clvlndr

^I don't want Martin or Barea either, but I've heard that as part of the Love deal, we may have to take back Martin's bad contract... but again, that's just rumor at this point.

Kluber's amazing. It's a crime he didn't make the All Star team. Unfortunately, he's also the only reliable pitcher we have in the rotation right now.

^No way would I give them Wiggins AND Waiters. Bennett, OK. I'm not wild about that either, but definitely not Waiters; we're suckers if we give up the very coveted 1st pick and a quality, up and coming 2 guard, I don't care what is his alleged problems with Kyrie. We're suckers because we know if we hold out, Minnesota's asking price is going to go down because of the fear that they could lose Love for nothing.

And RTA has suspended UC-to-Windermere Red Line service "until further notice" because of "delays." Are we getting the whole story?

MLB Trade Deadline Live: Justin Masterson Reportedly Traded To Cardinals by NESN Staff on Wed, Jul 30, 2014 at 12:40PM 2:07 p.m.: The St. Louis Cardinals have found some pitching help. According to multiple reports, the Cleveland Indians have traded right-handed pitcher Justin Masterson to the Cardinals in exchange for James Ramsey. 1:25 p.m.: Despite the fact that David Price is pitching for the Tampa Bay Rays right now, the organization is reportedly still open to moving the left-hander. 1:23 p.m.: The Miami Marlins have said publicly that they’d be interested in adding a starting pitcher who’s not a rental. However, they may still be one of the handful of teams with reported interest in Red Sox left-hander Jon Lester. The Sun-Sentinel (via MLB Trade Rumors) cites an American League source in contact with the Red Sox who has said the Marlins are “not completely” out of the Lester running. However, the Marlins are unlikely to part with top pitching prospect Andrew Heaney for Lester or any other rental. 12:58 p.m.: The Royals may have interest in John Lackey, but they reportedly have cooled on another Red Sox player. They’re looking to add an outfielder, but it’s unlikely that outfielder will be Boston’s Jonny Gomes. 12:52 p.m.: The latest on the Atlanta Braves: Who isn’t at this time of the season, though? 12:40 p.m.: The Kansas City Royals reportedly have interest in Red Sox starting pitcher John Lackey. According to both ESPN.com and The Kansas City Star report that the Royals either have expressed interest in or looked into acquiring the Boston right-hander. Lackey has been very effective since having Tommy John surgery in 2011, and he has a team-friendly team option for the 2015 season. The Royals might not be alone, either. 12:30 p.m.: The Orioles are still looking to add pitching. 12:25 p.m.: It certainly looks like David Price is staying put. The Tampa Bay Rays’ matinee game has started, and Price is getting the start. If there was a trade in the works — or even if the Rays were contemplating a trade — he likely wouldn’t have started. Any team looking to acquire the left-hander would almost certainly wanted him to sit out the start for two reasons. One, that team wouldn’t want to risk injury. Two, that team would want Price to start as soon as possible after acquiring him. This also could affect the Red Sox. If Price is indeed off the market, the return in a potential trade for Jon Lester will be even bigger now that one big-name starter won’t be moved. 11:50 a.m.: The New York Yankees were one of the teams rumored to have interest in Colorado Rockies left-hander Brett Anderson, but it doesn’t sound like Anderson is going to be moved before the deadline. However, things change quickly this time of year. 11 a.m.: The talks don’t all center around starting pitching. Here’s the latest on Texas Rangers outfielder Alex Rios, who could be on the move before Thursday afternoon. 10:45 a.m.: Here’s what Jon Lester has to say on the matter via his Twitter account. 10:35 a.m.: Philadelphia Phillies left-handed pitcher Cole Hamels is a name that’s been thrown around in reports. It sounds as if there is plenty of interest in the southpaw. With that interest comes high demand, and the Phils reportedly are asking for a lot in return. This is what the USA Today wrote Wednesday morning about a potential haul in return for Hamels. “Yet, according to one-ranking official directly involved with the talks, the Los Angeles Dodgers recently asked for Hamels. They were told the price would be three of their top prospects – center fielder Joc Pederson, shortstop Corey Seager and left-handed pitcher Julio Urias.” USA Today’s Bob Nightengale quickly added that the Dodgers said thanks, but no thanks. The reason the asking price for Hamels is so high is that he’ll have four years left and $90 million left on his contract after this season. 10:18 a.m.: Then again… http://nesn.com/2014/07/mlb-trade-deadline-live-all-eyes-on-futures-of-david-price-jon-lester/

^I think that's true of a number of star players, E Rocc. Look at how much LeBron relaxed, and became THE MAN in Miami when Wade and Bosh (and Shane Battier, and Mario Chalmers, and Mike Miller and then Ray Allen) came in and really contributed to the Heat's championships... But then, of course, the pressure mounted last playoffs, and esp in the Finals, when all those guys but LeBron disappeared -- it was Cavs all over again... I think we got a glimpse of how really good LeBron and Kyrie can play off each other's game in last season's All Star game, ... lax D even though it is.

Thanks.

That's a very good point, and why I wouldn't be opposed to a limited Skylift from, say, the Flats to Wendy Park/Whiskey, which is physically isolated from the rest of downtown (by the Cuyahoga River Mouth and the busy NS RR tracks) and not served by any kind of transit. In fact, this would be in excellent use of Skylift imho. But the current "comprehensive" plan, with Skylift routes all over downtown (and Ohio City) doubling for some kind of RTA rail system is for the birds.

Gordon’s appeal focuses on disparity between “A” and “B” bottle tests Posted by Mike Florio on July 29, 2014, 2:07 PM EDT With the Josh Gordon appeal hearing set for Friday and with Gordon hiring (as Adam Schefter reported last night) the same lawyer who helped Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman avoid a four-game suspension for violation of the PED policy in 2012, Gordon presumably has a case that holds more water than the average bong. Gordon possibly does, especially if the same spirit of lenience that helped Ray Rice receive a suspension of only two games for knocking out his fiancée applies in any way to Gordon. Per a source with knowledge of the situation, Gordon landed in Stage III of the program last year as part of a negotiated two-game suspension for the use of cough syrup that contained codeine. Once in Stage III, a player never leaves. And he must pass up to 10 drug tests per month. http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/07/29/gordons-appeal-focuses-on-disparity-between-a-and-b-bottle-tests/

Little bit different in NYC, where you have such a huge rail network with so many intersecting and parallel lines that provide alternative service. I don't deny that sometimes train lines need to be closed. It just seems it happens too much with RTA.

With the current state of politics in this State, it seems regression is the order of the day.

Why Fans Are Now More Into Free-Agent Negotiations Than Games By Will Leitch At halftime of game two of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals in May, ESPN analyst Bill Simmons voiced a strange theory about why LeBron James, the best player in the NBA, had played poorly in the first half. LeBron’s Heat were down 1-0 in the series to the Pacers, and even though Miami led at halftime, LeBron had struggled, looking lifeless and distracted. Simmons, who, like the rest of us, had been watching the NBA draft lottery before the game (in which LeBron’s former team, Cleveland, had secured the No. 1 pick), had a guess as to why. “LeBron came out kind of strange,” Simmons said. “I was almost wondering, Did someone tell him Cleveland won the lottery? Was he thinking about that?” Now, it is probably worth pointing out that this makes no sense. LeBron James was going for his third consecutive NBA title, his team was behind in a critical series, and he had to carry aging, injured teammates on his back. Of all the things on his mind at that moment, a Ping-Pong ball coming up Cleveland was rather far behind I am thirsty from all this running around and jumping (if anyone had even told him in the first place). The notion that something so profoundly beside the point would somehow affect James’s game—the thing he is better at than anything else in the world—was absurd. If LeBron James really were distracted by such silliness, he would spend most of his time on the court tripping over his own feet. http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2014/07/free-agent-negotiations.html?mi

NOTE: month old article but apparently went by unnoticed. County Board of Revision forecloses on Larchmere's Sedlak building By Thomas Jewell, Sun News on June 17, 2014 at 12:43 PM, updated June 17, 2014 at 1:04 PM CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Cuyahoga County officials plan to put Larchmere's long-vacant Sedlak building up for Sheriff's Sale, possibly this summer. If no one wants to start the bidding at $225,000 to pay off back taxes, this could finally clear the way for the county Land Bank to briefly take ownership of the property before turning it over to investor Michael Montlack for redevelopment. The county Board of Revision moved the property into foreclosure June 13 after making a formal determination that any current and purported interest in buying the site had evaporated. A lien holder on the property, located at Larchmere and 127th Street, last year had a "For Sale" sign placed on the building and claimed to have a buyer lined up with an asking price of $399,000, buying some time in the foreclosure process for another six months. http://www.cleveland.com/shaker-heights/index.ssf/2014/06/county_board_of_revision_forec.html

Obviously the Blue/Green Line wall collapse couldn't be avoided, and happily the trains are back up and running. Also, the U-Circle to Windermere shutdown I can live with because the very important UC-Little Italy station is going up... But there are still way too many total rail shutdowns given the size of our Rapid network. I still have not seen a valid justification for the total West Side shutdown for the past 2 weekends other than "track work." It's up to RTA communications to be much clearer than this. ... In case you haven't noticed, RTA has so many routine shutdowns, that RTA now has (permanently) installed rail shutdown bus stops outside of regular stations along the various nearby and/or parallel streets, like Van Aken and Shaker, at Public Sq and across from the W. 25th station, among others. That's pretty disturbing imho. You need a friggin’ jigsaw puzzle to figure out what rail line is/isn’t running these days thanks to RTA.

Yep. But the point being is that this what Cleveland rail projects are competing with for federal funding. Sure, the Red Line extension meets federal funding criteria. It doesn't mean it's actually going to receive any money. This is why I wish some corporate, big-money interest could partially fund this project in a P3 arrangement. You'd think that from UH to Lincoln Electric and other corps along the Red Line path, there would be some interested stakeholder who could get behind this project. Oh yeah, I forgot, transit, esp rail transit, is a no-no only in this town; only to be used by the (lazy) poor and minorities who can't afford cars in order to experience the freer, American/liberty lifestyle.

Part of the reason why Metro is the 2nd busiest rail network behind NYC.

^Cleburger, I don’t doubt your experience or what you’re saying … for normal, large conventions. I’m just noting that this is a not convention normal large convention, but one on a scale that few cities have ever experienced -- certainly not Cleveland in modern times; and you’d have to think that the 1936 Republican convention here was modest in scale compared to today’s standards, in communications alone. I just disagree with your premise that the Rapid won’t be used that much during the RNC, when planners pointed to it as a key factor as to why we got it… Yeah, we’ve heard all the old tired Cleveland “it’s several blocks to the hotel” excuse for non-transit use, when other cities (esp those not named New York) force travelers/conventioneers, to schlep the bags a lot farther. And you don’t think cabbies aren’t going to be lined up outside Tower City like a pack of hungry wolves? (hell, I may even apply for a hacker’s license and sit out there waiting for fares myself)… I also think you continue to ignore the thousands of people who will be here who are not directly part of the RNC (like news media: reporters, some of them low budget bloggers and stringers from all over the world) who will be here, some only here a day or 2 during the 4-day convention (meaning they’ll be traveling light and may, and will, carry their bags to their hotels…. I think you also overlook that downtown’s compactness and walkability were also factors that led to our RNC 2016 win. Trust me, the Rapid like every other local transport service, is going to be slammed that week, and RTA would be smart to run 3-car trains all week long to handle regular daily riders in addition to the RNC-related visitors. At least 2-car trains on the Blue, Green and Waterfront Lines should be run, as well; probably 24/7 … yeah, I know that last one hurts Jerry & JetDog.

Columbus Road is a path for growth Area is home to residential development By STAN BULLARD Originally Published: June 22, 2014 4:30 AM Modified: June 23, 2014 11:54 AM Sam McNulty plans to build a townhouse for himself as part of a residential development he's working on at Columbus Road and Abbey Avenue. He bought the long-empty, gravel-covered site earlier this year because it's less than a five-minute walk from the office next to the West Side Market where McNulty and his partners run five nearby beer-centric businesses. Brian and Muriel Storrie have bought a three-story townhouse that is under construction on the slope of Columbus west of the bridge. For now, it will be a getaway location from their home in Little Rock, Ark. Later it will be a full-time home after Brian Storrie eases into retirement from college teaching. Such disparate motivations are starting to help rejuvenate Columbus Road, which has played a central role in Cleveland historically but has been bypassed by more recent redevelopment action nearby in the Flats and adjoining city neighborhoods and downtown. http://www.crainscleveland.com/article/20140622/SUB1/306229973/columbus-road-is-a-path-for-growth

... as well as Billy-Bob delegate from Pulaski, Tennessee. :wink: Only if he's feeling adventurous and doesn't want to use the GOP provided-shuttle buses to downtown hotels. ;) ;) Cleberger, you must not be reading the news too well... The GOP (and DNC) have chosen (are considering) Cleveland in large part because of it's quality transit facilities, most notably the airport Rapid-to-indoor walkway to the Q. Other cities, esp Columbus and KC, were eliminated because of the lack of such facilities... No way will this so-called shuttle you keep talking out be able to handle the gigantic throngs (conventioneers, media, protesters and others) for this convention. Especially at our small-ish airport with limited park 'n' pickup areas.... And contrary to stereotypes, all Republicans are not rich and can afford chauffeur-driven limos.

I hate overhead views of the WHD, . . . but am glad KJP keeps posting them to remind us of how much work needs to be done regardless of how nice the area is already.

... as well as Billy-Bob delegate from Pulaski, Tennessee. :wink:

Robust public transit and central location helped bring Republican convention to town By Alison Grant, The Plain Dealer Email the author | Follow on Twitter on July 23, 2014 at 2:00 PM, updated July 23, 2014 at 3:32 PM CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Republican officials say that fundraising ability and hotel space were key factors in picking Cleveland to host its 2016 convention. But perhaps not far behind came the transportation logistics of dropping 50,000 visitors into town for a few days. On two key measures – public transit and walkability – Cleveland ranked first among the six finalists for the 2016 Republican National Convention. A third benchmark – traffic congestion – rated Cleveland almost the least likely to have gridlock, trailing only Kansas City. http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2014/07/robust_public_transit_and_cent.html

It's funny how anyone who questions this highway has their motives or integrity impugned, even when they bring the facts. But yet hardly anybody raised a peep when Terry Eggar's PD (you know, the conservative chair of the OC initiative) churned out one cheer-leading article after another (totaling probably over 100 over the course of years) about how great highway is for everybody, despite the limited the main beneficiaries (professional West Siders) are. The writer for scene previously wrote the most comprehensive review and history of this project -- including how it was rammed through with hardly any neutral study as well as the refusal of leaders to answer any criticism. Even Cleveland Magazine, which probably had no dog in this fight, noted the latter point.

Symon says, get your munch on!

I think you're right, E Rocc. Look at the bizarre fact that Brookpark is RTA's 2nd busiest station and sits where practically nobody lives within a sq./mi of the station. But it DOES sit at the junction (and off-ramps) of 3 feeder freeways (I-71, 480 and Ohio 237), which weirdly marries Cleveland's car craziness with the wise assessment of these far-away drivers who prefer the ease of downtown access via the Red line .. However, I do agree with KJP's assessment that developers/planners are steadily buying into the idea of putting more housing close to stations and that this will ultimately help alter the local public's use and attitude towards using transit.