Twins won’t use boost from new park to fund spending spree

Although the Twins should get a financial boost from the new Target Field, the Star Tribune of Minneapolis-St. Paul reported the team won’t dramatically ramp up its spending. The Twins still have needs at second base and third base, but the newspaper noted they also have to sign catcher Joe Mauer to a long-term extension.

In addition, first baseman Justin Morneau, closer Joe Nathan and right fielder Michael Cuddyer all will make more than $10 million this season. A handful of other Twins also will get substantial raises from 2009. Thus, the team has been conservative this offseason.

In other Twins news, the St. Paul Pioneer Press reported left-hander Francisco Liriano has been impressive in winter ball. "I just got a report that he’s throwing the living fire out of the ball down in the Dominican (Republic)," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire told the newspaper.

After going 12-3 with a 2.16 ERA as a rookie in 2006, Liriano missed all of 2007 season because of Tommy John surgery. In his first full season back in the majors in 2009, he went 5-13 with a 5.80 ERA.

The newspaper reported Liriano will compete with Brian Duensing and Glen Perkins for the fifth spot in the Twins’ rotation this season.

Although the Twins should get a financial boost from the new Target Field, the Star Tribune of Minneapolis-St. Paul reported the team won’t dramatically ramp up its spending. The Twins still have needs at second base and third base, but the newspaper noted they also have to sign catcher Joe Mauer to a long-term extension.

In addition, first baseman Justin Morneau, closer Joe Nathan and right fielder Michael Cuddyer all will make more than $10 million this season. A handful of other Twins also will get substantial raises from 2009. Thus, the team has been conservative this offseason.

In other Twins news, the St. Paul Pioneer Press reported left-hander Francisco Liriano has been impressive in winter ball. "I just got a report that he’s throwing the living fire out of the ball down in the Dominican (Republic)," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire told the newspaper.

After going 12-3 with a 2.16 ERA as a rookie in 2006, Liriano missed all of 2007 season because of Tommy John surgery. In his first full season back in the majors in 2009, he went 5-13 with a 5.80 ERA.

The newspaper reported Liriano will compete with Brian Duensing and Glen Perkins for the fifth spot in the Twins’ rotation this season.

Cowboys silence boisterous DeSean Jackson on the field

IRVING, Texas –The Eagle has tweeted. But at this point, the Dallas Cowboys prefer to let their actions against Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeSean Jackson do the talking.
 
After his team got shut out 24-0 at Dallas on Sunday, Philadelphia’s speedy big-play machine was quick to respond on his Twitter page — in so many words that the Eagles would come back to "sting the Cowboys in the backside" Saturday night in the first-round playoff game.
 
Such salvos aren’t new for the confident Jackson, but for the Eagles back up his bold statement he must make some noise on the field.
 
In two games against Dallas, Nov. 8 and Jan. 3, the Cowboys limited Jackson to a combined five catches for 76 yards and no touchdowns. And he was limited to only 18 yards on punt returns.
 
No team has done a better job of containing the Pro Bowler.
 
One of several players responsible for causing that anemic output is Cowboys cornerback Orlando Scandrick, Jackson’s former high school rival in Southern California. Scandrick knows it will be a challenge to contain Jackson a third time.
 
"He’s a competitor," Scandrick said. "He’s got an edge to him."
 
The Cowboys have used a team effort to limit Jackson’s impact. The preparation and communication have been there for all levels of the defense, not just the secondary. The pass rush has limited Donovan McNabb’s time to locate his best deep threat, backing it up with cover men who kept Jackson in front of them.
 
"They’ve been trying to eliminate the big play, and they’ve been very successful with it," McNabb said.
 
To keep Jackson from hitting home runs, it’s a two-step process. The first requires a sound coverage scheme where cornerbacks get consistent help over the top. Because the Cowboys have been effective in both rushing McNabb and stopping the Eagles’ running game with just their front seven, it has allowed safeties Ken Hamlin and Gerald Sensabaugh to patrol the deep halves.
 
The key is everyone maintaining coverage responsibilities yet also being able to close on Jackson—and rookie speedster Jeremy Maclin on the opposite side—while the ball is airborne.
 
"It’s (about) us being disciplined but still being aggressive," Hamlin said. "We have the corners who are aggressive enough to play those guys."
 
With a receiver as fast, as quick and as tough as Jackson, the Cowboys can’t afford to lose track of him.
 
"He has another gear when he gets the ball in his hands," Dallas inside linebacker Keith Brooking said. "He’s a guy you’re conscious of on every play, and what they’re trying to do with him."
 
Because of how they’ve stopped the long pass, the Cowboys can expect the Eagles to call more plays such as wide receiver screens and reverses to get the ball to Jackson quickly and allow him to accelerate into the open field.
 
The Eagles say they aren’t frustrated by what Dallas has done to slow Jackson, but the Philly coaches are surely focused on making sure he is a factor in the playoffs.
 
"They’ve done a great job against him," Eagles coach Andy Reid said. "It’s a matter of me putting him in the right position to make the plays."
 
This story appears in Jan. 6’s edition of Sporting News Today. If you are not receiving Sporting News Today, the only daily digital sports newspaper, sign up today.
 
Vinnie Iyer is a staff writer for Sporting News. Email him at viyer@sportingnews.com.
IRVING, Texas –The Eagle has tweeted. But at this point, the Dallas Cowboys prefer to let their actions against Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeSean Jackson do the talking.
 
After his team got shut out 24-0 at Dallas on Sunday, Philadelphia’s speedy big-play machine was quick to respond on his Twitter page — in so many words that the Eagles would come back to "sting the Cowboys in the backside" Saturday night in the first-round playoff game.
 
Such salvos aren’t new for the confident Jackson, but for the Eagles back up his bold statement he must make some noise on the field.
 
In two games against Dallas, Nov. 8 and Jan. 3, the Cowboys limited Jackson to a combined five catches for 76 yards and no touchdowns. And he was limited to only 18 yards on punt returns.
 
No team has done a better job of containing the Pro Bowler.
 
One of several players responsible for causing that anemic output is Cowboys cornerback Orlando Scandrick, Jackson’s former high school rival in Southern California. Scandrick knows it will be a challenge to contain Jackson a third time.
 
"He’s a competitor," Scandrick said. "He’s got an edge to him."
 
The Cowboys have used a team effort to limit Jackson’s impact. The preparation and communication have been there for all levels of the defense, not just the secondary. The pass rush has limited Donovan McNabb’s time to locate his best deep threat, backing it up with cover men who kept Jackson in front of them.
 
"They’ve been trying to eliminate the big play, and they’ve been very successful with it," McNabb said.
 
To keep Jackson from hitting home runs, it’s a two-step process. The first requires a sound coverage scheme where cornerbacks get consistent help over the top. Because the Cowboys have been effective in both rushing McNabb and stopping the Eagles’ running game with just their front seven, it has allowed safeties Ken Hamlin and Gerald Sensabaugh to patrol the deep halves.
 
The key is everyone maintaining coverage responsibilities yet also being able to close on Jackson—and rookie speedster Jeremy Maclin on the opposite side—while the ball is airborne.
 
"It’s (about) us being disciplined but still being aggressive," Hamlin said. "We have the corners who are aggressive enough to play those guys."
 
With a receiver as fast, as quick and as tough as Jackson, the Cowboys can’t afford to lose track of him.
 
"He has another gear when he gets the ball in his hands," Dallas inside linebacker Keith Brooking said. "He’s a guy you’re conscious of on every play, and what they’re trying to do with him."
 
Because of how they’ve stopped the long pass, the Cowboys can expect the Eagles to call more plays such as wide receiver screens and reverses to get the ball to Jackson quickly and allow him to accelerate into the open field.
 
The Eagles say they aren’t frustrated by what Dallas has done to slow Jackson, but the Philly coaches are surely focused on making sure he is a factor in the playoffs.
 
"They’ve done a great job against him," Eagles coach Andy Reid said. "It’s a matter of me putting him in the right position to make the plays."
 
This story appears in Jan. 6’s edition of Sporting News Today. If you are not receiving Sporting News Today, the only daily digital sports newspaper, sign up today.
 
Vinnie Iyer is a staff writer for Sporting News. Email him at viyer@sportingnews.com.

Red Sox working on deal that would send Kotchman to Mariners for Hall

A day after agreeing to a contract with Adrian Beltre, the Red Sox are working to ease their corner infield logjam.

Multiple media outlets are reporting that Boston is close to trading first baseman Casey Kotchman to Beltre’s former team, the Seattle Mariners, for utilityman Bill Hall, a minor leaguer and cash to cover a portion of Hall’s $8.4 million salary for 2010.

The trade is pending physicals and Beltre’s signing being finalized later this week, according to the Seattle Times.

Many believed Kotchman was expendable even before Beltre came aboard in Boston; the Red Sox had Kevin Youkilis at first base and Mike Lowell at third. The team unsuccessfully attempted to trade Lowell in December. It reportedly will try again once Lowell shows he has recovered from offseason surgery on his thumb.

Kotchman played in 39 games for the Red Sox after being acquired from the Atlanta Braves for first baseman Adam LaRoche before the July 31 nonwaiver deadline. He batted .218/.284/.287 in 95 plate appearances. Seattle will make Kotchman, 26, its full-time first baseman. The former Angels regular is a lifetime .269/.337/.406 hitter in parts of six major league seasons.

Hall played in 34 games for the Mariners last season after being released by the Brewers. Milwaukee is responsible for about $7 million of Hall’s salary this year.

A day after agreeing to a contract with Adrian Beltre, the Red Sox are working to ease their corner infield logjam.

Multiple media outlets are reporting that Boston is close to trading first baseman Casey Kotchman to Beltre’s former team, the Seattle Mariners, for utilityman Bill Hall, a minor leaguer and cash to cover a portion of Hall’s $8.4 million salary for 2010.

The trade is pending physicals and Beltre’s signing being finalized later this week, according to the Seattle Times.

Many believed Kotchman was expendable even before Beltre came aboard in Boston; the Red Sox had Kevin Youkilis at first base and Mike Lowell at third. The team unsuccessfully attempted to trade Lowell in December. It reportedly will try again once Lowell shows he has recovered from offseason surgery on his thumb.

Kotchman played in 39 games for the Red Sox after being acquired from the Atlanta Braves for first baseman Adam LaRoche before the July 31 nonwaiver deadline. He batted .218/.284/.287 in 95 plate appearances. Seattle will make Kotchman, 26, its full-time first baseman. The former Angels regular is a lifetime .269/.337/.406 hitter in parts of six major league seasons.

Hall played in 34 games for the Mariners last season after being released by the Brewers. Milwaukee is responsible for about $7 million of Hall’s salary this year.

Three-peats and playoffs: It has happened before

Saturday’s NFC playoff game between the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys marks the 20th time since the 1970 NFL-AFL merger teams have met a third time in a season — twice in the regular season and again in the playoffs.

Twelve of the matchups resulted in sweeps, the most recent being last season, when the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers met in the AFC championship game. The Steelers won 23-14 and went on to win the Super Bowl.

Dallas has failed in two previous attempts to pull off the three-peat. In 1998 they lost to the Cardinals; in 2007 they lost to the Giants, both part of the franchise’s 13-year postseason drought.

Vinnie Iyer looks deeper into Saturday’s 8 p.m. ET playoff game and how the Eagles and Cowboys got there.

Here’s a look at the 19 previous playoff games in which teams met for the third time in one season:

Year Season Playoffs
1982 Dolphins over Jets Won
1983 Seahawks over Raiders Lost
1986 Giants over Redskins Won
1989 Oilers over Steelers Lost
1991 Chiefs over Raiders Won
1992 Chiefs over Chargers Lost
1993 Raiders over Broncos Won
1994 Vikings over Bears Lost
1994 Steelers over Browns Won
1997 Patriots over Dolphins Won
1997 Packers over Buccaneers Won
1998 Cowboys over Cardinals Lost
1999 Titans over Jaguars Won
2000 Giants over Eagles Won
2002 Steelers over Browns Won
2004 Rams over Seahawks Won
2004 Packers over Vikings Lost
2007 Cowboys over Giants Lost
2008 Steelers over Ravens Won

This season, the Cowboys won twice against the Eagles:

Week 9: Cowboys 20, Eagles 16
Tony Romo threw a 49-yard TD pass to Austin midway through the fourth quarter to decide the 100th meeting between the division rivals. Romo finished 21 of 34 for 307 yards, one TD and one interception. 

The Cowboys began their go-ahead drive after stopping McNabb on fourth-and-inches at their 45. The Eagles challenged, but a replay upheld the original spot.
 
On third-and-14, Romo fooled Sheldon Brown with a pump-fake and hit a wide-open Austin down the left sideline to give Dallas a 20-13 lead.
 
"I gave them a little pump,” Romo said. "I thought they’d been jumping it a little and they went for it.”
 
David Akers kicked a 52-yard field goal to cut it to 20-16, but the Eagles never got the ball back. The Cowboys maintained possession the final 4:27. 

McNabb threw for 227 yards, one TD and was intercepted twice for the first time this season. 

Week 17: Cowboys 24, Eagles 0
Romo threw two early touchdown passes and the defense took over. The Cowboys won the NFC East to be host for a rematch in the first round of the playoffs. They also posted consecutive shutouts for the first time in team history, Romo and the entire offense setting all sorts of single-season records, having a winning record after Dec. 1 for the first time since 1996 and ending a nine-game losing streak in season finales.

McNabb threw for 223 yards and the Eagles gained just 228 overall. The Cowboys had 291 yards by halftime, on their way to gaining 474.

Philadelphia’s game-breaking receivers DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin failed to have any plays longer than 32 yards, and that was better than they did in the first matchup. The defense saw Romo go 24-of-34 for 311 yards

Saturday’s NFC playoff game between the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys marks the 20th time since the 1970 NFL-AFL merger teams have met a third time in a season — twice in the regular season and again in the playoffs.

Twelve of the matchups resulted in sweeps, the most recent being last season, when the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers met in the AFC championship game. The Steelers won 23-14 and went on to win the Super Bowl.

Dallas has failed in two previous attempts to pull off the three-peat. In 1998 they lost to the Cardinals; in 2007 they lost to the Giants, both part of the franchise’s 13-year postseason drought.

Vinnie Iyer looks deeper into Saturday’s 8 p.m. ET playoff game and how the Eagles and Cowboys got there.

Here’s a look at the 19 previous playoff games in which teams met for the third time in one season:

Year Season Playoffs
1982 Dolphins over Jets Won
1983 Seahawks over Raiders Lost
1986 Giants over Redskins Won
1989 Oilers over Steelers Lost
1991 Chiefs over Raiders Won
1992 Chiefs over Chargers Lost
1993 Raiders over Broncos Won
1994 Vikings over Bears Lost
1994 Steelers over Browns Won
1997 Patriots over Dolphins Won
1997 Packers over Buccaneers Won
1998 Cowboys over Cardinals Lost
1999 Titans over Jaguars Won
2000 Giants over Eagles Won
2002 Steelers over Browns Won
2004 Rams over Seahawks Won
2004 Packers over Vikings Lost
2007 Cowboys over Giants Lost
2008 Steelers over Ravens Won

This season, the Cowboys won twice against the Eagles:

Week 9: Cowboys 20, Eagles 16
Tony Romo threw a 49-yard TD pass to Austin midway through the fourth quarter to decide the 100th meeting between the division rivals. Romo finished 21 of 34 for 307 yards, one TD and one interception. 

The Cowboys began their go-ahead drive after stopping McNabb on fourth-and-inches at their 45. The Eagles challenged, but a replay upheld the original spot.
 
On third-and-14, Romo fooled Sheldon Brown with a pump-fake and hit a wide-open Austin down the left sideline to give Dallas a 20-13 lead.
 
"I gave them a little pump,” Romo said. "I thought they’d been jumping it a little and they went for it.”
 
David Akers kicked a 52-yard field goal to cut it to 20-16, but the Eagles never got the ball back. The Cowboys maintained possession the final 4:27. 

McNabb threw for 227 yards, one TD and was intercepted twice for the first time this season. 

Week 17: Cowboys 24, Eagles 0
Romo threw two early touchdown passes and the defense took over. The Cowboys won the NFC East to be host for a rematch in the first round of the playoffs. They also posted consecutive shutouts for the first time in team history, Romo and the entire offense setting all sorts of single-season records, having a winning record after Dec. 1 for the first time since 1996 and ending a nine-game losing streak in season finales.

McNabb threw for 223 yards and the Eagles gained just 228 overall. The Cowboys had 291 yards by halftime, on their way to gaining 474.

Philadelphia’s game-breaking receivers DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin failed to have any plays longer than 32 yards, and that was better than they did in the first matchup. The defense saw Romo go 24-of-34 for 311 yards

Matt Holliday agrees to seven-year, $120 million contract with St. Louis Cardinals

ST. LOUIS — Matt Holliday is staying with the St. Louis Cardinals, agreeing Tuesday to a $120 million, seven-year contract that is baseball’s richest deal of the offseason.

The middle of the Cards' order is secure with Matt Holliday's return to St. Louis.
The middle of the Cards’ order is secure with Matt Holliday’s return to St. Louis.

The Cardinals announced Tuesday they had agreed with the power-hitting outfielder on a multiyear contract subject to a physical. The team said a formal announcement was likely by Thursday.

Holliday, who had been the biggest prize in free agency, confirmed he was returning in an interview on ESPN Radio.

Free-agent watch: See where the biggest names have signed

"I’m going back to the Cardinals," Holliday said. "I’m excited about it."

His agreement includes $119 million guaranteed over seven seasons plus a $17 million vesting option for 2017 with a $1 million buyout, a person familiar with the deal told The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the team didn’t reveal the length of the contract or financial details.

St. Louis acquired Holliday from Oakland in July and he helped lead the Cardinals to their first NL Central title since 2006. They sent several top prospects to the Athletics and justified that expense by retaining a player who hit .353 with 13 homers and 55 RBIs in 63 games for St. Louis.

A three-time All-Star, Holliday was a perfect fit batting cleanup behind star slugger Albert Pujols, though he was the goat in a first-round playoff sweep by the Los Angeles Dodgers after dropping a sinking liner to left field that would have been the final out of Game 2.

Holliday, who turns 30 on Jan. 15, batted .313 overall with 24 homers and 109 RBIs, his fifth .300 season and third 100-RBI year.

"Obviously, with Albert Pujols on the team you have a great opportunity to have a great team," Holliday told ESPN. "Albert is the best player in the history of baseball in my mind. Hopefully between the two of us we can help do our part to win a World Series."

Cardinals pitcher Kyle Lohse said he got the news in text messages between the teammates’ wives.

"That’s pretty good, pretty exciting," Lohse told The Associated Press in a telephone interview. "I’ve been around long enough not to pay too much attention until something gets done, but I know he liked it here and I’m sure he’s really happy things worked out."

Holliday’s agreement is much bigger than the other two big free-agent deals of the offseason: pitcher John Lackey’s $82.5 million, five-year contract with Boston and outfielder Jason Bay’s $66 million, four-year contract with the New York Mets, which was finalized earlier Tuesday.

"When you’re a little kid growing up hoping to be a professional baseball player and hoping to play in the major leagues, I don’t think you ever think about the money," Holliday said. "Now that you look at it, it’s a little overwhelming."

Holliday’s contract contains a full no-trade clause and deferred money that lowers its annual present-day value to about $16 million.

It also likely sets a floor for negotiations between the Cardinals and Pujols, who is entering the final guaranteed season of a $100 million, seven-year contract. St. Louis holds a $16 million option for 2011 on the three-time NL MVP.

St. Louis becomes only the third team with a pair of $100 million players, joining the New York Yankees (Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter, Mark Teixeira and CC Sabathia) and the New York Mets (Johan Santana and Carlos Beltran).

The Cardinals have long considered themselves a mid-market franchise and had a payroll under $100 million last season, but this deal might be a signal the franchise is willing to spend more. The Cardinals have three players making over $10 million per season, including NL Cy Young Award runner-up Chris Carpenter ($13 million).

Holliday said he was happy to have things settled after negotiations that have been ongoing for months.

"This has been a bit of a long process and there were some emotional ups and downs that go with it," he said. "It hasn’t exactly been a walk in the park. It’s relief."

Holliday and Lohse have the same agent, Scott Boras. Lohse said he never tried to get the inside story on negotiations.

"I’ve had several people ask me what was going on," Lohse said. "It’s not that I don’t care, but it’s a business decision."

Copyright 2010 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

ST. LOUIS — Matt Holliday is staying with the St. Louis Cardinals, agreeing Tuesday to a $120 million, seven-year contract that is baseball’s richest deal of the offseason.

The middle of the Cards' order is secure with Matt Holliday's return to St. Louis.
The middle of the Cards’ order is secure with Matt Holliday’s return to St. Louis.

The Cardinals announced Tuesday they had agreed with the power-hitting outfielder on a multiyear contract subject to a physical. The team said a formal announcement was likely by Thursday.

Holliday, who had been the biggest prize in free agency, confirmed he was returning in an interview on ESPN Radio.

Free-agent watch: See where the biggest names have signed

"I’m going back to the Cardinals," Holliday said. "I’m excited about it."

His agreement includes $119 million guaranteed over seven seasons plus a $17 million vesting option for 2017 with a $1 million buyout, a person familiar with the deal told The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the team didn’t reveal the length of the contract or financial details.

St. Louis acquired Holliday from Oakland in July and he helped lead the Cardinals to their first NL Central title since 2006. They sent several top prospects to the Athletics and justified that expense by retaining a player who hit .353 with 13 homers and 55 RBIs in 63 games for St. Louis.

A three-time All-Star, Holliday was a perfect fit batting cleanup behind star slugger Albert Pujols, though he was the goat in a first-round playoff sweep by the Los Angeles Dodgers after dropping a sinking liner to left field that would have been the final out of Game 2.

Holliday, who turns 30 on Jan. 15, batted .313 overall with 24 homers and 109 RBIs, his fifth .300 season and third 100-RBI year.

"Obviously, with Albert Pujols on the team you have a great opportunity to have a great team," Holliday told ESPN. "Albert is the best player in the history of baseball in my mind. Hopefully between the two of us we can help do our part to win a World Series."

Cardinals pitcher Kyle Lohse said he got the news in text messages between the teammates’ wives.

"That’s pretty good, pretty exciting," Lohse told The Associated Press in a telephone interview. "I’ve been around long enough not to pay too much attention until something gets done, but I know he liked it here and I’m sure he’s really happy things worked out."

Holliday’s agreement is much bigger than the other two big free-agent deals of the offseason: pitcher John Lackey’s $82.5 million, five-year contract with Boston and outfielder Jason Bay’s $66 million, four-year contract with the New York Mets, which was finalized earlier Tuesday.

"When you’re a little kid growing up hoping to be a professional baseball player and hoping to play in the major leagues, I don’t think you ever think about the money," Holliday said. "Now that you look at it, it’s a little overwhelming."

Holliday’s contract contains a full no-trade clause and deferred money that lowers its annual present-day value to about $16 million.

It also likely sets a floor for negotiations between the Cardinals and Pujols, who is entering the final guaranteed season of a $100 million, seven-year contract. St. Louis holds a $16 million option for 2011 on the three-time NL MVP.

St. Louis becomes only the third team with a pair of $100 million players, joining the New York Yankees (Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter, Mark Teixeira and CC Sabathia) and the New York Mets (Johan Santana and Carlos Beltran).

The Cardinals have long considered themselves a mid-market franchise and had a payroll under $100 million last season, but this deal might be a signal the franchise is willing to spend more. The Cardinals have three players making over $10 million per season, including NL Cy Young Award runner-up Chris Carpenter ($13 million).

Holliday said he was happy to have things settled after negotiations that have been ongoing for months.

"This has been a bit of a long process and there were some emotional ups and downs that go with it," he said. "It hasn’t exactly been a walk in the park. It’s relief."

Holliday and Lohse have the same agent, Scott Boras. Lohse said he never tried to get the inside story on negotiations.

"I’ve had several people ask me what was going on," Lohse said. "It’s not that I don’t care, but it’s a business decision."

Copyright 2010 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Randy Johnson likely to announce retirement

Five-time Cy Young Award winner Randy Johnson is likely to announce his retirement, according to multiple media reports.

Johnson, 46, has scheduled a conference call with the media Tuesday to discuss his baseball future. The Big Unit won his 300th game last season with the Giants, but missed more than a month with injuries and finished the year 8-6 with a 4.88 ERA.

In 22 seasons, Johnson won 303 games while losing 166 and posting a 3.29 ERA. He is second on the all-time strikeout list to Nolan Ryan.

Johnson’s career included stints with the Expos, Mariners, Astros, Diamondbacks, Yankees and Giants. He was the AL Cy Young winner with the M’s in 1995 and then won four straight with the D-backs from 1999 to 2002.

Five-time Cy Young Award winner Randy Johnson is likely to announce his retirement, according to multiple media reports.

Johnson, 46, has scheduled a conference call with the media Tuesday to discuss his baseball future. The Big Unit won his 300th game last season with the Giants, but missed more than a month with injuries and finished the year 8-6 with a 4.88 ERA.

In 22 seasons, Johnson won 303 games while losing 166 and posting a 3.29 ERA. He is second on the all-time strikeout list to Nolan Ryan.

Johnson’s career included stints with the Expos, Mariners, Astros, Diamondbacks, Yankees and Giants. He was the AL Cy Young winner with the M’s in 1995 and then won four straight with the D-backs from 1999 to 2002.

Belichick hints Houston’s turf is to blame for Welker injury

Sports Radio Interviews is a streaming independent sports blog which provides analysis on breaking sports news, upcoming games, and sporting events from a sports radio perspective. SRI articles frequently appear on SportingNews.com.

New England Patriots' head coach Bill Belichick says the turf at Houston's Reliant Stadium is "terrible".
New England Patriots’ head coach Bill Belichick says the turf at Houston’s Reliant Stadium is “terrible”.

He was criticized for going for it on fourth down. His team struggled mightily on the road. His team wasn’t as dominant as it was just a few years ago. His leading pass catcher, Wes Welker, was injured in Week 17 and will miss the playoffs. Nonetheless, Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots are back in the playoffs, are AFC East champions again, and are looking to win another Super Bowl.

Belichick joined the Big Show on WEEI in Boston and talked about the game against the Houston Texans this past weekend, the field at Reliant Stadium, Welker’s season-ending injury, and the Patriots’ upcoming playoff game against the Baltimore Ravens.

Asked about his plan for the final game, and if that changed when Welker went down with the injury:
"No, not really. I’d say we pretty much played everybody and we got guys some experience, in normal situations and in some situations that they hadn’t been in. For example, [Brian] Hoyer.

I think that’s kind of what we wanted to do going into the game. Everybody played. Everybody got a chance to get some work, of the guys that were active."

Asked if he thought there was any problem with Houston’s turf:
"The turf down there is terrible. It’s terrible. It’s just inconsistent. It’s all the little trays of grass, and some of them are soft, and some of them are firm, and they don’t all fit well together. Those seams — some of it feels like a sponge, some of it feels real firm and hard like the Miami surface. One step you’re on one, the other step you’re on another. I really think it’s one of the worst fields I’ve seen."

Asked about Welker making the same cut he’s made before, only this time getting injured:
"For the level of play we have in the National Football League, I think consistency on the field would be priority number one. We talk about players’ safety, about hits and all that, and that’s certainly an area that should always be addressed. There’s nothing more important than player safety. To me, player safety starts on the surface that we play on … I walked out there and I thought it was terrible."

Asked how much time did he spent planning for Baltimore:
"Not too much time formulating a game plan, but quite a bit of time getting ready for them and preparing for them. Watching the game. That’s the team I spent all my time watching, and you never know how it’s going to turn out, but [we] kind of played the percentages that the Jets would win and that Baltimore would beat the Raiders, and that sewed it up …

We’ve seen a lot of them. And we have a lot of scouting work done on them. Today, we’ll start on the game plan, tonight and tomorrow, and have that ready when the players come in on Wednesday. But they’re, in a way, the same team we saw, but in another way, they’ve evolved like all of us have over the course of the season, and they’re solid in all three phases of the game."

On how the Ravens have evolved:
"They seem to be a little more balanced running and passing. We got a lot of passing — I think [Joe Flacco] threw almost 50 times against us. I think it was 40-something. And [Ray] Rice is their leading receiver with 70-something catches. They get the ball to everybody, obviously the backs and the receivers…

It seems like they’ve balanced it up a bit with the running game and with Rice and, of course, [Willis] McGahee had a big day for them yesterday. [Jared] Gaither is back on the offensive line, and they’re using [Chris] Chester a little bit as a second tight end, and [Marshal] Yanda is playing a little bit more. It seems like they’ve gotten a little bit bigger. And [LeRon McClain] has had a real good year for them, and that’s helped them in the running game, too."

Listen to Bill Belichick on the Big Show on WEEI in Boston

===

More from SRI

Brandon Marshall on how he’s perceived
Philip Rivers on going into the playoffs with a bye week

Sports Radio Interviews is a streaming independent sports blog which provides analysis on breaking sports news, upcoming games, and sporting events from a sports radio perspective. SRI articles frequently appear on SportingNews.com.

New England Patriots' head coach Bill Belichick says the turf at Houston's Reliant Stadium is "terrible".
New England Patriots’ head coach Bill Belichick says the turf at Houston’s Reliant Stadium is “terrible”.

He was criticized for going for it on fourth down. His team struggled mightily on the road. His team wasn’t as dominant as it was just a few years ago. His leading pass catcher, Wes Welker, was injured in Week 17 and will miss the playoffs. Nonetheless, Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots are back in the playoffs, are AFC East champions again, and are looking to win another Super Bowl.

Belichick joined the Big Show on WEEI in Boston and talked about the game against the Houston Texans this past weekend, the field at Reliant Stadium, Welker’s season-ending injury, and the Patriots’ upcoming playoff game against the Baltimore Ravens.

Asked about his plan for the final game, and if that changed when Welker went down with the injury:
"No, not really. I’d say we pretty much played everybody and we got guys some experience, in normal situations and in some situations that they hadn’t been in. For example, [Brian] Hoyer.

I think that’s kind of what we wanted to do going into the game. Everybody played. Everybody got a chance to get some work, of the guys that were active."

Asked if he thought there was any problem with Houston’s turf:
"The turf down there is terrible. It’s terrible. It’s just inconsistent. It’s all the little trays of grass, and some of them are soft, and some of them are firm, and they don’t all fit well together. Those seams — some of it feels like a sponge, some of it feels real firm and hard like the Miami surface. One step you’re on one, the other step you’re on another. I really think it’s one of the worst fields I’ve seen."

Asked about Welker making the same cut he’s made before, only this time getting injured:
"For the level of play we have in the National Football League, I think consistency on the field would be priority number one. We talk about players’ safety, about hits and all that, and that’s certainly an area that should always be addressed. There’s nothing more important than player safety. To me, player safety starts on the surface that we play on … I walked out there and I thought it was terrible."

Asked how much time did he spent planning for Baltimore:
"Not too much time formulating a game plan, but quite a bit of time getting ready for them and preparing for them. Watching the game. That’s the team I spent all my time watching, and you never know how it’s going to turn out, but [we] kind of played the percentages that the Jets would win and that Baltimore would beat the Raiders, and that sewed it up …

We’ve seen a lot of them. And we have a lot of scouting work done on them. Today, we’ll start on the game plan, tonight and tomorrow, and have that ready when the players come in on Wednesday. But they’re, in a way, the same team we saw, but in another way, they’ve evolved like all of us have over the course of the season, and they’re solid in all three phases of the game."

On how the Ravens have evolved:
"They seem to be a little more balanced running and passing. We got a lot of passing — I think [Joe Flacco] threw almost 50 times against us. I think it was 40-something. And [Ray] Rice is their leading receiver with 70-something catches. They get the ball to everybody, obviously the backs and the receivers…

It seems like they’ve balanced it up a bit with the running game and with Rice and, of course, [Willis] McGahee had a big day for them yesterday. [Jared] Gaither is back on the offensive line, and they’re using [Chris] Chester a little bit as a second tight end, and [Marshal] Yanda is playing a little bit more. It seems like they’ve gotten a little bit bigger. And [LeRon McClain] has had a real good year for them, and that’s helped them in the running game, too."

Listen to Bill Belichick on the Big Show on WEEI in Boston

===

More from SRI

Brandon Marshall on how he’s perceived
Philip Rivers on going into the playoffs with a bye week

Jets’ Ryan: ‘We’re in it to win it’

Sports Radio Interviews is a streaming independent sports blog which provides analysis on breaking sports news, upcoming games, and sporting events from a sports radio perspective. SRI articles frequently appear on SportingNews.com.

Rex Ryan says his New York Jets are built to win in the playoffs.
Rex Ryan says his New York Jets are built to win in the playoffs.

The New York Jets are ahead of schedule. They’ve made it to the NFL playoffs with a rookie head coach and a rookie quarterback in the country’s biggest media market. No matter what happens against the Cincinnati Bengals this weekend, these Jets are now saddled with the burden of expectations.

Head coach Rex Ryan joined ESPN Radio in New York with Michael Kay to talk about making it to the playoffs in his first year as head coach, why he has so much confidence in his team, whether or not he is concerned with his rookie quarterback, and whether or not his team can win a Super Bowl this season.

On making it to the playoffs in his first year as head coach:
"It’s hard to get into the playoffs. It took a lot of things for us to get in there besides having to play really well. They don’t come around all the time. You can’t assume that you’re always going to be in it, that’s for sure. You’d like to think you would be, but it is difficult. It’s one of the most difficult things to do in team sports.

You can look at last years, somebody was telling me, the top four teams in last year’s tournament, none of them made the playoffs this year. It just goes to show how difficult it is. Being my first year and all that kind of stuff, absolutely, I’m excited about it. But that’s not our goal. We’re in it to win it.

We’ve got a tough task in front of us going to Cincinnati. I believe in this football team and I think were built for this time of year. We’ve said that. Be able to run the football, play great defense, do a good job on special teams, protect the football, and make plays down the field when we need to."

On whether or not they showed too much Sunday night against Cincinnati:
"When you know the systems the way we do and the way Brian [Schottenheimer] knows our offense, trust me, it seems like an endless bag of things that he can come up with. Then on defense, we’ll have enough tricks for them as well and do different things. We’ll be dialed in. I think were a difficult team to prepare for. We’re multiple on offense, defense, and special teams as well. It’s a short week, we’ll see the adjustments they make and we’ll already have some adjustments as well."

On people saying that they backed into the playoffs:
"People can think what they want. That’s fine. It’s hard to say you backed in when you lead the league in defense and it’s not even close. We gave up on average 252 yards a game against us on defense and the next closest team is probably 35 yards away per game. This defense has been spectacular. I know we haven’t finished some of the games the way we wanted to, but trust me, there isn’t a team in this league that wouldn’t trade our defense for their defense. I think that’s not backing in. I think leading the league in fewest points allowed and also, by the way, giving up seven or eight touchdowns in returns and still leading the league in fewest points allowed is also not backing in. Having the number one rushing attack in the league is not backing in.

That’s how I feel about it, but again everybody can have their opinions. That’s fine. We’re not making an apology for getting into the playoffs. We’re just focused on putting our best foot forward on Saturday."

On whether his quarterback is ready for the playoffs:
"I believe he is. I really do. He had a big throw earlier in the game [this past weekend], but it was tough … I think Braylon would have caught that thing eight out of ten times.

I had a lot of confidence in our passing attack, but the way the game was going we really never needed to risk anything down the field. We were just going to run the football and our guys did just a phenomenal job. Two of the best drives that I have seen into the wind, in those conditions."

On whether or not he believes his team can win a Super Bowl this year:
"I believe that. I believe we’re gonna win every game. It doesn’t always happen but I believe it. You’ve earned that right to be one of those teams in there. One of the final twelve teams, and why not? We have the number one defense by far in this league. We have the number one rushing attack in this league. We’re protecting the football, getting takeaways now, and playing good special teams. That’s what you have to have. I think we’ve peaked at the right time and we’re ready for this."

Listen to Rex Ryan on ESPN Radio in New York with Michael Kay

===

More from SRI

Brandon Marshall on how he’s perceived
Philip Rivers on going into the playoffs with a bye week

Sports Radio Interviews is a streaming independent sports blog which provides analysis on breaking sports news, upcoming games, and sporting events from a sports radio perspective. SRI articles frequently appear on SportingNews.com.

Rex Ryan says his New York Jets are built to win in the playoffs.
Rex Ryan says his New York Jets are built to win in the playoffs.

The New York Jets are ahead of schedule. They’ve made it to the NFL playoffs with a rookie head coach and a rookie quarterback in the country’s biggest media market. No matter what happens against the Cincinnati Bengals this weekend, these Jets are now saddled with the burden of expectations.

Head coach Rex Ryan joined ESPN Radio in New York with Michael Kay to talk about making it to the playoffs in his first year as head coach, why he has so much confidence in his team, whether or not he is concerned with his rookie quarterback, and whether or not his team can win a Super Bowl this season.

On making it to the playoffs in his first year as head coach:
"It’s hard to get into the playoffs. It took a lot of things for us to get in there besides having to play really well. They don’t come around all the time. You can’t assume that you’re always going to be in it, that’s for sure. You’d like to think you would be, but it is difficult. It’s one of the most difficult things to do in team sports.

You can look at last years, somebody was telling me, the top four teams in last year’s tournament, none of them made the playoffs this year. It just goes to show how difficult it is. Being my first year and all that kind of stuff, absolutely, I’m excited about it. But that’s not our goal. We’re in it to win it.

We’ve got a tough task in front of us going to Cincinnati. I believe in this football team and I think were built for this time of year. We’ve said that. Be able to run the football, play great defense, do a good job on special teams, protect the football, and make plays down the field when we need to."

On whether or not they showed too much Sunday night against Cincinnati:
"When you know the systems the way we do and the way Brian [Schottenheimer] knows our offense, trust me, it seems like an endless bag of things that he can come up with. Then on defense, we’ll have enough tricks for them as well and do different things. We’ll be dialed in. I think were a difficult team to prepare for. We’re multiple on offense, defense, and special teams as well. It’s a short week, we’ll see the adjustments they make and we’ll already have some adjustments as well."

On people saying that they backed into the playoffs:
"People can think what they want. That’s fine. It’s hard to say you backed in when you lead the league in defense and it’s not even close. We gave up on average 252 yards a game against us on defense and the next closest team is probably 35 yards away per game. This defense has been spectacular. I know we haven’t finished some of the games the way we wanted to, but trust me, there isn’t a team in this league that wouldn’t trade our defense for their defense. I think that’s not backing in. I think leading the league in fewest points allowed and also, by the way, giving up seven or eight touchdowns in returns and still leading the league in fewest points allowed is also not backing in. Having the number one rushing attack in the league is not backing in.

That’s how I feel about it, but again everybody can have their opinions. That’s fine. We’re not making an apology for getting into the playoffs. We’re just focused on putting our best foot forward on Saturday."

On whether his quarterback is ready for the playoffs:
"I believe he is. I really do. He had a big throw earlier in the game [this past weekend], but it was tough … I think Braylon would have caught that thing eight out of ten times.

I had a lot of confidence in our passing attack, but the way the game was going we really never needed to risk anything down the field. We were just going to run the football and our guys did just a phenomenal job. Two of the best drives that I have seen into the wind, in those conditions."

On whether or not he believes his team can win a Super Bowl this year:
"I believe that. I believe we’re gonna win every game. It doesn’t always happen but I believe it. You’ve earned that right to be one of those teams in there. One of the final twelve teams, and why not? We have the number one defense by far in this league. We have the number one rushing attack in this league. We’re protecting the football, getting takeaways now, and playing good special teams. That’s what you have to have. I think we’ve peaked at the right time and we’re ready for this."

Listen to Rex Ryan on ESPN Radio in New York with Michael Kay

===

More from SRI

Brandon Marshall on how he’s perceived
Philip Rivers on going into the playoffs with a bye week

Faceoff: Who is the all-time great?

Ty Cobb facing Sandy Koufax. Babe Ruth standing in against Bob Gibson. These great matchups have come to life with the All-Time Greats version of Strat-O-Matic. Now Strat-O-Matic has taken it to the next level, adding over 100 Negro Leaguers to create a deeper player pool and allowing us to truly get a glimpse of what the best players across the history of the game can do.

For those who don’t know what I’m talking about, Strat-O-Matic is a dice game that simulates baseball right down to every at-bat. Players are all represented by cards with their outcomes weighted based on their actual abilities. The result is one of the most accurate baseball simulations around. (For more on Strat-O-Matic, check out this piece.)

With the addition of the Negro League card set to the Strat-O-Matic All-Time Greats card set, we get to dream a little broader. Josh Gibson will face Walter Johnson, Babe Ruth will go up against Satchel Paige. But while it’s fun to talk about, the true joy is actually seeing things in action. You have the cards, and you have their backgrounds. With what you know so far, who would you take, given the opportunity?

We’ve got three matchups here to whet your appetite. You’re on the clock Mr. General Manager. Who is your selection?

Josh Gibson vs. Babe Ruth

Here we have the matchup that is already hotly debated, even though the two wouldn’t have actually played much in the same era. The most feared home run hitter of all-time in the Major Leagues or the most feared home run hitter of all-time in the Negro Leagues. So, if you’re starting your team tomorrow, who do you pick?

Whether Gibson’s power was equal to Ruth’s, the fact remains he was close. Against lefties, Gibson had no equal. Strat-O-Matic creator Hal Richman said he would never have a lefty pitcher face Gibson, not even if his name were Lefty Grove.

And Gibson is a catcher; that can’t be understated. As good as Ruth was as a hitter, baseball history is filled with amazing outfielders. The difference between Ruth and the next best left fielder is great, but not as great as Gibson and the next catchers. Would you rather have Josh Gibson and Ted Williams or Babe Ruth and Mike Piazza? There are other players eligible to play catcher, like Lou Boudreau, but those guys aren’t good catchers.

There are good hitters who can play catcher. Piazza is a great hitter who is a poor defensive backstop. Gibson isn’t Johnny Bench defensively, but he’s perfectly acceptable given his incredible bat and above-average arm.

Ruth’s competition in left field is not the Babe for sure. But they are players you wouldn’t have any problems building a squad around. You may not get Ruth, but does Ted Williams float your boat? How about Barry Bonds? You could play Stan Musial there if you chose. Ralph Kiner’s pop, anyone? The point is Ruth has players who can approach him in left field. Gibson, not so much. The drop-off is so great, how do you pass that up?

If you could play anyone anywhere on the baseball field, Ruth would be your choice. But in a game where you need a catcher, Gibson is the choice.

Oscar Charleston vs. Mickey Mantle

Charleston is compared to Ty Cobb by Richman, but that comparison isn’t fair to Cobb. Charleston is comparable in average, equal in OBP but blows him away with power. Cobb stole more bases, but Charleston’s no slouch with 50. So instead, let’s have Charleston face off against Mickey Mantle. Here you have two center fielders with who can field, hit for average, and hit for power. Mantle’s top card split is .353/.464/.705. Compare that to Charleston’s .391/.474/.694 and you see just how even their lines end up being.

In Charleston you get the better defender, if only slightly. Mantle has a better arm, but Charleston has the better range. Charleston hits for a higher average, but their OBPs are equal. Mantle has more power and Charleston is more of a threat to steal, though the difference between their power is less than the gap between their stealing capabilities.

Overall, Mantle is probably your best option. It isn’t by much, but the extra pop he’ll provide should be more help than the steals Charleston will give you. But it’s close; if you’re a manager who likes a player who is a threat to turn a single into a double every time he goes out there but will still crush the ball, Charleston is your guy.

Satchel Paige vs. Walter Johnson

The Major Leagues did get to face Satchel Paige in meaningful games; just when he was well past his athletic prime. What a prime it must have been when Paige could get hitters out in his forties. In his twenties, he must have been a nightmare to face.

Walter Johnson leaves no doubt; he was a nightmare as his 417 career wins can attest to. He won two MVPs, certainly no small feat for a pitcher. For those who may question his numbers because of the era, his top four single-season adjusted ERAs are in the top 25 all-time. That’s a feat approached by only the likes of Pedro Martinez and Greg Maddux. Johnson is one of the greatest pitchers of all-time.

But is he greater than Paige? Who is the choice for your Strat-O-Matic team?

Paige’s stat line in the game features a 7.5 strikeout-per-nine and 4.89 strikeout-to-walk ratio. No wonder he had a WHIP of .99. Meanwhile, Johnson’s top year came to 7.61 strikeout-per-nine and 4.90 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Yeah, they are practically identical. Johnson’s WHIP is better at .91 and his ERA ends up coming out nearly a run better at 1.36 to 2.23. He has the huge innings pitched advantage over Paige, 370 to 275, but in Strat-O-Matic, that’s somewhat negated as there is no penalty for ending up above the starter’s actual innings for a season.

Johnson’s edge is in the fact that his stamina is for a nine-inning guy. Paige’s is somewhat less; he typically will go eight innings. However, Paige is more flexible. He’s capable of pitching out of the bullpen. That means if you need him in a big spot and he’s rested, you can throw him.

Overall, the duo is pretty even. Johnson gets a slight edge because of the better ERA and slightly better stamina, but it’s not by much. As Hal Richman said of the duo, "They’re on the same level."

The truth is, the vast majority of these matchups will be close because these players were all legends nearly without peer. Often times it will come down to the style of player you prefer, rather than just the stats. Also remember, the matchups listed here are not the only ones to consider. They were chosen because they are prominent in people’s minds when they compare the two leagues.

What do you think? Who would be your selection? Play the game to find out!
 

Ty Cobb facing Sandy Koufax. Babe Ruth standing in against Bob Gibson. These great matchups have come to life with the All-Time Greats version of Strat-O-Matic. Now Strat-O-Matic has taken it to the next level, adding over 100 Negro Leaguers to create a deeper player pool and allowing us to truly get a glimpse of what the best players across the history of the game can do.

For those who don’t know what I’m talking about, Strat-O-Matic is a dice game that simulates baseball right down to every at-bat. Players are all represented by cards with their outcomes weighted based on their actual abilities. The result is one of the most accurate baseball simulations around. (For more on Strat-O-Matic, check out this piece.)

With the addition of the Negro League card set to the Strat-O-Matic All-Time Greats card set, we get to dream a little broader. Josh Gibson will face Walter Johnson, Babe Ruth will go up against Satchel Paige. But while it’s fun to talk about, the true joy is actually seeing things in action. You have the cards, and you have their backgrounds. With what you know so far, who would you take, given the opportunity?

We’ve got three matchups here to whet your appetite. You’re on the clock Mr. General Manager. Who is your selection?

Josh Gibson vs. Babe Ruth

Here we have the matchup that is already hotly debated, even though the two wouldn’t have actually played much in the same era. The most feared home run hitter of all-time in the Major Leagues or the most feared home run hitter of all-time in the Negro Leagues. So, if you’re starting your team tomorrow, who do you pick?

Whether Gibson’s power was equal to Ruth’s, the fact remains he was close. Against lefties, Gibson had no equal. Strat-O-Matic creator Hal Richman said he would never have a lefty pitcher face Gibson, not even if his name were Lefty Grove.

And Gibson is a catcher; that can’t be understated. As good as Ruth was as a hitter, baseball history is filled with amazing outfielders. The difference between Ruth and the next best left fielder is great, but not as great as Gibson and the next catchers. Would you rather have Josh Gibson and Ted Williams or Babe Ruth and Mike Piazza? There are other players eligible to play catcher, like Lou Boudreau, but those guys aren’t good catchers.

There are good hitters who can play catcher. Piazza is a great hitter who is a poor defensive backstop. Gibson isn’t Johnny Bench defensively, but he’s perfectly acceptable given his incredible bat and above-average arm.

Ruth’s competition in left field is not the Babe for sure. But they are players you wouldn’t have any problems building a squad around. You may not get Ruth, but does Ted Williams float your boat? How about Barry Bonds? You could play Stan Musial there if you chose. Ralph Kiner’s pop, anyone? The point is Ruth has players who can approach him in left field. Gibson, not so much. The drop-off is so great, how do you pass that up?

If you could play anyone anywhere on the baseball field, Ruth would be your choice. But in a game where you need a catcher, Gibson is the choice.

Oscar Charleston vs. Mickey Mantle

Charleston is compared to Ty Cobb by Richman, but that comparison isn’t fair to Cobb. Charleston is comparable in average, equal in OBP but blows him away with power. Cobb stole more bases, but Charleston’s no slouch with 50. So instead, let’s have Charleston face off against Mickey Mantle. Here you have two center fielders with who can field, hit for average, and hit for power. Mantle’s top card split is .353/.464/.705. Compare that to Charleston’s .391/.474/.694 and you see just how even their lines end up being.

In Charleston you get the better defender, if only slightly. Mantle has a better arm, but Charleston has the better range. Charleston hits for a higher average, but their OBPs are equal. Mantle has more power and Charleston is more of a threat to steal, though the difference between their power is less than the gap between their stealing capabilities.

Overall, Mantle is probably your best option. It isn’t by much, but the extra pop he’ll provide should be more help than the steals Charleston will give you. But it’s close; if you’re a manager who likes a player who is a threat to turn a single into a double every time he goes out there but will still crush the ball, Charleston is your guy.

Satchel Paige vs. Walter Johnson

The Major Leagues did get to face Satchel Paige in meaningful games; just when he was well past his athletic prime. What a prime it must have been when Paige could get hitters out in his forties. In his twenties, he must have been a nightmare to face.

Walter Johnson leaves no doubt; he was a nightmare as his 417 career wins can attest to. He won two MVPs, certainly no small feat for a pitcher. For those who may question his numbers because of the era, his top four single-season adjusted ERAs are in the top 25 all-time. That’s a feat approached by only the likes of Pedro Martinez and Greg Maddux. Johnson is one of the greatest pitchers of all-time.

But is he greater than Paige? Who is the choice for your Strat-O-Matic team?

Paige’s stat line in the game features a 7.5 strikeout-per-nine and 4.89 strikeout-to-walk ratio. No wonder he had a WHIP of .99. Meanwhile, Johnson’s top year came to 7.61 strikeout-per-nine and 4.90 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Yeah, they are practically identical. Johnson’s WHIP is better at .91 and his ERA ends up coming out nearly a run better at 1.36 to 2.23. He has the huge innings pitched advantage over Paige, 370 to 275, but in Strat-O-Matic, that’s somewhat negated as there is no penalty for ending up above the starter’s actual innings for a season.

Johnson’s edge is in the fact that his stamina is for a nine-inning guy. Paige’s is somewhat less; he typically will go eight innings. However, Paige is more flexible. He’s capable of pitching out of the bullpen. That means if you need him in a big spot and he’s rested, you can throw him.

Overall, the duo is pretty even. Johnson gets a slight edge because of the better ERA and slightly better stamina, but it’s not by much. As Hal Richman said of the duo, "They’re on the same level."

The truth is, the vast majority of these matchups will be close because these players were all legends nearly without peer. Often times it will come down to the style of player you prefer, rather than just the stats. Also remember, the matchups listed here are not the only ones to consider. They were chosen because they are prominent in people’s minds when they compare the two leagues.

What do you think? Who would be your selection? Play the game to find out!
 

Three-feat? Cowboys face three hurdles to trifecta vs. rival Eagles

ARLINGTON, Texas — Just how difficult is it to beat the same team three times during an NFL season? Since the 1970 merger, the opportunity has arisen 19 times in the playoffs and 12 sweeps were completed.
 
That should make Dallas Cowboys faithful feel better about their chances in their first-round matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles, a team they beat 20-16 at Philadelphia in Week 9 and then 24-0 at home on Sunday. (Kickoff is 8 p.m. ET Saturday.)
 
Last season, the Steelers pulled off a three-feat of Baltimore en route to winning Super Bowl 43. Dallas, however, has failed in its only two attempts—in 1998 against the Cardinals and 2007 against the Giants, both part of the franchise’s 13-year postseason drought.
 
"I don’t know that we have faced in the playoffs, since I’ve been here, more of a challenge to turn around and play that good of a team for a third time," Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said of the Eagles. "Now we’ve done it two years ago with a team that we thought could go all the way with all the talent and we couldn’t get it done."
 
Jones’ players aren’t expecting Philadelphia to struggle to play defense and score points in their return trip to Cowboys Stadium.
 
"It definitely gets our attention, because I know (Eagles coach) Andy Reid is going to have those guys ready," Dallas wide receiver Patrick Crayton said.
 
Here are three notable obstacles Dallas must overcome to beat Philadelphia one more time:
 

More Brian Westbrook

He didn’t play in the Nov. 8 matchup and was limited to nine touches for 37 total yards Sunday. Reid is slowly working Westbrook back into the mix, and if the Cowboys keep focusing on taking away DeSean Jackson deep, Westbrook could burn them on underneath routes that get him into the open field.
 
Before the final month of the season, there was a question as to whether Westbrook, 30, would return at all after suffering two concussions and missing nine games. But he is back with fresh legs, having avoided the grind that would have put more wear and tear on his knees and ankles.
 
The Eagles kept Westbrook active, so Reid must think Westbrook can have big impact. The only way to find out is increasing his touches to 15 to 20, using him in the running and short passing games to keep the Cowboys’ pass rush in check. Using him more on early downs would help keep Philadelphia on schedule and out of one-dimensional third-and-long situations.
 
"I feel pretty good," Westbrook said Sunday. "I don’t think the offense really got into the rhythm — some parts we did, but for the most part, we didn’t."
 
Keeping the offense balanced will help that cause, and that means Westbrook, rookie LeSean McCoy and fullback Leonard Weaver all need to be involved more in the game plan.
 

A better Donovan McNabb

Five previous times this season, McNabb has seen his passer rating dip into the 80s or below and followed it up with a strong, efficient outing.
 
"At times, I feel like when you are at the top you sometimes have to get knocked back down to dust yourself back off and to get yourself back in order," McNabb said.
 
McNabb usually takes advantage when defenses work so hard to not let Jackson beat them. On Sunday, he was a little off with his connection to rookie No. 2 wide receiver Jeremy Maclin, who found himself open often, and his starting wideouts were each limited to just three catches for 47 yards.
 
Look for No. 3 receiver Jason Avant, also capable of making big plays, to get more looks in Saturday night’s playoff rematch. The good news is tight end Brent Celek should draw more coverage in the middle, which should open up some deep out routes.
 

A more aggressive defense

Cowboys QB Tony Romo had plenty of time to throw Sunday, so Philadelphia is certain to dial up its pressure even more than usual this weekend.
 

"They’re going to blitz a lot," Romo said. "They’re going to try to create turnovers, try to disrupt the flow of the offense."

 
Although the Cowboys’ offensive line turned in a superb run-blocking performance against Philadelphia in Week 17, the right side of guard Leonard Davis and tackle Doug Free had some trouble in pass protection against Eagles defensive end Juqua Parker and defensive tackle Mike Patterson.
 
Look for Eagles defensive coordinator Sean McDermott to throw a lot more blitzes and exotic formations at Romo, including loading the line with four ends to get a size-speed-athleticism mismatch against interior linemen. Also expect occasional safety blitz to attack Romo from different angles. The key is stopping the run first, even if it requires an eighth defender to consistently do it.
 
This story appears in Jan. 5’s edition of Sporting News Today. If you are not receiving Sporting News Today, the only daily digital sports newspaper, sign up today for free.
 
Vinnie Iyer is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at viyer@sportingnews.com.
ARLINGTON, Texas — Just how difficult is it to beat the same team three times during an NFL season? Since the 1970 merger, the opportunity has arisen 19 times in the playoffs and 12 sweeps were completed.
 
That should make Dallas Cowboys faithful feel better about their chances in their first-round matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles, a team they beat 20-16 at Philadelphia in Week 9 and then 24-0 at home on Sunday. (Kickoff is 8 p.m. ET Saturday.)
 
Last season, the Steelers pulled off a three-feat of Baltimore en route to winning Super Bowl 43. Dallas, however, has failed in its only two attempts—in 1998 against the Cardinals and 2007 against the Giants, both part of the franchise’s 13-year postseason drought.
 
"I don’t know that we have faced in the playoffs, since I’ve been here, more of a challenge to turn around and play that good of a team for a third time," Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said of the Eagles. "Now we’ve done it two years ago with a team that we thought could go all the way with all the talent and we couldn’t get it done."
 
Jones’ players aren’t expecting Philadelphia to struggle to play defense and score points in their return trip to Cowboys Stadium.
 
"It definitely gets our attention, because I know (Eagles coach) Andy Reid is going to have those guys ready," Dallas wide receiver Patrick Crayton said.
 
Here are three notable obstacles Dallas must overcome to beat Philadelphia one more time:
 

More Brian Westbrook

He didn’t play in the Nov. 8 matchup and was limited to nine touches for 37 total yards Sunday. Reid is slowly working Westbrook back into the mix, and if the Cowboys keep focusing on taking away DeSean Jackson deep, Westbrook could burn them on underneath routes that get him into the open field.
 
Before the final month of the season, there was a question as to whether Westbrook, 30, would return at all after suffering two concussions and missing nine games. But he is back with fresh legs, having avoided the grind that would have put more wear and tear on his knees and ankles.
 
The Eagles kept Westbrook active, so Reid must think Westbrook can have big impact. The only way to find out is increasing his touches to 15 to 20, using him in the running and short passing games to keep the Cowboys’ pass rush in check. Using him more on early downs would help keep Philadelphia on schedule and out of one-dimensional third-and-long situations.
 
"I feel pretty good," Westbrook said Sunday. "I don’t think the offense really got into the rhythm — some parts we did, but for the most part, we didn’t."
 
Keeping the offense balanced will help that cause, and that means Westbrook, rookie LeSean McCoy and fullback Leonard Weaver all need to be involved more in the game plan.
 

A better Donovan McNabb

Five previous times this season, McNabb has seen his passer rating dip into the 80s or below and followed it up with a strong, efficient outing.
 
"At times, I feel like when you are at the top you sometimes have to get knocked back down to dust yourself back off and to get yourself back in order," McNabb said.
 
McNabb usually takes advantage when defenses work so hard to not let Jackson beat them. On Sunday, he was a little off with his connection to rookie No. 2 wide receiver Jeremy Maclin, who found himself open often, and his starting wideouts were each limited to just three catches for 47 yards.
 
Look for No. 3 receiver Jason Avant, also capable of making big plays, to get more looks in Saturday night’s playoff rematch. The good news is tight end Brent Celek should draw more coverage in the middle, which should open up some deep out routes.
 

A more aggressive defense

Cowboys QB Tony Romo had plenty of time to throw Sunday, so Philadelphia is certain to dial up its pressure even more than usual this weekend.
 

"They’re going to blitz a lot," Romo said. "They’re going to try to create turnovers, try to disrupt the flow of the offense."

 
Although the Cowboys’ offensive line turned in a superb run-blocking performance against Philadelphia in Week 17, the right side of guard Leonard Davis and tackle Doug Free had some trouble in pass protection against Eagles defensive end Juqua Parker and defensive tackle Mike Patterson.
 
Look for Eagles defensive coordinator Sean McDermott to throw a lot more blitzes and exotic formations at Romo, including loading the line with four ends to get a size-speed-athleticism mismatch against interior linemen. Also expect occasional safety blitz to attack Romo from different angles. The key is stopping the run first, even if it requires an eighth defender to consistently do it.
 
This story appears in Jan. 5’s edition of Sporting News Today. If you are not receiving Sporting News Today, the only daily digital sports newspaper, sign up today for free.
 
Vinnie Iyer is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at viyer@sportingnews.com.