Written by Cris Sykes

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In a new

Hate at first sight?

In a new ‘The Cleveland Fan' record, Eric Mangini has inspired three different threads about how poor he has handled his first month on the job.  We are almost averaging one thread for every week he has been on the job, with some nice creativity of the thread names to boot.  Check out any of these threads to throw in your thoughts: 

Mangini Press Conference? 

Mangini running Berea like Napolean 

Most unsettling thing about Mangini so far 

To summarize the couple of hundred posts in these three threads, here are a couple of my favorites. 

Hydra Melee is a little confused at what Mangini had to say:

"I just read the highlights from the press conference, and I got to say I was impressed. It was like "Finnegan's Wake", there's words but no real coherence. I guess there was an incident some time where Mangini walked by Shaun Rogers without acknowledging him. When asked, Mangini responded something to the effect of: 'Didn't know he was there. It's like two destroyers. He can hang out with Kris Jenkins.'" 

4thQuarterGlory wants to see what happens on the field:

"Im so tired of the drama. Let the guy do his job. Romeo made everyone his friend....howd that work out for us? As long as Mangini has the team's hard work and respect, who gives a damn how we get there? Nothing else has worked thus far, so lets try things his way. The guy hasnt said more than a few words since being hired, and he has turned in to an a$$hole? Do you want him to give the "state of the browns" address every week from his house, just to put us at ease? The media is pissed and turning their backs on him because he isnt telling you his master plan for 2009. We dont need updates every 5 minutes. In Cleveland, no news is good news." 
 
There are a couple of other threads going on that I would like to point out.  The first is our '09 Free Agency thread.  There are a lot of suggestions about where the Browns should be concentrating their efforts beginning March 1. 

The other is a plug for our TCF Mock Draft - 2009.  We will be conducting a mock draft on the message boards, with different posters being in charge of their own team.  We have three general manager spots open.  Most teams have not been assigned to their respective GM's yet, so if you have a team you know pretty well, stop in and let us know, we will probably be able to oblige your request. 

Extending Cliff Lee

Lee open to contract extension talks?  Really?  Coming off one of the best seasons for a pitcher most of our lifetimes, Cliff Lee wants to talk money?  Skating Tripods offers us a summary of the concerns with these talks

"With that in mind, this opens up some discussion. Do you actually negotiate an extension coming off a career year that he will probably never repeat? Which Cliff Lee are we most likely to see, '05 and '08 or '06 and '07? Are we sold on him being an ace of this staff, and will he settle for a 4 year deal at age 32?" 

Consigliere confirms Tripods concerns:

"Would be absolutely silly to extend him right now. Just too up and down the last two years. We need to see him for half a season this year to gauge which version of Lee he is, 2007 or 2008. A year ago at this time he was an overpaid bum for crying out loud." 

Tribefan333 just gets to the bottom line:

"The Cleveland Indians are NOT - NOT - NOT - NOT - resigning Cliff Lee to a major deal, say around 15 million, one year removed from getting booed off the field and then winning the Cy Young." 

Slegend goes into some really solid detail in breaking down the American League Central pitching staffs, If pitching wins titles.  The discussion led to some wondering if we will get to include Jake Westbrook in our rotation equation.   

WiscTribeFan is quick to point out:

"In theory we do. I don't expect Jake to be the old Jake until at least next season. Counting on him for any measure of production might bring some heart-ache. If he does contribute, more the better, but I don't think the Tribe has high expectations for a guy coming off major arm surgery last year." 

Tribefan333 once again sums up a thread very nicely:

"The Twins have a very nice foursome of pitchers with Blackburn (I really like him). I have the utmost confidence in Carmona, so that's one negative most people have that I do not share. I also like Laffey, which will round out the top 5 (although I have little confidence in Reyes. Call me backwards).  

Either way, it could be argued that the Twins, Indians and Sox are head and shoulders above the other two. And potentially, the Twins and Tribe could further elevate themselves." 

52-9-11

Boy, a guy that can't even secure a tenth rebound against the Knicks is one we are probably better off without after 2010 anyway.  At least, that seems to be what the NBA wants us to believe.  How many times a year does the NBA go back and review an entire game of footage to double check the statistics from that game?  They did for LeBron and the answer came back, No Trip Doub? 

Chris is ready to storm the NBA offices I believe:

"I'm speechless. Anybody who thinks the NBA doesnt have an anti-Cleveland spin, or at least an agenda to get LBJ out of here and us out of the spotlight is insane." 

Jamesownsdetroit thinks the Cavs can and will use this for some extra motivation:

"Thank you NBA for giving us all of the 'us versus the world' material we need to win the championship this year. Hey maybe you guys could have a presser where you announce Kobe Bryant as the MVP early because there really is no competition for him anyway?" 

CerebralDownTime wants everyone to relax just a little bit with the conspiracy theories:

"Ok I don't get this.......They are gonna get him to leave Cleveland by taking away 1 rebound? If that's their grand strategy and agenda........" 

To continue the conspiracy theories, the NBA hates Cleveland and all that; I present case number two; Still No Mo.   

Could it come down to this one simple fact from GoTribe31?

"Their stats are close enough to make it an arguable selection either way. Throw in the fact that Allen plays in Boston and sells more jerseys, and you have your decision." 

When looking at how close their stats actually are, isn't JB's point valid?

"Mo puts up almost the same point totals as Allen, and off guard aka scoring guard, but he also has to have playmaking point guard responsibilities. That's huge." 

I think Chief24Wahoo has the right answer:

"hopefully Mike Brown plays KG, Pierce, and Allen all 48 minutes haha." 

The NBA Trade Deadline is coming fast.  Will the Cavs be active?  Big move? Minor tweak?  Nada? 

Here is one of the hottest names out there.  Will the Cavs be in the mix for Amare Stoudamire?  

Prosecuter gets the ball rolling:

"How much better does AS make the Cavs? Does his value as a scorer offset his reported disinterest inplaying defense? Is he a good fit? Is he willing to blend his talent into the rest of the team by playing better defense and taking fewer shots?  What would it take to get him? Would Wally's expiring contract be enough to get one of the NBA's 10 best players? Would we have to throw in somebody like Varajao or Sasha?" 

Character IV makes a rather simple announcement:

"Stoudemire here is a championship." 

FUDU gives an astute breakdown:

"AS is 10 times the player Ben Wallace is, however Ben serves a very distinct purpose on this team and with his role being very defined he can show up everyday knowing his role and fulfill it with no problems. Ben doesn't need the ball to be effective and impact this team as stated already by you AS does. So that IMO is the key part of all this. We would have to dissect the finer points of the impact of AS without the ball b/c he isn't going to get it like he does or did in Phoenix so therefore his impact will not be as significant as it was there (at least on offense). 
 
So what is more important to the success of this team a solid individual and team defender that you can count on fulfilling his role or the possibility of an offensive player like AS and the hope that he can fulfill some sort of role that he gets fitted with?" 

drewd doesn't think it is the best of ideas:

"No, i don't want him here! He's mad at the new Defensive coach in Phoenix why would we put him under Mike Brown???? Won't work" 
 
Post of the Week: 

This was a much better week for quality posts and solid takes (if you erase the two days spent over either hating or fawning over the Squeeler SB Gift Championship). 

The winner of this week's post of the week is commodore perry.  In one of the Mangini threads, specifically about Mangini treating people poorly, commodore came with this: 

"Isn't this a good thing? 
 
Romeo ran Berea like a kindergarten. Anyone who comes in and imposes a little discipline is going to look like Napolean. Crybaby athletes are a problem on this team. They don't need to be coddled. Good for Mangini. 
 
So is it Mangini that is unfair to the press, or it is the press that is unfair to Mangini?" 

Like Michael Phelps' stash ... I am out.