Stanford advances to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2008.

Dwight Powell had 15 points and seven rebounds and No. 10 seed Stanford wrapped up its second straight upset at the free throw line, knocking off No. 2 Kansas 60-57 in the South Regional on Sunday.

Chasson Randle added 13 points, six steals and four assists for the Cardinal (23-12), who advanced to the round of 16 for the first time since 2008.

Stanford will face No. 11 Dayton in the Sweet 16, thus ensuring that a double-digit seed will advance to the Elite 8 next weekend. The tournament's top seed, Florida, may await the winner of the Dayton-Stanford showdown.

Freshman Andrew Wiggins had just four points on 1-for-6 shooting with four turnovers in his final college game for Kansas (25-10). Wiggins is a likely NBA lottery pick and had averaged 28 points the previous four games.

Tarik Black had 18 points and six rebounds for the Jayhawks, but he fouled out with 5:25 to go. Conner Frankamp had 12 points on four 3-pointers, the last two in the final 23 seconds to make it close after Stanford had pulled ahead by seven.

Stanford was 9 for 12 at the free throw line over the final 2:04 and needed all those points. Frankamp's second 3-pointer narrowed the gap to 59-57 with 14.9 seconds left.

Anthony Brown hit just one of two free throws with 12.9 seconds and Frankamp banged a third 3-point attempt off the glass near the buzzer in a bid to tie it.

Kansas went to a full-court press down five points with about 11 minutes to play and forced five turnovers the next 6 minutes to tie it.

Kansas had been 0 for 10 from 3-point range for the tournament, seven of the misses against Eastern Kentucky, before Frankamp connected with 3:34 to go in the half.

Frankamp hit another one just before the halftime buzzer off a turnover to put the Jayhawks up 24-22, their first lead of the game with both teams shooting just 32 percent. They trailed most of the first half against Eastern Kentucky, too, before pulling away for an 80-69 victory.

Powell hit his first shot on a drive after going 0 for 8 against New Mexico on Friday. He had 10 points before drawing his fourth foul early in the second half.

Get updates and post your comments as the Indians head to Tempe to face off against the Los Angeles Angels today. First pitch is set for 4:05 p.m.

TEMPE, Arizona -- The Indians (16-6-2) visit the Los Angeles Angels (13-10) at Diablo Stadium today. First pitch is set for 4:05 p.m.

Indians RHP Zach McAllister (1-0, 6.97) faces off against Angels RHP Garrett Richards (1-1, 5.40).

Where to find the game: 99X FM and indians.com

Read Tweets from @hoynsie and chat with other fans in the comments section below. Click here to participate on a mobile device.

Tweets from @clevelanddotcom/indians

The emergence of Carlos Santana has the Indians pondering if it makes sense to send Lonnie Chisenhall to the minors.

GOODYEAR, Arizona -- Talking to myself about what the Indians should do at third base?

Question: Will Carlos Santana be the every day third baseman?

Answer: Yes … no … maybe.

Q: What kind of answer is that?

A: Let's start with what Santana has accomplished. As Manager Terry Francona said Sunday morning: "He looks like a third baseman. He has earned our trust."

Q: Doesn't that sound like he is the third baseman?

A: Francona did add, "It's always different when the bell rings," meaning when the regular season opens. He added, "You can't make them hit balls to third."

Terry Francona says that Carlos Santana has "earned trust" for how he has played third this spring.Chuck Crow / The Plain Dealer

Q: Meaning what?

A: I've watched Santana play parts of five games at third this spring -- and maybe he's had five grounders hit to him. It's so hard to judge, other than he appears comfortable and confident. But he hasn't been tested.

Q: Will he open the season at third base?

A: That's my guess. He will play there at least a few times a week.

Q: So what about Lonnie Chisenhall?

A: That's the question the Indians are discussing.

Q: Would they send him to the minors?

A: They could, he does have a minor league option left.

Q: Then who would play third when Santana catches, plays first or is the DH?

A: Mike Aviles started 37 games at third last season. He made three errors. Aviles is batting .351 (.906 OPS) this spring. He's a career .273 batter in six big league seasons. He can play anywhere in the infield or outfield. That same versatility is true of Elliot Johnson, who has made the team as Aviles-type bench player. While Johnson is a switch-hitter, he's also a career .218 hitter.

Mike Aviles also is a possibility at third base.Chuck Crow / The Plain Dealer

Q: So when Santana doesn't play third, the Tribe would probably use Aviles?

A: Unless they keep Chisenhall.

Q: Should he make the team?

A: At this point in his career, I'd open the season with Chisenhall in the majors. Yes, you can send him back to Class AAA. But he has been in Columbus enough times in the last four years to run for mayor. He batted .390 (1.132 OPS) with six homers and 26 RBI in 125 plate appearances for the Clippers last season.

Q: What kind of spring has it been for Chisenhall?

A: Here is what Francona said a few days ago: "It was a little bit different situation. Lonnie came in last year and he knew he was going to be the third baseman. This year, we have Carlos over there and we don't quite know yet what we're going to do. So what we've asked Lonnie to do is play the best he can and let us worry about the decisions. I think he's done a good job of that."

Q: What does that mean?

A: Who really knows? On Saturday, he mentioned that it made no sense for Chisenhall to be on the roster if plays only once or twice a week.

Q: What do you think?

A: Chisenhall is batting .289 (.855 OPS) this spring with four extra base hits, including a homer and seven RBI in 52 plate appearances. He still looks bad against lefties. He has been up and down at third base, charged with two errors. He definitely is feeling the pressure to make the team.

Q: Wasn't he good last spring?

A: Chisenhall was Mr. Goodyear at this time last year. The Indians gave third base to him, and he produced to hit .400 (24-of-60) with four homers, 12 RBI and a 1.123 OPS. He had only one error in 120 innings.

Q: Then what happened?

A: By May 12, he was sent to minors, batting .213 at the time. He pounded the ball in Columbus. He came to Cleveland and never really grabbed the job. He finished the season hitting .225 (.668 OPS) with 11 homers and 36 RBI in 289 at bats for the Tribe.

Q: Why does he hit so well in spring training and the minors, but not with the Tribe?

A: Chisenhall tends to look for fastballs, and he can really crush a mediocre to even slightly better than average fastball. He doesn't walk much, only 32 in 643 official big league at bats. But in the league, the lefty batter sees a lot of off-speed stuff. Because he's anxious at home plate, he tends not to work the count in his favor. And that tends to lead to fewer fastballs for him to hit.

Q: Will he improve?

A: That's what the Indians are wondering. The glitter is gone from him being the team's 2008 first-round draft choice. Last season was his third attempt to stick in Cleveland, and it was his worst year of the three.

Q: Do you write him off?

A: At the age of 25? I don't. They can open the season with him playing 3-4 times a week against right-handers. Santana can play third the rest of the time. Santana is not going play third every day, because Francona likes him also as a catcher a few times each week.

Q: I don't quite follow your point…

A: Would you rather see Chisenhall receive another shot at third base 3-4 times a week, or would you prefer to have Aviles or Johnson in the lineup instead on those days? Forget it against lefties. Chisenhall is a .194 career big league hitter against them. Facing righties, he's .256 (.714 OPS). He also struggles some seasons in the minors against lefties.

Q: You're supposed to be answering the questions, not me.

A: Finding the answer often means framing the right question.

Q: Meaning what?

A: It's worth giving Chisenhall another chance to prove he's more than a good Class AAA player, because the alternatives at third (Aviles and Johnson) are not that attractive. If Chisenhall fails, he can sent to the minors again. But for now, I'm ready for one more round with him at third.

Q: What do you think the Tribe will do?

A: Aviles play some third base season when Chisenhall falters. Johnson already has been told he's on the roster. Santana has earned "trust" at third, it appears Chisenhall may be saying hello to Columbus one more time.

Live updates from Sunday's 2014 NCAA tournament games.

The 2014 NCAA basketball tournament continues today with the last eight third-round games, as the Sweet 16 gets finalized. We'll have live updates from all of Sunday's tournament games.

Here is today's lineup of games (all times Eastern):

East Region

5:15 p.m.: No. 3 Iowa State vs. No. 6 North Carolina at San Antonio (CBS)

*8:40 p.m.: No. 1 Virginia vs. No. 8 Memphis at Raleigh (TNT)

South Region

12:15 p.m.: No. 2 Kansas vs. No. 10 Stanford at St. Louis (CBS)

7:10 p.m.: No. 4 UCLA vs. No. 12 Stephen F. Austin at San Diego (TBS)

Midwest Region

*2:45 p.m.: No. 1 Wichita State vs. No. 8 Kentucky at St. Louis (CBS)

6:10 p.m.: No. 11 Tennessee vs. No. 14 Mercer at Raleigh (TNT)

West Region

*9:40 p.m.: No. 1 Arizona vs. No. 8 Gonzaga at San Diego (TBS)

*7:45 p.m.: No. 3 Creighton vs. No. 6 Baylor at San Antonio (truTV)

Join the conversation below, and if you're on a mobile device, click here for the latest updates.

Browns are on the list of teams interested in Jets' QB Mark Sanchez.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The New York Jets released quarterback Mark Sanchez and since he's only 27, several teams will line up to sign the former first-round draft pick.

Reporter Marc Sessler writes on NFL.com how Sanchez has had a star-crossed history of uneven on-field performances riddled by inaccuracy, turnovers and a penchant for headline-grabbing gaffes. It's easy to forget that Sanchez tossed 26 touchdowns in 2011, writes Sessler, largely because he's the same guy who accounted for 52 turnovers over two campaigns before sitting out all of last season with a torn labrum.

Five months removed from shoulder surgery, Sanchez is expected to be ready for training camp. But whose training camp?

Some of those teams include the St. Louis Rams, Buffalo Bills, Green Bay Packers and yes, the Cleveland Browns.

The Browns could use someone to push Brian Hoyer and the inevitable rookie they wind up drafting. Still, Cleveland's last on my list because the team seems hell-bent on finding a veteran who knows Kyle Shanahan's attack. Rex Grossman looms as the more likely target for coach Mike Pettine, who saw one too many top-flight performances by Gang Green's defense spoiled by Sanchez's wayward play in Gotham.

More Browns and NFL news

Will the Cleveland Browns pursue quarterback Mark Sanchez (Cleveland.com)?

Terry Pluto talks about the Browns' needs (Cleveland.com).

Matt Schaub is out of the mix and Brian Hoyer is one closer to No. 1 (Ohio.com).

Derek Carr is the top choice for the Browns in this Mock Draft (The News-Herald).

The Browns have a different approach to their QB issues (ESPN.com).

Browns QB strategy could be explained this week (ESPNCleveland.com).

The NFL may allow expanded rosters for Thursday night games (PFT.com).

Teddy Bridgewater drops to No. 8 in this mock draft (CBSSports.com).

As the sport of football continues to focus on ways to make the game safer, baseball has started taking steps in that direction as well - especially when it comes to protecting pitchers.

CLEVELAND, Ohio – As the sport of football continues to focus on ways to make the game safer, baseball has started taking steps in that direction as well - especially when it comes to protecting pitchers.

Oftentimes defenseless against a baseball rocketed back toward them, pitchers have suffered scary injuries recently. In 2012, Oakland A's pitcher Brandon McCarthy was hit by a screaming line drive, causing him to need brain surgery and putting him in a life-threatening condition. He was able to recover and has returned to the mound with the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Just last week, a similar incident happened to Reds pitcher Aroldis Chapman. The Reds reliever left fans stunned after being hit in the face during a spring training game. He suffered a broken bone above his left eye, which required surgery. He shared a post-surgery picture on his Instagram account.

He miraculously could begin throwing a baseball in a few weeks and was lucky to escape even further damage.

These are just two examples from Major League Baseball. But they happen in the minors as well as youth baseball leagues, and the issue is not going away.

What do you think should be done to keep baseball players - specifically pitchers - safer from terrifying injuries? Have you or someone close to you had a scary experience playing baseball like the two examples above? Share them in the comments section below.

2014 NBA Draft lottery standings: An early look as the season winds down shows Cleveland at ninth.

CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Cleveland Cavaliers have a 6 percent chance of landing one of the top three picks in the 2014 NBA Draft, based on current NBA standings.

Milwaukee, Philadelphia and Orlando have a strong hold on the top three spots, with far-and-away the worst records in the NBA.

The Cavs, with 11 games remaining, still hold out hope of making the playoffs, an achievement that would keep them out of qualifying for the lottery for the first time in the post-LeBron James era. But they currently sit 5.5 games behind Atlanta in the race for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

More realistically, it looks like the Cavs will end up somewhere from fourth to 11th in the lottery standings.

The Cavs' current slot at ninth provides a 1.7 percent chance of winning the top pick in the draft, a 2 percent shot at the No. 2 pick and a 2.41 percent chance at No. 3.

The most likely outcome for the team ninth in the lottery standings is to pick ninth. That carries an 81.3 percent chance.

NBA Lottery standings

Note: These standings reflect the team originally holding each pick, before any trade. Cleveland's only first-round pick in 2014 is its own.

The 14 teams not making the playoffs are placed in a lottery drawing for the top three picks. After the first three picks are determined, picks four through 14 are slotted based on record. Odds shown do not account for ties at this early stage.

Nyjer Morgan makes club as spring training invitee. Watch video

 GOODYEAR, Ariz. – Nyjer Morgan has made the Indians 25-man roster. He said his alter ego, Tony Plush, did as well.

Morgan making the club is tied to Michael Bourn opening the season on the disabled list with a strained left hamstring. Before manager Terry Francona and GM Chris Antonetti gave Morgan the good news Monday morning, they talked to Bourn.

Francona said it's still unclear if Morgan, a natural center fielder, will replace Bourn in center. He could also move Michael Brantley to center.

 “They told me I made the team,” said Morgan, who came to camp as a non-roster player after spending last year in Japan. “It’s a very exciting day for me, but the work doesn’t stop. It’s unfortunate what happened to Michael, but like I said, I’m going to be a great teammate and whenever he’s ready to come back I’ll slide to the back and do whatever they want me to do.

“It doesn’t matter. I just want to play hard for the Tribe.”

Bourn injured his hamstring on March 16. Originally, he thought he’d be back for March 31st season opener, but Monday he said that was doubtful. Antonetti said if things go right with Bourn's rehab, he should be able to join the Indians for the fifth game of the season on April 5 at Progressive Field.

Tony Plush is Morgan's alter ego.

See standings after the opening weekend of March Madness from the eighth annual Celebrity Bracketology Challenge on cleveland.com

View full sizeIndians pitcher Corey Kluber holds a slim lead in the celebrity bracket contest following the opening week of games.Chuck Crow/The Plain Dealer

CLEVELAND, Ohio - The first weekend of the NCAA Tournament had plenty of upsets, causing many people around the country to shred their March Madness brackets. 

The local celebrities felt the sting of opening weekend, but Indians pitcher Corey Kluber sits atop the standings in the eighth annual Celebrity Bracketology Challenge on cleveland.com. 

Kluber leads narrowly with 215 points, followed by Cavaliers shooting guard Dion Waiters (210), Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon (200) and former Ohio State defensive back Christian Bryant (195).

Kluber, Waiters and Gordon each have nine of 16 teams alive in Sweet 16 play. Bryant has eight remaining. But Waiters suffered the biggest hits over the weekend. His pick to win it all - Syracuse - went down at the hands of Dayton. Waiters also lost his runner-up - Wichita St. - as well as Final Four pick Creighton. Those two losses were felt by Bryant as well, who picked the Shockers to advance to the title game before losing to Florida.

Kluber lost one of his Final Four picks with No. 2 Villanova getting upset by No. 7 Connecticut. But he can still score a lot late through his Florida-Louisville title game matchup.

Gordon was the only one to not lose a Final Four team during the first weekend.

Like most of America, none of the celebrities has No. 11 Dayton or No. 10 Stanford in the Sweet 16. However, Kluber did correctly call No. 8 Kentucky upsetting Wichita St.

About the Celebrity Bracketology Challenge: Some of Cleveland's biggest sports stars are competing in the eighth annual Celebrity Bracketology Challenge. See all the brackets at cleveland.com/marchmadness. The 2013 winner, former Browns running back Trent Richardson, did not respond to invitations to participate again and try to defend his victory. Standings will be updated weekly.

2014 Celebrity Bracket Challenge Participants

• Corey Kluber, Cleveland Indians

• Christian Bryant, former Ohio State/Glenville football player

• Dion Waiters, Cleveland Cavaliers

• Josh Gordon, Cleveland Browns 

"As a player you can have the Meyers and the Warinners of the world yelling and screaming and just bashing you in," Underwood said, "but at the end of the day as a player it's up to you to really make that decision to whether you're either going to jump all in or all out."

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Antonio Underwood got it, and it was gone.

So consider his last year as a football player to be frozen in time, while everything changed around him.

The 2011 Shaker Heights grad and offensive lineman wants to be the same player he was during spring football practice a year ago for Ohio State, when he was finally showing his coaches that he was on board.

“For the first time in his career, he made a real push, and he was fighting his way into the rotation,” Urban Meyer said a year ago. “He was having a heck of a spring.”

Then in either practice six or seven of the spring, as Underwood remembers it, he stepped on a teammate’s foot and tore his ACL. He was lost for the entire 2013 season. Now the Buckeyes will take the field Tuesday for practice number six of the spring. Underwood, a redshirt junior, is still that guy. But instead of fighting just to be in the rotation, with four starters gone from last season, he’s fighting to start.

“Last spring was a big decision-making (time) and a challenge for me. I just decided I wanted to be a dude and step up and help this team,” Underwood said after Ohio State’s spring practice number five on Saturday. “Getting hurt came as a shock. … When I got injured, it was a setback, but I had to regroup and figure out what I was going to do to keep moving forward.”

So far this spring Underwood has been working as the first-team left guard on the offensive line, replacing three-year starter Andrew Norwell. That’s the spot on the line that’s most up in the air, with incoming freshman Demetrius Knox positioned to potentially pose a challenge in the fall. The other challenge may come from senior Joel Hale, but he’s making a late move to offense after spending his entire Ohio State career on the defensive line.

This is Underwood’s time to stake his claim.

Both Underwood and offensive line coach Ed Warinner said the injury could turn out to be a good thing, because Ohio State got through last season without needing Underwood to provide depth, and now he has two years to finish his career with plenty of opportunity in front of him. But Underwood has that because of how he prepared himself last spring, before year two of the Meyer era. He thought he started to develop a reputation for consistency. If he hadn’t done that, a year-long injury could have led to him being completely forgotten.

“As a player you can have the Meyers and the Warinners of the world yelling and screaming and just bashing you in,” Underwood said, “but at the end of the day as a player it’s up to you to really make that decision to whether you’re either going to jump all in or all out.”

How long has Underwood been all in?

“Since last spring,” Underwood said. “I’m still all in.”

Tales liked Underwood's have been repeated ad nauseam, from players like former backup quarterback Kenny Guiton and former center Corey Linsley, since Meyer took over. They are stories of players accepting, then embracing, the new regime. But none of the other stories were delayed by a year before they could be told.

Underwood said he leaned on his mother and sister and grandfather and teammates during the tough times while rehabbing his knee. He returned to practice late last season, but Warinner said while Underwood practiced a lot in December while the Buckeyes got ready for the Orange Bowl, the coach could tell the injury was lingering.

Now?

“It looks like he’s full speed,” Warinner said this spring. "I think he’s right on schedule. He trained hard and he’s been right on point and we didn’t rush him back.”

“If you watch him practice,” senior right tackle Darryl Baldwin said, “you wouldn’t even know that he hurt his knee. He’s doing really well, and everyone can see it, too.”

Underwood feels like he’s still not quite playing low enough, as he’s still getting his hamstrings stretched out to improve his flexibility. But otherwise, he’s right back where he was last spring. His football clock stopped, and now it’s ticking again.

“It was a long time coming,” Underwood said. “This is my fourth year here, so it’s definitely past due for me to start contributing. I just feel like it’s now or never.”

David Murphy has been working hard to find the swing that helped him hit .304 in 2012. But so far, no luck.

GOODYEAR, Arizona -- Scribbles in my Tribe notebook as I head home from spring training:

1. I made two trips to spring training, and saw about 10 games. In that time, David Murphy hit maybe four balls hard. I take no delight in talking about Murphy batting .179 this spring (7-of-39) with two doubles. The Tribe invested $12 million in Murphy over two years. He has been a consistent hitter through his seven-year career, until batting .220 with 13 homers and 46 RBI (.656 OPS) last season.

2. Terry Francona is a huge booster of Murphy, and the manager pushed for the Tribe to sign the outfield. Sunday, here is what Francona said about Murphy: "(No matter if) it's today … opening day … in a month … he will find it. He's a good hitter."

3. The Indians have been using Murphy in minor league games to give him extra at bats. In 2012, he batted .304 (.859 OPS) with 15 homers and 61 RBI for Texas. He's a career .275 hitter (.778 OPS). The Indians want him to play right field against right-handed pitching.

4. The plan is for Murphy to platoon with Ryan Raburn, who is having another good spring. He ran into a wall and missed about 10 days, but is back playing now. Raburn is batting .438 (7-of-16) with two homers. Murphy is a career .279 hitter in the spring. From 2010-12, he batted a combined .319 in the spring.

5. It's spring training, so no one really cares that Carlos Santana is batting .167. He's learning third base. He's doing some catching. He batted .268 (.832 OPS) last season with 20 homers and 74 RBI.

6. So why the focus on Murphy? a) He's coming off a bad season. b) He's new to the team. c) He has a two-year contract. d) The Indians need this guy to produce because they don't have a lot of outfielders who can hit.

7. Nyjer Morgan made the opening day roster as Michael Bourn continues to recover from his hamstring injury. Morgan had a good start in camp, but he's down to batting .219 (7-of-32) with two doubles. He played in Japan last season. In 2012, he was a .239 hitter (.610 OPS) with Milwaukee. He's 33, and not sure how much he has left in terms of talent to compete in the Majors. He is fast and can play center, which is why the Tribe decided to keep him.

8. After being hit hard in his previous start, Zach McAllister looked very strong Sunday. He allowed three runs in six innings, including two runs in the first. He is working on his slider. If he develops that pitch, Francona's prediction that McAllister "can be special" may come true.

9. I guessed wrong on Lonnie Chisenhall, in my story urging the Tribe to keep him on the 25-man roster. I thought they'd send him back to Columbus. They decided to give him another chance to prove he can play third in the Majors.

10. It's been a quiet spring for new closer John Axford, which is a positive. He has allowed only one run and three hits in seven innings, fanning eight. I've seen him pitch three times, and he looks ready to close.

11. Not surprised Aaron Harang declined a chance to go to Class AAA with the Tribe as the veteran starter looks for a big league job. He seems to have enough stuff remaining to be a fifth starter for someone.

12. I could say that in the eight days that I was here, the temperature was between 75-88 every day with sunshine, but that would be rubbing it in. Let's just say, most of the time, the average high was about 78 -- and yes, there were a few clouds.

Here's what to know if you are traveling to Toronto to see the Hockey Hall of Fame.

TORONTO, Ontario -- Here's what you need to know about the Hockey Hall of Fame in downtown Toronto:

Address: Brookfield Place, 30 Yonge St., Toronto.

Location: About 5 hours (300 miles) from downtown Cleveland. The hall is at the intersection of Yonge and Front streets in the heart of downtown Toronto.

Winter hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday; 9:30 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday; 10:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday. (Summer hours are a bit longer and start in June.)

Cost (in Canadian dollars): $17.50; $13, ages 65 and older; $11, ages 4-13; free, ages 3 and under.

Parking: Adjacent garage.

Website: hhof.com.

Notes:

• The hall was founded officially in 1943.

• The hall is open 362 days a year, with the exceptions of New Year's Day, Induction Day in November and Christmas Day.

• There are 259 members inducted in the player category; 11 are American-born.

• Allow at least 21/2 hours in the museum.

• The museum covers 60,000 square feet.

• The hall has been in its current location since 1993.

• Yonge Street is the equivalent of New York's Fifth Avenue, so a lot of shopping is nearby.

• Remember passports to cross border.

If you're considering a trip to Toronto, the Hockey Hall of Fame is a requisite stop.

TORONTO, Ontario – Any true fan of a particular sport will, at some point, jot a mental note to make a pilgrimage to a hall of fame. Baseball's venerable hall, tucked away in Cooperstown, N.Y., is a time-honored trip, for one. And most Northeast Ohio football fans have made the trip at least once to Canton, home of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

A good hall of fame reaches out to fans ranging from casual to serious. Toronto's Hockey Hall of Fame is a wonderful testament to this.

Where the hall shines is not in its memorabilia and historical collection, vast as it is. Yes, there's the obligatory old jerseys and pucks, but there is so much more. There is a welcoming, an invitation for fans, through interactive elements that engage even the youngest of visitors. It's one thing to peer at jerseys and posters and photos; it's another to reach out and touch the skates or goalie pads in an open locker-room replication.

The tattered and worn shoulder and arms pads from one of the game's greatest goaltenders, Terry Sawchuk, are right there to be felt, to be pondered: How many shots glanced off those pads? How many scrapes and falls and collisions did he endure in more than 20 years in front of the net?

While the baseball hall is a wonderful journey, it evokes a slight cloistered feeling at times. The hockey hall wants you to, well, play.

The hall's interactive component is strong. Test your stick handling and shooting skills. Play old-fashioned table-top slot games or get your blood going with Wii games. But the most amazing area is the broadcast booth, where you can sit, watch a film clip with sound of a great goal or memorable play, and then re-create it yourself. Be an announcer for a few seconds and you can understand how challenging it is.

And as you stroll around, the sounds of the game come alive, with an overhead television showing a documentary on dynasties. It's a wonderful primer to the game's legendary teams and players. ("When you are Canadiens," the great Henri Richard is heard saying about Montreal's famed squads, "you cannot make excuses.")

It is difficult to believe goalies once did not wear masks and players did not wear helmets, but the game has remained remarkably the same over the years. "Game 7," a 23-minute 3-D movie, is an entertaining break. It's not a documentary, just a simple short film that captures the wonderment of the game through the eyes of a few teens playing a pickup game.

It's not too far of a stretch to watch a movie about kids donning jerseys of their favorite players, dreaming of winning the Stanley Cup, when you are in the building with the actual trophy.

The hall is in an old bank building, and the cathedral-like atmosphere where the Stanley Cup and plaques are displayed fits the room well.

There actually are three cups – the original, 19^th century cup; the presentation cup, hoisted by champions on the ice, and one at the hall.

The cup is special. It's not touched once and locked away; it travels with members of the championship team each year. The genesis of those championship moments is on display in the form of the engraving tools used decades ago to immortalize the names of winners, letter by letter.

Lord Stanley of Preston, then Canada's governor general, donated the original cup in the 1890s. It was retired in the 1960s and is housed in a walk-in vault in the hall. As rings are added to the bottom of the current cup, top rings are taken off, flattened, and mounted nearby.

Keeping an angelic watch in the cup room is an arched dome. Colorful symbols representing the provinces and much more are represented in the stained-glass work.

Seeing the cup, touching the equipment, and exploring the images all bring a clear understanding to what moved one of the game's greatest players to write this simple, brief homage, now inscribed, in the hall:

"The best place in the world."

Ever wonder what it would be like to be roommates with Indians high-fivin', Bro-hio lovin' first baseman Nick Swisher? Watch this video from Cleveland comedian Mike Polk Jr. to find out.

Roomies Nick Swisher and Mike Polk Jr.

GOODYEAR, Arizona -- What's it like to be roommates with Indians high-fivin', Bro-hio lovin' first baseman Nick Swisher?

Surely, there comes a time in the day when the 'everything is awesome' Swisher winds down and chills out like the rest of us, right?

After bunking with him at spring training, Cleveland funny man Mike Polk Jr. found out that Swisher is, in fact, always on. Whether he's doing push-ups in bed, belting out Van Halen's 'Panama' or gulping down a Red Bull so that he has energy in his dreams, Swish is as tough to get to sleep as he is to get out.

Maybe Polk should've just told Swisher that 'Die Hard' and his wife get a divorce before the third movie.

Enjoy the video, originally posted in the Tribe Vibe blog, below.

Get updates and chat with other fans as the Indians (16-7-2) look to break a two-game Cactus League losing skid as they square off against the Cincinnati Reds at Goodyear Ballpark today starting at 4:05 p.m.

GOODYEAR, Arizona -- The Indians (16-7-2) look to break a two-game Cactus League losing skid as they square off against the Cincinnati Reds at Goodyear Ballpark today. First pitch is set for 4:05 p.m.

Indians RHP Carlos Carrasco is matched up against RHP Alfredo Simon (1-2, 4.42).

Where to find the game: TV broadcast on MLB Network; webcast on indians.com

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Indians still have to make a decision between Carlos Carrasco and Josh Tomlin on last rotation spot. That could affect who makes the bullpen.

GOODYEAR, Ariz. – Pitching is the lifeblood of any baseball organization and those are the last decisions facing GM Chris Antonetti and manager Terry Francona in naming the Indians 25-man roster that will open the season March 31st season against the A’s in Oakland.

The Indians reduced their decisions significantly in a series of roster moves Monday morning. There are 36 players left in camp.l

First, they put center fielder Michael Bourn on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left hamstring. With Bourn disabled, spring training invitee Nyjer Morgan was informed that he made the club.

The Indians also said Lonnie Chisenhall has made the club. Chisenhall came to camp with his third base job in danger from a challenge by converted catcher Carlos Santana. It sounds as if Chisenhall and Santana will share the position for the time being.

“Carlos has earned the right to play there a couple days of the week,” said Antonetti.

In other moves, infielders David Cooper and Bryan LaHair and catcher Luke Carlin were re-assigned to minor league camp. They are expected to open the season at Class AAA Columbus. Infielder Justin Settlers is also expected to open the year at Columbus, although that was not officially announced.

Carlin will stay in camp with the Tribe until it leaves for San Diego and its final two exhibition games after Thursday’s game against Arizona.

Right-handers Trevor Bauer and Cheng Chang Lee were optioned to Columbus. Bauer’s demotion leaves Josh Tomlin and Carlos Carrasco as the remaining candidates for last spot in the rotation. Aaron Harang, another candidates, was told Sunday he would not make the opening day roster. Harang, who had an out in his contract, asked for his release Monday and it was granted.

Carrasco will start against Cincinnati on Monday afternoon at Goodyear Ballpark. Tomlin will start against Texas on Tuesday.

Antonetti said their performances in those games will figure into the decision.

“But we’re not going to make any decision based on one outing,” said Antonetti.

Carrasco is out of options and the Indians have said if he doesn’t make the rotation, he’ll open the year in the bullpen. Tomlin does have options, but has also pitched out of the bullpen.

Scott Atchison and Blake Wood are the other candidates for the bullpen. It appears the Indians will open the season with 13 pitchers, eight in the bullpen. If Carrasco wins the starter’s job and Tomlin is optioned to Columbus, Atchison and Wood could make the club.

The Indians were not specific about how much playing time Chisenhall would get.

“Lonnie is on the team to be there to try to find a way to help us win in an role that Tito sees fit,” said Antonetti. “What the composition of the lineup is, is totally up to Tito and what he feels puts us in the best position to be successful.”

Francona said he was impressed with Chisenhall’s reaction to making the club.

“Lonnie’s responses to us were the most mature, the most encouraging things we’ve heard him say since we’ve know him,” said Francona. “That was highlight. He wants to be a really good player, and it hasn’t come as quickly as he’d like, but that doesn’t mean it won’t come.”

Regarding Bauer, Francona said, “We talked to Trevor at length. Sometimes when you send a guy down they’re not ready to listen. They’re there, but they’re not really there. We asked, “Are you ready to listen?’ He said yes.

“We tried to get him to understand where we view him -- that is as a kid who has gone through a lot of mechanical changes because of injuries. He had a lot of hiccups last year. Then he comes into camp this year thinking he’s really ready to go, but he had a few more hiccups this spring. “

The last two weeks, however, the Indians have been impressed with the work Bauer put in.

“The last two weeks he’s shown us that his path is coming,” said Francona. “When it gets here, we want him to stay here. Finding consistency in what he does is very important. We have a lot of confidence that he’ll do that.”

Browns general manager Ray Farmer made it clear he has no plans of trading Joe Haden and that the Browns hope to wrap him up long term.

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Browns general manager Ray Farmer cleared up a little controversy involving Joe Haden Sunday night.

Haden tweeted out to his nearly 150,000 followers a cryptic message that read "it's a crazy business'' which set the twitter-verse abuzz. To add to the intrigue, Haden deleted the tweet shortly thereafter.

Apparently, he was reacting to a fake tweet stating that he had been traded.

But Farmer put it to rest Monday morning at the NFL Annual Meeting.

“We have no interest in getting rid of Joe Haden,'' Farmer told a small group of Browns beat writers. "That’ll make it simple. We have no interest in that at all.''

On the contrary, Farmer indicated that the Browns are still planning to extend the contract of Haden, who's rookie deal is up after this season. A source confirmed for Cleveland.com that extension talks have taken place.

“We’re excited to try to keep Joe here for longer than today and tomorrow, but extended into the future,'' Farmer said.

Haden, a fifth-year pro, is coming off the best season of his career and has his first Pro Bowl to show for it.

Ross led the Buckeyes in scoring this season, and his decision to leave is no shock.

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Ohio State junior forward LaQuinton Ross will bypass his senior season and turn pro, according to ESPN's Jeff Goodman.

Ross' decision is no surprise. Asked by Cleveland.com after the last game of the regular season, when Aaron Craft and Lenzelle Smith were honored for Senior Day, if he might turn pro, Ross said, "We'll see. That's a long ways from now."

He recently was moved up to No. 28 on ESPN's list of draft prospects. That certainly doesn't guarantee that Ross will be drafted in the first round, but his strong finish to season probably helped Ross decide that now was the time.

Ross has a young daughter, and when asked about his future following the Buckeyes' loss to Dayton in the NCAA Tournament on Thursday, Ross mentioned his desire to support his family.

However, he responded to the initial report with a message on his Twitter account that he hadn't decided.

To all the people tweeting me I haven't said anything so guys are wasting your time!! I didn't make a decision!

— Astronaut Kid (@qross2011) March 24, 2014

An Ohio State source said the staff was holding a meeting at 4 p.m.

Ross was a highly-rated recruit coming out of high school who played little as a freshman. He gained a prominent role as a sophomore, a season that he finished with a very good NCAA Tournament. He came back and served as the Buckeyes' leading scorer this season. And after showing what kind of player he was this season, he may not have been able to show NBA scouts much more by coming back for another season.

More on the story as it develops.

Ohio State's LaQuinton Ross will declare for NBA Draft, sources told ESPN.

— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanESPN) March 24, 2014

Mack's eye toward free agency is more focused on 2015, not next season.

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Alex Mack possesses an endless curiosity about the world beyond his borders.

The Browns' All-Pro center has spent past offseason vacationing in Australia, Bali, England, Greece, Italy, Japan, Spain Taiwan, Thailand and Turkey. He joined a delegation of NFL players who traveled to Brazil in February to spread the influence of American football in a World Cup soccer year.

But unless his travels have escaped detection from local and national media, Mack has remained a homebody as it pertained to free-agent visits. While his agents anticipate them and preach patience in the process, it’s looking more like Mack will return to the Browns under the one-year transition tag of $10.039 million, assuming he signs it.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Baltimore Ravens, two franchises believed to have had interest, signed other free-agent centers. The Indianapolis Colts and Green Bay Packers certainly remain options, but there are arguments to be made why those teams would go different routes.

Mack’s agent, Marvin Demoff, has told reporters he’s confident he can craft a contract the Browns, who remain $30-plus million under the salary cap, wouldn’t match. But constructing such a deal and getting a rival owner to sign it are different stories.

The Packers historically have not placed great value on the position or invested heavily in other team’s free agents. The signing of edge rusher Julius Peppers represents an outlier. The Colts will spend money, but how much can you devote to the offensive line? Right tackle Gosder Cherilus is due $11.6 million next season and left tackle Anthony Castonzo ($2.54 million) is a free agent after 2014. They’ve also got this guy named Luck who’s eligible for a salary bump in the next year or two.

Intrepid Baltimore Sun beat writer Aaron Wilson noted Sunday that the Ravens value Mack, but thought a deal was too complex and costly to consummate.

Sources say Ravens have high opinion of Alex Mack, but thought all along it would be too complicated and expensive to pull it off.

— Aaron Wilson (@RavensInsider) March 23, 2014

The Browns can match any offer. Plus, it’s unlikely the team would tag him a second consecutive year – it would cost them a whopping $12 million – so adding language to an offer sheet that includes a promise of no 2015 tag wouldn’t scare off the Browns.

New general manager Ray Farmer addressed Mack’s situation Monday at the NFL Annual Meeting in Orlando.

“Alex is well within his rights to do the things that he thinks are necessary moving forward,” Farmer told Northeast Ohio Media Group and other reporters. “We're still committed to making sure he's a long-term Brown, and that's really our focus …I'm very confident (it can happen). It's the continued interaction, the continued support, the continued vibe that we're giving Alex that will inevitably prevail.”

It says here Mack’s decision to not immediately sign the tag – he has until July 22 unless the Browns unexpectedly withdraw it – is more about surveying the 2015 free-agent landscape. That might crease some Browns’ fans, but it’s a smart gamble on the part of a premier center. The position is growing in importance, given the soaring sack totals and proliferation of exotic multi-front defenses. Having a savvy pivot to decode blitz schemes and call out changes is key.

The good news for Browns fans is there are mature adults on both sides of the negotiating table. Farmer recognizes Mack’s impact and respects his frustration with the constant change he’s witnessed for five seasons here. Mack has never missed a snap or been an off-the-field liability for the organization.

The center is good friends with left tackle Joe Thomas, and it’s hard to imagine he’d give anything less than his best with an opportunity for a lucrative long-term deal in 2015.

There’s still a chance Demoff can build an offer sheet that another team will sign in the coming weeks. But with all the Browns' cap space and appreciation for Mack’s service, it’s a good bet No. 55 will remain in Berea for 2014.

New coach Mike Pettine probably has one year to sell Mack on a future with the Browns. If they show improvement, there’s a decent chance the center stays put. If the Browns flounder again, he will play 2015 beyond the borders of Cuyahoga County.

Machu Picchu view from Wayna Picchu #peru pic.twitter.com/jS2K5Yg0KA

— Alex Mack (@alexmack55) February 9, 2014

One of McQuistan's biggest assets is that he can play right or left guard and also fill in at tackle. Watch video

ORLANDO, Fla. -- The Browns have agreed to terms on a two-year deal with former Seahawks guard Paul McQuistan, who spent a couple of weeks with Cleveland in 2010.

McQuistan, an unrestricted free agent, visited Cleveland on Wednesday along with Bills free-agent defensive end Alex Carrington.

Farmer praised McQuistan, 30, for his ability to start at almost any position along the line.

"He has versatility,'' Farmer said Monday morning at the NFL Annual Meeting. "The guy played a lot of tackle last year. He’s played guard. The versatility is definitely intriguing and positive for us, and it can make our minds rest easy in a lot of respects where he can possibly contribute. So that versatility is what we’re more focused on than any one specific spot saying he’s going to be this.”

Originally a third-round pick of the Raiders in 2006, McQuistan is a ninth-year pro who would challenge for a starting job at guard. One of his biggest assets is that he can play right or left guard and also fill in at tackle.

Signed by the Seahawks in 2011, McQuistan (6-6, 315) started 40 games for the Seahawks the past three years, including a handful at the demanding left tackle spot. After filling in there last year, he drew praise from offensive line coach Tom Cable, who called him the glue that holds the line together.

“He’s always done that in his career,'' Cable told seahawks.com. "He’s always been a guard/tackle. So there’s a lot of background there. And he did a really nice job for not taking any snaps, getting us through the game and out of the game.”

McQuistan started 14 games for the Seahawks during their Super Bowl campaign in 2013, including several at left tackle. In 2012, he started all 16 games for the first time in his career (nine at right guard, seven at left guard), helping Marshawn Lynch to an All-Pro and Pro Bowl season with career-highs in yards (1,590), avg. gain (5.0) and carries (315).

After starting 12 games in his three seasons with the Raiders, he was released midway through the 2009 season and picked up by Jacksonville. He was signed by the Browns in October of 2010, but let go 23 days later without seeing action.

Former Browns starting right guard Shawn Lauvao signed with the Redskins as a free agent, leaving an immediate vacancy at that spot.