But taking three out of three from the Reds has to make you feel pretty good and a lot more confident that this team is for real. Your Indians beat Volquez so bad they shipped him down to the minors!

1.Brandon Phillips. I don’t know if I called him a punk, but he definitely had a sense of entitlement without ever earning it, so he wad definitely cocky…no big deal. I can tell you I feel the same way now that I did then…disappointed and pissed at Mark Shapiro, but mostly Eric Wedge. The City of Cleveland wanted to see Phillips play, but Wedge didn’t like him and cast him away in favor of an also-ran utility guy that was cut halfway through that season. I hated it then and it will bug me until Phillips retired. That began my hatred of Wedge and his love to utility guys…he had a hard-on for utility playres. No doubt that was a loss and it still stings. F**K Wedge.

2. My feelings on the Tribe so far? Still pinching myself. They defy any kind of logic. I keep waiting for the 10 game losing streak, but the more they win late in games the more i see the confidence grow. The pitching is good, but young. The offense scares me, because there are games where they are no-hit into the 6th inning and then somehow pull it out. That can’t last forever, and with Sizemore and Hafner on the DL I don’t know how they’ll put runs on the board. They’re playing with house money at this point, so it’s all good. I’m still waiting for the collapse.

3. I avoid Votto like the plague. Bruce will K much more often. I don’t let the MVP beat me.

4. Choo. He’s very good…a five tool guy. I don’t think any Asian players get much respect…even Ichiro. Choo is different than most Asian players, though. He actually has power. Off to a slow start this year, but he’s the Indians best all around player. He can hit for average, power, steal bases, and has a cannon from right field. I think Boros is his agent, though, so don’t expect him in a Cleveland uniform for long…too bad.

5. This weekend? To be honest, I had no idea what to expect. the Reds have had the Indians number the last few years (but who hasn’t?). As I’m writing this, the Indians have won the first two games by one run. Overall, they’ve been dominated, but still won, which is a great description of most of this season. It just feels like one of those years where no matter how bad they’re struggling, you get the feeling they will somehow win…

6. We love Perez…he’s a cooky closer. He rarely has a 1-2-3 inning, but seems to get the job done. He’s got some filthy stuff when he’s in the strike zone, and he’s got the perfect personality for a closer. He’s confident and not timid…he’s go after hitters.

I’m with you from the standpoint that I can just enjoy the series. I don’t have any animosity toward the Reds, and I usually watch the Reds more than any other team besides the Tribe. Both teams are in first place!!!! Don’t know if that’s ever happened before.

I guess this version is a friends Battle for Ohio.

Not worried at all about the Browns taking SCam. The only interest they have in him is trading down if he is still there and somebody wants to come up to get him.

My bet is the Browns take AJ Green. If he’s not there, probably Nick Fairley, Patrick Peterson, or Robert Quinn.

This is a weird feeling. I’m actually confident that the Browns brass makes a solid pick…no more Gerard Warrens.

But what is life without taking some risks. So, you are on. I bet you a dinner next time you are in town that the Bengals take a WR at number 4. All bets are off if they actually manage to trade down, which they should, but probably won’t.

And you don’t have to worry about the Browns taking your buddy SCam at number 6. They have slowly been turning it around and I think they have some smart people making decisions now. Plus I think they feel pretty confident that they found their quarterback last year when they got a surprisingly good quarterback in McCoy.

SCam Newton is a bust if there ever was one. He has a terrible attitude, selfish, thinks he intelligent. He didn’t call one play in college…NOT ONE!!! Auburn ran a high school offense, he made no audibles, line adjustments, or any decisions whatsoever.

He won’t be able to run the zone read in the NFL. He will actually have to read defenses. He’s Jamarcus Russell with less experience. He won’t be able to run over NFL linebackers. He thinks he’s an entertainer and an icon. He doesn’t have the intelligence or work ethic to succeed as an NFL QB.

I can go on and on if you’re interested in more…I just hope someone takes him in the top 5 so another good player falls to the Browns at 6.

I can still see WR at 4. Chad is working on borrowed time and Cauldwell is NOT his heir apparent. On the same side of the coin neither is Simpson obviously. Shipley and Cauldwell are very good complimentary receivers, but they could use a stud to replace the apathetic and aging Chad. Let’s face it, whoever they draft will take a step back anyway. When was the last player that got better as a Bengal?

I just won’t know what to do if they take Cam Newton. I don’t think he’s a leader, I think he is selfish and money hungry. I think he will concentrate more on getting his incentives than winning games. On top of that how many “mobile” quarterbacks have real success in the NFL? Michael Vick and who else? Vick is a freak, and Newton is no Vick. And Newton isn’t that great of a passer, he is adequate, maybe even good, but that is about as good as it gets and good isn’t good enough to take number 4 over all.

And again I will state that no matter who they draft make sure you watch any college highlights you can, because while he is a Bengal he will never get any better than he was in college.

Usually guys that threaten retirement never have the balls to actually do it and they come back because the team owns them. I could still see that with Palmer, although if there were a scenario I would believe, it’s this one.

I would be shocked if the Bengals took a WR at #4. Shocked. They have Chad, Caldwell, Shipley, and Gresham that are all solid pass catchers. Another WR clogging up that group makes no sense, but Mike Brown is genuinely not smart

Personally I think they take Cam Newton if available and Gabbert if Newton is off the board. I hate Newton as an NFL QB and I’m not real high on Gabbert either. It’s hard to evaluate QBs in the pass-happy, no-defensy Big XII. Although Colt McCoy and Sam Bradford each looked promising last year, so maybe I’m wrong.

I don’t see much of a chance they take a D Lineman, unless Dareus somehow falls to them.

My bad. I just hope it wasn’t so long that everyone loses interest!