Mid Week Thoughts

Browns
After actually watching his press conference on Monday, I have come to the conclusion that there is absolutely nothing special about Phil Savage. He can’t possibly believe what he was saying.

Among the gems, was his “stay the course” explanation in supporting his coach and quarterback. It was lengthy, convoluted and boring. For the first time in front of the media during his tenure in Cleveland, he looked irritated, which was strange considering he was getting mostly softballs from those in attendance.

Here is what I would have wanted him to comment on:

Your comment on the lack of discipline and focus four weeks in, including four off-sides penalties and being penalized on the game’s last play when in the victory formation?

Please comment on your #1 receiver once again taking your quarterback to task on the sideline during a game?

What have you seen so far to give you confidence this team can win against the Giants in two weeks or go on the road and win in Washington or Jacksonville?

Here is my favorite. Following his “stay the course” explanation for keeping DA behind center, NOT ONE reporter asked Savage then how did that square with the quick hook you had after one game with Charlie Frye in 2007? Not one.

K.C. Rumors
I heard a rumor the Chiefs are interested in “THE OTHER GUY.” That is what we are calling Brady Quinn from this moment forward.

Why? That is what his head coach warmly calls him. RC learned that trick working under Mr. Bill.

For his sake, I hope the Chiefs or some other NFL team acquire ‘THE OTHER GUY” and play him immediately. That will never happen. Never. Savage doesn’t have the $#@ to deal him, even if K.C. were to offer more than the Browns gave up to get him.

Follow me here - If he did and the “THE OTHER GUY” succeeded, it would wake up the Lerner family to the fact “Boy Genius” wasn’t so bright and he might be out of a job.

If he didn’t have the stones to dump DA in the off-season, and doesn’t want to dump him after the “Four Weeks From Hell” that has this offense currently ranked 30th overall, he (Savage) certainly isn’t going to get rid of “THE OTHER GUY” and open himself up to having “For Sales” signs being set up in his front yard by irate Browns fans while DA and Romeo lead this franchise to another sub .500 season.

Over Exposure
If I am right, the Browns organization will soon regret being on national television so much this season. That feeling should hit home very late Monday evening, October 13 after the Giants double up the brown and orange.

If the Browns lay another egg in front of the whole country, they will officially become the laughing stock of the NFL – taking that mantle away from “Crazy” Al in Oakland. You would think with two weeks of preparation, the nation watching (again) and just basic pride, the Browns will show up and make a game of it. If they don’t, they deserve the ridicule that will follow.

Indians
Credit must go to Eric Wedge for keeping the Indians competing after the July fire sale. The team finished strong. Now it is up to Mark Shapiro to get it right in terms of evaluating what the second half of the season actually meant in terms of off-season moves.

As for this season, it went south because the pitching wasn’t nearly as dominant as a year ago. It’s as simple as that. The difference was the following – Carmona was injured and inconsistent after returning, Westbrook was out for basically the whole season, Rafael right had a bad year after being arguably the best set-up man in baseball in 2007 and Rafael left was pretty good but not great like in 2007.

Tribe & C.C.
I am told the Indians picked up another player in the C.C. deal – a very good looking centerfield prospect. The word is if C.C. got the Brewers to the playoffs, this guy comes east. Obviously, I won’t make any judgments until we see him up close for a while. However, that’s good news considering the Brewers got the most you could get out of their rent-a-pitcher for two months (C.C.).

In fact, I would argue no team in the history of the game got more out of a late season two-month acquisition than Milwaukee did.

Not only was C.C. 9-0 at one point after the deal, but the Brewers had him pitch on three days rest several times down the stretch. I would have done the same thing. I kept hearing and reading where some media types were questioning the Brewers for this strategy. Morons.

Why not use him up if he is pitching well and is agreeable?

C.C. will still get paid. In fact, he’ll probably make even more now based on how he pitched after the deal. Of course, if he falters next summer, I can hear it now – “The Brewers used up his arm and he has nothing left.” Look, I am all for pitch counts – whether it be little league or MLB. However, when it comes to a veteran big-leaguer who is on his game during a pennant race – I say go for it!

The Brewers will be losing Ben Sheets and C.C. in a couple weeks to free agency. They played it just right. The problem is most of the pundits questioning their strategy of using up C.C. live on both coasts. They again JUST DON’T GET. The teams they watch on a regular basis (Boston, N.Y #1, & N.Y #2, LA, etc…) can go pick up whatever piece they need by spending more $.

The Brewers may not see October baseball again for another 25 years. They had no other choice but to ride C.C. as hard as needed.

Small Market
Here’s another one that’s soon coming to a town near you to be echoed by the national baseball pundits – “See, the Yankees and other large market teams don’t win ever year. Look at Tampa Bay and Milwaukee. That proves a small market team can succeed.”

What a bunch of %$#@.

The Rays had their first EVER .500 season and the Brewers were last in the post-season when I was picking zits off my face back in college in 1982. The deck is stacked and it will remain so. The odds are stacked against over 2/3 of the markets in question. In the meantime, you know what I want to see - a Tampa versus Milwaukee World Series.

Cavaliers
In the last few days, I have heard Cavalier players and management personnel talk as if this team is ready for a serious championship run. I have heard words describing this team as being – “the deepest team we’ve had in years, most talented team since the James era began, loaded with talented, etc…”

I don’t see it unless Moe Williams plays at an all-star level. I know no one else coming back from a year ago will play at that level besides LJ.

Yes, the team should win more games than in 2007-08 based on adding Williams and having a full training camp with the mid-season acquisitions from a year ago. Another 50+ win season is likely. However, we have seen that before.

The question is will Williams take enough heat off 23 so teams can’t triple him come playoff time when the game slows down and the fast break dunks are far and few between – especially on the road? We shall see.

One concern this corner still has is the lack of size in the backcourt. None of the three players likely to get the bulk of the minutes (Williams, Gibson & West) can be considered big guards, nor are they good defenders.

The Cavaliers were hurt severely with guard penetration last season. That problem was not solved in the off-season. Cleveland’s guards have to do a much better job of staying in front of their man in 2008-09.

The good news is 23 will once again carry them to 50+ wins. Plus, the team can evaluate what it needs for the stretch run and make another move (trade) in February if the need is there. To his credit, Dan Gilbert has and will spend the money. That is not an issue with this franchise.