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
Friday, April 25, 2008
Bob Walcott and the Yankees
I could talk about the scintillating three-hitter that Cliff Lee threw at the Royals last night to complete a series sweep in Kansas City. I could also rant about the fact that the doubleheader started at 6 p.m. EST last night instead of 3 p.m. for no reason. As a result, Indians fans attending tonight's game can expect the starting nine to be comatose against the Yankees. But to be honest with you, Bob Wolcott is on my mind. Perhaps, you don't remember the right-hander who had a career ERA of 5.86.
Shall we revisit October 10, 1995? The scrubby right-hander had loaded the bases on three straight walks to start Game 1 of the ALCS. The next four hitters included a surefire hall of famer, two hitters with hall of fame credentials, and another whose candidacy was ultimately derailed by injuries. The four hitters? Albert Belle, Eddie Murray, Jim Thome, and Manny Ramirez. Walcott escaped the inning unscathed. I find that as amazing today as I did when I was 11 years old, watching it. Wednesday night, it's 2 a.m. and I'm wide awake, not thinking about life-changing decisions, but rather Bob Walcott's 7 inning gem in the fall of 1995. Nobody can debate the insanity of Manny Ramirez but I really think that if you mentioned Bob Walcott's name to him, he'd remember his effort at the Kingdome.
Anyway, big series tonight. It's the Yankees only visit to the Jake (ohh wait, it's called Progressive Field now) in 2008 and something tells me there'll be about ten thousand empty seats for it. I don't see any scenario in which the Indians can take 3 of 4 with Byrd, Sowers, Sabathia and most likely Aaron Laffey pitching in the series. Nice to see the Indians grind out a win last night in the second game. David Delucci is starting to string together some good games. I'll take a .275 batting average with fifteen to twenty homers.
Just a reminder that Grady Sizemore is good.
Shall we revisit October 10, 1995? The scrubby right-hander had loaded the bases on three straight walks to start Game 1 of the ALCS. The next four hitters included a surefire hall of famer, two hitters with hall of fame credentials, and another whose candidacy was ultimately derailed by injuries. The four hitters? Albert Belle, Eddie Murray, Jim Thome, and Manny Ramirez. Walcott escaped the inning unscathed. I find that as amazing today as I did when I was 11 years old, watching it. Wednesday night, it's 2 a.m. and I'm wide awake, not thinking about life-changing decisions, but rather Bob Walcott's 7 inning gem in the fall of 1995. Nobody can debate the insanity of Manny Ramirez but I really think that if you mentioned Bob Walcott's name to him, he'd remember his effort at the Kingdome.
Anyway, big series tonight. It's the Yankees only visit to the Jake (ohh wait, it's called Progressive Field now) in 2008 and something tells me there'll be about ten thousand empty seats for it. I don't see any scenario in which the Indians can take 3 of 4 with Byrd, Sowers, Sabathia and most likely Aaron Laffey pitching in the series. Nice to see the Indians grind out a win last night in the second game. David Delucci is starting to string together some good games. I'll take a .275 batting average with fifteen to twenty homers.
Just a reminder that Grady Sizemore is good.
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Labels: Cleveland Indians, cliff lee, Grady Sizemore, Kansas City Royals, New York Yankees
