The presumptive number 1 selection in this year’s MLB draft is a 17 year-old kid named Bryce Harper. Harper is an intriguing story because in reality he should be just a high school junior right now and ineligible for the draft. Given his prestigious talent, he got his GED over the summer so he could enter the College of Southern Nevada, a two-year Community College, making him draft eligible a year early.

Now there were many reasons for entering CSN, the first of which was to make him a better player and prospect. While the competition level of Southern Nevada isn’t on par with that of most four year universities, it is much higher than high school. Also the coaching and instruction are at a higher level which has allowed Harper to be a more well rounded player. The greatest benefit of playing at CSN from a prospect status is that Southern Nevada plays in a wood bat league. All high schools and four year universities use metal bats, making it sometimes hard to project hitters at the next level. And while there are summer leagues and tournaments that these players can play in to get evaluated, Harper definitely has an advantage playing in a wood bat regular season league. The other reason Harper left high school early is a financial one.

By entering the draft earlier he makes himself into a better prospect since he will be a year younger than any high school talent and 4-5 years younger than any of the top college players. This gives him a major advantage, given his advanced talents since he should theoretically have a longer career since he is starting it earlier. Also, by getting drafted a year earlier he will sign earlier and make the Major Leagues sooner, each equaling a good chunk of change. Lastly one of the biggest reasons to enter the draft early is the belief that changes may be on the way involving the MLB draft process, and in particular the signing bonuses. Right now as it stands teams don’t have a set limit outside of their own budget, in what they can offer players. While the League frowns on excessive spending they don’t have any recourse in forcing teams not to spend a certain amount. Now teams don’t offer blank checks, because they do use past contracts and bonuses as guides, but players can get a pretty good chunk of change. For Harper that money should well be within the $10-15 million range. If the league institutes some sort of a hard cap or slotting system, that money could go down to the $7-8 million range. While its not definitive that there will be new rules in place by 2011, it is something that both the league and teams want to tweak. Finally the last advantage of Harper coming out early is it in theory gives him more leverage in negotiations. I for one believe this leverage theory has been blown way out of proportion.

It is true that baseball prospects have more leverage than any other prospects since they can always return to school or try independent baseball. And it is also true that if Harper doesn’t like the offer he has on the table he could go back to the draft and hope for a better outcome. But the fact of the matter is that is all posturing. Harper has no advantage to return to school, and holding out till next year almost never works.

First off, you have to assume that in 2011 there won’t be rule changes to the 2011 draft format that would limit Harper’s negotiating ability. Unless there is some very clear indication by the August signing deadline then there is no way Harper can return to school. Even if there are no rule changes it makes absolutely no sense for Harper to do so. Every year he goes back he loses some luster and some leverage. Right now he is younger than any high school player, but if he goes back then he joins the high school class he was originally apart of. While he still might be the best young prospect, he would be a year older in 2011.

Also, basic economics show that by waiting a year Harper is losing money, even if he does end up getting more in 2011 (depending on how much more). Money now is always preferable to money in the future, in addition Harper can’t become a Major League free agent until he has been in the big leagues for six years. So by holding out a season Harper is putting off his free agent pay day by another year. That could potentially be tens of millions of dollars that Harper would be losing out on.Finally, when it comes to money the sooner Harper signs, the sooner he can sign endorsement deals as well. Harper can’t get sponsorship money and retain his amateur status. Not to mention that depending on where Harper gets drafted, there will be plenty of local sponsorship opportunities as well. While its hard to judge how much that could be, since MLB prospects don’t usually get the same sponsorship money that NBA and NFL ones get Harper could be the exception to that rule.

The last reason why Harper should sign this year is because I believe his leverage takes a huge hit in 2011. Right now he is by far the top prospect in the 2010 draft and much younger than any of his competitors. That’s not to say there aren’t other talented players in this class, but there is no other sure-fire number 1 pick. So by passing on Harper due to ‘signability’ you would likely be overpaying for a lesser talent. That can’t be said for the 2011 class, which is shaping up to be one of the best we’ve seen in a couple of years. If Harper does go back he could very well end up being the most talented player in that class as well, but the competition is a lot closer. Harper might still be number 1, but guys like Anthony Rendon, Gerrit Cole, Taylor Jungmann, and Matt Pruke are 1A-D. All are just as worthy of a top selection in non-Harper drafts and it is not unthinkable that one or two of them could surpass him in prospect status over the next year and a half. So if teams at the top of the draft don’t want to meet exorbitant demands, they have plenty of recourse to take another talented player as well. While Harper will get good money regardless of where he is drafted he won’t get a $15 million dollar deal in the middle of one of the deepest draft classes of the last decade. By that point Harper will lose out plenty if he decides to forgo the draft a second year and return for the 2012 draft (which will most likely have bonus rules in place).

Now this isn’t to say I don’t think Harper is worth the money or not worth the top pick. I believe fully that it is in the Nationals best interest to draft and sign Bryce Harper with the top pick in this year’s draft. Harper has destroyed the older level, wood bat competition hitting a ridiculous .431/.528/.931 (no thats not an OPS, that is his slugging percentage) with 12 home runs and 26 extra base hits through 31 games. He has the chance to be a truly elite player, especially if he can stay behind the plate where he currently projects. Even if he has to move to another position Harper is worth the top pick and a bonus in the range of $15 million. I just don’t believe this leverage fear, Harper didn’t work as hard as he did to earn his GED and give up his high school experience just so he could end up signing in his original draft class of 2011.

There is no other way to describe how I felt after reading today’s Washington Post, where it is suggested that the Redskins could be so enthralled with Sam Bradford at quarterback that they’d be willing to trade up in next month’s NFL Draft. Currently the Redskins hold the 4th pick in the draft, and would need to trade up to number 1 to ensure the get Bradford. The Post make the obvious comparison to the Eli Manning-Phillip Rivers scenario 7 years ago. Where the Chargers traded Manning to the Giants for Phillip Rivers (the 4th pick) a 2004 3rd rounder, and the Giants 1st and 5th round picks in 2005. Let me make this decision easy for the Redskins — Sam Bradford is not worth the price of admission.

Drafting 1st round quarterbacks is a risky proposition that doesn’t always work out, making the drafting of Bradford or Claussen a mistake to begin with, for the rebuilding Redskins. And trading up for one of them is pretty much the surest way to kill this team’s long term future. The Giants paid a king’s ransom to trade one Pro Bowl caliber quarterback for another. Now Manning did win a Super Bowl for the Giants so its hard to fault them too much, but Rivers is every bit as good if not better than Manning, and they gave up some other very valuable assets.

The most frustrating part about this idea to trade up is the perception that Bradford will cure all the Redskins woes and instantly make them a contender. I like Bradford, I really do, but I don’t think he is able to step into the starting line up from day one. He’s not that type of quarterback. Not only is he coming off an arm injury, so I’d be a bit weary to put him behind a horrendous offensive line, but he’s coming from an offense where he spent the vast majority of his time in the shotgun. He’s going to have to learn to read defenses and pass rushers all while performing 3, 5, and 7 step drops that he is not used to. That is not a recipe for success. Last year the two quarterbacks taken in the top five didn’t have either concern, and both had stronger arms, yet had awful seasons.

Bradford is more like a Phillip Rivers or Aaron Rodgers, quarterbacks who got a couple years of apprenticeship before becoming starters. That is the most surefire way to get a rookie quarterback to succeed (no it doesn’t work all the time, but it has more success then starting a quarterback in year one). So if Bradford shouldn’t be playing in his first (or even second) year, is it really a good idea to trade future assets for him? NO, of course not. In fact, given the Redskins needs, its not a good idea to draft a quarterback in the first two rounds of next month’s draft.

Washington needs guys who can play in 2010. They have not been active this year in free agency, and while they might still yet add a few solid players, they aren’t going to be long term solutions or definitive starters. Meaning the Redskins hope for rebuilding will come through the draft. They have major needs along the offensive line, with none of their starters or primary backups under the age of 30 (Stephon Heyer shouldn’t be either a starter or a primary backup). And the linemen they do have make up one of the worst units in the league. They also need help at running back and fullback, as well as another receiver.

Their situation at running back is nearly as bad as their offensive line one. Clinton Portis has aged quickly, and has taken quite a beating these past few years. His only backup right now is Larry Johnson, who has aged even quicker and has taken his own share of abuse. The Redskins could desperately use both a third down back and power back, but at least one of which should have the overall talent to begin to take a significant load by 2011, since both Portis and Johnson could be done by then.

On defense the Redskins are better and should have a talented unit this season, but they still have both short term and long term questions. They are making the transition to the 3-4, and while Albert Haynesworth can be disruptive as an end, they need to add additional 3-4 ends and nose tackles to ensure their success. Also, while Brian Orakpo should have little trouble making the switch to a rush linebacker, there is some worry about Andre Carter making the switch as well. Washington needs more depth at both inside and outside linebacker. The Redskins secondary was their Achilles Heel last year on defense, and for the most part hasn’t been addressed. The Skins should think about adding another corner, from one of the deepest corner drafts in recent memory, and adding a true free safety would allow LaRon Landry to possibly make the switch to strong safety, where his lack of coverage skills won’t get as exposed.

That is quite a bit of needs for a team looking to use their top pick on a quarterback who shouldn’t play a meaningful snap in 2010. I have no problem drafting a quarterback and addressing that need as well, but if they aren’t going to play right away and can be a bit more of a project, why not grab one in the 3rd-5th round (the Redskins currently don’t have a 3rd round pick, though they could easily remedy that with a trade). There are some very interesting projections in those rounds, guys like Tim Tebow, Jevan Snead, Dan LeFevour, Tony Pike, or John Skelton.  Any of whom could very well end up being the best quarterback in this draft class. It will also allow Washington to address their MAJOR need at left tackle, in the first round. Because unlike quarterback, where you can find franchise players in every round (or even undrafted), franchise offensive tackles come pretty much from round 1. If they draft and or trade up for a quarterback, and I legitimately think the price would be the 4th pick this year, their 2nd rounder, and next year’s 1st round pick. Then the Redskins would have no way of fixing their holes on the offensive line. Those are the picks where they can find a starting tackle, and the fact of the matter is they need two of them.

Washington shouldn’t take away any of their draft picks this year or next, in fact they should be doing everything in their power to be adding to them (including trading back from 4). This is easily the deepest draft class this decade and possibly the deepest since the 1996 draft class. Their is talent at every position and about 60 guys with legit first round grades. Next year’s draft class is already shaping up to be a good class as well, since a number of quality players returned to school, because while they have first round talents they might not have cracked the top 40 picks in this class. In addition their is a very talented rising Junior class as well, that should add a number of underclassmen. Also, for what its worth, I think the top two quarterbacks in next year’s class Jake Locker, and Ryan Mallett are already better prospects than either Sam Bradford or Jimmy Claussen. There is no reason the Redskins need to force the issue this year when their team has so many needs, they should focus on filling those needs first, then add their a top quarterback (if they haven’t already found one with a mid-round pick).

Now I realize the Redskins could potentially trade a package of young players/restricted free agents with the 4th pick to move up, and preserve their draft picks. But even if they were able to package 2-4 of Jason Campbell, Rocky MacIntosh, Reed Doughty, Carlos Rodgers, Kendrick Golston (restricted free agents), Malcolm Kelly, and Fred Davis (young players) it wouldn’t be a good deal for the Redskins. Not only is it unlikely the Rams would want to shell out the long term contracts for some of the restricted players, but that is a gross overpayment in talent for a guy, who again won’t be playing this next season. While the Redskins should consider moving some of their restricted free agents if they aren’t going to sign them long term, they should get either draft picks or young players in return, that way they can fill all their needs as well as the new holes they will create.

The Redskins should table any idea of trading up for a quarterback, as well as any idea that has them taking one in the top two rounds of the draft. Sam Bradford won’t help the Redskins blocking, or running the ball and he won’t be able to help their passing attack much either since Skins won’t have addressed their first two issues.

Last season Michigan State lost to UNC in the National Championship game, now they are one game away from facing another of the Tobacco Road teams, the Duke Blue Devils. Yesterday both the Spartans and Blue Devils won close games to go back to a place they are pretty familiar with, The Final Four. Michigan State and Duke  have been two of the most successful programs of the last two decades, so the Final Four is nothing new to either one of them (unlike their two opponents).

Both Duke and Michigan State also have very veteran laden rosters, which have carried them so far in the tournament. Neither team entered this tournament as a favorite to win it all (though Duke had a few backers considering they were a 1 seed), but now both are just one game away from playing for a National Championship. They have taken vastly different roads to get to the precipice, but are now finally here.

Michigan State in the quirkiest Tournament I’ve ever seen, will not have faced anything higher than a 4 seed until the National Championship game, if they advance. In addition to Maryland, the 4 seed, they have faced a 12th seed, 9th seed, 6th seed and now a 5th seed in the Final Four. Now that’s not to say that teams like Northern Iowa or Tennessee didn’t have talent, but just to say that they weren’t considered among the elite teams in their region. The Spartans have earned the right to be in the Final Four, but to avoid any 1, 2, or 3 seeds, does mean that Michigan State has had a little luck on their side.

As for Duke, their luck came on Selection Sunday, when the committee first of all gave them a 1 seed, and then put them in the easiest bracket. The best team in Duke’s bracket, Purdue was without their best player, and had fallen down to a four seed. Even without their star they still came close to knocking off Duke, as the game was tight until the last few minutes. And while Duke faced a more traditional path to the Final Four, including a tough game against 3 seed Baylor, they really haven’t faced a true challenge. While Baylor is a good team, they couldn’t catch any breaks (or get any calls) to go their way yesterday. And couldn’t match-up with Duke’s experience.

Now these long time powerhouses are a just one game away from facing each other, but they shouldn’t forget about who stands in their way. Both Butler and West Virginia are talented teams, that are looking for an upset. Michigan State and Duke will once again need their experience to shine through to advance.

If Kansas was considered the number 1 team in this tournament, the Kentucky Wildcats were 1A. They were stocked with NBA talent, including their talented freshman foursome who will all be likely lottery picks, either this year or next. And two of them, John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins could very well be the first and second picks of this year’s draft. When Kansas got knocked out they became everyone’s favorite to win it all, but West Virginia stood in their way to the Final Four. Last night showed why it’s dangerous to rely on a primarily all freshman team.

It did not seem like luck was on the Mountaineers side as they were without their starting point guard Darryl Bryant. Victory seemed even less likely, when they couldn’t make a single 2 point basket in the first half. Combine the fact that Kentucky out-rebounded WVU by 11, and the Mountaineers didn’t have a chance, right? Wrong, WVU took the lead with four minutes to go in the first half and never looked back. Despite shooting only 38.5% from the field (they did finally make some 2-pointers), they shot 43.5% from behind the arc (including 8 3′s in the first half). While their stingy defense harassed Kentucky all night. The Wildcats 34.3% from the field, including an awful 4-32 from the three point line. It wasn’t the prettiest of games from the start, and the unlikeliness of dominating wins, but the Mountaineers played a great job. And showed that a little experience can go a long way come tournament time.

The Butler Bulldogs aren’t your typical mid-major underdog. In fact this season, they have constantly reminded us that they are one of the top teams in the country. I have a feeling that they will start to get the respect they so rightly deserve. Just two nights after knocking of Syracuse, Butler took down the two seed as well, by beating Kansas State 63-56. While Kansas State did have a one point lead late in the 2nd half, the Bulldogs controlled this game from start to finish.

Butler shot 45.7% from the field and bettered that from behind the arc, shooting 46.7%. Gordon Hayward paced the team with 22 points and nine rebounds. The Bulldogs as a team out rebounded K-State 36-27. But the real key to Butler’s win was their defense. They held the Wildcats just 38.6% shooting, including just 5 of 15 behind the three point line.

Now I know Kansas State faithful will point to them just winning a double overtime thriller two nights ago against Xavier. But you can’t blame this game on being tired. Kansas State was the deepest team in the tournament, that will rely on any number of guys to score. They were beat and worn out last night because of Butler’s relentless defense, and just lost the magic from Thursday night’s game.

Now Butler heads home to Indianapolis, and although they’ve never played a game of this magnitude before, somehow I don’t think they will be intimidated.

By Fanspeak Contributing Writer Geoff Nelowet

The NBA has had a somewhat surprising cast of impact rookies this season with Blake Griffin and Hasheem Thabeet, the top two picks in last year’s draft, making no impact on the court. Griffin went down with a season ending injury, and Thabeet has been D-League fodder. Thabeet was not expected to contribute immediately, but it is atypical in the NBA to find that neither of the top-two draft picks makes it onto the court in their rookie seasons. Below is a list of the five best rookies this season, and it is important to note that this is not a list of the top ROY candidates, rather it is a list of the best players in terms of how they will perform in the future based on their rookie seasons.

1. Stephen Curry – Golden State Warriors

Curry started off slow this season at 9.8 ppg after his first full month in the NBA, but he has gotten better every week. Over the last three months Curry has averaged 20 points and 7 assists per game. Those are impressive rookie numbers that no other rookie has matched this season. Curry is quick, he can shoot from anywhere on the court, and he is a natural passer in only his second season at the point guard position. No other rookie has a ceiling as high as Curry’s.

Some argue that Curry is a product of Golden State’s high-scoring offense, but it is hard to argue against shooting percentages: Curry is shooting 46% from the field, which most high-scoring volume-shooting guards can only dream of. He’s also shooting 42% from the three-point line, which is tenth best in the NBA. Curry is not simply a volume shooter that benefits from a high-scoring offense – he is a very efficient scorer and passer.

2. Tyreke Evans – Sacramento Kings

Evans will most likely win the Rookie of the Year award, which he deserves. He has been the most consistent and NBA-ready rookie by far this season and his stats exemplify that. He has averaged 20 points 5 rebounds and 5 assists, which puts him in an elite group of rookies: Michael Jordan, LeBron James, and Oscar Robertson were the only other rookies in NBA history to accomplish this.

Evans is also a great perimeter defender, and he looks to be a player that a franchise can truly build around. Evans will help Sacramento win games for years to come, and he will most likely be an All-Star on a continual basis.

3. Darren Collison – New Orleans Hornets

Since Chris Paul went down with an injury in January, Collison has had 25 games to showcase his abilities as New Orleans’ starting point guard. In January Collison averaged 21 points and 8 assists per game, and he followed that up in March with 16.8 points and 10 assists. Those are All-Star numbers, and it looks like Collison has learned a lot from playing behind a perennial All-Star in Paul.

Collison claims to be the fastest player in the NBA, which is an embellishment, but he generally seems to be the fastest player on the court. Collison has excellent natural ability, and he can at times get to the paint at will. Collison, though, needs to work on his turnovers. He has protected the ball atrociously averaging well over three turnovers per game since he has been given starting minutes.

4. Marcus Thornton – New Orleans Hornets

Thornton, the cousin of the Wizards’ Al Thornton, looks to be one of the better scoring guards from the 2009 draft. He is averaging just under 14 points per game in 24 minutes, but since he has garnered playing time over the last two months, he has averaged 20 points per contest.

Thornton is primarily a jump shooter, which limits his potential. He will most likely not be a franchise player that Evan or Curry could be. He may have a Michael Redd-like career in which he averages 20 points a game as a starting shooting guard.

5. James Harden – Oklahoma City Thunder

Harden looks to be another solid scoring guard, but he has not gotten the playing time yet for the playoff-bound OKC Thunder. Harden is reliant on his jump shot as Thornton is, but he has the skill set to be a dynamic scorer. He was touted as the player with the best overall game in the ’09 draft class, and he can still be that player. Harden has averaged 10 ppg in only 23 minutes. When he is given opportunities he has done fairly well, and his current average will undoubtedly improve dramatically over the next few seasons. Again, he will most likely not be a franchise cornerstone, but he will be a solid starter for a good team.

Honorable Mention:

Brandon Jennings – Milwaukee Bucks

Jennings is having one of the best rookie campaigns of anyone in the NBA, but his numbers are misleading. 37% field goal percentage does not get it done in the NBA. He also benefited from playing basketball in Europe, so he could be a more polished product than the other rookies.

Jonny Flynn – Minnesota Timberwolves

Flynn has averaged 14 points and 4 assists for most of the season. Flynn is barely 20 years old, so he will likely make major improvements, but his assist to turnover ratio needs to improve as well as his shooting percentage.

Last night was a crazy night for the teams out West, as 1 seed Syracuse was knocked off by 5 seed Butler, and 2 seed Kansas State needed double overtime to hold off Xavier. It was almost going to be an all mid-major Elite Eight in the West, but Kansas State was able to pull it out at the end of the 2nd overtime. In retrospect I probably shouldn’t be so surprised that Butler won last night, though we should maybe ask the selection committee what they were thinking assigning them just a 5 seed.

Butler has been a dangerous team come tournament time for a couple of seasons now, even advancing to the Sweet 16 in both 2003 and 2007. It still seemed weird seeing them as a 5 seed though, but the reality is this team should have been at least a 3 seed. The Bulldogs finished 11th in the AP Top 25 poll, and 8th in the ESPN/USA Today poll. Why they weren’t a 3 or 4 seed is a fair question. Now I know some might ask, why does that matter if they were 1-2 seeds higher, but in reality it does matter. Seeding is a sign of respect, the higher the seed the easier road you have (theoretically). And I don’t know anyone who watched last night’s game that didn’t think, this is a top 10 team in the country, and their rankings prove that. Unlike teams like Xavier, Saint Mary’s and Northern Iowa, who were barely in the Top 25 or just missed, Butler had been recognized as a top team. Now I realize that seeding isn’t solely done by their final rankings, but remember Butler was an 8th seed in the ESPN poll, I don’t think it would be a stretch to put them down only a few spots as a 3 seed. And dropping them as low as a 5th seed makes them seem like they are more in the middle of the pack.

After last night, I don’t think anyone will take them for granted any longer. Butler controlled the game in the first half, leading by 10 at the break. But the top seeded Orangemen came storming back in the second half. With five and a half minutes to go in the game Syracuse held a four point lead, that’s when Butler took the game over. Scoring 11 straight points and holding Syracuse scoreless until just under a minute left in the game. Syracuse managed 5 points in that final minute, but it wasn’t enough as the Bulldogs won 63-59. Butler showed that they can play with anyone, and while Syracuse was missing their big man, the Bulldogs won that game outright. They out hustled the Orangemen, and to take over in the last five minutes of the game against a team like Syracuse is extremely impressive. The Bulldogs will now face Kansas State (oh so close to a fun mid-major match up) for the chance to advance to Indianapolis for the Final Four. For most teams the NCAA Tournament is ‘win or go home’, for Butler it is now ‘win and go home’, so don’t be surprised if the Bulldogs ‘upset’ another top team, because they have something extra to play for.

Kansas State needed 50 minutes to knock off Xavier last night, as the Musketeers just wouldn’t go away. The game turned out to be pretty much what was expected–a battle between Kansas State’s guards, Jacob Pullen and Dennis Clemente and Xavier’s, Terrell Holloway and Jordan Crawford. The game also turned into a 3-point shooting contest as both teams were over 42% from behind the arc. For awhile it looked as though the superior pure shooting ability of Xavier from the 3-point line and charity stripe would win them the game, but Kansas State’s depth and size did play a factor down the stretch. Xavier had one of their starters foul out, as well as three starters and one top reserve playing with four fouls at the end of the 2nd overtime. Kansas State on the other hand had two players foul out (one starter, one reserve) and another top reserve playing with 4 fouls. Their depth allowed them to handle losing two good players, spread the fouls out so none of their top guys were playing timid when the game was on the line. The Wildcats depth also helped them with the extra minutes as their guys weren’t nearly as tired at the end of the game. It was another great finish, in what has been one of the most competitive and exciting tournaments in the last 10 years.

With the way the West Region has turned out this year, nothing will surprise me in the Elite Eight match up between Butler and Kansas State. The only thing I do know is that it will be fun to watch (and to expect the unexpected).

The Washington Capitals showed last night why they are the top team in the Eastern Conference, and the favorites to win the Stanley Cup. They did so in a 4-3 shootout win over the reigning Stanley Cup Champions, the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Capitals improved their record to 49-14-10 and have an amazing 17 point lead in the Eastern Conference. Despite their advantage in the East, Washington is still playing their best hockey and last night showed why this could be their year in a big way.

The Capitals tallied first last night, just a minute into the 2nd period. Their lead was short lived though, as the Penguins tied the score just over a minute later. Pittsburgh then took the lead late in the 2nd period with a power play goal by winger Bill Guerin, and it looked as though Pittsburgh might get their first win against the Capitals this season. But Washington wasn’t about to disappoint their fans, by laying down against their biggest rivals at home.

As the third period began, Pittsburgh was still in control with a 2-1 lead. With about 5 minutes gone by the Pens were on a power play and threatening to score again, when Alexander Semin literally took the game over single-handedly. Semin stole the puck deep in the defensive zone, and staked the length of the ice before putting his wrister in the back on the net, past Pens goalie Marc-Andre Fluery. With the exception of the fact that there were about 14 minutes left in the game, Semin’s play could have been something out of a movie. He went through the Pens power play unit, like a hot knife through butter, and you just knew when he took that shot that it would find net. Semin’s Hollywood goal would get upstaged later, but it brought the Caps back to life.

The momentum factor began to swing the Caps way. And Washington took full advantage two minutes later when Eric Fehr knocked in a Mike Green shot to put the Capitals up. Pittsburgh came back to tie it in the final minutes of regulation, sending the game into overtime. Neither team was able to score in the overtime period, leaving the game decided the High Noon, old fashion way, a shootout. What could be more appropriate to decide the winner, then a shootout between the teams with the best offensive stars in the game? Luckily for the Caps they still had some ‘Hollywood’ magic left in the tank.

The Penguins first two shooters both scored, and the Caps first shooter (Backstrom) was stopped cold. Any goal or save by Pittsburgh, and the Penguins would win, but it was Alex Ovechkin’s turn and he made up for his quite night in a big way. Fluery didn’t have a chance on Ovechkin’s goal, and still was probably looking for his puck when he had to face Semin a few minutes later. With the shootout score favoring Pittsburgh 2-1, Semin had to find the net if the Caps were to win. Again it seemed like destiny (and great for television ratings) for Semin to be the hero and keep the game alive. After Jose Theodore stopped Chris Kunitz, the Capitals turned to the veteran Mike Knuble to bring them home the win. The only problem with that is that Mike Knuble had never scored a shootout goal, much less a game winner. There is apparently a first time for everything, as his shot sailed past Fluery to give the Caps perhaps their biggest win all season.

Washington has now answered all questions about their team, and whether or not they can beat the other top teams in the league. While this series usually gets broken down into a match-up between the stars, Washington showed they have too many weapons for another team to focus solely on Ovechkin.

As for Pittsburgh, this loss raises serious questions about their ability to repeat as Stanley Cup Champions. They are now 0 for the season against both the Devils and Capitals. The two other teams with Stanley Cup caliber teams in the East. Although last night’s game can be somewhat forgiven since they were without two of their top players, Malkin and Gonchar, they still haven’t won when those two were in the lineup. Yes they were able to take Washington to overtime in their two losses in DC, but they still didn’t come away with a W. There are no bonus points for losing in overtime when the playoffs start. Once again the Capitals proved that the road to the Stanley Cup goes through our nation’s capital, and they will defend their home ice from anyone. I think we will likely see a playoff match-up between these two teams again, but this year looks to be Washington’s year.

The West Virginia Mountaineers received some devastating news yesterday for their Tournament chances, when they found out that starting point guard Darryl ‘Truck’ Bryant will miss the rest of the season with a broken foot. Bryant was the Mountaineers 4th leading scorer during the regular season and has been an integral part of the team since he arrived on campus fall of 2008. He was one of coach Bob Huggins top recruits his first year, and one of two true point guards on the roster.

Now the responsibility of the team will fall back on veteran Joe Mazzulla who had the starting job last season until he went down with injury. Mazzulla has been a solid player for the Mountaineers for years, but he’s never been a star. He is an okay ball handler, but I’d expect forwards Da’Sean Butler and Devin Eubanks to handle the ball quite a bit given their overall talent. While Mazzulla can offer a good option around the 3-point line, and be a solid defender, he lacks Bryant’s quickness and athleticism, as well as his ability to drive to the basket.

Now West Virginia fans will be quick to point out that Bryant hadn’t really made an impact in either Tournament game, and the Mountaineers did fine. While that is true, it does make me wonder if Bryant’s foot had already been bothering him and it was affecting his game. I’d also point out that WVU is about to play the Washington Huskies, who rely heavily on guard play. I don’t like the match up of Mazzulla guarding Huskies star point guard Isaiah Thomas, who is a dynamic scorer off the dribble.

And remember if West Virginia gets past Washington, they will likely face a Kentucky, with their two star point guards, in the Elite Eight. You would be fooling yourself to think Bryant won’t be missed. He sometimes gets overlooked given the talent on the WVU roster, but he is a very good player. He might be the fourth scorer on this team, but that’s because West Virginia has so much talent inside. On a more average team Bryant would likely be the second scoring option.

I’d expect the Mountaineers to try to play big with 4 or 5 forwards on the floor at all times. They won’t be able to match the quickness of Washington and Kentucky on the perimeter, so they might as well play big and dominate in the paint (that could be a bit tougher against Kentucky), and try to force them to play their game. Despite the loss of Bryant, I still think WVU will make it to the Elite Eight, but I’m no longer too sure of their ability to get past Kentucky.

1. St. Louis Rams: Sam Bradford.  There are a lot of questions about how he will transition to the NFL and his shoulder, but Bradford will likely be the Rams pick. He wouldn’t be my pick, but I understand the need for the Rams to get a ‘face of the franchise’.

2. Detroit Lions: Ndamukong Suh.  The Lions should probably go with the top OT on their board (Russell Okung), but I don’t know if they will pass up the best player in this draft.

3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Gerald McCoy.  The Bucs have a lot of options, but they need help up front on defense and McCoy is the disruptive force that fits that bill.

4. Washington Redskins: Russell Okung.  Reports out of DC indicate that the Skins are only interested in Bradford for the QB of the future in the early first round. While a trade back may still be possible, taking the top OT would fill a big need.

5. Kansas City Chiefs: Bryan Bulaga.  Its hard to get a feel of how the OT’s are ranked, but I think Bulaga is the 2nd best LT in the draft. Chiefs need to move Branden Albert inside where he is a better fit and grab the top OT on their board.

6. Seattle Seahawks: Eric Berry.  With the addition of Whitehurst QB is a little less of a need, allowing the Seahawks to pass on Claussen. They will still be able to at an LT with their 14th pick, allowing them to take the best player available here in Berry.

7. Cleveland Browns: Joe Haden.  Browns are a big wild card, they somewhat filled the need of QB and OT likely addressing those positions in the later rounds. While they could grab Haden here, CB is one of the deepest positions in this draft. I could see them trying to trade up to grab Suh, McCoy, or Berry, and if they can’t, I believe they will try to trade back to acquire more picks. If they stay where they are Haden and DE/OLB Jason Pierre-Paul offer the best value.

8. Oakland Raiders: Bruce Campbell.  The Raiders need an OT and Campbell is the best physical specimen there is. While he’s a raw player and probably shouldn’t be drafted for another 10-15 picks, he fits the Raiders draft philosophy perfectly.

9. Buffalo Bills: Jimmy Claussen.  The Bills need to address the O-line as well, and Trent Williams is a legitimate option, but I don’t know if they can pass up a quarterback here. I like Claussen and think if he’s brought along slowly (ex. Phillip Rivers) he could develop into a very good quarterback.

10. Jacksonville Jaguars: Derrick Morgan.  The Jags luck out somewhat that Morgan falls to them. He’s a pure 4-3 end, taking him squarely off a number of team’s boards. In reality he is a top talent and will be a major boost to the Jags anemic pass rush.

11. Denver Broncos: Rolando McClain.  Most people will be clamoring for Dez Bryant here, but I’m not sold on him as a top 1 or 2 receiver in this league, and especially not in year 1. McClain can be an immediate starter at ILB for the Broncos a become a tackling machine.

12. Miami Dolphins: Dan Williams.  Another spot where Bryant will get a look, but I think Parcells is too smart to take a questionable receiver with this pick. Dan Williams gives Miami their anchor in the middle of their 3-4 defense, and will go a long way to allowing their top free agent signing, Karlos Dansby to make plays.

13. San Francisco 49ers: Trent Williams.  The 49ers have a big need at tackle and Williams can step in on the right side from day 1. Since the 49ers are set on the left side they might not want to grab a tackle this early, but getting a bookend like Williams will help their offense tremendously.

14. Seattle Seahawks: Anthony Davis.  I think the Seahawks were hoping T. Williams fell to them, but they will take the next best tackle in Davis. Anthony Davis hasn’t had a good offseason, but he is still a very good tackle prospect. Anywhere from 15-20 would be good value for him so, grabbing him at 14 isn’t really a reach.

15. New York Giants: Jason Pierre-Paul.  The Giants need to improve on defense and get good value here with Pierre-Paul. He’s an excellent pass rusher who is coming off a breakout season. He is an extremely raw prospect but with unlimited potential. If he reaches it he is an All-pro, if not he could be a major bust. He makes sense for New York, because their depth along the defensive line will allow them to use him solely as a pass rusher early on, and ease him into being an every down end.

16. Tennessee Titans: Everson Griffin.  The Titans need help along their defensive front, and that need got greater with the loss of free agent Kyle Vanden Bosch. Griffin has had an impressive off season and is moving himself up draft boards. I’d expect him to get a long look in Tennessee.

17. San Francisco 49ers: Kyle Wilson.  The 49ers could go a number of directions here with their 2nd pick, but Wilson would be a great addition to their secondary. I think he is a very underrated corner back and may end up being just as good as Joe Haden.

18. Pittsburgh Steelers: Mike Iupati.  With the signing of Ryan Clark and the top two corners off the board, I think the Steelers look to get back to smash mouth football with this pick. Iupati is an absolute beast in the interior, and while some believe he could move out to tackle, the Steelers should just leave him where he’s at and get ready to send him to the Pro Bowl.

19. Atlanta Falcons: Brandon Graham.  Atlanta needs to keep improving their defense, and while they took the first steps last season they aren’t done yet. Graham should give a nice boost to their pash rush and hopefully help give the Falcons a playoff caliber defense.

20. Houston Texans: Ryan Mathews.  Now I know everyone believes that C.J. Spiller should be the top back off the board, but he is far too similar to Steve Slaton. Mathews is the perfect compliment and probably the most complete back in this class. While the need at corner back is there, the Texans should be able to find a good one in round 2.

21. Cincinnati Bengals: Jermaine Gresham.  I would give Spiller consideration here as he’s a great compliment to Benson and will make the Bengals more explosive, but I give Gresham the edge. Spiller is a want for the Bengals, where as Gresham is a need. Cincinnati has a big hole at tight end, and Gresham would give Palmer a great underneath option as Ochocinco and Antonio Bryant stretch the field.

22. New England Patriots: Dez Bryant.  I think the Patriots would have taken Gresham if he was available, but will instead opt for another pass catcher. Spiller could be another option here, but New England could be concerned with Welker’s injury and Moss’s potential contract status. New England also seems to be more focused on building their offensive weapons, which will likely push down defensive needs or addressing the O-line.

23. Green Bay Packers: Charles Brown.  The Packers need to address their offensive line, and Brown is the best tackle still available. This might be a slight reach for him, but the Packers starting tackles are old with bad injury histories. Last year without a good back-up plan Aaron Rodgers almost got killed, and it cost the Packers dearly in the playoffs.

24. Philadelphia Eagles: Devin McCourty.  The Eagles need to address their depth at cornerback, and both of their starters are getting up there in age. While the Eagles have some other needs I think they will opt at adding another top line corner to try to slow down Eli Manning and Tony Romo.

25. Baltimore Ravens: Earl Thomas.  While the Ravens want to add a tight end they will probably wait till the 2nd round to address that need. Thomas would give Ed Reed a fantastic safety duo. And with all the talk of Reed possibly retiring in the near future, would ensure that Baltimore’s secondary still has an elite presence at safety.

26. Arizona Cardinals: Rodger Saffold.  I see a serious run on offensive tackles in this draft and with the Cardinals filling their needs on the defensive side of the ball in free agency they will be able to turn their attention to the offensive line. Saffold is a bit of a reach here but Arizona needs to address their line, especially with their questions at quarterback.

27.  Dallas Cowboys: Taylor Mays.  Cowboys likely wanted to add an Offensive tackle, but everyone is off the board at this point. They could go with a defensive lineman, but I see them liking Mays’ athleticism and hitting ability. Roy Williams struggled because he wasn’t fast enough but that isn’t a problem with Mays. He does need to learn coverages better and take better angles, but he could develop into an elite safety.

28. San Diego Chargers: C.J. Spiller.  I know Spiller is probably too similar to Sproles for most people to consider him here, but Sproles is almost definitely gone after this season. Spiller can still be that home run hitter in the backfield, as well as helping in the return game.

29. New York Jets: Demaryius Thomas.  I think Thomas will end up being the best receiver in this class. He is still raw as a route runner, but should develop quickly. He has excellent upside for the Jets here and given their depth won’t need to be relied upon from week 1.

30. Minnesota Vikings: Maurkice Pouncey.  The Vikings offensive line crumbled last season and has already seen their top back up leave in free agency. If they want to get Adrian Peterson going again, and convince Brett Favre to come back addressing this need is key. Pouncey can play any of the interior positions, where the Vikings were the weakest.

31. Indianapolis Colts: Carlos Dunlap.  Dunlap has had some off the field and work ethic issues, but he represents tremendous talent for this spot. The Colts pass rush and defense in general was tied solely to Dwight Freeney last season. While Freeney can still bring the heat, the Colts need to give him some help. Dunlap has the physical tools to develop into a premier talent. Hopefully being on a team with guys like Manning and Freeney will allow him to unlock his potential.

32. New Orleans Saints: Jared Odrick.  The Saints could go for a number of positions here, but Odrick does everything along the trenches and would be a good fit for New Orleans. Their defensive line depth was pretty weak last season and it showed down the stretch. Upgrading that area will likely be the Saints top focus.

The Minnesota Twins yesterday signed their All-star catcher Joe Mauer to an 8-year $184 million contract. It is by far the largest contract ever awarded in the Twins history and the largest ever given to a catcher. And in both cases, it was worth every single penny.

Mauer isn’t traditionally thought of as an elite player, but I don’t see how anyone can not have him among the top 5 players (really top 2) in the league. He is a superb defensive catcher, who just happens to be the best pure hitter in the American League. Going into last season the only “knock” on Mauer was the fact that he wasn’t a ‘power hitter’, since he had only broken double digit home runs once in his career. Well Mauer responded by hitting 28 long balls last season, during a season where he posted a .365/.444/.587 line. And he did all of that the majority of the time from behind the plate. He had between .50 and .60 points higher batting average, on base percentage and slugging percentage higher than the next catcher, putting him in a category by himself. What’s most impressive about his numbers, particularly his home run total, is that Mauer didn’t play a game until May 1st last season due to injury.

Now usually when you see a jump in power numbers like Mauer’s you think that it is probably a fluke, but I would guess Mauer keeps churning out 25+ home run seasons and a slugging percentage over .500 for the next 5+ seasons. And in all honesty it’s quite possible that his numbers go up even more. Traditionally a player reaches his prime in his late 20′s early 30′s and will put up his best numbers during that 5-7 year span. Mauer just so happens to be turning 27 as this season begins, meaning his numbers aren’t likely a fluke. He was always projected to hit with power, and now we are finally seeing that come to fruition.

Now as big as that $184 million deal looks, let’s be honest, Mauer left money on the table. He would have been a free agent after this season, and barring some major injury would have been handed a blank check on the open market. Not only would the Yankees and Red Sox been falling over themselves to ink Mauer, but just about every team would have entered the bidding. Mauer is a once in a lifetime type talent, and is well on his way to going down as the greatest catcher in baseball history. Despite all the big name free agents to switch uniforms over the seasons, Mauer would be the best player to hit the market since Alex Rodriguez did a decade ago. He is an elite offensive and defensive player at one of the most premium positions on the diamond. I think just about every team would have been looking for someway, somehow to sign him. Probably the only teams who wouldn’t have been in the mix are the Orioles and Braves since they both have young elite catchers under team control for awhile. Everyone else from the Marlins to the Yankees should have been in the mix, and I believe that Mauer would have gotten $27-30 million a season on the open market.

Luckily for the Twins it was a no-brainer to open up their checkbook for Mauer, since he’s not only the face of the franchise, but the face of Minnesota. Mauer was born in St. Paul and wanted to be a Twin as long as they took care of him. It also helped that the Twins have a brand new stadium opening up this year, which means extra money. And the stadium opening gave Minnesota all the incentive they needed to lock up Mauer to a team record deal. They might have sold out opening day without him, but if they wanted anyone to show up for the rest of their games, they needed number 7 in the lineup.

Now with Mauer locked up and some of the other moves they have made recently, the future is bright in Minnesota. While this might not be the year they return to the World Series (that Nathan injury is a killer), it probably isn’t too far off. When they do, they will owe it all to their hometown hero, and feel pretty good about the money they spent.