We’re going to begin with baseball today, since I still don’t really have anything good to say about football.
In the MLB awards front, today the Cy Young award winners will be announced and tomorrow, the MVP winners will take center stage.
MY TAKE: The Cy Young awards will go to Max Scherzer in the AL and Clayton Kershaw in the NL. In my opinion, the only reason that Jose Fernandez does not win the award in the National League is thanks to the inept offense of last season’s Marlins team. His 12-6 record just isn’t good enough to beat out Kershaw, however…… Fernandez had five no-decisions in games that the Marlins ended up winning - the scores in those games were 2-1, 2-1, 2-1, 1-0, and 4-2. If the team had done the job offensively in those contests, his 17 wins would have been enough to also win the Cy Young.
The winners of the AL and NL Manager of the Year awards are in:
TODAY’S TRIVIA QUESTION: Which major league team has the most Manager of the Year winners with 5? The answer comes later, alligator.
The GM/Owners meetings are going on in Orlando, as teams set themselves up for possible trades, etc. Good stuff going on.
Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal looks at the rumors:
In other baseball news, look for the NY Yankees to spend some money this offseason:
MY TAKE: Speaking of the Yankees, MLB baseball and the courts need to get moving and bring the A-Roid situation to a conclusion one way or the other. Letting this thing go on indefinitely will hinder the Yankees. The team has cooperated fully with the process and should not be penalized by the powers that be dragging their feet in this matter. In the words of Larry the Cable Guy, "GET 'R DONE!"
Twins moving Joe Mauer to 1B
Free agents on the move:
Let’s go to NFL news and notes:
Another rocket scientist in the NFL is arrested for speeding and marijuana possession. Of course, regardless of that, Dwayne Bowe will play this week:
Speaking of rocket scientists, Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski was at it again at a bar:
The Fins got behind the eight-ball early yesterday against the previously winless Bucs, 15-0. They were able to claw back and take a fourth quarter lead, 19-15, thanks to two TD passes from Ryan Tannehill to Rishard Matthews. However, all that effort went for naught, and they ended up falling to the Bucks, 22-19. The Dolphins were able to only rush for TWO YARDS in the game, in what was a totally embarrassing performance on both sides of the ball, and also on special teams.
More from Armando Salguero:
More Incognito - Martin fallout:
MY TAKE: This team has problems that extend FAR BEYOND what we saw on the field yesterday. Team owner Stephen Ross has decisions to make, and it seems that the first one he will make is to get rid of GM Jeff Ireland. I think that whatever compromising photos Ireland had that allowed him to keep his job this long have been lost. He’s gone. I don’t really believe that anything will be gained or accomplished by firing Coach Joe Philbin, especially at midseason. This does not work in football. What this team needs is a general manager and a head coach that are on the same page, something that this hierarchy has not shown. Gotta make a change that includes both the GM and the coach, or at least, bring in a GM that can be on the same page when it comes to personnel decisions as the head coach. You need to bring in a new GM immediately, and keep Philbin at least through the end of the season. This would give the new GM the remainder of the season to evaluate Philbin while still on the job and then make a determination on whether or not to keep him going forward.
The bottom line is that the GM in an organization like the Dolphins should be able to show leadership and command the respect it needs from the players and coaches. How much respect can any player have for a GM who asked a rookie in a pre-draft interview (Dez Bryant) if his mother was a prostitute?
I am going to go out on a limb once again and say that the right guy to lead this front office is Dan Marino. Before you ask the obvious question - “Why would he leave the cushy job at CBS?” - here’s my opinion: Marino is as competitive as anyone, and the fact that his close friend John Elway has been as successful as he has been in Denver with the Broncos, has lit a competitive flame under Marino. During his stint with CBS, he has been able to observe what goes on with other teams and other players in the league. This may be the right time for him, but only he knows for sure if he really wants to do this. I truly hope he does.
The Fins’ next opportunity to right this wayward ship is Sunday, here at the Seven Names Stadium, at 4:05 pm, against the San Diego Chargers. Hopefully, they will do it with a new GM at the helm.
This was a God-awful week in my picks, as I fell below .500 for the first time in more than four years. Record so far this season is 32-34-4 against the spread, and 41-29 straight up.
Here is this week’s NFL schedule, along with the latest lines:
THURSDAY
Indianapolis @ Tennessee +3 8:30 pm NFL NETWORK
SUNDAY
Washington @ Philadelphia -4 1:00 pm FOX
Detroit @ Pittsburgh +1 1:00 pm FOX
Atlanta @ Tampa Bay +1 1:00 pm FOX
Arizona @ Jacksonville +7 1:00 pm FOX
NY Jets @ Buffalo -1 1:00 pm CBS
Oakland @ Houston -7 1:00 pm CBS
Baltimore @ Chicago -3 1:00 pm CBS
Cleveland @ Cincinnati -6 1:00 pm CBS
San Diego @ Miami +1 4:05 pm CBS
San Francisco @ New Orleans -3 4:25 pm FOX
Green Bay @ NY Giants -6 4:25 pm FOX
Minnesota @ Seattle -13 4:25 pm FOX
Kansas City @ Denver -8 8:30 pm NBC
MONDAY NIGHT
New England @ Carolina -3 8:30 pm ESPN
Here’s ESPN’s NFL Nation Blog, with more news from all around the league:
Of course, we can all continue to sleep at night, knowing full well that Aaron Hernandez remains in jail, where he belongs.
In college football, the University of Miami will try and recover from two straight blowout losses that have dropped them almost out of the top-25 rankings as they visit Duke this Saturday. Game time against the Blue Devils is 3:30 pm, and it will be televised by ESPN-U.
Manny Navarro and Susan Miller Degnan have more from Coral Gables:
The FIU Panthers will be on the road again, to take on the UTEP at 8:00 pm on Saturday. No TV or radio.
Here’s all the latest from FIU, courtesy of David J. Neal:
Here’s the latest from Tallahassee and #2-ranked FSU:
From Gainesville and the University of Florida:
Here are the NCAA Football rankings for this week:
Here is the complete schedule in College Football for week 12, including TV listings:
Moving to the hardwood,
The Heat took it out on the Milwaukee Bucks last night, defeating them handily 118-95. LeBron James led the way with 33 points. The Heat return to the hardwood on Friday, again here at the AAA, against the Dallas Mavericks at 7:30 pm. They will then travel to Charlotte to take on the Bobcats on Saturday at 7:00 pm.
Here is the Heat’s complete regular season schedule:
On the NHL ice, George Richards has all the latest on the Panthers:
In soccer news,
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I’m selling three lots totaling a little over five acres in the beautiful North Carolina mountains, overlooking the New River, a quick 35-minute drive from Boone and Blowing Rock. Click here to see some photos and feel free to contact me if you have any questions:
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THE ANSWER TO TODAY’S TRIVIA QUESTION: Which major league team has the most Manager of the Year winners with 5?
The Chicago White Sox - Tony LaRussa (1983), Jeff Torborg (1990), Gene Lamont (1993), Jerry Manuel (2000), and Ozzie Guillen (2005).
Behave yourselves, and always remember that tomorrow will bring us a brand new day.
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