Wow, it has been quite some time since my last post! As far as Cleveland sports are concerned only the Browns stock has risen over the last few months. The Tribe has let a monumental collapse dictate a sub-.500 first 50 games in 2008 and look as if they could be in danger of not making the playoffs. Now while it is certainly still early the team is having a tremendously difficult time scoring runs and would be in the absolute cellar had it not been for stellar starting pitching some of which from unlikely sources like Cliff Lee and Aaron Laffey. Ironic how a team built for offense with designated hitters at the majority of the nine spots in the order. I mean who would argue that Ryan Garko, Vic Martinez, David Dellucci, and Jhonny Peralta really were not built to play the field with too much success. I understand that there are different styles and philosophies as far as putting a team together goes, but obviously this is one that I am at odds with.
As far as I can see the team has two choices at this fork in the road. First, they can deal a guy Adam Miller, Aaron Laffey, or Jeremy Sowers in exchange for a right handed power bat preferably for LF or they could change the structure of the team and deal a player like Ryan Garko or Travis Hafner for another elite arm in the back of the pen and change the style of the team's play. In the former proposal the Tribe would be able to add the offense for today that matched with the current pitching staff will likely send the team to the top of the division. This, however, could be too nearsighted as it could cost the Indians a future 1-2 starter and leave the team without any real improvement other than an even more crowded outfield. The latter path would cause the team to have to bite the bullet and make a potentially lopsided deal that would send one of the team's "sluggers" likely to an AL rival in exchange for a potentially risky RP. To me this is still the safest bet. Remember it was only Einar Diaz that netted Hafner. Not that that matters much, but I figured I'd bring it up anyway. The risk is worth it for two key reasons. First, it allows the team to use its surplus, non-fielding hitters, to fill a deficiency, another go to RP. Second, there really isn't any risk. If the deal does not work out the Indians are no worse for the wear as the simply dealt an over hyped "slugger" that has likely run his course with the team in either case. Plus the team would have more defined roles and the teams pitching could benefit GREATLY from the increased defense.
In any event the real changes that need to be made can be done from within. To me it is imperative for this team to win to move Peralta to 3B, Cabrera to SS and have Barfield and Carroll split time at 2B. Garko could still play first, if he was around, but he would split time here with Vic. When Vic wasn't at first he could DH. This leaves Shoppach as the everyday C. In the outfield I see Choo and Gutz to the right of Sizemore and Blake and Fransisco to his left. Fransisco could also DH when he wasn't in the field. This would leave Dellucci and Marte out of the mix. Marte could potentially be useful trade bait for another arm or even just simply a prospect. Dellucci, however, would likely be relegated to the bench for good. This lineup possesses no less offense than before and in fact could be better built to score runs with Vic out from behind the plate and Barfield toward the top of the order. While I am at it, it seems important to mention that Grady is NOT, I repeat NOT, a leadoff hitter. In fact, I see him more as a number three kinda guy with the high average and combination of power and speed. While it might not work out straight away, I don't see why Cabrera and Barfield wouldn't make an effective 1-2 punch. Cabrera is athletic, patient, and could with the bat. While he hasn't hit for a ton of average this season, he has in the past and is just getting settled into the everyday ML routine. As far as Barfield, while he does strike out a TON, I think the organization has not given his speed and defense enough of an opportunity. His bat control and speed could be just what the Indians needed as far as a jump start to the offense. From here the lineup would be very similar as before say, Sizemore, Vic, and Garko 3-4-5 and then Peralta, Fransisco/Blake, and Shoppach 6-7-8 with Gutz/Choo in the 9 spot. This adds table setters to the front of the lineup as it is useless to have guys who can drive in runs if there isn't any one to drive home.
WHEW! I'm glad thats over with...
Then there are my Cavs. Midway through the season, with the team struggling to stay above .500 I was expecting the team to simply make the playoffs and maybe advance past the first round. Once I heard about the trade I was initially skeptical and then excited. The skeptical did not come from losses of Drew "Notso" Gooden, Donyell, Newble, Brown, and especially not Laura Hughes. But it came from the fact that the trade was not exactly what I was expecting. I was expected one of two things. Either Ferry would pass on the options available to him at the deadline or he would land the allstar that Cavs needed to be featured alongside LeBron to really make a run at winning it all. There had been rumors all year about adding the likes of Mike Bibby or Jason Kidd. I even heard a rumor of sending Varejao to the Suns in exchange for a player like Raja Bell or Barbosa, before they pulled the trigger for Shaq. It also came from the idea of adding 3 players significantly past their prime in Wallace, Smith, and Scissorback and a enigmatic point guard in West. As I continued to think about the trade it seemed to shore out our need for rebounding and low post defense. It also netted us a point guard who might be able to make LeBron an off the ball type of player. And beyond all that we got the proverbial sharp shooter that every Cleveland fan had been begging for to play with LBJ. The team was shaky at first after the deal, but seemed to be putting it together just at the right time. After spots of brilliance and of outright bad, the Cavs made it right where I hoped they would into the second round of the playoffs. After being eliminated by the Celtics in 7 games I still have a favorable outlook on both the trade and the team. As far as the trade is concerned, I mean what can I say. Ferry went and made what seems to have been the best possible deal for this team and had Gibson not gotten hurt who knows where the Cavs would be right now.
I have read a couple of articles that chronicle the Cavs past failures since acquiring King James. But I feel it is important to mention two important things. First, whats done is done! Passing on players like Amare Stoudamire and Al Harrington for Desagana Diop and Dejuan Wagner and letting Boozer get away cannot be changed and do not affect this team going forward. Second, it is important to realize, and oddly enough most people don't, that LBJ is still a Cleveland Cavalier and will be for the next 2 seasons. The focus should be on putting together a team that can win and win now so that LBJ will be a Cav for the rest of his long, long career. As far as I am concerned the team is in a good position. Most of the pieces are in place. To me the key ingredients that need to be around LeBron are a couple of athletic ball handling outside shooters, i.e. West and Gibson, a strong core of hardworking defensive minded big men, Wallace, Varejao, and Smith, and an allstar jump shooter that has the ability to score and score often in order to allow LBJ EASY access into the lane.
The team is in a much better position now than it was a year ago to simply say we are one player away. The team now has an established point guard in West and a strong supporting cast in paint. Now all that is left is a perimeter scorer to compliment LeBron's unstoppable dominance at the rim. Just so happens that to of the best perimeter players in the Association are likely going to change team this offseason, Gilbert Arenas and Allen Iverson. While both have their issues, Gilbert is currently a Wizard and is also always hurt, and Iverson is just plain OLD, they still possess the potential to be the perfect compliment to the talents of LeBron James. Imagine LeBron had a scorer the likes of Arenas or Iverson to pass to when he is double and triple teamed, guess what he would no longer be double and triple teamed. It has been a long time past, but Iverson led a team no better than the Cavs minus the King to the Finals against the Lakers. Imagine what he could do with a dominant force like LeBron slashing to the basket when he gets attention with the ball 18 feet from the basket. The problem with this is that the Cavs lack the cap room to sign free agents and would be forced to pull off a sign and trade deal for a player like Iverson or Arenas. Meaning players like Pavlovic and Varejao or even the current draft picks would have to go, but at this point the future is irrelevant if the Cavs don't win it all in the next two years as the future Greatest Player of All-Time LeBron James will be headed to greener pastures....
Back to where this all started, the Brownies. After a successful, but playoffless, season the Browns defied all expectations. In spite of having one of the worst defenses in the league the Browns managed to score enough to win 10 games. This offseason the Browns have done nothing to disappoint. By adding to HUGE defensive lineman to fortify Crennel's elusive 3-4 defense the Browns greatly improved the team. Not to mention the offense will get a boost from the speedster Donte Stallworth opposite #1 option Braylon Edwards. With basically everyone else returning including Lacharles Bentley who was injured the past two seasons the Browns look to be better than ever. It will be interesting to see how much of last year's success was due to a weak schedule.
The only negative that I see to the Browns' offseason was the resigning of quarterback Derek Anderson. Even though he had a very successful season at quarterback for the Browns he did it against a subpar schedule. What's more to me Anderson is the same type of QB as Brady Quinn without the huge potential. Both are big, strong, athletic QBs who are built to win with the Browns' offense. It would have been amazing for the Browns' to have tendered Anderson as if any other team would have signed him it would have cost them a first and third round draft pick. This would have rebuilt the draft for the Browns this year and left them in a nearly identical position. However, Anderson was resigned to a three year deal which seems to mean that Brady will remain a highly talented and highly drafted backup for the Browns. All in the All I am excited to the Browns repeat what they did last season and win 9-11 games en route to their second playoff appearance as the New Cleveland Browns.
Well thats all I got, look for many more articles to come, likely on a daily basis.
One last thing, what makes more sense then putting the Venezuelan kid who wheres 13 at SS?
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
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