Do you feel twenty years younger?

By Jim Ingram

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

I am sorry, but I just couldn't resist.  I have been a big Ken Griffey Jr. fan since he broke into the bigs.  We've had some ups and downs over the years, but there's something about seeing him back in a Mariners uniform that makes me feel like a pre-teen again.  

When I turned on the MLB Network last night, I absolutely love that channel, to watch some highlights, I was immediately thrilled to see Griffey's blast off Francisco Liriano. Even now, I can't believe it's been a decade since his last game in Seattle.  It doesn't matter to me that he'll spend the majority of his time in either right field or on the bench as the DH.  I love to watch this man play the game of baseball.  The sweet swing still remains as well as that youthful smile.  Personally, I'd love to see him at DH all season and see the numbers he can put up.  I wouldn't be surprised with a .270, 30HR, 1o0 RBI season.  Would you?  Of course I'd be more surprised if he played 150 games.  

Either way, welcome back #24.  I can't wait until the 4th of July weekend so I can go watch him in Fenway.  Junior, just do me one favor.  Please be healthy to play that weekend.

I am the smartest man alive!

By Jim Ingram

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Don't worry everyone, I am not the least bit serious.  I am also not lucky.  I just happened to choose the overwhelming favorite to win the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament.  Yes, the Tarheels are national champs, and I am slightly happy that I picked the winner.  They were dominant throughout the tourney, and averaged just slightly over a 20 point margin per win.  Amazing.  

I'll be glad to see Tyler Hansborough head off to be a mediocre player in the NBA.  Have you ever seen anyone who spends more time with that stupid, wide eyed look than him?  

By the way, Chad (our resident NCAA Men's bball guru) picked Louisville to win it all.  How'd that work out for you, but I digress.  I may have picked UNC to win it all, but I didn't even win our bracket challenge.  I came in 2nd, once again, and still haven't won an NCAA bracket in my life.  To be perfectly honest, I watched a grand total of 5 seconds of the title game.  Since it was opening day in baseball, my interest was elsewhere.

Well, I guess FFS will sign off on the College Basketball season for now.  

If there's anything you think we should be covering, please let us know.  

Fantasy Baseball: Don't even think about hitting the panic button just yet

By Chad Garner

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

So some of your pitchers just didn't live up to the preaseason hype on Opening Day?

Yes, we all would love to see better starts in the opener from our aces that we own, but it just didn't work out for a few top-of-the-line arms that haven't yet justified an early pick in the draft. 

The FFS staff's choice for Cy Young -- CC Sabathia -- sure didn't earn a penny of his hefty paycheck yesterday against the Orioles. Sabathia (4 1/3 IP, 8 H, 6 ER, 5 BB, 0 K) missed location, serving up several cookies, fell behind in counts and was wild ... not what we saw from his late last season. His pitching line was putrid just like his current ERA of 12.46, but he's throwing just like he did early last season when everyone was thinking he was washed up. Remember, Sabathia was 1-4 in his first six starts with a 7.88 ERA, but finished 17-10 with a 2.70 ERA.

Sabathia will be just fine, don't panic yet. Better starts are around the corner. Or if it's like last year, the month of May will be far better than April.

Arizona's Brandon Webb (4 IP, 6 H, 6 ER, 2 BB, 2 K, 2 HR allowed) also was shelled, another surprise on Opening Day. Webb fizzled down the stretch last season, which cost him the NL Cy Young, so his lackluster start is potentially concerning. Webb could bounce back and be just fine, but you never know. Yes, he's got a proven track record in winning games, but could this be a new trend? Let's hope not or my NL Only team is going right down the toilet bowl. I think he was a second-round pick in a 10-team league. Yikes, but I'm not ready to hit the panic button yet. Yet, being the key word with him, though.

Even Mr. Complete Game, Roy Halladay (7 IP, 6 H, 5 ER, BB, 2 K, 2 HR allowed), wasn't spectacular but at least he won. 

Say what you want about early-season starts. Yes, it hurts your team now, but last I checked no one gets a trophy for leading on Opening Day. The Major League Baseball season is a grind with plenty of ups and downs. Some of the these aces are on a downer and so are their owners, but don't pack in the season and have a fire sale in April.

Give everyone some time to work their way into form. I like to give my players at least a month, I feel that's sufficient enough time to access their performance. If they are completely killing me in categories, then it's time to say see-ya, wouldn't-want-to-be-ya.

It ticks us all off that guys like Joe Saunders, Kevin Millwood, Jeremy Guthrie and Hiroki Kuroda all outshined the aces mentioned above, but who would you rather have over 30-plus starts? No-brainer, right?

Put the revolver down, ride it out for a while. Your preseason hype players can just as easily turn it around, and you don't want to be the guy that drops Sabathia, Webb or Halladay. Then, they'll all be laughing at you.