As Joe Banner speaks more and more about being the man with a plan in Berea, you get the sense he's itching to say what's happening there is not business as usual.

Cleveland Browns CEO Joe Banner.Thomas Ondrey/The Plain Dealer 

As Joe Banner speaks more and more about being the man with a plan in Berea, you get the sense he's itching to say what's happening there is not business as usual.

The hangup: stating that case so emphatically would be, you know, business as usual.

Browns' fans heard that from Mike Holmgren. Randy Lerner obviously thought it when he hired Romeo Crennel from New England and Phil Savage from Baltimore. Before that, Butch Davis swaggered through the saloon doors to make everyone forget about the pain of those first few expansion seasons under Chris Palmer.

Banner told CBSsports.com last week it's that failed promise over so many years that makes the Browns such and appealing and challenging opportunity. No argument there.

The next coach/team architect/owner to win it all in Cleveland won't necessarily ascend to Mt Rushmore, but a bronze statue atop the Terminal Tower -- the likes of Billy Penn's in Banner's Philadelphia -- wouldn't be out of the question.

"At the risk of crossing the line, there have been a lot of people here over a lot of years who talked about long-term plans, but I haven't see anybody who actually implmented that," Banner told CBS.

"They've been filling needs year by year, sometimes with expensive players who aren't that good...there's been a lot of cheap talk about long-term plans here, and I'm not talking last year. You go back 15 years through different administrations. They all have been basically trying to win now."

No argument there either. Banner didn't say it but no doubt he saw other elements of questionable planning in the previous regime.

Holmgren and Tom Heckert traded up to get Trent Richardson, bucking the trend of NFL running backs being devalued in the passing offenses of the era, not to mention chewed up and spit out in grueling regular seasons.

Richardson, who fought injuries last season, will likely miss the June minicamp with another one. That's a small sample. But it's not a leap to say his running style resulted in him taking as much punishment per yard as any back in the league.

The last regime reached for Brandon Weeden, then used a second-round pick on Josh Gordon in the supplemental draft -- a pick Banner and Mike Lombardi were unable to retrieve last month.

After using their third-round pick, they sat out the fourth and fifth rounds, bartering for better selections next year. Listen to Banner talk about maximizing the value of each selection, no way you conclude that Banner and Mike Lombardi would've taken a 29-year-old quarterback in the first round, or given up a coveted second-round pick for Gordon.

"We're certainly rooting for him to prove that was a great decision," Banner said of Gordon in the leadup to the April draft.

It's fair for fans to take the same approach to Banner and Lombardi that Banner and Lombardi are taking toward Gordon and Weeden.

People need to see proof that Jimmy Haslam is the right owner, that giving Banner even more responsibilty than he enjoyed in Philadelphia was a great decision, that Banner hiring Lombardi was gold, Jerry, gold.

"We came in with this attitude: Are we buying a house and renovating it? Or are we buying a beautiful piece of land where you essentially have to knock (the house) down and rebuild it?" Banner said.

Guess which one they picked. Put your hard hat on. A foundation is being poured.

To be fair, Banner isn't talking only football, but of scrapping one of the lamest, most sterile game-day experiences in the league.

To be even more fair, what if Banner had brought in a different GM than Lombardi? That no doubt raised doubts, if only because it begged the question: did Banner try to hire the best personnel man the league had to offer, or did he make a hire that protected his own power base?

Only wins and top-rate drafts can answer that.

In the meantime, Banner exudes confidence bordering on surprise that so much skepticism abounds.

The answer to that is clear.

Don't take it personally.

After nearly 15 years, skepticism is the kindest, most benign stance we can think to take.

It's the gas that powers our Welcome Wagon.

The outpouring was loud and long Sunday, when Tony Kanaan, 38, won the scintillating 97th Indianapolis 500 under caution, after he came out in front on the last of a record 68 lead changes by a record 14 different drivers, at a record race speed of 187.433 mph.

Tony Kanaan of Brazil celebrates following a victory lap after winning the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Sunday.TOM STRATTMAN / ASSOCIATED PRESS  

INDIANAPOLIS -- There are a lot of popular drivers in the paddock and on the track in open wheel auto racing. But few draw more cheers and joyful tears like Brazilian Tony Kanaan.

So the outpouring was loud and long Sunday, when Kanaan, 38, won the scintillating 97th Indianapolis 500 under caution, after he came out in front on the last of a record 68 lead changes by a record 14 different drivers, at a record race speed of 187.433 mph.

"This is it," Kanaan proclaimed after the wreath hit his shoulders and the milk hit his lips. "I made it. They have to put my ugly face on that [Borg-Warner] trophy."

While nearly half of the 33-car field had the lead at some point during the race, Kanaan, who has led at Indy nine straight years, is the driver who took it and held it at the end. He's had chances before, leading near the end, but late-race cautions or missteps by others seemed to turn his winning opportunities sour.

This time, Kanaan took the point in typical TK fashion with a kamikaze restart on lap 197, following a Graham Rahal crash. Kanaan was sitting second behind Ryan Hunter-Reay with hard-charging rookie Carlos Munoz right behind him. It was three-wide at the start-finish line blazing past leader Hunter-Reay while holding off Munoz into the first turn.

"He's just awesome in those situations," his team owner, Jimmy Vasser, said.

Indeed, starts and restarts are Kanaan's trademark as he is noted for picking off drivers in those situations like cherries off the tree. The same happened here.

"That's just the way it works out," Hunter-Reay said. "I knew I was a sitting duck, and I wasn't too bummed about it because I knew we had enough laps to get it going again and have a pass back. It didn't work out that way."

As if my magic, almost as soon as Kanaan was in the lead, defending Indy 500 winner Dario Franchitti hit the wall behind him. That brought out the final caution, which would lead to Kanaan's pace car escort to near deafening cheers. Munoz finished second and Hunter-Reay third.

"I got a little bit of luck today," Kanaan said. "I was looking at the stands and it was unbelievable. It means a lot to me, because so many people I can feel they wanted me to win."

Franchitti's last caution of the day allowed Kanaan to soak in the cheers with a pace car escort for the first Indy 500 victory of his career. As he got out of the car he threw both fists into the air and screamed as the crowd chanted, "TK! TK! TK!"

"If there's anybody that deserves to win, it's him," said Marco Andretti, who finished fourth.

Pole-sitter Ed Carpenter took the lead at the green flag and held it through the first three laps. Then the first caution of the day emerged as JR Hildebrand hit the wall between the first two turns and came to rest in the middle of the track. Indy has not been kind to Hildebrand as he crashed in the last turn of the last lap in 2011 while leading the Indy 500.

Carpenter held the lead on the Lap 6 restart, but by Lap 12 the race was on as Kanaan, who started 12th, and Andretti, who started third, had already rotated into the lead. It was the start of a race-long pattern. Through the first 25 laps there were eight lead changes between those three drivers. It grew to 16 lead changes the first 50 laps among five drivers with Hunter-Reay and Helio Castroneves joining the fray.

The most telling sign at this point showed all the speed leaders were with Chevrolet power, indicating the expected speed push from Honda on race day had yet to surface. It never did.

After those early yellows the race would be green for an amazing 134 of the 200-lap even leading to a speed spectacle not only on the track, but in the pits where every stop but one was in race conditions. And there were a lot of cars with the speed to win. Carpenter led 37 laps, Kanaan 34, Andretti 31 and the tough-luck driver of the day, rookie AJ Allmendinger, led 23, although he may have had the fastest car on the track

Allmendinger was holding the lead on lap 111 when his seat belt came loose, leading to an unscheduled pit stop. That took Allmendinger off-sequence, and also dropped him back to 25th. At that point he had led for 13 straight laps, the longest of any driver for the day. And no driver would lead for more than six laps at a time the rest of the way.

Allmendinger would rotate back into the lead two more times, but out of pit sequence with the other speed burners left him with too many positions to make up and not enough time to get it done.

"I guess it's God's way of saying, 'maybe you're not going to win it your first time,' " Allmendinger said. "It (seat belt) just popped out. Maybe it was because my heart was beating to hard from leading the race. I tried to do it down the back straightaway . . . but it wasn't going to happen. The only thing that killed us was it killed our pit windows the rest of the race."

Allmendinger's last lead was on lap 167, leaving the race to Kanaan and three Andretti Autosport drivers; Marco Andretti, Munoz and Hunter-Reay. There would be 17 lead changes the final 33 laps with Kanaan out front when it counted most.

"We had a great car," he said. "I knew that from the get-go. So when it was six laps to go, went yellow, I wasn't in the lead, I said, 'this might be the day, because I was in Ryan's position plenty of times."

It has been proven the race does not always go to the swiftest, although Tony Kanaan was certainly swift enough Sunday to win his first Indianapolis 500. But for a driver who had led Indy for nine straight times before winning, a little lucky charm wouldn't hurt, either.

Tony Kanaan kisses his wife, Lauren Bohlander Kanaan, after winning the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Sunday. Kanaan believes he had some luck riding with him to his first victory in the 500. MICHAEL CONROY / ASSOCIATED PRESS 

INDIANAPOLIS-- It has been proven the race does not always go to the swiftest, although Tony Kanaan was certainly swift enough Sunday to win his first Indianapolis 500. But for a driver who had led Indy for nine straight times before winning, a little lucky charm wouldn't hurt, either.

Kanaan received such a gift four days prior to Indy, when a medal for protection he gave to 14-year-old Andrea Brown nine ago, prior to her having surgery for a stroke, was returned with good wishes. It was one of many trinkets fans gave Kanaan, hoping this would be his day.

"I didn't have enough pockets for all the things my fans gave me to bring me luck," Kanaan said. "I probably have to bring a truck with me behind the car. But there were two things."

One was the Paralympic Gold Medal won by his good friend Alex Zanardi. "I actually cuddled with the thing" before the race, Kanaan said. The other was a necklace.

"Nine years ago I went to make a visit in a hospital here in Indy," Kanaan began. "When I walked in there was this girl. She was 14 years old. She just had a stroke. She was in a coma. She was going to get surgery the next morning. I had this thing that my mom gave me. It was a necklace to protect me. So I took it out and I said to her mother, 'I don't know if you believe in these things, but I have had this for a while. It always protects me. I want to give it to you.'

"I gave it to her, and she survived. She is doing really well. We kept in touch in the past years. This year, four days ago, she showed up, gave me a letter with an envelope. I opened the letter, and here it was. She said she had enough good luck in her life. She got married, and she wanted to give it back to me to bring me luck. So here it is. I think I'll retire that thing, now."

More power: The two power teams of Andretti Autosport and Team Penske failed to finish first, but combined the eight drivers on those two teams finished between second and 21st in the final standings including five drivers in the top seven -- No. 2 Carlos Munoz, No. 3 Ryan-Hunter Reay and No. 4 Marco Andretti, all from Andretti Autosport, with Helio Castroneves sixth and AJ Almendinger seventh from Team Penske.

First time: Hard to believe but former two-time Champ Car racing champion Alex Zanardi, 46, never raced at Indy as he spent his career racing in the competing series, then suffered his career-shortening crash in 2001 in Germany. After having both legs amputated above the knees, he resumed racing in touring cars, and also won a gold medal in handcycling in the 2012 Paralympic Games in London.

He was presented with the car he raced to victory in 1996 at Leguna Seca, considered one of the signature wins of his career. That includes his worst-to-first charge at the Grand Prix of Cleveland in 1997, when an early race mistake sent him to the pits, and to last place, before he charged through the field to win. It was the first of two straight wins at Burke Lakefront Airport for Zanardi.

Still in step About 35 runners who were unable to finish the Boston Marathon last month due to the tragic bombings completed the distance Sunday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway prior to the Indianapolis 500. They did it by crossing the most famous finish line in sports -- the Yard of Bricks -- just moments before the start of the 97th race.

Boston Marathon participants from Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, Kentucky and Michigan ran approximately one-half mile from Turn 4 to the Yard of Bricks on the front straightaway. The list included Richard Lightbody of Cleveland Heights.

Did you know? The 21 laps of caution were the fewest for an Indy 500 race dating back to 1971, and that race only went 102 of the 200 laps due to rain. . . . The 133 laps of straight green flag racing -- from lap 61 to lap 194 -- also set a record for the Indianapolis 500.

Join cleveland.com's Glenn Moore for another episode of Sunday Insider. Jump in the chat room and call-in to talk Browns, Cavs and Indians.

Should the Cavs select Ben McLemore with the No. 1 overall pick in the NBA Draft? cleveland.com's Glenn Moore talks about this and more in this episode of Sunday Insider. 

The Cleveland Indians organization had a bad day all-around Sunday. All four of their farm teams in action lost, including an 8-5 defeat by the Class AAA Columbus Clippers to Syracuse.

Class AA: Erie 7, Akron 2 Aeros starter Toru Murata (1-3) was touched up for six runs (five earned) on nine hits in five innings, as Akron lost to the SeaWolves in Erie, Pa.

Class A Advanced: Winston-Salem 11, Carolina 4 The Dash scored eight in the seventh in a win at Carolina. Winston-Salem's rally included three hits, three walks, three hit batters, four wild pitches and a passed ball.

Class A: West Michigan 4, Lake County 2 The Captains' loss at Classic Park to the Whitecaps was their sixth in a row, tieing their season worst. Lake County's Erik Gonzalez had two hits, including an RBI triple, and leads the club in RBI (18) and hits (39).

Independent: River City 2 , Lake Erie 1 River City completed a three-game sweep at home. Lake Erie is 1-4 in one-run games.

The Ethiopian winner of this year's Boston Marathon said Sunday that he will donate his first-place medal to the people of Boston, telling visiting Secretary of State John Kerry that he wants to honor the dead and wounded from the finish-line bombing.

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia -- The Ethiopian winner of this year's Boston Marathon said Sunday that he will donate his first-place medal to the people of Boston, telling visiting Secretary of State John Kerry that he wants to honor the dead and wounded from the finish-line bombing.

"Less than two hours after I crossed the finish line as this year's champion, my joy turned to sorrow," Lelisa Desisa said. "This day brought pain to many families and sorrow to many homes," the 23-year-old novice marathoner added as he announced his plan to travel to Boston to return the medal.

Lelisa spoke in his native Oromiffa at a brief ceremony at the U.S. Embassy here, standing with Kerry and two other top Ethiopian competitors in this year's Boston race. Kerry was in Ethiopia for an African Union summit.

"Sport should never be used as a battleground," Lelisa said through a translator. He said that he and his team will return to Boston to run again next year "to show the world that our commitment to sport, our commitment to our freedom will be stronger than any act of violence."

Lelisa won the April 15 marathon with a time of 2:10:22. A pair of explosions near the finish line killed three people and injured more than 200 others.

-- Anne Gearan, Washington Post

Closer Chris Perez gave up four runs in the ninth inning as Boston rallied past the Indians, 6-5.

View full sizeCleveland Indians relief pitcher Chris Perez reacts after giving up a hit to Boston Red Sox's Stephen Drew during the ninth inning of Boston's 6-5 win at Fenway Park in Boston, Sunday,.Winslow Townson, Associated Press 

Boston -- Closer Chris Perez ruined a nice Sunday afternoon at Fenway Park and the Indians' bullpen is officially in trouble.

Boston scored four times in the ninth inning against Perez and Joe Smith to come-from-behind for the second straight day and beat the Indians, 6-5. Perez was forced out of the game with two out, the bases loaded and the Tribe clinging to a 5-4 lead because of pain in his right shoulder.

Smith relieved to face Jacoby Ellsbury with a 2-1 count and Ellsbury lined his first pitch to the wall in left center field for a game-winning double.

"Chris felt a twinge in his right shoulder on the 1-1 pitch," said manager Terry Francona. "We had him throw a warm up pitch and it yanked it wide so we decided to make a change. We brought Smitty into a tough situation."

This is the third time Perez's right shoulder has given him problems this year. He was shut down in spring training and couldn't pitch against Detroit on May 12. To make matters worse, Vinnie Pestano, the Tribe's top set-up man, blew a 4-3 lead in the eighth inning in Saturday's 7-4 victory by Boston.

Perez came off the disabled list on May 16 after having right elbow problems. But his velocity is still way down.

• Final Indians-Red Sox boxscore | Scoreboard | Standings

The Indians were set to split a four-game series with the Red Sox. They had a 5-2 lead entering the ninth, but it didn't last. Perez started the inning by walking Dustin Pedroia. Then he gave up a double to David Ortiz to send Pedroia to third. Pedroia scored on a Mike Napoli's grounder to short.

Ortiz kept the pressure on by stealing third because the defense was shifted to the right against Jarrod Saltalamacchia. It was a big steal as Saltalamacchia brought him home with a grounder to first to make it 5-4.

Perez, however, had two out, but he proceeded to load the bases on a walk to Jonny Gomes, single to Stephen Drew and a walk to Jose Iglesias. When he went to 1-1 on Ellsbury he bent over in pain and his day was done.

"He's getting looked at right now by the trainers," said Francona. "It's took early to say what it is."

Perez (2-1) has allowed eight runs, seven earned, in his last 4 innings.

"I felt a little something in the shoulder out there," said Perez. "It's obviously not the best timing, but it's something I have to deal with."

The ninth-inning collapse ruined a great start by Corey Kluber, who allowed one run and struck out a career high 10 batters in 6 2/3 innings.

"I worked ahead for pretty much the whole game," said Kluber.

Said Francona, "He was wonderful. . .and he's getting better every start."

Kluber allowed three hits, walked one and threw a career-high 112 pitches. In his last start, he threw 111 pitches 6 1/3 innings against Detroit.

The Indians took a 2-0 lead in the first on Carlos Santana's bases-loaded single. The runs were unearned because Ellsbury dropped Jason Kipnis' fly ball to center field.

Boston made it 2-1 on Daniel Nava's two-out single in the third, but the Indians started to pull away on homers by Kipnis and Nick Swisher.

Kipnis, down in the count 0-2 and with two out in the fifth, yanked a line drive from lefty Felix Doubront just inside Pesky's Pole, the right field foul pole. It's officially marked at 302 feet from the plate, but there are those who think it's under 300 feet.

Kipnis' homer, his eighth, gave the Indians a 3-1 lead.

Swisher hit a leadoff homer in the sixth over 39-foot tall Green Monster in left field. Swisher's seventh homer stretched the Tribe's lead to 4-1.

The Indians stretched their lead to 5-1 in the eighth. Kipnis doubled and went to third on Asdrubal Cabrera's single. Swisher delivered Kipnis with a sacrifice fly to left. Jonny Gomes over threw the cutoff man on a high throw to the plate, but it ended up working out for the Boston left fielder because Cabrera took too wide a turn at first. Saltalamacchia alertly threw to first to get Cabrera for the second out.

Kluber retired seven straight after Nava's single. Ellsbury broke the streak with a single in the sixth. He stole second, but Kluber struck out Nava and Pedroia to end the inning.

Francona sent Kluber out for the seventh. He retired Ortiz on a grounder and struck out Napoli before lefty Rich Hill relieved to face Saltalamacchia. Hill walked Saltalamacchia to bring Cody Allen into the game. Allen got out of that inning, but gave up a run in the eighth when Drew tripled over Drew Stubbs' head in right and scored on Iglesias' sacrifice fly to make it 5-2.

Doubront allowed four runs, two earned, on five hits in six innings.

Highlights include Indians at Cincinnati.

CLEVELAND, Ohio

Today's TV and radio sports listings

BASEBALL 

1 p.m. West Michigan at LAKE COUNTY CAPTAINS, AM/1330

1 p.m. Pittsburgh at Detroit, MLB Network

1:10 p.m. CLEVELAND INDIANS at Cincinnati, SportsTime Ohio; AM/1100, FM/100.7

1:35 p.m. AKRON AEROS at Erie, AM/1350

7 p.m. Chicago Cubs at Chicago White Sox, WGN

7 p.m. N.Y. Yankees at N.Y. Mets, MLB Network

MEN’S COLLEGE LACROSSE FINAL

1 p.m. Syracuse vs. Duke, ESPN

NBA CONFERENCE FINALS

9 p.m. West, Game 4, San Antonio at Memphis, ESPN

NHL CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS

8 p.m. West, Game 6, Chicago at Detroit, MSNBC

WNBA

3 p.m. Washington at Tulsa, ESPN2

5 p.m. Chicago at Phoenix, ESPN2

TENNIS

5 a.m. French Open, first round, ESPN2

Kevin Harvick holds on to win the Coca-Cola 600 in Charlotte Sunday night.

In this photo provided by NASCAR and taken with a fisheye lens, Kevin Harvick takes the checkered flag to win the NASCAR Sprint Cup series Coca-Cola 600 auto race at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C., Sunday, May 26, 2013. (AP Photo/Chris Trotman) 

Charlotte Motor Speedway said 10 fans were injured Sunday at the Coca-Cola 600 and three of them were taken to the hospital after a nylon rope supporting a Fox Sports overhead television camera fell from the grandstands and landed on the track surface.

CONCORD, N.C. (AP) — Charlotte Motor Speedway said 10 fans were injured Sunday at the Coca-Cola 600 and three of them were taken to the hospital after a nylon rope supporting a Fox Sports overhead television camera fell from the grandstands and landed on the track surface.

After a painful blown save Sunday in Boston, the Indians have placed Chris Perez on the disabled list with a sore right shoulder. Lefty Nick Hagadone was recalled from Class AAA Columbus.

Chris Perez has been placed on the disabled list with a sore right shoulder after a blown save Sunday.Chuck Crow, The Plain Dealer 

CINCINNATII, Ohio -- After a spectacular blown save on Sunday at Fenway Park, Indians' closer Chris Perez has been placed on the disabled list with a sore right shoulder and lefty Nick Hagadone has been recalled from Class AAA Columbus.

Manager Terry Francona said set-up man Vinnie Pestano, despite a significant drop in velocity, will replace Perez at closer. Pestano came off the disabled list on May 16 and was throwing between 87 mph and 88 mph, far below his normal 92 mph to 93 mph, when he blew a save in the eighth inning Saturday against the Red Sox.

Pestano went on the disabled list with a sore right elbow.

"Vinnie is comfortable slotting into that inning," said Francona before Monday's game against Cincinnati. "Part of the reason for doing that is it makes it so much easier for us if you have an end point to get to because we have plenty of depth.

"I still think having guys know (who the closer is) gives guys some semblence of order down there. Vinnie's last couple of innings haven't been his best down there, but that will improve."  

Regarding Pestano's drop in velocity, Francona said, "Vinnie is going to pitch innings when games are on the line. Whether it's the seventh, eighth or ninth, we've got to get them out. His velocity is going to be the same in the eighth as it is the ninth.

"There are some things mechanically (he's been working on).  In the near future, I think you'll see him be just fine." 

Pestano has had problems getting a consistent release point and extending his right arm since coming off the DL.

"He's been trying to get his extension where before he was trying to get to a point where he could throw and it didn't hurt," said Francona.

Perez, who has been nursing a sore shoulder since spring training, entered the ninth inning Sunday against Boston with a 5-2 lead. Eight batters later, the Red Sox walked off with a 6-5 victory.

The Indians removed Perez from the game with the bases-loaded, two out and a 2-1 count on Jacoby Ellsbury when Perez winced and felt pain in his shoulder on a 1-1 pitch. Joe Smith relieved and Jacoby drilled his first pitch to left center field for a game-winning double.

Perez walked Dustin Pedroia to start the ninth and gave up a double to David Ortiz to put runners on third and second. Ground outs by Mike Napoli and Jarrod Saltalamacchia scored those two runs to make it 5-4. Perez proceeded to load the bases as  Jonny Gomes walked, Stephen Drew singled and Jose Iglesias walked to bring Ellsubury to the plate.

It was the second consecutive blown save by the Indians' bullpen, which was considered a team strength opening the season, but is struggling now.

Perez drove back to Cleveland on Monday and will be examined 2 p.m. An MRI will be part of the exam.

Francona said he felt Perez was healthy when he took the mound Sunday.

"We would never pitch somebody we felt was hurt," he said. "His velocity was actually very good Sunday. He was hitting 94 mph. He felt it on the 1-1 pitch.

"We communicate a lot with these pitchers and would never pitch somebody we felt was hurt."

This is Perez's first trip to the disabled list. This season he's 2-1 with a 4.32 ERA with six saves in eight chances.

This will be Hagadone's third tour with the Tribe this season.

Finally: Brett Myers, scheduled to make a rehab start Monday at Columbus, has been scratched with right elbow pain. He'll be examined in Cleveland on Tuesday.

Today's lineups:

Indians (27-22): CF Bourn, 2B Kipnis, SS Cabrera, 1B Swisher, C Santana, 3B Reynolds, LF Brantley, RF Stubbs, P Jimenez (3-3, 6.04).

Reds (31-19): CF Choo, SS Cozart, 1B Votto, 2B Phillips, RF Bruce, 3B Frazier, LF Paul, C Mesoraco, P Leake (4-2, 3.25).

Udonis Haslem finished with 17 points on 8-for-9 shooting to help the Miami Heat beat the Pacers 114-96 in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals on Sunday night.

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The Indiana Pacers didn't see this version of Udonis Haslem coming. There was no reason to.

Shin-Soo Choo faces his former team for the first time as these Ohio rivals open a unique four-game set Monday at Great American Ball Park.

 

Game 50: Indians (27-22) at Reds (31-19)

First pitch: 1:10 p.m. at Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati.

TV/radio: STO; WTAM AM/1100, WMMS FM/100.7.

Box score | MLB scoreboard

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The Texas Rangers continue to enjoy the No. 1 spot in cleveland.com's MLB Power Rankings this week. The Indians fall six spots to No. 12.

cleveland.com's Glenn Moore reveals his Major League Baseball power rankings every Monday.

Ron Washington and the Texas Rangers enjoy another week at No. 1 in cleveland.com's MLB Power Rankings. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson) 

Why even pitch to Miguel Cabrera? (AP Photo/Tony Dejak) 

Will the Indians battle through this rough stretch? (Chuck Crow/The Plain Dealer) 

Hisashi Iwakuma has pitched well for the Mariners. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson) 

Here are what blogs from Cleveland and around the country are saying about the Browns, Cavaliers and Indians. Featured today are Dawgs By Nature, Did The Tribe Win Last Night? and Fear The Sword.

Here are what blogs from Cleveland and around the country are saying about the Browns, Cavaliers and Indians.

What will Travis Benjamin's role be? (AP Photo/Tony Dejak) 

"The Cleveland Browns are already locked in with their top three wide receivers: Greg Little, Josh Gordon, and Davone Bess. In terms of playing time, one of the players you have to wonder about in 2013 is Travis Benjamin.

First off, I think there is little-to-no-chance that Benjamin gets cut loose. The team needs a punt returner after the departure of veteran Joshua Cribbs, and Benjamin is going to be that guy. In limited action as a punt returner last year, Benjamin set the world on fire, including a touchdown return. It helps that special teams coordinator Chris Tabor is coming back so that Benjamin can retain that role without really having to battle for it. What about as a receiver, though?

I only named three receivers above in Little, Gordon, and Bess. Couldn't Benjamin be the fourth receiver? Yes. But there is also a lot of intrigue to players like David Nelson, Jordan Norwood, Josh Cooper, and a handful of undrafted free agents on the roster. When you consider that, Benjamin is going to have to prove to the new coaching staff that he warrants playing time on game day. So far, it sounds like he is showcasing his skills in the right way."

Chris Perez has been sidelined with an injury. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson) 

"Meanwhile, Perez’s struggles have been more glaring. After several shaky saves, the first indication might have been on May 12, when Perez was unable to get loose to close the Indians’ extra-inning win against the Detroit Tigers. Indians Manager Terry Francona cited the short turnaround time — a day game after a night game — as the reason he was unavailable.

Perez pitched a clean inning against the Seattle Mariners on May 17, but blew a save the next afternoon when he allowed back-to-back home runs. Two days later, he blew another save when he allowed a home run of his own during the seesaw victory. After leaving the game to a round of boos, Perez claimed he felt fine in post game interviews, but would look at video to see if he mechanically was doing something differently. It seemed he wasn’t as sure of himself as he normally is, even after blowing a save.

Sunday’s appearance was his first since the May 20 blown save. Officially, he wasn’t charged with his third straight save, instead the loss, but he certainly did not get the job done.

The Indians’ bullpen has been a strength since Perez emerged as the closer and Pestano his set-up man in 2011, but this weekend sent a couple glaring messages regarding the bullpen and the Tribe’s season. First, the Indians can’t win close games if Perez and Pestano are able to fulfill their roles in the back of the bullpen. Secondly, if the two aren’t healthy, they can’t pitch through whatever might be affecting them."

Is Chase Budinger an option for the Cavs? (AP Photo/Tony Dejak) 

"Chase Budinger - He just turned 25, is a tremendous athlete, is coming off of an injury and could probably be had for a pretty cheap deal that preserves financial flexibility, Budinger is a fringe NBA starter. In his third season in Houston it looked as though he might have turned the proverbial corner. He shot 40% from three, rebounded well for his position, and was a solid perimeter defender. He has never averaged more than 22 minutes a game, so minutes at the 3 position would still be available for Gee and CJ Miles, but if he plays well (he has never played with a point guard like Kyrie Irving) he could warrant a larger role. The question is whether his three point shooting from his age 23 season was a fluke or not, but I feel he represents an upgrade over Gee regardless.

Dorell Wright - 27 years old, and coming off a tough season in Philadelphia, Wright is a guy who is both a solid shooter and defender. He might be one of the most underrated players in the NBA, as even through Philly's troubles, he finished the season with a PER of 16. In his last four seasons, he has yet to finish a season with a PER of under 14.5. Conrad was ahead of the curve on Wright, and frankly, he looks to be a perfect fit. You can add Wright an maintain financial flexibilty."

After The Memorial Tournament this weekend, Muirfield Village Golf Club will get ready to host the world at The President's Cup in October.

The new clock tower connects the renovated clubhouse and the new corporate suites at Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio.Jay LaPrete, Associated Press 

DUBLIN, Ohio -- As a reminder to fans at Muirfield Village this week, if you're tempted to scream "USA" after Tiger Woods or Bubba Watson or Dustin Johnson belts a drive at The Memorial Tournament, don't.

Save that for four months, and then it'll fit right in.

In its 38th year, The Memorial, the tournament created by Jack Nicklaus that stands just a cut below the majors among the best events on the PGA Tour, is a warmup for Muirfield Village in 2013. The 120 players in the field this week, including eight of the top 10 in the world, are in town for practice rounds before the 72-hole tournament tees off Thursday. And then 24 of the best non-European golfers in the world will be back for The Presidents Cup from Oct. 1-6 in the same place, on the same course for a completely different event.

It's not just because in four months the leaves will be changing.

"It's a totally different experience," Nicklaus said. "It'll be something because it's a totally different type of event."

The course in October will have shorter rough and shorter holes, while the fans will have on more red, white and blue and have greater license to scream and yell.

"It's as close to the Olympics or a team sport as you can get in golf," said Jim Furyk, a seven-time member of the United States" Presidents Cup team.

The Memorial stands on its own, and this year Muirfield will show off a rebuilt and redesigned clubhouse while continuing to serve as ideal preparation for the U.S. Open two weeks later. Woods is back to defend his title as the No. 1 player in the world, with Rory McIlroy, Adam Scott, Matt Kuchar, Luke Donald, Brent Snedeker, Jason Day and 14-year-old amateur Guan Tianlang giving fans plenty of reason to pay attention.

But as soon as the winner shakes hands with Nicklaus on Sunday, it will be on to the next thing – hosting an international event at Muirfield for the first time since the 1998 Solheim Cup featured the best women golfers in the United States against the best from Europe. Muirfield also hosted the Ryder Cup – European men vs. U.S. men – in 1987 and will become the first club to host all three major international golf events.

"We'll turn the switch," said tournament director Dan Sullivan, "and everyone will start to see and hear about the Presidents Cup. And during Memorial week we're going to be talking about it."

For now, The Presidents Cup is helping The Memorial a bit by serving as a little extra draw for the players in contention to make the 12-player team for the United States and 12-player team for the rest of the world beyond Europe (meaning players from Australia, South America, Africa, Asia and Canada). Ten spots for each team are determined by points, with captains Fred Couples and Nick Price each holding two picks of their own.

Among the current standings, 10 of the top 12 Americans are at Muirfield this week, all but Phil Mickelson and Steve Stricker. For the International team, eight of the top 12 are here, led by Masters champ Scott.

Though the course will play differently in the fall, it's not a bad idea to get a look at the layout now, and for players who don't make the top 10, choosing to play this week could be part of the consideration for the captains" picks.

So players like Furyk (17th in the U.S standings), Zach Johnson (18th) and Rickie Fowler (20th) are here this week as well. Cleveland native Jason Dufner (13th) is not in the field and hasn't played The Memorial since 2010.

Furyk is among the many who hopes he'll be back. He has played on every Presidents Cup and Ryder Cup team since 1997, and a smile creeps across his face when talking about teeing off for the U.S.A.

"Every time you knock in a putt or do something good, the crowd erupts," Furyk said. "And we have all this national pride. As a player, it's incredible to have 30,000 people on the course and 28,000 are going to be dressed in American gear and going crazy. It's like being in a basketball arena and pulling for your city. This is being at a golf course and pulling for your entire country."

That pressure can be even greater than playing for the $1,116,000 first-place prize this week. But the course this week will be more difficult.

In the fall, the idea is to set up the course for the every-hole drama of match play. That's why Nicklaus said the course will have shorter rough, and some par-fours and par-fives will play from shorter tees to encourage players to go for the green in the name of winning a hole.

"It'll look the same to the casual fan, but it'll be a different setup and for us it's going to be a completely different golf course," Furyk said.

This week, the goal is different. Sullivan said while match play is a sprint, the idea this week is a marathon. It's not about attacking on every hole, but playing smart for 72.

"We have fairly long rough and a demanding golf course to make sure the best score wins," Nicklaus said.

So expect a good week of golf. And in four months, expect another one, in a very different way.

The good hosts

Muirfield Village will host two very different golf events in 2013.

The Memorial Tournament

Thursday-Sunday.

120-player field.

72-hole stroke play.

Defending champ: Tigers Woods won by two strokes in 2012 to take his fifth Memorial.

The Presidents Cup

Thursday, Oct. 3, through Sunday, Oct. 6.

12 players from the United States vs. 12 International players not from Europe.

34 matches -- 11 foursomes, 11 four-ball matches, 12 singles matches.

Defending champ: The United States beat the International team 19-15 in Australia in 2011 and is now 7-1-1 in the nine competitions. In the last event on American soil, the U.S. won 19 1/2 to 14 1/2 at Harding Park in San Francisco in 2009.

There's a question mark hanging over manager Terry Francona's decision to go to Vinnie Pestano as the new closer.

Indians manager Terry Francona takes the ball from Nick Hagadone after the bullpen's third straight collapse in Cincinnati on Monday.David Kohl, Associated Press 

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- If you're a Tribe fan, you probably are nervous.

Very nervous.

Watching your team lose the past three games because of a bad bullpen will do that, especially with closer Chris Perez on the disabled list with shoulder problems.

Then there's a question mark hanging over manager Terry Francona's decision to make a struggling Vinnie Pestano the closer, which inspired me to say, "I don't know about that."

I'll take the manager's word that Pestano's recent problems with his fastball are due to him "being rusty" and some adjustments needed in his motion. Let's hope it's not a flare-up of the tendinitis that had him on the disabled list early in May.

Francona insists that's not the case.

This is Francona's first major test as the Tribe's new manager, and he's betting that Pestano can rise to the extremely demanding job of a closer -- where the difference between a victory and loss often will be in his hands in a tight game.

Those who have watched Francona manage for years in Boston would expect this type of decision.

Francona believes his players respond best to having defined roles and a manager who doesn't doubt them in public. Francona is more likely to grow hair like Don King than criticize one of his players in the media.

In Francona's mind, Pestano has been a tremendous pitcher in the eighth inning for the past two years, racking up a 2.55 ERA. When the Tribe considered trading Perez after the season, Pestano was slotted to be the closer.

All of that makes sense, assuming Pestano is healthy and confident.

But after being shelled for four runs in a 7-4 loss in Boston Saturday, Pestano talked about "not feeling" his elbow. The medical people have checked him out. The pitcher and Tribe are in agreement about his arm being sound. But his velocity dropped from the low 90s to 87-90.

The Tribe says Pestano must "build up his arm strength."

I say the ninth inning with a lead is a tough place to do that.

My choice would have been Joe Smith (1.05 ERA). He came into this season with a career 2.90 ERA in four years with the Tribe.

He is a side-armer from the right side, who used to have troubles with lefty hitters.

But since the start of 2011, lefties have a .198 batting average against him.

Smith is 29 and has been very solid in his career. When the Tribe had an elite bullpen, Perez owned the ninth, Pestano worked the eighth and Smith took the seventh. It was a real relief to see those three lined up 1-2-3 for the final three innings of games when the Tribe had a lead.

Bryan Shaw and Cody Allen have been exceptional this season. Allen has a 96-mph fastball and a nasty sharp breaking ball. He has the right stuff for a closer. Shaw also has the makings of a late-inning reliever.

My idea would be for Pestano to work the sixth or seventh innings until his fastball returns. If he's effective, he can move to the closer's job (if Smith flops) -- or at least back to his old eighth-inning job.

The key bullpen guys for the Tribe now will be Smith, Pestano, Shaw, Allen and Matt Albers, along with lefties Rich Hill and Nick Hagadone.

Veteran Brett Myers will remain on the disabled list with a cranky elbow. The Tribe has veteran Matt Capps in the minors and he has been an effective big-league closer, but he's out indefinitely with arm issues.

Danny Salazar recently threw four hitless innings at Class AAA Columbus and was clocked at 98 mph, but the Indians are grooming him as a starter who could be in Cleveland by the end of the year.

A bad bullpen is a kick in the gut to any team because nearly three hours of good baseball can be wiped out by the failure to record the last three outs. Consider the painful weekend in Boston, where Pestano and Perez blew leads.

Or what happened Monday. Hagadone entered a 2-2 game in the eighth inning and gave up a two-run homer in a 4-2 loss to the Reds. Francona wanted a lefty to pitch to left-handed batters Shin-Soo Choo and Joey Votto. Hill has had problems, so he turned to Hagadone.

Neither is a safe choice at the moment.

The Tribe has lost 6 of 7 since starting a 25-game chunk of the schedule against teams with a .585 winning percentage. It's the bullpen causing most of the heartache.

Tribe General Manager Chris Antonetti said Monday that, "Tito has seen about everything you can as a manager. I know he'll work through this. He has the experience that we need."

Here's hoping Francona is right about Pestano being ready now to face the biggest challenge of his career -- because how he handles the bullpen is critical to determining if the Tribe can stay in the playoff race.

To reach Terry Pluto:

terrypluto2003@yahoo.com; 216-999-4674

Vinnie Pestano and manager Terry Francona are confident that Pestano can step in and perform as the closer.

Indians reliever Vinnie Pestano had a rough outing in Boston on Saturday.Winslow Townson, Associated Press 

CINCINNATI, Ohio -- Vinnie Pestano is ready to fill in for injured closer Chris Perez. As for his drop in velocity, Pestano said it's only a state of mind.

Manager Terry Francona named Pestano the Indians' new closer when Perez was placed on the disabled list Monday with a sore right shoulder after a spectacular blown save Sunday in a 6-5 loss to Boston at Fenway Park.

Pestano has been Perez's set-up man for the past two years. The Indians felt he was capable of succeeding Perez in the closer's role, but Pestano is not at his best right now. A sore right elbow forced him onto the disabled list earlier this month and his velocity has been down since he was activated on May 16.

"The whole radar gun thing, that can't be a factor in anything I need to do when I'm out there trying to get outs," said Pestano. "If I'm throwing 87, it's going to be 87. If that's everything I have, so be it."

Pestano blew a 4-3 lead in the eighth inning Saturday in a 7-4 loss to Boston. He was consistently clocked at 87 to 88 mph, well below his normal velocity of 91 to 93 mph.

Pitching coach Mickey Callaway and bullpen coach Kevin Cash have been helping Pestano adjust his delivery.

"Vinnie is going to pitch innings when games are on the line," said Francona. "Whether it's the seventh, eighth or ninth, we've got to get them out.

"There are some things mechanically [he's been working on]. In the near future, I think you'll see him be just fine."

Francona could have gone with Joe Smith or Cody Allen in the closer's role.

"Vinnie is comfortable slotting into that inning," he said. "Part of the reason for doing that is it makes it so much easier for us if you have an end point to get to because we have plenty of depth."

Pestano has closed in college and the minors.

"I'm very comfortable with it," he said. "I don't want to sound overly confident, but I've closed a lot in the past. . . . I do feel confident that I can fill in until CP gets back."

Perez left Sunday's game with two outs and the base-loaded in the ninth because of pain in his right shoulder. He was shut down in spring training and missed a save situation May 12 against Detroit because of the same ailment.

He received an MRI exam on the shoulder Monday in Cleveland.

Francona said he felt Perez was healthy when he took the mound Sunday.

"We would never pitch somebody we felt was hurt," he said. "His velocity was actually very good Sunday. He was hitting 94 mph. He felt it on the 1-1 pitch [to Jacoby Ellsbury]."

Perez, an All-Star closer the past two years, is 2-1 with a 4.32 ERA with six saves in eight chances.

Nick Hagadone was recalled from Class AAA Columbus to replace Perez in the pen. In the eighth inning Monday, he gave up a two-run homer to Joey Votto to seal the Tribe's 4-2 loss to the Reds.

Attention getter: Reds closer Aroldis Chapman threw one 100 mph pitch 10 feet over Nick Swisher's head with one out in the ninth. Then he threw another one a little lower and a lot closer.

Swisher stepped out of the box and started yelling at Chapman as the Indians bench jumped to the top rail.

Asked what he said to Chapman, Swisher said, "I can't remember. What did he say?"

Chapman told a reporter, "I don't speak English."

"The first one I saw go by and I said, 'Wow, that's pretty quick' " said Swisher. "The second one was a little too close for comfort. Let's be honest. . . . 100 mph at somebody's head is not exactly the best thing.

"Either way it was nice to see all those guys in the dugout. They had my back. I do know if something happens, they'll be right behind me."

Swisher took another 100-mph strike before lining out to the track in left center.

When asked about the swing, Swisher said, "I'm going to take a step back here because I'm really getting fired up." Big bang: Jason Giambi's 467-foot homer in the eighth inning off Mike Leake was No. 432 of his career and moved him past Cal Ripken into sole possession of 42nd place on the all-time homer list. It was also his ninth pinch-hit homer and ended a 0-for-24 slump.

"It felt nice to contribute," said Giambi. "I've had a pinched nerve in my neck for a while and it felt good to [swing] free for a while. But I'd trade it all in for a win."

The ball hit halfway up the hitter's backdrop behind the center field fence.

"I got back to the dugout and told the guys, "I'm back,' " said Giambi. Finally: Brett Myers, scheduled to make a rehab start Monday at Columbus, was scratched with right elbow pain. He will be examined in Cleveland today.

Indians manager Terry Francona and outfielder Michael Bourn stopped pressing their argument with an ump at Fenway when "God Bless America" was sung at Fenway Park on Sunday.

CINCINNATI, Ohio - Clubhouse confidential: In the seventh inning Sunday at Fenway Park, Michael Bourn was thrown out attempting to steal second base to end the inning. He argued long and hard with umpire Tom Hallion in center field until manager Terry Francona joined the fray.

Suddenly, Francona stepped back, took his hat off and put his hand over his heart as "God Bless America" was being sung. Quickly, Bourn and Hallion followed his cue, turning toward the flag in center field.

"I was arguing the whole time," said Bourn, with a laugh. "I was in the zone, man. I didn't even notice that 'God Bless America' was going on until Tito came out."

Said Francona, "I told Tom Hallion, 'I came out here to yell at you and now I've got to honor America with you.'"

You're out: While Bourn swore he was safe to Hallion on the field, the replays showed he was tagged out not once, but twice by shortstop Stephen Drew.

"I slid into the tag," said Bourn. "He [catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia] made a perfect throw. If it had been a little high, like most catchers normally throw, I would have been safe. It was a pitch-out, too. I didn't know that."

Stat of the day: The Indians are 3-2 in interleague play this year.

-- Paul Hoynes

Chun Chen's home run in the 12th inning gave the Columbus Clippers a 13-11 victory at Louisville, Ky., Sunday, in an International League game.

Chun Chen

Class AAA: Columbus 13, Louisville 11 (12) Chun Chen slugged a two-run home run over the left-field wall in the top of the 12th inning, and the Clippers won a slugfest at Louisville, Ky. Eight home runs were hit, including five by Columbus. Also going deep for the Clippers were Matt Carson (his fifth), Jeremy Hermida (his eighth), Matt LaPorta (his fifth) and Lonnie Chisenhall (his fourth). Chen's homer was his second. Columbus out-hit the Bats, 19-15.

Class AA: Erie 9, Akron 8 (10) Akron collected a season-high 16 hits, but lost at Erie, Pa., when the SeaWolves rallied for a run in the bottom of the 10th. Akron's Ronny Rodriguez and Giovanny Urshela each slugged their third homers of the season. Akron lost leads of 4-0 and 8-5, and also lost manager Edwin Rodriguez and hitting coach Jim Rickon, who were ejected by home plate umpire Chris Tipton in the top of the third inning. Tipton had ruled that a drive by Akron's Quincy Latimore was foul.

Class A Advanced: Carolina 13, Wilmington 8 The Mudcats scored seven runs in the fourth inning and went on to defeat the visiting Wilmington, Del., Blue Rocks. The rally included two-run doubles by Luigi Rodriguez, Bo Greenwell and Ryan Battaglia. Francisco Lindor started the rally with a walk and his 13th steal.

Class A: West Michigan 5, Lake County 3 Lake County's loss to the Whitecaps at Classic Park in Eastlake was its seventh straight. RHP Dylan Baker (1-4) started for the Captains, pitching 51/3 innings, and allowed five runs, four earned, on eight hits and two walks. Captains reliever Jack Wagoner pitched 1 innings to run his scoreless inning streak to 10. Lake County's Anthony Santander slugged a two-run homer in the ninth.