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.
“Maybe people are still upset about the descent from 2007 to the depths of 2010, but the Joe Carter bobblehead giveaway is interesting to use as context as most people generally remember Carter for the Alomar/Baerga trade than anything he did as an Indian…and it is here that I note that he had a career .781 OPS as an Indian (3,493 PA), a little below the .787 OPS that Casey Blake posted in his time (3,358 PA) as an Indian. Though his inclusion on the SI cover (with the White Knight) remains a seminal moment of my childhood and I can still picture a PD illustration after he won the RBI title in the 1986 season, Carter isn’t remembered by many for his contributions on the field, but rather what his contributions for the Tribe led to. While my Joe Carter Starting Lineup figure now graces the bookshelf in my boys’ bedroom (next to my old Greg Swindell one), he is more commonly associated with the trade that brought the first couple of pieces of that 1990s run (Sandy and Carlos) to the North Coast.” [Cousineau/The DiaTribe]
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Draft previews continue- “Fab Melo turns 22 in June and also stands 7-foot tall with a 7’ – 3” wingspan. Originally from Brazil and recently completing his sophomore year as the center in Syracuse’s zone, Melo ranked 11th in the NCAA in blocks per game, with 2.9. This also placed him 11th for percentage of opponent shots blocked. He scores efficiently at the basket, but is very low usage, as his back-to-the-basket game and jump-shooting are not reliable weapons. His scoring average was only 8 per game, combined with fewer than 6 rebounds in 25 minutes. The low rebounding totals present cause for concern, as a propensity to over-pursue blocks & poor fundamentals result in ranking 44th in the Big East for defensive rebound rate. Although greatly improved from last year, his 4.5 fouls per forty minutes ranks 2nd worst of the nine centers most likely to be drafted in 2012.” [Hetrick/Cavs the Blog]
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“What is Alonzo’s Role? The answer to this question is crucial for determining if it’s worth keeping Alonzo around. Is Alonzo Gee a starting SF on a championship contending team? Absolutely not. Could he be the sixth man on that kind of team? Even then, I think that’s a bit of a stretch. But could he be a solid role player coming off the bench? Probably. But would you pay $4M a year for that? This is of course, assuming he remains at the level he is today. That may not be the best assumption to make.” [Benedetti/Fear the Sword]
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A couple of Indians’ hot starts under the microscope- “No matter how good a pitcher’s sinker, he cannot survive striking out 2.22 batters per nine innings. The last pitcher to qualify for the ERA title with a K rate that low was Nate Cornejo from the legendary 2003 Detroit Tigers. He went 6-17 with a 4.67 ERA and started 32 games only because the 43-119 Tigers were so awful. Only two more who qualified for the ERA title have struck out so few in the last 50 years.
Pitchers used to be able to get away without striking anyone out. Not today. Lowe’s AL-leading 2.05 ERA could well double even if he continues to induce ground balls at a major league-best 65.4 percent. His sinker isn’t moving any more than in recent years, according to PITCHf/x readings, which makes this even more of a sample-size hiccup.” [Passan/Yahoo]
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Finally, should the Browns make a run at McNabb- “The answer that keeps coming to mind is what do the Browns have to gain from signing McNabb. Drafting Weeden gives the Browns a chance to start a new era. Adding McNabb would look like a desperate move from this regime’s old one.” [Hensley/AFC North Blog]
