Quantcast
Channel: Cleveland Sports News
Viewing all 53367 articles
Browse latest View live

Ben Roethlisberger talks publicly for first time since suspension; looking to make "changes, corrections"

0
0

A sexual assault allegation and six-game NFL suspension prompts Steelers QB to say he needs to be smarter about making decisions in his life and that he is working with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell to make the best of his "second chance" in football.

ben-roethlisberger-media.jpgSteelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger talks with the media after a practice today in Pittsburgh.Pittsburgh -- Ben Roethlisberger says he needs to be smarter about making decisions in his life and is working closely with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell to make the best of his "second chance" in football.

The Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback talked publicly Thursday for the first time since drawing a six-game suspension for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy. He did not apologize for his actions in a Georgia nightclub, where a college student accused him of sexually assaulting her. But he said he has spent the last two months rethinking his life and the type of person he wants to be.

"I've put a lot of thought into my life, the decisions that I've made in the past," Roethlisberger said. "I've been sitting at home thinking about things, and I've been working closely with the commissioner on ways to make changes, corrections. I'm looking forward to the second chance and the second opportunity -- not just in football, because I think everybody knows what you're going to get [from me] in football, but in life. I think that's kind of what's more important."

Roethlisberger offered no specifics about his dealings with Goodell, who ordered him to undergo an evaluation before clearing him to take part in the Steelers' final few spring practices, which end June 10.

"[I'm] evaluating what I need to do, and be smarter when it comes to certain things," Roethlisberger said.

Roethlisberger can take part in training camp and preseason games, but cannot practice during his suspension. Goodell has the option of trimming the suspension to four games.

Roethlisberger spoke briefly at the end of a Steelers voluntary practice, then took two questions before a team publicist cut off the news conference. Neither question dealt with the Georgia incident, which led to no criminal charges but shamed the two-time Super Bowl winner and caused a dramatic drop in his popularity with the Steelers' large fan base.

Coach Mike Tomlin says the team is working closely with the two-time Super Bowl winner to help him straighten out his life.

"I've spent a lot of time evaluating and looking at my life both on and off the field," Roethlisberger said. "I think this is a time for me to kind of close the chapter of the last couple of years of my life and move on to a new one, kind of a new start. I'm kind of really excited about it."

Roethlisberger, who was known for frequenting nightclubs with an entourage of friends, did not specify what changes he is making.

"Well, a lot of them are personal things, which is just something that I need to do," Roethlisberger said of his lifestyle changes. "But it's been neat being able to really reevaluate my life and spend time with my family and kind of reevaluate and refigure what's important in life. ... It's a new chapter and I'm looking forward to it and it starts with football and I'm glad to be back out here."


Ohio State Comment of the Day: Thrilled to land Braxton

0
0

"This was a must-get for Jim Tressel and we got him. Great news for the Buckeyes. The 2011 class is off to a great start." - dave

braxton miller.jpgView full sizeBraxton Miller says he will play football for Ohio State.

In response to the story Braxton Miller, top-ranked quarterback recruit, says he will play football for Ohio State, cleveland.com reader dave is thrilled that Ohio State landed another highly-rated quarterback. This reader writes,

This was a must-get for Jim Tressel and we got him. Great news for the Buckeyes. The 2011 class is off to a great start.

To respond to dave's comment, go here.

For more comments of the day, go to blog.cleveland.com/comments-of-the-day.

New recruit Braxton Miller shows off his Ohio State tattoo: Video

0
0

Miller can't take the field for Ohio State until September of 2011, but 15 months ahead of schedule, he already has his OSU tattoo.

Huber Heights Wayne junior quarterback Braxton Miller announced his oral commitment to Ohio State this afternoon, but as his father, Kevin, said, "I think everybody already knew."

Ranked as the No. 1 or No. 2 quarterback recruit in his class, Miller, growing up 65 miles from Columbus, never wavered from the Buckeyes even as Florida made a late push into the mix. Miller had caps from five schools on a table for his announcement, and removed Notre Dame, Georgia and Alabama, leaving Florida and Ohio State. Miller then picked up the white Ohio State cap and placed it on his head.

Miller also could have rolled up his left sleeve and showed off the new Ohio State tattoo that it recently took two hours to put onto his upper arm. As Kevin Miller said, once the tattoo was done, the decision was made.

In this video, Miller shows off the tattoo. His choice won't becoming binding until National Signing Day next February, but ink may be even more serious than a letter of intent.


Indians Comment of the Day: Sizemore hurt, not overrated

0
0

"30-30 is overrated? Get a clue. Let him get healthy and then judge. I respect that dude for the way he plays the game, unlike some other MLB prima donnas." - rickyshade

grady-sizemore.jpgView full sizeGrady Sizemore has spent the last two seasons battling injuries.

In response to the story Cleveland Indians CF Grady Sizemore will undergo surgery Friday, cleveland.com reader rickyshade is tired of hearing people call Sizemore overrated. This reader writes,

30-30 is overrated? Get a clue. Let him get healthy and then judge. I respect that dude for the way he plays the game, unlike some other MLB prima donnas.

To respond to rickyshade's comment, go here.

For more comments of the day, go to blog.cleveland.com/comments-of-the-day.

Perfect game blown call shows baseball is far from perfect - Bill Livingston

0
0

Updated at 3:45 p.m. following Selig's ruling In a remarkable piece of illogic, Baeball Commisioner Bud Selig on Thursday decided imperfection trumps perfection, a wrong beats a right, and an umpire who admitted his error can damn well live with it. The astonishing obtuseness of baseball's leadership keeps the game ever resilient in error. You know, like the Indians'...

Bill Livingston

Updated at 3:45 p.m. following Selig's ruling

In a remarkable piece of illogic, Baeball Commisioner Bud Selig on Thursday decided imperfection trumps perfection, a wrong beats a right, and an umpire who admitted his error can damn well live with it.

The astonishing obtuseness of baseball's leadership keeps the game ever resilient in error. You know, like the Indians' front office with their recent draft picks. Baseball celebrates perfection.

Twenty-seven up, 27 down, a perfect game, is one of the rarest feats in the sport.

Yet it tolerates, indeed also celebrates, the "human element," which in this case includes umpire Jim Joyce, a Mr. Magoo in blue.

By now, everyone knows Joyce, the first base umpire, took Detroit pitcher Armando Galarraga's perfect game against the Indians and, in Joyce's own words, "kicked the (stuff) out of it" with a bad call on what should have been out No. 27 Wednesday night.

The Indians' Jason Donald, with a big boost from Joyce, let the Hole-in-the-Bat Gang avoid being victimized in what should have been the third perfect game of the young season. Then again, immortality is always crouching in the on-deck circle with the Indians' punchless lineup.

Clearly, Selig should have overturned the call, using the nebulous powers he is granted to act "in the best interests of baeball." This gains even more force from the tearful post-game admission by Joyce that he blew the call.

This was not Don Denkinger tipping the 1985 World Series the Kansas City Royals' ways with a missed call at first base with none out in the ninth inning of the sixth game. This was the final out of a perfecto. Game over. Mr. Galaragga, please take your place with the Indians' Len Barker and others at the table reserved for one-(no)-hit wonders.

It is hard to believe a veteran ump could blow such an easy call. Watching the game at a restaurant with a friend near Ohio State after a day at the Memorial Tournament, I thought Donald was out in real time, in replay time, in next-day time, and for all time.

Selig, rather than redress the error on the last play of a gem, perpetuates it. Afraid of "setting a precedent," he refused to overturn the call. What precedent would that be? Balancing the scales of justice, which were as out of whack as the great hitting records during the steroid era?

I have argued that Selig, confronted by the obstructiveness of the Players Union, was relatively powerless to enforce drug testing during the heyday of better slugging through chemistry. Not so with UmpGate.

Of course, I am not a baseball purist. I advocate a dramatic expansion of replay review in the game, too. Just the thought of a one-possession Super Bowl overtime decided on a field goal by the team that won the coin toss led the NFL to change playoff overtime rules in a proactive manner.

Why, oh, why, couldn't baseball at least react to its own approximation of such a public relations debacle?

I'd also make batters get in the box and stay there; put pitchers on a time clock; and allow a limited number of managerial challenges to umpire's calls each game. As for the intentional walk, although something wacky might have happened when Cy Young was issuing one in the 1890s, I say wave the batter to first base already.

The criticism that all this would slow the game down is absurd, due to the creaky pace of many baseball games anyway.

Some argue the spoiled perfecto was simply a rotten break, a fluke. I say it's more important to get it right.

I say Selig's duty was clear -- to move baseball into the 20th century.

I say he booted it worse than Jim Joyce.

Cleveland Browns news and notes and from June 3rd OTAs

0
0

Browns news and notes from the third session of OTAs, including the first offseason look at Jerome Harrison.

Browns beat Raiders, 23-9Running back Jerome Harrison says he's happy to be back with the team and isn't worried about his contract.CLEVELAND -- Observations and notes from the third week of organized team activites:

* Running back Jerome Harrison was on hand for the first time during a session open to the media, and looks like he picked up right where he left off when he rushed for 561 yards in the final three games of the season. He caught plenty of passes out of the backfield from Jake Delhomme. But Harrison, who has yet to sign his tender, is currently playing behind rookie running back Montario Hardesty. None of the other RFAs were present. They are D'Qwell Jackson, Matt Roth, Abe Elam and Lawrence Vickers.

* The defense broke up a lot of passes and also batted a lot down during the 90 minutes open to the media. Eric Wright broke up a deep ball from Delhomme to Chansi Stuckey and defensive back Ramzee Robinson swatted down a Colt McCoy pass. Titus Brown penetrated to bat down a Seneca Wallace pass at the line of scrimmage. Cornerback Brandon McDonald broke up a pass in the end zone from Wallace to Johnathan Haggerty.

* In red zone drills, tight end Evan Moore beat Scott Fujita and Jason Trusnik on a TD catch just inside the goal-line from Delhomme. Rookie receiver Carlton Mitchell also beat fellow rookie Matt Harris on a post-route for a TD catch from Brett Ratliff.

*  The Browns have been rotating starting safeties, and today, the first-teamers were rookie T.J. Ward and Ray Ventrone.

*  The Browns signed receiver James Robinson and and waived receiver Dion Morton. Originally signed by the Dolphins as a free agent out of Butler County Community College in Kansas, Robinson (6-3, 200) spent time on the Dolphins', Browns', and Redskins' practice squads last season.

* Several players were excused from OTAs today, including running back Peyton Hillis and tight end Alex Smith. The injured players are still idle, including Shaun Rogers, Dave Zastudil and Eric Barton. Rookie Cliff Geathers spent time on the bike today.

Tiger Woods PGA Tour '11 ad is released; more upbeat than recent, bizarre Nike ad: Video

0
0

Video: Woods, trying to restore a measure of respect after his sex scandal, and Mike Ditka highlight a cheery ad for the golfer's new video game.

Video: An Electronic Arts ad for Tiger Woods PGA Tour '11.





Electronic Arts has released its ad for the next edition of the Tiger Woods PGA Tour series. The Tiger Woods PGA Tour '11 ad has a team golf theme and tries to capture the team concept with a high school football-type setting.



The commercial features cheerleaders with pom-poms, an F-16s flyover and football legend Mike Ditka's pep talk to Woods' team.



It's all much more upbeat than the bizarre Nike ad which was Woods' first following disclosures of his numerous sexual affairs. In the Nike ad, Woods' late father, Earl, asks his son questions with words spliced from tapes of Earl speaking years ago.








The LeBron-O-Meter: Does what he told Larry King really matter?

0
0

The glow from the Larry King interview is wearing off like the buzz from a sugar doughnut, so the 'Meter is on the move.

Like everyone else in Cleveland, we wonder what LeBron James will do when his contract is up this summer. Will he stay home, or follow the bright lights to Broadway? Until he decides to talk, we have to rely on hunches, instincts and educated guesswork. We'll report our findings, more or less daily, using the                    LeBron-O-Meter.
We've been feeling pretty good the last couple of days on the strength of the now-famous Larry King interview, where LeBron James gives Cleveland "the edge" in competing for his services once he becomes a free agent.

Now the inevitable backlash has set in. There's been no shortage of pundits pointing out that LeBron is less likely to be swayed by emotional ties to Northeast Ohio than by practical realities -- mainly his chances of winning a championship.

It's not a new argument, of course, but it's a potent one, and WKYC's Jim Donovan makes it very well in this video. He says the Cavs will have a hard time unloading several players with high salaries and low playoff success, and LeBron might have to look elsewhere for the supporting cast he needs to win it all.

"I don't know if the Cavaliers roster is going to get him there," Donovan said.

Plus, not a day goes by -- shoot, not an hour goes by -- without some new theorizing on possible player combinations in other cities. Some of the more interesting recent ones include this one concerning the Mavs, and this one suggesting LeBron is like Batman looking for a Robin.

For all these reasons, and because the buzz from the King interview is already wearing off, although it hasn't even aired, the 'Meter is moving today.

Today's meter reading:
 
guessing2.gif

Commissioner Bud Selig will not reverse call that cost Tigers' Armando Gallaraga a perfect game against Indians

0
0

Selig says MLB will look at expanded replay and umpiring, but not the botched call. Umpire Jim Joyce says he made a mistake on what would’ve been the final out.

bud-selig.jpgCommissioner Bud Selig will not reverse the missed call that cost Armando Gallaraga a perfect game.New York - Bud Selig won’t reverse an umpire’s admitted blown call that cost Armando Galarraga a perfect game.

Selig says Major League Baseball will look at expanded replay and umpiring, but not the botched call Wednesday night.

Umpire Jim Joyce says he made a mistake on what would’ve been the final out in Detroit, where the Tigers beat Cleveland 3-0. The umpire personally apologized to Galarraga.

Ohio State's focus on him mattered to QB recruit Braxton Miller: Video

0
0

Miller is this video says he plans on winning a national championship in Columbus.

 


Ohio State put all its eggs in Braxton Miller's basket and it worked. Ever since Terrelle Pryor arrived at Ohio State, the Buckeyes had run into some trouble in their quarterback recruiting, as some big-time recruits saw Pryor at that position and didn't want to sit for a couple years behind an established starter. 
 
With Miller, three years behind Pryor in the quarterback cycle, the Buckeyes found the right timing to focus on the quarterback of the future, and they focused only on him. And that mattered.
 
"Lots of schools will just stack kids and they don't care about who they get," Kevin Miller, Braxton's father, said today. "It was kind of unique that at Ohio State they had only focused on Braxton. A lot of other schools had focused on many kids. That didn't deter us, because you're going to get competition anywhere you go. But it just showed a lot of love. They waited on Braxton and it paid off for them."


It seemed to matter to the player, too, and helped lead Miller to announce his choice now, on the last day of his junior year of high school.
 
"They only offered one quarterback and that was me," Miller said. "I was like, "That’s a blessed opportunity right there.'"


Here's where Miller ranks according to several major recruiting outlets.


 * Rivals: No. 56 player, No. 2 QB
 
 * Scout: No. 4 player, No. 1 QB
 
 * ESPN: No. 16 player, No. 2 QB
 
 * MaxPreps: No. 8 player, No. 1 QB


 In this video, Miller talks more about what the Buckeyes' focus meant to him.


 



Braxton Miller makes verbal commitment to Ohio State

0
0

It looks like Ohio State got a good one. Huber Heights Wayne High School quarterback Braxton Miller, ranked as the number one or two quarterback in the class of 2011, gave an oral commitment to OSU. Doug Lesmerises, reporter for The Cleveland Plain Dealer, writes Miller is a quarterback in the same mold as the Buckeyes' Terrelle Pryor, and he...

braxton miller.jpgBraxton MillerIt looks like Ohio State got a good one.

Huber Heights Wayne High School quarterback Braxton Miller, ranked as the number one or two quarterback in the class of 2011, gave an oral commitment to OSU.

Doug Lesmerises, reporter for The Cleveland Plain Dealer, writes Miller is a quarterback in the same mold as the Buckeyes' Terrelle Pryor, and he is the leading candidate to take over when Pryor's time in Columbus ends.

ESPN's Craig Haubert is also going gaga over Miller, who he calls the most significant pickup at quarterback for the Ohio State in close to a decade.

While signing Terrelle Pryor, the current Buckeyes QB, in 2008 was huge, Pryor was coveted more for his overall freakish athleticism than his pure quarterbacking skills. Miller, who is a fine athlete in his own right and can bring dual-threat skills to the position, is more advanced as a passer and should allow Ohio State to do more in the passing game in the early stages than it could do with Pryor.

 

Area lacrosse teams head to state final four

0
0

Cleveland, Ohio - Five area girls lacrosse teams have advanced to this week's final four. On Friday, Hudson and Medina will play in opposite Division I semifinals at Upper Arlington, and Chagrin Falls and Hathaway Brown are in opposite Division II semifinals at The Wellington School. Brecksville-Broadview Heights will play Friday in a club division semifinal at Thomas Worthington.



Cleveland, Ohio - Five area girls lacrosse teams have advanced to this week's final four.

On Friday, Hudson and Medina will play in opposite Division I semifinals at Upper Arlington, and Chagrin Falls and Hathaway Brown are in opposite Division II semifinals at The Wellington School. Brecksville-Broadview Heights will play Friday in a club division semifinal at Thomas Worthington.

All championship games will be played Saturday at Upper Arlington.

In boys competition, University School plays host to Toledo St. Francis on Thursday night at 5:30 in a Division II semifinal. The title game is Saturday at Dublin Jerome. Earlier in the week, Medina was defeated in a Division I semifinal and Orange lost in a club division semifinal.

Lacrosse is not sanctioned by the Ohio High School Athletic Association and competition is through the Ohio High School Lacrosse Association for boys and Ohio Schoolgirls Lacrosse Association.

Cleveland Browns have found a pass-catching tight end - Terry Pluto blog

0
0

A tight end catching passes? Yes, it's true! Terry Pluto scribbles from the Browns OTAs.

Terry PlutoNot wanting to think about LeBron James or instant replay in baseball, here are some scribbles in my notebook from the Browns OTAs on Thursday.

1. I counted at least three touchdown passes caught by Ben Watson, the Browns new tight end. They were in the red zone drills, but it’s still nice to see a tight end catch the ball. Watson is a free agent from New England, where he was considered a disappointment for failing to live up to the hype of being a first-round pick in 2004. But Watson did catch 29 passes last season, five for touchdowns. He has 20 TD catches in his career, and seems to know how to get open in the end zone.

2. After watching poor Robert Royal (called "Royal Roberts" by former coach Brian Billick in one telecast last season) struggle to catch the ball from the tight end spot, it was nice to see a tight end look comfortable when the ball was thrown his way. Evan Moore also made some very nice catches. Don’t be surprised if the Browns use him as a slot receiver in some situations. A former basketball player at Stanford, the athletic Moore is not a strong blocker — but at 6-foot-6 and with a fluid stride, he can be a good receiver.

3. Brian Schaefering knocked down a Jake Delhomme pass, and the defensive lineman seems to be in the mix for some playing time. Part of the reason is Shaun Rogers is still recovering from ankle surgery. Moore and Schaefering are products of coach Eric Mangini’s extra practice sessions — opportunity periods — after the regular practices. They are open to rookies and free agents. Moore and Schaefering seemed to come out of nowhere at the end of last season to have some productive games. Moore caught 12 passes in the final five games, averaging 13.2 yards per catch.

4. The Browns used Jerome Harrison a lot on screens and short passes. He looked sharp. It’s easy to forget that he tied with Mohammed Massaquoi for the team lead last season with 34 catches. But in his last three monster games (500 yards rushing), he caught only four passes as they stopped using him as a receiver. It seems throwing to the backs might be some of the West Coast element that Mike Holmgren has brought to the offense.

5. Marcus Benard showed some real speed rushing from his outside linebacker spot. Another opportunity period graduate, Benard had 3.5 sacks in the final four games. With restricted free agent Matt Roth not here (Matt, not a smart move), Benard and Jason Trusnik are getting a lot of work at outside linebacker.

6. Linebacker Chris Gocong looks like he can’t wait to put on full pads and hit someone. He is all over the field, very at home in the 3-4 defense.

7. Seneca Wallace and Delhomme both look like solid, experience quarterbacks. You don’t see many poor throws, either in terms of heaving the ball into coverage or missing wide open receivers. Rookie Colt McCoy is not seeing much action as the coaches wisely are working their two main QBs into the new offense.

8. The Browns ran some plays with the ball on their own 1-yard line with Wallace at quarterback. His ability to scramble and turn a quick corner around end makes him very effective in getting the ball away from the shadow of their own goal posts.

P.M. Cleveland Indians links: Should Hafner and Sizemore take the rap?

0
0

Look no further than underperforming Travis Hafner and Grady Sizemore if you're trying to find out why the Indians are struggling.

travis-hafner-2004.jpgTravis Hafner's subterranean numbers get a large share of the blame for the Tribe's current voyage to the center of the earth.

Cleveland, Ohio -- Hang around any Northeast Ohio sports bar long enough during the summertime and you'll hear the question, "What's wrong with the Indians?"


Usually, such an interrogatory (look it up) is good for an entire evening of elbow-bending conversation. So fie on TD, writing for the Waiting For Next Year website, and taking away the need for all that in-sip-id discussion:



If the Travis Hafner and Grady Sizemore we saw during their four-year runs of greatness (Hafner '04-'07, Sizemore '05-'08) played the way they were supposed to, the Indians organization would not be what it is today.


You tell me how thing would have worked out if Grady's 2008 season went in tandem with a Hafner .300/35 HR/120 RBI season? Think they would have been better than 81-81 and contended in a weak AL Central that the White Sox took with 89 wins? If that goes down, no way the Indians trade C.C. Sabathia in early July, Casey Blake in late July, and Paul Byrd in August. They ride it out and hang around in the race.


You can say, "Well, then the Indians wouldn't have Carlos Santana, Michael Brantley and Matt LaPorta." I say maybe they could have played in October again and built off that momentum for 2009. After all, they did think they were a contender during that winter, signing (closer Kerry) Wood and trading for (infielder Mark) DeRosa.


Not to mention, with Brad Grant now running the draft, watching C.C. and Blake leave would have netted them first-round compensatory picks. Grant's first two drafts look promising with Lonnie Chisenhall and Alex White.

We all have kneeds
One of the guys attacked by TD will have surgery tomorrow, and it could cost Grady Sizemore his season, according to Plain Dealer Indians beat writer Paul Hoynes. Associated Press.



Indians center fielder Grady Sizemore will undergo surgery Friday on his left knee. The surgery, which could end Sizemore's season, will be performed by Dr. Richard Steadman in Vail, Colo.


Sizemore bruised his knee sliding into a base in April. He re-injured the knee diving back into first base against Baltimore on May 16 and was placed on the disabled list. Lonnie Soloff, Indians head athletic trainer, said he'll miss at least six to eight weeks.


"I hope and pray that when Steadman goes in it's not so bad and he can do the simplest procedure," said manager Manny Acta, "and have the kid back as soon as possible healthy for his own good. Then he can play for us whenever he's ready."


Soloff said the Indians won't know the extent of Sizemore's injury until Steadman begins the procedure. He said he should have an update on Sizemore's condition by Friday or Saturday.


 

A little perspective
Yeah, Jim Joyce blew the call. Yeah, Armando Galarraga in effect pitched the first 28-out perfect game in Major League Baseball history. But let's think about something: Stipulate that the game was a perfect one. What does that mean?


It means, at least according to bugandcranks.com blogger Andy Smith, that no-hitters and perfect games are becoming almost commonplace:



We have, for all intents and purposes, really just seen the second perfect game in the last five days, and the third this season. Combined with the perfect game Mark Buehrle threw last summer and that's four in one year. Prior to Buehrle's, the last four perfect games were ten years apart (1994-2004). After Halladay's performance on Saturday, Joe Posnanski had an interesting comparing the act of pitching a perfect game to Roger Bannister breaking the four minute mile. In Bannister's case, once he removed the mental barrier that the feat was impossible, countless runners broke the mark, and perhaps now the same thing is happening with perfect games. And that was before Armando Galarraga happened.


I don't know if the Galarraga's near-miss tonight signifies the end of perfect games being something particularly historical and magnificent. A lot of me hopes that this is just a part of a phase or a statistical oddity, both of which baseball as a sport is more than capable of. Still if the perfect game has entered a new era, well, I enjoy this trend more than the single season home run record falling every other year, even if the all the record-setting hitters were clean.


I will also add that if the mystique of the perfect game really did end tonight, then it's very fitting for me as a fan. The knowledge that no-hitters and perfect games were something special was drilled into me in the summer of 1990, when Pirates starter Doug Drabek came within one out of no-hitting the Phillies. The manager of that Pirate team was, of course, Jim Leyland.


Tonight, it's quite possible the aura associated with the no-hitter and perfect game disappeared for me. The Tigers' Armando Galarraga came within one out of tossing a perfect game, and the image I'll take away is Detroit's manager, the same Jim Leyland, springing from the dugout to argue the painful safe call that took it away from his pitcher.


OK, Starting Blocks acknowledges everything Smith wrote, but points out that it raises a question. It's true that we became desensitized to home runs flying out of the park as quickly as women at a bar when Ben Roethlisberger walks in. We later discovered the reason for those long flies had more to do with juiced hitters than juiced baseballs.


So, we have to ask, is it just good pitching or . . .?

From The Plain Dealer
Columnist Bill Livingston notes that baseball Commissioner Bud Selig compounds the error in umpire Jim Joyce's blown call denying Tigers pitcher Armando Galarraga a perfect game Wednesday by refusing to reverse it.


Beat writer Paul Hoynes talked to Jason Donald about the "hit" that spoiled Galarraga's perfect game, and got word from General Manager Mark Shapiro that the Tribe's abysmal record doesn't mean veterans are headed out the door right away.

P.M. Cleveland Browns links: Critics continue to have doubts about the quarterback situation

0
0

Newly-acquired QB Jake Delhomme had success prior to a subpar 2009 season, and newcomer Seneca Wallace has been one of the league's better back-ups. Observers remain skeptical, though. Also: RBs, LBs and DBs; O-line and Ben Watson.

seneca-wallace-jake-delhomme.jpgBrowns quarterback Seneca Wallace (6), with projected starting QB Jake Delhomme in the background.The Cleveland Browns have too many problems to worry about what the national media is saying.

That doesn't stop those observers from their continued cynicism about the team, especially, it seems, about the quarterback situation.

The acquisition of veterans Jake Delhomme and Seneca Wallace, and another shot for Brett Ratliff, doesn't impress the critics. And, those who believe Colt McCoy might some day be an impact player, realize he's merely a rookie on a team that was fortunate to finish 5-11 last season.

Jeffri Chadiha includes in his "Five moves that will work, five that won't" for ESPN.com:

5. The Cleveland Browns' quarterback situation: There's no denying that this will be a difficult transition year in Cleveland. What will make it even harder for Browns fans is having to watch either Jake Delhomme or Seneca Wallace run their team as rookie Colt McCoy learns the ways of the NFL. Delhomme is coming off his worst professional season (eight touchdowns, 18 interceptions), one that finally led the Carolina Panthers to dump him. Wallace is a career backup who made 14 starts during seven previous seasons in Seattle.

And, writes Chadiha:

Our prediction: Delhomme starts the year, Wallace finishes it, head coach Eric Mangini loses his job and McCoy appreciates that none of the blame for this disaster falls on him.

Browns beat

Plain Dealer Browns coverage includes beat writer Mary Kay Cabot's news and notes from today's organized team activities; her report on legendary Browns receiver Paul Warfield's retirement from his team advisory job, and the naming of a new scouting director; Bill Lubinger's story on the Browns' "open house" that will try to spark ticket sales.

On the run

For ClevelandBrowns.com, Matt Florjancic reports on the Browns' organized team activities:

Mangini has also seen a lot of progress out of the running back spot. With Jerome Harrison having such a great end to the 2009 season, expectations may be elevated for him. He also has some company in the backfield with Montario Hardesty.

“He’s looked good,” Mangini said of Harrison. “It’s really hard to evaluate where guys are. You’re looking at it in more terms of assignments. He looks similar to the way he looked with pads on.

“I think it’s a good situation,” he added. “Montario’s had an outstanding camp for a young guy. His level of maturity is really high. That’s going to give him the best chance to not only play, but play a lot. We haven’t done a full evaluation, but I really like what he’s done to this point. Competition’s healthy and it’s good for everyone.”

Fitting in

The Browns acquired veteran linebackers Chris Gocong and Scott Fujita during the offseason. They've made a solid impression on Browns coach Eric Mangini. Writes Fred Greetham for the Orange and Brown Report on Scout.com:

“Chris and Scott are very bright guys and are adjusting very well to the scheme,” Mangini said.

Mangini has long been a proponent of versatility in players and he says both players can play multiple positions in the 3-4.

“It’s great to have guys who can (play inside or outside) because it gives you depth at both positions,” he said. “When you get to the 45 (game day roster), you can carry some guys at other positions.

The 3-4 is pretty flexible and that’s one of the reasons why I like it.”

Move 'em around

Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal has some observations about the Browns, including:

*Don't fill out your depth chart at this point of the season, but here's the first-team offensive line the Browns used Thursday: Joe Thomas (left tackle), Eric Steinbach (left guard), Alex Mack (center), Scott Kooistra (right guard) and John St. Clair (right tackle). Here's Thursday's second-team O-line: Jason Capizzi (LT), Shawn Lauvao (LG), Eric Ghiaciuc (C), Floyd Womack (RG), Tony Pashos (RT).

*After practice, Steinbach told me the different O-line rotations usually are pretty insignificant. Last year, he practiced with the second team during OTAs but started every game during the regular season and didn't miss an offensive snap. "There's a different rotation every day we come out here," Steinbach said. "(The coaching staff does it) for injury reasons. You've got to learn how to play together with different groups, different people to the left and right of you."

Rooks in the mix

Among the Browns notes that Steve Doerschuk writes for the Canton Repository:

Mangini said rookie cornerback Joe Haden “benefits a lot from having Sheldon (Brown) around."

He said rookie safety T.J. Ward “has had a couple of nice days."

Would Mangini consider starting a rookie safety?

In answer to that question, Mangini mentioned a few rookies who started for him with the Jets.

Jake to Ben

Quarterback Jake Delhomme and Ben Watson, offseason Browns' acquisitions, have both played in the Super Bowl - Delhomme once with the Carolina Panthers and Watson twice with the New England Patriots.

Writes Fred Greetham for the Orange and Brown Report on Scout.com:

Watson and Delhomme seemed to be finding a good chemistry thus far in the short time the pair has been together. Delhomme hit Watson on an out pattern for about 20 yards in the 11-on-11 two minute drill, taking the ball to the 15. He then found Watson for a three-yard touchdown pass as he beat Kaluka Maiava.

“It’s really a matter of day to day short-term goals, “ Watson said regarding his chemistry with Delhomme.

 

 


Colt McCoy talks about his first month with the Cleveland Browns - video

0
0

VIDEO: Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback Colt McCoy talks about his first month as a professional. Mary Kay Cabot said the defense had a good day in Berea today. She writes in her notes from OTAs: The defense broke up a lot of passes and also batted a lot down during the 90 minutes open to the media. Eric Wright...

qb colt mccoy pluto.jpgColt McCoyVIDEO: Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback Colt McCoy talks about his first month as a professional.

Mary Kay Cabot said the defense had a good day in Berea today. She writes in her notes from OTAs:

The defense broke up a lot of passes and also batted a lot down during the 90 minutes open to the media. Eric Wright broke up a deep ball from Delhomme to Chansi Stuckey and defensive back Ramzee Robinson swatted down a Colt McCoy pass. Titus Brown penetrated to bat down a Seneca Wallace pass at the line of scrimmage. Cornerback Brandon McDonald broke up a pass in the end zone from Wallace to Johnathan Haggerty.





Indians insider: Selig says imperfect game stands

0
0

Baseball will not change the call that cost Tigers' pitcher Armando Galarraga a perfect game on Wednesday night.

shake.jpgUmpire Jim Joyce accepts Thursday's lineup card from Detroit pitcher Armando Galarraga. A blown call by Joyce Wednesday night cost Galarraga a perfect game. Joyce was the plate umpire Thursday in the Tigers' 12-6 win over the Indians.Detroit -- Commissioner Bud Selig isn't going to mess with history. The botched perfect game will stand.

The only place Armando Galarraga's perfect game will be on display is in his heart. Umpire Jim Joyce, meanwhile, will have to live with the burden of his blown call with two outs in the ninth inning Wednesday night that gave Indians shortstop Jason Donald an infield hit when he was clearly out.

In a statement released during Thursday's game between the Indians and Tigers, Selig said he will examine MLB's umpiring system and the expanded use of instant replay, but made no mention of stepping in and awarding Galarraga a perfect game.

Joyce worked the plate in Thursday's 12-6 Detroit victory. Tigers manager Jim Leyland asked Galarraga to present the lineup card to Joyce and the rest of the umpires to show that there were no hard feelings after the emotions of Wednesday night. Joyce already had apologized to Galarraga after Wednesday's game.

Galarraga agreed and shook hands with Joyce before Thursday's game. There were some boos in the crowd of 28,169, but not many.

"I think I'd be able to hear out there," said Joyce after the game. "I thought it would be very negative. I was waiting for it. I expected it and I was going to accept it.

"I was pleasantly surprised from the feelings of the fans. . . . This is a great city."

vette.jpgDetroit pitcher Armando Galarraga receives a Corvette on Thursday at home plate in Detroit. The car was a gift from Chevrolet after Galarraga lost a perfect game Wednesday night. To further neutralize any ill feelings from the crowd, the Tigers and Chevrolet presented Galarraga with new 2010 cherry red Corvette. They said it was not only for his performance on Wednesday -- he went home with a one-hit 3-0 shutout victory -- but the sportsmanship he showed in not arguing with Joyce before or immediately after the game as many of his teammates did.

"This isn't a day to boo a bad call," said Leyland, before the game. "It's a day to cheer the integrity of the umpire and to feel bad for Armando Galarraga. I feel bad for Armando, but I feel more saddened for the umpire."

MLB gave Joyce the option of taking Thursday off.

"If I didn't show up here, I don't think I could have faced myself," said Joyce.

Manager Manny Acta was not surprised that Selig did not overturn Joyce's safe call that robbed Galarraga of becoming the 21st pitcher in history to throw a perfect game.

"If he had done something like that, he would have opened a whole can of worms," said Acta. "If you change that, then the next thing we'd want him to do is change the play before that one.

"How about that Jim Joyce today? He was great behind the plate. Umpires are just like third-base coaches. You only notice them when they miss one. Not too many people can bounce back from a traumatic moment like that one and call the game he called today.

"He should be on every front page tomorrow and every highlight tonight, but he won't because that won't sell."

Before Wednesday night, Joyce preferred that his 15 minutes of fame would have come from making a great call at home plate during the World Series. It's turned out differently.

"I just hope my 15 minutes are over to tell you the absolute truth," said Joyce.

We don't need no stinking huddle: Asked whether the umpires should have huddled to get the play right Wednesday night, Leyland said: "No huddle. We're talking silly stuff."

Of the game itself, Leyland said: "This game will never be forgotten. This game will be talked about forever even though it didn't turn out exactly perfect."

Call from home: Galarraga talked to his mother and father in Venezuela after the game.

"My dad told me, 'In my heart you threw a perfect game.' " He told me to save the ball and the CD of the game."

Venezuela TV picked up the game from the seventh inning when word spread that he was throwing a perfect game.

"I only slept a couple of hours," Galarraga said. "Reporters from Venezuela were calling me all night."

Replay question: Tigers GM Dave Dombrowski thinks replay should be expanded.

"I've always felt that today's system is fine, a good step," said Dombrowski. "I now will say that we can do something for the next step. There's a very easy reason to tell you why: I don't think an umpire should have to live with that the rest of [his life].

"When I saw Joyce afterward, that's not going away for a long time. When I see Don Denkinger and what's happened to him. . . . I'm not saying that every call should be reviewed, but there has to be some kind of system in place that takes that burden off of him."

No instant replay: Acta does not want instant replay expanded.

"That's my personal opinion," said Acta, a citizen of the United States and the Dominican Republic. "That's why I moved to America the Beautiful so I can have my own.

"I think it's great that we have it for home runs because every new stadium is built like a pinball machine. Other than that, no. I don't want to take human element out of the game."

Minor League Report: Michael Brantley not stealing bases or driving the baseball at Columbus

0
0

Outfielder Brantley, after stealing 46 bases at Columbus last season and batting .313 in a September stint with the Indians, has four stolen bases and six extra-base hits in 34 games at Columbus. The Indians sent Brantley, 23, to the Clippers in April.

michael-brantley.jpgMichael Brantley, lining a two-run single for the Indians in a game last season.FARM REPORT

AAA Columbus Clippers

The Clippers were idle on Thursday

Notes: OF Michael Brantley, who was sent to the Clippers on April 21 after beginning the season 5-for-32 (.156) with the Indians, is 9-for-40 in his last 10 games, dropping his batting average to .288. Brantley has four stolen bases in six attempts in 34 games at Columbus, after stealing 46 bases in 51 tries with the Clippers last season. Brantley ended 2009 with the Indians, batting .313 in 112 at bats. The Indians wanted him to drive the baseball more this season, but he has four doubles, a triple and one home run in 139 at bats with the Clippers, after totaling 21 doubles, two triples and six homers in 457 Columbus at bats last season....LF Jordan Brown, after two stays on the disabled list (knee, back), is batting .328 (21-for-64) with eight doubles, one triple, one homer and 21 RBI. Brown, a left-handed batter who led the International League with a .336 batting average last season, is 11-for-20 (.550) with four doubles, a triple and no strikeouts against lefty pitching....2B Anderson Hernandez, who hit .251 with 15 doubles, four triples and three homers in 366 big-league at bats with the Nationals and Mets last season, is batting .236 with four doubles and a homer in 161 at bats....RH reliever Jess Todd, who pitched 20 2/3 innings with the Indians last season, is pitching better of late, improving his numbers to 2-2 with four saves and a 3.33 ERA in 24 1/3 innings, with 27 strikeouts.

AA Akron Aeros

Tonight: Erie (25-28) at Aeros (23-30), 7:05. Seawolves LHP Duane Below (2-4, 4.58) vs. Aeros LHP Scott Barnes (1-5, 7.45).

Notes: Going into Thursday night's game, 3B Lonnie Chisenhall (.285) was 8-for-16 in his last four games with two home runs and eight RBI. Chisenhall, a touted Indians prospect, has been at DH the last five games, after being sidelined with a sore right shoulder. Until the two homers, he had not homered in 114 at bats this season....After his impressive outing to earn the 5-1 win over Erie, RH starter Alex White is 2-1 with a 1.83 ERA in three starts spanning 19 2/3 innings with the Aeros, striking out 11 while allowing 11 hits and four walks. White, the Indians' first-round draft pick last season, began this season at Kinston and is a combined 4-4 with a 2.54 ERA for Akron and the Advanced A Indians. In 63 2/3 innings, White has fanned 52 and allowed 43 hits and 23 walks. Opponents are batting .190 against him....LH starter Kelvin De La Cruz has had a somewhat unevern start with the Aeros after being promoted from Kinston. With Akron, De La Cruz is 1-3 with a 5.84 ERA, yielding 22 hits and and 16 walks in 24 2/3 innings while striking out 21. At Kinston, he was 2-2 with a 2.91 ERA, fanning 28 and yielding 22 hits and eight walks in 34 innings....LH Scott Barnes (1-5, 7.45) went into Thursday night's start with 39 strikeouts in 38 2/3 innings, but he had given up 42 hits and 23 walks.

Advanced A Kinston Indians

Tonight: Indians (29-24) at Winston-Salem (34-19), 7:00. Indians RHP Marty Popham (0-0, 0.90) vs. Dash LHP Charles Leesman (6-1, 4.89).

Notes: 2B Jason Kipnis, an Indians second-round pick in the 2009 draft, went into Thursday night's game batting .299 with eight doubles, three triples, six homers, 30 RBI and 29 runs. Kipnis, who played the outfield at Arizona State, was 6-for-19 with two doubles, a triple, two homers and eight RBI in his last six games....RF Abner Abreu (.253) was on a 9-game hitting streak, going 11-for-34 (.324) with eight RBI. The 20-year-old Abreu has struggled making contact, striking out 56 times in 158 at bats....RH Marty Popham went into Thursday night's game 0-0 with an 0.90 ERA in two Kinston starts spanning 10 innings. He had struck out 12, walked three and allowed eight hits. He was promoted from Lake County last month after going 3-1 with a 3.71 ERA in 34 innings with the Captains, allowing 36 hits and seven walks while fanning 28.

A Lake County Captains

Captains 12, Snappers 6 1B Jason Smit (.250) was 4-for-5 with a home run, double, six RBI and two runs, and DH Chun Chen (.338) went 5-for-5 with a double, three runs and two RBI to pace a 16-hit attack for the host Captains (36-18). LH reliever Vidal Nuno (1-1, 6.52) earned the win, allowing one run and striking out six in three innings, while yielding two hits and a walk.

Notes: Chen, 21, from Taiwan, also catches and was signed by the Indians as a minor league free agent in 2007. In his last 26 games, Chen is batting .413 (38-for-92) with 12 doubles, three triples, three homers and a .707 slugging percentage....Smit, 20, from Australia, was singed by the Indians in 2007 as a non-drafted free agent. He had just one at bat in April because of a stay on the disabled list, and is 21-for-84 with three homers....LF Bo Greenwell (.316) was 1-for-5 with a double, and is in a mild slump, going 9-for-43 (.209) in his last 10 games....Nuno has struck out 14 batters in 9 2/3 innings....The Captains host Wisconsin on Friday night.

Independent Lake Erie Crushers

Tonight: River City at Crushers (4-7), 7:05. Rascals RHP Tim Woodward (1-0, 2.35) vs. Crushers RHP Josh Roberts (0-0, 2.45).

Notes: Going into Thursday night's game, 3B Andrew Davis was 11-for-39 (.282) with two doubles, three home runs, 11 RBI and eight walks....Catcher Joel Collins and IF Lee Huggins were both 9-for-27 (.333)....Though both pitchers had no decisions in two starts, RH Josh Roberts and a 2.45 ERA in 11 innings, fanning nine while allowing eight hits and a walk, and RH Phil Rummel had a 2.70 ERA in 10 innings, yielding seven hits and six walks and striking out 11.

 

At the Memorial Tournament, Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson headed in opposite directions, Bill Livingston writes

0
0

Because golf can be played for much of a lifetime, players' ability to handle changes over the years can define them. In the matter of Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson -- advantage, Phil.

lefty.jpgPhil MIckelson watches his tee shot on 17 during Thursday's first round of the Memorial Tournament in Dublin, Ohio. Mickelson is tied for fourth, two shots off the lead.Dublin, Ohio -- Golf, famously said to be a good walk spoiled, has been all about the spoilage lately with Tiger Woods.

  livmug.gifPhil Mickelson makes it more about the walk, in terms of the long, flawed, fragile progress everyone makes through the passages of life. The game is all about the long march, with maturation measured in stages, like the growth rings of trees.

Less than two weeks from his 40th birthday, Mickelson has hit his stride.

The Masters champion shot a bogey-free 5-under-par 67, two strokes off the lead at the Memorial Tournament in Thursday's rain-plagued opening round.

It ended as usual for Mickelson, with a big, adoring gallery applauding him on the final green, with Phil putting out between the storms that pelted rain, flashed lightning, and held up play for nearly three hours with two stoppages. Then he signed most of the trinkets and pictures and flags and what-nots that fans thrust at him.

The course was rain-softened and windless. "There were a lot of birdies out there," said Mickelson.

He started play on the 10th tee and attacked the front nine with three straight birdies on the fifth, sixth and seventh holes after the first rain delay.

Woods shot a par 72 and was inconsistent, as might be expected from a player with only nine complete rounds of tournament golf under his belt this year.

His short game kept him from a start that could have reduced his chances dramatically. The key may have been the 10-foot putt for a bogey he made on the sixth hole after getting a bad break with an approach shot that appeared to hit a sprinkler head and trampolined over the green.

He rallied with a 20-foot downhill racer to birdie the ninth and a booming bunker shot to birdie 10.

It was a day when players had to go low or possibly get lost.

tiger.jpgIt was an inconsistent day for Tiger Woods during the first round of the Memorial. Here he reacts after missing a putt on the 14th hole on his way to a par 72 that left him tied for 51st.Woods is the defending champion here and a four-time winner. But everyone knows that he lost his way amid his great success. His stated goals before the Memorial were modest. He wanted to play all four rounds, then take that experience to the U.S. Open in two weeks, and then get to Sunday at the Open with a chance to win.

Mickelson has never won here, but he has loved the Muirfield Village course since first playing it as a junior golfer in 1986. "It would really mean a lot to me to win Jack Nicklaus' tournament," said Mickelson.

Players often pay tribute to the Memorial founder's career in golf, but perhaps his life off the course is part of it now. There was never a whisper of improper behavior in Nicklaus' marriage or family life.

Woods and Mickelson have never become great rivals like Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer or Nicklaus and Tom Watson. But maybe it is not too late.

Once, Mickelson was hailed as the next great player. Then Tiger played the 1997 Masters like Sherman played Georgia.

Woods' focus was obvious from the start -- Nicklaus' record of 18 professional majors won. "It will take a career," he said.

Woods eventually held all four major titles at one time, although not in a calendar year for the Grand Slam. Mickelson became for over a decade The Best Golfer Not to Win a Major. It is a left-handed compliment, perfect for the player known as Lefty.

Until he won the 2003 Masters with a bunny hop of a celebration on the 72nd green, Mickelson was best known for playing the 1999 U.S. Open with a beeper attached to his belt, the better to fly home to San Diego if his extremely pregnant wife, Amy, went into labor.

Woods by then was said to have only history as his rival. But the wise old players, like Nicklaus, said not so fast. There were life changes to be encountered.

They appeared in the death of Woods' father and in the battle with cancer Mickelson's wife and mother are waging at the same time now.

There was injury, as the torque generated by Woods' ferocious swing shredded his left knee, and a wrist injury dogged Mickelson throughout the 2007 season.

There was marriage, then family.

Sports are not a morality play, but so far Mickelson has not marched on to the back pages of the tabloids or into the story line of the television shows that love to see idols tumble off pedestals. Tiger has the worst scorecard going in such matters since Roberto de Vicenzo signed for an incorrect number and eliminated himself from the playoff for the 1968 Masters.

It is an intriguing role reversal. Tiger scrambling around the course, Phil making no bogeys; Phil high on the leader board, Tiger up the muddy track; Phil, leaving the biggest footprint on the game, not Tiger.

Cleveland Indians show their imperfections in loss to Detroit Tigers

0
0

UPDATED, with slide show: David Huff makes it back to the mound after Saturday's line drive to the head at Yankee Stadium, but he and the rest of the Indians don't do much else in a lopsided loss to Detroit.

sipp.jpgIndians catchers have had a lot of practice doing this lately. Lou Marson consoles reliever Tony Sipp after Sipp allowed a three-run homer to Magglio Ordonez on Thursday during Detroit's 12-6 victory over the Indians in Comerica Park. On the current trip, Sipp has allowed a grand slam, two three-run homers and a solo blast.DETROIT -- Less than 24 hours after hosting what should have been the 21st perfect game in Major League Baseball history, Comerica Park was the scene of imperfection upon imperfection.

The Tigers beat the Indians, 12-6, Thursday afternoon despite making four errors. The Indians didn't make an error, but their pitchers allowed six doubles, two triples and two homers. The Tigers had 17 hits, 10 of them for extra bases.

"Obviously, we didn't pitch very well," said manager Manny Acta. "We got hit around. . . . We really, really got pounded out of the bullpen."

huff.jpgAfter getting hit in the head by Alex Rodriguez's line drive in New York, just taking the mound was a small victory for Tribe starter David Huff. Unfortunately, Huff had moxie but didn't have much of a fastball as he allowed five runs in three innings.If there was anything positive to come out of the loss, it was David Huff taking his regular turn in the rotation after getting hit in the left side of the head Saturday at Yankee Stadium by an Alex Rodriguez line drive. Huff showed no ill-effects from the blow, but he didn't pitch well.

The Tigers ripped him for five runs on six hits in three innings.

"I felt fine out there," said Huff. "What happened today had nothing to do with what happened in New York. I just wasn't locating my pitches."

Acta and pitching coach Tim Belcher wanted to see how Huff would react to balls off the bat. He certainly gave them enough to study.

"He looked normal to me," said Acta. "He just didn't have command of his fastball."

Said Huff: "I had no problem with that. They hit a ball back to me [Brandon Inge in the second inning], I grabbed it and threw to first base."

Huff left after hitting Gerald Laird to start the fourth. The Indians were leading, 6-5, at the time thanks to a five-run fourth inning. Three of the runs were unearned because of errors by third baseman Inge and second baseman Carlos Guillen.

What followed was not pretty.

Jensen Lewis came on for two innings of relief. He gave up the tying run on three straight hits in the fifth. Inge's single to left made it 6-6.

Then came Hector Ambriz (0-1) for the sixth. He gave up the go-ahead run on a Magglio Ordonez double, but ended the inning without further damage.

On came Tony Sipp. Before you ask, yes, it happened again.

When Sipp started this trip, he'd thrown 15 1/3 scoreless innings. Now he can't get anybody out, and he can't keep the ball in the park.

Sipp started the seventh by striking out No. 7 hitter Inge. He walked Laird and gave up a single to Adam Everett. He struck out Austin Jackson, who had four straight hits, including three doubles to that point, but it did little good. The ball got past catcher Lou Marson for a wild pitch as Laird scored for an 8-6 lead.

Ryan Raburn drew a walk and Ordonez drove a 1-2 pitch into the left-field seats for a three-run homer to give him five RBI for the day. Just to make sure Sipp got the point, Miguel Cabrera followed with a homer.

Sipp has made three appearances on this trip and allowed 11 runs in one inning. He's allowed four homers: a grand slam, two three-run homers and a solo homer.

"You just can't throw more balls than strikes at this level and get away with it," said Acta. "No disrespect intended, but when you play the Tigers, you should get the bottom of their order out. They're struggling right now.

"He couldn't do that and he brought those big boys to the plate. He got behind in the count and they made him pay."

Tigers starter Rick Porcello, who wasn't sharp, loaded the bases to start the fourth. He hit Russell Branyan, walked Matt LaPorta and gave up a bloop single to Luis Valbuena. Marson sent a bouncer to third that Inge couldn't handle as Branyan and LaPorta scored. Jason Donald followed with a bouncer to second that Guillen made a bad throw on. Donald was safe, and Valbuena scored.

After Trevor Crowe flied out to left, Shin-Soo Choo doubled home Marson to make it 5-5. Donald scored the go-ahead run on Travis Hafner's ground out to second.

The Indians are 2-5 on this 10-game trip.

Viewing all 53367 articles
Browse latest View live




Latest Images