Great Clevelander of the Week 2-26

Great Clevelander of the Week

Highlighting the Best of Cleveland (other than Lebron)

Matt Laporta

The slugging outfield prospect acquired from the Milwaukee Brewers in the CC Sabathia trade knocked one out of the park in the Tribe’s 2^nd spring training game of the year. Laporta finished 2-3 at the plate, 3-6 for the spring season with two runs in two games.

Indians Offseason Recap

The Tribe didn't make any earth-shattering offseason moves in 2009, but they did make a lot of solid ones. A recap of the team's offseason below:

Free Agents

IF Jamey Carroll (club option for ’09) option exercised
RP Brendan Donnelly (filed for free agency) signed by Texas
C Sal Fasano (filed for free agency) signed by Colorado
RP Scott Elarton (filed for free agency)
RP Juan Rincon (filed for free agency) signed by Detroit

Minor League Free Agents

OF Brad Snyder, placed on waivers, claimed by Chicago Cubs
RP Reid Santos, placed on waivers, claimed by Toronto
IF Andy Gonzalez, signed to minor league deal by Florida
P Bryan Bullington, signed by Toronto
P Brian Slocum, signed by Pittsburgh
OF Ryan Goleski, released

Trades:

OF Franklin Gutierrez traded to Seattle for RP Joe Smith and IF Luis Valbuena
IF Mark DeRosa acquired from Chicago Cubs for Ps Jeff Stevens, Chris Archer and John Gaub
OF Mickey Hall acquired from Boston to complete Paul Byrd trade
IF Isaias Velasquz traded to Tampa Bay for RB Juan Salas

Additions:

RP Kerry Wood (signed to 2-year deal)
SP Carl Pavano (signed to 1-year deal)

RP Greg Aquino (non-roster invitee)
C Damaso Espino (non-roster invitee)
IF Andy Cannizaro (non-roster invitee)
P Tomo Ohka (non-roster invitee)
IF Jesus Merchan (non-roster invitee)
IF Wilson Valdez (non-roster invitee)
P Kirk Sarloos (non-roster invitee)
RP Vinnie Chulk (non-roster invitee)
RP Matt Herges (non-roster invitee)
P Jack Cassell (non-roster invitee)

RP Joe Smith (trade from SEA)
IF Luis Valbuena (trade from SEA)
IF Mark DeRosa (trade from CHI)
OF Mickey Hall (trade from BOS)
RP Juan Salas (trade from TB)

Subtractions:

OF Brad Snyder (claimed by CHC)
RP Reid Santos (claimed by TOR)
IF Andy Gonzalez (signed by FLA)
P Bryan Bullington (signed by TOR)
P Brian Slocum (signed by PIT)
RP Tom Mastny (sold to Japan team)
OF Franklin Gutierrez (traded to SEA)
P Jeff Stevens (traded to CHIC)
P Chris Archer (traded to CHIC)
P John Gaub (traded to CHIC)
OF Ryan Goleski (released)
RP Brendan Donnelly (signed by TEX)
C Sal Fasano (signed by COL)
RP Juan Rincon (signed by DET)
IF Isaias Velasquez (traded to TB)
IF Andy Marte (designated for assignment)

Non-Roster Invitees

Pitchers

Greg Aquino
Tomo Ohka
Kirk Sarloos
Dave Huff
Ryan Edell
Vinnie Chulk
Matt Herges
Jack Cassell

Catchers

Damaso Espino

Infielders

Andy Cannizaro
Jesus Merchan
Wilson Valdez
Michael Aubrey
Stephen Head
Beau Mills
Jordan Brown
Wes Hodges

Outfielders

Michael Brantley
Matt Laporta

Later: Indians 2009 Starting Lineup and Rotation

Great Clevelander 2-18

Great Clevelander of the Week

Highlighting the Best of Cleveland (other than Lebron)

Danny Ferry

The Cleveland GM wisely didn’t pull the trigger on some bad deals at the deadline Thursday and kept the 41-11 Cavaliers intact. Rather than trade away draft picks and talented young JJ Hickson along with team leaders Ben Wallace and Wally Szczerbiak for an aging Shaq or Antwan Jamison. The team with the 2^nd best record in the NBA (based on losses) will gear up for a title run with the guys that have been winning all year.

Great Clevelander 2-11

Great Clevelander of the Week

Highlighting our very best (other than Lebron)



MIKE BROWN

The normally quiet coach of the best team in the NBA unleashed a rant for the ages after the team’s controversial loss @ Indiana. “That last call is the worst call that I have ever been a part of,” Brown said. “I cannot imagine another worse call than that. It was an awful call and for him to take away a basketball game from a team with 0.4 seconds on the clock is irresponsible.” You tell em coach! Brown will be in Phoenix to coach the Eastern All-Stars this weekend.

Mo Finally an All-Star!

On the fourth time around, Mo Williams is an All-Star! After being passed up for Ray Allen by the commissioner, he was selected to replace the injured Chris Bosh today. Congrats Mo.

After a crushing defeat at the hands of Indiana, Lebron made a couple historic notes:

-He moved to 2nd in franchise history with 9,279 FG attempts passing Bingo Smith
-He moved to 5th in defensive rebounds with 2,495 passing Larry Nance

Don't Believe the Rumors

Support Mangini Despite Rumors

Over the last 24 hours, rumors have popped up on such sites as YahooSports! and ProfootballTalk.com that new Browns coach Eric Mangini is already being disliked in Cleveland. The source of this propaganda is Todd Porter of the Canton Repository. This is where we breath a sigh of relief, Cleveland. The Canton Repository! Not the Plain Dealer or the Beacon Journal, but this second-rate paper located multiple hours' drive from the heart of our sports world. If you dig further into the story and do some sleuthing, you will find that Porter is upset that his "moles" inside the Browns were fired (whether personnell or assistant coaches) and he is lashing out at the new regime. Calling out a coach and creating waves before the Combine has even started? That's complete bush-league no matter if you love the Mangini hire or hate it. I call to you, Browns fans, to not believe the garbage that is going to fly from the national media and instead look at the results: a Super Bowl ring in New England, 2 winning seasons out of three on a team with mediocre talent and awful quarterback play, and most important of all, a line of Jets outside Mangini's office begging for his job and wishing him well. Just look at what Browns' captain and Pro-Bowler Josh Cribbs had to say in a radio interview with Cleveland legend Michael Reghi. If the Browns players and media people want a guy like Romeo, they aren't getting him. They are getting a disciplinarian, but most importantly, a winner.

Williams to be All-Star?

Unless you have been comatose in the world of sports the last week or so, you know that Cavs guard Mo Williams was snubbed from the All-Star game this month in Phoenix. Well, perhaps justice will be served, just not in the way we wanted. Magic G Jameer Nelson, one of a trio of guards selected ahead of Williams, was injured in Monday's loss to Dallas with a dislocated shoulder. He will not be able to go in the ASG and may miss the rest of the season. More news on if Williams gets the nod in his third try (after fan voting and coaches' selection).

(Other) Williams Released

Jawad Williams' time with the Cavaliers is over -- for now. The rookie forward was not re-signed after his 2nd 10-day contract with the team expired on Sunday. Williams played in 8 games with the Cavaliers, 9 minutes total, and recorded 4 points and a personal foul on 2-6 shooting (0-1 from three). The local product will possibly be re-signed to the roster for the remainder of the season once Eric Snow's contract comes off the books (more on that when there is news to report). To replace Williams on the 15-man roster, the Cavs signed G/F Trey Johnson from the Developmental League.