Take that for rooting for Florida State!

What you’re about to read is a true story. Do not adjust your monitors.

There I was. It was Monday night, the Monday before Thursday Madness, and I was filling out my bracket. I came across the East Region portion of the bracket and was staring at the 12-5 matchup between Wisconsin and Florida State

Before I continue, you have to know one thing: I am a Miami Hurricanes freak. Not fan. Not fanatic. Freak. I despise all things related to the Florida Gators, I despise all things related to the Va. Tech Hokies and I definitely despise all things Florida State. Back to the story.

My first instinct, of course, was to pick the Badgers in the typical 12-5 upset that is so commonplace in the field of 65. Instead, for the sake of my bracket – and nothing else, I swear – I picked the Seminoles. Twice. And what do those bums from Tallahassee proceed to do? They blow the game after leading, 31-19, at the half.

I was beside myself.

I drank the Tallahassee Kool-Aid and all it gave me was … well, it starts with an S and ends in hit.

I could never forgive myself. My fellow Hurricanes’ fans shouldn’t forgive me, either.

To this very moment, sitting here writing this, I am still pissed off over this whole thing. Even more pissed off than I am at the fact that Wake Forest got throttled by Cleveland State (I didn’t have Wake advancing past the Sweet 16, so I really don’t care).

The icing on the cake, the lowly Gators – DAMN THAT CHOMP! – slid past Miami in the second round of the NIT.

Wonderful.

Oh, and Virginia defeated the Hurricanes’ baseball team, 9-4.

What a freaking day!

Lesson learned. Never trust those thugs from Tallahassee in any sport.

Hell, they had the best lineup and one of the best No. 1 pitchers in college baseball a couple of years back and still got bounced from the College World Series. I can take solace in the fact that it was the Hurricanes which did so.

But, that’s another sport for another time.

(Special to Fan Fanatic Sports by Jorge Bannister. He can be reached at jbannister11@yahoo.com)

Fantasy Baseball (starting pitchers): No sophomore jinx for Tiny Tim Lincecum

By Chad Garner
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff
A good ace, every Major League Baseball team wants at least one. The same can be said for every team in fantasy baseball. Many owners are blinded by offensive stats and tend to think "decent" pitching can be had in the middle to late rounds. True, but you won't find an ace that late in the draft. Just like a stud bat, an elite arm can make up for so-so other starters -- the guy that gives up 5 runs in 2 innings, but your ace covers his #$& with a complete-game shutout. Do you have confidence that middle-tier arms can produce on a weekly basis? I don't buy that diamond in the rough theory. Yes, it does happen every now and again, but good luck finding one. I'll take my chances with drafting an elite pitcher in the late first round or anywhere in the second round. You can bet I'll get a pitcher in the top three rounds. 

I love pitching, need it and always want more. Sort of like a chocolate junky.

What I really need is a Tim Lincecum to anchor my rotation. He's my clear-cut No. 1 guy; I really believe this kid has what it takes to carry a team. He's only done it for one year (18-5 record, 227 IP, 265 K, 2.62 ERA, 1.17 WHIP), that's the only thing detractors can come up with -- a sophomore jinx. I believe you don't register 265 Ks and then in one season can't get guys out. Opponents have proven they can't hit the 24-year-old and that trend will continue this year. 

CC Sabathia now pitching in New York! YES! Expect better stats than (17-10, 253 IP, 251 Ks, 2.70 ERA, 1.11 WHIP) this year. Well, since he's now back in the AL, strikeouts may be slightly donw and ERA and WHIP may be a little up. But his record should be better with the Yanks ... 20-game winner, at least, and a can't-miss guy on draft day.

Johan Santana is still good, but he had only 16 wins and his strikeout totals fell from 235 in 2007 to 206 last year. He's been rehabbing in the preseason, and perhaps we've already seen the best of him in 2006 (19 wins, 245 Ks, 2.77 ERA, 1.00 WHIP)?

Injuries are always a concern and I'd steer clear of guys who are currently nursing bum arms: Cole Hamels and Ervin Santana. They may be fine during the year, but for where you're going to have to draft them, I'm not even that big of a gambling guy.

I'm still not sold on them: Tampa Bay's Scott Kazmir (He's always hurt and he has bouts of wildness and only seems to last 5 innings because he's over 100 pitches), Edinson Volquez (yes, he was 17-6 last year, but his second-half woes definitely frighten me) and Rich Harden (huge talent, injury prone every year).

Young guns: Boston's Jon Lester (even a Yankees fan believes in this lefty), Joba Chamberlain (don't dig in on Joba. He's filthy and tough to hit) and David Price (sky is limit for Tampa lefty, but don't expect an amazing season just yet. He needs to pay his dues).

Can't go wrong: Roy Halladay, John Lackey, Dan Haren, Brandon Webb.

Sleepers: San Francisco's Matt Cain (I think this is the year he finally puts it all together), Zack Greinke, Gavin Floyd, Max Scherzer, Matt Garza, Fausto Carmona.

(Coming tomorrow: Relief pitcher rankings by Jim Ingram)

TOP 20 STARTING PITCHERS

1. Tim Lincecum (SF)
2. CC Sabathia (NYY)
3. Johan Santana (NYM)
4. Roy Halladay (TOR)
5. Brandon Webb (ARZ)
6. Dan Haren (ARZ)
7. Josh Beckett (BOS)
8. Jake Peavy (SD)
9. Roy Oswalt (HOU)
10. Francisco Liriano (MIN)
11. Cliff Lee (CLE)
12. John Lackey (LAA)
13. Jon Lester (BOS)
14. A.J. Burnett (NYY)
15. Daisuke Matsuzaka (BOS)
16. Chad Billingsley (LAD)
17. James Shields (TB)
18. Joba Chamberlain (NYY)
19. Cole Hamels (PHI) * only because of injury concern, would be a top-5 pitcher
20. Ervin Santana (LAA) * injury concerns

NCAA Final Four

By Josh Bremberg
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff
Final Four:
Kansas vs. Memphis - It will be a great rematch of last year's championship game, with Memphis pulling it out.

Pittsburgh vs. North Carolina - With injuries affecting the startig 5 at UNC, Pitt should remain the Beast in the East, rolling to an easy "W".

National Championship:
Justin Timberlake was so upset & convincing during the ESPY Awards last summer, that I just have to give the nod to Memphis as the National Champion of 2009!

Bye, bye, bye!

By Josh Bremberg
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff
Fantasy Baseball (Outfield): Sizemore Does Matter!

Grady Sizemore (CLE) is a lock for another 30-30 season this year, finishing 2008 with 33 HRs & 38 SBs – not to mention his 101 runs, 90 RBIs & 98 walks. The only knock on this guy is the 130 Ks last year, at least its down from 155 in ’07!

Ryan Braun (MIL) is coming off a break out year – 37 HRs, 106 RBIs, 92 runs. He’s due for similar numbers this year, as long as the Prince stays healthy. Josh Hamilton (TEX) had a true fairy tale season – from the depths of substance abuse to “America’s Sweetheart” at the All-Star Game. He finished ’08 with 32 HRs (maybe there is a jinx with the HR Derby), 130 RBIs, and a .304 avg. Texas is known for their offense, and they’ll need to score some runs this year to protect that pitching staff.

Alfonso Soriano (CHC) - 29 HRs, 75 RBIs, & 76 runs in ’08 - has the ability to be a 40-40 guy, if he can stay healthy. The Cubs should be a play-off team & will rely heavily on the bat of Soriano this season. B.J. Upton (TB) as an absolute stud in the 2008 play-offs! His confidence should carry over into the 2009 season. He has speed (44 steals) & power (9 HRs in the reg. season, 7 in the play-offs!). If you land Upton consider yourself lucky! Carlos Beltran (NYM) - 27 HRs, 112 RBIs, 25 steals, 116 runs - has seen his power numbers dip over the last few years, but he makes up for it in run production. Carlos Quentin (CWS) was an MVP candidate before ending his season early in September. Even with the injury, Quentin still finished with great numbers – 36 HRs, 100 RBIs, 96 runs.

Falling Heroes - Manny Ramirez (37 HRs in ‘08) is always a player to watch, if he feels like playing. I’m tired of him… but man; he’s arguably the greatest hitter of our generation. Vlad Guerrero (27 HRs) just doesn’t seem like the same player. Those bad knees from playing in Montreal have just caused his numbers to nose-dive over the last few years. I guess he’s our generation’s Mickey Mantle.
If you can’t score your top choice in the outfield, don’t worry, there are so many choices that you can’t go wrong – unless you decide to draft the entire Yankee outfield, right Chad!

(Coming tomorrow: Starting Pitchers rankings by Chad Garner)

TOP 20 OUTFIELDERS

1. Grady Sizemore (CLE)
2. Ryan Braun (MIL)
3. Josh Hamilton (TEX)
4. Alfonso Soriano (CHC)
5. B.J. Upton (TB)
6. Carlos Beltran (NYM)
7. Carlos Quentin (CWS)
8. Carlos Lee (HOU)
9. Ichiro Suzuki (SEA)
10. Manny Ramirez (LAD)
11. Jason Bay (BOS)
12. Matt Holliday (OAK)
13. Carl Crawford (TB)
14. Nick Markakis (BAL)
15. Matt Kemp (LAD)
16. Vladimir Guerrero (LAA)
17. Curtis Granderson (DET)
18. Alex Rios (TOR)
19. Shane Victorino (PHI)
20. Jacoby Ellsbury (BOS)

Big East Matchup in the NCAA Finals

By Jim Ingram
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff
March Madness is here! To be perfectly honest, March and April are the only two months of the year I watch College Basketball. Of the four major sports, basketball is the one I enjoy and know about the least. With that being said, I absolutely love the NCAA Basketball Tournament. This is the best thing the NCAA does.

It's the time of year college basketball fanatics, casual fans, and the the women at work who picks the team with the prettiest colors or cutest mascot fill out their brackets. Of course I am not different. I have filled out 3 brackets this year, but will only be talking about the Final Four from the bracket that can fill my pockets the most.

The Final Four
Connecticut vs. Louisville
Many people are saying that UCONN has a chance to be bounced, and become the first #1 seed to lose to a #16. I won't have anything to do with that. I also like them because so many "experts" think they won't make it that far in the tournament. As someone you loves to do the opposite of most people, I actually think they'll beat Louisville and make it to the Finals. The Huskies took down Louisville in the regular season and will do so again in the Tournament. Sorry Slick Rick.

Pittsburgh vs. North Carolina
This is Jamie Dixon's year. While I like the talent of UNC, I am not sure Ty Lawson will have that triumphant a return to take them to the finals. Pitts is a strong, physical team that has battled Big East teams all year to this point. As long as the referees don't hand UNC the game, I think the tough, physical style of Pitt will be too much for them to handle.

Championship Game
Connecticut vs. Pittsburgh
The Panthers won the two previous meetings this year during the regular season. While it's hard to beat someone three times in a season in any sport, I predict Pitt will once again top the UCONN Huskies.

Maybe next year I'll fill out my brackets with a dart board and even blindfolded. I bet I could do just as well as I've done in previous years.

Here's to hoping the Pitt Panthers make me look like a genius!

Louisville will cut down the nets

By Chad Garner
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff
The NCAA Tournament is one of pure excitement, this year will be no different. Is there a clear-cut favorite? No. Probably about a handful of teams really can win this thing, but you just never know. That's why they play the games.

Here are my Final Four teams (if you use my picks to gamble in Vegas, don't blame me when you lose your shirt!):

Final Four

Louisville vs. Memphis -- The Cardinals, winners of 10 straight games, have one of the best coaches in the country in Rick Pitino, who makes sure his team is prepared to play at a high level every single night. The Cards don't feature one true scorer, they're just a balanced bunch who likes to run the floor. But defense is where they really shine and wear down opponents. They are one of the best pressure defenses in the tournament and that's where they really flusters teams. I hate to say it, but Memphis will run all over my beloved UConn Huskies to reach the Final Four.

Pittsburgh vs. North Carolina -- Man, Pitt just likes to punch you right in the face with bulldozer DeJuan Blair (15.6 ppg). You just can't move him in the paint, that's why the Panthers always have a distinct advance down low with Blair. You get him in foul trouble, however, and things change slightly. The also handled UConn twice in the Big East, so they are legit. 

UNC has great balance, it can beat you from the perimeter or from the post. Make no mistake, forward Tyler Hansbrough (21.4 ppg) makes this team go. He's an instant spark for the Heels and a tough matchup for anyone. An injury to point guard Ty Lawson (15.9 ppg) worries me a little, but my gut says he's plays later in the tournament. If he's at least 75 percent, watch out. The uptempo style will be too much for Pitt to contend with in the end. Wayne Ellington (15.2 ppg), Danny Green (13.3 ppg) and Deon Thompson (11.2 ppg) give the Heels 5 players who average in double figures.

Championship game

Louisville vs. North Carolina --- Defense, defense, defense. It could be a track meet game, but Louisville's pressure from the opening tip to the final buzzer will eventually leave the Heels huffing and puffing for air. 

National Champion

Louisville -- Will Pitino cry like a little baby. We did after he ruined the Boston Celtics.

Fantasy Baseball (Third Base) with Arod hurt, David Wright takes the top spot for 2009

By Jim Ingram
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

The staff at FFS continues our trip around the diamond looking at the top 20 players at each position. Today we'll be covering Third Base. When I look at the top crop of third basemen for 2009, I think of one thing: Multi-position eligibility. Half of my top 20 third basemen are eligible for more than one position. As you'll come to know, there is nothing I like better in fantasy baseball than position flexibility. The more positions you can play, the more likely you'll end up on my team. Thanks to the depth the position has, and the flexibility in eligibility, you should be able to find yourself a good third basemen in any of the first 7 rounds.

Any other year Alex Rodriguez would be the #1 overall draft pick, not just the best option at third base. I am not convinced with the current prognosis that he'll be back in May. His injury is very similar to Mike Lowell's, and he's just now getting back into the swing of things. Now don't get me wrong I still think he'll be back to his usual self come mid to late June. With that being said, I have dropped him to 5th in the third basemen rankings due to his injury and wild off season. In my opinion, you can't draft a guy in the first round if you know he's going to miss a month or two. Even if he comes back in June, you should still expect him to hit .300, 20+ homers and 85+RBI.

The man who now sits a top my third basemen rankings is David Wright. By all accounts, he put up a fantastic year, and is just now entering his prime. It's hard to think he'll put up better numbers than .302, 33 HR, 124 RBI, 115 R, and an OPS of .924, but you should be more than happy to take him so early in the draft and get the same output. He's a top 5 pick overall, and I wouldn't hesitate to take him 3rd if both Hanley Ramirez and Jose Reyes are off the board.

The next two guys on my board are eligible at both first and third base. Miguel Cabrera is a first rounder in my opinion and will offer you great fantasy points across the board. I am not a Red Sox fan, but I firmly believe Kevin Youkilis is primed for a better year than last when he hit .312, 29 HR, 91 R, 115 RBI & had an .959 OPS. He's on the verge of becoming an elite fantasy player, and is entering the year with a chip on his shoulder after David Ortiz recently voiced concerns about his perceived lack of protection behind him in the order.

Evan Longoria, the rising superstar, is a late second rounder in my opinion. He hit .272 with 27 HR, 84 RBI, 67 R & a .874 OPS last season in only 448 at bats. He's more likely to get about 600 at bats this season so you can bank on 30+ homers, 100+ RBI and more runs scored. I loved having him on several of my teams last year, and already have him one. Since I have three more drafts coming in the next two weeks, I wouldn't be surprised if ended up on at least one of them.

The next tier at the hot corner has a drop off at production, but not a drastic one. Based on stats from 2008 the following list of players will offer you a .300+ average, 20+ homers & 90+ RBI. Aubrey Huff (also eligible at 1B), Aramis Ramirez, Chippers Jones and Garret Atkins. Ramirez should go before the 5th round, but the rest of the mentioned players should be taken in the 6th round or later. Many people have a tendency to forget about Melvin Mora, but you shouldn't. You might not realize it, but he did have 104 RBI, and has been putting up decent numbers for years

Don't get old on me/On the down slide:

Despite the good early stats this spring, I would watch out for Mike Lowell. He's had several good seasons in Boston, but he could be starting to show his age after the torn labrum in his hip late last season. If you're looking for a 3rd basemen later in the draft, I would suggest taking a younger player with more upside. I wouldn't feel comfortable going into the season with Lowell as my starting fantasy 3rd baseman. You might also want to be wary of Chone Figgins. He just turned 30 and is entering his 9th season. His average dropped 54 points last season as he hit .276, down from a career high .330 in 2007. He also hasn't played in more than 116 games and had more than 453 at bats the past two seasons.

Up and Comers:

It seems like everyone is naming Chris Davis as the big mover in fantasy baseball this year. I happen to agree, and expect him to drive in at least 25+ homers and have close to 100 RBI. It will be interesting to see what he does now that you can expect him to get at least 600 plate appearances. The next youngster that intrigues me this season is Ian Stewart. He cam out hot and heavy when the Rockies put him in the lineup last season while Todd Helton was hurt. He did settle down, hitting on .254 in 266 at bats, but also showed good pop (10 HR) and the ability to drive in runners (41 RBI). If you don't think he's that impressive, take into account that he's also eligible at 2nd base.

Before I sign off today, I want to quickly throw out a few names who fall outside of the top 20, but should be considered late in the draft. Josh Fields, Chase Headley, Alex Gordon, Ryan Zimmerman, Brandon Wood and Mat Gamel are all guys that are worth more than a flyer later on. I also like the long term prospects of Pedro Alvarez, but don't think he'll be rushed to the bigs this season. If he is, then he could be another Evan Longoria at the plate.

(Coming tomorrow: Outfield rankings by Josh Bremberg)

TOP 20 THIRD BASEMEN

1. David Wright (NYM)
2. Miguel Cabrera (DET)
3. Kevin Youkilis (BOS)
4. Evan Longoria (TB)
5. Alex Rodriguez (NYY)
6. Aramix Ramirez (CHI)
7. Aubrey Huff (BAL)
8. Chipper Jones (ATL)
9. Garett Atkins (COL)
10. Chris Davis (TEX)
11. Jorge Cantu (FLA)
12. Mark DeRosa (CLE)
13. Melvin Mora (BAL)
14. Adrian Beltre (SEA)
15. Chone Figgins (ANA) * I refuse to use LAA
16. Mark Reynolds (ARI)
17. Troy Glaus (STL)
18. Kevin Kouzmanoff (SD)
19. Casey Blake (LAD)
20. Ian Stewart (COL)