On this episode of Sunday Insider, cleveland.com's Glenn Moore talked Browns and some Tribe.
Scott Kazmir gave up five runs in five innings Sunday and the Indians defensive folded in the late going in a 7-3 loss to Oakland
OAKLAND, Calif. -- The Indians have 38 games left on the schedule and it is becoming evident that the postseason is more dream than reality.
Following Sunday's 7-3 loss to Oakland at O.co Coliseum, the Indians are 5 1/2 games out of the second wild card spot and trail Detroit in the AL Central by seven games. Not a good place to be, just don't tell Jason Kipnis.
"Losing two out of three to Oakland is not deflating," said Kipnis. "We don't have time to be deflated by any of these games anymore.
" It's go time. You gotta win. There's no time to sit around and feel sorry about losing two out of three. We've got three against the Angels and those are big games."
But what if the Indians go time has already got up and left? Again, don't tell Kipnis.
"We have a schedule in our favor down the stretch," he said. " It's time for us to start taking care of business. It doesn't mean sweeping people. It means winning the games you're supposed to win."
Sunday easily could have been one of those games. The A's were forced to call-up lefty Tommy Milone from Class AAA when scheduled starter Bartolo Colon was placed on the disabled list wilth a strained left groin. But it didn't happen as lefty Scott Kazmir allowed five runs on 10 hits in five innings.>/P>
Kazmir (7-6, 4.39) was pitching on week's rest to give his fatigued left arm time to recover from his first full season in the big leagues since 2010.
"My arm felt fine," said Kazmir. "It just wasn't my day. I felt good. I left a lot of pitches up and right over the middle of the plate."
Those fat pitches really hurt in the fifth. The Indians had just tied the score, 3-3, in the top of the fifth. It was time for Kazmir to put up a zero, but he stumbled.
Chris Young hit a 3-2 pitch over the left field wall to break the tie. Kazmir retired Josh Reddick on a pop to short, but Alberto Callaspo yanked a 0-1 pitch over the left field wall to make it 5-3.
In his last two starts, Kazmir has allowed three homers in eight innings. In the previous nine starts, covering 56 innings, he'd allowed two.
"He's fine. He didn't command his pitches very well, but I think the layoff did him good," said manager Terry Francona.
Oakland took a 2-0 lead in the first. Jed Lowrie opened with a single and went to third on Derek Norris' double. Josh Donaldson grounded out to short to make it 1-0. Kazmir struck out Yoenis Cespedes on a pair of 94 mph fastballs, but couldn't escape without giving up one more run.
After Nate Freiman walked, Young hit a ball off the end of the bat for an RBI single to center.
Ryan Raburn, unavailable for the last three games because of a sore right calf, put the Indians back in the game with a one-out homer to center. The homer gave Raburn 15 for the season, tying him with Kipnis and departed Mark Reynolds for the team lead.
The difference is that Raburn has hit his in only 196 at-bats. He's averaging a home run for every 13.1 at bats.
Oakland pushed the lead to 3-1 on Donaldson's two-out single in the second. Kazmir retired the first two batters, but Lowrie doubled, Norris walked and Donaldson hit a two-strike single to center.
The Indians tied the score in the fifth with two uneared runs. Drew Stubbs, with one ou, went all the way to second on Callaspo's throwing error from third. After Nick Swisher grounded out to second to move Stubbs to third, Kipnis singled to left to make it 3-2.
After Kipnis stole second, Carlos Santana made it 3-3 with a double to left. Dan Otero relieved and ended the inning.
"We busted our butts to tie the game up in the fifth," said a Kazmir. "It's very important to have a sit-down inning to get our guys back in the dugout. It just didn't happen for me."
The game turned ugly for the Tribe in the eighth as Oakland stretched the lead to 7-3 with two unearned runs following an error by Swisher at first base. With two out and a runner on second, Bryan Shaw induced a grounder from Norris. Asdrubal Cabrera threw a change up to first that Swisher missed as Callaspo scored from second and Norris advanced to second.
"It looked to me like he got his feet a little bit crossed up," said Francona. "He looked down and then looked up and just lost the ball for a minute."
Donald's singled made it 7-3.
It was not a great day for Swisher. In the seventh, he lined a ball off the wall in left, but was thrown out trying for a double. The ball bounced perfectly to Cespedes, who made a great throw to second.
The A's, who put on a defensive clinic in the series, turned away the Indians in the eighth when Young, playing center, made a back-peddaling catch of Michael Brantley's long drive to end the inning and save a run. Cabrera was on first after a two-out single and would have easily scored.
"We were hoping Brantley burned him," said Kipnis. "That really changed the game. We've got a run in with Brantley on second in a one-run game. But he made a great catch."
Medina native Kyle Juszczyk turned in his brown and orange for purple and black.
OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- Like most Cleveland Browns fans, Kyle Juszczyk would not only spend his Sundays watching his favorite team, but also spend time analyzing those games with other like-minded fans.
"I'd call my brother after every Browns game so we could talk about what happened," said Juszczyk, a native of Medina, who played college football at Harvard. "I grew up a Browns fan, but now that's all changed. I'm with the Baltimore Ravens through and through."
The Ravens selected Juszczyk, a fullback, in the fourth round of the 2013 NFL Draft. Since veteran Vonta Leach is one of the best lead blocking fullbacks in the league, the addition of Juszczyk gives the Ravens a fullback who can catch passes. He'll line up as a fullback and tight end.
Juszczyk has three catches for 23 yards in the preseason.
Ravens coach John Harbaugh said he likes what he's seen so far in Juszczyk, but the rookie has plenty of room to grow.
And if he keeps falling for rookie initiations like this, he'll need additional growth in his wallet.
The Cleveland Browns are enhancing the gameday experience for fans this year with better cell phone signals, wiener dog races and a drumline.
The Cleveland Browns are trying hard to improve the team on the field. They are also trying to improve the experience for the fans.
Reeves looks like the second cornerback while Bradley Roby is suspended, while linebacker Curtis Grant is still on track as one of the top two linebackers despite missing time with a concussion.
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Quick hits from interviews after Ohio State's practice today with the season opener against Buffalo 12 days away:
• Linebacker Curtis Grant has missed a lot of practice time this preseason with a concussion, but defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Luke Fickell said Ryan Shazier and Grant are expected to be the two starting linebackers in the nickel defense. Josh Perry is still the starter on the strongside.
• Joe Burger, a walkon, has worked with Shazier on the first team in Grant's absence. Part of the reason why is that Fickell said several freshmen have hit “the wall” in recent practices, and linebackers Mike Mitchell and Trey Johnson have been among them. He said Johnson has actually missed practice with physical issues of his own.
• Cornerbacks coach Kerry Coombs said sophomore Armani Reeves is the cornerback who would start opposite Doran Grant if the opener was right now. That's because of Bradley Roby's one-game suspension. After him come the three freshmen – Cam Burrows, Eli Apple and Gareon Conley – though Coombs said they are still battling to determine that order.
• Center Corey Linsley didn't talk to reporters but he was in full uniform walking in from practice and certainly looked like he'd been part of the workload today. He has missed much of the preseason after offseason foot surgery.
• Lots of praise for backup quarterback Kenny Guiton. Offensive coordinator Tom Herman said he thinks Guiton could start for half the teams in the country.
• Quarterback Braxton Miller sounded happy with how his preseason has gone. He said his timing and accuracy have improved during camp.
• The offense should be more consistently up-tempo compared to a year ago because everyone knows it better.
• Huge praise from Herman for senior offensive lineman Marcus Hall. Urban Meyer has said similar things as well. Herman said Hall has been used as an example during camp for what it means to go hard for four to six seconds, as Meyer demands. He said Hall was a good player for a couple plays at a time last season, but always got tired. Hall has talked about how he's in better shape, and it shows.
• This was the last time Ohio State has scheduled interviews before camp ends and first-week preparation begins with Urban Meyer's news conference to preview Buffalo next Monday.
• Coombs noted that no reporters congratulated him on the recent birth of his grandchild. That's our bad. Also, no one seemed to wish Luke Fickell a happy birthday for just turning 40.
The Buckeye Nation has its newest member! Harper Shay Coombs is home! #mightbetheprettiestBuckeyeyet #howboutthathat pic.twitter.com/ZxSge251vB
— Kerry Coombs (@OsuCoachCoombs) August 18, 2013
Pam Oliver, FOX's NFL sideline reporter, was on the sidelines doing pregame work before Sunday night's matchup between the New York Giants and Indianapolis Colts. The Colts' third-string quarterback Chandler Harnish threw an errant pass towards the sidelines sailed wide and caught her in the side of the face.
Pam Oliver, FOX's NFL sideline reporter, was doing pregame work before Sunday night's matchup between the New York Giants and Indianapolis Colts. The Colts' third-string quarterback Chandler Harnish threw an errant pass towards the sidelines that sailed wide and caught her in the side of the face. Harnish did publicly apologize to Oliver, who was unhurt, for the throw via his Twitter account.Would like to take this time to apologize to Pam Oliver, for the bad pass to the face.. Be expecting flowers in the mail soon! #ToughLady
— Chandler Harnish (@C_Harnish) August 19, 2013
OLMSTED FALLS, Ohio – Entering the 2013 season, Olmsted Falls football coach Tom DeLuca is stressing to his team the importance of learning. Whether it’s learning the team’s new offensive and defensive schemes and philosophies or learning to maintain a great work ethic while still enjoying the game and having fun playing it, he wants his players to always...
OLMSTED FALLS, Ohio – Entering the 2013 season, Olmsted Falls football coach Tom DeLuca is stressing to his team the importance of learning.
Whether it’s learning the team’s new offensive and defensive schemes and philosophies or learning to maintain a great work ethic while still enjoying the game and having fun playing it, he wants his players to always be learning.
There are plenty of things for DeLuca to learn about his team as well.
As a new coach with a new system, DeLuca believes his program is in a unique situation that comes with some obvious questions with answers found during the preseason.
He needs to know how the team will react to adversity in addition to learning each player’s tendencies and other aspects of their personalities and playing styles.
The Bulldogs will look to improve on their disappointing 2-8 record from 2012 and set their sights on a playoff berth in 2013.
In order to achieve those goals, DeLuca knows his team must continue to move forward in learning the new schemes and be consistent from week to week while staying healthy.
The Bulldogs will kick off the season Aug. 30 on the road against Bedford.
Head coach’s name: Tom DeLuca.
Number of years in that position: One.
Team's overall record in 2012: 2-8.
Conference: South Western.
OHSAA Division: II, Region 3.
Team’s primary offensive scheme for 2013: Spread.
Team's primary defensive schemes for 2013: Multiple schemes.
How many returning seniors does this team have: 22.
Who are going to be some of the team’s key leaders this season?
The Bulldogs’ captains, Mike Hansignger and Jack Grimm will play big roles in leading the team in 2013. Hansignger will be a WR/FS and Grimm will be a DT/G. DeLuca expects that both players will lead byexample, with a great work ethic. He describes them as being very coachable.
What is this team's greatest strength?
The team’s strengths will come from the offensive line and its 22 seniors.
What is this team's biggest weakness?
The Bulldogs’ biggest weakness is just getting used to new terminology and schemes.
Here are what blogs from Cleveland and around the country are saying about the Browns, Cavaliers and Indians. Featured today are Dawg Pound Daily, Indians Baseball Insider and Right Down Euclid.
Here are what blogs from Cleveland and around the country are saying about the Browns, Cavaliers and Indians.
"Whether teams opt to use box coverage with a linebacker to take away the inside or use a safety over the top, Gordon is likely going to demand the attention of two defenders in man coverage. Obviously, if defenses are using two defenders to try to contain Gordon, they will have one less defender to help elsewhere. As a result, players like Greg Little, Jordan Cameron, Davonne Bess, Travis Benjamin and most importantly, Trent Richardson benefit because they have less opposition to work against. And if Richardson is the player he should be, a breakout running back, then defenses are going to be strained trying to cover the rest of the offense.
The result should be that Weeden has a much easier time finding openings in defenses and players like Little and Cameron especially, should take advantage and have the best seasons of their career statistically. While some might try to label them as breakout players, they will be taking advantage of the stress Gordon and Richardson are putting on them. This is not to say either cannot breakout and truly evolve into a great player, but the opening two weeks could show just how much of an impact Gordon might have."
"What we know is that Gomes owns a .313/.358/.534 line, a 148 wRC+, and a 2.6 fWAR in 54 games (all stats as of this writing, which was before Friday's game), marks that only leave him behind Jason Kipnis on the team.
What we also know is that Toronto Blue Jays general manager Alex Anthopoulos is considered one of the best in the business. Yet, he traded Gomes and Mike Aviles for Esmil Rogers this past offseason.
Acquiring Aviles for Rogers would have been a good trade for Cleveland, as Aviles seems to be a better player than Rogers. But Anthopoulos also threw Gomes into this trade."
"Ellington: He only played in 38 games for the Cavs, but after his acquisition from Memphis, he came in and provided the Cavs with scoring off the bench. His shot went a little cold just before arriving in Cleveland, but after arriving to the cold weather city he started to heat up. He averaged 10.4 points on 44 percent shooting from the field. He’s only been in the league four years, and he’s 25 years old, but he came in a played the role of a crafty veteran in his short time with the team.
Gibson: Ever since he married Keyshia Cole and had Boobie Jr. he hasn’t been the same player. I’m not giving an excuse for his poor play over the past few years, but there was a short time period in which Boobie Gibson was the hottest thing in Cleveland not named LeBron James. Nowadays he is nothing but a three-point specialist and role player at best. He was a fan favorite for so many years, but now that he isn’t playing next to James, he doesn’t seem to have a spot on this team."
In a question-and-answer summary on a company's web site, attorney Aubrey Harwell called the tentative agreement with trucking companies an attempt "to do 100 percent of what is right for Pilot Flying J's customers as soon as possible with the least costs and disruption to everyone's business as possible.''
In a question-and-answer summary on a company's web site, attorney Aubrey Harwell called the tentative agreement with trucking companies an attempt "to do 100 percent of what is right for Pilot Flying J’s customers as soon as possible with the least costs and disruption to everyone’s business as possible.
"It is historic in my experience as a lawyer, and I’m very proud to be a part of it,'' he said.
The settlement calls for Pilot Flying J to pay trucking firms that were shorted by the truck-stop chain everything they’re due, plus 6 percent annual interest, according to the agreement. U.S. District Judge James Moody in Little Rock, Ark. will have a hearing on the settlement in November.
The 38-page agreement suggests what Pilot Flying J, the nation’s biggest truck-stop chain, could pay out in the settlement: more than $40 million in principal payments to trucking firms, with attorneys’ fees adding up to $14 million more.
Harwell's comments come less than a week after a Georgia trucking company planned to opt out of the settlement and sued the company in Knox County, Tenn., Circuit Court. The lawsuit says that Harold David Story Inc., of Dalton, Ga., doing business as Cedar Creek, recently asked Pilot Flying J what its internal audit showed Cedar Creek was owed in fuel rebate shortages.
Pilot Flying J told Cedar Creek that it was not done auditing fuel accounts of former customers and didn’t anticipate completing that work until “this fall or thereabouts,” according to the lawsuit.
That could put former customers like Cedar Creek in the position of having to decide whether to opt out of the proposed class-action settlement pending in U.S. District Court in Little Rock, Ark., before knowing what Pilot determined the former customers are owed, according to the lawsuit. The deadline to opt out of the settlement is Oct. 15.
Pilot Flying J's web site featuring Harwell said the company does not want any customer that is uncomfortable with the settlement to feel it has to participate. But Harwell said the settlement was a fair one, and he listed reasons why:
-- The customers who are owed money will be paid quickly.
-- It offers a complete review of each customer's account from 2005 forward.
-- A federal judge will provide oversight of the audited accounts; there are options for those who do not agree with the audit results.
-- Customers do not need to hire and pay a lawyer to receive the money they are owed.
Attorneys for some trucking companies have blasted the proposed settlement, calling it one-sided and unfair. They say the companies deserve damages far greater than what Haslam and his company have offered in the settlement.
"Based on what I know, I just don't think it's a fair settlement,'' said Drew McElroy, a Knoxville attorney who filed the case for Cedar Creek.
The settlement, reached in July, arises from about 20 lawsuits filed by truckers and trucking companies stemming from raids by FBI and IRS agents April 15 at Pilot Flying J's offices. In a 120-page affidavit that sought to gain a judge's permission to search the offices, an FBI agent said the company for "many years'' engaged in a fraud scheme designed to keep millions of dollars owed to customers.
And the document says that Haslam and other top executives knew about the scheme from sales meetings. The affidavit accused of fleecing unsophisticated trucking companies through a fuel rebate program. Haslam has stressed that he did not know about the plan, and the company has repeatedly said the scheme involved a small number of employees out of the thousands that work for it.
Seven employees already have pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Knoxville to fraud-related charges.
Mid-American Conference football signs a third football bowl agreement beginning in 2014, this one in Montgomery, Alabama.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Mid-American Conference, thanks to its cozy relationship with ESPN, now has three tie-ins for bowl games beginning in 2014 with Monday's announcement that the MAC will be playing in the Camellia Bowl in Montgomery, Ala. against a Sun Belt team.
"This is real good,'' MAC commissioner Jon Steinbrecher said of the agreement. "This city is the bedrock of the Civil Rights movement, so there is a lot of American history here to build upon for a great bowl experience for our players and our fans."
This bowl is one of nine currently owned by the sports TV giant, and one of two aligned with the MAC, which has been a key partner with ESPN with its popular annual November mid-week football games.
"When ESPN is involved it is going to be a top flight event. The financial package is OK, and it can grow,'' Steinbrecher said. "It can turn into a nice financial model for us as we go forward."
The league has tie-ins with the Go Daddy Bowl (based in Mobile, Ala.) through the 2017 season, and Famous Idaho Potato Bowl (based in Boise, Ida.) through the 2019 season. The Potato Bowl is also owned by ESPN.
Commissioner Steinbrecher is known to be listening for other possible bowl opportunities, with speculated bowls in Boca Raton, Fla. and in the Bahamas.
"And there could be others,'' he said. "I hope we can bring this to a conclusion in the next 30- to 45-days. For sure we will have four bowl tie-ins, and possibly five."
The Camellia Bowl in Montgomery, Ala. will feature a MAC bowl eligible team against a Sun Belt team for the next six consecutive football seasons (2014-2019) in a pre-Christmas game to be played in the 25,000-seat Crampton Bowl stadium and televised nationally by ESPN or ESPN2.
Browns must decide whether to place Lewis on injured reserve and designate him for return at midseason.
OWINGS MILLS, Md. - Browns running back Dion Lewis is undergoing surgery today on his fractured left fibula, team CEO Joe Banner told reporters, and outside linebacker Barkevious Mingo will have more tests done on his bruised lung.
Banner spoke to reporters as he gave a tour of the team’s renovated headquarters, a four-month, $5 million project. Cleveland.com did not staff the event.
Lewis could miss the entire season after suffering the fracture in the third quarter of Browns’ 24-6 win over the Detroit Lions on Thursday night. The club could place Lewis on season-ending injured reserve, or if they think he could return this season, put him on IR and designate him to return after Week 8. Banner told reporters it’s too early to make that call.
“We won’t have any idea until after the surgery,” Banner told reporters. “Even then, we may or may not have any more clarity than we do right now.”
Banner gave no timetable for the return of Mingo, who bruised a lung in the first quarter against and spent two nights in the hospital.
“I think he’s going to go through some tests soon,” Banner told reporters. “ (The timetable is) still fairly open-ended. Hopefully we’ll get more information soon and have a better idea.”
Mingo is expected to be out for a week or two, a league source told cleveland.com. The No. 6 overall pick will sit out the Browns’ preseason game at Indianapolis on Saturday and could miss the final tune-up at Chicago.
“I think you’ve got to make sure he’s fully healthy before you put him back out there and then he should be at no greater risk than anybody else, at least as I understand it,” Banner told reporters. “But you’ve got to make sure. With any injury if you put him out when they’re only 75 percent healed, you’re at greater risk of something happening. So we’ve got to make sure he’s fully good to go.”
Mingo told reporters Saturday he didn’t suffer any broken ribs even as he spit up blood on the sideline Thursday night. The rookie thinks he sustained the injury during the opening kickoff, but he isn’t certain because he didn’t absorb a big hit.
With Curtis Grant out, walkon Joe Burger has earned time with the first-team defense.
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Joe Burger's name keeps popping up this preseason. A 6-foot-2, 238-pound sophomore from Cincinnati, Burger arrived at Ohio State last season as a walkon after turning down several scholarship offers in the MAC. He was a first-team all-state selection at La Salle High School. He knows how to play football.
Burger also didn't play in any games last year. And he is a walkon. So when reporters watched one full practice early in camp and saw Burger working with the first-team defense, it was a bit of surprise. When junior All-American candidate Ryan Shazier talked to reporters Saturday and said that the linebacker who had been playing beside him with the first team in the nickel defense in the last big scrimmage of the preseason was Burger, it was a bit of surprise again.
Maybe it shouldn't be surprise. Because depth at linebacker remains an issue for Ohio State.
Before preseason camp started, Urban Meyer listed offensive line depth and linebacker depth as his two biggest concerns. Through injuries to Andrew Norwell and Corey Linsley, the Buckeyes got extended looks at backups Jacoby Boren, Chase Farris and Pat Elflein during camp, and Meyer said he liked what he saw.
Through an extended concussion issue with starting middle linebacker Curtis Grant, the Buckeyes found a walkon running with the ones. That's not usually how national title contender draws it up.
“He does a great job,” defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Luke Fickell said Monday of Burger. “Curtis hasn't been out there, so you've got to roll some guys through there. A lot of guys are going to be in the mix, and (Burger) is a walkon guy who knows what he's doing, but he's only been in the program for his second year. It's still tough on those guys. We're going to need every single one of them.”
As was the case last year, when fullback Zach Boren switched to linebacker, there just aren't that many of them.
Beyond Shazier and Grant, sophomore Josh Perry is the starter at strongside linebacker, Fickell said, but the Buckeyes may have three linebackers on the field maybe 20 percent of the time this season with how often they'll be in a nickel defense. And when Grant has been out, Perry has not been the name talked about running with the first team in nickel.
Sophomore Camren Williams, after an offseason adding muscle, hasn't really been mentioned at all this preseason.
And then there are the three scholarship freshmen linebackers, Mike Mitchell, Trey Johnson and Chris Worley. Mitchell had been talked about earlier in camp as the No. 2 middle linebacker, behind only Grant. But when I asked specifically about Mitchell and Johnson on Monday, the news wasn't great.
“Those are a couple guys that hit the wall,” Fickell said. “Trey has been a little dinged-up and hasn't been able to be out there as much. And Mike is one of the guys who went really hard and the last couple days hit a wall. Ninety percent of freshmen hit the wall. How they respond in the next three days will determine in (12) days if we feel like we can put them on the field a lot.”
The Buckeyes still seem to like what Grant can give them. He certainly hasn't been forgotten. And if he's on, Grant and Shazier, two juniors, are all the Buckeyes really need at linebacker.
“He's gone a great job,” Fickell said. “He's missed a little bit, but he brings a lot of passion and excitement to us.”
Yet as Fickell pointed out, Shazier is really the only linebacker who has played a lot. Everyone else is a question mark. Once the Buckeyes get past Grant, and into the backups that Fickell said will be determined through the nonconference schedule, the questions get more pressing.
Terry Francona managed Manny Ramirez for 4 1/3 years in Boston. They won two World Series together and on Sunday Francona called the former Indian the best right-handed hitter he'd ever seen. As for whether Ramirez, 41, can still play, Francona wasn't sure.
ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Manny Ramirez played for Terry Francona from 2004 through part of the 2008 season before he was traded to the Dodgers. Francona called him the best right-handed hitter he's ever seen.
Last week the Texas Rangers released the 41-year-old Ramirez from their Class AAA team. On Sunday in Oakland, Francona was asked if he felt Ramirez could still play in the big leagues.
"It's a subjective thing," said Francona. "If somebody thinks he can help, I guess somebody thinks he can play. I don't know. I haven't see him.
"Knowing Manny like I do, I think he was probably having fun playing in Triple-A. He doesn't need the money. I think he likes to play. He was probably enjoying himself."
Ramirez helped Francona and the Red Sox win World Series titles in 2004 and 2007. How good of a hitter was he?
"Jim Leyland and I had this conversation earlier in the year," said Francona. "I asked him where would you rate Manny vs. Miguel Cabrera. He said, "Boy, Miggy is pretty good.' I don't think Manny has ever had a season like Miggy is having right now, but he was probably the best right-handed hitter I had ever seen."
Ramirez never won a Triple Crown as Cabrera did last year, but in 1999 he had a similar season for the Indians. Ramirez hit .333 (174-for-522) with 34 doubles, three triples, 44 homers, an MLB-high 165 RBI with a .442 on base percentage, .663 slugging percentage and a 1.105 OPS.
Last year Cabrera hit .330 (205-for-622) with 40 doubles, 44 homers, 139 RBI, .393 on base percentage, .606 slugging percentage and a .999 OPS.
Of course, Ramirez put up those numbers at the height of steriod era and later in his career tested positive not once, but twice for banned substances, retiring in 2011 from the Tampa Bay Rays rather than face a 100-game suspension.
Francona loved Ramirez when he was at the plate, but didn't know what to expect when he was anywhere else.
"He was so good," said Francona. "He came with some quirks, but he was a pretty good hitter. A very intelligent hitter.
"Manny saw things that other people weren't able to. One spring in Boston they brought this big board to camp and you had to look at stuff and react to the lights on the board. Guys would practice it and as they practiced it they got better. Manny jumped on it and blew it away. Just blew it a way.
"Our strength coach had this mini-hula hoop. It had Wiffle balls intertwined into it about every eight inches. He'd flip it to Manny and as he did he'd spin it. Manny was in his batting stance and the guy would go, "blue!' and Manny would not only catch it, but catch on the color or number he called out.
"I'd watch it every once in a while and when he would be grab the correct ball, that night, look out. . .I don't know how he did it."
In 19 years in the big leagues, Ramirez hit .312 with 555 homers and 1,831 RBI. He made everything look so easy that some thought he never worked at hitting. They were wrong.
He was always studying video and in the batting cage.
"Manny was a weird combination," said Francona. "When we'd be at home, I'd always be the first one to the ballpark. But Manny would be in there in the morning lifting.
"The reason I'd know is because he parked his car right in the middle of the lot so no one else would get in. You'd go into the weight room and the weights were all over the place. Then he'd go home and come back. He worked his butt off, I'm not sure if he wanted people to know that."
The quirks are what eventually forced the Red Sox to trade Ramirez. It was either that or Francona would have had to quell a clubhouse mutiny.
"There were times when he'd hit a ball and not run," said Francona. "You'd try to stay ahead of him. If you got to a point where he'd beat you to that day off, you might lose him for a week instead of one day. He was an interesting character, but he could hit man."
"Now he's sprinting everywhere, he's playing full speed, 100 percent on every single snap," offensive coordinator Tom Herman said of Hall.
COLUMBUS, Ohio – It happens every year – seniors raising their game in their last shot at college football. Some go from backups to starters, some from just holding a starting spot to really understanding what it takes to put it all together.
Depending how many seniors do that, and at what positions, it can change a season for a team.
It's happening with Marcus Hall.
Pay enough attention during the preseason and you'll hear or read about every guy on the roster improving. There's not a lot of talk about, “You know, this guy got a whole lot worse.”
But in the last three days, Hall, the senior right guard from Glenville High, has been pointed to by both head coach Urban Meyer and offensive coordinator Tom Herman as a Buckeye who has made the jump from a year ago. The way the coaches are talking about him now is outside the normal realm of most improvement cliches.
Hall talked early in camp about how much better shape he was in, down from about 325 pounds last year to 308. It's translating to his play. Asked for an offensive player who has improved, Herman interrupted the question Monday to say, “Marcus Hall. Marcus Hall.”
“He was a starter last year, and a good player, not a great player,” Herman said. “I think Marcus physically had a lot of talent, but he was good for about two plays, then became a very average player when he got tired. Now he's sprinting everywhere, he's playing full speed, 100 percent on every single snap.
“I shudder to say this, but he's a guy we have pointed him out many a time as an offensive staff to the offensive unit, 'This is how you go hard for four to six seconds. This is how you hustle. This is how you play hard.'
“And to have a guy like that – the kid started 12 games last year. And I don't think his job is in jeopardy by any stretch of the imagination. But he has come into training camp and been a shining example of how to play with great effort and great intensity.”
Meyer said the same thing Saturday. He thought Hall was a little behind the other three returning senior starters on the offensive line – Jack Mewhort, Andrew Norwell and Corey Linsley – coming into camp. No more.
“He's really excelled,” Meyer said. “I'm really proud of the way he's performed.”
Hall seemed to know early in camp exactly what he wanted to do. He knew he wanted to go out like this.
“It's a big year,” Hall said. “My last one. So I'm trying to make it special.”
Jason Kipnis was called out on strikes in the first inning Sunday. When manager Terry Francona and he argued with plate umpire Mike DiMuro they were told they had a good point, but Kipnis was still out.
ANAHEIM, Calif. --Seen and heard at Angel Stadium.
Clubhouse confidential: All of MLB's ills will not be cured with the proposed expansion of replay in 2014. Calls are still going to be missed.
In the first inning of the Indians' game against Oakland on Sunday, Jason Kipnis was called out by plate umpire Mike DiMuro as he swung and missed a Tommy Milone pitch for the last out of the inning. Or did he?
Kipnis said he fouled the ball off and pointed to the imprint that the ball left in the dirt to prove his point. DiMuro's call stood even when manager Terry Francona joined the argument.
"There was a big mark in the dirt where the ball hit," said Francona. "I kept pointing to it and DiMuro kept saying, "You're making a good point.' I said, "I know, but he's still out.'" He said, "You're making a good point, but I can't change it.'"
The replay proposal will not affect ball and strike calls.
Trout beached: Mike Trout wasn't in the Angels' lineup Monday night because of a tight right hamstring. He's expected to play Tuesday.
Trout is the youngest player in MLB history to have two seasons of 20 or more homers and stolen bases.
Stat of the day: Justin Masterson, who starts Wednesday, ranks second in the AL with 175 2/3 innings pitched. Seattle's Felix Hernandez is first at 178 2/3.
The Miami-Dade Police Department says its officers violated policy by providing a police escort to Miami Heat star LeBron James through heavy traffic at last Friday's Justin Timberlake/Jay Z concert.
MIAMI - The Miami-Dade Police Department says its officers violated policy by providing a police escort to Miami Heat star LeBron James through heavy traffic at last Friday's Justin Timberlake/Jay Z concert.
The agency issued a statement Monday saying it will continue to investigate the matter.
James posted a video before the concert at Sun Life Stadium saying he was following a police escort on the wrong side of the street. The video showed James following police vehicles with their lights flashing. The video was posted on several of James' social media accounts.
The police statement said officers escorted James from one intersection to another, onto the stadium's property. The statement also said the escort was not scheduled in advance and all safety precautions appeared to have been taken.
They treat us so well! Needed it cause traffic was nuts!! http://t.co/UIWRZE2BVQ
— LeBron James (@KingJames) August 17, 2013
The Indians will look to bounce back with help from Zach McAllister on the mound tonight.
Game 125: Indians (66-58) at Angels (55-68)
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The Cleveland Browns traded for Seahawks guard John Moffitt, sending defensive lineman Brian Sanford to Seattle on Monday.
OWINGS MILLS, Maryland -- With their two most experienced guards sidelined due to injury, the Browns made a trade today to bolster their offensive line.
They acquired guard John Moffitt from the Seattle Seahawks in exchange for defensive end Brian Sanford. Moffitt, who’s made 15 starts in his two pro seasons, will battle Garrett Gilkey for the right-guard duties.
The club is without Jason Pinkston (high ankle sprain) and Shawn Lauvao (arthroscopic ankle surgery) until early in the regular season.
Gilkey, a converted tackle from Division II Chadron State, has impressed the coaching staff with his athleticism and energy, but he remains raw. He played right guard in a game for the first time Thursday in replacing Pinkston and held his own against Detroit’s nasty defensive tackle Ngdamukong Suh.
Offensive coordinator Norv Turner sounded like a coach who preferred a bit more seasoning at that position in his Sunday afternoon news conference.
“He’s made a lot of progress in a short period of time,” offensive coordinator Norv Turner said of Gilkey. “He has a long way to go but he does give you some hope in terms of depth and a guy that eventually will be a player.”
Enter Moffitt, a 2011 third round draft pick from Wisconsin.
Moffitt started the first nine games of his rookie season as part of rebuilt Seahawks offensive line before suffering a season-ending knee surgery. Health also was a factor last season as he sustained an elbow injury in training camp and seemed to fall out of favor with the Seahawks’ staff. Moffitt made six starts, but was lost his job to J.R. Sweezy, a converted defensive lineman.
The Seahawks also are beginning to use rookie Alvin Bailey at guard.
Moffitt, 26, certainly doesn’t lack size at 6-foot-4, 319-pounds, but he failed to progress in the system of demanding offensive line coach Tom Cable. He gets a fresh start with offensive line coach George Warhop and the Browns.
“We continue to look each day of the year for any opportunity to improve our roster,” Browns CEO Joe Banner said in a statement. “We’re committed to a building a team that can consistently compete in this league.”
Sanford, 25, had been with the Browns since 2010, vacillating between practice squad and active roster. He appeared in five games in 2011 and one last season.
Newly acquired Moffitt is in the mix to start at right guard.
NOTE: Shortly after this story was posted, the Browns voided the trade for Moffitt because of health concerns after Moffitt took his physical, a league source told cleveland.com. Read more on the voided trade at cleveland.com/browns.
BEREA, Ohio – John Moffitt wanted a fresh start. The Browns needed an offensive lineman with NFL experience at guard.
Both got what they wanted, and needed, Tuesday when the 6-4, 315-pound Moffitt arrived at 76 Lou Groza Boulevard after an overnight flight from Seattle.
Moffitt was acquired in a Monday trade with the Seahawks for backup defensive end Brian Sanford. Moffitt is a former third-round draft pick who, in his two years in Seattle, started 15 games, suffered a major knee injury, a run-in with the law, and a four-game suspension for a performance-enhancing drug.
Moffitt is expected to battle for the right guard job with rookie Garrett Gilkey. Oneil Cousins (6-4, 315) also could see time there, coach Rob Chudzinski said Tuesday. The Browns hope one of them can fill a hole at right guard created by injuries to Jason Pinkston (high ankle sprain) and Shawn Lauvao (arthroscopic ankle surgery). They are out until early in the regular season. Both were in walking boots in the Browns' locker room Tuesday.
“He'll be in the mix at the guard position,'' Chudzinski said of Moffitt. “The right guard position is still unsettled. I know he has good size, tough guy, a real competitive guy and has played, and has experience. We're looking for him to bring those characteristics to us.''
Moffitt was drafted 75th overall in 2011 out of Wisconsin. He suffered a torn knee ligament that required surgery after starting nine games his rookie year. He recovered to play eight games last season, including six starts.
He was losing a training camp battle for the right guard job with J.R. Sweezy this summer. He said he asked in the spring to be traded, but was told no.
“I was a little shocked,'' he said of the trade. “I didn't see it coming, but then I was excited. I thought I had been playing very good football. I think I'm in the best football shape I've been in. I'm excited to be here, where I think it's a better opportunity.''
Moffitt made news off the field in Seattle. He pleaded guilty in June to disorderly conduct in relation to three incidents in Seattle in 2012 that included urinating in public, the Seattle Times reported. Moffitt paid a fine of $1,407 and received a suspended sentence of 24 months in jail.
“The off-the-field things, that happened a long time ago,'' Moffitt said. “It happened after my rookie year. Unfortunately, all the court appearances were settled three months ago. So, it was something that happened right off the bat, that I put behind me a long time ago.
“As far as Cleveland, I do look at it as across the board, not just off the field things, as a fresh start.''
While he was on injured reserve as a rookie, Moffitt was suspended four games for testing positive for Adderall, a performance-enhancing drug banned by the NFL. He served the suspension while on injured reserve and lost four game checks. Moffitt later told the Seattle Times he was unaware Adderall was banned. “With me, it was just something that I didn't realize," Moffitt said. "It was a total mistake.”
Moffitt bears a striking resemblance, plus a beard and long hair, to Diedrich Bader, who played Oswald on the Cleveland-based sitcom “The Drew Carey Show.'' Other than that, his only other apparent Cleveland connection is that he was an unknown freshman at Wisconsin when Browns tackle Joe Thomas was an All-American senior.
Moffitt said his biggest challenge will be learning the Browns' offense and vernacular as quickly as possible.
“I just consider myself a good football player. I consider myself someone who is going to play well,'' he said. “I take pride in playing well. I consider myself a strong run blocker and I think I've really helped myself in the pass game this past year. I think my pass protection has become very solid. I'm a bigger guy, more of a strength guy, but I do have good technique.
“I focused more on pass protection in a lot of off-season things and I think it's kind of shown. Coming off the injury was tough. I think I'm in the best shape I've been in since I've been in the NFL.''
Watch Mary Kay Cabot's analysis of today's practice and news that Brandon Weeden was named the starting quarterback.
BEREA, Ohio -- Cleveland Browns beat writer Mary Kay Cabot recaps what happened at today's practice in Berea.
Highlights include: Brandon Weeden named the starting quarterback by head coach Rob Chudzinski. Injury updates on Dion Lewis and Barkevious Mingo. Guard John Moffitt at practice after being acquired from the Seattle Seahawks
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