tonytalkssports My Take on Sports, particularly the Yankees, Maple Leafs and Browns

Tuesday’s Thoughts

While wondering why it seems every year I end up with one of my fantasy teams having Aramis Ramirez on its roster, here is what's on my mind this morning:

* Well the Peyton Manning sweepstakes is over as he is reportedly going to sign with the Denver Broncos. This certainly will change the dynamics of the AFC West. The Broncos not only will be a legitimate contender in the division but with Manning they also become a threat in the AFC. Look to see more Bronco games on national TV.

* When you look at the division, pressure will be squarely on the underachieving San Diego Chargers. Phillip Rivers and Company have not produced and with Manning in the division they best be ready to play come September instead of waiting until mid-November.

* Manning is the best quarterback John Fox has ever coached and it will be interesting to see how he handles the future Hall of Famer. The biggest casualties in all of this are Tim Tebow and the Miami Dolphins. The once-proud Miami franchise is having a difficult time attracting free agents. They struck out on Manning and also struck out on Matt Flynn. Missing out on Flynn is stunning since Dolphin Head Caoch Joe Philbin was Flynn's offensive coordinator in Green Bay. Does this mean that Tim Tebow goes to the Dolphins?? No, David Garrard signed with Miami. Rumblings are Tebow could end up in Jacksonville. But one report had the Jaguars not necessarily enamored with the former Gator. Two possibilities: New Orleans and New England.

* While teams like Chicago, Denver, Buffalo, Washington and others improve themselves through free agency, there sit the Cleveland Browns who let go more players than they signed. Boy, I can't wait for another season of Browns Football.

* Andy Pettite's return to the Yankees still has me shocked. The big lefty was surely missed last season and somehow I don't see the Yanks losing Game 5 at home with Pettite on the mound. If he can pitch like he did in 2010, the Yankee rotation will be pretty solid. The best thing about Pettite is that he knows how to win.

* One guy who might take lessons from Pettite is Ivan Nova. Sunday night Nova was less than stellar the first two innings of his four inning outing. His calling out of the young catcher, Gustavo Molina, was classless from a young man who has not earned his stripes in the big leagues as a pitcher. In my mind, he is the odd man out of the rotation to start the season.

* I have taken Brian Cashman to task many times but he deserves credit for what he has done in this off season. Not only has he upgraded the starting rotation, he has also provided a strong bench for Joe "The Binder" Girardi. This may be the best bench that the Yankees have had to start the season in a long, long time.

* As a Maple Leafs fan there is not much to say other than totally embarassed over last night's 8-0 whipping at the hands of the Boston Bruins. The Leafs have been terrible all year against the Bruins, being outscored 36-10. Not only did they get beat all year on the scoreboard but they also got beat physically.

* I am really tired of the constant drumbeat on the part of certain Toronto media types and Leaf fans for Brian Burke's removal as President and General Manager. The article below from Dobber Hockey says it all as far as I'm concerned. All I can say to the critics is: be careful what you wish for.

http://www.dobberhockey.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4495:state-of-the-toronto-maple-leafs&catid=3:dobber&Itemid=96

* If Sunday's game between the Philadelphia Flyers and Pittsburgh Penguins is a prelude to an opening round playoff series between these two teams, we are in for a memorable one. These two teams generally hate each other. Both of these 2 teams are legitimate Cup contenders and the Battle of Pennsylvannia is going to be fun to watch.

* Finally, can anyone remember when the New York Mets were relevant???