expect the hitting to be improved with perhaps the pitching taking a step down.  If everyone is able to play to their potential, this is a 2012 A's type dark horse team.  This team really could surprise people and make a run for the playoffs just like the 2012 Oakland A's did.  I'm looking at the lineup, and having Michael Saunders hitting 8th is making it looking like a stacked lineup.  Haven't been able to say that for a while.  Here's to 2013!  GO MARINERS!