While We’re Waiting serves as the early morning gathering of WFNY-esque information for your viewing pleasure. Have something you think we should see? Send it to our tips email at tips@waitingfornextyear.com.
Scott Fujita calls Colt McCoy a young Drew Brees on 92.3 The Fan in Cleveland: “I think last season when Colt McCoy first got the nod as the starter and it wasn’t so much the play at that point it was just watching the way he commanded the huddle and the way he commanded the respect of the guys in the lockerroom and the way he was such a natural leader.
That was the thing that struck me the most being similar to Drew Brees. Drew is one of my best friends down there and played against his former team when he was with San Diego and I was with Kansas City. I got to know him really, really well over the years and Colt McCoy just reminded me of a young version of Drew Brees.
Obviously he is going to keep growing as a player and keep getting better and better, but in terms of those intangible leadership qualities? Colt has got that.” [Sports Radio Interviews/ Steve Cuce]
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One of three reasons given why Browns should sign TO: “The Browns don’t want to invest big money right on a free agent wide receiver. Terrell Owens can be had at a reasonable price (Let’s face it, he isn’t working in the NFL right now so I’m guessing he’d jump at league minimum).
I understood why the Browns didn’t spend big money on a wide receiver from the free agent market. You need to have receivers who work well with the style of your quarterback. Can they run the long routes like Randy Moss or Chad Ochocinco? Can they catch a pass in the backfield and use their running ability to turn it into an 80-yard TD run like Josh Cribbs or Calvin Johnson?
Different receivers have different skill sets and they need to compeiment the quarterback. Until this team makes a determination on Colt McCoy, spending big money doesn’t make sense.” [Dawg Pound Daily / Kate Arhar]
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White Sox hire Robin Ventura to replace Ozzie: “The Chicago White Sox’s hiring of Robin Ventura on Thursday is so puzzling that the easiest explanation has to be the correct one. GM Kenny Williams and owner Jerry Reinsdorf looked at the field chart from the 1993 AL West champions and simply moved one position to the right of Ozzie Guillen and Joey Cora.
If the pattern continues, Ron Karkovice better make sure he’s not busy in a year or two.Unorthodox would be one way to describe this move. Insanity that only Guillen could love would be another. Ventura has not managed or coached on any level in professional baseball since retiring in 2004.
A profile in the Los Angeles Times this past summer said he recently worked as a volunteer assistant for Arroyo Grande High School. He has occasionally worked on College World Series and White Sox broadcasts, and he started serving as a special assistant to the White Sox in June. Old teammate Frank Thomas calls him “a great instructor.”‘ [Big League Stew / Duk]
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Mo Clarett and Troy Smith talk Tressel and OSU prior to Omaha / Las Vegas minor league pro game: “Both Smith and Clarett felt that Tressel, the man who recruited them and the architect of the dynasty, had been done wrong. They both still talk to their coach. Clarett spoke to Tressel on Monday night and said he intends to coach again, probably on the pro level.
“I don’t believe he was trying to cover anything up,” Clarett said. “This man goes into people’s homes and understands where (recruits) come from, understand they don’t have mothers and fathers. He’s responsible for what happens to your sons. That transcends the NCAA, transcends the university. Gene Smith should have gone to him and they should have figured something out. But to act like he was trying to do something bad, that’s wrong. He actually cared about the people. I believe Gene Smith knows the truth. And I can pretty much leave it at that.”
Troy Smith said: “There’s no doubt he was wronged. I don’t know how many college coaches would jump on the sword for somebody else’s kids, like he did. Obviously, it wasn’t just a recruiting tool when I came to Ohio State because he did it for hundreds of other kids. The only thing I feel emotions about is Coach Tressel. Without Jim Tressel, I wouldn’t have had a chance to play quarterback in the Big Ten. As far as the other stuff, I don’t get emotional about it. Ohio State will be here for a long time after I’m gone, know what I mean?
“I want to tell the truth about what I think of my school, but the last time I spoke my mind, I got ripped for it.”
That said, Smith is excited about the matchup between his old school and the new place where he’s hanging out until he gets another call from the NFL.” [Omaha.com / Tom Shatel]
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Yankees lose at home: “In the end, three runs would be enough (just barely) thanks to some great clutch pitching. Starter Doug Fister, pitching on three days rest, worked his way out of jams in the second, third and fourth. He struckout Posada with a man on second to end the second. He tied up Robinoson Cano just enough to get him to fly to center with two on and two out in the third. He then survived a bases loaded mess in the fourth, getting the final two outs on easy infield pop ups. The only run against Fister was a solo homer by Cano in the fifth.
Game-two winner Max Scherzer, came in to start the fifth and got four outs. He left after an infield hit by shortstop Derek Jeter with one down in the seventh. Then it got really scary. Reliever Joaquin Benoit allowed two hits, including a single under his glove that should have been an easy out. He then walked slugger Mark Teixeira to make it a one run ball game. Sandwiched around the walk, however, were punch outs of Alex Rodriguez and Nick Swisher.
They now had a one run lead with two innings to go, a situation where they had gone 79-0 this year. It never felt safe though. The final out of the eighth was a blast to deep right by Jeter which looked like it might clear the wall for A Yankees lead. Instead Kelly caught it right at the fence.
The ninth inning belonged to closer Jose Valverde as always. He retired Curtis Granderson and Robinson Cano on fly balls. Then he struckout ARod for the final out. Papa Grande did his save dance for the 51st time this year and was mobbed by teammates.” [Tigers Tales / Lee Panas]