When it comes to spinning a story, former Browns' president Mike Holmgren is a master. Holmgren's latest is that he regrets not coaching the Browns and that owner Randy Lerner was against it.

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Because there’s always something to spin in Cleveland sports…

• I can’t remember a more perfect item for Spin than the latest revisionist history from Mike Holmgren, who told Peter King that his one regret during his time in Cleveland was he didn’t coach the Browns.

Why?

“I really just should have coached the team, but he [owner Randy Lerner] didn’t want me to," Holmgren said.

If you know anything about Randy Lerner, the Browns’ reluctant owner, he desperately wanted somebody to make the Browns a winner. He just had no idea how to go about finding it.

How good would he have looked to his fan base if he brought in a two-time Super Bowl coach to fix what ailed the team after firing Butch Davis and Pete Garcia, hiring Romeo Crennel and Phil Savage, firing Crennel and Savage, hiring Eric Mangini and George Kokinis, firing Kokinis (am I missing anybody? What’s that you say, John Collins?).

He was going to draw the line at Holmgren wanting to coach again?

Fact is, Holmgren said more than once that he mulled coaching the Browns, asked the people closest to him for their opinions, and that his wife wasn’t excited about the idea.

Now his spin is that he should’ve become the team’s head coach – a job where all his career success happened – and that Lerner preferred he stay in a position he never held before?

I can imagine the conversation:

“Randy, I’m thinking of going to the sideline for a few years and turning this thing around."

“Mike, no offense, but I won't have it. What about Pat Shurmur?”

• Congratulations, Mike, you have outspun Spin.

• On their way out of town after another dismal season, Cavs players defended head coach Mike Brown and told reporters they wanted him to return.

They just had a funny way of showing it all season long.

• A man dressed as Jesus attended the Bruins’ game at TD Garden Center in Boston on Easter Sunday.

And was booed.

Fans in attendance claim they were booing the security guard who was escorting the man from the game (reportedly for trying to smoke).

But if some fans were actually booing Him, I don’t know what to say.

Except, Philadelphia, you are off the hook.

• Any true believer will tell you, pelting Santa Claus with snowballs at Christmas is a venial sin by comparison.

• Chicago White Sox lefty Chris Sale was placed on the disabled list with arm problems.

Because I picked him to win the Cy Young Award.

• When Jason Giambi was activated from the DL, the Indians made room for him by sending reliever Blake Wood to Columbus.

Proving there is a limit to lucky numbers even in a casino town where Wood’s 7.11 ERA made him the odd man out.

• The Seahawks spent a seventh-round draft choice acquiring quarterback Terrelle Pryor from the Raiders. Some believed the Raiders would be cutting Pryor any day.

Turns out the San Francisco 49ers were also interested, according to reports.

Now we know the rivalry between the Seahawks and 49ers is such that if the Niners jumped off the Golden Gate bridge, the Seahawks would find a way to jump first and immediately try to drain the bay.

• If you ever find yourself arguing on behalf of the extinction of the designated hitter, just watch any Bartolo Colon at-bat. While he's the extreme example, fact is most pitchers are so overmatched it's ridiculous.

Most recently, Colon completely lost his helmet while taking a vicious cut against the Braves. But his plate appearances became legendary long before that.

In Colon’s defense, he did get a hit.

In 2005.

• It seems only fair that if we asked you to look at Colon at work in the batter's box, we balance things by revisiting Kevin Durant at work in Monday's game against the Memphis Grizzlies.

Both are amazing in their own right.

• Lonnie Chisenhall batted cleanup Monday, a day after batting ninth.

As the roll call of distinguished Indians’ cleanup hitters goes, 19 more games in the No. 4 spot and Chisenhall is Jose Lopez.

• The search for a serviceable clean up hitter, let alone a feared one, involved stumbling upon Lopez in 2012.

His path: Triple A-to-No. 4 Indians hitter-to-Designated-For-Assignment.

Quite the rags to rags story.

• What nominated Chisenhall for the job Monday night was not only his .448 batting average but the fact he was 5-for-10 with a homer and four RBI off Jeremy Guthrie.

And, given Chisenhall’s power numbers, it was still a stretch.

Since, you know, there are no power numbers.

• Milwaukee’s Carlos Gomez played a part in a brawl in Pittsburgh when he flipped his bat and admired his work after hitting a shot off Pirates’ starter Gerrit Cole.

Instead of leaving the park though, the ball hit high off wall. Gomez settled for a triple. An argument with Cole escalated in a benches-clearing brawl.

Gomez said he was just doing “my job” and that he doesn’t object to a pitcher trying to get him out throwing “98.”

Which isn’t the point at all, obviously. The point was he wasn’t just doing his job.

Unless his job is to act like he’s never hit a ball hard before.

• Baseball has many crazy unwritten rules. But policing showboating is actually one of its more endearing qualities.

It’s why I use periods instead of exclamation points.

• Indians’ attendance on a perfectly mild Easter Sunday: 11,716.

That paled compared to teams all over Major League Baseball.

So does that make Cleveland a bad baseball town or an especially pious city?

Without starting the same old debate about poor attendance, the Dolans’ shallow pockets, etc, for now can we just agree that we are a religious people and baseball is not our religion?

• Other cities’ attendance on Easter:

Pirates: 21,761; Padres 25,035; Marlins; 20,228; Rockies 33,563.

A team in a state where marijuana is legal drawing 33,563 on 4/20 makes you wonder what the promotional giveaway was.

Feel free to post any lacrosse questions you have for this week's Inside Roll Podcast in the comments section of this post.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- For the fifth installment of the Inside Roll Podcast, we will be speaking with Brecksville girls lacrosse coach Kyle Drypolcher and Monica Drake, organizer for the 2014 Earth Week Tournament, set to take place at Brecksville-Broadview Heights on Saturday. 

Share any questions you would like to ask either guest about the event or the sport in general in the comments section below. 

Listen to last week's podcast with Padua boys lacrosse coach Benjamin Clemons. 

Let your voice be heard and tell us what you want to know. 

New this school year: Readers can now comment on all cleveland.com high school sports stories — and we encourage it.

Look for the comments section at the bottom of every post. Registering for an account is free and takes just a few minutes (click here for an account). Once you register you will have the ability to comment on all posts.

Contact high school sports reporter Robert Rozboril by email (rrozboril@cleveland.com), Twitter (@rrozboril) or Facebook (www.facebook.com/rrozboril). Or log in and leave a message in the comments section below.

Tom Savage and Khalil Mack have been making the most noise of late when it comes to the NFL draft, though they are coming from far different directions.

Tom Savage and Khalil Mack have been making the most noise of late when it comes to the NFL draft, though they are coming from far different directions. Savage was not even a top-10 quarterback when the process began, but his recent ascension has been the talk of the town. Meanwhile, there is no secret that Mack has long been regarded as a top-5 pick, but now there is some noise about the linebacker being selected No. 1 overall. Here's a look at those stories and more NFL draft buzz:

Blasting up the board

Pitt's sports information office released the news via Twitter over Easter weekend that quarterback Tom Savage declined an invitation to the draft. The bigger news is that he was invited to begin with.

Pittsburgh quarterback Tom Savage possesses the size and arm strength that NFL coaches love, and his potential has him moving up many teams' draft boards. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)

When it comes to quarterbacks, Blake Bortles and Johnny Manziel are at the top of the class with the likes of AJ McCarron and Derek Carr occupying the next level. And who knows where Teddy Bridgewater is these days (see below). Yet we know from experience there is always a player that takes the express elevator up the board in the weeks before the draft.

To say Savage has simply worked his way up the board, though, is not doing the chatter surrounding his name justice. Rather, he has cannonaded his way up the board to the point of even being projected to be as high as the 33rd overall pick, a selection the leads off the second round and belongs to the Houston Texans.

It would not have been a surprise had this been the spring of 2011 or 2012 and Savage's name was being bandied about as it is now. The Philadelphia-area product had a nice freshman season for a Rutgers program that was gaining much momentum under Greg Schiano. The sky seemed to be the limit for the highly-touted Savage, who earned various all-freshman honors.

Yet what followed was an injury, plenty of sulking and two transfers, the second of which resulted in his being the starting quarterback for Pitt last season.

As scouts dusted off files they had on Savage -- he went more than 1,000 days between pass attempts -- the 6-foot-5, 230-pounder went on to have a productive season for the Panthers despite a porous and injury-riddled offensive line that left him banged up more than once.

Savage has the size, poise and certainly the arm strength, and he's matured significantly since walking away from Rutgers. Those are the attributes that, combined with his strong workouts, have shot his name into a sphere many could not have foreseen.

Texans mulling Mack?

With the top pick, many feel the Texans will go with a disruptive force on the defensive side of the ball. That, of course, means Jadeveon Clowney. Or does it? According to what The MMQB's Peter King is hearing, Houston general manager Rick Smith likes Buffalo's Khalil Mack.

There is plenty to like about Mack. He was a game-breaking force at outside linebacker for the Bulls and had a superb combine. In fact, NFL Network's Mike Mayock tabbed Mack as the player he would take No. 1 overall coming out of the combine. He likely was not alone with that proclamation.

As a fifth-year senior, Mack was among the nation's leaders in sacks (10.5), tackles for loss (19), forced fumbles (5), fumble recoveries (3) and had three interceptions to boot. It added up to a season in which multiple outlets tabbed the native Floridian as a first-team All-American.

This adds another level of intrigue to an already interesting situation regarding the Texans at No. 1. Not only has there been the question as to whether they are going to select a QB, but which one. Then the prevailing thinking was that Houston, tied for 29th with 32 sacks last season, will take Clowney. Now Mack's name surfaces.

By the way, with Mack likely to go among the first three picks he would easily be the highest drafted player out of Buffalo. Defensive end Gerry Philbin was selected with the 33rd pick by the Lions in 1964.

Picked apart

The Browns and Texans are next on Teddy Bridgewater's frequent-flyer destinations. Maybe Cleveland will be the savior because the way his stock is falling one would think that he blew out his right throwing shoulder at the combine.

Actually, Bridgewater did not throw -- or run -- at the combine, which raised more than a few eyebrows, then followed that with a disappointing performance at his pro day. He did throw for nearly 4,000 yards with 31 touchdowns and only four interceptions as a junior with Louisville last season. Unfortunately, in a pre-draft world in which the combine and pro days dominate, such gaudy stats can become rusty very fast.

Seemingly overnight Bridgewater has plummeted from being mentioned as a top pick to a possible second-rounder. But should his stock have been high to begin with, even before the combine? Not if you ask one former GM.

Aaron Murray, working out at Georgia's pro day on April 16, is among quarterbacks the Rams have met with. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

Not just window shopping

The Rams have been looking at quarterbacks the way potential buyers kick tires at automobile dealerships. They have been traveling around getting a feel for a good number of QBs. With Sam Bradford's current deal expiring in two years, the front office is not feeling any urgency to bring a quarterback on board, but they certainly would like somebody who would be ready to step in and answer the bell before for too long.

Evans' measuring sticks

Brandon Marshall has 712 career receptions with 57 resulting in touchdowns. Vincent Jackson has caught 422 passes, including 52 TDs. Mike Evans, late of Texas A&M and the best or second-best receiver in the draft, compares favorably to both NFL veterans in size. As far as his overall game he says that he compares himself Marshall, and in so doing mentions the Chicago receiver's blocking ability. Imagine that: a soon-to-be-high-pick receiver admiring how a veteran blocks. That's refreshing.

To trade or not?

The Vikings are not going to use the No. 8 pick on a player that cannot be of much help right away. If GM Mike Zimmer opts to remain in that spot they will likely select a player that will have an immediate impact on defense. On the other hand -- there is always another hand -- Minnesota could trade down to accumulate a couple of more picks on top of the 10 they possess. This would allow for more flexibility than they already have. Minnesota could address many concerns on defense while lining up some assets on offense, whether the need is for now or later, and still make another deal. With their quantity of picks combined with the possibility of trading out of the eight-hole, the Vikes' influence on this draft could resonate well beyond their own interests.

Griffin, who is hopeful his interim title will be removed soon, addressed media in his season-ending news conference, and said he's eager to lead the Cavaliers in their next step in rebuilding.

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio – Cavaliers acting general manager David Griffin sounded hopeful of the interim tag being removed from his title soon, and in a news conference proclaimed his eagerness to get to work improving this Cavaliers team that finished 33-49 and well below expectations.

Asked about a variety of topics on the structure of the Cavaliers, coach Mike Brown's future and what steps are needed in an off-season in which Cleveland has enormous salary-cap flexibility, Griffin first had to address his own future.

"I feel no great sense of wonder," he said on the security of his job. "I feel very confident ownership and myself will be moving in the same direction. But I also don't need to hear from them to know that I need to get better."

Griffin, however, also offered no timetable for when he expects to hear more about his job from owner Dan Gilbert.

On rumors that Griffin is being targeted for jobs by other teams, including the Detroit Pistons, he said: "You're either all the way in, or you're all the way out. There's no in-between. This is where I want to be."

Griffin said he immediately is shifting the Cavaliers from "asset accumulation mode" into "target acquisition mode" as the team is expected to have $26 million in salary-cap space this off-season.

Specifically, Griffin said the Cavaliers need to be bigger, have players with a higher basketball IQ, better shooters, and tougher players.

Griffin also offered his support to the often disjointed backcourt pairing of Kyrie Irving and Dion Waiters, saying "I've seen flashes of them being very, very good together. ... They're two ball-dominant, drive-and-kick players. They require spacing and shooters. It's too easy to look at them and blame one of them. It's a collective thing."

Griffin also said he was pleased with the growth of the team and the direction they appeared to be headed under Brown, but "we're all under review."

A look at the Brecksville baseball team.

BROADVIEW HEIGHTS, Ohio -- Brecksville-Broadview Heights' has won the Southwestern Conference the last seven years.

The Bees, led by senior pitcher Perry Dellavalle, are 5-3. Brecksville won both ends of its weekend double header against Shaker Heights.

The Bees tout a roster of 10 seniors and seven juniors, including Dellavalle, who is committed to play at Seton Hill.

We caught up with senior catcher Pat Riley, who is uncommitted but being looked at by a couple schools. He talked of the team's goals to get to state.

The Bees finished their 2013 campaign 26-3, going undefeated in the SWC at 14-0.

Contact high school sports reporter Stephanie Kuzydym by email (skuzydym@cleveland.com) or on Twitter (@stephkuzy). Or log in and leave a message in the comments section below.

Indians LF Michael Brantley ranks tied for fourth in the majors with 18 RBI.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Indians play the Royals in the second of a four-game series Tuesday.

Game: 20.

Opponent: Kansas City Royals.

Location: Progressive Field, Cleveland.

Scheduled first pitch: 7:05 p.m.

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

Pitching matchup: RHP Danny Salazar (0-2, 7.71 ERA) vs. RHP James Shields (1-2, 2.00).

Season series: Indians lead, 1-0. (Indians won, 10-9, last season.)

Indians update: They are 9-10 overall, 5-5 at home. ... Defeated Royals, 4-3, Monday night for second straight victory. RHP Zach McAllister posted his third straight quality start (6 IP, 3 R, 2 ER) and LF Michael Brantley and 2B Jason Kipnis hit two-run homers. ... Brantley ranks tied for fourth in the majors with 18 RBI. He is 9-for-23 with six RBI in his last six games against Kansas City. He is 9-for-27 against Shields. ... Bullpen has stranded 25 of 28 inherited runners. ... Closer John Axford ranks first in the American League, and tied for second in the majors, with seven saves (eight opportunities). ... Salazar has not recorded an out in the seventh inning. His starts have lasted 5 2/3, 3 2/3 and 4 2/3. Opponents are hitting .345 against him.

Royals update: They are 9-9 overall, 3-6 on road. ... Played terrific defense Monday to prevent bigger margin. LF Alex Gordon is 8-for-23 in his last five games in Cleveland. ... Have scored just 63 runs and have six homers. ... Are 0-9 when scoring three or fewer. ... Shields has given up one earned run in each of his previous three starts (1-2). Coming off dominant performance at Houston (8 IP, 12 K).

Injuries: Royals – RHP Luke Hochevar (elbow) is out for season. LHP Tim Collins (elbow), LHP Francisley Bueno (finger) and CF Lorenzo Cain (groin) are on DL.

Next for Indians: Series continues Wednesday night.

The versatility of Mike Aviles, Elliot Johnson and Ryan Raburn allows the Indians to hold a roster spot for Jason Giambi.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Mike Aviles whipped out his phone and put his fingers to work one summer afternoon in 2011.

He texted his agent, instructing him to immediately secure an outfielder's glove. Terry Francona, then Aviles' manager in Boston, had approached the infielder about playing the outfield. Aviles didn't hesitate with his response.

"If a manager is asking if you can play the outfield, he's looking for ways to get you in the lineup," Aviles said. "Am I going to be foolish and say, 'No, I can't play that position?' No. I'm going to go get a glove and I'm going to figure out how to play that position because I want to get out there and help the team.

"The proper answer is 'Yes.' And then you figure it out."

A few days later, Aviles found himself starting in right field at Fenway Park against the Yankees. J.D. Drew prepped him on the nuances of the ballpark's quirky outfield. By the time Aviles trotted out toward Pesky's Pole, his nerves had dissipated.

"Tito had complete confidence in me," Aviles said. "I figured if he has confidence in me, why wouldn't I?"

Since reuniting with Francona in Cleveland last year, Aviles has occasionally roamed the outfield. The skipper appreciates the versatility, an attribute the Indians value greatly when assembling their bench, dubbed the "Goon Squad" in 2013. Aviles, Elliot Johnson and Ryan Raburn can all man several positions, which provides Francona with the ability to mix and match, keep his regulars rested and hold strategic advantages in later innings.

"I think it helps out Tito a lot, the fact that he has options," Aviles said. "He's not handcuffed with guys on the bench who can only play one position."

Aviles and Johnson can play second, short, third and the outfield. Raburn has experience at first, second, third, left and right in his nine big league seasons.

"The whole reason why I still have this job," Johnson said, "is because I can play all those other positions."

The versatility on the bench also complements 43-year-old Jason Giambi, who no longer has use for a mitt. Giambi returned from the disabled list on Monday after being sidelined for seven weeks with a fractured rib. Francona said he will assume the same role he did in 2013, when he batted .183 with nine home runs as a part-time designated hitter and late-inning substitute at the plate.

"If guys weren't as versatile, I think it would be harder to keep him on the team because of his role of pinch-hitter and DH," Aviles said. "He doesn't play much defense, but because of the fact that we're so versatile, it helps being able to carry him and have him around."

The Indians speak tirelessly about Giambi's influence on the team, even if he only tallied 186 at-bats last season.

"His presence, regardless of what people on the outside think, it's huge in here," Aviles said. "He's pretty much -- I want to say 'our dad,' but I don't want to offend him. The way he can handle you and talk to you, it's unbelievable and no one would understand that unless you're in our shoes and are around him every day."

Johnson has appeared in only four games for the Indians, though Francona estimated that on "four or five" occasions this season, he has planned to deploy the veteran as a pinch-runner, only to have the batter fail to reach base. With Giambi back in the fold, Johnson anticipates a spike in playing time.

"If he goes to pinch-hit for somebody, then I would become essentially his caddy," Johnson said. "He'll go out and hit and then I'll probably go run and go play defense. It gives Tito the ability to pinch-hit for just about anybody, because I can go play third, short, second, first if I have to, or the outfield."

Giambi approved of that plan.

"I always take care of my caddies," he joked.

No matter the manner in which Francona incorporates his four bench guys into the action, the versatility of the "Good Squad" gives the skipper a matchup advantage.

"We win not by one or two individuals," Giambi said. "We win as a team, because we are so versatile. That's what makes us tough to beat."

What's wrong with Carlos Santana? The Indians cleanup hitter is in a 3-for-54 slump and hitting .128 (10-for-78) for the season.

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – There is still no explanation for why Carlos Santana is hitting .128 (10-for-78) with three RBI as the Indians cleanup hitter except for the one that is as old as baseball itself.

“He’s in a slump,” said hitting coach Ty Van Burkleo. “He’s been trying to do a little too much in the games. His work has been great. He just needs to get a couple of hits and get the monkey off his back.”

Last year Santana hit .389 (28-for-72) with five homers and 13 in April. In his career, he’s a .242 (72-for-298) hitter in the first month of the season.

Santana went through big changes over the winter, moving from catcher to third base. He’s played fine defensively, but he hasn’t hit.

Time and time again, Santana has said the change hasn’t bothered his offense.

“As a player, when you go into a slump, sometimes it’s hard to get over that mental hump,” said Van Burkleo. “He’s had a little bit of hard luck that would have helped ease the pressure of it. He’s showing signs of coming out of it.

Santana took a 0-for-3 with a walk in Saturday’s 5-3 loss to the Giants. In the fifth, with Nick Swisher on third and one out, he hit a hard shot to first that Brandon Belt knocked down for the second out.

There is a physical side to slumps as well. When the Indians were in Detroit, Santana had his left thigh wrapped. He said he strained a groin muscle and that it was affecting his hitting.

Santana told a reporter Friday that he was having trouble with his wisdom teeth. On Saturday, he said he is going to get two of them extracted at the end of the season.

Asked if that was bothering his hitting, Santana shook his head and said, “No more excuses.”

Toe the line: So far Francona has been reluctant to take Santana out of the cleanup spot. Last year he showed the same reluctance to move Kipnis to the bottom of the lineup after he struggled early in the season.

“I’ve thought about doing things like that,” said Francona. “I just don’t think it’s the right thing to do for our team. If he got to a point where he looked like he couldn’t handle it, that’s different.

“But when he hits . . .and he will . . .he helps everybody because he’s right smack in the middle of it. He breaks up our lefties. We could hit Michael Brantley in the cleanup spot, but you don’t want to have every lefty in the league lineup up to face Kipnis and Brantley in the seventh inning.”

Not too worry: Asdrubal Cabrera wanted to make sure people understood why he stole third base Friday night with two out in the ninth inning and the Tribe down 5-1.

“A lot of people have asked me about that,” said Cabrera, before Saturday’s 5-3 loss to the Giants.

First, Cabrera knows he has to make sure he’s safe if he’s going to steal in that situation.

“I’ve got to be sure I can make it,” he said.

Now for Cabrera’s reasoning behind the steal.

“We’re down by four runs,” he said. “We’ve got runners on first (Ryan Raburn) and second (himself) with Michael Bourn, a left-handed hitter at the plate. If I steal third, that means they have to hold Raburn at first. That creates a lot of holes on the infield for Bournie and he can change the game.”

Bourn, however, grounded out to first for the final out of the game.

“I’m just trying to win,” said Cabrera.

Asked if it was a good play, Francona said, “As long as he’s safe. He better always be safe. The last thing you want to do is run into an out in a situation like that.

“You can say, “What did it do because we still needed four runs.’ But Cabbie has been very aggressive in all of his game. He laid a bunt down, he moved up on a ball in the dirt. He’s out there trying to spark us.”

Cabrera is hitting .218 (19-for-87) with one homer, seven RBI and two steals.

“I pull so hard for Cabbie,” said Francona. “He wants desperately to be good and help us win. The other day, we had guys on first and second base. Right after the guy in front of him got a hit, he turned around and looked at me to see if I wanted him to bunt. Those are the little things that let me know guys are thinking about winning.”

"Just because of all the type around my name, I didn't want to come and just not get seen or anything," Campbell said. "It's definitely a big thing on your shoulders."

DAYTON, Ohio – Parris Campbell emerged out of the locker room sporting a bright red Ohio State hat, one he clearly wore as a source of pride. It was a status symbol.

Campbell, one of the fastest players in high school football last year, slowly strolled over to a fence near the field, wrapped his arms around the railing and reclined in the sun as he anticipated the beginning of warmups.

• How Parris Campbell, in only one game, won over Urban Meyer to earn his Ohio State scholarship offer

He was in his element. He was the biggest name among dozens of college football prospects at the North-South Classic in Dayton on Saturday, and his Ohio State hat representing his future college program was the proof.

Campbell was special. And he liked it.

"I really wasn't thinking about (my status) a lot," Campbell said. "I was just trying to make new friends and get a good connection with other people. That's what I did."

During pregame warmups for the second game of the Ohio North-South Classic - this one featuring players from high schools in Division I-III - Campbell stopped before reaching midfield and imitated a cowboy with a lasso.

He was trying to have fun, basking in the glow of his final prep game before he reports to Ohio State on June 12. But when the game started, he showed why he was headed to Ohio's powerhouse program.

Campbell made one of the most exciting plays of the game on a 62-yard touchdown reception while helping lift the North to a 23-14 victory over the South. His speed, athleticism and talent was evident. He said it was important to him to make an impact.

"Yeah, definitely," he said. "Just because of all the type around my name. I didn't want to come and just not get seen or anything. It's definitely a big thing on your shoulders."

It's funny, because now Campbell, a product of St. Vincent-St. Mary, has a few more months before he reports to Ohio State and becomes ordinary. There he won't be anything special, just another inexperienced offensive playmaker on a roster filled with them. 

Rated by Rivals.com a four-star prospect and the No. 15 running back in the 2015 class, Campbell has already been informed that he'll have to undergo an immediate position change when he arrives in Columbus. 

"I’m going to be playing slot receiver starting out," he said. "But they told me it’s all up to me how I adjust when I get there. They might bump me up and move me to running back later, but I’ll be starting at slot receiver."

So behind Dontre Wilson and Jalin Marshall. And if he makes the move to running back, he can look up at Ezekiel Elliott and Curtis Samuel, an early-enrolled freshman who made big steps forward in his first spring. 

"It's really going to be hard, just because I'm going to see all the other guys around and think, 'Oh man, he might be working harder than me,' " Campbell said. "I mean, it's definitely going to be hard. ... I’m just going to go in with the mindset to work hard."

Campbell has been speaking regularly to Ohio State cornerback Doran Grant, also a product of St. Vincent-St. Mary who now starts for the Buckeyes. Grant also had to wait his turn when he arrived at Ohio State, and he's been informing Campbell that it's an uphill battle from the start. 

But Campbell is an interesting prospect. Though he's viewed in the mold of Wilson – a small speedster who can make plays in space – he's actually a 6-foot, 181-pound athlete who has filled out his body. 

His versatility could open the door for a faster route to the field, as he's out to prove he has more than just enough speed to have Urban Meyer on the edge of his seat. Campbell already has shown he can make plays as a wide receiver.

"It felt good to go out from high school like this," Campbell said. "I'm ready for college." 

As ready as he can be. 

Among the unexpected things the surprsing Indians bring to the ballpark this year is rain along with a team that still isn't pulling on the same end of the rope.

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – The drought-stricken state of California might never let the Indians go home. They’ve been here twice already this season and each time they’ve brought rain with them.

No surprise because the Indians have an unusual nature about them this year.

Close your eyes for a moment. Erase the first 23 games from your memory and think about this. If you had to name a Tribe third baseman who would be hitting .400 on April 26 and another third baseman who would be playing steady to great defense, the answers would be easy, right?

Guess what? Lonnie Chisenhall is the guy hitting .400, while Carlos Santana is flashing leather at third, but hitting only .133.

The Indians are 11-13 following Saturday's 5-3 loss to the Giants, and as Plain Dealer columnist Terry Pluto wrote last week, they’re lucky to be that good.

They’ve managed to stay close in the tightly bunched AL Central based mostly on the offensive efforts of Michael Brantley, David Murphy and Yan Gomes, the last four guys in the bullpen – Marc Rzepczynski, Cody Allen, Bryan Shaw and John Axford – and some solid starts by Zach McAllister, Corey Kluber and Justin Masterson.

The fourth and fifth starters, Danny Salazar and Carlos Carrasco, are a combined 0-6 with a 7.43 ERA in eight starts.

The top of the order, headed by Nick Swisher and Jason Kipnis, has been lukewarm. The return of leadoff hitter Michael Bourn, who is swinging a hot bat, should create some opportunities, but Swisher, Kipnis and Santana have to cash them in.

Santana, hitting cleanup in all of his 22 starts, has three RBI.

“We need to be is more consistent in all facets of our game,” said GM Chris Antonetti.

The concerns of Antonetti and manger Terry Francona seem to grow every day.

Defensively, the Indians have been awful. Gomes, the man they handed

the starting catcher’s job to last year and a six-year $23 million extension to in spring training, leads all catchers with six errors. He had three last year.

It’s just not Gomes. The Indians are tied with Oakland for the most errors in the AL with 22.

Antonetti is not buying the excuse that the Indians have played most of their games in cold and unpleasant weather.

“It’s been cold for the other teams as well,” he said. “We need to play better defense.”

Francona did a great job handling the bullpen last year, but that was with a rotation that gave him innings. This year’s starters have protected the bullpen somewhat in the last two turns through the rotation, but they still rank ninth in the AL and 24th in the big leagues with only 130 1/3 innings.

Kluber’s complete game four-hitter over the Royals on Thursday certainly helped, but that’s the exception not the norm. What the Indians need are five starters consistently giving them five to seven innings a start.

Masterson’s lost velocity is another concern. Everyone involved says he’s healthy, but just not throwing as hard as he did for much of last year. Where Masterson goes from here will be an interesting case study, but since his velocity was down in spring training, it certainly played a part in his lengthy negotiations with the Indians not producing a multiyear deal.

The next concern is two-fold: Carrasco and Salazar. The Indians have Trevor Bauer and Josh Tomlin waiting at Class AAA Columbus. The Indians could move Carrasco to the bullpen, he’s out of option, and send Salazar to Columbus, but when do they do it?

Francona always talks about the balancing act a team must perform. How much time do they give a player to develop at the big leagues while trying to win as man games as possible? It sounds as if they’ve reached that stage with Carrasco and Salazar.

The main job of a starting pitcher is to give his team a chance to win. Carrasco and Salazar haven’t done that.

This week in baseball.

There are three strikes in an out and three outs in every half inning. Here are two more sets of three to think about from last week in baseball. (All stats through Friday).

Three up

Former Indians' set-up man Joe Smith was named the Angels new closer last week.Chuck Crow/The Plain Dealer

1. Former Indians set-up man Joe Smith is the Angels new closer. He replaces Ernesto Frieri, 0-2 with two blown saves and a 8.38 ERA.

2. Philadelphia’s Cliff Lee beat the Dodgers on Monday with his 30th career game of 10 or more strikeouts – two with the Indians, three with Seattle, three with Texas and 22 with the Phillies.

Three down

Arizona power-hitter Mark Trumbo will miss at least six week with a stress fracture in his right foot. Ralph Freso/Associated Press

1. The Diamondbacks, off to their worst start in franchise history, will be without slugger Mark Trumbo for an extended period because of a stress fracture in his left foot.

2. Seattle center fielder Abraham Almonte it hitting .215 (20-for-93) while leading the American League with 3 strikeouts.

3 Kansas City’s Salvador Perez has hit Cincinnati Aroldis Chapman and Royals coach Rusty Kuntz with line drives, sending them both to surgery.

Tribe talk

Cody Allen was happy the Rally Squirrel made a safe exit from Progressive Field last week.Chuck Crow/The Plain Dealer

"I didn't want Bournie (Michael Bourn) going back on a ball in center field and look down and see a squirrel. I don't think they can review that play,” Cody Allen on the Rally Squirrel that appeared at Progressive Field on Monday night.

MLB talk

“When you go through three years of constantly hoping, you kind of run out of hope. Come to a team like this, where every day we’re going out to win – not hoping to win – it’s a lot different,” Brewer right-hander Matt Garza to mlb .com Friday after beating his old team, the Cubs.

Stat-o-matic

1. Improvement: Last year the Rockies No.4 and No.5 starters were a combined 8-32. This year No.5 starter Jordan Lyles, acquired from Houston over the winter, is 3-0 with a 2.93 ERA.

2. Strikeout machine: Miami’s Jose Fernandez, who struck out 14 in eight innings Tuesday, has at least one strikeout in in his last 14 straight innings.

3. More over Kirby: Minnesota’s Chris Colabello on Friday drove in his 27th run in April to break Kirby Puckett’s franchise record set in 1994.

Clippers owner Donald Sterling also has been involved in several lawsuits over the years, including ones with accusations of discrimination.

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Anger, frustration and calls for action echoed around the NBA on Saturday after an audio recording surfaced of a man identified as Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling telling his girlfriend not to bring black people to games.

Everybody except for the embattled Clippers owner, who has a decades-long history of alleged discrimination and offensive behavior, seemed to have a response.

The league said it was investigating the recording posted on TMZ's website, calling the comments "disturbing and offensive."

President Barack Obama, asked to respond at a news conference with Malaysia's prime minister during Obama's visit to the country Sunday, called the reported remarks "incredibly offensive racist statements."

"I don't think I have to interpret those statements for you, they kind of speak for themselves," Obama said. "When ignorant folks want to advertise their ignorance, you don't really have to do anything. You just let them talk. And that's what happened here."

Obama also expressed confidence the NBA would address the situation, and said the United States still wrestles with "the legacy of race and slavery and segregation."

"Obviously, the NBA is a league that is beloved by fans all across the country," Obama said. "It's got an awful lot of African-American players. It's steeped in African-American culture. And, I suspect that the NBA is going to be deeply concerned in resolving this."

Lakers Hall of Famer Magic Johnson, a target of Sterling's remarks, said he wouldn't attend Clippers games as long as Sterling was the owner. Miami Heat star LeBron James asked new NBA Commissioner Adam Silver to take aggressive measures, saying "there is no room for Donald Sterling in our league."

"Obviously, if the reports are true, it's unacceptable in our league," James said. "It doesn't matter, white, black or Hispanic — all across the races it's unacceptable. As the commissioner of our league, they have to make a stand. They have to be very aggressive with it. I don't know what it will be, but we can't have that in our league."

Silver spoke Saturday night in Memphis, Tenn., before the Grizzlies' game against Oklahoma City, repeating that the league finds the audio tape "disturbing and offensive" and that Sterling agreed to not attend the Clippers' game Sunday at Golden State.

"All members of the NBA family should be afforded due process and a fair opportunity to present their side of any controversy, which is why I'm not yet prepared to discuss any potential sanctions against Donald Sterling," Silver said. "We will, however, move extraordinarily quickly in our investigation."

Silver said the NBA needs to confirm authenticity of the audio tape and interview both Sterling and the woman in the recording. The Clippers will be back in Los Angeles for Game 5 on Tuesday night.

"We do hope to have this wrapped up in the next few days," Silver said.

Clippers coach Doc Rivers said players discussed boycotting Game 4 of their first-round playoff series during a 45-minute team meeting but quickly decided against it.

"I think the biggest statement we can make as men, not as black men, as men, is to stick together and show how strong we are as a group," Rivers said. "Not splinter. Not walk. It's easy to protest. The protest will be in our play."

Clippers President Andy Roeser said in a statement that the team did not know if the tape is legitimate or has been altered. He said the woman on the tape, identified by TMZ as V. Stiviano, "is the defendant in a lawsuit brought by the Sterling family alleging that she embezzled more than $1.8 million, who told Mr. Sterling that she would 'get even.'"

Roeser also said the recording does not reflect Sterling's beliefs. He added that Sterling is "upset and apologizes for sentiments attributed to him" about Johnson, whom he called Sterling's friend.

In the recording posted on TMZ, the man questions his girlfriend's association with minorities. TMZ reported Stiviano, who is of black and Mexican descent, posted a picture of herself with Johnson on Instagram — which has since been removed.

The man asked Stiviano not to broadcast her association with black people or bring black people to games. The man specifically mentioned Johnson on the recording, saying "don't bring him to my games, OK?"

"I will never go to a Clippers game again as long as Donald Sterling is the owner," Johnson responded on Twitter. He also said the alleged comments are "a black eye for the NBA" and said he felt bad that friends such as Rivers and Clippers point guard Chris Paul had to work for Sterling.

Paul released a statement through the players' union that said "this is a very serious issue which we will address aggressively." He also said Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson, a former NBA All-Star guard who is the chairman of a search committee to find a new director for the union, would take a leading role to help players address the matter.

Paul and Clippers All-Star forward Blake Griffin declined further comment on the issue after the team's practice at the University of San Francisco. Other players were not made available as Rivers said he would speak for the team.

"A lot of guys voiced their opinions. None of them were happy about it," Rivers said. "This was a situation where we're trying to go after something very important for us, something that we've all dreamed about all our childhoods. Donald or anyone else had nothing to do with that dream, and we're not going to let anything get in the way of those dreams."

On TNT's halftime studio show Saturday, host Charles Barkley said "this is the first test of Adam Silver." He said Silver had to "suspend him and fine him immediately."

In Dallas, Mavericks owner Mark Cuban said "I have plenty of opinions, just not going to share them. He fended off several inquiries before saying: "Obviously, if any business or entrepreneur says or does things that aren't congruent with what the organization is trying to convey, that's a problem. But it's not my problem."

Warriors coach Mark Jackson, who played for the Clippers from 1992-94, said of Sterling's comments: "My feeling would be the same, no matter if I was coaching, playing or a fan. There's no place for it."

Jacky Johnson, a spokeswoman for the Rev. Al Sharpton's National Action Network, said the organization planned a protest outside Game 5 of the Clippers-Warriors series Tuesday night in Los Angeles.

Sterling, a real estate owner, bought the Clippers in 1981. He is the longest-tenured owner in the NBA since Lakers owner Jerry Buss died last year.

Sterling has been frequently criticized for his frugal operation of the Clippers, although in recent years he has spent heavily to add stars such as Paul and Rivers, who is in his first year as coach. Sterling also has been involved in several lawsuits over the years, including ones with accusations of discrimination.

In November 2009, Sterling agreed to pay $2.73 million to settle allegations by the government that he refused to rent apartments to Hispanics and blacks and to families with children. The Justice Department sued Sterling in August 2006 for allegations of housing discrimination in the Koreatown area of Los Angeles.

In March 2011, Sterling won a lawsuit against former Clippers general manager Elgin Baylor when a jury rejected the Hall of Famer's claim of age discrimination and harassment. Baylor, who was 76 at the time, had sought about $2 million after claiming he was forced out of the job he had held for 22 years. The team said Baylor left on his own and a jury awarded him nothing.

Sterling is a courtside fixture at Clippers home games. But he rarely visits the team's locker room at Staples Center, although he made an appearance in December 2012 after the Clippers won their 11th straight game, when he led an awkward locker room cheer.

In his draft of how teams "should" pick, ESPN's Todd McShay has the Browns coming away with Sammy Watkins and Johnny Manziel.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- ESPN's draft expert Todd McShay came up with a new twist. He decided to create a draft "based on who I'd pick."

He knows the draft won't go anything like this, but he makes the case that this draft might make more sense for the teams involved.

The one area where I agree with McShay is when it comes to the quarterbacks.

He doesn't like most of them -- at least in terms of being high picks.

Neither do I.

OK, here's how McShay would draft for each team. Remember, it's NOT how he thinks the teams will actually pick.

No. 1: Houston takes South Carolina pass rusher Jadeveon Clowney.

No. 2: St. Louis picks Auburn offensive tackle Greg Robinson.

No. 3: Jacksonville selects Buffalo linebacker Khalil Mack.

No. 4: The Browns grab Clemson wide receiver Sammy Watkins.

Here is what McShay wrote about the Browns at No. 4: "I'm beginning to sound like I'm on repeat here, but the Browns are another team that needs a quarterback that I have waiting until later to draft one … I can't justify using a top-four pick on any of this year's QBs. Cleveland needs an upgrade at the No. 2 receiver spot opposite Josh Gordon, and if Watkins reaches his potential, the Browns will essentially have two No. 1s.

"He is an explosive and dynamic weapon both as a vertical route runner and after the catch, and he attacks the ball in the air, playing bigger than his size. He'll have some learning to do as a route runner, but he already knows how to separate from coverage."

Two big time receivers

I like McShay's case for Watkins. I could apply some of the same reasoning to Texas A&M receiver Mike Evans, although he doesn't have the speed of Watkins. He is a bigger target, which is intriguing.

McShay's point is valid.

If you don't really believe in any of the quarterbacks, then looks at players near the top of the draft who truly excite you.

Pairing Watkins (or Evans) with Gordon would mean Christmas came in May for quarterback Brian Hoyer.

So when does McShay believe a quarterback will finally be selected?

He has Central Florida's Blake Bortles going to Minnesota at No. 8.

His next quarterback picked is Teddy Bridgewater to Arizona at No. 20.

And what about the Browns at No. 26?

A certain part of the fan base will now pass out in delirium.

If Johnny Manziel fell to the Browns at No. 26, it would be one the biggest draft shocks ever.AP

Johnny Football wears an orange helmet

At No. 26, he has the Browns grabbing Johnny Manziel. Talk about a shocker ... a stunner.

McShay wrote: "Manziel is the 19th-ranked prospect on my board, and the Browns need to address the quarterback position. Additionally, I already addressed a need position with an elite player at the No. 4 pick in Sammy Watkins, and having five total picks in the top 83 frees the Browns up to take a chance here.

"All of those factors make Manziel worth the risk, because the potential payoff with him -- if he can make the necessary adjustments to his game to consistently win from the pocket and protect his body, while still utilizing his rare improvisation skills -- is significant. If Manziel gets past the top eight picks on draft night, I think there could be a good trade market to get in place to draft him."

In reality, I doubt Manziel gets past the top 10.

In my opinion, I think Manziel will have a hard time adjusting to the NFL. I would not take him in the first round.

But this may be true: One of the Big Three Quarterbacks (Bortles, Bridgewater or Manziel) may drop to the Browns at No. 26.

ESPN's Mel Kiper has Bridgewater falling into the second round.

Last week, I wrote about how Pat Kirwan of CBSsports.com had the Browns picking Watkins at No. 4 and Bridgewater at No. 26.

And it seems most years, there is a surprise when a quarterback falls.

But Manziel?

Now that would be a shock, and I wonder if the Browns would grab him at No. 26. And if they didn't, that means the Browns would have passed Manziel ... twice. Could that actually happen?

Indians CF Michael Bourn owns 10 hits during a six-game streak.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Indians play the finale of a three-game series against the San Francisco Giants on Sunday.

Game: 25

Opponent: Giants.

Location: AT&T Park, San Francisco.

Scheduled first pitch: 4:05 p.m.

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

Pitching matchup: Indians RHP Danny Salazar (0-3, 7.85 ERA) vs. Giants RHP Ryan Vogelsong (0-1, 7.71).

Season series: Giants lead, 2-0.

Indians update: They are 11-13 overall, 4-7 on road. Lost to Giants, 5-1, Friday and 5-3 on Saturday. Went 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position in each of the first two games. Nos. 4-5-6 hitters -- 3B Carlos Santana, LF Michael Brantley and SS Asdrubal Cabrera -- have combined to go 0-for-19. 1B Nick Swisher is 4-for-9 in the series. ... CF Michael Bourn is 10-for-27 during a six-game hitting streak. ... Santana is hitting .128 in 23 games. ... Salazar is coming off a bad performance in a loss to Kansas City. None of his four starts is quality. He has given up five homers in 18 1/3 innings this season and 12 in 70 1/3 for his career.

Giants update: They are 14-10 overall, 7-4 at home. ... Last Monday in Colorado, Vogelsong gave up five runs in 1 1/3 innings -- the second-shortest start of his career. He owns a 6.61 ERA in his last 10 starts. Lefties are hitting .389 against him this season. ... LF Michael Morse is 4-for-9 with three homers in his last three games. ... RF Hunter Pence is 10-for-20 in his last five games.

Injuries: Giants – INF Marco Scutaro (back) and LHP David Huff (left quad) are on disabled list.

Next for Indians: Trip continues against Angels on Monday in Anaheim, Calif.

Get updates and chat live with cleveland.com's Glenn Moore as the Indians take on the Giants in the final game of their series in San Francisco.

SAN FRANCISCO, California -- The Giants sweep the Indians after winning Sunday's game, 4-1, in San Francisco. Brandon Hicks hit a walk-off, three run home run to give the Giants the win. It came with two outs in the ninth.

The Indians will be trying to win their first game of this six-game West Coast swing against the Giants and Angels on Sunday.

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. -- Here are Sunday's lineups for the Indians game against the Giants at AT&T Park.

INDIANS

CF Michael Bourn, .275.
1B Nick Swisher, .227.
2B Jason Kipnis, .253.
C Carlos Santana, .128.
LF Michael Brantley, .273.
SS Asdrubal Cabrera, .218.
C Yan Gomes, .268.
RF David Murphy, .286.
RHP Danny Salazar, 0-3, 7.85.

GIANTS

CF Angel Pagan, .337.
RF Hunter Pence, .250.
1B Brandon Belt, .274.
C Buster Posey, .224.
LF Michael Morse, .288.
3B Pablo Sandoval, .165.
SS Brandon Crawford, .265.
2B Brandon Hicks, .222.
RHP Ryan Vogelson, 0-1, 7.71.

UMPIRES

H Scott Barry.
1B Jeff Nelson, crew chief.
2B Marcus Pattiloo.
3B Laz Diaz. 

In light of the racist comments allegedly made by the owner of the Los Angeles Clippers, the players today took off their team warmup jackets and placed them in a pile on the court, revealing practice jerseys worn inside-out to hide the Clippers logo.

Madelyn Burke/Twitter.com

The Los Angeles Clippers chose not to speak publicly about owner Donald Sterling. Instead, they made a silent protest.

In response to Sterling's purported comments urging a woman to not bring black people to his team's games, the Clippers on Sunday let their uniforms become a show of solidarity.

They ran out of the tunnel for Game 4 of their first-round playoff at Golden State wearing their warmups. Then they huddled at center court and tossed their warmups to the ground, going through their pregame routine with their red Clippers' shirts inside out to hide the team's logo.

Players also wore black wristbands or armbands. They all wore black socks with their normal jerseys.

"It's just us, only us. We're all we got," Clippers star guard Chris Paul could be heard shouting to teammates before they ran out.

The Warriors' sellout crowd of 19,596, decked out in gold shirts, booed the Clippers — as they always do — during introductions.  Read more ... (Associated Press)

What do you think of the way the Clippers handled the controversy surrounding  owner Donald Sterling? Post in the comments section.

Michael Bourn says playing in front of three straight sellout crowds at AT&T Park will help the Indians experience because, "If we want to get to where we want to get to, we’re going to have to play in this kind of atmosphere all the time.”

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – Seen and heard Sunday at AT&T Park.

Clubhouse confidential: If you couldn’t tell by watching the first two games of the Indians series against the Giants, San Francisco is a great baseball town and AT&T Park is a great place to watch a game.

The Giants sold out their 258th straight game Sunday, a National League record. They still trail Boston at 794 straight games and the Indians at 455.

“This is important for us to play in an atmosphere like this,” said center fielder Michael Bourn. “This is a real big-league atmosphere. You’re against the crowd. The stands are packed. We don’t see that a lot.

“We might see it in Detroit and Yankee Stadium, but we don’t see it every day. Playing in this kind of atmosphere is good for our experience. If we want to get to where we want to get to, we’re going to have to play in this kind of atmosphere all the time.”

As for re-engaging Cleveland’s baseball fans, Bourn said, “We’re going to get them back there . . .If we win, they’ll come.”

Same schedule, same track? It’s interesting to note that Danny Salazar and Trevor Bauer both started Sunday. It’s believed Salazar is on a short leash if he continues to struggle.

Bauer improved to 3-0 with a 1.40 ERA Sunday as Columbus beat Norfolk, 6-2. He has 29 strikeouts, seven walks and 0.97 WHIP in 25 2/3 innings.

Stat of the day: The Indians have played 14 of their first 25 games in the daytime. Headed into Sunday’s game, they were 5-8 in the sunshine.

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

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

Did Kosar get the same thing he got the first time he was cut by the Browns?

This slideshow includes the cartoon of mine that was published in The Plain Dealer in 1993, when Bernie Kosar was cut by the Browns.  Along with it are rough sketches of alternative ideas for the finished cartoons on Bernie being sacked that were posted on April 25, which are also included.  As can be seen, there are several ways to pluck a peacock.

With his being cut as a color commentator, did Kosar get the same thing he got the first time he was cut by the Browns?

Indians RHP Danny Salazar gave up one run in seven innings, but it wasn't enough to prevent a 4-1 loss to the Giants on Sunday in San Francisco.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Indians played the finale of a three-game series against the Giants on Sunday. Here is a capsule look from The Plain Dealer reporter Dennis Manoloff:

Game: 25

Opponent: Giants.

Location: AT&T Park, San Francisco.

Time of day: Afternoon.

Result: Giants 4, Indians 1.

Records: Giants 15-10, Indians 11-14.

Giant brooms: The Indians suffered their first series sweep this season. They were swept in a three-game series at AT&T Park for the second straight time (June 2011).

Wet newspapers: From the Indians' perspective, the headline from this game should have centered on right-hander Danny Salazar's terrific start. But Tribe hitters ruined it for Salazar by being afflicted with #zombiebaseball against Giants righty Ryan Vogelsong.

Vogelsong, coming off a season in which he went 4-6 with a 5.73 ERA in 19 starts, was 0-1 with a 7.71 ERA in four starts this year. In his previous outing, April 21 at Colorado, he allowed five runs on six hits and three walks in 1 1/3 innings of a loss.

Left-handed batters entered batting .389 (14-for-36) with three homers, three doubles and one triple against Vogelsong.

Yet the best that all of the Indians hitters could do against him were two singles, by Michael Bourn, in seven innings. Vogelsong exited with a 1-0 lead. His shot at a victory quickly evaporated when Yan Gomes homered to lead off the eighth against Santiago Casilla.

The Giants won it in the ninth with a two-out, three-run homer by light-hitting Brandon Hicks against Cody Allen. But the Indians effectively lost it by doing next to nothing against Vogelsong.

Vogelsong, a finesse pitcher, relies on changing speeds and locating. Just because his line indicates he excelled on both fronts, though, doesn't make it so. Vogelsong did not have pinpoint control, leaving numerous pitches over the plate and above the knees, but Indians other than Bourn and Jason Kipnis (two walks in three trips) were powerless against him.

It is one thing to be shut down by righty Tim Hudson, as the Indians were Friday night (7 IP, 4 H, R). It is another to be overwhelmed by Vogelsong.

(After the game, ever-optimistic Indians manager Terry Francona said his club possesses good hitters -- but he didn't stop there. He cracked his hitters for failing to make in-game adjustments and for not making it more difficult on pitchers.)

Super-sized donut: The Indians scored five runs in the series thanks largely to the enormous hole in the middle of their lineup. The Nos. 4-5-6 hitters for each game were Carlos Santana, Michael Brantley and Asdrubal Cabrera, respectively. The trio combined to go 0-for-29 with five walks.

On Sunday, the trio was 0-for-10 with two strikeouts.

Santana is hitting .122 and slugging .195 in 24 games. He has one homer and three RBI. Brantley is hitting .264 and Cabrera .211.

Putting it together: Salazar allowed one run on five hits in seven innings. He walked one and struck out eight. He authored his first quality start this season after opening with four mediocre-to-bad ones (combined 18 1/3 IP, 16 ER).

Salazar, as per usual, relied heavily on fastballs. More than 80 percent of his 101 pitches were heaters. Unlike in previous starts, he consistently kept the fastball down and didn't get punished when he did elevate it. And, unlike in previous starts, he didn't pay a steep price for a bad secondary pitch.

Salazar gave up two singles through three innings and retired the first two in the fourth. He fell behind Pablo Sandoval, 2-0, and threw a fastball off the outside corner. Sandoval went with the pitch and doubled to left. Credit Sandoval for not trying to do too much with a decent pitch.

The next batter, lefty Brandon Crawford, was 0-for-1 in the game and 8-for-46 this season against righties. Salazar threw a first-pitch fastball that leaked over the middle above the knees, and Crawford was ready. He ripped it down the right-field line for an RBI double.

Tribe pitching coach Mickey Callaway visited the mound in hopes of settling down Salazar and making sure the inning didn't get away from him. It didn't -- but Salazar has center fielder Bourn to thank. Hicks hammered a hanging slider to left-center, where Bourn ran it down near the wall.

Salazar breezed through his final three innings.

No big flies: Salazar snapped his streak of starts with at least one homer allowed at six, which includes the wild-card game last October.

Minimal time required: Indians leadoff batter Bourn dumped a single into left-center on the second pitch of the first, extending his hitting streak to seven games. He finished 2-for-4 and is 12-for-31 during the streak, which has raised his average from .077 to .295.

Squandered opportunity: The Indians failed to score in the first despite traffic against a pitcher who had been struggling.

After giving up Bourn's single, Vogelsong fell behind Nick Swisher, 2-0. Swisher, geared for a fastball, got a changeup and swung through it. Credit Vogelsong with having faith in that pitch in that situation. Vogelsong followed with a 90-mph fastball that had plenty of plate, but the best Swisher could do was pop foul to third.

Kipnis walked on six pitches.

Santana, who entered with three hits in his previous 15 games, took a ball. Vogelsong threw a 91-mph fastball that would have been a cookie for any hitter not in a protracted slump. For Santana, it became a fly to right, albeit reasonably deep.

Brantley took two balls. As happened with Swisher, Vogelsong threw a 2-0 changeup and Brantley took it for a strike. Vogelsong then opted for a curveball that was up and on the inner half. Before this series, Brantley probably would have done something with it. He grounded to second.

Song and dance: In the first five innings, Vogelsong all but wrote invitations to Indians hitters to punish him. He threw a first-pitch ball to seven consecutive batters to begin the game and a staggering 14 of 16 through the first batter of the fifth inning. The Indians went 2-for-14 with two walks after a 1-0 count through five innings.

Vogelsong had 2-0 counts six times in that span. The Indians were 0-for-4 with two walks.

Vogelsong finished at 7-for-24 in the first-pitch-strike category -- and gave up two hits and zero runs. Let it marinate.

Lost in translation: Santana finished 0-for-4 despite working with a 1-0 count four times and a 2-0 count once. When Francona talks about hitters failing to make in-game adjustments, he no doubt has Santana in mind. Santana's problems run deeper: He isn't making pre-game adjustments.

Onlookers don't need to be major-league hitting coaches to see what ails Santana. His leg-kick-started swing has gotten extra-long and, because he is so anxious, too much weight is being transferred to the front side. The compromised leverage leads to the bat dragging through the zone instead of firing through it, thereby producing pop-ups and flyouts instead of liners and extra-base hits.

Santana's baseball card suggests he can fix the problem. For the time being, though, Francona's patience with Santana in the cleanup spot must be wearing thin.

Yanimal: Gomes' homer was the third earned run in 39 2/3 innings against San Francisco's bullpen at home this season. Giants relievers had a 19-inning scoreless streak at home.

Ambush: Hicks stepped in against Allen having gone 0-fo-3 in the game, 0-for-8 in the series and 3-for-27 at AT&T Park. None of it mattered when he blasted a 1-0 fastball that was up and parked it in the seats in left-center.

Quality defense: Giants second baseman Hicks denied Swisher a hit in the third -- and triggered a double play. After Bourn reached with a one-out single, Swisher grounded up the middle. Hicks made a sliding, back-hand pick and flipped to shortstop Crawford, who caught it with his throwing hand and threw across to retire Swisher with room to spare.