Kyrie Irving wins 2014 All-Star MVP Award
February 17, 2014
Kyrie Irving and Dion Waiters can use All Star Weekend as a springboard for second half
February 17, 2014
Cleveland sports fans are waiting. Thus, while we’re 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 tomorrow’s edition to tips@waitingfornextyear.com.
“If Lindor shines this spring and demonstrates consistency in the minor leagues, he could provide a spark to the Indians lineup at some point in 2014 if an opening arises. Cabrera has suffered two injuries in the last four seasons that have sidelined him a month or longer. If Lindor shined in the minor leagues and Cabrera was injured, the Indians could consider a midseason promotion to the majors and keep Mike Aviles in a utility role to help guide and mentor the young shortstop.
If the Indians were to for some reason fall out of contention, Cabrera could be dealt at the trade deadline to a contender and Lindor could receive and early promotion to the Tribe’s roster. Barring injury to Cabrera or unforeseen struggles by the Indians in the standings, it’s unlikely Lindor would see the big leagues before September. He could, however, provide a spark to the lineup for a stretch run like Jose Ramirez did a year ago or Xander Bogaerts did for the Boston Red Sox. Bogaerts cracked Double-A at just 19 years of age and the big leagues at 20, just like Lindor could this season.” [Brandywine/DDTWLN]
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“This game was many things — the introduction of T.J. Oshie to a national populace; a crushing loss for a Russian team in front of a home crowd as madly intense as anything you’ve ever seen; another sign this U.S. team might be even stronger than the one that won silver four years ago — but more than anything else, it was a reminder to millions of Americans, all still shaking out the cobwebs of their Friday night, just how electrifying this sport can really be. That the NHL doesn’t want its players in this Olympic showcase has never seemed more idiotic. The only thing that could have been a better sales job for the sport would have been if this game had been played outside, in Red Square, in the snow.” [Leitch/Sports on Earth]
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“One of the things fans might think is, “we have so much cap space, why don’t we just lock both of these guys up to long-term deals already?” In a best-case scenario, I would love for the Browns to re-sign both players, making them a core part of the franchise for four-five more years.
What if that’s not what the players want, though? Mack and/or Ward might want to test free agency to see if they can get a bidding war going between teams. One or both of them might simply want out of Cleveland to go to a franchise that is more ready to win now. That’s where the franchise tag comes into good use, because you basically hold a player “hostage” in essence. It also buys more time to still agree upon a long-term deal.” [Pokorny/Dawgs by Nature]
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Interview with Dan Gilbert. “Q: What are you looking for in your next GM, whether it’s David Griffin or an outside hire?
A: That’s a great question. In fact, it has taken this amount of time, eight or nine years, for me to really know the answer to that question. In all the time here we’ve only had two GMs until now. We’re looking for somebody besides the basketball knowledge, who understands the human equation. Understands and feels the importance of culture and chemistry and connectivity and openness, is open to ideas from anywhere and anyone, from all places, and can connect with people and can understand how important it is. Just because you can’t measure something doesn’t mean it’s not important. Sometimes some of the most important things in the world are things you can’t measure. Going back to my earlier metaphor, IFR and VFR, can fly by gut feel and can also look at the numbers. Someone who will turn over every possible stone and be open to every possible innovation, creativity, idea from anywhere to give us that edge that we’ll need. [Lloyd/Ohio.com]
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Finally, your tweet of the day. Get your double bird Michigan salute autograph.
https://twitter.com/BenAxelrod/status/435138307844890625
21 Comments
I believe it’s spelled, “Notable.”
You stay classey, Columbus.
So much for that heartfelt apology, Marcuss.
Great interview of Gilbert by Lloyd. Induced a surprisingly clear response as to what Gilbert saw as Grant’s deficiencies.
Wonder why the ABJ so frequently gets better sports writers than the PD. Much prefer Lloyd’s stuff on the Cavs to that of Mary Schmitt Boyer or Jodie Valade.
Its spelled correctly just punctuated poorly due to space constraints. It should read; No Tea? Ble Moments! Marcus Hall was actually raised in London, and tea during a football tilt was the norm growing up. The customs in that state up North are of course odd to us but completely foreign to an English gentleman such as Marcus. As we all know the only food served in the entire state is a ghastly foul smelling creature known as the Muckfish (if you stand on the boarder and listen closely at dinner time you can hear the mournful cries of people from that state;”MuckfishAgain”?) But I digress, they simply do not serve tea anywhere up there, preferring to subsist on dog urine. Marcus obviously was unaware of this custom, and was using the international sign language symbol representing tea. It was really just a series of unfortunate events and misunderstandings.
reason number 79,837 I am not a Buckeye fan. Wow…there’s just so much fail there.
I really think this talk of Lindor in 2014 is premature. Even if something does happen to Cabrera, Jose Ramirez seems like the obvious “next man up”. Plus he can play multiple positions which Tito and the front office seems to like. He’d fit well in a post-Acab, Aviles heavy world. I don’t think there’s a reason to rush Lindor at this point.
Oh, and also – if the Indians fall out of contention early, the last thing they’re going to want to do is start Lindor’s clock in a lost year.
Hope that’s right. Would be best if they make Lindor earn every promotion. But we know the FO will be poised to plug in somebody because what’s going to “happen” to him this year is a full season at $11m. If he plays ok enough to draw trade interest even at that salary from a desperate team, cannot imagine them not moving in. When he signed his contract they were expecting a lot more than he showed last year.
I will honestly be upset if he’s up in the big-leagues in 2014. No reason. Can sit in the minors and still be ahead of the age curve (and if Cabrera is playing well, hey, bonus, give that man a QO and collect your draft pick in the offseason). Did find the line about Jose Ramirez “providing a spark” humorous. Dude had 12 ABs. 0.1 rWAR. Not sure how that’s a “spark.” More like embers.
I feel like I say this about every Indians trade/extension candidate, but if ACab is playing well enough that other teams want him, we won’t be trading him (as long as we’re in it). If he’s playing not so well, nobody is going to want his salary. So personally, I think the window for him to get traded is very, very small.
Anything is possible and it could happen there’s a perfect trade partner that needs a SS and who could help us address a need, but those types of deal – good MLB talent for good MLB talent – are pretty rare.
Last thought – at this point if ACab does under-perform this summer, there’s no reason to keep him in the starting line-up or maybe even the roster. I could foresee a situation where we eat his salary and basically give away ACab for some no hope minor leaguer just to open up SS and a roster spot for someone who can actually help this team compete. That seems unlikely though. As bad as ACab was last year, he still had value.
Agree. We have enough SS talent in the minors (as well as Aviles) to survive until 2015 or 2016 without rushing Lindor. I mean, if the guy is ready and can help a competing club be better then by all means bring him up.
And right on Ramirez. Still, he played well and showed some versatility. And he was by far the youngest player to see playing time with the big league club.
All this is true, but the more I read about Lindor, the more I get overly excited, expecting him to do what Machado did. That’s probably crazy, but between his defense and fairly advanced approach at the plate, I like his odds to be a league average player after a half season in the upper minors.
Oh sorry, wasn’t saying Ramirez is garbage, he was exactly what I expected from a Sept. call-up – basically a non-factor. But he wasn’t bad. Wasn’t implying that.
Oh sorry, wasn’t saying Ramirez is garbage, he was exactly what I expected from a Sept. call-up – basically a non-factor. But he wasn’t bad. Wasn’t implying that.
I do too, and just cause I don’t want him up for 2014 doesn’t mean I don’t think he can produce. It’s more a FA clock thing than anything.
I do too, and just cause I don’t want him up for 2014 doesn’t mean I don’t think he can produce. It’s more a FA clock thing than anything.
As tough as it is to agree, I have to. He’d have to be close to Machado-good, 5 WAR over 162 games, to be worth starting that clock. I think the Cabrera, Chisenhall, Santana, Aviles, Ramirez depth on the left side of the infield is more than good enough that Lindor isn’t a significant enough improvement to not retain his age 26 or 27 season.
well, the Tribe wouldn’t demand equal “talent” from a shortstop-desperate team if they could shed, let’s say, $6m at the trade deadline. Saving money and getting an ok prospect could induce them to make a deal when he’s doing his July swoon if they know he’s walking away in October for nothing.
But who will be willing to pay $6M for a swooning Asdrubal AND give up a decent prospect?
Not who will, who might be: a big market contender who’s SS just went down with a season-ending injury and thinks vet like Cabby is safer than whoever is next up for them. We’re just tossing possibilities. Generally I agree: Cabby playing well + Tribe in contention = retaining him. But Cabby fizzling, again, if we have a decent kid ready and Aviles to back up makes me think they’d dump that salary if they can.
You know, you may be right. Still think it’s generally unlikely, but it’s not hard to see a situation where the Indians are thinking, “we can get comparable value out of Aviles/Ramirez and save $3M~”…. while some other team is thinking, “ACab could give us slightly above league average play at SS for $3M”…
Still don’t see what real value a team would give up for a fizzling Cabby though.