Mike Salk of 710 AM out of Seattle is reporting that the Mariners are likely non-tendering 2B/3B Jose Lopez before Thursday's deadline.

The Indians, expected to look for "bargain bin" type acquisitions this offseason, might be interested according to new Indians.com beat writer Jordan Bastian. 

Lopez has decent power (52 HR over the last three seasons) but almost never walks (73 over the last three seasons) and had just a .609 OPS in 2010. More importantly for the Indians, he had a .960% FPCT at 3B in 2010 and a UZR of 8.1. Without going in depth, an 8.1 value for UZR means he is very above average in terms of 3B.

Jayson Nix, the anticipated Opening Day 3B, by comparison, had an .895% FPCT at 3B and a -5.9 UZR.

Apparently Derek Anderson Is really really sorry for making an ass out of himself after the game on monday.  We've all seen the video and the ridiculous way that he tried to pretend he wasn't actually yucking it up with Deuce Lutui, who has just shot into the top 10 "players who have cool names" list.

In his apology, Derek insists that his "mom and dad didn't raise him to act like that in times of adversity.", all available evidence to the contrary.  Anderson acted very similarly upon his release from the Browns, he just had time to make an ass out of himself in an email rather than screaming it directly into a camera.  The truth of the matter is, Derek Anderson seems to have as much control over himself off the football field as he has on it, and that's his main problem.

Tim Hightower tried to come to his QB's rescue:

Running back Tim Hightower said he felt for his quarterback over the last two days.

"People don't realize exactly how much pressure he has on his shoulders," Hightower said. "For people to point the finger at him and say he's the problem, it's easy to point out the problem when you haven't walked a mile in that guy's shoes. You have no clue the preparation that he does on a day in day out basis.

I'll tell you what Tim, send me a pair of DA's shoes.  I'll walk a mile and tell you what I think.  You're probably not going to like what I have to say.

The Browns made a minor signing today, adding safety Sabby Piscitelli.  Based solely on the fact that one of the best pictures I could find of him was this image of him getting owned by a fierce Deion Branch stiff arm, I'm not sure how much impact Sabby is going to make here.  I bet he can make a mean veal parmigania though.

Ironically, the Bucs waived him to pick up Larry Asante, who the Browns drafted out of Nebraska before releasing him in training camp.

Piscitelli played his college ball at Oregon State and was a second round pick of Tampa in the 2007 Draft after running a 4.44 forty at the combine.  He broke his foot his rookie season, but logged 20 starts over the next two seasons for Tampa.  He lost his starting job to former Brown Sean Jones this fall after leading the NFL in missed tackles last year.

For what it's worth, Bucs defensive backs coach Jimmy Lake feels he will do well elsewhere.

Desperate to add arms to their bullpen, the Pirates have signed former Tribesman Andy Marte (and how many people thought those 4 words would never be strung together in that order), based on the success of his one inning of relief work against the Yankees last years.

What...the announcement calls Marte “an infielder”?

I forgot that he played a position way back when. My only memory of his tenure here was on the mound that fateful night, whiffing Nick Swisher en route to a scoreless inning.

Ironically enough, Pittsburgh's AAA team is the Indians...the Indianapolis Indians, but still.

In case you were wondering, the Over/Under on Marte HR in 2011 is 25.

I just haven't decided if that number's coming as a Pirate or as an (Indianapolis) Indian. Given the (Cleveland) Indians' recent run of luck (or lack thereof), I would say as a Pirate. That is, until you consider Pittsburgh's run of luck (again, or lack thereof), then the answer is obviously as an (Indianapolis) Indian.  Surely, it will not be the Indians' uniform that we once thought he would be swatting 25 HR a year in.

The ACC/Big Ten Challenge tipped off on Monday night, and through two nights of competition, the Big Ten holds an early 4-2 advantage.

The ACC got off to a good start on Monday when Virginia traveled to Minnesota and upset the 13th ranked Golden Gophers. But on Tuesday night, the Big Ten dominated, going 4-1 in the five matchups. Ohio State beat Florida State by 14 (despite the fact that the Seminoles are coached by a man who looks like pure rage in a suit), the Fighting Illini held off North Carolina at home, Northwestern throttled Georgia Tech and Michigan notched a surprising victory on the road against Clemson. If it weren't for a deep three at the buzzer during the Iowa - Wake Forest game, the Big Ten could have swept the night.

With the good guys leading the challenge 4-2, the Big Ten only needs two more victories to secure the conference victory. Five games will be played tonight:

• Purdue @ Virginia Tech
• Indiana @ Boston College
• North Carolina State @ Wisconsin
• Maryland @ Penn State
• Michigan State @ Duke

Purdue, Indiana and Wisconsin look like the best opportunities for the Big Ten to collect W's. Obviously Michigan State could go into Cameron and knock off the top ranked Blue Devils, but it's going to take their very best game to do so. 

The 2010 All-MAC team is out, and Kent State defensive tackle Roosevelt Nix has been named MAC Defensive Player of the Year as well as Freshman of the Year.

Nice double.

Not even attempting to figure out what's going on here (other than adulation of SS Choo), here is the hero of the Asian Games on a Korean TV show.  With full disclosure that I don't know if the words "Scott", "Boras", "arbitration", or "extension" come up, the best part is when he starts playing with the child (which I assume is theirs) that makes its way over to Big League Choo and his wife mid-interview.

There are 3 other clips of the show to watch, but unless you speak Korean, this dazzling display of graphics and set design should be enough for the Choo fix that you've been jonesing for...

Video

alt=""

The pre-game hype for tomorrow night's Heat/Cavs contest has been exhausting.  With all the storylines about LeQuitter acting like a raging a-hole and his posse or moronic henchmen trying to force out "Coach Spo" with leaks now apparently beat to death, the speculation has turned to whether or not LeLoser will perform his trademark powder toss before tomorrow night's hostile crowd at The Q.

Shaq doesn't think he'll do it.  And has some of his own cashish riding on it.

"I’m anxious to see him do the powder [expletive]," O’Neal told reporters before the Celtics’ 106-87 win over the Cavs Tuesday. "We have bets he won’t do it."

When asked about it at practice yesterday, LeFraud seemed still to be on the fence about it:

“I probably will. That’s a ritual for myself.”

Please, no anthrax jokes in the comments section.  Unless they're funny. 

Steve Gorton, who covers the Hurricanes for the South Florida Sun Sentinel tweeting about a meeting tonight or tomorrow between the Miami AD and Jon Gruden, and a quick deal appears very possible, if not imminent.

As an aside: Gruden is an Ohioan, a dyed-in-the-wool Buckeye fan, and a confidant and advisor to one or more members of the OSU coaching staff.  This would set up a much more compelling matchup in Miami next September than what anyone expected, like five minutes ago.

The Big Ten coaches voted eight Ohio State Buckeyes to the All-Big Ten first team for the 2010 season. The writers didn't like the Bucks quite as well, selecting seven for the first team.

In the coaches voting, the Buckeyes' No. 2-ranked defense dominated the selections on that side of the ball, with defensive lineman Cam Heyward, linebackers Ross Homan and Brian Rolle, and defensive backs Chimdi Chekwa and Jermale Hines on the first team.

On offense, it was running back Dan Herron, receiver Dane Sanzenbacher, and tackle Mike Adams selected to the first team, with center Mike Brewster and guard Justin Boren named to the second team. Kicker Devin Barclay also made second team.

Terrelle Pryor, John Simon, Barclay and DeVier Posey got  Honorable Mention.

---

The writers loved the OSU offensive line, naming Boren, Brewster and Adams all first-teamers, with Sanzenbacher also on the first squad. On defense, Heyward, Rolle and Chekwa were selected to the first team, with Homan and Hines in the second group.  (They found two safeties in the conference better than Hines?)

Final Regular Season Big Ten Stats  (Illinois still has a game to play)

Michigan's Denard Robinson was named the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year, and Purdue defensive end Ryan Kerrigan was selected Defensive Player of the Year.

Michigan State's Mark Dantonio was voted by the media as the Dave McClain Big Ten Coach of the Year