Everyone needs to thank Joe Z for posting these articles by high school students.

Hey! Notable journalists and media personalities began their careers through apprenticeships, internships, or entry-level training roles. Aspiring journalists have to get their starts somewhere. Gaining experience through internships, etc. Who knows? Maybe your reading articles from the next Terry Pluto or Hal Lebovitz

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Unfortunately too many of them read and sound like they were written by Joe Z ! Other wise terrible !

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Just Baseball’s Shaan Donohue predicted

" that Gavin Williams will sign 6 year $90M deal.

What inside info does Shaun have?
Perhaps I can make that prediction too. Well, I'd like it to happen but I think I know as much as Shaun.

Clase & Chickens, Browns coaches, Cavs coaching, TV dollars — Terry Pluto’s Thinking ...

Updated: Feb. 08, 2026, 6:01 a.m.|Published: Feb. 08, 2026, 6:00 a.m.

By Terry Pluto, cleveland.com

CLEVELAND, Ohio —

Things I heard, things I think:

I thought it was about chickens

This from cleveland.com’s Paul Hoynes about the new claims that Cleveland reliever Emmanuel Clase threw pitches out of the strike zone to win bets in 48 games, not nine as previously charged.

“ESPN reports that attorneys for Luis Ortiz, Emmanuel Clase’s teammate and co-defendant, asked that their client’s case be severed from Clase’s, arguing that the two players have vastly different levels of culpability. Federal prosecutors indicted Ortiz in November for throwing rigged pitches during two games in June of 2025. Clase’s interactions with bettors, they said, date back to 2023.

“Ortiz’s legal team argues that the indictment contains no evidence that their client communicated directly with bettors, according to Thursday’s filing. They said a jury presented with evidence of Clase’s pattern of behavior could only find Ortiz guilty by association.”

You may recall that one of the defenses offered by the Clase camp was that it wasn’t betting on baseball … It was all about cockfighting! In fact, Clase is a major figure in the cockfighting world in the Dominican Republic. He claims all those phone conversations were about betting on cockfights, which is legal in the Dominican.

Perhaps the legal chickens are indeed coming home to roost as the Ortiz camp is blaming Clase for the problem. This is baseball’s version of Law & Order, fingers are pointing and deals will probably be made.

As my friends in law enforcement tell me, Ortiz is probably using the SODDIT defense: “Some Other Dude Did It!”

Meanwhile, Clase is still on paid leave. He has a guaranteed contract for $6.4 million in 2026 and team options for $10 million annually in 2027 and 2028. At some point, MLB will suspend him and that money goes away. Ortiz does not have a contract for 2026.

Baseball’s TV money

This from FOX 2 in St. Louis on the Cardinals’ new TV contract:

“A Cardinals spokesperson tells FOX 2 that the franchise anticipated earning around $60 million annually under its previous regional TV deal. Under the new MLB streaming model, however, the Cardinals now expect that figure to fall by around $20 million, bringing this year’s projected television revenue closer to $40 million.”

The Cardinals had been with FanDuel. This same change in TV revenue happened to the Guardians and several teams before the 2025 season. The drop in revenue has hammered Cleveland and other middle markets.

The collapse of many of these regional sports networks is another reason MLB should push for a salary cap when the labor agreement expires after the 2026 season. Many franchises are taking big financial hits. The days of lucrative local TV contracts are gone, except in huge markets.

Browns coaches: Consider renting

Jim Schwartz lasted three years as the Browns defensive coordinator. He replaced Joe Woods (2020-22), whose tenure also was three years.

That led to me to ask, “Has anyone lasted more than three years on that job?”

The answer is Nick Saban, 1991-94. Yes, that’s with the old Browns.

Here’s a list of the defensive coordinators since the team returned in 1999.

Three years: Schwartz, Woods and Todd Grantham (2005-07).

Two years: Gregg Williams (2017-18), Jim O’Neil (2014-15), Dick Jauron (2011-12), Rob Ryan (2009-10), Dave Campo (2003-04), Foge Fazio (2001-02).

One year: Steve Wilks (2019)), Louie Cioffi (2016), Ray Horton (2013), Mel Tucker (2008), Romeo Crennel (2000) and Bob Slowik (1999).

I can’t stop now

How about offensive coordinators since 1999:

Four years: Alex Van Pelt (2020-23).

Three years: Bruce Arians (2001-03).

Two years: Brian Daboll (2009-10), Rob Chudzinski (2007-08), Maurice Carthon (2005-06).

One year: Tommy Rees (2025), Ken Dorsey (2024), Todd Monken (2019), John DeFilippo (2015), Kyle Shanahan (2014), Norv Turner (2013), Brad Childress (2012), Terry Robiskie (2004) and Pete Carmichael.

NOTE #1: In 2018, Todd Haley and Freddie Kitchens had the job for half a season. There are a few years when the Browns didn’t have an offensive coordinator because the head coach did the job himself.

NOTE #2: After leaving the Browns, the following became head coaches: Daboll, Chudzinski, Arians, Monken and Shanahan.

NOTE #3: Monken and Chudzinski were both fired by the Browns. They later returned to the team as the head coach.

WANTED: A special teams coach!

I haven’t heard a word about the Browns hiring a special teams coach. The Rams took Bubba Ventrone, which is no loss. My all-time favorite was Brad Seely (2009-10). He’s retired.

There is more job security in this position, at least since 1999. These guys all lasted longer than any Browns defensive coordinator in that span: Chris Tabor (2011-17), Jerry Rosburg (2001-06) and Mike Priefer (2019-22).

And finally ...

Early in the season, Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson took a little grief because the team was “clunky,” as he called it.

The Cavs had a lot of injuries and struggled – especially compared to the 64-18 Cavs in 2024-25.

Atkinson was the NBA’s Coach of the Year last season.

We’ll see how this ends up, but Atkinson and his staff are doing a better job this season given all the injuries, etc.

At one point, the Cavs had a 15-14 record. Since then, they are 16-7 heading into Saturday night. They also had won nine of their last 11 games.

The coaches have developed young players such as Jaylon Tyson, Nae’Qwan Tomlin and Craig Porter Jr.

When James Harden enters the starting lineup, it will be the Cavs’ 26th different lineup this season.

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from the current MLB.com writer

Early look at the Guardians' projected Opening Day roster
He's entitled to his opinion, but I would be startled and disappointed if Angel Martinez doesn't make the opening day roster. Unlike most everyone else who plays the OF for this team he can hit right handed. His split vs LH was 279/349/442. He can play IF or OF.
The thought of Nolan Jones coming back again is appalling. It is however exciting to contemplate Stuart Fairchild breaking camp with the Guardians

As for the pitchers, Colin Holderman's 7.01 ERA in 24 games last season does follow 3 season with ERA in the 3's. So there's somethere our coaches could bring back. Could be the Matt Festa of 2026. But it would be OK if Kolby Allard made the team and is the Kolby Allard of 2026. As for the starters, I'd be sorry to see Messick rewarded for his fine debut [and solid propect rating] with a return to Columbus. But regardless, we can be sure one of the starting 5 will miss some time soon enough

Here’s our first projection at the 26-man squad that could break camp in Goodyear, Ariz., which is assured to evolve over the next six and a half weeks.

Catcher (3): Bo Naylor, Austin Hedges, David Fry
This is a familiar group, with one key update this year. Fry will return to playing the field after he was limited to DHing in 2025 while he recovered from Tommy John surgery. The Guardians missed his versatility as a third catcher who can play corner infield and corner outfield.

First base (1): Kyle Manzardo
Manzardo has been preparing his body physically for an increased workload at first base. Manager Stephen Vogt has noted multiple times this winter that the 25-year-old has put on 14 pounds of muscle. C.J. Kayfus can also factor in here, as well in right field and at DH. Fry is another option at first against left-handed starters.

Second baseman (1): Brayan Rocchio
Vogt noted in December he imagined the Guardians’ middle-infield mix would open similar to how it ended in 2025 -- with Rocchio at second and Gabriel Arias at short. Those spots are subject to evolution. Travis Bazzana (ranked as MLB Pipeline’s No. 20 overall prospect) and Juan Brito (Cleveland’s No. 14 prospect in ‘25) are on the cusp of reaching the Majors, and both play second.

Shortstop (1): Gabriel Arias
Rocchio will also play shortstop this spring, and Arias will move around the infield some. Arias has played each infield position in the Majors, and he could provide added flexibility if/when the roster features Bazzana and/or Brito.

Third baseman (1): José Ramírez
The main question here is who will back up Ramírez when he gets an off-day or a start at DH. Arias, perhaps?

Outfielders (4): Steven Kwan, Nolan Jones, Chase DeLauter, Stuart Fairchild
Kwan is in left field. The rest of the outfield is unsettled. Jones had a tough 2025, but the Guardians don’t have a long list of players with his power potential, and he can play all three spots. DeLauter (Pipeline’s No. 46 prospect) will get reps in center and right this spring. The Guardians will be mindful of his workload due to his injury history, but provided he’s healthy, it’s easy to dream on how he may help elevate an offense that struggled last year. Fairchild will be in camp as a non-roster invite. His ability to play center could help, and he bats right-handed. There are only four such hitters on Cleveland’s 40-man roster.

Bench/Utility (2): C.J. Kayfus, Daniel Schneemann
There are myriad potential combinations for the position-player mix. George Valera will be in the thick of the Opening Day roster mix. He was batting second against right-handers down the stretch in 2025, after all. But the Guardians gained an extra Minor League option on him this winter. If DeLauter and Kayfus make the team, perhaps Valera opens the season with Columbus. Angel Martínez, Johnathan Rodríguez, Petey Halpin and Brito are among those also in the mix. Martínez can play infield and outfield. Schneemann’s ability to play third base (and second, shortstop and outfield) gives him a leg up in this scenario.

Starting Pitchers (5): Gavin Williams, Tanner Bibee, Slade Cecconi, Logan Allen, Joey Cantillo
The rotation is expected to drop back down to five starters after the Guardians rode a six-man staff to the AL Central title in 2025. Someone will be the odd man out. Parker Messick made a strong impression down the stretch last year, and he’ll certainly factor in at some point. But he has Minor League options remaining and could open the season with Columbus. Cantillo has relief experience, though he was stellar over five starts in September (1.55 ERA in 29 innings). He’s out of options.

Relief Pitchers (8): Cade Smith, Hunter Gaddis, Shawn Armstrong, Erik Sabrowski, Matt Festa, Tim Herrin, Colin Holderman, Peyton Pallette
This group will feature a lot of competition this spring. Herrin would offer Vogt a second lefty, and Holderman can help in the mid-to-late innings. If Pallette (a Rule 5 Draft pick) doesn’t make the roster, the Guardians will have to offer him back to the White Sox. Other relievers in camp will include Connor Brogdon (who’s out of options), and non-roster invitees such as Kolby Allard, Pedro Avila and Codi Heuer.

Why are the algorithms sleeping on the Guardians?: Cleveland picked for 4th in AL Central race

Updated: Feb. 11, 2026, 2:47 p.m.|Published: Feb. 11, 2026, 11:57 a.m.

By Cleveland Baseball Talk Podcast, cleveland.com

CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Guardians are once again being underestimated by baseball’s most sophisticated projection systems, a familiar and increasingly puzzling trend that was discussed in depth on the latest Cleveland Baseball Talk Podcast.

Host Joe Noga opened the podcast by highlighting the latest slight from the analytics community: “The Guardians are picked to finish fourth in the American League Central Division behind Kansas City, Detroit and Minnesota at 75 wins. The PECOTA rankings giving them a 10.1% chance at the playoffs.”

“It should be pointed out that last year the PECOTA rankings had them in a similar spot,” Hoynes noted. “Third place in the division, you know, in the range of 80 wins. And lo and behold, they won the division with 88 wins.”

The disconnect between algorithm and reality has become something of a tradition for Cleveland. Year after year, the team outperforms what the numbers suggest they should accomplish. This isn’t just a one-year anomaly – it’s a pattern.

Noga articulated the frustration many Cleveland fans feel: “Why do the algorithms for Fangraphs and PECOTA always seem to think that the Twins are going to finish ahead of the Guardians? The last couple of years that’s been the case. That’s been the case in their projections, and it’s just not been the reality on the field.”

What’s particularly interesting is that Cleveland won the division in 2025 despite having a negative run differential – scoring 643 runs while allowing 649. This highlights the limitations of algorithmic projections, which often struggle to account for intangibles like clubhouse chemistry, managerial strategy, and clutch performance.

The analytical disrespect extends beyond PECOTA. FanGraphs, another respected projection system, similarly has Cleveland finishing fourth in the division with 75.6 wins. Both systems seem to fixate on the Guardians’ perceived offensive limitations while failing to properly value their pitching staff and defensive excellence.

For a team that consistently outperforms expectations, these projections might serve as additional motivation. The Guardians have made a habit of proving the algorithms wrong, and 2026 shapes up as another opportunity to defy the digital doubters.

As the podcast revealed, while the computer models might not believe in Cleveland, those who watch the team day in and day out know better than to count them out. The algorithms may say 75 wins, but recent history suggests the Guardians could once again have the last laugh in the AL Central race.

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[ I think the projections had it right last year. A third place finish last year was the right call. Guardians were very lucky. What's the chances that one team has a miracle finish and at the same moment in time, the other guys tanked as badly or worse at the other end of the spectrum.

Count KC in on the tank job. KC was 46-35 in the first half, while they struggled in the second half, posting a 36-45 record. So. KC also faltered the second half of the season. Perhaps the miracle finish also kept the Guardians out of third place. Gotta think so.

I don't think the Guardians will fall behind Minnesota in 2026. In fact and In my opinion, the Sox have a better chance of finishing ahead of the Twins. I don't see the Guardians finishing ahead of the Royals or the Tigers. So. A third place finish is not out of the question.

I see a some improvement from the offensive side of the ball but will it be enough to keep the Guardians out of third place?

The pressure is on the prospects. Can they handle major league pitching? The sox and the Royals made significant improvements with their pitching this off season. Well. We know how much the Tigers improved. Probably the second best pitching staff in the league.

The bigger question??? Will the Guardians be able to hit AL Central pitching? ]

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Justin Verlander’s return makes Tigers rotation ‘Very, very dangerous’ in AL Central arms race

Published: Feb. 11, 2026, 12:00 p.m.

By Cleveland Baseball Talk Podcast, cleveland.com

CLEVELAND, Ohio — The AL Central arms race just escalated dramatically as future Hall of Famer Justin Verlander has returned to Detroit on a one-year, $13 million deal. The Cleveland Baseball Talk Podcast dove deep into what this means for the division — particularly for the Guardians, who have faced Verlander more than any other team in baseball.

“He has faced Cleveland 58 times. His most starts against any team in the big leagues,” noted Paul Hoynes on the podcast. “He has the most wins, 24, and the most losses, 25, against Cleveland as a single team in his career.”

The signing brings Verlander full circle, returning to where his illustrious career began back in 2005. At 42 years old, the three-time Cy Young Award winner and former MVP isn’t the overpowering force he once was, but he remains a formidable competitor who posted a respectable 3.85 ERA in 29 starts for the Giants last season.

What’s most striking about Verlander’s return is how it transforms Detroit’s rotation from promising to potentially dominant. As Hoynes observed: “He’s kind of like the cherry on top of that rotation now. Skubal, Valdez, Jack Flaherty, Casey Mize and Verlander... all of a sudden that rotation is looking very, very dangerous.”

For Cleveland fans, Verlander’s presence in the division brings back memories of his dominance during Detroit’s heyday. Host Joe Noga reflected on how intertwined Verlander’s career has been with Cleveland: “You’ve got to look at what his career has been and he sort of, in a lot of ways, he’s built that on the backs of the Guardians because he was in the division for so long and he faced him so long.”

Indeed, Verlander’s major league debut came against Cleveland in July 2005, beginning a rivalry that would span nearly two decades. Even after he departed for Houston, the matchups continued, with Verlander often seeming to save his best performances for games against Cleveland.

“He kind of rises to the occasion when he sees Cleveland across the opposing players chest,” Hoynes said, noting that Verlander performed well in his appearances against Cleveland last season.

For the Guardians, this means more challenging matchups against a pitcher who has consistently brought his A-game when facing them. Though Verlander is in the twilight of his career, his competitive fire and pitching intelligence remain intact.

The AL Central, once viewed as baseball’s weakest division, suddenly features formidable rotations in multiple cities. Kansas City has improved, Minnesota remains competitive, and now Detroit has assembled what might be the division’s most imposing starting staff.

As the podcast made clear, Verlander’s return to Detroit isn’t just a feel-good story about a star returning to his original team — it’s a significant competitive development that could reshape the division race in 2026.

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