The deal to sell a minority stake in the Cavaliers to a Chinese investment group -- what would have been the first major Chinese investment in an American sports league -- has been dead for months, according to the Cavs and the NBA. The Plain Dealer first reported in May 2009 that a group led by Chinese businessman Kenny...

The deal to sell a minority stake in the Cavaliers to a Chinese investment group -- what would have been the first major Chinese investment in an American sports league -- has been dead for months, according to the Cavs and the NBA.

The Plain Dealer first reported in May 2009 that a group led by Chinese businessman Kenny Huang had agreed to buy 15 percent of the team owned by former Cavs Vice Chairman David Katzman.

The agreement was billed as a timely entree into the massive and growing Chinese sports audience, and a valuable cash infusion for the Cavs -- both positive developments in the bid to keep free agent LeBron James. The sale was expected to be completed late last year, pending NBA approval.

"It never materialized, as far as completing the application process with the league," said Cavs President Len Komoroski. "Ultimately, you would have to ask [Huang's group] as to why."

Neither Huang nor Katzman could be immediately reached for comment.

Any transfer of team ownership of more than 5 percent must be approved by the NBA's Board of Governors, specifically three-fourths of the other 29 teams. Approval is based on a rigorous personal, business and financial background check.

Apparently, the process never got that far.

"The group Mr. Huang was advising declined to submit a complete ownership application to the league and was informed several months ago that it would not be considered for approval," NBA spokesman Mike Bass responded by e-mail Wednesday.

A change in the investor group delayed the deal last fall when Huang's main financial partner, Adrian Cheng, was replaced by Albert Hung, an influential and respected Hong Kong businessman. Hung tried to recruit another well-heeled Chinese investor, but the group just couldn't put the package together.

Huang was also behind the Cavs' sponsorship deal with Tsingtao, a Chinese beer company.

The timeline suggests the agreement kind of unraveled this spring:

April 12: A press release from QSL Sports Ltd., a Hong Kong-based sports business and marketing company, confirmed that co-founders and co-chairmen Huang and Cheng held no stake in the Cavs, and that their company had decided to focus on China's National Basketball League.

May 1: A QSL press release announced Cheng had left the company.

May 2: NBA Commissioner David Stern, in Cleveland to present James with the MVP trophy before a Cavs playoff game against Chicago, said the sale had not been approved, that there were no plans for a league vote and that he intended to check with the league's lawyers to find out why.

"It's not like a specific act or conversation or e-mail was sent that said, 'Hey, we're out,' " Cavs spokesman Tad Carper said. "It wasn't like that at all. It was more a slowdown in progress to where it wasn't moving backward or forward."

On July 8, James announced plans to sign with Miami.

Despite impressions, the Cavaliers and another source familiar with the failed agreement said the investors weren't just biding their time to see whether James would stay in Cleveland.

"It had absolutely nothing to do with LeBron," the source said.

FSO games announced: FOX Sports Ohio will broadcast 80 regular-season Cavaliers games this season -- all but the two nationally televised games against Miami on Dec. 2 (TNT) and New Orleans on March 6 (ESPN.)

The network's coverage of the Cavs will begin Oct. 27 when the Cavs host the Boston Celtics at 7 p.m. in the season opener. The schedule of games in high definition will be released at a later date.

WUAB Channel 43 will once again simulcast a select number of Cavs games this season.

Plain Dealer reporters Mary Schmitt Boyer and Brian Windhorst contributed to this story.

Although the larger helmet worn in the minor leagues can withstand a 100 mph fastball, most major league players don't like its appearance.

View full sizeChuck Crow / The Plain DealerIt appears unlikely Anthony Reyes will pitch for the Tribe this season.

Clubhouse confidential: Besides the pay and meal money, one of the good things about being in the big leagues is not having to wear the batting helmets MLB requires all minor-leaguers to wear this year.

"You look like you're in the movie 'Spaceballs' when the guy who was supposed to be Darth Vader was walking around with the huge helmet on his head," catcher Chris Gimenez said. "It's heavy and it's not comfortable. I feel like my head is getting squeezed when I wear it."

Rawlings designs the large S100 helmet. The manufacturer says it can withstand the impact of a 100 mph fastball. The helmets are available to big leaguers, but no one who has played for the Indians this season has worn one.

Tick tock: The chances of Anthony Reyes pitching in the big leagues for the Tribe this season are running out. He's still working on his mechanics with Class AA Akron pitching coach Greg Hibbard.

Reyes is trying to rebound from Tommy John surgery on his right elbow.

Stat of the day: Oakland lefty Gio Gonzalez's 0.89 ERA against the Indians, according to Elias Sports Bureau, is the second lowest ERA by any pitcher with at least five starts against the same team over the past two years. Adam Wainwright of the Cardinals has a 0.50 ERA against Houston in the same span.

The Indians lost again Wednesday night -- but at least they scored. They succumbed to the Athletics, 6-1.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Indians lost again Wednesday night -- but at least they scored.

Oakland rode a five-run first inning and strong pitching by ace Trevor Cahill to a 6-1 victory at Progressive Field.

Paid attendance: 10,514. The lack of energy in the building was palpable.

The Indians (50-76) have scored four runs during a five-game skid. They avoided a 12th shutout defeat, and fifth against Oakland, by pushing across an unearned run in the fifth.

The Athletics (63-62) have won the first two of a three-game series. They prevailed, 5-0, on Tuesday. They are 6-2 in the season series.

Cahill (14-5, 2.43 ERA) gave up the one run on seven hits in seven innings. The right-hander walked two and struck out two. Tribe batters repeatedly struggled to square up his sinker.

If getting shut down by Cahill wasn't enough, the Tribe swallowed a tablespoon of embarrassment in the eighth. Lefty reliever Craig Breslow, who barely made a dent with Cleveland in 2008, struck out the side.

Oakland right-handed reliever Henry "Heat Miser'' Rodriguez opened the ninth by striking out Jayson Nix with a pitch clocked at 101 mph. Rodriguez then caught Trevor Crowe looking at a 101-mph pitch. Rodriguez completed the 101-mph hat trick by freezing Matt LaPorta.

The eight combined strikeouts by Oakland pitching accounted for the last eight Tribe outs.  

The Indians lost despite their leadoff batter having reached in each of the first six innings.  They grounded into three double plays -- Asdrubal Cabrera in the first and  Crowe in the second and sixth.

Oakland's first-inning bonanza began after former Indian Coco Crisp grounded to second. Daric Barton drew his 79th walk of the season. Kurt Suzuki was hit by a pitch -- or was he? Indians manager Manny Acta briefly argued with plate umpire Paul Emmel that Mitch Talbot's pitch struck the knob of Suzuki's bat.

 Jack Cust singled to right to drive in Barton. After Mark Ellis walked, Rajai Davis had an RBI single to left. Former Indian Kevin Kouzmanoff ripped a three-run double off the wall in center. Kouzmanoff leads the Athletics with 60 RBI.

 Talbot stranded Kouzmanoff by retiring the next two. Talbot recovered nicely, breezing from the second through the fifth.

 The Indians pulled within 5-1 in the fifth. Jason Donald led off with a grounder that third baseman Kouzmanoff failed to field for an error. Donald scored from second on a two-out single by Cabrera, but the Athletics caught Cabrera between first and second.

 Kouzmanoff tripled off Tribe center fielder Michael Brantley's glove in the sixth and scored on a sacrifice fly.

 Hector Ambriz relieved Talbot (8-11) to begin the seventh.

The more you listen to Brown -- and you have to listen carefully because he is soft-spoken -- the more you understand why General Manager Tom Heckert brought him to the Browns.

View full sizeJohn Kuntz / The Plain DealerBrowns cornerback Sheldon Brown breaks up a pass against the Rams on Saturday.

BEREA, Ohio — Cornerback Sheldon Brown wasn't a flashy pickup for the Browns this year, which is fitting because he doesn't play the game -- or talk the game -- that way.

"I learned years ago from my high school coach, 'Always act like you've been there,' " Brown said. "You shouldn't be surprised to make a play. You should be expected to. That's the way I play the game."

So when others at his position may celebrate routine stops, Brown is undemonstrative. He lines up for the next play and the next play after that. Year after year, he answered the bell for the Philadelphia Eagles. He brought to Cleveland a streak of 128 consecutive games played -- starting at cornerback in 95 of his past 96 games.

That is eight years of never missing a game. And to fully appreciate that reliability, you have to examine the way Brown plays his position. "I played safety my first year at [South Carolina]," Brown said, explaining his penchant for delivering punishing tackles.

"That's all I've been known for my whole career. I wore 39 [normally reserved for a safety] as a rookie. On special teams, I would hit. And when I got in on the dime package, I would hit."

The more you listen to Brown -- and you have to listen carefully because he is soft-spoken -- the more you understand why former Eagles General Manager Tom Heckert brought him to the Browns. He is a role model for the young players in the secondary.

"Sometimes [cornerbacks] get caught up in the interception numbers," Brown said. "One of the guys I admired coming up was Troy Vincent, who taught me the game in Philly. He was an all-around corner. He would come up and tackle, plus get interceptions. In today's game, Charles Woodson is a guy I study and like a lot because he does it all. He's not a guy who just lives off interceptions."

Brown has quietly taken on the role of mentor to rookie cornerback Joe Haden and rookie safety T.J. Ward.

"He just talks about that when you put on the film, you want to stand out," Ward said. "You want teams to notice your physicality on film. You don't even have to say anything on the field. Your performance speaks for itself. That's part of the intimidation process."

Haden said: "He just told me basically when he gets the opportunity to hit somebody, he makes sure he does it because everybody sees it on film and you don't want to mess with that. He doesn't do too much talking on the field."

Brown doesn't just talk a good game. In Green Bay, he knocked Packers running back Ryan Grant out of the game with a mean hit to his ear hole. Against St. Louis, he leveled 264-pound tight end Michael Hoomanawanui to the ground after a catch.

"I think there are a lot of sure-tackling corners, but to make a statement, it takes some courage to do it," Brown said. "My thing is, too, I have to teach the young guys how the game is supposed to be played. It's only right I do that because that's how they taught me -- guys like Troy, Bobby Taylor, Brian Dawkins."

Those players were starters when the Eagles made three defensive backs their first three picks in the 2002 draft. Cornerback Lito Sheppard was first, followed by safety Michael Lewis and Brown in the second round. Brown can't help but notice Heckert following that strategy in Cleveland.

"It tells you the importance of a secondary and having guys coming up through the ranks together, and communicating, and playing with one another," Brown said.

"T.J. and Joe are going to be great football players. They are probably ahead of the learning curve now than when I was a rookie. I was on dime and special teams my first year. Lito didn't dress his first six or seven games as a rookie."

Tackling was the bane of the Browns' defense a year ago, and has been for some time. Most associate missed tackles with the front seven, but the secondary is the last line of defense and that is where the Browns failed the most.

"Sometimes you look at a defense and you find a corner who won't tackle and you run at him and make sure he's got to be the one to make the decision as to whether or not he wants to tackle," coach Eric Mangini said. "Sheldon's been consistent in that area. That's a real positive outside all the other things he's done.

"With DBs, the three things you look for are: can they play man-to-man, can they play in the deep part of the field and can they tackle? If any one of those are deficient, then they're not necessarily a complete player."

In that regard, Brown may be the consummate cornerback. And you have to go back a long time since the Browns had one of those.

The drive that carried Justin Germano from no contract in February to the Indians bullpen in July has its roots in Japan.

View full sizeAndy Wong / Associated PressReliver Justin Germano, left, shown in 2008 at a youth clinic in Beijing while he was with the San Diego Padres, would prefer not to play baseball in Japan again.

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Justin Germano didn't like pitching in Japan last season, but he does credit the experience with one thing.

"It helped my drive to succeed here because I didn't want to have to go back," Germano said. "I don't regret going, but I felt like I still had a chance here."

Drive, along with an e-mail to GM Mark Shapiro and director of player development Ross Atkins late in spring training, landed him in the Indians' bullpen, where the right-hander has yet to allow a run in 14 innings.

"He knows how to pitch," pitching coach Tim Belcher said. "I like watching him on the mound. You can see him thinking, 'I just threw this pitch to set up that pitch.' As a former pitcher, you appreciate that."

When Germano returned from Japan after going 5-4 with a 4.38 ERA for the Fukuoka Hawks last year, he threw for several big-league teams in late January. His agent told him they liked what they saw, but no one called.

"I finally started sending out e-mails," Germano said. "A lot of teams responded, but they all said they didn't have any room because spring training had already started. The Indians were the only team that said come to camp even though we don't have a spot for you. They told me I'd have to start in extended spring training."

Germano moved from extended spring training to Class AA Akron to Class AAA Columbus. The Indians promoted him to the big leagues July 30.

Fukuoka held a club option on Germano for 2010 and wanted him back. They talked to him for a month, but he said no.

View full sizePDIndians center fielder Michael Brantley was back in the lineup on Wednesday despite his gruesome-looking ankle sprain last week.

"I'm happy with the decision I made," he said. "It was a long road to get back here. Just to finish the year here makes it a lot better. I was unsigned the entire off-season. I didn't join Cleveland until the end of spring training."

This is Germano's first trip to the big leagues since 2008 with San Diego. He was 8-16 with a 5.27 ERA in parts of four seasons with the Padres and Cincinnati. When he joined the Indians, he did so with a different approach.

"When I pitched with San Diego, I nibbled a lot," said Germano, 27. "Here I've got no regrets. I'm just going up there and throwing the pitches I want to throw."

Dog's night out: Progressive Field will go to the dogs tonight. No, that is not a redundancy considering the Indians' record this season.

For the first time, the Indians have invited dog owners to bring their pets to the ballpark for a game. Curtis Danburg, Indians director of communications and creative services, says the Indians sold 500 tickets to Puppypalooza. They are expecting 200 dogs at the park to watch the Indians play the A's.

The dogs and their owners will have the run of the Bud Light Party Deck behind the right-field foul pole. Progressive Insurance has provided pet insurance for the event. The Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District and its PUP (pick up poop) campaign is one of the sponsors of the event.

"We'll have dog vendors at the park, doggie pools and water dishes and a designated area for the dogs to be walked and do their business," Danburg said. "Before the game we'll have a parade where people can walk their dogs around the field."

He's back: Center fielder Michael Brantley, who missed four games with a sprained left ankle, returned to the lineup Wednesday night.

The word on Aaron Laffey, rehabbing his left shoulder, was not as encouraging. Laffey threw 1 1/3 innings at Columbus on Tuesday. He allowed two runs on four hits. He told manager Manny Acta that his strength and velocity are no where near where they need to be.

"He needs more time," Acta said.

Date with destiny: The Asian Games run Nov. 12 through Nov. 27 in China. Shin-Soo Choo is expected to play for South Korea's baseball team.

"I'm on the roster, but not the final roster," Choo said. "If I make it, and I'm healthy, I'll play. Not many people get to play for their country."

Should South Korea win the Gold medal, Choo's two-year military obligation could be put aside.

"If you see me walking into spring training with a big smile on my face, you'll know what happened," Choo said.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: phoynes@plaind.com, 216-999-5158

The Indians have lost five straight and 13 of their last 17 games. Wednesday night they fell to Oakland's Trevor Cahill and a five-run first inning deficit they could not overcome.

View full sizeChuck Crow / The Plain DealerIndians designated hitter Travis Hafner looks like he is in pain after striking out swinging to end the eight inning against the Oakland A's on Wednesday at Progressive Field. The Indians struck out eight times in the final three innings.

CLEVELAND, Ohio — They scored a run. It was unearned, but they scored a run.

Maybe that will be the start of something small. In the Indians' world, small is a big thing right now.

Oakland thumped the Indians again Wednesday night. This time the score was 6-1 behind the pitching of Trevor Cahill, Craig Breslow and Henry Rodriguez. The Indians have lost five straight and 13 of their last 17 games.

Cahill (14-5, 2.43) kept throwing sinker after sinker. In the first two innings, the Indians put the leadoff hitter on base only to have the next batter hit into a double play.

How good is Cahill? He's been pitching all year and the opposition is still hitting only .201 against him.

After Cahill went seven innings, Craig Breslow, the left-hander who never received much of a look from Eric Wedge last year in Cleveland, struck out the side in the eighth. Then the A's rolled someone named Henry Rodriguez out of the pen for the ninth. He struck out Jayson Nix, Trevor Crowe and Matt LaPorta in order. In that flurry of pitches, he threw six at 101 mph. Nix, Crowe and LaPorta struck out on 101 mph fastballs.

"We've heard of him," said manager Manny Acta. "You think everyone in baseball doesn't know about a guy who throws 101 mph?"

The Indians were facing all that pitching and a 5-0 first-inning deficit that Mitch Talbot put on their shoulders. Talbot (8-11, 4.44) hasn't won since June 27 and he might not win again if keeps pitching like he has.

Plate umpire Paul Emmel didn't help Talbot by ruling that Kurt Suzuki was hit by a pitch when the ball clearly hit off the knob of his bat with one on and one out in the first. The sound of the ball hitting the bat could be heard in the press box -- there were only 10,514 fans at Progressive Field -- and Suzuki didn't react like a man hit on the hand by a pitch.

"It didn't help," said Acta, when asked if Emmel's call changed the inning. "The guy was 0-2. If he gets him right there, there's two out. But you can't blame the umpire for the two walks, the two singles and the double."

After Talbot walked Daric Barton and hit Suzuki, Jack Cust singled home a run. Mark Ellis walked to load the bases and Rajai Davis singled home another run. Kevin Kouzmanoff made it 5-0 with a three-run double off the top of the center field fence. Kouzmanoff was 4-for-42 entering the game.

"You don't want to be down 5-0 before you swing the bat," said Acta. "Especially against a guy who is competing for the Cy Young."

Talbot allowed one more run through the next five innings, but it didn't matter. The Indians offense has scored just four runs in losing the last five games. Opposing starting pitchers are 5-0 with a 0.50 ERA in those games.

"The first inning was just a struggle," said Talbot. "It felt like I was all over the place and the results showed I was all over the place."

The Indians scored their only run in the last 21 innings in the fifth. They needed an error to do it, but it was a sign of improvement. In Tuesday's 5-0 loss, Oakland made three errors in the second inning, but the Indians couldn't score.

Jason Donald started the fifth by reaching on Kouzmanoff's error at third. He took second on a ground out, but Michael Brantley lined out to short. Asdrubal Cabrera singled him home and was then tagged out in a rundown between first and second to end the inning.

Cahill just kept going. He walked Shin-Soo Choo to start the sixth, but retired Travis Hafner. Nix singled, but Crowe hit into his second double play of the game. In the seventh, Cahill struck out the last two men he faced. It started a run in which the Indians made their last eight outs on strikeouts. Maybe they were desperate.

Choo reached base four straight times Wednesday on three hits and a walk. In his last 11 games, he's hitting .372 (16-for-43).

"The way our offense is going, I'm surprised they keep pitching to him," said Acta. "He keeps showing us how good he is."

To reach this Plain Dealer Reporter: phoynes@plaind.com, 216-999-51587

UPDATED: Eric Berger gives up just one hit in six innings in the Akron Aeros' 8-1 win on Wednesday night. Lake County wins, and the Kinston Indians sweep a doubleheader.

Chuck Crow, The Plain Dealer Lonnie Chisenhall in spring training with the Indians.

Updated at 11:48 p.m.

AAA Columbus Clippers

Mud Hens 5, Clippers 4 (12) Righty Carlton Smith (1-6, 7.12) allowed a run in the bottom of the 12th inning and Columbus lost the International League game Wednesday in Toledo. RH Johan Pino (5.61) started for the Clippers and gave up four earned runs on six hits and one walk. He struck out 10.

Notes: Going into Wednesday night's game, RH reliever Josh Judy had a 1.84 ERA over his last 26 games, with 40 strikeouts in 34 1/3 innings....1B Wes Hodges (.275) was 5-for-8 with two doubles and a home run in his last two games....RH reliever Bryce Stowell (1-1, 5.49) struggled with his control early in his stint with the Clippers, and had walked 17 going into Wednesday night, but had struck out 28 and held hitters to a .167 batting average in 19 2/3 innings. Including his time with Kinston and Akron, Stowell was 3-1 with seven saves and a 2.14 ERA, striking out 102 and walking 36 in 67 1/3 innings, and holding batters to a .183 average....OF Jose Constanza (.314) was on a nine-game hitting streak, going 17-for-35 (.486) with two doubles, one triple, nine runs and four RBI. Constanza was third in the International League in batting, and his 33 stolen bases (in 38 attempts) were one behind league-leading Desmond Jennings of Durham. The left-handed hitter was batting .363 (29-for-80) against left-handed pitching this season....IF Argenis Reyes was 13-for-38 (.342) with two doubles since joining the Clippers....RH reliever Zach Putnam (0-1, 4.67) hadn't allowed a run in his last five games, allowing two hits and one walk in 7 1/3 innings, with eight strikeouts.

AA Akron Aeros

Aeros 8, Baysox 1 Lefty Eric Berger (5-5, 4.68) threw six innings of one-hit ball, second baseman Jason Kipnis (.325) had three hits, and Akron beat host Bowie, Md., in Eastern League play.

Notes: Going into Wednesday night's game, 3B Lonnie Chisenhall (.276) was 15-for-35 (.429) with five doubles, two home runs, 15 RBI and seven runs in his last 10 games. Chisenhall, 21, an Indians' first-round pick in the 2008 draft, was tied for seventh in the Eastern League with 75 RBI, despite missing 25 games earlier this season with a sore shoulder. The left-handed hitter went into Wednesday night with 20 doubles, two triples and 16 homers....OF Jerad Head (.309) was batting .408 (31-for-76) with nine homers, five doubles, 21 RBI and 19 runs in his last 21 games with the Aeros....RHP Chen Lee (5-4, 3.43) was 1-1 with an 0.49 ERA in his last 13 games, striking out 19 and allowing just eight hits and three walks in 18 1/3 innings. Lee had fanned 73 and walked 21 in 65 2/3 innings overall, giving up just four home runs....RH reliever Omar Aguilar (2-5, six saves, 3.41) had not given up a home run in 58 innings this season, while striking out 68 and holding batters to a .221 average....OF Tim Fedroff (.277) was 12-for-33 (.364) with two doubles, two triples, one homer and five walks in his last 10 games.

Advanced A Kinston Indians

Indians 4-1, Keys 3-0 Center fielder Bo Greenwell (.293) hit a walk-off bases-loaded sacrifice fly and the K-Tribe beat Frederick, Md., in the first game of a Carolina League doubleheader in Kinston, N.C. In the second game, right fielder Abner Abreu (.251) brought in the winning run after getting hit by a pitch with the bases loaded in the bottom of the eighth inning of the normally seven-inning game.

Notes: Wednesday night's game first game is the makeup of Tuesday night's rained-out contest....Going into Wednesday night's games, LH reliever Chris Jones (2-3, two saves, 1.62) had struck out 56, walked 22 and allowed just one homer and a .205 batting average in 61 innings....Catcher Chun Chen (.313) was 13-for-32 (.406) with three doubles, two homers, 10 walks, eight runs and six RBI in his last 11 games....OF Abner Abreu (.253) was 15-for-39 (.385) with four doubles, one triple, nine RBI and six runs in his last 11 games....SS Juan Diaz (.272) was on an eight-game hitting streak, going 12-for-27 (.444) with three doubles, one homer, six RBI and six runs.

A Lake County Captains

Captains 3, Hot Rods 1 Right-handed starter Jason Knapp (1-0, 0.00) threw five scoreless innings, allowing just one hit while striking out six, and Lake County won the Midwest League game in Bowling Green, Ky.

Notes: Going into Wednesday night's games, 1B Adam Abraham (.256) was hitting .367 (51-for-139) with nine homers, 10 doubles and 37 RBI in his last 33 games....SS Casey Frawley (.268) was hitting .321 (26-for-81) in August, with four doubles, three triples, two homers, 14 RBI and 14 runs in 21 games....OF Greg Folgia (.250) was 12-for-35 (.343) with one homer, one double, five runs and four RBI in his last nine games....CF Delvi Cid (.258) was 14-for-40 (.350) with nine runs and six stolen bases in his last 10 games. Cid was leading the Midwest League with 64 stolen bases (in 79 attempts)....OF Tyler Holt (.265) was 6-for-15 (.400) with three doubles, four runs, two RBI and two stolen bases in his last four games....RH reliever Preston Guilmet (3-1, nine saves, 2.45) had struck out 61, walked eight and held batters to a .186 average in 44 innings....RH reliever Jose Flores (0-1, five saves, 2.55) had struck out 43, walked six and allowed 30 hits -- just one homer -- in 35 1/3 innings.

A Mahoning Valley Scrappers

Spikes 3, Scrappers 1 Left fielder Brian Heere (.263) had two of Mahoning Valley's five hits in the New York-Penn League loss to State College, Pa., in Niles, Ohio.

Notes: Going into Wednesday night's game, RHP James Ehlert (0-2, eight saves, 3.54) had saves in each of his last six games, pitching seven scoreless innings and striking out seven, while allowing three hits and two walks. Ehlert had fanned 36, walked 10 and allowed just one home run in 28 innings....OF Brian Heere (.254) was hitting .448 (13-for-29) with two doubles, one triple, seven walks, five runs and three RBI in his last 10 games. His 38 walks ranked second in the New York-Penn League....SS Nicholas Bartolone (.271) was 7-for-21 (.333) with three doubles, three RBI and four stolen bases in his last six games....RH reliever John Goryl (1-3, 3.94) had pitched six scoreless innings in his last four games, fanning four while allowing three hits and a walk. In 32 innings, Goryl had given up just one homer....RH reliever Gregorio Rosario (1-1, 5.23) had pitched 7 2/3 scoreless innings and earned a win in his last four games....RHP Casey Gaynor (5-2, 3.38) was 3-1 with a 1.13 ERA in his last five games (three starts), striking out 18, walking seven and allowing 16 hits in 24 innings....LHP James Reichenbach (1-2, three saves, 3.52) had three saves in his last six games, giving up one run on four hits in nine innings, with eight strikeouts and five walks....RH reliever Kyle C. Smith (0-0, 5.53), from Kent State, had not given up an earned run over his last five appearances, striking out 12 in seven innings. Smith had 43 strikeouts in 27 2/3 innings and was holding batters to a .206 average.

Independent Lake Erie Crushers

Crushers 4, Wild Things 1 Travis Risser (7-4) pitched eight stellar innings to lead Lake County past host Washington, Pa., for the Frontier League game. Risser allowed one unearned run on six hits and one walk. He fanned three. Crushers third baseman Lee Huggins (.244) hit his sixth homer of the season.

Notes: RH Alberto Rolon (2-4, seven saves, 2.87) has made eight starts since being moved from the bullpen. Despite having a 2.60 ERA in those starts and holding opponents to a .157 batting average, he is 0-4.

The Big Ten will not announce the conference realignment until mid-September, but different pieces of the puzzle are starting to leak out. Madison.com reports how Wisconsin athletic director Barry Alvarez confirmed Wednesday that when a two-division format for football is unveiled, Wisconsin and Iowa will be separated. Alvarez also said the conference will adopt a nine-game schedule for football, but...

Associated PressWisconsin athletic director Barry Alvarez.

The Big Ten will not announce the conference realignment until mid-September, but different pieces of the puzzle are starting to leak out.

Madison.com reports how Wisconsin athletic director Barry Alvarez confirmed Wednesday that when a two-division format for football is unveiled, Wisconsin and Iowa will be separated.

Alvarez also said the conference will adopt a nine-game schedule for football, but it won’t go into effect until 2015, allowing member schools to address previously contracted games.

More importantly:

A lot of speculation has surfaced recently regarding the legendary rivalry series between Michigan and Ohio State. In addition to where they would be placed — same division or not — there’s the matter of when they would have their annual regular-season meeting. With one exception, it’s been the final weekend every year since 1935.

Delany told ESPN he could see both scenarios — Michigan and Ohio State in the same division or split up — being embraced. He indicated that no decision has been made on when the game will be scheduled.

 

Get your questions ready and talk Indians baseball with The Plain Dealer's Paul Hoynes in a live chat.

Hoynsie answers your Indians questions today at noon.

Jump in the chat room below and ask your Indians questions or just listen. Can't make the chat? An archive will be made available in mp3 format shortly after the chat's completion.

Browns running back Montario Hardesty will practice for the first time today and is questionable for Saturday's game in Detroit.

Joshua Gunter / The Plain DealerMontario Hardesty took another big step, returning to the practice field. But he's iffy for the Detroit game.

CLEVELAND -- Browns rookie running back Montario Hardesty will practice today for the first time this preseason, but is questionable for the Detroit game, coach Eric Mangini said.

Hardesty said earlier in the week that he's aiming to get some reps in the final preseason game Sept. 2 against the Bears.

Mangini said Hardesty will be limited in practice today and that "it's the next step in coming back, a really positive step.''

Mangini said he's not concerned that this means Hardesty willl be plagued by injuries at this level. "This wasn't something that was a pre-existing condition,'' said Mangini. "I really believe Montario is a durable, tough kid. Sometimes setbacks happen. I'm excited he's back out there.''

Mangini said Hardesty's chances of seeing action Saturday in Detroit will depend on how well he operates today and how good he feels tomorrow.

James Walker of ESPN writes about the most indispensable players in the AFC North. He writes that the NFL is filled with many replaceable players, but there are a few players who are difficult to replace. His list includes safety Troy Polamalu of the Pittsburgh Steelers, linebacker Ray Lewis of the Baltimore Ravens, running back Cedric Benson of the Cincinnati...

THOMAS ONDREY / THE PLAIN DEALERJosh Cribbs

James Walker of ESPN writes about the most indispensable players in the AFC North. He writes that the NFL is filled with many replaceable players, but there are a few players who are difficult to replace.

His list includes safety Troy Polamalu of the Pittsburgh Steelers, linebacker Ray Lewis of the Baltimore Ravens, running back Cedric Benson of the Cincinnati Bengals, and Josh Cribbs of the Cleveland Browns.

Where would the Browns be without Cribbs?

For starters, you probably can erase two or three wins from last year's 5-11 record. Cribbs also might have saved Browns head coach Eric Mangini's job.

Cribbs was one of the few bright spots for Cleveland last season. He made the Pro Bowl as a kick returner, but his ability to run the Wildcat also added a new wrinkle to the Browns' struggling offense, which finished last in the NFL in 2009.

Linebackers

Ohio.com columnist Marla Ridenour jumps on the bandwagon that is filled with former Cleveland Browns linebacker Kamerion Wimbley supporters.

Last week, Wimbley recorded four sacks in the first half of the Oakland Raiders victory over the Chicago Bears.

Making Wimbley's weekend more memorable is that the Browns have recorded just one sack through two preseason games, that from outside linebacker Marcus Benard against the Green Bay Packers on Aug. 14. The Browns sent league tongues wagging by blitzing excessively against the Packers but were repeatedly burned by quarterback Aaron Rodgers' quick release and three-step drops. The Browns' game plan was a shocking departure from most teams' vanilla preseason schemes.

Colt McCoy

Transition from college football to the NFL has not been a cake walk for quarterback Colt McCoy, writes reporter Jeff Schudel of The News-Herald.

There has been no miraculous transition from college football to the NFL for the Browns' third-round draft choice. Far from it. When he throws a football in practice or a preseason game, the observer is reminded of two things: Eighty-four players were drafted ahead of McCoy and Browns president Mike Holmgren said from the beginning McCoy will not play in 2010 barring injuries to Jake Delhomme and Seneca Wallace.

To say the least, things have not been so good for McCoy, the Browns third-round pick. But McCoy is not discouraged.

"I have tremendous guys around me and great coaches," McCoy said. "I try to work as hard as I can and learn as much as I can. I study a lot of film and try to make sure I'm not losing any part of playing quarterback by not getting as many reps as I want or by not getting as many reps as some people in other places are getting."

Cribbs is a real catch

Josh Cribbs is a throw back player because he can (and will) play so many positions like tailback, quarterback, third-down back and even safety.

Medina-Gazette reporter Scott Petrak writes how Cribbs has emerged as a special teams standout and fan favorite.

“He’s developing as a wide receiver, which I really like and I felt strongly would happen,” Mangini said. “I feel very good about that, I feel like he can make some plays out there.”

Ohio State and Terrelle Pryor are popular choices to play for the national title and win the Heisman. Do you agree?

AP photoIs Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor your Heisman pick?

Do you think Ohio State is in line to play for a national title for the fourth time in Jim Tressel's 10th season with the Buckeyes?

I'm on record picking Ohio State to go 12-0 in the regular season, so you might have an idea where I stand there. But, for instance, Sports Illustrated picked Ohio State, Alabama and Boise State to finish undefeated in the regular season - could the Buckeyes be left out in a scenario like that?

To me, there's almost no way that would happen. I don't buy the idea that Boise State would be voted in ahead of the Buckeyes, not in a season where Ohio State is playing four opponents ranked in the preseason top 14 in the coaches poll.

So as I formulate my overall preseason predictions, I'm looking for your input:
 
Who are you picking to reach the BCS National Championship and who do you think will win the Heisman Trophy?