Are you on Manny's side?

By Chad Garner

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Manny Ramirez is a cheater, but he's still a big draw.

Is that a bad thing?

Granted, getting suspended from Major League Baseball for 50 games for violating the drug policy doesn't help his image --not that that hasn't been wrecked over the years with his lack of hustle, needing days off, faking injuries, etc. -- but there's no arguing that he's one hell of a hitter. 

That's what he is, he's a freak --just like Randy Moss catching touchdowns -- with a bat in his hand.

It's not my problem if you forgive him for all that's he's done with tarnishing his image, but that baseball talent that he has still makes us want to watch.

He can homer at any time, in any count, in a game, plus you get the added bonus of what will Manny do next? Will he hustle out a ground ball? Will he loaf it in the outfield? Will he even show up at the ballpark? It's the great mystery of Manny Being Manny.

Now, even though he's suspended from the Dodgers and isn't eligible to be reinstated until July 3, fans are flocking to the ticket booths in Albuquerque, N.M., in hopes of seeing Manny suit up and play in some minor league games to get ready for his return to the Dodgers.

Those fans probably don't agree with Manny's choices which got him suspended in the first place, but they obviously want to see the talented Manny on the field. 

There's no doubt that Manny can put on a show when he's got his uniform and spikes on and digs into the batter's box.

He's got the star power that makes people want to watch him.

Is he good for the game? That's debatable (post your comments, I'd like to hear what you think!), but he's a box office draw.

There's a reason the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes' tickets for this week's series versus Nashville --where Manny may be suiting up to shake off some of the rust from serving a hefty suspension --are selling faster than hot cakes.

Yes, he's cheated the game, but he doesn't ever get cheated in the batter's box.

What's more important to the fans --being a clean ballplayer or hammering a homer to win a game?

You make the call!

Q&A with Ryan Durand

By Chad Garner

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

(This is the second of several question and answers with Tennessee Titans 7th-round draft pick Ryan Durand. If you have a question for Durand, please email me at cgarner.fanfanaticsports@gmail.com and I'll try to get your question into the next edition).

FFS: Best advice you've ever received?

Durand: Play every down like it's your last because you never know which play will be your last.

FFS: Do you trash talk to opposing players?

Durand: Rarely

FFS: You went to St. Bernard's Central Catholic High School, which mascot do you like better -- Saints or Bernardians?

Durand: Saints

FFS: What are you a fan of?

Durand: Red Sox

FFS: What team did you think was going to draft you?

Durand: Cleveland Browns

FFS: Do you like country music yet?

Durand: Yes, I started listening to it in college

FFS: Favorite video game?

Durand: Metal Gear Solid

FFS: Biggest difference from college to pros?

Durand: You are not on scholarship anymore and do not automatically make the team

FFS: How many people have gotten in contact with you since you were drafted that you hadn't spoken to in years?

Durand: Many have said congrats via facebook

FFS: Who is Tennessee's starting quarterback -- Vince Young or Kerry Collins?

Durand: I don't know, I'm just a lineman

FFS: What gets you fired up to play football?

Durand: Listening to Metallica

FFS: What are the facilities like as a member of the Titans?

Durand: Fantastic, they are top notch

FFS: Have you had a "Welcome to the NFL" moment yet?

Durand: Not yet but I'm sure there will be one

FFS: Do you like signing autographs?

Durand: I do, but I don't think anyone knows who I am ... ha, ha

Soccer should be in your hearts, too

By Jorge Bannister
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

What’s a sports Web site without futbol? Excuse me — soccer.

The 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup — the second biggest soccer tournament in the world, behind only the World Cup — has been relatively nondescript.

Brazil has done what it’s supposed to in Pool B — namely, a 3-0 record with a goal differential of plus-7 in its pool. The South American powerhouse blew past two opponents (it defeated both the United States and Italy, 3-0), but that was after struggling with Egypt. (A Kaka penalty-kick goal in injury time lifted the Brazilians in a tough match.) Clearly, Brazil overlooked its first opponent and clearly it didn’t make the same mistake twice in pool play.

The United States lucked out that Italy was blanked by the Brazilians on the last day of pool play. That same day, the U.S. defeated Egypt, 3-0. By virtue of a goals-for tiebreaker, the U.S. (four) advanced while Italy (three) packed its bags.

Actually, the only surprise of this tournament, at least to many casual fans, has been South Africa in Pool A. Being the host country, RSA had an automatic bid and it has not disappointed its local faithful. After going 1-1-1 in pool play, RSA is the No. 2 team in Pool A, behind undefeated Spain (3-0-0).

Speaking of Spain, Fernando Torres has been on a tear. He had a hat trick against New Zealand, and David Villa scored one goal in each of the next two games in this tear. Spain’s goalkeeper, Iker Casillas, has been one of the best goalkeepers in the tournament. He’s made eight saves, including five against New Zealand in the opening match.

When Spain won UEFA Euro 2008, Casillas was one of three goalkeepers on the Team of the Tournament (which is what they called their All-Tournament team), while Villa (four goals) won the Golden Boot (given to the person who scored the most goals) and Xavi (a midfielder) won Player of the Tournament.

All four of those players are still on the club and carry with them more international experience.

Semifinals
Wednesday, the United States will face off against Spain, while on Thursday Brazil will go against South Africa.

Spain’s 2-4-5 tactical lineup (two strikers, four midfielders and five defensemen) has been its staple and many teams have had a difficult time stopping them. The U.S. had a difficult time stopping Brazil’s 2-4-5 attack, and could be in trouble stopping the Spaniards, too.

The U.S. may be able to stymie the Spaniards for a bit, however offensive powers Torres and Villa, and stellar defense and goalkeeping puts Spain in the final.

Brazil should continue its steamrolling ways past RSA setting up a Spain-Brazil final.

Finals
Brazil-Spain should be one for the ages. The Spaniards are still young and may get caught up in the moment. However, if Spain plays its game — as it’s done this whole tournament — we’re in for one great final.

Spain could win this thing, but you certainly cannot count out Brazil. The Brazilians are probably the favorites at this stage of the tournament, especially the way they’re playing.

So, what’s my prediction? Spain. It’s going to be a rock fight, but the Spaniards take it.

Fantasy Baseball: Chin Music

By Chad Garner

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Everyone knows the fantasy season is like a roller coaster ride, featuring many ups and downs. One week a player is hot, the other he's as cold as an ex-wife. 

But when he's on, there's nothing better to watch. It's also pretty sweet to see how quickly you move up in the pitching standings, while others just keep on slipping.

In the last month, many pitchers have risen to the challenge and if you have them on your roster, enjoy these stats because we all know they won't last ... well, maybe a few of these guys will.

Nobody can hit Boston's Josh Beckett right now -- nobody. The Red Sox ace has 4 wins, 1.44 ERA and an 0.82 ERA in the last month and is ranked No. 1 overall in standard Yahoo 5x5 leagues. He's also nearly averaged a strikeout an inning (42 Ks in 43 2/3 innings).

While Beckett has been nasty, so has Mr. Injury Chris Carpenter (3 wins, 2.06 ERA, 0.69 ERA) and is ranked No. 4. While Carpenter hasn't been injury free in some time, he's sure paying off for whoever drafted him late -- we all know nobody took a shot really early with the injury concerns so don't try to fool me or anyone else.

KEEP ON WINNING

The wins just keep piling up for these arms in the last month with Matt Cain and Kevin Slowey locking down five wins in that span. Can you say impressive? While Cain and Slowey headline the five-win list, four isn't too shabby either, led by Marlins' Josh Johnson and Angels' Jered Weaver.

ERA KING

While he's been forgotten since he plays in Seattle, it's hard to ignore what Felix Hernandez has done in the last month with a mind-boggling 0.72 ERA. In his last four starts, the King has yielded only two earned runs in 29 2/3 innings, winning two games and getting two no-decisions. In is last start on June 16, Felix fired a complete-game two-hit shutout with four walks and six strikeouts in a win over the San Diego Padres.

For the season, Hernandez is 7-3 with 2.77 ERA and 1.22 WHIP. He's fanned 90 and walked 29. If he wasn't in Seattle, would just about everyone appreciate him?

FROM HERO TO ZERO

How can you not be mad at Detroit's Armando Galarraga? Well, I'm still fuming. And to think I had him as a top-25 guy. If you listened to me and actually got someone to trade for him for a REAL top-25 guy, great job. I'm glad I could help you. Once he hit his skid --and he hasn't recovered, mind you -- I dropped him like a sack of potatoes. If you took a flyer on him, thinking he'd recover, think again and thank him for killing your pitching statistics. Through the month, Galarraga hasn't got a win and is boasting --rather, hiding from his 5.63 ERA and 1.72 WHIP. And to think he's still in the Tigers' rotation with an overall line of 3-7 record, 5.62 ERA and 1.64 WHIP. 

So what have I learned? Answer: I'll never have Galarraga on any one of my four fantasy teams ...ever. I sure was a zero with that pick.

Ortiz still has a lot more to prove

By Chris Maza
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Another home run for David Ortiz.

That makes six on the year and five in June with eight games left in the month.

So as the weather gets hotter, will Ortiz's bat follow suit? His recent production would suggest yes, but this is one fan that remains skeptical.

The Red Sox need Ortiz to produce in the DH spot for one reason more than any - they don't have anyone to replace him with. No one on the bench or in Pawtucket could provide the kind of offense you desire at the designated hitter position, otherwise, you have to think they at least you have been given a look at this point.

So many fans have come to the conclusion that the Red Sox don't need Ortiz because the team has managed to be successful thus far without him. Jason Bay has been an RBI machine. Kevin Youkilis has thrived in the three spot. Most importantly, the Red Sox are in first place and still winning.

But what happens if things go wrong? Mike Lowell, who has played a major part in helping people forget Ortiz's struggles, now has sat out two games with discomfort in his surgically repaired hip. Losing a valuable guy has to make you start thinking, "What if?"

What if Bay hits a prolonged slump? What if Youkilis goes down or Lowell needs to miss significant time? Or there are other less dramatic questions. For instance, what if Nick Green remembers he's the guy who didn't have a job this time last year? What if the Red Sox will need offensive production from other means.

Ortiz has to be that guy. The DH cannot be a hole in the batting order.

His recent success has to give you hope, but at the same time, can we count on Ortiz to be David Ortiz when it really counts? He's connecting when he was missing and he's hit some mistakes out of the ballpark. But when it comes down to it, can Ortiz still hack it against the best of the best as he'd be called upon to do if/when the Red Sox make the postseason?

He's still late on a good fastball and still looks confused at times. You have to hope if you're a Sox fan that this will continue to improve as he gets more comfortable. But at the same time, you have to realize that all season this has not looked like the David Ortiz fans have come to know and love. Something is off and sometimes big, aging ballplayers just lose something, especially ones coming off of injury. He just might not make it back to become "our" David Ortiz ever again.

Magazine Season is here...Preseason All-America picks

By Brendan Hall
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

They say there are three seasons in college football: the fall season, the spring season, and magazine season. All the annual college football previews hit newsstands this month, and if you're like me you are eating it up. I'm one of those guys who could look at Street and Smith's for hours on end; heck, I even get the conference-specific ones.

I don't know why, but I love that feeling you get coming away from reading it, feeling like any team has the potential to run the table for reasons that escape us -- that is, until the cruel, harsh reality of the BCS sets in around Week 3.

Let's face it, there's not a whole lot of mystery with this year's Heisman race. In no particular order, the top three are going to be Tim Tebow, Sam Bradford and Colt McCoy. The two darkhorses are Jahvid Best from Cal and Jevan Snead from Ole Miss. Period.

With that in mind, I've devised my picks for first and second team All-Americans. I've got some wild cards in this deck:

First Team Offense

QB - Tim Tebow, Sr., Florida
RB - Jonathan Dwyer, Jr., Georgia Tech
RB - Jahvid Best, Jr., Cal
WR - Julio Jones, So., Alabama
WR - Arrelious Benn, Jr., Illinois
TE - Jermaine Gresham, Sr., Oklahoma
OL - Anthony Davis, Sr., Rutgers
OL - Adam Ulatowski, Sr., Texas
OL - Kris O'Dowd, Jr., USC
OL - Ciron Black, Sr., LSU
OL - Russell Okung, Sr., Oklahoma State
ATH - Javier Arenas, Sr., Alabama
PK - Kai Forbath, Jr., UCLA

First Team Defense

DL - Jerry Hughes, Sr., TCU
DL - George Selvie, Sr., South Florida
DL - Terrence Cody, Sr., Alabama
DL - Arthur Jones, Sr., Syracuse
LB - Brandon Spikes, Sr., Florida
LB - Mark Herzlich, Sr., Boston College
LB - Sean Weatherspoon, Sr., Missouri
DB - Taylor Mays, Sr., USC
DB - Eric Berry, Jr., Tennessee
DB - Kyle Wilson, Sr., Boise State
DB - Trevard Lindley, Sr., Kentucky
Ret - Brandon James, Sr., Florida
P - Derek Epperson, Jr., Baylor

Second Team Offense

QB - Colt McCoy, Sr., Texas
RB - Noel Devine, Jr., West Virginia
RB - Jacquizz Rodgers, So., Oregon State
WR - DeAndre Brown, So., Southern Miss
WR - Dez Bryant, Jr., Oklahoma State
TE - Dennis Pitta, Sr., BYU
OL - Trent Williams, Sr., Oklahoma
OL - Zane Beadles, Sr., Utah
OL - Rodney Hudson, Jr., Florida State
OL - Stefen Wisniewski, Jr., Penn State
OL - Mike Johnson, Sr., Alabama
ATH - C.J. Spiller, Sr., Clemson
K - Matt Bosher, Jr., Miami

Second Team Defense

DL - Sergio Kindle, Sr., Texas
DL - Ndamukong Suh, Sr., Nebraska
DL - Gerald McCoy, Jr., Oklahoma
DL - Brandon Graham, Sr., Michigan
LB - Stevenson Sylvester, Sr., Utah
LB - Rennie Curran, Jr., Georgia
LB - Greg Jones, Jr., Michigan State
DB - Syd'Quan Thompson, Sr., Cal
DB - Darrell Stuckey, Sr., Kansas
DB - Morgan Burnett, Jr., Georgia Tech
DB - Barry Church, Sr., Toledo
Ret - Mardy Gilyard, Sr., Cincinnati
P - Travis Baltz, Jr., Maryland

And for kicks, here's my All-Breakthrough team. As in, guys who are going to explode onto the scene and become household names this year:

ATH - Ray Ray Armstrong, Fr., Miami
RB - Jordan Todman, So., Connecticut
RB - Toby Gerhart, Sr., Stanford
RB - Christine Michael, Fr., Texas A&M
QB - Bo Levi Mitchell, So., SMU
QB - Joe Webb, Sr., UAB
WR - Jock Sanders, Jr., West Virginia
OL - Brandon Carter, Jr., Texas Tech (seriously, he'll be a household name)

Dice-K, Rotation not a fit for Bo Sox

By Jim Ingram
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Daisuke Matsuzaka has been incredibly consistent so far this season. Consistently bad really, and last night was no different versus the Atlanta Braves. You'd think facing off against a fellow Japanese player would get his blood pumping, right. No. He threw 4 + IP, 8 H, 6 ER, 4 BB, 2K and 106 pitches. Not good at all. In fact, it's down right awful. Daisuke is now 1-5 with an 8.23 ERA. He's allowed 53 hits in 35 innings pitched. He's allowed a .378 batting average against.

On the flip side, Kenshin Kawakami was clearly ready for this game. He pitched 6 innings and allowed only 2 hits, 2 runs and struck out 5. Kawakami is not nearly as heralded in his home country as Matsuzaka. This is a game that was still anticipated in Japan, but not nearly as much as the first time Ichiro faced Daisuke three years ago. The Braves dominated last night in the 8-2 trouncing of the Red Sox. Garret Anderson, a long time Sox killer, went 3 for 3 and drove in 4 of the 8 runs.

Now back to Daisuke. In my opinion, there are three things you can do with him. Either come up with a phantom injury so he can spend some time on the DL, send him down to Pawtucket and let him pitch every 5 days and work through his problems down there, or send him back to Florida for extended Spring Training. I think this is the best option. Let him get away from game action for a little while and try to work with a pitching instructor to break down what he's doing wrong. He has a full no trade clause, so there's virtually no way you can deal him. After winning 18 games last season, I doubt the Sox will want to get rid of him. Especially since his problems really stem from the World Baseball Classic he pitched so well in prior to the season. He'll be back to his usual self next season after he's allowed his dead arm to rest. I've heard people mention putting him in the bullpen. That will certainly not work because he walks to many people. That would be a disaster.

It shouldn't be too long before we find out the Sox's plans for Dice-K. John Smoltz is scheduled to pitch on June 25th. Brad Penny has pitched well enough to stay in the rotation and Tim Wakefield should be going to the All Star game for the first time. The only real option is removing Dice-K from the rotation. I guess we'll just have to see what Boston decides.

Stay tuned....