cwinschris – CLEVELAND WINS !

Things To Be Thankful For About Cleveland Sports Now

While you enjoy your turkey (or whatever tradition you have), here are a few thoughts on what I am thankful for this year as a Cleveland Sports Fanatic.

1. Lebron Coming Home

Obviously the story of the summer, LeBron coming back to the Cavs makes them relevant again. He also lifts the region in so many ways that are well documented and don’t need to be spoken of here. Watching our team and expecting them to win again is something definitely to be thankful for.

A Browns coach that gets us

Since Mike Pettine took over as the head coach of the Browns he has begun to change the culture of our football team. He has the team at 7-4 and no one will ever know how much difference the press conference after the first Steeler game made. Instead of praising a moral victory he clearly stated that losing was not acceptable. This set the tone for the Brown’s season. The team has had ups and downs but is “in the hunt” for the first time in a long time.

3. Terry Francona

Terry since he has been the Indians manager has pushed the talent that he has been given and has gotten more out of them than any other manager could. He has done it with class, humility and humor. If the players on our team can step up and perform at their career average levels the team has tremendous potential.

Ping Pong balls

Cleveland fans should petition to make ping pong the state sport after the plastic orbs fell correctly to give the Cavs the #1 pick this summer. Obviously the Cavs parlayed that into Kevin Love, who as he finds his way with his new team, will become a key cog for the Cavaliers championship machine.

The National Media’s Love Affair with Johnny Manziel

Cleveland fans should be thankful for several reasons. It gave the Browns some preseason love in a disappointing Indians summer (except every 5^th day when CY Kluber pitched.) He made Brian Hoyer come in more prepared (even though it didn’t look like it in the preseason.) Also, he has made #BrownsTwitter much more interesting during Browns games when Hoyer has struggled. We all wait to see what he will do on the field, but he sure has spiced up all Cleveland Browns discussions.

Corey Kluber

The Cy Young award winner was fun to watch all summer and made every 5^th day of the baseball season must see television. We were able to have fun with his lack of outward emotion and his stoic facial expressions. Who would ever forget the sunflower seed shower? If I make this a yearly post I should be able to write this one in until 2018.

7. Kyrie Irving Learning How to Play

It kind of started when he became the MVP of the NBA All Star Game and has become much clearer as this summer evolved. His play on the USA team began to unlock his full potential defensively and allow him to more effectively pick his spots on offense. It seems that has carried over to this season. Good for us!!!!! He is only 22!

8. Michael Brantley

He was an inspiration this year to all Indian fans as he took on the challenge of simply being the best player on the field for the Tribe. As he drove toward a near AL MVP season, he remained calm and cool under pressure. Very rare for a young player who had just signed a huge contract extension.

9. Kevin Love

Although not showing how dominant he can be quite yet, it was refreshing to see another NBA star coming to Cleveland. He gave no indication that he intended to leave after this year and he gives the Cavs one third of a nucleus that may be unmatched.

10. David Griffin

No one gives him any credit for putting the Cavaliers together because LeBron came home. And, to a degree, that is true. But in the early hours of free agency, he was able to ink Kyrie to a long term contract that set the tone for the entire off-season. His ability to persuade Shawn Marion to take far less to play for Cleveland also cannot be minimized. Yes, LeBron had a strong hand in all of this but Griffin and Blatt had plotted the course long before LeBron actually signed.

This is my top 10, but I am sure you have your own. Feel free to leave your comments on what you are thankful for in Cleveland Sports.

Unfinished business: Cleveland Indians with a ton to prove

Our team goes into the 2014 season coming off of a playoff (yeah I know it was one game but that’s the system) appearance, a surprising 10 game run at the end of the season and an off-season of more losses than gains. The baseball world is only focused on the losses in the off-season. Ubaldo is gone and so is Scott Kazmir. Joe Smith is an Angel. Our biggest acquisition David Murphy is a veteran but the excitement of the winter of 2012-2013 is gone. It is easy to predict that the Indians will not beat out Detroit for the tops in the division but most predictors have the Royals finishing a close second and our Tribe taking third.

This team has to love the position they are in. No one outside of the city expects anything out of them. The fans always have high expectations and as you listen to the team talk this spring training they feel like they are ready to make a run as well. If the talent on this team shows through, the Indians will make a run and potentially beat out the Tigers for the division.

Without question the starters performed above expectations last season. Ubaldo came back to his early 2010 self, Kazmir had a rebirth, however more importantly the young pitchers performed very well. A rotation of Masterson, Kluber, McAllister, Salazar and (insert 5^th starter here) is not going to be tops in the league but will be more than serviceable. All the pitchers have swing and miss stuff and have had success in the big leagues. More importantly, the entire group has something to prove. Masterson wants to show he deserves Homer Bailey level money. The younger guys are trying to establish themselves as staples in the big leagues. Kluber, McAllister, Salazar and the rest should all have the fire in their belly to make everyone to forget about Ubaldo and Kazmir.

The bullpen was the weakness of the club last season. This season, if Axford can anchor the bullpen and be the reliable closer he can be the bullpen has a shot of being back near the top. Pestano will make a huge difference as well. Allen and Shaw will have to duplicate or improve on their performance from last year. Again, this group is just young enough to have that desire to prove to everyone that they belong. Will that be enough to cement games in the end? Only time will tell.

The lineup is my biggest place of hope. This offense will continue to get better. Carlos Santana not being behind the plate will not only help the team defensively but Carlos hits 40 points higher when he is not behind the plate. The wear and tear and the mental preparation that catching requires obviously effects Carlos’s offense as well. This year as the 3B/DH he should be able to stay strong and hit for a higher average. Swisher, Bourn and Cabrera all performed below their career statistics. However, they somehow were able to finish 5^th in the AL in runs scored. Yes, the Tribe lacks the 40 HR guy in their lineup but all of the players in the lineup mesh together very well.

The secret ingredient in all of this is the near miss last year and the lack of respect that this team is getting nationally. I don’t think it is something that will ever come up with the media but behind closed doors this team has to be excited about everyone overlooking them. The talent is there and so is the depth. The leadership on and off the field is there. Now, the time has come for the Indians to get everyone talkin’ Tribe.

An open letter to Cleveland Indians Fans

An Open Letter to Tribe Fans

May 20, 2013

Dear Indians Fan,

Hey our team is in first place! I know what you are thinking, “We’ve done this the past two years and have fallen flat on our faces. It is just going to happen again. I’ll wait until August and September to see if they can keep it up.” Well, what if I could convince you that this isn’t a mirage and that the team will stay this competitive for the rest of the year. Would you catch the Indian Fever now and get down to the ballpark for this series with the Motor City Kitties? I’ll do my best!

The biggest strength of this club is the offense. “What?!? I thought our bullpen was our best asset!” I love our bullpen, but after watching 40 games I’m on board with this offense. Yes, they strike out a lot, but they also walk a ton. They are top ten in both categories. (10^th in Ks and 8^th in walks). They are #1 in OPS, 7^th in AVG, and 2^nd in HR. Why the offensive explosion? The lineup is full of guys who have been there and done that. In the past we were always hoping that guys would live up to their potential. This group has a track record, we know what to expect from them and they have expectations for themselves. Instead of the pressure of trying to make a name for themselves, they just go out and play the game. Also, the lineup is versatile. It has more interchangeable parts than this guy. Michael Brantley has hit just about everywhere in the lineup. Aviles has played all over the diamond. While Giambi is hitting .188 he has 12 RBI in 48 AB. Swisher was brought in to play first and filled in out in right field when Bourn went down. They have dealt with injuries beautifully and have continued to build continuity.

The question mark is and always has been starting pitching. It seems to me that this coaching staff has done outstanding work building this group up and working out some of the kinks. Ubaldo has been very good for the past 3 weeks. He has stayed in control of his mechanics and is PITCHING instead of throwing. (The rose must be in the front.) Masterson looks, sounds and has been pitching like a true ace. McAllister is developing a pitch (split/change) at the Major League level and has looked darn good doing it. Kluber struggled against the Tigers but so do most fifth starters. Kazmir other than his hiccup today is doing the job we want him to do. Now the biggest question is “Will this hold up?” I say it does. The bullpen has struggled lately but I will still take it against anyone. Best part is, it hasn’t cost us a game yet.

“Thanks for the info but you still haven’t sold me on why I should believe.” Ok I’ve been holding this card until the end but it looks like you are forcing my hand. Terry Francona. That’s it. He is a World Series champion manager. He has been there, done that and know how to get it done. He does a lot of little things behind the scenes that make the difference in this ball club. He refuses to look ahead. He won’t even throw the media a quote to put in their paper about the upcoming stretch of baseball. He gets his staff to the ballpark early on a getaway day in Philly to set the tone. He never panicked early on when Kipnis and Cabrera were struggling. He hasn’t overreacted to big days from the bench guys and rode their hot streak into the ground. He hasn’t run the same reliever out there no matter what the situation. He has shown trust in his players and I think after this stretch it is time to trust our team!

There are a ton of reasons to stay home. This, cheaper food and also this are great reasons. But come on, for one night get down to the park, stand and cheer for your team and be a part of the ride. Enjoy the good times while there here and get ready for an Indian Summer!

CWinsChris

@cybelieves

The Cavs hired Mike Brown? What’s not to like?

The Cavs hiring Mike Brown less than one week after they fired Byron Scott is going to raise a lot of eyebrows. This move seems to me in reading the initial reaction from fans to be relatively polarizing. The number of jokes has been overwhelming. The ridiculous discussion of what this does to the Cavs’ chances at securing that guy from Miami in 2014 has already started. What is missed in the sea of jokes and speculation is what this does for our basketball team. Mike Brown already has the job but let me make a case for him.

You win with defense!

The Cavs have been a terrible defensive team. They have been in the bottom 5 in the league in defensive efficiency in the past 3 years. The biggest reason for that is the team on the floor. The Cavs are young and do not have an elite defender on the perimeter. Alonzo Gee is well above average but I don’t have him in the class of lockdown defender. Kyrie Irving can’t stay with the best point guards in the league. Those facts are not on the coach. However, even with the Lakers roster in 2011-2012, Mike Brown had that team in the middle of the pack in defense. Maybe I’m missing something, but that does not seem like a great defensive team. Mike Brown has proven he can coach defense and I think that he will continue to do that. Our schemes against pick and roll and defending the three point line have been awful and will get better with Mike Brown. He will DEMAND defense from this team, something that hasn’t happened lately. Will this Cavs team be a top 5 defensive team like it was twice during his first tenure? I don’t think we have the talent but if we finish in the bottom 5 again we made the wrong choice.

Brown is a tireless worker

I’m not around the Cavs on a daily basis but everything I read and hear is that Mike Brown is the type of coach that gets there early and stays late. He started as a video coordinator which means he knows how to break down film and spends the time to do it. He will get the most out of the young players as he did with Daniel Gibson and Sasha Pavlovic in spurts the first time around. He took a team with Eric Snow at point guard to the Finals. Yes, everything is easier with the ultra-star LeBron, but if you look at this team does it scream Finals to you? He should foster our core’s growth and be able to build the veterans around into a playoff team.

Does Brown have questions to answer on offense? Yes. He needs to pick a scheme and work it to perfection. Does Brown have to prove his ability to handle a superstar? Yes. If you point at how LeBron didn’t “listen” to him you should point at the entire organization. Arguably the two biggest deficits the Cavs have in regards to coaching are being addressed with Mike Brown, a coach who has been to the finals. He will should take this young energetic team and put that energy to work on defense which will allow our athletes to run the floor. I for one am on board with the hiring and think that this team will get better quickly.

Is this the worst time in Cleveland sports history?

After the past week of the Cavs firing Byron Scott as head coach (which was probably the right move…we won’t talk about that now though), Jimmy Haslam’s primary business being raided by the FBI, and the revamped Tribe reverting to 2012 habits a pressing question developed in my mind. Is this the worst time in Cleveland sports history? None of our teams have made the playoffs since the Cavs in 2010 and all of us remember that summer. So by the numbers it is time to take a look.

Cavs

Last year’s record: 24-58 .293

Franchise worst record: 15-67 .183 (Twice: 70-71 and 81-82)

Last three years: 64-166 .278

Franchise worst three years: 66-180 .268 (80-81 through 82-83)

Last playoff appearance: 2010 Loss in Eastern Conference semis 4-2 to Boston

Current State of the team: The team was decimated in 2010 by Lebron’s delayed departure. Not only did it not give the team time to replace him but he left the team that had done everything to build around him. GM Chris Grant hired Byron Scott before the announcement and they began to stockpile draft picks, cap room and other draft picks. They decided to rebuild from the bottom. I’m not sure the team realized how far down the bottom really was but they are down there now. The team was not fun to watch for the last 2 months. With that being said they have a young core of Irving, Thompson, Waiters and Zeller. They have 2 first round picks and two high second round picks this summer to either deal or continue to build.

Browns

Last year’s record: 5-11

Franchise worst record: 2-14 (1999)

Last three years: 14-34

Franchise worst three years: 12-36 (1999-2001)

Last playoff appearance: 2002 Wild Card loss to Steelers

Current state of the team: After two years of “battling” by coach Pat Shurmur the Browns have moved on and hired Rob Chudzinski to lead the team forward. The Browns have a 2^nd year quarterback that will turn 30 during the upcoming season. They are switching offensive and defensive schemes which no matter what the players say during mini-camps won’t be easy. With all of those changes and question marks on the field they have the added pressure of their owner’s issues with the FBI. I don’t think it will be a distraction but with a brand new regime running the show the pressure of doing everything right on and off the field is huge.

Indians

Last year’s record: 68-94 .420 (off to a 5-10 start this season)

Franchise worst: 51-102 .333 (1914)

Last three years: 217-269 .446

Franchise worst three years: 205-281 .421 (1985-1987)

Last playoff appearance: 2007 lost in ALCS to Boston 4-3

Current state of the club: The Indians are in the best shape in my opinion. They have a proven World Series winner at manager in Terry Francona. They have a group of young players that they control for the next several years and veterans. They locked up a lead-off and clean-up hitter for the next 4 years in the off-season As this fan base knows however you win with pitching and the Indians rotation is very suspect. They play Vegas with Ubaldo once every 5 days, Myers can’t keep the ball in Yellowstone right now and we are relying on Masterson, McAllister and Kazmir to win every start just to stay afloat.

Well numbers wise it may not be the worst time for each individual team but has there ever been a harder time to answer the question: Which team will win a championship first? I don’t think ever have all three teams been in such disarray. The Cavs might be closest with their talent and assets. The Indians might be closest with their on the field leadership and solid core of players. The Browns might be closest if their quarterback’s “experience” shines and Chud is the second coming of Vince Lombardi. I just can’t wait for this website’s name to be the truth!

Who do you think will be the first to get there. Tweet me your answers @cwins_chris.