Various Stuff on Cleveland Sports

 

As we wait for Opening Day in 13 days, here are some thoughts on Cleveland sports that have crossed our minds…

 

Baseball America had ten of its editors draft any ten players to build teams.  The players had to be current major or minor leaguers.  Four organizations had six players chosen:  Arizona, Boston, Oakland, and the Cleveland Indians.  The six players drafted from the Tribe organization were Grady Sizemore, Jhonny Peralta, Victor Martinez, C.C. Sabathia, Travis Hafner, and Andy Marte.  This is more proof the Indians have stocked their roster with impact players, and that Mark Shapiro is one of the best GM’s in the business.

 

LeBron James and the Cavaliers are very happy about yesterday’s one point win over the Los Angeles Kobes.  Why?  Shouldn’t a good team beat a .500 team at home?  The Lakers are fighting for their playoff lives and their resident genius coach will be happy to earn the eighth seed in the Western Conference.  James and the rest of the Cavs should expect a victory against a team like the Lakers.  This isn’t a good frame of mind if the wine and gold hope to win a series in the post season. 

 

Terry Pluto said he expects Brandon Phillips to win the Tribe’s utility infielder job to open the season, but we would be shocked if Phillips was in Chicago on April 2nd.  It doesn’t appear that the former Expo has the attitude that Eric Wedge and Shapiro want in their players, especially guys who come off the bench.  It says here that Phllips will be dealt to an NL team before the start of the season.

 

WKNR’s Kenny Roda had the VP of Direct TV on his airwaves last week so he could cry about the Indians demand for a higher cost for their new cable network.  The Tribe is trying to make money on this deal, so why is that a big surprise.  Roda had the guy on because a). he has the satellite service and he wants to watch the games, or b).  so he could have another reason to attack owner Larry Dolan.  Nothing like using the station for a personal agenda.

 

Heard a caller to Greg Brinda’s show on 850 say that perhaps the Cavaliers are just a .500 team without injured guard Larry Hughes.  The caller is right.  Losing a player who is close to being an All Star talent obviously has a great deal of impact.  Instead of criticizing Mike Brown, maybe it should be pointed out that Danny Ferry has to make the team deeper during the off season.  We are sure Ferry already recognizes this.

 

Tribe and White Sox on April 2nd.  The real first day of spring.

 

MW, KM, JK