Thoughts for a Monday

•  To Harbaugh at Michigan:  Some people close their eyes, swing as hard as they can, and luck out and get a triple.  But those imposters can't find a way to bring it home.
• Not that Ohio State did that well in its bowl game.   There is a difference between winning an exciting game and playing well.   Ohio State should have crushed Utah.  
• Hopefully Knowles arrival will help Ohio State/s defense.  I will say this, however.   Not every coach can juggle the expectations of an Ohio State football coach, the expectations that this defense will drastically improve based on Knowles' track record and the fact that he recruited ZERO of these players.    I cannot tell you how many times a college coach came into a situation where success was demanded and that coach pushed out or alienated players causing them to leave.   To anyone who thinks Knowles will just come in and magically change the players he has been given to fit his system, think again.    With the open door transfer portal being in place, realize that this situation can get worse before it gets better.  
• It was indicated that the Buckeyes would not be pursuing transfer Elias Ricks partially because their fear that the DB room could start to have defections like the QB room did.   With Lathan Ransom's injury do we think that will change?   This is the problem with trying to stack too many guys in any one class.  If guys feel like competition is being added unfairly they can just leave now.   And I don't blame them.   How many people stay n a job when they have a glass ceiling?
• I don't know of one writer, reporter or fan who is still on board with Baker Mayfield being the Browns quarterback next year if there is a viable alternative.   His performance against Green Bay last week was pathetic.  His comments, those of his wife and his lack of performance speak to him being the runt of the litter of quarterbacks in the NFL and that he is trying to gain respect by screaming into the wind instead of either accepting his limitations, getting better or getting retired.
• Ohio State basketball is like Ohio State football.   They do not appear to be an over-achieving team.   I think they will easily make the tournament but, like last year, stand a good chance to be upset in the first round and don't have the ability to make it to the sweet 16.
• This is an interesting year for Dennis Gates and the Cleveland State Vikings basketball team.  The team to beat in the Horizon League is Oakland.   Maybe Cleveland State's experience ends up helping them win the league tournament but, on paper, Oakland has performed more like the team I though Cleveland State would be than Cleveland State has.
• I finally got a chance to watch Cleveland State's women's team and as a former baller and long-time basketball fan, I don't think the Viking's coach did a good job at all in the game against Youngstown State.   Their stud player Destiny Leo started almost every touch 30 feet from the basket being hounded by a small, tenacious defender.   That's the key, really.   If they had just posted Leo up against this opponent I think she could have scored at will and gotten the girl in foul trouble.  This is an in-game adjustment that a good coach should make and it didn't happen.   Worse, they continued to allow the other team's center to score inside.   Youngstown had one 3-point threat.   It's not hard to guard against a center and one three point shooter.  Yet Cleveland State did neither.

Now, to what this blog is about: baseball

• I said it before and am saying this again.  Other teams are signing minor league free agents and the Guardians really aren't.   The team that can sign the most quality minor league free agents will have a huge leg up when we come out of this lockdown as those guys can go to camp and will be closer to game shape.
• If the Indians are not gathering all their star, non-roster minor leaguers in Arizona for the rest of the winter they are missing the boat.  Teams that give these young guys extra reps now will benefit later in the year when these guys become ML ready.   The Indians have done a good job accelerating the development of their young prospects but now, more than ever, they need to push down the accerator and put all their resources into these young kids.
• Let's hope there is no Rule 5 draft this year.   I really think that guys we might lose could be important pieces on the major league team or, if we get them to Arizona right now, could be important trade chips.   
• As far as the negotiations, let me refresh on what needs to be done:
• Universal DH
• No Rule 5 draft w/alterations to the minor league free agent structure (24 years old in signed before 19, 25 years old if 19 or over when signed.  
• No 4th option for any player (keep the super 2 arbitration thing)
• $1 million minimum salary for major league rookies
• Increase luxury tax limit to $250 million
• Set a bottom team salary to $100 million with contract offers as part of extensions to existing players (2 or more years with your team) being counted as part of that number.
• Some method of having minimum salary for veterans being based on performance instead of years of service.
• Modify draft pick assignment so teams don't try to tank but give all teams that don't qualify for the playoffs an extra draft pick after the third round of the draft, in order based on worst record.
• Free agency/qualifying offers remains the same but no loss of draft picks by signing team.
• Roster limits remain the same with one change.   Once your team is officially eliminated from the playoffs they can add an additional 2 players to their roster for the rest of the season.