The NBA officially announced the 2012-2013 schedule on Thursday night.  Snippets of the schedule were announced through various media channels in the past week or so.  This is always an exciting time for fans because it makes the impending season feel more real.  Considering that there was a lockout, last year's embarrassing NBA schedule presentation on NBA TV is the exception to that rule. 

An interesting note to the Cavs' schedule is that they will tip-off the entire NBA season.  Most fans will probably be more interested in the Dallas Mavericks vs. Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat vs. Boston Celtics double-header on TNT that night, but seeing the Cavs take on the Washington Wizards is going to be very intriguing.  The fact that John Wall and Kyrie Irving are both point guards taken first overall and that Bradley Beal and Dion Waiters are shooting guards taken with top four picks should be enough to get many League Pass fanatics interested in the game.  There are worse ways to start off a season than two young teams with promising talents going head-to-head.

Read more...

Fresh off putting down a successful suicide squeeze bunt attempt in what will likely be his final at bat as a Cleveland Indian, Aaron Cunningham was designated for assignment today by the Indians in order to add recently-acquired IF/OF Brent Lillibridge to the roster. Lillibridge was acquired from the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday in a trade that sent minor league reliever Jose de la Torre to Boston. Lillibridge is expected to take over Cunningham's role as a late-inning defensive replacement, though Lillibridge can also play some infield positions as well.

Cunningham, who was acquired for minor league pitcher Cory Burns back in December, batted just .175 in 97 at bats this season. He appeared in 72 games, most of those as a defensive replacement in left field. He will have to clear waivers in order to be assigned to Triple-A Columbus.

As for Lillibridge, he was traded to the Red Sox in the Kevin Youkilis deal on June 24 and traded to the Indians exactly one month later. He has appeared in 59 games this season, posting a .165 average in 79 at bats. Last season, Lillibridge hit 13 home runs for the White Sox in just 186 at bats.

Lillibridge will wear #1, which has been so proudly worn by Kosuke Fukudome and Luis Valbuena over the last few seasons.

C.J. Miles has scheduled a visit with the Cleveland Cavaliers for later this week.  Miles has played his entire seven year career with the Utah Jazz. 

This meeting with Miles could mean one of two things on the Alonzo Gee front.  First, it implies that negotiations with Gee are not going as planned and they are looking elsewhere to fill the void at the shooting guard and small forward positions.  The other likely possibility is that the Cavs are sending a message to Alonzo Gee and his representatives that they are not afraid to look elsewhere and are willing to walk away from negotiations.  There is also the possibility that the Cavs would like to have C.J. Miles and Alonzo Gee under contract to help shore up a big weakness for the team.

Miles averaged 9.1 points, 2.1 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 56 games with the Jazz last year.  A red flag should be the fact that he only shot 38.1% and that he is a career 41.9% shooter.  The Jazz veteran has good size and is young enough that there is potential for improvement, but he certainly isn't the type of player the Cavs should want starting at small forward for the foreseeable future.  The Cavs will need some shooters on the perimeter and C.J. Miles could use some improvement in that department.

Read more...

Finally... The fans have been clamoring for it. 

And now you get your wish!

The Cleveland Indians made a move and they brought in the highly coveted right handed hitter that everyone so desperately wanted for the Tribe's lineup.

Okay I can't do it. I'm sorry but this just isn't working. Maybe if Brent Lillibridge looked a little bigger than Pinoccio I could play along with this for more than a few paragraphs, trying to convince you that the Indians had actually done what you wanted them to in acquiring a right handed bat.

But I just can't do it. The Indians did indeed make a trade with Boston, acquiring Lillibridge by sending reliever Jose De La Torre to the Red Sox. Lillibridge started the year with Chicago and was sent to Boston in the Kevin Youkilis trade. He arrived in Chicago from Atlanta through the Javier Vazquez (or one of the Javier Vazquez) trade (s). 

The Indians will make a corresponding roster move tomorrow and for now will transport Lonnie Chisenhall from the 15 day disabled list to the 60 day disabled list, removing him from the 40 man roster. It could mark the end for Aaron Cunningham, as Lillibridge has outifeld experience, although he is mainly an infielder. He has started or played at every single position on the diamond excluding catcher and pitcher off course, in his major league career. So he's the definition of utility player.

Can he be Jason Donald for the Indians? Defensively, sure. But Lillibridge brings a career .212 average to the table, with a .165 average between his stints with Boston and Chicago.

Two Sox, two Central teams, two trades for Lillibridge this season. He'll get his shot with the Tribe, but let's just be honest here. Does anyone think he's going to help this team in anyway? Maybe as a late inning defensive replacement. Maybe gives the Indians the chance to give Cabrera a breather every great while and still have someone who can play center on the roster without having Aaron Cunningham around.

But really, this is one of those moves that you know is not really all that beneficial in many, if any aspects.

The question now would be who he takes a roster spot away from. Cunningham is and has certainly been on the chopping block, but I supposed you have to name Jose Lopez and Shelley Duncan as candidates as well. 

Regardless of all of it. We should convince the White Sox that they could make this kid's day and re-acquire Brent Lillibridge, for, let's say, Jake Peavy for what's left of Jason Knapp and compesation for all of Peavy's salary. Kenny Williams, you can be a hero!

For the record, my dad recorded the same type of video when the Indians traded Jody Gerut to Chicago. Only I was a bit older than this kid. No shame, no shame.

The Cleveland Cavaliers will be wearing throwback jerseys for the first time since the 2009-2010 season in the upcoming year.  The NBA will celebrate the 1990's in their annual Hardwood Classics nights and the Cavs will be one of twelve teams to do so.  The team will take the court wearing their mid-'90s road jerseys for select games.

The other franchises that will be donning 90's jerseys are the Indiana Pacers, Milwaukee Bucks, Chicago Bulls, Atlanta Hawks, Miami Heat, Sacramento Kings, Phoenix Suns, Philadelphia 76ers, Toronto Raptors, Houston Rockets and Utah Jazz.  The NBA typically reserves Hardwood Classics promotional games for older jerseys, but the fact that so many NBA fans in their thirties celebrate that era makes it good marketing on behalf of the league.

On a personal note, I recall when those jerseys were revealed.  As a thirteen year old Cavs fan who knew nothing but the orange and blue of the 80's and early-90's, I was excited about the new arena, direction and brand of the franchise.  But something did not sit right for me.  It was odd to see Cavaliers legends like Mark Price and Hot Rod Williams in jerseys that were so blatantly from a specific era.  It is like walking into a brand new house that is ultra-modern.  It may look new and exciting at the moment, but it is easy to see how it will look outdated in a few short years.  That is how I always remember those early Gund arena Cavs jerseys.

Read more...

You don't have to be analytical.  You just have to open your eyes.

While it remains to be seen what they will do, and we can speak about what they could have or would have done until we are all blue in the face, the Cleveland Indians have played themselves into the "Sellers" category as their current swoon has them headed for the cellar.  Instead of preparing for October, it might be time to start preparing for April already, and maybe strive to be "Buyers" next July.

The Indians don't have much to sell these days, nor did they have the resources to do the buying that many fans dreamed about 3 weeks ago, but the cupboard isn't absolutely bare.  It's just close.  Derek Lowe, Casey Kotchman, and Johnny Damon don't promise to bring much back to the Indians farm system, but teams might be willing to mortgage their own futures for arbitration eligible players like Shin-Soo Choo or Chris Perez.  A deal like that could involve something a little more guaranteed than a prospect.

According to a joint report from Ken Rosenthal and Jon Morosi, the Giants have some interest in acquiring the Indians closer:

"The San Francisco Giants, seeking late-inning help, are interested in Perez, according to major-league sources. The Indians could entertain moving Perez for two reasons – they are deep in relievers, and Perez likely will earn about $7 million next season in his second year of arbitration."

What makes this rumor more interesting than most deadline rumors that involve the departure of All-Stars from teams out of contention is that the Indians may not be looking into San Francisco's Farm System to make this one happen:

"If the Indians trade players such as Perez and Choo – players under control beyond this season – they would not want prospects in return, but players who would strengthen their current club, sources said."

Those of us that follow these things know to take information from "sources" with a grain of salt, but with the capable Vinnie Pestano in place to take over the closer role in Cleveland, this is something to think about.

Perez, the controversial reliever has saved 26 games in 28 opportunities for the Tribe this season, while posting a 3.06 ERA.  Since coming over from St. Louis in the 2009 Mark DeRosa trade, Perez has appeared in 196 games, saving 86 of them with a 2.92 ERA.

Former Cleveland Indians slugger Jim Thome hit HR number 610 last night against Derek Blowe to pass Sammy "CorkBat" Sosa, knocking the juicer out of the top seven all time in homers.

The fourth inning shot against his former team was his 610th tater in his 22 year career, ranking him seventh all time. He enters rarified air, with the likes of Barry Bonds (762), Hank Aaron (755), Babe Ruth (714), Willie Mays (660), A-Rod (643), and Ken Griffey Jr (630). Those who want to put an asterisk for those "believed to be" juicers would rank him fifth all time, excluding Baroid and A-Roid.

The 41 year old has six homers on the year, this was his first since joining the Baltimore Orioles on July 1st. Thome spent 13 seasons with the Wahoos, including 22 games last year. He remains the all time home run leader for the Tribe, with 337 (a record in no jeopardy of falling anytime soon). His one run tater last night was his 189th at Regressive Field.

It's hard to describe Thome without diving into his stats. Starting out with the Indians, his first home run came on October 4th, 1991 in Yankee Stadium against former (and future) Tribesman Steve "How" Farr. He clocked 334 in his first stint with the Tribe from 1991 to 2002. He added three more last year. He has 509 taters in the AL, 101 in the NL. Despite a downturn in stats brought about by old age, he maintains a career OPS+ of .958

It was also his 20th home run AGAINST Cleveland, his favorite Tribe victim? Jake Westbrook. He's hit 40 or more 6 times, his best year was 2002 when he hit 52 (five less than A-Roid). He has hit homers against 30 different major league opponents, including 66 against Detroit. He has nine on Rick Reed, eight on Roidger Clemens, and seven on Justin Verlander. 274 of them were with runners on. 92 with a 0-0 count, 85 with a 3-2 count.

Not only a prolific hitter, he has a heart bigger than his swing. He is putting all ten of his nieces through college. He does a lot of work for charity. And in 2007 was voted the second nicest guy in the Major Leagues (to Mike Sweeney). All this despite playing four years for Ozzie Guillen.

What else is there to say? Cleveland has a statue and Cooperstown has a bust shined up and ready to display as soon as he hangs up his bat. Some say he's embarrassing himself still going out there and hitting in the .250 neighborhood. His days with a fielding glove seemingly over. But some of us forty-something PaPaws say "You go guy!!!"

Summer League Wrapup:

The Las Vegas Summer League has conluded for the Cleveland Cavaliers.  It was not what should be considered an overall success for the team.  The summer games were marred with injuries to the cornerstones of the franchise.  Rookie of the Year Kyrie Irving fractured his shooting hand the night before the first game, 4th overall pick Dion Waiters sat out of the last two games with a sore left knee and it was capped off with second year power forward Tristan Thompson getting poked in the eye in the final game against the Knicks.  Thompson left the game and did not return. 

The Cavs took a page out of the regular season and beat the New York Knicks on Friday afternoon.  The Cavs had a well-balanced attack.  The Knicks were severely outmatched in most aspect of the game.  Tristan Thompson played well up until his injury.  He prematurely finished the game with 13 points and 2 rebounds.  Tyler Zeller had 12 points, 5 rebounds and two steals.  Zeller continues to show a strong ability to run the floor on the fast break.  Samardo Samuels once again impressed.  Samuels finished the game with 9 points and 13 rebounds.  The most exciting sequence of the game came at the conclusion of the third quarter when Samuels had an emphatic block which ignited a fast break that resulted in Justin Holiday banking in a floater at the buzzer. 

The Cavs finished the Summer League with a 3-2 record.  The team shot 41.7% from the field and an unimpressive 27% from beyond the three point arc.  The Cavs did not move the ball well which could explain the poor shooting.  They averaged 12.8 assists per game and a mind-blowing 15 turnovers per game.  It doesn't take a basketball mind of Red Auerbach's caliber to know that averaging more turnovers than assists is not a good thing.

Jon Leuer:

Read more...

Fausto Carmona isn't making his grand return. Roberto Hernandez is making his grand entry.

News broke late Saturday afternoon that Roberto Hernandez Heredia, formerly Fausto Carmona, was granted his U.S. visa from the Consulate. He has been cleared by all the proper channels and is on his way to Cleveland. 

In addition to being granted his return to the United States, he is being welcomed with a three week suspension from Major League Baseball, likely for defrauding the institution and making everyone involved in the process look incredibly bad. There is no doubt that the Indians restructering of Hernandez's contract had something to do with the lenght of the suspens, as Juan Carlos Oviedo (formerly Leo Nunez) received an eight-week suspension. But there is no way for Hernandez to have avoided some sort of punishment for his crimes.

Now it will be time for Hernandez to come in and begin to mend the fences. With the fans, with the organization, with his teammates and coaches, with baseball, with himself. He has a lot to prove now that he is essentially a new pitcher, a new person.

The suspension might as well be an excuse for the Indians to build Hernandez up. While he was staying sharp and throwing to some members of the Indians academy in his native Domincan Republic, there is nothing to simulate live game action. In addition there is nothing to simulate live game action against major league pitching, but he'll need to take one step at a time. You can bet that he will be headed to Goodyear to get checked out and probably worked into a routine before the Indians send him out to a minor league affiliate. Assuming this suspension is like any other, Hernandez should be good to go in pitching for the minor leagues seeing as how Manny Ramirez played for the Sacramento River Cats prior to the completion of his suspension.

As a part of his restructured deal, Hernandez had to give up nearly $7.5 million in possible salary. Hernandez will return at a point in which he is unlikely to reach any of the new incentive platforms in his contract. He needs at least 20 starts, 150 innings, and 95 days on the roster in order to earn any sort of bonus, all highly unlikely given his return date, if he even returns in August and starts from the outset.

One thing is for sure, this move will have a significant impact on the Indians and their approach to the upcoming trade deadline. Knowing they have some reinforcements in the form of Hernandez, they may decided that a move for a starting pitcher is no longer needed. But can the Indians make it 20 more days? Can they really srurive with their five starters until then? Who's to say Hernandez is even going to be an answer?

Whatever the case may be, the granting of a visa ends the long saga for Hernandez to return to the Indians and brings a surprising conclusion to the situation. While it took Miami's Juan Carlos Oviedo a significant amount of time to return, as well as a longer suspension, Hernandez got back in less than seven months and will likely pitch before Oviedo due to a recent injury. If anything, he should consider himself lucky and thank his organization for not only working diligently to get him back, but sticking by him and now giving him another opportunity.

Andrew Bynum is linked to the Cavs via trade for the second time in less than a week.  This rumor is rejuvenated due to the report by ESPN's Ric Bucher which stated that the Cavs could be the third team to facilitate a Dwight Howard trade to the Los Angeles Lakers.  Evidently the Orlando Magic are being smart and do not want to be max out their salary to be a meddling playoff team.  They want high draft picks and a lot of them.  The only logical way to get those is to be bad for a few years.  Clearing out the Magic roster and hopefully sending out a bad contract or two with Dwight Howard is a good way to get the team on track to rebuild through the draft.

The Cavs are in a position to help facilitate a trade between the Magic and another team because they have a lot of cap space and plenty of assets.  The Cavs have their first and second round picks for the foreseeable future, the Sacramento Kings' top 13 protected 2013 first round pick, the Miami Heat's 2013 first round pick, the ability to swap that pick with the Los Angeles Lakers, Orlando's second round picks in 2013 and 2014, the expiring contracts of Luke Walton and Daniel Gibson, Anderson Varejao and Tristan Thompson.  In other words, there is a plethora of picks of various quality, expiring contracts, solid players on quality contracts, cap space and young players with upside on rookie contracts.

The Cavs would require that Andrew Bynum sign a contract extension before they agree to the three team trade.  The Lakers would probably want to make sure that Dwight Howard is open to extending with the team before mortgaging their future on a potential one year rental.  The Magic would want to shed the team of veterans on inflated contracts.  For example, Hedo Turkoglu is massively overpaid and has diminishing skills.  Put him on the Cavs and he fills a hole at small forward and he would only be under contract throughout 2012-2013. 

Dion Waiters and Tyler Zeller are not allowed to be traded until December 15th.  It is doubtful that the Magic, Dwight Howard or his prospective new team are willing to be patient enough to wait for that date to pass. According to Larry Coon's great CBA resource www.cbafaq.com and the keen eye of a Twitter follower, the Cavs are allowed to trade Dion Waiters and Tyler Zeller 30 days after signing them to rookie contracts.  

Read more...