Cleveland Sports Power Rankings - May 11, 2014
When the Cleveland Sports Power Rankings were first created in 2010, the goal was to use a decidedly non-scientific metric to determine who might become the new face of Cleveland sports-- claiming the throne abdicated by the departing King James. Back then, it was anyone's guess. Today, the landscape has shifted dramatically. There are superstars in Cleveland again, and sorting them out is getting considerably less depressing.
There are four points of stardom on which our Cleveland sports figures are rated: On-Field Performance (OP), Local Recognition (LR), National Recognition (NR), and Marketability (M). For each one of these categories, the player in question gets a 1-10 ranking, and the combination of the four scores is his STAR POWER RATING (with 40.0 being the highest possible SPR, reserved for the likes of your iconic Hall of Famer types). For good measure, I also throw in the guy's current Twitter follower count (presuming they have any) for a better sense of his engagement with the ever judgmental online community. Get it? Got it? No? Well I can't help you any more. Here it is...
#1 - Johnny Manziel: 36.5
Quarterback, Browns | OP: 6.5, LR: 10, NR: 10, M: 10 | Twitter: 897,000 | Previous: N/A
And so it has come to pass. Before ever throwing a pass in Berea, let alone earning the Browns starting QB job, one of the top 5 celebrities in the ESPN universe has grabbed the Power Rankings brass ring. Notice that we only give him a 6.5 for actual on-field play, because many questions remain. But the off-field power is still too much for even our longtime #1 Kyrie Irving to fend off.
#2 - Kyrie Irving: 36.0
PG, Cavaliers | OP: 8.5, LR: 9.5, NR: 9, M: 9 | Twitter Followers: 1,320,000 | Previous Rank: #1
All-Star weekends have been kind to Kyrie, as have commercial endorsements, personal shoe brands, and celebrity admirers. But a hugely disappointing season for the Cavs-- and another year outside the playoffs-- leaves Cleveland's love affair with it's greatest talent in the midst of a rough patch.
#3 - Josh Gordon: 33.0
WR, Browns | OP: 9.5, LR: 9, NR: 8, M: 6.5 | Twitter: 69,800 | Previous: #2
Yes, smoking weed in his home could earn Josh Gordon the same length suspension that Donte Stallworth got for a DUI manslaughter conviction. That insanity aside, the news of Gordon's failed drug test proved to be the one silver bullet that could stagger Manzielmania in its tracks. Pending a miracuous turn in the story, a Peyton Hillis-like tumble in the rankings awaits the NFL's leading receiver.
#4 - Joe Haden: 32.5
CB, Browns | OP: 7.5, LR: 9, NR: 7.5, M: 8 | Twitter: 157,000 | Previous: #4
Now partnered with a top ten pick in Justin Gilbert, Haden best be ready to truly prove his worth as an elite NFL shutdown corner-- particularly if he wants a contract even within earshot of what Richard Sherman is now pulling down.
#5 - Jason Kipnis: 31.5
2B, Indians | OP: 7, LR: 8.5, NR: 7.5, M: 8.5 | Twitter: 79,600 | Previous: #3
Though pretty much universally regarded as the "best player" on a Cleveland Indians team weirdly devoid of stars, Kipnis is off to another rough start at the plate, and now faces a possible month or more on the DL. Pure likeability will only get you so far.
#6 - Joe Thomas: 31.5
OT, Browns | OP: 9, LR: 8.5, NR: 8, M: 6 | Twitter: -- | Previous: #6
The first round of the 2014 Draft sure did bring back memories of the 2007 edition, when the Browns took a safe pick in the top ten (Thomas) and grabbed a sinking QB star at #22 (Brady Quinn). If Justin Gilbert winds up half as solid as Joe Thomas, the trade with Buffalo will be a win-- at least until that 2015 pick is revealed.
#7 - Terry Francona: 31.0
Manager, Indians | OP: 7, LR: 8, NR: 8.5, M: 7.5 | Twitter: -- | Previous: #5
The sunshine and rainbows from a great September can be quickly forgotten in the grey days of April. Francona has been very rigid sticking to a line-up that has had some historic struggles out of the gate. Fortunately, the Tito lovefest is keeping the criticism at bay.
#8 - Dion Waiters: 29.5
SG, Cavaliers | OP: 7.5, LR: 8, NR: 6,.5 M: 7.5 | Twitter: 94,700 | Previous: #11
Just about all his numbers went up in 2014, and he finished second in voting for the NBA 6th Man of the Year award. Waiters' future in Cleveland remains unavoidably knotted to Kyrie's, but he has left little doubt as to his long term potential.
#9 - Michael Brantley: 29.0
LF, Indians | OP: 8.5, LR: 8, NR: 6, M: 6.5 | Twitter: -- | Previous: #17
A new 4-year deal and turning 27 always raises the stakes. And Brantley seems to have entered his prime at just the right time, almost single handedly keeping the Indians offense from falling off a cliff. His power at the plate has also lifted him to his highest post ever in the Power Rankings.
#10 - Brian Hoyer: 28.5
QB, Browns | OP: 7, LR: 9, NR: 6, M: 6.5 | Twitter: 49,800 | Previous: #14
Who cares if he hasn't taken a snap since last September? Sure, the arrival of Johnny Football is bound to quiet some of the "local boy" fanfare for the veteran, but then again, the only person more popular in Cleveland than the Browns QB is the Browns' back-up QB. And Hoyer is gonna be one of those two things.
#11 - Ray Farmer: 28.5
GM, Browns | OP: 8.5, LR: 9, NR: 5, M: 6 | Twitter: -- | Previous: #20
A masterful first round in his first draft made Farmer a folk hero for a hot second. But reality sets in fast in Cleveland. The team's knowledge of the Gordon suspension and decision to pass on WR help in the draft could chill the mood a bit at the afterparty.
#12 - Nick Swisher: 28.0
1B, Indians | OP: 4.5, LR: 8, NR: 6.5, M: 9 | Twitter: 1,700,000 | Previous: #7
Hovering around the Mendoza line, Swisher's feel-good homecoming story is starting to turn a bit stale. His BrOhio gimmick and amusing antics still make him one of the bigger personaltiies in local sports, but at some point, your run producer needs to produce some runs.
#13 - Jimmy Haslam: 28.0
Owner, Browns | OP: 5.5, LR: 9, NR: 7, M: 6.5 | Twitter: -- | Previous: #12
Sure, there's still that lingering possibility of the Browns owner going to prison for fraud and such, but he just brought us Johnny Football! Better to be a rotten criminal than a "cheapskate" like Larry Dolan, apparently.
#14 - Jordan Cameron: 27.5
TE, Browns | OP: 8, LR: 7.5, NR: 5.5, M: 6.5 | Twitter: 17,400 | Previous: #8
If Cameron ever felt overlooked during the emergence of Josh Gordon, those days may be behind him. Whether it's Hoyer or Manziel under center, the Browns Pro Bowl tight end may now be the #1 pass target on the field.
#15 - Justin Masterson: 27.5
SP, Indians | OP: 7.5, LR: 7.5, NR: 6, M: 6.5 | Twitter: -- | Previous: #13
He may be the Tribe's ace, but determining whether Masty is worth ace money is another consideration all together. On several occasions this season, Terry Francona has seemingly tested Masterson by leaving him on the mound late in games with trouble brewing, and it hasn't usually worked out very well. Overall, he's still off to a solid start (2-1, 3.86 ERA), but the Tribe brass may feel better hoping Kluber, Salazar, or Bauer turn into a #1 rather than emptying the pockets for a player whose ceiling has been established.
#16 - Ben Tate: 27.0
RB, Browns | OP: 7.5, LR: 7, NR: 6.5, M: 6 | Twitter: 106,000 | Previous: N/A
Injury concerns aside, Tate is a 25 year-old known quantity who has averaged 4.7 yards per carry across his first three seasons. He may thrive in a Shanahan offense, or at the very least, be a massive improvement over Willis McGahee. Welcome aboard.
#17 - Donte Whitner: 27.0
S, Browns | OP: 7, LR: 8, NR: 6, M: 6 | Twitter: 126,000 | Previous: N/A
Many consider a 29 year-old Whitner to be a downgrade from the departed T.J. Ward, but if Ward was going to walk regardless, might as well plug that hole with a top ten safety who has a ring and wants to be here. A Cleveland native and OSU grad will always get a long leash from the Dog Pound.
#18 - Anderson Varejao: 26.5
C, Cavaliers | OP: 6.5, LR: 7.5, NR: 5.5, M: 7 | Twitter: 54,400 | Previous: #9
After appearing in just 81 games COMBINED during the first 3 seasons after LeBron's departure, the Wild Thing suited up for an encouraging 65 contests in 2013-14. Unfortunately, at 31, he looked like a guy whose injuries have started catching up to him.
#19 - Alex Mack: 26.5
C, Browns | OP: 8.5, LR: 8, NR: 6, M: 4 | Twitter: 27,600| Previous: --
The Pro Bowl center's contract kerfluffle this offseason actually helped raise his national profile. And any potential lingering animosity will presumably be buried by the time Mack is snapping balls to Johnny Football.
#20 - Tristan Thompson: 26.5
PF, Cavaliers | OP: 7.5, LR: 7, NR: 5, M: 7 | Twitter: 84,700 | Previous: #18
If you think Tristan showed marked improvement in his third pro season, the stats kind of suggest otherwise. Yes, he played a full 82 games for a second straight year, but he also put up an identical 11.7 PPG, with slight drops in FG% (49 to 48) and RPG (9.4 to 9.2). Best news? His free throw shooting rose from 61% to 69%.
#21 - Asdrubal Cabrera: 25.5
SS, Indians | OP: 6, LR: 7.5, NR: 7, M: 5 | Twitter: -- | Previous: #24
Droobs struggled MIGHTILY up until this past week, when an inexplicable hot streak raised his batting average 50 points to a semi-respectable .254. Still, with Carlos Santana sinking all the way off the Top 25 with his mind boggling futility, and worthy performers like Corey Kluber still failing to get their national recognition, Cabrera stays on the board.
#22 - Danny Salazar: 25.5
SP, Indians | OP: 5, LR: 7.5, NR: 6, M: 7 | Twitter: 21,200 | Previous: #10
Shoulda seen this coming. After a long line of prognosticators annointed him the "next big thing" following a few weeks of dominance in 2013, young Mr. Salazar has shown some forgivable regression out of the gate this season. He is still missing bats (10.8 K/9 vs 11.3 last year), but he is also missing the strike zone (1.61 WHIP vs 1.14). Still, no need to panic just yet, even with Trevor Bauer more than ready to pounce.
#23 - Barkevious Mingo: 25.0
LB, Browns | OP: 6, LR: 7, NR: 6, M: 6 | Twitter: 45,000 | Previous: #23
A year later, the first round pick pixie dust has worn off, and it's time for Mingo to prove he's worthy of he name recognition he still holds over his (probably more worthy) teammates on the Browns D.
#24 - Justin Gilbert: 24.5
CB, Browns | OP: 6, LR: 7, NR: 5, M: 6.5 | Twitter: 32,800 | Previous: N/A
The Browns' actual #1 selection was humble and humorous in a press conference dominated by his fellow Texan Johnny Manziel. The dream scenario of Gilbert & Joe Haden is Dixon/Minnifield 2.0. The requirement is something good enough to support Ray Farmer's decision to trade back in the draft.
#25 - Dan Gilbert: 24.0
Owner, Cavaliers | OP: 4, LR: 8, NR: 7, M: 5 | Twitter: 110,000 | Previous: #25
We're not gonna sit here and suggest that Dan Gilbert is paying us to keep him on the Power Rankings despite the gut wrenching failures of his basketball franchise. Any dreams of the billionaire brainwashing LeBron back to town seem long since abandoned, so we're just doing this to thank him for his lovely casino.