On...Fallen Indian

RIP Indians Legend Bob Feller

Bob Feller footage from OleMissCub on Vimeo.

The more I read about him the more I'm impressed. So much that this is my first post in 2 months. I wish I had more good news about the 2011 Indians. Boy could they use a Bob Feller. Once in a century product however.

From Cleveland Plain Dealer

An American Icon

War Hero

ESPN's Collection of articles and videos

New York Times and all the Bob Feller related Links

On...The Worst Ever

Can Karma be this bad?

Well, tomorrow night begins the 2009 World Series between the New York Yankees and the Philadelphia Phillies. Starting pitchers will be CC Sabathia for the NYY and Cliff Lee for the Phils. What's horribly wrong with this picture for Cleveland Indians fans? Oh, I don't know...maybe they were both CY Young winners for the Tribe no less than 3 years ago!!! Both of them!! Now the Tribe as nada. NADA!!! All on display for the nation to see. This is so cruel.

But I still hope Lee and Phils kick some Yankee butt.

And while we are on baseball. Let's see how my pre-season predictions went.

Hmm. Both my wild card pics are in the World Series. Though both won their respective divisions. I did pick the Angels out of the AL West and Dodgers out of the NL West. That's about it. Cubs and Indians tanked. But on the bright side I did pick six of the eight playoff teams right.

And I predicted Cliff Lee would go 14-12 and he went 14-13, not too bad. Other predictions were WAAAY OFF. All those Tigers are still Tigers.

Better luck next year.
Go Phillies.

On...Good-Bye Cliff

Back from 12 day in NYC. (I hope to blog about some stuff regarding our largest city later)

The news is a few days old, but it doesn't make it any easier. The Cleveland Indians traded Cliff Lee earlier this week to the Philadelphia Philles. The best pitcher, former Cy Young winner, and my fan favorite are gone. What a bummer. As if this season could get any worse for an Indian's fan. Well, my third favorite Indian, Victor Martinez, could be traded by tomorrow. This is all so Cleveland. They are pretty much throwing away 2010 as well. GM Mark Shapiro has made great trades before but this is a long work in progress.

So long Cliff.

On...Tribe on the Run

Wait Until Next Year

The white flag wasn't so big this year, but the results will probably be the same. The Indians traded Mark Derosa to the St. Louis Cardinals. Last year they traded CC Sabathia, Casey Blake, and Paul Byrd. They have surrendered and signed a worthless peace treaty.

The Cleveland Indians are a sad, sad disappointment again this year. So much for my prediction that the Tribe would have a great year. The bullpen is a shambles, injuries have ravaged the core of the team, the ballpark is empty, and the did I mention the bullpen? The Tribe has scored the 3rd most runs in all of baseball so far this year. Which is really good considering Hafner and Sizemore have spent time on the DL. However they have given up the most runs in all of baseball. Not so good. Actually good enough for the worst record in the AL. And the terrible and strange thing is when they do hit they don't hit for Cliff Lee (their only good pitcher.) Lee's run-support from his teammates is third worst in all of baseball. Statiscally he is only pitching a tad worse than his Cy Young performance last year (current ERA is 2.88), but so far this year his record is a pedestrian 4-6. (Last year 22-3) ARTICLE on Run-Support

Jerry Crasnik from ESPN has a detailed, full of great info INDIANS piece that goes in depth into the woes of the Wahoos.

I still think Eric Wedge should get one more shot next year. The Indians also need to spend a little more than they have. (They are currently 14th out of 30. I know that is no guarantee but something needs to be done.

PS: Guess I should start Blogging about my hometown Tigers

On...Baseball...Manny Dreaming

Manny being Manny...In the Cleve?

Here's a fluff piece on Manny Ramirez dreaming of finishing his career with the Cleveland Indians AND getting his old teammate Jim Thome to do the same. I don't think it will ever happen, but it would be nice. It would be nicer if they would have both stayed the last 9 years.

Oh, and congrats on finally winning a game, 09 Indians

On...Baseball Opening Day & Predictions

BASEBALL!!

Yesterday kicked off the 2009 Baseball season and already the Indians got crushed. Oh, well. 161 games to go. Here are my predictions for the year.

American League

East--Red Sox
Central--Indians (The Indians usually play well in odd years for some reason)
West--Angels
Wild--Yankees

National League

East--Mets
Central--Cubs
West--Dodgers
Wild--Phillies

World Series Prediction Using My Mind: Angels over Mets in 6
World Series Using My Heart (and fairy dust): Indians vs. Cubs (And it doesn't matter who wins in 7)

Other predictions:

• I think both Grady Sizemore and Curtis Granderson will have HUGE years.
• I think Cliff Lee will only go 14-12 this year.
• Tigers will hover around .500 but pitching will be their downfall.
  
• Magglio, Guillen, and Robertson will be traded if things so south.

Also the MLB Application for the IPhone is very sweet, even with the $9.99 price. Live audio for every game! No blackouts, box scores, video, stats, standings, everything. Awesome!

On...Greg Maddux

Greg Maddux

The best pitcher of his generation is hanging up the cleats. 355 game winner Greg Maddux is retiring at 42 years old even though he is clearly in good enough shape for a few more years and a few more wins. But every career must come to an end. Even you you have that many wins, 4 consecutive Cy Young Awards and 18 Gold Glove Awards (the most by anyone ever). He is also 10th all time in Strikeouts (3,371) and only Walter Johnson and Warren Spawn have more wins since 1900. And 17 straight seasons with at least 15 wins or more. That there is amazing.

I've enjoyed watching Maddux since I was a kid loving the Cubs and their ace, Mad Dog in the late 80s and early 90s. A nickname by the way which is clearly a joke. The guy is nice, almost vanilla, but he could paint the corners and tear apart a batting line up. I still admired him when he went to the Atlanta Braves (and yes helped beat my Cleveland Indians in the 1995 World Series). By the way he was 19-2 with a 1.63 ERA. That too is freaking amazing. And the year before his ERA was 1.53. He did make it back to Chicago for a few years before finishing his career with the Padres and Dodgers who gave him little run support. He should have at least 10 more wins.

He is a first ballot Hall of Famer and should get one of the highest percentages of all time in the voting. No one can deny Greg Maddux the halls of Cooperstown. Later Mad Dog.

ESPN has a nice article HERE about Maddux

Career stats HERE

Plus the classic and hilarious "Chicks Dig the Long Ball"
Nike ad from the 90s with fellow Brave Tom Glavine.

On...Cliff Lee Part II

Mowing 'em down

Yes baseball is over for the winter, but it's award season and the bright spot of the Cleveland Indians this past year, Cliff Lee, has won the American League Cy Young for best pitcher. Well deserved. Congratulations to this lefty who was sent to the minors in the 07 season only to return healthy and dominant. He finished the year 22-3 with a 2.54 ERA. This was also the first time the Indians have won the AL Cy Young in back to back years. Hopefully 09 will be an improvement in the standings.

More On CLIFF LEE