Home cooking

Basketball is finally back in the Q tonight as the Cavs have their home opener vs. Charlotte at 7:00pm. I'll be in attendance and I'm looking forward to another fun and hopefully dominant home campaign for the wine and gold. These are the type of games where in the past the Cavs have had the tendency to play down to their competition. Don't get me wrong, there is some good young talent on the Bobcats roster... but this is not a team that the Cavaliers should ever lose to at home.

Home court will need to be an even bigger advantage for the Cavs this year

Expectations are high for us this year, and many so-called experts have picked the Cavs to win updwards of 55 games this year. That's a tall task for any NBA team, but the real key to success like that starts with a great home record. Here's a look at what this franchise has accomplished inside the friendly confines of the Q in the LeBron Era:

2003-04: 23-18
2004-05: 29-12
2005-06: 31-10
2006-07: 30-11
2007-08: 27-14
=================
Total: 140-65 (.682)

So there has obviously been home success since LeBron arrived. But to have a season that approaches the Cavaliers' all-time best of 57-25 (accomplished twice, in the 88-89 season and the 91-92 season) they will need to do better. I'm thinking something like 35-6 at home and then go .500 on the road. We'll see how it all unfolds in the coming months, but the path to success at home for the Cavs starts tonight in a very winnable game. Time to take care of business before heading back out on the road to face the Hornets and Mavericks...

Other Cavs Notes: Mo Williams is remaining optimistic after an 'average' Cavalier debut in Boston... LeBron had his '60 Minutes' of fame yesterday... Terry Pluto has more scribbles in his notebook about the Cavaliers... And as I could have already told you, the Cavs are near the top 10 priciest tickets in the NBA. What do you expect when you get to see LeBron 41 times a year?

Browns Update: In light of the Browns' goal-line struggles so far this season, could we see a new fullback leading the charge? I'd be surprised if they went that route, but I have to admit, it would be something to see... A decision on Joe Jurevicius' season is due soon and it's not looking good for #84. If he is done for the year, I really hope he tries to stick around for one more. He just can't go out like this... ESPN is still not believing in the Browns in their latest power rankings. Can't blame them there... I think they will have me fully sucked back in if they can win Sunday and Thursday. 5-4 going into the Monday Nighter in Buffalo would be a lot of fun.

"You know what? We talked about that [playing Shaun Rogers at fullback] a little bit," coach Romeo Crennel disclosed on Wednesday.

They just won't go away

I knew it. Just when we stop caring about the Browns and move on to the start of the NBA season, they suck us back in. I called it on Friday and I was even close with the score, I just didn't anticipate Shaun Rogers' rejection of that Josh Scobee FG attempt. So with their big 23-17 victory (highlights here) over the Jaguars on Sunday, the Browns have kept their season alive and have undoubtedly stirred up more talk of moving on without Kellen Winslow.

Of course in typical Browns fashion, they just couldn't make it easy. They failed to capitalize twice in the fourth quarter. The first time they got down to first-and-goal from inside the 1 yard line and couldn't punch it into the end zone, settling for a field goal. Then on the ensuing kickoff they forced a fumble, recovered it at the Jacksonville 25, and again walked away with only three points. So clinging to a 6-point lead they naturally let the Jags drive down to the 30-yard line (with no timeouts) and for a few harrowing moments it looked like Matt Jones would haul in a bobbling touchdown catch to steal victory away from the good guys. But Nick Sorensen jumped in at the last second to break up the play, yet amazingly one tick still remained on the game clock. But after one final David Garrard heave into the end zone sailed harmlessly out of play, the Browns finally could breathe a sigh of relief.

'Good DA' stuck around for most of the game on Sunday and the Browns won

This game was both fun and maddening at the same time. It was the standard Jekyll and Hyde-type performance from Derek Anderson that we have grown accustomed to. He didn't have the greatest game ever (14-27, 236 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT), particularly in the 2nd half, but he made enough big plays to put some much-needed points on the scoreboard. And offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinsky deserves a pat on the back for the game he called yesterday.The 51-yard gain on a bootleg to Steve Heiden on 4th-and-1 was a stroke of genius that allowed the Browns to continue to play from ahead in the first half.

I could nitpick about some other things in this win but I won't. Well, besides the two or three completely obviously illegal blocks in the back on Josh Cribbs during second half kick coverage. They happened literally right in front of the refs and nothing was called. I rewound my DVR feed a few times after the game just to see them again and I was stunned they weren't called. And by the way, Cribbs was back to his old self, flying all over the field on special teams again and was the one that recovered that huge fumble on the kickoff in the 4th quarter. But I digress. A win's a win for these Browns and we'll take them however they come. Baltimore is up next and I don't even want to start thinking about that one.

Other Browns Notes: Terry Pluto is shocked by the Browns' victory after a bizarre week... And Bud Shaw has to go K2 on us right after another win... If we didn't already know it, now we do: Shaun Rogers is a beast... Pat McManamon agrees that the Browns are at their best with their backs against the wall... I wish all this would just go away, but apparently it hasn't yet... And if anyone is interested, I made the right fantasy call this week with Garrard over DA.

Cavs Update: Tomorrow the regular season starts. That makes me very happy. I'll give a mini season preview then. For today, the news is light. Brian Windhorst gives some tip-off thoughts for the 2008-09 campaign... And it looks like Delonte West has stolen the starting 2-guard spot... much more tomorrow when I have more time.

“I thought they worked well together. With [Delonte], LeBron and Mo out on the floor, you have three legitimate playmakers. All of those guys know how to play together.”
- Mike Brown

Week 1: Browns vs. Cowboys

So after what was seemingly a neverending wait for the start of the NFL season, Week 1 is finally upon us. As Browns fans we have gone from lofty expectations during training camp to a bit of worry over the 0-4 preseason, and more importantly, all the injuries. Such is the nature of things here in Cleveland... we have come to expect freak knee injuries like the one that happened Wednesday that will keep Antwan Peek out for the entire 2008 season. Not that I think Peek is an essential player to the team's success this year, but it's the type of downer that you don't want to start a season on. But injuries or not, the season kicks off with a tough opponent in the Cowboys on Sunday at 4:15. Here are the things I will be watching:

1. The Cowboys air attack vs. the Browns secondary: Much has been made of the Browns' perceived lack of depth in their secondary after trading Leigh Bodden and losing Daven Holly to injury. Terry Cousin and Travis Daniels were added during camp. But the real pressure will be on Eric Wright and Brandon McDonald at corner and Brodney Pool and Sean Jones at the safety spots. For as much as I dislike Terrell Owens, I won't kid myself and think that we can stop him. We just can't allow him to go off like he did when the Eagles came into town in 2006. And keeping track of Cowboys tight end Jason Witten also scares me a lot. If we start playing back off the line of scrimmage I think they will look to Witten a lot underneath and that could spell trouble.
   
2. The Browns defensive line: The off-season additions of Shaun Rogers and Corey Williams gave a lot of us hope that the Browns would not only be able to better defend the run, but also finally get some pressure on the quarterback. This will be imperative in Week 1 against the Cowboys, because if Tony Romo is given time he will find the open receiver and pick the defense apart. And Marion Barber is more than capable enough to break of some big runs if he isn't contained.
   
3. The Browns offensive line: This unit has been considered one of the best in the NFL after a stellar 2007 season. Left tackle Joe Thomas is a beast and will only get better as he progresses into his second NFL season. But he will have his hands full with DeMarcus Ware and the rest of the Cowboys defensive line. And the Browns didn't do a great job of protecting Derek Anderson in limited action in the preseason. It will be imperative that they give Anderson time on Sunday, as well as opening up some running lanes for Jamal Lewis.
   
4. The Browns receivers vs. the Cowboys secondary: Obviously Braylon Edwards had his breakout season last year. I expect much more of the same this year as he and Anderson really developed good chemistry. And the addition of Donte Stallworth gives the Browns more speed and a reliable second option. And Kellen Winslow is the ultimate pass-catching tight end with the size, speed, and fearlessness that will make and defense afraid. But the Cowboys secondary is very talented (namely Roy Williams) and this may well be the matchup that decides the game. We all know how much better the Browns were last season when Anderson was able to limit his turnovers and didn't force mistakes. It is a must that the Browns don't give the Cowboys extra possessions or a short field to work with.
   
5. Special teams: Mainly I'm referring to the Browns special teams here. A huge key for me will be if Josh Cribbs is healthy enough to play. If his ankle isn't an issue and he is on the field he is a game-changer. Syndric Steptoe did a nice job stepping in during the preseason, but he is nowhere near the caliber of Cribbs. If #16 is back there receiving the opening kickoff, I will be breathing much easier. It will also be important for Dave Zastudil and Phil Dawson to step up when called upon. Field position or an extra 3 points could be the difference in this game.

DeMarcus Ware vs. Joe Thomas will be just one of the big matchups on Sunday

Summing everything up I'm just not sure I love this matchup to start the year for our Browns. But I also know that we have become a dominant team at home (7-1 last year, with the one loss featuring Charlie Frye under center). I definitely think this could become a shootout which could also favor the Browns (5-0 under Romeo Crennel when scoring 30 points or more). Ultimately this game will come down to which team can take care of the ball better on offense and get stops on defense. I'm just not sure the Browns can make all the stops they need to in this one.

It's not that I don't think the Browns can't win this game... I wouldn't put anything past them with their explosive offense. And I know the crowd will be a huge factor (I can't wait to be in the middle of 73,000 screaming fans on Sunday). If the Browns do lose, this would be a game to do it (non-conference so it likely wouldn't play a part in playoff tiebreakers). Weighing everything, I'm going with a prediction of... Cowboys 30 Browns 27. But I reserve the right to change my pick if anything changes my mind before Sunday morning...

A grand day for Grady

(My apologies to the handful of faithful readers out there - I was busy yesterday and didn't have time for a post. As Bartles and Jaymes used to say, 'thanks for your support.')

The Tribe has again made the Royals look like... well, the Royals. The completed the three-game sweep of K.C. yesterday with a 10-3 victory at the Prog. It was the Indians' fourth win in a row and 10th in their last 13 games. Grady Sizemore had a banner day at the plate, going 4-for-5 and collecting 7 RBI. And more importantly, Cliff Lee continued his dominant season in collecting his 18th win, going seven strong innings and only allowing two earned runs.

"I didn't feel like I had my best stuff," he said. "I had to battle. The double plays were big. Give credit to the offense. When you get five runs in the first three innings, it gives you some cushion." - Cliff Lee

Grady watches his 3-run shot sail into the party seats in right

With their recent hot streak the Tribe has now escaped the basement of the AL Central and pretty much left the Royals for dead. It gets to the point where you almost feel bad for Kansas City and their miserable performances every year. This will likely be their fifth consecutive season finishing in last place with over 90 losses. But hey, better them than us. The Indians are now also only 2.5 games behind the Tigers for third place in the division. And to keep my dream of .500 baseball alive, they will have to go 22-14 down the stretch. Difficult but not impossible.

The Tribe opens up a six-game road trip tonight with the first stop in Texas. Fausto Carmona will be on the mound to face the Rangers at 8:05.

Other Tribe Notes: Eric Wedge will have to decide who gets playing time with the vets coming back. And apparently I'm not the only one enjoying these Olympic broadcasts... and some updates on the guys on rehab assignments.

Browns Update: The Browns will look to bounce back from the lackluster Monday night game and a shortened week with their Saturday night game in Detroit. Shaun Rogers is resisting the chance to take a shot at his former team. And a former Brown is happy to be paid, even if he is now a backup for Detroit.

5 and a half hours for that?

I really feel bad for the few brave souls who remained at the Prog last night to watch that debacle. Luckily, I wasn't one of them. My wife and I were finishing up a major landscaping overhaul at our house and didn't even tune into the game until around 9:30 when it was already 11-7. A comfortable lead in the 8th inning, right? Not exactly with this bullpen. They (mainly Edward Mujica and Masa Kobayashi) unraveled yet again, allowing the Tigers to tie it in the 8th and then actually take the lead in the 9th. Some heroics by Kelly Shoppach (five extra base hits on the night) allowed the Tribe to tie it in the bottom of the 9th, but that really just delayed the inevitable.

Shoppach's incredible night went to waste in another bullpen meltdown

I do vaguely remember waking up for a second around midnight to see the Tribe had the bases loaded in the bottom of the 12th with no one out. But I fell back asleep and didn't see what transpired until this morning. Shoppach struck out (but he can be forgiven after his banner day), and then my favorite double-play candidate, Andy Marte, did what he does best ending any possible hope of a win. How you can't score with the bases loaded and no one out is beyond me. But then again, this game did also feature an 8-1 Indians' lead with Cliff Lee on the mound. Obviously he's not perfect, but with that much run support he shouldn't have to be. And the bullpen should be able to nail down a win in these types of games. Final score: 14-12 Tigers. Just another microcosm of an ugly season.

Today's game should be tons of fun. Fausto Carmona is on the mound in a noon start at the Prog. He needs to redeem himself after his forgettable comeback from the hip injury on Saturday. And I won't go into another rant about these weekday getaway games, but by now we all now how much the Tribe sucks in these situations. With both bullpens being worked so hard last night I expect an ugly game if either starter is shaky. But the Tribe knows all about ugly this season.

Cavs Update: LeBron James made a surprising move yesterday. I don't want to go all political on here but let's just say that I endorse his endorsement.

Browns Update: Day 8 of training camp went without any major glitches. Brady Quinn is showing improvement. And Shaun Rogers is a hit with his new teammates. 38 days to go Browns fans...

"I'd have to say he's got to be one of the best if not the best defensive tackle in the NFL," said Fraley, a nine-year veteran.

This #92 is more intimidating than MDP... will he get his own McDonald's sandwich too?

Curb your enthusiasm?

No, I'm not talking about Larry David's HBO masterpiece. I'm referring to the need for us as Browns fans to keep our excitement in check. But damn it, with the lost summer courtesy of the Tribe it's just impossible. This city's thirst for a title is so unquenched that a 10-6 team that just missed the playoffs has us chanting "Super Bowl!" during the first two days of training camp. And obviously, Cleveland has always been a football-first town, which helps ramp things up during training camp anyway. So optimism is now in full swing and I have no choice but to dive in too and soak it all in.

DA spending some time with fans on Day 2 of training camp

K2 has vowed to not be a distraction and so far is living up to his word. This is good news and I think the guy still takes a lot of heat from some fans for things he said when he was a young, dumb kid in college. And obviously the motorcycle incident was a complete bonehead move. But the way he has handled himself since then has been exemplary. I'm glad he's a Cleveland Brown and can't wait to see him catching everything thrown his way again this season.

"I'm sure [the media] thought I wasn't coming, but I'm not that type of guy," Winslow said. "I don't want to be a distraction. My job is to just help this team win and come out here and play to the best of my ability."

Tony Grossi reports that Ryan Tucker is getting healthy and itching to return. I think one of the most amazing things about Phil Savage's reign so far as Browns GM is the fact that we aren't devastated by Tucker's hip injury. He has built such depth on the offensive line that Tucker doesn't have to be rushed back and a guy like Rex Hadnot can be plugged in and the line won't miss a beat. That's what happens on winning football teams and is something we have been waiting for as Browns fans since the new incarnation of this franchise.

One of my favorite parts of the start of football season is Peter King's annual "Postcards from Training Camp" series. Yesterday he gave us his thoughts on the 2008 Browns. He did correctly predict Jamal Lewis's huge year last summer, so let's hope he's right this year about the Rogers/Williams combo helping to shut down the run. And if nothing else, we know our chefs are some of the best in the league. King's visit also hinted at a possible SI cover story featuring the Browns. Let's hope the SI cover curse doesn't hit this town again...

Tribe Update: Just a couple things to note today... apparently the team has 'rebounded emotionally' from the C.C. Sabathia trade. Let's just hope that translates to more wins on the field. And the Mets may be interested in a trade for Casey Blake.

The Indians return to action tonight at the Prog against the Minnesota Twins, with Cliff Lee going against that bastard Livan Hernandez (remember the '97 World Series?).

Cavs Update: Not much to report today, just a strange story about the possibility of Delonte West heading to Russia. I doubt this has any legs and I'm hoping it's just a negotiating ploy from West's agent. He doesn't have much leverage as a restricted free agent so we'll see how this plays out.