The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Browns backing Njoku after drops in Week 1
Jeff Schudel details how the Browns are confident in tight end David Njoku despite a rough opener, the Indians’ efforts to get healthy, and Cavs bobbleheads.
The Indians will not win 102 games as they did in 2017 when a 22-game winning streak was a booster shot to their season, and that’s fine with Manager Terry Francona.
What did that record-setting streak do for them in the playoffs? Absolutely nothing. They were knocked out by the Yankees in five games in the ALDS.
The Indians are 83-65. Even if they finished the regular season without another loss, the best they could finish is 97-65.
What is important is the Indians have two weeks to get their injured players back healthy for the playoffs. Specifically, that means getting pitcher Trevor Bauer off the disabled list and back in the rotation.
The hope also is two more weeks facing major-league pitching will be enough time for Josh Donaldson to get back into a hitting groove on a consistent basis. Donaldson, acquired Aug. 31 in a trade with the Blue Jays, was sidelined May 28 with a calf injury that kept him on Toronto’s disabled list until the trade was made.
The Sept. 11 game in Tampa was Donaldson’s first with the Indians. His next start was Sept. 14 against the Tigers. He followed a home run by Edwin Encarnacion with a home run of his own and singled in the ninth inning.
The Indians are being cautious. Donaldson was rested again Sept. 15 with plans to play him on Sept. 16. The goal is to have him able to play back-to-back games in the playoffs.
“We’ve been somewhat unsettled for a decent part of the year,” Francona said. “We may not have our best team until the last week of the season, but if we do then ... I mean last year after we won 22 in a row we went into the playoffs so unsettled. That doesn’t help. So, hopefully, we’ll be able to put that part behind us.
“We have (Andrew) Miller, Donaldson, (Jason) Kipnis, (Jose) Ramirez — hopefully the moving parts aren’t moving anymore and everybody’s healthy going in.”
Miller battled a knee injury most of the summer and was shelved with a shoulder injury for 10 days in September. He has built himself back to the point where he can pitch in back-to-back games, Francona said. The Indians will need that from him in the postseason.
“We talk to him every day,” Francona said. “We talk to the medical staff every day. It’s funny because you’re at the point in the season where you’re trying to kind of cut back on some of the guys and you’re trying to build him up.”
Miller was not sharp against the Tigers on Sept. 14. He gave up a double, a walk and a single. He allowed one inherited runner to score and gave up an earned run. He threw 24 pitches. The plan going into the Sept. 15 game was to let Miller rest and use him on Sept. 16.
• The news on Bauer is encouraging. He threw a bullpen session Sept. 12 and was scheduled to throw another Sept. 15. Typically that involves throwing 20-25 pitches.
“I think what was almost as important was how he bounced back,” Francona said. “He threw all his pitches. And he’s been on the Alter-G treadmill at 80 percent. In three more days, he has the go-ahead to go land-based running.”
The Alter-G treadmill allows users of it to run without putting stress on their legs.
Bauer has been on the disabled list with a stress fracture in his right leg since Aug. 12 after being hit by a line drive in a game with the White Sox.
Njoku needs encouragement
Trust between a quarterback and receiver is as important as trust between a man and wife to make a marriage work. But what happens when the receiver drops passes that hit him in the hands?
Tight end David Njoku dropped two passes in critical situations against the Steelers in the season opener — a carryover from his rookie year.
Will Browns quarterback Tyrod Taylor look to Njoku on third down when the Browns play the Saints in the Superdome on Sept. 16, or with those drops in the back of his mind, will he look elsewhere to a different target, even to one more closely covered?
Taylor said he hasn’t lost confidence in the 6-foot-4, 246-pound tight end chosen 29th overall in the 2017 draft.
“I continue to keep encouraging him,” Taylor said on Sept. 14 in the Browns’ locker room. “We know he’s a great playmaker. That goes for all the guys. They’re here for a reason.
“Drops are part of the game. You understand those are going to come, but you continue to build that person up and let them know you haven’t lost confidence in him. I told (Njoku), ‘We’re going to need you to make a play to be successful moving forward.’ He’s aware of that. He’s going to step up to the plate and do so.”
Njoku is not concerned. Overall, except for one forgettable practice, he had a very good training camp and preseason. He is trying to build off that.
“It’s football,” he said. “I have to focus on catching every single ball. Perfect practice makes perfect, so I have to keep working.
“We have great weapons on offense. We’re going to see where we can attack (the Saints) and attack them. I think they’re a great football team that can be beaten.”
Jarvis Landry, the Browns’ best receiver, has faith Njoku will bounce back.
“The beautiful part of it is he’s getting open, and that’s been consistent,” Landry said. “We just have to get him to finish better and build that confidence to a level where he’s comfortable with it.”
Njoku was targeted seven times and caught three passes for 13 yards against the Steelers. He was targeted 60 times last season and dropped six passes according to playerprofile.com.
Almost basketball time
Media day for the Cavaliers is Sept. 24. The horde of national reporters that for the last four years invaded Independence will instead descend on Los Angeles because the Lakers’ media spectacle starring LeBron James is the same day.
The Cavaliers have a ton of promotions planned for their fans, but the coolest is this: A Larry Nance Jr. bobblehead will be handed out Feb. 25 when the Trail Blazers visit. A Larry Nance Sr. bobblehead will be issued March 22 in a home game with the Clippers. The two will connect when placed side by side.
Two other bobblehead giveaways are planned — one of Kevin Love on Nov. 26 when the Cavs host the Timberwolves and one of Collin Sexton on Jan. 29 when the Wizards visit.
For a complete list of planned giveaways visit Cavs.com/promos.
I didn’t know that
… until I read my Snapple bottle cap.
Never odd or even spelled backward is never odd or even . ... All the streets in New York City put in a straight line would reach to Japan . ... An African elephant can turn the pages of a book with its trunk . ... There are 118 ridges on the edge of a dime . ... Snails can sleep for up to three years. ... Russia and the United States are less than three miles apart.