August 2009
71 posts
Carrasco Beats Pedro →
Click the link to read the story, but newly acquired Carlos Carrasco was the winning pitcher for Class AAA Columbus tonight against Lehigh Valley - the loser was Pedro Martinez.
This article is frustrating for me to read because the Plain Dealer reports that Carrasco’s numbers “weren’t outstanding.”
Of course, they’re looking at the wrong numbers - hits and earned...
July 2009
57 posts
Epstein Reads Our Letter
It appears that the Indians and Red Sox are getting closer to making a deal for Victor Martinez, the center piece of which will be Clay Buchholz. The Red Sox are looking for a third team to try and deal recently acquired Adam LaRoche to in order to make room in their line-up for Victor.
You’ll remember that this is the deal I wrote an open letter to Theo Epstein about several days ago....
Indians Win World Series
News Flash: Commissioner Bud Selig announced today that the title won by the Red Sox in 2007 has been rescinded due to the recently disclosed drug usage of both Manny and Big Papi. Since it was obvious that the Cleveland Indians were the second best team in MLB that year, he then awarded the Tribe the World Series title for that year.
Tribe finally ends World Series draught on a technicality!!
...
Where the Streets Have No Team
When my alarm clock went off this morning, and I tried to delay the inevitable start of another day of work by checking twitter for NBA news, I was saddened to see a notice that the Cavs had waived Tarence Kinsey.
I believe that my dad, Mike, and myself were possibly the only three people that were actively rooting for “Streets” (as LeBron referred to him in press conferences last...
Cliff Lee = Gonzo
Days like today are the reason why we started this blog.
For the cave dwellers, Cliff Lee has been traded to the Philaelphia Phillies for four minor leaguers: Carlos Carrasco (RP), Jason Knapp (RP), Jason Donald (SS), and Lou Marson (C).
Immediately after the trade was made, Cleveland.com commenters lit up the page with scorn, Dennis Manaloff wrote the obligatory, detestable, woe is me...
Garko Trade + Cliff Lee
Yesterday, Ryan Garko got traded for Scott Barnes, a left-handed minor-league pitching prospect.
I wrote on Sunday that I would put some work in to try and help us all quantify how promising a pitcher is. This is only Barnes’ second season in the minors, and he’s only played at Single-A so, statistically - I haven’t seen him pitch, obviously - here’s what counts. These are...
Andy Marte - Now You See Him, Again
Now we get to see Andy Marte again - is this the third, fourth, or fifth time? I’m actually encouraged by his return to the Tribe. Why? Is it his higher batting average and overall improvement lately? Is it his OBS (.583 - is that good??) or OBS+ - nope. (Sorry Mikey).
No, my optimism springs from the fact that he’s coming back to the big leagues despite the Indians organization -...
Retro Live-Blog: Indians V. Angels
Monday night, Mike and I headed down to Anaheim to watch the Tribe battle the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim of the County of Orange of the State of California of the Country of America. Hilariously, I have now lived in LA for over 4 years, and this was the first time I have ever been south of LAX. True story.
At any rate, this turned out to be basically the best game we could’ve hoped to...
'Moneyball' Article →
Good, albeit overly long article from Howard Bryant on Billy Beane and the “Moneyball” philosophy.
The Football Disclaimer
Mike and I have had numerous conversations over the course of the past few days about how football is going to be the most difficult of the three major sports for us to analyze insightfully. A 53-man roster, numerous offensive and defensive formations, specialty players, and very few concrete measures to indicate who’s doing a good job and who isn’t…not exactly a recipe...
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OPS Primer
Yesterday, during a long talk with my dad about Cleveland sports, I came to the realization of just how much the conversation about sports has evolved since I was a kid and especially since my dad was a kid.
In covering the Cavs and the Indians (not much to say about the Browns right now), and discussing things like OPS and production per 48 minutes, I was stricken by the fact that my dad and I...
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Cavs Roster Depth
Now that Jamario Moon is a Cavalier and Christian Eyenga is going to Spain for at least one year, the team’s roster depth - and potential rotation - is becoming clear. Here’s the outline with positions and contract details if applicable:
Mo Williams (1,2)
Delonte West (1,2)
LeBron James (2,3,4)
Anderson Varejao (4,5)
Shaquille O’Neal (5)
Boobie Gibson (1,2)
Anthony...
In Brief
Pluto on recently acquired pitcher Connor Graham (in a deal with the Rockies for Rafael Betancourt):
“While Graham has been a starter in Class A, his 95-mph fastball and size (6-7, 235 pounds) seem to make him a bullpen guy.”
This is one of the most non-sensical things I’ve ever read. Why does a guy with a 95MPH fastball and a big body have to be a reliever?
Randy Johnson is...
Welcome to the Clippers, Blake
Blake Griffin - dubbed “Bully” by Mike for his resemblance to the title character of the stellar Xbox and PS2 game - impressed at the Vegas summer league, where he averaged a double-double and was named MVP.
After conquering that hurdle, he has now decided to work on fitting in better with his teammates. Step #1? Getting injured. Welcome to the club, Blake.
ESPN reported today...
Browns Work Hard
First team in the NFL to have to report to camp. This Friday. Get on that grind. Get that money. Work hard. Keep it moving. Mangenius.
Mike Vick Is House Money
Unless you were just reanimated by a mad scientist in the span of the past five minutes, you are undoubtedly aware that Mike Vick has completed his sentence for operating a dog-fighting ring and is set to meet with Roger “Watch Me Climb Mt. Rainier” Gooddell this week to discuss his reinstatement to the NFL.
Every time I flipped past ESPN in the past two days, I heard a different...
Open Letter to Theo Epstein...
Dear Theo,
As GM of the Red Sox, you have been exceptional. You brought the city of Boston and its championship starved fans not one World Series title but two. You rid Massachusetts of the cancer that was Manny Ramirez - his refusal to run out ground balls was an insult to the state that hosted the Salem Witch Trials - and I applaud you. As an assistant, you prevented your boss from getting...
LeBron Whines Too Much??
OK, all you C-Town fans, I’ve been hearing that some in the national media are complaining the Lebron is spoiled, gets his own way too much, whines, oh yeah — he didn’t shake hands after we lost to the Magic.
Wow — that is some serious stuff.
Last night’s local Fox news channel poll — Do you think LBJ whines too much?
47% said yes, 42% said no, 11% said they...
Being Sneaky is Always Fun
Well, to all my fans, I am back from vacation — and my bout with the H1N1 flu - to my first love, Jose Mesa Is Dead. (I’m kidding about the H1N1 part, but not the flu part. That’s an entirely different post on our new medical blog).
So, just a short post from me, cause I’m still regaining my writing strength — but, I have to tell you that I love the sneaky move...
My Relationship with Major League Baseball
During the player introductions for this past Tuesday’s Major League Baseball All-Star Game, I realized that I recognized almost none of the reserve players outside of those guys I’d seen in the playoffs over the last couple of years (Evan Longoria, for example) the Cleveland guy (Victor Martinez), and anyone who’s seemingly so good that they become inescapable (Hanley...
Sports Biz
CAA, Hollywood’s biggest agency, just brought Henry Thomas into their sports division.
Why is this noteworthy?
Because CAA already represents LeBron (Leon Rose), and by getting Thomas, they now also rep Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.
Given my experience in the movie industry, trust me when I say that CAA will insure that Rose and Thomas work together to maximize the best situation for all...
Ingraham on the Tribe's Future →
Good article from Ingraham exploring what the Indians will look like in the future. He certainly makes a very strong, but implicit, argument here that the Indians need to trade whomever they can for starting pitching…like right f’ing now. There’s almost no one in the minors and small market teams can’t solve problems in free agency.
Belated Congratulations
…to Browns Republic’s would-be quarterback-in-waiting, Graham Harrell. It was reported Thursday that Harrell signed a two-year deal with the CFL’s Saskatchewan Roughriders, where he will enter the team as fourth on the depth chart.
I would like to thank Harrell and his agent for making my case for me. Best wishes, gentlemen. The fan base will irrationally be waiting for your...
Summer League
My piece about my relationship with MLB is coming on Sunday, but a few brief notes on the Cavs summer league, which wrapped up today.
*Tarence Kinsey, who I’ve been rooting for given his production in limited minutes last year and ability to move without the ball - which can be very helpful in a LeBron-centric offense - did not play particularly well. In 121 minutes, he had no assists, shot...
The British Open: No Surprises
Mark your calendars, because this is the one and only time that this blog will school the casual world on golf.
I personally believe that golf is an impostor sport. I place it on a level only slightly higher than bowling and darts, and that’s just because it’s played outdoors. Apart from John Daly, there isn’t a single interesting personality on the tour. Eldrick Woods (I refuse...
Cleveland Sports Bloggers
Reading another Cleveland sports blog - that is vastly inferior to this one - I heard about a meet-up for Cleveland sports bloggers that took place Thursday night at the Akron Aeros game.
Thanks for the invite, Cleveland sports blog association.
Actually, we didn’t get one - and frankly, I don’t care. I have no interest in getting together with a bunch of amateur writers whose...
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Bi-Weekly Critique of Terry Pluto + The Indians in...
As always, I listened to Terry Pluto’s weekly podcast this morning (I got to it a day late because my schedule dictated that I go to the gym before it was up on cleveland.com on Tuesday).
Despite my belief that the Plain Dealer will never link to our site until I stop discrediting his assertions, I’ve decided to continue going against him, if only because too many people in...
Rob Kurz: Analysis
As some of you may know, Brian Windhorst is reporting that the Cavs are looking at Rob Kurz, PF out of Notre Dame, who played one year with Golden State as a possible bargain alternative at the 4.
I know many of you will admire Kurz for two infallible reasons - the first being that he’s white, the second being that he went to Notre Dame and maybe even hangs out with Brady Quinn - so my...
Derek Anderson: Let My People Go
It’s July 14th. I was really wishing that the Indians would be competitive enough at this point in the season that my first exclusively-Browns post wouldn’t have to happen til at least August 1. But as Burgess Meredith said in Grumpy Old Men II, “You can wish in one hand and crap in the other, and see which gets filled first.” So here we are…
Obviously, the Browns...
Notes from the Anthony Parker Press Conference
I listened to the Anthony Parker press conference this morning. Here are my notes:
Clearly, the Cavs wanted him because he’s a high character guy. Assistant GM Lance Blanks made a point of saying that most importantly, Anthony’s a “great person.” How he fits with the team was also stressed and much was made of how hard the Cavs pushed for Parker at the start of free...
Eyenga (Die Hards Only)
So, Cavs first round draft pick Christian Eyenga has been taking heat ever since David Stern called his name and kinda sorta laughed. The choice was widely panned - of course, the Cavs probably didn’t want to pay 1st round guaranteed money and were happy getting a player they thought was just as good at 46 in Danny Green for less cash, but that was barely mentioned. Also, those of you who...
Your Next Three Months...
…will be better than those of the Cleveland Indians organization.
14 games out of first place.
73 games to go.
Loss to the Tigers yesterday. Home Run Derby tonight. Of the past 26 games played, the Indians have lost 19.
The big mystery waiting at the end of this season - the source of all the drama - whether or not the team loses 100 games.
Current record: 35 - 54
That means the...
It's Really Not About Winning
I won’t tell you guys how old I am, but —- well, I’m Dad, so I’m older than most of you. Which should make me wiser, but unfortunately, I guess I’m not as smart as I thought I was.
Why?
Because I was stupid enough to think an NBA player would give up money and glamour for the chance to win an NBA title. I thought players, especially players past their prime with...
Cavs Lose Channing Frye
The dude is going to Phoenix - two years at $1.9M, second year is a player option - the desert wins.
I’m not sure who the Cavs go to now…not too many big man who can shoot a jumper left…it may end up being Kleiza, and he’s a small 4. Joe Smith is another option.
This will all be very interesting because if the Cavs can’t bring Andy off the bench, i.e. they...
How Wrong Is It...
…that when I heard ESPN report that Eddie George was one of the pallbearers at Steve McNair’s funeral today, I immediately asked whether or not he coughed up his grip on the casket en route to the burial plot?
Also, if anyone reading this blog ever becomes a major professional sports star or some other high-level celeb, do us all a favor and don’t promote a 20 year-old Dave...
C'Mon Man, Drop It
I think it’s time for this story to die. You know, some college kid named Crawford dunked on LeBron during a pickup basketball game. So, let’s interview the kid on TV and the radio.
OK, now let’s try to make it a controvey by telling eveyone that Nike took the tapes - maybe, some hinted, after LBJ spoke to the Nike reps.
Is it true? Probably, at least it is certainly...
Incredible Free Agent Score for the Cavs!!!
This is an unbelievable day for the Cavs’ front office. I don’t know how they did it, but we managed to land TONY PARKER! One of the fastest players in the NBA. One of the best guys in the league at getting to the rim. A young, dynamic guard who will give LeBron a reason to stick around for the next several years. A freaking NBA Finals MVP!
I can’t believe we pulled this...
Anthony Parker: the Serious Analysis
All right, now that I’ve gotten my stupid joke post out of the way, what does the signing of Anthony Parker REALLY mean for the Cavs?
To be honest, some of my take on this will depend on the details of his contract, which no one seems to be discussing publicly right now. The trend this off-season seems to be that unless a given player had a break-out season or was a major cog in a team...
John Kuester
John Kuester, Cavs assistant for the past two seasons and unofficial offensive coordinator last year, is gonzo - off to become head coach of the Detroit Pistons.
What does this mean for the Cavs in ‘09-‘10?
To answer the question, you have to ask yourself just how important an assistant coach is to a team’s success? Here are the records of Kuester’s teams while he was...
The Salary Cap & 2010 →
Marc Stein reports on the two issues that were brought up three months ago and then quickly forgotten - that based on projections the salary cap is going to be at least $9.6M less than expected for ‘10-‘11 season, thus almost completely derailing the plans of teams like the Knicks, who wanted to try and sign two marquee free agents in order to bring a single one of them to...
Free Agency in General: Dollar Dollar Bill, Y'all
Obviously, the release and subsequent denial of the story that Bron told Ariza he’d be in Cleveland past 2010 has stoked a lot of talk in the sports media today. Primarily I’m seeing a lot of chatter about how LeBron’s continued, careful efforts to disguise his intentions next summer are now coming back to bite the Cavs in the ass as they try to ink free agents.
I’m not...
Knew This Was Coming... →
I anticipated this happening about the second the “I’ll be there” Ariza story leaked - if it doesn’t then more than a little bit of Bron’s negotiating power disappears.
On another note, I’m always interested to see how the two guys from NE Ohio - Windhorst and Broussard - go back and forth on stories like this. I’d be fascinated to know just how much...
Commentary
I’m not sure if I want to announce how I settle on pictures to put up for these posts…maybe I’ll wait and see if anyone figures it out.
I’ve been searching for some extra time to write a post berating the Ohio Income Tax laws for helping to screw Cleveland sports franchises out of free agents…well, economists, tonight is not your night. It’s 1am here in LA,...
Jim Paxson, Rollin' Over In His Grave
I know I’m going to get some heat for this post, but I’m writing this to declare my renewed support for and belief in Danny Ferry.
Only a few days ago, I posted an open letter to (as Shaq called him) “The Great Danny Ferry,” pleading with him to focus his attention on Josh Childress, or at the very least, the younger guys still out there in free agency. All reports we had...
"Sheed"less to Say, Cavs Have Moved On
Get it, Sheed-less - Holla
Anyway, now we hear Channing Frye, Kleiza, McDyess, and say it ain’t so, even Wally S is back in the picture (please say it with me “Sign and Trade, sign and trade only, please!!”. Hell, Shawn Marian is even an outside chance.
However, Andy is now their #1 priority. We’ll see how that works out.
Colstone and Ferry in Cali on a secret trip -...