Browns 27 Rams 20

The following are my thoughts on today's win over the Rams:

1. Derek Anderson had another solid day throwing 3 td's and not turning the ball over he is showing that he is growing in leaps and bounds as a player. You can tell in some of his throws how his confidence is growing in leaps and bounds. It is scary to think how close he was to getting waived in training camp.


2. The big negative for me in today's game was the way we started. If we want to be a playoff team we have to come out strong. Because when we score early it takes the opponents running game out of the equation.


3. I love how we used all three running backs today. They all our different kinds of backs and really give a defensive coordinator fits.


4. You could really see today after we got the passing game how the running game really got going and the holes started to open up.


5. Give the offensive line credit again though on opening up the holes and keeping Derek Anderson clean in the pocket.


6. Braylon Edwards had an excellent day today. It really seemed like he could of caught the ball at will anytime he wanted today. The only negative was his drop that could have salted the game away today. But with that being said, Braylon is well on his way to being in Honolulu for the pro bowl. Also, Derek Anderson deserves consideration for the pro bowl.


7. I know the defense game up lots of yardage today, but when they needed a play to win the game they got it. Also, they only gave up 2 field goals after the first quarter. But we are going to need a bigger performance out of them next week against Seattle.

Tribe 7 Red Sox 3

The Cleveland Indians took a commanding 3 games to 1 lead tonight with a 7-3 victory over the Boston Red Sox at Jacobs Field. Here are my thoughts on tonight's game:

1. Paul Byrd came through win a solid start tonight. He was a big key in that he matched 0's with Wakefield and wouldn't let the Tribe fall behind. He really only had one inning in the first five where he fell into trouble. I thought he did get tired in the 6th inning but I think the 30 minutes sitting in the dugout had something to do with it. But give Byrd credit he has given his team a big lift in his last two starts.


2. Nice job by Jensen Lewis and Betancourt of pitching 4 innings of quality relief. I would have liked to see Rafael Perez get some work tonight, but you cant fault Eric Wedge for going with the hot hand tonight.


3. I love the quiet confidence this team plays with. You could tell just by the look in the player's eyes in the dugout and in the field that they fully expected to win tonight.


4. I think the off day will be a good thing for the Indians with giving the bullpen a day of rest and there will be no hangover from tonight's game.


5. The fans tonight were tremendous and have had a huge impact on the game the last two nights and have been much louder and more intimidating than those idiot Red Sox and Rockies fans.


6. Big props go to the Tribe hitters because they kept a solid approach against Tim Wakefield and didn't let the knuckleball get to them. Hitting coach Derek Shelton deserves a lot of credit for this as well.


7. I really believe that if we can get a lead early against Beckett on Thursday night we will be in really good shape. Because you don't want to give the Red Sox any hope because they can turn things around in a big way.

Tribe 4 Red Sox 2

The Cleveland Indians took a 2-1 series lead in their ALCS series with the Boston Red Sox tonight at Jacobs Field. Here are my thoughts on the game:

1. Jake Westbrook was great tonight. He was locked in with getting numerous ground ball outs and worked out of a key jam in the second inning that was the turning point in the game. The key thing with this rotation is that your going to get professional outings out of all four starters.
2. Another key in tonight's game was Jensen Lewis getting a big strikeout over Pedroia in the 7th inning. This really stopped the momentum the Red Sox had with the Varitek homer to cut the lead to two.
3. Rafael Betancourt was locked in and worked a 1-2-3 inning in the 8th and this was really where the save was had.
4. I have said before but tonight pointed out that if you can keep the Boston 3, 4, 5 hitters off the bases you will beat the Red Sox.
5. You have to love the Indians chances tomorrow night against a guy who hasn't faced live action in 22 days. I fully expect Paul Byrd to give a good outing. I'm not a big believer in momentum but has been clear the last two nights the Tribe is the better team.

Tribe 13 Red Sox 6

The Cleveland Indians pulled even tonight in their American League Championship Series tonight at Fenway Park. Here are my thoughts on tonight's big win:

1. Fausto Carmona was not sharp tonight and only lasted 4 innings. I thought he had good stuff tonight but his command was lacking. He along with Rafael Perez but the bullpen in a bad spot but the club rose above it.


2. After Perez came out of the game the bullpen was awesome tonight and was a huge difference in the game. Jensen Lewis, Betancourt,Mastny, and Borwoski were outstanding.


3. I along with a lot of people were clamoring for another bullpen arm at the trading deadline and when you watch Tom Mastny go 1,2,3 in the 10th and then you see Eric Gagne throw up all over himself you have to wonder what do us fans really know. I guess we can cue up the Brian Billick quote "This is why players play, coaches coach, and managers manage".


4. How satisfying was it tonight to see the bean people leaving Fenway while the game was still going on. I thought these were the greatest fans in baseball.


5. Another big key in tonight's game was Grady Sizemore's play. He really led the club from an offensive standpoint and the rest of the team seemed to follow.


6. Can the Trot Nixon bashers please go away now. I think this will finally put him into the good graces of all Tribe fans.


7. To show the kind of team this two of the biggest contributions tonight were by Trot Nixon and Tom Mastny.


8. Another key tonight was that Eric Wedge out managed Terry Francona. He did well to manage to get 7 innings of relief out of the bullpen.

Tribe 6 Yankees 4

The Cleveland Indians are headed to the American League Championship Series as they eliminated the New York Yankees three games to one. Here are my thoughts on the game and the series win:

1. Paul Byrd came through in a big way with a gritty pitching performance. He battled and kept the Yankees off balance with his guts and guile. He also proved Eric Wedge to be a genius for starting him in this big game.


2. Grady got the club started tonight with a big lead off homer and it really set the tone as the Yankees were always battling uphill tonight and in the series.


3. Rafael Perez wasn't as dominant as he has been in the past but he made some big pitches to get out of some jams. He was a big part in winning the series. Rafael Betancourt steadied the fort in the 8th with his pinpoint control. Plus, it just wouldn't of seemed right if Joe Borowski to have him pitch a 1-2-3 inning.


4. The timely hitting in this series had a huge impact on the series and had to be deflating to the Yankees. This also bodes well for us in the next series.


5. The thing that is so special about this Indians team you cant really name one or two guys who were a MVP of the series. It was a total team effort from the batting, defense, and pitching.


6. Eric Wedge and the whole coaching staff deserve a lot of credit. They had the team prepared from the first pitch of game 1. This team plays with the confidence of its manager.


7. One note on the Yankees. Joe Torre is a class act and it was very nice and touching to see him heap praise on the Indians. Mr. Torre deserves a much better fate than he is receiving from his ownership.


8. This win is so gratifying in that it shuts up the National Media who never gave us a chance in this series. I also believe the more you count this team out the harder they play.

The Indians will now head on to the American League Championship Series against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on Friday night. The pitching match up will be CC Sabathia vs. Josh Beckett.

Yankees 8 Tribe 4

The Cleveland Indians lost Game 3 of their AL Division Series tonight at Yankee Stadium. Here are my thoughts on tonight's game:

1. Jake Westbrook started and was effective for 4 innings before the Yankees caught up to him in the 5th inning. I know Jake was effective early but he still didn't throw enough of strikes.
2. Trot Nixon got the surprise start tonight which I was OK with since he had great success against Clemens and game through with 2 hits and 2 RBI's but gave those runs back with his error. I know other people who hate the guy wont like the move but I wont go crazy either way.
3. The bullpen was effective again. I really think all we will need is 5 quality innings out of Paul Byrd tonight and then go to the quartet of Lewis, Perez, Betancourt, and Borowski.
4. I know the national media will say the Yankees got their offense back on track but to me I wouldn't be so sure. Also, I like the way we did battle when we were down five runs.
5. In this series I have always felt the magic number of runs for a win would be 5 and I still feel that way going to tomorrow night. I seriously hope Wedge takes the initiative and treats it as a must win game.

Tribe 2 Yankees 1 (11 innings)

The Cleveland Indians took a commanding two game lead tonight in their division series with the New York Yankees in heart stopping fashion. Here are my thoughts on the game:

1. What a performance by Fausto Carmona tonight. You run out of adjectives when describing his performance. It is among the greatest pitching performances in a postseason game for a Cleveland Indians pitcher. It seemed he got stronger as the game went on and was determined not to let us lose tonight.


2. I know we were feeble in our attempts to get a run in tonight, but you have to like how every inning we were relentless and kept pushing the envelope.


3. The national media and the Yankee fans will claim that we won because of the bugs in the 8th inning. But i simply say we didn't let the critters get us out of our game. Then you hear Yankee players still moaning about it. Its part of the conditions deal with it.


4. The crowd was excellent the first two games of this series and had a huge impact on getting the victories. Ive heard other raucous ballparks this postseason but none as loud as the Jake.


5. If you were going to give a MVP for the first two games of the series, I think you would have to give serious consideration to Rafael Perez. He has pitched four perfect innings of relief against the supposed best lineup in baseball.


6. I also think its time the fans and the national media give Eric Wedge a boatload of credit. He has clearly out managed Joe Torre in this series.

The Indians will now head to the Bronx to try and finish off the sweep as Jake Westbrook faces Fat Boy Roger Clemens at 6:30 pm on Sunday night.

Tribe 12 Yankees 3

The Cleveland Indians started the postseason in an outstanding way with a big 12-3 win over the Yankees tonight at Jacobs Field:

1. CC wasn't great but was good enough tonight. He made enough pitches to keep the ball club in the game. I loved the way he kept his composure on a night when Bruce Froemming had a microscopic strike zone.



2. By the way, Froemming it is about time you retire. It was absurd that this guy is a home plate umpire in the opening game of a playoff series.



3. The Indians showed growth tonight in that they came right back at the Yankees every time the Yankees put runs on the board. The big thing is that how does this club play after a big win. You have to feel good with Carmona on the mound.



4. A big key tonight was that the marquee players for the Tribe stept up and had big nights and the marquee players for the Yankees had disappointing nights.

The Tribe gets back at it tomorrow with Game 2 as the Fausto Carmona faces Andy Pettitte.

Browns 27 Ravens 13

Here are my thoughts on Sunday's big win:

1. The Browns were prepared right from the start of the game and Romeo and his whole coaching staff deserve all the accolades for this win. He should be lauded for winning two division games which is something he was criticized for in the past. I believe if he guides this team to a 7 or 8 win season and keeps his job he will look back at this win as a job saving win.


2. Also, accolades should go to both coordinators. I called out Todd Grantham last week and he came with a good game plan and made the Ravens work for what they got. He was astute in knowing that the Ravens aren't going to beat you going up the field 5 yards at a time without giving up the big play. I still would like to see us get more pressure on the quarterback.


3. Great game plan by Chud in that he attacked early which did open up the running game. I think he has shown the ability to be the best offensive play caller since Lindy Infante. I love how he went for the jugular after going up 7-0, he went up top for the big touchdown pass to Braylon Edwards. Baltimore was never the same after this.


4. Great job by the fans in making their voices heard. This was one of the more satisfying wins in that in the third quarter you could sit and relax and know we were going to get the victory.


5. Derek Anderson wasn't great but he was solid and besides the one pick he really made some good decisions and had some nice throws to K2.


6. Speaking of Winslow, he had a great game playing with a bum shoulder. I really feel like he is becoming the vocal leader on offense along with Jamal Lewis.


7. Yardage wise Jamal Lewis didn't have a great game but he did run hard and made the Ravens honor the run and not play pass coverage all day. I really felt like the Ravens were hell bent on not letting Jamal beat them and it allowed Braylon and K2 to have great days.


8. I also wanted to spotlight that on offense Josh Cribbs had a nice day with a return to the 40 yard line that set up the ball club in great field position to start the day. Also, Jason Wright had some nice runs on a couple of draws which helped the offense put points on the board.


9. Willie McGinest had a nice day in his return to the field and really made his presence felt in being a stabilizing force to the other players on defense. Also, Eric Wright had a much better day and hopefully this will help his play improve.


10. With the Patriots next on our schedule, I don't expect us to go into Foxboro and win. But I just want to see a good effort and let it all out their on the field. It will be a great measuring stick to see how much better we have gotten since week 1.

My game balls go to:

1. Whole Coaching staff


2. Kellen Winslow


3. Offensive Line