The Cleveland Indians halted their mini 2 game losing streak today with a win against the Baltimore Orioles on Sunday by the score of 9-6. Here are my thoughts on today's game:
- Good job by CC today pitching like the ace that he is and stopping a losing streak. I think CC has put himself into the lead for the AL Cy Young award. Also I would point out that the Tribe is 7-0 in games CC has pitched.
- Great day for Trot Nixon. I think Mark Shapiro should be lauded for his signing. He has brought an attitude to the team of doing things the right way and I love the toughness he plays with. A player the ilk of Nixon is something that was missing the last two years. With all that being said 5 for 5 with 4 RBI's is a great day and big props to the Trotter.
- Attention ESPN please open your eyes the next time that you say Jose Reyes is the most exciting player in baseball. I and a group of ladies in the Northeastern Ohio (Grady's ladies) would beg to differ vehemently. Another web gem to add to his arsenal today.
- Also ESPN I would like to laud one of your analysts today. John Kruk told it like it is today. Roger Clemens will only pitch one game every five and their bullpen still blows.
- I know Detroit beat KC today but I think were in great shape being tied with them for the division lead. Also the Tribe and the Tigers seem to be getting some breathing room from the rest of the division. Also look at Detroit's schedule they have played KC nine times to our zero and they have not played really any tough teams outside of the division with the exception of the Angels.
The Tribe hope to gain a split in the four game series with Baltimore with a 12:35 matinee with the Orioles tomorrow. Fausto Carmona will take to the hill against the human rain delay Steve Trachsel.
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The New Eagles, And Where They Fit In
By Dave Spadero
May 6, 2007
There are so many new faces. So many new pictures within the roster. In the span of a very aggressive off-season, the Eagles have been able to change many of the pieces on this team, and yet retain the core stability that this franchise values so much.
Some of the changes have come from within -- second-year Eagles Brodrick Bunkley and Chris Gocong are penciled in as starters at right defensive tackle and SAM linebacker, respectively -- but many of the changes are a result of a wild off-season.
As the Eagles prepare for next weekend's mini-camp, here is an outline of how the new players might fit here ...
KEVIN CURTIS, WR
The scouting report on Curtis is that he has tremendous speed, releases well off the line of scrimmage, runs outstanding routes and is a sure-hands guy. Curtis should fit in perfectly in this scheme.
WR Kevin Curtis: Now it is time to see him as an Eagle
But he has a transition to make, as all receivers do in a new system. There is terminology to learn, a new quarterback to understand, receivers with whom to work in sync.
Curtis has been part of the team's off-season conditioning program and he is going to start with Reggie Brown at wide receiver. Both receivers have the ability to get deep, to gain yards after the catch and to find ways to get open. This is the beginning of a long-term situation at wide receiver, and we get our first glimpse at Curtis in this camp.
Is he is a No. 1 receiver? That seems to be one of the most overused terms in the NFL these days. The Eagles are going to spread the ball around, sure, but Curtis will get his. He has a chance to be very, very productive in the offense.
BETHEL JOHNSON, WR/KR
With his great speed and burst, Johnson has the physical tools to be good in this league. He has not put it all together as a receiver, but still is a good return man. The Eagles are Johnson's fourth team, so is it now that his game blossoms?
Johnson will compete for a wide receiver job and a return job. He and Jeremy Bloom are very much in the same situation -- looked at as return men first, but also needing to impress the Eagles at wide receiver to make the team.
TAKEO SPIKES, LB
Spikes lines up this weekend at the WILL linebacker position, but he could take reps at all three spots. The Eagles think he played outstanding football for the second half of last season, and they think he is ready to be a standout again here.
Linebacker is obviously one of the most interesting positions on othe team. Gocong starts at SAM, backed up by draft pick Stewart Bradley and second-year man Tank Daniels. Jeremiah Trotter remains the starter in the middle, but he is expected to have to stave off the challenge of second-year man Omar Gaither.
Then there is Spikes and Matt McCoy at the WILL spot. Spikes is here to be a star again. He has all the great intangibles you want in a player. Can he run well enough to play WILL? The Eagles are going to get a good sample starting Saturday.
KELLY HOLCOMB, QB
Holcomb will get some practice reps this weekend, but his long-term picture here is cloudy, at best. The Eagles have four quarterbacks on the roster and they may only be able to keep three on the 53-man roster.
Where does that leave Holcomb, acquired in the trade with Buffalo?
The Eagles probably aren't in any hurry to make a decision. They want to see how Donovan McNabb, who won't take part in this mini-camp, looks in training camp. They want to see Holcomb and A.J. Feeley compete. They want to see how rookie Kevin Kolb sponges up the offense.
Holcomb will be asked to go out and run the offense as the No. 2 quarterback in this camp. From there, the future is a giant question mark.
MONTAE REAGOR, DT
Healthy and ready to step back on the field after his horrific automobile accident last year, Reagor figures to work his way into the defensive tackle rotation in some way, shape or form. It's too easy to say that he will only play in the nickel as a pass-rushing interior lineman, but that could be how Reagor is slotted now.
The Eagles have to see where Reagor is physically before they determine his role. Reagor missed a lot of time last year. He has some rust to shed to get back to his pre-injury form.
The first steps come this weekend.
IAN SCOTT, DT
Known as a physical, run-stopping tackle, Scott adds a nice dimension to the defensive front. He has a lot of starting experience and he comes to the Eagles with a chip on his shoulder after not finding a pot of gold in free agency.
So what role will Scott play?
It is too early to tell. The Eagles have a bunch of options at defensive tackle. Bunkley and Mike Patterson are starters, and even that is open for debate depending on how Bunkley steps up to the challenge. So far, the Eagles are encouraged. Camp will be revealing in the sense that the coaches will see how Bunkley is buying into the techinique line coach Pete Jenkins is selling.
DT Ian Scott: Comes in to help the defense
No doubt, Scott adds quite a bit to the mix. Working him in is going to be a challenge, but a good one for Jenkins and Jim Johnson.
KEVIN KOLB, QB
Call this Quarterback 101. Offensive coordinator Marty Morninweg says Kolb begins an intensive "Quarterback School" the instant he arrives at the NovaCare Complex, one that lasts for at least two seasons.
Kolb will get reps in the camp, and he will throw in the spring and in training camp. The Eagles want to move him along and get him ready as quickly as possible.
It's impossible to say when Kolb will play. Heck, the job belongs to Donovan McNabb, who is working his way back to 100 percent health. Kolb is a project, and learning every day is the best approach for the young man.
He will have a large spotlight this weekend. He handled things beautifully last week and is off to a good start. But with young quarterbacks, every day brings a new experience. This weekend will have Kolb's head spinning.
VICTOR ABIAMIRI, DE
I expect Abiamiri to jump right into the rotation at end, but at the very back of the line. He is a good prospect, strong and sound, but he has a lot to learn. The Eagles are deep at end, and Abiamiri adds to that depth.
His first order of business will be to understand how Jenkins likes his ends to play, how they use their hands, what they read, where they line up, things like that.
If you think playing defensive end means simply rushing the quaterback, you are wrong. It's complicated at this level.
Abiamiri's best chance of early playing time is likely special teams. He will work with Rory Segrest's lines in this camp to get a feel for the scheme.
STEWART BRADLEY, LB
Bradley has the kind of size and range Johnson likes in his SAM linebackers, and the kind of size and range Johnson hasn't had since the days of Carlos Emmons. Dhani Jones was a weak-side linebacker converted to the strong side.
Gocong is the starter here now, and Bradley has a chance to challenge. However, the defense is complicated and linebackers in the past, even veteran linebackers, acknowledge that it takes time -- about half a season -- to fully learn the scheme.
Bradley has a of learning ahead of him.
TONY HUNT, RB
Don't think Hunt is going to walk in here and take his place directly behind Brian Westbrook. Correll Buckhalter is the healthiest he has been in years and is coming off a good season. Ryan Moats has the offense down now, and will be there to compete.
Hunt impressed the Eagles a lot, and they are thrilled to have him. But now it is all about earning playing time. Hunt's between-the-tackles power will be appreciated. He has to run with that same leverage and burst here.
The weekend will be all about teaching Hunt the offense. How much can he retain? Can he recognize fronts and block? Can he catch the ball?
Hunt has a chance to impact with some playing time. But he has to earn it, and that means beating out Buckhalter and Moats for playing time.
C.J. GADDIS, S
A safety with cover skills, Gaddis has a ton to absorb about this defense. The coverage schemes are complicated and the learning curve is minimal: Gaddis needs to be in his playbook constantly to even get a feel for what the Eagles are doing in the secondary.
He comes into a great situation, though. Gaddis has a chance to learn from some of the best defensive backs in the league, including a player he idolizes, Brian Dawkins. If Gaddis follows the way Dawkins prepares and pays attention to detail, he will help his cause quite a bit.
The Eagles signed a couple of safeties in the post-draft period they like, so Gaddis has competition in front of him.
BRENT CELEK, TE
There is an opening at tight end with Mike Bartrum's status unofficially in question: Bartrum could announce his retirement this week. We shall see.
In the meantime, Celek will arrive hoping to learn the offense and impress the Eagles with his route running and hands. Celek figures to battle with Lee Vickers for a roster spot if Bartrum isn't around.
Then agan, who knows? The roster is so crowded that it is possible the Eagles may not be able to keep three tight ends (L.J. Smith and Matt Schobel figure to be in).
Celek isn't a super-fast guy, nor is he flashy. He was productive in college and will try to pick up the offense quickly here.
RASHAD BARKSDALE, CB
He is going to be one of the more fascinating guys to watch. Think about it: Barksdale jumps from Albany to the NFL. Now he has receivers who are blazing fast and incredibly quick in and out of their cuts. Can Barksdale stay with them?
The young man figures to be a project. He comes billed as a terrific athlete. How that translates to the field remains to be seen.
NATE ILAOA, RB
The big little man was impressive in college, but it's a whole new game at this level. Ilaoa has to show he is strong enough and conditioned enough to do the things here that he did in college.
How many running backs will the Eagles keep? Ilaoa is in the mix, for sure, but he has a lot of talent in front of him.
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