NFL News: Pat Shurmur Calling and Emailing Critical Reporters
October 9, 2012MLB Rumors: Indians’ Francona has “Out Clause”
October 9, 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.
Terry Francona must REALLY like and respect his news bosses:
Francona probably strengthened his case with his presentation: Before his interview, he sent the Indians a 16-page breakdown of their team, their organization and what he sees in their future, and the response had been very positive. The Indians wanted Francona, and Francona wanted the Indians.
And there are a lot of people around who believe that he’s crazy to take the Cleveland job, and that if he had waited until next season, some much better opportunity for success would’ve presented itself to him. Maybe in Texas, where Ron Washington’s job status will become the subject of much speculation next summer if the Texas Rangers struggle early, or in Anaheim, if the Los Angeles Angels get off to a bad start. These are just two of the possibilities, in places where the teams might be closer to winning than the Indians. [Buster Olney/ESPN Insider]
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Old friend Romeo Crennel – nice man, good defensive mind, horrible game coach:
This time, it’s Romeo Crennel’s turn to face charges of incompetence because, honestly, did Todd Haley ever mismanage a game this badly?
A defense-first man by nature, and still the Chiefs’ defensive coordinator, Crennel blew a fabulous performance against the league’s No. 2 offense because he couldn’t get anything else right.
The only thing Crennel appears willing to risk in his game plans is Jamaal Charles’ future — coming off ACL surgery, the Chiefs’ star running back is the only player in the league to go over 30 touches twice this season — and the result diminished the Ravens’ risk of losing.
A bizarre decision to punt instead of try for a first down or Hail Mary at the end of the first half, more will-breaking penalties and a team presumably coached to value the ball instead padding its league lead in turnovers sucked the possibilities from a game the Chiefs otherwise should’ve won.
Even by Kansas City standards, the idea of losing at home while rushing for 214 yards and outgaining one of the league’s premier offenses is extreme. But Crennel pulled it off by showing appropriately little faith in Cassel — but refusing to bench him. [Sam Mellinger/Kansas City Star]
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Hey Tito, make sure you ask your bosses if you can’t get a few new starting pitchers for next year. Otherwise you are in deep trouble:
Individual “highlights” for the Tribe’s starting pitching:
– Tomlin and Jeanmar Gomez were both among the 20 worst starters in MLB this season and among the 20 worst in team history too.
– Jimenez had the 5th worst ERA in team history. His ERA- (which adjusts for seasonal and park factors) was the 2nd worst in Indians history among qualified starters.
– If you drop the standard to 100 innings pitched, Jimenez had “only” the 10th worst ERA- in team history, but Lowe had the 7thworst and Tomlin had the 3rd worst.
– Tomlin’s ERA- rates as the worst in MLB for 2012 (100+ innings). Lowe, Jimenez, and Justin Masterson were also among the bottom twenty. [Jason Lukehart/Lets Go Tribe]
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More Francona. According to a legendary writer who knows him well, he is a perfect fit for Cleveland and now is the right time for him to come here:
There is a wont to win in Cleveland. It has been 64 years since the Tribe won the World Series, 11 years before Francona was born in 1959, the season in which his father, Tito, batted .363 for the Indians. So there is some sense of home. For someone who grew up in western Pennsylvania watching his father referee college basketball games, he has come to a city that while struggling to rebuild its fiscal and population bases is a very good place to live. He can go out to dinner and not have it reported in a newspaper gossip column, he is not going to manage in a fishbowl and have to hold pregame and postgame press conferences explaining everything he or his players did. [Peter Gammons/MLB.com]
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The Cavs (and their fans) have really missed Andy Varejao’ production these last few years:
So including the playoffs, Andy suited up for 80% of games over the last five full seasons. He was better than ever last year. What’s not to like? For eight years, Andy hustled his way into Cavs fans hearts. Now it is time to climb the record books. The seasons described above cover Andy’s ascent towards his prime. The next three seasons constitute the slow start of the slide down the career parabola. A reasonable assumption is similar production for the two timeframes. From 2006 – 2007 through 2010 – 2011, those numbers include, per game: 2.45 offensive rebounds, 5.13 defensive boards, 0.90 steals, and 0.79 blocks. [Kevin Hetrick/Cavs The Blog]
17 Comments
“he sent the Indians a 16-page breakdown of their team”
that’s nothing. we just witnessed a 162 game breakdown of our team.
classic, but one may argue it was more like a 77 game breakdown…
I still can’t believe Romeo got another head coaching job. I will be even more surprised if Pat Shurmur gets another head coaching job.
cannot have a great breakdown without a great buildup:
the first part of the season was like my 4yo building an incredible tower of blocks. a castle really with multiple towers and a stable for his toy horses and toy knights resting on the bridge between the towers.
the second part of the season was like my 4yo taking a potty-break and my 1.5yo going Godzilla on that masterpiece.
2 seasons ago who would have believed that Romeo would be the first post-99 Browns HC to get another try at the top seat?
Touche. I have a 3.5 and 1.5 yr old boys. The younger is totally commited to reaking havok on anything the older is trying to do.
my 1.5yo is a girl, but the havoc wreaked is the same 🙂
Man, why didn’t I think of this comment? Well done! A masterpiece.
thank you sir. but, i’m still calling back Pontbriand.
Have you not seen the way that Cleveland fans can destroy a coach that we don’t like? The power that we wield through bitter vitriol, baseless whining, and unhelpful complaining? You do not know the thunder that you are calling upon yourself. I will lead the vocal charge against you. You do not want me as your enemy. These here keystrokes are vicious, you hear me?
Dang it, keep me on as ST coach. Or else.
and how many of these coaches were born from within the depths of the north coast shoreline? you see, I understand the bitterness as I am a part of it. and, I am willing to utilize it to my advantage. you may think that your keystrokes would make an enemy, but you would just be oiling the machinery of my creation. bring forth your torches and pitchforks. by the end, you shall be merely using them to roast marshmellows.
We should all get together sometime. I have 3 boys, a 4 year old, 3 year old and the youngest is 14 months. The carnage is relentless and unending.
If there isn’t blood or tears (usually both) it’s not worth getting up at my house. I love when they argue oppoiste points just to piss the other one off. Can’t wait till the youngest can talk.
mine are 6,4,1.5. yes, it’s great fun. they either completely love each other or completely hate each other and it switches in any singular moment.
i’d love to get together with people here, but living in texas makes the commute a bit tough.
I curse you. With all the power of Scott Player’s facemask, I curse you.
look, this has gone on long enough. we all know my Pontbriand would beat-up your Player, but that is neither here nor there.
i’ll find a spot for you. quality control coach where you check memo’s for the proper usage of their/there/they’re and such things. considering the ex-players on staff, you will have your hands full.
I’ll take it. Wasn’t one of Mangini’s jobs under Belichik something like quality control? I can always work my way up. From quality control, to eventually reporting you for videotaping other teams’ warmups.
[By the way, coach, it’s “memos,” not “memo’s.”]
see, that’s why I have you here. correction noted.
QC is generally a position that the HC finds for some up-and-comer that he wants to get a better feel for all positions (someone he is grooming). So, it’s a pretty big deal. That and I want properly written memos (see, quantitative improvements already).