There are goals, and then there are Blake Snell's goals.
Perhaps you haven't heard of Snell, but chances are you will -- very soon -- if next season goes like this one.
Snell, a 22-year-old left-hander, was 8-8 with a 3.20 ERA between two levels of Class A in 2014. The Tampa Bay Rays named him their minor league pitcher of the year, and Snell, with encouragement from his family, decided to pursue the next logical honor.
"I wanted to be the best player in minor league baseball," he said. "That's something I was working hard to do. For it to happen the way it did, I couldn't be any happier with myself."
Snell was named Baseball America's minor league player of the year, an award won last season by Kris Bryant, now a top slugger for the Cubs. Snell was 15-4 with a 1.41 ERA, advancing to Class AAA and posting the lowest ERA in the minors (minimum 115 innings) since Justin Verlander's 1.29 mark in 2005.
Snell got a good head start on his ERA, beginning the year with 46 consecutive scoreless innings between the Class A Charlotte Stone Crabs and the Class AA Montgomery Biscuits.
"The biggest challenge in the scoreless streak was not thinking about it and not looking at social media to see what people were saying," Snell said.
Snell -- whose father, Dave, pitched six years in the minors in the 1980s -- was drafted by the Rays in 2011. That year the Rays held 10 of the first 60 selections, including the New York Yankees' first-rounder (No. 31) as compensation for the loss of Rafael Soriano in free agency.
Tampa Bay did not give a September call-up to Snell, who described himself as fun to watch because he excels in tight spots and talks to himself on the mound to help his focus. His goals for 2016 are already in his sights, and he has big plans.
"I have no clue what the Rays are thinking," Snell said. "But as far as me going into the offseason, my goal is to go to spring training, make the big-league club and help us get to the playoffs and win the World Series."
Poster boys
Anyone making a minimum donation of $16.12 can receive a memento of Toledo's 16-12 victory over the Arkansas Razorbacks.
The Toledo Football Foundation is offering a limited edition poster celebrating the Rockets victory over the SEC team.
The Bills and Brady
Who knows whether the Buffalo Bills will topple the New England Patriots today, but the Bills and their fans are already killing the Pats off the field.
In a nod to the Deflategate scandal, the Bills decided to prominently feature air pumps in the team gift shop.
In addition, some Bills fan(s) have unveiled a billboard with the following poem:
"Mr. Brady is so shady.
Deflates balls and acts like a baby."
Add Brady
From RJ Currie of sportsdeke.com: "Pats' QB Tom Brady publicly endorsed Donald Trump. Maybe to show support for something full of hot air."
Sports quiz
Tom Brady made his first NFL start in 2001 against what team?
Sports answer
Indianapolis
Sports on 09/20/2015