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.
On the Tribe not having players locked up after 2013- “The reason that the possibility of a Cabrera (or Masterson) extension becomes compelling is that the 2011 season represented the first time that Cabrera and Masterson emerged as players that could merit consideration for extensions in an effort to keep them in Cleveland longer than they are currently slated to be. Perhaps the 2012 season will reveal more players that fit that bill as well as the Indian stand at the precipice of perhaps having multiple players emerge as “core” players. Remember that it was the Spring Training prior to the 2005 season that El Capitan and The aCCe were locked up with extensions for Peralta, Grady, and Lee coming year later. Obviously players like Cabrera or Masterson may be in a different service time schedule in comparison to those players at those times, but with so many young players attempting to establish themselves in MLB and with the Indians history of locking up young players, it’s hard not to see how some extensions maybe forthcoming.” [Cousineau/The DiaTribe]
–
Interesting look at assist to turnover ratio- “Top Left Quadrant: This was by far the most deceptive quadrant. Classically, this would be the quadrant that you wouldn’t want your point guard to fall into as it contains those PGs with an above average Turnover Ratio and below average Assist Ratio. However, when we look at the names of the players that fall into this quadrant, it is important to look at the roles these players must assume on their particular teams. Of the seven players in the quadrant, five of them (Curry, Douglas, Irving, Wall, and Williams) play on teams that are under .500 while Chalmers and Westbrook man the point position on two of the top three teams in the league. Many of these players’ roles on their respective teams are to be scorers rather than distributors. In fact, Westbrook (2nd), Williams (3rd), Irving (7th), Curry (9th), and Wall (10th) all rank among the top ten PGs in the league in points per game. As a result, they will be looking to handle and shoot the ball rather than pass which leads to an increased turnover rate and decreased assist ratio.” [Maroun/Hardwood Paroxysm]
–
“The concerns about this dependence on left-handed hitters are not without credence. Lineups need balance, and the earlier point about most pitchers being right-handed is not cut and dry. All bets are off in the later innings when bullpens become involved and it turns into a game of strategy and matchups, as most bullpens are equipped with two or even three left-handed relievers now.
At the end of the day, though, it doesn’t matter – left or right. Nor does the perceived lack of power, necessarily. Being a productive Major League hitter consists of plenty more. The key for this young, often free-swinging Indians team will be thorough, disciplined at-bats, and ultimately, getting on base against either kind of pitcher. In less than two months, the Indians will take the field against the White Sox, a first step towards a return to the postseason. Once they record the first three outs of the season, one of those six left-handed division starters, John Danks will be standing on the hill: Test number one.” [Kevin/Indians Prospect Insider]
–
“In his 1955 rookie season, he went 16-10 with a league-leading 245 strikeouts. Only one other pitcher in the AL struck out over 160. He averaged 9.7 K/9 in a league that averaged 4.4. The next year, Score was even better, enjoying his first 20-win season while leading the league in shutouts, ERA+ and, of course, strikeouts. His 263 punchouts that year were 71 more than runner up Billy Pierce.
He was so well thought of that before the 1957 season began, the rival Red Sox offered the Indians $1,000,000 for Score—and Cleveland turned down Boston. That’s how highly his team thought of him. The early going in 1957 made the Cleveland front office look smart. In his first four games, Score was 2-1 with a 2.04 ERA and 39 strikeouts in 35.1 innings. In his wins, he’d allowed one run in 18 innings. Even in his other games he was impressive. He fanned 10 in 11 frames in his only loss, and in a no-decision he fanned 12 while recording 19 outs. Not bad.
That led up to the game occurring 20,000 days ago. Against the defending world champion Yankees, Score quickly dispatched leadoff hitter Hank Bauer on a groundout and then faced Gil McDougald. It was the at-bat that nearly ended Score’s career and ruined his promise. McDougald made solid contact with a Score offering and sent a screaming liner right back up the middle—and right into Score’s eye socket. He was bloodied and suffered several broken bones in his face.
Eventually Score recovered, but he would not pitch again that season. Early in 1958, it looked like he was on the way back as he threw a complete-game shutout with 13 strikeouts against the White Sox on April 23, 1958. Then, in his next start against Washington, Score injured his arm and had to change his delivery.” [Jaffe/Hardball Times]
–
What would it cost to move up in the draft- “Some teams use a chart that gives a point value to each draft slot, with the first overall pick traditionally worth 3,000 points and the second pick 2,600. Cleveland’s fourth pick is worth 1,800 points, Washington’s sixth worth 1,600 and Miami’s ninth worth 1,350. Only the Browns have two first-round picks this year. They also have the 22nd selection, which they acquired from Atlanta a year ago on draft day. That pick is valued at 780 points.
Could the Browns get the second pick from St. Louis for those two picks? Not likely. The value of their two picks is 20 points light.” [McManamon/FSOhio]
–
And finally: Shameless plug time. “It says an awful lot about a player when an opposing team schemes as if [Kenyon] Martin is going to play key minutes despite all of the unknowns that surrounded his conditioning, mental state and role in his new team’s offense. Factor in the litany of weapons that don Clippers uniforms, and a player who had not suited up in a professional basketball game since mid-December would rarely creep onto a pre-game radar.
Regardless, Cavaliers coach Byron Scott did just that, knowing that one of the most athletic front-courts in the NBA just got that much better. Antawn Jamison, the player forced to contain the athletic Martin, referred to the Clippers’ latest addition as “scary,” stating that Martin’s knowledge of the game, non-stop energy and all-around aggressive style of play can lead to the younger players following suit. “You’ve got a proven veteran who can point those guys in the right direction,” Jamison said. ” [WFNY's Scott/ESPN LA]
