June 19, 2013

While We’re Waiting … Belichick’s Browns, Tyler Zeller’s Blog, Indians as Next Orioles?

October 3, 2012 by 28 Comments

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.

A quick preview of tonight’s NFL Films show: “In 2011, NFL Films launched its remarkable A Football Life series with a two-part study of Patriots coach Bill Belichick. The next episode, which focuses on the ’95 Browns, should more accurately be regarded as a Belichick prequel. The study of the 1995 Cleveland Browns, which debuts Wednesday night at 8:00 p.m. ET on NFL Network, spends more time focusing on the legacy of the coach than the fate of the franchise. Yes, there’s plenty about the final days in Cleveland of the team that became the Ravens. But there’s more about the manner in which Belichick influenced a generation of men who reached tremendous heights (admittedly with varying degrees of success) elsewhere.” [Mike Florio/Pro Football Talk]

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In this look at training camp invites most likely to make an NBA roster, we have a Cavaliers mention: “Kevin Jones (Cleveland Cavaliers), 6’8″ F, West Virginia I’ve watched Jones develop for over a decade, and I can tell you that he is a pro in every sense of the word. He fits a nice need for the Cavs, or can develop into a great second-effort player who can stretch the defense from the perimeter. He’s not at the usual NBA size for a 4, but I can see him developing into a crowd-pleasing, extra- effort player with more range than, say, the Bulls Taj Gibson.” [Tommy Dee/Sheridan Hoops]

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It appears both Cavs rookies are doing their own blogs so far. Yesterday, we featured Waiters’, now it’s time for Tyler Zeller: “Monday, Oct. 1, 2012 – Training camp starts today. I’m a little nervous because it’s my first one, and I’ve heard they are very intense. But, I’m also excited to get going and see what I’m up against and what I need to work on to get better. I do already have an idea, but I am eager to find out for myself and see where I fit in on the team. Since I got to Cleveland, my schedule with the team has been mostly Monday through Friday and then off on the weekends. We lift, then play, then do a miniworkout. Being as young as we are, majority of our team has been here all summer and it’s been great so far.” [Tyler Zeller/NBA.com]

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Notes from a solid Cavs blog following Monday’s Media Day: “There were lots of questions asked about Kyrie Irving evolving into a more vocal leader for the Cavaliers in the coming season. While most of those were clearly quote-baiting questions designed to pad out pre-written articles, Irving seems happy to take that ball and run with it. Irving expects to the be leader of the team, the unquestioned best player, and he seems comfortable in that role. When Byron Scott said that he expects to reach a point in the season where Irving is not looking over to the bench for play calls, Irving said that he will be running the team from the get-go, only looking over to the bench after a turnover or other mishap.” [Michael Curry/Cavs HQ].

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Grantland’s looking for the next O’s, and this is how the Tribe might get there: “The Indians look a little like the Rockies: several very talented position players, but also a starting rotation in complete disarray, between Zack Greinke, Anibal Sanchez, Edwin Jackson, Dan Haren, and several other free agents, not to mention possible trade candidates like James Shields and/or whoever else the Rays decide to trade for a bat. It’s also conceivable that Justin Masterson bounces back and Zach McAllister continues his development after an encouraging rookie season. With a nucleus of Carlos Santana, Asdrubal Cabrera, and Jason Kipnis, you can call a big 2013 a long shot for the Tribe, but not an impossibility.” [Jonah Keri/Grantland]

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Rating the edge between Alomar and Francona based on several Indians categories: “As a result, a baseball manager is most valuable in the clubhouse. Do the players listen to the manager? Do they respect him as a leader? Will they play hard for him during the dog days of summer? Will they respect his decision when benched or demoted, or will they pout and become a cancer in the clubhouse? So who’s the right choice for the Indians? Let’s consider a few different types of players on the Indians roster, and determine whether they will respond to Terry Francona or Sandy Alomar Jr.” [Ryan McCrystal/It's Pronounced "Lajaway"]

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Final thoughts on the coaching search on the last day of the MLB regular season: “What a long, strange trip it’s been here in 2012 at the Corner of Carnegie and Ontario. It actually seems odd to be standing here, on the last day of the regular season, looking forward to what should be an exciting offseason. Unfortunately for us Indians’ fans, the offseason will likely be a lot more intriguing than the second half of the 2012 season turned out to be.” [Jim Pete/Indians Prospect Insider]

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  • http://www.waitingfornextyear.com Andrew Schnitkey

    The problem with Jones making the Cavs roster is that the Cavs have 13 players with guaranteed contracts. Boobie Gibson is partially guaranteed, by he’s obviously not going to be cut. So that’s 14 players. So for Kevin Jones to make the roster, he has to beat out Samardo Samuels. He could, but for some reason, I just have a hard time seeing that happen.

  • boomhauertjs

    Exactly how many Super Bowls has the “branches of the Belichick tree” won?
    Does Keri actually think the Dolans will spend money on a free agent pitcher?
    I agree with Andrew, I don’t think there’s room for Jones unless the Cavs buyout Walton (should keep him for his expiring contract) or cut Samardo (which after summer league, I don’t see happening).

  • http://twitter.com/jlkocher2 John Kocher

    arent NBA teams allowed to put last 2 cuts on tyeir D leage team?

  • Lyon25

    Honestly I’d rather have Jones. But that’s because I’ve never really bought into Samuels. Whoever plays better in training camp should stay and the loser should get Walton’s spot. Or at least Harangody. Can’t believe we pay this guy.

  • mgbode

    hmmm, I think we should count NCAA championships as well, no?

    and, regardless, a tree of 6 NFL HCs, 6 college HCs, and numerous co-ordinator and high-level FO executives is impressive on it’s own.

  • mgbode

    we have plenty of room under the cap. if Samuels and Jones both outplay Harangody, I would hope the FO would do the wise thing for the team and put Luke out to pasture.

    (I realize that is unlikely, but it is still how it should be done)

  • mgbode

    i love how Keri throws names out there like Greinke and Haren and Shields as if the Indians have a chance at those guys. Shields only has 1 more year on his deal, so I doubt we’d go after him let along have something the Rays want for him.

  • mgbode

    he also mentions that the twins ballpark is “lining the Pohlad’s pockets” as if they aren’t diving into payroll.

    fact: the Twins geared up for the new ballpark with contract extensions and have continued to increase. their payrolls the last 3 years are: $97mil, $113mil, $101mil (after years around the $65mil payroll threshold that the Indians currently sit at in their old ballpark).

    I swear Keri just likes to completely ignore the financials of the game and just goes straight to blaming the owner if teams don’t go and sign the fancy big name on the FA market. He is by far the absolute biggest hack when it comes to MLB payrolls.

  • The_Real_Shamrock

    Agreed 1000%

  • The_Real_Shamrock

    Samuels by a mile over Harangody. Samuels, if he gets it, can be an asset even if he’s towards the end of the bench.

  • http://www.waitingfornextyear.com Andrew Schnitkey

    Harangody’s contract is fully guaranteed. Luke would have to agree to a buyout, which I don’t think he would do.

  • http://www.waitingfornextyear.com Andrew Schnitkey

    Walton has a fully guaranteed contract, as does Harangody. Unless those guys agree to a buyout, they can’t be released. I don’t see either one agreeing to a buyout because I don’t think they’ll get a better deal elsewhere.

  • mgbode

    give him every single cent. and let him pursue more money elsewhere. i’d hope he’d be willing to do that.

  • http://www.waitingfornextyear.com Andrew Schnitkey

    I agree. But that’s not something you really see happen that often. This is why I still don’t understand why the Cavs have Luke a qualifying offer.

  • dwhit110

    The problem with that Lajaway article is it thinks the only part of managing is getting guys to try hard for you. It says nothing for the development of talent, which has been a real miss over the past few years.

  • mgbode

    i’m still perplexed as well. we even already had Walton as our customary “white guy towel waver” for the end of the bench. really no excuse for that signing.

  • mgbode

    deal that could work for both sides. Tampa deals Shields to Arizona for Justin Upton + a SP (more of a throw-in MLB-ready guy like Collmenter). Shields would HAVE to agree to an extension to make it work.

    Tampa might be able to then leverage that to get BJ Upton to stay as well. And add to their offense as well as having an incredibly dynamic OF defense.

  • mgbode

    great point.

    also, they mention “right manager for the right team” as being the biggest factor for a manager, then say if we don’t get Francona or Alomar then we need to run the Dolans out of town. what if someone else in the interview process proves to be the right manager?

  • http://www.waitingfornextyear.com Andrew Schnitkey

    A tale of two Lukes.

  • dwhit110

    Exactly. I thought it was an overly simplistic, narrowly-concepted article.

  • Steve

    Option on Shields for 2014. And the Indians probably have a good chance at Haren, who looked like toast this year.

  • mgbode

    Haren had a back injury that was bothering him most of the season. Once that cleared up, he was back to his normal self. I doubt he gets a reduced pricetag.

    thanks for the clarification on the option. on Cot’s it shows an option on 2013, but not 2014.

  • Lyon25

    Ya I get the contract status. Just wishful thinking.

  • Steve

    Back injuries rarely just get “cleared up”. And, that ERA looks low enough, but Anaheim was a great pitchers park this year (a big reason why Trout is the MVP) and a lot of those games at the end of the year were against pathetic offenses. Sure, someone might be fooled and give him big bucks, but he hasn’t shown he deserves it.

  • Natedawg86

    Very excited to see what this team can do. I feel like we have a team of guys that are going to have a lot of energy and always will be busting their butts. Hopefully we are known as a team that people don’t like to play against because we play hard all the time.

  • Natedawg86

    Agree. Watched the special with my wife last night. She didn’t know the whole history of the move (although I have told her the story several times). Still hard to believe we had Belichick and we were on a fine path before the decision to move was made. She also made a comment on how we were still a young team “right”…

  • mgbode

    i had to work last night, so i haven’t watched it yet. i’m in the same boat as you though (not in Ravens country however). my wife is a California girl who has now heard the story a million times but hasn’t “felt” the story.

    going to watch it with her tonight to help her get a feel for why I hate Art the way I do. from comments it seems they did a nice job with it.

  • mgbode

    I hope MLB owners think the way you do. i just checked though and he has a $15.5mil 2013 option. The Angels will keep him for that IMO.

    yes, he’ll have to take care of his back and come back healthy. but, if you just cross off pitchers who have ever had a particular injury, then you’ll be out of pitchers to run out there very quickly. he’s a top30 pitcher in MLB and he’s “only” 33yo next season.