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
“Counter punch: Yoenis Cespedes, anyone? To me, this would be the best move the Indians could make to show Indians fans they mean business. He’s young, controllable and could be a star in the Majors. He fits within what the Indians are trying to do and is, really, the only thing left on this winter’s market that would send a strong message to the fans. The Indians definitely have interest, but this could turn into a bidding war.” [Bastian/MLB.com]
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“So when do we get our blockbuster headline? Looking back at the Tribe’s free-agent signings over the last 20 years or so, there have been some notable names, but none on the level of Fielder or Pujols. The Indians did have moderate success keeping their own star prospects before they approached free agency, but those decisions have led to the payroll-crushing deals given to the likes of the under-performing Travis Hafner and the oft-injured Grady Sizemore.
In the Indians’ heyday of the 1990s, aging pitchers Dennis Martinez and Orel Hershiser brought veteran stability to the Indians’ rotation, but neither was in his prime when they wore Wahoos on their caps. The core of those championship teams were draft picks who came up through the system together, with one or two notable exceptions: In 1999, 30-year-old all-star Roberto Alomar joined the Indians for roughly $7 million per season, a headline-maker to be sure. And in 2001, the Tribe brought 31-year-old run-producing machine Juan Gonzalez to town on a $10 million deal. Alomar was an MVP-caliber player for three straight seasons with the club, and Gonzalez hit .325 with 35 home runs and 140 RBI in his only year with the team.
Since then? Not a superstar deal to be found.” [Frantz/News Herald]
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Exactly what I said about Herron. A great 3rd down back, who will play for a while- “Boom Herron had some explaining to do this week, but he didn’t have a ton of proving to do. He’s not a first or second day pick, but Herron is a solid player with a track record of productivity and a running style that indicates he can move the chains in the NFL. He’s the type of person who can help himself in interviews with NFL decision-makers, and he’s the type of back who can be ready if called upon next fall. He might never be a 1,000-yard rusher, but he’ll have a career. ” [Jackson/FSO]
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Interesting slant, If Twitter Existed Then… “Quick diversion here…I remember just about everything about this game, but most vividly, I remember sitting around with a bunch of fraternity brothers and other friends watching it. Being from Cleveland and going to college in Indiana, my fellow Hoosier natives would cheer against Cleveland teams just to irritate me. From about halfway through the fourth quarter to the end of the double overtime though, every person in the room with me went from saying “Go Pistons!” to “I cannot believe what I am seeing right now.” Absolutely one of my favorite moments in college.
If Twitter existed: Marv Albert calling it “one of the greatest performances in NBA history” immediately results in #MarvAlbert becoming a trending topic worldwide and people instantly declaring it the single greatest performance in all of sports history. Pistons fans are in awe and tweet things like “…” and “I have no words for what I just saw.” No Cavs fan can resist tweeting “I am a witness!” ” [Maroun/Hardwood Paroxysm]
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Love this. Which baseball player has worn the most different uniforms? How about the player that wore the same exact style uniform for the most seasons? [Creamer/Getting Blanked]
