The inconsistency has reached a point of consistency.

CINCINNATI, Ohio -- Cleveland lost possession of the Ohio Cup. Will the city maintain its grasp on The Barge in Saturday's Great Lakes Classic?

Here are five thoughts following the Indians' lackluster showing in Cincinnati.

1. Land of mediocrity: It's actually kind of remarkable that the Indians are only one game below the .500 mark. They rank last in the major leagues in fielding percentage. Only seven teams allow more runs per game. The offense has followed a feast-or-famine pattern with more starvation than gluttony. And yet, the Tribe sits 3 1/2 games out in the Wild Card race and 6 1/2 games out in the division race and owns a plus-seven run differential.

2. Year to year: Last season, the Indians compiled a .255/.327/.410 slash line as a team. This year, the Indians have posted a .256/.323/.399 slash line. Last season, Indians pitchers logged a 3.82 ERA, 3.73 FIP (fielding independent percentage) and 1.327 WHIP. This year, Indians pitchers have recorded a 3.85 ERA, 3.64 FIP and 1.316 WHIP.

The numbers are pretty similar. So what's the difference?

Last year, the Indians committed 98 errors and registered a .983 fielding percentage. Through 115 games, the Indians have already tallied 89 errors. Their fielding percentage stands at .979. The defensive deficiencies also explain the stark difference between the staff's ERA and FIP this season compared to the modest separation between the two statistics last year.

3. Forward and backward: While players such as Michael Brantley, Corey Kluber, Yan Gomes and Lonnie Chisenhall -- the team's young core -- have demonstrated a steady progression, its supplemental parts have profoundly regressed. Even a repeat of last season's disappointing performances by Nick Swisher and Michael Bourn would have made the Indians' 2014 offense light years better. Instead, those players' production has dropped off, as has that of Ryan Raburn, Justin Masterson, Jason Kipnis and Zach McAllister.

4. The mantra: Eight weeks remain in the regular season. The Indians continue to wait for that hot streak, a spark that isn't guaranteed to arrive at all. The Indians have amassed five four-game winning streaks this season. They followed the first four with a losing streak of at least four games that began no more than five days later. If they lose on Friday, they will be 5-for-5. The inconsistency has reached a point of consistency.

5. My cousin Vinnie: The Indians likely would have non-tendered Vinnie Pestano at the end of the season, anyway, so by trading him to the Angels, they at least receive something tangible in return. Pestano and the Indians engaged in an arbitration dispute over the winter. The reliever ultimately lost. He had fallen behind a host of relievers in the pecking order for a promotion to the big league squad. So, the Indians granted him a change of scenery for the final month or two of the 2014 slate.

After winning the first game of this four-game in-state rivalry against the Reds, the Indians lost three straight.

CINCINNATI, Ohio – The Indians did a great job keeping speedster Billy Hamilton off the bases in the first three games of their in-state interleague rivalry with Cincinnati. They were not so successful Thursday night as Hamilton helped the Reds run away with the Ohio Cup.

After reaching base just twice in the first three games, Hamilton did so three times, scored once and drove in a run as Cincinnati beat the Indians, 4-0, behind the five-hit pitching of Homer Bailey and two relievers.

Hamilton, second in the NL with 43 steals, opened the game with a single before turning on the speed.

No. 2 hitter Jay Bruce, with the Indians' infield shifted to the right, singled to third baseman Lonnie Chisenhall, who was positioned at shortstop. Bruce beat Chisenhall's late throw to first as Hamilton hit second and headed for the unguarded hot corner.

First baseman Carlos Santana, with Chisenhall and pitcher T.J. House scrambling to cover third, unleashed a wild throw. It bounced into the stands, allowing Hamilton to score and Bruce to take third. Ryan Ludwick followed with a two-out single for a 2-0 lead.

House (1-3, 4.13) took the loss. He allowed four runs, three earned, in seven innings. He struck out five, walked one and allowed eight hits.

Bailey (9-5, 3.71) threw seven scoreless innings with eight strikeouts, four hits and one walk. It was the fifth time the Indians have been shut out this season.

What it means?

After winning the first game of this four-game home and away series against the Reds, the Indians lost three straight by a combined score of 21-5.

The Indians (57-58) are 10-11 since the All-Star break and have lost nine of their last 12. Despite the loss, they remained 6½ games behind first-place Detroit in the AL Central because the Tigers lost to the Yankees on Thursday afternoon.

The Tribe entered Thursday night 3½ games behind Toronto for the second wild card spot. The idle Royals, Yankees and Mariners were in front of them. The Mariners were scheduled to play the White Sox on Thursday night at Safeco Field.

The Reds (59-56) stayed four games behind first-place Milwaukee in the NL Central following the Brewers' victory over the Giants. They went into Thursday night's game three games behind St. Louis for the second wild card spot.

The Tribe is 9-9, while the Reds are 6-9 in interleague play.

Hold that thought

Just when people were sizing up Santana for a Gold Glove at first base sometime in the near future, he goes and stubs his toe Thursday. He made not one, but two errors.

First there was his throw to third in the first that led to two runs and a three-base error. In the fifth, he dropped Hamilton's pop up for his second error of the night and eighth overall of the season.

The ball knows

In baseball there's the saying that "the ball will find you."

It applies to a manager putting a player in an unfamiliar position because of injury or roster restrictions. Remember when Manny Acta had to play Luis Valbuena in left field against the Twins?

Manager Terry Francona started Nick Swisher in left field Wednesday night for the first time since 2009 with no major incidents. He ran him out there again Thursday and Swisher's lack of foot speed showed itself in the second when Hamilton tripled to the gap in left center to score Bailey for a 3-0 lead.

Center fielder Michael Brantley retrieved the ball and Hamilton was caught in a rundown between third and home.

Ohio Cup hero

Reds second baseman Kris Negron, playing in just his 16th game this season, was voted MVP of this year's Ohio Cup. Negron hit .538 (7-for-13) with four runs, two doubles, one homer and five RBI in the four-game series. 

What's next?

The Indians open a three-game series against the Yankees in the Bronx on Friday night with RHP Trevor Bauer (4-6, 4.20) facing RHP Esmil Rogers (1-0, 5.84) at 7:05 p.m. SportsTime Ohio, WTAM and WMMS will carry the game.

Rogers, the former Indian, is replacing David Phelps in the Yankees' battered rotation. Phelps went on the disabled list Monday with a sore right elbow. This will be Rogers' first start of the season after 18 relief appearances with Toronto and the Yankees.

The Indians made it official Thursday that Carlos Carrasco will come out of the bullpen and start Sunday against Hiroki Kuroda in place of Josh Tomlin. It will be Carrasco's first start since April 25.

The initial ruling paves the way for athletes to earn some money when their names or images are used in merchandise or video games.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The changes to college athletics should continue after the NCAA lost the Ed O'Bannon case in federal court on Friday, which could pave the way for college athletes to be paid for their names or images being used in merchandise or video games.

The ruling is expected to be appealed, but once again, the basic foundation of college sports is changing, and the relationship between athletes and their schools could be altered by what in the end could be a historic ruling.

Law professor Michael A. Carrier told USA Today, "This has to be viewed as a significant win for the plaintiffs and significant loss for NCAA."

In a 99-page ruling, Judge Claudia Wilken made a basic point about the NCAA amateurism model that has been pretty clear.

The association's current rules demonstrate that, even today, the NCAA does not consistently adhere to a single definition of amateurism. A Division I tennis recruit can preserve his amateur status even if he accepts ten thousand dollars in prize money the year before he enrolls in college. A Division I track and field recruit, however, would forfeit his athletic eligibility if he did the same. Similarly, an FBS football player may maintain his amateur status if he accepts a Pell grant that brings his total financial aid package above the cost of attendance. But the same football player would no longer be an amateur if he were to decline the Pell grant and, instead, receive an equivalent sum of money from his school for the use of his name, image, and likeness during live game telecasts. Such inconsistencies are not indicative of "core principles."

• Read the full O'Bannon ruling 

• CBSSports.com on ruling

• USA Today on ruling

However, though former UCLA basketball player O'Bannon and the plaintiffs won the case, the judge did not grant a complete wide-open system for players to receive money.

Judge Wilken favored cost of attendance scholarships, which would add another $3,000 to $5,000 to most current athletic scholarships, and a trust for current players where money gained from using their images would be held until they leave school.

But the judge limited that licensing revenue - no college athletes will become millionaires while in school off this ruling. That's because she rejected the idea of allowing athletes to take in any endorsements they want.

The current model, however, is flawed and must be fixed, the judge ruled. She contended that the current standard of schools offering high school athletes the same scholarship, and nothing more, does create a world where "student-athletes themselves are harmed by the price-fixing agreement among FBS football and Division I basketball schools."

This ruling alone doesn't blow up college athletics as we know it. But the judge in general wasn't swayed by most of the NCAA's arguments about why things are the way they are. With more lawsuits in the works, that could be a bad precedent for the NCAA, and a sign that more change is coming.

And the judge suggested that in the end, it may be up to the NCAA and its members, or Congress, to really figure all this out, not the courts. 

But as with the autonomy vote that gave the big schools more power on Thursday, and just the talk of unionization, and the others things that have happened in recent years, this is another step. 

Things will continue to change. College sports as we know it won't go on just like this for much longer. There is much that still needs to be worked out. But there was one line from Judge Wilken's ruling that everyone should agree on.

"College sports generate a tremendous amount of interest," the judge wrote, "as well as revenue and controversy."

Rory McElroy leads PGA Championship, but Tiger Woods struggles again and misses the cut.

LOUISVILLE, Kentucky — On a soggy day at Valhalla, Rory McIlroy put himself in a familiar position — at the top of the leaderboard in the PGA Championship.

For Tiger Woods, this also is becoming the norm.

Another major disappointment. He's heading home for the weekend.

McIlroy, the overwhelming favorite from Northern Ireland, started on the back nine after a 50-minute rain delay Friday, made a couple of early birdies, then claimed the outright lead for the first time when he rolled in a 30-foot eagle putt at the 18th hole.

McIlroy picked up two more birdies in his final three holes for a 4-under 67, good enough for a one-shot lead over Jason Day and Jim Furyk. Day turned in the best round of the day with a 65, and Furyk had a 68.

Rickie Fowler and Ryan Palmer were two shots back, with Fowler surging into contention again at a major by shooting 66. He is already the first player since Woods in 2005 to finish in the top five of the first three majors of the year.

And don't forget Phil Mickelson, who rolled in an 8-footer for eagle at the final hole for a 67. Lefty was just three shots back.

Woods, meanwhile, struggled to his second straight 74 and failed to make the cut at a major for only the fourth time in his professional career.

"That was tough," Woods said. "I hit a lot of shots out there. Seventy-four of 'em. It was a long day."

Palmer was tied for the lead after the opening round with Lee Westwood and Kevin Chappell. Palmer turned in the best follow-up from that group, shooting 70 to stay firmly in the mix. Westwood faded a bit with a 73 and was four shots back. Chappell struggled to a 74 and dropped six strokes off the pace.

Woods was 109th place after Thursday, his only realistic goal to make the cut.

He wasn't even close.

Woods lipped out a 3-foot birdie attempt at the third, missing a chance to gain some momentum. He followed with a bogey at No. 4, after driving into a fairway bunker, and took a double bogey at the sixth when he drove far left of the fairway and three-putted from 18 feet. Still reeling from that debacle, he yanked his tee shot at the par-5 seventh into a muddy bog, could only pitch up to the fairway, pulled the next shot behind the green, failed to reach the short grass with his chip, and made another bogey.

The back nine was better — a couple of birdies, one bogey — but it didn't matter at that point.

Wood was all done at this PGA, still stuck on 14 major titles, the last one coming more than six years ago.

McIlroy, on the other hand, is at the top of his game. He arrived at Valhalla having won his last two tournaments. He captured the British Open at Royal Liverpool with a wire-to-wire performance, and rallied for a victory at Firestone last weekend.

Midway through the final major of the year, he is once again the guy everyone is chasing.

"I'm confident," McIlroy said. "I'm really in control of my game and my emotions. I need to do that over the weekend as well."

He dropped a shot with a bogey at the 12th, but birdied two of the next three holes. He seized the outright lead for the first time with the long putt at No. 18 and nearly made another eagle at the par-5 seventh. He stuck a shot from 243 yards to 8 feet, but the putt stayed right of the cup.

McIlroy grimaced and rolled back his head.

No problem.

He closed with another birdie at the ninth, finishing off his round by curling in a 16-footer that left him at 9-under 133 overall.

McIlroy is going for his fourth major title at age 25, having already won the PGA Championship at Kiawah in 2012. He's got plenty of youth behind him — Fowler is 25, Day 26.

The old-timers didn't fare too shabby, either.

Steve Stricker — a 47-year-old, part-time player who was picked as an assistant U.S. Ryder Cup captain this week — showed he's still got plenty of game. He made four birdies on his first nine holes on the way to a 68, which left him four shots back along with Westwood. Also at 5 under were Graham DeLaet (68), Victor Dubuisson (68), Joost Luiten (69), Henrik Stenson (71).

Kentucky native Kenny Perry will get to celebrate his 54th birthday on Sunday at Valhalla after shooting 69. A pair of 51-year-olds, Vijay Singh and Colin Montgomerie, also made the cut.

A steady rain forced officials to suspend the round after just 20 minutes because of too much water on the putting surfaces and fairways. Work crews already were using squeegees on the greens when another burst of showers hit Valhalla.

Play was halted as Palmer was playing the first hole. He hung out in the tower with some volunteers, snapping pictures of the water.

"I wasn't quite sure we should have teed off, to be honest with you," he said. "You could barely see the fairway."

The sun came out late in the day.

Not soon enough to brighten Woods' day.

LeBron James said it best himself before dropping the microphone and watching fireworks light up the Akron sky.

AKRON, Ohio -- LeBron James said it best himself before dropping the microphone and watching fireworks light up the Akron sky.

"I love you. I'm back," James told a crowd of around 25,000 that packed the stands of InfoCision Stadium on the campus of the University of Akron on Friday night.

Just like that, James announced his return during a homecoming fit for a king. And this time, the four-time NBA MVP isn't leaving.

"I don't plan on going nowhere," James said before the Welcome Home LeBron Celebration officially got underway. "I don't have the energy to do it again."

James officially signed a two-year contract with an opt-out clause after the first year on July 12, one day after announcing his return to Cleveland in a heartfelt essay released on Sports Illustrated's website. His connection with his hometown is strong. However it wasn't until recently that he realized how deep the relationship truly is. 

"It just hit me," James said. "Sometimes you just have a feeling. Sometimes you just kind of realize what's going on, what's happening. It just hit me. That's why I was able to, through the letter, speak through the heart.

"It came off pretty well, I guess," he added with a subtle grin. "That's what they say."

There was plenty of speculation leading up to the memorable announcement, but James admitted he didn't start thinking about a return to the Cavs until after he got home from a family vacation last month.

"I let my agent, Rich Paul, kind of handle everything as far as the business because I wanted to try to get away from the game," James said. "I promised my family I would take them on vacation and kind of get away from my phone and not mess with it too much because I knew it was going to happen."

James' final decision wasn't officially made until his last 48 hours in Las Vegas. He needed to meet with teams and weigh the pros and cons all while juggling a busy schedule that included hosting his annual basketball camp in Vegas in early July. 

Since he announced his return, the Cavs' roster has evolved. Former Miami teammates Mike Miller and James Jones have been added to boost the second unit while also providing lethal outside shooting and much-needed playoff experience.

"Being able to bring Mike Miller on, one of my favorite teammates, and James Jones from my days in Miami, to be able to bring on champions, that helps a lot in the locker room," James said. "That helps on the floor because we've been there."

More changes could be on the horizon, including a blockbuster deal for Minnesota Timberwolves three-time All-Star Kevin Love.

"The early reports are that we're going to acquire Kevin Love," James said while trying not to break any league rules. "We don't know for sure, and I'm not getting my hopes too high on it right now because I don't know what could happen between now and to the 23rd."

The latest report from Yahoo Sports has the Cavs and Timberwolves agreeing to a deal that will send 2014 No. 1 pick Andrew Wiggins, 2013 top pick Anthony Bennett and a 2015 first rounder to the Timberwolves for Love, with whom James spent 32 days during the 2012 Olympics. Per league rules, the deal can't be official until Aug. 23, which is 30 days after Wiggins signed his rookie contract.

"I can tell you, I'll be really excited, very excited to have (Love). He's one of those guys that I don't even really care about the 26 (points) and 12 (rebounds), I care about the basketball IQ. His basketball IQ is very, very high," James said. "Hopefully it happens and everything is done right from a league rule standard, but he's a great piece."

James learned in Miami that even with a potent roster, winning a title won't be easy.

"It's going to be a process," James admitted. "I know that first hand. It's going to be a challenge for us because a lot of these guys haven't been through (the playoffs). In order to be successful you have to have to have some pitfalls and I know it."

It was 2007 when James led the Cavs to the NBA Finals for the first time in team history. That's not enough. He is back for something bigger this time around.

"My number one goal is to win a championship here," James said. "I think it would be the greatest achievement in my life as far as on the court."

Lonnie Chisenhall's batting average has dropped from .393 on June 11 to .296 headed into Friday's three-game Yankee series.

NEW YORK, N.Y. – Quick hits from manager Terry Francona, GM Chris Antonetti and the Indians before Friday's game at Yankee Stadium.

Rest needed: Francona rested slumping third baseman Lonnie Chisenhall on Friday.

"He looks tired," said Francona. "His swing is a little late."

On June 11, Chisenhall was hitting .393 (66-for-168). Since then he's hitting .198 (33-for-167) to take a .296 batting average into Yankee Stadium for this series.

R&R for Dr. Smooth: Michael Brantley DH'd Friday night instead of playing center field.

"He's been on his legs a lot," said Francona. "I just wanted to get him off his legs a little bit."

Chris Dickerson started in center.

Brantley banged his knee on the outfield fence during the series at Great American Ball Park against the Reds. Asked if he was OK, Brantley said, "I'm fine. What are you talking about?"

Catcher Yan Gomes was also given the night off as Roberto Perez made his eighth start of the season.

Waiver deal: The Indians traded Vinnie Pestano on Thursday to the Angels for Class A right-hander Michael Clevinger.

"I know Vinnie has worked really hard to be an effective major league pitcher," said Antonetti. "We've seen glimpses of that at times. We have gotten to the point organizationally where a couple of guys were getting those opportunities ahead of Vinnie so when the Angels claimed him we facilitated a trade.

"I hope this results in Vinnie getting a major league opportunity."

Francona never managed Pestano when he ruled the eighth inning for The Bullpen Mafia. With the eighth inning now the property of Bryan Shaw and others, the only role for Pestano in the Tribe's pen would have been a lesser one if he was recalled for a second time this season from Class AAA Columbus.

"Sometimes you have to do what's best for the player," said Francona.

Positive vibes: Carlos Santana made two errors Thursday against the Reds and should have been charged with another in the first inning Friday when he dropped shortstop Jose Ramirez's throw from behind second base. Instead of an error, Derek Jeter was awarded a hit in the kind of hometown scoring you rarely see in New York.

Santana, however, has played a solid first base despite this bad stretch.

"Carlos has been the highlight of our infield defense," said Antonetti. "I know I'm talking following a tough night for him, but he's played great over there. I think the work he did at third base over the off-season has helped him at first base."

Thumbs up: CC Lee was impressive Thursday with two scoreless innings in the Tribe's 4-0 loss to the Reds.

Lee relieved T.J. House in the seventh with a runner on third and no one out. He retired three Reds, the last two on strikeouts, to strand Zack Cozart at third.

Then he pitched a scoreless eighth.

"CC was throwing 94 mph to 96 mph," said pitching coach Mickey Callaway. "That's the best I've ever seen him. That looked like him a couple of year ago in Double-A before he got hurt (Tommy John surgery)."

Lee threw 27 pitches, 21 for strikes.

LeBron James called today his favorite day of the year because the children of Akron get to benefit from his accomplishments. Watch video

AKRON, Ohio -- LeBron James called today his favorite day of the year because the children of Akron get to benefit from his accomplishments.

While the four-time NBA MVP has always played a role in the community, this celebration of the LeBron James Family Foundation had special meaning. Last month, James announced he would be returning to the Cleveland Cavaliers after four seasons and two titles with the Miami Heat.

"This has always brought me back," James told reporters. "To be there for these kids, to be able to see the smiles on their faces and what they benefit from this and the education they can receive from this and the guidance they can receive from this, it means so much to me." 

Since 2011, LeBron's foundation and his Wheels for Education program provided children with bicycles and academic encouragement to increase graduation rates in Akron. On Friday, about 25,000 went to InfoCision Stadium at the University of Akron to honor these students and celebrate James' homecoming. 

"To be able to know that you inspire so many people, from the youth all the way up to, I heard I got a grandmas' club now with 200-plus members," James said. "To know that you can, you know, do things for people, to give them hope, give them inspiration on a day-to-day basis means a lot to me."

Throughout the event, videos played of LeBron's contributions to Akron, from donating uniforms to all the athletes at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School to his work with the Boys and Girls Club.

"There are so many things that this man has given to this community. He may have played basketball somewhere else, but he never left Akron, Ohio," said Don Plusquellic, the city's mayor.

"LeBron James is a better person than he is a basketball player," the mayor said.

The rally featured appearances from Cavs great Austin Carr, Nicole Curtis of DIY Network's "Rehab Addict" and singer Skylar Grey, who performed "Coming Home." Grey was still playing the piano as James made his way to the stage.

"It's almost like she knew I was coming home before I knew I was coming home," James said of the singer.

Of course, James talked about his on-the-court goals, including bringing a championship to Cleveland. He said he's not getting his hopes up about the Kevin Love trade and that he would be fine playing with nine Anderson Varejaos.

Roughly 25,000 people filed into InfoCision Stadium in Akron on Friday to welcome LeBron James back to his hometown and the Cleveland Cavaliers.

AKRON, Ohio -- LeBron James honored the students in his Wheels for Education program, while Northeast Ohioans celebrated the return of their king Friday night.

The rally at Akron's InfoCision Stadium began with children singing and ended with singer Skylar Grey playing piano.

Here's a recap from Northeast Ohio Media Group reporters Chris Fedor, John Harper and Jen Steer:

The evening was a tribute to James' impact on the community. But outside the effect of the event and the star's return could be seen and heard in the streets surrounding InfoCision Stadium.

AKRON, Ohio -- Fans lined up as early as noon Friday to see LeBron James return to center stage at the University of Akron's InfoCision Stadium.

The evening was a tribute to James' impact on the community. Inside the stadium James made a late-night entrance to honor 3,000 kids, members of his Wheels for Education charity that follows children who need extra academic support.

But outside, the effect of the event and the King's return could be seen and heard in the surrounding streets. For the second time in a week -- six days after the Browns' scrimmage -- the stadium was bustling and the neighborhood full of fans.

The event, which began with a precession of 3,000 Akron-area school children and ended in a barrage of fireworks, highlighted the mood of a city that, according to those in the crowd, seems finally to be on a steady upswing.

Across Exchange Street, a store that normally sells Zips merchandise was adorned in LeBron "He's Home" T-shirts. The letter "O" was replaced by the state of Ohio and the number 23. 

"Ten dollar tees, get a free gift when you buy a $10 tee!" University of Akron student A.J. Parada laid on the bullhorn.

"We have a prime location for it, we're across the stadium so you can't beat that," Parada said. "He's a pretty big deal. We decided to put together some shirts."

DiMarinis Roo-Thru, which sits across the street from the stadium, sold parking for the second time in the business' history; the first time was Saturday's Browns Family Day Scrimmage.

For many Akronites, the return is the icing on the cake for a city that James touted even after he left. Mayor Don Plusquellic told the crowd of around 25,000 that James was a better person than basketball player.

"He said I promise, he has kept that promise. LeBron James, welcome home. This has always been and always will be home. The vast majority of Akron never left you," Plusquellic said. "Thank you for all you do for the city of Akron, Ohio. Welcome home LeBron."

Some fans talked about scouring the bottom of their wardrobe to revive long-closeted jerseys from James' first stint in Cleveland.

"I hated on him, I hated how he did it, but just like the rest of the world, it's time. It's time for Akron," said a man in a burn-marked LeBron James Cavaliers jersey who identified himself as Nas Carl. "You will never in sports, ever again see something thrown like this for a hometown kid, ever again in sports."

From what James' said Friday night, it may be the last time The King makes a return trip to Northeast Ohio.

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The Indians gave up a pair of five-run innings to the Yankees on Friday night. They have lost four straight and 11 of their last 16 games.

NEW YORK, N.Y. – Trevor Bauer had one of those moments in the first inning Friday night at Yankee Stadium that every starting pitcher dreads. It's a moment that turns into an eternity.

He lost control of the strike zone and the game as the Yankees scored five times on the way to a 10-6 victory. Bauer (4-7, 4.52) faced 10 batters in the first inning alone.

If one five-run inning wasn't enough, the Yankees scored five more in the sixth. Four of the runs came on Carlos Beltran's grand slam against John Axford.

The win went to Esmil Rogers (2-0, 5.16), the former Indians' reliever and emergency starter for the Yankees. David Huff and Rich Hill, two more former Indians, came out of the bullpen to have a hand in the victory.

Carlos Santana drove in half of the Tribe's six runs with a first-inning single and a two-run double in the seventh. David Murphy added two RBI.

What it means

The Indians (57-59) have lost four straight and 11 of their last 16. They are 10-12 since the All-Star break and 0-3 on this five-game trip.

The loss dropped them to 7½ games behind first-place Detroit in the AL Central. They entered the game trailing Kansas City for the second wild card spot by four games. The Yankees, Mariners and Toronto were in front of them.

The Yankees (61-54) have won six of their last seven. Friday's victory allowed them to keep pace with Baltimore in the AL East. The Yankees trail the first-place Orioles by 5 ½ games.

The Orioles hammered Justin Masterson and Cardinals on Friday afternoon.

New York is 15-4 against the Indians at new Yankee Stadium. They lead this year's series, 3-2.

One (really) bad inning

Bauer threw 44 of his 79 pitches in the first as the Yankees batted around and then some.

The game started crisply as Bauer he struck out Brett Gardner. It wilted quickly after that.

Derek Jeter was awarded a base hit – the kind of hometown scoring decision that is rarely seen at Yankee Stadium – on what should have been an error on first baseman Carlos Santana. Shortstop Jose Ramirez made a great play against Jeter, turning a 360 behind second base, and threw a strike to first that Santana dropped while Jeter was still three feet from the bag.

The tainted single sent Bauer into a tizzy as the next six Yankees reached base. Bauer walked half of them as he completely lost the strike zone.

He went 3-0 on Jacoby Ellsbury before walking him. He should have struck out Beltran on a 2-2 fastball on the inside part of the plate, but plate umpire Dan Bellino called it a ball. Beltran followed with a soft single to right to score Jeter and tie the score, 1-1.

Bauer threw three straight balls to Brian McCann before walking him. Then he threw four straight balls to Chase Headley to force home Ellsbury for a 2-1 lead. Stephen Drew followed with an RBI single, but at least Bauer was ahead in the count at 1-2.

The awakening of control did not last. Bauer went 2-0 on Martin Prado before he bounced a single over second base to score McCann for a 4-1 lead. Then, accompanied by the sound of trumpets, the Tribe's defense arrived.

Second baseman Jason Kipnis knocked Prado's hit down before it reached the outfield. He tried to flip it out of his glove to Ramirez, who was covering second. Instead he flipped it over Ramirez's head toward the mound as Headley scored.

Just perfect, especially coming on the heels of Thursday's first-inning fiasco against the Reds.

Kipnis, by the way, has six errors, which makes him a Gold Glove candidate on this team.

Walk this way

Bauer and Axford walked seven batters Friday. Six scored.

Axford loaded the bases in the sixth on three walks, one intentional, before Beltran turned his 1-2 pitch into his 11^th career grand slam to give the Yankees a 9-2 lead.

Concussion alert

McCann, the Yankee catcher, was removed with a concussion. He took a foul ball off the mask in the third inning.

Bauer's night

Bauer hates pitch counts and manager Terry Francona brought him out for the second and let him go. Bauer threw 2 1/3 more innings, but when he walked Ellsbury in the fourth, Francona finally went to the pen.

In 3 1/3 innings, Bauer allowed five runs on six hits. He walked four, struck out three and threw 79 pitches.

Hello, again

No one ever said Rogers doesn't have a good arm. Staked to 5-1 first-inning lead, the former Indians gave the Yankees five innings in his first start of the season. He allowed one run on four hits with three strikeouts and one walk.

When Kipnis opened the game with a double to left and Santana scored him with a two-out single, it looked like it would be an early night for Rogers.

What's next?

Right-hander Corey Kluber (12-6, 2.55) will face Yankee right-hander Brandon McCarthy at 1:05 p.m. Saturday. McCarthy is 4-0 with a 2.08 ERA since being acquired from Arizona on July 6.

McCarthy had a no-decision against the Indians on July 9. He allowed four runs, one earned, on nine hits in 6 2/3 innings.

Kluber will be making his 25^th start. Over his last six starts, he has allowed only 11 earned runs in 69 innings for a 1.43 ERA. He has 69 strikeouts and nine walks in that stretch.

Saturday's game will be carried by SportsTime Ohio, WTAM and WMMS.

Skylar Grey introduced James to the crowed of nearly 25,000 at InfoCision Stadium with a performance of "Coming Home."

AKRON, Ohio -- On the night Northeast Ohio welcomed back LeBron James, who better to serenade him than Skylar Grey.

Grey introduced James to the crowd of nearly 30,000 at InfoCision Stadium with a performance of "Coming Home."

The song has become the unofficial anthem of James' return. The singer posted a special version of the song -- with lyrics such as "I know that Cleveland awaits and they've forgiven my mistakes" -- soon after James announced he was coming back to the Cavaliers.

"It's almost like she knew I was coming home before I knew I was coming home," James said after giving her a hug.

The performance was a surprise to the crowd and surely brought tears to some.

Grey's raspy voice first made the "Coming Home" chorus famous in P. Diddy's version of the song in 2010.

Click to watch her perform "Coming Home" at the Welcome Home, LeBron rally at around the 53:00 minute mark.

It didn't seem like Tampa Bay received a lot in return from Detroit for the services of right-hander David Price. Could the Indians have satisfied the Rays' demands?

Hey, Hoynsie: Are you surprised at what Tampa Bay got for David Price? Reports were that the Rays wanted a king's ransom for Price, who isn't a free agent until after 2015. I can't help but think the Tribe had the pieces to acquire Price. – George Henrich, Medina.

Hey, George: The Indians probably could have put a deal together to get Price, providing one of those players was Francisco Lindor. Besides parting with Lindor, the Indians really didn't want to pay Price the $17 million to $20 million he'll make next year before he becomes a free agent.

I think Price's future salary definitely played into what the Rays received. Perhaps the Rays had to take what they could get at the trading deadline because they knew they couldn't afford to pay Price next year.

To the Tigers another $20 million is like water rolling off a duck's back. Not so with the Rays or Indians.

Hey, Hoynsie: Maybe with all that has been written about the second ball incident on Tuesday night against the Reds, I missed this answer. It seems to me that the umpires should have called the play dead when the "second" ball was observed on the field. David Murphy goes back to third and Yan Gomes is awarded second base, especially since the "inadvertent" ball was introduced by the Reds. I would think this is covered by some rule. – Bob Johnson, East Hartford, Conn.

Hey, Bob: Crew chief Gerry Davis told manager Terry Francona that umpires cannot stop a play for an object on the field unless a player or umpire is injured or the lights go out in the ballpark. It's an event that isn't strictly covered in the rulebook, but should be from here on out.

Hey, Hoynsie: With both Justin Masterson and Asdrubal Cabrera gone with no additions that will immediately impact the big-league lineup, and glaring holes in our rotation, do you see any help on the way through further trades or players rising from the farm system? – Dwain Slaven, Dade City, Fla.

Hey, Dwain: The Indians have claimed several pitchers as they've gone through the August waiver period. Those pitchers have either been pulled off waivers by their teams or another team was granted the right to negotiate with them in front of the Tribe (based on won-loss records).

I don't think you're going to see the front office make a blockbuster trade because the team has given little, if any sign, that they're capable of doing anymore than flirting with a .500 winning percentage.

We've seen just about every big-league ready prospect the Indians have to offer this season, so I'm not expecting a jolt from the farm system that would dramatically change the course of the next two months. It would be nice if Lindor got a big-league look, no matter how brief that might be.

Hey, Hoynsie: What's the deal with all the roster/position shuffles at key positions? Can't be easy for the players and it sure makes it hard to maintain interest as a fan. It reminds me of Tribe baseball in September during the 1980s – Steve Cornelius, Rocky River.

Hey, Steve: What the Indians lack in talent, they're trying to make up for in numbers. Most of the changes have taken place on the pitching staff. Manager Terry Francona loves relievers and he's squeezed the schedule harder than any manager I've covered to try and get an advantage in the bullpen.

If there's a series of off days – like the three coming up on the schedule – the Indians have not hesitated to send a starter down and bring up a reliever to figuratively turn a 25-man roster into a 26 or 27-man roster. This can be done only with a roster that has a lot of young pitchers with options. Francona could never do this with a veteran ballclub.

The changes among the position players have mostly been caused by injury.

Hey, Hoynsie: With the potential savings in not having to re-sign Justin Masterson and Asdrubal Cabrera for next season, what can be done to upgrade the roster with a bat and middle of the rotation arm?  Is there anyone out there who fits the Tribe's budget? – Casey Dubiel, Belmont, Ohio.

Hey, Casey: With the uneven production the Indians have received from their last three big free agent signings – Nick Swisher, Michael Bourn and David Murphy – I don't think you're going to see the Indians get too daring this winter.

There are always borderline free agents available. Sometimes they turn out to be Scott Kazmir or the 2013 version of Ryan Raburn. Most of the time they don't.

I think they'll try to solve their problems through trades.

Browns and other NFL teams taking more unconventional approaches to combating dynamic offenses. Watch video

BEREA, Ohio – In a two-year span, Barkevious Mingo has gone from playing with one hand in the dirt to having both free to intercept passes in coverage.

A defensive end at LSU, Mingo spent his rookie season with the Browns learning to play in space as a pass-rushing outside linebacker. Under new coach Mike Pettine, he is required to drop into coverage more often, and last week picked off a tipped ball in the team's scrimmage.

"I'm just trying to learn everything I can," Mingo said. "With defense today you have to be versatile."

In an effort to combat spread offenses and the rule changes that favor them, NFL defenses are blurring the lines of who plays where. It's about athleticism, adaptability and interchangeable parts.

The days of standard 4-3 and 3-4 alignments are almost as antiquated as British soldiers marching into Revolutionary War in neat columns. Defenses are growing more unconventional as the league's average yards per game record has been shattered three years running.

• A season ago, teams played with five defensive backs on 51.8 percent of the snaps, according to SportsOnEarth.

• The Kansas City Chiefs utilized a 2-4-5 or 2-3-6 alignment 45 percent of the time last season.

• New Orleans defensive coordinator Rob Ryan deployed three safeties in his default defensive package a year ago and has talked about using his best 11 players regardless of position.

View full sizeThe Kansas City Chiefs ran nearly 50 percent of their defense last season with just two defensive linemen on the field. Here they deploy seven defensive backs against Peyton Manning and Denver.

View full sizeHere is a look at the same play from a different angle.

"I'm always ready to get weird," Ryan told the Wall Street Journal.

Pettine and Browns defensive coordinator Jim O'Neil aren't that far on the fringe, but as the head coach he is wont to say: "We'll only be limited by our own creativity."

He talks of using his top three outside linebackers, Mingo, Paul Kruger and Jabaal Sheard, simultaneously.

There are packages in which Kruger lines up at right or left defensive end. He has groupings on obvious passing downs, Pettine said, that don't have linemen on the field – just three outside linebackers in their place. He considers free safety Tashaun Gipson and strong safety Donte Whitner interchangeable.

"I use the poker reference we don't want to have a 'tell.'" Pettine said. "We don't want the alignment of the safeties to mean something. These guys have to be able to do each other's jobs."

Safety Jim Leonhard, who's played under Pettine with Baltimore, Buffalo and the New York Jets, recalls personnel groupings with seven and eight defensive backs.

"The biggest thing with this defense is its flexibility," Leonhard said. "It really can be whatever you want it to be. It allows you play to your strengths all the time ... There's a lot of things built into this defense that save you from bad situations."

Safety first

As the game evolves, one trend is evident. There's never been a better – or more profitable – time to be a defensive back. Teams make greater use of them to counter three-receiver sets and large pass-catching tight ends. The Browns are a prime example of their increased value to organizations.

The club signed Whitner to a four-year, $28 million deal on the first day of free agency. It drafted cornerback Justin Gilbert No. 8 overall and added Pierre Desir in the fourth round. The Browns extended the contract of All Pro corner Joe Haden, plying him a five-year, $67.5 million deal in an offseason when Arizona's Patrick Peterson and Seattle's Richard Sherman also struck it rich.

View full sizeHere are the top personnel groupings from NFL games last season. The leader included five defensive backs on the field.Football Outsiders graphics 

"The way the game is with the spread evolution it puts a premium on wide receivers and defensive backs," Pettine said. "The best way to cover those receivers is to man up and get in their face and basically play one-on-one basketball with them. With as many good wideouts coming out of college, defenses have to answer with corners."

No defensive position, however, has grown more important than safety in recent seasons. With less Cover 2 being played, the last line of defense is creeping closer to the line of scrimmage to challenge receivers and athletic tight ends like Jimmy Graham and Jordan Cameron.

Rule changes that limit contact after five yards and protect the head and neck regions of pass catchers are emboldening offenses and placing a premium on cover safeties. While T.J. Ward earned All Pro honors last season, the Browns let him walk in favor of Whitner, who's considered better in coverage, according to ProFootballFocus.com rankings.

View full sizeHere are the top-rated NFL safeties in 2013 based on pass coverage. Donte Whitner was ranked fifth. ProFootballFocus.com graphics 

"The safety position has changed tremendously since I started," Leonhard said. "There is not the big-time box safety who's like a linebacker/big hitter. They are mostly gone or in certain systems. Now, you are looking at two big corners, two little corners."

Teams also can get away with smaller safeties because the running game is devalued and fullbacks are so rarely used. Defenses are focused on corralling receivers, tight ends and pass-catching backs.

"You've got to cover guys," Leonhard said. "If you can play man coverage in this league there's a spot for you because it's extremely difficult to do. With all the rule changes, there's not as much fear of throwing the ball inside the numbers."

Safeties also must organize their defenses, which are becoming more intricate and featuring hockey-like changes between plays.

There are almost as many huddles on a baseball mound as a football field nowadays as offenses run plays on an average of every 29.79 seconds.

View full sizeDonte Whitner said safeties have become the quarterbacks of the defense. Associated Press 

Whitner said the Browns have installed 75 defensive looks in the first two weeks of training camp. That's a staggering amount of information for players to absorb and process. 

"You have to cover tight ends, you have to play in the box, you have to get guys lined up based on a motion or a shift," said Whitner, a ninth-year veteran. "More than any other time we are the quarterbacks of the defense."

Need for speed

The Browns open their preseason tonight in Detroit. Among the defensive starters – and except for the linemen – only inside linebacker Karlos Dansby and Kruger weigh more than 240 pounds.

Pettine loves speed. It's a major reason the Browns drafted Chris Kirksey (6-2, 235 pounds) and moved him to inside linebacker. The Iowa product, selected in the third round, likely will supplant Craig Robertson by the regular-season opener in Pittsburgh on Sept. 7.

The Steelers, meanwhile, are expected to start first-round pick Ryan Shazier at inside linebacker despite his 6-1, 237-pound frame. The Ohio State product will become the first rookie defender to start in an opener for Pittsburgh since 2001.

Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau said Shazier's quickness and athleticism make him a good fit against spread offenses. Another rookie, second-round pick Stephon Tuitt, might start on the defensive line for similar reasons.

"The game has just become so wide open and I think it's going to continue in that direction," LeBeau said. "The kids (on offense) are more gifted skill wise, they're more exposed to it at the high-school level.

"You can go to a high school game today and see someone throw it 50 times. They didn't throw the ball 50 times in the four years I was in high school."

LeBeau said the task of defenses in 2014 is to "catch all that speed."

Will there come a day when these units, as Ryan suggests, play their best 11 players regardless of position?

As the Mike Pettine era begins in Cleveland, it will be interesting to see how "weird" he's willing to get.

Roberto Perez's goal is continue the line of great catchers from Puerto Rico -- Yadier Molina, Pudge Rodriguez, Sandy Alomar Jr., Benito Santiago.

NEW YORK, N.Y. – Catcher Roberto Perez, 25, opened this season at Class AAA Columbus where he hit .305 (53-for-174) with 11 doubles, eight homers and 43 RBI in 53 games. The Indians promoted him to the big leagues on July 8 and he made his big league debut on July 10, collecting his first hit, RBI and homer in a win over the Yankees. Perez, born in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, was drafted in the 33^rd round by the Indians in 2008.

Q. How did you end up as a catcher?

A. "I really don't know. Growing up, we always had a great Little League team. I was always a bigger guy and I guess they said, "Hey, there you go. . . go catch. I'm glad I'm a catcher now. '

"In Puerto Rico we have a great reputation for catchers. We have the best catcher in in the big leagues right now with Yadier Molina. You know the guys . . .Pudge Rodriguez, Sandy Alomar and all the guys playing in the big leagues now."

Q. Last season you had Bell's palsy on the left side of your face and the Indians asked if you wanted to go on the disabled list. Why did you say no?

A. "I love to play baseball, I love to catch and a I love to help my team win. I knew something was wrong with my face, but I didn't want to stop playing. I really wanted to make it to the big leagues, but I struggled last year.

"They told me they wanted to shut me down. I told them, "No, I want to keep playing.' I wanted to get called up. I wanted to help the team win."

Q. You couldn't close your left eye. You couldn't blink and you had trouble sleeping. Were you worried about getting hurt, about getting hit by a pitch?

A. "I really didn't think about it. I just ignored it. I just wanted to keep playing. I think about it now and I should have shut it down.

"This year everything has worked out. My face is better. I'm just glad to be here."

Q. Puerto Rico is a bi-lingual country, a commonwealth of the United States, is that why you speak English so well?

A. "In Puerto Rico, you take English from first to 12^th grade, but I didn't know English at all. I didn't think it was that important in my life. I didn't learn it in high school, but I did in college.

"I was a draft-and-follow by the Dodgers (2006) so they sent me to Lake City Community College in Lake City, Fla. to play baseball. So that's where I learned. I took two years of college, but I didn't sign with the Dodgers. I signed with the Indians in 2008.

Q. After starting six seasons in the minors, what has been your first impression of the big leagues been?

A. "My first impression is that it's good to be here. Like I've told everybody, every guy here has made me feel like I belong on this team. It doesn't matter if you're a rookie or not, they make you feel like you've been here for a long, long time.

"I'm surprised by that."

See a season preview for Mentor football, including top players, newcomers to watch, schedule, stats and more.

MENTOR, Ohio — Check out a preview for the Mentor football team as it enters the 2014 season, which begins on the road at Boardman on August 29.

5 keys for winning a state championship

1. Breaking in a new QB: Jake Floriea, who split time at WR and QB on the JV team last year, takes over as the varsity QB in 2014. Floriea was the JV QB at Lake Catholic during his freshman and sophomore years, but has never started a varsity game. He has the athletic ability to be as productive as last year's QB, Conner Krizancic, but experience will be key. Scrimmages and the first few weeks of the season will be crucial for Floriea as he adjusts to being a first-time varsity starter.

2. Team speed: It's no secret Mentor likes to play fast. The Cardinals averaged 65 plays per game in 2013, finishing with nearly 7,000 yards of total offense. This year, they'll have one of the fastest teams in Northeast Ohio to match their tempo. Coach Steve Trivisonno said this may be the fastest team he's ever had, and that includes both sides of the ball with players like Floriea, RB/WR Eddie Daugherty (Eastern Michigan commit), DB Marc Walton and SS Kyle Tankovich. Mentor should be flying on both sides of the ball this year.

3. Developing the offensive line: One of Mentor's biggest strongpoints last season was its offensive line. Five starters from last year are gone, and the new players will need to learn quickly. Guard Drew Noble got some experience last year and will be the leader of the group this year. Reggie Browley is a transfer from Harvey who brings size (6-7, 215) and strength to the offensive line, he reached the Division I state track championships in the shot put last spring.

4. Strong defensive line: Mentor’s defensive line might be strength of the team with DT’s Nico Lautanen (Bowling Green commit) and Billy Hudson returning along with DE Trevor Morrison. The groups should be able to get after opposing QBs and be stout against the run. Lautanen had 11 sacks last year and Hudson, a junior, is on his way to being Mentor's first four-year letter winner, according to Trivisonno.

5. Experience: Mentor has made deep playoff runs commonplace, and a lot of players on this team know what it takes to get to the state championship game. That kind of experience is invaluable, but the Cardinals must find a way to get over the hump and win that elusive state championship. Like last season, they're could be some speed bumps in the early going, but expect the Cardinals to be in the mix for the title run in late November.

MORE ABOUT MENTOR

2014 schedule

OHSAA division, region: Division I, Region 1.

Conference: Northeast Ohio Conference, Valley Division.

2013 record: 13-2, 5-0.

Coach: Steve Trivisonno.

Coach’s record at school: 147-54.

Coach’s career record: 147-54.

5 key offensive players:

Eddie Daugherty, RB/WR, Sr., 5-7, 160.

Jake Floriea, QB, Sr., 6-1, 207.

Alex Matthews, RB, Jr., 5-7, 175.

Drew Noble, OL, Sr., 6-2, 235.

Malik Porter, WR, Jr., 6-2, 186.

5 key defensive players:

Billy Hudson, DT, Jr., 6-3, 285.

Nico Lautanen, DT, Sr., 6-3, 275.

J.D. Matsko, LB, Sr., 5-11, 200.

Trevor Morrison, DE, Sr., 6-2, 250.

Marc Walton, CB, Sr., 5-11, 175.

Newcomers to watch:

Reggie Browley, OL, Sr., 6-7, 315.

Key stats from 2013: Daugherty, 1,148 receiving yards, 935 rushing yards, 17 TDs. Matthews 547 rushing yards, 10 TDs, 5 yards per carry. Lautanen 72 tackles, 11 sacks.

Follow Mentor all season

Bookmark the team’s cleveland.com webpage to see every football post pertaining to Mentor.

Follow our new high school sports Twitter account @NEOvarsity and tag your high school sports Tweets and score updates with the #NEOvarsity hashtag.

Follow @NEOvarsity

Contact high school sports reporter Bill Landis by email (blandis@cleveland.com) or Twitter (@BillLandis25). Or log in and leave a message in the comments section below.

Get live updates, pictures and a leaderboard from the third round of the PGA Championship at Valhalla.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Keep up with all the third round action from the PGA Championship all day Saturday with live updates, pictures and videos from Valhalla Golf Club.

And track leader Rory McIlroy, Jason Day, Rickie Fowler, Phil Mickelson and all your favorite golfers in a live leaderboard from the final major of the year.

The box below features live Twitter updates, including pictures and videos from the PGA Tour's official Twitter account and other notable Twitter feeds. Below the box is the live leaderboard. See tee times for Saturday. Action gets underway at 8:30 a.m. The final pairing of McIlroy and Day tee off at 3 p.m.

McIlroy's bid for a trifecta of the British Open, WGC-Bridgestone Invitational at Firestone Country Club and the PGA is in good standing at the halfway point.

The World's No. 1 golfer, McIlroy leads by one stroke at 9 under, just ahead of Day and Jim Furyk, last year's runner-up to Cleveland native Jason Dufner.

Fowler, runner-up at the British and U.S. Opens, is one shot back after shooting a 5-under 66 on Friday. Mickelson closed his round with an eagle to get within three strokes of the lead.

After playing with Tiger Woods the first two rounds, Mickelson is paired with Bernd Wiesberger for a 2:30 tee time. Woods missed the cut and remains winless in majors for a sixth straight year.

Fowler and Mikko Ilonen follow at 2:40, and then it's Furyk and Ryan Palmer before the final twosome of the day.

Former OSU safety Christian Bryant suggested in the spring something like $5,000 to $10,000 a year for college athletes, and that's what this court ruling would give them.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- We know why you love college sports - for the court rulings.

The 99-page judgment in the O'Bannon case on Friday night is actually fairly interesting reading if you are so inclined. But there are some bottom line basics about the whole thing that should help you understand how and why college athletics will change in the years ahead as part of this ruling.

1. Pointed out well by Dennis Dodd of CBSSports.com, the collegiate model is dead. The way things used to operate - the NCAA controls the money and athletes don't get any - is gone, as Dodd wrote:

"It doesn't matter if there are stipulations or that Friday's shocking O'Bannon ruling  is somehow interpreted as "NCAA friendly." That's not the point. The point is that the NCAA said the sky would fall if this day ever came ... Players can be paid, and we can't turn back from here."

2. This ruling only applies to football players and men's college basketball players for now. As many have noted, there are aspects related to Title IX and the equal treatment of women athletes that need to be worked out. But this ruling may expand the world where the athletes who make the money get more than the athletes whose sports don't make money.

3. As we pointed out in our original story, there is a limit to what athletes can make in this ruling. This isn't creating millionaire college athletes, because this doesn't allow college athletes to become endorsers of shoes and sports drinks and anything they want on an individual basis like pro athletes. The NCAA will still make the deals and get the money, but then they must give some to the players for using their names and images.

4. In the world Judge Claudia Wilken created, each football player or men's basketball player could get at least $5,000 a year in a trust from the money earned by the NCAA and its schools for players' names and images. The NCAA can set a maximum on what players make - and that idea was a win for the NCAA - but it has to allow at least $5,000 a year. So a four-year player could have $20,000 waiting in a trust fund after college. Schools don't have to do this, but the ruling says the NCAA can't prohibit it. So the big schools will offer as much as they can, and smaller schools won't be able to offer as much because of their budgets.

5. Additionally, the ruling paved the way for cost of attendance scholarships. The major conferences, including the Big Ten, were given the freedom in make their own rules in a Thursday vote, so this was coming anyway. But there's always a little difference between the schools deciding to give something to athletes and an outside force, like a court, forcing them to do it because it's fair and lawful.

This will be worth about $3,000 to $5,000 a year, depending on the school. At Ohio State, athletic director Gene Smith said it was about about $3,600 a year. So in the future, between $20,000 in licensing trust fund money and $14,400 in cost of attendance scholarship increases over four years, Ohio State athletes will get almost $35,000 more over four years than they do now.

6. This is not backdated, so it doesn't affect current athletes. The ruling would kick in with the 2016 recruiting class, not the 2015 recruiting class. But again, appeals could slow this down.

7. This doesn't completely blow up the college model. But a looming court case could. Lawyer Jeffrey Kessler has a case pending that wants to basically allow athletes to earn anything they want to in the open market. This ruling should help Kessler's cause, and if he wins, we'll really see a whole new world.

8. Christian Bryant nailed it. Plenty of players, when speaking honestly, think college athletes should be paid in some way. When we asked former Ohio State players in the spring about this, Bryant, having finished his eligibility, almost predicted this.

Bryant, for instance, said he believed $5,000 to $10,000 a year more for college football players would be reasonable amount. He said he doesn't believe players need a true salary.

9. The NCAA did this to itself. As soon as anyone from the outside world, like a judge, took a look at the NCAA's rules and reasoning, she blew a hole in them. As Dan Wetzel of Yahoo Sports wrote, "She seemed to find a lot of the NCAA's decades-old logic implausible."

For too long, the governing body of college sports has acted inconsistently and without focus and common sense. Maybe there was an underlying desire to protect amateurism and the college model (or maybe that was just an excuse to hoard cash) but the NCAA made mistake after mistake. It didn't have any true principles, the organization and its schools chasing dollars with TV deals and conference realignment while falling back on ancient ideals when trying to explain why that money shouldn't be shared. Wilken said Congress may have to solve this in the end. Maybe getting rid of the NCAA as we know it would be a start. 

Because this ruling pointed out what many have known - the NCAA as currently constituted doesn't make sense.

The Indians have been outscored, 31-11, during a four-game losing streak.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Indians played the New York Yankees in the opener of a three-game series Friday. Here is a capsule look from The Plain Dealer reporter Dennis Manoloff:

Game: 116.

Opponent: Yankees.

Location: Yankee Stadium.

Time of day: Night.

Time elapsed: 3 hours, 53 minutes.

Attendance: 43,972.

Result: Yankees 10, Indians 6.

Records: Yankees 61-54, Indians 57-59.

Nothing to see here: The Indians dropped their fourth straight (outscored, 31-11). They are 10-12 since the All-Star break. Playoff contention is a rumor.

House of horrors: Indians lost their seventh in a row, and 13th of 15, at Yankee Stadium. The Indians have been outscored, 106-55, in those 15.

Looks deceive: The Indians out-hit the Yankees, 12-10, and lost by single-digits. Don't be fooled, though: This was a blowout.

The Yankees led, 5-1, after one and 10-2 after six. Yankees nondescript reliever Shawn Kelley gave up four runs in the seventh.

Too easy: Tribe pitchers walked seven. Six of the runners scored.

Bottom lines, up front: The Indians embarrassed themselves on two fronts Friday:

1. Their mind-bogglingly slapstick defense offended yet again, this time on the big stage that is the Boogie Down. Tribe plays not made factored in New York's five-run first.

2. Their hitters had next-to-nothing for Yankees right-hander Esmil Rogers. Remember Rogers, whom the Indians sent to Toronto in November 2012 for Yan Gomes and Mike Aviles? Rogers allowed one run on four hits in five innings.

It is one thing to get shut down by Reds righty Johnny Cueto, as happened to the Indians on Tuesday. Or to be handled by Reds righties Mat Latos and Homer Bailey, as happened Wednesday and Thursday, respectively. It is an entirely different deal to be largely powerless against Esmil Rogers.

Rogers began the season with the Blue Jays. He posted a 6.97 ERA in 16 relief appearances before being designated. The Yankees claimed him off waivers July 31.

Rogers had worked twice in relief for the Yankees (4 IP, H) before manager Joe Girardi asked him to substitute-start against the Tribe.

So, to review: The Indians faced a pitcher in the midst of an awful year, a pitcher who already had been cut and was making his first start of the season....and they managed one run on four hits in five innings. Girardi was ecstatic to get five innings from Rogers, let alone five innings of one-run baseball. Rogers exited with a 5-1 lead.

And it was not as if Rogers lived dangerously. He allowed a double to Jason Kipnis and singles to Kipnis, Carlos Santana (RBI) and Roberto Perez. He walked one. He did not give up many hard-hit fouls or loud outs among his 88 pitches.

(The Yankees would submit that Santana's hit, which occurred with two outs in the first inning, was tainted because Rogers appeared to have him struck out with a 1-2 fastball on the outside corner. Two pitches later, Santana sent a full-count fastball up the middle to drive in Kipnis.)

Bad News Bearsian: The Yankees sent 10 to the plate in the first and effectively sealed the outcome. Tribe "fielders'' and righty Trevor Bauer helped their cause.

The inning began with a whimper, Brett Gardner striking out in three pitches.

Derek Jeter grounded a first-pitch fastball up the middle, where Tribe shortstop Jose Ramirez fielded, spun and threw fairly accurately to first. Carlos Santana stretched -- and dropped the ball. Jeter was credited with a single, but the eyes don't lie: Though Ramirez made an above-average play to get to the ball, Santana dropped a throw that would have retired Jeter by plenty.

Jacoby Ellsbury walked in four pitches. Carlos Beltran fell behind, 1-2, but hit a full-count single to right to drive in Jeter. Brian McCann drew a full-count walk.

Chase Headley walked in four pitches to make it 2-1.

Bauer got ahead of light-hitting Stephen Drew, 0-2, but allowed a 1-2 RBI single up the middle. Martin Prado grounded up the middle, where second baseman Jason Kipnis mishandled the backhanded grab and the subsequent backhanded flip. Two runs scored on the infield single/E-4.

Ichiro Suzuki grounded into a fielder's choice. Gardner ignominiously made his second out, a fly to center.

Bauer needed 44 pitches to get his first three outs. The Tribe bullpen stirred in the inning.

Rough night: Bauer allowed five runs on six hits in 3 1/3 innings. He walked four and struck out three.

Bauer (4-7, 4.52 ERA) has struggled in two of his past three starts. Overall this season, he has been much better at home than on the road.

Bauer does not deserve all of the blame for his performance Friday; the Indians' 2014 defense would unnerve even the greatest pitchers of all time. Still, a pitcher of Bauer's caliber can't walk three in the first and can't give up an RBI hit to Drew in a 1-2 count.

Most importantly, Bauer can't be outclassed by Esmil Rogers. Ever.

Johnny Manziel makes his preseason debut vs. the Detroit Lions.

DETROIT -- The Cleveland Browns outkicked the Detroit Lions, but gave up a late touchdown and lost, 13-12, in the preseason opener for both teams on Saturday.

The highly-anticipated debut of rookie quarterback Johnny Manziel was the focus for much of the crowd and the media crush in the press box.

It was also an opportunity for QB Brian Hoyer, the preseason No. 1, who had his moments with his 6-for-14 stint for 92 yards. In his first game since he was injured last October against Buffalo, Hoyer made some good throws but at least two sailed high over Josh Gordon. He has to be more than average if he wants to keep his job. There's more pressure on Hoyer holding his spot than on Manziel becoming No. 1.

What did we learn: Manziel was 7-of-11 for 63 yards. He was Manziel-like with 4.5 yards per carry on six attempts. He was especially so when he rolled out on a fourth-and-1, and instead of throwing to a wide-open fullback in the flat, he ran for the first down. He extended a play during a rush and released a perfect touch pass to West for an eight-yard gain.

There's definitely a different rhythm with Manziel under center. Manziel's expected to start next week at Washington. It will be interesting if he's able to maintain the same flow as he did Saturday with the second unit.

GM Ray Farmer's emphasis on stockpiling running backs was on display with Terrance West and Ben Tate. West could become one of the major steals of the draft.

Josh Gordon's replacement: Since the NFL will suspend Josh Gordon at any time for a failed drug test, finding a replacement or two is vital. Coach Mike Pettine surely took notice of receivers Taylor Gabriel and Charles Johnson.

Father and son: Former NFL defensive tackle Ray Agnew Sr. got a chance to see his son, Browns rookie fullback Ray Agnew Jr., on Saturday. Agnew Sr. is involved in player personnel with the St. Louis Rams.

"I got a chance to scout for the Rams and I got to see my son play," Agnew Sr. said.

Injuries: None.

Overheard in the press box: A scout said rookie wideout Gabriel is the fastest man on the Browns roster, including the rabbit-catching Travis Benjamin, who's been clocked as low as 4.26 in the 40.

Next game: The Browns play at Washington on Aug. 18 in a nationally televised game on ESPN. 

See tweets from throughout the night as the Browns lost to the Lions.

DETROIT, Michigan -- The Lions came from behind Saturday night to beat the Browns, 13-12, at Ford Field in Detroit. Johnny Manziel made his debut for the Browns and was at least a little impressive.

The real winners, though: everyone on Twitter. We've collected some of the best tweets of the night -- from the game's kickoff to its conclusion and beyond. You can scroll through all of them below.

Make sure to follow our Browns team and cleveland.com on Twitter:

• @marykaycabot

• @treed1919

• @dan_labbe

• @clevelanddotcom