We’re a big supporter of salary caps, mainly so fans in every city can believe.
They can feel like they have a shot at a championship, if their team is managed right.
But we’ve got to admit, watching the New York Yankees — who spend more than $201 million on players compared to the second place Mets at $135 million — is pretty special.
Unless you’re watching from the Philadelphia Phillies dugout, of course.
Cole Hamels, last year’s World Series MVP, is so befuddled this post-season, the lefty is already musing about how he "can't wait for (the season) to end."
Brad Lidge, briefly back on his horse after an awful regular season, fell off big-time in Game 4 Sunday night, blowing the game in the top of the ninth.
"And now," writes Philly Daily News columnist Rich Hofmann, "the Phillies need (Game 5 starter) Cliff Lee to save them, which used to be Brad Lidge's job."
And can you not see the body language in the Phillies dugout when Mariano Rivera jogs out of the bullpen? They don’t need to wave a white flag. You can see it in the Phillies’ eyes.
Who would have thought it: This Series may not even return to New York.
PROCESS CHEEZE
We’ve covered Ron Wilson teams for long enough to spot a recurring element these days in his relationship with the Toronto media.
The head coach, who always enjoyed the process of dealing with the media — the back and forth, the story telling — is losing patience with the Toronto throng. He is not enjoying the process at all anymore.
The sessions are getting shorter and morecurt, and November is only beginning.
Nobody says the head coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs has to be buddy-buddy with the press. But the reality of the job is, standing in front of likely the largest gathering of media — it is a toss-up with Montreal — is part of the daily job description.
But the losing and the Phil Kessel speculation is clearly grating on Wilson.
"Phil hasn’t played in six months," Wilson said after Saturday night’s loss in Montreal, when innocently asked a legitimate question about Kessel’s status. "I know everybody is going to think he’s going to score six goals on the first night. I don’t expect that, if he does play on Tuesday. We’ve just got to remember that he hasn’t played in six months. He hasn’t even had an exhibition game or anything under his belt, so we’ll be very patient when he does play."
Wilson knows that no one expects Kessel to be much help for the first month, much less that he would have a Darryl Sittler night in his debut as a Leaf. But the coach is on edge.
So, what’s really bugging him?
How about the fact his general manager, Brian Burke, made way too much noise about the Maple Leafs being a playoff team. But then the season started, and now it’s Wilson who has to stand in front of the microphones every day and answer for a roster that Burke oversold.
NOTHING TO "C"
One more thing on Leafs-Habs:
It was that rare meeting between two proud Original Six franchises, neither of whom has allowed itself to name a captain yet this young season. In a matchup positively oozing with Canadian hockey history, we are not sure whether to think that the lack of captain material is testimony to the quality of these two rosters, or to compliment both organizations on how well they protect the honour of wearing that "C."
They won’t just give away the "C" because the season has started. When the right man comes along, or proves himself, then the time will be right.
What we do know for sure though, is that Montreal has become the loudest, most electric building in the NHL. We’d forgotten what an experience a game at the Bell Centre is. The Canadiens’ game production sets a new standard.
FIFTY FIFTY HERE!
In 14 Washington Capitals games, Alexander Ovechkin leads the league both in points (23) and goals (14).
In his quest for 50 goals in 50 games, he was right on track before leaving Sunday’s game with an unknown upper body injury.
There isn’t a player in the league with a more acute flair for the dramatic, and somehow, it has even played out on the Caps’ schedule: Washington’s 50th game of the season will be played on Jan. 21 — in Pittsburgh.
Could you imagine Ovechkin going into Sid Crosby’s house needing a goal or two to be the first player to score 50 in 50 since Bret Hull did it in 1992?
(Note: In 1992–93 Alex Mogilny of the Buffalo Sabres scored his 50th goal in his 46th game of the season, the team’s 53rd game. In 1993–94 Cam Neely of the Boston Bruins scored his 50th goal in his 44th game, the team’s 66th game.)
It would be pure magic.