Indians File for Free Agency

Now that the World Series is over, players are free to file as free agents. Doing so were Cleveland pitchers Bob Wickman, Bob Howry and starter Scott Elarton.

Two out of the three should probably get raises of some sort next season. Last season, Wickman made $2.75 million and saved 45 of 50 games for the Indians. Howry made $900,000 and made 79 appearances with a 2.47 ERA for the year. He should garner a lot of interest in the free agent market this season. Short of paying him good money and making him the closer, I think the Tribe will lose Howry.

Scott Elarton made $850,000 last season and while his ERA was 4.61, he went 11-9 and started 31 games. I am sure his agent will get him a raise by talking up his ability to eat up innings and not kill a team's chance to win games. I am sure that is worth more than $850k per season to more than a few teams.

It would be nice to have both Howry and Wicky back next season, but only if their prices aren't prohibitive. If they start looking toward $10,000,000 per year, then they are not worth the money. The highest paid player on the Indians team last year was Kevin Millwood who made $7,000,000 and I can't see the Indians paying anyone much more than that.

Although Millwood is also eligible for free agency, but he hasn't filed yet, presumably because he is waiting to see what kind of a deal Mark Shapiro can put together first. It will be interesting to see what they offer.

The only other players eligible for free agency are Scott Sauerbeck, Jose Hernandez and Ronnie Belliard. The Indians have a $4 million option for Belliard for next year, which I assume they will pick up, if not make him a multi-year offer.

Overall, that means there are 7 potential free agents. I want to see three of them back, Howry, Belliard, and Millwood for sure and certainly Wickman if he decides not to retire.

Once I scan other free agents around the league, I will put together a wishlist.

The 2005 World Series Rant

With the Chicago White Sox sitting as the reigning World Series champs, I couldn't help but be depressed by the thoughts that started creeping into my brain. The AL Central hasn't had a World Series champ in a very long time. In fact, after checking to be sure, you have to go back to 1991 when the Minnesota Twins beat the Braves, to find another AL Central World Series Champ.

Why?

Because the most dominant team of the AL Central in the 90's, the Cleveland Indians, couldn't put themselves and this city's baseball fans over the top. Sandwiched in between Chicago's championship this year and Minnesota's championship in 1991 are two World Series defeats for the Tribe in 1995 and 1997.

And you know what? I am sick and tired of hearing about how teams haven't won since 1917. I don't care that it has been since 1917, or 1918, or whatever. All I care about is that there have been no championships in the City of Cleveland for any sports team this side of indoor soccer since 1985 when I was 6 years old and started watching Cleveland Sports.

And quite honestly, that is all I should care about. The Indians haven't won since 1948. That doesn't mean I have had 57 years of suffering. I have had 26 years of non-championship life in Cleveland, so at the most that means 20 years of suffering because I didn't watch sports before I could comprehend them at the age of 6. And neither did you.

If you are my age or younger, you can't take on the cursed feeling of twenty-seven generations of sports fans. I used to get this all the time when I lived in Boston. Yankees fans chanting 1918 at Red Sox fans and Red Sox fans talking about their team and how they "deserve" something after 86 years of pain.

I finally just started deriding people in bars.

Me: "What year were you born?"

Kid: "1979"

Me: "Yeah. Me too. Have the Red Sox won a world series since you were born?"

Kid: "No. And that's what I'm tryin to...."

Me: "Quiet. Have the Indians won a World Series since we were born?"

Kid: "No."

Me: "So how is it any different that your team hasn't won since 1918 and mine hasn't won since 1948 if we were both born in 1979? It sure sounds like the same experience to me. Two guys, same age, same number of championships between them. Oh wait, didn't you have a guy named Larry Bird who won some championships for the Celtics? Yeah, I know it isn't baseball, but I would take it. So, maybe you should just sit there and feel lucky."

At this point, the kid sees that seething look in my eye that says I might pop an aneurism and spill blood in his beer, so he pretends to watch the television.

So, congrats to the White Sox on their victory. Congrats to all the White Sox fans who are at least 88 years old on waiting one hell of a long lifetime to win. YOU have earned it.

And I will be sitting here counting the years. Hopefully I don't have to wait until the year 2067.

Browns vs. Texans - What if?

The Texans are in shambles, sitting at 0-6 so far this season. They have played awful defense, worse offense and seem to be lacking in desire with very little will to compete. Chris Palmer was their offensive coordinator and he has already been fired. David Carr is all set to be sacked 93 times this season if he doesn't get carted off or die first. The team hasn't scored in the first quarter all season long and they have only forced three turnovers on defense.

This team is in awful shape.

Still, wouldn't this just be a perfect VH1 Behind the Music moment for the Cleveland Browns?

(Cue dramatic music and deep voice)
"And while the Browns fans didn't think it could get any worse, they lost to a pitiful Texans team which was in an unrecoverable tailspin until getting a chance to right their ship against an even more feeble Browns team. The Texans ripped off nine more wins in a row on their way to the playoffs. It never could have happened for them without the game where they used the Cleveland Browns as a doormat."

But really though, I think the Browns are better than the Texans, but it isn't like the Browns are playing well. They beat a struggling Packers team before Favre found his rhythm this season. They also squeaked out a victory over a Bears team that had no QB in the fourth quarter. So, is it really out of the realm of possibility that the Texans could fix just enough of their problems this week to defeat the Browns?

One of the biggest issues facing the Texans is David Carr getting sacked constantly. That would be promising for the Browns if they had a pass rush, but they don't. The Texans have caused only three turnovers all season on defense. Just wait until Dilfer throws into double coverage down one of the sidelines.

I think that leaves special teams, and I guess I will give the Browns the advantage there. So, it should be an interesting week of football in Cleveland. The Browns are struggling and have to go play a team that is struggling even more.

Shall I go on and talk about the desperation factor?

Remember when the Browns were sliding uncontrollably last season? Butch had been fired. Terry Robiskie was coaching the team and they had basically nothing left to play for. The Browns played the Texans, who were 10 point favorites and beat them 22-14. That Browns team was desperate for something / anything good and they made it happen.

You know who else is desperate for something / anything good other than Cleveland Browns fans?

The Houston Texans

Browns vs. Lions Game Summary

Well, the Browns lost with a complete inability to move the ball on offense. I have been calling for Reuben Droughns to get his shot for weeks now, and despite the fact that he had 100 yards on the ground, I still feel like they abandoned the run game in the second half.

When the Browns couldn't move the ball at all through the air, they kept trying late in the game. Why not hand it off two out of every three times? Sure it takes more time off the clock, but it is better than not scoring, which the Browns proved they can do with the greatest of ease.

Finally, as exciting as it was to watch Joshua Cribbs go 90 yards, I don't want the bulk of my team's scoring to come on special teams.

I don't know when the Charlie Frye era should begin in Cleveland, and I am not going to call for Dilfer to sit down just yet, but I am getting there. I think the offensive line is having difficulties in pass protection and that isn't Trent Dilfer's fault, but two of those interceptions yesterday were ugly for the QB. Against a Lions team which can't score either, the Browns had to take care of the ball, and Dilfer was a main culprit in not doing so.

Browns vs. Lions First Half Report

Halfway through the game, the Browns are winning 10-7, but there hasn't been too much to cheer about, other than a Joshua Cribbs 90-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. Dilfer and the Browns offense still looks out of sorts, and after setting the offense effectively with the running game, the Browns seem to be back to their old ways of merely pretending to be a running team.

Reuben Droughns has a gaudy halftime stat sheet with 10 rushes for 74 yards, but for some reason the Browns just can't stay true to the running game, even after it proves to be somewhat fruitful.

It will be interesting to see what happens here in the second half, but I am hoping that they go back to the run and commit to it once and for all. If they can do that successfully, they should be able to put together a couple sustaining drives and help out their defense by giving them a break on the sidelines.

The Lions offense looks ok, but they should look worse considering the number of injuries that they have to deal with. Kevin Johnson went down and will not return.

This game is theirs if they can prove that they want to win it by improving their offensive performance in the second half.

Browns vs. Lions 10/23/2005

Word has it that Jeff Garcia is going to play today. Here's hoping we see him on his back like we did last year when he played for the Browns.

Also, Braylon Edwards is suiting up and should see some playing time. This is a promising step for a rookie who is trying to prove he was worth the pick in the draft. This quick comeback shows a toughness that I am really happy to see.

I will try and keep some updates coming during the game.

Is Brian Giles on the Indians' Radar Screen?

If free-agent outfielder (and former Indian) Brian Giles is willing to accept a two-year deal, don't be surprised to see the Indians pursue him - and hard - this winter. Giles, 34, hit .301 with 15 home runs and 83 RBI for San Diego in 2005.

I think I speak for all Indians fans when I say that we would love to have Brian Giles back. He is not only a productive player, but one of MLB's nice guys. He is great in a clubhouse and could really do a lot to contribute to this team on and off the field at 34 years of age. The only question is how many productive years he has left. I think a two-year deal sounds just about right.

Hopefully he has the class and dignity to walk away from the game when he doesn't have much left like Travis Fryman did a couple years ago.