5000% Uninformed NCAA Tournament Picks

            As an emerging sports fan in the mid-90s, I wanted to soak in everything. I knew every pertinent thing you need to know about the NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, NASCAR, PGA, PTA, and college sports. I’d re-watch Sportscenter episodes over in over (remember when they used to do that?), even when all they had was college basketball highlights. It was virtually 24/7 sports.
            But alas, I got older. I started working a retail job in high school, which meant I was unable to watch college football on Saturday 95% of the time. Then, I started partying (we start early in New Hampshire). Incredibly despite partying through the college age years, I was able to hold on to a full-time job. The death nail to living a 24/7 sports lifestyle? Focusing on supporting a family.
            Inevitably, some things had to be cut out. I tried quitting NASCAR in 2008, but the sport is too engrained in my DNA to get rid of it fully. Baseball has gotten super boring since they took steroids away, so now I only follow it for fantasy purposes (it’s amazing how much one can know about baseball without watching a single inning of it). I’ll read about the major events in tennis and golf, but no longer commit to watching the final round at Augusta. NFL is still king (until super-liberals ban it from the United States in 30 years), NBA has climbed up my rankings (only because the quality of play is so high), but that’s where it ends.
            Of all the leagues I used to follow, college basketball was the easiest to cut out. The overall quality of play is atrocious, with most games moving at a slower pace than a Peter Jackson movie. I get that all the kids are “trying hard” because they haven’t gotten paid yet, but just because they give a shit doesn’t mean the play is any good. I can’t make time to watch it anymore, which is why this March will be the most uninformed I’ve ever been for the NCAA tournament. Here’s the short list of things I know.

1. The Big 10 was regarded as the best conference in the country.
2. Kentucky isn’t participating.
3. I hate Duke.
4. Gonzaga’s center is one goofy looking dude. Can’t wait for him to average 3.5 points and 2 rebounds during his NBA career.
5. I still hate Duke.

         With that in mind, here’s my prediction for all 63 NCAA tournament match-ups. We’ll start by breaking down each region, and then making Final 4 picks.

MIDWEST

First Round

#1 Louisville over #16 NC A&T/Liberty

#2 Duke over #15 Albany
#3 Michigan St. over #14 Valparaiso
            The only memory I have of any of the underdog schools is Valparaiso, and that was when one of the five Drew brothers hit the following 3-pointer to upset #4 Ole Miss in 1998.

#4 Saint Louis over #13 New Mexico State

            For a solid decade, I’ve picked a college from New Mexico to pull off a first round upset, and even a few times have put that school in the Elite 8. Needless to say, that strategy hasn’t worked out.

#12 Oregon over #5 Oklahoma State

            Everything I’ve read suggests that Oregon should be at least a single digit seed, and I usually take two or three #12 seeds to win every year. Sign me up for the Ducks.

#11 Middle Tennessee State or #11 St. Marys over #6 Memphis

            This marks the first time I’ve ever picked whoever wins a play-in game to advance to the second round (in case you haven’t noticed, I refuse to call the play-in games “the first round” and the first round “the second round”, even if that’s what the NCAA wants to jam down our throats. It’s bad enough they already fucked up the bracket. I’m not bending on the name of the first and second rounds). This has more to do with not liking Memphis than having a strong opinion of either of the #11 seeds.

#10 Cincinnati over #7 Creighton

            Creighton is one of the only teams in this entire region that likes to play fast, so in the spirit of expecting the less desireable outcome to occur, I’m picking Cincinnati to win. I don’t know if that makes any sense, but whatever.

#8 Colorado State over #9 Missouri

            This is an unofficial, non-researched opinion, but I think Colorado State owns the record for most times being in an 8-9 game in NCAA Tournament history.

Second Round

#1 Louisville over #8 Colorado State

            This will be a cakewalk for Louisville. I didn’t even blink about making this pick. Remember that when Colorado State hits a game-winning buzzer beater.

#10 Cincinnati over #2 Duke

            I planned on picking against Duke in the Sweet 16, so why not double down and have losing during the opening weekend? Cincinnati has the defensive ability to frustrate the Blue Devils. At least that’s what I’ve read.

#3 Michigan State over #11 Middle Tennessee State or #11 St. Mary’s

            Even if you put the best players from both 11 seeds together, I still don’t think they win this game. Continuing that thought, what would this hybrid team be called? Middle Mary’s State?

#12 Oregon over #4 Saint Louis

            Continuing the No Credentials tradition of picking two 12 seeds to make the Sweet 16, will get one team out of the way with our first region. If nothing else, you know Oregon will wear really gaudy looking uniforms.

Sweet 16

#1 Louisville over #12 Oregon

            Here’s an Adidas school vs. Nike school battle. That has no relevance to anything. I just wanted to note it.

#3 Michigan St. over #10 Cincinnati

            Tom Izzo isn’t a spectacular coach, but the dude has a habit of getting the most out of his teams in March.

Elite 8

#1 Louisville over #3 Michigan State

            I’m tempted to take the team from the stronger conference (the Big 10 is loaded this year), but when you’re uninformed, it’s safe to role with the #1 overall seed until at least the Final 4.

West

#1 Gonzaga over #16 Southern

#2 Ohio State over #15 Iona
            Here are your no brainers out west.

#14 Harvard over #3 New Mexico

            At the time I wrote about New Mexico State earlier in this piece, I had no clue that New Mexico was a #3 seed. We’ll stick to our guns and keep betting against New Mexico colleges, and this one gives us the added bonus of getting to cheer for nerds.

#4 Kansas State over #13 Boise State or #13 La Salle

            I already have gone over my quota for play-in game participants to advance.

#5 Wisconsin over #12 Mississippi

            Why do I feel so confident that Wisconsin is going to win by at least 20 points? Someone with knowledge please give me a reason.

#11 Belmont over #6 Arizona

            Arizona is only 5-5 in their last 10, and Belmont is notorious for pulling off crazy shit in the tournament.

#10 Iowa State over #7 Notre Dame

            Iowa State loves to make it rain from downtown. They either win by 25 or lose by 25.

#8 Pittsburgh over #9 Wichita State

            I mentally flipped a coin to choose a winner here.

Second Round

#1 Gonzaga over #8 Pittsburgh

            It was tempting to take Pittsburgh, but Gonzaga should be pretty motivated to make it to the second weekend during their first ever tournament as a #1 seed.

#2 Ohio State over #10 Iowa State

            If Iowa gets hot, they could completely destroy my bracket. You’ll see why momentarily.

#5 Wisconsin over #4 Kansas State

            Essentially, I’m assuming that a Big 10 team should beat a Big 12 team. I typed that not knowing if the Big 12 still exists.

#11 Belmont over #14 Harvard

            Folks in charge of televising the NCAA tournament are praying this match-up doesn’t happen.

Sweet 16

#5 Wisconsin over #1 Gonzaga

            Still wagering on the quality of the Big 10.

#2 Ohio State over #11 Belmont

            Ditto for this pick.

Elite 8

#2 Ohio State over #5 Wisconsin

            I expect the Buckeyes to win in a rematch of the Big 10 championship game.

South

Round 1

#1 Kansas over #16 Western Kentucky

#2 Georgetown over #15 Florida Gulf Coast
#3 Florida over #14 Northwestern State
            There’s your shoe-ins, although some experts think Florida Gulf Coast can give Georgetown a run.

#13 South Dakota State over #4 Michigan

            I don’t like this Michigan team at all. Even if they win, I don’t see them getting past the Sweet 16.

#5 VCU over #12 Akron

            VCU made the Final Four two years ago. Raise your hand if you remember that happening.

#11 Minnesota over #6 UCLA

            Someone has to win this battle of two struggling teams.

#7 San Diego State over #10 Oklahoma

            It wasn’t that long ago that Oklahoma was losing scholarships because their head coach wouldn’t stop texting recruits like a 13-year old girl.

#9 Villanova over #8 North Carolina

            This one hurts to pick (the Tar Heels are the closest thing I have to a favorite college basketball program), but one can’t deny that the Big East was much better than the ACC.

Round 2

 
#9 Villanova over #1 Kansas
            I predict one number one team to lose in the second round every year. A third of the time, I’m right.

#2 Georgetown over #7 San Diego State

            Remember when San Diego State almost joined the Big East? That would’ve been the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard of in college sports.

#3 Florida over #11 Minnesota

            Man, the Gators got a great opening weekend draw. At least in the opinion of this uninformed blogger.

#5 VCU over #13 South Dakota State

            Another game CBS would like to do anything in their power to prevent from happening.

Sweet 16

#2 Georgetown over #2 Florida

            The Gators melt like Tony Romo when they are in close games. They won’t run away from Georgetown.

#5 VCU over #9 Villanova

            Picking a winner of this potential match-up makes me think I really fucked up this region.

Elite 8

#2 Georgetown over #5 VCU

            Even if I get the rest of the region wrong, Georgetown will still score me some points if they make it to the Final Four.

East

First Round

#1 Indiana over whichever shitty #16 wins the play-in game

#2 Miami over #15 Pacific
#3 Marquette over #14 Davidson
#4 Syracuse over #13 Montana
            Talk about a top-heavy region. Syracuse as a #4 is ridiculous.

#12 California over #5 UNLV
            This game is being played roughly an hour south of California’s campus. That’s really fair.

#6 Butler over #11 Bucknell

            You don’t bet against Butler. Not until the next round anyway.

#10 Colorado over #7 Illinois

            Some guy who works for ESPN said Illinois is overrated. I sure hope he’s right.

#8 N.C. State over #9 Temple

            This game should be renamed “the Earn the Right to Get Slaughtered by Indiana” game.

Second Round

#1 Indiana over #8 N.C. State
#2 Miami over #10 Colorado
#3 Marquette over #6 Butler
#4 Syracuse over #12 California
            I’ll rename this the chalk region.

Sweet 16

#1 Indiana over #4 Syracuse

#2 Miami over #3 Marquette
            Still rolling with chalk.

Elite 8

#1 Indiana over #2 Miami

            I’m either really sure of myself or really lazy because I’ve already typed 8,000 words.

Final Four

#1 Indiana over #2 Georgetown
#2 Ohio State over #1 Louisville
            I think I just picked two Big 10 schools over two Big East schools, but I don’t actually know what teams are in what conference anymore.

National Championship

#1 Indiana over #2 Ohio State

            Tom Crean has a link to the Harbaugh brothers (I think he’s married to a Harbaugh sister or something), so we’ll ride the Harbaugh wave through the NCAA tournament.

 
If you haven’t already, sign up for the No Credentials March Madness group on Yahoo. It doesn’t cost anything, and there’s a really good chance you won’t finish last. The league ID # is 35068. There is no password required.

10 Awesome Things That Happened This Weekend (3/15-3/17)

10. LMFAO’s Redfoo Enters US Open Qualifying Tournament
            His chances of making the only major tennis tournament in the United States greatly increase if he doesn’t play with a sparkly blue Speedo.

9. Kyle Busch Holds Off Kyle Larson For Bristol Nationwide Series Win

            It’s been a rough start to 2013 for Larson (he only almost flipped into the main grandstands at Daytona), so it was good to see the nineteen year-old run a clean race and come up just short of his first Nationwide win.

8. This Week’s Episode of “The Walking Dead” Was Significantly Better Than Last Weeks

            I’ll grant you that it wasn’t hard to top last week’s show (which other than the water zombie episode in season 2, was probably the worst in the history of the show), but the chase scene between Andrea and the Governor was moderately riveting. It’s a shame that they both didn’t get eaten by zombies.

7. GSP Does His Thing
            It’s a good thing too. America doesn’t like tax evaders.

6. Heat Extend Winning Streak to 22

            You heard it here first…it ends tonight. Well, as long as Garnett plays.

5. Kentucky Doesn’t Make the NCAA Tournament
            Avid readers of this blog (all 13 of you) may recall that I occasionally celebrate the shortcomings of certain college coaches. In no particular order, here’s the list of coaches that are candidates for such a mention in the weekly top 10.

1.      Mike Krzyzewski, Duke Blue Devils

2.      Nick Saban, Alabama Crimson Tide

3.      John Calipari, Kentucky Wildcats

4.      Mike Krzyzewski, Duke Blue Devils

5.      Nick Saban, Alabama Crimson Tide

Saban and Coach K earn double hate.

4. Miami Hurricanes Win First ACC Championship

            Impressive run by Miami, who backed up their first regular season ACC title in tournament play. They are a dark horse to make a run at The Final 4.

3. Ole Miss Solidifies Tournament Bid With Win Over Florida
            I hadn’t thought about Ole Miss as an institution since Eli Manning was there, so we’ll tip our cap to the Rebels for a job well done.

2. Louisville Blitzes Syracuse, Wins Big East Title
            When you turn a 13-point halftime deficit into a 17-point blowout, you deserve the #1 overall seed.

1. Tires Explode, Tempers Flare, and Kasey Kahne Wins at Bristol

            NASCAR races are always more exciting when tires randomly fail at the most inopportune times.

2013 Fantasy Baseball Mock Draft Rounds 6-7

6-51 = Brett Lawrie, 3B, Toronto Blue Jays
ESPN Projections = .280, 17 HRs, 65 RBIs, 86 Rs, 19 SBs
No Credentials Appropriate Range of Taking Him = 5^th through 8^th Rounds
          Lawrie looked significantly more impressive during his brief call-up in 2011 than he did during his first full season in the bigs. He’ll need to improve upon his 51% groundball rate to deliver a 20-20 season.
                       
6-52 = Allen Craig, 1B-OF, St. Louis Cardinals
ESPN Projections = .296, 25 HRs, 103 RBIs, 87 Rs, 4 SBs
No Credentials Appropriate Range of Taking Him = 5^th through 6^th Rounds
            If Craig could somehow stay healthy, he’d be a lock for top-15 fantasy production. Unfortunately, he’s missed roughly a quarter of his games due to injury during his pro career.
                      
6-53 = Jason Kipnis, 2B, Cleveland Indians
ESPN Projections = .257, 15 HRs, 70 RBIs, 90 Rs, 25 SBs
No Credentials Appropriate Range of Taking Him = 6^th Round
            He’ll never steal 30+ bases again, but you won’t complain if Kipnis raises his home run total to 20.
                       
6-54 = Roy Halladay, SP, Philadelphia Phillies
ESPN Projections = 15 Ws, 3.25 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 176 Ks
No Credentials Appropriate Range of Taking Him = 5^th through 7^th Rounds
            One down year has not destroyed No Credentials faith in Halladay.
                     
6-55 = Elvis Andrus, SS, Texas Rangers
ESPN Projections = .274, 3 HRs, 57 RBIs, 90 Rs, 32 SBs
No Credentials Appropriate Range of Taking Him = 6^th through 7^th Rounds
            With the loss of Josh Hamilton, I fully expect Texas to give Andrus the green light on the base paths much more this season. If he stays out of the tattoo parlor, he could crack 40 for the first time.
                       
6-56 = Adam Wainwright, SP, St. Louis Cardinals
ESPN Projections = 16 Ws, 3.32 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, 197 Ks
No Credentials Appropriate Range of Taking Him = 5^th through 7^th Rounds
            I’m not sure if Wainwright will ever be as effective as he was before Tommy John surgery, but this is the appropriate point in the draft to find out.
                       
6-57 = Anthony Rizzo, 1B, Chicago Cubs
ESPN Projections = .268, 27 HRs, 95 RBIs, 85 Rs, 6 SBs
No Credentials Appropriate Range of Taking Him = 5^th through 8^th Rounds
            Another guy that you shouldn’t get to excited about on draft day (don’t call his name in the third round, or bid too much in an auction), Rizzo is a prime example of why you could skip out on the top few first basemen in the first round.
                       
6-58 = Mat Latos, SP, Cincinnati Reds
ESPN Projections = 15 Ws, 3.32 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 197 Ks
No Credentials Appropriate Range of Taking Him = 5^th through 7^th Rounds
            No Credentials fully expects Latos to make the leap to “ace” status during his second season in Cincinnati. This is a guy I want on as many fantasy teams as possible.
                       
6-59 = B.J. Upton, OF, Atlanta Braves
ESPN Projections = .245, 23 HRs, 77 RBIs, 84 Rs, 31 SBs
No Credentials Appropriate Range of Taking Him = 5^th through 8^th Rounds
            I’m not a fan of guys that routinely hit below .250, but there aren’t many power-speed combo players like Upton.
           
6-60 = Gio Gonzalez, SP, Washington Nationals
ESPN Projections = 19 Ws, 3.09 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 208 Ks
No Credentials Appropriate Range of Taking Him = 4^th through 6^th Rounds
            Gonzalez hasn’t been suspended yet for his connection to the steroids ring in Florida, but that hasn’t stopped me from scooting him down my draft board a bit. He’ll need to deliver a “I don’t give a shit” season like Ryan Braun did last year for me to trust his ability to deal with steroid allegations.
           
7-61 = Carlos Santana, C-1B, Cleveland Indians
ESPN Projections = .257, 26 HRs, 87 RBIs, 81 Rs, 5 SBs
No Credentials Appropriate Range of Taking Him = 6^th through 7^th Rounds
            Santana’s disciplined plate approach will eventually lead to a top-ranked fantasy season at catcher for him, but I’m not sure if we can sign off on it happening this year.
                       
7-62 = Ben Zobrist, 2B-SS-OF, Tampa Bay Rays
ESPN Projections = .269, 19 HRs, 82 RBIs, 91 Rs, 17 SBs
No Credentials Appropriate Range of Taking Him = 6^th through 8^th Rounds
            One of the few players whose value goes beyond the stats he can post. Zobrist’s ability to cover both middle infield spots is worth an extra round or two.
                      
7-63 = Desmond Jennings, OF, Tampa Bay Rays
ESPN Projections = .252, 15 HRs, 54 RBIs, 98 Rs, 36 SBs
No Credentials Appropriate Range of Taking Him = 7^th through 9^th Rounds
            Jennings tanked in the first half of last season, but a strong second half gives me reason to believe that he will be a catalyst at the top of the Rays’ lineup this season. If he could drag his average up to .270, we could be talking about a 50 steal season.
                       
7-64 = Johnny Cueto, SP, Cincinnati Reds
ESPN Projections = 18 Ws, 3.00 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 169 Ks
No Credentials Appropriate Range of Taking Him = 5^th through 7^th Rounds
            Of all the “ace” caliber pitchers that didn’t deliver close to a strikeout per inning last season, Cueto is the least likely to regress.
           
7-65 = Brandon Phillips, 2B, Cincinnati Reds
ESPN Projections = .285, 18 HRs, 76 RBIs, 93 Rs, 15 SBs
No Credentials Appropriate Range of Taking Him = 6^th through 7^th Rounds
            Phillips isn’t exciting to own, but reliability at second base doesn’t grow on trees.
                      
7-66 = Chris Sale, SP, Chicago White Sox
ESPN Projections = 15 Ws, 3.37 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, 203 Ks
No Credentials Appropriate Range of Taking Him = 5^th through 8^th Rounds
            For me, he’s the shakiest starting pitcher we’ve picked so far, as his 1.33 WHIP in the second half of last season could be a better indication of the pitcher he actually is.

 



 
7-67 = Pablo Sandoval, 3B, San Francisco Giants
ESPN Projections = .309, 23 HRs, 90 RBIs, 80 Rs, 3 SBs
No Credentials Appropriate Range of Taking Him = 6^th through 8^th Rounds
            Don’t let his Ruth-esque October last year fool you. Sandoval is a player prone to injuries, and is completely dependant on his BABIP due to the fact that he barely walks. You could argue that he could end up with anywhere from 10 to 35 home runs this season.
                       
7-68 = R.A. Dickey, SP, Toronto Blue Jays
ESPN Projections = 17 Ws, 3.14 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, 176 Ks
No Credentials Appropriate Range of Taking Him = 5^th through 8^th Rounds
            We have no data on what happens when a knuckleballer wins the Cy Young and then changes leagues the following year, so I’m going conservative with Dickey this season and letting someone else draft him.
                       
7-69 = Michael Bourn, OF, Cleveland Indians
ESPN Projections = .268, 5 HRs, 49 RBIs, 89 Rs, 43 SBs
No Credentials Appropriate Range of Taking Him = 6^th through 8^th Rounds
            One of the elite base stealers in the game, Bourn could take his running to new heights as a member of the Indians. Remember, they gave Jason Kipnis (a moderately fast white guy) the green light to steal 31 bases in 2012.
           
7-70 = C.C. Sabathia, SP, New York Yankees
ESPN Projections = 17 Ws, 3.39 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 213 Ks
No Credentials Appropriate Range of Taking Him = 5^th through 7^th Rounds
            There’s a zero percent chance Sabathia falls to pick 70 in your fantasy draft. More than likely, he’ll go somewhere in the late fifth to early sixth. However, there are too many red flags for Sabathia this year to warrant making him the ace of my fantasy staff. For one, theirs a decent chance that the Yankees will stink, driving down Sabathia’s win totals (wins are a fluky stat, but Sabathia has been the most reliable producer of them over the past four years). He hit the DL last August because of an elbow problem, which is scary when you consider that he’s thrown more innings than any other MLB pitcher on Earth over the past five years. Throw in his body type (big guys rarely age well unless steroids are involved), and we are looking at a cliff at some point down the road for Sabathia’s career. I’m not guaranteeing it will happen this year, but I don’t want him stuck on my roster when it does.

 

Click here if you missed Rounds 4-5

Click here if you missed  Rounds 2-3
Click here if you missed Round 1

10 Awesome Things That Happened This Weekend (3/8-3/10)

10. Steelers Cut James Harrison
            Pittsburgh fans will forever be grateful for Harrison’s 100-yard interception return in the Super Bowl.

9. 15-20 Liberty Flames Earn NCAA Tournament Bid

            Liberty will go down as the second worst team to make postseason play in sports play, narrowly losing out to the 2008 Miami Dolphins.

8. Deron Williams Buries NBA Record 9 Threes in First Half Against Wizards

            For those not in the know, that’s a lot of fucking threes.

7. Canadiens and Mexicans Beat the Shit Out of Each Other in World Baseball Classic
            As soon as the first punch was thrown, the brawl became the most interesting thing that has ever happened in the WBC. Hopefully this doesn’t lead to tension between the two countries, as I’d hate for the United States to get caught in the crossfire.

6. Chicago Blackhawks Finally Lose a Regulation Game

            Incredibly, the Blackhawks have now lost two games in a row.

5. Matt Kenseth Celebrates Birthday With a Win at Las Vegas
            It was an impressive feat for Kenseth to hold off Kasey Kahne (who had the fastest car all day) with old tires to score his first win for Joe Gibbs Racing. Early returns from his move from Roush Fenway are positive.

4. Boston Outlasts Hawks

3. Kobe Bryant Wills Lakers to Overtime Win Over Toronto
            It’s been a rough season for the longtime NBA rivals, but things are finally looking up for Boston and L.A. Boston has climbed all the way to sixth in the Eastern Conference, while the Lakers are currently in the top eight in the West for the first time in 2013.

2. Miami Heat Run Winning Streak to 18

            There is no debating who the current favorite to win the NBA Finals is right now. When you’re the defending champs, you’ve won 18 in a row, and you employ the best player on Earth, it’s hard to argue for the Spurs or Thunder.

1. Tiger Woods Dominates for 76^th Career PGA Tour Victory

            No Credentials has said it before, and we’ll write it again. Golf is ten times more watchable when Tiger Woods is firing on all cylinders. There has never been an athlete that has single-handedly carried his sport like Tiger. It’s hard not to get excited about his chances at The Masters in a few weeks.

2013 Fantasy Baseball Mock Draft Rounds 4-5

Click here if you missed Round 1
Click here if you missed Rounds 2-3

4-31 = Adrian Gonzalez, 1B-OF, Los Angeles Dodgers

ESPN Projections = .307, 24 HRs, 109 RBIs, 91 Rs, 1 SB
No Credentials Appropriate Range of Taking Him = 3^rd through 6^th Rounds
            I wish I had statistics to back up why I’m so bullish on Gonzalez this year, but I can’t help believing that starting the year away from the Red Sox will do Gonzalez wonders this season.
                    
4-32 = Bryce Harper, OF, Washington Nationals
ESPN Projections = .266, 27 HRs, 93 RBIs, 87 Rs, 22 SBs
No Credentials Appropriate Range of Taking Him = 2^nd through 4^th Rounds
            Don’t lose your mind and take Harper in the first round of a redraft league. If you’re participating in the birth of a keeper league though, feel free to blow out the budget to acquire him.
                   
4-33 = Cole Hamels, SP, Philadelphia Phillies
ESPN Projections = 17 Ws, 3.24 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, 207 Ks
No Credentials Appropriate Range of Taking Him = 3^rd through 4^th Rounds
            Is Hamels the most underrated ace in MLB?
                     

4-34 = Jacoby Ellsbury, OF, Boston Red Sox
ESPN Projections = .294, 17 HRs, 64 RBIs, 86 Rs, 27 SBs
No Credentials Appropriate Range of Taking Him = 3^rd through 6^th Rounds
            If there were anyway someone could guaruantee that Ellsbury would be healthy for the entire 2013 season, he would be a sure fire first round pick. As it stands, he’s fantasy baseball’s version of Stephen Curry.
                    
4-35 = Cliff Lee, SP, Philadelphia Phillies
ESPN Projections = 11 Ws, 3.10 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, 215 Ks
No Credentials Appropriate Range of Taking Him = 4^th Round
            If you play in a league with a bunch of old farts who still think “wins” is one of the best indicators of the quality of a starting pitcher, take advantage and build your pitching staff around Lee.
                       
4-36 = Starlin Castro, SS, Chicago Cubs
ESPN Projections = .296, 13 HRs, 73 RBIs, 87 Rs, 24 SBs
No Credentials Appropriate Range of Taking Him = 3^rd through 4^th Rounds
            We might have to wait another two years, but eventually Castro is going to lay down a hammer of the gods fantasy season. Like Harper, he’s another player you need to move up your cheat sheet if you have the chance to get him in a keeper league.
                     
4-37 = Adam Jones, OF, Baltimore Orioles
ESPN Projections = .287, 29 HRs, 92 RBIs, 90 Rs, 15 SBs
No Credentials Appropriate Range of Taking Him = 4^th through 5^th Rounds
            Jones finally broke out last season, and at only 27 years of age, appears poised to deliver another few seasons of similar productivity.
               
4-38 = Zach Greinke, SP, Los Angeles Dodgers
ESPN Projections = 17 Ws, 3.47 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 214 Ks
No Credentials Appropriate Range of Taking Him = 3^rd Through 5^th Rounds
            Nerd stats continue to indicate that Greinke has the potential to deliver another year like his 2009 season with Kansas City. Having a powerhouse team around him will only help his cause.
                   
4-39 = Jay Bruce, OF, Cincinnati Reds
ESPN Projections = .267, 38 HRs, 108 RBIs, 95 Rs, 9 SBs
No Credentials Appropriate Range of Taking Him = 4^th through 6^th Rounds
            Jay Bruce is five years younger than you probably think he is. If you’re willing to throw batting average to the wayside in pursuit of the long ball, Bruce is your man.
         
4-40 = Matt Cain, SP, San Francisco Giants
ESPN Projections = 17 Ws, 2.96 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, 194 Ks
No Credentials Appropriate Range of Taking Him = 4^th through 5^th Rounds
            The backbone of the defending World Series champion’s pitching staff, Cain is the perfect example of why you should not use one of your first three picks on a starting pitcher.
         
5-41 = Billy Butler, 1B, Kansas City Royals
ESPN Projections = .320, 27 HRs, 107 RBIs, 84 Rs, 2 SBs
No Credentials Appropriate Range of Taking Him = 5^th Round
            With all the preseason hype surrounding Eric Hosmer last year, it was Butler who was the breakout player of the year for the Royals. Locking up first eligibility pushed him up about three rounds on my draft board.
                       
5-42 = Madison Bumgarner, SP, San Francisco Giants
ESPN Projections = 17 Ws, 3.23 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 194 Ks
No Credentials Appropriate Range of Taking Him = 4^th through 6^th Rounds
            The youngest pitcher off the board so far, don’t expect Bumgarner to fade in September like he did last season.
                   
5-43 = Chase Headley, 3B, San Diego Padres
ESPN Projections = .279, 22 HRs, 90 RBIs, 83 Rs, 16 SBs
No Credentials Appropriate Range of Taking Him = 4^th through 7^th Rounds
            Headley was a fantasy league MVP the final two months of 2012, swatting 19 home runs after August 1^st. Now that his home ball park will finally have the fences moved in, there’s a chance that Headley can match last season’s power production.
                     
5-44 = Jered Weaver, SP, Los Angeles Angels
ESPN Projections = 18 Ws, 3.19 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, 181 Ks
No Credentials Appropriate Range of Taking Him = 3^rd through 6^th Rounds
            I’m not touching Weaver with any of my fantasy teams this year, but someone will look past his declining strikeout totals of a year ago and take him based on name recognition alone.
                      
5-45 = Yoenis Cespedes, OF, Oakland Athletics
ESPN Projections = .279, 26 HRs, 91 RBIs, 77 Rs, 18 SBs
No Credentials Appropriate Range of Taking Him = 4^th through 6^th Rounds
            Cespedes was one of the unsung heroes of Oakland’s improbable AL West winning run last season. It’s reasonable to think that he could make a big jump in his sophomore campaign.
                  
5-46 = Matt Holliday, OF, St. Louis Cardinals
ESPN Projections = .300, 29 HRs, 100 RBIs, 98 Rs, 4 SBs
No Credentials Appropriate Range of Taking Him = 5^th Round
            He’s not exciting to draft, but of all the players who will get drafted in the fifth round, Holliday is safest bet to produce.
                     
5-47 = Paul Goldschmidt, 1B, Arizona Diamondbacks
ESPN Projections = .268, 26 HRs, 89 RBIs, 83 Rs, 12 SBs
No Credentials Appropriate Range of Taking Him = 5^th through 7^th Rounds
            Surprisingly effective last season, don’t be shocked if Goldschmidt cracks the 30-homer barrier this season.
                       
5-48 = Ryan Zimmerman, 3B, Washington Nationals
ESPN Projections = .292, 26 HRs, 95 RBIs, 92 Rs, 5 SBs
No Credentials Appropriate Range of Taking Him = 5^th Round
            If Zimmerman didn’t get banged up so damn much, he’d be a lock to get drafted within the first 20 picks. You better have a solid back up if Zimmerman is your first option to man the hot corner.
                      
5-49 = Yu Darvish, SP, Texas Rangers
ESPN Projections = 15 Ws, 3.22 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 223 Ks
No Credentials Appropriate Range of Taking Him = 5^th through 7^th Rounds
            Yu’s second half last year inspires enough confidence to think that he could make the jump to elite status in 2013. If nothing else, he’s going to strike out a bunch of guys.
     
5-50 = Craig Kimbrel, RP, Atlanta Braves
ESPN Projections = 4 Ws, 1.99 ERA, 0.85 WHIP, 120 Ks, 42 SVs
No Credentials Appropriate Range of Taking Him = 5^th through 7^th Rounds
            Remember what I wrote before the first round about how you shouldn’t pay for saves. Kimbrel is the exception, but it’s not necessarily the saves you’re paying for. The possibility of 120 strikeouts in 65 innings is too great to ignore at this point in the draft.

             

             

2013 Fantasy Baseball Mock Draft, Rounds 2-3

Click here if you missed Round 1

2-11 = Troy Tulowitzki, SS, Colorado Rockies
ESPN Projections = .301, 30 HRs, 102 RBIs, 92 Rs, 9 SBs
No Credentials Appropriate Range of Taking Him = 1-5 through 3-23

            Tulowitzki murdered fantasy teams last year thanks to an injury filled 2012, but when healthy, he’s the only shortstop capable of delivering top-5 overall production. If you’re able to snag him in the third round, pat yourself on the back.

      
2-12 = Clayton Kershaw, SP, Los Angeles Dodgers
ESPN Projections = 16 Ws, 2.71 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 233 Ks
No Credentials Appropriate Range of Taking Him = 1-8 through 2-15
            That 16-win projection feels low, unless the Dodgers follow the example set by the Lakers and struggle after making numerous big-time acquisitions.
    
2-13 = Carlos Gonzalez, OF, Colorado Rockies
ESPN Projections = .301, 26 HRs, 94 RBIs, 95 Rs, 22 SBs
No Credentials Appropriate Range of Taking Him = 1-8 through 2-17
            Fantasy’s top rated player in 2010, Gonzalez should see an upswing in production if Troy Tulowitzki is able to stay on the field on a regular basis.
        
2-14 = Justin Verlander, SP, Detroit Tigers
ESPN Projections = 20 Ws, 2.96 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 240 Ks
No Credentials Appropriate Range of Taking Him = 1-8 through 2-15
            No one delivers better value combined with such a high volume of innings like Verlander. The dude is a machine.
       
2-15 = Evan Longoria, 3B, Tampa Bay Rays
ESPN Projections = .294, 34 HRs, 109 RBIs, 92 Rs, 8 SBs
No Credentials Appropriate Range of Taking Him = 1-8 through 3-23
            Longoria’s outlook is similar to Troy Tulowitzki’s, with the exception that he plays a much deeper position.
        
2-16 = Adrian Beltre, 3B, Texas Rangers
ESPN Projections = .313, 34 HRs, 107 RBIs, 95 Rs, 3 SBs
No Credentials Appropriate Range of Taking Him = 2-15 through 2-20
            Of all our second round position players, Beltre is the safest selection of them all. Which is funny because five years ago he was considered one of the biggest free agent busts of all time.
           
2-17 = Giancarlo Stanton, OF, Miami Marlins
ESPN Projections = .278, 42 HRs, 103 RBIs, 90 Rs, 8 SBs
No Credentials Appropriate Range of Taking Him = 2-13 through 3-23
            Those of you in re-draft leagues better not get to excited and take Stanton towards the end of the first round. He could lead the league in homers, but he’s not going to have very many teammates to drive in this year.
        
2-18 = Buster Posey, C-1B, San Francisco Giants
ESPN Projections = .318, 24 HRs, 98 RBIs, 76 Rs, 2 SBs
No Credentials Appropriate Range of Taking Him = 1-8 through 3-23
            Posey’s torrid September carried many a fantasy team to a league championship last year. If you’re a big believer in value relative to position scarcity, Posey will be high on your draft board.
     
2-19 = David Price, SP, Tampa Bay Rays
ESPN Projections = 19 Ws, 3.17 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 213 Ks
No Credentials Appropriate Range of Taking Him = 2-17 through 3-25
            If Price weren’t stuck in the AL East, he’d be right up there in the Strasburg-Kershaw-Verlander tier.
 
2-20 = David Wright, 3B, New York Mets
ESPN Projections = .287, 27 HRs, 100 RBIs, 97 Rs, 17 SBs
No Credentials Appropriate Range of Taking Him = 2-15 through 3-23
            As far as 5-category contributors go, there isn’t a better all-around third basemen in the game than David Wright. If only the team around him didn’t suck so much.

3-21 = Justin Upton, OF, Atlanta Braves
ESPN Projections = .281, 28 HRs, 84 RBIs, 100 Rs, 20 SBs
No Credentials Appropriate Range of Taking Him = 2-13 through 3-27
            People are way to excited about Justin getting to play everyday with his brother. If Justin returns to his 2011 form, B.J. won’t be the reason.
          
3-22 = Jose Bautista, OF, Toronto Blue Jays
ESPN Projections = .268, 41 HRs, 108 RBIs, 98 Rs, 8 SBs
No Credentials Appropriate Range of Taking Him = 1-8 through 3-23
            If you’re willing to gamble on a player returning from injury, Bautista is you’re man. With the improved Toronto lineup, we could be talking about 50 dingers and 130 RBIs when it’s all said and done.
           
3-23 = Josh Hamilton, OF, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
ESPN Projections = .293, 34 HRs, 113 RBIs, 93 Rs, 7 SBs
No Credentials Appropriate Range of Taking Him = 1-8 through 3-23
            The way he exited Texas has put too much of a sour taste in my mouth to consider drafting him in the second round, although logically, he has an excellent chance of delivering top-10 value.
           
3-24 = Ian Kinsler, 2B, Texas Rangers
ESPN Projections = .265, 23 HRs, 68 RBIs, 103 Rs, 21 SBs
No Credentials Appropriate Range of Taking Him = 2-16 through 3-28
            Kinsler used to be one of the larger injury risks in the game, but he’s only missed 12 games the past two seasons and has compiled the most plate appearances of any player in baseball. If you think he can push his average to .280, feel free to take him in the top half of the second round.
           
3-25 = Felix Hernandez, SP, Seattle Mariners
ESPN Projections = 14 Ws, 3.01 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 225 Ks
No Credentials Appropriate Range of Taking Him = 2-17 through 3-28
            If you are in a league that counts quality starts instead of wins, Hernandez deserves to be pushed up into the Strasburg-Kershaw-Verlander tier.
           
3-26 = Edwin Encarnacion, 1B, Toronto Blue Jays
ESPN Projections = .283, 36 HRs, 99 RBIs, 93 Rs, 10 SBs
No Credentials Appropriate Range of Taking Him = 2-16 through 3-30
            Encarnacion busted out in a huge way in 2012, delivering the 12^th best fantasy campaign of any player. You get the “he’s only done it once, not sure if he can do it again” discount this year if you take him in the third.
           
3-27 = Hanley Ramirez, 3B-SS, Los Angeles Dodgers
ESPN Projections = .263, 24 HRs, 83 RBIs, 82 Rs, 26 SBs
No Credentials Appropriate Range of Taking Him = 3-21 through 3-30
            It wasn’t that long ago (two years in fact) that Hanley Ramirez was among the first three players taken in every single fantasy draft. Perhaps a full year away from the dysfunction in Miami can return Hanley to his previous form.
           
3-28 = Jose Reyes, SS, Toronto Blue Jays
ESPN Projections = .291, 10 HRs, 47 RBIs, 88 Rs, 34 SBs
No Credentials Appropriate Range of Taking Him = 3-21 through 4-34
            Joining a powerful Blue Jays lineup would seem to be fortuitous, but having to play his home games on Toronto’s artificial turf won’t be.

           

3-29 = Dustin Pedroia, 2B, Boston Red Sox

ESPN Projections = .293, 17 HRs, 70 RBIs, 92 Rs, 20 SBs
No Credentials Appropriate Range of Taking Him = 3-25 through 4-34
            A torrid second half of 2012 gives fantasy owners hope that Pedroia can return to his MVP-winning level of play. Watch where Boston sticks him in the batting order, as that will go a long way in determining his counting stats.
 
3-30 = Jason Heyward, OF, Atlanta Braves
ESPN Projections = .261, 30 HRs, 96 RBIs, 93 Rs, 22 SBs
No Credentials Appropriate Range of Taking Him = 3-25 through 4-36
            Heyward rebounded nicely after a disastrous 2011-sophomore campaign. There’s no reason the addition of the Upton brothers will not enhance Heyward’s fantasy value this year.

Click here to check out rounds 4-5
             

10 Awesome Things That Happened This Weekend (3/1-3/3)

10. Kyle Busch Dominates Nationwide Race at Phoenix
            Because you know, it’s a good thing when an established Sprint Cup driver dominates a second tier race.

9. Rick Finds Morgan on “The Walking Dead”

            Unfortunately, Morgan was off his rocker.

8. Real Madrid Knocks Off Barcelona For the Second Time in a Week

            Surprisingly, pretty boy Cristiano Ronaldo actually got the better of Lionel Messi for a change.

7. Joe Flacco Inks Largest Contract in NFL History

            Not to take away from Flacco, who had an incredible postseason, but I could think of 12 to 15 quarterbacks I’d rather have starting for my team instead of him next season.

6. Blackhawks Extend Point Streak to 22 Straight Games

            I don’t think we’ve seen a hockey team play this well since the late-90s edition of the Detroit Red Wings.

5. Magic Johnson Offers Lebron James $1 Million if He Wins Dunk Contest
            No Credentials has been suggesting that cash should be used as the primary motivator for all exhibition events involving professional athletes, so kudos to Magic Johnson for making the offer.

4. Heat Net 14^th Straight Win in Madison Square Garden

            The Knicks jumped out to a 16-point first half lead, but it wasn’t a large enough cushion to hold off Lebron James. Miami pushed the streak to 15 games tonight.

3. Penguins Win 7-6 Barnburner in Montreal
            Who needs an NHL All-Star team when these two teams combined for 80 shots Saturday night.

2. Carl Edwards Brings Back the Back Flip, Wins at Phoenix

            I think everyone can agree that NASCAR is a way more fun when Cousin Carl is relevant.

1. Bruins Score 3 Times in Third, Stun Lightning

            Sunday night’s loss to arch rival Montreal put a damper on the weekend, but Boston’s efforts at home Saturday afternoon should not be forgotten.