The new season is under way. We were able to watch a match up of two up and comers in Texas as they implemented the new 2 serve rule that may or may not have affected the outcome of the final match. Now we have a vacancy of the #4 spot in the rankings that is up for grabs now that Commissioner Jason Mannino has retired. Who do you think will take the number 4 spot? Better yet, who do you think will finish in the Top 6? Here are my predictions:

#1 Kane - Did I shock anyone with this prediction? If I did, crawl out from under the rock.
#2 Rocky - California Love, I'm biased what can I say? New contract, new company, and a dope game makes him difficult to beat. He can do almost anything, maybe even take a match from Kane.
#3 Jack - How do you bet against technical consistency? You don't, unless there is technical consistency combined with athleticism
#4 Mitch - Yeah I said it, you may not agree, but I feel he benefits the most from the rule change. Jumping 3-4 spots, without having to worry about short serve and out. He'll be droppin' bombs to his heart's content and he'll be destoying people along the way.
#5 Ben - He's young, he's hungry, and he plays with the type of fire i like. As long as he doesn't break too many racquets and keeps his head on straight, he has the tools to take out some giants and even contend for that #4 spot with Mitch.
#6 Shane - He's experienced, mentally tough, and doesn't let a whole lot bother him. He could develop a nice drive serve, but nothing like Mitch's, but it could really help him prove me wrong. Regardless of the drive serve, he's a solid #6.

Notables:
Jose Rojas - NorCal, Baby!! Again my bias shows, quickness, monster power, and a newly developed drive serve give him the weapons to contend for a Top 6 spot maybe even #5 if he plays a fulltime tour schedule.
Chris - Yeah, the Crippler may benefit from the rule change as well, but his mental game and conditioning concern me. Being that he's from Cali, I love rooting for him and I hear he's working on both of my concerns, so we'll have to see. If so, Shane may have difficulty keeping that #6 spot.

Those are my predictions, now its time for you guys to tell me how wrong you think I am.

I like your predictions, but I think Jack will beat Rocky out of the 2nd spot. Alvaro might possibly be a contender for the 6th spot, bumping Shane out.

Hunter

I like your predictions, but I think Jack will beat Rocky out of the 2nd spot. Alvaro might possibly be a contender for the 6th spot, bumping Shane out.

Good call on Alvaro, I forgot him all together. I agree with you on that one. Taking Alvaro into account, I'd have to move everyone from the #4 spot down.

So....
#4 Alvaro - He's silky, he's smooth, he makes it look like the game takes no effort. I don't see the drive serve affecting him too much with his awesome hands.
#5 Mitch, #6 Ben.

Thanks for correcting me.

I agree with your predictions with the ecxception that I think Jack will be #2 and may beat Kane. I also like Mitch's chances to upset kane with the two serve rule. Alvaro's knee is still probably not 100%, and definitely not tested yet for a whole very long season. I expect him to finish no higher than #7. Jose if he plays the whole season could slip into #6.

I love the topic, but I gotta say why would you put (jswift) shane ahead of alvaro and chris. Chris will benefit huge from the 2 serve rule just like mitch.
I agree with you on mitch may cause some upsets, but his inconsistency may become a factor.
Chris will finish AHEAD of shane (that is they both remain healthy) :)
ANOTHER thing to consider is with the draw sheet, who will be playing Kane every tourey in the quarters, cause you need alot of semi appearences to finish in the top. And who ever has Kane first (ones in the top 8) is going to have a bad season.:(

I'm watching Jose Rojas for a breakthrough.

nevergiveup

I love the topic, but I gotta say why would you put (jswift) shane ahead of alvaro and chris. Chris will benefit huge from the 2 serve rule just like mitch.
I agree with you on mitch may cause some upsets, but his inconsistency may become a factor.
Chris will finish AHEAD of shane (that is they both remain healthy) :)
ANOTHER thing to consider is with the draw sheet, who will be playing Kane every tourey in the quarters, cause you need alot of semi appearences to finish in the top. And who ever has Kane first (ones in the top 8) is going to have a bad season.:(

In my second post I admitted my error for omitting Alvaro, I totally forgot about him and also unsure of his health. If he's healthy, I see him take the #4 spot. I put Shane ahead of Chris because I feel he is not as consistent and conditioned as Shane, he also tends to lose focus when things don't go his way. As for Mitch, I don't think he's as inconsistent as he seems. I feel he has gotten better every year and the new 2 serve rule will add to that. I dont necessarily feel chris has gotten better every year, as much as I want to see him succeed. You're right that the draw has a lot to do with it. I didn't take the time to construct a draw sheet to figure that out, but you are correct that it will affect someone's season greatly.

bewilson

I agree with your predictions with the ecxception that I think Jack will be #2 and may beat Kane. I also like Mitch's chances to upset kane with the two serve rule. Alvaro's knee is still probably not 100%, and definitely not tested yet for a whole very long season. I expect him to finish no higher than #7. Jose if he plays the whole season could slip into #6.

Jack finishing ahead of Rock seems to be the consensus, but I let my California pride take over in my selection. Just trying to send Rock soome good juju. I too question Alvaro's health, we'll have to see. I agree with your thoughts on Jose, He's my boy and I'm totally biased there. I'm just not sure if he'll be able to play a full season with his school schedule. But the kid is LEGIT.

Ok here is my .02 on the top 8.

#1 Kane - Unless he gets hurt this is a lock.
#2 Rocky - New racquet that Rocks! But doesn't have anything for Kane.
#3 Mitch - Healthy arm for first time in 3 years and 2 serves plus unreal fit this year. Don't forget he missed tournaments last year with the shoulder problem including the US OPEN.
#4 Jack - Not sure he is going to be healthy enough at the start to finish higher. Plus add in the new baby which doesn't make training or sleeping easy. But he could go as high as #2.

#5 Alvi - ONLY if his knee is close to 90%. If he spent the Summer getting fit then I'm a fan and he could go higher but he will be playing a lot of qualifying this year. Where he goes into the draw makes this pick hard. Could go the other way if he runs into Kane, Rock, Jack early in draws.

#6 Shane - If he has lost the LBS this Summer as projected then he will be hard to get out of the top 6 because he is in the #4 spot to start the year.

#7 Ben - 2 serves does not help him. Can he find a way to negate the drive serve to the backhand side? Plays harder than anyone but I just think the rule change hurts him the most.

#8 Chris - Same as always. Can he keep his head in it and can he be in shape enough to serve bombs for 5 games twice on Friday? If he can and Alvi gets bad draws he could go to the #6 spot.

Upsets -
Jose- If he can play the full season then he could be in top 10.
Mike Green - Serves bombs and if he wants to play again could beat people.
Cliff Swain - OK. Who doesn't want him to come out and serve bombs like the old days? But can he still bring it?

Thoerner

JSwift79

bewilson

I agree with your predictions with the ecxception that I think Jack will be #2 and may beat Kane. I also like Mitch's chances to upset kane with the two serve rule. Alvaro's knee is still probably not 100%, and definitely not tested yet for a whole very long season. I expect him to finish no higher than #7. Jose if he plays the whole season could slip into #6.

Jack finishing ahead of Rock seems to be the consensus, but I let my California pride take over in my selection. Just trying to send Rock soome good juju. I too question Alvaro's health, we'll have to see. I agree with your thoughts on Jose, He's my boy and I'm totally biased there. I'm just not sure if he'll be able to play a full season with his school schedule. But the kid is LEGIT.

Didn't Rocky beat out Jack at both the US nationals and World Championships? I commentated on the WC final and Jack hit a lot of drives. The match could have gone either way really especially with that really contentious call with Jack serving for the second game.

http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/8975364 (volume is pretty loud)

Thanks for the change, Jason, interesting views from someone more in the know. I didn't know Jack had injury issues. I did notice some additional lbs watching the videos on irtnetwork, but I thought it may have been the cameras adding those. I agree with your thoughts on the effect of the new baby as well. I didn't know Shane had LBS to lose as well. Maybe it was all the black shirts he wore. lol
Mike Green, never crossed my mind, but again you're in the know. Cliff? That would be awesome!!.... and interesting, but I understand he's playing with some injuries these days as well.

well cant forget that chris took rocky to a few 5 gamers..

I heard jack was thinking of retiring and finding a diff career, if this WAS true not sure how hungry he is to be number 2.

I really think all the guys will be closer to kane this yr. kane couldnt be much farther ahead though either..haha..

I think chris will benefit alot from 2 serves. but yes his head is a problem.

I will not underestimate rockys desire to win..

sorry I was floating around alot..

and thanks alot to splatking1 for the ben vs jose video....

Pretty much the top 3 spots are a given I'll go with Kane, Rock, Jack. The next 5 are trouble. It would be nice for the first time in a while to have some dark horses in there. I know it happened a few times last year, but for the most part it it was the same four in the semis.

Just to have some different names in the mix would be exciting. I'd like to see Jose make a move in a few tourney's.

Like it or not, I think two serves is going to be interesting. Will Rock still serve up the garbage Z? Will Jack lob everything? Can't wait.