Day 53: Managers of the Year, Mike Shanahan, Dolphins and more

HEADLINES

1) Jim Tracy and Mike Scioscia were named the NL and AL Managers of the Year. Do you agree with these winners?

Ben: Yes. To have your team go through what the Angels went through this season, a nd still produce is a sign of great leadership. Scioscia deserves all the recognition for what they've been able to do since he's taken over that top job. They are a fantastic team that is able to develop players in great supporting roles, or sometimes even superstars. Jim Tracy did a good job of turning the Rockies around, but I'd like to see him be able to do that for more then one season. I think the Rockies are very talented, but I'm not sure how much of this was Tracy, and how much of it was the talent finally playing up to it's potential. I'd say Tracy, or even LaRussa would have been fine selections.

Boz: Yes I do. Jim Tracy did a great job with the Rockies turning them around after taking over from Clint Hurdle during the season. The Rockies were 18-28 and 14 1/2 game back in the NL West. Tracy turned the Rockies around to not only win the NL Wild Card but compete for the NL West all the way to the final weekend of the series. Scioscia did a great job managing a team that was dealing with an awful death of one of their top young arms and guide them to their third straight division title. I also wouldn't have been upset if Joe Girardi won the AL award, but Scioscia had to manage through those unbearable circumstances, which helped him win the award.

2) Just a couple days after firing Dick Jauron, the Buffalo Bills have contacted Mike Shanahan about their vacant coaching position. Would Mike Shanahan be a good fit in Buffalo?

Ben: No. I don't think Buffalo needs a high profile coach - and I don't think Shanahan would be able to handle the limited exposure Buffalo offers. Look, Shanahan is a great coach, but he had the benefit of John Elway during those successful years in Denver, and hasn't done much since then. I also think that Buffalo just needs to start fresh, bring a new face in their, let them set up a plan to succeed, and then follow that plan. They don't need to bring in a guy who will spit the same stuff at the players.

Boz: It would be a good fit for Buffalo, but not a good fit for Mike Shanahan. Shanahan is a great coach and I think, if he is paired with a good defensive coordinator, will once again be a very successful head coach in the NFL. He is an offensive guru and I would actually like to have him in Chicago and reunited with Jay Cutler. However, Buffalo would not be a good fit for Shanahan because the Bills are a bad team and won't be a good team for quite some time. They don't have a quarterback and a volatile player at receiver. Don't bank on Shanahan being at the helm of the Bills.

3) Miami Dolphins's running back and key to the wildcat formation Ronnie Brown has been placed on IR and will miss the remaining of the season. Will the Dolphins still run the wildcat formation and can they still make a run at the playoffs?

Ben: Yes to both. The Dolphins have the benefit of having two quality starting running backs and when one goes down, the other can fill the spot. I think Ricky Williams will hold up just fine in helping them get to the playoffs. I think it's obviously an uphill climb getting there, but if they finished 9-7 they have a shot, and I think with the way they are playing, they'll get to that mark.

Boz: They'll still run the wildcat formation because it is such a major part of their offense. They'll insert Pat White into Brown's spot in the wildcat formation and will continue running the wildcat. The problem with it is that White isn't an inside runner like Brown and only tries to get around the outside corner, which won't make the wildcat as successful. Which means that if the Dolphins want to continue to make a push for the playoffs, Ricky Williams will need to be able to handle to majority of the workload. He's had a great season season so far as a compliment to Ronnie Brown and he'll be depended on the rest of the year. My prediction is that the Dolphins make a push for the playoffs, but come up short.

4) As of this morning, a pair of NBA teams, the Suns and Hawks, have the league's best record at 10-2. Who do you believe is the best team in the NBA?

Ben: Well, it's not the Suns and Hawks. I don't watch enough day to day basketball to say for sure. I'd say there is a group of teams, Lakers, Celtics, Mavs, and Spurs that are within shouting distance of each other for that top spot. I think all of those teams are extremely talented and deep on the bench. I think they have a perfect combination of veteran leadership and youthful athleticism. I'd say those 4 teams are probably the best group, but I can't choose between them.

Boz: As much as I would love to say the Suns and as much as I would hate to say the Lakers, I'll say the Lakers. Kobe has added a post-up game which makes him more dangerous than before, Andrew Bynum has become a strong low-post force and they have posted a 9-3 record without Pau Gasol. Once Gasol is back in the mix, they'll most likely take over the best record in the NBA.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL PICK 'EM

Last week           Ben: 5-1                Boz: 5-1
Season                Ben: 48-25            Boz: 41-32

1) No. 16 Wisconsin at Northwestern (Saturday, 2:30 p.m.)

Ben: WISCONSIN. Northwestern's not bad, but Wisconsin is a good football team that will pound Northwestern for 60 minutes.

Boz: WISCONSIN. Northwestern has been a good story this season and has already gotten bowl eligible with a 7-4 record, but the Badgers are too tough for the Wildcats.

2) No. 14 Penn State at Michigan State (Saturday, 2:30 p.m.)

Ben: PENN STATE. Michigan State has been a major flop this season, and truly a disappointment in the hunt for the Big Ten title. I'll take the athletes of Penn State and Joe Pa, to take it to East Lansing and get a win.

Boz: MICHIGAN STATE. This is my upset pick of the week. The Spartans are at home and need an upset win to get a better bowl game.

3) Minnesota at No. 13 Iowa (Saturday, 11 a.m.)

Ben: IOWA. The Hawks should still be in the title game hunt -- I feel bad for Stanzi and the rest of the Hawks, a healthy Hawks are still undefeated.

Boz: IOWA. The Hawkeyes are still playing for a BCS Bowl despite losing out on the Rose Bowl. Kirk Ferentz showed that he can put together a good game plan for the back up quarterback last week and will do it again against the Gophers.

4) No. 8 LSU at Mississippi (Saturday, 2:30 p.m.)

Ben: LSU. Ole Miss is the flop of the year, and LSU is always fighting for a BCS stop. Even though they won't get it this year, LSU is way to good for Ole Miss to get a win.

Boz: LSU. It's hard to imagine that Ole Miss was once in the top five. They've really fallen apart and LSU will get a big win on the road to stay in the hopes for a BCS bowl.

5) No. 11 Oregon at Arizona (Saturday, 7 p.m.)

Ben: OREGON. Besides Boise State and Stanford, they've played well all season, and Arizona, won't stand in their way.

Boz: OREGON. Arizona isn't as good as everyone thought. They had a good record in the Pac-10 by playing all of the bottom teams. The Ducks roll in this one.

6) No. 25 California at No. 17 Stanford (Saturday, 6:30 p.m.)

Ben: STANFORD. The Cardinal is deadly and they are ROLLING right now. I love that Harbaugh went for 2, up 27 against USC. Stanford is not going to back down to anyone right now, and I think they're playing like one of the best 12-14 teams in the country right now.

Boz: STANFORD. I love what the Cardinal are doing and I am really pulling for them to win the Pac-10. They have one of the best running backs in the nation and he'll continue to push for Heisman hopes.

7) No. 10 Ohio State at Michigan (Saturday, 11 a.m.)

Ben: MICHIGAN. At home, at the end of a tough year, I think Denard Robinson will help Big Blue get a much needed win, and help Rich Rod hold off the alumni for another year.

Boz: OHIO STATE. Michigan will be inspired by the rivalry, but it won't be enough for the Wolverines to get past the Buckeyes.

HAPPY HOUR

Ben: Happy 38th Birthday Michael Strahan and Happy 89th Birthday Stan Musial. Strahan the former defensive end for the New York Giants was a sack machine and helped the Giants have one of the most dominanting front four's in recent memory in the NFL. He also got a pity record when Brett Farve "fell" at his feet to break the NFL single-season sacks record. Really Brett, another reason not to like you. And Stan Musial was one of the best hitters of all time, and while he played for the Cardinals, a rival of my Cubbies, he was truly a great player - and I love good baseball.

Boz: Happy 29th Birthday Vladimir Radmonavic. The former Supersonic and Laker probably thought he was getting a good birthday gift when the Charlotte Bobcats told him he was traded, but then he found out that he was traded to the Warriors, who are just as bad as the Bobcats. Radmonavic was traded by the Lakers before the Lakers won the championship, making Radmonavic miss out on probably his final chance at a ring.