While We’re Waiting…Browns ranked twenty-seventh, Indians lose 6-3, and former Cav missing

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

Fox Sports’ pre-camp power rankings have Browns at twenty-seven:  “New Browns czar Mike Holmgren had a big dilemma entering the draft – pick a QB at No. 7 or help an alarmingly horrendous secondary. When the draft dust settled, he got both. Who knew Texas star Colt McCoy would last until the third round?

That just helps justify thecorrect decision to attack the back end of the defense, picking the best CB in the draft at No. 7, Joe Haden. Heading into camp, Cleveland is calling Panthers washout Jake Delhomme the QB of the present until McCoy is ready.”  [Fox Sports /Adrian Hasenmayer]

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Tribe loses 6-3 to Rays, Talbot sets record, Tampa snaps streak:  “Through four innings Saturday night, it was the biggest lock in sports.  The Indians, behind strikeout machine Mitch Talbot, were going to defeat the Tampa Bay Rays in Cleveland yet again.   Then the thinkable happened. The Rays realized they are a contender, and that there is no logical reason for continuing to be dominated by the Tribe on the road.  Talbot joined Bob Feller (Oct. 2, 1938), Bartolo Colon (July 26, 2000) and Chuck Finley (May 28, 2002) as the Indians to notch six straight strikeouts.

The Rays pulled ahead, 5-3, in the sixth, knocking out Talbot in the process. Carlos Pena homered and B.J. Upton hit an RBI double.  “I threw a get-me-over changeup right down the middle to Pena,” Talbot said.  Talbot (8-9, 4.08 ERA) gave up five runs on seven hits in 5 innings. He walked one and whiffed eight.  [Plain Dealer / Dennis Manolof]

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OSU Fans will learn a lot about Michigan week one at home vs. UConn:   “To hear some of their fans speak about this game as almost a lock for them is laughable. Even if you had no vocal cords your body would find a way to make the sound of laughter. One of these teams is well coached and has two straight bowl appearances (and wins) under their belt, the other doesn’t. One team didn’t give up over 2,000 rushing yards last year, one team did.

Guess who the better team has been? You betchya, Connecticut! Why this is so relevant is because if UM can’t find a way to upgrade the run defense, vastly, then there will be a giant struggle just to reach 6-6. Just a hunch, but OSU, Wiscy, PSU, MSU, Iowa….they might be able to do that and a lot unless they show they’ve done a 180. Rich Rod’s future should be more clear after this game”  [Buckeye Battle Cry / Leach]

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Chris Paul wants to go to Orlando:  “While the Knicks are still high on Paul’s list, he believes the Magic, with All-Star center Dwight Howard, would be a better fit. Paul also realizes Orlando has much more to offer New Orleans in a trade and therefore believes it is a more realistic destination than New York, according to the sources.

Paul will meet with Hornets president Hugh Weber, new general manager Dell Demps and new head coach Monty Williams to discuss the future direction of the club. The Hornets hope to convince Paul to give the new regime a chance, but sources say he is fully expected to present New Orleans with a list of teams he would like to be traded to.

In addition to Orlando and New York, Dallas and Portland are on Paul’s list. The New Orleans Times-Picayune reported on Friday that Paul’s agent Leon Rose reached out to all four teams this week.”  [ESPN / Chris Broussard]

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Anthony Reyes to continue rehab with Aeros Tuesday:  “After making two starts for the Indians’ Arizona Summer League team, Reyes’ next outing will be in Akron on Tuesday. Between pitching appearances, he can do his workout regimen at Progressive Field.  ”He’ll throw 50 pitches or three innings, whichever comes first,” manager Manny Acta said (yesterday) afternoon.

Reyes, who underwent elbow reconstruction surgery last year, made two starts in Arizona and gave up two earned runs, three hits and struck six in 4 13/ innings.  Before he is activated from the disabled list, Reyes probably will have to build up his pitch count to about 90. He can make two starts for the Aeros before they go on the road.

One slight complication: When Akron is away from home, so is Columbus, and Tribe officials would prefer that Reyes not have to travel. However, even though the competition would be less challenging, Reyes could remain in Cleveland and make a start for Lake County.”  [Tribe Matters / Sheldon Ocker]

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Lastly, thoughts and prayers go out to the family of former Cavalier Lorenzen Wright, who have filed a missing persons report:   WREG News