Cleveland Indians Spring Preview!!! (Part 2)

Although the Tribe suffered through such a disappointing season last year nobody can put the blame on the offense; the Indians were second in the majors in runs scored and put pressure on the opposition all season. The lineup is mostly intact, with Josh Barfield replacing the Luna/Inglett platoon at second base and Trot Nixon and David Delluci bolstering the outfield depth. Lets see how the offense stacks up this year:

Catcher- Victor Martinez appears to be entrenched at the catcher's position, despite his well-documented struggles defensively and the presence of up-and-coming backup Kelly Shoppach. Although V-Mart got a few opportunities at first base last season, the presence of David Dellucci and Trot Nixon will force Casey Blake to get more at-bats at first, likely keeping Martinez behind the plate. The Indians are hoping that continued work with ex-catchers and current coaches Eric Wedge and Joel Skinner will improve Martinez's footwork and throwing accuracy. With that said, there are few catchers as offensively gifted as V-Mart, who hit a robust .316 with 16 home runs and 93 RBI, with an on-base percentage of .391. His power numbers were actually slightly down last season, the first year since 2003 that he did not hit 20 home runs, but his double rate still stayed consistent. Only 28 years old, there is no reason Martinez should not remain one of the best offensive catchers in baseball.

1st base- Young first baseman Ryan Garko impressed last season in his first extended stint in the majors, but he will likely be platooning this year with "supersub" Casey Blake. The right-handed Garko hit .333 against lefties last year vs. .281 against righties, while Blake hit .286 against righties and .272 against lefties. Thus Blake will play first against right-handed pitchers while Garko will take over against lefties, although Blake may still get at-bats in the outfield against left-handers. This platoon should generate a high overall average and on-base percentage, although Blake has only average power and Garko has not been able to translate his immense strength into home runs as of yet. This should still be a position of strength.

2nd base- A relative weakness for the Indians, Josh Barfield had a strong rookie season in the National League but now has to adjust a whole new league this year. A good fielder with a quick bat, Barfield has great upside but has to make a quick transition or he will start very slowly. If he can learn the pitchers and the league, he has a chance to be a very solid hitter at the bottom of the lineup.

Shortstop- Probably the biggest X-Factor for the Indians roster, the Tribe need to see the Jhonny Peralta of 2005 and not of last season. Consider that at age 22 and in his first full season the phenom hit .292 with 24 home runs and 78 RBI, solidifying the middle of the lineup. Last year Peralta hit the dreaded "sophomore slump," and posted a measly .257 average with 13 homers and 68 RBI, along with a paltry .323 on-base percentage that crippled the lineup. If Peralta can return to form he can make an already dangerous lineup extraordinary.

Third base- The hot corner will belong exclusively to one-time uberprospect Andy Marte, who struggled in his rookie season last year. He hit only .226 with 5 home runs last year, although his plate discipline and defense improved dramatically over the course of the season. Blessed with enormous physical tools, Marte needs to channel some of that potential into production this season and become at least a serviceable major league hitter.

Outfield- After General Manager Mark Shapiro re-signed Jason Michaels and signed outfielders Trot Nixon and David Dellucci, the outfield could shape up in any number of ways. The only constant is star Center Fielder Grady Sizemore, a player White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen called "the best in the American League," and the de facto leader of the outfield. After a stellar rookie year, Sizemore's 2006 campaign was off-the charts; hitting at the top of the lineup, he hit .290 with 28 home runs and 76 RBI, with a .375 on-base percentage. He added 53 doubles and 11 triples, which means he had a total of NINETY-TWO extra-base hits, by far leading the league. He also was easily the Indians best defensive player, contributing a number of eye-popping "web gems" that saved games. Oh yeah, he is still 24 years old.

Left Field should be a platoon of the right-handed Jason Michaels and the left-handed David Dellucci. Michaels struggled as a regular last season, but as a platoon player he could be a valuable contributor as he was for the Phillies in 2005. Dellucci has experience and has been extremely productive in part-time roles before, most recently last year for the Texas Rangers.
Right Field will be another platoon between newly acquired Trot Nixon and Casey Blake. The well-respected Nixon will face right-handers, off of whom he hit .288 last season, and Blake will move from first to right to face left-handers.

The Indians outfield is very solid although it still lacks power outside of Sizemore, although Nixon and Dellucci should improve that to an extent. But that power outage is made up for by one of the most dangerous hitters in the American League...

Designated Hitter: Travis Hafner. Hafner, affectionately known as "Pronk" in the Cleveland area, has become something of a cult hero. His Pronk-bars are sold in area candy shops and the Indians named the right-field mezzanine at Jacobs Field "Pronkville" in his honor. But Pronk (the origin of the name is credited to former Indians utility-man Bill Selby, who observed that Hafner was 'half-project, half donkey,' and coined the nickname 'Pronk') when healthy is undoubtedly one of the most feared hitters in baseball. Limited to DH because of an arthiritic elbow, Hafner last year hit .308 with 42 home runs and 117 RBI in only 130 games. His on-base percentage was an absurd .439, and his OPS (on-base + slugging percentage) was second in all of baseball, behind only the incomparable Albert Pujols of the Cardinals. With all due respect to the incredibly clutch David Ortiz of the Red Sox, Hafner may well be the best hitter in the American League.


In short, the Indians offense is loaded this year. But that was the case last year, when the Tribe was second in the big leagues in runs scored yet still finished below .500. With an improved bullpen and more overall consistency from the pitching staff, the Tribe have to be considered a legitimate contender. However, the AL Central houses three other legitimate contenders, and only one or two will make the playoffs. Regardless of how it plays out, the race should go down to the wire and the Tribe should be in the thick of it all season.

Notes on Keith Foulke

Closer candidate Keith Foulke retired last week, and even though we have other closing options and we knew he was injury-prone going in, his loss really hurts. Although Joe Borowski is a serviceable replacement, Foulke had been truly dominant in the past and had a much higher upside. Its hard for me to believe that we can win a championship with Joe-Bo shutting the door. With that said, its not uncommon for closers to emerge out of the woodwork like Adam Wainwright did with the Cards last year, and the Indians have a lot of young and talented arms either in or on the verge of the majors that could potentially close by mid-season. Could Jason Davis, lefty relief prospect Tony Sipp, or dare I say young phenom Adam Miller (a la Papelbon) supplant Borowski by September? Its not out of the realm of possibility, and because we have so many other options I still feel like the Tribe has a shot.

Pitchers and Catchers Report: Tribe Preview (Part 1)

Last year's Indians team was unique in that it outscored its opponents by 88 runs over the course of the season yet failed to win even half of its games. Run differential usually correlates well to winning percentage; the Indians were an anomaly, and in fact one Wall Street Journal article from last summer and at least one ESPN.com journalist called the 2006 Indians "the most unlucky team in baseball." Although it is probably true that the Tribe was better than its record, further statistical digging shows that the team had major flaws. Its overall pitching ranked 7th in the AL in runs allowed, definitely mediocre but still not crippling for a team with such a powerful offense. However, the team ranked second to last in the league in strikeouts and dead last in the league in saves. The team's bullpen was atrocious, and the lack of power arms particularly held the team back. Situations late in games where the team couldn't afford to give up a sacrifice fly and desperately needed a strikeout typically resulted in losses for the Indians, as we offered the strikeout-averse Bob Wickman where most contending teams would bring in a flamethrower from the pen. General Manager Mark Shapiro's biggest efforts to improve the club this off-season focused on rebuilding the bullpen, and while he did not necessarily focus on strikeout pitchers his acquisitions will decide those crucial late game situations that are the difference between champions and chumps. Here is a look at the Tribe's pitching staff:

Rotation:

THE ACE- C.C. Sabathia
Sabathia's inconsistencies continue to frustrate Indians fans and front office alike. His conditioning has always been poor, and as a result he has missed the beginning of the last two seasons with injuries. When he is on his game his combination of stuff and command is as good as any in baseball; see the months of May and August last year, where his ERAs were a microscopic 1.20 and 1.88 respectively. When the big left-hander trusts his power arm and darting slider and doesn't overthrow, focusing on the pinpoint control that he is often capable of, he is the pitcher that promising Royals 3rd baseman Mark Teahen recently called "the toughest pitcher in the American League." But he still has months like last June, when his ERA was a pathetic 7.57. His production may never fully match his potential, but what the frustrated fans are missing is the big picture; Sabathia's ERA of 3.22 still ranked 3rd in the American League. Far from perfect, but still a better than average #1 starter.

Mr. Consistency- Jake Westbrook
Westbrook never gets the credit he deserves. A true workhorse, he has pitched over 200 innings in each of the last three seasons and has won 14, 15, and 15 games. His best statistical season was two years ago, when he posted an ERA of 3.38, but he has always been steady and reliable. A classic sinker-ball pitcher, Westbrook may have a big year as the infield defense has been significantly improved with the additions of Josh Barfield and Andy Marte and more importantly the departures of Ronnie Belliard and Aaron Boone.

The Savvy Veteran- Paul Byrd
The right-handed Byrd has some of the worst stuff on the team, with a fastball lucky to reach the mid-80s and a smattering of unremarkable breaking and offspeed pitching. Yet the crafty Byrd has an uncanny feel for pitching and is a master of the mental aspects of the game. When he has control of his breaking pitches they move enough to confuse opposing hitters and generate weak outs. Another innings eater who will give solid production.

Master of Deception- Cliff Lee
The left-handed Lee had a down year last year; his 4.40 ERA was far above that of his previous season. There is a sense that opposing hitters had adjusted to his style; his stuff is not dominating, and he counts on deceiving hitters through his delivery and changing speeds to flummox batters. At 28 years old his upside is probably limited, although you could do a lot worse for a #4 starter.

The Phenom- Jeremy Sowers
The left-handed Sowers was drafted 6th in the 2005 draft, considered the second-best college pitcher in that draft behind Old Dominion's dazzling Justin Verlander. Although Verlander, now with the Tigers, had a sensational rookie season last year, Sowers was no slouch himself. Called up in mid-season, the former Vanderbilt star had a 3.57 ERA in almost 90 big-league innings before being shut down for the season. Another starter without dominant stuff, he compensates with brilliant control and makeup for a young pitcher. He has been compared to a young Tom Glavine, and while such comparisons are premature he is a fine 5th starter at this point in his career.

BULLPEN

There are a number of pitchers trying out for spots in a crowded Indians bullpen, but here is how I expect it to shake out assuming the Tribe keeps 11 pitchers.

Rafael Betancourt- Played a big role in the bullpen last year, not ideally suited for the set-up role and would be a good middle reliever. Has started in the minors before and could be stretched out to serve as the long man.

Jason Davis- Another candidate for the long reliever role, he is a former starter for the Indians and even won 10 games one year. Since he was converted to the bullpen last year he has improved his control while maintaining his velocity. He posted a 3.74 ERA overall but improved over the course of the season, posting monthly ERAs of 3.86, 2.57, and 0.82 over July, August, and September. Very high upside.

Aaron Fultz- The situational lefty that the Indians lacked last year, the free agent pickup only had a 4.54 ERA last year but boasted a strong K/IP rate (62/71.1). Although he was better against left-handed hitters than righties last year, they still batted .277 off of him, which is less than ideal for a lefty specialist. However the Indians hope he returns to his form of 2005, when Fultz was dominant in posting a 2.24 ERA and lefties hit .220 off of him. The front office will be happy if he settles in somewhere in between those extremes this year.

Roberto Hernandez- A cagey veteran, the 42-year old Hernandez had an ERA of 3.11 and was indispensable for the Mets as they dominated the National League during the regular season. Hernandez only gave up 5 home runs all season, and although Shea Stadium is a much better pitcher's park than Jacobs Field his tendency to keep balls in the yard will play well. Not a big strikeout guy, Hernandez is expected to be the Tribe's bridge to the set-up guy.

Joe Borowski- Brought in to close, Borowski will probably begin the season in the set-up role behind Keith Foulke, although if and when Foulke is injured Borowski is a capable fill-in. The pitcher had a 3.75 ERA with 37 saves for the Marlins with a high K/IP rate (64/69.2). Oddly enough, left-handed hitters hit only .167 against the right-handed Borowski, so manager Eric Wedge will be able to use him for situational matchups as well. Borowski is probably not a championship-caliber closer, but if he has experience in big situations and should be able to hold leads through the late innings.

Keith Foulke- Probably will be the closer out of spring training, and barring injury should stay there through the season. Foulke was a dominant closer earlier in his career, having 8 straight seasons with ERAs below 3 at one point, but the last two seasons have been disasters. Injuries to his knee and elbow caused his mechanics to suffer and Foulke lost his control. However, Foulke was finally healthy in September of 2006 and rolled off 11 straight appearances without yielding a run. If we see that Keith Foulke this season the Indians will have the legitimate hammer at the end of the bullpen that the team hasn't seen since the great Steve Karsay/Paul Shuey combination of early 2001.

Overall the pitching staff looks solid on paper. The group is veteran-laden and has a number of reliable innings-eaters in the rotation with proven bullpen arms to hold leads. Moreover the 'pen has versatility and depth; Borowski, Betancourt, and Davis have all closed before in case Foulke gets injured. The only thing missing is a level of dominance in the front of the rotation and back of the bullpen. Sabathia has the ability to be that dominant ace, but he has to make it happen this year. Foulke has been that dominant closer in the past, but his body may hold him back this year. The bottom line is that this year's bullpen will not be the liability it was last year, and with some good breaks the pitching staff could propel the Tribe to a pennant run.

Cavs Searching for Success

Like many Cleveland sports fans starved for good teams to cheer for, I bought into all the Cavs hype this fall and thought they were a legit championship contender. After all, we did stretch the Pistons to their limit last spring and showed the world that we were not to be taken lightly. Plus, we had The Chosen One, LeBron James, the one weapon that no other team could match. The Cavs play was uneven for much of the early going, but I wrote their shortcomings off as merely the result of a slow start, and after they won 8 of 9 games around the New Year it seemed their problems were behind them. But the last month has exposed the Cavs as a team with major and obvious flaws.

Since beating Sacramento on January 9th the Cavs are 7-8. Its true many of those losses were on an extended road trip, but as my colleague Will Gibson noted earlier on The Itis, losses to the likes of Portland and Seattle are unacceptable no matter where they're played. Recent losses to Miami, Detroit, and Phoenix revealed that the Cavs as presently constructed are not contenders. ESPN's Rumor Central reported that Cavs guard Larry Hughes, once thought to be the Pippen to LeBron's MJ, is unhappy with the way he is being utilized by coach Mike Brown and is beginning to quietly voice his frustrations to the organization. The contract Z signed just a year and a half ago is starting to look like an albatross, as his production has fallen off dramatically and he is still owed almost 40 million dollars over the next 3 and a half seasons. Worst of all the rock of the organization, LeBron, is struggling. His scoring has dipped and his free-throw percentage has plummeted. This season seems to be taking a toll on him the most and is showing that no man, no matter how superhuman, can do it alone.

Owner Dan Gilbert will not settle for anything else than contention from this team, and he will mandate that GM Danny Ferry do something very soon to right the ship. From the Itis' perspective, there are two directions he can go; dump the captain or can the crew.

OPTION A: FIRE COACH MIKE BROWN

Coach Brown came from Indiana with a reputation as a defensive guru who would make the Cavs a hard-nosed, gritty defensive team like the Pacers or Spurs. Last year's team was actually slightly worse defensively than the previous year's Brendan Malone/Paul Silas' edition, but this year's squad has made a major leap from 16th in the league to 7th in opponent's ppg. However, the problem with coach Brown is his complicated and rigid offensive system. Brown prefers to slow the game down and grind it out in the half-court, dumping it low to Z or giving it to LeBron or Hughes on the wing and having them attack. However, often the play breaks down and results to having LeBron with the ball in his hands on the perimeter and everyone else standing and watching. Many would prefer a coach that let the Cavs run up and down and use their athleticism to score easy points.

However, a running offense won't be successful without a solid point guard to push the tempo, which the Cavs are clearly lacking. Brown could make the argument that it is Eric Snow's offensive ineptitude that is holding back his offense, as defenders don't respect his outside shot and sag back to double LeBron on the wing and cut off lanes to the basket. Many would prefer breaking up the Cavs as presently constructed.

OPTION B: SHAKE UP THE CAVS

Obviously LeBron is not going anywhere, and because of their contracts veterans Eric Snow (5.5 million a year until 2009) and Ilgauskas (9.2 million until 2010) aren't going anywhere either. The Cavs best trade assets are probably Drew Gooden (who has a short-term deal and has been very productive in relatively few minutes), young, cheap, and promising talents Anderson Varejao and Sasha Pavlovic, and the injury-prone, expensive, yet undeniably talented Larry Hughes. Each has their merits; Gooden is a solid defender and good rebounder who makes the most of his scoring opportunities, Varejao and Pavlovic are young and promising talents who could blossom later in their careers and Hughes is a proven playmaker and defender who has been a big-time scorer in the past. However, Varejao and Pavlovic will both be free agents after this season and re-signing both of them would probably put the Cavs into the luxury tax, so dealing one of them might make more fiscal sense. Hughes has been a major disappointment since coming from the Wizards before last season, as he has struggled to stay on the court and to put the ball in the basket when he has played. His scoring is significantly down from his career high of 22.0 ppg in 2004-2005, and he has struggled to mesh with LeBron James and the Cavs system. A change of scenery now may be best before he loses any more trade value.

The Cavs single most glaring need is a point guard to run the show and allow LeBron to play off the ball and be a finisher. Some point guards who could be available for the right price include Andre Miller, Mike Bibby, and Earl Watson. Bibby is a star player with experience who is a prolific scorer, shooter, and floor leader but is on thin ice with management and on the trading block, while Miller is a solid starting point guard in his own right who could be had from the rebuilding Sixers. Watson is not an established starter and would be the easiest to trade for, and he has been productive over his career and would be a far better option than anything the Cavs currently have. Here is a trade scenario for each that would make some sense for both teams (or try your own using ESPN.com's Trade Machine).

Cavs trade Hughes, Varejao, and Ira Newble to Sacramento for Mike Bibby and Kenny Thomas
Hughes' salary is a good match for Bibby's, but no matter how disgruntled Bibby is the Kings wouldn't give him up straight up for Hughes. Varejao gives Sacramento a good young big to build around and Hughes' slashing, athletic style would go well in Sacramento's running offense like Bonzi Wells' did last year. Kenny Thomas is not as athletic or talented as Varejao but replaces some of his inside muscle, and Bibby is the perfect point guard for Mike Brown and the Cavs. Ira Newble is only worth his expiring contract and gives the Kings some cap relief after this season.

Cavs trade Drew Gooden, Daniel Gibson, and Ira Newble to Philadelphia for Andre Miller
The Sixers currently start Steven Hunter at the 4, and Gooden will give them better rebounding and scoring and help solidify would could be a decent frontcourt. The Sixers are playing for the lottery, and scoring Gibson to groom as a potential starter will both increase their talent base and give them a better shot at Durant/Oden. Newble is included to make the cap numbers work, and Andre Miller returns to Cleveland to be the reliable floor leader they have craved since he last left.

Cavs trade Sasha Pavlovic, Daniel Gibson, and Ira Newble to Seattle for Earl Watson.
Pavlovic will give Seattle the athletic wing they have lacked, and a lineup of Luke Ridnour, Ray Allen, Pavlovic, Rashard Lewis, and Nick Collison will certainly put points on the board. The athletic Gibson will be a good change of pace off the bench to Ridnour, and Newble is again included just to make the numbers work. Watson averages about 8 points and 6 assists in limited minutes for the Sonics, and is sort of a rich man's Eric Snow.

That sort of sums up the state of the Cavs right now - their current starting point guard is a poor man's Earl Watson.

Ohio State Signing Day

Contributed by Josh Rogen

Overall, this recruiting season for the Buckeyes was a little disappointing. Coming off of a National Championship appearance, Ohio State should have had sufficient momentum to land top prospects in and out of state. The results were mixed as Ohio State landed some speed, but not a lot size. Ben Martin, a high school All-American out of Cincinnati De La Salle, and the unanimous top senior defensive lineman in the state shockingly committed to Tennessee. Joseph Barksdale, a defensive tackle out of Michigan committed to “The University of LSU” and Anthony Davis, a top offensive tackle prospect committed to Rutgers, a school whose most attended in-season game will not outdraw Ohio State’s spring game. Tressel and co. desperately sought after these prized recruits and came out empty-handed. However, the news was not all bad.

Evan Blankenship, an offensive tackle out of Pennsylvania committed to Ohio State early in the process after he earned a vaunted “camp offer,” which is only given only to those personally evaluated by Jim Tressel himself, who considers them more than worthy for an early offer. Look for Blankenship to be the cornerstone of future Buckeye lines. Cameron Heyward, a stud defensive tackle out of Georgia committed to Ohio State days before National Letter of Intent Day, which in effect offset the loss of Barksdale. Heyward will probably see some playing time next season and given the Buckeyes’ current situation, he may be the biggest out-of-state recruit that Tressel has ever landed. However, that was it for size in this class. Solomon Thomas, a defensive end-outside linebacker hybrid could be brought into the equation but he will be most likely be used at the “viper” position (a la Bobby Carpenter) at Ohio State. Thomas provides the speed and strength to rush the passer as well as Carpenter did. He was an important recruit, but it is pushing it to refer to him as a “size” commit.

While it may seem strange for Ohio State to not land the premier offensive lineman that the team clearly lacked in the National Championship, don't fret Buckeye fans. Ohio State has perhaps the best offensive line class in the history of college football lined up for the 2008 recruiting class. Mike Adams, Mike Brewster, Kyle Long, Josh Jenkins, and JB Shugarts all have Ohio State at or near the top of their lists and at least three of them are expected to commit next year. This class has the potential to be so good that Ohio State hasn’t even offered a scholarship to in-state recruit Zebrie Sanders, who has offers from Michigan, Georgia, and Miami (Fl).

The speed recruits Ohio State landed this year are as talented as any set of recruits in the country. Eugene Clifford is probably the best of the bunch. He is a defensive back out of Cincinnati Colerain HS and he is a superstar. Clifford flat-out dominated the Army All-American Game and is going play significant minutes next year at Ohio State. It is possible that he will start as a true freshman, and as he progresses, he certainly has the potential to become a future top 10 NFL Pick. He is that good. Brandon Saine, a running back/wide receiver in the mold of Reggie Bush is one of the fastest players in the country. In fact, his speed has been compared to that of Teddy Ginn. Saine was this year’s Mr. Football in Ohio. He also has the state record in the 100-meter dash with a time of 10.38 seconds and he is powerful when he runs. If he gets in to the open field, watch out. Expect him to return kicks at the very least next season. It wouldn’t be surprising to see him play the slot and run some reverses. He is going to be very, very good at Ohio State.

James Scott, a defensive back out of Florida, originally committed to play for the Florida Gators but then reneged on his commitment and chose Ohio State. He flies around in the backfield and hits like Antoine Winfield. He is an absolute stud. Both Scott and Clifford are physical defensive backs, and if receivers happen to catch the ball around them, both will surely make their presence known. On the offensive side, Ohio State landed Dane Sanzebacher and Taurian Washington at wide receiver – two extremely athletic and dangerous prospects. Sanzebacher has more moves while Washington has more pure speed. OSU also landed linebackers Brian Rolle and Jermale Hines, two extremely athletic players.

I could go on all day talking about this class but I better stop myself now. This is what is referred to as a filler class. Tressel went for quality rather than quantity. All of the players in this class are just that: quality football players. With this year’s speed and next year’s size, I anticipate great things from these future Buckeyes. At the very least, this class will be more able to stop spread offenses and hit running backs in the mouth when they come up the middle. While it may not contain the size necessary for a class to be considered great, my message to Buckeye fans is: just wait. Plan A might not have worked but Plan B is coming and it just might be better. Go Buckeyes and Muck Fichigan!

National Signing Day

Contributed by Mike Scott

This year’s recruiting class in college football is filled with new school football players who have more talent in their little finger than any one of us mere mortals possess. Noel Devine, Joe McKnight, Jimmy Clausen, and Ronald Johnson just to name a few, are all solid NFL prospects. Many of these prospects have been blessed with incomparable speed, including Eric Berry, a defensive back who signed with Tennessee Wednesday morning, is listed as having a 4.33 40 time. No misprint here, 4.33 seconds. He is the number two overall prospect in the country with an enormous upside and “could be the next Champ Bailey” according to scouts. The Florida and Texas high schools, already known for their prowess on the football field, produced many of the top athletes – this year more than ever. Ohio is usually known for its football, as evidenced by its recent #1 ranking. The state’s top recruit did not disappoint as Eugene Clifford, from Cincinnati Colerain HS dominated the Army All-American game, in the process spiting the SEC coaches who passed him over.

Players like Devine, McKnight, Johnson, and many others were attracted to the prestigious, big time, big campus schools. Florida took home by far the most impressive recruiting class, with over a dozen players in the top 100 and 4 of the top 25. The Gators just keep on reloading; Urban Meyer has personally recruited most of these players and promised them and their parents nothing but excellence. All he expects is a repeat National Championship.
Here’s a list of the Top 5 recruiting classes, the Top 5 players in the country, according to me, Big Mike.

1) Florida - as mentioned above, they pulled in four of the best players in the country and two of the best players at their position in the country. Carlos Dunlap, and Torrey Davis will be the best inside-out defensive line combination the SEC has seen in a long time. Dunlap has 4.6 speed for his enormous 6'7" 265 lb. frame, and Davis just has unmatchable strength on the inside. Davis is enormous at 6'6" 300 lb. and can plow over any interior lineman in his path, the best DT in the country.

2) Tennessee - Phillip Fulmer went after a lot of stud recruits in and out of state, and reaped the benefits. He landed 4 five-star recruits, including the aforementioned Eric Berry, and the shocker out of Ohio, Ben Martin: a star at the Defensive End spot, who will shine for the Volunteers.

3) USC - Pete Carroll has done it again. Plain and simple. He recruited the most five-star athletes (6) than any other team in the nation. With Joe McKnight, a slot-back/running back hybrid out of Louisiana, Chris Galippo at linebacker, who dominated at Servite HS, (one of the many football powerhouses in California), offensive lineman Kris O’Dowd, defensive end Everson Griffen, and Ronald Johnson at wide receiver, Carroll reloaded big time after the departure of Dwayne Jarrett and Steve Smith, some of his big play makers.

4) LSU - Les Miles certainly made an impression on a lot of young prospective players with a resounding victory in this year’s Sugar Bowl and two potential top 10 draft picks in the 2007 draft, (JaMarcus Russell, and LaRon Landry). With Chad Jones, and WR Terrance Toliver signing Wednesday morning, the Tigers solidified their recruiting class. Toliver, a speedy 6'4" 220 pound receiver who can either go up and get it, or outrun you (4.47 40 time) and Jones, projected as an “Athlete” who is big (6'2"), fast (4.5 speed), and has a nose for the ball (12 interceptions and kickoff returns for touchdowns his senior year) will certainly be playing right away for LSU.

5) North Carolina - Yes, that’s right. They shocked the college football world this morning by landing big Marvin Austin out of Ballou H.S. in Washington D.C. Butch Davis has his mark already at UNC as his recruiting class has pundits thinking this may no longer be just a basketball school. Along with Austin comes Dwight Jones, a 6'5" wide receiver with all of the tools to be a star wide receiver in the ACC. With the class Butch Davis signed this morning, Carolina football fans are finally starting to come out of the woodwork.

Sleeper - Illinois- Ron Zook and the boys have made some huge pickups in signing five-star receiver Arrelious Benn, and Defensive End Martez Wilson, look for them to pick up some more recruits in the future and possibly climb out of the deep cellar in the Big Ten. (But with no help from Juice Williams)

Top 5 recruits

1) Jimmy Clausen - QB - 6'3" 210 - Notre Dame
A big time arm out of a high school known for its dominance in the California area: Oaks Christian where he was a teammate with USC recruit, RB Marc Tyler. Clausen’s older brother Casey played quarterback for Tennessee, but scouts are already calling Jimmy “the 10‑year, NFL talent that’s hard to come by”. He has a good frame for a quarterback, and good size and with 14 other rivals.com four‑star recruits along for the ride at Notre Dame with Clausen, Charlie Weis and company should be well equipped to potentially end their embarrassingly long bowl losing streak…but that’s just wishful thinking.

2) Joe McKnight - RB - 6'1" 195 - USC
An unbelievable talent out of Louisiana whose speed was unmatched by anyone in high school and will most likely be the same way in college. He combined for 22 TD’s his senior year: 9 rushing, 5 receiving, 1 kickoff return, 4 punt returns, and 3 interception returns. That screams versatility. Pete Carroll will find a spot for him in every way he can, and will definitely draw up some trick plays for this superstar in the making.

3) Carlos Dunlap - DE - 6'7" 260 - Florida
A freakish athlete out of South Carolina, Dunlap puts chills down defensive coordinators spines with just his numbers. He was the state’s leading pass rusher for in both 2005 and 2006. And to go along with his massive, towering size, he has 4.60 40 yard dash time to go along with it. Are you kidding me? 4.6 speed at 6'7"? I personally hope that Ohio State doesn’t meet Florida again in the National Title game with Alex Boone trying to prevent Dunlap from wreaking havoc. And I thought Derrick Harvey and Jarvis Moss were good.

4) Eric Berry - DB - 5'11" 195 - Tennessee
Berry is one of the fastest prospects that have come along in a while. He played quarterback in high school and defensive back as a side project and happens to be the top rated DB in the country. He had Ohio State, Florida, and Georgia salivating over him. That could give you a small idea of the upside that this guy has. After he makes an interception, he has impeccable vision because he’s used to having the ball in his hands from his quarterbacking days in high school. And when it comes down to it, his raw athleticism is scary.

5) Noel Devine - RB - 5'8" 175 - West Virginia
Over the course of his high school career, he has had roughly 7500 yards rushing, and 100 TD’s from rushing. He grew up in Florida, and with those kind of numbers against that kind of competition there is no telling what he is capable of when he hits the big stage of big time college football. His vision is exceptional, and he makes cutbacks at the exact right moment. He can break out of the pile while keeping his feet moving, as you’re asking yourself “how did that little man stay up that long??” He is the most electrifying player that football has seen since Reggie Bush came out of Helix High School in California. Now that is not a comparison I make everyday.

Sleeper - Brandon Saine - RB - 6'0" 200 - Ohio State
OK, OK, so I’m a little biased. But if you have seen as many scouting tapes as I have of this player from Piqua, you would be wondering how he went virtually unnoticed by the larger recruiting schools. With his raw speed (faster than Ginn!), he’s a great kick and punt return man, and once he gets into the open field, you can go on back to the sideline and get some water, because he’s already handing the ref the ball in the end zone.

Watch out for these guys and just remember who told you about ‘em.

- Big Mike

Looking Back at the 2002 NBA Draft

Oasis has a song called “Don’t Look Back in Anger.” Well, sorry. I’m looking back in anger, and there’s nothing that you tea-and-crumpet-loving Brit Poppers can do about it.

(Note: this is not meant to be a slight against Oasis; I very much enjoy their music.)

For better or worse, the 2002 NBA Draft was a monumental one for the Cavs. Let us first begin at the beginning, because that just seems to make a strange amount of sense. The Cavaliers had just finished one of their more forgettable seasons, a 30-52 effort in which the top five leading scorers were Andre Miller, Lamond Murray, Clarence Weatherspoon, Chris Gatling and Matt Harpring. The ’01 Cavs also featured the likes of Robert “Tractor/Tax Evader” Traylor, Trajan Langdon and Bimbo Coles. This all raises the question: how the hell did they win 30 games?

But I digress. That season’s ping-pong balls left Cleveland with the sixth overall pick in the draft, and with a great chance to improve a truly mediocre team. Chinese big man Yao Ming was cemented as the top pick, but all was a crapshoot after that. It was the first draft with a huge foreign influence, and a lot of GMs seemed hell-bent on taking guys with unpronounceable names just to go along with the trend. The ’02 draft had more uncertainty than a Rex Grossman deep ball.

But Caron Butler was the one sure thing.

In 2002, I wanted Caron Butler more than anything. More than Grand Theft Auto: Vice City. More than my driving learner’s permit. More than anything. He was the draft’s most NBA-ready player, a perfectly built 6-7 small forward who could step in and do everything right away. If he could somehow fall to the Cavs at #6, taking him was a no-brainer. When the Nuggets took Nikoloz Tskitishvili at #5 out of pure curiosity, the stage was set.

And so, with the 6^th pick in the 2002 NBA Draft, the Cleveland Cavaliers select…

Dajuan Wagner?!

Dajuan Wagner. He was billed as Iverson with muscles. Quick enough to get to the basket, and strong enough to finish with contact. Once scored 100 points in a high school game. Averaged 21.2 in his only college season at Memphis. By 2004 he’d developed ulcerative colitis, and by 2005 he’d had his entire colon removed after consulting with then 65-year old Larry Brown, who referred him to a New York medical expert. His most recent comeback attempt with the Golden State Warriors was cut short, and as of now he’s unemployed.

Meanwhile, Butler is averaging 20.9 points per game and was named to his first All-Star game. He’s shooting 48% from the floor and 87% on free throws. Think the Cavs could use a guy who’s actually capable of making a shot from the charity stripe?

I can’t make you believe me, but I promise that I’m not just saying this because of the recent difference in success between Wagner and Butler. Hindsight is always Barbara Walters (20/20), but this is one of the few times where I was sure of the right pick beforehand. Obviously it would’ve been nice to take Amare Stoudemire too, but I had no idea who he was back then. It just makes me bitter that the one time I was completely right about something, my hometown team didn’t make the move.

Also notable in that draft is the Cavs' selection of Carlos Boozer in the second round. Clearly one of the top steals of the draft, Boozer quickly emerged as a talented, hard-working power forward that the Cavs desperately needed. Of course, one of the hallmarks of talented, hard-working power forwards out of Duke picked by the Cavs is that they inevitably stab their blind owner in the back, renege on a verbal promise and go sign a $68 million dollar deal with Utah. But that just comes with the territory.

Other notes from that draft:
Drew Gooden, current Cavs’ power forward, was taken 4^th overall by Memphis.
Former Cavalier Flip “Ronald” Murray was taken 42^nd overall by Milwaukee.
The Cavs signed Smush “William” Parker as an undrafted free agent.

On the bright side, had the Cavs taken Butler, they probably would’ve been better during the 2002-03 season, and wouldn’t have gotten as many ping-pong balls in the hopper for the 2003 lottery, and wouldn’t have gotten the first pick, and wouldn’t have gotten LeBron James.

So I’ll let this one slide.

Super Bowl Notes

The stage was set. The biggest day in all of American sports was upon us, pitting a classic matchup between the Colts and the Bears in Super Bowl XLI. The game had returned to Miami and all signs were pointing to a great game between teams of contrasting styles: the precision and efficiency of Peyton Manning and co. against the hard-nosed, gritty "Monsters of the Midway." It was going to be a thriller, and within the first 15 seconds I was not disappointed.

Vinatieri kicked it off to Hester. He took it up the field, but then appeared to get cornered around the 20-yard line. However, using a double move reminiscent of Desmond Howard when he captured the Super Bowl MVP for the Packers, Hester weaved his way through the Colts KO coverage, and sprinted around Mr. Golden Foot to put the Bears up 7-0. Right there I noted that:
1. Devin Hester is the man.
2. He's from The "U"
3. He was the (unreleased) Sporting Itis Special Teams Player of the Year
and most importantly 4. I announced to the crowd at that moment that the Colts would win in a convincing fashion (I actually said blowout) as soon as he scored, because the same exact thing happened to Ohio State in the BCS Championship Game and I was still realllllllly bitter. People thought I was crazy, especially after Peyton Manning got picked on their 2nd drive.

Speaking of the INT, I noted after the first two drives that the recipe for success for playing against a team playing deep cover 2 coverage is to control the ball thru the run and occasionally try to exploit the middle - not the sideline! Well, they must've also noticed this because Joseph Addai ended up with 10 receptions, even though he split snaps with Dominic Rhodes.

The first time the Colts decided to attack the middle of the field, the Bears happened to have a breakdown in coverage, and left Reggie Wayne wide open 30 yards down the field. He caught it and trotted for an easy touchdown. What was most impressive about this play is that Peyton Manning's pocket presence was incredible. He moved in and out of the pocket to buy time while still looking downfield and got the ball off just before a lineman got to him. Also, what school did Reggie Wayne go to? Moving on...

The first quarter was sloppy, but really entertaining. It featured the aforementioned kickoff return for a touchdown, then a Manning INT, the Manning-to-Wayne TD, consecutive fumbles by the Bears and the Colts, a long run by Thomas Jones, a Bears TD, and to top it off one more fumble. I thought we were all in for a pretty exciting back-and-forth contest, but thats when the game started to be a drag. You could tell because the announcers started putting their own flair into conversation to spice things up. When one of the Chicago defenders batted down a Manning pass, one of them said, "A Bear got a paw on it." One of the announcers also felt it worth noting to advise people not to watch the "movements and gyrations" of Peyton Manning. Suffice to say, I was not looking for these gyrations, but I appreciated the concern. My favorite announcer quote, at least for the first half, was after Mr. Manning scrambled outside the pocket and threw across his body to Dallas Clark and one of the guys started getting pissed at people who would criticize that throw. "You can't throw across your body? Who said that!? And WRONG -- you can!!" Sadly, they missed out on a golden opportunity to point out that Manning and Dominic "Don't call me Dominique" Rhodes used the option late in the 2nd Quarter better than Quincy Carter ever could.

Once again, two consecutive plays, two fumbles, Vinatieri misses! and it's halftime.

The Prince concert was very...Prince. That's the best way I can describe it. If you're a fan of Prince, you would've loved it. It at least had its humorous moments with Prince making many of those classic looks that Dave Chappelle perfected. He also had a guitar shaped like his name/symbol and played behind a veil that made him look like a more than well-endowed gentleman. And now I sort of like "Purple Rain." Back to the game...

As the Colts continued to dominate Da Bears (Chicago only had 5 first downs and Indy led in offensive yards 370-96 toward the end of the 3rd quarter), a strange request was passed on to the booth from Nathan Vasher (which was my favorite announcer moment of the game), whose question was, "Oprah, Will You Marry Me?" Oprah, when else could you marry the man who is 2nd all-time on the list for longest play from scrimmage in an NFL game! And another thing, he's a millionaire, but you could still look down on him like he were a peasant.

Throughout the game, many references had been made regarding the Rex Grossman split personality factor. Was he going to be Good Rex, who put up outstanding numbers in half of his games or Bad Rex, where he could give you a 0.0 QB rating (whatever that means). As we entered the 4th Quarter of XLI, I was wondering if Good Rex would emerge from the rubble. Once again, I announced to the crowd that we would see Good Rex bring the Bears back into contention. I should've done a little more research. He completed one pass to Mushin Muhammad, and then threw a pop up fly to Colts Corner, Kelvin Hayden, who promptly took the ball to Da House. And the next time he got the ball, I had a feeling Good Rex HAD to come out. He drops back for a deep pass, throws the ball with confidence, has an open Bernard Berrian, and then Pro Bowl Safety, Bob Sanders suddenly appears in the picture and picks it off. Two Grossman INTs plus two bad sacks earlier and it was officially Bad Rex time.

As the Colts grinded it out towards the end of the game, I could see the monkey slipping off of Peyton's back, run over to the sideline and start to strangle Grossman. Bad Rex's ineptitude has made people forget about any nasty Tony Romo references lined up (for now at least) and he will have to live with people making fun of him for another...well, let's say he should probably keep a low profile for a while and not go partying on South Beach.

I rated the Super Bowl commercials, but most of them were terrible. There was rumored to be a spoof of the overused Dodge Ram "Rock-Em Sock-Em" commercial, but it never showed. I blame Carlos Mencia. Nevertheless, the best three commercials were:

1. Nationwide - Kevin Federline
2. Snickers Kiss
3. Bud Light Slap

And since I have nothing else to say on the matter, the Browns are winning the Super Bowl in 2008 (you can really rely on those predictions from the Sporting Itis)!

Super Bowl Preview

The fate of the football universe rests on last game, one final NFL Sunday before the long and cold drought to come. The Super Bowl is a coronation, the climactic moment for two of the league's most storied franchises. Who will be the champion of the world? Will it be the Bears, written off all season as a lucky and overrated team with a terrible quarterback, who defy the odds and etch their name on the Lombardi Trophy? Or will this be the moment Colts QB Peyton Manning makes his ascension into NFL lore as one of the greatest ever and carries his city to a pinnacle they have never reached? Lets break it down:

COLTS OFFENSE VS. BEARS DEFENSE

Quarterback Peyton Manning directs an attack that has proven to be nearly unstoppable when clicking. Manning seems to have shaken his tendency to crumble in big games with a defining performance against the Patriots, but he had been shaky in the postseason until that point. The Bears defense proved dominant once again in their championship game against the Saints, holding the NFL's top-ranked offense to a meager 14 points. Most importantly, they were able to hold running backs Reggie Bush and Deuce McAllister to only 19 and 18 yards respectively. Although committing so many defenders to the box allowed Drew Brees to have a strong game, the Bears held tough in the red zone and did what they do best, forced turnovers. Even though Manning and Colts have an even more fearsome passing game than the Saints and are near the top of the league in red zone efficiency, the Bears have to hold to a similar game plan as they did last week. Indianapolis is most effective when their ground game is going, and the tremendous tandem of Dominic Rhodes and Joseph Addai has been very productive this postseason. The Bears have to stop the run, force the Colts into 3rd and long situations, and hope that their back 7 can force Manning into mistakes. The Bears lead the league in takeaways, and with pressure on the quarterback they will be able to generate some interceptions. Of course, if Manning elevates his level of play and has a game for the ages, it won't matter. The bet here is that won't happen this Sunday.
Slight Edge: Bears

BEARS OFFENSE VS. COLTS DEFENSE
The Colts defense has really elevated its play in these playoffs, especially towards stopping the run. They have held three very good rushing teams, the Chiefs, Ravens, and Patriots, to under 100 yards on the ground. The key to this game is whether the Bears can establish Thomas Jones and Cedric Benson, because if they can't take pressure off of Quarterback Rex Grossman he will give the game away with turnovers. If the Bears can get into manageable 3rd down situations where Grossman doesn't have to press, he is capable of controlling the game and being an efficient and effective passer. Against the Cardinals when Grossman turned the ball over 6 times, the Bears rushed for only 38 rushing yards and a paltry 2.4 yards per carry. If that happens again, Dwight Freeney will have three sacks and Grossman will have to be peeled off the turf. The Colts defense's biggest weakness all season has been stopping the run, but their recent success should continue against the Bears.
Edge: Colts

Special Teams/Coaching/Intangibles

The Bears special teams trio of Hester, Maynard, and Gould are arguably the best in the game and Chicago should win the field position battle. But as good as Gould has been, there is no kicker in the game I would trust in a big-game situation more than the Colts Adam Vinatieri, so that matchup is pretty much a wash. This is both Lovie Smith's and Tony Dungy's first time as head coaches in the Super Bowl (although Lovie Smith has been there before as an assistant with the Rams) so neither has an edge in experience. The biggest edge here is the intangibles. The Bears have been overlooked and under-appreciated all season, and go into this game with nothing to lose and everything to gain. The Colts have to contend with the lingering doubts over Peyton Manning's big-game ability that date back to his days at Tennessee; with all the pressure and expectations on him, will he be able to respond? I think the Bears will be the looser team and it will show on Sunday.

Prediction: Bears over Colts 28-27

Top 10 List

Top 10 Sports Commercials:

With Super Bowl Commercial Sunday coming up, we at the Sporting Itis decided to put out 10 of our favorite sports commercials. Here we go:

10. Terry Tate - Office Linebacker (Reebok)

The first time I saw this commercial, I was literally rolling on the floor laughing. The subsequent times I watched it, the concept of an office linebacker beating the hell out of his fellow employees for not refilling the coffee or making long distance phone calls got a little old, but I still found myself laughing pretty hard.

9. This is Sportscenter - Lance Armstrong (ESPN)

While Dan Patrick is working on his computer, the power goes out, and he goes to the source to investigate what happened. As he opens the door, he sees that Lance Armstrong - who is powering ESPN - had momentarily stopped riding his bike because he thought everyone had left. I love the line where Patrick asks, "Can I get you an energy bar? How about some water?"

8. Nike Basketball Dribbling (Nike)

The famed freestyle dribbling segment done by Nike has the star power of Vince Carter, Lamar Odom, Kevin Garnett, 'Sheed, and Jason Williams, among others to create one of the more noteworthy sports commercials. The fact that the commercial uses only the sounds of a basketball hitting the floor and the squeak of a basketball shoe to create a catchy rhythm is a testament to its uniqueness.

7. Tiger Woods Bouncing Ball (Nike)

I remember when I first saw Tiger bouncing the ball off of his club so effortlessly, I thought he was the coolest guy ever, golf was not as boring as I'd once thought, and I suddenly had this urge to wear my orange Nike shirt whenever I went golfing. That, I say, is good marketing.

6. Michael Jordan vs. Larry Bird (McDonalds)

MJ could easily have his own set of commercials for his several excellent ones over the years. In this particular commercial, Bird and Jordan compete in a game of horse to win a Big Mac. Bird is up in years at this point, and he sets the rules: "First one to miss watches the winner eat...No Dunking." What's especially great is Jordan's clothing attire. It was popular back then...

5. This Is Sportscenter - Y2K (ESPN)

The Sportscenter commercials really could have their own top 10 list. This commercial in particular is my favorite because it incorporates all aspects of the ESPN community - the Mascots, the athletes, and the anchors - running amok as they think the world is going to end because of the threat of Y2K. Mark McGwire smashing the computer with his bat is priceless, and who can forget Charlie Steiner looking into the camera and yelling, "Follow me, Follow me to Freedom!"

4. Lebrons (Nike)

People may think I'm biased being a Cleveland fan, but this commercial featuring the many characters of LeBron is one of the best productions in sports commercial history. The minute-long segment features the ongoing storyline of Lebron's pursuit of beating the powers of the east and winning an NBA Championship, as well as high comedic value when the "pretty boy" LeBron does an extraordinary dive into the pool - all of which is going on as Kool and the Gang's "Summer Madness" plays in the background. LeBron James at his best.

3. Jordan XXI (Jordan)

Seeing young kids and teenagers emulating some of Jordan's best moves and famous moments definitely grabbed my attention. When one of the young basketball players pulled the same crossover move as Jordan so beautifully performed against Byron Russell in his last game as a Bull against the Jazz, I got the chills. I could watch it 50 times, and every time I would still get that same feeling.

2. Mean Joe Greene (Coke)

This is one of my sentimental favorites. A little kid offers Mean Joe a Coke and says "See ya around" and walks away. A few seconds later, when Mean Joe yells "Hey kid!" and throws him his jersey, I couldn't help but smile at the look on the kid's face. This scene the ultimate dream for any young boy who had an athlete like Greene as an idol growing up.

1. Michael Jordan vs. Michael Jordan (Gatorade)

In terms of its realness and entertainment value, this commercial takes the cake. Michael Jordan, who at the time playing for the Wizards, is shooting around on the court and the younger version of him during his best years on the Bulls emerges from the darkness to play a game of one-on-one. What's great about this commercial is the realness of the one-on-one matchup, and the trash-talking coming from each side. My favorite line is after Old Jordan blocks Young Jordan's shot:

Old MJ: "That's ugly."
Young MJ: "I coulda dunked."
Old MJ: "You shoulda dunked."

The UNC version of Jordan even makes a cameo at the end. What more could you ask for?


Honorable Mentions: Bo Knows, Powerade Commercials (Vick, LeBron), This is Sportscenter - Gheorghe Muresan, Spike Lee and Michael Jordan - Mars Blackmon, Chicks Dig the Longball

Dishonorable Mentions: Peyton Manning 1, 2, and 3.
"Cut That Meat!"