Thursday, May 2

Author: James Mastrucci

James Mastrucci covers the Browns, Cavaliers, Guardians, Monsters, Hornets, Packers, Bengals, Steelers, and Ravens. Find written work at This Is Believeland, Away Back Gone, Lombardi Ave, Swarm and Sting, and Full Press Coverage.
Andre Drummond and his impact on Cavs future
7Feb By James Mastrucci2 Comments
Cavs

Andre Drummond and his impact on Cavs future

Recently acquired center Andre Drummond will have a tremendous impact on the immediate future of the Cleveland Cavaliers. This is not about the performance of Andre Drummond on the court. This is entirely about his contract situation, his upcoming player option, and the fact he is represented by the agency as another prominent player on the Cleveland Cavaliers. Andre Drummond and Kevin Love are both represented by Excel Sports Management. This means that Drummond and his decision on his $28.75 million player option for the 2020-21 season could ultimately control the fate of the Cavs moving forward. If Drummond were to opt in, it may lead to the team hanging onto Kevin Love despite non-stop trade rumors. On the other hand if Drummond opts out, it may lead to a trade of Love. Of cour...
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Browns increase season ticket prices
7Feb By James MastrucciNo Comments
Browns

Browns increase season ticket prices

The Cleveland Browns have decided to make quite the unpopular decision by making season ticket prices just a bit more expensive. What in the world are the Cleveland Browns thinking? Raising season ticket prices after another disastrous season? Is there no awareness in the organization? The hires of Kevin Stefanski, Andrew Berry, and others might please some fans, but they cannot be used to raise ticket prices. The cache from another regime change can only do so much and that should not include this decision to charge fans more to attend games. https://twitter.com/twithersAP/status/1225517415657766919?s=20 As Tom Withers notes, the Browns state that tickets are estimated to be among the least expensive among NFL teams. Well, they should be. The organization is a complete disast...
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Monsters to host Binghamton Devils this weekend
7Feb By James MastrucciNo Comments
Monsters

Monsters to host Binghamton Devils this weekend

The Cleveland Monsters will continue their home stand as they play host to the visiting Binghamton Devils Friday and Sunday. The seventh and eighth place teams in the AHL North Division square off at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse this Friday and Sunday. The Cleveland Monsters will look to bounce back after Wednesday's disappointing loss at home to the Rochester Americans as they take on the Binghamton Devils. Cleveland will look a bit different this weekend. Columbus recalled three players who appeared in Wednesday's game. Matiss Kivlenieks, Andrew Peeke, and Kevin Stenlund will be with the Blue Jackets while the Monsters face the Devils. Binghamton comes in 6-4-0-0 in their last 10 games while Cleveland is 4-5-1-0. Both teams have switched places multiple times in regards to their...
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Domingo Santana to the Tribe?
6Feb By James MastrucciNo Comments
Guardians

Domingo Santana to the Tribe?

A report out of the Dominican Republic states that the Cleveland Indians have agreed to a deal with free agent outfielder Domingo Santana. The Cleveland Indians have another outfield to add to the mix per a report out of the Dominican Republic. According to this report, Domingo Santana has agreed to a one-year deal with the Tribe. https://twitter.com/YancenPujols/status/1225151398591025154?s=20 Paul Hoynes of Cleveland.com has also reported the deal, although Yancen Pujols had it a day earlier. Santana has been up and down performance-wise over the past few seasons. 2017 was an impressive campaign while with the Brewers, slashing .278/.371/.505 with an OPS of .875 with 30 home runs, 29 doubles, and 85 runs driven in. A lackluster 2018 saw Santana's power numbers plummet with...
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Cavaliers keep Love, working to buy out Thompson
6Feb By James MastrucciNo Comments
Cavs

Cavaliers keep Love, working to buy out Thompson

Even after acquiring Andre Drummond from the Detroit Pistons, the Clevleland Cavaliers are apparently keeping Kevin Love and buying out Tristan Thompson. The Cleveland Cavaliers are keeping Kevin Love while working to buy out Tristan Thompson. https://twitter.com/ScoopB/status/1225510508578693123?s=20 https://twitter.com/joevardon/status/1225512703852208128?s=20 Thompson became the obvious odd man out after the team acquired Andre Drummond from the Detroit Pistons prior to Thursday's trade deadline. A buyout was not initially thought to be a possibility, but it appears to be headed in that direction. This will allow Thompson to move to a contending team and the Cavs to properly evaluate Andre Drummond and his fit with their current roster. https://twitter.com/ChrisFed...
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Cavs acquire Andre Drummond from Pistons
6Feb By James MastrucciNo Comments
Cavs

Cavs acquire Andre Drummond from Pistons

The Cleveland Cavaliers have acquired center Andre Drummond from the Detroit Pistons for Brandon Knight, John Henson and a second-round pick. This is a trade that seems like it came out of nowhere. The Cleveland Cavaliers have acquired Andre Drummond from the Detroit Pistons. https://twitter.com/KevinOConnorNBA/status/1225498913123291136?s=20 The Cavs are sending Brandon Knight, John Henson, and second-round pick in 2023. Knight will be returning to the team that initially drafted him. Drummond is averaging 17.8 points and 11.2 rebounds per game this season. Not a space the floor type player, fits more of the traditional big man type profile. Andre Drummond has a player-option for next season, so it is very likely he opts out and moves on after the season is over. The Ca...
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Monsters: Three players recalled by Columbus
6Feb By James MastrucciNo Comments
Monsters

Monsters: Three players recalled by Columbus

The Columbus Blue Jackets have recalled goalie Matiss Kivlenieks, center Kevin Stenlund, and defenseman Andrew Peeke from the Cleveland Monsters. Two of the players assigned to the Cleveland Monsters Wednesday are going back to Columbus. The Blue Jackets have recalled Matiss Kivlenieks, Kevin Stenlund, and Andrew Peeke. https://twitter.com/Aportzline/status/1225436677755326471?s=20 The general feeling was that their stay in Cleveland would not be long. Mike Eaves stated as such after Wednesday's loss to Rochester. Wednesday's start in Cleveland for Matiss Kivlenieks could have been a way to keep him in a routine prior to their games this weekend. Kivlenieks last NHL start came this past Saturday while Elvis Merzlikins has started the past two for the Blue Jackets. Columbus has ...
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Cavaliers keep things close, fall late to Thunder
6Feb By James MastrucciNo Comments
Cavs, Game Recaps

Cavaliers keep things close, fall late to Thunder

The Cleveland Cavaliers were able to keep thiings close late, but still found themselves on the wrong end of the final score in Oklahoma City. Make that five straight losses for the Cleveland Cavaliers. Their latest begin a 109-103 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Coming to this game there was the possibly that the game could end up being lopsided. The Thunder were one of the better teams the Cavaliers have played over the past few games. Considering Cleveland was blown out by the last-place Golden State Warriors on Saturday, things could have gotten ugly. The Cavs had more assists than the Thunder (31-21). It is a bit surprising before realizing that both teams are similar in team assist numbers this season. After Wednesday's game Cleveland is ahead of Oklahoma City by 0.2....
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Monsters lose to Rochester Americans at home
5Feb By James MastrucciNo Comments
Game Recaps, Monsters

Monsters lose to Rochester Americans at home

The Cleveland Monsters were not able to win their second consecutive game falling to the Rochester Americans by a score of 4-2 at home. Matiss Kivlenieks got the start in net Wednesday, giving Veini Vehvilainen the night off to start their upcoming every other day schedule. Kivlenieks, along with Andrew Peek and Jakob Lilja returned to the Monsters Wednesday after being assigned by Columbus. Ryan Collins, Steve Johnson, Justin Scott, Michael Prapavessis, Zac Dalpe, Markus Hannikainen, Brett Gallant, and Brad Thiessen were listed as inactive Wednesday. 1st period The first six and a half minutes the game featured alternating attacks from both teams. The Monsters and Americans traded volleys without much success. Cleveland failed to register a shot on goal while Rochester manag...
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Franmil Reyes a regular in the outfield?
5Feb By James MastrucciNo Comments
Guardians

Franmil Reyes a regular in the outfield?

The Cleveland Indians outfield could have an unexpected regular this upcoming season. Franmil Reyes.  Franmil Reyes came to the Indians last season and was a designated hitter in 45 games compared to playing in the field three times. This is partly due to the fact that Yasiel Puig was the everyday right fielder and the collection of Oscar Mercado, Greg Allen, and Jordan Luplow handled the two outfield spots on a pretty regular basis.  A large part of Reyes being a DH was he was considered to be a rather uninspiring defender. A major reason was his size, but things appear to be different prior to this upcoming season. While at Tribe Fest Reyes was noticeably slimmer. According to Zack Meisel, Reyes has dropped 18 pounds and is ready to compete for an outfield spot.  ...
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