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Tee Higgins, a five-star WR from Tennessee, commits to Clemson over Ohio State, others

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Though Higgins is a top-five receiver prospects, Ohio State is still involved involved with other top-five receivers in the country, including Trevon Grimes, Tyjon Lindsey and Donovan Peoples-Jones.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Five-star wide receiver Tee Higgins of Oak Ridge, Tenn., included Ohio State in his top five last month, but was always considered to be a long shot for the Buckeyes. 

On Monday, Higgins announced his commitment to Clemson -- the team that was considered the favorite -- during a video he created with Bleacher Report. Higgins chose the Tigers over Ohio State, Mississippi, Florida State and Clemson. 

Rated the No. 3 wide receiver in the 2017 recruiting class in the 247Sports composite rankings, the 6-foot-5, 188-pound Higgins has never visited Ohio State, but there were rumblings about him visiting for Urban Meyer's Friday Night Lights camp on July 22. It's unclear whether Higgins will still unofficially visit Ohio State. 

Though Higgins is a top-five receiver prospects, Ohio State is still involved involved with other top-five receivers in the country, including five-stars Donovan Peoples-Jones of Detroit (Mich.) Cass Tech, Trevon Grimes of Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) St. Thomas Aquinas and Tyjon Lindsey of Corona (Calif.) Centennial. Another wide receiver who could end up being in Ohio State's 2017 class is four-star Jaylen Harris of Cleveland Heights. 

Watch Higgins' July 4-themed announcement video below: 


James Hudson, a three-star DE from Toldeo, includes four Big Ten teams in top 10, not Ohio State: Why?

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Hudson didn't include Ohio State in his top 10 that he released on Sunday, but four other Big Ten teams made the cut: Michigan, Michigan State, Penn State and Nebraska.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Maybe there was a chance three-star defensive end James Hudson III of Toledo (Ohio) Central Catholic could have earned an Ohio State offer had he camped in Columbus in June. 

But Hudson opted not to camp in front of Ohio State's coaches and now it seems as if there's very little chance he's going to earn a Buckeyes offer.

That's probably why Hudson didn't include Ohio State in his top 10 that he released on Sunday, but four other Big Ten teams made the cut: Michigan, Michigan State, Penn State and Nebraska.

Also on Hudson's list were Alabama, Kentucky, Miami (Fla.), Tennessee, Pittsburgh and Louisville. 

"First off, I would like to thank God for putting me in the position I am in because without him none of this would be possible," Hudson wrote on his Twitter account. "Also, I would like to thank the coaches who have recruited me and offered me scholarships, but these are the schools my family and I will be focusing on now." 

This is the same situation three-star offensive tackle Joel Honigford of Sugarcreek (Ohio) Garaway faced last week. He was a very good Ohio prospect with roughly 30 scholarship offers, but Ohio State had no room for him in its 2017 class, so it never offered him a scholarship.

Honigford ended up committing to Michigan. The same fate could be in Hudson's future.

Urban Meyer fears he's leaving Ohio 'ripe for the picking'

Rated the No. 11 strongside defensive end in the 2017 class in the 247Sports composite rankings, the 6-foot-5, 280-pound Hudson cut his list down to 10 from more than 20 scholarship offers. 

Ohio State's top-remaining defensive end target in the 2017 class is five-star Chase Young of Hyattsville (Md.) DeMatha Catholic. 

Kevin Durant announces he will sign with the Golden State Warriors

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Kevin Durant announced on Monday that he will play for the Golden State Warriors.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Kevin Durant announced on an essay on The Players' Tribune on Monday that he will sign with the Golden State Warriors.

According to Marc Stein of ESPN, Durant will sign a 2-year contract worth $54.3 million, with a player option for the second season.

Durant had been with the Oklahoma City Thunder since he was drafted by the then-Seattle Supersonics in 2007 with the No. 2 pick. He has averaged 27.8 points per game in his career.

Durant and the Thunder had a 3-1 series lead in the 2016 Western Conference Finals against the Warriors before losing. The Warriors had their own 3-1 lead in the NBA Finals before losing to the Cavaliers.

In 2012, Durant and the Thunder reached the NBA Finals before losing to the Miami Heat in five games.

Cleveland Indians at the halfway point: The good, the bad, the ugly and the bizarre

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It was a first half marked by plenty of good (a 22-6 June), some bad (Bryan Shaw's occasional implosions), some ugly (Yan Gomes' stat lines) and some flat-out bizarre (Chris Gimenez pitched a pair of innings on Sunday). Let's review the best, worst and weirdest from the first half.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Indians are in somewhat unfamiliar territory.

It's early July and they are standing above ground, rather than digging themselves out of a self-created hole.

Terry Francona's bunch has the franchise's best first-half record in nine years. Prior to 2007, the team hadn't racked up 49 or more wins in the first stanza since 1999.

Consider a sampling of some of the Indians' recent first-half records:

2016: 49-32

2015: 38-43

2014: 39-42

2013: 43-38

2007: 49-32

2001: 47-34

1999: 53-28

It was a first half marked by plenty of good (a 22-6 June), some bad (Bryan Shaw's occasional implosions), some ugly (Yan Gomes' stat lines) and some flat-out bizarre (Chris Gimenez pitched a pair of innings on Sunday). Let's review the best, worst and weirdest from the first half.

THE GOOD

The Streak

The Indians established a franchise record with 14 consecutive wins, a two-week run of invincibility that followed the Cavaliers' championship march. The club outscored its opponents, 82-27, during the streak, which began at Progressive Field on June 17 with a Carlos Santana walk-off homer and ended at Rogers Centre in Toronto on July 3. It was the American League's longest win streak since the Oakland A's rattled off 20 in a row in 2002. Will the Indians get a movie, too?

The Arms

There might not be a weak link in Cleveland's rotation. Danny Salazar leads all qualified AL starting pitchers in ERA (2.22). Trevor Bauer (3.02) ranks sixth. Josh Tomlin (3.21) is ninth. Corey Kluber (3.79) is 18th. Carlos Carrasco boasts a 2.56 ERA. That would rank third, but because he missed six weeks with a strained hamstring, he hasn't amassed enough innings to qualify.

Kluber ranks fifth in strikeouts and fourth in WHIP. Salazar leads opponents' OPS (Kluber ranks third and Bauer seventh).

During the Indians' winning streak, the starters compiled a 1.83 ERA, while limiting the opposition to a .174 average.

Indians rotation is best bargain in baseball

The Taming of the Tigers

The Indians are 9-0 against the Tigers, having outscored Detroit by a 60-20 margin. Maybe the Law of Averages does exist after all. In Francona's previous three years at the helm in Cleveland, the Tribe managed a 19-37 record against its division foe.

In all, the Indians went 24-10 against AL Central opponents.

The Rookie

Tyler Naquin hit his way onto the Opening Day roster and he hasn't stopped raking. The rookie outfielder owns a .314/.377/.564 slash line, with six homers, seven doubles and five triples in 139 at-bats.

Behind the scenes of Naquin's Opening Day experience

The Centerpiece

Francisco Lindor has dismissed any notions of a sophomore slump. The shortstop has complemented his usual array of defensive highlights with another banner stretch with the bat. He logged a .300/.356/.450 clip in the first half.

The Cycle

Rajai Davis became the eighth player in team history to hit for the cycle. He did it in reverse; he homered in the first at-bat of the game, and sealed the deal with a ninth-inning single. No Tribe player had accomplished the feat since Aug. 14, 2003, and some might have missed Travis Hafner's cycle since a major power outage struck the Northeast and Midwest that day.

THE BAD

The Setbacks

Michael Brantley's injury recovery timeline has included more ups and downs than a trip to Cedar Point. Initially, he was supposed to return from shoulder surgery in May. Then, it appeared Opening Day was possible. He returned in late April. Then, he had a setback. He was shut down in mid-May. He was supposed to return in early June. Then late June. Then another setback. It's July now. How about later this month? August, perhaps? The Indians don't really know. Brantley has only logged 43 plate appearances.

The Suspensions

As if Brantley's absence hasn't been enough to shake up a ragtag Indians outfield, the league socked Abraham Almonte with an 80-game ban for testing positive for a banned substance. Almonte returned to the active roster on Sunday after he served his suspension.

Marlon Byrd's failed test likely ended his career. The veteran outfielder provided the lineup with a jolt, especially against left-handed pitching. But Byrd packed his bags one night in May and said farewell to his teammates the following afternoon. He received a 162-game suspension.

The Re-Opening Day fiasco

It was deemed too frigid to play at Progressive Field on April 4, so the Indians and Red Sox reconvened at the ballpark a day later. At first pitch, the thermometer flashed a balmy 34 degrees. The Indians announced an attendance of 34,493, but that number -- the amount of tickets sold for the previous day's festivities -- significantly overstated the actual crowd that braved the chilly conditions to watch Cleveland come up short by a 6-2 margin.

The Indians endured three postponements in the first week of the season.

The Abominable Throw-man

Cody Anderson spent the majority of his off-season at the Indians' complex in Goodyear, Arizona. By the time spring training began, few recognized the pitcher, who sported a new physique, long hair and a beard. He also was throwing harder. It didn't translate on the mound, though. Anderson posted a 7.48 ERA, as he surrendered 11 home runs in 43 1/3 innings and lost his grip on a big-league rotation spot.

THE UGLY

The Luckless Lumber

Among 101 AL players with at least 225 plate appearances, Gomes' .182 batting average ranks last. His .216 on-base percentage ranks far behind Corey Dickerson, who ranks second-last, at .264. Gomes has tallied 59 strikeouts and drawn only eight walks.

The Wager

Chris Gimenez hadn't seen his hair since 2002. When his hometown Golden State Warriors fell short against the Cavaliers in the NBA Finals, Gimenez had to shun his shaving supplies. The Tribe catcher made a bet with a hairless clubhouse attendant who doubles as a Cavs diehard. The loser couldn't shave for one month. When Gimenez arrived in the Indians' clubhouse the day after Game 7, his razor was taped to the wall above his locker. Gimenez has occasionally sported an old newsboy cap.

Cavs victory places Gimenez in hairy situation

The Week of Misery

It started on a Monday night in Minnesota in late April. After Gomes knotted the score with an eighth-inning homer, Zach McAllister served up a walk-off shot to Oswaldo Arcia, whom the Twins shipped away two months later. One night later, Napoli belted a game-tying blast to the upper deck at Target Field with two outs in the ninth, only for Cody Allen to yield a walk-off single to Miguel Sano. Allen served up a walk-off homer in extra innings to Phillies veteran Ryan Howard two nights later. Philadelphia eked out two more one-run wins to complete the sweep. In all, the Indians finished the week with five one-run losses in six games.

THE BIZARRE

The Marathon

On Friday, the Indians and Blue Jays played for six hours and 13 minutes before Cleveland emerged victorious. Both teams ran out of relievers, so the Indians turned to Bauer for five frames. The Blue Jays opted for a pair of position players. Somehow, second baseman Ryan Goins escaped harm in the 18th. Fellow infielder Darwin Barney couldn't do the same in the 19th. The Indians set their franchise-record win streak in (stressful) style.

The Disappearing Helmet

Unofficially, Jose Ramirez has lost his helmet 22 times while running the bases this season. On one occasion in Houston in May, he accidentally kicked up the helmet and it struck him in the back as he slid into second base.

Ramirez and the flying helmet trick

The Indians don't mind. Ramirez has been on the basepaths quite a bit this season. He's batting .296 with a .352 on-base percentage.

The Father and the Son

Wherever Ramirez is, Juan Uribe is never far. The two, who refer to each other as father and son, are inseparable. Uribe has struggled at the plate, but he has provided a (typically goofy) veteran presence in the clubhouse, complete with crazy outfits and cigars.

Uribe and Ramirez, like father, like son

The Spot With No Sun

A few days after Gomes absorbed a foul ball to the groin, Uribe took one to the nether regions as well. Uribe -- who said he doesn't wear a cup -- missed four games. When he returned, he slugged a homer in four consecutive contests.

Bullpen shakeup: Cleveland Indians drop Joba Chamberlain, Tom Gorzelanny

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The Indians designated relievers Joba Chamberlain and Tom Gorzelanny for assignment and added Mike Clevinger and TJ House. Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- For two weeks, it seemed as though the Indians had no need for a bullpen at all, let alone one with eight relievers.

A 19-inning game can change quite a bit. The six-hour marathon created a ripple effect that led to a pair of transactions on Monday. The Indians designated relievers Joba Chamberlain and Tom Gorzelanny for assignment and added Mike Clevinger and TJ House.

Chamberlain, sporting a T-shirt and backwards hat, said goodbye to his teammates in the Indians' clubhouse on Monday afternoon, shortly before batting practice.

Prior to Friday's 19-inning affair in Toronto, the Indians' bullpen needed to cover only 21 total innings over the club's previous 13 games. Tribe relievers tossed 13 scoreless innings on Friday (including five from starting pitcher Trevor Bauer). That forced the team to start reliever Zach McAllister for a makeshift bullpen day on Saturday. McAllister lasted only one frame. Shawn Morimando joined the club for the afternoon and made a spot relief appearance.

Corey Kluber lasted only 3 1/3 innings on Sunday, a truncated outing that fueled the decision to have backup catcher Chris Gimenez log the final two frames.

"It's not something you look forward to, obviously," said Tribe manager Terry Francona. "[That's] the fallout or the ramifications when you play a 19-inning game. There's always a possibility that things like that can happen when you don't have pitchers in the bullpen that have options."

Chamberlain posted a 2.25 ERA in 20 innings for the Indians. He walked 11, struck out 18 and limited the opposition to 12 hits and one home run. He walked three in 1 2/3 scoreless innings of Sunday's lopsided loss.

Gorzelanny's stay on the active roster lasted a little more than a month. He totaled three innings in seven appearances. He hadn't allowed a run before he surrendered seven in one-third of an inning on Sunday.

Clevinger and House will pitch out of the bullpen. Clevinger posted an 8.79 ERA in three starts for the Indians earlier this year. At Triple-A Columbus, he went 8-0 with a 2.70 ERA in 13 starts, with 76 strikeouts in 70 innings.

"I think it can be good for him to pitch out of the bullpen for a week," Francona said. "And chances are that he'll go back to Triple-A and start after the All-Star break, because we don't want to lose that depth at starter. But we also think that: One, he can help us in the bullpen, because he's certainly stretched out; and two, he might be a guy down the road that can help us win some games in the bullpen."

House moved to a relief role at Columbus in mid-June. In 8 1/3 innings out of the Clippers' 'pen, he has logged a 2.16 ERA, while limiting opponents to a .634 OPS.

"He was having a tough time as a starter," Francona said. "[He] went to the bullpen, and for whatever reason, things have really kicked up. So, we want to get a look. It's another guy that can give us some length because he's been stretched out."

Starting lineups, Game 82: Cleveland Indians vs. Detroit Tigers

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Can the Indians make it 10 straight wins against the Tigers?

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Here are the lineups and the pitching matchup for Monday's series opener between the Indians and Tigers.

Pitching matchup: RHP Danny Salazar (10-3, 2.22 ERA) vs. RHP Daniel Norris (1-0, 4.09 ERA)

Lineups

Indians

1. CF Rajai Davis

2. 2B Jason Kipnis

3. SS Francisco Lindor

4. 1B Mike Napoli

5. DH Carlos Santana

6. LF Jose Ramirez

7. C Yan Gomes

8. 3B Juan Uribe

9. RF Abraham Almonte

Tigers

1. 2B Ian Kinsler

2. CF Cameron Maybin

3. 1B Miguel Cabrera

4. DH Victor Martinez

5. 3B Nick Castellanos

6. LF Justin Upton

7. RF Stephen Moya

8. C James McCann

9. SS Jose Iglesias

Live updates and chat: Cleveland Indians vs. Detroit Tigers, Game 82

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The Indians and Tigers will begin their three-game series on Monday evening at Progressive Field. Get scoring updates and participate in a live chat as the clubs square off.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Indians and Tigers will begin their three-game series on Monday evening at Progressive Field. Get scoring updates and participate in a live chat as the clubs square off.

Game 82: Indians (49-32) vs. Tigers (44-38)

First pitch: 7:10 p.m.

Broadcast info: SportsTime Ohio, ESPN, WTAM 1100, WMMS 100.7 FM, Indians Radio Network

Pitching matchup: RHP Danny Salazar (10-3, 2.22 ERA) vs. LHP Daniel Norris (1-0, 4.09 ERA)

Fact du jour: The Indians have outscored the Tigers by a 60-20 margin this season.

Cavs reached out to David West, but the veteran forward undecided on playing

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The 13-year veteran opted out of a salary that would have paid him $1.5 million for the 2016-17 campaign to enter free agency.

CLEVELAND, Ohio. - If free agent David West chooses to continue his playing career, the Cleveland Cavaliers are one of many teams interested in acquiring the power forward, league sources informed cleveland.com.

West, 35, is "still weighing all of his options," cleveland.com was told. Retirement is one, following his lone season with the San Antonio Spurs.

The 13-year veteran opted out of a salary that would have paid him $1.5 million for the 2016-17 campaign to enter free agency. Last off-season he did the same, but it was a major financial hit. He declined a $12.6 million player option with the Indiana Pacers and ended up signing with the Spurs for the veteran's minimum of $1.4 million.

There is no timetable on a decision to play or hang it up.

Cleveland has the $3.5 million taxpayer mid-level exception at its disposal.

This off-season Cleveland has lost center Timofey Mozgov to the Los Angeles Lakers and Matthew Dellavedova is headed to the Milwaukee Bucks.

For his career, West has averaged 14.8 points and 6.9 rebounds. He's played for New Orleans, Indiana and San Antonio.


Cleveland Indians outfielder Michael Brantley finally ready to advance to batting practice

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The Indians' brass finally had a chance to meet with Michael Brantley on Monday. Now, the left fielder will ramp up his rehab process.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Indians' brass finally had a chance to meet with Michael Brantley on Monday. Now, the leftfielder will ramp up his rehab process.

Brantley had a lighter day of recovery work on Monday. He'll go through a typical day of pregame work on Tuesday, a significant step forward for the man who has logged only 43 plate appearances this season.

Brantley will take batting practice and play catch, among other activities. It will be his first bout of batting practice since he was on the active roster in early May. Since then, he has suffered a series of setbacks, received multiple injections and second opinions and wondered when he would be healthy enough to contribute to the Indians' lineup.

"He's genuinely excited about where he's at," said Tribe manager Terry Francona. "I'm looking forward to seeing this. I think for a while there, he was cautiously optimistic, which I get. I think right now, he feels pretty good. Just the look on his face, it's good to see him feel like that."

Brantley quipped on Monday that he feels "like a million bucks."

He underwent shoulder surgery in November, returned to the active roster in late April and was placed back on the shelf in May after he suffered shoulder fatigue and soreness. The maladies appeared after he played six times in a seven-day span.

Brantley's recovery in June stalled and doctors discovered biceps tendinitis. He was shut down for nearly a week before his latest comeback attempt. Eventually, he'll need to advance to a minor-league rehab assignment before the Indians would consider activating him.

The day after: Chris Gimenez was a bit concerned that his right arm would be barking when he woke up on Monday morning, but that wasn't the case. Gimenez tossed two innings of relief in Sunday's blowout loss in Toronto, a critical pick-me-up for a bullpen that was running on fumes.

Gimenez retired the Blue Jays in order in his first inning, but he surrendered four runs in his second frame, pushing his career ERA to 12.00 in three innings. Gimenez joked that, after his first inning (the second of his career), he boasted the best ERA and WHIP in league history (0.00). That all crumbled when he served up four hits, including a two-run homer to Justin Smoak.

Another one: The Indians have locked up 25 of their 41 draft selections. On Monday, they signed 11th-round choice Andrew Calica, an outfielder from UC Santa Barbara.

Home cooking: The Indians just completed a pair of 10-game road trips, sandwiched around a six-game homestand. The club went 8-2 in Detroit, Atlanta and Toronto. Francona was relieved to be back.

"I've got clean underwear," he said. "I think it is. Looked clean. Long trip. We started in Detroit and then we went all the way down to Atlanta and then up to Toronto, so it was a long trip. It's nice to be home.

"We have to grind through this week and then they can have a well-deserved rest."

Mike Napoli's fireworks power Cleveland Indians to 5-3 win against Tigers, Cleveland's 10th straight victory vs. Detroit

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The Indians slugger delivered a timely two-run blast in the seventh inning to fuel Cleveland to its 10th consecutive win against Detroit this season, this one by a 5-3 margin. Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The rain had disappeared, much of the fog had vanished and the clock had crept past midnight.

Independence Day was, technically speaking, in the rear view, but Mike Napoli opted to produce one, final firework.

The Indians' slugger delivered a timely, two-run blast in the seventh inning to fuel Cleveland to its 10th consecutive win against Detroit this season, this one by a 5-3 margin. Only the pesky left-field bleachers interrupted the flight of Napoli's majestic shot, which sent the sellout crowd at Progressive Field into a frenzy.

It provided the fans and the Tribe players some relief, too. The Indians stranded a moderately populated village on the bases in the early going. They squandered several opportunities and found themselves tied in the sixth when Nick Castellanos launched a two-run homer to left off Danny Salazar (10-3, 2.36 ERA).

Cleveland plated the game's first run on a Carlos Santana single in the second inning. Jose Ramirez doubled and Santana advanced to third, but Yan Gomes and Juan Uribe struck out and Abraham Almonte grounded out. The Tribe added a run in the third, but Napoli struck out with a runner on third and one out and Ramirez grounded out with men on the corners to end the threat.

In the fifth, Francisco Lindor recorded his second sacrifice fly, but Ramirez and Gomes struck out with the bases loaded as the Tigers again averted disaster.

Castellanos' homer, his 15th of the season, altered the course of Salazar's evening. The right-hander allowed three runs on eight hits in 5 2/3 innings. He retired the first two batters in the sixth before Victor Martinez singled, Castellanos homered and Justin Upton and Stephen Moya walked. Jeff Manship, who ended up earning the win, fanned James McCann to preserve the tie.

Napoli deposited a 96-mph fastball from Bruce Rondon -- located right near the middle of the plate -- halfway up the bleachers. The power display measured 430 feet, per the league's Statcast data. Napoli has now clubbed 17 or more home runs in nine straight seasons.

The Indians' record against the Tigers remained unblemished, as Cleveland has outscored Detroit 65-23 this season. The Tribe had amassed a 19-37 mark against its division foe over the previous three years.

What it means
The Indians (50-32) extended their lead in the American League Central to 6 1/2 games over the Tigers and seven over the Royals. The club also began the 2007 season with a 50-32 mark through its first 82 contests. It has not started better than 50-32 since 1999.

The Indians extended their home winning streak to 12 games.

That has to hurt
Tigers starter Daniel Norris departed in the bottom of the third with a strained right oblique. He is expected to get an MRI on Tuesday morning.

Mother Nature's wrath
A two-hour, 21-minute rain delay pushed back first pitch until 9:31 p.m.

No sweat
Miguel Cabrera singled and Martinez walked against Bryan Shaw to begin the eighth, but the right-hander induced a double play ball off the bat of Castellanos. Jason Kipnis corralled the bouncer and flipped to Lindor, who double-clutched, but still threw out Catellanos in plenty of time.

All aboard
Manship lowered his ERA to 2.22 as he retired all four batters he faced.

They came, they saw
An announced crowd of 34,163 watched the affair. It marked the first non-Opening Day sellout at Progressive Field since July 4, 2014.

What's next
The Indians and Tigers will reconvene at Progressive Field for a 7:10 p.m. affair on Tuesday. Jordan Zimmermann was scheduled to start for Detroit until he landed on the disabled list on Monday. Anibal Sanchez, who is 0-3 with an 8.79 ERA against Cleveland this season, will start in his place. Carlos Carrasco (4-2, 2.56 ERA) will take the hill for the Tribe.

Francisco Lindor went 0-for-1 with walk, two RBI, run on Monday vs. Tigers: DMan's Lindor Log, Week 14 (ongoing)

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Shortstop Francisco Lindor had three quality plate appearances that factored heavily in the Cleveland Indians' 5-3 victory over the Detroit Tigers on July 4 in Cleveland.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Cleveland Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor's MLB arrival in June of last season came with considerable hype. He lived up to it -- and then some.

Lindor had an .835 OPS and 4.6 WAR in 99 games. He finished second to Houston Astros shortstop Carlos Correa in AL Rookie of the Year voting.

What will Lindor do next? Here is a week-by-week recap of his 2016 season:

Week 1: 4 G, 17 PA, 5-for-15 (five singles), four runs, two walks, three strikeouts. 10/17 Quality Plate Appearance (subjective).

Summary: Even though he had no extra-base hits, Lindor swung the bat well overall. He took what the pitchers gave him and totaled three hits against two good lefties (David Price, Chris Sale). Issues were with cutter under hands and splitters. Solid defensively.

Week 2: 6 G, 26 PA, 6-for-25 (three singles, two doubles, homer), four RBI, three runs, two steals, seven strikeouts. 9/26 QPA. One error.

Summary: Not one of Lindor's better six-game stretches. Uncomfortable too often against off-speed, particularly changeups. Seven strikeouts/zero walks was noticeable. OK defensively.

Week 3: 6 G, 27 PA, 9-for-22 (eight singles, double), five walks, RBI, five runs, steal, caught stealing. 16/27 QPA.

Summary: Once again, Lindor took what the pitchers gave him and settled for singles en route to a strong six-game block. Finished with one walk in four straight games. Excelled defensively.

Week 4: 6 G, 27 PA, 5-for-23 (four singles, one double), three walks, three RBI, steal, sacrifice fly. 12/27 QPA. Good defensively.

Summary: Lindor did not swing well. Too eager/anxious numerous times. Missed plenty of pitches to hit.

Week 5: 6 G, 25 PA, 10-for-23 (eight singles, double, homer), walk, hit-by-pitch, three RBI, seven runs, steal. 13/25 QPA.

Summary: Good bounce-back from Week 5. Turned decent pitches into hits. Plus-defense.

Week 6: 6 G, 27 PA, 5-for-26 (five singles), walk, two RBI, three runs, steal. 10/27 QPA.

Summary: Rarely seemed comfortable during rough week, the nadir being 0-for-7 in a 16-inning loss at Houston.

Week 7: 7 G, 35 PA, 14-for-32 (10 singles, three doubles, homer), three walks, five RBI, six runs, two steals. 19/35 QPA.

Summary: Outstanding. One of his best weeks offensively as an MLB player.

Week 8: 6 G, 27 PA, 6-for-24 (four singles, double, homer), two walks, three RBI, five runs, two steals. 10/27 QPA.

Summary: Good for most second-year players, so-so for Lindor.

Week 9/Summary: Closed with excellent series against Royals.

Week 10: 7G, 25 PA, 5-for-23 (three singles, double, homer), four RBI, two runs, two walks. 8/25 QPA.

Summary: Subpar. Lindor appeared tired enough that Tribe manager Terry Francona did not start him Saturday at Angels.

Week 11: 6 G, 25 PA, 7-for-20 (six singles, double), two RBI, two runs, five walks, steal. 13-of-25 QPA.

Summary: Good offensively and defensively.

Week 12: 6 G, 8-for-23 (three homers, three singles, double, triple), four RBI, seven runs, walk, steal.

Summary: Highly productive offensively, good defensively.

Week 13: 7 G, 6-for-30 (five singles, double), three runs, walk, steal.

Summary: Mediocre-to-poor. Swing showed signs of fatigue. Struck out seven times.

Week 14 (ongoing):

Season Game No. 82: July 4 vs. Detroit Tigers (W, 5-3)

First inning vs. LHP Daniel Norris (none on, two outs) -- 92 fastball called strike; 75 curve in dirt; 91 fastball, grounder to first.

Quality plate appearance (subjective): No. Miguel Cabrera fielded two-hopper behind bag.

Third inning vs. RHP Dustin Molleken (runners on second and third, none out) -- 83 breaking pitch foul; 94 fastball called strike; 95 fastball high; 83 breaking pitch in dirt; 93 fastball, sacrifice fly to center.

Quality plate appearance: Yes. Excellent comeback from 0-2 for productive out. Key was laying off the 1-2 breaking pitch. On fly ball, Rajai Davis scored and Kipnis advanced to third.

Fifth inning vs. RHP Alex Wilson (runners on first and third, none out) -- 91 fastball inside; 87 cutter inside; 91 fastball, sacrifice fly to left-center.

Quality plate appearance: Yes.

Seventh inning vs. RHP Bruce Rondon (none on, one out) -- 85 off-speed outside; 97 fastball outside; 96 fastball down and away; 95 fastball inside, walk.

Quality plate appearance: Yes. Scored on homer by Mike Napoli that made it 5-3.

Totals: 0-for-1, walk, two RBI, run. 3/4 QPA.

Hudson, Worthington Kilbourne football: Meet two cleveland.com Ohio Top 25 contenders (poll)

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Cleveland.com’s high school football coverage is expanding in 2016, and a centerpiece of that expansion will be a weekly statewide Top 25 ranking. Here's a look at Hudson and Worthington Kilbourne.

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Cleveland.com’s high school football coverage is expanding in 2016, and a highlight of that expansion will be a weekly statewide Top 25 ranking.

The preseason Top 25 countdown will begin Aug. 1, with a new team profiled each day through Aug. 25. To get you ready, we’re presenting 50 contenders for the Top 25 throughout July. Each day through July 29 we will provide a brief look at two of the 50 contenders. Today’s teams: Hudson and Worthington Kilbourne.


Hudson




2015 record: 11-3 (Division II state semifinalist)


About the Explorers: 2016 will feel a bit different for Hudson after coach Ron Wright took the year off for personal reasons. Defensive coordinator Jeff Gough will lead Hudson this season after reaching their second straight state semifinal. 13 starters return including versatile RB/WR Matt Restifo, QB Jackson Parker and TE and Miami (OH) commit Adam Mehelic on offense. Five members of Hudson's front seven on defense are back including LB Joe Sweet.


Worthington Kilbourne




2015 record: 11-2 (Division II, Region 5 runner-up)


About the Wolves: Seven starters return on both sides of the ball for Kilbourne including three three-year starters on the offensive line. Leading the way is senior OT and Pittsburgh commit Carson Van Lynn. On defense, seven starters return as well including LB Jack Trombetti, CB Nick Hill and LB Thomas Wilson, who was a special mention All-Ohio as a punter. The Wolves had a lot of success in close games in 2015, winning seven games by a possession or less, including two overtime games.

Cleveland Indians' dominance of Miguel Cabrera's Detroit Tigers continues: DMan's Report, Game 82 (photos)

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Mike Napoli hit a majestic two-run homer in the seventh inning to break a tie as the Cleveland Indians toppled the Detroit Tigers, 5-3, Monday night in Cleveland. The Tribe is 10-0 against the Tigers this season.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Mike Napoli went 2-for-3 with a two-run homer in the seventh inning as the Cleveland Indians defeated the Detroit Tigers, 5-3, Monday night at Progressive Field. The Tribe won its 12th consecutive home game and improved to a tidy 10-0 against the Tigers this season.

Here is a capsule look at the key aspect(s) of the game, which was televised by Fox Sports Time Ohio:

Nick Camino Scoreboard Watch: The Indians (50-32) increased their lead in the AL Central to 6.5 games over Detroit (44-39). The Tigers had won six in a row.

Defending world champion Kansas City (43-39) slipped to 7.0 back after a 6-2 loss in Toronto. 

Back on track: The Tribe had dropped two straight after a franchise-record 14-game winning streak.

Quite comfortable: The Indians' home winning streak is longest in the majors this season. Overall, they are 24-12 at home.

Shock value: The Tribe has outscored the Tigers, 65-23, this season. In three previous series, all three games, the counts were 18-5 (April 22-24 in Detroit), 20-7 (May 3-5 in Cleveland) and 22-8 (June 24-26 in Detroit).

Even the most ardent of Tribe supporters could not have envisioned their team clinching the 19-game season series on July 4. The Tigers are talented, as evidenced by their 44-29 record against opponents not from Cleveland.

Anyone who claims to have known the Tigers would lead for one-half inning total in the first 10 games is, to put it bluntly, lying.          

Party at Napoli's: Napoli is batting .237 with a .308 on-base percentage but has compensated by slugging .464. He has hit 14 doubles, one triple and 17 homers, with 55 RBI and 48 runs in 76 games.

In a combined 133 games with Boston and Texas last season, Napoli hit 18 homers, drove in 50 runs and scored 46.

Appetizer: First baseman Napoli led off the second inning with a double to left-center against lefty Daniel Norris. Napoli, refusing to spot Norris anything, pounced on a first-pitch fastball (91 mph).

Carlos Santana muscled an 0-1 fastball (92) to center for a single. Detroit's Cameron Maybin was too casual approaching the ball and compounded with a bobble, ensuring that Napoli scored easily.

(The Indians made it 2-0 in the third on Francisco Lindor's sacrifice fly. The Indians led, 2-0, after three innings, meaning they have outscored the Tigers, 25-1, in the first three innings this season.)

Main course: With one out and the score tied, 3-3, in the eighth, Lindor drew a four-pitch walk against hard-throwing righty reliever Bruce Rondon. Credit Lindor for not trying to be the hero and chasing pitches out of the zone, especially with Napoli on deck.

Napoli's eyes lit up at a first-pitch fastball over the plate, but it was just hard enough (95) and up enough (belt) that he was unable to square it and fouled. Rondon came back with a fastball (96) on the inner half above the knees, and Napoli had no choice but to park it halfway up the left-field bleachers.

If a pitcher is going to challenge Napoli with heaters, the pitcher is advised to put them belt or above. Rondon's second one veered onto Napoli's power-swing plane. It is possible that Lindor's speed forced Rondon into hurrying his delivery a tad, which, in turn, affected his command. Catcher James McCann's target was on the outer half.

Kip, Kip, hooray: Indians second baseman Jason Kipnis went 2-for-4 with one enormous defensive play.

Both of the hits helped the Indians score a run. A double in the third pushed Rajai Davis to third with none out. Davis, who had walked, trotted home on Lndor's sacrifice fly. A single in the fifth pushed Davis to third with none out. Davis, who had singled, trotted home on Lindor's sacrifice fly.

Kipnis might have saved the game for the Tribe in the top of the eighth. Miguel Cabrera led off with a single against Bryan Shaw and moved to second on Victor Martinez's walk.

Nick Castellanos, who had doubled and homered, sent a low liner to the left of Shaw. The ball struck the infield grass and shot toward the outfield, but Kipnis, who was pinching up the middle, smoothly reached to grab it with the backhand. Kipnis flipped to shortstop Lindor, who turned the double play.

The more I watched Kipnis' work on replay, the better it got. He made a very difficult chance seem routine.

Shaw retired Justin Upton on a fly to right to preserve Cleveland's 5-3 lead.

Serviceable: Tribe righty Danny Salazar allowed three runs on eight hits in 5 2/3 innings. He walked one and struck out six in a no-decision.

Here is the outcome of each plate appearance against Salazar:

1st inning

Ian Kinsler -- called strikeout (0-2 fastball/94 mph).

Skinny: Comeback to outside corner.

Cameron Maybin -- called strikeout (2-2 changeup/87).

Skinny: Outer half.

Miguel Cabrera -- grounder to second (0-0 fastball/96).

Skinny: Kipnis positioned up the middle.

2nd inning

(L) Victor Martinez -- foul pop to catcher (3-1 fastball/95).

Skinny: Above belt.

Nick Castellanos -- double into left-field corner (0-2 changeup/86).

Skinny: Pitch was supposed to be down and away; it went inside edge above the knees.

Justin Upton -- grounder to third (0-1 fastball/94).

Skinny: Chopper off plate. Napoli handled low throw.

(L) Steven Moya -- grounder to first (2-0 fastball/95).

Skinny: Velocity and location enabled Salazar to get away with missed target. Catcher Yan Gomes set up on outside edge; pitch was down and in, tying up Moya.

3rd inning

James McCann -- single to right (2-1 fastball/94).

Skinny: Pitch had too much plate.

Jose Iglesias -- GIDP 6-3 (3-2 fastball/94).

Skinny: Salazar was behind, 3-0. Iglesias hit elevated pitch hard to shortstop side of second; Lindor, positioned up the middle, barely moved in order to field it.

Ian Kinsler -- grounder to short (0-2 fastball/96).

Skinny: Salazar got away with an 0-2 pitch over the plate. Kinsler hit it hard; Lindor backhanded.

4th inning

Cameron Maybin -- single to center (0-1 slider/84).

Skinny: Chopper over mound.

Miguel Cabrera -- single to third (2-1 fastball/94).

Skinny: Should have been ruled an error; Juan Uribe, moving toward the hole, crumpled and mishandled the ball. Maybin to second.

(L) Victor Martinez -- called strikeout (1-2 changeup).

Skinny: Tickled outer edge.

Nick Castellanos -- swinging strikeout (2-2 changeup/86).

Skinny: A 1-2 fastball away set up changeup down and away.

Justin Upton -- swinging strikeout (1-2 fastball/95).

Skinny: Previous pitch was fastball too high to get Upton to bite. Strikeout pitch was over plate but above belt.

5th inning

(L) Steven Moya -- homer to right (2-2 changeup).

Skinny: Hanger on inside edge. Pitch was supposed to be down and away.

James McCann -- swinging strikeout (1-2 changeup/86).

Jose Iglesias -- fly to left (1-2 changeup/87).

Skinny: Shin-high.

Ian Kinsler -- liner to third (1-2 changeup/87).

Skinny: Uribe, moving toward the line, made quality catch inches off dirt.

6th inning

Cameron Maybin -- fly to center (1-1 curve/79).

Miguel Cabrera -- fly to left (2-0 fastball/93).

Skinny: Jose Ramirez made catch in front of wall. Pitch location -- inside edge at thighs -- saved Salazar.

(L) Victor Martinez -- single to right (2-0 fastball/94).

Skinny: Too much plate.

Nick Castellanos -- two-run homer to left (1-1 changeup/83).

Skinny: Castellanos crushed a hanger.

Justin Upton -- walk (3-1 fastball/95).

(Tribe pitching coach Mickey Callaway visits mound.)

(L) Steven Moya -- single up middle (2-2 fastball/94).

Skinny: Plenty of swinging room. A pitcher with Salazar's stuff should have been able to put away Moya after count went 1-2.

(Jeff Manship relieves Salazar.)

'Lords of the Ring': 8 great boxing movies at CMA

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The Cleveland Museum of Art will keep boxing fans happy with "Lords of the Ring: Boxing Films before 'Rocky' and 'Raging Bull," an eight-film series of boxing movies made between 1931 and 1972.

'It's a good time to be in Cleveland right now': With Indians surging, the 'Party At Napoli's' carries on

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After his decisive home run on Monday, despite the game stretching into the wee hours of the morning, there was no doubt about the location of the after-party. "It's at Napoli's for sure," said the gracious host. Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Indians were in the thick of a homestand when the Cavaliers clinched the city's first major professional championship in 52 years.

Mike Napoli noticed the uptick in positive energy throughout the city, especially the day of the Cavs' parade. The Indians (50-32) followed the Cavs' lead and rattled off 14 consecutive victories to establish a new franchise record. They dropped their final two encounters with the Blue Jays over the weekend, but they returned home on Monday and continued their domination of Detroit.

"It's a good time to be in Cleveland right now," Napoli said, after the Tribe's 5-3 triumph.

The fans have bought in to the Indians' recent surge. They packed Progressive Field to capacity on Monday. The club expects similarly sizable crowds later this week when the Yankees march into town.

"It seems like we've been on the road the whole month," Napoli said. "Two 10-day trips -- we have some guys who are tired and grinding until we get to this All-Star break. [Monday] was awesome with the fans, to have them -- it gave us a little more energy, adrenaline to get through this."

Here are five thoughts on the Tribe.

1. Where's the party? Napoli's teammates have frequently sported "Party At Napoli's" T-shirts before games the last few weeks, as the phrase has gained popularity throughout the Indians' clubhouse. The team is selling the shirts at the ballpark team shop, with a portion of the proceeds going toward Cleveland Clinic Children's.

"I enjoy it because I'm able to give back," Napoli said.

After his decisive home run on Monday, despite the game stretching into the wee hours of the morning, there was no doubt about the location of the after-party.

"It's at Napoli's for sure," said the gracious host.

Napoli's fireworks power Tribe past Tigers

2. Power display: Napoli belted his 17th home run. He has clubbed at least that many in each of the last nine seasons. He can strike at any time, and the Indians have benefitted from the middle-of-the-order pop in grand fashion this season.

"That's why he's here," said Tribe manager Terry Francona. "We certainly try not to run into out because we like to get to him and let him take three good swings."

Napoli and Carlos Santana are on pace to become the first Indians teammates to each sock 30 or more home runs since 2002, when Jim Thome and Ellis Burks accomplished the feat.

3. Baserunning 101: The Indians' mastery of the basepaths has contributed to the offense's ability to function above expectations. The club provided a textbook example of that in the fifth inning. Rajai Davis singled to open the frame. He was running with the pitch when Jason Kipnis blooped a single to left field. Davis never hesitated and he proceeded to third base. Francisco Lindor then brought him home on a sacrifice fly. Had Davis not advanced from first to third on Kipnis' knock, Lindor's fly out would have been for naught.

The Indians entered Monday's action with the top-ranked "extra bases taken" percentage in the league, per Baseball Reference. They also ranked third in stolen bases and second in stolen-base percentage.

4. Farewell: The Indians didn't enjoy designating Joba Chamberlain for assignment on Monday, but he became collateral damage after Friday's 19-inning marathon and Corey Kluber's truncated outing on Sunday. If Kluber lasted six frames instead of 3 1/3, does Chamberlain survive on the roster?

Indians drop Chamberlain, Gorzelanny

For weeks, the Indians could have gotten by with a three-man bullpen, let alone an eight-man crew. Then, over the weekend at Rogers Centre, they seemingly needed a 12-man bullpen to cope with the extra innings and powerful Blue Jays bats.

5. One-sided: Cleveland went 12-0 against Detroit in 1996. That's the last time the Indians racked up 10 straight wins against the Tigers in a single season. The Indians have outscored the Tigers by a 65-23 margin this season.


Does Durant signing make it much tougher for the Cavaliers to repeat? -- Bud Shaw's You Said It

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Cleveland sports fans wonder about Kevin Durant joining the Golden State Warriors and whether the Indians can follow the Cavaliers blueprint to a title -- Bud Shaw's You Said It

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- You Said It is based on the premise that the only thing Cleveland sports fans need more than another championship is a sense of humor...

YOU SAID IT

Bud: Will LeBron leave? Makes no sense to stay here, since he can't win here now - Jay Shulman

So you think Timofey Mozgov will be that hard to replace?

Bud: With The Tribe mirroring the Cavs playoff run, how many games up do they have to be before Francona gets replaced? -- Mark A, Bainbridge Township

I'm not saying Tito's stay here is entirely his call. Just that his job security makes Dick Goddard look like a temp.

Bud: Mozgov's contract is ludicrous for his lack of talent. Even worse than Upton's, hitting .227 for the Tigers . For the Cavs it's addition by subtraction. I am all for free enterprise but until the fans start using their heads you are right, insanity will continue.  Can you imagine what the Big O and (Bill) Russell would be making now!!!! Or Aaron, Mays or Mantle?? -- Jeff

No. I'm a step slow.  That's for next week. This week I'm still trying to imagine what Ricky Davis and Darius Miles would be making.

Bud: I see Connor Shaw was waived and awarded to the Bears. Is that how you ended up in Cleveland? - Steve Bishop

No. I believe more than one team was interested in Connor Shaw.

Bud: I have noticed an increase in sarcasm when you are responding to your YSI contributors. Is this because you are getting tired of half-witted submissions or are you just jealous of the awe-inspiring prose that fills your mail box these days? - Big Al, Aurora

Definitely the latter. I mean, if yours is a typical contribution, what else could it possibly be?

Bud: The Lakers giving 65 million to Mozgov?! Jack Nicholson's reaction must have been the same as he had at the end of "The Shining!" -- Randy Verner, Chagrin Falls

Please. Let's not exaggerate. It was 64 million.

Bud: Is "The Donald" equal to "The Drive, The Shot" and "The Fumble" in Cleveland lore? - Tom Hoffner, Broadview Heights

No comment. Michael Symon can afford to lose a few customers. If I lose a couple YSI readers, I'm down to single digits. In a good week.

Bud: When did the NFL get the power over Beer Pong to suspend Manziel for four games? -- Michael Sarro 

You Said It winners have lots of free time on their hands.

Cleveland Cavaliers have me talking to myself about impact of Kevin Durant going to Warriors -- Terry Pluto (photos)

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The Cleveland Cavaliers are still the defending champs. They still have LeBron James. They still are in the Eastern Conference. They still can beat the Golden State Warriors.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Talking to myself about Kevin Durant joining the Golden State Warriors:

Question: Now that Kevin Durant signed with Golden State, will it be one-and-done when it comes to the Cavaliers and winning NBA titles?

Answer: Before Durant jumped from the Oklahoma City Thunder to Golden State, Las Vegas made the Warriors a 3-2 favorite to win the 2017 title. The Cavs were 5-2. Now, Golden State is still the favorite, the odds down to 2-3. The Cavs remain at 5-2.

Q: Meaning what?

A: Meaning the Cavs are still the best team in the Eastern Conference. Meaning the Cavs still have LeBron James, who has led his teams to the NBA Finals in each of the last six years. Meaning that the Cavs have another year together, which should help them grow as a team. It was great to see how Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love both matured. Sometimes, staying the course with key players can really pay off.

Q: Why not admit the obvious?

A: Which is?

Q: Golden State is now a super team. And quit being such a homer about the Cavs.

A: Those are two statements, not questions. Yes, Golden State is terrific. The Warriors are a remarkably skilled team. They averaged 114.9 points last season, the most of any team since 1992. They could be close to 120 points in 2016-17. Or maybe not.

Q: Maybe not ... what?

A: Most people don't respect the NBA. When LeBron James came to the Cavs, and they added Kevin Love. Immediately, there were predictions of the Cavs winning 70 games. It was ridiculous. I picked them to win 57. They won 53.

Q: But the Warriors won 73 games last year without Durant, right?

A: They won't win 70 this season. And the Cavs will win 60 games. That's my early prediction. But as the 2016 Finals proved, regular season records mean very little other than home court in the playoffs -- and having James can negate that advantage.

Q: You're just blinded by the Larry O'Brien trophy being in Cleveland. Why can't you admit the Cavs are in trouble?

A: If I'm the Cavs, I'm thinking this: "I have LeBron. I'm in the Eastern Conference. I have Kyrie maturing as a player. I have Love. I have Love and Kyrie. They proved they can carry a lot of the scoring in the Eastern Conference playoffs, helping LeBron to be rested and ready for The Finals. I have a team ready to go back to The Finals."

Q: Right, go back and lose to the Warriors, a team that absolutely makes Love wilt.

A: Because he's a bad matchup with the Warriors, the Cavs should dump Love right now? Who needs a guy who averaged 17.8 points and 10.2 rebounds in the first three rounds of the playoffs against Toronto, Atlanta and Detroit. Or a guy who averaged 16 points and 9.9 rebounds in the regular season. No sweat, you can find any power forward to do that.

Q: I'm just saying he's a bad matchup against Golden State.

A: I'm just saying if you become fixated on beating one team deep in the playoffs, it can lead to some really stupid moves. In 2009, the Cavs were 66-16. They were upset in the Eastern Conference Finals by Orlando. They had a hard time with Dwight Howard.

Q: So what's the history lesson about?

A: After losing to Orlando, the Cavs changed their roster. They brought in an ancient Shaquille O'Neal, who played only 53 of 82 games. His stats weren't bad: 12 points, 6.8 rebounds. But the chemistry of the year before was gone. The Cavs lost to Boston in the second round.

Q: You can't possibly be comparing Durant to Shaq and the Cavs?

A: Of course not. I'm saying how the Cavs should not feel compelled to make a dramatic move to counter Durant. No repeat of a 133-year-old Shaq, OK? They are the defending champions. They have a promising young coach in Tyronn Lue who will have a training camp to train his team how he wants them to play -- rather than trying to do it at midseason.

Q: So you don't want to bring in anyone?

A: That's dumb, too. I mentioned signing David West in a column, then Chris Haynes of cleveland.com reported the Cavs have reached out to the veteran big man. Supposedly, West is thinking about retiring. Let's hope James calls from his family yachting trip with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh and does some recruiting with West.

Q: What else?

A: Supposedly the Spurs need to trade Boris Diaw to create salary cap room to sign Pau Gasol. I love Diaw's unselfish game. He's 6-foot-8, 250 pounds and can get heavy. His contract is $6.5 million ($3 million guaranteed) for this season. In 2017-18, it's $7 million (non-guaranteed).

Q: How can the Cavs get him on their salary cap?

A: The Cavs have a $9 million trade exception. They can send the Spurs some future second round pick and drop Diaw into the exception. I'd love to see the Cavs add either West or Diaw. I hope they can bring Richard Jefferson back. Or they can hang on to the $9 million exception for a midseason deal, as they have done the last two years.

Q: What do you think of Durant's move?

A: I'm a small market guy. OKC did nothing but love Durant and built a good team around him. He had a lot of teams courting him, but signed with the team that booted OKC out of the playoffs. In fact, it was his OKC team that blew the 3-1 lead in the Western Conference Finals. In Game 6 at home, the Thunder led by seven points with six minutes left -- and lost 108-101.

Q: Hey, if you can't beat 'em, why not join them?

A: I guess that's Durant's approach. His OKC team lost 14 regular games last season where it entered the fourth quarter with a lead. That's shocking for a team with two stars such as Durant and Russell Westbrook. Perhaps Durant figured it wasn't going to work with Westbrook. Or maybe he just wanted to start fresh.

Q: Didn't James do the same thing, going to Miami in 2010?

A: The Heat were not in the NBA Finals in 2010. The Heat were 47-35 and lost in the first round of the playoffs. Wade recruited James and Bosh to form a Big Three. But they were much farther away from a title than the Warriors are now as Durant comes aboard. And it certainly can't compare with James coming home in 2014 -- now that was a real challenge.

Q: You're just a homer and you're mad Durant makes it harder for the Cavs?

A: Maybe ... a little bit. But I'll take my shot with James and this group in a seven-game series against anyone, including Golden State.

UFC 200: Alistair Overeem's take on Lesnar-Hunt may surprise you

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Alistair Overeem has fought both Brock Lesnar and Mark Hunt, who will go against each other in the co-main event at UFC 200 on Saturday. Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Alistair Overeem may be preparing to take on Stipe Miocic for the UFC Heavyweight Championship at UFC 203 in Cleveland. But the former Strikeforce and K-1 champion has a unique perspective on one of UFC 200's most anticipated fights.

Overeem has fought both Brock Lesnar and Mark Hunt, who will go against each other in the co-main event this Saturday night. Overeem fought Hunt way back in 2008 and essentially retired Lesnar with devastating body blows at UFC 141.

Yet, you might be surprised by Overeem's take when it comes to the Lesnar-Hunt showdown.

Terry Pluto talks Indians, Cavaliers and Kevin Durant: Podcast

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Terry Pluto talked all things Cleveland sports in his weekly podcast.

Terry Pluto Podcast: July 5, 2016

We're on iTunes. Subscribe to the cleveland.com Sports podcasts channel here (or search cleveland.com Sports podcasts).

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Are the Indians primed to make a deal before the trade deadline? Is there anything to the Dwyane Wade to the Cavs buzz?

Plain Dealer sports columnist Terry Pluto answered those questions and more in his weekly podcast. Among other topics discussed:

The Indians 14-game winning streak and being in first place.

The play of Jose Ramirez, Lonnie Chisenhall and more.

Kevin Durant signing with the Warriors.

You can download the mp3 or listen with the player to the right.

Be sure to also like Terry Pluto on Facebook and follow him on Twitter.

Started at the bottom: Sellout crowd lifts Cleveland Indians out of last place in attendance rankings

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Monday's sellout crowd lifted the Tribe from the attendance cellar. The club blazed past Tampa Bay into 29th in the league in average home crowd size.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Indians are on the move.

Monday's sellout crowd lifted the Tribe from the attendance cellar. The club blazed past Tampa Bay into 29th in the league in average home crowd size.

The Indians drew 34,163 to Progressive Field for its July 4/July 5 -- the game ended shortly before 1 a.m. -- series opener against Detroit. It marked the first non-Opening Day sellout at the ballpark since July 4, 2014.

"We really appreciate that," said pitcher Danny Salazar. "It's great every time we have a crowd like that."

Progressive Field capacity is closer to 35,225, but an announced crowd reflects the number of tickets sold and does not include ticket comps. The Indians are expecting similarly sizable gatherings on Friday and Saturday, when the Yankees venture to Cleveland.

With that in mind, the team released a batch of standing room only tickets for those two contests for $19 apiece. They can be purchased online on the team's website.

The Indians are averaging 17,142 fans per home game, about 2,000 fewer than 28th-ranked Oakland. For their most recent weekend series in Cleveland, the Indians drew more than 84,000 to the ballpark over three games against Chicago.

Tribe rolls vs. Tigers before sellout crowd

Red flag: Monday's game ended with an instant replay challenge, which resulted in an overturned call and a double play. As the Indians disputed the ruling at first base, Trevor Bauer tossed a red flag onto the field from the dugout.

Feeling better: An adhesive strip held together Juan Uribe's right index finger and fingernail on Monday. Uribe took a pitch to the area on Saturday and it bent his fingernail backward. He missed Sunday's game because he couldn't get enough zip on the long throw across the diamond. He said he felt better on Monday and he started at third base. He went 0-for-3.

Hit parade: Tribe catching prospect Francisco Mejia, promoted to High-A Lynchburg a week ago, has a 30-game hitting streak. The 20-year-old, ranked the organization's No. 8 prospect by MLB.com, is batting .346 with a .909 OPS this season. 

Cleveland in 10: The Indians moved to 10-0 against Detroit this season with Monday's 5-3 triumph. That means Cleveland has already won the season series with the Tigers. The teams will meet a total of 19 times. In Terry Francona's first three years at the helm, the Indians amassed a 19-37 record against Detroit.

Napoli: 'It's a good time to be in Cleveland'

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