Signing Chuck a waste of big bucks

Thoughts and ideas from the week that's been:
UThe free agent signing of Chuck Finley just might go down as one of the two worst moves made by John Hart during his tenure as general manager of the Cleveland Indians.
Of course, nothing could beat the Brian Giles-for-Ricardo Rincon deal that Hart made a couple of years ago.
But the Finley deal is a close second.
Signed for three years. Finley was wooed because he's a left-handed starter, which the Indians felt they needed at that time, and because he had a history of success against the New York Yankees, then Cleveland's most difficult challenge for American League superiority.
How quickly times change.
Yankees down: The Yankees will open spring training 2002 no longer the team to beat in the A.L. In fact, they may not even be the team to beat in the A.L. East. (Assuming a number of things, of course, like if there will even be a 2002 season, and if George Steinbrenner can't pull off a major free agent signing.)
Finley will have one year remaining on the deal he signed before the 2000 season. He will make more than $9 million. Thus far he hasn't been worth the money.
Last Thursday, in Game 2 of the A.L. Division Series against the Mariners, Finley wasted in the span of 14 pitches all the momentum Cleveland gained from its Game 1 victory.
That's how long it took Finley to surrender two, two-run homers and put his team in a 4-0 hole.
Naturally, Hart couldn't have projected the rapid development of C.C. Sabathia to the point he is the best young left-hander in the majors.
Had he been clairvoyant, Hart probably would not have shelled out the big money for Finley.
UOhio State's offense under the guidance of Jim Tressel, is reminding fans and the media of Woody Hayes' 3 yards and a cloud of dust style of offense.
It wasn't unexpected, at least by those of us who watched Tressel's offenses at Youngstown State the last 15 years.
Multi-dimensional: One thing all Penguins national championship game quarterbacks -- Ray Isaac, Nick Cochran, Mark Brungard, Demond Tidwell and Jeff Ryan -- had in common was their ability to both run and pass.
Certainly, Tressel's quarterback this season, Steve Bellisari, falls into that style of quarterback, although his decision-making isn't as good as those YSU signal-callers.
Tressel didn't win all those games without understanding his talent. His game plans have tried to take the pressure of Bellisari.
Tressel doesn't necessarily need Bellisari to win games for the Buckeyes; he just doesn't want the senior making the big mistakes that will lose them. Establishing the running game is one way to do that.
When the Buckeyes couldn't run the ball against UCLA, the offense came to a standstill. When they ran all over Northwestern last weekend, Bellisari's play was not spectacular, but effective.
As for Saturday's game against Wisconsin ... let's not discuss that.
UThere are years in every school's program which are ones to remember. This year is shaping up to be one of those for the Warren Kennedy Eagles.
Top programs: The football program improved to 8-0 Friday night with a victory over Steubenville Catholic Central, and on Saturday, the boys golf team returned from Columbus with the Division III state golf championship trophy.
Jason Kokrak, a junior, was the medalist of the tournament as the Eagles won the title by a whopping 18 strokes.
Congratulations to all the Kennedy team members and their coaches, Bob Todd and Bob Heltzel.
XRob Todor is sports editor of The Vindicator. Write him at todor@vindy.com.