Thursday, September 25, 2008
Random Thoughts on Cleveland Sports 9/25/08
On a rather overcast day in New York, I've been thinking about sports and as usual, it's about Cleveland sports. With that in mind, here are some of the things that have crossed my mind...
- I wonder if Travis Hafner will ever be the player he was in 2005 and 2006. In those two years, he hit .305 and .308 respectively with a total of 77 home runs and 225 runs batted in. Since '06, chronic shoulder and elbow pain, presumably the reason, has caused him to struggle. In 2007, he hit .266 and this year, he has played in just 55 games, hitting a paltry .205 with 5 home runs. Now that Hafner is back and supposedly healthy, his bat continues to look slow and he's struggled to drive the ball. It's beyond depressing for a player who looked like a dominant power hitter a few short years ago.
- Does Romeo Crennel who I defended yesterday really know what he's doing with Derek Anderson? I based my argument yesterday on the idea that Phil Savage was involved in the decision and that they came to the conclusion that this team needs to keep Brady Quinn on the bench for at least another game because once the switch is made, it's going to be impossible to go back to Anderson and the Quinn era will begin. But the more I read, the more I get the sense that Crennel will go to Quinn at some point Sunday in Cincinnati. That is a disastrous idea in my mind. A possible quarterback switch handled in such a way will become a self-fulfilling prophecy.
- All in all, I am satisfied with a .500 record for the Tribe in 2008. I know that it's a disappointment for the team and its fans after advancing to the ALCS in 2007. But realistically, the C.C. Sabathia contract issue was going to loom over this team no matter how successful the team was on the field. Injuries were a problem and the bullpen was horrendous. All in all, a pretty good recipe for disaster. The team has played well in the second half, 36-22 since the Sabathia trade, and Cliff Lee looks to win the team's second straight Cy Young Award. More amazing, the team was swept by an awful Mariner team Labor Day weekend. Take two out of three against that team and Cleveland is suddenly on the periphery of the A.L. Central division race.
- Many pundits believe the Browns are completely done. And I am not exactly sure how I feel on the subject but I just refuse to think that these past three games accurately define this team. If Cleveland can steal a win in Cincinnati on Sunday, the Browns have two weeks to pull themselves together and get healthy for a Monday night affair against the Giants. I think Sunday's game will define Romeo Crennel, Derek Anderson, and the 2008 Browns. It's going to be a difficult game, a very easy game to lose. Carson Palmer always plays well against the Browns and the Bengals have won four straight at home against the Browns. Maybe I am wrong but somehow the Browns are going to find a way to win this game. If they don't, a season which began with such high hopes will have morphed into a runaway train, to steal a line from former head coach, Chris Palmer.
Labels: AL Central, Brady Quinn, C.C. Sabathia, Carson Palmer, cincinnati bengals, cleveland browns, cliff lee, Derek Anderson, Romeo Crennel, Travis Hafner
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Crennel Sticking with Anderson
Today, Browns Head Coach Romeo Crennel announced that Derek Anderson would remain the starter of the 0-3 Browns when they take on the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium Sunday. The decision comes just two days after hinting that a change would be made: "I think we'll definitely get the other guy [Quinn] ready to go and we'll see how it progresses from there." Anderson has struggled this season, throwing 2 touchdowns and five interceptions for a quarterback rating of 43.5. The offensive ineptitude reached its zenith Sunday afternoon, when Anderson threw three interceptions - two which resulted in Baltimore touchdowns in the decisive third quarter - and was sacked five times in a 28-10 loss.
In lieu of such high expectations and the dismal performance thus far by Anderson and the Browns, many pundits have suggested that Quinn should get the start Sunday for the Browns. However, I don't think Crennel made the final call. I think Phil Savage and Romeo Crennel sat down and decided that starting Quinn now isn't the right thing to do. The offensive line has performed poorly this year and injuries have drastically reduced the play-making ability of the receiving corps. No, putting Quinn in now isn't fair to Quinn or Anderson.
Anderson should be benched only when the Browns are ready to turn the corner and give the team to Quinn, the 2007 first round pick the team annoited as the next franchise QB before Anderson's breakout performance last season. After the step towards respectability the Browns took last season, Cleveland can ill-afford to throw this season away with a quarterback change and a possible coaching change. Yes, the Browns are 0-3 but for better or worse, 13 games remain and Crennel has to find a way to keep this team competitive.
Anderson is the starter and I don't believe Savage wants to see a player he paid $18 million to in the off-season benched after three games, not with the number of injuries the team has suffered. That said, the game Sunday is an absolute must win. Provided that the Browns can somehow come out of Cincinnati with a victory, the team will have two weeks to prepare for the Giants who will visit Cleveland Browns Stadium for a Monday Night Game in Week 6, which will be a pivotal game for the future of Crennel and Derek Anderson.
Labels: cincinnati bengals, Cleveland, cleveland browns, Derek Anderson, Paul Brown Stadium, Phil Savage, Romeo Crennel
