Red Right 88

Cleveland sports fan and sports writer

Name:
Location: Cleveland, Ohio, United States

quit my job decided to drive west

Sunday, August 12, 2007

QB race should be over

I read in the AP's game story that Charlie Frye got a leg up in the starting QB battle. The words "played better" even appeared. Ummm, really. Sure, Charlie completed 12 of 15 passes but to me he proved he is not our starting quarterback. Not of the future certainly but not for the present either. You can blame the running back for not paying attention on the lateral that led to the fumble recovery and the Chiefs only touchdown but Frye has to make a better pass there. All quarterbacks will make an occassional mistake. But his play at the end of the half is totally unacceptable. How can he make that decision to run and cost his team three points.

You can argue that Anderson didn't play well either but is that what pushes Frye up the depth chart. Frye has had the leg up with being the starter for parts of the last two years and quite simply he has not taken advantage. He was handed the job and his lack of concentration and ability to play smart has forced to Browns to trade for Brady Quinn and lose a possible top 5 pick (maybe top 2) next season.

Dorsey will be the number three quarterback. So the loser of the Frye/Anderson battle will not be on the opening day roster. Frye believes he is a starter and a leader. It seems to me that offensive players don't agree with him. Keeping Frye on the roster will led to more problems. I would try to get a sixth or seventh round pick of him but chances are the Browns will have to cut their losses. I never bought the Beacon Journal's PR machine about Frye. I don't believe in him and I don't think his teammates or coaches do either. We all known what Derek Anderson is and yet it still took a coin flip for Frye to get the start. Quinn's holdout gave Frye an extra opportunity and he did not take advantage.

Cut your losses now. Let Brady start splitting snaps with Anderson right now. Don't let Frye who will not be around long hurt Brady's development. If Anderson has strong start after being handed the job let him ride it out as long as possible. If not have Dorsey help prepare Quinn to step in as soon as he is ready.

Frye should sent packing as soon as possible. Romeo's job is on the line. He has a better chance of being bold, making a choice for long term success and hope Quinn's development comes sooner and buys him one more year. If Frye and Anderson stay in camp until the opener. It surely will be Crennel's last one as head coach.

The Indians are making me sick

The Indians management team is made of thoughtful, patient people. The Dolans have trusted Mark Shapiro and left him alone to do his job. Shapiro and his staff are meticulous and work well with their financial constraints to build a winner. Eric Wedge believes in his veterans and his approach to the game seems to be the right
way.

They are all reasonable human beings.

This is not the time for reason. The Indians have quietly let this season slip away. I am sure that on the inside people are made and upset but calmness has me concerned. Detroit has been injured and its look like they are ready to snap out of it. For the Indians however, what is the excuse. They are healthy. Young arms have risen up to fill holes and yet they can't score runs. The Indians should have a six game lead and yet at the end of today's again weak effort, could be back in second place

It is hard to fault Eric Wedge for this slide. Yet maybe he needs to be fired tomorrow. The Indians dugout seems a safe haven. Well safe sucks. Something needs to be shook up. If they don't make the playoffs this year, this time can't be brought back the same way. This core choked in 2005 and are in the process and whistling away this season. I know the Indians won't do this as they preached patience and not panicking. Well I think it may be high time to panic. They are letting what should have been a sure thing slip away and where is the fight. I am tired of hearing the word slump. I am tired of signs of progress. Someone needs to get mad and bust something. Maybe a pitcher needs to punch out an everyday player. Maybe we need a bench clearing brawl. The Indians have been careful to clean out all of the "bad seeds" over the years. Players like Milton Bradley and Brandon Lee were shipped out for harmony. Cliff Lee was sent down just as much for his attitude as his pitching.

This team needs some nastiness. The bully has knocked them on their ass and the Tribe is crawling away quietly. The Tigers will snap out of their funk because they have a fighter in Leyland. They have leaders like Pudge and orny players like Sheffield.

Where are our leaders? Who is going to say unpleasant things and demand people stand up and fight. Cream pies are not the answer.

Where is the heart? I will rather take the 80s all over again than continue to watch this team play so heartless.

Who will step up? Screw nice and will someone please get nasty.

Update
I wrote this in the sixth. Since the post, Jhonny Peralta got picked off first base with the bases loaded and no outs. Totally unacceptable. Then in the eighth, Sizemore who earlier got picked off first but out ran the high throw- nearly got caught rounding second. Peralta then left the bases loaded. In Peralta's last 33 games, he only hit well twice. If you take out those two games- he has no home runs and only two RBI. If you have to make a scapegoat- let it be Jhonny. Bench him and make a statement. Yes he has improved defensively this year but he still is not the most consistent. Drastic measures have to be taken and soon. Waiting and being patient hasn't worked. A fire needs to be lit. Here we are in downward spiral and guys are getting picked off or nearly picked off. It is all a lack of concentration. This nonchalance is sickening.