1. As a somewhat bandwagon Cleveland Indians fan, I’ve enjoyed seeing CC Sabathia and Jim Thome make the front page of the Sports Illustrated and ESPN websites in the past 24 hours. If I had a vote in the NL Cy Young – which I don’t, for some reason – Sabathia would be my choice, without question. Two straight starts on three days rest, and both were masterful. Forget the Cy; CC would be my NL MVP. Let’s see what he does in the playoffs.
I can’t stand the Chicago White Sox. I never liked them, but their refusal to ditch their inappropriate excuse for a manager, Ozzie Guillen, has turned my distaste into disdain. That said, if anyone on that team were to hit the go-ahead home run to give Chicago a victory in a one-game playoff against the Twins on Monday, former Indian Jim Thome would be my selection. Sure enough, big Jim got the job done, sending a seventh-inning pitch 461 feet deep. After the game, Thome looked like a kid in the candy store – so happy to help his team make the playoffs, and possibly win the championship that eluded Thome while in Cleveland [cough... '97... cough... Jose Mesa...]. I couldn’t help but be happy for him, possibly the classiest player to ever don an Indians uniform.
2. Here’s what I’m thinking on the baseball playoffs: Angels over Red Sox in five, Rays over White Sox in four; Brewers over Phillies in five; Cubs over Dodgers in five. From there, I’m thinking Rays over Angels in seven and Cubs over Brewers in six. To win it, let’s say Cubs over Rays in five. Wouldn’t that be something? Cubs win the Series.
3. Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis has completely lost control of himself. He’d lost his grip on the Raiders (not in terms of micromanaging, but in terms of success) long ago, but with that press conference last night, where he belittled recently fired coach Lane Kiffin to no end, it became utterly certain that the next good day in Raiders history will be when the team changes hands in ownership.
4. When, oh when, will the Browns play Brady Quinn?
5. If NFL awards could go out right now, I’d give the Rookie of the Year to Chris Johnson and Jim Zorn would be my coach of the year (with Dick Jauron being a close second). The Offensive Player of the Year is Brandon Marshall (we know the league will not give an award to someone who missed a game from suspension, so Michael Turner is my back-up here) and LaMarr Woodley would be the defensive counterpart. The MVP – drum roll please – is none other than Drew Brees.
5.1. It’s nice to have Brees, Johnson, and Woodley on my fantasy team. Add Eddie Royal, Jason Witten, Matt Forte, and Albert Haynesworth, and it’s no wonder how I set an all-time league record in points last Sunday.
