Stars And Stats: Some Numbers From the Kyrie Irving and LeBron James Cavalier Eras So Far
February 3, 2013D’Qwell Jackson: I wear No. 52 because of Ray Lewis
February 4, 2013
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.
“The good news is that on Monday, Feb. 4, the Browns will once again return to 0-0. As with so many offseason’s past, again it features a new coaching staff, new offensive and defensive philosophies and, probably, a new starting quarterback. Actually, this is how Browns fans expect an offseason to behave. Chaos is the status quo.
Before the attention turns to 2013, could it really get any worse than to be a Browns fan today? It is easy to pick on another team’s misery and laugh. The Jets? They are a mess. The Cardinals? Terrible. The Jaguars? They are wondering if black-and-teal looks good underneath the California sun. As much as that helps ease the frustration that comes with rooting for the Browns, the fact remains: it may not get any worse for Browns fans than right now.” [Delco/The OBR]
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“You might overlook Travis Hafner, as his body betrays him during his decline phase. But Travis Hafner was once great – really great. As in, the second best season by wOBA since 2005. Travis Hafner was on fire in 2006, hitting 42 home runs in just 129 games, posting a .308/.439/.659 slash line good for a .450 wOBA. The Hafner of those days is gone, ravaged by injury and excessive Clevelandness. He hasn’t made 500 plate appearances since 2007 but, when he’s around, Travis Hafner mashes the baseball. He still ranks among the best DHs in the game since 2009, though in limited duty.
As a cheap pick up with the potential to smash baseballs in the twilight of his career, Travis Hafner is the prototypical cheap Yankee pick up – it seems too good to be true and it will only haunt Yankees haters. Beyond the pedigree/narrative aspect of this deal, Travis Hafner is all but perfect for Yankee Stadium. After spending basically his entire career playing at JacobsProgressive Field (a nice spot for lefties in its own right), Travis Hafner gets to call one of the cosiest right-field porches in the game his home. Mapping his 2012 home runs onto Yankee Stadium with Hit Tracker Online shows the ease with which Hafner’s previous shots would excite his future home.” [Fairservice/Getting Blanked]
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“All that came crashing down when, prior to the 1960 season in a move that still reverberates in Cleveland history, Indians GM Frank “Trader” Lane dealt the popular slugger to the Detroit Tigers. The move occurred on April 17, just days before Opening Day, and if Twitter were around in 1960 you could bet that the Internet would have melted down in Cleveland that day. In fact, if the Internet existed during at all during Frank Lane’s career, he may have crashed it more than once. Lane made more than 400 trades during his various stints as a GM, including the 1960 trade that sent manager Joe Gordon to Detroit in exchange for Tigers manager Jimmy Dykes. Lane even attempted to trade Stan Musial during the 1956 season until the Cardinals owner stepped in and put a stop to those negotiations. Stan Musial! But I digress…Colavito was dealt straight up for OF Harvey Kuenn, a trade that saw the reigning HR champ swapped for the reigning batting champ. Kuenn was actually coming off of a fairly solid season in Detroit, having hit .353/.402/.501 with 42 doubles and 9 HR. The batting average and doubles both led the AL in 1959, but that season represented the high water mark for Kuenn’s career. Prior to the ’59 season, Kuenn had just a .768 career OPS in 6+ seasons in the major leagues. After the 1959 season, he was even worse, putting up a paltry .729 OPS from 1960 until his retirement after the 1966 season. Say what you will about Chris Antonetti, Mark Shapiro and their use of “advanced statistics” like OPS and WAR, but they’d have never made the Colavito trade. Kuenn lasted just one season in Cleveland before Lane shipped him to San Francisco in exchange for Johnny Antonelli and Willie Kirkland.” [Ciammaichella/The DiaTribe]
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Kyrie has 8 games of 30 or more points… in 2013. [Fox Sports Ohio]
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Tweet of optimism- “Ok now its baseball time. 1 more week! Best shape I’ve been in a long time…maybe ever. Can’t wait for Baseball back on Sportscenter #letsgo” [Vinnie Pestano]
10 Comments
So, we have a few weeks till pitchers/catchers report, a few weeks until FA opens for the NFL, college basketball doesn’t start until March, and, while Kyrie is exceedingly entertaining, the Cavs aren’t going anywhere this season.
It’s going to be a long month.
Anyone else think we are going to see Kyrie put up a 50/40/90 season in the next couple of years, a la Mark Price? (That’s 50% FG, 40% 3FG, and 90% FT). I do.
I’m sure you’ll find plenty to post about and I mean plenty! 😉 I would have loved to have discussed FA in the NFL but after reading Haslam’s comment about it looks like I’ll suffer through another uneventful phase to improve the team. Personally I’d be in contact with Greg Jennings people, Barwin and yes even Ed Reed. I know the last one would be unpopular not to mention pricey but for some reason I dream about a Haden-Milliner-Ward-Reed secondary. I’m guessing Reed ends up in New England.
My man Mark Price loved that Yellowjacket! I’d say it’s possible definitely the 3FG% and FT%.
Welker > Jennings
And, I don’t think Reed would come here. He wants another SB ring before he retires and he’ll likely just stay where he’s at for it, but it’s a small list of teams he’d consider to go elsewhere.
I’d be shocked to see Houston let Barwin leave. Spencer/Phillips are more likely at OLB.
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and yeah, we can discuss, but really nothing can come out of those discussions until FA begins mid-March.
I’d be happy with either Welker or Jennings. A veteran SB winner who can play in the slot while Little and Norwood man the outsides. Go 4 or 5 WR you add in Cameron and Benjamin.
Reed was a dream but it will be interesting to see if Baltimore pays him. Flacco’s price just skyrocketed. If Ozzie is smart he resigns Reed with Lewis retiring (hopefully).
what happpened to Gordon?
I was testing to see who actually read my response. Actually I must have been possessed because I meant Little and Gordon yet somehow typed the letters N-O-R-W-O-O-D which was incredible since I consider him marginal.
Talk about irony, with February being the shortest month; but pitchers and catchers report on Feb 11, everybody by the 15th for our Indians anyway (and most of MLB). One highlight would be the NBA All-Star weekend that Kyrie Irving should light up AND START in the ASG for Rondo. If Kyrie is not a starter, cue more Hatred for Miami Heat.
He might even do that this year. If so, keep Irving on a max deal for his career.