Author: Shawnie Boy (Page 3 of 4)

Besides growing that stupid mustache that makes you look like a creepy “B” actor from the 70’s, when are you going to “grow” your managing abilities? We keep hearing about his genius…yet going by last season and today’s game, it’s obvious he doesn’t have a clue when it comes to the bullpen. Fatman Wickman had nothing this afternoon, yet Wedge leaves him in there to lose a game. This manager and coaching staff better concentrate on this bullpen or we’re in for another disappointing season.

Jake Westbrook is proving to be a legit #2 starter. The way he went after a decent-hitting White Sox team yesterday is exactly the kind of attitude this pitching staff needs. C.C. Sabathia needs this kind of attitude when pitching. Some have compared Westbrook to Charles Nagy…in my opinion, Nagy was always a nibbler, never trusting his stuff. Although the Tribe did lose, it wasn’t all bad. We all know this team will hit — the question marks reside with the pitching. If Jake and Millwood each win more than 14 games, watch out.

For those of you who listened to the press conference after Silas was canned on Monday, Dennis Gilbert’s refusal to give G.M. John Paxson the “dreaded vote of confidence” was deafening. I keep going back and forth with him…it’s like the guy has two distinct sides…the dumb Pax (Diop, Wagner, letting Boozer go) and the smart Pax (dumping Kemp, trading for Varejao and Gooden)…Pax can only hope that Gilbert only sees the smart side. His last move, getting Welsch at the deadline rather than a shooter, could be the beginning of the end.

According to reports out of Baltimore, the Ravens decided to match the Browns’ offer to backup RB Chester Taylor. This isn’t bad news, Browns fans.

This is the second time this offseason that Phil Savage has made it clear he was the brains behind Ozzie Newsome. First, he takes their starting CB, Gary Baxter, after Ozzie and Co. thought they had him. Now they forced the Ravens, who could have tendered Taylor a $1.4 million dollar deal before the Browns signed him to an offer sheet, to pay their backup running back $3 million smackers this season.

Score thus far? Savage-2, Ozzie-0.

Look, I like Paul Silas. I think what he said about Boozer wasn’t a big deal, especially if you look at the context in which he said it. That being said, it was time for him to go. Eric Snow played 40 minutes against the Raptors in a starting role and didn’t score a point. Every loose ball went to the Raptors. As Pax said in the press conference this afternoon, the Cavs’ opponent on Friday night, the Sixers, played as though they were fighting for their playoff lives, as did the Raptors yesterday. The Cavs, with the exception of LeBron, were playing as though it was still November.

Some will say Silas couldn’t find the right rotation. I believe he didn’t have the patience to find it.

There is no good reason why Silas never stuck with Pavlovic for more than 5-10 minutes a game. He is the only player on this team (minus LBJ) who, with the right coach giving him the minutes and allowing him to build confidence, can hit an outside shot with some consistency. I just hope that he’s a major player down the stretch, as this team has enough talent to make some noise in the playoffs, let alone make the playoffs.

Silas is the perfect assistant coach – but when it comes down to X’s and O’s, he’s second rate. New owner Dan Gilbert obviously won’t stand for that, and I am glad this team has an owner willing to make this choice at this time, knowing he’ll get criticized.