Cavs, with one to go

So the Cavs won their 49th game of the year last night in a snoozing 98-92 win over the Philadelphia 76ers.  Guess who took the most shots, played the most minutes, scored the most points and played the overall best game?  I’ll give you one hint and if you get it right I’ll ask him to share part of his $2 million bonus for the 49th win with you.  Well, that was your hint.  It’s Larry Hughes.  No wonder he played his best game in a long time on the night, if the Cavs won, he was set to earn a $2 million bonus.  I would like to think he played so well because the Cavs needed a win to keep their hopes alive of grabbing the second-seed but I think he was more selfishly motivated.

I liked seeing Eric Snow play a good veteran’s type ballgame.  He played 24 minutes, scored 5 points, had 5 rebounds and dished out 8 assists.  That’s the type of game the Cavs are going to need from him in the playoffs, especially if they play the Heat.  Everyone always knocks on Snow for not being a scorer, not be fast and not being able to make a 12-foot jumper.  He’s probably the only player in the NBA that when he plays P-I-G after practice, never takes a shot outside 15-feet.  He is slow and I’d rather LeBron throw up a behind the back, no look shot from half court with the game on the line than Snow taking any type of shot.  That said, I like Snow come playoff time.  He knows how to manage a game.  He plays tough defense.  He’s not the best defender but he plays rough and tough and has a few veteran tricks up his sleeve that annoys whoever he is guarding.  He is a point guard who you can’t run the fastbreaks with but he is above average in the half court game, which the playoffs, more times than not, are.  He’s reliable and consistent (not shooting-wish but effort-wise) and rarely turns the ball over.  Just want you need in the playoffs.  I remember him in last year’s series against Washington making quite a few challenging lay-ups and key plays down the stretch in games.  I hope his performance last night is a sign of his play we’ll see next week.

Tonight, a Cavs win and a Bulls loss means the Cavs don't play Miami in the first round.  Say it with me now, "Let's Go Cavs, Nets!!!!"

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Thanks Jake

So the Indians give Jake Westbrook a three-year contract extension with $33 million and this is the thanks he gives back – 1.2 innings pitched, eight runs and three home runs. Yeah, it seems worth it. Thanks Jake.

(Quick side note on the Westbrook sign. Overall, I think signing Westbrook was a good thing actually (excluding last night). He’s been a reliable pitching and one of only four to win 15 games each of the last three seasons. But here’s my beef with it; Rumor is the Tribe will only sign two of their three big free agents in the next year. The others being C.C. Sabathia and Travis Hafner. Call me crazy but I would rather have a potential Cy Young winner and MVP over Westbrook. Now Larry Dolan has to find a way in those shallow pockets of his to let GM Mark Shapiro find a way to sign all three. If not, look out for some bad wrath from the Cleveland fans that will be almost as bad as the Cavs not signing LeBron.)

Back to last night’s gem by Westbrook and the beating he took in the Tribe’s 10-3 loss to the Yankees. What is wrong with Westbrook? He’s now 0-2 with an ERA over 12. Is he just going to take it easy now that he has his money? I don’t know and I hope that’s not the case but giving up three home runs before getting six outs takes a lot of hard work to pull off. Hell, give me $11 million and I’ll give up three homers before getting three outs.

Westbrook gave up one homer for each year he will be paid $11 million.

As bad as Westbrook’s performance was, the offense’s was even worse. Really? Three runs against a pitcher who never even pitched in triple-A, let alone the Majors. You’ve got to be kidding me. I’ve been saying all year the offense will be strong and score six runs a game. Right now they are scoring less than three in their past six and making me look like an idiot in the process. I can’t get over that. Three runs against a kid making his major league debut in Yankee Stadium. He had to be nervous. I could the Indians not tattoo this guy like he was, oh, I don’t know, Jake Westbrook.

Only Hafner could do anything against him (homer and a single). They can make up for the rest of the series against the Yankees. New York will trot household names, Kei Igawa (0-0 in two games, 7.48 ERA, 10 runs in 10 innigns) and Darrell Rasner (0-1, 4.66, 8 runs in 9 innings), to the hill tonight and tomorrow afternoon. If Cleveland can put up at least five runs a game in those two, then it might be time to be a little nervous. Even though it’s early, Cleveland can’t fall to far behind in the standings with Chicago, Minnesota and Detroit.

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