When the final out was recorded in Monday’s 5-3 Angels win over the Yankees, I looked over and saw Brian Cashman breathe a huge sigh of relief. “Finally feels good, eh, Brian?” I asked.

He jumped up, startled. “What? Oh, no! Steelers just went up on San Diego. They win this game, I’m 13-1 in my pick’em league this week.”

What can you say about Cashman that hasn’t already been said? He helped engineer a great Yankee dynasty. He won four World Series. He remained cool under pressure. Yet as the Yankees struggle for identity in the face of their fifth straight season without a win, Cashman is among the likely casualties; his contract up, the GM will not return in 2006.

Don’t believe the rumors about Cashman going to Oakland or Philadelphia, either; free of George Steinbrenner’s temper, he’ll almost certainly take a year off. Relax. Hit the links. Maybe even go to a few of those football games he loves so much. Bon voyage, Brian.

As for the Angels? They deserve every bit of their success. For all the talk about smallball, Moneyball, Ozzieball, and Buckyball, the defining moment of the AL playoffs so far may well be Darin Erstad’s full-extension dive to snag the last out of game three. This is an Angels team that isn’t afraid to ruin their uniforms. Maybe we should call it Dirtyball?

This Week’s Terrific Ten

1. St. Louis. Mike McGuire could use a guy like Jim Edmonds out there in the battlefield.
2. Chicago White Sox. If Ozzie Guillen’s enthusiasm was any more contagious, it’d be the bird flu.
3. Houston. Let me put it to you this way: 20 years from now, we’ll be talking about what Roger Clemens did on Sunday the way we talk about the moon landing.
4. Anaheim. I don’t know if they’ve got enough left in the tank, but that Ervin Santana is something special.
5. Boston. If Adam Vinatieri could only throw a slider.
6. Atlanta. Might as well pencil them in for NL East title #15. There’s no way Jeff Francoeur won’t be next year’s Derrek Lee – or at least, next year’s Marty Cordova.
7. New York. A-Rod in the bottom of the ninth in October is the opposite of clutch. Jeffrey Maier could have gotten out of that at-bat without hitting into a double play.
8. San Diego. Say this for Jake Peavy – he sincerely wanted the ball in game four. Now that’s a man.
9. Cleveland. They’ll be back and better than ever in 2006. Travis Hafner looks like he could take snaps for the Browns if the Trent Dilfer experiment doesn’t pan out (and it won’t).
10. Chicago Cubs. Pitchers and catchers report in just five months, North Siders. Till then, enjoy the beautiful new Soldier Field and the work of the fine barista Megan W. at the Wrigleyville Starbucks (and hey, Megan, easy on the acoustic Alanis!).

Ten Things I Think I Think:

1. I think “Curb Your Enthusiasm” is firing on all cylinders again. Welcome back to the big leagues, Larry David.
2a. I think the J.P. Losman era is finally over in Buffalo. Kelly Holcomb’s experience was all it took to beat the Dolphins.
b. Ben Roethlisberger, meet Joe Theismann. Joe Theismann, meet Ben Roethlisberger.
3a. I think Chone Figgins could be the difference between the Angels going to the World Series and not. He played like he was point-shaving the ALDS, and Anaheim still won.
b. I think there’s one word for Roger Clemens at this point, and that one word is hero.
4. I think Brad Butler’s cheap shot on Mathias Kiwanuka in Saturday’s Virginia/BC game showed genuine classlessness. There’s no excuse for that sort of thuggery; Chuck Cecil would be ashamed of being mentioned in the same breath as Brad Butler right now.
5. I think that come the signing period, Aaron Small might be this year’s Derek Lowe, regardless of the Yankees’ early exit. How can he not expect Eric Milton money, the way he pitched down the stretch?
6. I think the Gillette M3 Power is a heck of a razor.
7. Coffeenerdness: I think the mint chocolate chip mocha freeze needs to be enshrined in the Starbucks hall of fame. As a seasonal item, it’s as under-utilized as caramel apple cider – or Jonathan Papelbon, for that matter.
8. I think the Pirates made a big mistake in hiring Jim Tracy as manager. I realize there’s a lot of work to be done in Pittsburgh, but Lloyd McClendon fouled up a pretty good thing in Daryle Ward this year; when Ward got hot, McClendon started benching him for Brad Eldred, who could barely hit his weight. That in mind, Tracy’s roster management with Los Angeles in 2004 ought to send shivers down the spine of any intelligent Pirates fan. When you’ve got a Roethlisberger on your team, you don’t play Tommy Maddox.
9. I think Skateboard P’s “Can I Have It Like That” might – MIGHT – just get my 30 points in this year’s Pazz & Jop poll.
10. I think reruns of “Degrassi Junior High” are the finest thing to happen to late-night TV since Shannon Tweed.

Obscure Factoid That May Interest Only Me:

Colgate sophomore Mary Beth King reports that the price of a venti hazelnut latte at the sole Starbucks in Hamilton, NY increased – INCREASED – to $2.71 this week. Hey, Mary Beth, is that in euros?

Who I Like Tonight, And I Don’t Mean Tim McCarver:

Give me the White Sox in six and the Cardinals in five. I’m not convinced that the Angels can summon the energy to beat a refreshed White Sox team, and I’m not convinced that the Astros can do anything about Albert Pujols. He’s a pretty good hitter.