Observations

It's been awhile since I published something tangible about all of my sports teams, so here goes:

Observations about the Indians from the Columbus stop of their press tour:
1. Andy Marte is A LOT smaller in person than I thought he was:

He's not a very tall dude, and truth be told when he walked out for his introduction, holmes looked like he'd spent a bit too much time at the buffet this off-season. But, when he took off his coat as we approached the autograph table, you can tell he's fairly cut, if not fairly tall.

2. Every woman in Ohio (and perhaps beyond) would like to have freaky monkey sex with Grady Sizemore. I'm not going to knock the kid. He's got a pretty good life right now. Couple that in with the fact that we got he and Cliff Lee for the artist formerly known as Bartolo Colon (whom we wouldn't have been able to re-sign anyway), and Shapiro gets a little pat on the back. Robbery.


3. Eric Wedge is actually not hard to listen to. Charlie Manuel, I'm glaring in your direction. In all seriousness, the guy can command your attention when he talks, he actually knows his shit and will admit that the Tribe was pretty bad in the bullpen last year, and I have some confidence that he's really not a bad manager. I mean, if YOU had to pick from all of those pitchers to close out a game, who would you have picked?

The only time I really thought he bristled at a fan's question was the insinuation that his team had no chance with platoons at three positions (I must admit, I don't like the idea, especially when it robs at-bats from Ryan Garko). I don't think Eric likes nerdy fans who think they know more about baseball than him. Just a hunch.

4. It was really hard not to punch Bruce Hooley in the face. OK, so this has nothing to do with the Tribe, but I was five feet away from him, and contemplated getting out of the autograph line I'd stood in for about 90 minutes *just* to give Bruce a Dr. Martens to the nuts.

5. I feel bad for Tom Mastny. He's on the press tour with Grady Sizemore and Andy Marte, and they made him sign autographs AFTER those two. People were just walking past him. Not a cool move by the club. Seems like a nice enough kid... hopefully he can do something in the next couple of years. It doesn't look like there's a spot for him in this year's bullpen, though.

6. Fausto is the "6th" starter coming out of camp, per Wedge. Not so sure I agree, what with Adam Miller and the emergence of Jeremy Sowers, and the fact that Fausto was lights-out as a set up man (anyone remember the 2001 version of Danys Baez?). That said, whatever it takes to get Paul Byrd the hell out of Cleveland is fine by me.

7. Reading between the lines, look for a possible spring (or July) deal involving some combination of Brad Snyder, Franklyn Guttierrez, Shin-Soo Choo, and Ben Francisco. When asked if they were ever getting a shot with the team, Wedge said that there is a log-jam at outfielder, but that "depth is something every organization needs." Considering they went out of their way to sign two washed up shitty platoon outfielders this year, methinks they're giving the experiment a chance to work, and if it does, they will make a trade for bullpen help or a shortstop if Peralta continues to eat hog this year. But, I've been known to be wrong before.

8. I can't wait to see Josh Barfield play 81 games in Jacobs Field.


Observations about the Browns
1. So, we ask to interview Jason Garret, get shot down, and hire Chud... but when Dallas asks to interview Garret, they can? I don't know if he'd be a good coordinator, but the buzz around the league is that he's a rising star. It just figures that the Browns would miss out on him for being "too early" in trying to get him.

2. Chud. Huh. Not sure. Can't be worse than Carthon, right?

3. Picking either 3 or 4 in the draft. Let's see how we can fuck this up (*cough*Brady Quinn*cough*).

4. We just hired an offensive line coach who was:
a) out of football last season
b) prior to that, coached the abysmal o-line in Houston that gave up 68 fucking sacks in 2005!

Marshall has four years’ NFL experience, with the Houston Texans from 2002 to 2005. He started as assistant offensive line coach in 2002 and 2003 and was promoted to offensive line coach/tackles in 2004. In 2005, he assumed full responsibility for the line after Chris Palmer was fired as offensive coordinator and co-offensive line coach Joe Pendry moved up to coordinator.

Marshall was let go after the 2005 season when head coach Dom Capers was fired and spent 2006 out of football. He was recently hired by Nick Saban to coach Alabama’s offensive line, but opted to return to the NFL.

Before joining the Texans, he spent 23 years in the college ranks, including stints as offensive coordinator at the North Carolina and Texas A&M. He spent the 2000-01 season as offensive line coach at the University of Colorado under head coach Gary Barnett.

So, he coached a shitty o-line in Houston, and before that he worked for the jerkiest coach in college football? Really? That's the best we could do? Hey, at least he didn't shred his patellar tendon signing his contract. Accentuate the positive!

5. Other staff hired:
Tom Myslinski - Strength and Conditioning

Myslinski, a nine-year NFL offensive lineman, came from the University of Pittsburgh, where he was recently named assistant strength and conditioning coach. He spent three seasons with the Browns under Buddy Morris as an assistant strength and conditioning coach in from 2002-2004.

Because those were banner years for the health of the Browns. Nice work.

You would think I'd have given up on this team long ago, but no. You'd be wrong.


Observations of the Cavs while watching them get beat by Phoenix
1. Get LeBron some help. Please. For the love of God. I'm begging you. Don't give him a reason to leave!

2. Daniel Gibson shows flashes that make me wish Eric Snow was anywhere but the starting lineup.

3. What happened to Shannon Brown?

4. Will someone please at least call Z and let him know there's a game? I don't think he even got to the arena yesterday.

5. Though their offense is a well-oiled machine, the Suns had roughly 763 open three point looks yesterday. Not good defense, guys.

6. They will finish in the top 3 or 4 in the conference again, and will win a series; maybe 2. But this team has no business being in a discussion for an Eastern Conference title, let alone an NBA title.


Observations of the Columbus Blue Jackets
1. 11 points out of a playoff spot. Tough 3-game roadie coming up. Now would be a good time to learn to win on the road, Hitch And Company.

2. Figures, they win 4 out of 5, and manage to lose their second string goalie in the process. Down to the 3rd stringer. Come on *gulp* Ty Conklin!

3. Will somebody call the Rick Nash from the All Star game and give him directions to the arena? I'm tired of seeing his slower, lesser-scoring stunt double out there.

4. They need to go on a streak of about 5 or 6 in a row before there can be any serious playoff talk.

5. That said, if they'd played at the pace since Hitchcock arrived (15-12-3, 33 points in 30 games), they'd currently be 25-20-5, have 55 points, and be only 1 point out of the 8th playoff spot. In other words, fuck you, Gerard Gallant.