While We’re Waiting… Tribe Loose and Winning, Harrison Barnes and Being Tom Heckert

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.

Good stuff from the Tribe locker room- “And most importantly, the team – the third-youngest team in the MLB, mind you – is winning baseball games, presently atop the AL Central with a record of 11-4; they’ve won eight of their past 10 games and are 7-2 within the confines of Progressive Field, a stretch they have not seen since their 2007 playoff run. “This is nice,” Masterson said of the team’s latest bout of play with a heartfelt grin. “It’s a lot of fun, a lot of fun to be playing here in Cleveland.” [Scott/Still WFNY]

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On growing up a Tribe fan- “When I was 10, I wrapped myself in the world of the 1977 Cleveland Indians. I don’t recall this being much of a choice, but looking back on it I guess it was a choice. Nobody I knew cared as much. Even though we were all 10 in school, there was a cynical strain running through the other kids in my class, and they mostly made the entirely sensible and terribly unromantic decision that the Indians were not worthy of their best hopes. Even by then, more than 30 years ago, the Indians had not been to the World Series in almost 25 years — an impossibly long stretch of time to a 10-year-old — and the last time Cleveland HAD reached the World Series, it was upset and swept and humiliated by the New York Giants. The Indians were of great interest, of course, because we were kids, and they were our baseball team. But the other kids in school seemed to understand what I plainly did not … that the Cleveland Indians were not very good at baseball.” [Posnanski/SI.com]

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What Harrison Barnes returning to school means to the Cavs- “Barnes would have been considered as the top pick in this year’s NBA Draft and almost certainly would have been one of the top two players selected. There had been rumors the last couple weeks that Barnes was leaning towards returning to North Carolina; the school made it official with a news release Monday morning. The Cavs have the second-best chance, at 19 percent, to win the May 17 lottery and the draft’s first pick. Barnes’ decision basically ensures Duke’s Kyrie Irving will be the No. 1 pick. About all that could change that right now is bad news when Irving undergoes medical checks or a team that’s already set at point guard becoming a surprise winner of the lottery.” [Jackson/FSO]

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The staff at the OBR plays ‘If I were Tom Heckert… “At least Tom Heckert has some options. The Browns’ general manager can target any number of needs with the team’s first-round draft pick and unlike in previous years, it doesn’t appear that quarterback is a vital need in Cleveland. While popular opinion suggests that the Browns’ two biggest weaknesses are found along the defensive line and at wide receiver, Heckert can literally check off from a lengthy list of needs.” [Orange and Brown Report]

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The forgotten prospect?- “Jerad Head-LF, Columbus: 2-for-4, 2 R, 2 HR, 4 RBI: Head is currently making his name as a super-utility player in the organization. In his career in the minors, he’s played every position in a game except catcher, and he can play that as well. He currently resides in the outfield, but to make the big club, he’ll need to use all his tools. Head blasted two out, including the game winner, and has three total. Head may get swallowed up in a deep organization, but he has skills, and he’s showing them all.” [Jim Pete/IPI]