On Kenny, the Red Sox, the Cavs and Scott Boras …
Posted October 27th, 2007 by Pat McManamon
1 — Kenny we knew ya well.
Kenny Lofton did much for the Indians during his late-season stay, but it appears he will not be back. Though neither ruled it out, neither GM Mark Shapiro or manager Eric Wedge mentioned Lofton when listing left-field candidates for next year. Lofton's return was fun, and he came within a game of the World Series, but it appears the Indians will turn to younger players.
2 — Your father's Browns.
The Browns that I covered from 1999 thru training camp of this year would have played a winless team and lost. If these Browns can beat St. Louis Sunday, it will say much about their gumption — and the rest of the season. Never has a game against a winless team had such ramifications.
3 — Feel any better?
Wonder if watching the Red Sox beat up on the Rockies and pick a guy off first in the eighth inning provides some solace to the Indians. If the Red Sox go on to sweep or win in the World Series in five, it might be a little easier to take the Indians' losing the ALCS after leading 3-1.
4 — How do they do it?
My hat is off to guys who cover baseball year-round. After two weeks it's evident how challenging the job is. Night games, road trips, weird hours, endless commercials … that is not an easy beat. Of course it's not like working, but it does involve a lot of time and body-clock adjustment.
5 — On the line
Interesting how Todd Grantham is a little besieged these days. The Browns offense has picked up its play, but the defense is struggling so people are asking questions of Grantham. Let's be honest, though. The defensive line is weak, there is no big-time impact linebacker and the safeties are young. Grantham doesn't go from a good coach two years ago to a bad one this year. The next step in the Browns development will be to address the defense.
Bye for now.
6 — Set the alarm clock
OK Cavs, time to wake up. Season starts Wednesday.
7 — Read this
Heck of a story in the New Yorker about baseball super-agent Scott Boras, the man who got Barry Zito $120 million and Alex Rodrigues $250 million. He's also the guy who wants A-Rod to get $500 million this offseason if he opts out of his Yankees contract. Boras actually had the gall to say that he wonders about society's priorities when he sees money go to arts and cultural centers. Didn't they make a movie about this guy starting Steve Martin. Called "The Jerk."
October 31st, 2007 at 9:02 am
I thought I was reading another tongue in cheek piece when I started reading your column about the Pavlovic signing today. It's hard to tell sometimes, but you couldn't have been serious.