A new Beginning

As the Cavs season is slated to begin this week I wanted to get something off my chest about Lebron James. As almost everyone around Cleveland knows, TBS' Craig Saiger interviewed Lebron James during an ALDS broadcast, because he was wearing a Yankees hat at a Cleveland Indians Division Series game. In the interview, Saiger discovered that James had been a Yankees fan since youth, and that was why he wore the Yankees hat.

Well a lot of Cleveland Sport fans took offense to James' interest in the Yankees, and felt he betrayed the city of Cleveland for cheering for team from New York. Some of the negative reactions have come in the ways of signs at Cavs' preseason games ripping James, individuals making shirts bashing James' like of the Yankees, and I've even heard some people say that they refused to go to Cavaliers' games because of James' preference.

I personally feel the negative reaction to James' preference is absolutely ridiculous. How DARE anyone in this town think they have the right to say who James can or can not cheer for on the baseball field. He's done more for the Cavaliers franchise and the city of Cleveland than anyone, and you want to get upset because he doesn't cheer for the Tribe? No one has the right to say James shouldn't cheer for the Yankees. Just because he plays for our favorite basketball team, doesn't mean his favorite baseball team has to be the same as yours.

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What a breakdown. Pitching went bad, fielding went bad, and we couldnt hit for crap the last 3 games. Bring on the Cavaliers..

Byrd Escapes Predators?

Yesterday, Baseball Prospectus founder, Gary Huckabay, hosted an online chat that made this claim,

Gary Huckabay: Thanks for stopping by, and enjoy the ceremonial feast upon the flesh of Paul Byrd.

And after Paul Byrds escaped the Yankees potent offense with a pretty decent lead he had a very comical BP Unfiltered response. Im guessing because many Indians fans sent him an email saying how wrong he was (one of them was me ).

Anyways, Friday should be a fun night of baseball. Go Tribe!

Playoff Concerns

You know the one thing that bothered me the most in yesterday's loss to the Yankees wasn't how Westbrook pitched, or Trot Nixon's error, but Martinez's decision to throw to third base in the third inning when there was that grounder in front of home plate.

You cant' say, well Todd that only 1 run scored. I realize that part. However, what is the reason behind the decision to throw to third? Getting the out at first base gets you a 2nd out with just a man on third. Therefore, that would allow Garko to play off the bag and scoop up Damon's grounder and keep the score 3-0 going into the fourth. Obviously, Martinez can't know what Damon or the following Yankee hitters would do, but getting the 2nd out and still keeping the score 3-0 seemed like a no brainer to me.

Now don't get me wrong, Trot Nixon's outfield blunder pissed me off quite a bit, but the Indians never should have been in that problem in the first place. I simply don't feel comfortable with Fultz in there against the Yankees lineup. His control is not his strong suit, and the Yankee hitters either waited for a walk or a pitch near the middle of the plate to punish. At this point if the game is within reach I think you cant go with anyone other than Lewis, Perez, or Betancourt.