Drew Stubbs will be batting cleanup and playing center field today because Michael Bourn was placed on the paternity list.

CHICAGO, Ill. -- The Indians have placed center fielder Michael Bourn on the paternity list and recalled left-hander Nick Hagadone.

Bourn left the team after Saturday's 4-3 victory over the White Sox. Hagadone was optioned to Class AAA Columbus on Friday when the Indians recalled Trevor Bauer to start Game 1 of a doubleheader against the White Sox.

Drew Stubbs is starting in center field and batting leadoff in place of Bourn today in the series finale against Chicago.

The Indians close out their series with the White Sox this afternoon in Chicago.

Game 82: Indians (43-38) vs. White Sox (32-46)

First pitch: 2:10 p.m. at U.S. Cellular Field.

TV/radio: TV/radio: SportsTime Ohio; WMMS FM/100.7, WTAM AM/ 1100

Starting pitchers: RHP Justin Masterson (9-6, 3.76 ERA) vs. LHP Chris Sale (5-6, 2.75).

» Live box score | MLB scoreboard

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Thomas is the most accomplished Browns' player since the team returned as a franchise in 1999, a left offensive tackle who has made the Pro Bowl in each of his six seasons.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A countdown of the top 100 players in Cleveland
Browns history. Players must have spent at least four seasons with the
Browns. The ranking is based only on players' careers with the Browns.

No. 26, JOE THOMAS, offensive tackle, 2007-12

The Browns' offenses have run 5,845 plays from scrimmage over the last six seasons.







Left offensive tackle Joe Thomas has been on the field for every one of them.







Not only has Thomas played 100 percent of the snaps, he's played with consistent
excellence -- in fact, at a level that already has people touting his Hall of Fame
potential if he remains healthy another few years.







The Browns selected Wisconsin's Thomas with the third pick in the first round of the 2007 draft. His credentials build every year. He has made the Pro Bowl in each of his six
seasons and earned first-team all-NFL honors in 2009, 2010 and 2011.







Thomas has earned such respect nationally and from his peers in the NFL despite having played for one of the league's most failed teams. The Browns went 10-6, barely missing the playoffs, in 2007, Thomas' rookie season. In the five years since, the Browns have won 23 games and lost 57. The team's struggles have arguably enhanced Thomas' individual reputation. His relentless effort and optimism and his refusal to point fingers of blame help make him the consummate team player.







As bad as the Browns have been the last five years -- and a .288 winning percentage over that span can't be sugar-coated -- they would have been even worse if Thomas hadn't been there to reliably protect the quarterback's blind side against the NFL's premier pass rushers. According to ProFootballFocus.com, Thomas was responsible for just three quarterback sacks last season. A typical campaign for him, though some observers would claim there have been years when he was even better.







Thomas is remarkably athletic for his 6-6, 312-pound frame. He uses the leverage his long arms give him to full advantage. So many of the huge offensive linemen these days are pretty much lost a few yards beyond the line of scrimmage, but Thomas can smoothly operate in the less-congested areas where quickness becomes even more
of an asset. Thomas' strength complements his agility, and his intelligence and technical expertise bring all of the gifts together to make him one of the great offensive linemen of his era.

(The Browns' all-time top 100 players so far)

Video: Audio of offensive tackle Joe Thomas (73) during a game early in his Browns career. On a few plays, you see Thomas lined up on the right side, next to right tackle Kevin Shaffer (77) as the Browns occasionally used an unbalanced line during their 10-6 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sept. 14, 2008 in Cleveland:

Hot-hitting second baseman Jason Kipnis gets a well-deserved day off Sunday, but the break was in the works for was a week.

Jason Kipnis gets congratulated after hitting a two-run homer Saturday. On Sunday, he rested.Charles Cherney, Associated Press 

CHICAGO, Ill. -- Manager Terry Francona was asked if it was difficult not to start hot-hitting Jason Kipnis on Sunday against the White Sox in the series finale at U.S. Cellular Field.

"Yes and no," said Francona.

Before the Indians started this 11-game, 11-day trip, Francona talked with every position player on the club to see when would be a good time to rest them.

"I walked through this with Kip about a week ago," said Francona before Sunday's game. "I actually talked to just about everybody and tried to get a feel for how we could approach this stretch of games.

"Kipnis said if you can get me to Sunday, I'll play every game. Then I'll take two in a row and I'll be good to go."

The Indians are off Monday, which will give Kipnis a two-day break.

"I think the fact that he knew he had this coming, helped him," said Francona. "He was pretty sore Saturday, but he knew he had this break coming."

Still it was a hard to keep Kipnis on the bench even with Chicago lefty Chris Sale starting.

Kipnis is hitting .419 (39-for-93) with four homers and 25 RBI in June, the second highest batting average in the big leagues for the month. He leads the big leagues with a 1.216 OPS and is tied for first in on base percentage at .517 and hits with 39 in June.

Dating back to 1921, Kipnis has a chance to be the 15th player to hit .400 or better with an OPS (on base percentage+slugging percentage) of at least 1.200 for a calendar month. Jim Thome was the last Indians' player to do it, hitting .407 with a 1.351 OPS in August of 1996.

Hall of Famer Tris Speaker did it five times.

Kipnis, who hit .200 (14-for-80) in April, has raised his average to .299 (82-for-274)
overall with 22 doubles, three triples, 12 homers and 51 RBI. He's scored 44 runs and has stolen 19 bases in 24 attempts.

Sunday's lineups:

Indians (43-38): CF Stubbs, 2B Aviles, SS Cabrera, RF Raburn, DH Santana, 1B Reynolds, LF Brantley, C Gomes, 3B Chisenhall, P Justin Masterson (9-6. 3.76).

White Sox (32-46): LF De Aza, SS Ramirez, RF Rios, 1B Dunn, DH Keppinger, 3B Gillaspie, 2B Beckham, CF Danks, C Flowers, P Sale (5-6, 2.75).

Umpires: H Wolcott, 1B Porter, 2B Estabrook, 3B Bell. Bell, crew chief.   

The Cleveland Indians complete a four-game sweep of the White Sox on Sunday with a 4-0 victory at U.S. Cellular Field as Justin Masterson threw his third shutout of the season.

CHICAGO, Ill. -- Sometimes pitchers talk about their job and it's unclear what they're saying. They're on a different plane and their thoughts float over your head like a balloon caught in the breeze.

Justin Masterson isn't like that.

In explaining the Indians' 4-0 victory over Chicago on Sunday afternoon, in which he threw his third shutout of the season, Masterson said: "They hit the ball on the ground and with me that means they either hit it at someone or not at someone. Today they hit it at someone."

Masterson's six-hitter completed the Indians' first four-game sweep of the White Sox in Chicago since 1948. They have won 14 of 19 games and moved into a first-place tie with Detroit in the AL Central as the Tigers lost for the second straight day to Tampa Bay.

Indians-White Sox boxscore | Scoreboard | Standings

In winning his 10th game, Masterson struck out eight and recorded 14 ground-ball outs. It was the second time this season that he's shut out the White Sox. Masterson's infield defense was in top form, turning four double plays. Catcher Yan Gomes contributed by picking off fleet Alejandro De Aza at first after his leadoff single in the fourth.

When asked what was working particularly well for him, Masterson said: "The defense was working great for me. Those guys were working hard. This whole weekend has been about the position players.

"We've tried to go out and pitch when we've had to, but we got here at 4 a.m. Friday morning and played a doubleheader. We came out the next day still scoring runs. Today we came out and played solid offense and good defense. That's a testament to what this team all about."

Masterson (10-6, 3.48 ERA) threw 112 pitches, including 73 strikes. He leads the AL in complete games and shutouts with three each.

"Masterson was amazing," said Gomes. "That's what he does, that's what he's known for. He's going to throw that sinker down and in. It was just a dominant performance for him."

Chris Sale (5-7, 2.79) wasn't bad either. He retired nine straight before Drew Stubbs opened the fourth with a bunt single to third. It definitely threw the left-hander off his feed.

He retired the next two batters as Stubbs went to second on Asdrubal Cabrera's grounder to third, but Ryan Raburn lashed a double to the gap in left center to easily score Stubbs for a 1-0 lead. Carlos Santana followed with a single to make it 2-0.

"It was nine up and nine down," Stubbs said when asked about the bunt. "It's a weapon I have and can use from time to time. Especially when they're not trying to take it away.

"On the first pitch, the first and third basemen were in tight protecting against the bunt. He threw me a strike and the third baseman backed up a little."

Manager Terry Francona felt it changed the tenor of the game.

"Stubby getting down that bunt was so big," said Francona. "It made him pitch out of the stretch. Then Raburn hits that double. I felt we did a real good job getting what we got because when you face Sale you know you're not going to score a lot of runs because his stuff is so filthy."

The Indians made it 3-0 in the fifth when Michael Brantley singled and went to third on Gomes' double down the left-field line. Lonnie Chisenhall delivered Brantley with a groundout to second.

Stubbs added an RBI double in the ninth to give Masterson a 4-0 cushion. Gomes had three of the Tribe's 10 hits.

"Sale is tough," said Raburn. "We had to scrap for everything we got. Then we left it all up to Masty. When he gets on a roll, I don't think there's any guy you'd rather be playing behind."

Sale, 0-2 against the Indians this season, allowed three runs on seven hits in eight innings. He struck out 10, but has lost six straight decisions.

The Indians are 7-2 against Chicago this year. They outscored them, 36-21, in the four-game sweep.

The latest troubling report is a story in the Wall Street Journal that says Jimmy Haslam's Pilot Flying J has about $4 billion in debt.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Nearly every week there is a something in the news that makes me wonder how Jimmy Haslam will be able to be the long-term owner of the Browns.

The latest is a report in the Wall Street Journal that Haslam's Pilot Flying J has about $4 billion in debt and its credit rating has been "downgraded."

Obviously, Haslam has a lot of assets, including about 600 truck stops and the Browns. But you like the owner of your team to have a steady cash flow and not a mountain of legal concerns.

Most Browns fans know about the FBI's investigation into Pilot Flying J for possible fraud. Haslam has denied any knowledge of the questionable business dealings. But there are major problems with how Haslam's company did business.

At a May 16 truckers convention, Haslam said he's been contacting hundreds of trucking companies because, "I want to look everyone in the eye and say we'll do everything we can to make things right."

That means something was very wrong, even if Haslam didn't approve it.

So far, a dozen trucking companies have sued Pilot Flying J.

And five former employees have pleaded guilty to charges stemming from the FBI investigation.

And last week, the Haslam family sold their shares in the Class AAA Tennessee Smokies.

At the news conference to announce the transaction, new Smokies owner Randy Boyd said Haslam called him in January about possibly buying the Southern League franchise. Boyd agreed to the idea, and it took several months to finalize the sale. That was four months before the FBI raided Pilot Flying J.

At the same news conference, Haslam insisted Browns fans have "absolutely zero to worry about."

Perhaps.

But right after the FBI raid, Haslam held a press conference and said: "(The investigation) appears to be centered on a very insignificant number of customers and the application of rebates . . . rebates owed to customers were not paid . . . we of course disagree with that."

He's since had to reconsider that statement, as he's been offering settlements to trucking companies.

But of even more concern about Haslam's future with the Browns was contained in a story in Tuesday's Wall Street Journal:

"The company's debt nearly doubled to $4 billion in a two-year period through last year, as its owners paid themselves two payments totaling $1.7 billion from it, according to Moody's.

"Last year, Pilot issued $1.1 billion of the debt -- largely to fund the second one, a dividend for $700 million, according to S&P. That was partly so Jimmy could buy the Cleveland Browns."

So Pilot Flying J was $4 billion in debt before the FBI raid?

The Wall Street Journal also reported: "S&P downgraded Pilot's debt, calling its financial risk 'significant.' "

Moody's Investors Service specializes in providing credit ratings, research and risk analysis. Standard and Poor's Corp. (S&P) is a financial services company that provides research on stocks and bonds.

Yes, nearly every NFL owner turns a profit every year, and that may be true of the Browns.

But all that debt? It is indeed "significant," as reported by Standard and Poor's.

The sale of the Smokies brought in some cash, although no purchase price was made public.

The Haslam group bought the Smokies for a reported $7.5 million in 2002. Most Southern League franchises are now priced in the $12 million range.

Haslam purchased the Browns for about $1 billion from Randy Lerner. The sale was announced Aug. 2, finalized on Oct. 16.

Lerner received $700 million up front, the remaining $300 million to be paid on Oct. 16, 2016.

In the same story, the Wall Street Journal reported, "If necessary, Mr. Haslam says, Pilot could pay down the debt quickly."

Maybe so.

But $4 billion is big money, even in the world of Jimmy Haslam.

Caviar N Champagne and jockey Scott Spieth won the 11th running of the $50,000 J. William Petro Memorial Handicap at ThistleDown Racino as the tiring 4-year-old filly held off Startin Something for her second victory in a row.

NORTH RANDALL, Ohio -- Caviar N Champagne was impressive in winning the six-furlong Mackey Memorial at ThistleDown Racino three weeks ago, and trainer Jeff Radosevich said his 4-year-old filly would be even better when going longer and racing a mile. She proved that on Sunday in the 11th running of the $50,000 J. William Petro Memorial Handicap, but not before struggling with the extra half-furlong.

Chagrin Falls jockey Scott Spieth made a big move with Caviar N Champagne just past the half-mile mark. Sitting in second, six lengths behind pace-setter Private Cause, Caviar N Champagne raced to a length lead at the 3/4-mile pole and opened a 2 1/2-length lead at the top of the stretch. The Petro Memorial is a 1 1/16-mile race, though, and while Caviar N Champagne looked strong at the mile mark, she was rapidly tiring the last sixteenth of a mile, said Spieth.

"(Caviar N Champagne) showed more speed (coming out of the starting gate) than I wanted," said Spieth. "When (trainer Tim) Hamm's Private Cause went early, I wanted my horse to settle in and get a breather. I knew Hamm's other entry, Startin Something, and the old mare would be coming after us."

The old mare in the field of six fillies and mares was the amazing 9-year-old Pay the Man, winner of 17 of 25 ThistleDown outings and unbeaten in six career starts at 1 1/16 miles. While Pay the Man also hung tough, it was jockey Deshawn Parker who rallied Startin Something and almost pulled off an upset after Private Cause had set hot early fractions.

Caviar N Champagne held on for a half-length win, paying $5.80, $3.40 and $2.40. Startin Something ($3, $2.60) was second and Pay The Man ($2.80) was another half-length behind in third. Owned by Loooch Racing Stables Inc. of Henderson, Nev., the win boosted Caviar N Champagne's career total to five victories in 21 starts and $188,404 in earnings.

"Caviar N Champagne looked a little weak at the end, but she ran hard," said Radosevich. "Startin Something was coming on, but Scott switched the whip the last 70 yards from his left hand to his right, and kept Caviar N Champagne going."

The Cleveland Indians currently have nine relievers on the roster and manager Terry Francona couldn't be happier.

Chicago, Ill. -- It's unknown what manager Terry Francona's idea of heaven is, but it certainly would include a surplus of relief pitchers.

"I'd carry 12 of them if I could," Francona said on Sunday morning.

He's not that far off. With center fielder Michael Bourn being placed on the three-day paternity list Sunday and lefty Nick Hagadone being recalled, the Indians had nine relievers in the pen for their series finale against the White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field.

"It was the running joke with (Theo Epstein, former Boston GM) and it's become the running joke with (Chris Antonetti, Indians GM)," said Francona, of his fondness for relievers.

The Indians have spent much of this season carrying eight relievers, one over the usual number on a 25-man roster. They've been able to do it because of the versatility of their position players.

"I've told Chris this a lot of times," said Francona. "I just feel like a more relaxed manager when I have those guys. What it does, it allows you to use guys like Cody Allen and Bryan Shaw more and not burn them out by having to get them up and throwing in the pen.

"You get more use of them out on the mound instead of in the bullpen. I think Chris agrees, there are just times when you can't do it."

Bourn returned to Houston where his wife is about to give birth. He's expected to rejoin the team Wednesday in Kansas City. A player can stay on the paternity list three days. Monday's off day counted as one of those days.

Day of rest: Francona was asked if it was difficult to sit hot-hitting Jason Kipnis in Sunday's series final against the White Sox.

Francona said, "Yes and no."

Before the Indians started this 11-game, 11-day trip, Francona talked with every position player to see when would be a good time to rest them.

"I walked through this with Kip about a week ago," said Francona. "I actually talked to just about everybody and tried to get a feel for how we could approach this stretch of games.

"Kipnis said if you can get me to Sunday, I'll play every game. Then I'll take two in a row and I'll be good to go."

The Indians are off Monday, which will give Kipnis a two-day break.

"I think the fact that he knew he had this coming helped him," said Francona. "He was pretty sore Saturday, but he knew he had this break coming."

Still it was a hard to keep Kipnis on the bench. He hit.419 (39-for-93) with four homers and 25 RBI in June, the second highest batting average in the big leagues for the month. He leads the big leagues with a 1.216 OPS and is tied for first in on-base percentage at .517 and hits with 39 in June.

Dating to 1921, Kipnis is the 15th Indians player to hit .400 or better with an OPS (on-base percentage plus slugging percentage) of at least 1.200 for a calendar month. Jim Thome was the last Indians' player to do it, hitting .407 with a 1.351 OPS in August of 1996.

Hall of Famer Tris Speaker did it five times.

Kipnis, who hit .200 (14-for-80) in April, has raised his average to .299 (82-for-274) overall with 22 doubles, three triples, 12 homers and 51 RBI. He's scored 44 runs and has stolen 19 bases in 24 attempts.

In beating the Chicago, 4-0, Sunday to complete a four-game sweep, the Indians rested Kipnis and Nick Swisher and the entire bullpen because Justin Masterson pitched a six-hitter.

"When we can win a game like that today," said Francona, "where we can rest some guys, stay away from the guys in the bullpen. ... That's a good team win."

Finally: The Indians have signed former Twins' right-hander Boof Bonser to a minor league deal. If you don't like the name Boof, you don't like baseball. ... The Tribe's four-game sweep of Chicago at The Cell represents their longest road winning streak of the season. ... Yan Gomes went 6-for-9 with two doubles, two RBI and two runs in two starts in this four-game series.

Most of the Cleveland Indians watch the standings, but none say they are getting too excited about climbing into a tie with Detroit atop the AL Central.

Clubhouse confidential: The Indians moved into a tie for first place in the AL Central following their 4-0 victory over Chicago on Sunday. It's the first time they've owned a piece of first place since May 23, but they were not impressed.

Said manager Terry Francona: "It doesn't mean a lot. There's just a little bit of baseball left to play. I like to look at the scoreboard because I'm a fan, but it's probably a little premature."

Justin Masterson added: "It means the season still has a long way to go. It's nice for us to be playing good baseball. By default you see what other people are doing, but in the end you just have to worry about yourself."

Said Ryan Raburn: "I don't even look at the standings. You only start worrying about that when you're in those dog-fight games in August and September."

Stat of the day: Masterson threw the seventh complete game and fourth shutout of his career in Sunday's win against the White Sox. Four of his seven complete games and two of the shutouts have come against the White Sox.

Listen to Sunday Insider with cleveland.com's Glenn Moore tonight at 8 p.m.

Listen to Sunday Insider with clevleand.com's Glenn Moore, tonight at 8 p.m. 

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cleveland.com's Glenn Moore talked with The Las Vegas Review-Journal's Ed Graney about Anthony Bennett and how he fits with the Cavs on this week's episode of Sunday Insider. Glenn also talks Tribe and Browns.

Can Anthony Bennett play small forward with the Cavaliers? cleveland.com's Glenn Moore talks about this and more during the week's Sunday Insider. (AP Photo/Jason DeCrow) 

Indians have the day off. Cincinnati Reds host the San Francisco Giants. Wimbledon tennis continues.

CLEVELAND, Ohio

Today's TV and radio sports listings

BASEBALL

1 p.m. Detroit at Toronto, MLB Network

7 p.m. Fort Wayne at LAKE COUNTY CAPTAINS, AM/1330

7 p.m. San Francisco at Cincinnati, ESPN

7:05 p.m. AKRON AEROS at Bowie, AM/1350

TENNIS

2: 30 p.m. Wimbledon, Round of 16, ESPN2

Ex-teammate of the Browns' Leon McFadden says the rookie cornerback has the tools to start opposite Joe Haden.

CLEVELAND, Ohio - The NFL season is fast approaching. Before you know it, FirstEnergy Stadium will be filled for the Cleveland Browns home opener against the Miami Dolphins.

In the meantime, new coach Rob Chudzinski has a lot of work to do.

The Browns training camp opens July 25 in Berea. There is optimism surrounding the team this year because of all the young talent on the roster. Trent Richardson, Josh Gordon, and Jabaal Sheard are just a few of the young, emerging talents on the roster.

Veteran Chris Owens was brought in through free agency and Leon McFadden through the draft to help shore up the cornerback position opposite Joe Haden.

McFadden’s height (5-10) suggests he is a better fit for the nickel back position, going up against the slot receiver. However, McFadden remains in the conversation for the starting cornerback spot.

One of McFadden’s college teammates and current Dallas Cowboys tight end Gavin Escobar doesn’t see McFadden’s height as an obstacle in his pursuit of the starting spot.

“He’s strong for his size, and he can jump too,” Escobar said in an article Matt Florjancic wrote for clevelandbrowns.com. “I think he’ll be fine going up against those strong receivers.”

Whoever wins the starting job is hoping to help the Browns improve upon their 5-11 record from a year ago.

NFL story links

Bernie Kosar is No. 25 on our list of the top 100 all-time Browns (Mike Peticca, Cleveland.com)

And Joe Thomas is No. 26 on that list (Mike Peticca, Cleveland.com)

Mary Kay Cabot answers fan questions in her weekly Hey, Mary Kay! column (Cleveland.com)

A preview of the Browns first opponent of the 2013 season, the Miami Dolphins (clevelandbrowns.com).

Is Browns tight end Jordan Cameron ready to break out? (nfl.com)

Profootballtalk.com is compiling a list of the top 100 players in the NFL today. Nos. 76 to 100 are posted, and the Browns' Joe Haden is No. 84. (PFT.com)

The Washington Redskins are holding focus groups about team name, other issues. (DC Sports Bog)

Ten things to watch before the season kicks off in September. (NFL.com)

Realistic Expectations for the Browns defense (ESPN.com)

Josh Gordon isn't winning many fans over with his recent actions (Dawgpounddaily.com)

Grading all the Browns' moves in the offseason (Dawgsbynature.com)

- Compiled by Jacob Gries, Plain Dealer Reporter

Here are what blogs from Cleveland and around the country are saying about the Browns, Cavaliers and Indians. Featured today are ESPN.com, Wahoo's On First and Bleacher Report.

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

Can Anthony Bennett become Kyrie Irving's sidekick? (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle) 

"For now, it seems as if the Cavs frontcourt will be made of Thompson, capable of playing the power forward spot and center spot in stretches, Varejao, doing the same, only more capable at the center spot, Tyler Zeller, a true center, Bennett, a solid offensive power forward capable of playing stretches at the small forward spot if he loses some weight, and Alonzo Gee, likely their starting small forward at the beginning of the year.

If you'll notice one thing about that group of players before Bennett was added, they're not exactly a huge threat to score, at least not in bunches.

Varejao and Thompson are fine options around the rim—both capable of knocking down a jumper from time to time—but there isn't any new-age floor spacing to be found between the two. Meanwhile, Zeller will hit jumpers sparingly and mostly hang around to clean up messy offensive possessions.

What Bennett brings to the team is offensive versatility, the likes of which Cleveland hasn't experienced since 1995-96 when Terrell Brandon, Bobby Phills, Chris Mills, Danny Ferry and Dan Majerle made up one of the weirdest playoff teams in recent memory.

The main difference is that the new-age Cavs have Irving, who is a bona fide star offensively."

Jason Kipnis has been hot at the plate. (AP Photo/Gail Burton) 

"1. Jason Kipnis

This is the most obvious one. Jason Kipnis has the momentum of a hundred-car freight train barreling downhill, having been absolutely ridiculous this month. He has skyrocketed from being a below-replacement-level player in April to being top five in every major traditional and sabermetric stat category among second basemen in the MLB. Among the position, he ranks first in the AL in slugging percentage (.533), steals (19), OPS (.917), RBIs (51), doubles (22, tied for first with Dustin Pedroia), triples (3, tied with Howie Kendrick) extra-base hits (37), isolated power (.234), and secondary average (.427). He ranks second in home runs (12), walks (39, tied with Ben Zobrist), on-base percentage (.384), and runs (44, tied with Ben Zobrist). Kipnis is a stud, and if he doesn’t at least make the roster for the All-Star Game, it will be the biggest snub of the year. His success can largely be attributed to his 4.24 pitches per plate appearance stat, much improved from April and even from last year. The Kid is being more patient at the plate, and it is definitely paying off.

2. Scott Kazmir

The Indians lefty has gone from Kaz-been to Kaz You Like It. After a tough stretch that saw him go 0-3 with an ERA above 7.00, Kazmir was finally able to string together two spectacular starts for the first time this season, and, in fact, the first time in over two years. They were so spectacular that they made him look like the Scott Kazmir that struck fear into the hearts of opposing teams when he was with the Tampa Bay Rays. His most recent start saw him take a perfect game into the fifth inning and a no-hitter into the seventh. My favorite part of the game was an at-bat in which he absolutely wrecked AL MVP candidate Chris Davis, chasing him off the plate with a dirty “stop crowding me” fastball and proceeding to strike him out on four pitches. Speaking of his fastball, it was consistently reaching 94 and 95 MPH on the radar gun all night. The only thing that kept him from pitching into the eighth was a set of back spasms that apparently he had been dealing with all night. He said he felt fine the next day, but if Kaz can pitch like that through back spasms, imagine what his next start might look like."

Can Norv Turner turn the offense around? (Chuck Crow/The Plain Dealer) 

"6. Norv Turner

Offensive Coordinator

Grade: A

Norv has been heavily credited for the turnaround of the 1991 Cowboys, winning back to back Super Bowls. He's been credited with producing great running backs, prolific passers and receivers along the way: Troy Aikman, Drew Brees, Phillip Rivers, Emmit Smith, Michael Irvin, and Antonio Gates all flourished under Norv's vertical air coryell offense and play calling style.

Norv's biggest struggle was never as an offensive coordinator, rather his biggest struggle was as a head coach. When left to focus only on the offense, that's when he was at his best. That being said, I fully expect Norv to live up to the hype and really take this offense, and Brandon Weeden, under his wing and drive this offense to a much higher level of performance and excitement than last year's antique show courtesy of Pat Shurmur. I think Weeden has the arm strength to open up a defense, it's just a matter of Norv teaching him the nuances of the game and get him up to speed reading and reacting to defenses, ultimately getting the ball out of his hand quicker and cleaning up his footwork. If he can do this, (and I think he can) we'll be competitive. If he can't do this, then we're in store for a long season and perhaps a new QB in next year's NFL Draft."

The Cleveland Indians moved into sole possession of first-place in the American League Central Division after the Detroit Tigers lost to the Toronto Blue Jays Monday afternoon.

The Cleveland Indians grabbed sole possession of first-place in the American League Central Division after the Detroit Tigers lost to the Toronto Blue Jays Monday afternoon.

Kipnis hit .478 (11-for-23) with four doubles, three homers, 10 RBI and nine runs scored over the week, hitting safely in all seven games he played.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Indians second baseman Jason Kipnis has been named the American League Player of the Week for June 24-30.

Kipnis also won the award for the week ending June 16, sharing it with Indians pitcher Corey Kluber.

It's been quite a season for the Indians in Player of the Week recognition. Pitcher Justin Masterson won the American League award for the week ending May 5 and outfielder Ryan Raburn earned the honor for the week ending May 19.

From a Major League Baseball press release on MLB.com:

Kipnis batted .478 (11-for-23) with four doubles, three homers, 10 RBI and nine runs scored over the week, hitting safely in all seven games he played. Among Major League leaders, Kipnis finished tops in walks and on-base percentage (.606), was tied for first in RBI and doubles and was second in runs scored. Jason also tied for the A.L. lead in hits, was second in batting average and total bases (24), was third in slugging percentage (1.043) and was tied for fourth in homers. Among the highlights for the week, the 26-year-old Kipnis launched a two-run homer in the fourth inning of Wednesday's game against the Baltimore Orioles, snapping a scoreless tie between the two Clubs as Cleveland later went on to plate a pair of runs in the ninth frame to edge the O's, 4-3, at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. In the first game of a double-dip against the Chicago White Sox on Friday, Kipnis, a native of nearby Northbrook, Illinois, went 3-for-4 with three doubles, three walks, two RBI and four runs scored as the Indians came out on top in a 19-10 slugfest at U.S. Cellular Field. On the day, Kipnis combined to go 4-for-7 with five runs scored, three doubles, four walks and four RBI. On Saturday, the Arizona State University product launched a two-run homer as part of a 2-for-3 effort at the plate to lead Cleveland to a 4-3 win over the White Sox. The sixth-inning blast was his 12th of the season, putting him just two back from tying his career high of 14 set last season.

The left-handed hitting Kipnis had a sluggish start to his season at the plate, hitting .238 through May 30. He's boosted his season batting average to .299 (82-for-274) with 22 doubles, three triples, 12 homers and 51 RBI. He's scored 44 runs and has 19 stolen bases in 24 attempts.

Their paths have different starting points, but the finished products have so much in common beyond winning.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Winning is not a legacy in high school sports. I've known coaches who've won and were disliked or disrespected by their athletes, and with good reason.

Chuck Kyle wins. Ted Ginn Sr. wins. They have between them 17 state championships in football and track, and more than 450 football victories.

Their paths have different starting points, but the finished products have so much in common beyond winning. Ginn's and Kyle's legacies are the young men they lead, the ones who love and respect their coach and carry his imprint into our community for years to come. It is entirely appropriate Kyle and Ginn will be inducted simultaneously into the Greater Cleveland Sports Hall of Fame in September. The Hall made the announcement last week.

View full sizeTed Ginn Sr., pictured at a 2011 Glenville football game, won't give up or give in. He'll return to the sidelines this summer, and will be inducted with St. Ignatius' Chuck Kyle into the Greater Cleveland Sports Hall of Fame in September.Lisa DeJong, The Plain Dealer

Kyle of St. Ignatius starts his day teaching the values of Chaucer and Shakespeare at the elite, all-boys Catholic school. If a kid can cut it there academically, it stands to reason he'll bring a good work ethic to practice. Half the battle already has been won.

St. Ignatius, of course, attracts some of Northeast Ohio's most promising student-athletes. Once they arrive at West 30th and Lorain, they benefit from outstanding coaches, and many have family support for individualized private training that polishes their talent.

That formula has produced 11 state football titles and one in track track for Kyle.

Ginn, of course, has a different situation at Glenville. He does draw elite student-athletes from across Cleveland to play at East 113th and St. Clair. During the day, many attend Ginn Academy, the all-boys school he founded, where discipline and academic standards are higher than other Cleveland schools. Once again, those who succeed there typically have the right makeup for athletics at Glenville.

The similarities with St. Ignatius end there. Glenville student-athletes have an entirely different set of circumstances, of course. Many come from single-parent homes with few financial resources, and live in sometimes dangerous neighborhoods. Ginn speaks so often of “saving kids' lives'' that it's easy to become numb to the term, but it's a constant reality for the children he mentors.

Ginn has been part of five state track titles, but not winning a football championship is viewed by close-minded fans as some kind of failure. It's a meaningless statistic. The failures that eat at Ginn are the kids he didn't reach, or didn't listen, and wind up in jail or worse.

“He’s changed so many lives that you can’t put a number on it,'' San Francisco 49ers safety Donte Whitner told The Plain Dealer's Mary Kay Cabot before playing in this year's Super Bowl. Whitner counted himself among the saved.

What endures about Kyle and Ginn is they refuse to give up or give in. Each is in a position to retire, and scoffs at the notion. Despite serious health problems and missing the 2012 football season, Ginn will be back on the sideline this fall, and he has taken over once again as head track coach after several years in the background. Kyle thinks summer vacation is for summer school and minicamps, and he's headed for his 31st football season and 41st track season.

Inducting Kyle and Ginn into the Greater Cleveland Sports Hall of Fame continues a long narrative of recognition the two receive, recognition that begins with leading high-profile football teams in a football town. If they were volleyball coaches, their impact would be just as great, but we wouldn't be having this conversation.

In a way, they represent hundreds who might never receive the same public appreciation, but also are doing the real work of educators that isn't measured by victories, trophies or state tests. When I think of Ginn, I also think of St. Vincent-St. Mary track coach Dan Lancianese and Kent Roosevelt football coach John Nemec. When I think of Kyle, I am reminded of Maple Heights volleyball coach Betsy Smerglia and Glenville girls basketball coach Renee Wright. They walk the same walk and endure the same headaches and heartaches as Kyle and Ginn.

Their task is to mold men and women, and the fact they continue to do so with such vigor, purpose and character, we're all better for it. That is their shared legacy.

The Cavaliers are easing into the free agent market by reportedly working out Lakers forward Earl Clark on Tuesday.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Lakers free-agent forward Earl Clark, who played for coach Mike Brown last season in Los Angeles, reportedly is visiting Cleveland on Tuesday as the Cavs ease into the free-agent market.

Neither the Cavs nor Clark's agent, Kevin Bradbury, would confirm the report to The Plain Dealer, but Bradbury did retweet a post from Sporting News' Sean Deveney announcing the workout.

Clark, a 6-foot-10, 225-pound forward from Louisville, averaged 7.3 points and 5.5 rebounds last season, when he played 56 games and started 36.

In other free agent news, the Lakers reportedly reached out to Wayne Ellington, and the Brooklyn Nets reportedly reached out to Shaun Livingston.

Masterson's three complete game shutouts lead baseball and are more than entire Indians staffs have totaled in 11 of the last 16 seasons. Santana, showing little improvement defensively, could stick in the lineup by being used in other roles. More Indians story links.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Losses in 13 of their first 21 games.

A stunning 18 wins in 22 games.

A baffling reversal, losing 16 of 20.

Suddenly, maybe surprisingly, 14 wins over the next 19 games to now, a 44-38 record for the Cleveland Indians -- now in first place in the American League Central Division, a half-game ahead of Detroit after the Tigers' 8-3 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays today.

The Indians are off today. They begin a three-game series against the Royals (38-41) in Kansas City on Tuesday night. Right-hander Corey Kluber (6-5, 4.16) will start for the Tribe while righty Luis Mendoza (2-4, 4.16) takes the mound for KC.

Check The Plain Dealer and cleveland.com for Indians coverage, including numerous columns, photos, videos and stories, such as Paul Hoynes' game story on Cleveland's 4-0 win over the White Sox on Sunday in Chicago, behind Justin Masterson's third complete game shutout of the season.

The last Indian to toss more than three shutouts in a season was Greg Swindell, who had four in 1988.

Buddy Black (1989), Charles Nagy (1992) and Dennis Martinez (1994) are the only other Indians pitchers to throw three complete game shutouts in a single season over the last 25 years. Martinez did it in 1994, when a strike ended the major league season on Aug. 11, with the Indians 66-47 and one game behind the first-place Chicago White Sox in the AL Central.

Shutouts, as well as complete games, have become more uncommon over the years with the expanded pitching staffs sometimes taking up to 13 spots on the 25-man rosters. Highly-paid relief pitchers have strictly-defined roles. Also contributory to the trend in the American League has been the use of a designated hitter since 1973.

Masterson's three complete game blankings are more than entire Indians staffs totaled as a team in 11 of the last 16 seasons. The Indians had no complete game shutouts in 2001, when they won the division with a 91-71 record; 2005, when Cliff Lee (18), Jake Westbrook (15) and CC Sabathia (15) combined for 48 wins and the Tribe finished two games out of the playoffs with a 93-69 record; in 2011, when the Indians went 80-82.

Derek Lowe was the only Indian to allow no runs in a complete game last season.

The Indians' single-season record for complete game shutouts is 10, accomplished by Hall of Famers Bob Feller in 1946 and Bob Lemon in 1948.

Masterson, who has four career shutouts, leads the major leagues this season with his three. Former Indian Bartolo Colon of the Oakland Athletics, Aaron Harang of the Seattle Mariners and Adam Wainwright of the St. Louis Cardinals each have two.

Yan Gomes caught Masterson on Sunday against the White Sox. He was also behind the plate as Masterson went the route for a 1-0 win over the White Sox on April 12 in Cleveland. Carlos Santana caught Masterson's 1-0 complete game shutout win over the New York Yankees in the first game of a May 13 doubleheader at Progressive Field.

Sheldon Ocker, writing for the Akron Beacon Journal, speculated over the weekend whether this could be the last season as the Indians' first-string catcher for Santana, who could remain an everyday player by being used in various ways.

Ocker wrote, in part:

It would be difficult to point to any area where he has gotten more proficient behind the plate. Santana continues to struggle to block balls in the dirt; despite a strong arm, he is average at best in throwing out runners, and he is constantly getting pinged by foul balls and errant pitches that hit the ground.

At the plate, Santana has become more of the impact player that club officials were hoping to see last year, and since he can play first base and fill in as the designated hitter, there is a place in the lineup for him even if he doesn't catch.

Yan Gomes has proved to be a capable catcher and has a chance to be a solid run producer.

Second baseman Jason Kipnis wins the American League Player of the Week award. (By Rick Grayshock, WaitingForNextYear)

Some analysis on the play of five Indians in a good stretch of baseball and five who are struggling. (By Kyle Downing, Wahoo's on First)

Center fielder Michael Bourn is on the paternity list until Wednesday. (By Ethan Asofsky, MLB.com)

With Jason Kipnis having completed his brilliant June, a look at some of the best hitting months in Indians history. (By Jason Lukehart, Let's Go Tribe)

Indians pitchers lead the American League in wild pitches, an issue also somewhat attributable to the catchers. (By Sheldon Ocker, Akron Beacon Journal)

The week in review for the Indians, as they play much better on the road. (By Chris Burnham, It's pronounced "Lajaway")

Updates on some players in the Cleveland farm system. (By Tony Lastoria, Indians Baseball Insider)

"Wouldn't it be something if Coach was here too?" said the wife of the prized "recruit."

CLEVELAND, Ohio - As has happened with millions of others, it began with a bat and a ball, a boy and a team.

"I was always a big Indians fan. In elementary school, if you got straight A's the last six weeks, you got to go to an Indians game for free. Even some guys who didn't get straight A's very often got straight A's then," the fan said.

The dark night of four decades of non-contention was about to fall. The kid didn't know that, however. Talk about a thousand points of light --  he had his favorites, boy.

He was a Vic Power guy way back when. Minnie Minoso too. And Del Crandall. Also Max Alvis. Then there was "Daddy Wags," Leon Wagner. And he can never forget the day when Luis Tiant gave up hits like a miser hands out tips, and his father caught a foul ball. "All the kids thought my dad was pretty cool," he said.

At times, the flame flickered, but it never died. When the Tribe won the 2007 Central Division penannt, after a tail-off of several years that followed the rip-roaring 1990s, he wore an Indians jersey to work. A subordinate in the office was a big Twins fan, and the Twins had owned the division for a while. The Tribe fan wanted the other guy to know those days had run their course.

The Indians were always his team, but the fan pulled for a few players from other teams, too. Nick Swisher, from Columbus, for one. He'd gotten to know "Swish," as he calls him, when they were at Ohio State at the same time.

"When he played at Ohio State he was a fiery guy who made a difference in the program. I kept track of him when he when he was with the A's, the White Sox and the Yankees," the fan said. "When I was in New York City, I went to one of the street vendors and bought my 'Swisher New York 33' T-shirt."

The fan had a nephew who worked for the Yankees. Through him, he met Derek Jeter, but Cuyahoga River water was thicker than blood. Olentangy or Ohio water would have been thicker, too.

Michigan had offered the great Yankees shortstop a scholarship before he signed with New York. "I had a little fun with Jeter (who grew up in Kalamazoo, Mich.) about the Ohio State-Michigan thing," he said of the rivalry the Buckeyes have owned for the last decade.

The fan considers  Tribe manager Terry Francona, who grew up in western Pennsylvania, an honorary Ohio guy. Terry Francona's dad, Tito, played here. So did Terry. Then Terry worked in the Tribe front office for a year before becoming a baseball legend as the manager who won not one, but two World Series with the Boston Red Sox.

Francona came here to manage so he could close the circle of family and rejoin executives he had enjoyed working with in 2001, before the championships and craziness of Boston. He knows Cleveland too, knows how close the ties can be between a team and a city.

Swisher wanted to play for a manager like Francona. He wanted to go to a team where he could be a difference-maker. At this stage of his career, he wanted to be a leader.

When the Indians were courting Swisher as a free agent, they took him and his wife, JoAnn Garcia, to lunch at the Terrace Club at Progressive Field. On the video board, a tape ran of a cast of Ohio State coaches, including Urban Meyer and Thad Matta, all telling Swisher it was time to come home. It doesn't take a village, it takes a state to raise a slugger and bring him home.

JoAnn turned to Nick and said, "Wouldn't it be something if Coach was here too?"

"It just so happened that I walked through door as she finished the sentence," said Jim Tressel.

It was Tressel who had bought the Swisher T-shirt and had worn the Indians jersey at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center (just to razz Minnesota native and middle linebacker James Laurinaitis) and had gotten the straight A's and had cheered for Vic Power and the others.

"In recruiting, things have to fall together from the timing standpoint, and they sure did with Swish," Tressel said.

Even though Swisher has battled a shoulder injury -- and missed six games last month because of it -- and coped with the sweet stresses of being a new father, all in just the first half of the season, he still homered deep into the Chicago night with two out in the ninth inning to give the Indians a doubleheader sweep of the White Sox at 2 in the morning Saturday.

Hours later, he slapped a single to bring in the game-winning run in the eighth, leaving his personal stamp on half of the first four-game sweep of the Sox in Chicago since 1948.

The fan, who clicks over to see the score during commercials when his wife is watching some other program, who checks his iPad after getting updated on the score  to see what Swisher did in his last at-bat, was almost as happy after that weekend as Swisher.

"I was just happy to be part of the welcoming committee," said Tressel.