Fantasy Baseball Friday: May 7th

By Jim Ingram

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Welcome back for another week of fantasy baseball review. Beginning next week we'll finally start looking toward the week ahead.

Weekly Top 10: Hitters

1. Andre Ethier (Dodgers) - He has a line of .480, 5, 13 this week. Wow! It's nice to see the ankle healthy.I really never thought he was going to be that good, but it looks like I was wrong. It doesn't hurt he's also one of the most clutch hitters in baseball.

2. Alfonso Soriano (Cubs) - Is he back from the dead? He might be, but he still doesn't steal bases anymore. My suggestion is to trade him while he's hot and get the most you can. He will get hurt sometime soon.

3. Brett Gardner (Yankees) - In case you haven't noticed, the young lefty is having a stellar season so far. He has a .430 OBP and 13 stolen bases. Looks like he'll stick in the Yankees outfield

4. J.D. Drew (Red Sox) - Ho hum. He has one good week, he has one bad week. He might even get you two good weeks and then hit the DL. Stay away

5. Hanley Ramirez (Marlins) - Hanley has been his usual self with the bat, but only has 2 steals so far. Really? H-Ram has got to start using his legs.

6. James Loney (Dodgers) - He's off to a very good start this season, and even has some people using him as a starter in deep leagues at first. I am a huge fan of his, but do not expect power numbers.

7. Evan Longoria (Rays) - As you may know, he's one of my favorite players and a fantasy baseball star. Why else would one of my sons be named Evan.

8. Jason Heyward (Braves) - I am very impressed with the rookie. He's been able to adjust after seeing opponents a second time. He's shown patience, and is driving the ball to all fields. There is no doubt he'll be a fantasy super start for the next 12 years.

9. Jayson Werth (Phillies) - Talk about getting ready for a big payday. It looks like he won't get it from the Phillies, but he'll get it from someone. He keeps getting better and better.

10. Denard Span (Twins) - Is turning around after an awful start. He's getting on base more, scoring more runs recently, but needs to start snagging more bags.

Weekly Top 10: Pitchers

1. Roy Hallady (Phillies) - What can you say about the man. In his first 3 starts at Citizens Bank Ballpark he's only allowed 1 homer. That will surely keep him in the Cy Young race all year

2. Neftali Perez (Rangers) - The young phenom has solidified the closer situation in Texas. He should have no trouble doing that the rest of the year.

3. Matt Cain (Giants) - While I certainly hate the Giants, I've always been a fan of Cain. After a breakout season last year, he's keeping it up so far this season.

4. Scott Olsen (Nationals) - While he may be a DB, apparently he can actually pitch. He's allowed only 2 runs (1 earned) over his past 20.1 innings pitched amassing two wins in those three games. Keep an eye on him.

5. Rich Harden (Rangers) - Don't look now, but Harden is pitching pretty well so far. I still would be scared of his history of injuries.

6. Brett Cecil (Blue Jays) - 2.61 ERA, 21 K, 4 BB, .77 WHIP & a .167 OBA? Damn, I might just have to pick him up myself.

7. Andrew Bailey (A's) - I have to admit when I'm wrong. After he was injured in Spring Training I declared he'd be somewhat of a bust this season. Boy was I wrong as he hasn't allowed a single run so far along with a perfect 5 for 5 in saves

8. Robinson Tejeda (Royals) - Tejeda has been one of the best middle relievers in the game in 2010. If you need one, he's a pretty good one to pick up as he already has 15 appearances.

9. Jeff Neimann (Rays) - I'm pretty sure every member of the Rays has a horseshoe stuck up you know where. This kid has been stellar, especially in his last two starts where he's allowed just one run in 14 innings.

10. Justin Verlander (Tigers) - He seems to be turning things around after a rough start. He's a true ace, so don't panic too soon.

The David Ortiz Disappointments of the Season (so far):

Gil Meche (Royals) - Wait, how much does this guy make? Ouch. His WHIP 2.28 would be a might nice ERA. In his 5 starts he's allowed 26 earned runs.

Edwin Jackson (Diamondbacks) - In his last two starts he's allowed 18 runs in just 6.2 innings. Not really worth the trade if you ask me.

Javier Vasquez (Yankees) - Speaking of bad trades. It didn't work the first time round in the Bronx, and it looks like it wont work this time either.

Chris Coghlan (Marlins) - The 2009 Rookie of the Year is having a serious sophomore slump. Is he Jerome Walton? I doubt it.

Aramis Ramirez (Cubs) - Is he the NL version of David Ortiz? In half of a season in 2009, he did put up very good numbers, so I don't think so. I hope you have a backup 3rd basemen until he returns to form.

Gordon Beckham (White Sox) - Beckham is a very good ball player. He will turn around the season, and I specifically look at Dustin Pedroia's rookie season as a parallel.

Here's what I have to say

By Chad Garner

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

1. Please tell me it’s not true, L.T. I’m talking about the real L.T., too, Lawrence Taylor. While he was a superstar on the field – he’s one of my all-time favorite players and the reason why I wore No. 56 in high school football – he’s a real loser off the field. After a career with run-ins with the law, he’s now being accused of raping a 16-year-old. I love L.T. the player, but I really hate the person (if he’s found guilty).
2. Kudos to the Oakland Raiders for making a great decision by cutting No. 1 pick and franchise QB JaMarcus Russell. Can you say one of the all-time biggest busts in the NFL?
3. Adam “Pacman” Jones to the Bengals. Are we really surprised that they took another gamble on another low-character player? The Bengals are an NFL franchise and rehabilitation center.
4. What a huge blow to the Bruins: David Krejci out of the rest of the season. If you thought the B’s had a chance to win it all before, do you have a difference of opinion now? A great playoff run will end in the conference finals if the B’s have to play the Penguins. But here’s hoping Montreal and Pittsburgh play an epic 7-game, physical series with a few double-OT games sprinkled in. I never wish for injuries, but (watch out Crosby)….
5. Celtics, Bruins, Red Sox. Regardless of what game you’re going to watch, I’m betting the Sox are the No. 3 choice right now. They just don’t have any star power.
6. LeBron James and that fake injury to his elbow. Are you taking the bait on this so-called injury?
7. The World Cup is fast approaching, are you excited? Do you even know when it starts? Didn’t think so.
8. How hot are the Tampa Bay Rays? Well, they lead all of baseball with a 21-7 record going into tonight, but what’s more impressive is they are 12-1 on the road. Yes, only one loss on the road which is absolutely amazing. I’m still not buying that they are the best team in baseball, or even the AL East, because I don’t think that bullpen will hold up. Rafael Soriano will get hurt and then it will be a closer-by committee (which never works). They are much better than Boston, however. Everyone should agree with that.
9. A boxing fans’ dream: Mayweather vs. Pacquiao. Make it happen. I’d be rooting for “Money” Mayweather no doubt!
10. Thumbs up or thumbs down with this weekly column?

Bruins continue dodging bullets

By Chris Maza
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Whew. Another close one.

Let's face it folks, this has not been a pretty series for the Bruins thus far. While the end results have been positive, the B's have left a lot to be desired in this series thus far.

Luckily for the Bruins, Milan Lucic and Marc Savard came through with dramatic goals that were not necessarily textbook, more just throwing the puck at the net in hopes that something might come of it.

But the fact of the matter is after playing extremely well in the series against Buffalo, the Bruins have played a very sloppy series thus far against the Flyers and very easily could be heading into Philadelphia down, 0-2.

While at times they have appeared to dominate the play, like the first period and overtime of game one, they have yet to play a complete, 60-minute hockey game in a solid fashion, let alone a dominating one.

And, of course, just like there always is with the Flyers, there's a controversy. Apparently Dan Carcillo, the man who decided to go high with a hit after the whistle on Savard, took issue with Savard's actions during the altercation. Yes, I'll say that again. The guy who too a shot at the head of the other guy who just came off a two-month holiday because of a life-threatening cranial injury is whining about what went down.

Carcillo alleges that Savard bit him. What's more, he says he has marks to prove it. On the other side, Savard accused Carcillo of trying to pull out his teeth. Who do you believe? The guy whose nickname is "Car Bomb" and had the fourth-most penalty minutes in the league, despite playing in fewer games than two of the three guys in front of him, or the guy who hasn't been in a fight since the 2002-03 season?

Trying to look at this as objectively as possible, the biggest question I have is this: How did Savard manage to bite down hard enough on Carcillo's fingers to leave marks if he had gloves on? Kind of hard to believe. And if the glove was off, then why wasn't there a fighting major?

Savard's heroics mask a big problem

By Chris Maza
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Say what you will about whether or not Marc Savard should be playing this postseason. You can have your opinion. Mine is that the Bruins pay some guys a lot smarter than me a lot more money than I make to make those kinds of decisions.

Regardless, Savard's goal was beautiful. Not just because of the fact he was returing after the two month injury on a cheap shot. Not because he snuck it past Brian Boucher through an opening most couldn't hit a ping pong ball through. It's because in most cases Savard passes up that shot and looks for a pass. But being the intelligent player he is, he realized the golden rul of playoff hockey: In overtime, just get the puck on net and good things will happen.

But while all of that is true and all's well that ends well, Savard's overtime winner has made people forget one major thing: the Bruins were outplayed for most of that game. After a beautifully played first period, the B's fell apart in the second and third periods and did the exact opposite of what they did in the first.

They were not aggressive. They did not play well in the neutral zone. They didn't take the body. They didn't forecheck. They didn't backcheck.

The Flyers are still by my estimation an inferior opponent and if the Bruins are planning on relying on that kind of shoddy play to win, they may still beat the Flyers, but what about the Penguins if they come calling in the next round? Or even Montreal, who have been playing possibly the best hockey of the playoffs thus far?

I can tell you this: It won't be good.

Here's what I have to say

1. Just like every year, my NFL Mock Draft held up (if by only one pick, I might add) against fellow Fan Fanatic Sports staffer Jim Ingram. Lunch will taste oh-so good, once again!
2. Just because you’ve never heard of some of the players that New England Patriots drafted, it doesn’t mean it wasn’t a good draft. Do some research before you shoot your mouth off about how Bill Belichick and the Patriots blew it. Obviously, I still trust in Bill, still.
3. Anyone else feel a little better knowing that the Bruins don’t have to play the Penguins in the second round of the playoffs? Pittsburgh is just too fast and skilled. But now the B’s have to play tough and physical against the cheap-shotting Flyers. With Tuukka Rask in net, fans should be cautiously optimistic that the Bruins can advance. I love Marc Savard, but is now the right time to come back? Why mess with chemistry some might say, or will he give his teammates a bigger motivational boost in this series?
4. Do the Celtics really have a shot at beating the Cavs in a 7-games series? I’m picking the Cavs in six games, but the C’s have been turning it on lately. Let’s hope that this aging team has one final championship run in their tired legs. Time to step it up Big 3 because this triple-threat won’t be together much longer.
5. Hey, Red Sox fans have returned. See, they start winning a few games (well, they took a step back last night) and everyone is back on the bandwagon. Typical pink hat fans coming out of the woodwork, as we speak.
6. Who’s going to have a better season at QB, Kevin Kolb or Donovan McNabb? I’m taking McNabb, he’s a proven veteran while Kolb is still learning on the job.
7. Wouldn’t Dirk Nowitzki look good in a Boston Celtics uniform next season? Even though I love Ray Allen, I’d rather have Dirk (but then we’d need a real shooting guard). So it’s not that cut and dry.
8. Early-season report: New York second baseman Robinson Cano for MVP.
9. So the NCAA OK’d changing the March Madness field from 64 to 68 teams. That’s fine, but I’m more concerned with a college football playoff system.
10. Who do you take with the top pick in a fantasy football draft in 2010? Chris Johnson, Tennessee Titans. That’s even if he holds out to start the season because of contract issues. But he also could be the next Jamal Anderson. Remember the former Dirty Bird from the Atlanta Falcons who was a workhorse in the backfield, but blew out his ACL and never returned to form. That's the risk you take when you continually work a guy into the ground.

Fantasy Baseball Friday: April 30th

By Jim Ingram

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Weekly Top 10: Hitters

1. Austin Kearns - Indians. Remember when he was a prized prospect? Don't expect more than a one good week at a time.

2. Kelly Johnson - Diamondbacks. I'd keep an eye on him. I didn't expect much pre season, but he's been very consistent so far. The one thing that will not last is the power numbers

3. Carlos Gonzalez - Rockies. I was high on him before the season, and am an even bigger believer now. This kid is legit.

4. Ryan Braun - Brewers. What can you say about the Hebrew Hammer. He's a stud, that's all.

5. Miguel Olivo - Rockies. If the Rockies didn't have Iannetta, I'd be all over him.

6. Dexter Fowler - Rockies. Very inconsistent, but he's still stealing bases.

7. Bobby Abreu - Angels. He may not be the prettiest looking athlete, but he's a proven, consistent run producer.

8. Robinson Cano - Yankees. Is this the year he wins the batting title? Me thinks yes

9. Ryan Theriot - Cubs. Poor man's David Eckstein my you know what. He's a far better player.

10. Adrian Gonzalez - Padres. Putting up the numbers prior to a trade?

Weekly Top 10: Pitchers

1. Ubaldo Jimenez - Rockies. It's nice to see he didn't fall off after the no hitter. Young stud putting it together

2. Jon Lester - Red Sox. If only he wasn't terrible to start the season every year. When on, one of the best lefties in the game. Look for him to keep it going now.

3. Tim Lincecum - Giants. Hands down best pitcher in the game.

4. Josh Johnson - Marlins. JJ has it going after a slow start

5. David Price - Rays. I don't mean to brag, but I did predict a breakout season for the youngster.

6. Francisco Rodriguez - Mets. Puts up good numbers, but I'd never trust him.

7. Matt Capps - Nationals. The save machine. I guess that is what happens when you have team play in a tone of close games.

8. Francisco Liriano - Twins. It's nice to see him healthy and return to form. Could be dominant again.

9. Barry Zito - Giants. I don't buy it. He's just too hittable.

10. Johan Santana - Mets. Maybe the Mets bullpen won't ruin his season again.

Early Season Pleasant Surprises:

Kelly Johnson - Diamondbacks. See above

Vernon Wells - Blue Jays. Here is where I have to eat crow. I killed him prior to the season. I was wrong. He obviously feels like he has something to prove

Mike Pelfrey - Mets. What a great start for a team that really needs a #2. Looks like he'll fill in nicely.

Brad Penny - Cardinals. Dave Duncan is the best pitching coach in the history of baseball. One of these days I'll get around to my article about his reclamation projects.

Matt Capps - Nationals. See above

Early Season Disasters a.k.a. The David "Big Papi" Ortiz portion of the blog:

David Ortiz - Red Sox. We all know about my hatred for Ortiz. He is done.

Trevor Hoffman - Brewers. I love the Hoff, but it looks like his days are almost done. Better keep an eye on LaTroy Hawkins

Carlos Zambrano - Cubs. If he's unhappy, anything could happen. Bad I mean

Chris Davis - Rangers. In order to stay in the bigs, you need to make consistent contact. It didn't help Justin Smoak was behind him.

Nate McClouth - Braves. This was not a good trade for the Braves. I was never a believer in the first place.

Jake Peavy - White Sox. Poor guy. He has no control right now. If he wasn't on the White Sox, I'd probably root for him.

Well, that's all for this week. See you next.

Savard set to return in Round 2

By Jim Ingram

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

I love being right about something! In case you didn't read my round 1 preview, I predicted the Bruins to win the series in six games. Most prognosticators, including myself, are wrong so often, one needs to relish the times they're correct. Enough of that, now onto the news at hand. On Monday, Mark Savard was given clearance to play in the 2nd round. If he's OK, he provides a huge boost to the Bruins offense they desperately need.

The real question is whether or not he should be allowed to play. My answer is no. Sports fans are well aware of what a sever concussion can do, and Bruins fans especially have recent experience thanks to Patrice Bergeron. I'd love the see the Bruins make a serious run for the Stanley Cup, but I'm taking the long term view for Savvy and the Bruins organization. Wasn't it just a month ago, Savard could barely walk outside into the sun without having serious problems? It's amazing story he can make a dramatic turnaround in such a short amount of time, but he needs to think about his career and quality of life after he retires.

Now that you know my opinion on Savvy's return to the lineup, what will happen in this series. Thanks to the Montreal Canadiens, the Bruins have home ice (who would have thunk that?) against the Philadelphia Flyers. They enter this round as the favorites, but the two teams did split the 8 games played this season. The Bruins did dominate the final regular season game against the Flyers, beating them 5-1 the last week of the regular season.

The B's - Flyers series should be a good one. The Flyers, also have a hot goalie in Brian Boucher. In 5 games against the Devils, he had a 1.59 GAA and a .940 save percentage. You can never underestimate a hot goalie, so the Bruins could be in trouble if he maintains that level of play. The Flyers bring a physical style of play that should make for an entertaining series between the two teams. They have a certified star in Mike Richards, along with proven goal scorers Jeff Carter, Daniel Briere, and Simon Gagne. There's just one problem with that statement, both Carter and Gagne will be out for all, if not most, of this series and the remainder of the playoffs. In order for them to win this series, they will need to rely on some of their young stars like UNH product James Van Reimsdyk.

On a side note, how crazy is it that the #1, #2 & #3 seeds in the Eastern Conference were all upset and bounced from the first round of the playoffs. That is why I love the NHL playoffs. Anything can happen.

My prediction: Bruins win series in 6 games again.