GIANTS REVIEW: DO YOU KNOW THE WAY TO SAN JOSE?

According to SF Giants beat writer Andy Baggarly the Giants may assign the following prospects to San Jose to start the season:

Madison Bumgerner, LHP
Tim Alderson, RHP
Buster Posey, C
Angel Villalona, 1B
Nick Noonan, 2B
Conor Gilaspie, 3B

Are you kidding me? That's six of the Giants top ten prospects!! This would make me more interested in the fortunes of the San Jose Giants than the San Francisco Giants, at least for the first month of the year. After that, Alderson, Posey and Gilaspie may be moved up to AA Connecticut.
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RHP Kelvin Pichardo may have committed career suicide with his 50 game suspension. Kelvin was a borderline prospect to begin with so this does not help in any way.
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The Giants acquired RHP Hector Correa from the Marlins for catcher Ronny Paulino who had previously been acquired from the Phillies for LHP Jack Taschner. Good move, Taschner was not going to be on the early roster and there are plenty of lefties especially if Lowry is as sound as he appears so far.

Correa, 21, was the 3rd-best prospect in the New York Penn League in 2007. Originally a 4th round pick in the 2006 Draft by Florida. He is 6-3, 165 and is considered a legitimate prospect, although he has been bothered by some arm injuries in the past.

Baseball America had this to say about Correa, who they ranked as Marlin's 22nd best prospect:

Correa ranked right behind Mike Stanton and Gaby Sanchez at No. 13 on this list a year ago, but he mistakenly tried to extend that momentum by pitching through a shoulder problem that wound up costing him four months of mound time in 2008. His rehab path was bumpy at times, though for the most part he showed the necessary discipline. Team officials believe he learned his lesson after trying to conceal an injury. Correa manged to return for a fall minicamp and showed only slightly diminished velocity. Intead of humming fastballs at 91-94 MPH and touching 95 MPH like he had in 2007, he worked mostly at 90-92. He has a low-80's slider that shows good bite, but he remains more comfortable using a changeup that shows excellent action. The shoulder problems came as a surprise because he has a loose arm and smooth, easily repeatable delivery, which allows him to throw strikes. his frame is lean and projectable. He's a good athlete with plus makeup. Correa will open his third straight season in low Class A, with hopes of finally advancing in 2009.

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Back to the big club. The remaining issues to be ironed out seem to be centered around 2B and the corner positions. Travis Ishakawa seems to have made the most of his opportunity at 1B and Pablo Sandoval continues to hit wherever he goes. Rule 5 3B Jesus Guzman is pushing for a spot on the roster as well with his bat. Manny Burris may be pushing ahead of Kevin Frandsen at 2B. More versatile. This would leave Eugenio Velez's chances of sticking relatively low. Maybe a fifth OF?

Former White Sox 3B-SS Juan Uribe is making a late push and if he does you wonder if that leaves room for Rich Aurilia.

The pitching staff seems set.

Starting Pitchers:
Lincecum
Randy Johnson
Matt Cain
Barry Zito
Sanchez or Lowry

This order would be a plus as well and if that's the case, advantage Sanchez over Lowry. Zito - Lowry back to back is too much of the same kind. Two lefthanded "finesse" pitchers back to back may give the fans whiplash watching all the bombs flying out of the yard.

Finesse is one of the terms for a pitcher where it could be a compliment or a curse.
A compliment is the Jamie Moyer - Greg Maddux examples. A curse when it's a polite way of saying the dude just throws oozing pus.

Here's how the bullpen appears to shake out:

Brian Wilson, Closer
Bobby Howry, RH Set up
Jeremy Affeldt, LH Set Up
Merken Valdez
Alex Hinshaw
Luis Perdomo
Billy Sadler ??? May be odd man out.

Still shapes up as a weak offensive team with potentially solid pitching. A team that may struggle to keep its head above .500 and worst case sinks to the bottom of the division to keep the Padres company.

MARCH MADNESS BACK IN THE PICTURE

Well, after what seemed to be a disaster weekend, Team The Slav is back in the picture. We moved up to 13th out of 42 participants in our pool. Of the players who picked North Carolina to win it all, I have the second highest "Best Score" remaining, so we could place after all.

I have only 42 correct so far, but I have the potential to get the final three games correct and run the table with the UConn-UNC final plus the UNC as champions combo.

Team BHO appears to have hit the skids. Like myself Team BHO has North Carolina going all the way. BHO got hurt by Louisville getting dumped as well as Memphis loss. Missouri I would guess hurt a lot of people. Oklahoma hurt, but was a fairly popular Final Four pick and some even picked them to go all the way.

I still need the UConn-UNC final to elevate, but I'm feeling pretty good about that. Depends on how much Michigan State can harass UConn point guards. If the Huskies get set up, well, drum roll please, Thabeet rolls on!!!!
Sorry, I couldn't resist.

Villanova needs to slow down UNC point guard Ty Lawson as well. They should take a look at the model of the Villanova championship year team style. Slow it down, grind it out, milk every possession and hit your shots.

MARCH CANDIDATE(S) FOR COACH OF THE YEAR

I had a really tough time with this one with two great candidates. But the solution was easy, co-winners.

FROM MARCH MADNESS TO FILLING SANDBAGS IN FARGO N.D.

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2009/03/25/sports/BKC-Tim-Dahlberg-032509.php

1st Candidate: Coach Saul Phillips, North Dakota State basketball coach.

Thousands of people from all walks of life, many of them with vivid memories of the disastrous 1997 floods, are racing around the clock to keep the city dry. With school canceled, students are stacking sandbags, while others are taking time off from work to do what they can to help.

Working right alongside them, shovel for shovel, are coach Saul Phillips and the Bison basketball team.

The coaches quote at the end of the story says it all and transcends wins and losses.

"If this is our country's future," Phillips said, "then we're in awfully good shape."

We hear a lot about spoiled, self indulgent, self centered athletes at this level and beyond.

We hear a lot about the missteps and mistakes that go with competing in this type of high stakes, big money atmosphere.

We generally do not hear enough about kids like this, doing things like this. Humble service to their community in its time of need.

The North Dakota State fans provided support to he team in its time of need and the players are now able to return the favor. They will learn more and gain more value out of the work they are doing at home than they could have learned if they were still playing in the tournament.

Great job Coach Phillips.
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KANELAND H.S.(IL) BASEBALL HONORS TEAMMATE:
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=281987

PHOTO GALLERY FROM DAILY HERALD:
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=281983

2nd Candidate: Brian Aversa, Kaneland High School, baseball coach

The sun made an appearance in Maple Park only moments after the Kaneland baseball team honored a fallen son.

"It didn't feel whole out there today," Kaneland coach Brian Aversa said. "We felt like we were missing something."

After a pre-game ceremony in which the Knights retired the No. 41 jersey of Jeff Malewig, Kaneland put on a near-flawless performance against visiting Burlington Central Thursday afternoon.

Jeff Smith and Steve Colombe combined on a 3-hit shutout as the Knights opened the season with a 6-0 victory over the Rockets.

Malewig and fellow senior Blake Denton were killed in car accident last December while on the way to school.

Malewig would have been the starting second baseman for the Knights this spring, and one of many tributes to his memory was the team vacating his position in the top of the first inning.

From my experience as a coach I know that many times you get tunnel vision and so immersed in wins and losses and competing for championships that you forget what is really important in life. The Kaneland baseball family suffered a loss greater than any they will suffer from an opponent this year: the loss of a player.

Kudos to Coach Aversa for allowing his players and school to take the time to honor and remember their teammate.
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So now there are four:

So here we go, the early candidates for Coach of the Year:
January - JEREMY CIVELLO, DALLAS ACADEMY (TX) HS
February - DAVE ROHLMAN, DEKALB (IL) HS
March - SAUL PHILLIPS, NORTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY
March - BRIAN AVERSA, KANELAND (IL) HS

SAD NEWS: ALYSHEBA DIES AT AGE OF 25

ALYSHEBA - 1987 KENTUCKY DERBY WIN

Gallant son of the another all-time great, Alydar out of Bel Sheba. One of the more thrilling Derby finishes in history. Alysheba stumbled down the stretch, was nearly bumped in traffic and yet still thundered down the stretch to take the victory away from Bet Twice. A true champion.

Ranked #42 on the Blood-Horse Magazine Top 100 Horses of the 20th Century

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood-Horse_magazine_List_of_the_Top_100_U.S._Racehorses_of_the_20th_Century

SPEAKING WORDS OF WISDOM.....

It is well enough that people of the nation do not understand our banking and monetary system, for if they did, I believe there would be a revolution before tomorrow morning. - Henry Ford

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FROM THE MOUTHS OF FORMER COMMUNISTS: (speaking about the US stimulus package and bank bailouts)

"Widening budget deficit and protectionist trade measures — such as the "Buy America" — all of these steps, these combinations and permanency is the way to hell. We need to read the history books and the lessons of history and the biggest success of the (EU) is the refusal to go this way. Americans will need liquidity to finance all their measures and they will balance this with the sale of their bonds but this will undermine the stability of the global financial market" - Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek, whose country currently holds the EU presidency

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INTERESTING POLL FROM RASMUSSEN REPORTS:

While a great deal of public anger is focused at corporate executives these days, Johnny Depp and the Boys of Summer don’t fare much better. Thirty percent (30%) of Americans believe the government should make it illegal to pay movie stars and athletes more than $1 million per year.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey found that 59% oppose government pay limits for film stars and jocks.

There is a more support—but not much more--for capping the pay of corporate executives. Thirty-six percent (36%) say the federal government should make it illegal to pay any executive more than $1 million a year. The majority (54%), however, disagree.

Here you can see where things that happen in the political arena can have a spillover into sports and entertainment. Once the demonization genie is let out of the bottle it is difficult to get him back in or control the future victims he goes after. The Law of Unintended Consequences and all....Is this the type of change we were looking for? Be careful what you wish for.
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JAPAN DEFEATS KOREA; DEFENDS WBC TITLE

Congratulations to Japan for successfully defending their WBC title over Korea.
They now move up in the International rankings posted by the International Baseball Federation. I'm not sure I quite understand how Korea--who lost to Japan--seemingly
leap-frogs ahead of Japan and the USA into second place.

The ultimate hope and expectation from those in MLB's executive suite is that the fan interest and passion exhibited by Korea--whose fans packed an empty stadium to watch a televised game--is passed to mainland China. There is reasonable cause for hope given the level of play demonstrated by Japan, Korea and Chinese Taipei.

In addition, we see efforts to at least attempt to introduce the game to the cricket-based India. I'm not sure they will have the same success here as they might in China, but at least they are making the effort.

Japan moves to No. 3 in the IBAF World Rankings following WBC win
Cuba still No. 1; USA falls to fourth
Please follow the link below to view the International Baseball Federation's updated World Rankings, through the 2009 World Baseball Classic (March 24).

http://www.ibaf.org/fileadmin/user_upload/Files_-_world_rankings/2009_IBAF_World_Rankings_March.htm

With Japan's World Baseball Classic victory, it moves to No. 3 in the world. Cuba holds on to the No. 1 position and Korea moves past the USA into second. The new top 10 is as follows:

1. Cuba
2. Korea
3. Japan
4. USA
5. Chinese Taipei
6. Netherlands
7. Mexico
8. Canada
9. Australia
10. Puerto Rico

The IBAF debuted its World Rankings earlier this year in January. Developed in conjunction with Scott Goode, a sports information director from Harding University (Arkansas, USA), the rankings are based on a point total which IBAF member federations (teams) earn from IBAF-sanctioned events in a four-year window, or a period of time that encompasses two IBAF Baseball World Cups.

Teams earn points based on their finish in an event. A tournament winner takes home 50 points, second place, 40; third place, 30; and fourth place, 15. From there, points are divided evenly among the remaining teams in the event to ensure balance between tournaments that feature different-sized fields.

Once points are rewarded based on a team’s finish, that amount is then multiplied by a number based on the strength of the event. Major world championships, such as an Olympic Games, IBAF Baseball World Cup or World Baseball Classic, all receive 4X multipliers. Minor world championship events (Junior, Youth or FISU University Worlds, or the Honkbol Tournament, for example) have a 1X multiplier, and all other continental championships receive multipliers from 1X-.25X based on how many teams in the top-10 of the current IBAF World Rankings compete in the event.

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MORE MISCELLANEOUS NOTES FROM IBAF REGARDING THE WBC:

GROWTH AT THE GRASSROOTS: Forbes.com’s Tom VanRiper looked at the growth of grassroots play increasing because of the down economy…”Thanks to the aching economy, the expensive summer vacation is out for many families around the country. A quiet beneficiary: youth baseball, a declining sport now enjoying a recession-induced resurgence. Following years of steady decline, organizations from Little League to Tee Ball USA to the Connie Mack league are generating more sign-ups in 2009, thanks to the financial downturn…Tee Ball leagues, have seen a 10% to 15% surge in inquiries and sign-ups this year...it's the same story for the American Amateur Baseball Congress, which counts Connie Mack, Mickey Mantle and several other youth and adult leagues under its umbrella. After suffering a steady decline in registration over the past 12 years, from 300,000 players in 1997 to 200,000 in 2008…elsewhere, Pony baseball and softball, an independent national affiliation group that organizes local teams around the country, expects a 6% to 8% increase in registrations this year after several down years, according to president Abraham Key….Also spurring more interest around the country: ESPN's increased coverage of the Little League World Series, which now includes a plethora of tournament games (once upon a time, ABC televised only the finals).” (Forbes.com)

APATHY IN THE U.S.? USA TODAY’s Jorge Ortiz notes ESPN’s ratings for the WBC are “about 30% higher than in 2006, and ticket sales for the first round were up 38% compared with the inaugural event.” However, U.S. fans’ “lack of enthusiasm for the WBC, especially in comparison to their counterparts from other countries, has been a running theme.” Members of Team USA are “puzzled by the lack of support," and they hope their 6-5 bottom-of-the-ninth win over Puerto Rico Tuesday at Dolphin Stadium “wins some disbelievers” (USA TODAY, 3/19). ESPN’s Tim Kurkjian said after the U.S.' win over Puerto Rico, “Anyone who wasn’t onboard with the (WBC) is now officially onboard.” Kurkjian said when you “see those guys celebrating like that on the field after the game, please don’t tell me that they don’t care” (“Baseball Tonight,” ESPN, 3/18). ESPN's Jim Rome: “That was the shot of adrenalin that the WBC needed” (“Jim Rome Is Burning,” ESPN, 3/18).

INT'L INTRIGUE: The AP’s Tim Dahlberg wrote under the header, “Some Countries Care More About Outcome Than Others.” Team USA was always going to “have difficulty with teams that really seem to care about whether they win or not,” including Team Cuba and Team Venezuela. Parity “reigns in the WBC," as the “best players play in the U.S. because that’s where the money is, but three out of every 10 of them hail from somewhere else.” To them, the WBC “means something” (AP, 3/18). In Miami, Linda Robertson noted during U.S.-Puerto Rico, “two thirds of the crowd was cheering madly for Puerto Rico, turning it into a road game for the U.S.” The large crowds at Dolphin Stadium during the second-round of the tournament “begs the question that has perplexed the Marlins for years: Why doesn’t South Florida’s heavily Hispanic population support the local team?” Team Puerto Rico fan Miguel Rivera: “With Puerto Rico and Venezuela, it’s different. You like to see the players from your country together on one team. It gets your heart racing” (MIAMI HERALD, 3/17).

CASTRO COMMENTS: “As expected, the Japan defeat elicited an essay from Fidel Castro on a government Web site late Thursday. The ailing, 82-year-old ceded the presidency to his brother Raul 13 months ago, but has written almost daily about the Classic -- previously heaping praise on Japan and Ichiro Suzuki, who went 2-for-5 in the second Cuba game. Castro called the Cuba WBC team "excellent ... made up of young athletes who, without a doubt, are a genuine representation of our country."But he also criticized the coaching staff and island sports officials in general, saying, "we have rested on our laurels and we are paying the price. "We must revolutionize the preparation methods of our athletes, not only in baseball but in all sports disciplines," Castro wrote. (AP)

MORE CALIFORNIA SUPPORT: “Frankly, those who don’t like the World Baseball Classic — those who disapprove of it because it takes players away from spring training and exposes them to injury and time missed from their big league clubs — are missing the point….Baseball needs the kind of boost the WBC provides. The crowds in Miami may have been small (after all, Miami has trouble getting people to even come watch the Marlins), but in San Diego, Petco Park was nearly full to see Mexico, Cuba, Japan and South Korea. Stadiums in Mexico, Puerto Rico and Japan were rocking in the earlier rounds. When the U.S. played Canada in Toronto, Rogers Centre was packed. The public’s imagination was caught when the Netherlands eliminated the Dominican Republic. Baseball needs a shot in the arm globally after being kicked out of the Olympics. The World Baseball Classic shows there is an appetite for the sport so that perhaps it can someday be added again. And cultivating interest worldwide can only help Major League Baseball.” (ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER)

ALL THE WORLD'S A STAGE: In N.Y., Joel Sherman wrote the "fervor for the WBC is overwhelming in the Far East and Latin America." Fervor "equals dollars via the worldwide appetite for all things baseball," and it "keeps expanding the pipeline of players around the globe." MLB wants to "make 1.2 billion Chinese care," so it is "easy to see why central baseball is so gung-ho about the WBC" (N.Y. POST, 3/14). Also in N.Y., Harvey Araton wrote under the header, "The Classic Is Taking Baseball To Another Level." The WBC offers the opportunity to see MLB players in "home country uniforms." Once every three years, Americans "can afford to view the game through a global lens," and fans "ought to for our own growth, and good" (N.Y. TIMES, 3/15). The N.Y. TIMES' Alan Schwarz writes WBC games are "quickly demonstrating how this tournament exists far less for the United States than for certain ingredients of its melting pot" (N.Y. TIMES, 3/17). YAHOO SPORTS' Jeff Passan writes, "This is what the World Baseball Classic should be." It is "almost as though the tournament prospers without the Americans." Last night's Venezuela-Puerto Rico game drew 25,599 to Dolphin Stadium, showing that the WBC "can succeed, and that was apparent from the voices, the claps, the cheers, the cries and the thank yous, all delivered by a people to whom this tournament really matters" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 3/17).

ARE THE DOLLAR'S DAYS NUMBERED?

THE FEDERAL RESERVE: DEBASING THE CURRENCY FOR OVER 95 YEARS

It seems like it is based on the following quote. The United Nations floated a similar proposal last week, so it seems like most of the world has been heard from.

Concerned about the role of a shaky U.S. in the global economy, China is calling for the creation of a new currency to replace the dollar as the world's standard. The proposal is unlikely to change the dollar's role in the short term because of enormous technical and political hurdles, but it underscores the increasingly assertive approach China is taking in shaping the global response to the financial crisis. Russia made a similar proposal earlier this month.

I'm not sure where Europe and Japan weigh in on this, however Japan cannot be happy with the Fed's "quantitative easing" policy that is hell bent on turning their considerable Treasury holding into deflated assets. Not a particularly good way to treat an ally or a trading partner.
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One of the themes of the Ron Paul candidacy that made sense was his position on the Federal Reserve. Here are some detail about this organization that should make American shudder.

END THE FED!
Sound Money for America

Positions:
1. The Federal Reserve is part of a PRIVATE BANK CARTEL and is completely
DEFIES U.S. sovereignty and its Constitution!
2. Since the inception of the Federal Reserve in 1913, the value (purchasing power) of the dollar has DROPPED NEARLY 96%!
3. No country in the history of the known world has every successfully used a fiat currency that didn't end in overinflationary dismay!

If we look at these numbers and apply the same type of statistical analysis that won Al Gore a Nobel prize for "proving" the existence of man-made global warming, we could reasonably conclude that the Federal Reserve is on a pace to destroy the dollar within another 5 years or so.

At that point, the dollar will no longer be "worth less" -- two words -- it will be "worthless" -- one word. We have been lulled into such a sense of comfort and complacency that we fail to see what is happening.
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THE MAN WHO PRESIDED OVER THE CREATION OF THE FED HAD IMMEDIATE BUYERS REMORSE:

"I am a most unhappy man. I have unwittingly ruined my country. A great
industrial nation is controlled by its system of credit. Our system of
credit is concentrated. The growth of the nation, therefore, and all
our activities are in the hands of a few men. We have come to be one of
the worst ruled, on of the most completely controlled and dominated
governments in the civilized world. No longer a government by free
opinion, no longer a government by conviction and vote of majority, but
a government by the opinion and duress of a small group of dominant
men."

- President Woodrow Wilson, regretting signing into law the Federal Reserve Act
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Why should these rants be important to Americans today? I don't know maybe the following quotes from the IMF:

The head of the International Monetary Fund, Dominique Strauss-Kahn, warned that advanced nations will be hit by violent civil unrest if the elite continue to restructure the economy around their own interests while looting the taxpayer. Strauss-Kahn’s comments echo those of others who have cautioned that civil unrest could arise, specifically in the U.S., as a result of the wholesale looting of the taxpayer and the devaluation of the dollar.

How long will it be before Americans realize the looming specter of hyperinflation spells disaster for their life savings? How long will it be before we see rioting in the streets on a par with the scenes witnessed in Iceland over the weekend, where the Icelandic krona has lost half its value in a matter of weeks?

If this happens, make sure you have sufficient stocks of gold, lead (bullets) and Campbell's Soup.

WBC: JAPAN ELIMINATES U.S.A.

I hate to say I told you so but--NO strike that--I actually love to say I told you so. It just pains me to do it under these circumstances. DAVEY JOHNSON, Team USA Manager - This one is for you. I TOLD YOU SO!!!!


I posted this on my Facebook site March 19th. And just about every other non-Yankee acolyte knew that this would be the nail in the coffin for Team USA.

JIMMY ROLLINS SHOULD START AT SHORTSTOP FOR TEAM USA. THIS ISN'T THE YANKEES AND I DON'T CARE ABOUT DEREK'S FEELINGS. THESE GAMES COUNT.

So in the ultimate game that counts--an elimination game--we start Jeter at SS and DH Jimmy Rollins, a much better fielder. And a late Jeter error proves costly in allowing Japan to fend of a late Team USA rally.

The fact that Rollins goes 4-4 vs. Jeter's 1-4 is icing on the cake. I'm OK with both bats being in the lineup.

Sucks that we lost but Thank God Derek F-ing Jeter's feelings were not bruised or otherwise damaged in the playing of this World Baseball Classic.

After all, that should be the important thing. Because what kind of a nation have we become when we hurt the feelings of the face of baseball?

Oh Slav, I'm detecting sarcasm.

Well you should because I'm laying it on a little thick.

THE MADNESS IS SLIPPING AWAY

Not a good weekend in the pool for Team The Slav. Our chances to win are slip sliding away. A 6-4 Saturday followed by a 5-1 Sunday leaves me mired in 28th among 41 in our pool.

Wake and West Virginia were predetermined losers going in. Washington losing to Purdue hurt early. I reached for Michigan over Oklahoma and they gave it a good effort. Wisconsin completed the carnage by realizing where they were.

The Baller in Chief made a startling comeback however. Congrats to Mr. President.
A 14-2 weekend leaves him 2 back. He would place 37th of our 41 bracketologists.

Can he catch Team The Slav? Given our respective remaining brackets, I believe he could tie but not overcome The Slav. It may come down to a tiebreaker. The Prez has Memphis over UConn. I went with the Huskies. I'm a bit worried here. He also has Louisville advancing to the Finals over my UConn. I need a Memphis choke job, I guess.

FIRST ROUND MADNESS

Well, the smoke has cleared a little bit as 1/2 the games are in the books.

We're in a pool where you get only one point and no bonus for the first round. I think it's time for a scoring update. The first round is all about picking the upset. After that it's just win, baby. But the charm of the first round is to be the one who had the stones to pick the potential Cinderella of the tournament. Why should picking a 1 vs. 16 match up give you the same points as going out on a limb and nailing that 5-12 upset or a 4 vs. 13? The first round points should be weighted to the size of the upset (i.e. if you pick a 12 to win over a five you get 7 points - 12 minus 5). If you pick the favorite you get 1 point.

In the subsequent rounds, if you pick that 12 to bounce a four, you get 16 points. The 12 minus 4 multiplied by 2 for Round 2. And so on down the line. If you pick the favorite, you just get 1 point in the 1st Round 2 points in the second round and so on.

Anyway, that's my rant for the day. Let's continue.

Team Obama picked 19 of the first 32 correct according to ESPN. I came in at 24 correct. That puts me in 18th place out of 39 office workers at my wife's firm. The Prognosticator in Chief would be DEAD LAST in my wife's office. This has not been a good week for the Comedian in Chief. First his misspeak on the Tonight Show reveals he would be a mediocre Special Olympics bowler. And now this.

Maybe as Coach Shisshevskivich, Coach Shhiskabob, aw heck Coach K from Duke said, he should concentrate more on the economy than brackets and comedy. I mean, poor Little Timmy Geithner doesn't even have anyone to get him coffee at the Treasury and we are in the middle of an economic meltdown and all. I'm not saying anything, I'm just saying.

The two tools I used to get my bracket right were as follows:

I looked at historical precedent dating back to 1985 and found in the first round teams seed 13-16 were very unlikely to win (39-345 record) and 10-12 seeds were pretty dicey as well (97-191). So there needs to be a compelling reason to pick them.

In the 2nd round same trend, 13-16 came in at (6-33) and 10-12 improved to (45-52). So I didn't go deeper than 13-16 in the first round. I have #12 Wisconsin winning another but that's it for the deep dogs.

In the Regional Round, Teams seeded 9th or higher get the boot. A (13-41) record will do that for you. Everybody else is in play..

In the Regional Finals, same thing. 9's and higher are (2-11) at this point.

In the Semis', anything higher than a #6 seed goes home (1-4). Fourth through six seeds are a combined (4-10) mostly due to the #4 seed (2-7) record. Seeds 1-3 are (41-34) not great, but not bad.

In the title game, 1 seeds are (14-9). After that, (10-15). So the higher seed is a 60-40 chance to win.

For the rest of the coin-toss games or where the historical precedent didn't lead me anywhere, I went with the Sheridan ratings. Dude is a 1970 MIT Mathematics graduate, so if I'm going to let anyone help me with my homework, it's going to be him.

I looked for game where the dog was better than the higher seed and went with it.

Arizona (15)was rated 83.01 vs. Utah (5) 85.38.
Southern Cal (10) was rated better than Boston College (7) by 84.36 to 82.63 plus they finished strong.
Maryland (10) was rated 82.83 vs California (7) 85.21 plus you have tradition and coaching on your side.
Wisconsin (12) was even with Florida State (5) 84.78 to 85.35. Close enough and I like Bo Ryan as a coach.
Michigan (10) was 83.85 vs. Clemson (7) at 87.36, so that was worth the try.

Minnesota (10) vs. Texas (7) didn't some through but Minnesota was 84.52 vs. Texas 85.15. It was worth a try.
Butler was rated higher than LSU by 84.47 - 83.59 and I liked their style of play so it was worth a try even though it didn't work.

Still a basket here or there and maybe I'm questioning the methodology. But it seems like a basket cost me at least two W's.

But that's what makes horse races. And March Madness.

Hopefully the methodology works in the later rounds. I think I went to much with the favorites down the road and that will come back to bite me. No real Cinderellas. I did like North Dakota State but they got a tough draw with Kansas in the Opening Round. Welcome to the NCAA Tournament fellas.