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Vinnie Pestano working his way back to form for Cleveland Indians

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Vinnie Pestano needed to get away from baseball after last season. He did exactly and now he's back trying to win a job in the Indians' bullpen.

GOODYEAR, Ariz. –Three months. It took Vinnie Pestano that long to get to where he wasn’t thinking about it from the moment he rolled out of bed to the time he went to sleep.

He visited friends. Went on trips. He even went duck hunting with teammate Josh Tomlin.

The idea was to cleanse his mind from what happened last season. Pestano finally reached a spot close to that. Then came anger followed by motivation and a desire to be the pitcher he used to be.

“I want to get back to form,” said Pestano. ”I want to get back to being the same kind of pitcher I was in 2011 and 2012. I want to be dependable and I want to be counted on. Those are two things I care a lot about.”

Pestano is a gym rat. He’d usually take three to four weeks off after the season and be right back at the Indians complex in Goodyear. After last season, he stayed away from the complex.

There was just too much to put rest from 2012: a right elbow injury following his appearance in the World Baseball Classic, the loss of his eighth-inning setup job, his first trip to the disabled list, a demotion to Class AAA Columbus and one mechanical adjustment after another.

“Vinnie was spent at the end of the year,” said pitching coach Mickey Callaway. “He was searching for a reason why whatever happened, happened. He needed to go home and forget about baseball for a while and that’s what he did.”

But even in his search of a quiet place, Pestano kept running into the hard edges of the game. He was eligible for arbitration, and despite coming off the worst year of his career, he went to a hearing with the Indians. It broke a 22-year streak by the team of never going to arbitration with a player.

Pestano was excellent in 2011 and 2012, posting a combined 2.45 ERA with 59 holds and 160 strikeouts in 132 innings. In 2013, his ERA jumped to 4.08 as he struck out 37, walked 21 and allowed 16 earned runs in 35 1/3 innings.

When the two sides exchanged salary figures in January, Pestano asked for $1.45 million and the Indians offered $975,000. The three arbitrators ruled in favor of the Indians.

Pestano felt he had a good case because arbitration isn’t just based only on the player’s previous year.

“It’s a battle I’d fight 500 times over,” said Pestano. “My career numbers were a lot better or comparable to a lot guys who were making way over our midpoint ($1,212,500). The only thing they had going for them is that I got sent down last year. Our argument was trying to show my value compared to their value of me even though I got sent down.”

Some arbitration hearings can be bitter, Pestano said that was not the case with the Indians.

“They weren’t disrespectful or demeaning,” said Pestano. “They just used the numbers they had to make their case.

“Last year was a rough year for me. I lived it. I spent every day with it. So nothing that was said in that room wasn’t something I’d hadn’t already said to myself.”

Indians’ pitchers have been throwing batting practice to their big league teammates for the last two days. Pestano hasn’t reached that stage of spring training yet. He’s still working on bullpen sessions.

“I wanted to give my body and mind as much time as they needed,” said Pestano.

Callaway watched Pestano’s bullpen session Friday and was impressed.

“ He’s been getting better and better just as far as the spin on the ball and looking like the old Vinnie Pestano,” said Callaway. “I’m very encouraged by the work he’s been putting in. It looks like he’s coming around.”

There are 20 relievers in camp. The five with jobs all but guaranteed are John Axford, Cody Allen, Bryan Shaw, Marc Rzepczynski and Josh Outman. Pestano is on the bubble for one of the last two spots.

“Every big league camp I’ve been in, I’ve broke with the team,” said Pestano, who has two minor league options left. “I’m not planning on breaking that streak right now. “



Winter Olympics 2014: US athletes adopting 'Sochi strays' was best American story at the games (column)

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This is the day when the cold mathematics begins for the U.S. Olympic officials, when they add up the total medals and see if, in grand U-S-A fashion, they can stake claim to No. 1.



Winter Olympics: U.S. athletes adopting 'Sochi strays' was best American story at the Games (Politi) (via NJ.com)


SOCHI, Russia - This is the day when the cold mathematics begins for the U.S. Olympic officials, when they add up the total medals and see if, in grand U-S-A fashion, they can stake claim to No. 1. It matters to many, for future funding and national...






New center Spencer Hawes has a long history with Cleveland Cavaliers

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Spencer Hawes' uncle, Steve, was a second-round draft choice of the Cavaliers in 1972.

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio -- As it turns out, new center Spencer Hawes has quite a long history with the Cavaliers.

His uncle, Steve Hawes, was actually a second-round draft pick out of the University of Washington in 1972, the 24th player taken overall. He played at Washington just ahead of Hawes' dad, Jeff.

"I've never actually seen him or my dad play on tape,'' said Spencer Hawes, who was traded to the Cavs on Thursday from Philadelphia and made his debut in Friday night's loss at Toronto.

"I've heard stories. I've seen so many assistant coaches around the league and people who played with him. I think he was kind of a high post, pick-and-pop player. They said he had a sweet jump shot. I'd have to see it to believe it. From all accounts, he was similar to how I play. But he had the hooks, though. I've got to try to work on the hooks. I've got to try and catch up there.''

Steve Hawes played 10 years in the NBA, though never with the Cavs. He also played overseas, as did Jeff Hawes.

Spencer Hawes is in his seventh NBA season, after being drafted by Sacramento with the 10th pick in 2007. He played three seasons in Sacramento and was in his fourth season in Philadelphia before being traded. He was not surprised that he got traded. It was where he got traded that was surprising.

"I woke up and had a pretty good idea I was going somewhere, but Cleveland wasn’t in any of the rumors that I’d heard,'' said Hawes, who was acquired for Earl Clark, Henry Sims and two second-round draft picks. "So I woke up, my agent called me and gave me the news and I started packing.''

He arrived at the team's hotel in Toronto on Thursday night, went through Friday's shootaround and then had seven points, 10 rebounds, three assists and three blocked shots in 26:28 in the 98-91 loss.

Cavs coach Mike Brown was impressed how quickly Hawes fit in. He hit his first shot -- a 3-pointer 30 seconds after entering the game and had his first blocked shot five seconds later.

"For no practice and just a shootaround, he does have a feel for the game,'' Brown said. "He's vocal out there, which is good. He obviously can shoot the ball. He can pass the ball. He seems like he has some toughness to him, too. I think as every day goes on, he's going to be able to help us more and more because we'll get a better feel for his game and he's going to get a better feel for what we're trying to do as a team.''

Hawes felt better after his first practice with the team on Saturday.

"Last night was a little bit weird, a little bit through the fire, trying to figure out my place,'' he said. "Offensively I was confused but it was good to get today and break some stuff down. I felt a lot more comfortable, not only with the offense but with players and tendencies and everything like that.''

With Anderson Varejao still out with a bad back, Hawes will back up starter Tyler Zeller. He said he's not worried about whether he will start -- as he had been in Philadelphia.

"This team has been playing very well lately,'' Hawes said. "I want to try to fit in as well as I can into the chemistry of the organization. Right now I'm just trying to keep my head above water and pick it up as quick as possible.''

No. 24 Ohio State overcomes dreadful first half, earns 64-46 win over Minnesota

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Ohio State managed only 18 points in the first half, but the Buckeyes used a 17-0 run in the second half to run away with the victory over Minnesota in Value City Arena on Saturday evening.

COLUMBUS, Ohio – For half of the game, No. 24 Ohio State looked like the vulnerable team that lost five of six games at the end of January.

In the second half, the Buckeyes looked more like the team that won five of six in February.

Well, six of seven now.

Trailing by 10 to Minnesota at halftime, Ohio State used a 17-0 in the second half to gain control on its home floor, then cruised to a 64-46 win over the Gophers. 

Junior Sam Thompson, who was moved into the starting lineup in place of Shannon Scott at the beginning of the month, had perhaps his most productive game of the year. 

Thompson finished with a game-high 19 points, but 16 of them came in the second half. 

After Minnesota stopped the Buckeyes' 17-0 run to make the score 35-32 with 12:30 remaining in the game, Thompson made sure the Gophers didn't gain momentum. 

Thompson scored Ohio State's next 10 points – including an impressive three-possession stretch that included a three, a finger roll in transition and a finished alley-oop – to help the Buckeyes open a 45-35 lead with 10:42 remaining in the game. 

Minnesota never got back within striking distance. 




Ohio University stuns Akron, 66-50, to tighten Mid-American Conference race

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With a critical top seed to the upcoming Mid-American Conference on the line, the Akron Zips fell to Ohio University, leaving the two tied.

AKRON, Ohio -- Tough and gritty to the end, Mid-American Conference basketball is a battle of both endurance and attrition. The Akron Zips and Ohio University Bobcats are the latest evidence of that.

A 66-50 victory by OU (19-8, 9-5) over the Zips (17-10, 9-5) came with the two defending MAC co-champs both short-handed with players injured, ailing and suspended, and both trying to stay within contact of the conference leaders for one of the four coveted byes to the upcoming MAC Tournament in Cleveland.

The victory for OU, fueled by a pair of defensive stands that first held Akron scoreless for 6:50, then without a field goal 7:05, all but wrapped up the win for the Bobcats and sent Akron to a rare second straight MAC defeat.

The Bobcats, with players ailing but playing, including guard Stevie Taylor with a broken leg, fared better than Akron.

"That was huge,'' OU head coach Jim Christian said. "Your bench has to step up."

Akron's bench did get 13 points from Deji Ibitayo, but it was a struggle for everyone else as Akron finished 15-of-56 (26.8 percent) from the field for the game.

"Eight people is kind of tough,'' Akron swingman Quincy Diggs said of the Zips playing without Nick Harney (suspended), Reggie McAdams (mononucleosis) and Jake Kretzer (concussion). "We just lost two big ones that we need."

Buffalo, who beat Akron 96-90 earlier in the week, is now first in the MAC's East Division at 16-8, 10-4, with Akron and OU one game back.

But the powers are now in the MAC West where Toledo (22-4, 10-3) and Western Michigan (17-8, 10-3) are tied for overall No. 1 and the top two seeds in the tournament.

Yet with four games to play all five of those teams, and a sixth in Eastern Michigan, could still change the dynamics of the tournament field.

"A good win,'' said OU center Jon Smith, who led all players with 16 points and 12 rebounds. "But we'll see these guys again. We're not getting too high and mighty off this one."

The Zips, however, do have some concerns, according to head coach Keith Dambrot. He noted eight of the top nine players that won a co-title last season were no longer on the court. And with those losses due to suspension, injury and graduation, the young Zips failed to rise to the occasion against the Bobcats.

"We showed quit,'' Dambrot said, noting Akron has been down double-digits to the Bobcats in just about every game they have recently played, yet rallied back. "We showed no freaking fight tonight. None."

Akron trailed at the half, 36-20, cut the lead down to 40-27, then suffered a technical foul by Demetrius Treadwell (13 points, nine rebounds), that helped the Bobcats get their lead as high as 22 points, before finishing the game with the relatively easy win.


Cleveland Browns' Mike Pettine identified quarterback as an "obvious priority''

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Coach Mike Pettine stressed that it's high on the Browns' list to find another quarterback to press Brian Hoyer for the starting job.

INDIANAPOLIS -- Coach Mike Pettine identified quarterback as an "obvious priority'' for the Browns, regardless if they find competition for Brian Hoyer in free agency or the draft.

"(Hoyer's) proven he can be successful in the NFL, but at the same time, you’re always looking to make the team better and that’s the most important position,'' Pettine said Saturday at the NFL Combine. "So we’re going to do a lengthy evaluation on what’s available in the draft, what’s available in free agency, what’s on campus, and make that decision for what’s going to give us the best chance to win.''

Pettine noted that the Browns have a lot of priorities, "but quarterback is the obvious one, (and) we’re going to be very meticulous there.''

He emphasized that he's not necessarily looking for a Manning-caliber quarterback that has to put the team on his shoulders.

"They come in all shapes and sizes,'' he said. "We’re looking for one that’s going to maximize our ability to win. Even though the quarterback’s a priority, we don’t want to put ourselves in a position where the quarterback has to win the game. I think that’s where some teams make mistakes. Even though it’s the most important position. If you don’t have that guy that you feel, whether it’s (Tom) Brady or (Peyton) Manning that can take over a game and win it for you…. While the quarterback is a priority, we need to make sure we’re solid around him and make his job easier.''

He echoed general manager Ray Farmer's sentiments that the Browns don't necessarily have to find their quarterback early in the draft. They have the No. 4 and No. 26 picks in the first round and the No. 35 pick overall pick (second round).

“With the number of picks we have if we don’t get the quarterback early, all options are on the table,'' said Pettine. "We’re not locked in saying we have to take a quarterback early in the draft. Look at the final four in the NFL last year. You have a sixth-round pick, which is an absolute anomaly in (Tom) Brady, and the first pick in the draft in Peyton Manning. Then you saw the 49ers and Seahawks did it going another way (with a second-round pick in Colin Kaepernick and third-rounder in Russell Wilson). There are a lot of ways to win in this league.”

With top prospects such as Johnny Manziel and Blake Bortles possessing completely different styles, Pettine said the staff is versatile to remain open-minded.

"When I look at Kyle (Shanahan's) background, he was able to succeed with a (Texans) Matt Schaub or a (Washington's Robert Griffin III), who I don’t think you can be farther apart on the spectrum of a skill set,'' Pettine said. "So I think that gives me confidence that whoever we take, whoever ends up fitting that position will be a player that gives us the best chance to win.”

Pettine addressed a number of other topics during his interview:

* On meeting with center potential free agent Alex Mack about re-signing with the club when he returns from a humanitarian trip to Brazil: "Nothing (is) scheduled, but I welcome that because once he sits down and he senses where we’re headed and I can lay out the philosophy and the program from A to Z, and hopefully, we have that shared vision of what it should look like going forward and it’s something he wants to be a part of, I am confident when he sits in front of Kyle (Shanahan) and Andy (Moeller) and George DeLeone, that he’ll feel the same way.”

*  On reports that he might try to sign Bills Pro Bowl safety Jairus Byrd, who's set to become a free agent. (Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported that the Bills are set to franchise  Byrd for the second straight year): "He’s under contract with another team. I really can’t comment. …I  had a great time with him in Buffalo. He’s an outstanding player.''

 * On if the Browns are set to pay linebacker D'Qwell Jackson his $4.1 million roster bonus next month: "He's currently under contract. I'm not going to speak on the future of that contract. We'll make that decision in the coming weeks. He came into town. He and I sat down and had a great meeting. It's easy to see why he's so highly thought of, the leadership ability and the intangibles to me are off the chart. …He was in town and bounced right up to the office and you could tell he's special.

* On second-year cornerback Leon McFadden, who came along slowly last season: "He's a guy we evaluated in Buffalo and had a decent grade on. It didn't surprise me where he was drafted. We are looking forward to getting Leon on campus and see how he performs in our system.''

 


Glenn Moore and Tom Reed recap Day 3 of the 2014 NFL Combine: Podcast

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Cleveland.com's Glenn Moore and Tom Reed recap the third day of the 2014 NFL Combine.


Browns Insider Feb. 22, 2014


Will the Browns draft Sammy Watkins at No. 4? Who has been impressive this weekend at the NFL Combine so far?

Cleveland.com's Glenn Moore and Tom Reed answered those questions and more during Saturday's episode of Browns Insider, live from the NFL Combine in Indianapolis.


Among other topics discussed:


• Mike Pettine's presser.

• Pairing Watkins with Josh Gordon.

From now until the draft, read what Mary Kay (@marykaycabot), Tom (@treedpd) and G-Mo (@GlennMooreCLE) have to say on Twitter.

You can download the mp3 or listen with the player to the right.

Follow our coverage on Twitter

More Browns stories

Return to Browns section



5 Moore Observations from Day 3 of the 2014 NFL Combine: Mike Pettine's quarterback; possible nightmare for defenses

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Here are some Moore Observations from the second day of the 2014 NFL Combine. Watch video

INDIANAPOLIS -- The third day of the 2014 NFL Combine has ended and there were plenty of big stories surrounding the Browns.


Browns head coach Mike Pettine spoke with the media and talked about what he is looking for this weekend. He also touched on the Jim Harbaugh rumors and what makes a winning team: having an outstanding quarterback or surrounding an average quarterback with a good defense and playmakers on offense?


Here are some of my observations and big stories from Day 3:


1. Mike Pettine says it's a team game


Will the Browns draft Johnny Manziel, Teddy Bridgewater or even Blake Bortles with the No. 4 pick? Fans want a franchise quarterback now. Too many years have gone by in which the Browns have not had a stable quarterback, let alone a superstar.


But does Pettine want to improve their receivers (Sammy Watkins) or upgrade the defense (Jadeveon Clowney) with their top pick? He sets the Seattle Seahawks as an example of a Super Bowl champion team without a superstar quarterback.
Being a championship quarterback is not making him win the championship himself,” Pettine said Saturday. “You saw that happen in Seattle. Would you put Russell Wilson in the top 10 quarterbacks in the NFL? No. It’s a team sport. They played great defense. The supporting cast around him was tremendous. The very first thing that he did was he didn’t lose games when he went out to win them. That’s the key to success."

The Browns will wait to see what happens with the first three picks, but do they go with someone who isn't at quarterback at No. 4?


Watch Pettine's press conference which took place Saturday.


2. Possible nightmare along Lake Erie


What if?


Watkins falls to No. 4 and the Browns grab the top receiver in the draft. Cleveland immediately has one of the top wide receiver duo in the NFL, pairing Watkins with Josh Gordon. The Clemon star says it was be a "nightmare" for opposing defenses.
“I’d kind of take some pressure off him with double coverage and (opponents) flipping the coverage to his side,” Watkins said. “It would become a nightmare (for defenses).”

Watch Watkins' talk about the possibility of going to the Browns in the draft.

3. One of the draft's top inside linebackers talks with Browns

The Browns are exploring every option and talking to players in different positions. Having a defensive-minded head coach, you would assume the Browns would address the defense in the draft.

Christian Jones, inside linebacker from Florida State, stated during his media session that he has talked with the Browns. He's ranked in the top 5 in the draft among inside linebackers.

Dane Brugler of CBSSports.com has this to say about Jones:
STRENGTHS: Tremendous athlete with has fluid footwork who flawlessly flips his hips to blanket tight ends or receivers down the field in coverage. Tall and long, which he uses well in coverage. Plays with excellent range and speed to chase down the action, taking proper angles in pursuit. Flashes the take-on strength to blow past blockers when he uses proper technique.

WEAKNESSES: Needs to improve his awareness to turn his head and find the ball. Length is advantageous, but at times will cause him to play too upright, and he needs to improve his overall leverage, especially on tackle attempts. Will get hung up on blocks at times.

4. Browns president Alec Scheiner responds to tweet about Sammy Watkins


Who doesn't want to come to Cleveland?

Browns president Alec Scheiner responded to a tweet about Watkins Saturday evening. This is what he said:





After receiving another tweet from a fan, Scheiner appreciated the support:



5. Eye-popping numbers from Auburn's Greg Robinson


There are always a few players who turn heads at the NFL Combine. Players who were off the radar but perform well enough to raise their draft stock. Auburn offensive lineman is one of them.


Robinson was clocked at 4.92 seconds in the 40-yard dash on Saturday morning, with a 10-yard split of 1.68 seconds. You might say, what's the big deal.


The man weighs 332 pounds.





Be sure to follow on Twitter: @GlennMooreCLE. I'll be posting Moore Observations during the NFL Combine this weekend. Check out Day 1 here.

Gymnast Alecia Farina leads Brecksville-Broadview Heights to 14th district championship (slideshow, video)

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CHESTERLAND, Ohio – Sophomore Alecia Farina led Brecksville-Broadview Heights’ gymnastics squad to its 11th straight Northeast District championship – 14th overall – with a team score of 145.950 on Saturday. “They worked hard,” coach Joan Ganim said. “I don’t think I could have predicted this. They just came together. It took a lot of focus on their part.”

CHESTERLAND, Ohio – Sophomore Alecia Farina led Brecksville-Broadview Heights’ gymnastics squad to its 11th straight Northeast District championship – 14th overall – with a team score of 145.950 on Saturday.

“They worked hard,” coach Joan Ganim said. “I don’t think I could have predicted this. They just came together. It took a lot of focus on their part.”

Farina won the all-around title with a score of 38.325 at the district meet at West Geauga. It is Farina’s second straight district all-around victory, as she finished first a year ago with a 37.725 mark.

Joining Brecksville at next week's state meet are Mentor, which was second with 142.125 points, along with Magnificat (140.875), Strongsville (140.425) and Hudson (139.450).

The state championship is Friday (team) and Saturday (individual competition) at Hilliard Bradley. It will be Magnificat’s 24th state trip in 25 years and the program’s 27th trip overall. For the individual competition, the top 16 district finishers in each event qualify for state. See the results below for the qualifiers.

Brecksville's district championship came during a season full of struggles.

“We’ve had a lot of adversity come across,” Ganim said.

In late January, senior Michaela Romito, who has Crohn’s Disease, was hospitalized with E. coli in her lungs and kidneys and pneumonia and couldn’t compete. Over a four-day period, Romito lost 12 pounds and had a 105.2 fever. A week later, junior Madison Trout tore her ACL during a meet.

Romito competed in the team portion of Saturday's meet for the first time since her illness. She scored a 9.275 on the vault and a 9.025 on the uneven bars, decided Friday night she wanted to compete in the meet on Saturday. Romito is not eligible for the individual portion of the state championship meet because she did not compete in sectionals. 

Farina finished the day winning three of the four events – vault (9.750), bars (9.625) and floor (9.550). She finished second on the beam with a 9.400 score, behind Nordonia senior Monica Batton (9.675).

“It feels good (to be at the level I’m at),” Farina said. “But I really like to do well for our team.”

Batton was second in the all-around (37.575) and Cloverleaf's Maddie Brandt was third (36.850).

Bees sophomore Jamie Waugaman finished fourth in the all-around, scoring 36.500. Waugaman scored in the top five on bars (9.100) and beam (9.075), while placing sixth on the floor (9.250) and tying for 15th on the vault with Cloverleaf’s Cassandra Grabowski (9.075).

The victory also comes during a season in which Brecksville lost its first meet in over 10 years. The Bees held a 777 consecutive win streak before losing to Magnificat on Jan. 9.

“I think it was a heads up for the girls type of thing,” Farina said. “We had so many girls last year, and I think it’s good for the girls to know we can win without 25 girls on our team. We’re still confident in ourselves.”

Brecksville is seeking its 14th state title, and 11th consecutive.

“The past decade-plus has been great,” Ganim said. “I’m just proud of all of them.”

NORTHEAST DISTRICT CHAMPIONSHIP

How they finished: 1. Brecksville-Broadview Heights 145.950; 2. Mentor 142.125; 3. Magnificat 140.875; 4. Strongsville 140.425; 5. Hudson 139.450; 6. Medina 136.175; 7. Solon 135.400; 8. Cloverleaf 134.500; 9. Berea-Midpark 133.425; 10. Nordonia 132.150; 11. Cuyahoga Falls 130.950; 12. Stow-Munroe Falls 130.500.

Beam: 1. Batton (Nor.) 9.675; 2. Farina (BBH) 9.400; 3. Shier (North Canton Hoover) 9.275; 4. Pratt (Str.) 9.100; 5. Waugaman (BBH) 9.075; 6. Brandt (Clo.) 9.025; T7. Skinner (Hud.) 9.000; T7. Spech (NDCL) 9.000; 9. Stewart (Str.) 8.975; 10. Nowacki (BBH) 8.950; 11. Marshall (Men.) 8.900; 12. Koberling (NR) 8.875; 13. Carpenter (Mag.) 8.825; 14. Murman (Mag.) 8.800; 15. Brozier (Men.) 8.775; 16. Mackey (Riverside) 8.750.

Vault: 1. Farina (BBH) 9.750; 2. Luciano (Mayfield) 9.675; 3. Batton (Nor.) 9.650; 4. Shier (NCH) 9.375; 5. Androsik (Mag.) 9.300; 6. Brandt (Clo.) 9.275; 7. Nash-Carabello (North Olmsted) 9.250; 8. Marshall (Men.) 9.225; 9. Hinslea-Burke (Lakewood) 9.200; 10. Bell (Solon) 9.175; 11. Pratt (Str.) 9.150; T12. Borrelli (Med.) 9.125; T12. Brozier (Men.) 9.125; 14. Corrao (Mag.) 9.100; T15. Waugaman (BBH) 9.075; T15. Grabowski (Clo.) 9.075.

Bars: 1. Farina (BBH) 9.625; 2. Brandt (Clo.) 9.450; 3. Nero (Kenston) 9.250; 4. Borrelli (Med.) 9.175; 5. Waugaman (BBH) 9.100; 6. Pratt (Str.) 9.075; 7. Nash-Carabello (NO) 9.000; 8. Marshall (Men.) 8.975; 9. Miller (Hud.) 8.950; 10. Quinn (NO) 8.875; 11. Wolfhope (West Geauga) 8.800; 12. Lori (Hud.) 8.775; T13. Klosowski (Str.) 8.750; T13. Bates (Wadsworth) 8.750; 15. Batton (Nor.) 8.725; T16. Beebe (Men.) 8.700; T16. Tusik (Str.) 8.700.

Floor: 1. Farina (BBH) 9.550; 2. Batton (Nor.) 9.525; 3. Shier (NCH) 9.375; 4. Corrao (Mag.) 9.300; 5. Brozier (Men.) 9.275; 6. Waugaman (BBH) 9.250; T7. Marshall (Men.) 9.225; T7. Bell (So.) 9.225; T9. Pratt (Str.) 9.125; T9. Murman (Mag.) 9.125; 11. Brandt (Clo.) 9.100; 12. Miller (Hud.) 9.075; 13. Cobb (Men.) 9.050; 14. Borrelli (Med.) 9.025; 15. Marken (BM) 9.000; 16. Palmer (Med.) 8.925.

All-around: 1. Farina (BBH) 38.325; 2. Batton (Nor.) 37.575; 3. Brandt (Clo.) 36.850; 4. Waugaman (BBH) 36.500; 5. Pratt (Str.) 36.450; 6. Marshall (Men.) 36.325; 7. Shier (NCH) 36.300; 8. Bozier (Men.) 35.975; T9. Nash-Carabello (NO) 35.725; T9. Borrelli (Med.) 35.725; 11. Corrao (Mag.) 35.625; 12. Bell (So.) 35.375; T13. Androsik (Mag.) 35.300; T13. Stewart (Str.) 35.300; 15. Palmer (Med.) 35.125; 16. Shoff (Jackson) 35.075.

Carlos Carrasco studying his pitching ABCs: Cleveland Indians spring training notes

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Carlos Carrasco says he didn't come to spring training to compete with pitchers for a spot in the Indians' rotation. He said he camp to spring training to compete with hitters.

GOODYEAR, Ariz. – Carlos Carrasco was doing some light reading Saturday morning at his locker.

In his hands was a copy of “The Mental ABCs of Pitching: A Handbook for Peak Performance Enhancement.”

Then Santana went out and threw his first round of batting practice to his teammates.

Santana is competing with Josh Tomlin, Trevor Bauer and Aaron Harang for a spot in the Indians starting rotation. Shaun Marcum could join the competition, but presently he’s still recovering from surgery to correct thoracic outlet syndrome in his right shoulder.

“It’s a good book,” said Carrasco. “I bought it Friday night.”

If the Indians could pick a pitcher to fill the fifth spot in the rotation behind Justin Masterson, Danny Salazar, Corey Kluber and Zach McAllister, it would be Carrasco. They love his arm, but his performance over parts of five seasons has been spotty.

This year Carrasco is out of options. GM Chris Antonetti has already said he’s on the club, whether it’s in the rotation or in the bullpen.

The Indians believe that will relax Santana.

“He felt like he was pitching for his major league life,” said manager Terry Francona. “He knew there was a chance he’d go to Class AAA.”

Carrasco has made some adjustments in his delivery to give him more deception.

“He looks very strong,” said Francona. “I like his delivery adjustments. It’s just a matter of him settling in and taking what he has into competition.”

As for the competition for the rotation, Carrasco said, “I have to be honest with you, I don’t come in here to compete against pitchers. I come in here to compete against the hitters.

“I know everyone here is looking for a job. But I’ll say it again, I don’t come in here to compete against pitchers, I come in to compete against hitters.”

Running man: Ryan Raburn cut back on his normal running during the offseason to give his legs time to heal. Last season he suffered from calf, heel and Achilles tendon injuries to both legs.

“I just rested and let the body take care of itself,” said Raburn.

Since the start of spring training, he’s has been doing extra running and says his legs are feeling better. One of the reasons for the extra running is that Francona wants Raburn to play first base to get him some additional at-bats -- especially against left-handers.

Last year Raburn had a .901 OPS, while hitting .272 with 16 homers and 55 RBI. He did it all in 243 at-bats.

Raburn is expected to see most of his playing time in right field, platooning with David Murphy. Asked if he ever wondered what he could have done last year if he could have gotten 450 at-bats, Raburn said, “Never. I don’t ever want to think like that. I could do the same thing wondering what I could have got if I’d filed for free agency. I don’t think about stuff like that. I just go out and play.”

The Indians signed Raburn to a two-year $4.85 million extension last year.

“I was ecstatic,” he said. “I really didn’t want to go anywhere else. I could have been a free agent again, but I didn’t want to go anywhere else. I just had a blast last year. It was so much fun. I’m hoping to have just as much fun this year.”

Testing, testing: David Aardsma pitched for Francona’s Boston Red Sox in 2008, going 4-2 with a 5.55 ERA and in 44 appearances. He struck out 49 and walked 35

in 48 2/3 innings.

He’s in camp as a non-roster player after going 2-2 with a 4.31 ERA in 43 appearances last year with the Mets.

“It’s going to be interesting to see where his velocity sits,” said Francona. “When I had him last time he was 94 to 95 with a wipeout split. The split has good action in the bullpen, but we want to see where his velocity gets to.”

Aardsma had Tommy John surgery on his right elbow in 2011 with Seattle. Last year Aardsma’s fastball averaged 91.2 mph. He threw it 64 percent of the time along with a slider and splitter.

Real test: Francona has been impressed with Carlos Santana’s work at third base through the first week of spring training.

“To the trained or untrained eye, you wouldn’t say, ‘That’s a catcher player third base.’ He’s playing third,’” said Francona.

The Indians open the Cactus League season Wednesday against the Reds and Francona says that’s when Santana’s real test begins.

“The game will tell us a lot more,” said Francona. “It goes fast and the other team is trying to find ways to have you make errors. It’s not just a coach hitting a fungo and making a physical play. It’s slowing the game down and knowing situations.”

Finally: The Indians will meet with MLB officials Tuesday to have a crash course in how the new replay system will work this year. Francona, Antonetti, assistant GM Mike Chernoff, Derek Falvey, director of baseball operations, and bench coach Brad Mills will attend. There will be two sessions for both teams.


Clemson WR Sammy Watkins says it would be a 'great decision' for the Cleveland Browns to draft him

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Watkins thinks he and Josh Gordon would make for a coverage "nightmare" for opponents.

INDIANAPOLIS – Sammy Watkins is 205 pounds of fast-twitch muscles and confidence.

The Clemson receiver believes he can score from anywhere on the field and run past any defender assigned to cover him. But he’s not above sharing the ball or the spotlight with another talented wideout.

On Saturday afternoon at the NFL Scouting Combine, Watkins was asked about partnering with Browns’ All-Pro Josh Gordon. Standing on a dais in front of reporters, the youngster seemed to conjure the matchup problems the tandem could create.

“I’d kind of take some pressure off him with double coverage and (opponents) flipping the coverage to his side,” Watkins said. “It would become a nightmare (for defenses).”

While quarterback remains the Browns’ most pressing need, Watkins might represent the safest pick at No. 4 overall for a rookie coach and general manager trying to jumpstart an offense and organization.

The receiver who's been likened to Julio Jones and A,J. Green said he’s met informally and formally with the Browns.

“For them to get me would be a great decision,” Watkins said.

Many analysts believe the Browns will select one of the three main quarterback prospects – Texas A&M’s Johnny Manziel, Louisville’s Teddy Bridgewater, Central Florida’s Blake Bortles – with their top pick.

But the club also requires an upgrade from Greg Little or Davone Bess opposite Gordon. The infusion of the speedy Watkins, who hopes to break the combine’s 40-yard dash record (4.24) on Sunday, would force defensive coordinators into hard choices.

The Browns strength of their offense last season was Pro Bowlers Gordon and tight end Jordan Cameron despite the pedestrian quarterback play for long stretches of the season.

“I think anytime that you can add somebody to your team that can score points, that can make explosive plays, that’s what the NFL’s all about,” said coach Mike Pettine, who gave no indication which way the Browns are leaning with their first pick. “Being a defensive coach, you think about, ‘Hey, we’re going to play great defense, run the football.’ I don’t think you can win that way anymore in the NFL.

“You have to have players that when they get their hands on the ball are special, and I think (Watkins) falls into that category.”

Pettine was asked if he’d be concerned about keeping three playmakers happy.

“You can't have enough,” the coach said. “If that's our biggest problem, worrying about that, where do I sign up?”

Drafting Watkins would mean taking a quarterback lower in the draft while likely starting Brian Hoyer, who's recovering from knee surgery. Although Manziel, Bridgewater and Bortles all come with questions, the quality of quarterbacks seems to drop substantially after them.

That’s not the case with the wide receivers. Several general managers and coaches have said this is one of the deeper receiver pools in recent memory. Texas A&M’s Mike Evans, USC’s Marqise Lee and Florida State’s Kelvin Benjamin are all projected in the first round with several others also in consideration.

But Watkins clearly thinks he’s the best of the group. You wouldn’t get many arguments from Ohio State defenders, who padded his signing bonus by allowing Watkins to catch an outrageous 16 passes for 227 yards and two touchdowns in the Orange Bowl.

The prep track star finished the season with 101 catches, 1,464 yards and 12 TDs.

“For me, I think I can do just about anything on the field from wide receiver to running back to slot -- I can make plays all over the field,” he said. “What I love doing is dominating defenses. I think that’s what I bring to the game and I think that’s going to turn over to the NFL. When I come into the NFL I think I can be that dominant receiver.”

Watkins said he’s been working to improve his route running and blocking since the Orange Bowl victory. He’s also prepping for a more physical game at the NFL level.

The 6-foot wideout said he’d welcome the opportunity to work with and learn from a Gordon or Detroit’s Calvin Johnson. Watkins’ only slip-up Saturday was trying to get too detailed in his knowledge of the Browns’ offense, saying they had the league’s fifth-best rushing attack. Cleveland was tied for 27th.

The Browns would be paying him seven figures to score TDs, not recite stats.

They have to draft him first and we already know Watkins thinks that’s a good idea.


Desperation mode, a disastrous first half, transition basketball and the Buckeyes in March: Five observations from Ohio State-Minnesota

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"Definitely the worst we've played - Coach Matta said it at halftime," junior Sam Thompson said. "Up to this point in the season, we hadn't come out and just laid an egg, and we did that in the first half."

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Observations from No. 24 Ohio State’s 64-46 win over Minnesota on Saturday evening in Value City Arena.

Is Ohio State in desperation mode? Ohio State junior LaQuinton Ross said something interesting in passing during the postgame news conference: “Every game we play from here on out is a desperation game for us.” 

Though the No. 24 Buckeyes have turned their season around, the players haven’t forgotten that they aren’t in position to capture the Big Ten title. Ohio State is playing now to earn a first round bye in the Big Ten Tournament and to impress the NCAA Tournament selection committee. Ross and his teammates have embraced the idea that they have no room for error at this point in the season, particularly during a stretch of games where they’re facing the bottom teams in the Big Ten.

Let’s not forget about the first half. Ohio State had perhaps its most complete first half of the year, but lets not forget about how terrible the first 20 minutes of the Minnesota game was. And if that happens against a top 25 team or in the NCAA Tournament? Ohio State’s season ends. The Buckeyes have now won six of seven games, but it has to be a little concerning for Thad Matta – who always preaches about the importance of upward trajectory – that his team, at this point in the season, is still capable of scoring 18 points in a half against a team like Minnesota. The Buckeyes were dragging, they were unmotivated and the Gophers were getting to the basket without any fight. It’s a little late in the season, and this team has been through too much already to need a motivational halftime speech to win home games.

“Definitely the worst we’ve played – Coach Matta said it at halftime,” junior Sam Thompson said. “Up to this point in the season, we hadn’t come out and just laid an egg, and we did that in the first half.”

Playing transition basketball makes Ohio State really good. A reporter asked Minnesota coach Richard Pitino whether his team played more man-to-man or zone defense in the second half. Pitno answered by saying asking if it mattered. That’s because Ohio State was up in down in transition so much that it never even had to penetrate the Gophers zone defense that gave it so much trouble in the first half. Ohio State forced nine turnovers in the second half, and was pushing the tempo off the blunders and turning them into easy baskets. There was a 17-0 run in the second half because of it, and it looked like Minnesota didn’t even have a chance. When Ohio State is playing defense, running and scoring easily, that’s when its at its best. And the second half against Minnesota may have been the best basketball the Buckeyes have played all year.

• Sam Thompson could be the answer. Ohio State’s mission to find a second reliable scorer has been a season-long quest, and I am not going to pretend that Thompson, who scored 19 against the Gophers, is now the answer. But Thompson was thriving in transition, and had a certain aggressiveness about him that we haven’t seen much this year. It’s not fair to expect him to start scoring 15 points per game – he’s still Ohio State’s sixth-leading scorer – but this team changed when he was inserted into the starting lineup at the beginning of February. It can change even more if he continues to approach offense with confidence and aggressiveness.

Ohio State is in a really good spot. I wrote earlier in the week that Ohio State has to win all four of the games before its showdown with Michigan State at home at the end of the year. Well, after beating Minnesota the Buckeyes are halfway there, and the next two opponents are at the bottom of the Big Ten.

What does that mean? If the Buckeyes beat Penn State and Indiana – both road games – they’ll likely be knocking on the door of a top 15 ranking heading into the Spartans matchup, and they’ll have a chance to finish 12-6 in the Big Ten. Considering this was supposed to be an off year – one doomed when Ohio State lost five of six to close January – that’s almost mind blowing. Matta is on the verge of doing it again. 


5 memorable moments from 2014 Winter Olympics (gallery, video)

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What will be the things about the Sochi Winter Olympics that you will remember in 2034?

03Gallery.jpgThe sun sets on the warmest Winter Olympics in Sochi. 

Twenty years after the Winter Olympics moved off the Summer Olympics schedule, what do you remember about the 1994 games?

They were held in Lillehammer, France.

Tonya Harding cried and Nancy Kerrigan won silver in women's figure skating weeks are being smacked in the leg by a man hired by Harding's husband to take Kerrigan out.

Bonnie Blair won a gold medal in her third straight Olympics.

And ...

So what will be the things about the Sochi Winter Olympics that you will remember in 2034? Thankfully it won't be the violence we dreaded heading into the games, but here's some possibilities:

SPRING OLYMPICS

One of the concerns with a Winter Olympics venue on the Black Sea coast was the weather. The average daily high temperature in Sochi during February is 50 degrees.

It was too warm for the ski slopes, making a mess of the courses and the halfpipe, according to the competitors. For the visitors of the Olympic Park, it was a tropical oasis at times.

0223_DailyTemps.jpg 

During the 17 days of competition in the Olympics, the average daily high temperature was 55.9 degrees and only one day the high temperature was below 50 degrees. Of course, according to a study from the University of Waterloo, the temperature could be a problem for past Winter Olympics hosts in the future because of global warming.

SOCIAL MEDIA POWER

Social media was a clear winner in these Olympic games between the Sochi stray dogs, troubled accommodations, Johnny Quinn's breakout performance from the bathroom and Jimmy Kimmel's wolf spoof, there was something for everyone ... in Twitter, Facebook or some other social media hotspot.

BOB COSTAS' EYE

Television hosts or commentators have made Olympic moments in the past. Jim McKay stayed on live television for 14 straight hours before delivering the devastating "They're all gone" from the terrorists attack and kidnapping of Israeli athletes at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich.

Al Michaels' "Do you believe in miracles?" in the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid is a moment that still gives many people chills 34 years later.

Let's hope that Bob Costas' eye infections will not be his Olympic legacy. The NBC host ended his streak of primetime Olympics hosting duties when his pinkeye became too much for him to continue past the fifth night. Costas returned for the final week, but hopefully there are bigger Olympic moments for him in the future.

DAVIS AND WHITE

Ice dancers Meryl Davis and Charlie White could have enjoyed the silver from 2010 and called it a competitive career. Instead they rededicated themselves to their sports and completed a 17-year journey to U.S. Olympic history with gold in Sochi.

GOODBYE NHL?

Could this be the last time the NHL holds up its schedule to send players to the Olympics?

We'll see, but at least one NHL general manager is not happy about his player's NHL experience.

2014 NFL Combine: Glenn Moore, Mary Kay Cabot and Tom Reed recap the weekend (video)

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Cleveland.com's Mary Kay Cabot, Tom Reed and Glenn Moore recap weeeknd at the 2014 NFL Combine in Indianapolis.

INDIANAPOLIS, IN -- The NFL Combine has wrapped up, at least for the media in attendance. The players have been interviewed as well as team executives and head coaches.


Cleveland.com's Glenn Moore (@GlennMooreCLE), Mary Kay Cabot (@marykaycabot) and Tom Reed (@treed1919) recap the fourth day and talk about the big stories from this weekend.


Follow along with cleveland.com throughout the weekend by reading our daily blog.


Follow our coverage on Twitter

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Get a grip: Big hands of Johnny Manziel and quarterbacks like him are considered an advantage

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The ability to control the ball, particularly in inclement weather like Cleveland, is an important consideration.

INDIANAPOLIS – Alabama quarterback AJ McCarron walked out of football’s ultimate meat market Friday morning and shared his hand size with Twitter followers.

Asked what compelled him to publicize his 10-inch mitts, McCarron made it sound as if he were simply giving the people what they wanted.

“Because everybody kept asking me,” the two-time national champion said. “Everybody kept talking about hand size and they were asking me. I think I had the biggest one, though. I’m not sure.”

For those who think broadcasting such measurables at the NFL Scouting Combine is minutia run amok, coaches and executives disagree. The league loves quarterbacks with hands like candelabras – wide palms, long fingers.

“That’s something that is highly underrated,” Arizona coach Bruce Arians said. “It does depend on where you play. You play (indoors), not too bad. But if you play in Green Bay and struggle controlling a football when it’s cold and wet then that’s a problem.”

The NFL has been measuring hand size since the mid 1960s, former Dallas Cowboys executive Gil Brandt said, but in an information age when everything is quantified public intrigue has grown.

One of the weekend’s hotter combine tidbits concerned Johnny Manziel's 9-7/8-inch paws – large for a man of his 5-foot-11 stature. The quarterback with the biggest hands – they’re measured outstretched from the outsides of the pinkie to the outside of the thumb – belong to Virginia Tech’s Logan Thomas (10-7/8).

MANZIEL.JPGView full sizeAnalysts and coaches alike think the big hands and feet of Texas A&M Johnny Manizel give him an advantage.

Manziel fumbled just twice last season, a notable number given how many times he scrambles from the pocket and extends the ball from his body. Quarterback guru George Whitfield Jr., who trains the former Heisman Trophy winner, believes hand size is as relevant as height when gauging signal callers. He said Manziel’s ability to control the ball during pump fakes is key.

Michael Vick, who has a history of turnover trouble, has an 8-1/2-inch hand. The average male hand is 7.44 inches.

“I have really small hands and I had problems with it at times myself,” said former league MVP Rich Gannon, now a CBS analyst. “You learn to deal with it. But if the ball gets slick and you’re playing in a place like Seattle or Cleveland that’s certainly something you have to take into consideration.

“The thing that is encouraging about Johnny Manziel is he’s got big feet and big hands and I think it helps him in terms of how he plays – his elusiveness, his explosiveness out of the pocket, his ability to carry the ball and not have it come out on the ground.”

New Browns coach Mike Pettine said he wants an "all weather" offense with Cleveland’s climate and blustery conditions off the lake. Having a good grip, especially on cold days when the ball tends to harden, helps in spinning it through the wind.

"If you’re going to be quarterback in an area where it is potentially going to be windy or you’re going to get some bad weather in the year, that’s a big priority," Pettine said. "You’re looking for guys that have strong arms that can deal with the wind and can protect the football.”

WILSON--PAWS.JPGView full sizeSeattle Seahawks general manager John Schneider said the size of Russell Wilson's hands were a factor in drafting him in 2012.

Two years ago, Seattle Seahawks general manager John Schneider came off like the Violent Femmes in "Blister in the Sun" while discussing Russell Wilson.

The GM made it known Wilson’s big hands (10-1/4-inch) factored in selecting the 5-foot-11 quarterback because of the city’s rainy environs.

Although weight can be gained, body fat shed and speed enhanced, no personal trainer or dietary supplement helps with the hands. There isn't an exercise to make them larger for the combine.

Draft prospects are poked, prodded and grilled. Almost everything gets measured and questioned. On Saturday, Louisville quarterback Teddy Bridgewater was asked about his 9-1/4-inch hands during a media session.

Reporter: How do you convince teams your hand is big enough?

Bridgewater: “Well, simply by just completing the football. At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter about your hand size . . . I feel that with my accuracy, my arm strength, my decision making, the hand size shouldn’t be a factor.”

Reporter: But holding the ball in cold weather, which you’ll need to do if the Browns draft you, is that going to be a factor?

Bridgewater: “Not at all. I played in cold weather at the University of Louisville. If it gets too cold, I’ll be able to put on a glove and throw with a glove, and I’ve had success doing that.”

Reporter: Did you always wear gloves?

Bridgewater: “No, sir. I started wearing gloves when I arrived at the University of Louisville.”

Reporter: Did you wear gloves every game?

Bridgewater: “Yes, sir.”

Large hands alone don’t open doors to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Heath Shuler and his 10-5/8-inch hands were busts in the NFL after Washington drafted him No. 3 overall in 1994. Jim Druckenmiller (11-1/4) started only one game as a 1997 first-round pick of San Francisco. Brandon Weeden's 9-5/8-inch hands were big enough for his fabled flips.

Meanwhile, the Niners are quite happy with Colin Kapernick whose hands barely measure nine inches.

Brandt, however, said the number of small-handed QBs is diminishing. He referenced the plight of 2013 fourth-round pick Tyler Wilson, cut by the Oakland Raiders before playing a regular-season game.

Whitfield likened the importance of a quarterback's hand size to that of a basketball point guard's.

“You just have so much more control,” Whitfield said. “If you can get the ball to do what you want it to do on a calm day or windy day you have a distinct advantage.”

That's a thought a McCarron might want to share with his Twitter followers.



Teddy Bridgewater thinks he's No. 1, but could he go No. 4 to the Cleveland Browns?

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Louisville quarterback Teddy Bridgewater thinks he's the No. 1 quarterback in the draft, but could he go No. 4 to the Browns?

INDIANAPOLIS -- While most draft speculation has the Browns jumping for Johnny at No. 4, could they really be trolling for Teddy?

Plenty of draft analysts such as NFL Network's Mike Mayock have Louisville quarterback Teddy Bridgewater ranked No. 1 ahead of Texas A&M's Johnny Manziel, and Bridgewater -- sure to go in the top five -- couldn't agree with them more.

“I feel that I’m the best quarterback in this draft,'' Bridgewater said Saturday at the NFL Scouting Combine. "No doubt. I’m not just going to sit up here and say it. There’s obviously actions that have to back up these words, and I’m just confident in myself and my capability to be able to play this position. I’m just going to go out there and prove that I’m the best guy.”

Bridgewater opted not to throw or run at the Combine on Sunday, preferring to save himself for his Pro Day March 17. So what sets him apart from the other top two quarterbacks, Manziel and Central Florida's Blake Bortles?

“The biggest thing I think is my accuracy,'' Bridgewater said. "This past season, I was able to complete 71 percent of my passes. My third-down passing completion percentage was pretty much off the charts, my pocket presence, I’m a competitor. Each day I go out there and I’m eager to learn. I remain a student of the game, and I think that right there just separates me.”

Despite Johnny Football stealing his thunder over the past few months, and even at the combine, Bridgewater remained unfazed.

"I actually don’t pay any attention to what’s going on right now,'' he said. "All I do is control what I can control and that’s how hard I work each day continuing to play at a consistent level, at a high level.''

Besides, he's as enamored with Manziel as everyone else is these days.

"Johnny, he’s my guy,'' said Bridgewater. "I met Johnny last summer out in Oregon for one of the Elite 11 events. We were out there. We were mentors, and that was our first time meeting. Ever since then, our relationship has clicked. Around here, Johnny and I, we’ve been talking. We’ve been discussing things about future plans and college football. Whenever you get around these guys, you love to talk about what you did in the past and everything. Johnny, he’s a great guy.”

So if Bridgewater, the Sugar Bowl MVP, is so sure of himself, why didn't he dazzle scouts and coaches at the combine with his nimble legs and laser-shot arm?

“The biggest thing was just me being a perfectionist, and I just want everything to go right,'' he said. "Whether I’m taking a five-step drop and the guy’s not on top of his route at the time, I just want to have that chemistry with the guys. I tend to look at it from a pro standpoint. When you’re throwing in the offseason, you want to be with your guys to have that timing and that connection, so that was the biggest thing.”

As Bridgewater stood at the podium for his combine interview, he looked slight but had actually packed on some lbs. for the big day. He measured 6-2, 214 with a handspan of 9 1/4.

"(The weight) was a huge focus,'' he said. "I put on about nine pounds. I was 205 pounds when I finished the season at the University of Louisville. I’ve been working hard with my eating habits, my weight room lifting and everything.”

But is 214 still enough to endure the pounding he'll take from the Ndamukong Suh's of the NFL?

"Yes, no doubt,'' he said. "I just feel that to play this position you have to have durability, and I just want to prove that I can put on that weight and I am one of those guys who can last a full NFL season. Hopefully I relieved all doubts with my size. I know that I still have more weight that I canput on.''

Bridgewater was asked how he'll convince teams that his smallish hand size won't be an issue. For comparison's sake, the 5-11 3/4 Manziel's hand measured 9 7/8.

“Well, simply by just completing the football,'' said Bridgewater. "At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter about your hand size. The only thing that matters is the guy getting completed to wide receivers, and I feel that with my accuracy, my arm strength, my decision making, the hand size shouldn’t be a factor. ….I played in cold weather at the University of Louisville. If it gets too cold, I’ll be able to put on a glove and throw with a glove, and I’ve had success doing that.”

The analysts such as Mayock and nfldraftscout.com's Dan Brugler that rank Bridgewater ahead of Manziel all cite his pro-style offense at Louisville and ability to throw from the pocket as well as on the run at Louisville.

"It just prepared me for some of the things that an NFL quarterback has to do nowadays with making the checks at the line of scrimmage, sliding the protection, [identifying] the Mike, getting the offense in and out of the right plays, signaling the hot routes to the wide receivers,'' said Bridgewater. "It shows how much trust that the coach had in me and I’m glad that he put that trust in me.”

Unlike Manziel, who had to convince teams he has his priorities straight, Bridgewater is a confirmed gym rat.

“Yes. I eat, sleep and breathe football,'' he said. "There’s not a moment that goes by that I’m not thinking about football whether it’s I’m playing a game, practicing, watching film, even on the video game. Football means everything to me. I started playing organized sports when I was about 5 years old, and from the first time I picked up a football, I told myself I want to go to the NFL.

"It’s a way for me to just relieve everything. I lay it all on the line each day I go out there and play the game. I have such a passion for the game that I can’t even describe it.”

Brugler, a Northeast Ohio native and respect draft expert, has Bridgewater ranked No. 1 among the quarterbacks, followed by Bortles, Fresno State's Derek Carr, Manziel and Eastern Illinois' Jimmy Garapolo.

"In my opinion, (Bridgewater's) the top quarterback in this draft,'' said Brugler. "What he can do above the neck, his efficient mobility, overall arm talent, he reminds me a little bit of a what Russell Wilson can do. He's a pro style guy, very good weight distribution and mechanics in his passing, impressive accuracy. He has all the arm strength to make all the throws, he's mature, grounded, very football focused.

"I think he gets it and I think that leadership rubs off on his teammates. I think he's a very impressive prospect for a 21-year-old kid. The way he digests information and implements it on the field, to me, that's what you look for at the position, so going into the season, Bridgewater was my top quarterback, and after the season he's still there.''

Despite that, Brugler does have some concerns about the willowy playmaker.

"He's not a flawless prospect, just like all of these guys,'' Brugler said. "His frame is slight, he does have slender shoulders and hips, he doesn't have the ideal build and he's not a guy that's going to put on a lot of muscle. We're probably talking in the 210-pound range, and to be honest, there are not a lot of quarterbacks in the NFL right now that are 210-pounds. Obviously that is a concern. I think he needs to work on his deep accuracy and really doing a better job down the field. But for me, he's still the top quarterback in this draft.''

Brugler, who has the Browns taking Manziel at No. 4 in his current mock draft, predicted it will come down to Bortles or Bridgewater for the Texans at No. 1, where new coach Bill O'Brien, the former Patriots offensive coordinator, is looking to upgrade the position.

"Teddy does fit what Houston might want at No, 1 because he's such a natural passer, but he's not as much of a fit for them as Bortles,'' said Brugler. "With (Bridgewater's) pocket movement and the way he can operate an offense, absolutely I think he would be appealing to Houston at No. 1. But ever since Bill O'Brien was hired, in my mock drafts I've put Blake Bortles there. To me, that just kind of makes a lot of sense.''

Brugler said several scouts have told him that Bortles is the best of the bunch, and he certainly helped himself by throwing at the Combine and standing out among the crowd.

"Unlike Bridgewater or Manziel, Bortles has the ideal build for the NFL -- the size (6-5), the arm, the legs, moving with his feet. He flashes all kinds of potential. He just needs a little time to refine that talent and to develop. He's got a little Ben Roethlisberger to him and a little bit of Andrew Luck. He's not nearly as polished or consistent as when they entered the league, but scouts love a full toolbox and that's exactly what Bortles has, so it shouldn't shock anyone if he ends up going top five or possibly even No. 1.

"From a physical and mental standpoint, it's easy to see why many around the league think this kid is the best of the group.''

Brugler said there's a good chance the top three quarterbacks will go in the top five, and that Carr could go in the top 10.

And if Bridgewater has his way, he'll be the first name called on May 8.


Move from mound to batter's box has worked well for Carlos Moncrief, Cleveland Indians

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Prospect Carlos Moncrief has imressed the ears of Indians hitting coach Ty Van Burkleo Watch video

GOODYEAR, Ariz. –- Carlos Moncrief made a decision in the spring of 2010 that changed his baseball career.

He asked the Indians, the team that drafted him in 2008 as a right-handed pitcher, if he could change directions and become an outfielder. Moncrief didn’t think it was that big of a deal until he talked to his father.

“I was happy about it, but I didn’t think about the consequences,” said Moncrief. “My dad said, ‘Do you know what you did? You went to the front office and told them you didn’t want to do something that they drafted you for. I told him you’re right, but I wanted to hit. I wanted to tell them how I felt. Thank God, they gave me the opportunity.”

Four years later Moncrief, 25, is in his first big league camp and making an impression.

“I like to watch him hit as long as I remember to wear my earplugs,” said Indians hitting coach Ty Van Burkleo, referring to the sound that Moncrief’s bat makes when he makes contact. “He looks really good. Our minor league guys have done a great job with him.”

Moncrief was a starting pitcher at Hillcrest Christian High School in Jackson, Miss. He attended Chipola Junior College in Marianna, Fla. as a pitcher, but threw only 17 innings. The rest of the time he played right field.

 “One day we had a tournament with the top four JUCO teams in the nation,” said Moncrief. “I came in from right field and closed and was throwing 97. And all of a sudden, scouts were everywhere and I was a pitcher.

“Me not knowing much about how the draft and big leagues operate, I heard pitching was the fastest road to the big leagues. I said OK, I’ll roll with it.”

Moncrief developed shoulder problems in 2009. A doctor told him his range of motion wasn’t good and sooner or later it would lead to an injury if he kept pitching.

Deep down, Moncrief always liked hitting better than pitching so he took a chance and popped the question to the Indians.

“I had to make a decision for myself,” he said. “Was it going to be pitching and not loving what I do? Or let them know how I feel and hope for the best.”

Ross Atkins, Indians director of player development, said the organization discussed Moncrief’s request. They drafted him as a pitcher because they felt that would be his easiest path to the big leagues.

“There are a lot of factors that go into a decision to convert a player,” said Atkins. “One of them is the opinion, view and rational of the player. In Carlos’ case, that tipped the scale for us.”

Last year Moncrief hit .284 (139-for-489) with 26 doubles, seven triples, 17 homers and 75 RBI in 129 games for Class AA Akron. He scored 77 runs and stole 15 bases in 22 attempts, while posting a .824 OPS.

Moncrief hit fifth behind cleanup hitter Jesus Aguilar, who set an Akron club record with 105 RBI. They were a dangerous combination.

“I’m just glad he left a few RBI for me,” said Moncrief with a laugh. “Aguilar had a great year. He’d be having a terrible game, going 0-for-3 with three strikeouts. Then he’d come up with the bases loaded and bounce one up the middle or hit it into the gap.”

Moncrief and Aguilar are expected to play at Class AAA Columbus sometime this year.

“In between Moncrief and Aguilar, you’ve got two guys one left-handed (Moncrief), one right-handed (Aguilar), coming out of Double-A, who put up really good power numbers,” said manager Terry Francona. “They’re exciting, but they both need to go play. We’ll try to get a good look at them this spring, see what they need to work on, but then what they do during the season that’s what’s really important.”

Moncrief, Aguilar, Bryan Price, Austin Adams and Erik Gonzalez were added to the 40-man roster in November. The Indians also invited minor leaguers Francisco Lindor, Tony Wolters, Jake Lowery, Roberto Perez, Ryan Rohlinger and Joe Wendle to big league camp.

The thing that has impressed the Indians about Moncrief is that he’s improved his overall game every year. That is especially true about his swing.

“He’s learning about himself,” said Alan Zinter, Indians minor league hitting coordinator. “He’s got brains, raw ability with some big time pop and bat speed. Over the last few years, he’s been really learning his swing.”

Zinter said the key to Moncrief and all hitters trying to make it to the big leagues is understanding what they do well and how they do it. Theoretically, at least, that will help shorten the times when the hits stop falling.

In short, the faster Moncrief becomes his own coach, the better his chances of reaching the big league. Right now, just like all of us, he’s a work in progress.


Five lessons from the 2014 Winter Olympics: Tim Warsinskey's Take

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Avoiding to the dentist during the Winter Olympics isn't the only thing I learned.

CLEVELAND, Ohio – There were a total of 1,539 hours of Winter Olympics viewing available on the TV and laptop in my Olympics Basement Bunker over the last 18 days. I'm pretty sure I saw all but two of those hours.

Though I tried to put it off until after the closing ceremony, a toothache necessitated a trip to the dentist Friday and, incredibly, he did not have NBCSN on his cable package. I missed the last two periods of the USA-Canada men's hockey semifinal. He fixed my toothache, but the pain of missing the hockey game lingers. Here's hoping he puts my payment toward a better cable package.

Despite that misstep, I learned some lessons watching the XXII Winter Olympiad in Sochi, Russia. Here are five of them:

1. Ice dancing? Yes, ice dancing.

I was never a big fan of what I considered scaled-down pairs figure skating. I appreciated the intricate footwork and dance moves made in such close quarters, but I don't watch the Olympics to see twizzles.

Meryl Davis and Charlie White changed that. Their gold-medal winning free skate caught me completely off guard. It was spectacular on many levels. Skating last, they rose to the occasion the way champions do. The pressure of expectations – including their own – was tremendous and rivals Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir of Canada had set a high bar for Davis and White to reach. Davis and White had the best free skate of their careers at exactly the right moment.

That scenario happened several times a day in Sochi, which is one of the Olympics' many great appeals. That's not what captivated me about Davis and White's performance. It was stunningly beautiful and spectacularly athletic at the same time, a combination we rarely encounter in sports. I don't pretend to be a judge of figure skating, but when they spun, lifted and danced to “Scheherazade'' – a bold piece by the great Russian composer Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov – I got chills, and it happened twice. I did not see that coming.

2. Hockey's learning curve

There will be much debate about whether National Hockey League players should continue to participate in the Olympics. From the American and Russian perspective, nothing was gained by it in Sochi. Both teams embarrassed themselves. If the Americans can't show up and give their best effort against rival Canada, they have no business being at the Olympics. If they are going to quit in front of the whole world in the bronze medal game, they have no business wearing “USA” on their chests.

The blame should not lie completely with the players. USA Hockey picked this bunch and there were some questionable choices at forward that came back to haunt the U.S. when they failed to score in the last two games. USA Hockey had plenty of momentum coming out of Vancouver and lost it. One thing USA Hockey does well is its junior development program, and perhaps the U.S. would be better off if the Olympics was a 21-and-under tournament.

KELLI_STACK_SOCHI_OLYMPICS_ICE_HOCKEY_WOMEN_16261629.JPGView full sizeHilary Knight (21) celebrates with teammate Kelli Stack of Brooklyn Heights after Alex Carpenter scored a goal against Canada during the women's gold medal hockey game. Stack and the U.S. women's team are what's right about USA Hockey and were great ambassadors for hockey at the Winter Olympics.

On the other hand, seeing 43-year-old Teemu Selanne play with so much excitement and pride for Finland made my week. Hockey is the greatest game in the world, and it should be fun to play and watch. Selanne was a joy to watch.

There is irony in the fact that it wasn't the highly paid NHL all-star teams that showed the world what a great game hockey can be. Kelli Stack and the other low-paid women's players who skated with passion and heart throughout the tournament were hockey's best ambassadors in Sochi. Canada's gold-medal victory in overtime against the U.S. was my second-favorite moment of the games. It was a great hockey game, but the American in me just can't make it the top moment. Hey, at least Davis and White beat Canadian skaters.

3. NBC climbed the mountain

With 539 hours of broadcast coverage of 98 events over 18 days, NBC was bound to make mistakes and it's easy to cherry pick those. Instead, the network deserves praise for presenting all of the figure skating, hockey games and many other events live on its family of networks, plus more than 1,000 hours of live-streaming on its website. It is a monumental undertaking and NBC rose to the occasion, especially with its photography and live direction.

Two things stood out:

• Johnny Weir is awesome. I laughed out loud at many of his ridiculous outfits. He was two feathers shy of Liberace on some days, and that was a constant source of amusement. I understand the clothes are very much part of his personality, but I don't think that served him well because they distracted from the fact that he is an extremely talented young broadcaster. I much preferred his objective and insightful analysis on NBCSN during the live broadcasts to that of Scott Hamilton on NBC's “live-taped” prime time replays.

• There cannot possibly be a better play-by-play man on TV today than Doc Emrick, who is NBC's lead announcer for NHL games. He brings as much speed, impact and grace to the microphone as the Olympic hockey players did to the ice. Listening to him call women's hockey was a real treat. He seemed to really enjoy the assignment and it made the games more fun to watch.

4. Goodbye, B-j-o-e-r-n-d-a-l-e-n

I will miss you, Ole Einar Bjoerndalen. It took me 18 days to spell your name without googling it, and now you're gone.

Bjoerndalen is the greatest Winter Olympian of all time with 13 medals (eight gold), and he is a biathlete from Norway, where he is a household name, but like so many Olympians, he is anonymous in America. The biathlon is the sport were cross-country skiers stop to shoot rifles at targets. Talk about a sport that has no hope of catching on in the United States, unless skis are replaced by snowboards or skateboards, and instead of guns, athletes pause to play “Call of Duty.''

Ole Einar Bjoerndalen – it just flows off my fingers now – is why I love the Winter Olympics. Every two years we glimpse greatness in forms we would never otherwise imagine, and though TV struggles to capture it, I try to soak in the love of the crowds who have traveled great distances to see their versions of Michael Jordan in their primes.

5. The lesson of Sochi

Before the Olympics, tennis champion and gay activist Billie Jean King said, “Sometimes it’s good to go to places where things aren’t good. Sometimes you can help change by going to places where it’s difficult.” There's truth in that, but while the Olympics at its core is a demonstration of world peace, its mission is not to provoke change in host countries.

That said, the Olympics were in Russia, and Russia had its chance as a nation to put its best foot forward. Russia stumbled in this area on numerous occasions leading up to the Games, not the least of which were its anti-gay legislation and virtually eliminating free speech for those who would come to Sochi to protest. The fact they seemed to overlook the stray dogs still puzzles me.

Its decision to spend $51 billion on the Olympics and Paralymics – including $1.3 billion on the four opening and closing ceremonies – is one the Russians will have to live with for a long time. Russia believes it also built a destination city for its citizens and international tourists. Many previous hosts have believed the same thing and often found themselves disappointed.

Russia worked incredibly hard to build from scratch and host what has to be considered a successful Olympics. There was not a terrorist attack, and the No. 1 concern heading into the games was eliminated. That alone is a major victory. The U.S. and Great Britain warned of “credible threats” looming over the Games.

The venues held up for the most part, though the quality of snow was a major issue in several events, perhaps contributing to major injuries in slopestyle and virtually ruining the men's slalom.

The world saw a vision of what Russia is striving to become, as well as the issues that plague it, while enjoying a great cultural and sporting spectacle. The Olympics can do that to a nation.


Cavaliers vs. Wizards: Get updates and post your comments

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The Cavaliers look to rebound from friday night's loss as they head home to host the Washington Wizards.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cleveland Cavaliers look to bounce back from Friday's loss in Toronto as they face off against the Washington Wizards this evening at Quicken Loans Arena.  Tipoff is set for 6 p.m.

Tonight's game features two of the top young guards in the game as the Cavs' Kyrie Irving and Washington's John Wall both had time to showcase their skills at the NBA's All Star Weekend.

Get updates from The Plain Dealer on Twitter @PDCavsInsider and post your comments during the game below.


Ohio State running back suffers hamstring injury in 40 yard dash: NFL Scouting Combine notebook

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Buckeyes' running back finished with a 4.66 and didn't take his second attempt.

INDIANAPOLIS – Carlos Hyde said Friday he hoped to run his way into the draft's first round with a blazing 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine.

As he crossed the finish line Sunday, however, his time was the least of his concerns. The Buckeyes’ full-bodied back immediately clutched his left hamstring inside Lucas Oil Stadium after running a 4.66.

Hyde, expected to be one of the first halfbacks selected, was not available for comment. NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock said the 6-foot, 230-pound back suffered a pulled hamstring.

“It’s one thing if something happened like (Oklahoma cornerback) Aaron Colvin at the Senior Bowl where you tear an ACL,” Mayock said. “It’s another thing when you pull a calf or a hammy. It’s a temporary setback. Hopefully he will be ready for the Ohio State pro day.

The Buckeyes Pro Day is set for March 7.

The punishing Hyde is someone who could be on the Browns’ radar with either the No. 26 or No. 35 pick.

Hyde had hoped to run in the neighborhood of 4.4 on Sunday. He false started on his first attempt. He appeared to be running well on the second try, but came across the line in obvious pain.

HYDE-INJURED.JPGView full sizeOhio State running back Carlos Hyde had his left hamstring wrapped after sustaining an injury during his 40-yard dash on Sunday

Buckeyes teammate and linebacker Ryan Shazier was watching Hyde’s effort from his Indianapolis hotel room.

“I know how fast Carlos is and I know what he can do,” Shazier said. “When I saw it happen, (he’s) like my brother. And when you see your brother go down it kind of hurts. It kind of sucked. I know who Carlos is and he’s going to bounce back and do what he has to do.”

Hyde had completed the bench press (19 times), vertical jump (34.5 inches) and broad jump (114 inches).

Quotable: Mayock on Clemson receiver Sammy Watkins, who ran a 4.43 on Sunday. “To me, Sammy Watkins is what you want. I'm not usually a proponent of a top-10 wide receiver, but this kid -- he runs fast, he catches the football, he's explosive and what's my favorite thing about him he has a chip on his shoulder. He has more toughness than most wide receivers have. I think he's a franchise receiver.”

Slow starter: Buckeyes cornerback Bradley Roby said his team-issued suspension for the opener impacted his uneven season. He served a one-game ban after being arrested for disorderly conduct in a Bloomington, Ind.. bar.

Roby had led the nation with 19 passes defensed in 2012. He finished with 13 a year ago.

“Me not playing that first game, my mindset in camp wasn’t where it should have been,” Roby said. “I knew I wasn’t playing the first game, so I might have maybe not gotten as many reps as I normally would have. At corner, reps (are) everything, training your eyes, looking at the right places all the time, all those type of things. Kind of got away from that. Kind of undisciplined type of play I was playing at the beginning of the season.”

Nuggets: Shazier said he expected to meet the Browns on Sunday night . . . Wisconsin linebacker Chris Borland, the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, said he’s had informal talks with the Browns.


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