While We’re Waiting… Here’s Navy, Donnie Webb, and Jamal Lewis Rumors

While We’re Waiting is a tradition here at WFNY and serves as the early morning gathering of interesting local information for your pleasurable viewing. Have something else you think we should see? Send it to our fancy tips email in the sidebar.

The men at “Men of the Scarlet and Gray” make their final predictions and collect their thoughts on today’s opener at the stadium against the Naval Academy: “Everyone is talking about it: the chop-block technique vital to the triple option attack. The makes it imperative that the offense get on the board early and often. Let the back-ups take the punishment. Someone is going to get hurt. This seems inevitable. The possibility makes me nervous.” [El Kaiser]

I am sure I was not the only one to be asked about this kid earlier in the week, but OF Donnie Webb has really made a nice impression on fans since being promoted from Lake County to Columbus to fill the roster spot of Michael Brantley: “He was recently promoted to Triple-A Columbus for the last week of the season, and has impressed going 6-for-13 with three RBI in three games. As a 10th round draft pick out of Oklahoma State last year, Webb does have a somewhat high draft standing in the organization so his performance this year is not exactly a huge surprise.” [Tony Lastoria/Indians Prospect Insider]

At least some people are expressing patience with the two newest members of the regular depth chart for the Indians these days: “Carrasco was once the Phillies’ top pitching prospect, but his slow progress through the system led to some prospect fatigue with his old club. At his best, Carrasco has front-end-of-the-rotation stuff, but his tendency to give up big innings and his trouble refining his command has left some scouts wondering if he’ll ever be more than a useful arm out of the bullpen. Carrasco’s 91-94 mph fastball, plus changeup and average curveball, should be enough to get big league hitters out, but it often hasn’t been enough to retire Triple-A hitters.” [J.J. Cooper/Baseball America at SI.com]

An interesting fact courtesy of Patrick Mcmanamon that could come into play in the coming months and in Spring Training: “Andy Marte has his batting average up to .264. In his last 13 games, he’s gone 16-for-47 (.340), with four home runs and 13 RBI. That’s a nice stretch of hitting. Could Marte be the Indians third baseman next season? Perhaps. The Indians have to keep him on the 40-man roster after the season, or risk losing him to waivers. If they do, and if he keeps hitting, an infield of Marte, Asdrubal Cabrera, Luis Valbuena and Matt LaPorta does not sound too bad.” [Besides the Point: The Blog]

A very good overall assessment of the Jamal Lewis situation, and the pros and cons for the front office in possibly releasing the veteran RB: ” If the Browns cut Lewis, that would mean they paid him $10 million for the 1,002-yard season he had in 2008. Signed to a three-year extension by Phil Savage in 2008, Lewis made $6.5 million in 2008, including bonuses, and then the $3.5 million roster bonus in 2009. Would it be wise to cut him after that kind of investment? His base salary for 2009 is $2.4 million, which he would not get if released.” [Mary Kay Cabot/Cleveland Plain Dealer]

I’ll end today with something that probably escaped the mainstream news but also something historical that I though should at least appear on our site. Cleveland natives will enjoy this little blurb so here you go, a reference to Case Western Reserve: “Now, when Case holds Heritage Day this afternoon for the home contest against Kenyon College, alums of both the Case Tech Rough Riders and the Western Reserve Red Cats will have the opportunity to see what those uniforms might have looked like, and also celebrate the tradition-laden rivalry between the two schools.” [Jodie Valade/Cleveland Plain Dealer]

(Photo courtesy of Doug Kapustin/Baltimore Sun)