Written by Cris Sykes

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Opening day baby! Braves/Phillies tonight, then the action really starts to get underway tomorrow. Our Indians travel to Texas to take on the Rangers in a game that starts at 2:05 PM EST. Naturally, the start of the season has been a hot topic in our message forums this week. As has the NFL Draft, which is all of the sudden just 20 days away. The Cavaliers back to back losses to the Wizards and Magic also had some fans questioning the wine and gold's ability to go all the way. Cris Sykes recaps what was a busy in week on our message boards. Come on in and talk sports with us!

On The Clock

There are no words more exciting to hear for a Cleveland Browns Fan than, "Cleveland is now on the clock".  Which I find interesting since rarely does anything good happen from that moment until the following year, when those words are uttered again.  Those words are becoming closer and closer to being categorized along with the sound of sirens coming from behind me.  Or worse. 

However, that is not going to stop any of us from reaching deep into a storage container of your choice and grabbing those brown and orange sunglasses (better get the ones with the extra deep tint) and cheer wildly when that phrase is broadcast on April 25^th. 

So, whom are they going to take?  Who knows?  Which is what will make the next couple of weeks a real good time on The Cleveland Fan message boards. 

Like this: Rey runs fast(er than before) Started by SoulDawg, as only he can:

"Gentleman forget the dumbsheeit.  If we don't trade our QB's and have to use the five on Sanchez.  Mualuaga is worth using the number five on him even if Curry is there." 

Yes, he said it.  Even if Aaron Curry is there.  It is not all that often, but I happen to be lined up directly behind SoulDawg in this case.  Big, aggressive and with an attitude, Mualuaga will bring an intensity to this defense that has been lacking for far too long of a time.  When Rey hits you, the play is over.  An Adrea Davis holding a guy up waiting for the rest of the defense to come help him tackle him type of hitter he is not. 

Of course, not everyone agrees.  First, we have Lubber.  Who is actually the only known Steeler/Brown fan, who holds the right to change it to a Brown/Steeler fan come the point the Browns become the better team one of these years.  His thoughts, following Triple-S comparing Rey to Troy Polomynesioa:

"Rey may be fast, but he is no where close to being as diisciplined or football savvy as Troy P. A bull in the china shop is what you get, but unfortunately, many times that bull will be in the wrong aisle guessing instead of reading and playing smart football" 

Don't worry, because you can always count on The Lead Man to swoop in and remind Lubber of some past opinions"

"Lub, you do remember Troy's rookie year, don't you?  You and your fellow Steeler fans were NOT referring to him as disciplined and savvy." 

I will save you the back and forth about Troy being so studios, and how obvious it is Rey will never be that way.   

Lubber is not alone though.  4thQuarterGlory is concerned about Maluaga too:

I dont question the kid's strength, physical ability, passion for the game. But i do think that he might take a while to mature into the elite player that everyone is hoping he will be." 

The real question is, does JB have a take on this?  Well, does SoulDawg take liberties with the English language?  Does a bear dook in the woods?  You betcha:

 "I can't help but think there is some overanalysis here.  We are talking about an ILB .  Gap integrity blah blah blah.  On most running plays it is see ball, shed block, hit ball. As fast as possible.  Unless he has some serious LD , he can learn coverage, or situationally you move him around and have him pass rush, which he wasn't always asked to do at USC in a feature role.  I look at NFL LBers and there is NFW anyone can convince me that some of the greats could figure out how to record a program on a DVR." 

Daddywags thinks the place the Browns are picking is not the appropriate place to draft the bull in a china shop:

"I don't think 4.68 is very impressive for a linebacker. I'd call it barely adequate, frankly. Orakpo ran a 4.70 at the combine at 263 lbs. Rey ran 4.91 there. Average Rey's two numbers and you get something like 4.8, or about Andra Davis speed. From what I've read, and the few times I've seen him, he's a big hitter (which is great) with questionable instincts who takes himself out of as many plays as he makes. Just because he's a big hitter who plays a little on the wild side doesn't make him the second coming of Polamalu. Would I be interested in the middle of round one? Probably. At 5? No way." 

Want to take a trip down memory lane?  Triple-S wants to be edumacated on what it was like to see the Browns play back in the day, in the real Dawg Pound, watching the real Dawgs play.  Jump in, here, to remember some of those days and share your memories. 
 
Opening Day!

It is hard to believe, but we are just over/short (depending on the time you are actually reading this...if anyone is actually reading this that is) 24 hours until first pitch of the Cleveland Indians season.  That is right.  Grady Sizemore will be stepping into the batter's box shortly, take an fastball on the inner half from Kevin Millwood for strike one, right before getting another fastball out over the plate on the next pitch and hammering it into right center field seats in Arlington.  That is right.  I just called Grady hitting a leadoff the season home run. 

Got some very cool season prediction thread under the way.   

Call Your Shot is a contest run by Swerb.  Twelve predictions to make based on what you think will happen in Major League Baseball during the 2009 season.  Get points for being right.  You get the most points, a $100 gift card is all yours, to a retailer of your choice.

Indians record will be?  Pretty simple.  How do you think the Tribe will do in 2009?  No prizes, unless you count gloating as a prize.  One caveat was added midway through, which I really like, as Peeker643 requested: 

"I'd like to ask people to show their work if they will.  Let me know how many games each SP is going to win. One of the three people who read 'The Wrap' sent a very interesting and entertaining email with his thoughts and I can't, in good conscience argue with his math.  Do you get 30 wins from Lee-Carmona? Anything from Jake? What are you counting on from 3-5 in the rotation? Does the bully win 25-30?" 

There will also be a season long contest in The Cleveland Fan Pick ‘Em contest, with a $200 gift card going to the winner.  The details can be found, here. 

As noted in Monday's Lineup, Manager Eric Wedge has decided on his lineup.  Two things of note, both that surprised me.  One was a good surprise, one I am not so sure about.  The good surprise is they are not going to mess around, starting right out of the shoot with the Kelly Shoppach behind the plate and Victor Martinez at first base.  It should not be that big of a surprise, since Kelly is Cliff Lee's personal catcher, but I give him credit for doing it on Opening Day.  The second one, which I am not so sure about, is having Travis Hafner hit in the clean up spot.  I guess those last few days, and most importantly the home run against Felix Hernandez, were enough to convince that Hafner is at least close enough to being ready than I am willing to believe. 

Well, Those Were Not Fun

Back to back crapsicles by the team formerly regarded as the best in the National Basketball Association has led to concern.  Big props to the board though, since this time the concern has been discussed in as civil of a manner as one could hope for on a message board. 

We're still a player away from being dominant.  Triple-S believes this to be true.  It is hard to argue, depending on your definition of dominant, but having the best record in the entire league is about as close to dominant as one can expect, I believe.  Triple-S thinks: 

"This is not mean't to sound like a ledge post, and I'm admittingly a novice, but just watching the last two games with us getting dominated by the Magic and the Whiz in the inside, we're not winning the NBA Title with the current roster. Hate saying it, but without a Dominant Big, we're sort of stuck behind Boston and Orlando. This isn't a diss towards Ben, Z or Andy as I think all three are great, but they just cannot get it done against the Dwight Howard, Leon Powe or Garnett.  My question is there anyway we can make a move in 2009-2010 for a player that fits that mold?" 

Ziner goes to second base in his rebuttal: 

"No team is flawless, we can certainly win a title this year and if we aren't the favorite we should be next in line. We played like absolute dogshit tonight, so bad in fact I quit even watching, is the game even over? We can beat Orlando, Boston, and LA in a series... but I certainly don't think it is a sure thing.  They seriously better show up against SA." 

Aoxo1 puts the wraps on the thought:

"They are dominant. Too bad there are 3 other dominant teams this year too. We'll see, but they are still the favorite in the east."

Bye BJ 

What, someone get married?  Oh, BJ Mullens.  My bad. 

Mullens to the NBA.  If for no other reason, jump in to see the video highlights of Shawn Bradley getting dunked on by almost every player in the NBA over the course of their career.