First Down

SATURDAY’S BEST BET ON TELEVISION

Maryland tries to stay on track for the ACC title game — and perfect against Top 25 teams this season — when No. 17 North Carolina comes to Byrd Stadium. 3:30 p.m., Chs. 7, 2

ON WASHINGTONTIMES.COM » AN EXCERPT FROM LOVEY LAND

The Baseball Writers’ Association of America’s Cy Young Award winner for the American League was announced Thursday, and the winner was Cleveland’s Cliff Lee. According to the Associated Press, Lee “was a heavy favorite to win. … The only question seemed to be whether the vote was unanimous.” It wasn’t. Lee received 24 of 28 first-place votes, meaning four voters didn’t vote for Lee for the Cy Young.

I was one of the four who didn’t. It was far from a clear-cut choice from my point of view. Lee is obviously deserving of the award, and I have no problem with him winning it. He had a remarkable season, going 22-3 with a 2.54 ERA. He was second on my ballot. But (Roy) Halladay’s complete game numbers blew me away.

In this day and age, to have nine complete games deserves some kind of its own award. That meant his manager didn’t have to go to the bullpen for nine games this past season. That is extremely valuable to me, as well as his 246 innings pitched, which led the American League.

— Thom Loverro

TWT FIVE » PLAYERS WHO MISSED OUT ON A MILESTONE

Randy Johnson, five wins shy of 300, is searching for a new team after failing to reach an agreement to return to Arizona. If he doesn’t land somewhere, he’s in danger of joining other baseball stars who came up just short of a milestone.

1. Wally Pipp — The Yankees first baseman who lost his starting job to Lou Gehrig (who went on to play 2,130 games in a row) finished with 998 RBI. Some luck.

2. Mark McGwire — “Not here to talk about the past” … or about how he had to retire after the 2001 season 17 home runs short of 600.

3. Barry Bonds* — That asterisk isn’t for steroids. It’s for the fact that, if a team signs him, he could get the 65 hits he needs for 3,000.

4. Tommy John — He’s best remembered for a revolutionary surgical procedure to repair an elbow ligament, not falling 12 wins shy of 300.

5. Lou Gehrig and Fred McGriff — What do an Iron Horse and a Crime Dog have in common? Both finished with 493 home runs. Didn’t keep Gehrig out of the Hall, but it might McGriff.