ThistleDown Racino canceled its Friday afternoon program because of snow and inclement weather.
NORTH RANDALL, Ohio – ThistleDown Racino cancelled its Friday afternoon program because of snow and inclement weather. Director of Public Relations Shannon Mortland said officials expect to race on Saturday and Sunday, the final racing program of the 2014 season.
Saturday's expanded nine-race program begins at 12:25 p.m. and features the $50,000 Ohio Debutante Handicap.
Sources told Branson Wright of The Plain Dealer on Thursday that Massillon may have interest in hiring Glenville coach Ted Ginn Sr.
Sources told Branson Wright of The Plain Dealer on Thursday that Massillon may have interest in hiring Glenville coach Ted Ginn Sr.
Check out preview capsules and links to all coverage on the 18 local football teams still competing in the 2014 OHSAA playoffs.
Check out preview capsules and links to all coverage on the 18 local football teams still competing in the 2014 OHSAA playoffs.
No. 1 and unbeaten, Mississippi State again heads to Tuscaloosa as an underdog
It's come to be known as not just the SEC West, but the "Mighty" SEC West.
Teams in the best division in college football have been untouchable this season. So far, the West has a single loss -- last-place Arkansas' loss to SEC East member Georgia -- to competition outside its own division.
At various times this year, two or three West teams have been ranked among the top four in the country. The inaugural College Football Playoff has threatened to turn into an SEC West invitational.
But within this power division still lies a traditional hierarchy. And Mississippi State has always been at the bottom while Alabama, just 80 miles away from Starkville, has always lorded at the top.
Mississippi State has never seemed a threat to the Tide. Until now.
Ranked No. 1 for the first time in school history (for the last five weeks), MSU comes to Tuscaloosa this weekend looking to wrap up a share of the West title while solidifying its position in the College Football Playoff.
To get there, the Bulldogs have to overcome their nemesis, a team Dan Mullen has not beaten as a head coach, the mightiest program in college football.
Despite being the undefeated, No. 1 team, Mississippi State is again the underdog.
Best Game
No. 1 Mississippi State at No. 5 Alabama: History aside, this year's game is about matchups.
When Mississippi State has the ball, the Tide matches up better than most teams. Linebackers Reggie Ragland and Trey DePriest can take on Dak Prescott and Josh Robinson in the running game without too much help from the secondary.
That will limit MSU from having open receivers on play-action passes, and the Bulldogs lack a big-play wide receiver who is going to be a matchup nightmare on the outside. Now healthy, Jameon Lewis has the chance to be that playmaker for the Bulldogs, but he isn't a proven weapon like Bama's Amari Cooper.
On the other side, while the Bulldogs have a front that can stop Alabama's running game, they don't necessarily have secondary players who catch match up with Cooper in the way LSU could.
The focus on Cooper will likely create openings for other Alabama receivers. If Alabama can throw the ball with success, it will open up space for the power running game.
All in all, I like the way Alabama matches up with MSU better than the way Auburn matched up. And, this game is in Tuscaloosa. ... Tide, 27-20
Big Time
No. 16 Nebraska at No. 20 Wisconsin: Nebraska has a shot at the playoffs. Combine a Huskers win Saturday with a Miami upset of Florida State and all of a sudden, Nebraska is a player in the playoff hunt given their win earlier this year over the Hurricanes.
But I like Wisconsin in this one. The Badgers are better on defense than Nebraska and while the Cornhuskers are a little more versatile on offense than Wisconsin, the Badgers' huge offensive line will impose its will on what will be a frozen tundra in Madison. ... Badgers, 19-14
No. 19 Clemson at No. 22 Georgia Tech: Just a hunch, but I'm thinking DeShaun Watson comes back healthy in this one and picks up where he left off when he was injured. That's bad news for Georgia Tech.
As for the other side of the ball, it's all about how well you prepare for the Georgia Tech triple option. Clemson has had extended time to prepare -- the Tigers played on Thursday night last week -- so I think Dabo Swinney's bunch will be more ready than most. It adds up. ... Clemson, 28-24
Upset Specials
No. 9 Auburn at No. 15 Georgia: If chaos rules and a two-loss team is to make the playoffs, one figures it might be Auburn.
The one problem is they may catch Georgia at the wrong time Saturday. The Bulldogs go all Mr. Hyde now and then, like the South Carolina loss and the Florida loss. But then they come back to big, bad Dr. Jekyll and beat up on Clemson and Missouri.
This week, Georgia's due for a Dr. Jekyll performance and Auburn will be in store for another tough road game. The Dawgs are at home, Todd Gurley is back and they are playing a defense they can sink their teeth into. Georgia, the only team to beat an SEC West school so far, will add a second West win to its résumé. ... Bulldogs, 27-24
No. 8 Ohio State at No. 25 Minnesota: The whole frozen tundra thing goes to a whole other level in this one. Temperatures in Minnesota are barely expected to climb over 20 degrees.
That's miserable weather for a group of Buckeyes coming off a big win over Michigan State. Minnesota may be better than expected, the game will be cold and is on the road for Ohio State. Just a hunch. ... Gophers, 20-19
No. 3 Florida State at Miami: Eventually, Florida State has to lose one of these.
Miami freshman quarterback Brad Kaaya gets more experience each time out and by now, he's ready to play big in a big game. Duke Johnson will give him the running game he needs.
And this time, Jameis Winston's turnovers and FSU's sloppy play finally catch up. The Seminoles lose and fall to the wrong side of the playoff bubble. ... 'Canes, 30-27
Quick Hits
No. 6 Arizona State at Oregon State: Don't even think of dismissing Arizona State's chances. The Sun Devils are better than everybody they play from here out, which means they should meet the other Oregon school in the Pac-12 championship game as an 11-1 team. That would be like a quarterfinal playoff game. ... ASU, 31-17
Virginia Tech at No. 21 Duke: The heavy favorite should win this one and these days that's Duke. ... Blue Devils, 30-17
No. 4 TCU at Kansas: The Horned Frogs should easily get to 11-1 against a light schedule. If Baylor gets to 11-1, too, which one makes the playoffs? All TCU can do is win, and hope. ... TCU, 42-20
Missouri at No. 24 Texas A&M: One team is capable of beating Auburn, but also losing by 59 points to Alabama. The other is capable of beating Florida by 29, but losing to Indiana. Go with the one at home. ... Aggies, 37-31
Washington at No. 14 Arizona: Rich Rodriguez has done a great job this year, but his team has been overshadowed by its in-state rival. The Wildcats are pretty good too. ... 'Zona, 28-19
No. 12 Michigan State at Maryland: Maryland has a nice record (6-3), but in two games against the Big Ten's top tier, Wisconsin and Ohio State beat them by an average of 36.5 points a game. Michigan State is in the same class as those two. ... MSU, 35-10
Northwestern at No. 18 Notre Dame: It's the week after the big loss to Arizona State. Can Notre Dame bounce back with no more playoff spot to play for? Against the Wildcats, they can. ... Irish, 23-17
No. 23 Utah at Stanford: Two really good defenses and pedestrian offenses. Go with the one that's been winning longer. ... Stanford, 14-10
No. 17 LSU at Arkansas: Two really physical running games and horrid passing games. Go with the one that's been winning longer. ... LSU, 20-13
Phil Taylor is out for the season, dealing a blow to the Browns' defensive line.
BEREA, Ohio – Phil Taylor's injury-plagued season is over just as it was starting to get good.
The Browns defensive lineman will require season-ending surgery to his right knee and be placed on injured reserve, coach Mike Pettine announced Friday. Taylor, 26, suffered the injury in the 24-3 win over the Bengals, a game in which he was at his disruptive best.
The Baylor product had missed the previous four games recovering from arthroscopic surgery to the same knee, but Pettine said the injury was unrelated.
"It is unfortunate (because) he gave us a spark in the Cincinnati game," Pettine said. "We'll miss him out there."
The defensive line ranks among the team's deepest units, but it's also been the hardest hit with injuries. Taylor, Ahtyba Rubin, John Hughes, Billy Winn, Desmond Bryant and Armonty Bryant, lost to an ACL tear, all have missed games this season.
Defensive lineman Sione Fua figures to get more snaps Sunday against the Texans.
"Those other guys have to step up," Pettine said. "Sione Fua has done a really good job for us. When he's in the game you don't notice him cause he doesn't show up on the stat sheet, but all he does is go out there and do his job. We've got some good reps from him and his workload will have to go up."
Taylor has one year remaining on his rookie deal. He had 10 tackles and a deflected pass in five games this season. Pettine doesn't believe the injury will linger into next year, but it "definitely needs to get corrected."
The Browns also will be without tight end Jordan Cameron (concussion) and special teams ace Johnson Bademosi (concussion) on Sunday.
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Dion Waiters says he will play tonight versus the Boston Celtics.
Boston, Mass. –Dion Waiters tells Northeast Ohio Media Group that he will play tonight against the Boston Celtics after sitting out Monday's win over the New Orleans Pelicans with a back contusion.
Waiters speculated that he's about 70 percent healthy, but said, "I'm not missing another game."
He participated in a full practice on Thursday, his first practice session since injuring his back last week against the Denver Nuggets. After practice, head coach David Blatt said his shooting guard would be listed as probable coming into tonight's game.
"It's still a little sore but if it were a playoff game, I would have played [on Monday]," Waiters said. "I would have been limited but I think I can help the team today."
In five appearances this season, Waiters is averaging 9.4 points, 1.2 rebounds and 1.0 assist. His last game against Denver he produced a season-high 17 points off the bench.
The Cleveland Cavaliers versus the Boston Celtics: Things to look for
Boston, Mass – As the Cavaliers get their minds wrapped around the fact they're about to play six games in nine days, they must settle down and focus on the first game – the Boston Celtics.
Despite being a young team, the Celtics are improving and growing more confident with each game. Rajon Rondo has his team playing the right way and if Cleveland wants to make sure an upset doesn't take place, they will need to play the right way, too.
Here are some things I'm looking for.
--
1. Staying the course
Often with a team learning on the fly, when something is working for a stretch, there can be a tendency to slip up, fall back into bad habits. What got the Cavaliers on track was allowing LeBron James to initiate the offense. Ever since James took the keys in Denver, the offense has been crisp and efficient. The Celtics are in a rebuilding phase and hopefully the Cavaliers won't fall victim to complacency, believing they can go outside of what has been working and leave with the win. This still is an NBA team. They have to stay the course.
2. James loves Boston
He is averaging 30.1 points a game against the Celtics, his highest scoring mark versus any other team. Considering James is posting numbers of 28.3 points, 7.0 rebounds and 8.0 assists over the last three games, it appears the inevitable will occur – James is going to go off tonight.
3. Big men need to step up defensively
There has been so much pressure placed on the Cavaliers' interior defense. If a player gets past the initial line of defense, the frontcourt hasn't been holding up their end of the bargain. Cleveland has no paint protection. That's no secret. But if that's the case, the bigs need to lay the wood on somebody. If they're not blocking shots, they need to commit hard, non-malicious fouls. Opponents need to think twice about entering the paint.
4. Harris coming around
Joe Harris can shoot, but what's surprising is the energy level he brings to the game. When he comes off the bench, he electrifies his team not necessarily with his scoring, but with his hustle and defense. At home, the fans seem to rally around the rookie. If he can knock down the perimeter shot with regularity and continue providing a spark, he along with Waiters could potentially be a solid 1-2 punch off the bench.
Probable Starters
Boston Celtics (3-4)
F Jeff Green
F Jared Sullinger
C Kelly Olynyk
G Avery Bradley
G Rajon Rondo
Cleveland Cavaliers (3-3)
F Kevin Love
F LeBron James
C Anderson Varejao
G Shawn Marion
G Kyrie Irving
The Cavaliers overcame a 19-point deficit in the fourth quarter to defeat the Celtics, 122-121, Friday night in Boston.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cavaliers defeated the Celtics, 122-121, Friday night in Boston. Here is a capsule look at the game after a dvr review of the Fox Sports Ohio telecast:
Winning, Inc.: The Cavaliers (4-3) have won three in a row.
The King & KI: LeBron James and Kyrie Irving combined for 68 points -- on 24-of-43 shooting -- 12 assists and eight rebounds. Other than that, they were quiet.
Never mind that the box score lists LeBron as a small forward: When the Cavs have been at their best this season, LeBron is the point-forward and Irving the shooting guard. In that scenario, they instantly feature the NBA's most lethal backcourt.
LeBron was a point-per-minute king Friday, scoring 41 in 41. He made 16-of-27 shots from the floor, the majority coming in the paint after the Celtics failed to prevent power moves from the wing. He had seven assists and four rebounds.
Irving scored 27 on 8-of-16 shooting in 41 minutes. He had five assists (open misses by teammates cost him several others), four rebounds, three steals and one block.
Perhaps most impressively, Irving committed zero turnovers. After opening the season with four turnovers in each of his first two games, he committed one in each of his next four. Then came the performance against the Celtics. In the past five games combined, Irving has four turnovers in 203 minutes.
Monster comeback: The Cavs rallied from a 19-point deficit (103-84) in the fourth quarter.
The Cavs trailed, 105-87, with 11:15 remaining after Boston's Marcus Thornton made a layup. The Cavs went to the other end and missed, giving Boston the opportunity to lead by 20. But former Buckeye Jared Sullinger misfired on a 16-foot jumper with 10:47 remaining.
Cavs center Anderson Varejao drew a foul and sank two free throws at 10:42. The comeback had commenced in earnest.
Varejao's free throws were part of a 15-4 spurt. The Celtics righted themselves long enough to score five straight for a 114-102 cushion with 7:01 left, only to have the Cavs close the game on a 20-7 run.
Overall in the fourth, the Cavs outscored Boston, 38-20. Irving scored 15 and LeBron 10.
Baked beans: In order for the comeback to result in a victory, the Cavs needed a stop in the final seconds.
Coming out of a timeout with seven seconds left, Celtics center Kelly Olynyk inbounded from inside halfcourt. Olynyk passed to Sullinger topside. Sullinger gave the ball to Rajon Rondo, who was guarded by Cavs rookie Joe Harris.
(Think about that: With the outcome in the balance in the seventh game of the Big Three era, the Cavs leaned on Joe Harris to check Rajon Rondo.)
Harris stayed in front of Rondo well enough to discourage him from attempting a drive to his right. Rondo probably didn't want to deal with LeBron, who was hedging while Jeff Green stood in the corner. Rondo opted to move left around Sullinger's screen, at which point Cavs forward Shawn Marion switched to guard Rondo and Harris went with Sullinger.
Rondo looked to head down the lane, but Marion denied him. Rondo got too cute with the handle and, with Marion relatively close, fumbled the ball. By the time Rondo recovered and stepped back for a jumper, it was too late. The clock read all zeros.
"The Cavaliers with utter thievery!'' Fox Sports Ohio play-by-play voice Fred McLeod said. "We've got to get out of here quickly, before the Boston police pull us over!''
Fox Sports Ohio analyst Austin Carr said of Rondo: "He did not want to take that shot, Fred. The apple hit him in the throat.''
Rondo finished with 16 assists and eight rebounds in 31 minutes, but he was 3-of-10 from the field for six points. He did not shoot a free throw.
When Rondo replays the sequence in his mind, he no doubt will regret not having attempted to take Harris off the dribble. If Harris and/or LeBron stopped him, Green would have been a good safety valve.
Irving, before heading to the locker room, spoke with Fox Sports Ohio reporter Allie Clifton.
"Another 'ugly win' for us,' Irving told Clifton, "but the second word matters: win.''
Irving was excited for a variety of reasons. Among them: His team is above .500, which amounts to the rarest of rarefied air for the fourth-season pro from Duke.
Irving also spoke of the chemistry rapidly developing between him and LeBron, and how much fun they are having on and off the court. So much for the narrative that LeBron and Irving would struggle to coexist.
What began to show itself in the Cavs' fifth outing, a 110-101 victory at Denver on Nov. 7, has been in full bloom the past two: LeBron and Irving dovetailing their games to dominate the opposition. On Nov. 10 against New Orleans in Cleveland, Irving and LeBron each scored 32 on a combined 20-of-38 shooting in a 118-111 victory.
The key, of course, has been Irving acquiescing in the name of winning. He has become less reliant on the dribble and more reliant on passing and cognizant of off-the-ball movement. Irving is growing more and more comfortable without the ball when LeBron is at the controls.
Sandbagger: For the second consecutive game, Irving went off in the second half.
Against New Orleans, Irving scored 27 after intermission. Against the Celtics, he scored 23.
Irving carried the Cavs to within striking distance Friday. In the first 3:21 of the fourth quarter, he drilled three 3-pointers and was 4-of-5 from the line for 13 points.
King's English: By halftime, LeBron had gone 9-of-16 from the field for 22 points. In the third quarter, he scored "only'' nine on 3-of-6 shooting. All 10 of his fourth-quarter points (4-of-5 shooting) occurred in the final 2:01, the first seven of which accounted for the Cavs' total output.
With 1:10 remaining, LeBron easily beat Green off the dribble and drove to the hoop, where he converted a layup while drawing a foul from former Buckeye Evan Turner. Green complained that LeBron had hooked him, but it was nothing more than whining.
LeBron converted the free throw. The old school three-point play gave the Cavs a 120-118 lead -- their first of the quarter.
40-point plan: According to McLeod, LeBron has scored 40-plus points 65 times in his career, including postseason. LeBron's teams are 51-14.
No ordinary Joe: Harris scored six points -- all in the fourth -- in 19 minutes off the bench. His +/- was a robust 24. He and LeBron (10) were the only two players from either team with a double-digit positive +/-.
With 7:54 remaining in the fourth, Harris was fouled in the act of shooting a 3-pointer. He made all of the free throws to pull the Cavs within 109-102.
With 3:16 remaining, Harris sank a 3-pointer from the left baseline to pull the Cavs within 116-113. Credit Kevin Love for locating an open Harris and trusting him with a huge shot.
Irving told Clifton: "How big did Joe Harris play? He deserves about eight shots of Gatorade.''
Masking problems: The Cavs' dramatic victory put lipstick on a bad defensive performance against a rebuilding team. Their "work'' in the first and third quarters was simply ugly.
The Celtics finished 48-of-88 (54.5 percent) from the floor. They scored 60 points in the paint. The Cavs don't have rim protectors, but giving up 60 points in the paint to the 2014-2015 Celtics is ridiculous.
The Celtics created numerous open looks by spreading the floor and moving the ball. They repeatedly beat the Cavs with the pick-and-roll or pick-and-pop.
Get set for Ohio State's game against Minnesota with another gameday edition of Buckeye Breakfast. Watch video
MINNEAPOLIS — The Ohio State Buckeyes play their final road game of the 2014 season on Saturday against Minnesota.
GAME INFORMATION
Who: No. 8 Ohio State Buckeyes (8-1, 5-0 Big Ten) at No. 25 Minnesota Golden Gophers (7-2, 4-1)
When: Noon
Where: TCF Bank Stadium, Minneapolis
TV: ABC
Live chat: Join the cleveland.com conversation at 10 a.m.
Latest line: Ohio State -13.5
Series record: Ohio State is 49-7 all-time against Minnesota
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Must-read links before kickoff:
• Ohio State center Jacoby Boren earned praise from coaches and teammates this week for being one of the better leaders on the team. Boren is the youngest of three brothers to play for Ohio State. Find out how he went from being a picked-on little brother to being a leader.
• How will the Buckeyes make up for the loss of H-back Dontre Wilson? He broke his foot during Ohio State's win over Michigan State last week.
• Doug has five reasons Ohio State will win, and five reasons Minnesota will win.
• Doug, Ari and Bill gave their outrageous predictions for Saturday's game, including the Buckeyes holding Minnesota running back David Cobb to fewer than 50 rushing yards. Bill Livingston joined in to give game picks for Buckeyes vs. Gophers.
OHIO STATE, BIG TEN SHOW PLAYBACK
• Ohio State received a big bump in the College Football Playoff rankings after beating the Spartans. We focused the bulk of our weekly Ohio State, Big Ten football show on discussing the Buckeyes in the context of the playoff. ESPN's Adam Rittenberg joined the show to talk about how Ohio State is being viewed nationally. We also talked about what this week's Nebraska-Wisconsin game means for the Buckeyes and the Big Ten.
OHIO STATE STAT LEADERS
• Passing: J.T. Barrett 150-233, 2156 yards, 26 TD, 7 INT
• Rushing: Ezekiel Elliott 149 carries, 863 yards, 7 TD
• Receiving: Michael Thomas 31 receptions, 538 yards, 7 TD
• Tackles: Joshua Perry 79
• Sacks: Joey Bosa 10
• Interceptions: Tyvis Powell, Vonn Bell, Doran Grant, Daron Lee, Eli Apple 2
MINNESOTA STAT LEADERS
• Passing: Mitch Leidner 81-152, 1225 yards, 10 TD, 6 INT
• Rushing: 227 carries, 1205 yards, 8 TD
• Receiving: Maxx Williams 22 receptions, 326 yards, 7 TD
• Tackles: Damien Wilson 88
• Sacks: Cam Botticelli 3
• Interceptions: Briean Boddy-Calhoun 3
BIG TEN SCHEDULE
• Temple at Penn State, Noon (ESPN2)
• Iowa at Illinois, Noon (BTN)
• No. 16 Nebraska at No. 20 Wisconsin, 3:30 p.m. (ABC)
• Northwestern at No. 18 Notre Dame, 3:30 p.m. (NBC)
• Indiana at Rutgers, 3:30 p.m. (BTN)
• No. 12 Michigan State at Maryland, 8 p.m. (BTN)
Bye: Purdue, Michigan
LeBron James scored 10 of his season-high 41 points in the fourth quarters to help rescue the Cleveland Cavaliers from the Boston Celtics. But James and teammates know they need to play better defense.
Boston, Mass. – In the Cavaliers' previous stretch of glory days, when it was time to close out a game the team's bench players would extend their left arms and point to their forearm with their right index and middle fingers.
If you're a baseball fan, this is a familiar gesture. It's the call to the bullpen. For the closer.
Given that this is awards week in Major League Baseball, and that Cleveland Indians' pitcher Corey Kluber won the American League Cy Young Award, and LeBron James slammed the door shut on the Boston Celtics in a 122-121 victory Friday night, the "closer's call" analogy fits.
Back in the old days, as in 2009 and 2010 when James was last a Cavalier and Cleveland was winning night after night, the closer's call was for him. He's left-handed (hence the call for the lefty), and it was his job to send opponents packing in the ninth inning.
On Friday night at TD Garden, a short subway ride from Fenway Park, James resumed the role. The man who made the call to the bullpen was not the skipper, but the point guard.
James finished with a season-high 41 points, including 10 in the fourth quarter. He scored eight of the Cavaliers' final nine points -- all in 122 seconds -- including the game-winning free throw with 36.4 seconds remaining.
That's a huge night, obviously, even bigger because the Cavaliers erased a 19-deficit in that same fourth quarter.
But James didn't get it going in the closing minutes until Kyrie Irving made the call.
"Well, Kyrie told me to be aggressive and stop being so passive," James said afterwards. "In the fourth quarter he got it going, so I kind of laid back and let him go, and he came to me and said be aggressive and make some plays."
James was hanging back because Irving was going off. It was Irving who scored 15 of his 27 points in the fourth quarter – which helped the Cavaliers start their climb out of such a deep hole. He poured in 13 of those points in the first 3:16 of the quarter.
What transpired after Irving was finished scoring -- when he challenged James -- was a bit of a role reversal. Until that moment, James was the mentor and the motivator on this team.
"All you've got to do is talk to me, and I'll answer," James said.
"It's more or less something that's better for our team, when he's aggressive," Irving said. "When both of us are attacking like that, it's hard to guard everybody."
There were all smiles in the Cavaliers' locker room Friday night. James offered another analogy – his teammates are like his "kids," they need to be shown film of themselves playing well and poorly, so they can see what works and correct mistakes. They can't just study how they're supposed to play in a textbook (his words, not the Northeast Ohio Media Group's words).
The Cavaliers won for the third consecutive game and are now over .500. But rather than this latest win serving as another stepping stone, it more likely covered some warts.
The game was tied at 59 at halftime. Forty-two Celtic points later at the end of the third quarter, the Cavaliers trailed by 17. The lapses on defense were too many to mention, but the 42 points they allowed fairly well summed it up.
The Cavaliers are on a collision course for another correction game – where things go so poorly that they lose convincingly and learn from it, a la a 19-point loss to Portland earlier this month.
Things were headed that way in Boston, where a porous defensive effort was about to lead to a resounding defeat, until two of the game's premier offensive talents took over.
That was James' 53rd game of 40 or more points for his career in the regular season. He moved past former Celtic great Robert Parish into 24th on the NBA's all-time scoring list and now has 23,360 career points.
Heck, entering Friday night, James was averaging 30.1 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 6.5 assists in 36 career regular-season games against the Celtics. He almost always plays well against Boston.
"We won ugly," Irving said.
Through the smiles, the Cavaliers sounded like they understood that the defensive effort for much of the game was not good, and that they need to learn to be better for longer periods.
They played better defensively in the fourth, forcing the Celtics into seven turnovers. Rajon Rondo was smothered defensively and couldn't get off one last shot at the buzzer.
More of that is needed.
Because one of these games, that call to the bullpen won't be enough to save the Cavaliers.
Even front-line players like Brian Hoyer and Tashaun Gipson were not brought here to be immediate starters.
BEREA, Ohio – NFL second-stringers, the ones who don't play quarterback or halfback, are like auto mechanics. You don't want to think about them, hear about them or discuss them until the day your starter goes bad.
Then, suddenly you're left stranded and scrambling. Browns' fans know the feeling. There have been times over the past 15 years when it seemed the franchise used Angie's List to fill out its depth chart. Oniel Cousins . . . Ken Dorsey . . . Terry Cousin . . . Spergon Wynn.
Years of four- and five-win seasons don't fall on the shoulders of the Browns' backups, of course. It's on the front-line talent and the men who either drafted or failed to develop it.
But as the Browns sit a surprising 6-3 with no help from suspended All Pro Josh Gordon and little production from injured Pro Bowler Jordan Cameron (concussion) it reminds us good teams often require dependable organizational depth. It's hard to recall a time since the club returned in 1999 when it's been better.
Each week, a Taylor Gabriel, Jim Dray, K'Waun Williams or Isaiah Crowell make a play to help the Browns win another game. The club will need additional contributions in wake of Friday's news that defensive tackle Phil Taylor is lost for the season with a knee injury.
What say you, Sione Fua?
The Browns have gone so low on the depth chart at times this season only people with 20-15 vision can read some of the names promoted from the original bottom line. Coach Mike Pettine addressed the issue Friday not long after discussing Taylor's pending surgery, Cameron's continued absence and the possibility of playing Sunday's game against the Texans without safety Tashaun Gipson (concussion), who leads the league with six interceptions.
"That's a credit to (general manager Ray Farmer) and his group identifying guys and bringing them in," he said. "I think it's a major, major credit to the staff. I always say the true sign of a good coach is, 'How well do his backups play when they have to play?'
"Anybody can coach the starters and get them ready. I think what's even more an accomplishment for the staff is that they did it in year one (when) it's hard to develop it. That's where I think that we have a very good crew of young coaches. We have some coaching interns who kind of cut their teeth working with those young guys and getting them ready to play. I think it's a credit to the entire group."
Pettine is right, but previous administrations also have a hand in building up the depth. We forget players like Gipson, quarterback Brian Hoyer, right guard John Greco weren't brought here as starters. Such players deserve credit for capitalizing on their chances.
A season ago, the Browns couldn't find a decent halfback. Now, they have a rotation. And, while the coaching staff would prefer someone from the Ben Tate, Terrance West, Crowell cluster to emerge as the featured back, it's better than hoping to squeeze yards from the Edwin Baker, Fozzy Whittaker, Chris Ogbonnaya cluster.
As for the passing game, what the Browns have accomplished without the Gordon-Jordan tandem speaks volumes of the offensive coordinator, quarterback and work of the unheralded pass catchers.
Still, the season and its potential for January football could rest with backup center Nick McDonald. The loss of All Pro center Alex Mack (broken leg) remains the biggest blow to the lineup. McDonald was better last week in the 24-3 win over the Bengals, but the vulnerability created by Mack's absence looms large in the stretch run.
These are strange days on the lakefront, where for the first time in years the Browns have gone through more centers than quarterbacks. They sit atop at the AFC North with seven games remaining.
Do they have enough left in reserve?
It's doesn't take a lot of fishing gear to get in on the night walleye bite that is drawing crowds of anglers to the piers and breakwalls from Cleveland to the Bass Islands, and beyond.
HURON, Ohio – Hundreds of fishermen crowd the Lake Erie piers and breakwalls after the sun goes down at this time of year, lured by the excellent walleye fishing they can often find from Cleveland to the Bass Islands, and beyond.
Anglers don't need a boat or expensive fishing gear. A spinning rod and reel, a few lures, a long-handled net and a lantern will suffice. Waterproof thermal wear and warm boots and gloves are also critical, now that winter weather has arrived.
After keeping an eye on the success of local anglers in Cleveland, Lorain and points west this fall, I decided Thursday afternoon to make a pilgrimage to the Huron Pier, where fishing the night bite splashed onto the scene.
It was more than a couple of decades ago that a somewhat secret society of after-dark anglers discovered Lake Erie walleye fishing didn't end when Labor Day rolled around. They began casting lures from shore once the big lake chilled to about 50 degrees and found surprising success.
The Huron Pier was a premier location for bagging a limit of trophy walleye, though some whispered about the Lakeside Pier on the Marblehead Peninsula or the docks and piers around Kelleys Island and the Bass Islands. Walleye congregate in that area from late fall through the spring spawning season on the Western Basin reefs and in the Sandusky and Maumee rivers.
As Lake Erie continues to cool, the huge schools of gizzard shad move to warmer shallow waters, especially in and around the mouths of the rivers, including the Huron River. The big walleye follow the shad and feed mostly after dark.
When tales of walleye fishing around the Huron Lighthouse slipped out so long ago, it was a revelation for the majority of fishermen who didn't own a boat, a necessity for summer walleye success. The only chance for boat-less anglers to catch walleye had been to wade the Maumee and Sandusky rivers in spring and cast lures to spawning walleye.
This fall, fishermen have been catching walleye and steelhead trout for weeks while casting from shore around Cleveland Harbor. Reports of night fishing success have arrived from just about every outcropping along the Lake Erie shoreline west of Cleveland.
Social media helps share those secret spots these days. In an earlier era, it took word of mouth or a timely story in a newspaper or magazine.
Heading to Sandusky Bay many years ago for a waterfowl hunting adventure, I stopped at the Huron Pier late one afternoon. Fishermen lined more than a half-mile of Huron River breakwall and the platform around the Huron Lighthouse. Almost elbow-to-elbow, anglers were casting lures by the light of Coleman lanterns, eager to take home the bounty of a night of walleye fishing.
Pulling on my warm waterfowl hunting gear, I grabbed a spinning rod from the back of the truck and a few lures. After the long walk along massive chunks of limestone rock, I found room to settle in next to a Huron regular.
After a few casts a rather large walleye gobbled my lure. Lacking a lantern or long-handled net, I offered the walleye to my neighbor if he'd net it for me so I could retrieve my lure.
I'd experienced the good walleye fishing here a couple of times in the previous year and written about it, so success wasn't a surprise. I did marvel at the crowd. With so many casting lures, it was no wonder lots of walleye were being caught.
The angler next to me mumbled grumpily that the Huron Pier used to be a much better fishing hole.
"Once that guy from The Plain Dealer wrote about it, everybody showed up," he complained. "If that guy ever comes back here, my buddies and me are going to toss him in the river."
Shivering at the thought of an icy dunking, and facing a pre-dawn wake-up call to hunt ducks, I pulled down my ski mask and made one last cast, connecting with another walleye. As I wandered back to the truck, I remember hoping the mallards would be just as cooperative the next morning.
The Browns are No. 3 in rush attempts this season. Last year, they were No. 30.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Consider these numbers about the Browns running game:
1. Last season, they led the league in passes attempted. This season, they rank 29th.
2. Last season, the Browns ranked 30th in rushing attempts. This season, they rank No. 3.
So they are running the ball far more than a year ago, and throwing it much less.
That's not the only reason they are 6-3 vs. 4-12 last season, but it is a factor.
You can say, "But they had no running game in 2013."
In many ways, that's true. Trent Richardson was traded after two games. Willis McGahee was a good running back -- once upon a time. When the Browns picked him up, McGahee was like a rusty old car stored up on blocks that someone found back behind the barn. The tires were flat, the engine growled like an empty stomach.
It was not the fault of McGahee, who had been cut when the Browns turned to him. It was the lack of depth at running back after Richardson was traded and Dion Lewis broke his leg in training camp.
But was there more to the story?
Question: What Browns team averaged more yards per carry -- the 2013 model or the group in 2014?
Answer: The Browns averaged 4.0 per carry LAST SEASON. That compares to 3.5 this year.
Think about it: The Browns actually gained more yards per carry LAST SEASON...
They just didn't stay with the running.
If they had, they may have discovered that Bobby Rainey (now with Tampa Bay) was a viable running back. They cut him after 13 carries (for 34 yards). He was signed by the Bucs, where he has run for 940 yards and a 4.1 average in 18 games.
Head coach Mike Pettine and offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan have brought in a much different view of the game. They want to run the ball -- a gospel preached from the top by General Manager Ray Farmer.
"It all started with the commitment to run," said Pettine. "When you run the football you shorten the game. You set up your play action, protect your quarterback. You stay ahead of the sticks."
Here are the top 10 teams this season in terms running attempts: Cowboys (315), Jets (302), Browns (300), Ravens (283), Texans (281), Seahawks (289), Dolphins (272), Chiefs (267), Steelers (267) and Panthers (265).
The record: Seven of the top 10 running teams have winning records. The exceptions are the Jets (2-8), Panthers (3-6-1) and Texans (4-5).
Amazing stat: The Browns are averaging only 3.5 yards per carry, ranking 28th. Yet, they keep running the ball.
"Some coordinators say they're committed to the run," said Pettine. "Then when the game goes a certain way it disappears."
That often was the case last season. The Browns would fall behind and start throwing the ball all over the field.
"(Shanahan) is the exact opposite," said Pettine. "His system is very quarterback friendly – passes on the move, the commitment to the run to stay out of longer yardages."
Pettine also explained that the play-action fakes to the running backs make it easier to pass. If the opposing defense knows you are going to run the ball, they will pay attention -- even if the running game has not been that effective.
ABOUT THE WEATHER
In the off-season, Farmer and Pettine wanted to build a team for the AFC North.
Pettine had been an assistant with Baltimore from 2002-08. He later was an assistant with the Jets, where the emphasis was on a running game. Both teams played in cold weather.
Farmer is a former linebacker, and believes in power, physical football. As an assistant general manager with the Browns last season, he saw the disastrous approach to throwing more passes than any other NFL team -- and doing it on the windy lakefront with dropping temperatures.
So it was easy for Farmer and Pettine to formulate a plan that included signing Ben Tate as a free agent to be the starting running back. They drafted running back Terrance West in the third round. Farmer's scouts found Isaiah Crowell as an undrafted free agent.
All three are power runners. The Browns aren't concerned about Tate wanting more carries. The team wants depth at all positions. That's especially true at running back, where injuries often happen. Tate was hurt in the opener, and then missed the next two games with a knee injury.
Shanahan called 52 running plays in a 24-3 victory at Cincinnati. With the weather turning worse, he's not likely to start throwing the ball more. So the Browns want three reliable running backs, and aren't worried if all three think they deserve more chances to carry the ball.
ABOUT CRAIG ROBERTSON
Profootballfocus.com wrote this about how Browns inside linebacker Craig Robertson struggled in pass coverage last season. They said the players he tried to cover had "an NFL Passer Rating of 128.1 which was the fifth-highest in the league for middle/inside linebackers. This was partially thanks to him allowing five receiving touchdowns."
This season, the website said Robertson had yet to allow a passing touchdown, and the "NFL Passer Rating of 71.5 is fifth-best in the league for middle/inside linebackers."
There are several reasons for the improvement:
1. Robertson played outside linebacker in 2012 in a 4-3 defense. That was his rookie season. He moved to inside in a 3-4 defense in 2013, and he struggled with the change.
2. Robertson played 84 percent of the snaps last season. This season, it's 36 percent of the snaps. He splits the position with rookie Chris Kirksey, who is very good in pass coverage.
3. The addition of Kirksey (third round, 2014) means Robertson is not used in coverage as often. The new defensive coaches have put him in better situations to accent his strengthens.
4. A year ago, Robertson played next to D'Qwell Jackson. He is best suited to be a middle linebacker in a 4-3 defense. Jackson struggled in pass coverage in the 3-4 defense in 2013.
5. Jackson has been replaced by Karlos Dansby. Part of the reason the Browns signed Dansby is that the veteran is strong in coverage.
6. Profootballfocus rates Dansby as the top inside linebacker in pass coverage. The site has Robertson at No. 7 overall, and Kirksey at No. 8. The Browns front office was determined to fix the problems at inside linebacker. The additions of Dansby and Kirksey have done exactly that -- and also helped Robertson.
ABOUT THE BROWNS
1. The Browns now have lost three defensive linemen for the season to knee injuries -- Phil Taylor, Armonty Bryant and John Hughes. That leaves them with Desmond Bryant, Billy Winn and Ahtbya Rubin as starters, Ish Kitchen and Sione Fua as backups. Not much depth.
2. Rubin has missed two games this season with an ankle injury. Winn missed three with a quad injury. The point is the defensive line could be a major problem in the final seven games as health is such an issue.
3. Jordan Cameron (concussion) is still out. This will be the fourth game he's missed this season. He had a shoulder injury earlier in the year. This is his third concussion in two years. He caught 80 passes last season and was a Pro Bowl tight end. He has 13 receptions this year. As free agency approaches, it's hard to access his value because of the concussion and other health issues.
4. Even if they do re-sign Cameron, the Browns will probably need to add a tight end for next season. It's hard to know if he can stay healthy. Gary Barnidge and Jim Dray are solid backups. Dray is a very good blocker. But neither are significant factors in the passing game. They have combined for 19 catches this season.
5. This is an amazing stat: According to STATS INC, the Browns have dropped only six passes this season -- the fewest in the NFL.
The Cavs are the NBA's best offensive team when they take a shot in the first 10 seconds of the 24-second clock.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- For the Cavaliers, the name of the game is pace.
The faster they play, the better.
There are advanced stats revealing that when they take a shot in the in first 10 seconds of the 24-second clock, they rank No. 1 in offensive efficiency. That stat measures how the team shoots, avoids turnovers and performs on offense.
In other words, they are the best fast-paced team in the NBA.
But there's a problem. In terms of pace -- how quickly they play -- the Cavs rank 26th out of 30 teams heading into the weekend.
Cavs General Manager David Griffin grew up with the Phoenix Suns, and former coach Mike D'Antoni had a goal of firing up a shot in the first seven seconds of a possession. Those Suns viewed the game as a test of wills -- who will control the pace of the game? The Suns or someone else?
Coach David Blatt is pushing his team not only to run more -- but pass the ball up the court. Don't just dribble, dribble, dribble.
So what's the problem when the Cavs fail to put their stamp on the game?
1. Cavs guards Kyrie Irving and Dion Waiters both like to dribble the ball up the court. When an opponent's shot is missed and rebounded by the Cavs, Irving and Waiters both come back to receive a short pass -- and too often, they walk the ball up the court.
2. The Cavs were 17th in pace last season. While former coach Mike Brown talked about running more and encouraged his team to do so from the sidelines -- they never did run consistently.
3. Sometimes, LeBron James also comes back to receive an outlet pass -- and there are times when he can instead run down the court for a fast break opportunity.
4. Kevin Love is an excellent rebounder and long passer, and he does look down court after grabbing rebounds. The Cavs need to learn to run down to the other end to give Love some targets.
5. The Cavs should be a very good rebounding team. Anderson Varejao and Love have been elite rebounders in the past. Tristan Thompson has averaged close to 10 rebounds a game in the last two seasons. James is one of the best rebounding small forwards in the NBA. But the Cavs ranked 17th in rebounding heading into the weekend.
6. Defensive rebounding is a key part of playing faster because it sets up fast breaks.
7. When the Cavs do take control of the pace, they will win a lot of games -- at least in the regular season. You could see it in the 122-121 victory at Boston on Friday when they played some defense in the fourth quarter -- and attacked the rim on offense.
ABOUT THE CAVS AND DEFENSE
1. Defense, as in the Cavs rarely play it with any consistency. They entered the weekend ranking 29th out of 30 teams in defensive field goal percentage. It's also 29th in defensive efficiency, for those who like advanced stats. No matter the numbers, it's a sad state right now.
2. The Cavs knew they'd have some defensive challenges when they assembled the roster, which is weighted with guys who are not good at that end of the court. There is very little continuity. Only five players return from a year ago -- Kyrie Irving, Anderson Varejao, Tristan Thompson, Dion Waiters and Matthew Dellavedova.
3. Consider some of the key additions: Kevin Love, Mike Miller, Shawn Marion, James Jones and LeBron James. Only Marion and James are considered good defenders. Love is a terrific rebounder, but has problems with defense.
4. Blatt's challenge is to find a way for the team to at least approach being an average defensive team. That's part of the reason he was playing rookie Joe Harris in the fourth quarter of Friday's victory at Boston. Harris is decent on defense.
5. Harris is playing ahead of Miller, who is a mess right now. Heading into Saturday night, Miller had only eight points in 94 minutes this season. He was 3-of-12 shooting. He's never been much of a defender.
6. Defense is why Blatt put Waiters on the bench and started Marion at shooting guard. Another factor is that Marion doesn't take a lot of shots. With Irving, Love and James playing at the same time -- there are not many shots left over.
7. The Cavs thought they'd be a strong rebounding and scoring team. They wanted to play a quick pace to accent their offense and negate some of the defensive issues. They carried a three-game winning streak into Saturday's game. In those three games, the Cavs scored 110-118-122 points. So the offense is coming around.
8. With a rookie head coach and so many new players, a so-so start should be no surprise. The Cavs came home with a 4-3 record, and they had played only two home games. Saturday's game against Atlanta opens a stretch where the Cavs play 8-of-9 at home.
9. This will be a time for the Cavs to have more practices and hopefully work more on their defense -- and on the fast break. They can be a dominant offensive team if they consistently run.
10. Finally, it's worth remembering that the Heat started 9-8 in James' first season. Remember that Miami had a coach (Erik Spoelstra) in his third season. The Heat were 45-37 and had made the playoffs the season before James arrived. Yet, there still was a period of adjustment. The same will be true of the Cavs.
Corey Kluber can't be a free agent until 2019. And is Carlos Carrasco following the same direction as Kluber?
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- I really don't want to see another email about how the Indians will trade Corey Kluber next year because he won the Cy Young Award.
And we all know that the Indians always trade a guy a year after he won the Cy Young Award.
And guess what? That was true for Cy Young winners C.C. Sabathia (2007) and Cliff Lee (2008). The following seasons, they were traded. Sabathia was traded when he was in his final season before free agency. Lee was traded with 1 1/2 years left on his contract.
Kluber can't be a free agent until 2019. In fact, the 2014 Cy Young winner can't even go to arbitration this season. Unless he signs an extension, he will pitch for less than $600,000.
While the Indians don't comment about contract extension talks, they certainly will approach Kluber. He will be 29 on April 10. He is four years away from free agency. It makes sense (and dollars) for him to sign some type of extension now -- as Yan Gomes, Michael Brantley and Jason Kipnis did last season.
Yes, the Indians are the only team to ever trade back-to-back Cy Young Award winners.
But they might also be the only team to have ever traded for two minor league pitchers who became Cy Young Award winners.
Consider the following:
1. In 2002, they traded Bartolo Colon and Tim Drew to Montreal for Grady Sizemore, Brandon Phillips and Lee.
2. In 2010, they traded Jake Westbrook and Nick Greenwood as part of a three-way deal that brought Kluber to the Tribe.
3. In fact, the Sabathia deal of 2008 has produced Michael Brantley, who was third in the MVP voting.
4. In my notes of September 6, I went through all the trades made for Lee. They involved 11 different prospects. If you had to pick from all the deals made for Lee, you'd select the Tribe because Carlos Carrasco appears to be the only one of the 11 prospects likely to make an impact. Carrasco was 8-7 with a 2.55 ERA last season. He was 6-4 with a 1.70 ERA after the All-Star break.
This is not to excuse some of the Tribe's bad moves, but it is to simply look at the facts. It took patience, but they received real value for Sabathia. Brantley is under contract through 2017 with a team option for 2018. He emerged as an All-Star this season, batting .327 (.890 OPS) with 20 HR and 97 RBI at the age of 27. Carrasco is 27, and he can't be a free agent until 2017.
So when doing the easy jokes about the trading of Cy Young Award winners, it is worth mentioning that the Tribe does indeed have something good to show from those deals.
A major reason that Terry Francona came to the Tribe in 2013 and recently signed an extension to manage for three more years is that he has faith in the front office and likes how they have added prospects who have turned into productive players.
ABOUT KLUBER
The odds are against Kluber having another historic season. But let's also keep in mind that 2014 was not a total fluke.
Trace his progress from the time he came to the Indians in the middle of 2010.
1. His first full season with the Tribe was 2011, when he was 7-11 with a 5.56 ERA at Class AAA Columbus. He was the fourth starter and at the age of 25, he seemed likely to be a marginal prospect.
2. In 2012, minor league pitching coach Ruben Niebla suggested a change in how Kluber gripped the baseball. He also began to throw far more four-seam fastballs, rather than than the two-seamer that often acts like a sinker. The new approach added velocity and control. He was 11-7 with a 3.59 ERA for the Clippers in 2012.
3. So there was a significant improvement in his second year in Class AAA. But he joined the Tribe in August of 2012, and had a tough time: 2-5 with a 5.14 ERA in 12 starts.
4. In 2013, Kluber opened the season in the minors. When Brett Myers blew out his elbow in late April, Kluber was promoted to Cleveland. He was a good pitcher in 2013 with an 11-5 record and a 3.85 ERA. He lost a month (August 6-Sept. 6) with a finger injury and had only 24 starts. But he was still 11-5. That season also was when he took his control to an elite level, walking only 33 in 147 1/3 innings.
5. In 2014, he was 18-9 with a 2.44 ERA and became the fourth Cy Young Award winner in Tribe history.
General Manager Chris Antonetti talks about how Kluber has made gradual improvement, how he is a relentless learner. He's open to coaching. It was Mickey Callaway who took Kluber to a higher level, accenting the need for control and sharpening his already impressive curveball.
A key to Kluber's success is a combination of determination and humility. He needed four tries at the Majors to finally arrive for good late in April of 2013. He had to be open to coaching. He is dedicated to being in elite physical condition.
His only trip to the disabled list was with the finger in 2013, and that includes six years that he spent in the minors.
Kluber will be 29 on April 10, 2015. So he's in his prime. While there is a concern when a pitcher throws 236 innings, Kluber was at his best at the end of the season -- a 1.73 ERA after the All-Star break.
ABOUT CARRASCO AND BAUER
Carlos Carrasco had a Kluber-like finish to 2014.
He started 10 games after the All-Star break and walked a grand total of 11 batters. He fanned 76.
In those 10 starts, he was 6-4 with a 1.70 ERA.
Not all of the credit for the revival of Kluber and Carrasco should go to Callaway, but it's clear the pitching coach had a major impact. Both strong-armed right-handers began throwing more strikes and winning more games than ever once they began to pitch for Callaway.
Bullpen coach Kevin Cash was a big help to Carrasco gaining confidence, as Carrasco put himself back together when he was removed from the rotation after four poor April starts.
Now, Callaway needs to have Trevor Bauer take the next step.
In 2013, Bauer walked 16 in 17 innings with the Tribe. In Class AAA, he was walking 5.4 per nine innings.
Last season, Bauer was at 3.5 walks per nine innings, so that was progress. He finished with a 5-8 record and a 4.18 ERA. Not bad at the age of 23.
Bauer studies pitchers, and he should see that both Carrasco and Kluber dramatically improved their control, and they still struck out a ton of hitters. Bauer has two role models in the same clubhouse.
ABOUT THE TRIBE
1. Did you see that Victor Martinez agreed to a four-year, $68 million deal to stay with the Tigers? He will play next season at the age of 36. He did miss all of 2012 with microfracture knee surgery and is strictly a DH. That's why the Indians knew they had no chance to sign Martinez. The Tigers were determined to keep him.
2. Martinez finished second in the MVP voting after batting .335 (.974 OPS) with 32 HR and 103 RBI. The Tigers now have nearly $110 million committed to these players in 2015: Miguel Cabrera, Justin Verlander, Ian Kinsler, Anibal Sanchez, Joe Nathan and Martinez. Tom Gage of the Detroit News says if you add in what David Price and Rick Porcella are expected to receive in their contracts (they are arbitration eligible), the Tigers will have $140 million invested in eight players.
3. Tigers Owner Mike Ilitch is 85 and his goal is to win a World Series now. He isn't worried about what these contracts will cost in four years. All of this makes it tough for the rest of the American League Central. But as the Kansas City Royals showed this season, if you can get into the playoffs ... you have a real shot at an upset and reaching the World Series.
4. I'd be surprised if the Indians brought back Justin Masterson. They traded him last season because they had no idea how to fix him. He was 4-6 with a 5.51 ERA when they traded him to St. Louis in late July. With the Cardinals, he was 3-3 with a 7.04 ERA. He was not on their postseason roster.
5. Masterson's agent has been saying that his client never was healthy last season. He had an oblique injury late in 2013, and supposedly that carried over into 2014 -- and led to a knee problem. That's possible. But the MRI on Masterson's knee didn't reveal any serious problems. Something was wrong with Masterson, who also had many problems with his windup and control.
6. The free agent market is expected to be extremely expensive. It's doubtful the Indians will do much of significance. If anything does happen, it's far more likely to be on the trade front.
7. Tom Hamilton and I will be speaking at the Wahoo Club on Monday at Harry's Steak House in Brecksville at 6:30 p.m. You must call Bob Rosen at 440-724-8350 for more information. Seating is limited. We will be discussing our new book, Glory Days in Tribe Town. Hamilton and I will also be signing copies of Glory Days in Tribe Town on Thursday from 7-8 p.m. at Barnes & Noble in Woodmere/Beachwood.
Here's a look at the big matchups and top storylines from around the nation as we near kickoff on another Saturday of college football:
Here's a look at the big matchups and top storylines from around the nation as we near kickoff on another Saturday of college football:
The Big Buzz: Bulldogs unlikely underdogs in T-town
No. 1 Mississippi State at No. 5 Alabama, 3:30 p.m. ET
In the land of the SEC, it's not often the hunted becomes the hunter. But that is what we have in Tuscaloosa this afternoon with No. 1 Mississippi State in town to take on Nick Saban and No. 5 Alabama. The Crimson Tide may be two-score favorites -- atypical for any team being classified as the "hunter" -- but forget the point spread for a moment. I assure you Alabama has.
The Magnolia State has been the center of the college football universe for more than a month now, a privilege normally reserved for the friendly confines of Bryant-Denny Stadium. Dak Prescott and the Bulldogs deserve it. They're 9-0 in the vaunted SEC West and earlier this year won three straight games against then-top 10 opponents. There is no disputing that they're worthy of their ranking. Yet they're nine-point underdogs.
That is because, despite flying under the radar most of the season (at least for them), Alabama is still Alabama. They're 8-1 with their only loss coming in an emotional heartbreaker in Oxford. They've beaten West Virginia, they destroyed Texas A&M and they did the impossible last week by winning in Death Valley. Many pundits believe today's matchup is between the team that has played the best against the team that is the best. So we have, to this point, our game of the year.
Now, let's talk postseason implications. In case you forgot, we are in the thick of the inaugural year of the College Football Playoff. Up for grabs this afternoon is the SEC West. A win for Alabama puts the Tide in control of their own destiny. Win the Iron Bowl and the Tide will roll into the SEC Championship, better known as the gateway to the Playoff. For Mississippi State, it's much simpler. A win against Bama essentially punches their ticket to Atlanta.
So who will prevail?
Clearly, Las Vegas thinks it's going to be the Tide. Quarterback Blake Sims and Alabama have been undeniably better this season in Tuscaloosa, where they've averaged 48.5 points per game compared to 23.6 away from Bryant-Denny Stadium. In Bama's first two home conference bouts -- against Florida and A&M -- they piled up a ridiculous total of 1,274 yards. Meanwhile, Saban's trademark defense ranks second in the nation in scoring. If this team plays like a motivated underdog, watch out.
The good news for the visiting Bulldogs is Alabama tends to struggle the week after their annual LSU slugfest. In fact, the Tide haven't scored a first quarter touchdown in that game in 13 years. Oh, and Mississippi State will have the best player on the field in Prescott. If Prescott can get the Bulldogs out to an early lead -- planting the seed of doubt in that sea of crimson at Bryant-Denny -- the year of Magnolia State may just press on.
The parallels between this matchup and the 2010 Auburn-Alabama tilt, when Cam Newton and the underdog Tigers stormed through Tuscaloosa on their way to the title, are quickly becoming undeniable according to Kevin Scarbinsky of AL.com:
Weather an early storm. Quiet a hostile crowd. Play 60 minutes of football without fear. Do that, and [the Bulldogs'] dream season just might continue, and this eerie parallel just may move one giant leap closer to an illogical, unpredictable and unforgettable conclusion.
The two-score spread is just the latest reminder that Mississippi State must slay the dragon to be viewed on Alabama's level, as Matt Hinton of Grantland.com writes:
The cognitive dissonance between the polls, where Mississippi State reigns supreme for the fifth week in a row, and the tidal wave of smart money rolling in behind the Saban Death Star is a tidy, tangible illustration of just how deeply entrenched the programs' brands really are, beyond any short-term assessment of records or resumes in 2014.
On the other sideline, Matt Brown of Sports On Earth writes that Blake Sims proved last weekend in Death Valley that he can be good enough when it matters most, just as his predecessor at Alabama did two years ago:
[A.J.] McCarron was a better quarterback than Sims is, and they have different skill sets, but Saturday's game was another indication that Sims does in fact fit well into the mold of "Nick Saban Alabama Quarterback," and that Alabama can win a national championship with him behind center.
Death Valley is "where dreams go to die," as Les Miles once famously said. But those types of theories don't apply to the machine that is Alabama football, according to ESPN.com's Ted Miller:
There's nothing magical about Alabama. Alabama doesn't dream. Its approach is manifest destiny. It's a football dynasty engineered in a lab, five-star athletes genetically engineered for their respect positions uploaded with Saban's operating system, "The Process." Alabama has been favored to win 64 games in a row, and no current Tide player has faced a game an as underdog.
On the contrary, Mississippi State is all about fairy tales this season. What happens this afternoon will go a long way in determining how long theirs will continue. Now let's watch Bonnie Bernstein, Pete Fiutak and Doug Chapman of Campus Insiders weigh in on Bulldogs-Tide and the rest of Week 12's biggest matchups:
Top games
Here's a look at some of Saturday's other can't-miss matchups involving teams ranked in the Associated Press Top 25:
• No. 8 Ohio State at No. 25 Minnesota, 12 p.m. ET
• No. 19 Clemson at No. 22 Georgia Tech, 12 p.m. ET
• No. 16 Nebraska at No. 20 Wisconsin, 3:30 p.m. ET
• No. 9 Auburn at No. 15 Georgia, 7:15 p.m. ET
• No. 3 Florida State at Miami, 8 p.m. ET
• No. 6 Arizona State at Oregon State, 10:45 p.m. ET
Headlines
• The shoulder injury LSU's Kenny Hilliard sustained against Alabama will sideline the senior running back for the Tigers' final three regular season games. (via NOLA.com)
• Alabama leading rusher T.J. Yeldon should be able to take the field this afternoon against Mississippi State despite being hampered by a litany of lower body injuries, Tide coach Nick Saban said this week. (via AL.com)
• NCAA e-mails surfaced this week that indicate Penn State's football program narrowly escaped receiving the death penalty two years ago following the Jerry Sandusky child abuse scandal. (via PennLive.com)
• After being immobilized and carted off the field last weekend against Baylor, Oklahoma quarterback Trevor Knight will miss today's game against Texas Tech with a neck injury. (via ESPN.com)
• Oregon center Hroniss Grasu might miss a couple of games following the Ducks' bye week after suffering a leg injury last Saturday against Utah. (via OregonLive.com)
• Nebraska coach Bo Pelini said earlier this week that he believes he'll have star running back Ameer Abdullah for the team's showdown against Wisconsin today. (via CollegeFootballTalk.com)
Who they're picking
• This is hardly the opportune week for Auburn's struggling defense to deal with the return of Todd Gurley, writes Charles Hollis of AL.com, who believes the Georgia star will help the Bulldogs win a shootout tonight in Athens.
• Pat Forde doesn't understand why so many pundits think Miami will hang with Florida State, as the Yahoo Sports! scribe foresees a big win for the undefeated Seminoles tonight in South Florida.
• Alabama is the best team in the nation according to Phil Steele of ESPN.com, who predicts a Tide squad that is much better at home to win by three scores today over No. 1 Mississippi State.
• The USA Today experts are split on many of this week's big matchups, however all seven panelists have one-loss Arizona State making it six straight wins late tonight against Oregon State.
• While Bruce Feldman and Stewart Mandel concede that Ohio State might be susceptible to a post-Michigan State letdown, both Fox Sports pundits have the Buckeyes topping Minnesota by two touchdowns on the road.
What they're saying
• As the list of one-loss teams continues to shrink, the pressure on teams like Ohio State to win with style is mounting down the stretch, as Bill Livingston of cleveland.com writes:
If the Buckeyes, ranked eighth in the college playoff standings, are to have any chance of cracking the Final Four, they will not only need help but victory margins that are reflective of man's inhumanity to man. That will be true even in the cold and possible snow Saturday at Minnesota.
• Nearly three years after getting booted from the Bulldogs, Auburn's Nick Marshall makes his return to Sanford Stadium in a different uniform playing a different position, as Brandon Marcello of AL.com writes:
Mark Richt saw potential in Nick Marshall. The Georgia coach believed his freshman cornerback was a rising star in the SEC in 2011, and a future in the NFL as a defensive back seemed possible, too. The state of Georgia's record holder for touchdown throws in a high school career (103), however, just didn't have a future as a quarterback with the Bulldogs.
• After still-undefeated Florida State dropped to No. 3 in the latest playoff rankings, Andrea Adelson of ESPN.com writes that the lack of respect for the Seminoles has officially become unprecedented:
The College Football Playoff selection committee is telegraphing its plays, making it abundantly clear that winning all your games is no longer good enough. We figured that in the case of Marshall, unbeaten and still unranked. But when did defending champion Florida State turn into Boise State?
Staff predictions for the Browns-Texans game on Sunday.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Staffers from The Plain Dealer and Northeast Ohio Media Group weigh in on the Browns-Texans game on Sunday at 1 p.m. in FirstEnergy Stadium:
Browns vs. Texans
(Browns favored by 3 points)
Mary Kay Cabot
Record: 6-3
Browns 23, Texans 20
Brian Hoyer reigns supreme in the Brady Backup Bowl.
Dan Labbe
Record: 5-4
Browns 20, Texans 17
The battle of Brady backups goes to Brian Hoyer thanks to an amped-up crowd and a confident defense.
Bill Livingston
Record: 4-5
Browns 23, Texas 17
If any Browns back gets close to 100 yards, they will win.
Dennis Manoloff
Record: 6-3
Browns 24, Texans 20
Brian Hoyer plays better than Ryan Mallett in the (Mike) Lombardi Bowl.
Terry Pluto
Record: 5-4
Browns 20, Texans 17
This game makes me extremely nervous ... how will the Browns handle some success?
Tom Reed
Record: 4-5
Browns 17, Texans 16
Texans might be the best team the Browns have played in weeks.
Bud Shaw
Record: 6-3
Browns 24, Texans 13
Brian Hoyer wins the battle of the Brady backups.
Branson Wright
Record: 7-2
Browns 21, Texans 17
Hoyer comes out on top in the Brady Backups Bowl.
The Ohio State football team will play at Minnesota this afternoon. Kickoff is at noon, and the game will be shown on ABC. Join Northeast Ohio Media Group reporters Doug Lesmerises, Ari Wasserman and Bill Landis for live updates from the press box before and during the game.
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – That should do it.
After a Vonn Bell interception, Barrett hooked up with Evan Spencer on a 22-yard touchdown on a screen pass to put the Buckeyes up 31-14 with 10:08 remaining in the game. That is Barrett's third touchdown of the game, fourth overall.
2:25 p.m. – We're near the end of the fourth quarter and Ohio State leads 24-14, but Minnesota has the ball inside its own 20.
2:02 p.m. – Ohio State is back in control.
Barrett found a wide open Michael Thomas for a 30-yard touchdown pass to extend the Buckeyes' lead to 24-14 with 7:37 remaining in the third quarter.
Minnesota opened the second half with a long drive that was ended by a missed 52-yard field goal.
1:33 p.m. – Ohio State took the lead as time expired in the first half on a 22-yard field goal by freshman kicker Sean Nuernberger.
The Buckeyes lead 17-14 at the half.
1:12: p.m. – Minnesota was probably trying to set up a manageable field goal facing 3rd-and-long late in the first half, so it handed it off to David Cobb.
He had other plans.
Cobb busted through an open hole and ran 30 yards for a touchdown, tying the game at 14 with 1:24 remaining in the first half.
12:45 p.m. – After a J.T. Barrett interception on a deep route was returned for more than 50 yards to set up Minnesota with favorable field position, the Gophers took advantage.
A five-yard touchdown run by David Cobb brings Minnesota back within a score at 14-7 early in the second quarter.
12:34 p.m. – Ohio State is taking control on the road early after Barrett threw a 57-yard touchdown pass to Jalin Marshall. The Buckeyes lead 14-0 with 4:33 remaining in the first quarter.
12:21 p.m. – If Ohio State quarterback J.T. Barrett was cold, he's probably a little warmed up now after an 86-yard touchdown run on Ohio State's second possession.
Barrett's run gave the Buckeyes a 7-0 lead with 10:14 remaining in the first quarter.
12:14 p.m. – Ohio State and Minnesota trade three-and-outs. The Buckeyes will begin their second possession from their own five with 11:31 remaining in the first quarter.
12:03 p.m. – It's game time between Ohio State and Minnesota, and it's the coldest temperature in the history of TCF Bank Stadium.
Minnesota has won the toss and elected to defer until the second half.
Join Northeast Ohio Media Group reporters Doug Lesmerises, Ari Wasserman and Bill Landis along with The Plain Dealer's Bill Livingston for live updates and chat during the game in the comments below.
The Atlanta Hawks versus the Cleveland Cavaliers: Things to look for
CLEVELAND, Ohio – Two hot teams collide, but one must give when the Atlanta Hawks visit Quicken Loans arena to take on the Cleveland Cavaliers tonight.
The Hawks are a physical, gritty team. They're not pretty to watch but they tend to get the job done. These are two totally different teams. Here are some things I'll be focusing on.
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1. Who's streak will come to an end?
The Hawks have won five consecutive games and are fresh off a nice home win of the Miami Heat from last night. Hawks head coach Mike Budenholzer has them playing some inspiring brand of basketball. Cleveland has won three games in a row, including last night's road win over the Celtics. Both teams are finding their stride but something has to give tonight.
2. LeBron has lost a step?
Well, over the last four games James is averaging 31.5 points, 6.2 rebounds and 7.7 assists. Those numbers very much so refute that argument. He apologized a few days ago for not playing above the rim and then he follows it up with a few jaw-dropping dunks. LeBron James is a favorite to secure Eastern Conference Player of the Week honors. Lost a step? Looks like he's gained a step. It will be interesting to see how much production he can supply on the second game of a back-to-back having played 41 minutes last night.
3. Harris shining
The stage hasn't been too big for the rookie Joe Harris. All he does is come in and ignite a spark for the Cavaliers. And he has shown that he's not intimated to take huge, pressurized shot. Plus, he's an above average defensive player. He's the kind of player the San Antonio Spurs are accustomed to producing. A young player experiencing success early does wonder for their confidence. Head coach David Blatt seems to have the utmost trust in him. Teams will be keying in on Harris now. He won't have the benefit of flying under the radar. Hopefully he can continue his stellar play because it's fun and refreshing to watch.
4. Protecting the paint
Read my story from last night. Plain and simple, rim protection must improve.
Probable Starters
Atlanta Hawks (5-3)
F Kyle Korver
F Paul Millsap
C Al Horford
G Thabo Sefolosha
G Jeff Teague
Cleveland Cavaliers (4-3)
F Kevin Love
F LeBron James
C Anderson Varejao
G Shawn Marion
G Kyrie Irving
Get TV and radio info for Ohio State's game against Minnesota.
MINNEAPOLIS — The No. 8 Ohio State Buckeyes play their 2014 road finale on Saturday against No. 25 Minnesota. Kickoff from TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis is scheduled for Noon.
The game will air on ABC, with Dave Pasch, Brian Griese and Tom Luginbill on the call. A full list of Ohio State's radio affiliates can be found here.
The Buckeyes (8-1, 5-0 Big Ten) are coming off their biggest win of the season, a 49-37 win over Michigan State last Saturday, and suddenly find themselves in another matchup with a team in the College Football Playoff top 25.
The Gophers (7-2, 4-1) entered the rankings this week after blowing out Iowa last Saturday. Minnesota is still in the race for the Big Ten West Division title and a berth in the Big Ten championship game.
Cleveland.com will have coverage throughout the day on Saturday as the Buckeyes look for their eighth consecutive win.
Get caught up on everything you need to know about Ohio State vs. Minnesota with Buckeye Breakfast Gameday.
