THE GNC DAY 1 BREAKDOWN: CENTERS...

I have to say something. If you need an interior lineman. You may have to go into Round 2 to get one. I may not believe Eric Wood is a worthy Day 1 draft choice, but that being said? Eric Wood is a smart scrapper. Some team would not be indefensible to fall in love with him. I just don't trust an offensive lineman that struggles with knee bend. But more on that later?



1. Alex Mack Cal
6'4" 307 5.17

You want what's potentially the safest pick between 25-40? Go forth to the secret world of Alex Mack. Why? Because this Larisa Oleynik is the prototypical run blocker as an interior lineman. Leverage? Hands? Drive blocking? Pulling? He has it all and he has it all in spades.

But he is not perfect. His pass protection needs some work. A big d-tackle can generate a bit of a bullrush. He loses the leverage and hands as he goes after linebackers. But he's going from great to merely average.

In the future? You could look at Alex Mack and see another decade, decade and a half of a Kevin Mawae-esque run of dominance at center. Right now? He's not going to be Kevin Mawae. But he has the work ethic and desire to take it to the next level and become truly great.



2. Max Unger (Oregon)
6'5" 309 5.26

Agility wise? Max Unger is the best center out there. He can be an emergency left tackle. He's solid in pass protection. And he's a good player in the traps and pulling game. All in all? Max Unger is a solid fathlete.

His only problem? He does have functional strength. But his football strength is lacking. He's not a blow you off the ball center like Alex Mack or even an Edwin Williams. It's not a suicidal flaw, a good strength program can handle that. But it's the difference between Unger and Mack. Despite the fact he's also weak in space.

But at present? Anybody dreaming of Kevin Mawae has been camped out at his doorstep. He does have some real upside to his game. You may be able to find a long-snapper, and a backup tackle and guard for the price of a starting center and a mid 2nd round pick.


3. Eric Wood Louisville
6'4" 304 5.19

If you want an effort player? Eric Wood brings you all you want and more. But what else does he have? He has a solid skill set. He has the necessary football smarts to play center, good aggression, and surprisingly solid mobility. He has solid strength and he's willing to finish?. Also? He's shockingly good at hitting moving targets.

But I've said it before. I do not trust waist benders. It limits his power and his leverage. It also means a quick defender can engage his pads. It also means that a strong defensive lineman can bull him into the backfield.

But I am willing to consider the possibility that Wood is merely miscast as a center in the pros. I mean, don't his strengths equal a good zone blocking scheme guard? They do. As a center? He could get eaten up though.

Yay! Good dranalysis!

The AL Central will be hard to predict.

Every team can contend for the division. Every team could finish last. There's a real chance that we could see another division where last is within ten games of first. Watch me be wrong...

NOW!

1. Cleveland (Should have the bullpen figured out. Should have a healthier offense. Do have the horses to try and make a big bold move should the time come. They're imperfect, but they have the best chance at this division.)
2. Chicago (You know the deal here. The offense will be good. Guillen will be crazy. And one pitching injury will sink the Southsiders.)
3. Minnesota (They just don't have the offensive horses to roll up on you. They have a strong rotation even without Baker. But they will get no support. Thus? Third.)
4. Detroit (The rotation is something people don't like to talk about. It is the beast under your bed. They have Verlander. But they have nothing else. Literally. They called me. I have the phone records to prove it.)
5. Kansas City (I believe in Alex Gordon. I believe in the offense in general. They will outperform projections. But when you have Sidney Ponson and Horacio Ramirez in your rotation? Any dreams of contention fall by the wayside.)

Here's how I see the NL Central.

I have had a nyumber in my head about the NL Central. 87. I get the sense that it will be a muddy, dirty mess. I get the sense that three teams have an excellent shot and maybe the Reds can steal it. But I expect some wag will call this the comedy central.

And I will regret Parks and Recreation's first season for it.

1. St. Louis (Closers are made and not born, and after all that mishagoes from last season? The bullpen will be okay. Eric Ludwick is not going to drop off too terribly. Their rotation will be fine even if Carpenter isn't. And if Glaus plays 130-135 games? They've got this division.)
2. Milwaukee (The offense will come together. I believe. But they need Capuano to come back at his 2006-2007 level when he returns to get a chance to be all the way live. I know that we don't need Ben Sheets. But right now our rotation is too questionable for me to be all, first LOL!)
3. Chicago (Yeah, if the rotation stays healthy? They'll be strong enough to win the division by a few games. But my gut says that there's a strong chance of having two out of Carlos Zambrano, Ryan Dempster, and Rich Harden missing extended time. Not to mention the novelty injury from Milton Bradley. They prove that wrong? They love again in October.)
4. Cincinnati (The greatest comparison I ever made was Dusty Baker as Danny Bonaduce. His old school insanity means Cueto and Volquez get broke. This is why they don't succeed.)
5. Houston (All that effort gutting what was left of a dead farm system. All this team really has is Lance Berkman and Roy Oswalt. I mean, who are you going to trust? Michael Bourn? Girl please.)
6. Pittsburgh (Not to be too much of a hater. I sympathize with a team that's in peril. And there is potential in a 1-2 punch of Ian Snell and Paul Maholm. But they don't have enough offense. Not even close.)