February 22, 2012

While we’re waiting… Reviewing the Tribe’s Offseason, Stinkfest in Columbus, Browns and the New Cap Rules and Eyenga Passes Diop

February 12, 2012 By 2 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.

I’m somewhat amused that the Tribe added Derek Lowe because of his durability… and then brought back Grady Sizemore. “[Lowe's] durability is what intrigued Antonetti. With the Braves accepting to pay $10 million of Lowe’s $15 million contract, the front office saw the move as a low risk-high reward type of deal.

“We feel like we were able to add a quality, durable Major League starter to our rotation; a guy who’s pitched 180 or more innings every year since 2002,” Antonetti said. “He has demonstrated durability. He has pitched on some very good teams, and we feel he has a leadership ability that could rub off on some of our starters.”

The Indians’ biggest offseason decision came when the front office decided to decline its $9 million option on outfielder, and fan-favorite, Grady Sizemore. For years, Sizemore had been one of the faces of the Cleveland Indians franchise, but multiple injuries had derailed the former star’s career. The $9 million option was too much for a small market team like Cleveland to pay for a player that came with a number of risks.

However, on November 23rd in a somewhat surprising move, Sizemore officially re-signed with the Indians on a one year, $5 million contract, plus performance incentives that could make the contract worth up to the $9 million he would have made had his option been exercised.” [Indians Prospect Insider]

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Filed Under: Featured, General

Cavs Blow Multiple leads, Fall to Bucks in OT. Varejao Sprains Wrist

February 11, 2012 By 5 Comments

It’s common to say that the NBA is a league of runs but Friday was pretty ridiculous.

The first quarter set the tone for the rest of the night. The Cavs jumped out to a 17-2 in the first five minutes (Omri Casspi had 9 early points!) but ended up trailing after the first period.  They gave away 5 points in the final four seconds of the first half (turning a 9 point lead to just four). Thanks to Antawn Jamison’s 18 point third period, the Cavs built a 10 point advantage and led by 8 heading into the fourth.  The lead slowly slipped away over the course of the fourth period (who knew that a five of Sessions-Gibson-Eyenga-Samuels-Thompson isn’t that good defensively?). But even without Irving and Varejao, the Cavs still had a chance to win the game in regulation. With three seconds left and the game tied at 102, Jamison (who’s season high 34 point kept the Cavs in the game without Kyrie Irving and Anderson Varejao) missed two free throws that could’ve (and should’ve) ended it.

Former Cavalier Drew Gooden scored 6 points in overtime (including the two free throws to seal it), finishing with 19 points and 6 boards (plus it was Gooden’s foul that knocked out Varejao early in the third), Brandon Jennings had 24 points and 8 assists and Bucks sneaked out of Cleveland with a 113-112 victory.

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Filed Under: Cavaliers, Featured

While we’re waiting… Players You Love To Hate, All-Star Statements, Anderson’s Long Term Health and a Chart

February 11, 2012 By 3 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.

 

Why don’t more NBA coaches vote for role plays for All-Star reserves?  - “The All-Star game is an exhibition game. It doesn’t count. It’s not a competition. It’s show business. I get that. But it’s also a 48-minute infomercial on the NBA. On basketball. On how to play the game. The right way.

At least that’s what it should also be. But it’s not. The NBA All-Star game is mostly just treated for what it is: An all-expenses paid weekend of glamour, preening and ego-stroking for 24 players and their posses.

What I don’t get is all the NBA coaches, who constantly search for a hard-working, unselfish, team-first, winning player — and then moan about it when they can’t find or don’t have one — totally ignoring the importance of that kind of player when it’s time for them to select the reserves for the All-Star team.” [Ingraham/News Herald]

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Filed Under: Featured, General Tagged With:

On Sports Hate

January 15, 2012 By 21 Comments

I really enjoy Bill Simmons’ podcasts. They make for a great way to kill time on my commute or while running. I dig his shtick with Cousin Sal and I love the NBA stuff with Marc Stein and Ric Bucher. However, my favorites are the ones where he talks to someone from outside of the sports arena, interviews with Patton Osawlt or Louis CK really fascinated me and I can’t recommend those enough (yes, I’m telling you how I enjoy ESPN’s most popular podcast. I’m always finding those diamonds in the rough).

Anyways, I was listening to Simmons’ most recent podcast with Flea, the bassist from the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and they got on the subject of Sports Hate. Flea, a huge Lakers fan, talked about how he absolutely loathes the Celtics; how hating the Celtics is a ‘pure’ hate and that that hate is one of the reasons why he enjoys sports as much as he does. He also talked about that the only time he’s rooted for the Celtics was when they faced LeBron and the Heat.

I found this interesting. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Featured, General

While We’re Waiting… Tribe Signs LeBron, Michael Jordan’s HS Coach, and Cavs at the 1/6 mark

January 15, 2012 By 2 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.

Get it?! His last name is LeBron! Irony! No, not THE LeBron as in LeBron James. Instead, the Cleveland Indians announced the signing of three players to minor league deals Friday, including right-hander Willy Lebron, who used to pitch in the Kansas City Royals system and for the World Cup team of the Dominican Republic. Lebron, who is 32 years old, struck out 72 with a 3.02 ERA in 65 innings between Double-A and Triple-A in 2011. He also has a mysterious three-season gap in his playing career from 2002-2004.

Might he have been practicing his free throws during this time?

Not only is Indians’ GM Chris Antonetti risking a fan revolt by bringing Lebron back to Cleveland, but the guy wears No. 19 — same as late Hall of Famer Bob Feller. Is there no length to which The King will go to irritate Ohio? [David Brown/Big League Stew]

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Filed Under: Featured, General

Cavs fall to Lakers, 97-92

January 14, 2012 By 7 Comments

It was Irving's fourth consecutive game with 20 or more points

What a difference a year makes, eh?

I’m not one for moral victories and at the end of the season, a 5 point loss counts the same as a 55 point loss, but it was nice to watch this young Cavs squad compete for the full 48 minutes against Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers.

And compete they did.

Kyrie Irving, a night after scoring a career high 26 in a win in Phoenix, finished with 21 points and 4 assists and Anderson Varejao pitched in 11 points and 14 rebounds (not to mention numerous hustle plays) but the Cavs, who trailed by as many as 19, could never get closer than three down the stretch. Cleveland had no answer for that Kobe Bryant guy (42 points, his third straight 40 point performance) and big man Pau Gasol had a ‘quiet’ 19 point and 10 boards.

The Cavs, playing their sixth game on their seven game road trip, trailed by 18 at halftime (59-41) and could’ve easily folded. However, Alonzo Gee’s baseline dunk (Gee’s only field goal) late in the third cut the Laker lead to just 12 heading into the final period. The Cavs’ effort carried into the fourth, as the Lakers started the quarter by missing their first eight field goal attempts and the Cavs were a couple of Boobie Gibson treys from making the game really interesting. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Cavaliers, Featured Tagged With: , , , , ,

Colts Win Puts Draft-Obsessed Fans In Their Place

December 23, 2011 By 42 Comments

Last night the Indianapolis Colts took Andrew Luck’s name out of everyone’s mouth for just a minute.  They came back in the fourth quarter (in an admittedly horribly officiated game) to beat the Houston Texans 19-16.  That ties the Colts in the win column with the St. Louis Rams and Minnesota Vikings at two.

For most of this season everyone has associated Andrew Luck with Peyton Manning and the Colts because most thought the Colts had a good chance to go full Detroit and not win a game this year.  I know I’m going to take some heat for this opinion and “talking down” to some fans out there, but this is just perfect justice for smug fans who want to sit back and tell competitive professional athletes in this nation’s most popular game that they should throw games for draft status.  I don’t mean to be condescending, but it just goes to show how hard it is for me to ever  understand how an organization can ever expect to be good if they entertain the thought of tanking. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Browns, Featured Tagged With: , , , ,