Wow. That is all I can say to describe the Tigers lineup after their trade to get Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis:

CF-Granderson
2B: Polanco
RF: Ordonez
DH: Sheffield
3B: Cabrera
1B: Guillen
SS: Renteria
C: Rodriguez
LF: Jones/Thames platoon

That lineup is better than the Yankees. The rotation is Justin Verlander, Jeremy Bonderman, Willis, Nate Robertson and whoever they drop in

The bullpen is a question, but that is true with just about every team.

This probably will force the Indians hand in adding a quality left fielder. Jason Bay, anyone?

It seems from reports from the baseball winter meetings that Cliff Lee is the one chip that GM Mark Shapiro is looking to play.

There were reports that he would the key piece in a deal to land Jason Bay from the Pirates, but that deal seems to be dead. Pirates GM Neal Huntington doesn't want to trade his most valuable player when he is coming off a down season.

Lee with some prospects should be enough to land a above-average left fielder but not an all-star player.

But don't expect a trade soon. It seems that until Johan Santana and/or Miguel Cabrera are traded that the winter meetings are stalled.

On the C.C. watch, Jeff Passon of Yahoo! Sports weighs in from Nashville.

The snow is flying, but still baseball talk is in the air.

Well, at least, it is in New York and Boston and the other big markets. I really can't stand the fact that every winter meeting, it has become, who is the Red Sox or Yankees or Angels going to fleece to add another piece to an already-loaded roster.

Johan Santana should be a Twins pitcher for life. He is good, the Twins are good, but there is no chance he is staying. And that is wrong. Same goes with C.C. Sabathia. Why should he have to go somewhere else to get market value?

It can be said that under Bud Selig's watch that baseball revenue has gone from $1 billion to $6 billion, you know, it is on steroids, too, but it can also be said that more than ever the game is all about what market you are in.

The Indians should be looking at a long run of success with the talent they have. Instead, the team has to prepare for the inevitable loss of talent through no fault of its own.

Revenue sharing is nice, and some teams do wrongly pocket the proceeds instead of putting back in the product, but it doesn't make the game about who can evaluate talent and who can produce on the field.

Theo Epstein is a good GM for the Red Sox, but he isn't great like some have anointed him. He has a huge safety net. If he makes a bad signing or bad trade, he can sweep it under the rug and it doesn't matter. If Mark Shapiro or Neal Huntingdon make bad moves, it can set the franchise back a couple of seasons.

You can say it is capitalism or the American way if you want, but you can also say it is why baseball is no longer America's Pastime.

Ohio State and LSU will be a fine national title game, but this is not and never will be the best way to do this.

It is time for the college presidents to get smart and do an 8-team playoff. Sixteen would be better but I think it would have to have home sites for the first two rounds.

First round at home sites, semifinals at the same site (one of the bowls) to ensure a huge crowd and the title game at another site the next week, again at one of the bowls.

The eight teams should be the six BCS champs and two at-large teams choosen by a NCAA committee like the basketball tournament.

Leave the rest of the bowl system alone.

Took the boys to a high school basketball game last night, and I was pleased to see the amount of sportsmanship that took place.

Between the players, the players and the other coaches, and everyone with the officials. Going to only pro and college events would make you think that no one gets sportsmanship anymore.

I don't want to make this a case study, seeing that it was only one game.

But it was good to see, particularly after reading this scary blog item on parenting on the New York Times Web site.

Take a look at that and tell me what you think.