Kool-Aid Now! Save the Crow for Later . . .

It seems like every day The Plain Dealer runs another player-centered feature article, and every one tells you why that player is going to be a key contributor, if not League MVP or Cy Young Award winner.

And you know what? I'm buying in, baby! Let the crashing down to reality come when it comes — at worst, in April, and if we're strung along, in September or October. In the meantime, I don't have the time or inclination to plod around the landscape (virtual or actual) in search of "reality." I don't get how Paul Hoynes can write all these upbeat articles, then have us finishing fourth in the division. I dunno: maybe if Hoynsie were stationed in the other AL Central cities he'd be writing puff pieces even more glowing and even more positive about Matt Garza, Javier Vazquez, and Craig Monroe.

I'd like to see him try.

But rather than get too huffy about one man's predictions, let's instead bask in the sunshine of The Plain Dealer and Cleveland.com:

*The next Tom Glavine is Jeremy Sowers. He's left-handed, he's a rocket scientist, he's got his head on straight, and he's well-rested. Mark my words — Sowers will end the season with MLB's lowest K/win ratio (sorry, Chien-Ming Wang). I've got him at around 4.2 — 84 punchados and a big phat 20 decisiones positivas.

*Fausto Carmona has the mental makeup to shake off memories of his nasty, brutish, and thankfully short tenure as closer last year. (Mr. Satan? Doctor Fausto called. He wants to renegotiate his deal . . .) Taking a cue from Nietzsche — e.g., what doesn't kill you makes you stronger — Carl Willis says Carmona grew from the experience. Fausto's dominance in the Dominican this winter suggests he's on the way up. He'll crack the rotation sometime in '07 and catalyze our stretch-run blitz to the AL Central title.

*Questions about Jhonny Peralta's commitment have been put to rest. Not only did he postpone his honeymoon to practice taking ground balls, he had (as I've noted) Lasik done in the offseason. This year's Peralta sees and cares. No looking back for Jhonny — except to snare that sharp grounder in the deep hole. It's Fulfill Potential/Justify Contract Time.

*Shin-Soo Choo is not obviously angry about the Dellucci and Nixon signings. Big League Choo is honing his skills against left-handed pitching. He will get his opportunities, he'll make the most of them, and he'll force Wedge and the front office to accept that he's a superstar-in-waiting. Emphasize the "waiting" part.

*Not a feature story here, but I should note that the C-1B-DH logjam has been broken — or at least "wedged" open a little. Pronk is fit to play first base (occasionally). It's amazing what a little WD40 can do. It can loosen up an elbow and a lineup, too.

Things are looking up, folks! More as it comes.