While We’re Waiting … Ohio State’s new president

Cleveland sports fans are waiting. Thus, while we’re all waiting, the WFNY editors thought you might enjoy reading. Because you never know how long we might be waiting. So here are assorted reading goodies for you to enjoy. Send more good links for tomorrow’s edition to tips@waitingfornextyear.com.

Michael Drake, Chancellor at UC Irvine and member of the NCAA Board of Directors, has been named OSU’s new president: “Irvine’s been a constant presence in the top five of standings for the Division I-AAA All-Sports Trophy, awarded to the best postseason achiever among the country’s 95 Division I schools that do not compete in football. Irvine was No. 1 in 2007 and second in 2010 and 2011.” [Kyle Rowland/Eleven Warriors]

—

Detailed breakdown here on one of the bigger controversies of Drake’s tenure over at Irvine. It deals with the recent creation of the university’s Law School. [Matt Brown/Land-Grant Holy Land]

—

Kyrie ain’t leaving any time soon: “Fortunately for the Clevelanders this might be stressing out, there is no reasonable short-term path to free agency for Irving, even assuming Ford is dead-on accurate. This is totally a tempest in a tea kettle.” [Tom Ziller/SB Nation]

—

Really enjoyed this post on NBA fandom. Heck, the Cavs made me dragging me into the no-fandom-zone soon enough. “Every NBA writer has his or her favorite teams, and some writers are quite public about their present and past loyalties. But fandom, for me, was just an artifact of a past life. And if I’m being honest, it was almost something I’d come to attach a negative meaning to.” [Zach Lowe/Grantland]

—

Digging into the top of the Indians lineup: “For 56 times last year, Michael Bourn, Nick Swisher and Jason Kipnis hit one, two and three in the Indians order respectively. They were far from the most potent bunch in baseball, but they have given Cleveland a new look and a new identity offensively.” [Jim Berdysz/Indians Baseball Insider]

—

Details on the Tribe’s Winter Development program: “Fourteen Tribe prospects are in town for the program, in which they’ll hear from Tribe President Mark Shapiro, manager Terry Francona, ESPN journalist Buster Olney, Cavs General Manager Chris Grant, Sean Casey, Jason Giambi, St. Ignatius coach Chuck Kyle and a host of others on issues ranging from developing effective routines, being a good teammate, learning to win and handling media obligations.” [Joel Hammond/TribeVibe]

—

Was tipped over to this Baseball Prospectus excerpt about the Marlins because someone on Twitter quipped that this is like Cleveland fandom: “This would seem to be no way to think or talk about a team that has won two World Series in the last 16 years, but the Marlins are a unique organization, and the 2014 Marlins, for all the talent and promise on their roster—yes, even without Chris Valaika—are screwed in a uniquely Marlins way, and for some thoroughly Marlins reasons. The Marlins have one of the better farm systems in baseball, and several of its best players—2013 Rookie of the Year and precocious swaggy super-ace Jose Fernandez and outfielders Christian Yelich, Marcell Ozuna and Jake Marisnick—have already shown varying degrees of promise in the bigs. There is reason, in that sense, for hope, and even reason to think the Marlins might be an interesting team to watch.” [David Roth/Deadspin]

—

Looking into what the Rays and A’s might be up to this offseason: “Absolutely, it’s interesting that both the Rays and the A’s will spend so much on the bullpens, at least relatively speaking. But the more that I think about it, the less I think there’s something unusual to it. The less I think they’ve found something out about relievers. I think they’ve just stuck with trying to build the best teams possible, without sacrificing longer-term resources.” [Jeff Sullivan/FanGraphs]

—

You should definitely read through the finale of Breaking Madden. It’s phenomenal. [Jon Bois/SB Nation]

—

Finally, the Lake County Captains will host the Akron RubberDucks in an exhibition game on April 1. Baseball is almost here! [MiLB.com]