John Fanta: Nationals face another tough rebuilding year, Mets poised for over 90 wins and NLCS, Cubs expected to dominate the NL Central | Pardon My Take

Big Ten's resurgence and Cinderella stories highlight the excitement of this year's NCAA tournament.

Listen on Pardon My Take

Share

Add us on Google by Editorial Team Apr. 10, 2026

Key takeaways

• The Nationals are in a prolonged rebuilding phase with low expectations for the upcoming season.
• The Mets are predicted to exceed expectations despite initial struggles due to roster changes.
• A successful season for the Mets would involve over 90 wins and reaching the NLCS.
• The Cubs are expected to perform strongly, with potential to win the NL Central and reach the NLCS.
• The Red Sox ownership is perceived to prioritize financial savings over competitive success.
• Extending PCA is seen as a strategic move for the Cubs, with potential MVP-caliber performance.
• The Big Ten’s recent performance in the NCAA tournament is a significant highlight.
• The NCAA tournament is ripe for exciting action and potential Cinderella stories.
• Darius Acuff Jr. is considered the standout player in the current NCAA tournament.
• Defending champions have struggled to reach the second weekend of the NCAA tournament since 2007.
• UConn in 2024 is the only defending champion to make it past the first weekend since 2007.
• The Nationals’ ongoing rebuild reflects challenges in management and performance.
• The Cubs’ strategic player extensions are aimed at long-term success.
• The Big Ten’s resurgence in the NCAA tournament is a notable trend.
• Cinderella stories continue to be a defining feature of the NCAA tournament.

Guest intro

John Fanta is a college basketball play-by-play broadcaster and reporter for NBC Sports, FOX Sports, and the BIG EAST Digital Network. A 2017 Seton Hall University graduate, he previously served as the voice of the Pirate Sports Network and has covered multiple NCAA Tournament Final Fours.

Nationals’ rebuilding struggles

• The Nationals are in year seven of a rebuilding phase with low expectations for the season.

• I’m going into the season… this is gonna be a very tough year for me because we’re in year seven of rebuild in dc with the expectation again being another 90 loss season.

  — John Fanta

• The team’s prolonged struggles reflect challenges in management and performance.
• Understanding the Nationals’ recent performance and management changes provides context for fan sentiment.
• The emotional perspective of fans highlights the frustration with the team’s direction.
• The Nationals’ rebuilding efforts are seen as a long-term strategy with uncertain outcomes.
• Low expectations for the season are tied to the team’s ongoing restructuring.
• The Nationals’ situation underscores the difficulties of rebuilding in professional sports.

Mets’ potential for success

• The Mets are expected to exceed expectations despite a slow start due to new roster additions.

• I think they’re gonna be better than expected they’ll probably start off slow because they have a ton of new guys but I think they’re gonna be really good.

  — John Fanta

• A successful season for the Mets would involve over 90 wins and making it to the NLCS.

• What’s a successful season over 90 wins and playoffs yeah series have to make the playoffs nlcs nlcs.

  — John Fanta

• The Mets’ performance is closely tied to their new roster and strategic adjustments.
• Understanding the current roster changes and performance expectations is crucial for assessing the Mets.
• The guest’s analysis provides a specific prediction about the Mets’ potential.
• The Mets’ success is benchmarked by clear performance goals in the MLB season.

Cubs’ strong outlook

• The Cubs are expected to be a strong team this season, potentially winning the NL Central.

• I think the cubs are gonna be really fucking good… I think they should definitely win the nl central and be in the nlcs that would be my ceiling.

  — John Fanta

• Extending PCA is seen as a smart move, with potential MVP-caliber performance.

• I love it because he’s a he’s the type of guy you should bet on and like he’s a centerpiece type of player… if PCA continues to get better and becomes like an MVP caliber… he’s on a like great deal for the cubs.

  — John Fanta

• The Cubs’ strategic player extensions are aimed at long-term success.
• The team’s performance is expected to be strong, with potential postseason success.
• Understanding the current performance and roster of the Cubs provides context for predictions.
• The Cubs’ outlook highlights the importance of strategic player management in MLB.
• The guest’s analysis reflects confidence in the Cubs’ potential for success.

Red Sox’s financial priorities

• The Red Sox ownership is perceived to prioritize financial savings over winning.

• I just feel like the red sox ownership does not care about winning as much as just like being under the whatever luxury tax and saving money.

  — John Fanta

• The team’s financial strategies are seen as a barrier to competitive success.
• Knowledge of the Red Sox’s recent management decisions provides context for this viewpoint.
• The guest’s opinion reflects a strong perspective on the motivations of the Red Sox ownership.
• The Red Sox’s approach is contrasted with teams that prioritize competitive success.
• Financial strategies in MLB can impact team performance and fan perception.
• The guest’s analysis highlights the tension between financial management and winning.

Big Ten’s tournament performance

• The Big Ten’s performance in the tournament is a significant highlight.

• For the big 10 to have not won a championship in men’s college basketball since 2000… to have six of the sweet 16 is certainly a headliner.

  — John Fanta

• The conference’s recent success is notable in the context of NCAA tournaments.
• Understanding the historical context of the Big Ten’s performance provides insight into current trends.
• The Big Ten’s resurgence is a key storyline in college basketball.
• The guest’s analysis emphasizes the significance of the Big Ten’s recent achievements.
• The conference’s performance is a highlight in the competitive landscape of the tournament.
• The Big Ten’s success underscores the dynamic nature of college basketball.

NCAA tournament excitement

• The tournament is set up for exciting action with potential Cinderella stories.

• I firmly believe that you know we’re gonna see like the cinderella I don’t think she’s dead forever I think when she finally comes out of her casket we’ll appreciate it that much more.

  — John Fanta

• Cinderella stories continue to be a defining feature of the NCAA tournament.
• Understanding the dynamics of the tournament provides context for potential surprises.
• The guest’s analysis highlights the potential for unexpected outcomes in the tournament.
• The excitement of the tournament is tied to its unpredictable nature.
• Cinderella teams add to the allure and drama of the NCAA tournament.
• The tournament’s setup is conducive to thrilling and unexpected developments.

Standout players in the tournament

• Darius Acuff Jr. is currently the best player in the tournament, regardless of seed.

• To me the best player in this tournament right now is darius a cup junior yep he is ridiculously gifted and just a total stud and his ability to change a game it’s special.

  — John Fanta

• The guest’s opinion provides a strong perspective on player performance.
• Understanding the players and teams in the tournament is crucial for assessing competition.
• The standout performance of individual players is a key aspect of the tournament.
• Darius Acuff Jr.’s abilities are highlighted as exceptional in the current tournament.
• The guest’s analysis underscores the impact of standout players on tournament dynamics.
• Player performance is a critical factor in the competitive landscape of the tournament.

Challenges for defending champions

• The defending champion has struggled to reach the second weekend of the tournament since 2007.

• It’s wild to think that since 2007 the defending champion has been unable to make it to the second weekend except for yukon in 2024 that is a crazy note.

  — John Fanta

• UConn in 2024 is the only defending champion to make it past the first weekend since 2007.
• Understanding the historical context of NCAA tournament performance provides insight into this trend.
• The difficulty of repeating as champions is a significant challenge in the tournament.
• The guest’s analysis highlights a notable trend in NCAA tournament history.
• The challenges faced by defending champions underscore the competitive nature of the tournament.
• The guest’s insight provides context for understanding the dynamics of tournament success.

Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.