Indians continue stockpiling hitters, add former Cubs slugger Bryan LaHair
February 5, 2014After an uneven rookie season, the jury is still out on Barkevious Mingo
February 6, 2014
Cleveland sports fans are waiting. Thus, while weâre all waiting, the WFNY editors thought you might enjoy reading. Because you never know how long we might be waiting. So here are assorted reading goodies for you to enjoy. Send more good links for tomorrowâs edition to tips@waitingfornextyear.com.
A Chris Grant history lesson. “Andrew Bynum is signed. It was viewed at the time as a low risk signing. I certainly thought it was. It was a unique contract that only guaranteed him $6 million. If he didn’t come back or didn’t play well, it wouldn’t matter. They’d just cut him.
But then you really think about it. What if he came back and was average? What if his attitude hurt the team? Bynum doesn’t at all fit into Mike Brown’s preferred defensive scheme which involves big men having to hedge hard on perimeter screens, which you knew already because Mike Brown has coached 400+ NBA games. Plus, GRANT JUST MENTIONED SEVEN DAYS AGO HE WANTED TO IMPROVE THE CULTURE AND FOUNDATION OF THE TEAM.
Sure, just keep strengthening the foundation of this team by adding a guy who got re-injured while rehabbing when he went bowling, got thrown out of an out-of-reach playoff game for a clothesline, and kind of likes basketball intermittently. We know how the story ends now: he gets suspended for conduct detrimental to the team, goes away, and the Cavs traded him.” [Vecenie/Fear the Sword]
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“Ohio State’s side of National Signing Day 2014 is in the books, and unsurprisingly, Urban Meyer and the Buckeyes landed another highly-rated recruiting class. One-time Ohio State commitment Lonnie Johnson penned the term “Dream ’14” as a name for Ohio State’s 2014 recruiting class. Despite his decommitment, the term endured.
It started with a pledge from Cleveland Glenville prospect Marcelys Jones on Christmas day in 2012. Almost a year after Jones pledged, Ohio State was able to land two of their top targets, five-star linebacker Raekwon McMillan and four-star wide receiver Johnnie Dixon. Jones, McMillan and Dixon have already enrolled at Ohio State, along with four other signees.” [Birmingham/Eleven Warriors]
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“In the meantime, the Dolans get blasted for not buying up free agents, but they cannot possibly be expected to outspend the Dodgers or Yankees or Red Sox. Besides, any baseball economist can tell you that there is no worse return on an investment than a free agent. When you sign a free agent, you are usually just hoping the first years are good enough to make up for the last years, which are probably going to be a huge waste of money. The Dolans have hired smart people, enabled them to find talent, provided the cash to sign young players to long-term deals, and stayed out of the public spotlight while the front office does its job.” [Young/Let’s Go Tribe]
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“The 2014 draft class is littered with prospects that are one small flaw away from being “can’t miss” quarterback prospects. Every year team scouts look for the Peyton Manning or Andrew Luck type of quarterbacking prospects; guys that have the quarterbacking pedigree and are easily identified as being the best in the class. Unfortunately, in the last 15 years, no more than a handful of these game-breaking types of talent have entered the draft, and some have proven the waves of prognosticators completely wrong by failing to meet those lofty expectations.
Derek Carr may be the best representation of this draft class, in that he may offer the best physical capability of the class, combined with underrated mobility and good size. (He was listed at 6-3 and 210 lbs at Fresno state but measured closer to 6’2″ at the Senior Bowl) During the 2013 season Derek exhibited some less than desirable characteristics that may influence teams to pass on his fantastic arm.” [Finney/Dawgs By Nature]
32 Comments
I love how Finney thinks that the risk of Carr could make him fall to our 2nd 1st round pick, but I don’t see that happening. Some team is going to see how great he looks without pressure and make that selection and ignore the SD-State, Utah-State, and USC games (i.e. the only games he faced with any semblence of a pass defense).
More likely, Carr goes to Raiders, Bucs, or Vikings (if he does end up getting ranked 4th, which is no guarantee. did I mention how great he looks throwing the ball without any defense to worry about?) .
Just when you think the Cavs have hit rock bottom, they find a way to dig deeper into the crevasse. According to Jack Donaghy and Liz Lemon, sometimes that’s the only way out.
last night was nearly equivalent to the Dwayne Rudd helmet throw.
I am surprised how many NBA players didn’t know that substitution rule (postgame quotes), but I guess I am just a nerd for knowing it.
I couldn’t bare to watch much of that game after the first quarter, I was in and out. What exactly happened?
the Lakers literally ran out of players to put on the floor. they were down to their last 5 guys when Sacre fouled out. they were all confused about what should happen (but the referees, to their credit, were not).
the Cavs received a technical foul shot from the Lakers and Sacre was allowed to continue to play. of course, in typical bad-Cavs management, we did not attack Sacre the rest of the game (over 3min left). for every foul on him we would have received an extra free throw. but, why would we want that?
no, instead, we allowed a team that was missing their best players and had run out of any bench player to cruise to an easy victory against us. good times.
The Lakers lost Nick Young and Jordan All-Star Farmar to injuries and Kaman fouled out which got them to five. It was so bleak they had Steve Nash put on his uniform late in the fourth quarter but thanks to the Cavaliers they never had to play him.
Instead of going at Sacre they shot 3 pointers for almost the last 2 minutes.
Did you notice Irving and Thompson rode the bench for almost the entire fourth quarter as well?
I think this officially is the rock bottom that was worse then pathetic last night. Brown and his players are an embarrassment and if I was Chris Grant I’d be burning up the phone lines looking to make multiple deals if possible. The only problem is even if he makes some deals Mike Brown is still the head coach. Dan Gilbert wherever your hiding: great job!
They allowed 70 points in the first half with LA shooting 10-17 from the 3 point line. Farmar had 19 points despite not playing in months.
yes, definitely did. it would not have bothered me if Mike Brown was proving a point to them (that their complete lack of urgency on the court was unacceptable). however, nothing from him nor the team that was playing would have seemed to indicate it. it was more like he was waving the white flag.
a couple other notes on the game:
Anthony Bennett has officially removed the lid from the basket. Another solid game for him once we got to garbage time (once we were down 30, Mike Brown let him play). Bennett, Miles, and Andy came together and were the only reason we clawed back into that game and made the final score not embarrassing (though the ending was still embarrassing).
Yes, the bar is incredibly low for a #1 overall pick when just caring when we are down 30pts qualifies for a positive on the game.
Top 3 QBs selected should be in some order Bortles, Bridgewater and Manziel. The only question for me now is whether the Cleveland Browns trade up to make sure they get the guy they deem most desirable or do they sit it out at #4 and take the leftover. Personally I’m on record for saying trading up is a mistake especially if it’s Manziel but logic would seem to dictate that they can’t risk sitting at #4 and just wait. I don’t know but once again a less then perfect situation which is what this franchise has found itself in since 1999.
very good chance there will not be a leftover from those 3 at #4.
the Rams could decide they want Watkins/Evans and one will be there a few picks later.
OR
the Rams could decide they will save $8mil on their cap and get rid of the decidingly mediocre Bradford for a chance at getting a special QB out of this class (may not end up special, but we pretty much know who Bradford is). I believe that cap savings will be there if they trade him as well, so they could look at getting a 3rd rounder or so back for him (no thanks is my initial response, but I’d consider it if we cannot get our QB in this draft).
I hope this is rock bottom.
Who the heck knows with Brown I saw Irving go to the scorers table with something like 4 or 5 minutes in the game but Delladova hit a three and he sat back down never to get closer to checking back in.
About the only positive was Bennett who lets face it was playing against other scrubs but at least he competed for a change.
Watching the meltdowns on Twitter are officially more entertaining that the actual game.
I now tune into Twitter at the start of the game.
Would we have gotten the ball as well everytime he fouled? I know the team gets a technical every time he fouls after the rule kicked in.
I think the Vikes are the fav to draft Carr, if not, I could see the Steelers, or another team that may have an aging QB to think about drafting him. Wouldn’t be too suprised to see NYJ draft him with their 1st rounder if he is available.
normal technical foul rules apply.
yes, and the Titans are another team. new coaching staff may not be enamored with Locker and may want their own guy. Could even keep Jake (from State Farm) and give Carr a year to learn.
regardless, if our plan is that Carr will fall to us at #26, then our plan is poor.
St, Louis is the wildcard stop me if you’ve heard that before in the draft. With Matthews and Clowney I would expect them to be getting trade offers too. I’ll be somewhat shocked if they dump Bradford and draft another QB but who knows.
I refuse to type “it can’t get any worse!” đ
Ummm……
Good grief, that’s embarrassing. Sacre is one of the worst rim-protecting centers in the NBA as well… I bet he could still block Dion Waiters and Tristan Thompson though.
Stifle yourself! đ
Do you normally watch basketball naked?
Wrong blog slappy!
Huh… I always thought the verb in that situation was “bare” instead of “bear”… will wonders never cease?
I wonder . . .
But hey, I’m not one to judge. You be comfortable watching those hoops!
Where’s Steve not Chad when you need him?
As a member of the Oneders?
Hey, what a man does in the privacy of his own home etc, etc, punchline.
And if that man happens to leave the shades open in said home etc, etc, punchline. (feeling too lazy today)