Written by Brian McPeek

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Not much to say in regard to this weekend in sports. Not from a Cleveland sports perspective anyway. The Tribe just lost a series to their Siamese twin organization from Pittsburgh, the Cavs are still dead, LeBron James is still building his wall of defense and his tunnel out of NE Ohio and the Browns haven’t kicked things off in earnest just yet.

The Indians actually started their weekend off in fine fashion with a good effort from Fausto Carmona, some timely hitting and a ‘No Drama’ save from Kerry Wood. None of those are what you might consider everyday experiences (though Carmona has, in all fairness, been very good this season). They actually looked like a viable major league team Friday. Of course, they were playing a team that’s somehow managed to put together 18 straight years of losing baseball. So while water finds its own level they still played a decent ball game Friday night.

So we have that.

What we don’t have is a series win over the Pirates because the Indians are simply a bad baseball team. Games like Friday are the exception rather than the rule and the Indians just don’t pitch, hit or field well enough to even sniff mediocrity.

The Pirates ended a 12-game losing streak Saturday against David Huff and then won consecutive games for seemingly since the ‘We Are Family’ years by beating Justin Masterson on Sunday.

Huff should check his cell phone and make sure his Columbus real estate agent’s number is still up to date. He’s got to be heading to the capital city soon. If he can get there by the end of April 2010 that would suit me just fine. Even the outs Huff is getting are loud outs and any outs are few and far between.

And you don’t want Tribe fielders having to pick up anything hit with pace to begin with. The Indians made three more errors on Sunday to hand the Pirates the series clincher. On Sunday Masterson deserved a better fate but Raffy Perez (who should also check Huff’s cell phone for Columbus-area properties) and Jensen Lewis couldn’t hold a late 3-2 Indians lead.

Tribe rookie catcher Carlos Santana continued to make a good first impression though. The Tribe’s prized prospect collected three more hits, another HR and three more RBI on Sunday.

Dude looks to be the real deal. He makes violent contact from both sides of the plate and has handled himself quite well since being brought up 10 days ago.

So that’s one spot nailed down and only about 17 other major league roster spots in dire need of repair.

Odd?

Look, I know LeBron James never formally committed to attending ‘LeBron Appreciation Day’ in Akron on Saturday. I know he’s not obligated to attend such events and that he’s busy building his business empire.

But to show up ridiculously late, after many or all of the 4,000 or so fans who came out to support the event had left or were leaving InfoCision Stadium in Akron on Saturday, well, that just doesn’t sit right with me.

James is still a kid. But he’s also a kid who has handled himself him appropriately, if not flawlessly, since entering the league as the most heralded and hyped basketball player in a couple of decades. He handled the Ricky Davis situation correctly when he got to Cleveland, he said all the right things when Carlos Boozer bent over Gordon Gund and the Cavaliers organization and he’s handled pretty much everything else thrown at him over the previous seven years with dignity, aplomb and wisdom beyond his age.

So why the sudden emergence of this other side of James? Why the sudden appearance of selfishness and what appears to be elitism?

Some people say LeBron told us all how we would handle the free agency bidding wars that are set to start in a couple weeks.

And he did.

He said he was going to be wooed and explore his options. I have no issues with that. But he seems to be taking extraordinary measures to turn a loving fan base against him 45 miles north of Akron. Akron will always be there for LBJ, no matter where he decides to play next season. He’s one of their own and he at least owes those fans a bit more than showing up at an event planned his honor after the commemorative plaque or trophy or whatever pile of crap they were giving him was boxed up and put away and the majority of people were headed home. No, it’s not a big deal in the grand scheme of things but it’s just another bit of data to file away. Certainly James could have either made time to be there to receive his just due or he could have passed on the event altogether.

It may be paranoia typing, but it seems as though James is trying to distance himself from his local fan base. It’s easier to leave a place you’re unhappy with and it’s not hard to create the animosity that could be the basis for that decision.

The fatalists here and in Akron point to this and say, “Hey, look at this. I told you he wanted nothing to do with this place any more.”

And while I’m not in there camp just yet in regard to Decision 2010, I’m close enough that I can smell what they’re cooking in their camp.

And it stinks.

Maybe a whole lot of nothing but, hey, there's not much else to talk about and this LBJ free agency thing is kind of important.

Speaking of Stinks…

Brian Robiskie, Mohamed Massaquoi, Chansi Stuckey, Carlton Mitchell, Jonathan Haggerty, Jake Haggerty, Josh Cribbs and Syndric Steptoe comprise the Cleveland Browns receiving corps as we head into the 2010 training camp.

You comfortable with that?

I’m not.

I truly believe that if the Browns and Jake Delhomme are going to keep their heads above water this season they need a big upgrade at the WR position. There’s simply not a proven game-breaker amongst those names and some of them are designated ‘possession-types’ as camp creeps closer.

I’m okay right now with the less than stellar stable of running backs because I think someone will emerge to run behind Alex Mack and Joe Thomas and because I think that elements of the west coast offense being added will open up the running game. And I understand the same offense I’m counting on to aid the running game will also (theoretically) shorten up the passing game and get more out of a slot and possession receivers.

But damn. That’s one pedestrian group of receivers.

You really have to hope there is a huge second year increase in production for Robiskie and Massaquoi. Or you have to hope that Mitchell can come in and as a rookie and stretch defenses while also holding onto the football.

Or you have to hope to find a guy that comes out of nowhere who makes the team and makes a significant contribution. Or you have to hope to find a big time receiver on the waiver wire.

Or you have to hope…..

Etcetera

You know, in my travels around the worldwide web I occasionally pause to check an account or two on one of those social networking sites.

I got a kick looking at one such site yesterday on Father’s Day. I just can’t help but wonder why we have some many screwed up kids and adults out there when every post I read indicated to me that either someone’s kids or parents were the very best kids or parents on the face of the earth.

It just doesn’t add up for me. Maybe all the kids and parents not on Face Book blow?