Who's Hot Who's Not

WHO'S Hot

Brewers
Cheers in Milwaukee! As breweries across the U.S. celebrated the 75th anniversary of the post-Prohibition return of beer (April 7, 1933) baseball's Brew Crew went 5--1. Ace Ben Sheets (above) threw 15 scoreless innings, and record crowds came out. The lure, says manager Ned Yost? "Good, aggressive, hard-played baseball." Plus, they sell beer.

Philadelphia
Good times on the hardwood (the 76ers are playoff-bound!) and on the ice (the Flyers grabbed a sixth seed). Sixer Andre Miller (left) on Philly's rallying from an 18--30 record to get a berth: "I don't know how it happened, but it's been hard work."

Frank Thomas
No doubting this guy. The Toronto slugger undid a slow start (1 for his first 9) by crushing the Red Sox for eight RBIs—including Sunday's grand salami—in a three-game sweep. At 39 he still puts the hurt on.

Jack Del Rio
What's a playoff win worth? Maybe five years and—yowsa!— $23.5 million. That's the deal landed by the Jaguars' coach, who's 45--35 over five seasons and 1--2 in the playoffs after beating the Steelers in January. Said Del Rio (right) who turned 45 the day of the press conference announcing his new fortune: "There is something very special taking place here in Jacksonville right now."

WHO'S Not

Tigers
What's happenin' in Detroit? The potent-on-paper Tigers had an AL-low 15 runs in an 0--6 start, and manager Jim Leyland grumbled about poor team chemistry. Ace Justin Verlander (above): "Everyone ... needs to do a little soul-searching." LSU's Lady Tigers were looking for answers too: The hoops team lost in the semis for the fifth straight year.

Carolina
Tough times on the hardwood (tournament fave UNC got bounced from the Final Four) and on the ice (a Hurricanes loss cost them a playoff berth). Tar Heels swingman Marcus Ginyard (left) on losing to Kansas: "Their will was just more than ours."

Dioner Navarro
The Rays' catcher slipped in a Yankee Stadium dugout and sliced two fingers on some protective netting. That led to 12 stitches and a spot on the 15-day DL. Manager Joe Maddon, "That's a really ugly cut."

Heat
Miami fans have long since been insulted—the Heat is, no typo, 5--44 since Christmas, and Pat Riley sometimes forsakes them for the scouting trail—and now the team is adding injury. Forward Shawn Marion's foot problems shelved him alongside five other regulars, including that Dwyane Wade fellow. Next year (well, the May 20 draft lottery, anyway) can't come soon enough.