Indians
How refreshing to watch last Sunday's eight-run victory (followed by that one hit embarrassment to a double A pitcher, of course) and an eleven-run outburst on Wednesday. Can it mean that they're emerging from this months long funk? Well, yesterday C.C. Sabathia fell victim again to offensive ineptitude with another 2-1 loss. When C.C. and Fausto are on the mound, the Indians do not score more than two. Why? The quality of the opposing teams pitching? Sometimes, but let's face it, you don't expect a one hitter when your team is facing Jair Jurrjens from Curacao, do you?
This season depends of seven arms, those belonging to Sabathia, Carmona, Byrd, Westbrook, Betancourt, Perez and Borowski. They way that these guys have been throwing, and with Detroit's pitching continuing to flounder, I'll take my chances.
You could almost attach the label "unhittable" to Sabathia, Carmona and Westbrook since the all-star break. Their ERA is hovering somewhere in the neighborhood of 2.00. Considering their combined record in this span, however, it would be more accurate to call them "just hittable enough to lose."
Hit or no hit, this team is in the pennant race and they are in first place in the central. I'll take it anytime.
Cavaliers
LeBron looks good playing next to Jason Kidd. How I'd love to see him run with a point guard in the regular season. Get something done, Cavs. Let's see the following rotation sometime in the coming season:
PG: Hypothetical proficient point guard.
SG: Larry Hughes
SF: LeBron James
PF: Anderson Varejao (assuming that Drew Gooden is our main bargaining chip)
C: Zydrunas Ilgauskas
Bench: Gibson (he's so perfectly suited as firepower off the bench), Pavlovic (yeah, he'd probably have to be traded too, but I can dream), Brown (can't wait to see what this guy can do in 25 minutes per).
I like Donyell Marshall. I didn't like seeing him miss all those threes in the playoffs. His game is gone. Sadly, his contract remains.
I like Damon Jones. I have a feeling he's played his last game as a Cav.
I like Eric Snow. I don't ever want to see him play again.
Browns
Quarterback controversies. I hate them. The media love them. Romeo Crennel has a tough job in playing down the situation with Brady Quinn, who, no matter what he does in the preseason, will not and should not be the team's starter at any point in the season. Why throw his talent to the wolves when he's not ready?
That doesn't mean he shouldn't see some snaps during the season. Let's just not make another Tim Couch out of the fellow.
Listening to sports talk radio--it's absurd. No matter how bad the Browns are, there are always a batch of people who are wildly optimistic about the season. I've heard 11-5 predictions. More like 5-11, which may still be optimistic. The Browns have some nice players. They are moving in a good direction. They are going to suck.
Nate's unreasonable prediction of the week
All three teams will make the playoffs this year.
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