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.
We don’t usually link to items from Cleveland.com because we assume you have read them. Make sure you don’t miss this one from Terry Pluto- “I know, the Indians let go of Kotchman and he hits .300 for another team. Look at how Derek Lowe picked up a save for the Yankees with four scoreless innings against Texas Monday night. Well, good for the 39-year-old Lowe.
Rather than move Lowe to the bullpen, the Indians released him and gave the spot to young Cody Allen — who has been terrific. The Indians need to look at Corey Kluber and Roberto Hernandez in the rotation. Hernandez is key because the Tribe has a $6 million option for next season, and they do need starting pitching. The Tribe can replace Kotchman with Russ Canzler (.263, 17 HR, 62 RBI). He was the 2011 Intentional League MVP, and at 26 is either a prospect or he’s not. The Tribe saw a reason to trade for him over the winter.” [Pluto/CLE.com]
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Cleveland Reboot is back, and DK is once again challenging the local media. Carry your banner sir. [Cleveland Reboot]
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“As a kid, Waiters estimates he’d spend “23 of 24 hours” at the playground. It’s hyperbole, but not by much. Dion would consistently hold the court for four or five hours against older players. When he got tired, he’d nap on the bench.
Philly legend has it that out of respect, nobody would go near him while he slept. Oh word, that’s Dion? Leave him alone.
Growing up, Dion actually preferred football to basketball, and also played baseball and soccer. But in what he cites as a key moment, Monique Brown, his mom – Dion calls her “My backbone throughout my entire life” – insisted that he focus only on hoops, which she correctly assessed was his best option.” [Horowitz/Dime Mag]
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Replacing the ‘Brew Crew’- “It was the most celebrated haul of his entire tenure, with apologies to the 2002 class headlined by Justin Zwick and Maurice Clarett. Minutes after Ohio State’s loss to LSU in the BCS title game, high school senior Terrelle Pryor called Tressel to assure him the Buckeyes would be back on that stage – and they would win.
The Brew Crew, along with Pryor, brought the star rankings in bunches and promised to deliver more of that same reloading. They were successful up until scandal yanked their senior year aspirations out from under them. Still, Pryor’s promise to Tressel came true: The Buckeyes did win* in the Superdome against an SEC foe.
But that’s just a fraction of the story. That previously-scheduled reconstructive surgery for 2012 has now been downgraded to the elective and cosmetic variety. The class of 2008 didn’t leave such big shoes to fill after all. It barely left any shoes.” [Ramzy/Eleven Warriors]
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The value of an NBA coach- “Which brings me to my opinion on Coach Scott; I’ve never met Byron Scott but from what I’ve seen he seems like a very well spoken charismatic kind of guy. He has a strong work ethic and from the stories of “Camp Scott” he sure seems to want to instill this in his players. Most importantly though for the Cavaliers he has a history as a coach of developing young talented point guards into Hall of Fame talents and for getting the absolute most out of young talented teams. In my opinion his two runs to the NBA finals with the New Jersey Nets were a complete reflection of how his coaching and guidance can lead a young talented team in the right direction. I felt when New Orleans let him go he was being fired due to the failures of the front office to put together the right pieces for them to excell as well as being the teams scapegoat when Chris Paul got hurt.
Coach Scott seems to have a great relationship with Kyrie Irving and Tristan Thompson. Both players seem to be high character guys with a fire in them to improve all the time and stay humble. This relationship should not be taken for granted and with another young talented player joining the team in Dion Waiters now is the most crucial time for Byron Scott to be part of this team.” [Fear the Sword]
