The Captains have already surpassed 2012 when it comes to players debuting in the major leagues.

They have had four ex-players make their first appearance in the majors this season, ahead of three for all of 2012. Here's a look at how they've fared so far (special thanks to the Captains' Craig Deas for his help):

-- Hector Rondon, a Rule 5 draftee of the Cubs, has made 12 relief appearances for Chicago since April 3. He has a 3.68 ERA and 11 strikeouts in 12 appearances. Photo: Rondon, right, and catcher Welington Castillo on May 4.  (Nam Y. Huh/Associated Press)

-- T.J. McFarland, also taken in the Rule 5 draft, has made nine relief appearances for the Orioles since April 6. He has a 2.95 ERA in 18 1/3 innings.

-- Steven Wright debuted with the Red Sox on April 23. The knuckle baller gave up five runs on six hits in 3 2/3 innings before being optioned to Class AAA Pawtucket.

-- Vidal Nuno debuted with Yankees on April 29. Indians fans are more aware of his second start, in which he pitched five scoreless innings in the second game of a doubleheader on May 13 at Progressive Field. He has since been sent to Triple-A Scranton.

The sample size isn't enough for a full-on indictment of the Indians' minor-league system. But it's worth noting the last six Captains to make to the majors have done so with other teams. The last ex-Lake County player to make it with the Tribe was Cody Allen on July 20, 2012.

- Howard Primer

This past week, the announcement of Sir Alex Ferguson retiring as manager of English soccer powerhouse Manchester United probably went without much reaction from those who aren't immersed in the sport.

Inside the world of the beautiful game, however, it was a huge deal.

Ferguson exits as perhaps the most successful manager club soccer has ever boasted.

The argument about best manager ever doesn't just extend to soccer, though.

It probably extends to all of sports - that is, if you're willing to give the case its due.

Ferguson won 13 Premier League championships in 26 seasons with Manchester United, along with two Champions League crowns.

If the biggest scale on which a manager/coach can be gauged is championships, here is the comparison with the most prolific in that regard in North American sports:

MLB: Joe McCarthy (Yankees) and Casey Stengel (Yankees), 7
NBA: Phil Jackson (Bulls and Lakers), 11
NFL: Chuck Noll (Steelers), 4
NHL: Scotty Bowman (Canadiens, Penguins, Red Wings), 9

It's hard not to argue, based purely on numbers, Ferguson belongs in that discussion.

Say what you will about whether soccer should be included, but winning a championship during 50 percent of your tenure cannot be debated as anything but gaudy.

- Chris Lillstrung | @CLillstrungNH

The Indians' Nick Swisher was right on this week when he was asked about low attendance at home games at Progressive Field.

His response (and I'm paraphrasing): "It's not my business how people in Cleveland spend their entertainment dollars."

The radio talking heads should take Swisher's advice and move on to another topic.

How ridiculous would a radio talk show host sound if he went on air complaining not enough people went to see a certain movie? Or went to a concert at Blossom? Or attended a state playoff football game in Canton?

Or what if yours truly wrote a column complaining not enough runners participated in this year's Johnnycake Jog? Or not enough fans attended next month's N-H Senior Bowl?

I'd probably have a number of emails and calls telling me to stop worrying about how people spend their time and their money.

And they would be right.

- Mark Podolski | @mpodo

Heading into the summer, there have been two coaching changes among area high school football teams, with the second a result of the first. At NDCL, Ben Malbasa left Benedictine to take over for Byron Morgan. The Bengals in turn hired Joe Schaefer.

It's a drop in turnover compared with previous years. Here is a look at the number of area schools with new coaches the past five seasons:

2012: 4
2011: 6
2010: 4
2009: 5
2008: 5

The main reason for the stability is simple: The teams are good. In the past two seasons, 17 of 30 schools in the area made at least one playoff appearance, and 24 of the 30 had at least one five-win season in that span.

-- Howard Primer

The race to create at least some competition for ESPN juggernaut "SportsCenter" heated up this week as it appears the best chance to do so yet, an entry from the debuting Fox Sports One, is coming into place.

Popular Canadian anchor duo Jay Onrait and Dan O'Toole are leaving TSN's "SportsCentre," and it only makes sense their new opportunity in the United States would be Fox Sports One. Former Fox Sports host and current "SportsNation" host Charissa Thompson also appears headed to Fox Sports One, Awful Announcing reports.

If you haven't seen Onrait and O'Toole at work on YouTube, these clips should help the argument that they could carry a flagship national show:




The problem right now with U.S. sports highlights shows is a monopoly creates complacency. That's why "SportsCenter" can get away with a LeBronathon or Tebowaganza during a live hour of television supposedly dedicated to highlights, and while some segments of the audience will complain it will continue to happen.

With its household clearances, when Fox Sports One debuts later this year it will have the best chance in sports television history to create a viable alternative to the Worldwide Leader with a highlights show. If that could happen, it would naturally cause ESPN to have to up its game for its signature show and beyond its wonderful work with properties such as "30 for 30" and "Outside the Lines."

For the sake of the viewer, here's to hoping a little competition can create an improved experience when all they want is highlights and analysis, not improvised extended debate.

- Chris Lillstrung | @CLillstrungNH

You could say we're enthusiastic about the 2013 football season. How enthusiastic?

After deadline Thursday night, I mentioned to my colleague Chris Lillstrung that I had a head start on this year's schedules, with about two-thirds of them typed in.

To that, Lillstrung said that he, too, had been typing in schedules during some down time earlier in the week and was almost done. Lesson learned: Check the files first next time.

While the staff is busy preparing the 2013 N-H Senior Bowl, we're also keeping one eye toward the 2013 regular season. Here's a look at some noteworthy changes to area teams' schedules this year:

-- The most intriguing matchup in Week 1 will occur in western Lake County, with Kirtland traveling to North on Aug. 30. The Hornets, who have played in the Division V state final the past two seasons (winning one) haven't lost a regular-season game since Week 5 of 2009. Meanwhile, North is coming off a 1-9 showing in 2012. The Rangers have a male enrollment 3.8 times as big as Kirtland's.

-- North's entire nonconference schedule changes for 2013. Out are Brush, Bedford and Midpark. In are Kirtland, Medina and at Garfield Heights.

-- Another new game in Week 1 is Madison playing at Chagrin Falls. The Blue Streaks dropped Lakeview and Brush, and they also added Collinwood for Week 2.

-- Lake Catholic replaced Brunswick with a trip to Massillon on Sept. 20 (Week 4). It will be the Cougars' first game against the Tigers.

-- Solon will be appearing on the area scoreboard several times this season. The Comets play at Kenston in Week 1 (Aug. 30), at South in Week 3 (Sept. 12),  host Mayfield in Week 6 (Oct. 4) and host Mentor in Week 8 (Oct. 18).


-- The Northeast Ohio Conference shuffled divisions and crossover opponents. Mentor, which had played Mayfield the past two seasons, will travel to Brush on Sept. 27 (Week 5).

-- Euclid opens with four straight home games, and has seven overall at Sparky DiBiasio Stadium. The Panthers will face Hudson, Cleveland Central Catholic, Mentor and Shaw before their first road game. 

-- After playing four of its first five on the road last year, Benedictine gets a reprieve, as one of its road games this season is at Bedford, which is where the Bengals play their home games.

-- After playing Chanel and Kirtland in the nonconference last year, Harvey will play newcomer Whitney Young and Fairport.

-- Wickliffe added a trip to Martins Ferry in Week 2.

- Howard Primer

This is the way to have fun on a long bus trip.
Check out the video the Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin varsity softball team recently made to Justin Bieber's "Baby."
My only question after watching this video is why didn't longtime NDCL softball coach Jack McParland make an appearance in it?
I say if NDCL wins its first tournament game, McParland should agree to make an appearance in an upcoming video.
What do you think coach?


Click here to check out the video