Bracket busted? Here's an MLB-based Final Four rooting guide

As a baseball fan with mere days left until the start of the MLB season, we won't blame you if you've completely forgotten that other sports exist. But they do! Lots of them, including college basketball.

You see, we just happen to be nearing the end of a little something called the NCAA tournament. Brackets have been busted, 64 teams have been eliminated and we now have the Final Four: Kentucky, Wisconsin, Michigan State and Duke. And, as you may no longer have a rooting interest left in the tournament, but you probably do have a favorite MLB team - and that's enough. Here's a guide to exactly which basketball team you should root for this weekend based on your favorite MLB franchise.

In alphabetical order: 

Angels: There are no West Coast teams in the Final Four this year. Three of the four universities are located more than 2,000 miles away from Angel Stadium, and the fourth -- Wisconsin -- is 1,971 miles away. If Angels fans are going to send their good vibes that far, they might as well send them as far as possible: 2,513 miles to Duke.

Astros: Last year, we posited that Astros fans -- and thus fans of the 5-foot-6 Jose Altuve -- should be fans of the Wildcats because their roster featured the 5-foot-9 Brian Long, shortest player in the Final Four. Well Kentucky still has Long, and they added 5-foot-9 freshman Tyler Ulis, too.

Athletics: The A's have Ben Zobrist, utility player extraordinaire. Among Final Four players, only Michigan State's Branden Dawson is officially listed at two positions -- guard and forward - on his team's official website.

Blue Jays: Not only did Jays pitcher Marcus Stroman play baseball for Duke before he hit MLB, but this summer, he's going to take summer classes there to finish his degree while he recovers from an ACL tear. When one of your players is currently enrolled at the school, you know where your allegiances lie.  

Braves: There are two reasons Braves fans should root for Michigan State. 1) John Smoltz, a Michigan native, was elected to the Hall of Fame this year. 2) The Spartans have freshman Marvin Clark Jr., which is only a few letters off from Melvin Upton Jr.

Brewers: We know, we know: Wisconsin.

Cardinals: Cardinals second baseman Kolten Wong was once described as "a dangerous cat." You know who else are dangerous cats? The Kentucky Wildcats.  

Cubs: The Cubs have Anthony Rizzo. The Spartans have Tom Izzo. Never underestimate the power of rhyming: Chicago fans, you're rooting for Michigan State.

D-backs: In 2001, Arizona won the World Series. Earlier that year, Duke won the NCAA tournament. D-backs fans should be rooting for a repeat on both accounts.

Dodgers: There's only one man who could possibly rival Tommy Lasorda's rendition of "Turn Down for What." That man is Bo Ryan. If Wisconsin wins the NCAA tournament, we don't know that Ryan won't sing -- Dodgers fans, you know who to root for.   

Giants: Kentucky made the Final Four in 2012 and 2014, both years the Giants won the World Series. We bet Giants fans are hoping that another Wildcats run in March means another San Francisco title. 

Indians: Michael Brantley's clone/doppelganger/little brother, Travis Trice, plays guard for Michigan State. Rooting against them would almost be like rooting against Brantley, and no Indians fan would want to do that.

Mariners: Mariners legend Ken Griffey Jr.'s son plays football for the University of Arizona. In this year's NCAA tournament, Arizona lost to Wisconsin in the Elite 8. By rights, Wisconsin won Griffey's -- and all Mariners' fans -- loyalty.

Marlins: Marlins prospect and Spring Training non-roster invite J.T.Riddle was drafted out of the University of Kentucky in 2013. Which means he's probably friends with plenty of the players on the team now. And it would be rude to root any other way. 

Mets: Matt Harvey is a UNC alum, so Mets fans definitely can't root for Duke. Instead, they should root for Duke's Final Four opponent: Michigan State.

Nationals: The Nats acquired Matt den Dekker from the Mets Monday, who shares a last name with Wisconsin forward Sam Dekker. Also, "Washington" shares five letters with "Wisconsin."

Orioles: We know it hurts, but the old adage, "If you can't beat 'em, join 'em" sometimes rings true. For O's prospect Pat Connaughton, whose Irish were defeated by Kentucky in the Elite 8, watching the Wildcats win it all means at least he lost to the best.  

Padres: As far as mascot doppelgangers go, Michigan State's Sparty could pass for the Swinging Friar in less joyful, more heavily armored times.

Phillies: Did you know that Kentucky head coach John Calipari was an assistant coach with the Philadelphia 76ers for one season? If that isn't enough reason for Phillies fans to root for the Wildcats, we don't know what is.

Pirates: Pittsburgh fans also have a personal connection to Coach Cal, who was born less than 20 miles outside the Steel City in Moon Township. Kentucky it is.

Rangers: In Duke's Elite 8 victory over Gonzaga, Matt Jones and Justise Winslow led the team with 16 points each. Is it a coincidence that Jones and Winslow are both Texas natives? Maybe, but we think Rangers fans will root for them anyway.

Rays: No matter the year, no matter the seed, Michigan State always seems to defy expectations in March. That's a mentality Rays fans can get behind.

Red Sox: If your team is going to have a player named Mookie Betts, how can you do anything but root for "Tum Tum" Nairn Jr.? Michigan State it is. 

Reds: While red and blue might seem like rivals to you, primary colors have to stick together. Which is why Reds fans should root for the Duke Blue Devils.

Rockies: In 2014, Duke's football team ran "The Todd Helton" play. Rockies fans should show the Blue Devils solidarity.    

Royals: Duke's mascot is actually the Blue Devils, but let's pretend it is the Dukes. A duke is a kind of royal. Kansas City fans, you're rooting for Duke.

Tigers: One could point out that it's only 88 miles from Comerica Park to East Lansing, and thus Tigers fans should be rooting for the Spartans. One could point out that former Tiger Kirk Gibson is a Michigan State alumnus. In fact, one should and we did. So, yeah, Michigan State it is. 

Twins: Kentucky features twin brothers Aaron and Andrew Harrison. Twins.

White Sox: The New York Times wrote an article recently about the trend in college basketball of players covering their legs with tights and long socks -- often, white socks. Individual players from Wisconsin and Duke are mentioned in the Times piece, but only Michigan State makes an appearance as a collective team.

Yankees: We suggested Yankee fans root for Kentucky last year, and there's no reason to change it up: The Wildcats again boast the most championships of the four contenders this year, and Yankee fans everywhere can dream of a 2015 MLB season like Kentucky's possibly historic run.