NBA News: Cavaliers to sign free agent forward Earl Clark
July 4, 2013NBA Rumor: Cavs made ‘lucrative’ offer to Marco Belinelli
July 5, 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.
These might be the uniforms we see at the Horshoe this season: “Columbus-based Ohio State retailer The Buckeye Room posted this photo of a “New twill Nike Limited” Ohio State home football jersey featuring quarterback Braxton Miller’s No. 5. The jersey, which features seven embroidered Buckeye Leafs on the collar – one for each of the school’s seven national championships (or Heisman Trophies) – will set you back $120.” [Eleven Warriors]
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Ranking the 50 best college football players. Bradley Roby and Ryan Shazier also made the list, but this was the obvious OSU headliner: “9. Braxton Miller [QB(Jr) – (the) Ohio State] Urban Meyer described him as the “most dynamic” athlete he’s coached at quarterback with a better skill-set than Tebow. That was before his awesome 2012 season. Questions linger about Miller’s ceiling as a passer. He can still run his way to a Big Ten title.” [Ty Duffy/The Big Lead]
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Thinking more about the Anthony Bennett draft pick by the Cavs: “After having a week to digest the Cleveland Cavaliers selecting Anthony Bennett with the No. 1 overall pick, I’ve become really excited with the possibilities of how open and fluid the Wine and Gold offense can become with the former UNLV combo forward. Despite having over 70 percent of his scoring production come in the paint thanks to his powerful athleticism, Bennett has shown in his on year at UNLV that he can help out a squad from almost any place on the court. This is exactly the type of player that we want to be paired up with Kyrie Irving, whether he will be dishing it to the Canadian product down low, just outside the paint or on the perimeter.” [Zachary Kolesar/Right Down Euclid]
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How Cleveland could benefit from a Houston-Lakers Dwight Howard deal: “The Cavs would have to think long and hard before risking their 2014 salary cap to acquire either Asik or Lin. Asik could provide a defensive strength that is currently missing from the lineup. Lin could provide backup point guard duties and a capable hand for running the second team offense. His defensive lapses are concerning. The Cavs may be willing to give up something of value for Asik but less likely to do the same for Lin. How this plays out depends on a lot on Howard’s decision and how Grant and company see the building of their team for now and the future.” [Jared Mueller/Factory of Sadness]
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This was a really well-produced piece about a undrafted rookie Cavalier that you might want to keep an eye on: “One of my favorite college players, Matthew Dellavedova, a man with simple attributes and a humble profile, will trial with the Cleveland Cavaliers in the upcoming summer league. Running the point for the Cavs, the young Aussie will push for an NBA roster spot, something 30 pro teams apparently felt he was unworthy of during the recent draft. Or perhaps he just never occurred to them.” [J.P. Pelosi/Half Court Press]
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One of the most controversial topics in Cleveland sports Twitter of late: Should the Indians consider letting go of Jason Giambi? “There is no question that a large part of the success that the 2013 Cleveland Indians have found is derived from the new energy in the clubhouse. This culture has started with Manager Terry Francona, and continued with the likes of the eccentric Nick Swisher and wise Giambi. But the heart of this debate is one question that is an argument against both sides–how much value does veteran leadership really hold?” [Geordy Boveroux/Wahoos on First]
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Finally, I’m a recovering Darren Rovell Twitter fan, but I really did enjoy this picture he tweeted on Wednesday of a legally blind Browns’ fan’s custom jersey.
9 Comments
Jaon Giambi seems to be getting a lot of big hits lately. As opposed to Mark Reynolds, who is a sorry excuse for a Major Leaguer right now. He needs to be benched, or at least moved down to 8th in the lineup. Right now he has no chance at the plate.
I think I do like dellavedova quite a bit. He’s not suited to be a scoring leader like he had to do in college but he’s tough with great size and smarts at the point guard position. If he can handle the ball well enough then I think he’ll be a solid backup when Kyrie goes down with needling injuries.
Brown seems to be in Grant’s ear first Bennett then Clark I wouldn’t be surprised about this guy either.
Reynolds is doing exactly what he has done almost his entire career this is why Baltimore let him walk and probably why the Indians only signed him for a year.
I hope those aren’t new Ohio State uniforms, ugh!
So, in June Giambi had the 2nd highest OBP on the team at .391 and the 4th highest OPS at .808 despite his BA of only .222. (which was better than Swisher, Reynolds, or Raburn) Even the YTD versions of those numbers are middle of the pack on this team. Other than this site, though, it appears nobody ever checks splits before making declarations about players. Hey, I’m not arguing that he’s a big offensive threat at this point in his career, or that he’s a multi-tool guy. He’s getting relatively few AB’s and only against RHP, and he can’t play in the field. He’s not a liability, though, and I’m skeptical that he can be easily upgraded. Plus, I think his leadership is more valuable than Boveroux is giving him credit for. It’s not about dispensing a few batting tips, or being a coach. It’s about supporting the young guys through their ups and downs over the course of the season and encouraging them, and doing so as a peer rather than as their boss.
Stats?
Reynolds from 2007-2012: 853 games, .235/.332/.475 with 9.9% XBH/PA and 32.6% K/PA
Reynolds in 2013 thru May 9th: 31 games, .291/.367/.645 with 13.3% XBH/PA and 25.0% K/A
Reynolds in 2013 since May 10th: 51 games, .182/.280/.256 with 2.5% XBH/PA and 35.0% K/PA
So yes, he’s been far worse of late. He was insanely good at the start of the season. As usual, his historical offensive numbers are toward the middle of the two insane extremes.
You complete me! 😉
Keep him around for his clubhouse presence unless the 25th man on this roster really makes that much of a difference. We’ve seen how these guys can lose it the last few years that alone is enough for me to not really care what Giambi is hitting.