Tuesday's Thoughts

While not being able to handle the first winter weather of the year, here is what's on my mind this morning:

* Well, I had a feeling Brian Cashman wasn't done yet and sure enough the Yankees acquired fireballing reliever Aroldis Chapman for 4 minor leaguers, none of which were any of the team's top prospects.  With Chapman, the Yankees will have an awesome back of the bullpen with Andrew Miller, Dellin Betances and Chapman.  The only concern is whether the 3-time 27 year old All-Star will be suspended for an alleged domestic violence incident.  One would think that the Yankees would have checked out the situation and believe even if Chapman is suspended he would still be available for most of the 2016 season.  A bulked up hard throwing bullpen will help to bolster a fragile starting rotation.

* As many of you who follow me know, I have been extremely critical of Cashman but right now I would give him high marks for this off season's acquisitions as the Yankees continue to get younger and more athletic.  It will only get better as the 4 big contracts come off the books.(Beltran, Sabathia, Texiera and ARod)

* The Maple Leafs continue to shock many in Leafs Nation as they defeated the New York Islanders in the Barclay Center.  It is apparent that the team is responding quite well to Head Coach Mike Babcock and if they can get decent goaltending they will be a factor in determining who gets into the playoffs.  One only wonders where they would be in the standings if they hadn't had such a terrible October.

* What will be interesting to see is who General Manager Lou Lamiorello will try to move at the trade deadline.  Certainly it's possible that Michael Grabner and P.A.Parentau could be moved but one has to wonder if there would be any consideration to move Roman Polak or fan favorite Leo Komorov.  Of course, there is the persistent speculation about the Leaf futures of Joffrey Lupul, Dion Phaneuf and Tyler Bozak.

* Speaking of Bozak, it has been really annoying how this guy has been a constant whipping boy.  The fact remains that he didn't ask to be the team's number one center.  He is a college free agent who has played up to his ability and has served the Leafs well.  Babcock seems to have slotted him perfectly as is the case with Dion Phaneuf.

* Watching William Nylander get knocked out of Team Sweden's game against Switzerland had me thinking that this franchise is cursed.  Luckily, the word is that he very well may play again in the World Juniors and that is good news for Sweden and better news for the Marlies and the Maple Leafs.

* It's interesting how Manzielmania continues to grow with each game that Johnny Football plays.  I guess I'm confused as to how an NFL quarterback who rushes for nearly the same number of yards as he passes for is the formula for a Super Bowl contender.  

* While I would agree that it may be unfair to evaluate Manziel with the receivers that he has to throw to, his actions off the field may be just as important when determining whether or not he is the quarterback of the future.  Of course, now we see the Christmas Eve video of Manziel with an alcoholic beverage in his hand.  Many will say what is the big deal.  But the big deal is this kid was in an alcohol rehabilitation program.  He shouldn't be drinking period.  This has to call into question his judgment. To me the Browns have 2 options: 1.) get rid of him or 2.) keep him and draft another quarterback, not necessarily with their first round pick.

* The Bleacher Report is reporting that Ray Farmer will be shown the door once the season is over but Mike Pettine will be retained as head coach.  I don't have a problem with that, particularly if Browns owner Jimmy Haslam insists that Pettine bring in some assistants who have some pro football experience.  There is also rumors that Haslam will bring in former Green Bay GM Ron Wolf to act as a consultant to rebuild football operations.  Would be a good move in my opinion.

* It didn't take long for the honeymoon to end between Bills fans and Buffalo head coach Rex Ryan.  What is very telling is how the Bills have regressed under Ryan and the Jets are on the verge of making the playoffs under Todd Bowles.

* If I were a member of the Jets and needed additional motivation for Sunday's game, all I would think about is how Ryan was jumping around on the sidelines after the Bills win at MetLife Stadium earlier this season.

* Would really like to see Arizona or Carolina win the Super Bowl.  Bruce Arians has done a great job and it's fun watching Carson Palmer have a chance to go far in the playoffs, particularly after the crushing injury he received a few years back against the Steelers when he was playing for Cincinnati.  What can I say about Cam Newton.  The kid is having an awesome year and Ron Rivera has this team really playing well.  Would be a great NFC Championship Game.

* I don't know what to think about the Al Jazeera report about Peyton Manning and others using HGH. It seems hard to believe that Manning would risk his reputation.  With the so-called source recanting his story, one would have to give Peyton the benefit of the doubt.

* For all of the gasbags and self-righteous morons who are slamming Mike Ditka for calling Al Jazeera not credible and garbage, I'm with Ditka.  Since when is Al Jazeera a sports reporting agency.  Credit to Da Coach for telling it like it is.

* With word that the Maple Leafs are looking to change their uniforms, one has to wonder how much of this is a result of Addidas getting the NHL contract for apparel next season.  We know that Nike was involved in the ridiculously stupid new uniforms for the Browns.  So much for tradition.

* There was an interesting article last week in the NY Post that raised the question as to whether or not Sidney Crosby is a coach killer.  Crosby has had four head coaches in his career with the Pittsburgh Penguins.  The article pointed out that Crosby has a close relationship with Penguins owner and icon, Mario Lemieux.  I'm a Crosby fan, but the article gave me something to think about.

* If the playoffs started tomorrow in the NFL, the starting quarterbacks for the AFC playoff teams would be: Tom Brady, AJ McCarron, Brandon Weeden, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Alex Smith and Brock Osweiler.  A far cry from the days of Kelly, Elway, Kosar, Marino and Esiason.

* By the way, the Browns could have had Bruce Arians or Todd Bowles as their head coach.

* Really looking forward to watching the Final Four in the College Football Playoffs and the Fiesta Bowl with Notre Dame and Ohio State.  I'm pulling for Oklahoma, Michigan State and the Fighting Irish.

* Wonder if the gasbags on WGR550 realize that these college games are taking place this weekend.  I'd bet anything I have that there will not be a segment in the morning or during drive time about them. More concerned about getting the right musical effects when they talk about Ryan O'Reilly.

* Here's hoping that you all have a Happy and Healthy 2016!!

Tuesday's Thoughts

While trying to stay warm, here's what is on my mind this morning:

* The Toronto Maple Leafs are limping home after a terrible 2-7 road trip which leaves them hanging on to the 8th and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. There has been plenty of discussion about what needs to be done to turn this team around. There are those who believe that the coach should be fired and there are others who say that some of the core players should be moved. But another piece that should be considered is the general manager. If you want to talk about the core players, it was Nonis who re-signed Dion Phaneuf and Phil Kessel to their current contracts. It was Nonis who gave the ridiculous contract to Mimico's own David Clarkson. And it was Nonis who signed 37 year old Stephane Robidas. Maybe the first person that needs to go is Dave Nonis.

* While many like to get on Kessel and Phaneuf, the fact of the matter is that both of them are players who are miscast. Phaneuf is not a true number one defenseman. He's a good number 2 or 3 but he is expected to be the shut down guy. Kessel is a goal scorer. He's not a Selke Trophy candidate but neither is Patrick Kane. Kane has Toews, who does Kessel have? Both of these players are miscast and I have more of a problem with the contract that Clarkson has than Kessel's and Phaneuf's. Let me ask who would have more value on the trade market: Kessel, Phaneuf or Clarkson?

* In my mind, Randy Carlyle needs to go. Carlyle's teams have historically declined in the area of puck possession. This includes his time in Anaheim. In the three seasons that Carlyle started as head coach, the Leafs have had monumental collapses. Players certainly share in the blame, but so does the head coach.

* I find it interesting how in love so many Leaf fans are with Cody Franson. He certainly has a great shot from the point but he is slow and I don't find him all that great defensively. If history tells us anything, the Leafs will overpay to keep him. In case anyone realizes it, Franson is part of the core.

* In the end, the problem stills circles back to Dave Nonis.

* The National Football League should be ashamed of itself for a lot of reasons but one of them has to be the state of the performance of their referees. Officiating this year has been awful and the Detroit-Dallas playoff game really put a spotlight on this sad state of affairs. I have been watching football for over 50 years and all I have ever heard was that a defender needs to be looking at the ball in order to potentially make a play. The Dallas linebacker never looked back toward the ball and he made contact with the Detroit receiver. How the flag could be picked up on that play is a joke. But it doesn't end there. At the end of this play, Dez Bryant goes on the field without his helmet on and was screaming at the officials. This is a blatant unsportsmanlike penalty but apparently no offical saw this. The NFL is the most popular major sport in North America but it is the only sport of the four major ones that employs part-time officials. The integrity of the game is being called into question with such terrible officiating.

* Of course, no one should think that the NFL cares about integrity when money is what drives it. Case in point, the owner of the St.Louis Rams has announced that he is going to build a new stadium in Inglewood, California which would lead to the franchise moving to Los Angeles. How does a current St.Louis season ticket holder re-up for the 2015 season? And where is Roger Goodell looking out for those fans? He could careless because it is all about the money.

* But for the Dallas game, the other three wild card matchups were not very exciting. 

* The situation with the Buffalo Bills has really gone south. While everyone wants to blast Doug Marrone, it was Russ Brandon who gave him his contract with the $4 million dollar guaranteed opt out and it was Doug Whaley who traded away the team's first round draft pick in 2015 in order to acquire Sammy Watkins. The problem is there is only one person currently on the roster who could throw to Watkins and that is EJ Manuel.

* Speaking of the Watkins trade, it seems that Marrone was extremely opposed to the trade as he and Whaley argued over the move. While Bills fans may feel that Marrone is a control freak jerk, he was right about the trade as the Bills could have drafted an Odell Beckham Jr. and still had their number one draft pick this year. 

* Reports out of New York is that the interview with the Jets did not go very well for Marrone. One has to wonder how much of that was as a result of the New York media, particularly the Daily News, slamming the Jets if they settled on Marrone. In the end, Marrone may find himself sitting out this season while he collects his $4 million dollars from Terry Pegula.

* Johnny Manziel was involved in another bar incident, this time in Houston, Texas. Browns owner Jimmy Haslam said that the team would not put up with players who are not committed to winning. What more does this organization need to see that this kid is a media creation who is nothing more than a cartoon character. Manziel needs to be removed from the Browns organization.

* While very painful to watch, Phil Jackson is doing the right thing by tearing down the New York Knicks. With only 5 wins, New York is going nowhere this season and so it is imperative to clear cap space and be in position for a top pick in this year's draft.

* It has been reported that the Yankees have interviewed Willie Randolph for the first base/infield coaching job. I have been calling for this to happen since Mick Kelleher was fired. This is a no-brainer and Number 30 should be in the first base coaching box this season.

* When is the NCAA going to start looking into the lawless college football program called Florida State. Jimbo Fisher is an enabler who condones all of the various misdeeds. If you want a window in the mindset of this program, just look at the end of their game against Oregon when the team went straight to their locker room without congratulating the Ducks.

* I pity the team who drafts "Crablegs" Winston in the 2015 NFL Re-entry Draft.

* Here's hoping that Jim Harbaugh restores the Michigan football program.

* Love the fact that the SEC had a terrible bowl season. The smugness of its fans and the ESPN connection is enough to make anyone get sick.

* As someone pointed out yesterday, if there was no playoff format the national championship game would have been between Florida State and Alabama.

* I'm not an Urban Meyer fan, so I will be rooting for Oregon to win the national championship.

* And finally, congratulations to my Canadian friends in the big win for Team Canada in the World Juniors Tournament.