Cleveland

The MLB season is quickly nearing the halfway point. How many games have you watched the Houston Astros play? It’s a question I posed to a group of fans at Minute Maid Park. This poll, clearly not scientific, was my way of discovering who is and who isn’t watching Houston baseball. I randomly asked 100 people at Minute Maid Park how many games they’d seen other than those they’d attended in person. I asked on every level of the ballpark and fans of varying age groups. I offered 4 categories – none, less than 5, less than 20, less than 40, or I haven’t missed a game. The overwhelming winner was less than 5 with 72%. Right behind that – none with 22%, then less than 20 with 7% and there was one measly fan who replied that he hadn’t missed a game. I still think he was lying. The most common comment following the reply of "less than five" or "none" was, "because I don’t have CSN Houston." Not surprising by any stretch. The Houston Rockets suffered an entire season being broadcast on a network with serious carriage issues and it seems likely that those issues will persist throughout the Astros and Dynamo seasons as well. I don’t have CSN Houston at my house. If I’m not at a game I listen to the TV broadcasters via MLB.tv (unless I’m not in the blackout area and can actually watch the game). I used to periodically listen to the games on the radio, but that was prior to the new radio team. Robert Ford provides a respectable play-by-play, but despite my enjoying Steve Sparks analysis on tv in previous years, he falls flat for me on the radio. So what are we left with? No tv, no great radio coverage…it feels like we’re being forced to the ballpark. But the attendance at Minute Maid Park doesn’t reflect that fans are fleeing their houses in droves because they miss the Astros. In fact, attendance, by average is down again so far this season. In 2012, the Astros averaged 19,848 fans per game – only Cleveland and Tampa Bay had fewer fans show up. To date in 2013 the Astros are averaging 18,117 fans per game – trailed by Cleveland, Tampa Bay and Miami. Fans aren’t going to games. Fans can’t watch games. I don’t suspect that all the fans are listening to games. The conclusion is that people have backburnered the Astros. They’ll risk being called a bandwagon fan in a couple of years rather than go to the effort and expense to go watch the team that is playing this season. This idea certainly doesn’t help the Astros’ efforts to get CSN Houston carried on basic cable for $3 and change per household. It’s hard work to be an Astros fan today. You’ve got to really want it. It’s a team that loses…a lot. It’s harder to be a fan than not be a fan, I get that – in fact I live it. But now’s the time to pay attention, not because of the players on the field last night in Houston, but because of the players on the field in Oklahoma City, Corpus Christi, Lexington, Lancaster, Tri-Cities, Quad Cities…you get the picture. There is excitement just a level or two away from Minute Maid Park and although I don’t follow the minors as closely as some, I see what’s happening and I think that those of us who are paying attention now will appreciate the rise from the ashes to come. But it’s not easy to follow this team. No tv. No great radio. Where do you fall? How many games have you seen? None, less than 5, less than 20, less than 40, or haven’t missed a game?

I think if everything is going well, I think this defense could be the best in the league. We have a lot of players that can contribute and help this team win. We’ve got a lot of rushers. We’ve got corners on the back end. We’ve got D-linemen that can hold those blocks and get off and make plays. We’ve got linebackers that can come up and tackle the run and get back in coverage as well. So we have a lot of tools that we can use. — Cleveland Browns rookie linebacker Barkevious Mingo, Tuesday, in front of a gaggle of local media members following a youth football camp at FirstEnergy Stadium. Though switching to a 3-4 defense under the watch of Ray Horton and adding plenty of ammunition, the Browns defense cracked the top 10 (in terms of yardage per game) in 2011, though the entire AFC North was represented favorably. In 2012, the Browns were 22nd in the league, allowing 363.8 yards per game. A best-in-the-league finish would represent an extreme improvement. [Related: Cleveland Twitterverse comes up with the #BonJoviReplacement]

The Cleveland Cavaliers will reportedly play host to a slew of wing players on Wednesday. Andy Katz of ESPN reports that Chris Grant will hold a workout for Kansas’ Ben McLemore, Georgetown’s Otto Porter Jr., Indiana’s Victor Oladipo and San Diego State’s Jamaal Franklin. Add a healthy Jamal Franklin to the mega workout in Cleveland Wednesday with Victor Oladipo, Ben McLemore and Otto Porter. — Andy Katz (@ESPNAndyKatz) June 18, 2013 The four players will provide one of several workouts that the Cavaliers are reportedly holding as the team hosted injured UNLV power forward Anthony Bennett earlier this week, and will host both Kentucky’s Nerlens Noel and Maryland’s Alex Len on Thursday and Friday, respectively. While individual visits have lost their luster over the years as agents have held players from participating, it was at this type of visit where current Cavaliers power forward reportedly Tristan Thompson impressed the front office so much that they used the fourth-overall selection on him in 2011. The Cavaliers currently hold the first, nineteenth, thirty-first and thirty-third picks in the upcoming draft. They are widely considered to be selecting one of the centers first overall, but recent reports say that no decision has been made by the Cavs’ front office at this point. The draft is set for June 27. [Related: Top Pick Debate: No Clear Answer, But Several Theories To Rule Out]

Then then Lions have two young quarterbacks in Kellen Moore and Thaddeus Lewis. Moore is similar to Hill in many ways: smart, accurate but lacking an elite arm. Moore is the winningest quarterback in NCAA history and improved steadily last preseason. Lewis was a three-year starter at Duke and started one game last year for Cleveland. The Browns lost, 24-10, but he played extremely well against the top-ranked Pittsburgh Steelers pass defense.

“While We’re Waiting” serves as the early morning gathering of WFNY-esque information for your viewing pleasure. Have something you think we should see? Send it to our tips email at tips@waitingfornextyear.com. “Other than his experience (and my personal preferential factor), there is no reason to believe that Brandon Jackson is a lock to be the Browns’ third-down back in 2013. He was just re-signed a couple of weeks ago, but he will be part of a three-way competition that also includes Chris Ogbonnaya and Dion Lewis. I thought it was interesting that the Browns waited so long to re-sign Jackson, who definitely got a raw deal in terms of playing time in his two years under the Pat Shurmur era. Jackson finally saw action in his final game last season, and he responded by smoking the Steelers for 6.8 yards per carry.” [Pokorny/Dawgs by Nature] —- ““When a talk show host talks down to you, don’t take it. Because often times you are right and we are wrong.” Exactly right Mike Felger. I might have missed it, but I’ve never heard a Cleveland radio guy say something this true.* In fact, pretty much the opposite. From the listening I’ve done, the WEEI model seems firmly in place in NEO: talk about local pro teams only; go for the easiest story; assume you-the-host know more than the listener. Hey it works for me: it leaves all number of untouched discussion topics available for review here. Fresh sports takes are what we want. I’m happy to talk Alec Ogletree and Ryan Miller and Moodys ratings. What does Chip Kelly’s up-tempo mean for Browns’ sub-package defense? I’ll plow that field.” [Kanick] —- “If it was possible for the Indians could be represented by one album, I would submit that it would be Things Fall Apart by The Roots. For the past few seasons, the Indians have gotten off to a good start only to have things come crashing down around them. Since we last left off, Asdrubal Cabrera and Zach McAllister have hit the disabled list, and Nick Swisher has been hobbled as well. Mark Reynolds has cooled off significantly, and to a lesser degree Michael Bourn has as well. And Yan Gomes’ array of awesome potential nicknames can’t hide the fact that he has also slowed down, and given his 2.9% walk rate it may not be very long before his 123 wRC+ dips down back into double digits. Much to Carson Cistulli’s delight, the Corey Kluber train keeps right on rolling, as has Carlos Santana. And Jason Kipnis has picked it up of late as well. But the team’s recent eight-game losing streak — including three at the hands of the Tigers — did some damage to Cleveland’s full-season projection. They will probably need more than Kluber’s brand of voodoo to get all of their pistons pumping full speed ahead once more.” [Swydan/FanGraphs] —- Schwab of Stump the Schwab let go by ESPN- “Last week, the noodge was deemed expendable, another casualty of the ongoing corporate violence being committed at ESPN in the name of efficiency. On Monday, Schwab had attended a National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association banquet in Salisbury, N.C., where his friend Dick Vitale was being inducted into the organization’s hall of fame. Schwab was sharing a table with the ESPN brass that was there, George Bodenheimer and Steve Anderson, one or both of whom had to have known the ax was swinging above Schwab’s neck. “What a birthday gift for Dickie V,” Schwab tweeted. “He turns 74 and goes into the Sportscasters Hall of Fame. He belongs in the human being Hall of Fame!” On Tuesday, he got an email saying he had a meeting the next day. On Wednesday, he was laid off.” [Craggs/Deadspin] —- Finally, Dude Perfect has a new trick shot video. This time with stunt drivers. [The Post Game]

"Why would you try to put your own voice above the roar of the crowd?" Tom Hamilton is talking about walk-off home runs, and he's talking about the greatest sound in sports, and he's indirectly asking why his colleagues in other booths would try to compete with a sound that is close to natural perfection. "I'm a firm believer in spontaneity," he adds, responding to the notion that some broadcasters (we're looking at you, Jim Nantz, and you, John Sterling) plan what they'd like to say in a dramatic moment. "I don't feel like that would work for me," Hamilton says. "It wouldn't feel natural." At age 57 and in his 24th season with the Tribe, Hamilton has gained the trust of Cleveland Indians fans. This is no small point. Many broadcasters -- most, certainly -- never cross the rubicon that cements their credibility with fans. Hamilton did so long before his remarks about Aroldis Chapman made headlines earlier this season. Indians fans trust Hamilton because he is blunt, almost cantankerous at times, especially in describing poor umpiring or lack of effort. Broadcasters often hesitate to criticize their team or organization, but Hamilton feels that it's his responsibility to do so when criticism is warranted. There is very little chance that Hamilton is a regular dining companion of umpire Angel Hernandez, for example. When Hernandez made one of the worst umpiring decisions in baseball history during a May game at Progressive Field, Hamilton was ready to state the obvious, even though it might not please Tribe fans listening to his call: Adam Rosales had just hit a game-tying home run. Chris Perez had served up a pitch in the middle of the plate (a chronic problem for Perez of late) and Rosales had sent a rocket to left-center. The ball had cleared the wall and hit the railing. After a long review, Hernandez emerged to declare the ball had not cleared the wall, and the play would stand as called: double. Hamilton asked, "Are you kidding me? I don't know how you miss that call." That was just for starters. Meanwhile, on television, Matt Underwood and Rick Manning straddled the fence, indicating that the play looked like a home run, but you never know, and it's hard to really tell, and Go Tribe!, and... "Unbelievable," Hamilton huffed. But the veteran broadcaster explains that he's careful to differentiate when tough words are warranted. "I'll never say a guy is an idiot for swinging at a ball in the dirt, because guys swing at balls in the dirt all the time," he says. "It's part of the game, even if it's frustrating. But if a player isn't running a ball out to first, I'll point out that he's not hustling. The least you can do is run hard to first." Ultimately, Hamilton has become what the best play-by-play broadcasters become: a master storyteller. There is an art to collecting interesting information about a team, a place, a player, and then weaving that information into the structure of a game. Most broadcasters read a list of facts that seem interesting to them. Hamilton understands how to build a narrative. He is not particularly interested in the broadening of the statistical understanding of baseball, because he feels "you can number people to death. People will go numb if you use too many numbers. I know I do. If I hear a broadcast and they're stuck on numbers, I stop listening." So which numbers does he prefer? "I prefer the numbers that fans recognize and can relate to. Home runs, RBIs, runs, batting average, on-base percentage. Some of these newfangled numbers, I'm sure they have a place. But I don't get into the wins and replacement numbers -- it's too much. You can make numbers say whatever you want them to say. I'm not saying these new stats don't have a place, but I hear some broadcasters talking about a guy's ERA on Tuesdays under a full moon while pitching left-handed. Who cares? Fans are not accountants." "This is still a people business, and

As we start to look ahead to training camp, we're going to take a position-by-position look at the Detroit Lions roster. First up is the quarterback position. Back from last season: Matthew Stafford, Shaun Hill, Kellen Moore New to the team: Thaddeus Lewis As far as roster storylines go, there thankfully isn't much to talk about at the quarterback position for the Lions. Matthew Stafford is back again as the starter, just as Shaun Hill is back again as the backup. The Lions do have a competition brewing between Kellen Moore and Thaddeus Lewis for the third and final spot on the roster at quarterback, but that's it. In terms of non-roster-related storylines, most of them revolve around Stafford and his contract. The Lions have been negotiating with Stafford's representatives on a new deal, but it remains to be seen if an agreement will be reached this year. If a new deal isn't done by the time the season starts, chances are the talks will be tabled until 2014, putting even more importance on Stafford having a better season this year than he did in 2012. Moving down the depth chart, Hill is entering his fourth season as the Lions' backup quarterback. We thankfully haven't seen much of him in recent years, as Hill only played in three games for the Lions in the last two seasons. In 2012, he only played in one game, and he made the most of that single appearance by going 10-of-13 and throwing for 172 yards and 2 touchdowns in a comeback effort against the Tennessee Titans. The third spot at quarterback for the Lions got a bit more interesting when the team claimed Lewis off waivers at the end of May. Moore has been in the Lions' system for more than a year, but Lewis has starting experience from his time with the Cleveland Browns. He closed out the 2012 season with a start against the Pittsburgh Steelers, and he played quite well, going 22-of-32 for 204 yards, 1 touchdown and 1 interception. Lewis and Moore will try to make their case to stick around as the Lions' third quarterback during training camp and the preseason. Need going forward? Barring a serious injury to Stafford or Hill, the Lions are really set at quarterback. They have their starter and backup locked in, and they have two players ready to battle for the third spot on the depth chart this summer. As a result, there is currently no need to add anybody else at this position.

During the off-season prior to the 2012-2013 season, I, like most Steelers fans, was feeling the burn of the overtime loss to the Broncos in the playoffs. Immediately I wanted the opportunity to see the team back in the playoffs with a chance to prove themselves. After a second consecutive 12-4 season such an opportunity seemed likely and there was much hope in Steeler Nation for a rebound. However inwardly I worried about the oncoming intangible that spelled trouble for Pittsburgh: the Steelers Cycle. The Steelers cycle has been a revolving three year period in effect since the 2001-2002 NFL season. Every three seasons the Steelers will make the playoffs for two seasons and then for one reason or another, miss the playoffs in the third. It has been a pattern that the franchise’s fortune has followed for 12 straight seasons. Sometimes the cycle has come with horrible unexpected bad luck to specific players, other times it involves a random drop in the team’s production. However the cycle also can bring good tidings for the franchise. Each time the Steelers have missed the playoffs they rebound very well. There has only been one instance since the existence of this cycle that in the year subsequent to missing the playoffs where the Steelers did not at least play in the AFC championship game (2007, and that year was followed by a Super Bowl victory). After 2001 the Steelers took a drastic change in direction with Tommy Maddox under center. While I personally felt this was a long term mistake, it seemed like the right thing to do after Maddox led the Steelers to one of their better playoff comebacks in recent history against the Cleveland Browns in the 2002-2003 playoffs. However the reality hit hard that No. 8 was just a journeyman quarterback without any mobility in 2003 when the team had a 6-10 record (a record that is the lowest the team has achieved since before the Cowher era). It looked as if the team that just a few years ago was a blocked field goal touchdown return from going to the Super Bowl was dismantled and no longer a contender. Then the world witnessed the coming of Ben Roethlisberger and his remarkable 15 game winning streak as a starter to begin his career that led the Steelers to the AFC championship game again. That cycle came around however after a Super Bowl victory, with much credit going to Super Bowl blues in 2006 and a near-death motor cycle accident that led to Roethlisberger’s worst year of his career. The two following years yielded yet another Super Bowl victory under the direction of Mike Tomlin. But the cycle’s downside struck again in 2009 when Troy Polamalu suffered an injury in week one against the Tennessee Titans that would prevent him from being effective for the rest of that season. The Steelers' defense never recovered from his injury and Tyrone Carter was exposed as a weakness in the defense. The team went 9-7 and missed the playoffs. However the team again rebounded by winning the AFC championship game the following year and Polamalu earning the NFL Defensive Player of the Year award. The defense which dominated for almost an entire decade still wrecked havoc upon opposing offenses and Ben Roethlisberger was finding different ways to win games. The absence of Santonio Holmes might have cost the Steelers the Super Bowl against the Packers, but the emergence of Mike Wallace, Emmanuel Sanders and Antonio Brown provided a litany of receivers to choose from to see who would step up to become the new leader of the proud unit once Hines Ward retired. We just saw the end of this revolution in the cycle after a brutal injury to Roethlisberger against the Chiefs added on top of a long list of injuries including the former first round draft pick and starting running back Rashard Mendenhall, injuries to almost every starting offensive lineman, and a depleted secondary that could only field it’s fourth-string corner back in Curtis Brown against

NBA Mock Draft Pick #12 -- Cody Zeller, Forward, Indiana SB Nation's Thunder blog Welcome to Loud City explains the pick: The Thunder will draft Cody Zeller! Zeller, being a 7 foot tall white center from the Midwest, evokes bad memories of Cole Aldrich, a center who the Thunder traded some significant assets to get. But Zeller looks a bit different. While Cole Aldrich was known for his quiet demeanor, agility, post moves, and ability to finish on the break, Cody Zeller is known for exactly the same things. But seriously, Zeller is more offensively sound than Aldrich was, and the Thunder desperately need some scoring in the post right now. He's also known as a total team player, which is something that the Thunder seriously value. Because of his knowledge of the game and consistent play, he's simply the least likely to bust at this point. I know the draft is all about potential, but with the Thunder looking to win now, they need a sure thing. SB Nation Scouting Report: Cody Zeller More: Full NBA Draft Coverage Updated 2013 NBA Mock Draft Board: 1. Cleveland Cavaliers: NERLENS NOEL2. Orlando Magic BEN MCLEMORE3. Washington Wizards OTTO PORTER4. Charlotte Hornets ALEX LEN5. Phoenix Suns VICTOR OLADIPO6. New Orleans Pelicans TREY BURKE7. Sacramento Kings ANTHONY BENNETT (for Philly)8. Detroit Pistons C.J. MCCOLLUM9. Minnesota Timberwolves KENTAVIOUS CALDWELL-POPE10. Portland Trail Blazers RUDY GOBERT11. Philadelphia 76ers MICHAEL CARTER-WILLIAMS12. Oklahoma City Thunder CODY ZELLER13. Dallas Mavericks 14. Utah Jazz 15. Milwaukee Bucks 16. Boston Celtics 17. Atlanta Hawks 18. Atlanta Hawks 19. Cleveland Cavaliers 20. Chicago Bulls 21. Utah Jazz 22. Brooklyn Nets 23. Indiana Pacers 24. New York Knicks25. Los Angeles Clippers 26. Minnesota Timberwolves 27. Denver Nuggets 28. San Antonio Spurs 29. Oklahoma City Thunder30. Phoenix Suns

News & Notes On cable tonight, Comedy Central has the seventh summer season premiere of Futurama, E! has the series premiere of The Soup Investigates, Lifetime has a John Walsh Investigates: Abduction in the Heartland special, Spike TV has the series premiere of Fight Master, TNT has the third season premiere of Franklin & Bash, truTV has the 11th season finale of Operation Repo, and TV Land has the fourth summer season premiere of Hot in Cleveland and the third season premiere of The Exes. In late night, TV Land has the second season premiere of The Soul Man. Still a few days left to enter our Wedding Band Season 1 DVD giveaway. Prime Picks Melissa & Joey (ABC Family): New. Mel starts dating a friend from her childhood and Joe begins to think that they may be related. A previous episode plays later. The previous two episodes replay right before. Baby Daddy (ABC Family): New. Danny starts seeing a psychologist to find out why his hockey game is waning. Riley hopes that Danny will make a move. A previous episode plays right after. The previous two episodes replay earlier this evening. Royal Pains (USA Network): New. Hank tries to help a cop with a teenage daughter that is a handful. HankMed gets a big offer. Hank finds out some information about Dmitri. Runs 61 minutes. Plays again later. Last week’s episode, “Hankwatch,” replays earlier this morning. Fun episode tonight with some interesting developments. Necessary Roughness (USA Network): New. Dani is tasked with helping a former child star that is trying to transition into an adult acting career. TK tries to continue revamping his image. Starts a minute after the hour and runs 61 minutes. Plays again later. Last week’s episode, “Ch-Ch-Changes,” replays earlier this morning. An interesting bigger storyline is revealed tonight. Other Options Franklin & Bash (TNT): Season Premiere. Two episodes play. Stanton brings one someone new to help run the firm. Peter and Jared take the case of a famous magician. Pindar causes some problems at the house. Both Play again later. I like the addition of Heather Locklear and how she doesn’t seem to like Peter and Jared, but there is an aspect of that doesn’t make sense given how last season ended. But, I may be just expecting too much from a fun and enjoyable lawyer show. Twisted (ABC Family): Repeat. Last night’s episode, “Grief Is a Five-Letter Word,” replays. Sports Notes ESPN has an MLB game tonight with the Los Angeles Dodgers at the New York Yankees. MLB Network has a game today. Late Night Mad Men (AMC): Repeat. This past Sunday’s episode, “The Quality of Mercy,” replays. Wednesday TV Marathons Castle (TNT): Five episodes. Flashpoint (ION): Six episodes tonight. NCIS (USA Network): Has 13 episodes. Sanford and Son (TV One): Has 12 episodes early. Printable TV Schedule Downloads: Printable Summer 2013 TV Schedule v1.01 (PDF) - Last Updated: 5.26.2013. Printable Summer 2013 Cable TV Schedule v1.01 (PDF) - Last Updated: 5.27.2013. Printable Fall 2013 TV Schedule v1.00 (PDF) - New as of 5.17.2013.