Man-Crush? Man-Love.

Preface: I usually try to separate fantasy sports from the real sports world, but I just can't hold back on this one.

In fantasy baseball, it's quite common for an owner to develop a "man-crush" for his player. Corey Hart's out-of-nowhere studly 2007? Man-crush fodder. Ryan Braun's beastly mashing against left-handers? Man-crush worthy. Daniel Cabrera? Well, you get the picture...

I've never really been a huge fan of the word "crush." You see, a crush is often fleeting. It's ephemeral by nature; eventually, reality sets in, and the crush drifts away. You write it off with a good laugh and a fond memory, then move on.

But every once in a while, that crush blossoms into more. It blossoms into true love. And this, my friends, is where my story begins.

In 2006, a relatively little-known 2B broke into the league with the Texas Rangers. Ian Michael Kinsler assumed 2B, a position previously locked down by luminaries like Michael Young and Alfonso Soriano. Surely this unheralded 2B had a tenuous hold on the starting position, let alone dream to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the likes of the aforementioned perennial All-Stars.

Kinsler started modestly, but promisingly, delivering a solid average, and decent pop and speed. In the 11th round of the FFPDL fantasy league, at pick #176 overall, I decided the Pittsburgh Pirates had found their 2B of the future. Well, for 2007 anyway. Little did I know that these would become the roots of a franchise and the first date of our fast-growing romance.

2007 came and went promisingly, and I decided I wanted to lock Kinsler into a long-term deal. While the Chicago White Sox tried to pry him away, Kinsler took an extra year at a hometown discount to remain a Pirate. He had big plans for Pittsburgh.

Needless to say, the rest is history. Kinsler demolished pitching in 2008, leading all hitters before going down with another (3rd year in a row) season-ending injury. He has gotten off to an even more torrid start in 2009. Ian Kinsler has gone onto become the face of the organization, single-handedly carrying the squad with magical weeks.

So how do I know this is true love? Well, let me count the reasons.

You see, 2B happens to be one of my favorite positions. It rewards quick hands and good range. While it doesn't have the glamor of shortstop, it requires a decent amount of athleticism, though not height (always a good thing, for me). Additionally, I love coming over from 2B to cover 2nd on a double play. It requires an underrated amount of concentration to make the catch, sidestep the runner, and wing an off-balance throw to first.

There once was someone else. A Bruin. With power. He has gone onto become well-recognized as THE premier 2B in the game -- Chase Utley. Utley has power heretofore unseen by a 2B (excluding ones that fall while washing their trucks). Chase was a Bruin, and he sure is a stud, and I loved him for it.

Until this boy Ian Kinsler came along and stole my heart, which is saying something (dethroning a Bruin like Chase isn't easy). I don't love Kinsler for his surprising power. I love Ian Kinsler for his ability to hit gap shots. His ability to spray line drives all over the field. Singles, doubles, triples, homers. He doesn't care, he doesn't discriminate. He will rip it anywhere and everywhere. And when he wants to muscle up? He'll knock one out, and remind you that he's got the best power for a leadoff man in baseball not named Soriano or Sizemore.

And the speed! Oh, the speed. He may not be the fastest cat, but he's a basestealer. The type of guy that gets on base with a Texas leaguer, then steals 2nd and 3rd just because he can. The type who wreaks havoc on the basepaths for no good reason, but just to torment the pitcher. The type that says, "hey, good job, you held me to a single. But I'm still going to make it to 3rd before you finish with the next guy."

Kinsler plays with some flare. A little do-everything spirit. He's got some Jackie Robinson in him. You can call the college kid banging out hits in beer baseball Ian Kinsler, because he's just like the real man. Or Sizzler, if you forget how to say Kinsler.

But most of all, Ian Kinsler gets me. He understands me, knows when and what is important to me.

When the Giants blew a 4-2 lead to the Dodgers last week, Sizzler was there. He banged out 6 hits, good for 1.5 cycles. He rapped hits, scored runs, and stole a base. He knew how upset I was with the game of baseball, and wanted to remind me it could all be okay.

And what about the huge at-bat against Toronto, with a runner on third base and huge fantasy implications? With the chance to deal my AL counterpart (Jays) a victory, and hand division rival Cubs a body blow, Sizzler took Doc Halladay yard for a two-run bomb. The kind of bomb that made me laugh out loud in the car. The one that left me shaking my head and grinning like an idiot in rush hour traffic. That's what Sizzler does for me.

But perhaps the best measure is MY reaction to his struggles. After all, do I support him during his tough times? The answer is immeasurably yes. So Sizzler has gone 0/10 with 4 k's the last two days. Surprisingly... I'm not worried or upset about it. I know that my boy is going to be there for me, he's going to deliver when I most need him to. I can understand his struggles, and support him through the tough times. Ian Kinsler is my boy, and where he goes, the Pirates go.