PD columnist says junior has a lot to prove, but is the most talented QB in Ohio State history.

Terrelle Pryor has tools that separate him from all the Ohio State quarterbacks who have come before him, says PD columnist Bill Livingston.

Welcome to today's edition of Starting Blocks TV, our Web video show about what's going on in Cleveland sports. Today's show is hosted by Chuck Yarborough and Bill Lubinger.

Let's go to the highlights:

• Plain Dealer columnist Bill Livingston wrote a piece for today in which he called the 2003 Fiesta Bowl championship game between Ohio State and Miami the greatest college football game ever. The contestfeatured countless turning points and double overtime. Which play do you think was the most important to Ohio State's victory? Vote in today's Starting Blocks poll.

• Livingston, today's guest, also talks about Maurice Clarett, his legacy at Ohio State and the turns Clarett's life has taken since his playing days with the Buckeyes; and he compares the 2002 and 2010 OSU teams. Livy also says Terrelle Pryor has tools that separate him from any other quarterback in Ohio State history.

SBTV will return Wednesday morning with PD columnist Terry Pluto as the guest.

What's Terry's prediction for the 2010 Browns? What are his thoughts on the rest of the AFC North? Plain Dealer sports columnist Terry Pluto was online, tackling those questions and more in his weekly chat

Terry Pluto tackles your questions live every Tuesday at noon.

Plain Dealer sports columnist Terry Pluto was online, tackling those questions and more in his weekly chat on cleveland.com earlier today.

Among the other topics discussed:

- What area can this team least afford to have a major injury?

- How much Wildcat do you expect to see on Sunday?

- Just how important are the first two games of the season for the Browns?

- What are your thoughts on Carlos Carrasco's first two starts with the Indians this season?

Think you can pick 'em? Match wits with other pro football fans in the weekly You-Pick-the-Winners contest, sponsored by The Plain Dealer and cleveland.com.

This is the first of 17 contests. Enter to win valuable prizes.

Indians dismal season leaves time to debate merits of football vs. baseball.

View full sizeAP FileThis is Grady Sizemore, who's missed big parts of the last two seasons as the Indians center fielder. He was a three-sport star in high school, and had even signed a letter of intent to play football AND baseball with the University of Washington.

Players of two-sport skill have usually concentrated on their best one.  But history also shows if a player is really good in both, baseball tends to win out more often.

After all baseball players must be smarter than football players.  How many times have you seen a baseball team be penalized because they can't count with too many men on the field?

Earlier, some of Haren's teammates lost track of the number of outs in an inning, lingering on the field after Haren had struck out the final batter.

Haren has met expectations if the Angels haven't, pitching at least six innings in eight of his nine starts with his new team, including a strong seven-inning outing Monday in which he gave up five hits and two runs.

His only hiccup was a three-walk sixth inning in which he lost his release point and walked in a run.

"I've never done something like that that I can remember," he said.

Haren might also have trouble recalling the last time his teammates scored more than a handful of runs for him. The Angels have scored three runs or fewer in seven of Haren's nine starts, with Torii Hunter's solo home run and Alberto Callaspo's run-scoring single accounting for the only runs against the Indians.

Haren was supposed to lead an Angels' charge to the top of the AL West. While it could happen, smart fans don't bet on it. The Halos are mired in third place, 91/2 games behind division-leading Texas. Considering that six other teams in the American League have better records right now, it looks as though the only way they're gonna get into the playoffs is with a ticket.

"I don't know if they get appreciated for how well they've pitched," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "We have not supported them, we've had defensive lapses, the offense has struggled. Overall we've struggled to play at a higher level and they haven't really shown their true talent because of things they can't control."

From The Plain Dealer
Boy, if anyone should be sympathetic to the Angels' plight, it should be the Tribe pitching staff. In beat writer Paul Hoynes' Indians Insider, he notes that the Indians lead the American League in errors with 103. Now it's always nice to lead the league in something, but that's not really the category you're hoping for. Jason McDonald and Asdrubal Cabrera have combined for 19 errors. Jayson Nix and Andy Marte have made 18 errors between 'em in just 42 games. All you Jhonny Peralta detractors should take note: He made only five in 91 games. We're jus' sayin'.

For his game story, Hoynsie talked to manager Manny Acta about the job rookie Carlos Carrasco did before leaving the game with it tied at 2-all in the sixth.

Carrasco didn't get the decision in the Indians 3-2 victory over the Angels, but did show a lot of the things Acta wanted to see. He showed aggressiveness by pitching out of early trouble. He showed consistency and strike-throwing ability by striking out a career-high six batters and throwing 64 percent (61-for-96) of his pitches for strikes.

The win, btw, went to Jensen Lewis (4-2), who is the Indians' nominee for the Roberto Clemente Award, "given to the player who best combines outstanding skills on the baseball field with devoted work in the community," according to mlb.com.

Tyson's friendship with Shakur is the subject of a new documentary, "One Night in Vegas: Tyson & Tupac," which airs at 8 p.m. Tuesday on ESPN. The 25-year-old rapper was shot after a Tyson fight in Las Vegas on Sept. 7, 1996; he died six days later.

Associated PressBoxer Mike Tyson talks about his friendship with the late rapper Tupac Shakur in the new ESPN documentary, "One Night in Vegas: Tyson & Tupac."

The Buckeyes face Miami on Saturday, with QB Terrelle Pryor still looking for the first winning performance of his career, as graded by the Ohio State coaches

Marvin Fong / The Plain DealerOSU defensive end Nathan Williams should be back Saturday, but he may not play as much as he usually would.

Notes from Ohio State interviews today

 * Jim Tressel played the I-can-barely-remember card several times when asked about the 2003 national title matchup with Miami. The revelation? Tressel said he has never seen that game.

"Some day I'll invite you all over and we'll sit in our rocking chairs and we'll break that game down and I'll tell you what I was thinking, if I can still think by then," Tressel told reporters.

* Starting defensive end Nathan Williams, who missed the Marshall game with a knee injury, is expected back this week. He practiced some Sunday, the Buckeyes were off Monday, and he is expected to practice today. But Tressel doesn't sound ready for Williams to see his typical amount of playing time.

"I think the thing that you have to be careful with is guys that miss some training camp and all of a sudden if you think they can go out there and play 50 some snaps, I think you're risking a little bit," Tressel said. "So what we have to figure out in the course of this week is just how many snaps is he ready to go."

* In other roster news, freshman running back Rod Smith, whose arrival at Ohio State was held up as his transcript was approved by the NCAA Clearinghouse, is on campus and practiced for the first time Sunday. Tressel said he looked good, maybe because his legs were fresh. Tressel said a redshirt isn't a sure thing, but I would be absolutely shocked if he played at all. I think it would take at least two major injuries to tailbacks, maybe three.

And linebacker Etienne Sabino, a junior, is probably looking at a redshirt season. It's not for injury or any off-field reason, but Sabino has shifted to middle linebacker now, after getting beaten out by Andrew Sweat for the starting strongside linebacker job, and he probably wouldn't play much behind Brian Rolle. So a redshirt would give him a chance to have two seasons to start, if he wins a job next season after Rolle and Ross Homan graduate.

Finally, linebacker Storm Klein had been out with an injury and should be back this week, which would make him the backup middle linebacker behind Rolle.

* Quarterback Terrelle Pryor has still not been graded as having what the coaches call a "winning performance" in his career. Tressel has said repeatedly that the quarterbacks are graded especially tough. Center Mike Brewster earned the first winning performance of his career against Marshall and said he missed only one blocking call on the line.

Jim Tressel on preparing for Miami, a bowl loser to Wisconsin last season

"I'm a huge Ohio State fan, but from a purely football standpoint, Boise State-Oklahoma was a much more entertaining game." - ephus

View full sizeAP FileOhio State celebrated a national championship in 2003.

In response to the story Buckeyes-Hurricanes in 2003 Fiesta Bowl remains The Greatest Game Ever: Bill Livingston, cleveland.com reader ephus disagrees with the writer. This reader writes,

"I'm a huge Ohio State fan, but from a purely football standpoint, Boise State-Oklahoma was a much more entertaining game."

"A player hires Boras for one reason and one reason only - to get as much money as humanly possible. Unless Choo goes into a horrible slump, there is no way Boras will let him sign a contract that takes him beyond his free agent year. There will be no sentimentality, no 'I love Cleveland,' and no hometown discount." - WSorBust

View full sizeChuck Crow | The Plain DealerThe better Shin-Soo Choo plays, the more likely it is Scott Boras sees dollar signs, some fans believe.

In response to the story Agent Boras visits his Cleveland Indians clients, cleveland.com reader WSorBust doesn't like the idea of Scott Boras as Shin-Soo Choo's agent. This reader writes,

"A player hires Boras for one reason and one reason only - to get as much money as humanly possible. Unless Choo goes into a horrible slump, there is no way Boras will let him sign a contract that takes him beyond his free agent year. There will be no sentimentality, no 'I love Cleveland,' and no hometown discount."

They replace failed draft pick with undrafted cornerback Derrick Roberson.

 CLEVELAND -- The Browns have conceded the David Veikune experiment won't be working out.

 They waived the 2009 second-round pick to make room for cornerback Derrick Roberson, an undrafted player who's been on the practice squad of three teams.

 Veikune was the 52nd overall pick of the 2009 draft. He played defensive end at Hawaii and was tried at both outside and inside linebacker. He played in 10 games as a rookie and was not credited with a tackle.

 Roberson, 5-10 and 180 pounds, appeared in six games with Tampa Bay last year.

 The transaction decreases the imbalance on the Browns' roster. They now have 11 linebackers and four cornerbacks.

 The team also confirmed it was awarded offensive lineman Steve Vallos off waivers from Seattle and waived swingman Billy Yates.

The former president and general manager of the Cleveland Crunch, a professional soccer team that later became the Cleveland Force, has been charged with filing false income tax returns for the years 2003 through 2005.

View full sizeAP Photo/Akron Beacon Journal, Mike CardewPaul Garofolo, president and chief executive officer of Wolstein Sports & Entertainment Group LLC, left, listens to announcer and broadcaster Al Pawlowski before the start of a news conference for a proposed soccer complex Nov. 30, 2006, in Macedonia.

Paul Garofolo, 51, of South Russell, who was employed by team owner North Coast Professional Sports Ltd. during the years in question, is accused of under-reporting his adjusted gross for those years by a combined $216,827.

At the same time he was running the Cleveland Force, Garofolo also was co-owner of a company called Signature Sports & Marketing Inc.

Federal prosecutors state Garofolo failed to report a portion of his North Coast salary, received in monthly installments of $8,333.33, that the owner of North Coast paid out of his own pocket.

Garofolo also took income received from North Coast and falsely reported it as self-employed income to assist with claiming business deductions, prosecutors said, while also falsely deducting health insurance premiums as Signature Sports expenses after having been reimbursed for the costs by North Coast.

Garofolo also used checks written on Signature Sports to pay Hawken School tuition for his children, then tried to write off the cost as a business expense.

Garofolo later led an effort to bring Major League Soccer to Northeast Ohio as president and CEO of Wolstein Sports & Entertainment Group LLC.

The Indians right-hander grew up just five minutes from Angel Stadium in Anaheim.

View full sizeThomas Ondrey / The Plain DealerIndians reliever Hector Ambriz is hoping for a chance to pitch in front of friends and family during the Indians' series against the Angels in Anaheim, Calif.. Angel Stadium is five minutes from where he grew up.

Clubhouse confidential: Right-hander Hector Ambriz grew up five minutes from Angel Stadium in Anaheim, Calif. This three-game series with the Angels has been a homecoming for him and his family.

He left 76 tickets for Monday's game and 42 for Tuesday's.

"Most of them are family," said Ambriz, who has been with the Indians all season as a Rule 5 draft pick.

Asked what it would feel like to get in a game at Angel Stadium, Ambriz said, "Awesome."

Tip of the hat: Manager Manny Acta just watched Ichiro Suzuki for four games last week in Seattle so he was ready when a Japanese TV reporter asked how he felt about Ichiro nearing his 10th straight season with 200 hits.

"He's amazing because he played for so long in Japan, too," Acta said. "It says a lot about his consistency. He's done pretty much the same thing for 10 years. To me, it looks like he could play another 10 years."

Stat of the day: Left-hander Tony Sipp has struck out 13, walked three and allowed two earned runs in his past 13 appearances. Sipp has allowed 16.7 percent (7-for-42) of his inherited runners to score, tying him for first place in the AL with New York's Joba Chamberlain.

The Browns couldn't have been given a more beatable foe for their opener than the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

View full sizeBrian Blanco / Associated PressFormer Browns tight end Kellen Winslow is the Buccaneers' best player on offense.

Their feature running back, Carnell Williams, has had patellar tendon surgeries on both knees.

Their best player on offense, Kellen Winslow Jr., has had six knee operations.

Their quarterback, Josh Freeman, missed two weeks of practice with a broken thumb. He hopes to play Sunday wearing a splint.

One of their starting cornerbacks, Aqib Talib, is serving a one-game suspension.

Did we mention the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Browns' season-opening opponent on Sunday, are coming off a 3-13 season?

And you thought the Browns had problems.

If the NFL is going to send the Browns on the road to start a season for the first time in 12 years, it would be difficult to find a more beatable opponent than Tampa Bay.

The Bucs are entering the second season of a rebuilding program started when they shockingly fired former coach Jon Gruden and General Manager Bruce Allen after a 9-7 season in 2008. Raheem Morris, Gruden's successor, just turned 34 and remains the youngest head coach in the NFL.

Before being named head coach, Morris served as a Tampa Bay defensive assistant coach from 2002 through '05. He then returned as defensive backs coach in 2007 and got the surprise promotion to head coach in January 2009.

During Morris' time with the Bucs, Jake Delhomme, the new Browns' starting quarterback, developed a reputation for beating Tampa Bay while with division rival Carolina. Delhomme won nine of 11 meetings.

"He's the Raheem Morris killer," Morris said at NFL owners meetings in March. "He's broken my heart in a couple different situations at the end of games."

Delhomme's familiarity with Tampa's defense gives the Browns another advantage.

Or, as Morris put it this week in Tampa, Fla., "You got to know that he knows that you know that he knows."

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: tgrossi@plaind.com, 216-999-4670

Tony Grossi Scouts the Buccaneers

Kickoff: Sunday, 1 p.m., at Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Fla.

Preseason record: 2-2.

Most recent game: Defeated Houston Texans, 24-17, in exhibition game at Houston, Sept. 1.

View full sizeAPRaheem Morris enters his second season coaching the Buccaneers.

Coach: Raheem Morris, 3-13, second year.

Series record: Browns lead, 5-2.

Most recent meeting: Bucs won, 22-7, Dec. 24, 2006, in Cleveland.

League rankings: In preseason, offense was 30th (23rd rushing, 24th passing), defense was 28th (23rd rushing, 24th passing) and turnover differential was minus 5.

Offensive overview: Coordinator Greg Olson has some background in the West Coast offense, but at this stage of a young roster's development, it appears the Bucs will try to run the ball and throw to tight end Kellen Winslow Jr. often. Quarterback Josh Freeman is big and strong, but the Bucs don't want to put too much on his shoulders just yet. Similar to Ben Roethlisberger, Freeman is tough to bring down in the pocket and isn't afraid to tuck the ball and run with it. The offense added some big targets in rookie receivers Arrelious Benn (6-2, 220 pounds) and Mike Williams (6-2, 212). So far, Williams is ahead and joins Sammie Stroughter in the starting lineup. The philosophy on offense will be to grind it out with Carnell Williams, who, amazingly after two patellar knee surgeries, is still the team's feature back.

View full sizeAPBucs defensive back Ronde Barber.

Defensive overview: Morris took over the defense after Week 10 last year and re-instituted the famed "Tampa 2" scheme handed down from Tony Dungy to Monte Kiffin. Morris has added his own deviations this year, prompting it to be called "Tampa 2.1." Morris isn't afraid to blitz. He will use strongside outside linebacker Quincy Black in special packages as a pass rusher. Black led the team in tackles and tackles for loss in preseason and added one sack. Morris is counting on first-round pick Gerald McCoy and second-rounder Brian Price to help improve the defense against the run. McCoy, the No. 3 overall pick, had only three tackles in preseason but was credited with a team-high six quarterback pressures. Cornerbacks Ronde Barber and Aqib Talib are a formidable starting duo, but Talib will serve a one-game suspension for a personal conduct violation.

Special teams overview: They seem to be in a fluid state. They made two major moves over the weekend, dumping one-time Pro Bowl return specialist Clifton Smith and claiming Green Bay punter Chris Bryan, a towering native of Australia. Receiver Stroughter, who had a 97-yard return last season, probably takes over for Smith. Connor Barth, who was the third of three kickers on the team last year, returns this season.

Players to watch: Tight end Kellen Winslow Jr.: He led the team with 77 catches and five TDs last year but hardly played in preseason following his sixth surgical procedure on the knee injured in the 2005 motorcycle accident in Cleveland. He's their go-to guy.

Quarterback Josh Freeman: The strapping (6-6 and 248 pounds) passer enters his second season as the franchise hope after starting nine games as a rookie. He returned to practice for the first time this week after breaking the tip of his thumb on his right throwing hand in the second preseason game.

Cornerback Ronde Barber: Entering his 14th NFL campaign, he's the franchise's all-time interception leader with 37, and his 25 career sacks are the most among active defensive backs.

Injury report: QB Freeman (thumb) returned to practice Tuesday. DT Roy Miller and LB Niko Koutouvides missed practice with undisclosed injuries.

Small world: Bucs tight ends coach Alfredo Roberts had the same job with the Browns in 2007-08. . . . Former Browns on the Bucs include center Jeff Faine (2003-05), tight end Winslow (2004-08) and safety Sean Jones (2004-08). . . . Bucs cornerback Talib was born in Cleveland.

Top riders expected to compete in the American Gold Cup and in other events during the Cleveland Autumn Series include the 2008 Gold Cup winner Norman Dello Joio, and Olympic gold medalists Beezie Madden, Joe Fargis, and McLain Ward.

View full sizeScott Shaw / The Plain DealerNorman Dello Joio, 2008 Gold Cup winner, is expected to compete in the two-week Cleveland Autumn Jumper Series, which begins today in Moreland Hills.

Marge Fernbacher / Special to The Plain Dealer

MORELAND HILLS, Ohio — The Cleveland Autumn Jumper Series returns today to the Metroparks Polo Field show grounds for two weeks of world-class show jumping competition.

The series begins with the North Coast Jumper Classic, which includes Saturday's $35,000 North Coast Grand Prix.

American Gold Cup events (Sept. 15-19) will include the $30,000 Gold Cup Welcome Stake on Sept. 17 at approximately 3 p.m., and the $75,000 American Gold Cup grand prix finals, scheduled for 2 p.m. on Sept. 19.

"We are committed to bringing the nation's top show jumpers to Cleveland," said event organizer Michael Morrissey, who brought the American Gold Cup back to Cleveland in 2006 after a 35-year absence. "This area is so supportive of show jumping, and although we are still without a title sponsor, the show will go on."

Top riders expected to compete in the American Gold Cup, and in other events during the Cleveland Autumn Series, include the 2008 Gold Cup winner Norman Dello Joio, and Olympic gold medalists Beezie Madden, Joe Fargis, and McLain Ward.

Ten-time Cleveland Grand Prix winner Margie Engle is also expected to compete. Although she has more than 190 grand-prix victories in her career, Engle has never won the American Gold Cup.

Admission is free for the North Coast Jumper Classic, and for the first three days of the American Gold Cup. For the final weekend, tickets at the Ohio 87 entrance to the show grounds are $10 for adults, $5 for children and senior citizens Saturday, and $15 and $5 Sunday. For more information, visit StadiumJumping.com or call 440-834-8615.

Marge Fernbacher is a freelance writer in Willoughby Hills.

Boise State is again The Little Team That Could in college football, but Bill Livingston wants to see what the Broncos could do playing a Big Ten or SEC schedule. Not as much, that's for sure.

View full sizeJoe Jaszewski / Idaho StatesmanQuarterback Kellen Moore and Boise State are very good at preparing for one big game ... but it's doubtful they could hang tough through an entire season in the Big Ten or SEC.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — How about a word in favor of Goliath?

Wilt Chamberlain, who should have known, said nobody roots for Goliath.

But the big guy in college football has a rich set of warring personalities, who go after each other on Saturdays with malice aforethought. Goliath can be Ohio State, or Alabama, or Florida, or Texas, or Oklahoma, or any other traditional power in the BCS leagues that can really play. That includes everybody but the Big Least and the ACC, depending on what Miami does Saturday at the Horseshoe against Ohio State.

Most college football fans love to see some plucky David bring down the traditional bullies.

Boise State, with quarterback Kellen Moore slicing up the Virginia Tech secondary Monday night like a kitchen product dicing a spud, is a particular favorite. TCU, another team that sounds a fanfare for the common man, won earlier over the weekend, next door to its campus at Dallas Cowboys Stadium against good -- not great -- Oregon State.

There is no question Boise State is one great one-game team. So is TCU.

That's the problem with them, too.

Give Boise coach Chris Petersen a month to prepare for an opener or a bowl game, and he can turn Oklahoma's defense into so many Homer Simpsons saying "D'oh." Boise State built its name on trick plays in the 2007 Fiesta Bowl against the Sooners.

Additional appeal came from a national fascination with the way deluded birds kamikazed into the Broncos' blue field, thinking it was possibly a rectangular fork of the Snake River.

The Broncos play one BCS league intersectional opponent early, switch to auto-pilot (would that the birds were so lucky!) and are next seen validating themselves in their other competitive game in a bowl.

Last year, Tulsa of Conference USA lost to the Broncos by only 28-21. League play was another story. No Western Athletic Conference opponent held the Broncos below 45 points, and one (Louisiana Tech) held the final margin to two possessions, losing, 45-35. Otherwise, Boise plays patsies (also Cathys and Bettys).

The objection is that a non-BCS league team can only play its schedule.

But the caterwauling about the BCS oligarchy has led to the hyperinflation of Boise State and TCU. It's unclear what great truth was validated when Boise beat TCU in the most recent Fiesta Bowl. TCU lacks the signature victories of the Broncos over Oklahoma and, in last year's opener, over Oregon, the Pac-10 champion.

By the way, Boise's epic victory over Oklahoma in 2007 was made easier after the Sooners threw starting quarterback Rhett Bomar off the team before a game had been played. Oklahoma's star running back, Adrian Peterson, while he played, was returning to action against Boise for the first time since breaking his collarbone in midseason.

As for Virginia Tech, the Hokies are the Michigan State Spartans of the ACC -- a team that is annually less than the sum of its individual parts. That has been true at least since Michael Vick was promising, not notorious.

Said Ohio State coach Jim Tressel: "Because we were open this weekend, I had a chance to see a little bit of the TCU-Oregon State game. Those are two good teams. [I saw some] of the Boise-Virginia Tech game, those are two good teams. So all four of those teams are going to be making noise all year, and it's a long year. It's like I'd like to believe that Ohio State and Miami are both good teams, but it's a long year."

The "long year" part is the key. When do the Broncos have to be at their best in two games in a row? Ohio State has to run a gauntlet of Penn State, Iowa and Michigan at the end of the season. Attrition in the Buckeyes' lineup is almost inevitable during that stretch.

Boise State can beat anybody in one game. But in the Big Ten, the Broncos probably lose two or three games. In the SEC, they might be a second-division team.

In lieu of a playoff format, college football used a system that was rigged against the non-BCS schools for years. The resulting outrage led to changes. But now it cheats the big ones as well as the little ones.

McPhillips and her doubles partner, Nicole Gibbs, are still alive and will play a second-round match today.

View full sizePD fileKyle McPhillips

Marson, who went into Tuesday's game hitting .189, is trying to dig out of a hole.

View full sizeChuck Crow / The Plain Dealer"I've been terrible." -- Indians catcher Lou Marson on his hitting this season.

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Lou Marson can tell you about throwing out base runners. He's thrown out an American League-high 34.4 percent (21-of-61) of the runners who have tried to steal on him this season.

"The key is to let the ball get in deep on you," Marson said. "Sandy [Alomar Jr., catching instructor] tells us to try and stay under the ball when we catch it. Then to just to just let everything go on your throw."

What he can't tell you about is hitting.

"I've been terrible," Marson said. "I could hit better left-handed."

Marson hits right-handed.

He went into Tuesday's game against the Angels hitting .189 (40-for-212) with 11 doubles, two homers and 14 RBI.

"It's been a joke," Marson said. "I want to finish the year stronger. I felt like early in the year I hit balls hard, had good at-bats but didn't have a lot of luck.

"But then I dug myself in a hole and it's really deep."

Manager Manny Acta and hitting coach Jon Nunnally believe Marson can hit in the big leagues.

"He's hit in his career in the minors," Acta said. "He was the Phillies' minor-league player of the year two years ago. It's just too early to tell. He has the bat speed to do it.

"He's got the toughest part down -- he can catch and throw. Nobody wants a catcher that can hit, but can't catch and throw. It's just a matter of waiting for his bat to come around."

Said Nunnally: "He's got a good swing. He just needs time to figure it out."

Marson has had a lot of advice thrown his way.

"That can be good and bad," Marson said. "I'm not saying anything bad, but I'm the type of guy . . . just let me go play. I'll figure it out.

"It's hard for people to do that when you're a young guy and struggling at this level. It's understandable."

Marson, Jason Donald, Jason Knapp and Carlos Carrasco were acquired from the Phillies last year for Cliff Lee and Ben Francisco.

September challenge: Acta has made it clear that it's time for Jensen Lewis to re-establish himself in the bullpen or "the organization may decide to move in another direction."

Lewis relieved Tony Sipp with two out and one on in the eighth inning Monday night at Angel Stadium. The score was tied, 2-2, and first baseman Mike Napoli, the Angels' home run leader with 22, was waiting at the plate.

Lewis struck him out to end the threat. When Shin-Soo Choo singled home Michael Brantley with two out in the ninth, and Chris Perez retired the Angels in order in the bottom of the inning, Lewis was credited with the victory in the 3-2 win.

"It's nice to be back in a situation like that," Lewis said. "To pitch in a situation like that, in a critical part of the game, is a vote of confidence. That's what you want. I was thrilled to have the opportunity."

Lewis downplayed the implications that September could have on his future with the Indians.

"I don't look at this as being a big month for me," he said. "I feel this is just more opportunities to pitch at the big-league level and show what I can do . . . I think my track record speaks for itself. At the end of the day, we'll see where things are."

Lewis (4-2, 4.00) has bounced between Cleveland and Class AAA Columbus five times this season. He'll be out of options next season, which means his yo-yo days with the Indians are over.

What do you think? Dave Miller, Indians minor-league pitching coordinator, is traveling with the team. He's seen Carrasco a lot this season, including his six-inning, two-run performance against the Angels on Monday.

"He really came on in the last month at Columbus," Miller said. "From the beginning of the year to where he's at now, he's throwing the ball better. . . . He's added a two-seamer and he's pitching inside better. He's got great stuff . . . he's becoming a pitcher now.

"He just turned 23. He's really learning how to use his stuff now. He's got a great changeup and he's commanding his fastball better."

Take a break: Shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera, starting to show some wear defensively, didn't start Tuesday. Donald started at short for the first time since Aug. 5.

Finally: Class AAA Columbus will start David Huff in its postseason opener tonight against Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (Pa.).