The Junkyard with Roger Brown

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5 Monday Thoughts From The Junkyard

June 8, 2009

1. We’ve written before that June 8 was decision day for the Indians: the date they should decide whether they can still contend in 2009 - or consider it a lost season.

Now that June 8 has arrived, here’s our verdict: the Indians CAN still contend this season.

That’s all the more reason they should make an aggressive acquisition - like signing free-agent pitcher Pedro Martinez.

2. If we’re the Indians, we still look to trade Mark DeRosa and Jamey Carroll - both free agents after this season - and let Josh Barfield, Ryan Garko and others take over their playing time.

DeRosa might be a good fit for Boston. Why not a DeRosa for Brad Penny swap with the Red Sox?

Penny is a better No. 5 starting pitcher than anyone Cleveland is trotting out right now.

3. Ben Wallace spent most of his prime career years as an underpaid All-Star in Detroit.

He left Detroit, where he was beloved - and offered decent money to stay - because Chicago offered a bigger contract.

Period.

Now, we’re supposed to seriously believe Wallace is going to retire from the Cavs - and walk away from the $14 million salary he’d get next season?

Please.

We’ll say it right now: Wallace’s recent talk of retiring is merely the prideful last roar of a former great who now realizes that no NBA team wants him that much for his actual playing ability - but because he has a soon-to-expire contract that makes him a valuable trade chip.

Is that humiliating? Yes. Is it a major blow to Wallace’s ego? Sure, particularly for a guy who had to prove he belonged in the NBA.

But, trust us, it won’t be enough to make Wallace retire.

He will play in 2009-10.

And he WILL collect his $14 million paycheck from someone.

Whether it’s the Cavs or another NBA team.

4. It’s been nine days since the Cavs were eliminated in the Eastern Conference - and still no one has truly answered this question for Junkyard:

How does a team have as many days of playoff rest as the Cavs did - 18 - and still end up looking like an exhausted, gassed team three games into the conference finals?

5. We suggested the Browns draft USC linebacker Rey Maualuga in Round One.

The team seemed to make a point of NOT doing - even bypassing Maualuga when he was available in Round Two.

We suggested the Browns trade wide reciever Braylon Edwards when the Giants came knocking for him.

They didn’t.

We suggested they give kicker Phil Dawson a much-deserved new contract.

They haven’t yet.

So, it comes as no surprise to Junkyard that the Browns aren’t heeding our advice to make Derek Anderson the favorite to win the team’s starting quarterback job.

And that they’re apparently leaning slightly towards Brady Quinn as the starting QB.