In Cleveland, Kevin Kleps notes the Browns' loss to the Titans on Oct. 22 "marked the fourth time in the last seven regular-season games at FirstEnergy Stadium in which the announced attendance was 60,034 or lower." That is "more than 7,000 below the 18-year-old stadium's capacity." The Browns' attendance average of 63,989 through four home games was "on pace to be the franchise's lowest" since a figure of 57,304 in '84. With its remaining schedule, the team "likely will finish" the season with "four or five non-sellouts." The Browns "haven't sold out nine of their last 16" home contests (CRAIN'S CLEVELAND BUSINESS, 10/30 issue).
REELING BACK: In Miami, Jackson & Spencer note the Marlins "privately have come up with a preferred path" to meet Owners Derek Jeter and Bruce Sherman's $90M payroll target, but whether that is "entirely realistic is debatable." Sources said that the Marlins "will look to trade" RF Giancarlo Stanton, who is due $25M next season, as well as 2B Dee Gordon and 3B Martin Prado. If the Marlins "kept this roster together, their payroll would be" $140M (MIAMI HERALD, 10/31).
TAKE THE EDGE OFF: In N.Y., Bob Raissman wrote former Yankees manager Joe Girardi, "albeit honest, was not a big winner when it came to his postgame media sessions," and they "provided visual evidence of why the Yankees are not bringing him back." The media "speculating" that Yankees Senior VP & GM Brian Cashman "wants his new manager to be a master communicator, a smooth-talking guy who rocks steady and handles the questions without an edgy attitude" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 10/29).
