Five to go...

CC Sabathia can now be termed a $161 million bargain. He went 8 innings for the Yankees and picked up the win on three days rest with a 10-1 beatdown of the Anaheim Angels. He only needed 37 pitches to get through the first four innings. Not sure who was shakier, the umpires, or Angels starter Scott Kazmir? The Yankees lead the series 3-1 with game 5 set for tomorrow despite there being no travel day today. Have I mentioned yet or lately I hate all these needless days off? On the opposite end of timing, Twitter is amazing for getting rapid feedback on plays, calls and so on during a game - the ripping those umps took on the Nick Swisher tag up call and the non-out call of Robinson Cano were awesome. Los Angeles starts today with two teams down 3-1 in the respective championship series. The Dodgers and Philadelphia Phillies go tonight at 7:30 on SportsNet.

An odd day of Champions League group play yesterday, with Barcelona losing at home 2-1 to Russian champion Rubin Kazan, Liverpool losing to Olympique Lyon by the same score, and Inter Milan drew at home with Dynamo Kyiv 2-2. Strange. Liverpool could be in a world of trouble to advance to the next round, and look unlikely to lift the English Premier League trophy. Expect trouble if so. Today, the most appealing matchups are Real Madrid - minus Ronaldo - hosting disappointing AC Milan, Manchester United at CSKA Moscow, and Chelsea hosting Atletico Madrid.

After yet another homer last night and 2 RBI, A-Rod now has an RBI in eight straight Yankee post-season games - and Philly's Ryan Howard is also at eight and counting - tying them with Lou Gehrig for the most in playoff history. Is A-Rod a "true Yankee" yet? Wonder how many hitters come clean on drug usage next spring hoping to replicate this incredible performance?

Not sure what is more lame, towel waving or cracking thundersticks come playoff time in baseball and other sports. Gonna say the latter for environmental unfriendliness.

The Montreal Canadiens bumped Jaroslav Halak into the #1 goalie spot ahead of Carey Price and the move paid immediate dividends with the Habs 2-1 shoot-out winners over Atlanta. The game also marked the second time this season the Habs scored first.

The Denver Broncos are not only 6-0 straight up, but are also 6-0 against the spread. Broncos coach Josh McDaniels is 32-5 striaght up the last three years with Tom Brady, Matt Cassel and Kyle Orton as his quarterbacks.

Hard to believe that Alexander Ovechkin ranks 100th in the NHL in shooting percentage at 14.8%, no?

Have a great Wednesday.