Cleveland Sports Weekly: Not many options for Browns at quarterback (10.23.13)

The Cleveland Browns are only 3-4, but with a 0-4 record under current quarterback Brandon Weeden, it is easy to see the season going downhill.

So far in five games (four starts), Weeden has 1154 passing yards, five touchdowns, six interceptions and a 52.8 completion percentage. ESPN’s Total QBR rankings currently put Weeden 34th among NFL quarterbacks, ahead of only Chad Henne, Josh Freeman, and Blaine Gabbert.

Plus, if you are not a fan of just statistics, Weeden threw one of the worst interceptions you will see during Cleveland’s loss to the Lions last week.

Considering Weeden turned 30 years old last week and has looked pretty bad in his first 20 games with a 5-14 record as a starter, it certainly looks as if the Browns need to move on at the quarterback position.

If Brian Hoyer had not torn his ACL, none of this would be an issue. Hoyer had effectively taken the job and had the Browns looking up. Now that he is out for the year and Weeden has not shown any signs of improvement, a new direction at the quarterback position will come at some point.

That will likely happen in the 2014 draft — whether it be Teddy Bridgewater, Johnny Manziel, or someone else — but the question is whether help can come sooner than next May. Read More…

From Daily Kent Stater, October 23, 2013

 

The IBI Awards: Best New Addition (10.20.13)

The 2013 season proved quite successful for Cleveland as the team completed a 24-win turnaround and made the playoffs with a 92-70 record.

As a part of recapping the year that was, IBI is once again giving out some year-end awards. Unlike last year, we will be focusing only on Cleveland-centric awards. Today we unveil IBI’s Best New Addition:

Rank	Name	Points
1	Yan Gomes	39
2	Terry Francona	30
3	Nick Swisher	28
4	Scott Kazmir	23
5	Ryan Raburn	15
6	Danny Salazar	11
7	Mickey Callaway	9
T-8	Michael Bourn	7
T-8	Jason Giambi	7
10	Bryan Shaw	5
11	Mike Aviles	3
T-12	Drew Stubbs	1
T-12	Marc Rzepczynski	1
T-12	Trevor Bauer	1

When I sent the ballots out, I did not specify if coaches were eligible for this category (because I had not really thought about it). If I had specified, I think Francona would have ran away with this award.

As it is, even unclear rules could not keep him from making his presence felt. Much like how Francona made his presence felt throughout the 2013 season.

There is no way to measure everything a manager does for a team and quantify it. Most managers are competent in one way or another (typically they are either a good manager of players behind the scenes and bad at in-game decisions, or vice versa). The ones that are good both at the people skills and at making decisions on the field are rare and special. Despite some shortcomings in decision-making that we all second-guessed this year, I believe Francona is great at both.

Things changed when Francona signed on last offseason (and again when he hired Callaway as his pitching coach). For that reason, he got my top vote.

Gomes, Callaway, Swisher, and Raburn rounded out my ballot.

Here’s what the rest of IBI thinks: Read More…

From Indians Baseball Insider, October 20, 2013

 

The IBI Awards: Most Surprising Player (10.19.13)

The 2013 season proved quite successful for Cleveland as the team completed a 24-win turnaround and made the playoffs with a 92-70 record.

As a part of recapping the year that was, IBI is once again giving out some year-end awards. Unlike last year, we will be focusing only on Cleveland-centric awards. Today we unveil IBI’s Most Surprising Player:

Rank	Name	Points
1	Yan Gomes	49.5
2	Corey Kluber	29.5
T-3	Scott Kazmir	28
T-3	Ubaldo Jimenez	28
5	Ryan Raburn	20
6	Danny Salazar	14
7	Jason Giambi	7
8	Jose Ramirez	5
T-9	Trevor Bauer	1
T-9	Vinnie Pestano	1
T-9	Justin Masterson	1

I doubt that many people looked at Cleveland’s roster before the season and thought “this is a 92-win team.” In order to reach that mark and make the playoffs it took multiple players exceeding expectations.

Personally, I voted for Gomes in the top spot. Gomes just edged Kazmir (who finished second for me) because we really had no idea that Gomes was going to be this good. The throw-in on the Esmil Rogers trade took over the catching job (possibly for good), finished second on the team in fWAR (3.7), and posted a .294/.345/.481 line.

I easily could have voted for Kazmir, Kluber, Jimenez, or Raburn (the rest of my top-five) as every one of them is a worthy selection. Really, there are no wrong choices.

Here’s what the rest of IBI thinks: Read More…

From Indians Baseball Insider, October 19, 2013

 

(10.18.13) The IBI Awards: Most Valuable Reliever

The 2013 season proved quite successful for Cleveland as the team completed a 24-win turnaround and made the playoffs with a 92-70 record.

As a part of recapping the year that was, IBI is once again giving out some year-end awards. Unlike last year, we will be focusing only on Cleveland-centric awards. Today we unveil IBI’s Most Valuable Reliever:

Rank	Name	Points
1	Cody Allen	55.5
2	Joe Smith	47
3	Bryan Shaw	35.5
4	Marc Rzepczynski	20
5	Matt Albers	11
6	Carlos Carrasco	4
T-7	Chris Perez	3
T-7	Rich Hill	3
9	Justin Masterson	1

Like the majority, I went with Allen for my first-place vote. It was great seeing a pitcher like Allen race up through the minors and make an immediate impact in his rookie season. With a 11.26 SO/9, 3.33 BB/9, 2.43 ERA, and 2.99 FIP, Allen should figure into the 2014 bullpen in a prominent way — maybe even as the closer.

I also think that Smith impressed in 2013. The strikeout rate is pedestrian (7.71 SO/9), but that is not Smith’s appeal. The right-hander’s 2.29 ERA is not supported by his 3.60 FIP, but Smith has always shown an ability to exceed his peripherals (2.97 career ERA, 3.71 career FIP in 378.2 innings). That 2.29 ERA is probably a little fluky, but not by as much as it looks like on the surface, making Allen and Smith a close #1 and #2 for me.

Shaw, Albers, and Rzepczynski rounded out my ballot.

Here’s what the rest of IBI thinks: Read More…

From Indians Baseball Insider, October 18, 2013

 

(10.17.13) The IBI Awards: Least Valuable Pitcher

The 2013 season proved quite successful for Cleveland as the team completed a 24-win turnaround and made the playoffs with a 92-70 record.

As a part of recapping the year that was, IBI is once again giving out some year-end awards. Unlike last year, we will be focusing only on Cleveland-centric awards. Today we unveil IBI’s Least Valuable Pitcher:

Rank	Name	Points
1	Brett Myers	41
2	Chris Perez	36
T-3	Vinnie Pestano	27
T-3	Rich Hill	27
5	Trevor Bauer	16
6	Nick Hagadone	14
7	Carlos Carrasco	8
T-8	Scott Barnes	4
T-8	Daisuke Matsuzaka	4
10	David Huff	3

For a while it looked like Perez was going to run away with this. As more votes rolled in, however, Myers ended up with the not-so-envious crown.

Myers was my pick as I ended up ranking him the least valuable player in my end of the season ranks. That is what a 8.02 ERA, 8.72 FIP, and 10 home runs in 21.1 innings will get you.

I also added Scott Barnes to my votes as his struggles with the big league club were part of the left-handed relief problems that plagued the team until Marc Rzepczynski was acquired. Bauer, Pestano, and Hagadone rounded out my votes, as all three were supposed to play significant roles this year but performed poorly in the majors and were demoted to Triple-A.

Here’s what the rest of IBI thinks: Read More…

From Indians Baseball Insider, October 17, 2013

 

(10.16.13) Cleveland Sports Weekly: Depth could buoy Cavaliers in 2013-14

Despite lacking the kind of star power that typically characterizes good teams in the NBA, the Cleveland Cavaliers’ excellent depth should allow them to make some noise in the upcoming 2013-14 season.

Saying things have not been good for the Cavaliers since LeBron James left is an understatement. In the past three years, the Cavaliers went 64-166, and losing LeBron outlined how poor the team around him was as those left behind formed one of the worst teams in the league.

Things are different now, though. Looking back on the LeBron-era, teams shows how the Cavaliers never really had a great supporting cast around their star. What general manager Chris Grant has done for star point guard Kyrie Irving is the opposite.

Using ESPN’s rankings of the top-500 NBA players, it is clear the Cavaliers have built up some tremendous depth in the middle of their rotation. Read More…

From Daily Kent Stater, October 16, 2013

 

(10.16.13) The IBI Awards: Least Valuable Hitter

The 2013 season proved quite successful for Cleveland as the team completed a 24-win turnaround and made the playoffs with a 92-70 record.

As a part of recapping the year that was, IBI is once again giving out some year-end awards. Unlike last year, we will be focusing only on Cleveland-centric awards. Today we unveil IBI’s Least Valuable Hitter:

Rank	Name	Points
1	Asdrubal Cabrera	48
2	Lonnie Chisenhall	31
3	Drew Stubbs	29
4	Mark Reynolds	25
5	Michael Bourn	18
6	Mike Aviles	15
7	Jason Giambi	7
8	Jason Kubel	4
9	Nick Swisher	3

Here is where he start to have some fun with the definition of “valuable.” I decided to take it in a straightforward way as in who were the five worst players who logged significant time for the team. To do that I used my end of the season rankings from earlier in the month.

Which is why I did not vote for Cabrera.

Now I was the only one, but I stand by my vote. I put Reynolds first as Cleveland actually cut him midseason. I also voted for Giambi (I know there we not high expectations for him, but he still posted a .183/.282/.371 line in 216 plate appearances), Aviles, Stubbs, and Chisenhall in that order. The rationale is in the piece, but in the end, Cabrera did well down the stretch (110 wRC+ in September and October) and ended the year with a surprisingly decent line (.242/.299/.402 line, 95 wRC+).

Here’s what the rest of IBI thinks: Read More…

From Indians Baseball Insider, October 16, 2013

 

(10.15.13) The IBI Awards: Most Valuable Pitcher

The 2013 season proved quite successful for Cleveland as the team completed a 24-win turnaround and made the playoffs with a 92-70 record.

As a part of recapping the year that was, IBI is once again giving out some year-end awards. Unlike last year, we will be focusing only on Cleveland-centric awards. Today we unveil IBI’s Most Valuable Pitcher:

Rank	Name	Points
1	Ubaldo Jimenez	55.5
2	Justin Masterson	49.5
3	Corey Kluber	27
4	Scott Kazmir	21
5	Cody Allen	12.5
6	Joe Smith	6
7	Danny Salazar	5
8	Bryan Shaw	2.5
9	Marc Rzepczynski	1

The second half surge of Jimenez gave him the approval of the majority of IBI, a worthy choice thanks to his 3.30 ERA, 3.43 FIP, and 3.2 fWAR in 182.2 inning. I voted for Masterson personally (3.45 ERA, 3.35 FIP, 3.4 fWAR in 193.0 innings), though I have no issue with anyone who went the other way.

Despite missing a lot of September with an injury, I find it interesting that Masterson ended with 10.1 more innings. Not that it matters much. Jimenez and Masterson both struck out more than a batter an inning and walked a few more than you would necessarily like to see, but all in all, both finished in the vicinity of #30 in Fangraphs WAR; not top-shelf aces, but at least for 2013, legitimate top of the rotation starters.

Kluber, Kazmir, and Allen rounded out my top-five.

Here’s what the rest of IBI thinks: Read More…

From Indians Baseball Insider, October 15, 2013

 

(10.14.13) The IBI Awards: Most Valuable Hitter

The 2013 season proved quite successful for Cleveland as the team completed a 24-win turnaround and made the playoffs with a 92-70 record.

As a part of recapping the year that was, IBI is once again giving out some year-end awards. Unlike last year, we will be focusing only on Cleveland-centric awards. Today we unveil IBI’s Most Valuable Hitter:

Rank	Name	Points
1	Jason Kipnis	51
2	Carlos Santana	44
3	Michael Brantley	27
4	Yan Gomes	22
5	Ryan Raburn	19
6	Nick Swisher	14
7	Jason Giambi	3

Kipnis posted a  .284/.366/.452 line and a 5.8 rWAR as he led the way for Cleveland on offense. Santana posted a .268/.377/.455 line and a 4.4 rWAR as he parlayed his patience-power combination into a true middle-of-the-order threat for Terry Francona to use. These two were at the top of my list, and, as you can tell by the voting, were at the top of many others’ lists as well.

Gomes, Swisher, and Raburn rounded out my list as Brantley fell just short. As nice as Brantley’s swing is, his offense rates as roughly average (104 wRC+) and some defensive metrics do not love his range (-10.8 runs below-average per Fangraphs). Brantley is a great player to have, but I see him more as a solid-average contributor, not someone elite.

Here’s what the rest of IBI thinks: Read More…

From Indians Baseball Insider, October 14, 2013

 

Cleveland Sports Weekly: Back to business as usual (10.9.13)

When Cleveland Sports update came to you last week, playoff baseball and a bright new future for the Cleveland Browns was at hand.

Then, over the course of about 24 hours, the playoffs were over already and Brian Hoyer had torn his ACL.

Sounds about right. This is Cleveland, after all.

It is not easy being a sports fan in Cleveland. The mainstream sports media often ignore the city and, when it do pay attention, it often is not positive. The focus is largely on how bad the teams are or how long it has been since any of them won a championship. Even when things go well – like when Terry Francona was hired about a year ago – the reaction is more surprise. (Why would anyone actually choose to go to Cleveland?)

Not that anyone should really care. Based on how the mainstream media make me feel about the New York Yankees or the Boston Red Sox, I am glad Cleveland is often left out of the spotlight. I would much rather follow the underdogs fighting the giants than root for Goliath. Read More…

From Daily Kent Stater, October 9, 2013