The Cleveland Indians started their three game series with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim with a 5-1 victory tonight. Here are my thoughts on tonight's win:
- Outstanding performance tonight from Cliff Lee. Complete game effort and only 3 hits and 1 run allowed. Lee pitched no hit ball until the sixth inning.
- Great game by Victor Martinez with an RBI single in the first to get things going and a home run later on. I thought Victor's single in the first helped Cliff Lee get settled in and pitch in a comfort zone. Victor also held the Angels potent running game at bay tonight.
- I felt like Grady made some catches tonight that prevented big innings. Nice to see him play well with the news of him being on the cover of this week's Sports Illustrated.
- The complete game really could pay benefits in the games to come with letting the bullpen get acclimated to the western time zone.
- The Tigers won tonight but the Tribe is still in first place by a half game. These two teams seem to be trying to run away from the rest of the division.
- I wanted to apologize to everyone for posting the wrong starting pitcher for the Angels tonight. I assumed it would be Weaver but it was Ervin Santana who got the call tonight.
The Indians continue their series with the Angels tomorrow night at 10:05 with Paul Byrd facing Jered Weaver.
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Musing On McNabb, Mini-Camp And More
by Dave Spadero
May 8, 2007
Donovan McNabb selected his audience, and then he spoke. He conducted one-on-one interviews with a couple of Philadelphia newspapers, a television station and a radio station on Tuesday and he answered all the questions the outside world wanted to ask.
By now, of course, you have the general idea: McNabb was "shocked" that the Eagles used their first pick in the draft on quarterback Kevin Kolb, McNabb expects to be healthy and be the quarterback here for many years to come and, well, that's about all he said. He said what everyone expected him to say: McNabb's focus is not on the media coverage, but on the rehabilitation of his right knee as he prepares for the 2007 season.
Is the story over? Probably not. The story never seems to be over for McNabb, who continues to be a headline one week after another.
McNabb presented his interviews as a chance to promote his charity golf tournament, and instead of having a full-fledged press conference during mini-camp, he set up a "personal invitation" setting. If it works for him ...
Anyway, the upshot is this: McNabb showed nothing more than the same initial wave of "shock" we all felt when the Eagles drafted Kolb. McNabb is a driven, proud guy. No doubt, he was stung by the selection, and if he uses it as a chip on his shoulder and gains a touch of motivation from the whole thing, great. Fine. Wonderful.
The most important part of this latest McNabb Media Episode is that he is far ahead of schedule and is on pace to be ready for training camp and for game action in the preseason. I won't be surprised, in fact, if McNabb throws some in the individual portion of this weekend's mini-camp.
Then again, there is no rush. What is important is the health outlook down the line, three or four months from now when the season begins.
McNabb has a lot of work to be done with his knee, so the smart thing for him to do is put his focus on his health, not on the external stories. He knows, as we all know, that if McNabb stays healthy and plays to his ability as he has throughout his career, that the quarterback job in Philadelphia is all about McNabb.
All of that stuff is for future headlines. I'm just glad McNabb had his say, picked his spots, feels better now that he has gotten all of the questions out of the way.
I say it is time to move on. Football is in the air.
I had a good chat on Tuesday with special teams coordinator Rory Segrest. He has some exciting things in store, even if those subtle changes to the scheme aren't something you and I notice. There isn't much secretive here for Segrest: The return game is up in the air with Bethel Johnson and Jeremy Bloom competing, Dirk Johnson has some real competition from Saverio Rocca (both men will work as holders in this camp) and there are a slew of young players working to make an impact on special teams.
Clearly, the Eagles are counting on Quintin Mikell to be a leader on special teams, with a Pro Bowl upside.
Segrest is going to be a no-nonsense coach and he will bring a passion and a fire to the job. If he has question, Segrest just has to walk across the hall and talk to John Harbaugh, now coaching the secondary.
The Eagles must be more explosive in the return game and they need to have more consistency in coverage. David Akers is one of the best in the game as the placekicker, and he has enjoyed a full off-season of good health and is stronger than ever.
I'm looking forward to seeing how the Eagles use their receivers in this camp, what rotation the coaches have in mind. Who is the slot receiver? I think the Eagles want to give a good, long look to Jason Avant in that role.
Something I've gathered from talking to scouts and coaches about Kolb: The idea that he didn't take snaps under center at Houston is a fabrication. From what people tell me, Kolb took about a third of his snaps from under center in college, and showed plenty of the traits the Eagles look for in a quarterback. One coach with whom I spoke bristled when the suggestion was put forth that Kolb played in a "run and shoot" offense. "Not true at all," said the coach.
Kolb is the third quarterback on the depth chart for the weekend mini-camp and will get significant reps. Let the overanalyzing begin!
How tough is the Wonderlic test? I took it last week and scored a 31. In 12 minutes, I completed 43 of the 50 questions and I guessed at least 5-6 times. It is very, very hard.
There was something genuinely goose-bump-raising about the way safety Brian Dawkins gushed on The NFL Network the other day about the acquisition of linebacker Takeo Spikes. Dawkins thinks Spikes and the Eagles will be a match made for each other, and that Spikes' intensity and passion for the game will raise the level of this defense.
Part of me wants another veteran cornerback in camp at some point to challenge what the Eagles have, and another part of me listens to what the people who know tell me: That Joselio Hanson played well last year and that he is as good as any fourth cornerback out there. We shall see.
I spent part of Tuesday morning playing the part of auctioneer at the Annual Eagles Youth Partnership Locker Room Breakfast, a sold-out event that is a huge draw every year. The auction raised more than $20,000 for three items -- a McNabb autographed authentic jersey in a beautiful frame, a golf foursome with Hank Baskett and a magic show with Jon Dorenbos. The generosity was magnificent. Thanks to all.
Looking for a dark horse to follow beginning this weekend? I will give you a few: Tight end Lee Vickers, whom I have mentioned before and who, in my eyes, will challenge draft pick Brent Celek for a roster spot, fullback Jason Davis and defensive end Marques Murrell. Just my two cents.
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