9:15 PM EST/7:15 MST – The Ex-Files

Last night I was flipping back and forth between Monday Night Football and the end of the Phillies/Rockies Game Four in the NLDS. Under normal circumstances, I wouldn’t even have bothered to flip to the football game considering the circumstances of the riveting baseball playoff game, but I obviously had to see the Braylon Edwards/Jets experience first hand.

What was so interesting was that literally in a five minute time frame between 9:10-9:15, ex-Cleveland athletes were playing key roles in their respective games.

After Rafael Betancourt – in short sleeves – got a the Rockies out of a bases loaded, one out jam in the top of the eighth, Cliff Lee, former Tribe ace and AL Cy Young award winner, sprinted to the mound with six outs remaining.  The lefty was on cruise control. Two issues were at hand – the freezing cold temperatures and a pitch count of 108.

The first pitch to the first batter he faced, Carlos Gonzalez, was up and in and backed Gonzalez way off the plate. After inducing a fly out, I switched over the football game as the Jets were mounting a drive behind QB Mark Sanchez.So far, nothing from the diva WR Braylon Edwards….So far….

I quickly went back to our old Red-ass buddy Cliff. Uncharacteristically, he had walked the speedy Dexter Fowler on four pitches. Up stepped the left handed hitting Todd Helton. Clearly this was going to be Cliff’s last batter. So I stayed with the game. Helton hit an 0-1 pitch towards second baseman Chase Utley. Fowler, dashing to second base, literally hurdled Utley as he attempted to pick up the grounder. Utley turned and flipped the ball back-hand to Jimmy Rollins at short, who dropped the toss. All runners were safe thanks to the error.

That was all for Lee. Ex-Indians manager emerged from the dugout and called for a double switch. He yanked Lee for his best reliever, Ryan Madson, and put our old friend Ben Francisco in left field.

Back to the football game I went. After a fake punt was perfectly executed, Sanchez hit a WR wearing #17….nope, it was #16 Brad Smith for a 19 yard catch and run, putting the Jets in the Red Zone. But the Rockies have two on and one out, trailing Lee and the Phillies 2-1! have to get back there.

The first thing I see is a 1-1 count to Colorado stud SS Troy Tulowitzki. He takes the pitch towards sort left field – the ball always seems to find the new guy doesn’t it?. On charged Benny and I turned to my wife and said “no way Francisco is getting there,” and as soon as the word “there” came out of my mouth, Benny makes an unbelievable diving catch, which looked like would be a game-saver for the Phillies.

But as you now know, the next two Rockie hitters, Jason Giambi and Yorvit Torrealba, drove in the game-tying, and lead runs off of Madson. The TBS cameras went right to Lee in the dugout, who sat completely stone-faced.

With the Rockies “comfortably” ahead, back to the football I went. Thomas Jones ran up the middle to the three yard line. Sanchez’s next pass was intended for Smith again, but was broken up in the end zone. So now it’s third and goal. Sanchez fades back to pass, he is scrambling around and he has a man at the back of the end zone who makes a terrific finger-tip catch. Why, its none other than Braylon Edwards!

I began to feel the throw-up in the back of my mouth. Braylon came to the sidelines holding the ball – a definate keeper for him.

The night went on to go well for some, not so well for others. The Phillies made a terrific ninth inning comeback off of closer Huston Street and finished off the Rockies 5-4. Series over. Cliff and Benny were a part of yet another champagne celebration in the locker room, while “The Realtor” Betancourt was sent home towards free agency. Back in Miami, Braylon played a good, not great game for the Jets, but made his presence felt (more on that later). It was typical – one spectacular catch and one easy drop.

Regardless, for those five minutes, the ex-Cleveland factor was in full effect in two of the major sports on the game’s big stage.

Just how one particular player in green and white would like it.

photos by Lynne Sladsky/AP (edwards), David Zalubowski/AP (Lee), David Swanson/Philadelphia Enquirer (Francisco)