NFL Report: Former Brown Jamal Lewis Arrested
August 1, 2012Indians 2, Royals 5: The Non-Recap Recap
August 2, 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.
“While the Indians essentially decided to stand pat – or at least put off a large organizational decision until the off-season – that doesn’t mean that there weren’t some deals that were consummated over the course of the last week that didn’t raise some eyebrows in terms of players that the Indians had (or at least should have) targeted and what kind of package it took to pry those players loose.
Most notable was the trade between the Cubs and the Braves that sent LHP Paul Maholm (under club control through next year) and 4thOF/LHP masher Reed Johnson to Atlanta, as those two players would have filled the Indians’ needs – short-term and long-term – pretty neatly by adding to the rotation for today and tomorrow and by upgrading from the troika currently roaming around LF.” [Cousineau/The DiaTribe]
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Alright, who is Lars Anderson? “Although Anderson is a first baseman and has had over 1200 at-bats at AAA, he’s not going to be a solution for 2013’s squad, at least to start the season. He’s a big guy (6’4”, 215 lbs) and has good plate discipline and the ability to hit the ball the other way, but he’s had problems making good contact at higher levels. In three seasons in Pawtucket, he’s slugged .422, way too low a number for a corner prospect. This scouting report mentions his inability to pull the ball in the air, which again is not something you usually see with a first base prospect..
The good news is that Anderson has at least one option left (he was added to the 40-man roster in September 2010), so the Indians can be patient with him. He was once considered one of the better position prospects in baseball, rated as high as #17 by Baseball America before the 2009 season, and was rated #87 going into the 2010 season. Those days as a highly-rated prospect are over, but he’s only 24, and still has the physical tools that impressed scouts in the first place. So I think the Indians will keep Anderson in AAA through the end of the minor-league season, give him some at-bats in September, but unless something amazing happens, he’s going to start the 2013 season in AAA, and if he starts to hit for power, the Indians will find a spot for him.” [Let’s Go Tribe]
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“Simon doesn’t have the polarization of Tebow and he doesn’t elicit Heisman hype, but Simon does evoke the same competitive fire in himself and his teammates. He sets the bar in the weight room, on the practice field, in the locker room and on game day. Meyer believes elite players of Tebow and Simon’s stature are wired differently, calling them “freaks” and “bizarre” in regards to their self-discipline, self-respect and work ethic. The two persuaders are 1 and 1A, according to Meyer, in terms of hardest workers. And they also have an aura of optimism that becomes infectious. It’s that quality – affecting teammates positively – that Meyer appreciates more than any other. Once the floodgates open, motivation swells through the locker room like an out on control force.” [Rowland/Eleven Warriors]
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With the new salary cap floor, the Cavs will HAVE to spend money next off-season– “The way the rookie salary scale is structured, it would be nearly impossible for the two first round picks to cost anymore than a combined $6 million, so the Cavaliers only have about $30 million dollars committed for next season. They will have to find a way to add on about $25 million, at a minimum, just to reach the floor. So for everyone who wants to add no pieces at all because we are still just trying to build our young core, the time is running out for that. Next season, the team will have to invest serious dollars into improving the product.” [Zavac/Fear the Sword]
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A report on Roberto Hernandez’s Columbus start. [Schmidt/Fear the Hat]
6 Comments
The Cavs will spend when the time is right…oh wait, that’s a different franchise’s motto (false promise).
The Cavs will spend when the time is right…oh wait, that’s another franchise’s motto, err, false promise.
important to note that Cous demonstrates why we didn’t make trades in that Maholm paragraph. basically, we didn’t have the assets needed (stupid bad drafting biting us again).
This Lars Anderson acquisition looks similar their test-driving Travis Buck and Aaron Cunningham: take a cheap flyer on a 4-tool top prospect who can’t hit MLB pitching and maybe he’ll suddenly blossom. It doesn’t cost them much, but can’t think of when it’s worked. Usually the drafting organization has devoted an awful lot of resources in a top pick before they ditch him.
The Lars Anderson acquisition looks similar to Travis Buck and Aaron Cunnigham: hope to catch lightning on a 4-tool former top prospect that couldn’t adjust to better pitching. Costs them little but can’t remember it ever working. Usually the guy’s original organization has invested so much in him before giving up that he’s probably just not going to be a productive player at this level.
The Cavs can always gain salary by absorbing bad contracts in trades, gaining draft picks as well. Then again, we can overpay to retain pieces and/or for a wing (Cavs biggest need).