the nail in the coffin | A Cleveland sports podcast

Let’s be honest, the Indians knew they would be playing in the postseason when they took the field on Opening Day. After six long months, October has finally arrived and the defending World Series champion Astros await in the ALDS. Joel Hammond spent five years as the Indians' assistant director of communications, a tenure that included three postseason trips. He’s back on The Nail to share some perspectives on the mood inside the organization at this time of the year.

The guys also dive into the biggest storylines that will be playing out on the field, including: how the Indians are setting up their pitching staff, whether Andrew Miller can show any flashes of his overpowering 2016 form, postseason redemption for Jose Ramirez, Francisco Lindor and Corey Kluber, and the looming uncertainty for a lot of key players who could be suiting up for their final games with the Indians.

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Intro/outro music: "The 3rd" by Anitek

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Ready or not (and judging by the chants at FirstEnergy Stadium on Thursday night, it seems most people in Cleveland fall into the category of “ready”), the Baker Mayfield show has arrived in Browns Town. The guys relive Mayfield’s electric debut, the circumstances that made it happen earlier than the Browns were steadfastly planning for, and where the rejuvenated franchise goes with its QB of the future apparently set to take the reins full-time. Plus, the Browns’ Color Rush jerseys join Cleveland sports’ history of special uniforms for big games and the NFL’s imperfect, yet intoxicating on-field product.

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Intro/outro music: "The 3rd" by Anitek

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From Twitter exchanges with LeBron James over potential Browns moves to covering games and chasing down stories for all three of Cleveland’s professional sports teams, there’s rarely a boring day on the job for Associated Press sportswriter Tom Withers. He joins The Nail to reflect on covering LeBron’s career (and, as of recently, James’ more vocal interest in the local football team), as well as where Week 1 ranks in the Pantheon of Weird Browns Games, the state of the Indians, and the next chapter for the Cavs.

Plus: The challenges of keeping tabs on three major pro sports teams simultaneously, and finding a balance between covering the basics that are expected of the Associated Press and digging deeper to find unique stories and scoops.

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Intro/outro music: "The 3rd" by Anitek

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Even before the regular seasons for the Browns and Buckeyes kick off, it has been an interesting month for football fans in Northeast Ohio. Ben Axelrod of WKYC has had a front row seat for much of it, and he joins The Nail to discuss the storylines of “Hard Knocks” vs. reality at training camp in Berea, the Browns on the verge of becoming a relevant and interesting NFL franchise for the first time in years, the players making it happen like Myles Garrett—and those who apparently won’t. (Sorry, Mychal Kendricks.)

Meanwhile in Columbus, it has been a turbulent preseason for the Ohio State football program. Axelrod explains the challenges of covering the Zach Smith/Urban Meyer scandal and making the transition back to on-the-field matters, where the Buckeyes figure to be in the mix for the Big Ten title and another berth in the College Football Playoff. Plus: Players to watch and potential CFP sleeper teams.

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Intro/outro music: "The 3rd" by Anitek

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Firestone Country Club has played host to professional golf tournaments since 1954, including three major championships, the former World Series of Golf and the current WGC-Bridgestone Invitational. But this weekend, the world’s best golfers will tee it up in Akron for the final time before the tournament moves to Memphis next year.

Doug Ferguson has covered golf for the Associated Press for 20 years, and he has been on hand for nearly every big moment at Firestone over the past two decades. On a special episode of The Nail, Ferguson shares some classic tales from Firestone’s storied history—many of which prominently involve Tiger Woods, who has won in Akron eight times and will play Firestone for the first time since 2014 this weekend. From the “Shot in the Dark” to Sunday showdowns to an approach shot that rolled off the clubhouse roof and ended up in the cart of a guy delivering crunchy cream pies, if you’ve ever been to Firestone, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

*** Don't forget: Travis is once again riding in Pelotonia to raise money for cancer research. You can help by donating at: pelotonia.org/travisulle

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Intro/outro music: "The 3rd" by Anitek

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Written off as a potential trade asset since nearly the day he arrived, Kevin Love is still in Cleveland. And with the four-year contract extension he signed this week, it looks like the Cavs are planning to count on him for a long time. Love is well-liked, but his new deal was a polarizing move around town. Are the Cavs making the right call by trying to push forward toward a playoff spot, even if it means losing their first-round draft pick in 2019, or should they be fully embracing the tank to improve their lottery odds?

Scott Sargent, of Waiting For Next Year and Bleacher Report, was on hand when the team announced Love’s contract extension. He joins The Nail to discuss that deal, the course the Cavs are charting in their second post-LeBron era, and the question the vast majority of teams around the league face, now including the Cavs: How do you approach the season when you aren’t one of the precious few franchises with a shot at an NBA title?

*** Don't forget: Travis is once again riding in Pelotonia to raise money for cancer research. You can help by donating at: pelotonia.org/travisulle

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Catch us on WaitingForNextYear.com

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Email us: thenailpodcast [at] gmail.com

Intro/outro music: "The 3rd" by Anitek

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It’s our midsummer tradition: Tribe fan extraordinaire T.D. Dery is back on The Nail to discuss the state of the Indians coming out of the All-Star break. The guys look back on how the team seized control of the AL Central in the first half of the year, Jose Ramirez putting together one of the franchise’s all-time great individual seasons, Michael Brantley’s resurgence amid a depleted outfield, and lingering injury concerns with Corey Kluber. Plus: Francisco Lindor as a potential face of Major League Baseball, the overall marketability of MLB, and outfield and bullpen trade targets as the deadline approaches. *** Don't forget: Travis is once again riding in Pelotonia to raise money for cancer research. You can help by donating at: pelotonia.org/travisulle

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Catch us on WaitingForNextYear.com

Like us on Facebook: Facebook.com/TheNailPodcast

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Email us: thenailpodcast [at] gmail.com

Intro/outro music: "The 3rd" by Anitek

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Sooooo...you could say the Indians took care of business on Wednesday night. But 24 hours earlier—you know, back when they weren’t putting up 19 runs—a lackluster start to the 9th inning by closer Cody Allen, a miscommunication between manager Terry Francona and pitching coach Carl Willis, and a bad matchup for reliever Dan Otero turned a fine night at the ballpark into downright ugly loss, bringing out the boo birds at Progressive Field. It was called the nadir of the season for the team's beleaguered bullpen, and aggravation is mounting amongst the Tribe faithful. A talented-but-flawed Indians roster continues to trudge through the season in first place in the AL Central, but clearly is a step behind the rest of the league’s top teams. What is the Tribe front office waiting for? The guys discuss that, as well as Travis’ adventures at the AAA Home Run Derby in Columbus on Monday night. …. Plus: Travis is once again riding in Pelotonia to raise money for cancer research. You can help by donating at: pelotonia.org/travisulle

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Email us: thenailpodcast [at] gmail.com

Intro/outro music: "The 3rd" by Anitek

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