Monday Night Thoughts

Let's take a look at the happening of this Monday....

- It was a bad day to be a NFL coach as Miami's Tony Sparano and Kansas City's Todd Haley were shown the door. There are so many high-profile coaches sitting on the sidelines right now, both teams need to make some calls. However, Haley didn't deserve his fate since basically all of the good Chiefs players got hurt and ended up on injured reserve. He will turn up next I see as the new Bears offensive coordinator in 2012.
- This business with Chris Paul continues to drag on as a trade to the Clippers were knocked down today but reports tonight are saying that there is a new push to get a trade done with the Staples Center's other team. Get it done and over with already! In the meantime, the Clippers claimed Chauncey Billups off waivers. I guess that's the backup plan.
- Now, a classic example of pay attention to what your spouse is saying. Albert Pujols' wife Diedre went on St. Louis radio today to explain how Pujols would have stayed with the Cardinals for less money but the Cards only offered a five-year deal to begin negotiations. I don't know how much I believe of this but if it is true, that is definitely a key development. A 5-year deal in my opinion would be enough but Pujols I figure wanted one long deal to end his career and that is what he got with the Angels.
- Elsewhere in the NL Central, the Brewers have signed former Cubs 3B Aramis Ramirez. This figures to fill the void offensively with Prince Fielder likely out of town and could be headed to Chicago. I think a lot of Cubs fans would trade a Fielder-for-Ramirez deal. In Milwaukee though, Ramirez will probably need to carry the load for the first 2 months with Ryan Braun on suspension more than likely. This is not one of the best qualities of Ramirez though, will be interesting to see what happens.
- With Ramirez now in the fold, the Brewers traded Casey McGehee to the Pirates. If McGehee can get back his 2010 form, Pittsburgh may get to the .500 mark in 2012. The talent level on that team with Andrew McCutchen, Pedro Alvarez and Neil Walker is way up there and better than a lot of young groups. McGehee will probably play first base for the Pirates and spell Alvarez at third.

That's tonight's opinions, things are always breaking so more in the morning......

It's Late Night in Blogland

Sitting at the desk late tonight, let's go...

- Just after I posted the morning report, reports begin flying that Albert Pujols and CJ Wilson have signed with the Angels. A war has developed now between the Angels and Rangers for the AL West crown, this should be interesting. Pujols gets over $250 million while Wilson gets $77 million, would be nice to make that kind of money.
- Also on Thursday, the Cubs traded Tyler Colvin to Colorado for Ian Stewart. North Siders needed a 3rd baseman with Aramis Ramirez now gone. This is a big risk for a Cub team that wants defense and there is no doubt Stewart won't match Ramirez's production offensively.
- Very interesting news in the NBA as the New Orleans Hornets were going to trade star point guard Chris Paul to the Lakers but one problem, the NBA owns the Hornets right now and killed the trade. David Stern wants competitive balance but I'm not sure if he should be sticking his nose in this.

That's it for tonight, more in the morning

Thursday, Nov. 3

Here are today's topics.....

- We brought up the Cubs yesterday with the completion of the "Dream Team" front office. Now Theo and company have fired Mike Quade. Theo wants a manager with some major league managing or coaching experience so that leaves Ryne Sandberg out of the mix.....so who will be the next Cubs manager? I'll give you two names that I think it will be. You are looking at either Terry Francona or Dale Sveum. Sveum being the former Brewers legend, let the guessing game begin.
- We shall continue the baseball conversation with these three free agent predictions....Pujols remains in St. Louis, Fielder goes to the Cubs and Aramis Ramirez is a Tiger next season. Pujols is this generation's Stan Musial in St. Louis, he's not leaving. Prince doesn't want to leave the Central and can go just 90 miles down the road and Detroit really needs a 3B. Put Ramirez in there with Cabrera and Martinez and watch out.
- So the Capitals' coaching staff decided that Alex Ovechkin didn't need to be on the ice late in regulation Tuesday night...this move will backfire. Only time will time when.
- The NBA lockout is still going on.....
- NFL season is near at the midpoint, two things are for sure I figure.....The Packers will be the NFC rep in Super Bowl XLI and the No. 1 pick or the "Luck" of the draw will go to Miami. The Dolphins have 1-15 written all over them right now.
- On the draft note, if Indianapolis finishes with the No. 1 pick. I feel very confident San Francisco will be calling to try to get that pick with former Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh in charge. What it would take to get it is anyone's guess but figure on some packages that involves at least 4 draft picks, 3 of which in the first round.

Fantasy Player of the Day: Toronto LW Joffrey Lupul
Lupul scored a hat trick, all in the second period as the Maple Leafs hit the road for a 5-3 win over the Devils.

Matchup to Watch: Florida St. at Boston College, 7 p.m. (CT), ESPN
The Seminoles need a win to stay in the chase in the ACC Atlantic Division and hope that Clemson slips up again at some point the rest of the way.

This Day in History: Nov. 3, 1989
Lou Pinella takes over as manager of the Cincinnati Reds after Pete Rose is banned from baseball forever. Pinella would lead the Reds to a World Series title in his first year at the helm in 1990, sweeping the Oakland A's.