Author: Tim Russo (Page 20 of 89)

Holding my fire on the new Tribe TV deal

December 6, 2005 /

It sounds good, but I have a few questions right off the bat. First, it sounds like we’re going to be treated to a lot of fluff, spin, and uncritical “analysis” from an Indians-owned TV network. That can get real old, real fast. Second, anything that is under the control of one cable network, especially the remnants of Adelphia which is now owned by Time Warner, is suspect in my book. How do people with dishes get the Tribe? And third…the increased revenue the Tribe expects to get makes these regular cries of poverty in the off-season ever more ridiculous. Said Shapiro in today’s PD…

“At this moment, my budget hasn’t changed over the last few weeks. Paul and I talk every couple of days. I know our parameters. I know the players we can’t afford to get involved with.”

Well, if the budget hasn’t changed now, it’ll change next year and the year after that, right when the Tribe should be challenging for a World Series. The list of excuses for losing out on free agents is getting shorter all the time.

Cleveland Indians

Bye-bye Wicky?

December 5, 2005 /

Fox Sports is reporting that the Tribe is close to signing Padres closer Trevor Hoffman to a 3-year deal. Since Shapiro spoke to Bob Wickman recently, perhaps that means Wickman is gonna retire. That would be me talking out my ass. But anyway.

If Hoffman gets signed, all in all, it’s been a pretty good off-season for Mark Shaprio. You go from a guy with 45 saves in Wickman to a guy with 43 saves in Hoffman, you pick up Paul Byrd to replace a likely departing Kevin Millwood. You lost Howry, yeah, big loss, but it was expected…all that’s left to do is get Elarton back, right? Next stop, front page of Sports Illustrated?

Cleveland Indians

Frye is a no-brainer

December 5, 2005 /

The biggest news from this Browns loss is that Charlie Frye is for real, and should start. This game had the feel of Bernie Kosar’s first start…the spot is his, and he’s never giving it back. In a game in which he got the rookie’s-first-start pass rush pummelling treatment from the league’s #2 pass defense, he delivered a great first half, and hung in there in the second, with style and flair. I cannot imagine a scenario that would justify starting Trent Dilfer next week outside of injury to Frye. Crennel is being coy.

Crennel said next Sunday’s starter will be a “game-time decision.” For one afternoon, a game feels like a shaft of sunlight and not a mineshaft, and then we’re back to lights on the helmets in the pitch blackness?


Let’s assume Crennel is just trying to force the Bengals to prepare for both Frye & Dilfer, but that little trick is only gonna work one more time.

Cleveland Browns

Maybe this’ll shut ‘im up.

December 5, 2005 /

This is gonna sound terrible, but a torn ACL might be the best medicine for Braylon Edwards.

If that’s the case, Edwards’ recovery could take up to a year, meaning he could miss a fair amount of the 2006 season…If Edwards, the No. 3 overall pick this year, sustained something less serious than a torn ACL, such as a torn medial collateral ligament, the recovery time would be a lot shorter.

I’m hoping for the latter, so we get him back next year. But there’s nothing quite so humbling as fate, is there?

Cleveland Browns

Buckeyes vs. Notre Dame Jan. 2

December 5, 2005 /

The Fiesta Bowl should be a very good game. Ohio State’s great defense versus Notre Dame’s great offense.

This will be the fifth time the Fighting Irish and Buckeyes have met, the first time at a neutral site or in a bowl. Notre Dame won the first two meetings, 18-13 in 1935 in what many historians have referred to as one of the greatest college games ever. The Fighting Irish also won a year later, 7-2.

Aside from being in the national championship game, this is probably the best way to end a good year for the Buckeyes. It’ll be a real test…the Irish sometimes seem able to score at will. But they’ve never seen a defense like Ohio State’s.

OSU Football

« Older posts Newer posts »

© 2026 Cleveland Teams at ClevelandTeams.com

Theme by Anders Noren — Up ↑