I think TBS/TNT will do a fine job on postseason baseball.

TNT does the NBA far better than ESPN does.

With Chip Caray, Bob Brenly, Cal Ripken, Tony Gwynn and Ernie Johnson Jr., it should be quality coverage.

And with Alyssa Milano listed as part of the crew, how can you not watch?

American League
Indians over Yankees in 4
Angels over Red Sox in 4

Angels over Indians in 6

National League
Phillies over Rockies in 5
Diamondbacks over Cubs in 5

Diamondbacks over Phillies in 6

World Series
Angels over Diamondbacks in 6

… The Browns offense finds its groove and destroys the Bengals defense.

The Bengals offense continues to expose the Browns defense.

It added up to a surprising win for the Browns. It also adds up to another season where high expectations will meet an early ending to a season for the Bengals. Everyone falls in love with offense but defense is the key. The Bengals remind me of the Chargers of the 80s. Lots of Hall of Fame offensive players but no rings to show for it.

… Clint Bowyer wins his first race of the season and is in fourth place in the Race for the Nextel Cup. Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson are tied for first. This will be a battle of attrition.

… Maybe this time O.J. Simpson is guilty.

… Then again …

… Is it better for the Indians to have the Tigers in the playoffs or the Yankees or does it matter. If the Tigers make the playoffs then the Indians will play the Angels in the first round. Otherwise, they are going to Boston or hosting the Yankees. I like their chances better against the Angels.

… Ohio State looks in good shape to play a New Year's Day bowl but I am still not sure if they will win the Big Ten. Penn State and Wisconsin are interesting, and Michigan can't be counted out.

… So will Charlie Weis get the same treatment as Ty Willingham and get fired after what is going to be a horrible third season? Probably not. But it is a valid point.

… I have to like Kent State over Akron in the game at the Rubber Bowl on Saturday. The Zips just seem to lack a strong enough defense to slow down the Flashes. If KSU does win, they are setting up a season that could end in a bowl game.

… Brady who?

… Tiger Woods wins FedExCup. No surprise.

… My guess is that the Bill Belichick video scandal isn't over yet.

… Less than a month until Cavs open training camp.

Are the Indians playing better? Are the Tigers just that bad?

Whatever the answer, the facts are that the Indians are in first place and that they have a 2.5-game lead.

I also think if you have to pick between good pitching and spotty hitting or spotty pitching and good hitting. Always take the pitching. Just ask the Tigers.

More proof? Jake Westbrook gave the Indians a chance to win today, and they did.

Has the work GM Mark Shapiro put into the Indians turned out to not be the right combination of players?

The question is worth asking because the GM has sort of put himself into a corner with the contracts that have been signed.

He doesn't have a lot of angles to take other than dealing some folks whom he just signed.

It should make for an interesting offseason if the Indians don't make the playoffs.

The Indians and Tigers start a two-game series tonight at Jacobs Field.

Is it a big deal or is it two teams struggling to see straight?

Both of these teams looked like sure playoff teams in May, now they are both lucky that the rule requires a team from the Central Division to take part in the playoffs.

Isn't it time to take Kenny Lofton and put him in the leadoff spot and drop Sizemore to the three slot? Sizemore gets on base, I know, but he also strikes out too much. Manager Eric Wedge needs to do something to shake up this offensive offense.

Things to watch this weekend:

– How bad is Travis Hafner's knee and is this the time when the Tribe breaks away from the pack by handling the Yankees?

– Does John Daly make a move and return to the center stage in golf or is it only Tiger's world at the PGA Championship?

– Anyone want to play quarterback? UA and the Browns are looking but so far haven't found what they are looking for.

– Can Dale Earnhardt Jr. break from his Anna Kournikova drought — lots of endorsements, no wins and maybe no Chase for the Cup?

Barry Bonds moved past Hank Aaron last night into the top spot on the all-time home run list.

The game stopped for a few minutes as Bonds hugged his family and Willie Mays and then the fans and Bonds were treated to a video message from Aaron.

Aaron, who last month responded badly to a question about Bonds, paid a great tribute to Bonds, and more important, the game with his kind comments.

I figure if Aaron can honor Bonds, then the rest of us should think the same way.

– I must admit that I am surprised how easy the Tigers and Indians have allowed the races to tighten in the American League. With the resent poor play by the AL Central leaders, the Mariners and Yankees are now only a half behind the Tigers for the wild card. And don't forget the Twins, who are just 4 1/2 behind the Tribe. Should make September interesting but it didn't have to be this way for either the Indians or Tigers.

– The Browns can point to good signs at camp, including big back Jamal Lewis seeming to have something to prove. But with Orpheus Roye getting hurt, Ryan Tucker getting suspended, Brady Quinn causing bad PR league-wide, something doesn't smell right, and I am not talking about the Stadium.

– Dario Franchitti's crash at Michigan International Speedway shows just how well all racing cars are built these days. Take a look at ESPN for the video.

– Dale Earnhardt Jr. draws the most fans to the race track and to the souvenir shop but right now, he would not be in the Chase for the Nextel Cup. It is kind of like the NBA not getting as much attention whent the Knicks, Celtics and Lakers all are not in the playoffs.

– Mike Tomlin won his first game with the Steelers on Sunday in Canton. He won't remind many of Bill Cowher, but astute observers might see a little Chuck Noll in the rookie head coach.

– Ohio State football is No. 10 in the coaches' poll behind Wisconsin and Michigan in the Big Ten. Seems about right for a team that doesn't know who will be quarterback.

– Tiger Woods … really, whatelse can you say? Maybe it is time for a statue next to the historic water tower at Firestone.

Tribe GM Mark Shapiro said he would never make a trade like dealing Brian Giles for Ricardo Rincon.

If he is afraid to make a deal like that, then I am not sure if the Tribe will ever get over the hump to win a World Series — and I think that is the objective.

If the Indians would have got to a spot in the playoffs where getting one left-handed batter out and Rincon would have come in the game to get it done, then that 1 out would have been worth giving up Giles.

The Pirates of the early 90s traded a young Moises Alou to the Expos for Zane Smith. Sounds horrible now, but Smith helped the Pirates make the playoffs twice and nearly put them in the World Series.

Those are the trades that make GMs great.

Shapiro has to get over the fact that dealing prospects like Ben Francisco or Franklin Gutierrez is how you go from competing for titles to winning titles.