Month: August 2006 (Page 16 of 17)

Indians hold on to edge Sox

The Tribe were able to split their four-game series with the Red Sox as they beat the Chowderheads 7-6 Thursday night. All seven Indian runs came from the long ball. Aaron Boone hit a solo shot, Travis Hafner hit a two-run bomb, and Shin-Soo Choo hit his first grand slam to propel the Indians to victory. Starter Jake Westbrook had to fight and battle his way through his eight innings of work. He gave up six runs and 15 hits but was helped out by the Tribe’s six-run sixth inning. Hafner appears as if he has worked his way out of his massive slump. Entering the game Wednesday, he had gone 3 for his last 28. Since then, he is 5-for-6 with two homers and five RBI.

Once again, the game was tight going into the ninth with the Indians grasping a one-run lead. Carmona, who has had a rough last couple of appearances, has pitched a lot recently and was given a night of rest. So, on came Jason Davis to attempt to close it out. Indians fans everywhere were crossing their fingers and holding their breath, hoping they wouldn’t witness another meltdown. Davis faced the heart of the Boston lineup and was able to retire them in order to earn his first career save.

Reghi firing a disappointment

After hearing that Cavs play-by-play announcer Michael Reghi was fired by the team yesterday, I was totally shocked. Many fans in Cleveland, including myself, loved his colorful passion that he brought to each and every game. Reghi is as good as they come in the broadcasting business and it’s just a shame that his 12 years as the Cavaliers’ TV announcer had to end on such a sour note.

“While I understand an owner of a professional sports franchise has the right to make the decisions he chooses with his organization, I am extremely disappointed and disillusioned by the timing of my removal,” Reghi said in a statement.

“Cleveland is my home and where my heart belongs,” he said. “I’ve poured extreme passion into my work with the Cavaliers.”

The decision was not that of FSN Ohio, but that of the Cavs organization. The firing came from up top because owner Dan Gilbert wanted to bring in his own guy, Detroit Piston announcer Fred McLeod. Reghi had two more years left on his contract and the timing of this whole thing was just horrible. While Gilbert has done everything in his power to build the Cavaliers organization into a first-class environment and while he has made all the right decision thus far, the firing of Reghi was not one of them.

What makes Cavs games so enjoyable and exciting isn’t just number 23, but Reghi’s signature calls and announcing style. Nothing pumps me up more than to hear Reghi’s “Bang” or “Flight #23” when a Cavs player makes a big shot or LeBron glides through the air to throw down a dunk. True, he’s only an announcer and they can be replaced, but Reghi was special. He had become a fan favorite in this city and the Cavs and Reghi were almost one in the same. I’m not taking anything away from McLeod because I’m sure he will do a decent job and it’s unfair to judge him yet because we don’t know much about him. But, Reghi was a part of Cleveland basketball and his firing was unfair. He had poured so much enthusiasm into Cavalier games and his voice behind the mike at The Q will be missed.

Fausto can’t finish

With a one-run lead in the bottom of the ninth, closer Fausto Carmona struck out the first two batters. So, he had recovered from his blown save a few night earlier, right? Wrong. Carmona walked the bases loaded, two coming from hit batters, and gave up a Mark Loretta double off the Green Monster to end it as the Red Sox won in dramatic fashion again, 6-5.

The Tribe, much like night before, scored early and went up 3-0 in the first. Jeremy Sowers was able to stretch his scoreless streak to 22 innings before he gave up two in the fifth. Three of the Sowers’ five strikeouts in the game were by slugger David Ortiz. After a Manny Ramirez and Wily Mo Pena home run gave the Red Sox the lead in the sixth, Travis Hafner responded with a two-run shot in the eighth to put the Indians on top. What looked to be a rare series victory for the Tribe ended in disaster once again.

Cavs talk to Reggie Evans

With the contract negotiations with Drew Gooden at a standstill, the Cavaliers have met with unrestricted free-agent forward Reggie Evans and may also plan a meeting with Lorenzen Wright.

According to an NBA executive, the Cavs met Tuesday with free-agent forward Reggie Evans at an undisclosed location outside of Cleveland.

Contract talks with Gooden, a restricted free agent, have been stalled for several weeks. Even though the Cavs still want to re-sign him, the stalemate has them evaluating all options.

Evans, who averaged 5.9 points and 7.5 rebounds last season, has been playing a waiting game with the Denver Nuggets, who have been looking to re-sign him.

Perhaps the threat of signing another forward will push the Gooden talks along. I would be in favor of bringing Drew back but it would have to be at the right price. Currently, he is carrying quite an expensive price tag. His agent is looking in the $9 and $10 million range and it’s up to the Cavaliers whether they want to dish out that kind of cash for Drew. In the meantime, they are doing what they can to see what else is out there.

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