Donrsquot get your hopes up Cleveland fans

Four wins and four losses in the last eight games .500 basketball is not something we are used to OR comfortable with.Putting the Celtics under a microscope daily (hourly) allows us to scrutinize every missed pass, criticize every defensive rotation that never materialized, agonize over the games that were too close for comfort.We can sometimes look deep into the eyes of the players Glare directly through to their hearts The heart of a champion As a whole, I would say yes. Truth is, the closest I can get to befriending a Celtics player is through an occasional twitter response from Shelden Williams.Take writing out of the equation Dave Cowens summed it up best when he told Larry Bird that Boston fans know when you are not giving 100 percent So, are the Celtics players dogging itRead More. Clay Buchholz is the pride and joy of the Boston Red Soxs farm system.With a minor league record of 31-14 with a 2.42 ERA, a 1.00 WHIP, and a 4.05 K/BB ratio, it was clear that Buchholz was destined for glory even before he hurled a no-hitter in his second career Major League start.The Red Sox think very highly of himso highly, in fact, that GM Theo Epstein lost out on chances to acquire Cliff Lee, Roy Halladay, and Adrian Gonzalez because of his unwillingness to part with Buchholz.Sure, its always hard to trade a top prospect. But is it really wise for Buchholz to remain effectively untouchableOver the past few days, it has become clear that the Detroit Tigers are planning a fire sale. Curtis Granderson is known to be on the trading block, and Edwin Jacksons name has also surfaced in rumors.But the most intriguing player the Tigers could move to free up payroll is Miguel Cabrera.A World Series hero in his rookie season, Cabrera has averaged .311/33/117 with a .925 OPS over seven big league seasonsand the reason Joe Mauers MVP selection was not unanimous is only 26 years old.If the Red Sox havent already called about Cabrera, they will.

But why would the Red Sox choose an unproven prospect over an established sluggerIn 168 big league innings over the last two seasons, Buchholz has gone 9-13 with a 5.36 ERA. Hes posted a 1.56 WHIP, a 4.1 BB/9 rate, a 1.3 HR/9 rate, and an unappealing 1.82 K/BB ratio.Obviously one would expect those numbers to improve with experience, and his impressive performance in the ALDS showed his ability to pitch in a big game. But isnt there a chance Buchholz simply wont live up to the hypeProspects rarely perform how theyre expected toespecially pitchers. As a Clevelander, I can immediately name Jaret Wright, Jeremy Sowers, and Fausto Carmona as perfect examples of young hurlers who tantalized us with flashes of their abilities before quickly fizzling out.Buchholz is more talented than any of those failed prospects, but that doesnt mean the steak is as big as the sizzle.Its at least understandable that the Red Sox wouldnt want to trade Buchholz for a year-and-a-half of Lee or Halladay, or less than three seasons of Gonzalez.

But that excuse is inapplicable to Cabrera, who is locked up through 2015.Buchholz rotation spot wouldnt be too difficult to fill. If Michael Bowden isnt ready by opening day, there are plenty of low-risk, high-reward free agents (Justin Duchscherer and Ben Sheets, for example) who would probably work out better than John Smoltz did.If the Red Sox have a chance to get one of the best hitters in the game from the beginning of his prime until hes 32, would anyone object to parting ways with a replaceable prospect who has yet to demonstrate consistency in the majorsSorry, Clay, your time in Boston is up.. Mike “the Walrus” Holmgren’s recent comments blasting Washington Redskins owner Dan Schneider for replacing Jim Zorn as the offensive play-caller left speculation that he was interested in coaching for the Redskins and ready to conquer the East Coast after finding success in the Midwest, and the West Coast. As a former history teacher and grandson to West Point Colonel and military strategist genius Jens Bugge, Holmgren is well aware of the strategies needed to conquer continents, but one shouldn’t look too deep into this. Holmgren loves the NFL and has been the biggest advocate for competition by serving on the NFL’s Competition Committee. He is also a good friend of Jim Zorn, who was his offensive puppet in Seattle, and Holmgren wanted to come to his defense against Schneider.The latest rumors, based on the East Coast conquering theory, point to Mike Holmgren taking over the Cleveland Browns as coach and general manager once the NFL season is over.Don’t get your hopes up Cleveland fans.First of all, Cleveland is in the Midwest, industrious, and cold. Holmgren loved coaching the Green Bay Packers with its amazing history and fans, but his dislike for cold weather and industrial cities was always prevalent.