Here's what I have to say

By Chad Garner

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Excuses are like you know what, and so are opinions.

Well, here's my two cents on 10 different topics in the world of sports.

1. The baseball offseason was great since the New York Yankees won the World Series title. Now, unfortunately, the Red Sox fans are coming out of the woodwork and talking major smack again. Really? You know the Yanks are the defending champs until someone -- if they can -- dethrones them. So shut it. The peace and quiet was so nice.
2. The Boston Celtics are not frauds, but they're also not a championship-caliber team. They are flawed and look old. They choked again in the clutch. How do you let the Houston Rockets beat you at home? Unacceptable.
3. Tim Tebow doesn't have a strong arm, he isn't very accurate and the bottom line is that he's not going to be a great pro. Tebow's QB skills need a lot of work -- why do you think he completely changed his throwing motion in hopes of impressing scouts? He is a college QB, not a pro. No questioning his heart, desire, toughness and leadership at all. I just question his QB skills at the pro level. He'd make a great H-back.
4. The Patriots better not draft Tebow in the first or second round. Please, please, please draft a linebacker or defensive end in the first round.
5. I'd love to really watch UFC, but am not going to buy it on pay-per-view. Is the UFC on cable at all?
6. Is there anything better than the baseball package on DirectTV? Well, the Sunday Ticket is pretty sweet, too.
7. Why would the MLB season start at night when the Yanks visit the Red Sox on Sunday night? Really bad decision MLB. Opening Day should always be during the day. How many children that need to go to school and adults that have to work during the morning will stay up and watch a four-hour game between these two rivals? Poor, poor, poor.
8. Does it really matter that the Bruins make the playoffs or not? Either way, they're not going to win the Stanley Cup. After what happened last season, anything less than a trip to the Stanley Cups finals would be considered a bad year. If you can't score, you can't win.
9. I'm not really a soccer fan, but it's hard not to watch Team USA in the World Cup. When is the World Cup anyway? June or July? Well, I've got my Team USA soccer hat and t-shirt ready to go. U-S-A, U-S-A!!!
10. Root for Tiger Woods all you want. He makes me sick to my stomach, and I hope he never wins a tournament again.

Ingy's 2010 MLB Predictions

By Jim Ingram

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Well, now that we are just a few days away from the start of the 2010 season, it's time for the country's baseball pundits to put their money where there mouth is. I am no different. Being the overly opinionated man that I am, I must publish my preseason standings, playoff picks, and choices for the major baseball awards. Feel free to ridicule all you want. As always, we'll revisit them, whether good or bad, at the end of the season. Off we go!

MLB Divisional Standings:

AL East:

1. New York Yankees

2. Tampa Bay Rays

3. Boston Red Sox

4. Toronto Blue Jays

5. Baltimore Orioles

AL Central:

1. Minnesota Twins

2. Chicago White Sox

3. Detroit Tigers

4. Cleveland Indians

5. Kansas City Royals

AL West:

1. LA Angels

2. Seattle Mariners

3. Texas Rangers

4. Oakland A's

NL East:

1. Philadelphia Phillies

2. Atlanta Braves

3. Florida Marlins

4. New York Mets

5. Washington Nationals

NL Central:

1. St. Louis Cardinals

2. Cincinnati Reds

3. Chicago Cubs

4. Milwaukee Brewers

5. Houston Astros

6. Pittsburgh Pirates

NL West:

1. Colorado Rockies

2. LA Dodgers

3. San Francisco Giants

4. Arizona Diamondbacks

5. San Diego Padres

MLB Playoffs:

American League: Yankees over Angels Twins over Rays

Yankees over Twins

National League: Phillies over Dodgers Cardinals over Rockies

Cardinals over Phillies

World Series: Yankees vs. Cardinals

New York Yankees - World Series Champions

Post Season Awards:

American League: MVP: Joe Mauer - Twins

Cy Young: Felix Hernandez - Mariners

Rookie of the Year: Austin Jackson - Tigers

National League: MVP: Matt Kemp - Dodgers

Cy Young: Roy Halladay - Phillies

Rookie of the Year: Jason Heyward - Braves

Fantasy Baseball: Positional Rankings - Closers

By Jim Ingram

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Welcome to the final category of the Fan Fanatic Sports fantasy baseball breakdown. I will send you all a hearty good luck in your fantasy season as the 2010 season begins this Sunday night in Boston. If you know me, then you know that the closer is my least favorite fantasy position. I kind of liken it to a kicker in fantasy football. If you have one of the elite's than that's fantastic, but if not, you can always find one, or two during the season. Year in and year out, there are always closers who start the season in the position lose their jobs. The reverse can be said as well. Every season some unknown puts up 20+ saves.

The Top 20:

1. Mariano Rivera - Yankees

2. Jonathon Papelbon - Red Sox

3. Jonathon Broxton - Dodgers

4. Brian Wilson - Giants

5. David Aardsma - Mariners

6. Huston Street - Rockies

7. Heath Bell - Padres

8. Francisco Cordero - Reds

9. Carlos Marmol - Cubs

10. Francisco Rodriguez - Mets

11. Brian Fuentes - Angels

12. Joakim Soria - Royals

13. Jose Valverde - Tigers

14. Adam Bailey - A's

15. Ryan Franklin - Cardinals

16. Trevor Hoffman - Brewers

17. Billy Wagner - Braves

18. Rafael Soriano - Rays

19. Brad Lidge - Phillies

20. Bobby Jenks - White Sox

The Elite:

Until Mariano Rivera has a bad year, he'll be tops on my list. This guy is the best closer in the history of baseball, and should be a first ballot hall of famer. He still pitches for the best team in baseball, so you can bank on 35+ saves. I actually surprised myself by putting Papelbon at the #2 slot. He's got to prove he can bounce back from a poor 09' season. I also think the Sox offense will put them in a lot more close and late games. Speaking of close and late games, let's talk about Jonathon Broxton and the Dodgers. They have a very good lineup, but their pitching has a serious lack of depth in the rotation.

The 2nd Tier:
Despite the hatred I have for the SF Giants, you have to appreciate the job Brian Wilson has done for them. He has 79 saves the past two seasons and dropped his ERA by almost two full runs from 2008. He was rewarded a week ago with a nice extension. After him there are so many closers that are about the same. Some of those guys are Huston Street, David Aardsma, and Heath Bell. Just remember, you can always find a closer.

On the Rise:

Chris Perez - Now that Kerry Wood will miss the first 6 weeks of the season, Perez is the man for the Indians. If you can pick him up, he may not be just a fill in due to Wood's inconsistency.

Mattt Guerrier - Unless the Twins make a trade for a closer, he's my pick to take a strangle hold on the position. He's had an ERA under 3.50 for 4 out of the past 5 seasons. He isn't a strike out pitcher, but had a very nice WHIP of 0.97 in 2009.

LaTroy Hawkins - He'll start out as a set up man for the Brewers, but you never know when Trevor Hoffman will start showing his age. I'd keep an eye out for him as the season goes on.

On the Slide/Watch out:

Andrew Bailey - Bailey, the rookie of the year last year, starts out the season banged up. He may be ready for opening day, but I never trust a pitcher who a career high in innings the previous year and has a bad elbow.

Trevor Hoffman - I know I'll catch some flack for putting Hoffman here. I'm not saying he's going to have a bad year, but he does bear some watching. He is 42 years old! He had a great season last year, but how long can he keep putting numbers up.

Brandon Lyon - I am not sure what the Astros were thinking when they handed Lyon a three year deal during the off season. It looks like he lost the closers job to Matt Lindstrom with a very poor spring.

Well, everyone I hope you all enjoyed the rankings. Good luck in your fantasy draft!