Needing a Veteran Coach/Manager

There is a scene in the baseball movie “Bull Durham” when the manager is perplexed as to what to do with his struggling team, and asks Crash Davis for his thoughts.

Davis tells him “scare them, they’re kids”.

Granted, the movie was set in the minor leagues, but it doesn’t take much to apply it to the professional sports teams in Cleveland, because the Indians, Browns, and Cavaliers are all very young compared to most of the squads in their respective sports.

The Tribe just let go of Manny Acta, a younger manager who didn’t seem to be an “old school” disciplinarian, and now GM Chris Antonetti is in the market for a new skipper, with Sandy Alomar Jr. and former Red Sox manager Terry Francona regarding as the leading candidates.

Pat Shurmur is a first time head coach, and seems to fit the profile of a players’ coach, not a person who is going to be tough on young players, educating them in the ways of being a professional football player.

Only the Cavaliers seems to have the “my way or the highway” leader in veteran NBA coach Byron Scott. Scott has established early and often that he’s the coach, and things will be done the method he prefers. If you don’t like it, you will play elsewhere. Ask J.J. Hickson.

Those coaches usually don’t have a long shelf life, because players get tired of the constant harping, and start to tune them out. Again, Scott is the prime example as although he had success in both New Jersey and New Orleans, he lasted just four years with the Nets and five with the Hornets.

But they are needed to teach and guide young players in the ways of being a professional.

With the Browns, Shurmur seems like a good man, but do the young players wearing the brown and orange fear him? That’s doubtful. Take the case of Greg Little, yes he is disappointed that he drop passes with the frequency other people blink, but when does the coach sit on him on the bench? Sometimes, a player has to understand that he won’t play unless he produces.

With the Tribe, Francona isn’t a Billy Martin type, but he would command respect based on winning two World Series with the Red Sox. He would be the first Indians manager with a resume of success since who knows when.

In fact, since 1960, the only coach/manager hired with a world championship in his background was Lenny Wilkens, who won a title with the Sonics in 1978-79.

Francona has been regarded as a players’ manager with the Sox, but he didn’t put up with Manny Ramirez’ antics when his contract was coming up, so he will put his foot down when he had to. He also developed several young players such as Dustin Pedroia, Kevin Youkilis, and Jacoby Ellsbury.

Perhaps a skipper who was tougher on players would insist that Asdrubal Cabrera would pay more attention to his craft and stay in better shape in the off-season, and would have consequences for players who seem to be happy to play, but don’t expect to win.

Joe Torre worked with the Yankees, but that group was mostly made up of veteran players, so an easy-going guy works better with players who have been around. He did break in Derek Jeter, but Jeter was very respectful of his manager and the older players probably guided him as well.

When new coaches are hired in Cleveland, the type of team they will be inheriting should be kept in mind by the front office.

Maybe it’s not scaring players, but it’s difficult for the person being the boss for the first time to be able to guide young players on how to be a pro.

Browns Can’t “Catch” a Win

There are no moral victories in the NFL, and as Bill Parcells once said, you are what your record says you are.

The Cleveland Browns are 0-4 on the season, and need a win in the worst way because they have to be frustrated with having a chance to win a football game and not being able to do so.

Last night in Baltimore, the Browns made one huge mistake, an interception by Brandon Weeden that Cary Williams returned 63 yards for a touchdown, and it cost them in a 23-16 loss.

That makes 10 consecutive losses for Pat Shurmur’s crew, accumulated over two seasons.

However, the area that stood out in the contest was the play of the Ravens’ wide receivers, particularly Anquan Boldin, who hauled in 9 passes for 131 yards, many of them contorting his body in different shapes to catch the ball.

Browns’ receivers? Not so much.

The same problem that haunted Colt McCoy last season, is plaguing Weeden as well. He isn’t able to throw the football and catch it downfield as well.

Trailing 23-13 in the fourth quarter, Weeden fired a pass down the middle to Greg Little in the end zone, a play that would have cut the Baltimore advantage to just three points with more than 12 minutes to play. Little had it go through his hands.

It wasn’t a routine play, but it was one that Ravens’ passer Joe Flacco’s receivers were making all night long. But, Little couldn’t come up with it.

It wasn’t the only ball dropped by Cleveland receivers during the game, simply the biggest.

Jordan Norwood, inactive for the first three games, saw his first action last night and dropped at least two passes. Not a good way to make sure you’ll get more playing time.

Despite all the drops, Weeden wound up 25 of 52 for 320 yards (his second 300 yard passing game in four weeks, Colt McCoy has one). He stood in the pocket and made strong throws most of the night. Even though he’s becoming a lightning rod like all Cleveland quarterbacks, he’s developing nicely.

Trent Richardson was impressive too, even though he had just 14 carries for 47 yards. He caught four more balls for 57 more yards.

Richardson is definitely a player defensive coordinators are planning for. Baltimore made its first priority to account for the rookie. When was the last time the Browns had a player like that.

The difference in the game was the Ravens’ wide receivers. They caught the ball and made plays, while the Browns’ pass catchers didn’t.

Defensively, Dick Jauron’s crew played valiantly. LB Craig Robertson, an undrafted free agent, continues to impress, intercepting a Flacco throw in the end zone, and making open field tackles on Ray Rice a couple of times.

The defense also put a lot of pressure on Flacco, sacking him four times. The line play was thought to be a question mark coming into the year, but they are getting to the quarterback frequently, and most of the time with four rushers.

And what can you say about Phil Dawson, who kicked three field goals of over 50 yards. If the Browns were contending for the playoffs, Dawson would most certainly get the Pro Bowl nod he richly deserves.

It hasn’t showed up in the standings yet, but this is definitely a better football team than last year’s squad.

Still, Shurmur and offensive coordinator Brad Childress need to put more points on the board. They’ve only scored more than 20 points once this season, and that doesn’t get it done in today’s NFL.

In fact, in the 52 games Shurmur has been the offensive coordinator (with the Rams) or head coach, his teams have scored more than 20 points just six times. It’s a disturbing trend.

Perhaps they could score more with receivers that hold on to the ball.

Tribe Needs to Start Over on Mound

When Larry Dolan bought the Cleveland Indians, he and his new GM Mark Shapiro made a statement that would change the direction of the franchise.

They were going to build the team around pitching.

How’s that working out for them?

In the last 11 seasons that Shapiro has run the organization, the Tribe has had a few dominant starting pitchers, including three Cy Young Award winners, two won with the Indians (C.C. Sabathia in 2007 and Cliff Lee in 2008), and one elsewhere (Bartolo Colon in 2005).

Since the trades of Sabathia and Lee for little return (that’s a subject for another day), the Tribe has struggled to find effective starting pitching.

A good way to find an effective starter is to look at his hits to innings pitched ratio and his strikeout to walk ratio. If they’ve allowed fewer hits than innings and struck out twice as many as they’ve walked, then they are good pitchers.

Since trading Lee in 2009, Cleveland has had just two pitchers accomplish this feat, both last season. They would be Justin Masterson and Josh Tomlin.

So, looking at 15 regular starters (five per year for three years), only two hurlers can be viewed as being solid starters.

Keep in mind that Tim Belcher was the Tribe pitching coach in 2011.

So, the Indians don’t have any pitchers that can throw strikes, and they don’t have anyone with good enough stuff to overcome that.

Going forward, would you blame the front office is they cleared the decks and brought it five new starting pitchers?

Masterson looks to have good stuff, and may be worth salvaging, but does he have the mental toughness to be a starter on a good team? Certainly his joking with Tigers’ slugger Miguel Cabrera after allowing a home run to him has to raise some eyebrows in the front office.

As for Ubaldo Jimenez, he’s another who doesn’t appear to be mentally tough enough to be a starter on a contender. Perhaps it is because his mechanics are a mess, so he’s lost confidence, but it’s tough to imagine putting him out on the mound 35 times next season.

Zack McAllister throws hard and for the most part is around the strike zone. He’s probably the only starter who should be in next year’s rotation for sure.

Carlos Carrasco also has a leg up if he’s healthy. Remember, he had a very good run last season before his elbow started to hurt, going 4-2 with a 1.90 ERA in June.

The sinker ball theory this organization has trotted out in recent years leaves too much room for error. Groundballs find holes, and if mixed with walks, allow runs to score.

If you make your living getting guys to hit the ball on the ground, you must have good control.

It’s another failed experiment for the Indians.

Shapiro and GM Chris Antonetti seem to run the Tribe as a 7th grade science project, trying different things that may cost less money and still allow the team to win.

You have to get pitchers who can strike people out. That’s a tried and true way to win baseball games.

Sure, you can have a sinkerball/control type pitcher who can win, but name pitchers like that who are good on a consistent basis.

Whether they get them in trades, or develop them in the draft, the pitching isn’t going to get better unless the front office gets some guys with swing and miss stuff.

Guys like Colon, Sabathia, and Lee.

It’s another case of the Indians’ organization selling the fans a bunch of fertilizer.

The Losing Keeps Continuing for the Browns

The Cleveland Browns were not ready for what the Buffalo Bills had in store for them this afternoon, and Pat Shurmur’s crew was quickly down 14-0 before the first quarter ended.

It was a hole they couldn’t dig all of the way out of, and the Browns fell to 0-3 with a 24-14 loss at Cleveland Browns Stadium.

Cleveland did have chances, but they fell back into their old habits, their usual way of defeat. That is they couldn’t run the ball, and the couldn’t stop the run.

The Browns caught a break when the NFL’s leading rusher, C. J. Spiller had to leave the game in the first quarter with a possible separated shoulder. Spiller had already taken a screen pass 32 yards for a touchdown to give Buffalo a 14-0 lead with the contest not quite 10 minutes old.

But Tashard Choice, the Bills third string running back, ran for 91 yards on 20 carries, as the visitors ran for more than 100 more than the home team’s total.

Trent Richardson gained just 27 yards for the game on 12 carries.

However, Buffalo came into the game with the intention of taking the rookie from Alabama away from Shurmur and offensive coordinator Brad Childress. At least the Browns can now say they have someone the defense has to respect.

That opened up the passing game for Brandon Weeden, and until the last two possessions of the game, he took advantage of it.

After his 22-yard touchdown pass to yet another rookie, WR Travis Benjamin late in the third quarter, Cleveland was very much in this game, trailing by only three at 17-14.

That was as close as they would come.

The Browns forced a three and out on the next Bills’ possession, but the offense couldn’t capitalize after picking up one first down, and gave Buffalo the ball back, and on the first play Choice slashed through the defense for 22 yards.

The defense had one more opportunity to hold the visitors to a field goal, but gave up an 11 yard gain on a bubble screen on third and nine. The Bills scored two plays later and the game was basically over.

After that, Cleveland made mistake after mistake with Weeden throwing two interceptions and a key holding penalty on C Alex Mack ending drives.

Another problem was wide receivers dropping passes. Greg Little dropped one near the end of the first half with at least 15 yards of real estate in front of him. It could have put Cleveland in a position to get a field goal heading into the locker room, closing the gap to 14-10.

And Benjamin dropped one on a 3rd and 19 with a lot of room in front of him in the third quarter.

Weeden finished hitting on 27 of 43 throws for 237 yards, with the TD toss and two interceptions. His longest completion was a bubble screen to Josh Cribbs for 24 yards, a play that wasn’t used again.

Say what you will about Cribbs, and his shortcomings at wide receiver, but when he’s on the field, he makes plays offensively.

Weeden’s only other completion over 20 yards was the touchdown pass. Other than that, he became a dink and dunk passer, taking what the Bills gave him. This is typical of the Shurmur offense.

Remember that Shurmur’s attack doesn’t score many points.

In his two years as St. Louis’ offensive coordinator, the Rams scored more than 20 points just four times. Last year, running the Browns’ attack, Cleveland scored over that mark just once.

After last week, that means the Shurmur offense has scored more than 20 points just six times in 51 games. That won’t win you too many contests in today’s NFL.

Until his young team can put up at least 21 points on a weekly basis, the Browns aren’t going to be successful.

The Browns have a short week with a divisional game against the Ravens on Thursday night, staring 0-4 right in the face.

When teams don’t win occasionally they forget how to win. That’s something the Browns have to overcome. They don’t do the little things that translate into wins. New owner to be, Jimmy Haslam can’t be impressed by what he sees.

Browns’ Fans: Change Bad

Yesterday, new Browns owner to be, Jimmy Haslam met with Cleveland City Council to discuss several matters.

If he could fix their problems, he might just be a solution to be President of the United States. Getting them to act requires more than a cattle prod.

However, the thing that has all Browns fans in an uproar now is Haslam’s comment around possibly putting a roof on Cleveland Browns Stadium.

All he said was that he was going to bring in some architectural firms to study the feasibility of covering the sacred field that the Browns play on.

What’s the big deal?

First of all, it would make the stadium more of a multi-purpose facility, one that can be used for more than 10 or 12 football games per year, and perhaps a concert or two.

That would be good for Cleveland (with apologies to Sam Rutigliano).

Imagine the possibility of having an NCAA Regional Basketball Tournament or even a Final Four in Cleveland. How about a Super Bowl?

Right now, those events are impossible for Cleveland to host.

There are other things that have to occur before our city can accommodate mega-events such as these, such as lack of hotel rooms. But the lacking of housing is moot without the building in place.

The other argument that holds merit is how would the roof be paid for. Obviously, since we live in one of the higher taxed areas in the country, it would be difficult for folks to take on another burden. That’s a debate for another time.

The issue here is the football fans squawking about playing in a domed stadium, and thereby taking the elements out of the game.

WHO CARES!

If it’s a retractable roof, then the Browns games can continue to be played outdoors, if that is somehow important.

Of course, you would have to replace the grass with field turf as well. The argument here is that the current field is a disgrace anyway. For having just a handful of games on it, it looks terrible.

Watching the Browns-Eagles game, the home opener, the grass already looked chewed up, and it’s only September.

Think about what it will look like after a few games played with moisture and other weather elements.

So, going to artificial turf, regardless of where the stadium has a roof or not would be an upgrade. There doesn’t seem to be enough of a soil base to grow grass effectively.

The point is this: In a vacuum, putting a roof on Cleveland Browns Stadium is a good idea, and Haslam and the city government should do their due diligence to see if it is feasible.

There’s nothing wrong with that, and nothing to get all upset about.

In fact, Browns fans should get used to the idea that change is coming. The new owner has promised that. Whether it is new design for the uniforms, a different design for the field, or a new website, change is coming.

Based on the recent past, why not?

Is Cleveland Media Too Soft?

There is no question that the relationship between professional sports teams and the media has changed.

Older writers talk about how former Browns’ coach Blanton Collier would sit down with them and explain the Xs and Os to the scribes who covered the team.

Can’t imagine Pat Shurmur doing that this week.

With the proliferation of cable television and 24 hours per day radio sports talk, management of sports teams have become very sensitive toward the folks who cover the game.

This is particularly true in football because there is a week between games to second, third, and fourth guess the coaching staff.

However, those coaches are also making a lot of money to put up with this “aggravation”.

Some cities are known for tough reporters who ask difficult questions. Most of those towns are located on the east coast.

Cleveland media people seem to have a good relationship with the Indians, Browns, and Cavaliers. The question is, should they?

If reporters are indeed finding out information for readers/viewers, in other words, the fans, are they doing their job?

Several circumstances recently beg for a tough question to be asked, especially when the front offices are trying to pull the wool over the eyes of the people who buy tickets.

With the Indians, it doesn’t seem that anyone ever asks why the team has had nine losing seasons in 11 years.

For example in yesterday’s Plain Dealer, Paul Hoynes answered a reader’s question on why the Indians did not call up OF Tim Fedroff by saying the Tribe wanted to give some at bats to Thomas Neal, who was also just called up from the minors.

Neal has 10 at bats right now, fewer than several veterans who will not be with the Indians after this season ends.

So, either the front office is full of crap, or someone else isn’t following through on the plan.

Many times the Indians management justify their moves with ridiculous arguments, but no one seems to question them, or at least it isn’t reported.

It is understandable that the beat writer doesn’t ask those questions, but that doesn’t get them off the hook. Are the guys coaching and managing in Cleveland so far above reproach that they can’t be quizzed?

The Browns and Indians each have a distinct style in dealing with the media.

The football team acts like it’s a chore to have to explain themselves, and Shurmur acts like a guy about to get an enema at a press conference.

Why? If you are secure in your convictions, then why not take the time to educate everyone on what is going on with the Browns.

The Indians are very open and friendly, but take the politician approach, answering questions with corporate phrasing and canning responses, never really answering what was asked.

The point is this: Reporters are allowed to ask tough questions, that’s their job. Players and management should answer tough questions, it’s their responsibility.

What has happened in recent years is that the participants have decided they don’t want to be bothered to answer to the public and so they growl at the media for asking.

It’s one thing if the question is personal or inflammatory. Those questions have no place in press conferences. However, inquiries about the game or strategy need to be answered.

Now, Cleveland just needs someone to ask them. When they aren’t answered, the respondent just looks foolish for avoiding the issue.

Browns Look Better in Most Areas, But Still Lose.

For those Browns’ fans who were panicked that GM Tom Heckert horribly screwed up last April’s draft, you can rest easier today. If you are coach Pat Shurmur, and your team is 0-2, you have to be concerned especially since you have a new boss.

And if you are Joe Haden, you have to feel like you let your team down because a porous secondary and a bad special teams play were the biggest deciding factors in a 34-27 loss to Cincinnati Sunday afternoon.

Usually, the formula that leads to a Cleveland defeat is that they can’t run the ball and can’t stop the run. That wasn’t the case today.

Rookie Trent Richardson showed why Heckert traded up to get him with his first 100 yard rushing game, getting 109 yards on 19 attempts and catching four passes for 36 more yards, scoring two touchdowns.

His fellow rook, QB Brandon Weeden put aside all the jokes about a 5.1 passer rating with a club rookie record 322 passing yards and two TD tosses, one to Richardson and the other to WR Greg Little. He had no turnovers after throwing four picks in his debut.

Meanwhile, the Bengals ran for just 80 yards on 25 carries, a 3.2 average per carry.

However, they didn’t need to run because they had so much success through the air.

The Cleveland secondary, minus their best player in Haden, allowed touchdown plays of 44 and 50 yards through the air, allowing Andy Dalton 318 yards passing.

The Browns leading tacklers for the game were CB Buster Skrine, CB Dimitri Patterson, and S T. J. Ward. What does that tell you? That Dick Jauron’s defense was making a lot of stop after Cincinnati receivers caught passes.

The defense did have six sacks and an interception (three of the former and the pick by MLB D’Qwell Jackson, who was excellent), but allowing the opponent’s QB to complete 24 of 31 throws equals a bad day in the aerial defense department.

Although Cleveland put pressure on Dalton most of the day, hence six sacks, they played very passively in coverage, allowing Bengal receivers an eight to ten yard cushion at the line of scrimmage. That allowed Dalton to hit short passes at will.

The key play of the game was probably the first one in which a Bengal player touched the ball. After one first down on the Browns first possession, Adam (Pacman) Jones took Reggie Hodges’ punt 81 yards for a touchdown. During the run, at least five Cleveland players’ had shots at Jones, but all missed.

It put the Browns in a hole they couldn’t get out off the rest of the day.

A couple of curious things should be questioned and both have to do with who was active for the game. Defensively, Sheldon Brown was active, but didn’t play. With the secondary struggling, couldn’t he and his experience helped a bit? And if not, should he remain on the roster.

Offensively, Brandon Jackson was not active in favor of Chris Ogbonnaya, who caught six passes for 73 yards in a third down back role, but fumbled ending a promising drive in the first half.

It was an odd game in that no statistic really stands out as to why Cleveland lost, but they did.

They outgained Cincinnati. The ran the ball better and stopped the run as well. The Bengals converted only 4 of 12 third downs, while the Browns did better, picking up 7 in 15 opportunities. The turnovers were even.

It really comes down to poor tackling defensively and on special teams.

The Browns showed improvement in a lot of areas in-game two, but now they need to convert that improvement into a victory. A home game next Sunday is a perfect chance for that.

Tribe Needs to Change, Not Overhaul

The rumors about the Cleveland Indians’ off-season are starting to fly fast and furious.

MLB Network contributor Jon Heyman reported that the Dolan family is growing disenchanted with manager Manny Acta, leading to speculation that he will be dismissed.

Another report has the Tribe willing to trade players such as Asdrubal Cabrera, Shin-Soo Choo, Justin Masterson, and Chris Perez.

Sound like a total rebuilding effort, doesn’t it? Wonder how that will play with a fan base already angry by this season’s turn of events.

Then again, it has also been reported that because people don’t show up at Progressive Field, the front office doesn’t feel the need to make major changes in the off-season.

Nice, huh?

The Indians don’t need to destroy everything this winter, but they do need to make major changes, particularly in the pitching staff.

In regards to trading Cabrera and Choo, GM Chris Antonetti (or whoever will hold that title) would basically be dealing their best two offensive players.

And if you do that, you must replace both of them with equally talented players if you plan on contending next season. Therefore, it makes no sense to trade either player, although the organization is scared silly about Choo’s impending free agency.

With Lonnie Chisenhall looking like he’s ready to assume the hot corner, the Indians need to get a solid right-handed bat to play 1B or LF, and they will have improved the offense greatly.

Part of the problem this season was the five decent hitters the team has hit in the top five spots in the batting order. A couple would get on base, and the dreadful sticks in the 6-7-8-9 slots would come up and make outs.

That why a good team needs at least seven good hitters in the lineup. The Tribe does need to add some power, because you need to score every once in a while by getting one hit, a home run.

As for the pitching staff, the bullpen should be fine, even if you trade Chris Perez, but not because he blasted management, but because you have Vinnie Pestano, who can close.

The one area the Cleveland farm system has some prospects in relief pitching with guys like Scott Barnes, C.C. Lee, Cody Allen, Tyler Sturdevant, etc. ready to help the big league club.

As for the starting rotation, keep Zack McAllister and feel free to get rid of everyone else.

Justin Masterson has a good arm, but doesn’t have the demeanor to be a top of the rotation starter. Ubaldo Jimenez has a $6 million option for next year, but you can get someone more reliable than him for that money.

Roberto Hernandez? Goodbye.

Jeanmar Gomez and Cory Kluber can compete for spots in the ’13 rotation at spring training. But you have to go out and get at least one proven arm and more prospects.

And hope than Carlos Carrasco can come back from Tommy John surgery.

That’s where the GM should concentrate his efforts. The Indians rank last in the AL in ERA, a major reason for why they are where they are.

The other thing that must change is the total passiveness of the organization. Some players deserve patience, such as Chisenhall.

If he hitting .230 in the middle of May, the manager has to keep writing his name in the lineup.

If a borderline veteran isn’t doing the job, he has to be replaced instead of carrying them around all season long.

It may seem crazy to say this after the incredible losing skein the Indians have been on, but they do not need a total rebuild.

The pitching staff is in need of dire repair, but other than that, it’s the philosophy of the organization that needs the biggest facelift.

They have to stop being afraid. They need to get over their fear of young players, big contacts, and aggressiveness.

Until that happens and they upgrade the talent, firing Manny Acta will have little or no effect.

Evaluating the Tribe (Part 2)

Last week, we looked at the infielders for the Cleveland Indians. An extra week to evaluate the outfielders wasn’t needed because nothing new has been learned.

However, here is where the lack of decision making in the Tribe front office is killing the organization: Manny Acta needs to know if he will be here for sure or not, because it looks like he’s managing for his job in 2013.

He should be playing guys like Russ Canzler (he is in this case), Cord Phelps, Thomas Neal, and Lonnie Chisenhall as much as possible to find out if they can be contributors to next year’s edition of the Tribe.

Instead, we continue to see Casey Kotchman, Jack Hannahan, and Ezequiel Carrera.

Anyway, here is a look at the outfielders and catchers–

You can make a very good argument that Shin-Soo Choo is the Indians’ best hitter. He hits for average (.282), takes a lot of walks (62, second on the team), and hits for power (his 54 extra base hits lead the team).

The problem is he has Scott Boras as an agent, and the Tribe doesn’t like to pay players a lot of money.

They should in this case, especially on a three or four year deal, which would take the right fielder to age 34.

If the Indians were a contending ballclub, baseball writers from all over the country would be saying what a very good player Choo is.

Coming into the season, Michael Brantley was regarded as a question mark. He has answered that he can be a productive starter in the big leagues.

He needs to walk a little more and at just 25 years of age, he will continue to get stronger, which means he will get more extra base hits (he has 46 on the year).

He’s not a leadoff hitter and he’s not a clean up hitter either. He probably should hit 6th or 7th down the line. He should be firmly entrenched in centerfield in the Indians’ future.

Now for leftfield. Yuck! The Tribe needs to get someone, anyone, who can play the position on a regular basis. That’s why Neal should be playing there right now.

There are no real prospects on the horizon either, unless someone else is moved to the spot in 2013. Which is where Phelps comes into play. If he can hit, and he’s had an OPS above 800 in AAA each of the last two years, perhaps he can play left.

Yes, the irony isn’t lost here. Jason Kipnis was an outfielder in college and was moved to 2B.

If no one is found internally, the front office needs to find a proven hitter to put in this spot. Preferably, this guy needs to be a right-handed stick.

Carlos Santana has had a disappointing season, but he will still probably end up leading the Indians in home runs and RBIs. He’s not a great defensive catcher, but he’s good enough.

The coaching staff needs to stress to him that he’s better off not swinging for the fences. The Tribe would be better off with him hitting .275 and 20 home runs.

He also walks a ton. If he hits for a better average, he could be one of the American League’s best hitters.

Anyone who thinks the Tribe can move Santana to 1B or LF and have Lou Marson be the regular catcher are delusional. If that were to occur, these same people would be looking for a better hitting backstop around mid May 2013.

Marson simply cannot hit right now. He has a better on base percentage than slugging percentage. He’s a good reserve and an outstanding defensive catcher.

A team that need hitting can’t afford the luxury of playing Marson every day.

So, the reality is this: The Cleveland Indians need to find a 1B, DH, LF before next season. This is nothing new.

Still, they need to evalute the bench as well. They need a quality fourth outfielder and a better utility infielder too.

Next week, we’ll look at the pitching staff.

Browns Start 2012 With Another Close Loss

When you come down to it, the Cleveland Browns lost their first game of the season to the Philadelphia Eagles in a most predictable way. They couldn’t run the ball when it counted, and they couldn’t stop the run either.

You could make the argument that if Eagles’ coach Andy Reid had not been so stubborn about throwing the football, the visitors would have won rather easily.

Philadelphia averaged five yards per carry running the football, yet had QB Michael Vick throw the ball 56 times. His four interceptions kept the Browns in the game, and his last resulted in a touchdown return by LB D’Qwell Jackson which gave Cleveland a 16-10 lead.

The Browns ran for 99 yards and a 4.5 per carry average, but here is where statistics are meaningless. 35 yards came on a double reverse by rookie WR Travis Benjamin and 25 more came on QB Brandon Weeden’s 25 yard scamper as the first half ended. On the other 2o attempts to run to ball, Cleveland gained just 49 yards.

After the pick which gave the Browns the lead, the Eagles ran for 44 of the 52 yards they gained to set up a field goal try of 45 yards, which Alex Henery missed giving the home team the ball back with a six point lead on their own 35 yard line and 9:01 remaining in the game.

It was time to run some time off the clock and shorten the game, but in the end Cleveland could only run about two and a half minutes off the timer, and gave Philadelphia and all their weapons the ball back with over six minutes left.

Cleveland ran two running plays and a short pass to pick up one first down, but on the next play, rookie RB Trent Richardson was stuffed for a one run loss, and then Weeden threw two incomplete passes, which of course stopped the clock.

The Eagles then converted the next drive for a touchdown with 1:18 remaining and it took only one play for Weeden to throw his fourth interception of the game and seal the deal for Philly.

The rookie passer has a dreadful day, hitting just 12 of 35 throws for 118 yards, and could not get Cleveland into the end zone.

Of the four pick offs, two were bad. The one that virtually ended the game, and a deep sideline route for his third turnover.

The first was a beautiful throw that WR Greg Little couldn’t hold in the red zone, and the second was a deep throw on third and ten which amounted to nothing more than a punt.

The rookie did fumble twice, which is beginning to be worrisome. He simply has to hold on to the football.

And he was overthrowing a lot. He missed several wide open targets because passes were fired ten yards over their heads.

Richardson had his moments, like when he ran over Philadelphia S Kurt Coleman, resulting in the Eagle’s helmet flying off, but it was curious that offensive coordinator Brad Childress never had the rookie running wide all day. Pretty much all of his carries were between the tackles.

Several people have hammered on Pat Shurmur about not going for two after Jackson’s TD and make it a 17-10 game. However, you can’t assume they will get the two points. If it fails, the score is 15-10, and a touchdown alone beats you. Plus, the Eagles then would have definitely gone for two, which would have meant a field goal would send the game to overtime.

Defensive coordinator Dick Jauron deserves credit for a great game plan, and S T.J. Ward and CB Joe Haden had fine games. Ward caused a fumble and Haden had an interception, both of which resulted in Phil Dawson field goals.

And rookie free agent LBs, L. J. Fort and Craig Robertson both had interceptions as well. Guess the coaching staff was right in not being worried about playing either guy.

The Browns almost won, and losing another close game is tough to swallow. However, remember this team has 15 rookies and nine second year players. They will no doubt get better, and Weeden will play better next week.

As much as it is difficult, you have to keep the big picture in mind.