By Chad Garner
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff
Is your bracket busted yet?
Not me.
I'm going to credit it more to luck than skill, but I can honestly say my team -- National Chump -- in the private Yahoo! league Fan Fanatic BBall Challenge is alive and kicking.
For how long, who knows? Yes, it could be over very soon. Perhaps in the next round.
So enjoy it while it lasts.
But has this tournament gone basically according to plan? It appears like it ... so far.
All four No. 1 seeds are still chasing March Madness glory. Of the four -- North Carolina, Pittsburgh, Louisville and UConn -- only the Huskies have easily cruised in the first two rounds. Pittsburgh hasn't look good at all, however, with close games vs. East Tennessee State and Oklahoma State. Perhaps their so-so guard play will bite them soon. Maybe against UNC in the Final Four (that's my prediction)?
The Tar Heels shook off LSU in the second round, while Louisville just snuck by Siena. Siena, come on, who are these clowns? ... oops, I mean the Saints. So sorry.
While many people like the underdog, I really hate them. I like to see the best teams advance in this tournament so two elite powers can face off in the Elite 8, Final Four and National Championship Game. These low seeds really don't have a shot at a title, so their title is knocking off a national power.
Big deal, it still doesn't do it for me.
I want to watch the best teams play, not Siena, Western Kentucky, Northern Iowa, etc. I'd rather welcome them to the tournament, give them their free goody bag and send them on their way back home with a quick blowout loss.
Power to the elite programs!
What joke of a team will break my bracket now?
Probably no one because all 16 teams left standing are legit in my book (well, Xavier's probably the weakest so they'll beat Pitt).
Isn't this stat great: The top 3 teams in each region make Sweet 16 for the first time in history.
Take that underdogs. Have fun watching the real programs play now!!!
I really love the tourney this year.
Bye-bye underdogs.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Fantasy Baseball (relief pitchers) Papelbon dances into the top spot
By Jim Ingram
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff
Today we will finish our top 20 fantasy analysis by looking into the relief pitcher position. T0 be more specific, we'll be talking about closers and what they can, or can not, do for your fantasy team. I love closers. I love their mentality, I love their passion, and I love their personalities. That doesn't alwasy translate into fantasy importance. In my own drafts, I try to wait as long as possible, and draft other positions knowing I can pick up saves later in the draft.
As the season goes on you can always pick up saves due to a closer losing his job or through an injury. Is seems like 2 to 3 new closer candidates emerge every year, so don't be to concerned if you leave your draft without too many closers. Take last year for instance. Jonathon Broxton took over for an injured Takashi Saito. Matt Capps and Joel Hanrahan emerged from a slew of candidates on each team to take the closer role. Most people had probably never heard of either Capps or Hanrahan. This year, all three names are in my top 20.
Cream of the Crop
Jonathon Papelbon has developed into the best closer in the game. He may not have lead the majors in saves, but his 41 saves, 77 K's, 2.34 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, 9.63 K/BB ratio and 10.00 K/9 innings make him the composite overall choice. Joe Nathan and Mariano Rivera don't offer much, if any drop off from Papelbon. Both closers had sub 1.50 era's (1.33 for Nathan, 1.40 for Rivera) and had 39 saves a piece. Rivera had an amazing WHIP of .67 last season with a K/BB ratio of 12.83. Nathan's WHIP was .90, but his K/BB ratio was only 4.11. The only reason I have Rivera slightly behind Nathan in my rankings is due to age. You never quite know when he'll breakdown. Will it be this year? I am not sure, but I'd rather take the known quantity in Nathan over any inherent risk in Rivera. Either way, you'll be drafting yourself a great fantasy closer.
The Next Level
If you draft any of the next three guys, you'll be still be getting a very good closer to lead your staff. Joakin Soria, Francisco Rodriguez and Brad Lidge all had great years last year. Remember that you can't expect Krod to put that many saves up again. That was a fluke year in my opinion. I would also not expect Brad Lidge to go perfect again.
Solid Late Pickups
Joel Hanrahan, Matt Capps, Trevor Hoffman and Brian Wilson should all be available after the first 13-14 rounds. Each one will give you around 30 saves and allow you to draft more important positions first.
Outside the top 20
Once the top closers are gone, it's time to look at set up men and potential closers. Fernando Rodney and Brandon Lyon are both vying for the Detroit closers job. Make sure to keep your eyes on Kevin Gregg, Jose Arredondo, Brad Ziegler, Chris Ray, J.P. Howell, Mike Adams, Cory Wade, and former fantasy stud J.J. Putz. All these pitchers will get save opportunities this year and could emerge as the guy.
Top 20 Relief Pitchers
1. Jonathon Papelbon (BOS)
2. Joe Nathan (MIN)
3. Mariano Rivera (NYY)
4. Joakim Soria (KC)
5. Brad Lidge (PHI)
6. Francisco Rodriguez (NYM)
7. Jose Valverde (HOU)
8. BJ Ryan (TOR)
9. Carlos Marmol (CHI)
10. Bobby Jenks (CWS)
11. Jonathon Broxton (LAD)
12. Kerry Wood (CLE)
13. Brian Fuentes (ANA)
14. Francisco Cordero (CIN)
15. Brian Wilson (SF)
16. Trevor Hoffman (MIL)
17. Joel Hanrahan (WAS)
18. Matt Capps (PIT)
19. Heath Bell (SD)
20. Frank Francisco (TEX)
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff
Today we will finish our top 20 fantasy analysis by looking into the relief pitcher position. T0 be more specific, we'll be talking about closers and what they can, or can not, do for your fantasy team. I love closers. I love their mentality, I love their passion, and I love their personalities. That doesn't alwasy translate into fantasy importance. In my own drafts, I try to wait as long as possible, and draft other positions knowing I can pick up saves later in the draft.
As the season goes on you can always pick up saves due to a closer losing his job or through an injury. Is seems like 2 to 3 new closer candidates emerge every year, so don't be to concerned if you leave your draft without too many closers. Take last year for instance. Jonathon Broxton took over for an injured Takashi Saito. Matt Capps and Joel Hanrahan emerged from a slew of candidates on each team to take the closer role. Most people had probably never heard of either Capps or Hanrahan. This year, all three names are in my top 20.
Cream of the Crop
Jonathon Papelbon has developed into the best closer in the game. He may not have lead the majors in saves, but his 41 saves, 77 K's, 2.34 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, 9.63 K/BB ratio and 10.00 K/9 innings make him the composite overall choice. Joe Nathan and Mariano Rivera don't offer much, if any drop off from Papelbon. Both closers had sub 1.50 era's (1.33 for Nathan, 1.40 for Rivera) and had 39 saves a piece. Rivera had an amazing WHIP of .67 last season with a K/BB ratio of 12.83. Nathan's WHIP was .90, but his K/BB ratio was only 4.11. The only reason I have Rivera slightly behind Nathan in my rankings is due to age. You never quite know when he'll breakdown. Will it be this year? I am not sure, but I'd rather take the known quantity in Nathan over any inherent risk in Rivera. Either way, you'll be drafting yourself a great fantasy closer.
The Next Level
If you draft any of the next three guys, you'll be still be getting a very good closer to lead your staff. Joakin Soria, Francisco Rodriguez and Brad Lidge all had great years last year. Remember that you can't expect Krod to put that many saves up again. That was a fluke year in my opinion. I would also not expect Brad Lidge to go perfect again.
Solid Late Pickups
Joel Hanrahan, Matt Capps, Trevor Hoffman and Brian Wilson should all be available after the first 13-14 rounds. Each one will give you around 30 saves and allow you to draft more important positions first.
Outside the top 20
Once the top closers are gone, it's time to look at set up men and potential closers. Fernando Rodney and Brandon Lyon are both vying for the Detroit closers job. Make sure to keep your eyes on Kevin Gregg, Jose Arredondo, Brad Ziegler, Chris Ray, J.P. Howell, Mike Adams, Cory Wade, and former fantasy stud J.J. Putz. All these pitchers will get save opportunities this year and could emerge as the guy.
Top 20 Relief Pitchers
1. Jonathon Papelbon (BOS)
2. Joe Nathan (MIN)
3. Mariano Rivera (NYY)
4. Joakim Soria (KC)
5. Brad Lidge (PHI)
6. Francisco Rodriguez (NYM)
7. Jose Valverde (HOU)
8. BJ Ryan (TOR)
9. Carlos Marmol (CHI)
10. Bobby Jenks (CWS)
11. Jonathon Broxton (LAD)
12. Kerry Wood (CLE)
13. Brian Fuentes (ANA)
14. Francisco Cordero (CIN)
15. Brian Wilson (SF)
16. Trevor Hoffman (MIL)
17. Joel Hanrahan (WAS)
18. Matt Capps (PIT)
19. Heath Bell (SD)
20. Frank Francisco (TEX)
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