Over the weekend with the Guards trailing at home after trading solid starter Civale and shortstop Rosario, Jose, their best player, stroked a double bagger down the chalk past first. His arrival at 2nd had him inflamed at the play of Tim Anderson’s blockage of the bag. His Espanol directed at the south side ss resulted in a shove that was harder than anticipated. Ramirez felt he had to defend himself and the game, TA squared off fists in boxing formation as his arms grew past his sleeves. But the All-Star remained tight and landed a right that dropped Anderson. One of the best showdowns we’ve seen in MLB since Nolan Ryan V. Ventura, another White Sox player. On the real, I’d rather be talking about first place but the Guards are under .500. Is this display of passion enough to get these guys believing they are the team from last year?
The short answer, probably not. The identity is lacking even though Josh Naylor is everything a ball player should be. This team wasn’t meant to compete last year and so 2023 has had much optimism. The fact remains it’s the 2nd youngest team in the majors and will take time. After an early playoff loss to the Knicks for the Cavaliers, the locals need hope, besides punching TA out to fuel their work week.
Insert a Browns team starting training camp in West Virgina for 9 days cumulating at the Hall of Fame game on Thursday against the Jets in Canton. There was no Watson or Rogers, it was a scrimmage for the others trying to earn. The publics first taste of NFL football was under appetizing. The only play worth mentioning is that of 5th round selection out of UCLA, QB, Thompson-Robinson. Judging by the eye test, against scrubs, the PAC-10 product looked poised. He had command.
The weekend saw Joe Thomas, OL, left tackle for the Browns, receive entry into Canton with a gold jacket. The third pick in the draft from Wisconsin had loyalty to the city, organization, and the many QB’s he protected in down terrible years on the North Coast. With the memory of a soldier the unit enters 2023 with little expectations nationally. The Browns have been picked to come in last in a sturdy steadfast AFC North. The golden boy, Joe Burrow, and MVP Lamar Jackson will be seen in the first 3 weeks and we’ll know if this year’s orange and brown are worthy of all the love and time, we give them.
The additions on defense of Za’ Darius lining up with Garret and coordinator Jim Shwartz are signs of 3rd down stops, saving my breath and heart from taxation. Can Moore, WR, be the Jarvis Laundry of before, easing the pressure of Nick Chubb, best work horse in the league? Does Waston show signs and stats of what made him a Clemson National Champ? Can Kevin Stefanski stop going for 4th downs on his side of the field? Will the LSU Tiger miss 8 field goals again?
One thing is for sure, the Guards ain’t making a playoff run. Sure, the ballpark is amazing and hanging out with Tribe fans is welcoming but this team is not 2016 deep. The core for the Browns is set but on the diamond; you’ll get lost at first base. Insert Josh Bell. Kevin Stefanski is on the hot seat not Terry. We’ll see what it does out the shoot, week 1 Bengals, Steelers, (Thursday, White uniforms), and Ravens, then we can judge Watson, and this team. Until then we’ll live off every ‘X’ tweet from Mary Kay from Berea, optimistic that this is our year. Ask Tim Anderson, we hit hard.
