Sports Shorts

With baseball starting Spring training, FOX Sports has posted their first MLB power ranking list. It is a little silly to rank the teams before a single pitch has been thrown, but since they ranked the Indians number two, I'll cut them some slack. For those who follow the other baseball team in Ohio, the Reds are listed 26th.

Rob Neyer of ESPN.com selected the Indians' center fielder Grady Sizemore as the best overall player in the majors. Sizemore had a great breakout season last year, but I think it is a little premature.

Terry Pluto of the Akron Beacon Journal thinks the Browns should give the recently fired Marty Schottenheimer a call.

In 1999 Josh Hamilton was in perfect position to set himself up for life with a lucrative baseball career. He was the number one pick in the annual amateur player draft. Between a car crash and a losing battle with addictions to cocaine and alcohol, Hamilton fell of the baseball landscape. The Cincinnati Reds took a flyer on Hamilton in the Rule 5 draft this past December. This morning the Cincinnati Enquirer's Paul Daugherty had an article detailing Hamilton's situation. Whether he has any baseball talent left or not, I wish him luck in dealing with his demons.

The best indication that baseball Spring training is starting? Reports of stupid injuries. Actually, visa difficulties making foreign players late to training camp is first, and stupid injuries are second. When it comes to injuries, Kerry Wood of the Cubs always comes to mind.

Oft-injured Kerry Wood is out again -- this time because of a flub in a hot tub. The Chicago Cubs pitcher is not expected to throw off the mound for a few days after he slipped this week getting out of a hot tub at home. Wood landed on his stomach and chest.

Sports Shorts

A couple days ago I mentioned that Mike Tomlin would be the youngest head coach in the NFL if hired by the Steelers. Well, his hiring was announced on Monday and he got to be the youngest coach for one day. On Tuesday, the Oakland Raiders announced they were hiring 31 year old Lane Kiffin as the next guy to fail as Raiders coach. If his name is familiar it is probably because his dad (Monte Kiffin) is the longtime Tampa Bay Buccaneer's offensive coordinator. Asked if he might ever consider working for his son, Monte Kiffin said, "I don't know if that'll ever happen. But if I'm working for him, I'll remind him I'm still your dad."

The NFL coaching ranks will likely continue to get younger as Dallas Cowboys coach Bill Parcells has decided to retire.

If you want a laugh, read the last paragraph of this article.

COMEBACK KING? Jim Leyritz is considering a comeback this season. Leyritz, 43, hasn't played since 2000, when he appeared in 65 games for the Yankees and Dodgers.

He was barely average at best when he last played. What makes him think that his skills would be better in his mid 40's than in his 30's?

It is way too early for baseball predictions, but things are looking better for the Indians. No, the Indians haven't just made a blockbuster trade. Rather their divisional competition have been taking steps backwards. First, the cash strapped Minnesota Twins signed Ramon Ortiz for 3.1 million dollars for the upcoming season. And despite his having an ERA over 5 in three of the last four seasons, they plan on having him pitch. The Twins did have a need for starting pitching due to Liriano's injury and Radke's retirement. However, if Ortiz is the best you can do then you're better off bringing up pitchers from the minors. Then on the heals of the Ortiz signing, we get word that the Chicago White Sox have signed Darin Erstad. Erstad had a good year in 2000 but hasn't exceeded 10 home runs in a season since.