Box Score: Indians 8, Red Sox 3
May 10, 2012Indians 8, Red Sox 3: Hannahan, Brantley Batter Beckett as Tribe Fans Grin
May 11, 2012While We’re Waiting serves as the early morning gathering of WFNY-esque information for your viewing pleasure. Have something you think we should see? Send it to our tips email at tips@waitingfornextyear.com.
“Perhaps your aptitude for the Boobie Gibson Memory Game is higher than mine, but if someone were to ask me about him, I would have very few stories to tell. (Though, bonus track: here’s a clip of him play-fighting with Mo Williams. I really miss that team, you guys.) I would say only that I love him, and that it’s the same stale but curiously poignant love one has for things that spoke to them in high school. Then I would talk about his little brother-big brother relationship with LeBron and feel wistful.
The Cavaliers are entering their second summer of inspecting their roster, consulting the map Chris Grant has tattooed on the underside of his tongue, and pruning players accordingly. Boobie Gibson could be one of those players. (He’s got a team option for $4.8 million next year.) He likely won’t be expelled from the team for the boring reason that unless the Cavs splurge this offseason, he’s still going to be one of their ten best players. If you see a lanky dude with long brown hair holding a “Boobie Gibson is still on this team, and I’m pretty okay with it” sign at the Q this season, that’s me. (I’ll also be wearing “This hurts me more than you can imagine, but I really need you to suck, Jonas” body paint. I’ll be easy to spot.)” [McGowan/Cavs the Blog]
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Good stuff on the Buckeyes’ cover four- “Putting its intrinsic benefits aside, quarters coverage fits well with OSU’s defensive philosophy of the past decade–willing to sacrifice yards underneath to force the opposing offense to be efficient, not provide big plays down the middle, and yet have safety support in the run game. Against spread offenses, the coverage allows the Ohio State hybrid nickel play to the field side flat, able to stick his nose in both the short passing game such as bubble screens, and yet attack wide side zone plays.
As such, the Ohio State defensive coaching staff has chosen wisely. They have implemented a coverage that permits for recent adaptations such as pattern reading and allows for aggressive run support, yet one that fits well within the overall scheme that has been so successful for OSU in recent years.” [Ross/Eleven Warriors]
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Really interesting graphs and research on pitchers and aging– “Every pitcher is different. Notice that we haven’t talked about the 27-year-old Tim Lincecum, who has lost almost 4.5 MPH of fastball velocity since he entered the league, and 2.5 MPH since last year. He’s a bit young to be seeing this drastic loss, though. And even with a tick back, he’ll be aging faster than most pitchers. But he hit 93 MPH in his game last night, and maybe the changeup will still work for him at a reduced velocity. Johan Santana’s velocity is well down from his peak, and he’s still striking people out. In Lincecum’s defense, at least you can say he’s not yet 30. That’s more than you can say for this author.
But when you see the scouts lined up with their radar guns, or fans in the stands watching the stadium board for velocity, know that it’s for good reason. Because it’s likely that the number you see then will be, on average, better than any number you see again in the future. And that as the number gets smaller, so will that pitchers’ effectiveness decline. It’s natural. It’s aging.” [Sarris/Getting Blanked]
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On Cavaliers draft prospect John Henson– “Henson dominated the paint for the Tar Heels. He ranked 12th in the country in blocks per game and routinely had games of four and five blocks (he opened the season with a nine block performance). Henson is also a very strong rebounder. He posted 18 double-doubles and is able to use his 6-10 frame, which is extremely long, to grab boards. He is a superb athlete; something this draft is loaded with, and has a high motor.
Offensively, he remains a slight work in progress. He has a great post game, but does not have much of a perimeter game. His athleticism allows him to finish strong around the rim and he is very much a finesse player. Another glaring weakness for Henson is his free throw shooting. He has improved his free throw shooting in each of his three seasons at UNC; raising it to 51 percent. Much like Tristan Thompson, he may not be able to on the court during crucial times, teams are smart enough to exploit those kinds of flaws.” [Mancini/Stepien Rules]
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“Not sure what to think about Mike Holmgren’s radio tour and the thought that the Browns would have any sort of quarterback competition this spring and summer. Wasn’t Brandon Weeden drafted because he’s going to be the guy to upgrade — and, hopefully, be the answer at — the position? Part of the Browns’ defense of Pat Shurmur’s rough year last year was that he was a rookie coach who had no offseason minicamps or work to get to install his system and get to know his players. Isn’t every first-team snap that doesn’t involve Weeden this spring a bit (or more than a bit) counterproductive? You drafted him in the first round. Give The Kid — er, the New Middle-Aged Guy — the ball and let him go.” [Jackson/FSO]
6 Comments
SR really summed up my feelings of not liking Henson – a 6’10” 220lb finesse player that can’t hit jump shots or FTs.
I agree and would like to add “and doesn’t have the frame to add more muscle”. He’s going to get pushed around by TT and everyone else at PF.
KNR reporting torn pectoral for Phil Taylor, surgery next week. Boo
Hughes and Schaefering better be ready for their close-up.
Also, the early reports were that we were going to have Winn slim-down and play DE. Does this change that plan?
that I don’t know. I read somewhere that they may move Rucker inside to play 3 tech.
good point. there was talk of them doing that on passing downs and leaving him at DE on rushing downs.
at least our FO has thought about having moveable parts along the DL. it stinks to lose one of the top guys, but having replacements is key.