Thursday, May 2

Month: January 2020

26Jan By James MastrucciNo Comments
Monsters

Monsters at the All-Star Break

The Cleveland Monsters find themselves in eighth place with 46 points at the All-Star Break. Through 40 games the Monsters have the same amount of wins and losses (20). 15 of Cleveland's victories have come in regulation, three in overtime, and two are shootout wins. The Monsters have 16 regulation losses, two overtime losses and two shootout losses on the season. Cleveland comes into the break riding a two-game winning streak. Both wins coming against the Toronto Marlies. An impressive 5-2 win Friday and a 5-4 comeback win in overtime Saturday. Over their past 10 games Cleveland is 4-5-1-0, not exactly a hot streak. While the Monsters goal differential is only -7, they trail first place Belleville by 42 in the goal scoring department. On the bright side, Cleveland has a...
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26Jan By James MastrucciNo Comments
Guardians

Indians have two prospects in Top 100

MLB Pipeline has released their Top 100 prospect list. The Cleveland Indians have two players from their system named as a Top 100 prospect  Before we get into who is on the list, there is one Indians prospect who was 79th on the list prior to last season and is now out of the Top 100. Triston McKenzie. McKenzie was once a heralded prospect, but the fact he missed all of 2019 due to injury has him dropping off the list entirely. Injuries are nothing new for McKenzie and they may be a cause for concern moving forward. Nolan Jones  Nolan Jones is ranked as the 42nd best prospect in the Top 100. Jones was ranked as the third-best third base prospect in MLB Pipeline’s position rankings. The Indians prospect still has a little ways to go before reaching making his MLB debut....
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25Jan By James MastrucciNo Comments
Cavs, Game Recaps

Cavaliers lose seventh straight game

The Cleveland Cavaliers lost to the Chicago Bulls by a score of 118-106. This is their seventh staright loss and 13th in their last 16 games. The Cleveland Cavaliers are just not a good basketball team right now. They are still stuck in what seems to be a never-ending losing streak. Chicago came into Cleveland and beat them for the second time in the last four games. The 3rd quarter continues to be a massive issue for the Cavs. Chicago outscored Cleveland 40-19 in the 3rd and pretty much put the game away right then. Cleveland managed to outscore Chicago in the 4th quarter 30-19, but it was too little too late as Cleveland lost by 12 points at home 118-106. Double-doubles from Kevin Love and Larry Nance Jr. Kevin Love and Larry Nance Jr. were the only members of the Cleveland...
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25Jan By James MastrucciNo Comments
Monsters

Monsters postgame quotes from 5-4 win over Marlies

The Cleveland Monsters came out victorious over the Toronto Marlies with a 5-4 overtime win. Cleveland took both games against Toronto. Saturday's win against the Toronto Marlies did not go to plan for the Cleveland Monsters. Veini Vehvilainen had a rough 15 minutes in the 1st period and was pulled after allowing three goals. Cleveland Monsters head coach Mike Eaves addressed this after the game. Mike Eaves Mike Eaves said the following regards to Matiss Kivlenieks coming in for Vehvilainen. They've played long enough that it's happened to them before and even when they're not dressing, they don't think they're going to play, there's that little wire that says you have to be ready. Eaves also added that Kivlenieks was able to "do a nice job for us" in regards to his perf...
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25Jan By James MastrucciNo Comments
Game Recaps, Monsters

Monsters top Marlies in overtime 5-4

The Cleveland Monsters took on the Toronto Marlies looking to win their second consecutive game at home. Cleveland defeated the Marlies by a score of 5-2 Friday night. Veini Vehvilainen got the start in goal after not playing in Friday's victory. Matiss Kivlenieks started in place of Vehvilainen Friday, saving 35 of 37 shots. Ryan Collins, Steve Johnson, Bryan Moore, Justin Scott, Michael Prapavessis, Markus Hannikainen, and Brad Thiessen did not play in the contest. 1st period The Monsters found themselves on the power play rather quickly. Toronto's Pontus Aberg was called for cross-checking. Cleveland was not able to make anything out of their power play opportunity as Toroto's penalty kill was quite effective. Cleveland found themselves on the power play again with j...
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25Jan By James MastrucciNo Comments
Browns

Mel Kiper has Browns drafting Mekhi Becton

Mel Kiper Jr.'s NFL Mock Draft has the Cleveland Browns heading in a very popular direction, selecting an offensive tackle. There is one thing that most everyone agrees on when it comes to the Cleveland Browns. They need to draft an offensive tackle in the 2020 NFL Draft. Sitting at 10, there should be at least one option available to them. Mel Kiper Jr. has mocked Louisville's Mekhi Becton to the Cleveland Browns. Mekhi Becton is 6-foot-7 and 369 pounds. That certainly sounds like an NFL left tackle. A common concern with Becton is his size and conditioning. There is the possibility that this improves when coming into the NFL. The complete opposite could also happen. There are times that players become a bit lost when it comes to managing their weight and conditioning level. Part o...
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24Jan By James MastrucciNo Comments
Game Recaps, Monsters

Monsters defeat Toronto Marlies 5-2

The Cleveland Monsters defeated the visiting Toronto Marlies 5-2. Cleveland came away with a much needed victory in their first of two games this weekend. The Cleveland Monsters took an early lead and didn’t look back, defeating the Toronto Marlies by a score of 5-2.  This was an important win for Cleveland. The Monsters lost in overtime to Rochester Wednesday, coming away with a comfortable win Friday could go a long way for the Monsters. Rather than dwelling on the disappointing loss, they went and took care of business against Toronto. Matiss Kivlenieks got the start in goal, saving 35 of 37 shots. Veini Vehvilainen had the night off and may start tomorrow. Dillon Simpson got things started for the Monsters 1:28 into the game. Calvin Thurkauf and Trey Fix-Wolansky a...
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24Jan By James MastrucciNo Comments
Browns

George Paton no longer an option for Browns

Minnesota Vikings assistant general manager George Paton is no longer an option for the Cleveland Browns as he has withdrawn himself from the running. This really is not all that surprising, George Paton has decided to stay in Minnesota. The Vikings assistant general manager was one of the candidates interviewing for the Cleveland Browns general manager position. https://twitter.com/TomPelissero/status/1220809233626796034?s=20 Paton was in Cleveland for a second interview earlier this week. The fact that Paton interviewed not only once, but twice led some to believe that he may have been the leader for the job. Jimmy Haslam and Paul DePodesta have spoke about alignment throughout this process and that is why George Paton was in the mix for the general manager position. Kevi...
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24Jan By James MastrucciNo Comments
Browns

Ben McAdoo visiting with Browns

According to reports, former New York Giants offensive coordinator and head coach Ben McAdoo is in Cleveland visiting with the Browns. Well, this was unexpected. Ben McAdoo is in Cleveland visiting with the Browns. https://twitter.com/Jake_Trotter/status/1220754759856148480?s=20 Just what position McAdoo is there to interview for is unclear. It is possible that they are looking at the former Giants coach to be their next offensive coordinator. Cleveland previously showed interest in former Broncos offensive coordinator Rich Scangarello and are exploring their options for Kevin Stefanski's coaching staff. Much like Scangarello, Ben McAdoo had some missteps that sound quite familiar. McAdoo would seemingly pick and choose which players to hold accountable. Freddie Kitchens di...
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24Jan By James MastrucciNo Comments
Browns

Browns: Joe Woods may stay with 49ers

The San Francisco 49ers may be able to persuade Joe Woods to stay and not join the Cleveland Browns as their defensive coordinator. It was not long ago where Joe Woods becoming the next defensive coordinator of the Cleveland Browns seemed inevitable. Apparently the San Francisco 49ers would prefer that not to happen. https://twitter.com/GoesslingStrib/status/1220144431829004288?s=20 It is easy to understand why San Francisco wants to keep Joe Woods. Woods has plenty of NFL experience and could end up as their defensive coordinator sooner rather than later. Robert Saleh will get interviews for head coaching jobs next offseason and could end up leaving. (Saleh was up for the Browns head coaching job before Cleveland hired Kevin Stefanski). In this scenario San Francisco would nee...
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