Leadoff with Lee 8.5.14

This feels good right about now. Everytime I turn on any random show on ESPN, NBA TV, Fox Sports 1, MLB network or any other media outlet, Cleveland is the lead story. And for once, it's not all bad news. So let's start here..

-According to ESPN NBA reporter Brian Windhorst, the Cleveland Cavaliers, Minnesota Timberwolves and Philadelphia 76ers have all reached a "handshake deal" on the worst kept secret in the NBA, Kevin Love to the Cavs. Additional details were provided by Windhorst yesterday on ESPN radio and the trade scenario goes as follows: Kevin Love to Cleveland in exchange for Andrew Wiggins and Anthony Bennett to Minnesota. Bennett then will be traded to the 76ers in exchange for Philadelphia's Thaddeus Young going to the Timberwolves. If this is a true trade scenario as reported, the Cavs will not need to trade a 2015 first round draft pick and I'm down with that. I didn't want to trade any future potential talent that could help the Cavs create a dynasty for years to come.

-Where's Johnny? If you weren't paying attention, he was running the first team offense all day in Browns practice yesterday. It seems as if the city of Cleveland is split on who will or should be the starter for Week One against the rival Pittsburgh Steelers. Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau stated yesterday "I'm expecting Manziel to be the starter." LeBeau continued saying, "I think he's going to be a handful for all of us". To me, it's obvious that LeBeau will fine tune his defense to Manziel or create a "Johnny package", as Brian Hoyer is more of a pocket passer and won't deviate from the base defense that the Steelers run.

-A camouflage Porsche arrived at the Browns training camp facility yesterday morning. Who's car was it? Who can afford a camo Porsche? Yes it was Josh Gordon and his car. Gordon did practice with the second team offense but was dismissed around 11:15 AM so he could attended his appeal hearing via phone. The phone hearing lasted around 3 hours and was submitted for a desicion. According to a source close to Plain Dealer Browns reporter, Mary Kay Cabot, a desicion could take from one to three weeks. In my opinion, if the Gordon appeal to the NFL is so cut and dry why would this hearing take over 13 hours to complete? And if it does take three weeks for a judgement, this puts the Browns at a serious disadvantage next if his suspension is for one full calendar year. Personally, I believe Gordon and his lawyer Maurice Suh presented arbitrator Harold Henderson with either compelling information about the testing, the testing process or they were working on a reduced suspension.

-Browns good guy and former offensive lineman Jason Pinkston will sit out the rest of the season and possibly retire due to blood clots in his lungs. Pinkston, just 26 years old, missed the last 10 games of the 2012 season with the same condition. Clotting in the lungs is life threatening and Pinkston had symptoms of the clots during training which included spitting up blood, fatigue and shortness of breath. Jason was at the Browns facility yesterday and reached an injury settlement . Jason Pinkston was a true class act and volunteered a lot in Cleveland and northeast Ohio in general. We wish Jason Pinkston nothing but success and hope he stays involved with Cleveland and surrounding communities.

-It's clear the Corey Kluber is the true ace of this Cleveland Indians staff. He improved to 12-6 on the season with his 2.55 era to help lead the Tribe to a 7-1 win against the Cincinatti Reds last night. Kluber pitched 7.1 innings giving up 6 hits, 1 run and 7 strikeouts. Jason Kipnis, Michael Brantley and Jose Ramirez each had two hits for the Indians. With Lonnie Chisenhall and Yan Gomes going yard. Chisenhall recorded 3 RBI, with Gomes and Brantley with 2. The Indians and Reds close out the 2 game set tonight at 7 PM, with Josh Tomlin on the rubber for the Tribe, and Johnny Cueto going for the Reds.

Leadoff with Lee 8.3.14

Ohio had a lot going on yesterday especially Cleveland, Akron and Canton. I don't even know where to start but let's go here:

-The NFL Hall of Fame in Canton inducted 7 new members that included 7 time Pro Bowler Micheal Strahan, who was the 2001 NFL Defensive MVP and recorded 22.5 sacks which is a NFL single season record. For the first time a punter made the Hall, and he goes by the name of Ray Guy. He was drafted by the Oakland Raiders. He was a 7 time Pro Bowler and 23rd pick of the 1973 NFL draft. The line of the night went to John Madden who said "Punters are football players too. Ray Guy was a football player that punted". Now in my own mind, I was saying "Hell nah I'm just a football player who kicks a ball, makes millions and doesn't get tackled". Even though punters didn't make millions back then,
but y'all get the point.

-Claude Humphrey. This one I don't understand. He is a 6 time Pro Bowler, 2 time first team All-Pro and 1969 Defensive Player of the Year for the Atlanta Falcons. I just don't see the credentials/stats to back it up but NEEEEEXT!

-Arizona Cardinal Aeneas Williams. Now when I look at cornerbacks, I compare them all to Deion Sanders. But he was a 8 time AFC pro bowler and 3 time first team All-Pro. He recorded 55 interceptions and 9 touchdowns in his career with the Cardinals and St. Louis Rams.

-Derrick Brooks was a beast! 11 Pro Bowls, 5 time All-Pro linebacker out of Florida State that played for the Buccaneers of Tampa Bay. Great pass rusher, great speed and excellent hands!

-Offensive linemen Walter Jones got the nod this year. A excellent left tackle, 9 time Pro Bowler and 4 time All-Pro dominated all defensive linemen he faced. Sometimes the best defense is the offense.

-Buffalo Bills wideout Andre Reed. Jerry Rice got the spotlight when Andre played, but numbers never lie. The Bills star receiver was always a 3rd down threat and Jim Kelly's go to guy. He caught everything thrown his way. This 7 time Pro Bowler ranks 13th in receiving yards and 11th all time in receptions. He helped lead the Bills to 4 straight Super Bowls in the 90s.

-It was Jim Thome Statue Day at Progressive field and the boys on the field did him proud. After pitching a no-hitter in Triple-A Columbus, T.J House was brought up by the Tribe and recorded a 2-0 win over the Texas Rangers. House went 5 innings giving up only 3 hits, with 7 strikeouts. The short outing can be contributed to his 9 inning no hitter. Cody Allen came in to get his 14th save of the season. "Dr. Smooth" Michael Brantley continues to show why he was an All-Star, going 2-4 for the night. Nick "BrOhio" Swisher and Lonnie Chisenhall had the RBI for the good guys. The Indians will wrap the series up at 1:05 today, then start a series at home against the Cincinnati Reds on Monday.

-In Akron, it looks like a battle between Rory McIlroy and Sergio Garcia at the WGC Bridgestone. Garcia is 14 under and Mcilroy is at 11 under. Fan favorite Tiger Woods, who is in desperate need of a win, is plus 1.

-Minnesota Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor stated yesterday "a Kevin Love trade is likey by August 23 or 24". "I'm saying it's most likely because Kevin has made it pretty clear that that's what he wants to do". So what does Kevin exactly want to do? Come to Cleveland and play with "The King"? I'll be the first to say Welcome to Cleveland, Kevin. This to me is just more concrete evidence that Andrew Wiggins will be included in the trade. His jersey is still labeled discontinued on the Cavs and NBA website.

Leadoff with Lee 7.31.14

-Corey Kluber needed just 85 pitches in his complete game shutout of the Seattle Mariners and lead the Tribe with a 2-0 win yesterday in Cleveland. Kluber improved to 11-6 on the season while recording 8 strikeouts and giving up only 3 hits. The Indians only had 4 hits on the night, with the biggest hit coming from catcher Yan Gomes with his 2 run single in the bottom of the 6th inning. The 3 game series comes to a end tonight, as Zack Mcallister getting the start for the Tribe and Chris Young for the Mariners.

-Justin Masterson was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals for outfield prospect James Ramsey yesterday. The trade deadline is over today at 4 PM. The Indians dodged a bullet by not signing Masterson to a $43 million dollar extension prior to the beginning of 2014 season, and did get a top prospect in return. Masterson will become a free agent at the end of the season. Masterson will join his new team on Friday and is scheduled to make his first start on Saturday. The right hander was 4-6 on the season with a 5.51 era in 19 starts with the Indians this year. James Ramsey is a former first round draft choice and will report to Triple-A Columbus. Ramsey, 24, was considered one of the top prospects in the Cardinals organization. Ramsey was the 23rd pick in 2012 draft out of Florida State. He is hitting .300 with 13 homeruns and 36 RBI.

-Trade talks are heating up between the Timberwolves and Cavs in a deal that would send Kevin Love to Cleveland. The Cavs have emerged as the front runner to land Love as Chicago has backed out of trying to acquire Love. As it stands, it looks like the Cavs will need to part ways with lasts years first round pick Anthony Bennett, this years number one overall pick Andrew Wiggins and a first round pick in 2015. A third team, possibly the Philadelphia 76ers, may also be apart of the deal to make this trade more appealing and to make all the salaries meet NBA requirements for trades. Neither Minnesota or Cleveland can comment on any trade until August 23rd when Andrew Wiggins' 30 day no trade clause expires for signed NBA rookies. Wiggins was signed last Thursday and may not don a wine and gold jersey when the regular season starts. Anthony Bennett was pulled from Team Canada by his agent fearing he may get injured and to protect his client from any trade that maybe in the pipeline.

-74 year old NBA official Dick Bavetta will be retiring. Bavetta's first game as an NBA ref was December 2, 1975 at Madison Square Garden in a game between the Knicks and Celtics. In April 2014, Bavetta worked his 2,633rd consecutive regular season game. By comparison, legendary Baltimore Orioles shortstop Cal Ripken's "ironman streak" was 2,632 straight games.

-The Browns had a much needed day off yesterday and resume training camp today in Berea. All the live action will begin as the Browns will actually be tackling.