All 104 Names need to be released

By Jim Ingram

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

It's unfair for the 7 "alleged" busted MLB players that the rest of the list has not been released. Don't get me wrong, I am 100% against the use of steroids and performing enhancing drugs in Major League Baseball. While the world is not fair, the government, baseball union and MLB have the ability to release the entire list and make it fair.

If the sport really wants to move forward, then they need to release the total list. We've already seen what it's done when one or two names are leaked here and there. That is what's going to happen until the list is all public. Enough already. Pull the band aid off and get it done.

What do you think?

I smell the pigskin

By Chad Garner

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Yes, football is finally here. We're talking professional football and the New England Patriots.

Training Camp officially opened yesterday and I still can't get enough of reading all the Patriots news from yesterday's sessions.

But the No. 1 concern I have it about, of course, Tom Brady. We all the know the season hinges on him. He's the best QB in the National Football League and that offense if virtually unstoppable with him slinging passes to Randy Moss (how many corners can really cover him and want to cover him?), Wes Welker and new addition Joey Galloway (welcome aboard!).

All indications are Brady is good to go, but he still needs to take a hit to that knee or leg, or even just get his bell rung, to know he is really OK. There's no substitute for live game action and he hasn't experienced that since Week 1 last year when he was knocked out of commission by the Kansas City Chiefs.

Got to hope Brady is close to 100 percent. That offensive line better keep him upright or the season will go downhill fast.

And how about one of the anchors on defense, nose tackle Vince Wilfork? Remember, Wilfork is involved in a contract dispute -- yes, he wants a big payday but he's earned it in my book -- but he showed great character by putting the team first and showing up for camp instead of holding out. Will that equal a nice payday? 

If Wilfork does indeed hold out before the season, at least rookie second-round pick, Ron Brace of Boston College and Burncoat High of Worcester -- can jump in right away. Brace is a force in the middle and has never had an issue with taking on multiple blockers, just like Wilfork does. Either way, Brace should made an impact, even if he's involved in a defensive line rotation this season.

There are plenty of Patriots stories to break down -- position battles, who's hot and who's not, etc. --  and we'll continue to take a look at these throughout training camp. So stay tuned.

Here's the Patriots practice schedule, according to the Patriots official Web site: patriots.com

Practice Schedule
July 31: 9:30am - 11:15am; 3:45pm - 5:30pm
August 1: 9:30am - 11:15am; 3:45pm - 5:30pm
August 2: 9:30am - 11:15am; 3:45pm - 5:30pm
August 3: 9:30am - 11:15am; 3:45pm - 5:30pm
August 4:  9:30am - 11:15am; 3:45pm - 5:30pm

August 5:  9:30am - 11:15am; 3:45pm - 5:30pm.

Big Papi a Big Fraud

By Chad Garner

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Well, well, well. It looks like Mr. Mango Salsa Man, David Ortiz, isn't such a Beantown Hero is he?

The Boston designated hitter was called out yesterday as being one of the 104 Major League Baseball players who tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs in 2003, along with sidekick Manny Ramirez.

Is anyone really in total shock about Papi that he used performance-enhancing drugs? Well, apparently he is, considering he doesn't even know what he took. Ya, sure and I'm the best sports writer in the country.

Isn't this the same guy that has been extremely vocal during spring training about never using and how MLB should throw the book at everyone who is caught using? 

Papi's a fraud, bottom line.

Are those Red Sox World Series titles tainted now since both Ortiz and Manny -- the two feared hitters in that Boston lineup -- were dirty players during that run? That's for you to judge.

The bottom line is he disrespected the game by cheating, even Red Sox fans can't argue that statement.

Will Ortiz be treated just like the other stars who have been caught using and still are playing -- Manny, Alex Rodriguez -- with a steady dose of boos at every ballpark? 

Do Red Sox fans still love Ortiz (based on the standing ovation he got during yesterday's game, they still love him)? Is he forgiven in your book?

How do you view Ortiz now?

It's sad, but Big Papi is a Big Fraud now.

PAC-10 preview: No horses for Trojans to fear this year

By Chris Maza
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

(As the college football season approaches, I will be breaking down each of the following conferences: The Big XII, the PAC-10, the Big East and the WAC. This week I tackle the PAC-10. If you haven't already, don't forget to check out past previews of Notre Dame and the Big XII.)

In 2008, Arizona State was supposed to be the team to knock USC off its pedestal. This year, there can be no such conversation made about any team in the PAC-10.

The freight train that is the USC football program will keep rolling. For those of you keeping score, no team has won more PAC-10 titles, shared or outright than USC. The Trojans have reigned as champions or co-champions for each of the last seven seasons, winning the league outright in three of those years. And there's no reason to think that it's nothing more than a matter of time until they capture their eighth-consecutive title.

For all the talk of how the loss of Mark Sanchez is going to hurt the offense, let's not forget that we're talking about a one-year starter on a program that makes a living off producing top-notch college quarterbacks. And the fact remains that while Sanchez is gone, the majority of the offense that was 11th in the nation in total offense is coming back. The quarterback situation will be one to watch as camp opens, but whoever takes the helm should be someone Trojan fans feel comfortable having under center.

The thing USC fans should be more concerned with is the defense. The second-ranked defense in the land last season returns just two members in 2009 - both in the secondary. USC will have to rebuild its entire front seven, so the unit that was the reason the Trojans were so dominant last year instantly becomes a question mark. Still, the offense still can be one of the best in football, so the defense doesn't have to be unstoppable for USC to find success.

Behind USC, there's a huge drop off with a few teams that should be pretty darn decent, but still have plenty of questions to answer and doubters to win over.

Cal could very well be the second-best team in the conference, thanks largely to early Heisman hopeful Jahvid Best. Best is coming off an outstanding 1580-yard season in which he averaged a whopping 8.1 yards per carry. But beyond him, the offense has a ton of uncertainties. The most compelling of those is whether or not Kevin Riley can shore up a quarterback position that was mired by inconsistency in 2008. The only way he and Best can be truly effective is if the offensive line is up to snuff and that unit is missing key pieces from last year's team. The Bears' strength lies in its defense, which returns eight starters, including a very strong and experienced secondary. Cal faces Oregon and USC back-to-back in its fourth and fifth games this season, so we'll know fairly early exactly where the Bears stand.

Oregon, who some believe is actually a better team than Cal and most certainly boasts a better offense, is also in the mix. Their offense is exciting and explosive with double-threat Jeremiah Masoli under center. LeGarrette Blount, who was one of two Duck rushers to top 1,000 yards last season, also returns. Oregon's problem, however, lies in the fact that the program returns the fewest number of starters of any team in the PAC-10 with five on each side of the ball. The defense is also a liability with a very weak secondary that ranked 111th in the nation in passing defense and doesn't figure to be much better this year.

Possibly the most interesting team to watch in the conference this year will be Arizona. They will have to do without Willie Tuitama's 3,000+ yards, 23 touchdowns and 65 percent completion rate and whoever wins the job has some huge shoes to fill. There are some decent weapons on the offense to help out whoever is decided on at QB, but the defense will have to win games. Arizona had a solid unit last year and has a dominating front four that could push the defense over the top and become a premier unit.

The team that will continue to toil is Arizona State. Last year's 5-7 disaster has to be considered the biggest disappointment in the program's history and one of the biggest in the history of the conference. With stars like Rudy Carpenter, Keegan Herring and Michael Jones, the offense still ranked 100th in the league. How well will they do now without those three? Odds are not very well.

Prediction: USC runs away with the conference with an 11-1 regular-season record. You could maybe consider the Trojans for a possible undefeated season, but with a tough week 2 test at Ohio State, followed later by road games against two other PAC-10 programs that want to prove their legitimacy (Cal on Oct. 3, Oregon on Halloween), there's a big chance for a hiccup.

PAC-10 Projected Final Standings
1. USC
2. California
3. Oregon
4. Arizona
5. Oregon State
6. UCLA
7. Arizona State
8. Stanford
9. Washington
10. Washington State

Lee to Phils, VMart next to go?

By Jim Ingram

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Now that the Cleveland Indians have sent Cliff Lee to the Phillies, it looks even more likely Victor Martinez will be next. Why? Phillies catching prospect, Lou Marson was a key piece in the deal. The Indians did very well in my opinion getting Marson, shortstop Jason Donald, and righhanders Carlos Carrasco and Jason Knapp for Lee and Ben Francisco. The Phillies also did very well, picking up a very good lefthanded pitcher without giving up either Kyle Drabek or JA Happ.

Enough Lee talk though. The Indians are now in line to pick up even more top of the line prospects by trading Victor Martinez. The most likely landing spot for VMart is the Boston Red Sox, especially if they're willing to deal Clay Bucholtz. There are other suitors, like the San Fran Giants, but the Red Sox makes the most sense. Martinez would be the long term solution at catcher and could play first base the remainder of this season and next. I don't think the acquisition of Adam LaRoche would impact this deal at all.

That's my prediction, let's see what happens.

Stay classy, Nomar. Stay classy.

By Chris Maza
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Ok, I will preface this blog with this. I despise Nomar Garciaparra. There are no two ways about it. Even when he was here, I knew what he was - a tremendously talented baseball player with a bad attitude and a chip on his shoulder for all the wrong reasons. He wore the red, white and blue of the Red Sox like it was a burden instead of a privilege. And while he has always insisted he loved the fans in Boston and he loved the team, he never did anything to actually show it, leaving his words resoundingly empty.

For all intents and purposes, the yesterday's ceremony to retire Jim Rice's number was amazing, a moment that will stay etched in my mind forever. I really feel truly blessed to have been there to witness it.

But there was a brief moment where I felt nothing but disgust and sure enough, Nomar Garciaparra was in the middle of it.

For those of you who missed it, let me break it down for you.

After a brief introduction, Rice was introduced to the Fenway Faithful and made his entrance from the overhead door in left field, appropriately, and to a rousing ovation walked down the third-base line towards home plate, passing the Oakland dugout on the way. There were several players stretching and prepping for the game and as Rice passed them, Nomar jumped out in front of him with arms extended as if to say, "Come on, big guy, gimme a hug!"

Rice hugged him, but Nomar didn't let go and actually started rocking back and forth in an awkward exchange that looked like a pair of pre-teen middle schoolers dancing together for the first time at the school social.

Does it seem like much? Maybe not. But it's still a case of Nomar trying to insert himself in someone else's spotlight.

I have no problem with Nomar appreciating Rice and wanting to congratulate him. But how many current and former Red Sox players appreciate Rice and have congratulated him? Probably more than a few. How many of them did it in public, uninvited? One. Nomar wanted everyone to see him congratulate Rice. It would have been one thing if Rice made a point to go over to Nomar and give him a hug. It's the fact that Nomar went out of his way.

Maybe he couldn't stand to see the spotlight on someone else. Maybe it was one more way for Nomar to say, "See? I really do like Boston!" in his somewhat successful attempt to show the lemmings he cares and get their love back. Or maybe he and Rice are friends. I don't know their relationship.

But if they are friends, Nomar should have accepted that this was Rice's moment, stood to the side and let him have it. It's not like there wouldn't be other opportunities both inside the ballpark or outside to give Rice a hug, congratulate him, buy him a beer, whatever. And if he couldn't get a hold of him, Nomar could have called up his good buddy Lou Merloni and gotten hooked up.

It was Rice's moment. And it was an unbelievable one - one that I feel extremely lucky to have been there to see. But a part of me will always remember that moment where the man who couldn't stand to be here, couldn't stand the organization and didn't care about the fans made himself a part of history that honored someone who did all the things Nomar never did.

Stay classy, Nomar. Stay classy.

Vick on a short leash

By Chad Garner

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Michael Vick's back.

Well, sort of.

The National Football League Commissioner Roger Goodell granted the dog-killing Vick to a conditional reinstatement to the league yesterday after the all legs and no accuracy former Atlanta Falcons quarterback served two years in prison for his involvement in the dog fighting ring that quickly become national headlines.

Yes, Vick has paid a very steep price both personally and professionally for many giant off-the-field decisions.

Now, he's getting a chance to get back to his sport and his profession, but Goodell didn't cut Vick much slack.

You would think serving time behind bars in prison would be enough punishment, but Goodell, who clearly wants everyone to know he's in charge of the NFL and wants people to fear him based on his iron-fist rulings, put Vick in a ever-so-tight collar with his stipulations to get back into the league.

Under Goodell's ruling, Vick can partake in training camp (well, if someone wants to sign him and is ready for a media circus throughout the season) and play in the final two preseason games, but can't take the field until Week 6 at the earliest. So basically he's still suspended from the NFL until that time since he can't play in a real game. Well, Goodell could lift that ruling and reinstate him fully before that at any point, but do you really think he will? No, then Goodell will appear soft, and we all know he doesn't want that label like the Indianapolis Colts receivers have.

Is it fair? Personally, I don't think an added sentence is necessary, but Goodell must feel like Vick still has much to prove before he'll let him play again. He's luckier than most, considering he'll still have a job, maybe, right? 

I'm willing to bet Vick knows he's under a microscope and one more bad move and he'll be banned from the league forever. But this structure is what Goodell feels is necessary before Vick can really consider himself back in the league. 

Remember, actions speak louder than words.

There really shouldn't be much complaining from Vick and his camp, considering Goodell could have really been a tough guy and banned him from the league forever. Ask MLB hit dog Pete Rose how it feels to be left out in the cold and banned from the sport he so loves? 

At least for Vick, he is getting another chance.

That leash is tight, but Vick is still breathing!

Agatha Christie is a Jevan Snead fan; SEC preseason picks

By Brendan Hall
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

OK, time to debunk this myth that Tim Tebow is a gift from the Gates of Heaven, and that 22 years ago in Jacksonville there was an Immaculate Conception.

But first, a little trivia...there are two things these guys all have in common. What are they?

-Rex Grossman
-Chris Leak
-Danny Weurffel
-Jesse Palmer
-Shane Matthews
-Kerwin Bell
-Brock Berlin
-Doug Johnson
-Ingle Martin

We in the world of sports media often joke, "must be a slow news week" when something trite, hackneyed or trivial gets blown out of proportion (see: Favre, Brett; Romo, Tony; James, LeBron). As corny as it sounds, this year's SEC Media Day was most definitely a "slow news week".

More specifically, I'm talking about two controversies surrounding Tim Tebow. The first one, in a rather comical moment, involves Tebow channeling his inner A.C. Green. When asked by reporter Clay Travis, author of "On Rocky Top" if he was saving himself for marriage (read between the lines, folks), his quick retort -- with a laugh -- was "Yes, I am...I think you're all stunned right now. I was ready for the question. Y'all weren't."

Of course, it was only a matter of time before the "hey, that's an unethical thing to ask!" wagon got rolling. People, it was a joke question, and it was deliberate through and through. Who cares? Get bent.

The second not-so-mini non-controversy was a whodunit caper. Apparently one of the 12 SEC coaches had the "galls" to pick someone other than Tebow as the first team Preseason All-SEC quarterback.

I, unlike some of our contemporaries in the biz, understand where the heat is coming from. With Lane Kiffin making his hatred of Florida so strong, and so public, the media thought that he was trying to stir things up again. But the story, as many SEC non-controversies tend to do, took on a life of his own.

Let us be reminded here that this is a college football media day gathering, not the sequel to "Gosford Park".

Every SEC coach was asked who he voted for as quarterback. When it turned out Steve Spurrier was the unholy one to commit such a sin, the southern media frig'n lost it. How could such a brash figure be so bold as to NOT agree that Tim Tebow is the best thing to happen to football since Teddy Roosevelt? I mean, this is only GOD'S GIFT TO FOOTBALL. The man preaches at state penitentiaries and does missionary work in the Phillipines. He even once breast-fed an injured flamingo back to full health. You son of a bitch, Steve, you!

Kidding aside, Spurrier handled the controversy about as smoothly as a jackhammer. Rather than man up and say, "Yes, it was me. I'm the one who voted for Jevan Snead, because he's a damn good quarterback who might be the No. 1 overall pick in next year's NFL Draft", he threw his director of football operations under the bus. In blaming his DFB for filling it out, he forgot the part where it's still HIS name on the ballot.

What I want to know, though, is why the media's double standard isn't being played up more. Three media members picked against Tebow for first team All-SEC (two for Snead, one for Arkansas' Ryan Mallett), yet nobody seems interested. I mean, wow, Mallett hasn't even won the starting job over Casey Dick, and somebody already wants to give him a crown? Who's voting in this thing, Roger Clinton?

Here's the truth that Tebow worshippers don't want to hear: he's not exactly a lock as the best quarterback even in his own conference.

Seriously.

Why is that such a hard pill to swallow?

Probably because historically, most Florida quarterbacks go on to endure mediocre careers in the NFL...which leads to my trivia answer. All of the aforementioned quarterbacks played at Florida within the last 15 seasons, and not one ever came close to making a Pro Bowl.

Tebow, coincidentally, may or may not project well in the NFL, depending on who you ask. Some believe his throwing motion needs to be tweaked out, and sped up, if he's going to be successful in the pros. Others feel he needs to improve on his accuracy -- the spread option, as Vince Young's career can attest, is not the greatest indicator of throwing ability. Others are skeptical as to whether he belongs at quarterback at the next level. Nobody, however, questions his leadership skills, which may lead to these misconceptions that Tebow is, in fact, God.

Snead, on the other hand, is almost a lock to go in the first 10-15 picks of next spring's draft if he chooses to forgo his final year of eligibilty. He has the tools to be a quality starter in the pros, with better mechanics, better zip on the ball, and a mean streak that rivals Tebow's. Some are even comparing him to another famous Ole Miss signal-caller -- Eli Manning -- minus the part about getting rattled and acting like a crybaby. Everyone sees him as a quarterback, and a starter, if and when he makes it to the NFL.

Not to mention, the Rebels delivered Florida its lone loss last season.

How's that for Deity?

***

The best and worst thing about covering the SEC is that Mike Finebaum and Gregg Doyel also cover the SEC. The good? Endless opportunities to have fun at somebody else's expense. The bad? I now have to read their columns.

I'll have a full breakdown later in the week, but for now let me throw my opinions on a couple other league issues, followed by my All-SEC first and second teams.

-- Sorry for being late to the ball game on this one, but Auburn's hiring of Gene Chizik as its new head coach is questionable -- but it's certainly not racist.

(Deadspin even speculated that Turner Gill wasn't hired because he's married to a white woman, another reason why I'd love to throw down hand-to-hand with A.J. "Classless Clown" Daulerio. I mean, look at this pipsqueak)

I think we take for granted how hard it is to win at Iowa State. First off, the northern Prairie is by no means a recruiting hotbed (which makes what Tom Osborne did at Nebraska all the more special). USC has Los Angeles. Florida has Florida. Texas has Texas. Michigan has Detroit. Notre Dame has Catholics across the country. What does Iowa have, farmers and cornstalks? And not to mention, all the decent in-state recruits end up in Iowa City, not Ames, by virtue of the Hawkeyes' rugged history. Recruting wise, there isn't enough talent to supply two major Division 1 programs.

Second of all, as a defensive coordinator Chizik won a national title in 2005 with Texas and was robbed of one in 2004 with Auburn. He clearly has an idea of what he's doing. Give him a supporting staff and he can make your defense nasty.

Third, Chizik has already assembled a Top 20 class for 2010. While I have no doubt Turner Gill would do very well recruiting in the SEC, what with his Texas roots and the amazing job he's done at Buffalo, Chizik clearly isn't bad, either.

In short, Chizik wasn't a racist pick. Just a safe one. Don't look too far into the racist undertones -- despite Chizik's tenure at Iowa State, he's more qualified than you'd think.

-- Memo to former Tennessee and UNC assistant Paul Gonnella: if you're reading this, call me. Seriously, ever since you left the Vols late last month for reasons still unconfirmed, you've been an absolute ghost. Where are you, Torah Borah?

For the uninitiated, let me warn you that I might be a little bit of a homer for Gonnella. When I was first hired to cover football at the Globe, he was a young, eager ball of energy heading a Cambridge High team that, in most years, is Godawful. Not to mention, being in the Greater Boston League you have to play Everett every year.

We immediately clicked, and over the fall he became one of my best sources and closest confidants. While other high school coaches had other commitments keeping them asleep at night like, oh, teaching, Paul and I were up til midnight, sometimes 1, chatting about all sorts of football-related stuff -- who's good, who's overrated, and why the spread is the greatest thing ever.

Gonnella ended up sending four kids D-1 in his three years there, including Josh Adams (UNC) and Ray Doucette (Bryant), before hopping aboard at UNC. I like to believe he also had a big hand in Catholic Memorial's Brennan Williams scratching Michigan off his official visit list and picking the Tar Heels.

He then came over this past January to Tennessee, and for some reason we started talking less and less. Word is he had a falling out with Lane Kiffin. And with that, Kiffin lost a good recruiting connect up here (not that there's much talent in Massachusetts to begin with, but still...I mean, they did offer Blake Barker from Wellesley last March).

So anyways, that's my friendship with Paul. But dude, if you're reading this, freaking call me.

Even if it's 2 a.m.

PRESEASON ALL-SEC PICKS

First Team Offense

QB - Jevan Snead, Jr., Ole Miss (Yep, I'm calling it)
RB - Mark Ingram, Soph., Alabama
RB - Chad Scott, Sr., LSU
WR - Julio Jones, Soph., Alabama
WR - AJ Green, Soph., Georgia
TE - Aaron Hernandez, Jr., Florida
C - Ryan Pugh, Jr., Auburn
OL - Maurkice Pouncey, Jr., Florida
OL - Mike Johnson, Sr., Alabama
OL - Ciron Black, Sr., LSU
OL - John Jerry, Sr., Ole Miss
ATH - Javier Arenas, Sr., Alabama
K - Joshua Shene, Sr., Ole Miss

First Team Defense

DL - Terrence Cody, Sr., Alabama
DL - Malcolm Sheppard, Sr., Arkansas
DL - Jermaine Cunningham, Sr., Florida
DL - Antonio Coleman, Sr., Auburn
LB - Brandon Spikes, Sr., Florida
LB - Rolando McClain, Jr., Alabama
LB - Jamar Chaney, Sr., Mississippi State
DB - Trevard Lindley, Sr., Kentucky
DB - Myron Lewis, Sr., Vanderbilt
DB - Eric Berry, Jr., Tennessee
DB - Chad Jones, Jr., LSU
P - Spencer Lanning, Jr., South Carolina

Second Team Offense

QB - Tim Tebow, Sr., Florida
RB - Michael Smith, Sr., Arkansas
RB - Bryce Brown, Fr., Tennessee
WR - Dexter McCluster, Sr., Ole Miss
WR - Brandon LaFell, Sr., LSU
TE - D.J. Williams, Jr., Arkansas
C - Ben Jones, Soph., Georgia
OL - Clint Boling, Jr., Georgia
OL - Mike Pouncey, Jr., Florida
OL - Lee Ziemba, Jr., Auburn
OL - Reilly Lauer, Jr., Vanderbilt
ATH - Brandon James, Sr., Florida
K - Leigh Tiffin, Sr., Alabama

Second Team Defense

DL - Geno Atkins, Sr., Georgia
DL - Carlos Dunlap, Jr., Florida
DL - Dan Williams, Sr., Tennessee
DL - Jeremy Jarmon, Sr., Kentucky
LB - Eric Norwood, Sr., South Carolina
LB - Micah Johnson, Sr., Kentucky
LB - Rico McCoy, Sr., Tennessee
DB - Joe Haden, Jr., Florida
DB - Major Wright, Jr., Florida
DB - Rashard Jones, Jr., Georgia
DB - Dennis Rogan, Jr., Tennessee
P - Chas Henry, Jr., Florida

Talking B's: Bay, Bard and Buchholz

By Chris Maza
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Having a hard time remembering the last time Jason Bay had an RBI? Let me help you out. It was July 9. That's right folks, the man hs a big, giant goose egg in the RBI department since the All-Star break.

We all knew he wasn't going to keep up the ungodly pace he put up earlier this season, but this is an epic struggle like few we've ever seen.

His batting average was an impressive .324 in April and while he only hit .266 in May, he pounded 10 homers and 30 RBI. Even when he batted .230 in June, it didn't seem to be quite as big of a deal because he still knocked in 20. He was still productive.

But now it's reached the point where it's downright ugly. He's gone 12 straight without an RBI and over the last 30 days, he's posted an OPS of .616, putting him behind the likes of LA's Blake DeWitt and Casey Blake and San Francisco's Rich Aurilia.

Hopefully seing Oakland come to twon will help. In a very small sample size (11 games), Bay has done very well against A's pitching, posting a .385 batting average and 1.203 OPS (his highest OPS against any team).

Meet your new closer

Like what you've seen from Daniel Bard so far?

Let's hope so, because if he doesn't get traded, he very well could be the Red Sox' closerin the near future. Papelbon is under the Red Sox' control with arbitration eligible years in 2010 and 2011. He avoided arbitration this season with one-year contract, but rest assured he's going to be looking for more security.

With Jonathan Papelbon in the last year of his contract in 2012 and the Red Sox smartly not willing to issue a long-term, big-money contract to a closer, Bard appears to be the heir to the bullpen throne.

The Red Sox have made it pretty clear whom they wish to keep around, locking up the young talent they wanted to long-term deals last year. Papelbon was offerered no such deal, so the writing is pretty much on the wall. He wants top dollar on the marker and he'll most definitely get it, but not from the Red Sox. With the exception of a few (Mariano Rivera, Trevor Hoffman), the shelf life for a closer is not very long.

With what they've seen so far, they obviously appear confident to move on with Bard as Papelbon's replacement. The number have been pretty good. In 23 games (27.1 innings), he's posted a 2.26 ERA as well as bullpen bests in the form of a 1.01 WHIP and .184 opponent's batting average.

How he'll respond to ninth inning work remains to be seen, but with a fastball touching 100 and a nasty slider, he certainly has the raw talent.

Buchholz for the right price

Clay Buchholz, as it turns out, is available for trade.

While the answer was a resounding "No" when the Indians came calling offering Victor Martinez for Buchholz, according to some reports, the Red Sox may be willing to offer Buchholz as part of a package for Roy Halladay.

That package would ultimately shoot down my Bard-in-the-closer's-role theory, as it's said to also include Bard and a top-ranked prospect.

While it's all talk at this point, it does raise the question as to whether or not Buchholz, Bard and say a Michael Bowden or Lars Anderson would be too much for Halladay. In this case, the answer has to be no way. Halladay is one of the three best pitchers in baseball and instantly makes any team that acquires him better.

The real question now becomes would the Red Sox really have to give up that much? The main competition for Halladay has come from the Phillies, who are reportedly unwilling to part with both J.A. Happ and minor-league starter Kyle Drabek, who Charlie Manuel compared to Tom Seaver, even though he had Tommy John surgery last year.

Given the fact they would be trading within the division, the Red Sox probably will have to pay more than they usually would. But given the caliber of player they get in return, it just might be worth it and make them the front-runners in the American League.

Fantasy Baseball: Chin Music

By Chad Garner

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Is there a doctor in the house?

How about a Doc Halladay?

The Toronto Blue Jays ace right-hander has been the talk of the Major League Baseball trade front and he's also been the talk of the fantasy town.

Yes, we all know how nasty he is from both perspectives -- 11-3 record, 2.62 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, 123 Ks, 20 BB -- but all this trade talk has fantasy owners in a tizzy.

I know it doesn't matter in mixed leagues, but what about if you're in an AL only league and have Halladay leading your staff?

His numbers have just been too good to even think about trading him away, but now might be the time to roll the dice.

It might be the right thing to do if YOU think that he is going to be traded to the National League. We all know what happens if he does and you own him in an AL only league -- can you say bye-bye Doc? 

You risk the chance of losing him completely if he's dealt to the Philadelphia Phillies (that's where all the talk is centered around currently), so do you take less or even get a straight up offer for a hitter or some kind of package deal to assure yourself that you won't be stuck holding the Doc bag if he's packing for the National League?

It's a risky move, but one that could win or lose you a championship.

I may be crazy, but I think that he's going to stay in Toronto. Just a hunch because the asking price for him is crazy. But if he does get traded, I think the Phillies will pony up two top-of-the-line pitching prospects and at least one key positional player (that appears to be Toronto's asking price anyway) to get him.

At this point, flip a coin.

But if you think you can get equal value back for Halladay right now and don't want to have to worry if he's going to get traded, then do it so the worrying will vanish faster than you can say Doc.

If you're in an NL only league and you've got that No. 1 waiver claim, don't pick up anyone yet, unless you put in for Matt Holliday who was recently traded to the Cardinals from the A's this past week. But with the No. 1 slot, it assures you of whoever you want if a high profile player becomes available. No doubt save that top waiver spot for someone who gets dealt from the AL to the NL. If it's the Doc, you'll be partying like a rock star into the early morning and laughing at all your other owners.

The only line you'll have to use is, "Is there a doctor in the house?"

That'll be sure to tick everyone off.

FREE FALLING

Minnesota's Nick Blackburn is in a major tailspin and it's not looking pretty right now. In his last two stars, the right-hander has given up 19 hits and 13 earned runs in only 8 2/3 innings, including 3 homers while not striking anyone out. Maybe he has a dead arm right now? Either bench him or cut him loss. Don't start him until he shows he's coming out of his funk.

HUNGRY FOR A BIG MAC

Washinton's Mike MacDougal hasn't done anything wrong not to be owned. The default Nationals closer has got six saves and hasn't even blown one yet. While he's on the worst team in baseball and won't be picking up saves on a regular basis, he can be a nice complimentary piece to your bullpen if you're in desperate need of saves. He's only owned in 18 percent of Yahoo! leagues. He's worth a pickup.

Despite offenseive woes, Sox get much needed win

By Jim Ingram

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

The Red Sox limped back into Fenway Park on Friday night 2 1/2 games behind the Yankees for first place in the AL East. They needed two things to get them back on track: A win, and a rejuvenated offense. I guess 1 out of 2 isn't too bad. The offense continues to struggle scoring only 3 runs on 9 hits while stranding 9 runners. The pathetic JD Drew left 5 on by himself. At least they 3 for 8 with runners in scoring position.

The positive note of this game was Brad Penny. He improved his record to 7-4 while pitching 6.1 innings allowing only 1 unearned run while scattering 5 hits. He looks pretty good, but as Don Orsillo mentioned several times last night, he allows way too many foul balls, and tips by opposing hitters. This may be his downfall for never pitching through 7 innings in a game during the 2009 season. The Red Sox should be fine for pitching the rest of the way out. They have Wakefield returning the first week of August, and even Dice-K could make a return in September.

It's the offense that has to return to form for them to make a deep run in the playoffs. I doubt they'll trade for an impact bat, but replacing the JD Drew in right is what I'd try to do the most. Josh Willingham would be a perfect fit for the Sox. He would be a more productive platoon in right than Rocco Baldeli, and would add more power to the lineup. It also helps he's been one of the hottest hitters in the majors the past month.

NFL Draft will be different

By Chad Garner

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

If you love the National Football League, then it's pretty fair to think you also enjoy the draft.

What players are your favorite team going to draft? Are they going to trade out of their first-round slot to move up or down? Who are they targeting? 

The draft buzz starts months before the actual draft, and every year the draft seems to be getting bigger and bigger.

So the NFL went to its instant replay and came up with a new rule change: the NFL Draft, starting in 2010, will be spread out to three days instead of two.

I think the big difference is that ONLY the first round will be on the first day -- on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. It's all about ratings obviously, and the draft will be in a prime-time slot, so it seems like a no-brainer for the NFL to take advantage of its popularity. It will be televised on ESPN and the NFL Network.

It's not like the borderline fan will sit through almost 3 1/2 hours of a first round, but the diehards will and currently do it.

Under the new rule, the second day of the draft will be for the second and third round, and Day 3 is for the fourth through the seventh round (I'm willing to bet there won't be too many viewers on the final day).

Currently the draft is on Saturday and Sunday, so farewell to the NFL Draft parties around the country that start early on Saturday and last throughout the early evening. It looks like a new plan will have to be a Thirsty Thursday, just like the old college days. But if you have to work on Friday, it might not be a great idea unless you take a sick day.

My question is after the first round, will you tune it and watch the entire Day 2 and Day 3, or check back in periodically to see who your team selected?

I think it's a great format for the first round and puts even more of a emphasis on the top players in the draft and actually might pull in more viewers, even the so-so fan who just might develop into a diehard after watching all the hoopla. But I'm not so sure three days of a draft, which can be boring at times with all the experts chiming in on every topic under the sun, is the best idea. 

I consider myself a diehard NFL fan, but I'm not even going to sit through three days of the draft. Yes, it's boring at times. I think it's a little overkill, but the first round should be an extravaganza and even Day 2 with the second and third round will be outstanding since the majority of these picks need to help your team out if you're going to be any good. 

Do you like the new format?

Fantasy Baseball: Frozen Ropes

By Jim Ingram

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Welcome back to the first Frozen Ropes of the 2nd half of the season. Luckily we have had a solid week of play so far in the 2nd half. As always, we'll start with the good.

The Good:

1. Matt Holiday - .393, 2 HR, 9 RBI, 9 R, 2 SB

Is it just coincidence that Matt Holiday gets really hot come trade deadline time? Despite the fact Holiday is in the middle of an OK season, it would be best served to trade him instead of hold on for the two draft picks. Unless he goes to a hitter friendly park, hello New York Yankees, he will not top 25 homers this year.

2. Yunel Escobar - .480, 3, 12, 6, 0

Speaking of another person who's name has been on the trade block. Escobar has been as hot as a hitter can get right now, and maybe he's finally feeling the pressure of having a reputation of being a bit lackadaisical. Either way, he's sure to come down to earth, but is still a pretty good fantasy producer.

3. Miguel Montero - .440, 4, 9, 6, 0

If Montero hadn't shown up in the top 5 this week, he would have slid nicely into the under the radar portion of this blog. He's been on fire since before the All Star break and is making the most of playing regularly. If you need help at catcher, get him and ride while he's hot. A .287, 9, 28 line is also not something to scoff at.

4. Garrett Jones - .379, 4, 6, 6, 0

If you don't know you Jones is, he's a 1b/OF for the Pirates. I have also been pulling for him since his days in the Twins minor league system. I used to work part time for a company named Baseball Info Solutions and saw Jones play a ton of games while scoring games when he played for the New Britain Rock Cats. He's always had a ton of power, and finally looks like he's getting a chance to play. I doubt he'll ever be a full time player in the MLB, but it's nice to see him get a chance.

5. Justin Morneau - .346, 3, 9, 7, 0

Of course Morneau is the reason why Garrett Jones never got a chance to play in Minnesota. Morneau is having another solid season and this week is no different. He's on pace to have one of, if not the best, seasons of his career.

The Bad:

1. Andruw Jones - .167, 0, 2, 2, 0

Andruw is finally coming down to Earth. Personally, I can't stand him for getting fat, out of shape, and tanking it during his time with the Dodgers. Hopefully, he continues to play awful and break down in the heat of Arlington.

2. Derek Lee - .208, 0, 2, 4, 0

Lee is having a fine season, but this week has not gone so well. He does need be an impact bat if the Cubs want to stay in the Divisional race. I wouldn't be too worried about Lee's resurgence.

3. Vernon Wells - .167, 1, 1, 2, 0

If you are a regular reader of this blog, than you know of my utter disdain for Vernon Wells. I have no idea how the Jays can get rid of him when there's $124 million left on his contract and he's a marginal big league player. .260, 10, 39 is not a line I want for someone hitting 7th or 8th in my lineup, much less 4th.

4. Hank Blalock - .208, 0, 4, 1

Hank's had a pretty good year so far hitting 19 home runs, but has never fully returned to his early form of a few years ago. He's been rumored in various trades, but I am not certain they'll move him unless they get pitching in return because they're still in the AL West race.

5. BJ Upton - .233, 0, 1, 1, 1

BJ continues to be out shined by his younger brother Justin this season. For all we know, he's not healthy and that's caused problems all season long. He still has 32 stolen bases on the year, so he can help your fantasy team.

Under the Radar:

Do you need help at the shortstop position? If so, take a look at Erick Aybar. Over the past month, and 83 at bats, he's hit .410, 1 HR, 17 RBI, 18 Runs & 6 stolen bases. He'll help your team just on the batting average right now. Josh Willingham will get traded by the Washington Nationals. He's also helped himself out by hitting .357, 4, 16 over the past month. He's a corner outfielder with power and that is what a lot of teams need right now. If you need a utility man, and we know how much Chad & I love these guys, than look now further than Martin Prado. He's eligible at 1B, 2B & 3B and has hit .373 over his past 102 at bats. He's a former top prospect who's finally getting some playing time. Why don't we stay with the middle infielders today. The White Sox's Gordon Beckham is eligible at both 2B & SS, and is hitting .356, 2, 15 the past month. He's only owned in 24% of Yahoo Leagues and is a good keeper if you play in that type of league. Casey McGehee is still only owned in only 18% of leagues. He's now the starting 2nd baseman for the Brewers and hit .286, 5, 16 the past month. Give him a shot. He's hitting for average and has some pop from the 2nd base position.

Manny is money

By Chad Garner

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Some guys just know how to put on a show.

We're not talking about guys like Nick Green, either. We're talking about the superstars of Major League Baseball who know how to treat the fans to unbelievable excitement.

Did you see what Manny Ramirez did last night for the Dodgers?

First, Manny doesn't even start because he got drilled with a fastball on the hand the night before so the Dodgers kept him out of the starting lineup for precautionary reasons.

Then, is a big situation, manager Joe Torre calls on his future Hall of Famer (we can debate that too if you want) to pinch hit with the bases juiced in the sixth inning.

And what does Manny do in front of the home fans who were going absolute bananas when he was announced over the loudspeaker?

Manny jumps on the first offering from Reds reliever Nick Masset and hammers a grand slam to left field to help the Dodgers win, 6-2.

Some guys just have the knack of delivering in the clutch, while others simply crumble when the spotlight is on them.

We all know Manny is clutch and he continues to prove it time and time again. So much for the stupid ideas that his career was a complete joke because he was busted and suspended for 50 games for violating the drug policy earlier this season. 

Manny is just one of those special hitters that doesn't come around very often. 

You'd be crazy not to pay money to see him rake, or even watch the circus that is Manny in the outfield. He's special, bottom line, and you can't take that away from him.

Who would you pay to see play and why?

Sox kick off trade season with insignificant trades

By Jim Ingram

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

The Boston Red Sox offense has been sluggish lately, as they've average 2.16 runs per game since the All Star break. Jason Bay has struggled for nearly two months, Kevin Youkilis is now hitting under .300, and JD Drew's average has sunk to .233. What they need is a shot in the arm. What they got yesterday is more like a pin prick than a full fledge shot.

The Red Sox picked up 1B Adam LaRoche from the Pittsburgh Pirates and OF/1B/DH/strikeout artist Chris Duncan from the St. Louis Cardinals. Realistically, the Sox didn't give up much for both players, except if you count nearly $13 million remaining on Julio Lugo's contract, but did they get enough to bolster the offense and take over the division lead? No! Adam LaRoche is a decent hitter, who has a history of great second halves. At this point in the season, LaRoche has still been struggling. He does offer decent depth at the corner infield position for the Sox if Lowell goes down for a period of time.
Now on to the acquisition of Chris Duncan. I do have to say the Red Sox are very lucky they got anything for Julio Lugo. If Duncan's head is on right, he can still hit home runs, but strikes out more than Adolpho Gonzalez at a Las Vegas Cat House. Duncan is 1 for his last 31 and has struck out 27% of the time in his career. Ouch!. What the Red Sox need is a more substantial bat to help stabilize this lineup. JD Drew is having another terrible season, Lowell has been hitting, but you never know how his hip will hold up, and When does David Ortiz fall back to earth and Jason Bay bust out of his funk?

It now looks like the Sox will not trade prize prospect Clay Bucholz, but why not dangle him for Victor Martinez, or pick up another corner outfielder to take over at bats from JD Drew? The Red Sox are still a very good team, but the AL East is a three team race. In my opinion, they Sox are in the worst shape to take the division.

What do you think?

What's the UFL all about?

By Chad Garner

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

So do you know anything about the United Football League (UFL)?

If the answer is no, that's OK.

I know it's a new football league that's coming this fall, but there's no way it can compete with the National Football League, right?

The NFL is the top dog, always will be.

It seems like the UFL is going to be a minor league feeder system to the NFL with former NFL players hoping to revive their career, along with coaches trying to get another taste of the NFL coaching ranks.

It's pro football so it can't be that bad, right?

The UFL just landed the face of the league, as of right now, with the signing of former first-round pick J.P. Losman, better known as Loserman to Buffalo Bills fans who didn't see much from their former starting QB.

It's a good start for the new league, however, which will play games on Thursday and Fridays in the fall with the season starting in October. The championship game is slated for Thanksgiving weekend.

There are four teams in the UFL's first season -- Las Vegas (where Losman will play), New York, Orlando and San Francisco.

The head coaches are an impressive bunch, all former coaches in the NFL. The head coaches lined up are: Dennis Green, Jim Fassel, Jim Haslett and Ted Cottrell.

The UFL knows it's talent and skill will not compete with the elite NFL, but knows it's a way for players who feel they've been overlooked by the NFL brass to try to get their careers back on track (Losman no doubt) or get a shot at big time football.

The league will be talked about on every sports talk radio show or television station for days and weeks on end if they lure Michael Vick to play for them. He would no doubt be the face of the league, and the league would get the exposure they so desperately need and want --both good and bad -- but people would definitely be talking about the league and know what it's all about. 

The defunct XFL had that buzz surrounding it years ago, but it fizzled faster than Losman's starting job in Buffalo.

I'm going to check this league out, you never know if your favorite NFL team will give one of these guys a shot.

It's football anyway, and just imagine watching UFL games on Thursday and Fridays, college football on Saturdays and various games televised during the week on ESPN, and the NFL on Sundays and Mondays?

Maybe that will be enough to get my weekly fill of football?

Are you going to tune in and give the UFL a shot, or do you think it's going to be a waste of time?

It's still OU, Texas, then everyone else in the Big XII

By Chris Maza

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

(As the college football season approaches, I will be breaking down each of the following conferences: The Big XII, the PAC-10, the Big East and the WAC. This week I tackle the Big XII. If you haven't already, don't forget to check out last week's preview of Notre Dame.)

Sorry, all you Jayhawks, Cowboys, Huskers and Raiders.

The Big XII is still Sooner and Longhorn country.

While the Big XII will remain one of the most competitive conferences in college football and could possibly be even more competitive than last year, there’s no reason to think anyone but Oklahoma or Texas is going to walk away with the conference title.

Once again in 2009, you can’t have a conversation about the national championship without these two, who are considered by many to be the two of the top three teams in the country. Exactly where they rank is debatable, but one thing is clear – these two teams are clearly in front in a conference full of offensive firepower.

That fact statement in and of itself seems odd to say. Isn’t the Big XII supposed to be a rough-and-tumble conference dominated by defense? Well, times have changed and while several teams still have top-notch defenses, explosive offense is the name of the game.

And how can you talk about explosive offense without first mentioning Sam Bradford? Bradford led the Sooner’s No. 1 ranked scoring offense (51.14 points per game) with the nation’s third-best passing attack. But coming off his 50 touchdown 2008 season, there are questions revolving the Sooners. First off is who is he going to throw to? Juaquin Iglesias and Manuel Johnson are gone and there’s not a lot of experience coming in to fill those spots. Also, while Trent Williams will be back, the Sooners are missing four starting offensive linemen from the 2008 squad. Not that OU has to really worry about a lack of talent at any position, but don’t expect them to match last year’s No. 3 ranking in sacks allowed. With the parts missing, Bradford will have to adjust and there’s no reason to think he won’t and Chris Brown - who would have been a sure-fire first-rounder if he opted for the draft – returns to give him support in the backfield. Oh, don’t forget OU returns nine starters on defense, too. OU remains a powerhouse, but the one question still remains: Can they win the big game?

The Texas Longhorns felt last year they deserved to be in the Big XII title game last year and they might have had a valid point, having beaten the Sooners during the regular season. Instead, the Sooners broke a three-way tie in the South with the fifth tiebreaker and eventually won the Big XII championship and punched their ticket to the BCS national championship. This year, Texas wants to make sure this year they don’t leave anything up to statistics. Colt McCoy returns to lead one of the Top-5 offenses in football and the defense remains one of the best in the nation. If there’s one knock on the offense, it’s the lack of a running attack, as McCoy led the team in rushing last year. Still, it didn’t seem to hinder things in 2008. Defensively, the Longhorns boast one of the nation’s best linebacking corps and a solid secondary unit, but the defensive line needs to be totally overhauled. Only if the line can create pressure can the defense maintain the kind of pass defense they had in the past.

Just because there are only two clear contenders for a national championship in the conference, does not mean the rest of the bunch is a collection of stiffs.

Oklahoma State is looking to make a big statement this year with possibly the best offense it has ever had in its history, but doesn’t stand much of a chance of winning the conference. Beating both Texas and Oklahoma for the South division title is an extremely tall task for any team, regardless of how good they may be

.

Kansas, another big offense team, is a quickly up-and-coming team and with Mizzou looking much weaker this year and Nebraska seemingly not quite there yet, the Jayhawks could take the Big XII North.

Nebraska is going to rely on the old way of doing things in the Big XII, relying on its defense to pull out games. They have improved quite a bit and won the Gator Bowl last year, but let’s remember that was against a Clemson team that really wasn’t that good.

Texas Tech is replacing both Graham Harrell and Michael Crabtree, but it still runs a system that could make a boatload of quarterbacks very successful, making them still a very dangerous offensive team.

Missouri won the Big XII North last year, but will have to move on without Chase Daniel, Jeremy Maclin, Chase Coffman and William Moore. While they’ll still be good enough to make some competitive games and maybe make things interesting in the division, there’s just too much turnover for them to be considered a true contender.

When it’s all said and done, it all comes down to the classic rivalry – Texas and Oklahoma. So who’s the best? It’s too close to say definitively, but more question marks seem to revolve around the Sooners than the ‘Horns. It could come down to Oklahoma’s last game of the season, on the road at Oklahoma State. OSU will be in the mix for some serious bowl consideration, making this maybe the most critical matchup of the season for OU, OSU AND Texas.

Prediction: Texas wins the South, Kansas wins the North. Texas wins the conference and carries its 12-1 record into the BSC national championship.

How much longer can the Smoltz experiment go on?

By Chris Maza
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Time to reach for the panic button? It's just one of those things that Red Sox fans are always going to do.

And after five starts and a 6.31 ERA, fans have to be wondering if John Smoltz has anything left in the tank. After all, this was the guy who was supposed to provide stability to the rotation, especially with the abysmal start to the season by Daisuke Matsuzaka. He's been the exact opposite of that. Everytime you think he's figured it out, he falters again.

His first start against Washington was predictably shaky as he allowed five runs in five innings, but he seemed to rebound against a pretty decent hitting Baltimore club. He only pitched four innings, thanks to a rain delay, but allowed just one run on three hits.

Then the hapless A's got to him for five runs on 10 hits in six innings. He followed that up with his first win in a Sox jersey, giving up just one run in five innings to the Royals and the see-saw continued.

Last night's loss was possibly the most disheartening. Smoltz had allowed just one run on four hits through the first five innings, then totally blew up in the sixth. Three homers and an RBI single did him in as all of a sudden, the veteran lost control of the strike zone and didn't make it out of the inning. What's worse, this was a game in which they needed a good start from Smoltz. With the loss, the Red Sox dropped into a tie with the New York Yankees for first in the AL East.

So what to do with Smoltz? This question may be easier to answer if Brad Penny was throwing well. But how long can the Red Sox go with two pitchers struggling at the back end of the rotation as a pennant race is heating up? Does Terry Francona keep throwing him out there every fifth day and hope Smoltz finds his way?

The answer for the time being is yes.

I know that fans are clammoring to see more of Clay Buchholz after his "strong" start against the Blue Jays. But the fact of the matter is this: Buchholz did not seem to be any better at commanding the strike zone than he was in 2008 when he imploded. That's the difference between AAA and the Majors. Sure, he was ok. But he threw over 100 pitches and still didn't get through the sixth inning.

There are two things that have to make you think that Smoltz will come around. First, he is making hitters miss. In 25.2 innings, Smoltz has struck out 22 batters, a ratio that is just about on par with his career numbers. And let's not forget those are pretty good. Second, he's not walking anybody. He's around the strike zone. In five starts, he's only issued four free passes and for the first five innings of last night's game, he commanded the strike zone. Then he lost it.

But let's not forget that before June 25, this guy hadn't thrown off a Major League mound since June 2, 2008. Were you expecting miracles right off the bat? Why not give him a chance to get his legs back?

It's hard to remain patient when the Yankees have closed the gap, but it is still July. There's still 2 1/2 months of baseball left to be played and the Red Sox are still in a pretty good position.

Some love for Brookline

By Brendan Hall
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Brookline High football coach Laz Mitjans texted me this morning that his all-everything athlete Irvin Scott -- arguably one of the state's most underrated -- got an offer this weekend at Northeastern University's football camp. It's the first of what should be many.

Some of you Central Mass brethren may remember Mitjans from his days at Algonquin Regional, where he coached current UConn placekicker Dave Teggart. Now, the former Northeastern standout is in the midst of a tall task -- making Brookline football relevant again.

It hasn't been easy, but there is hope this year in the form of Irvin Scott, one of the nastiest all-around athletes east of I-495. The 6-foot-3 quarterback/wideout/running back/linebacker/safety/cornerback is sure to land at a Division 1 school -- FCS is a high possibility.

Don't believe me? Check this out.

Brookline hasn't been to a Super Bowl since 1994, when they got swiftly pounded by Chelmsford. But with a Bay State Herget division that should be as wide-open as it has been in several years, there is hope that the undermanned Warriors can make a run.

At the very least, they will be an entertaining group to watch.

Fantasy Baseball: Chin Music

By Chad Garner

Fan Fanatic Sports

What are you going to do?

That's the question you ask yourself when you have two of your own fantasy pitchers going up against one another in a game.

Take yesterday for instance. In one of my leagues, I've got Toronto's Roy Halladay and Boston's Jon Lester.

So how should you approach this matchup? Well, the smart fantasy thinking is that both pitchers have exceptional outings, maybe one throws a shutout and the other pitches 8 scoreless and then gets lifted in the ninth.

But how many times does that really happen? Maybe once in every blue moon. 

But you can realistically hope for two solid performances where one pitcher gets the win. You know you can't get two wins, so one is better than getting shut out and a reliever you don't have comes in and picks up a vulture win in the 8th inning.

Well, luckily for Halladay and Lester owners, they both came through and were solid. Halladay stole the show, however. He notched his fourth complete game of the season, allowing one run on six hits with no walks and seven strikeouts. He got his 11th win of the season.

Fantasy alert: Do not trade Halladay. Well, if you're in an AL only league and are worried he'll be traded to the NL, well, maybe it's worth a gamble. Expect a top-of-the-line hitter in return for Halladay's services, however.

I was so desperate for offense in one of my leagues, that I traded Halladay straight up for Josh Hamilton. It may sound crazy since Hamilton has been subpar due to injury, but remember that you're trading for current stats, not what they guys have and haven't done earlier this season. Plus, I was loaded with pitching, including Tim Lincecum, John Lackey and Jared Weaver, so I had some wiggle room to try to help my Bad News Bears offense.

Boy, Hamilton better turn it on. His homer Friday night made me feel good, though. 

Meanwhile, Lester wasn't unbelievable but he was good enough not to hurt any fantasy categories. He took the loss, but went seven innings, allowing three runs on five hits with four walks and six strikeouts.

I guess I'll take that any day of the week.

And we all know it's better than both pitchers getting lit up like a Christmas tree -- maybe surrendering five or six earned runs in four or five innings. If that happened, it's a long five days in between starts to correct that overblown ERA and WHIP.

SAVING HIS STARTING JOB?

New York's Joba Chamberlain, who hasn't been doing the job as a starter lately, perhaps saved his gig for the time being with a brilliant win versus the Tigers last night. Joba, who remember was as automatic as they come as an 8th-inning setup man last year, held Detroit to only three hits and one earned run in 6 2/3 innings. He walked three and struck out eight, while throwing 108 pitches (68 for strikes). Well, that's much better than his last two starts where he didn't go past 4 1/3 innings. Is he a starter or not? Stay tuned. 

NAILING DOWN THE NINTH

Show him some love. I'm talking about San Francisco closer Brian Wilson, who has 24 saves this season. I know he's not pretty at times, blowing saves from time to time and giving up a few runs here and there. But considering he'll never be mistaken for a Grade A cut of closer and he wasn't a must-get guy that was drafted high on draft day, he's done very well for the owner who plucked him as their guy midway through the draft. I guess his 41 saves wasn't a fluke last season?

The Doc is most definitely in

By Chris Maza
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

You can't think about Roy Halladay and not be amazed. After all, this is the guy who went from the major leagues all the way back down to A-ball to try and re-discover how to pitch. Since then, he's only spent the last eight-plus seasons dominating major league pitchers.

There are few you'll find that pound the strike zone the way that he does. In that respect, he's the perfect pitcher to face a team like the Red Sox. Consider the number of "on-base percentage guys" Boston has. How many of their hitters rely on getting deep into counts , not swinging at bad pitches and forcing opposing pitchers to put one in their wheelhouse.

You can't do that with Halladay. Everything's around the plate and every pitch has a purpose. He doesn't waste pitches. He goes right after you. If you're hoping he's going to nibble around you a la Daisuke Matsuzaka, it's obvious you've never even looked at a stat sheet, nevermind actually watched him pitch.

Halladay just doesn't walk anybody. It just doesn't happen. The man has thrown nearly 2,000 major-league innings and has walked just 437 batters. Just let that sink in for a second.

Done?

Ok, now consider the fact that 163 of those came in his first three seasons (I'm not counting 1998 when he made two starts). So since 2002, he has allowed just 274 free passes, or 1.5 per nine innings.

Let's not forget he's tied for first with 11 wins, second in complete games with four, and fourth with a 2.73 ERA.

It's looking less and less likely that Halladay is going to be dealt, meaning that he'll spend another year on a losing club without a shot at a ring. It's disappointing to see one of the Top-3 pitchers in baseball toil in the mediocrity.

Buchholz Impressive in Season Debut

By Jim Ingram

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

The Boston Red Sox opened up the 2nd half of the 09' season with one of the more interesting wins of the season. Why was this game so interesting? Well, it showcased the season debut of Clay Buchholz. The young righthander was just a third of an inning away from getting an official "Quality Start". He went 5 2/3 innings, allowing only 1 run on 4 hits. He did walk 3 while striking out 3 batters. By no means was he dominant, but there's no doubt he did pitch well, and deserves additional starts in the bigs. Unfortunately for him, it looks like he's headed directly back to Pawtucket.

The question I keep asking myself is, why did the Red Sox pitch Clay Buchholz tonight? In my mind, there are only two questions:

1. The Sox are showcasing Buchholz, especially to the Toronto Blue Jays, in the hopes of increasing his trade value.

2. The Sox want to see how he pitches at the big league level after spending the first half of the season dominating AAA batters.

If the Red Sox are looking to use Buchholz as trade bait, then they better get a top notch player in return. I'm talking either Roy Halladay or Victor Martinez. Of course it would take more, possibly much more, than Clay to get either player. I've said it all along that Buchholz would be the guy I use as trade bait. Not Michael Bowden, Not Justin Masterson and certainly not the closer of the future Daniel Bard. Now don't get me wrong. I'm not naive enough to think a MLB organization is going to decide to trade, or not trade, for Buchholz based on one start.

If the Red Sox wanted to see him at the big league level to determine if they could trade Brad Penny, than I think the answer is yes. He pitched well, and certainly could slot into the rotation for the remainder of the season if need be. The problem with trading Brad Penny is that the rate of return is so much less than for Buchholz. I guess we'll have to wait and see what the Sox are going to do.

Clay Buchholz's start was not the only story of the game, or day. Mike Lowell returned to the lineup and went 2 for 4 in his first game since June 27th. That is a positive sign for a team that needs depth at the corner infield positions. With the return of Lowell, and now Jed Lowrie, it looks like that depth has been shored up. Lowrie will see action at both shortstop and third base as he eases back into form. The final news of the day, was Sox designating Julio Lugo for assignment. This one must have hurt Theo Epstein. He fell in love years ago with the perpetually underachieving Lugo and now stands to lose the $13 million remaining on his contract. If lucky, Theo will be able to trade Lugo for a fringe prospect while assuming most, if not all, of the contract. If there's one knock on Theo Epstein, it's his penchant for falling in love with players and then signing them as a free agent for more money than they're worth. I see you there JD Drew.

Brace, Patriots get deal done

By Chad Garner

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Looks like Ron Brace doesn't have to worry about a contract anymore.

Brace, a 2nd-round draft pick (No. 40 overall) by the New England Patriots, signed a four-year deal, according to Christopher L. Gasper of the Boston Globe. 

Brace, a nose tackle out of Boston College, definitely adds more beef up front on the defensive line with his 6-foot-3, 330-pound frame.

In college, Brace was known for his physical play and relentless pursuit of the ball carrier. He's a guy that can't be moved by one player; he's a guy that commands a constant double team. 

Imagine the difficulties offenses will have if they have to try to block both Brace and starter Vince Wilfork?

With those two big bodies in front, good luck running into the teeth of the defense if they are paired side by side in goal-line or short-yardage situations.

Brace has the skill, desire and smarts to have a long and productive career in the NFL, not to mention a chance to win on a consistent basis with mastermind Bill Belichick leading the charge.

Fan Fanatic Sports would like to congratulate Brace on his new contact with the best franchise in professional football.

Tough Titan: Training Camp getting closer

By Chad Garner

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Nothing has really changed for Ryan Durand since last week.

He's still training, going to the gym and then heading home to relax.

Right now, there's no football on his plate.

But his mindset is going to change real soon and then it'll be football all the time, in hopes of making the Tennessee Titans as a 7th-round rookie draft pick.

"The last week before (he flies back to Tennessee for Training Camp which officially starts on July 31) I'll start thinking about it," said Durand, who played his college football at Syracuse University.

But Durand knows the time to turn on the football switch is right around the corner.

"I'm definitely trying to be in the best shape I can be in," he said. "I'm preparing for the worst and hoping for the best ... that's the way I always do it."

At his house, Durand has his football bible -- a notebook filled with information that he took down during team meetings. 

"I haven't looked at it too much," Durand said.

Inside that notebook are tips and the fine details of the plays he'll need to know about for his offensive line assignments.

"Those are the little details you have to know," Durand said.

The feeling of being drafted into the National Football League has obviously worn off the offensive guard, however.

"I'm very realistic with people and say, 'Yes, it's exciting but I haven't made the team yet,'" Durand said.

But Durand is already visualizing what will help him make the Titans.

"I'm going to go out every day and try to get better, try to show the coaches that I've got something to offer to keep me around," Durand said.

Regardless of where he goes, Durand always stays motivated because of that giant chip on his shoulder.

"Why change what got me here?," he said. "I guess that's the way I take on adversity. I take it on with a chip on my shoulder. That's the way I've always approached things."

Let's set the record straight on mid-majors

By Brendan Hall
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

All the hoopla about that Xavier kid dunking on LeBron has me thinking once again about this aberration I came across a while back.

Listen, I'm not taking a dig at Antonio Williams' credentials. When you've got experience scouting the NBA, you know what you're talking about when it comes to evaluating talent. Your words bear more merit than, say, chuckleheads like Skip Bayless or Jay Mariotti.

But where Williams, and a majority of the media, go wrong is in blanketly labeling any basketball team outside the six "power" conferences as a "mid-major". If anything, the fact that a kid from Xavier dunked on LeBron should show the masses that Xavier is a Top 25 program. Just look at their last three coaches -- Skip Prosser (1994-2001), Thad Matta (01-04) and Sean Miller (04-09) -- and remember that this team has been to two Elite Eights and three Sweet Sixteens since 2004. This is a program.

Yet some refuse to classify them as so, chalking it up to rolls of the dice and "good coaching". I fear Memphis will now be shed in a similar light, despite having one of the best young basketball minds in Josh Pastner.

The use of the term "mid-major" can be maddening, because its perspective is different amongst the eye of each beholder. Some people get it right, and count many basketball schools amongst its "major" category. Historically, because of such limited roster spots, basketball offers the most parity of any of the four major college sports. Many talented players slip through the cracks for reasons unknown -- see Elgin Baylor, Nate Archibald, Earl Monroe, Bill Bradley, etc.

Other writers -- primarily, the ones working for recruiting services -- seem to think any school not in one of the six BCS conferences is squabbling amongst the commonfolk for breadcrumbs. These are also the same people who think Alex Oriakhi is from New Hampshire, and every BC High kid lives in Dorchester.

Two years ago, when Rivals.com sent a mid-season award trophy to Xavier's athletic department for being the "best mid-major school", XU promptly refused to accept it. And rightfully so. How can you call Xavier, which has sent nine guys to the NBA in the last 15 years, a mid-major; and South Florida -- which might be one of the ten worst programs in Division 1 -- a high-major, strictly because they play in the Big East and XU is in the A-10?

South Florida might be the Dubai of college athletics (scrap of the Earth a decade ago, Deity in 2009), but they still out and out tank in basketball. You can make the same case about other "power conference" schools who haven't made a dent since the Clinton presidency.

I have a novel suggestion. If you have demonstrated a consistently competitive team at a high level, like Gonzaga or Memphis, then you are not a mid-major. If you’ve competed for a national title in the last 25 years, despite playing in a terrible conference – see: Louisville circa 1980’s, UNLV and Utah in the 90’s – and you haven't gone to shambles, then you’re still a high-major. Period. I don’t care if you play in Mid-Wach D. I actually have a whole argument on why the A-10 is not a mid-major, but that’s for a different day. Right now, let's set the record straight on mid-majors.

The following are examples of what AREN'T "mid-majors": Gonzaga, UNLV, Xavier, Memphis, BYU, Fresno State, Houston, UAB, Dayton, Utah, UMass, UTEP, New Mexico, George Washington, Rhode Island, Nevada, Saint Louis, Charlotte.

The following are examples of what ARE "mid-majors": Central Florida, George Mason, Rice, Davidson, Winthrop, Boston University, Southern Miss, New Mexico St., Siena, Manhattan, Oral Roberts, Butler, Creighton, Drake, Pacific, Wichita St., Holy Cross.

The following ought to be considered "mid-majors", because they are run like one: DePaul, Rutgers, St. John’s, Georgia, Northwestern, Nebraska.

Get the idea?

As for South Florida...the Bulls have made some splashes on the recruiting trail in the Northeast (see: South Kent), but the jury's still out.

I, for one, am not sold. Not until somebody dunks on Vince Carter.

Bicycle Frauds Hit the Streets

By Jim Ingram

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

It's the middle of the summer and that means the Tour De France is currently in progress. No one really cares, and but that's not why I bring it up. I am writing a very short blog because the Tour De France brings out the biggest frauds of the year.

Have you noticed all the out of shape guys with skin tight spandex on the road with their bikes the past few weeks? I have, and can't stand having to slow down and move over while their bloated bodies pretend they're bike enthusiasts. This is the ONLY time they dust their bikes off and actually hit the road. As if it's not bad enough we have to pretend Lance Armstrong and every other bicyclist isn't cheating, we have to inconvenienced by these two week wannabes.

Ah, I feel much better for now. My doctor does say I need to express myself and my anger a little better.

Enjoy the race, Frauds!

Advantage American League ... again!!!

By Chad Garner

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

What a great All-Star Game.

The best and brightest stars came out and put on a show -- some clutch hitting, great pitching and exceptional defense (Carl Crawford robbing a homer in left field was just amazing!).

And to top it off the American League, with another All-Star Game win, secured home-field advantage in the World Series.

Nice! 

Especially if you're an American League fan who roots for the Red Sox, Yankees or Rays -- just a few teams who actually have a shot at winning the whole thing.

But I'm still confused as to why people still want to complain about the All-Star Game, a game now that puts an emphasis on winning and rewards the team with home-field advantage in the World Series.

What's the big deal with that? Every other All-Star game --football, basketball, hockey, etc. -- is just a goof-around session which is done to simply entertain. There's no defense played in any one of those other games, but in baseball there's no taking it easy. The managers manage to win the game and what's so bad about that?

Do you like the All-Star Game format, rewarding the winning league with home-field advantage in the World Series? Or what do you think should be done?

Go ahead, let me hear you!

Competition for WEEI? I am already a 98.5 Sports Hub Fan!

By Jim Ingram

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

There was a gigantic shake up in the radio community of Boston yesterday. Without getting too much into the details, it looks like the radio frequency of 98.5 will become The Sports Hub. This will signify the very first FM Sports Talk radio station in Boston.

It's hard to say if this new station can take on the 800 guerrilla in the city, hello 850 WEEI, but it's good to see someone try. I am very happy The Toucher & Rich Show will be moving from the soon to be defunct WBCN to the 6-10 AM slot of The Sports Hub. I can't wait to listen to T&R without the disruption of music. The problem is who will be manning the station the rest of the day? I can't wait to listen to T&R without the disruption of music.

Well it looks like Mike Felger and Gary Tangauy will be hosting their own shows as well. I am a HUGE Felger fan, and have been hoping he got his own show on WEEI. He was the fill in co host of the Dennis & Callahan show last week and I loved every minute of it. He's a guy who's not afraid of ticking people off, and is a born contrarian like me. It looks like Felgy will be going head to head with The Big Show, which is barely listenable thanks in part to Glenn Ordway and Pete Shepherd. OK, enough of the Felger love show.

As for Tanguay, I don't watch CSN much, so I can't say anything about him. It looks like he'll be manning the midday show against Dale & Holley. I have to say that I am very much looking forward to this station. I can't wait and hope it does well. Of course, I will be doing my best to get this website associated with "The Sports Hub".

Potential Lineup:

Morning Drive - Toucher & Rich

Midday - Gary Tanguay

Afternoon Drive - Michael Felger

What do you think? Will you give the new sportstalk station a chance?

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