Last Call for Tickets

Tribe signs first rounder Drew Pomeranz ($2.65mil), 2nd rounder LeVon Washington ($1.2mil) and 3rd rounded Tony Wolters ($1.35mil).  Quite a coup.  The Indians sign their top 14 picks, 20 of the top 23, and spend about $9mil on the draft.

Dodgers sign LSU QB recruit and #28 overall pick Zach Lee.

Bryce Harper does indeed sign with the Nats.  The deal is worth about $6.5mil $9.9mil.  That's a five year deal, including a $6.25mil bonus.

Orioles ink A-Rod clone and #3 pick Manny Machado.  He gets $5.25mil.

The Mets sign #7 pick Matt Harvey w/ a $2.5mil bonus.

Blue Jays agree with #11 Deck McGuire for $2mil.

Rockies come to terms with Auburn QB recruit and #26 pick Kyle Parker for $1.4mil.

Marlins sign #23 Christian Yelich for $1.7mil.

Tigers sign #44 Nick Castellanos for a staggering $3.45mil.

#25 Zack Cox gets a major league deal from the Cards worth $3.2mil.

Just when I was wondering what was up in St. Pete, the Rays ink both #17 Josh Sale (1.62mil) and #42 Drew Vettleson ($845K).

20 till and  no more ?s as #9 (Karsten Whitson, Padres), #6 (Barret Loux, D-Bags), #14 (Dylan Covey, Brewers) will not sign.

Whistle Stops

Very quiet on the MLB draft pick signings right now, so I've been watching the 2nd half of the Jets/Giants game.  One doesn't expect much from the 2nd+ teams in a pre-season game, but it's been a lot of fun.  Write down the name Victor Cruz.  An undrafted free agent from UMass who grew up 11 miles from the new stadium, Cruz introduced himself to America making a spectacular one handed grab down the sideline for a 64 yard score.  He continued to impress with a 2nd TD reception and several other catches that showcased his outstanding ball skills, great hands, and tremendous explosivity off the line.  Cruz finishes with 6 catches for a buck 45 and 3 scores, the first NFL player with 3 TD receptions in a pre-season game since TO in '98.  Even if he doesn't stick in the Big Apple, the kid will land somewhere and looks to have the chops to make waves.  On top of that, I had the pleasure to hear an excellent interview with LaDanian Tomlinson. The man who stands 3rd all-time in NFL touchdowns has no need to be so humble, so articulate and so consummately professional, yet he is.  I'll be rooting for LT to get that ring before he retires.

Mets closer Francisco Rodriguez will have season ending thumb surgery on a torn ligament.  He sustained the injury punching his girlfriend's father outside of Citi Field.  K-Rod, who just returned from suspension and lock-up, will likely have the remainder of this season's contract voided by the Mets.

49ers sign former Eagles dynamo Brian Westbrook.  Glen Coffee's retirement opened the door for Westbrook's 2nd (& likely last) chance.

Tickets Punched

The Tribe has signed 8th round pick Alex Lavinsky, C from St Eds, to a deal with a $1mil bonus.  That's the same bonus that Texas gave #22 overall selection, prep catcher, Kellin Deglan.  Wowza.

The Pirates inked Lavinsky's high school battery mate, 100mph fireballer and 2nd round pick, Stetson Allie.  Many had speculated that Allie would skip Pittsburghatory and honor his commitment to North Carolina.  Guess not.

Update #1:  Allie gets a $2.25mil bonus.  Maybe that's why he signed.  Also, the Bucs agree with #2 overall pick Jameson Taillon.  Bryce Harper, Manny Machado and Indians top 3 Pomeranz/Washington/Wolters all remain unsigned as of 10:10 est.

Update #2:  Taillon's bonus worth about $5mil $6mil.  Word on the street is that an Indians deal with 3rd round pick Tony Wolters is highly unlikely.

MLB Whistle Stops

The Tribe has signed 4th rounder Kyle Blair out of the University of San Diego.  Ranked #84 pre-draft by Baseball America, Blair will receive a hefty $580K ($334K over slot) bonus.

Former Indian and #1 overall pick Bryan Bullington picked up his first major league win yesterday as he dazzled the Evil Empire with 8 2-hit, shutout innings.  Congrats getting over than hump, Bryan.

On a point I'm sure to rant more on sometime, Kevin Slowey was pulled after 7 no-hit innings yesterday.  Pulled.  As in manager Ron Gardenhire decided not to give the kid a shot to finish it.  Granted Slowey had thrown 106 pitches.  Granted Slowey had missed his last start due to elbow tendinitis.  Granted he would have still needed 6 more outs to complete the gem.  But, c'mon man, is this what we've degraded into?  Gardenhire has to feel the weight of the franchise on his back and not trust Slowey to tell him if there's pain?  Pitch counts and caution have their place in extending a pitcher's career, but, a long time ago, a smart man taught me to focus on "strength, not length."  Might Slowey pitch another 65 career innings because he got yanked?  Sure.  Will he ever have the opportunity to toss a no-no again?  Likely not.  I recognize that it's a team sport.  I know the pinnacle is a World Championship.  I recognize that the Twins are in a pennant race (whatever that means anymore).  But baseball, and life, is made up of a series of moments, of opportunities to be seized.  Disregarding these leads to a banal life of tedious regret.  Sadly, Kevin Slowey was denied the chance to carpe diem.

Talk about the No Fun League

Following the Broncos/Bengals game Sunday, two media members (a Cincinnati reporter and a photographer) asked Tim Tebow for autographs in the post-game locker room.  Graciously, Tebow obliged.  Correctly, the Broncos media department booted both guys.  I'm not trying to be judgmental, but WTF?  You risk your reputation and your career on a Tebow signature?  A man that hasn't played an NFL down?  Really?

We recall Stefon Johnson, the USC running back who dropped a 275 lb barbell on his neck last fall and, thanks to his phenomenal neck musculature, survived.  He defied expectation and imagination by rehabbing so intensely that he caught on as a free agent with the Titans.  He made his preseason debut this past weekend by chewing up 23 yards in 3 carries.  Remember him?  He had his right leg trapped underneath him on a swing pass and had to be carted off the field in an inflatable cast.  Seemingly, he has a high ankle sprain and will miss the entire season.  When it rains...

In a story that I shan't belabor, Glen Cofee, former Alabama standout and 3rd round pick of the 49ers in the 2009 draft, has retired.  Stating his true path was to follow christ, Coffee filed his retirement papers yesterday, citing that he "should never have entered the draft in the first place" and that he was "wasting the 49ers time."

Pluto Talks Tribe

Pretty Girl 08.16.10 - Keri Russell

OMG!  Remember when Felicity cut her hair?  Me neither, just when she took her clothes off.

Puffs of Smoke

Senor Strasburgo on Bryce Harper - "If he wants to play here, then he is going to play here," Strasburg said. "He doesn't need any advice from anybody. You don't need to convince him otherwise. If he doesn't want to play here, then we don't want him here -- bottom line. We want guys who want to play on this team. It's really important." 

Charles Barkley sniping back at el BJ - “I heard about LeBron’s little tweet today that he’s remembering everybody who said anything bad about him,” Barkley said. “And he said ‘everybody.’ Well, I want him to make sure that he puts my name on that (list) … I thought that his little one-hour special was a punk move. I thought them dancing around on the stage was a punk move, and I thought he should’ve stayed in Cleveland. Him joining Dwyane Wade ‘s team was very disappointing to me.”

Phil Dawson on the Brownies big O - "To march down like that with confidence right out of the chute, I don't remember ever seeing that in our first preseason game," said Dawson. "We may not execute like that every game, but now we know what we can do if we execute."

Browns QBs

I expressed it briefly in real time and now I'll expound - I was duly impressed by both Jake Delhomme and Seneca Wallace last night. 

The Browns first drive was a thing of beauty, mostly via Delhomme's right arm.  His passes were crisp and well-timed, but most of all his reads were astounding.  The pass to Robiskie that set up the touchdown was his 4th option on that play.  Jake blazed through his progression, found the open man and put the ball just where it had to be.  The only pity is that we saw Delhomme for just one series.  Obviously the brain trust had a plan and they stuck to it, despite Jake's splendid performance.

While Seneca Wallace has never been purported to be the pocket passer that Delhomme is, he shined in his own right.  The 20 yard score to Ben Watson would have been enough for me last night.  Wallace stuck with the play and found his man wide open in the middle of the field.  Wallace was at his best, though, on the score to Robiskie.  On 3rd and 10, after failing on his first 2 attempts, Seneca rolled left, ducked out of a sack, danced the sideline and delivered a strike that flew 30-35 yards in the air to Robiskie in the back of the end zone.  Wallace is not what I would want as #1 (see the floater his tried to Cribbs at the goal line), but I can certainly see why every fantasy guide I've looked at has him ranked no lower #35.

Here's the pretty bow on it all - I am much more optimistic about the the offense in the upcoming season having seen it on the field., especially against a defense that ranked in the top 5 last season.  I still do not buy into Jerome Harrison as an every down back, but, hopefully, he doesn't have to be.  The stable is full of role horses to tote the rock and Lawrence Vickers is quickly ascending to premier fullback status.  I heard it said last night and I agree, this offense has a cohesion that last year's muddled slapstick did not.  Roles are defined, there is a clear hierarchy of leadership, and everyone can focus solely on winning. 

I shan't step away without giving props to Phil Dawson on a tremendous last two minutes that delivered the victory.  With the Rams and the Lions comin'?  Let's keep it rollin', boys.

Mitch Talbot is now the 4th Indians starter with 10 losses.  His roster spot was opened via optioning Jess Todd to Columbus.  The Clippers placed Jeremy Sowers on the DL to fit in Todd.

Also, Pronk back from the DL (imagine me doing the most sarcastic happy dance possible) and Jordan Brown demoted.  What's the difference between Hafner on and off the DL?  I surely cannot tell.  He is the poster child for contract buyout clauses.