May 20, 2013

While We’re Waiting… Watching LeBron, Indians’ Offense, and a Second-Day Mock

April 23, 2010 by 33 Comments

While 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

My wife sat beside me watching tonight’s Cavs game and LeBron’s fourth quarter domination. As we took in the show, she asked a very easy question. “Was Jordan ever this good?” she inquired. With the follow-up…”I don’t remember ever watching someone like this.” My reply was equally as straightforward. Yes, he was that good. We have seen this sort of phenomenon before.” [Legend of Cecilio Guante]

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Best Target Field review yet: “I could write thousands of words about the various features that make Target Field such a wonderful place to watch a game, but all of that is available elsewhere. What I do want to tell you about covering a game here is that my favorite feature has to be the men’s restroom in the press box? Why? Because it actually is a men’s restroom… with multiple urinals and everything. At the Metrodome, the press box bathroom was a unisex unit with one toilet and a door that may or may not have locked.” [CastroTurf]

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LeBron James’ memoir got a bit of a makeover with hopes of increasing sales. [Tom Ziller/NBA FanHouse]

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“The famine is widespread and growing as the Indians’ offense, thought to be the strength of the team, has been scuffling…to put it charitably. Now that Rusty Branyan has returned, the amalgamations of the lineup look to vary even more as Austin Kearns and MaTola (and perhaps Hafner) will start moving around and sitting to accommodate Rusty’s “presence” in the lineup four days a week. Truthfully, as for the whole ingratiation of Rusty Branyan into the mix and how it affect Kearns and MaTola, I’m not even that concerned with it other than wanting to see MaTola in the lineup as frequently as his body (hip and toe, notably) allows because if you’re looking for that RH hitter that even has a ounce of a chance to be the homegrown middle-of-the-order hitter that’s going to break up the LH monotony that resides in the Indians’ lineup, it’s Matty MaTola…” [The DiaTribe]

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And finally, a second-day mock draft via Scout.com [Chris Steuber/Scout.com]

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Plenty of Cavs, Tribe and Browns coverage for the remainder of the day… Stay tuned.

(AP Photo/Darren Abate)

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  • JD

    Oh well. I guess this means Cavs in 5 then…

    Maybe I’m trying to rationalize here, but I’m glad the Cavs are getting a fight from the Bulls in the first round. I think one of the things that hurt this team last year is that they played a lethargic Pistons team in round 1 and a completely overmatched Hawks team in round 2. Here’s to hoping that a lump or two along the way this year toughens them up for some of the big battles ahead…

  • JK

    I don’t know that the Vikings take Clausen, BUT if he is there for us do you guys think we take him?

  • Brendon

    @2 – I think Colt is their guy. No matter who is there.

  • Mark

    @JK – I’m not sure we should take a QB in the 2nd round at all. Look at all the potential starters available. A 2nd round pick on a QB who might not play for 2 years? I am leaning against it.

    Of course we took a WR and LB in the 2nd last year and they didn’t play at all either so we would be following precedent…

  • Roosevelt

    Browns: I think at this point I’m hoping for Taylor Mays. I don’t follow the pre-draft as closely as I should, but wasn’t he a top ten pick as the college season wound down last year? I always like those guys. Nothing of significance changes, only people’s perception does.

    Cavs: I agree with the hope that maybe this adversity will toughen them. But if it doesn’t, we’re in a disaster situation.

  • stin4u

    @1 I dont think anyone would argue with your rationalization that the cavs need to be worked a bit. The problem is that this team has been flat out lazy in the past few games. Championship teams don’t coast, they close, and this team is relying on catchup mode far too often. If this continues into the second and possibly third round we’re in for trouble. With that said MB is holding this team back badly. He provided little motivation, no defensive changes till it was far too late, and allowed his team on the offensive end to strangle itself by spreading everyone 30 ft from the basket for 90% of the game. A poor performance by all, Chicago deserved to win that game.

  • Brendon

    @5 – I’d like Taylor Mays too, but I think Philly is gonna take him the pick b4 us

  • Swig

    I would rather talk Browns than Cavs today, that has not happened in a long long time (and will be fixed Sunday).

  • Kevin

    First of all, since this seems to be the open forum this morning, please no Taylor Mays. The guy could not make big plays (i.e. interceptions) last year and he’s got a bad knee.

    Secondly, if McCoy is available, take him. He is a gamer with great skills and a reasonable ability to escape pressure.

    Third, best moment of the ESPN draft coverage yesterday…when Tyson Alualu was taken 10th by Jacksonville, Mel Kiper was asked if he was schocked by the pick. His response (paraphrase)…”I’m not shocked that he was taken in the first round. I’m just shocked that he was taken so EARLY in the first round, because he was projected to go later.” Yes Mel, he was projected..BY YOU! Basically, Mel Kiper said that he was “surprised that he was wrong.” I want his job. I want to spout off BS about guys I’ve never seen in person or met with no accountability.

    Finally, GO CAVS!!

  • Roosevelt

    @9 I’m hearing this theme more and more lately. ESPN starts a far-out rumor, and it’s the lead story on their website and other rumor websites. Two days later, the lead story is “There’s no truth to that rumor”. They’ve been doing it for a while, but the last few trade deadlines and the draft have been totally ridiculous, and talk show host and bloggers are calling them out on it.

  • Tron

    @#9 Mel Kiper is such a joke. He had Claussen as his #1 QB overall, yea that was a good projection too Mel. For all the draft gurus that are out there, that guy is the best ESPN could find?

  • http://www.waitingfornextyear.com Denny

    @ Tron and everyone else – the thing is, here we all are, spouting off about how bad these ESPN guys are. Their marketing folks are smart. They’ve figured out how to be in the spotlight. They’ve got Kiper and Mcshay who are two of the most annoying unimportant guys out there, who are basically employed based around three days in the year.

    Then there’s Skip Bayless, who is obviously just there to be contrarian. He was a pretty good writer a while back. They offered him enough money that he’d give up his good writing in order to just be a screaming head.

    I came to this realization a couple of weeks ago (I’m so hip and with the times!!) and have given up caring what they have to say.

  • Roosevelt

    @ Denny – After reading your post, I’ve concluded that 1. you are indeed a lightning rod for what’s new. And 2. Snark is so February.

  • Kevin

    In response to Denny…I hear you loud and clear. That’s exactly why I stopped watching SportsCenter a long time ago. If I want a game recap, I MIGHT check ESPN News, but nowadays it seems like SC is nothing but a collection of washed up athletes saying things like “he’s more of a game manager than a game-changer” (i.e. Trent Dilfer, Jalen Rose, or any other idiot that can or cannot put together complete sentences).

    Most of ESPN is one big stroke-fest for the Red Sox, Yankees, Kobe, LeBron (admit it people), Tiger, Tom Brady, and their own anchors. ESPN makes me like sports less and WFNY and other online sources make me like it more.

    I love the airing of grievances on a Friday morning!!

  • Kevin

    Oh, and I forgot Barack-etology. All politics aside, I couldn’t be more bored watching that crap.

  • http://www.waitingfornextyear.com Denny

    Taking things a little further (and maybe I’ll make this into a post this weekend), I’m not going to say that there’s nothing at all of value coming from Bristol. As much as I thought it would be pure crap, watching Gruden go over film and talk with the four ‘top’ QB prospects in this year’s draft was actually really, really cool. I wanted to hate it, but it really was good insight.

  • Du

    Definitely torn between Clausen and McCoy.

    If I go off what I saw on Gruden’s QB camp, I select McCoy.

    Safe to assume that Holmgren is going off more than Gruden’s QB camp.

    McCoy is a winner though.

  • BW

    I thought by far the funniest part of the draft was towards the end when they came back from a commercial break and you could clearly hear Kiper saying “Yeah well this league is crazy, a lot of dumbasses…” I was absolutely LMFAO

  • Du

    @BW: That was funny. It was actually Gruden who said that.

  • BW

    @DU: Really? I coulda swore it was Kiper talking to Gruden? Either way… absolutely hilarious and just another reason ya gotta love live TV, lol

    Thoughts on Haden: Just wish we could’ve found someone to trade back with and still get him in the teens, but didn’t happen, so whatever. Fills a need with the best prospect at the position, can’t complain about that.

    As for our moves in this draft going forward: I think we are going to take Colt McCoy early tonight. Later in the draft I’d like to see us focus on O-line and D-line… everything starts in the trenches.

  • Matt#2

    What is Brady Quinn going to do? Any wisdom on what Denver is doing, here? Do they want Tebow for 4th and inches? I would.

  • BW

    @21: I would like to have Tebow for fourth and inces too, just not int he first or even second round! You don’t pick a guy for such a purpose in the first fricking round! My jaw dropped when that happened as I’m sure many others’ did as well.

  • bobby

    Kindle and Mays are my top 2 choices, tho I can see them both go before. I predicted Clausen at 30 for Minnesota, so I still think he goes there at 34 now. I follow others sentiments saying lets grab a starter with this pick in round 2. We can grab a project QB in the later rounds and Holmgren can determine over the next year if he has “IT” or not and if not get one of the many QBs projected to be out next year (Locker, Mallet, etc). I wouldnt mind Roger Saffold for a RT with this pick in round 2.

  • Matt#2

    Yeah, BW, I was astounded.
    Qb’s are always gambles, though (right?).
    Maybe gambling on a boyscout has less downside if he doesn’t exactly pan out.

  • Roosevelt

    @ 23 Bobby – If Mallet, Locker, and the Browns are all great next year, we will not have a top five pick to get Mallet or Locker.

  • bobby

    @ 25- what are the chances the browns are great next year? All im saying is why not get a starter on D or the OL today in round 2, and let Holmgren trust his work with diamond in the rough QBs and see if he finds another gem. I just think its worth a shot because at best the browns go 7-9 and still are in the top ten in position to trade up to get a QB.

  • Swig

    @Matt#2, seriously, what?

    QBs ARE ALWAYS gambles as been reported on here and other blogs aud nauseum. Name me one player who you would have traded the 2nd, 3rd and 4th round pick for on the day of the draft.

    When you gamble it is risk vs reward, including the chance of each. Blowing an entire draft (rounds 1-4) sets a team back 2 years (made up number). They are hinging their entire draft on one player.

    This was an ego move by McDaniels, who will be gone before Tebow even has a chance to develop. Even if the new administration can trade him for multiple picks they will just be back where they started.

  • Matt#2

    Swig,

    I take it you think the projected risk-reward ratio was way off here.

    “@Matt#2, seriously, what?
    QBs ARE ALWAYS gambles as been reported on here and other blogs aud nauseum.”

    Are you trying to be enlightening or just plain lightning? Am I not emphatic enough for you? Does anyone but a fool not end his inquiry with the opinions of bloggers?

    Check you blood sugar.

  • Roosevelt

    I think that Mcdaniels looked at the statistics and saw that although QBs are always a crap shoot, the first rounders have better odds. So he traded into the first round to get Tebow.

  • Matt#2

    Um, that’s “your blood sugar.”

    Also, allow me to retract my feud-y tone.

    Maybe I should check my blood sugar.

  • Swig

    Maybe gambling on a boyscout has less downside if he doesn’t exactly pan out.
    I guess this was snarkier than I originally interpreted.

    Safe => Position player who fills a hole
    Gamble => Any QB in the first round
    Stupid => Trading a full slate of picks for one player

  • Matt#2

    Safe => Position player who fills a hole
    Gamble => Any QB in the first round
    Stupid => Trading a full slate of picks for one player

    I like the breakdown.

  • http://shakesthesnowglobe.blogspot.com EZ

    As much as ESPN largely caters to (to put it lightly) the big markets I have to say that I think John Hollinger is one of the best analysts in the country, and J.A. Adande can still be a very good writer – a la today’s first entry in the Daily Dime about the Thunder/Lakers game last night. Also, the most recent roundtable of their senior basketball writers had all of them predicting 75% or greater odds of Lebron staying in Cleveland – Adande has been saying that since last year.

    @1

    Adversity is good if it just stems from the other team playing well – which the Bulls have. It’s not good, though, if the Cavs are creating their own adversity by not playing defense. That just means they’re playing poorly, not that they’re learning how to adjust to talent.