The Cleveland Cavaliers gave Tyronn Lue a contract making him among the best coaches in the NBA. Now, he has a challenge to keep Cavs motivated.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- It's hard to imagine any coach in NBA history having a better half-season than Tyronn Lue.

He took over the Cleveland Cavaliers at exactly the midpoint of the 2015-16 season. General manager David Griffin was convinced Lue was the best bet to lead the Cavs to a title, so he fired David Blatt despite a 30-11 record.

Lue took over in a tough spot. No training camp. He wanted to change the team's style, especially on offense. He had been Blatt's top assistant, so the players knew and respected him.

But the 39-year-old Lue had never been a head coach at any level.

Cavs fans know the end of the story. Lue helped the team deliver the first NBA title in franchise history -- the epic seven-game series victory over Golden State.

Lue had verbally agreed to a three-year contract in the $9 million range when he replaced Blatt. He never signed it.

He decided to wait until after the playoffs. He coached the remainder of the season on his assistant's contract. That was fine with the Cavs. Lue was under contract through the 2016-17 season, so he couldn't leave the team this summer without the Cavs permission.

So the Cavs knew they would not lose him.

WAITING PAID OFF

Winning the first title by a major Cleveland sports franchise since the 1964 Browns has paid off for Lue. He signed a five-year, $35 million deal. The final season is not guaranteed. It averages $7 million a year, but he's not paid quite that much in the early seasons.

Dan Gilbert and his ownership group put together the contract. Is it big? Yes.

It's about what Scott Brooks received to coach the Washington Wizards. Dwane Casey signed a three-year, $18 million extension with the Toronto Raptors.

Both have more experience than Lue. Neither has won a title.

What happened with the Cavs this season is one of the most remarkable events in Cleveland sports history. How much is that title worth both economically and emotionally to the Cavs organization and their fans? It's impossible to put a dollar figure on it.

For a little context, Matthew Dellavedova received a four-year, $38 million deal from the Milwaukee Bucks as a backup point guard.

Obviously, LeBron James was the driving force to the title. But James and the players believed in Lue. One of the reasons for the firing of Blatt was to take away the coaching excuse from the players.

Many of them -- not just James -- had major doubts about Blatt. So did Griffin, and it was Griffin's decision to fire Blatt.

We'll never know for certain if Blatt would have won the title. But we do know that Lue stayed calm through the entire postseason. He made some excellent adjustments in the final games of the series against Toronto and Golden State.

At the very least, it was evident the players had faith in Lue. And it was clear James was fully behind his coach.

That meant a lot when the team was down 3-1 in the best-of-seven series to Golden State.

THE NEW CHALLENGE

Griffin has often mentioned how the Cavs tend to react positively to adversity. One of his theories was if any team could come back from a 3-1 deficit in the NBA Finals -- and no team had -- the Cavs were the ones to make history.

It's part of their DNA, led by James. It's still shocking that James dragged that injury-battered team to the 2015 Finals and Golden State needed six games to win the title.

Kevin Durant joining Golden State makes the Warriors the favorite to win the title.

That will motivate the Cavs, just as Stephen Curry winning the last two MVP awards has been an inspiration for James to keep reminding everyone who is the best player in the world.

It's James, who demonstrates that in the playoffs.

The MVP award is voted upon in the final week of the regular season. That's why Curry has won the last two years.

Will the Cavs be inspired by all the hype that still surrounds Golden State? It should be something Lue can use heading into the season.

It's a safe guess that at various points in the regular season, boredom and complacency will become an enemy of the Cavs. It will be interesting to watch how Lue deals with those challenges.

ABOUT DION WAITERS

Dwyane Wade.

Former Cavs coach Byron Scott dropped that name after his team made Dion Waiters their first-round pick in the 2012 draft.

"The first thing that came to mind was Dwyane Wade," Scott said of his scouting of Waiters.

Scott also said Waiters was the second-best player in the draft (behind Anthony Davis), at least in the mind of the coach.

The Cavs took Waiters with the No. 4 pick. They drafted him without having him at the facility or interviewing him. Waiters supposedly had a promise from another team (probably Phoenix) that they'd draft him if he refused to talk to any other teams.

That should have been a warning sign for the Cavs.

Anyway, it's four years later. Waiters became a free agent. The market was not kind to him. He signed with Miami, a two-year, $12-million deal. The second year is a $6-million player option.

In this summer of outrageous contracts, Waiters received a very modest deal.

Now, he will start for Miami at shooting guard -- in Dwyane Wade's old spot.  Wade has left the Heat for Chicago.

Waiters has had a strange career.

He was given a tremendous chance to play for the Cavs from a coach who loved him -- Scott. Here's what happened:

1. In 164 games with the Cavs, Waiters averaged 14.3 points. But he often had poor shot selection -- .420 from the field, .328 on 3-pointers.

2. He was traded to Oklahoma City as part of a deal bringing J.R. Smith and Iman Shumpert to the Cavs. In 125 games with the Thunder, Waiters averaged 10.9 points -- .396 from the field, .343 on 3-pointers.

3. He played 28 minutes a game with both teams. A problem for Waiters is his soft defense. And he is not much of a passer. He's averaged only 2.5 assists in those 28 minutes a game.

4. Waiters is 25 and probably will play in the NBA for a long time. This is his fifth season. But he's probably going to be just an average player who ends up with several teams during his career.

ABOUT THE CAVS

1. When Lue took over at midseason, he said the Cavs needed to get into better shape. He pushed the team to run more in practice and eventually the conditioning improved. With a training camp, he can establish the tempo for the team from Day One.

2. Lue does have several older players and he will have to be careful how they are used in practice and games. He has Chris Andersen (38), Richard Jefferson (36), Mike Dunleavy (35), James Jones (35), Channing Frye (33) and Mo Williams (33).

3. James is 31 and in tremendous condition. He demonstrated that in the playoffs. It will be up to Lue to use James properly in practice and the regular season so he peaks at just the right time. That's exactly what happened last season.

4. The Cavs were able to keep Jefferson on a contract that pays him $2.5 million annually in each of the next two seasons. There is a third season at $2.5 million -- a club option. So the Cavs rewarded Jefferson for his excellent play in the postseason and his strong leadership. They also made sure he didn't sign a veteran's minimum deal with another contender such as Golden State.

Cleveland Indians have to make sure they win the Central Division. They don't want a replay for 2013 when they lost a wild card playoff game.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- It's easy for a sportswriter and fans to say, "The Indians have to do something."

But as Monday's trade deadline looms, the Indians have to do something.

They won their 14th game in a row on July 1. At that point, their record was 49-30 and they had control of the AL Central Division.

Since then, they are 9-12. Obviously, the Indians were not going to continue with long winning streaks.

But in the last three weeks, too often they have played sloppy baseball. They still have a 4 1/2 game lead in the Central Division, but the Detroit Tigers are beginning to roar and are clawing their way back to the top.

A week ago, I would have said the Tribe had enough talent with the current roster to win the Central. Now, I have doubts.

The lineup has two dead spots -- third base and catcher.

Dead is not much in the way of hyperbole.

There are 15 teams in the American League. Tribe third basemen are batting a combined .225 with a .623 OPS. That ranks 15th.

Tribe catchers are batting .169 with a .508 OPS. That also ranks 15th.

The obvious answer is a deal for Jonathan Lucroy, the Milwaukee Brewers All-Star catcher. He is excellent defensively along with being a .305 hitter with 12 HR. But several teams want Lucroy, and the catcher has a limited no-trade clause with Cleveland being one of eight teams on the list.

So they'd have to put together a package of players acceptable to the Brewers, then convince Lucroy to waive the no-trade.

The Indians also need more help in the bullpen.

The Indians have not been in this position heading into August since 2007, when they were 96-66 and won the Central Division. In that season, the Tribe made a key summer acquisition when Kenny Lofton came back to play left field on July 27, 2007.

I expect Tribe president Chris Antonetti to make a trade, but I wonder if it will be a big one. The Indians have a 58-42 record after beating Oakland on Friday. Crowds are showing up. Friday was a sellout, and the same is true of Saturday.

This team has caught the attention of the casual fan.

In 2013, the Tribe finished 92-70. But on July 31, they were 59-48. They ended that season with a 10-game winning streak. The problem was the 2013 Tribe finished a game behind the Tigers. They were the wild card team, and lost 4-0 to Tampa Bay. And their season was over.

The lesson is that you want to win the division -- and not risk a one-game playoff.

So the Indians really do need to make a trade to help the team right now because these type of seasons don't come along every year.

ABOUT THIRD BASE

I keep waiting for the Indians to do something about Juan Uribe.

He went into the weekend batting .150 since June 1. In July, he was 5-of-44 at the plate. His defense also took a serious decline the last few weeks.

It's been a long time since Uribe looked like pro athlete. He is heavy and appears even older than his 37 years because of his build. He's optimistically listed at 6-foot and 245 pounds.

This could be the end for the 15-year veteran.

The Tribe has alternatives, but they have been waiting to see if they could make a move as Monday's trade deadline approaches.

About a month ago, a possible plan was for Jose Ramirez to take over at third base once Michael Brantley returned from the disabled list. But Brantley's comeback was halted because of a sore shoulder. So Ramirez has remained primarily in Brantley's left field spot.

So now what are the options?

1. If the Indians do trade for an outfielder, Ramirez can move to third. Ramirez is mostly a second baseman and shortstop. Heading into this season, he'd played only 12 games at third in the minors -- and 15 in the Majors. He has started 31 games at third this season, making three errors.

2. Ramirez is not a disaster at third. He has served as a defensive replacement for Uribe, who has eight errors in 67 games. Uribe had a stretch of about a month where he played well in the field. He also hit homers in four consecutive games. Since then, he has only one homer in his last 65 at bats.

3. If the Indians want to go with pure defense, Gio Urshela is the answer. He is well above average with the glove at third. Urshela got off to a terrible start at the bat at Class AAA. He opened the season going 1-of-24 at the plate. Since then, he's batting .310. On the season, Urshela is hitting .256 (.626 OPS) with 6 HR and 33 RBI.

4. An intriguing possibility is Yandy Diaz. Last week, I wrote he's "a natural third baseman." That was poorly worded. Third base has been his position, but the glove is not his strength. Since signing out of Cuba in 2014, Diaz has 40 errors in 246 games at third in the minors. This season, it's eight errors in 46 games.

5. Diaz is a natural hitter. Baseball America named him as the player with "Best Strike zone Discipline" in the Tribe farm system. He entered the season as the Tribe's No. 15 prospect, but that's low. Diaz is batting .340 (.903 OPS) with 5 HR and 28 RBI at Columbus. In July, he's a .400 hitter. He doesn't have a lot of power, but he hits and hits and hits.

6. Diaz has been playing some outfield with the Clippers. If the Indians don't think he can help at third, they can use Diaz in the outfield for some games with Ramirez at third. Diaz is is batting .413 vs. lefties at Columbus.

7. Diaz will be 25 on August 8. He signed out of Cuba and began his pro career in 2014, that's why he's not high on most prospect lists. He didn't come through the Amateur Draft. Cuban players are often a mystery until they begin to establish a track record in the minors. His age and his quick adjustment as a hitter to the minors indicates it could be time to give him a chance in Cleveland.

ABOUT ROOKIES

A year ago, Francisco Lindor finished second to Houston's Carlos Correa for Rookie of the Year.

This season, he's an All-Star.

Now comes, Tyler Naquin batting .330 (1.022) with 12 HR and 32 RBI. Will he be Rookie of the Year? We'll see.

But the fact is the farm system has turned out back-to-back first-round picks who are among the top young players in the American League in the last two seasons. Naquin was the Tribe's top pick in the 2012 draft. In 2011, scouting director Brad Grant picked Lindor.

It took a long time, but 2010 first-round pick Drew Pomeranz made the All-Star team with San Diego this season. He was traded to Boston on July 14. The Red Sox are his fourth big league team.

Pomeranz and Alex White (2009 first-rounder) were traded to Colorado in 2011 for Ubaldo Jimenez.

Grant's 2008 top pick is Lonnie Chisenhall, who starts most games in right field. That 2008 draft was the first for Grant as scouting director.

The point is the first-round draft picks are coming through for the Tribe, a way to keep them a contender for several years.

The other first-round picks also considered excellent prospects, Clint Frazier (2013) and Brad Zimmer (2014), were just promoted to Class AAA. The top pick in 2015 is Brady Aiken, who is coming back from elbow surgery.

Hue Jackson was dressed in orange from head to toe in his first training camp practice as Browns head coach. He couldn't blend in if he wanted, which is fine with him. It's not his style -- Bud Shaw's Sports Spin

CLEVELAND, Ohio - The best reason for hope doesn't necessarily need to stand tall on the practice field.

But he should probably be less than 50 years old. It might also help if he wore a Browns uniform instead of a baggy orange pullover and matching Fab Five-style gym shorts.

Until that happens, this is Hue Jackson's team. He owns the marquee. He's the latest reason for optimism. Training camp is his pulpit.

He couldn't blend in if he wanted to. And he doesn't want to.

Come right in and listen to his sermon. Just try to forget you've heard it somewhere before.

"See how we work," Jackson said when asked what Browns fans should look for as as evidence that maybe, just maybe this time around with this coach will be different.

He mentioned "putting our heads down" and "working our process." Don't blame him. He doesn't know most of the others since 1999 have used the same words.

In his defense, there is nothing really fresh to say these days. Though he did find one novel angle in a radio interview after taking the job when he answered a similar question by saying, "Hue Jackson's in town, baby."

Jackson is different in one regard. He's one of two Browns head coaches hired since '99 with previous NFL head coaching experience.

The other, Eric Mangini, worked his guys hard, too. Even made them run practice field laps for dumb mistakes (I believe Shaun Rogers might still be completing his last lap as we speak).

Things fell apart for Hue Jackson in his only head coaching opportunity

That did not make Mangini a great head coach, or the Browns even reasonably competitive.

Offensive expertise recommends Jackson but that was the province of Rob Chudzinski and Pat Shurmur as well.

The comparison falls flat from there because neither exuded Jackson's confidence. Jackson carries with him the certainty that if not for the runaway dysfunction in Oakland he'd be well on his way to establishing himself as a NFL head coach.

"I don't know any other way to do this, but to chase winning and chase perfection each and every day," Jackson said Thursday. "I think if you do that you never know what you can hit on. This is football. There's no exact science to how this works.

"There's no magical way to predict what the record is going to be. The guys in that locker room are going to determine how good we're going to be by how hard they work."

Jackson helped turn around the Raiders offense under head coach Tom Cable before taking over for him and finishing 8-8 in 2011.

Following a season-ending loss to the Chargers, Jackson used the post-game press conference to double down on himself, saying he was going to take a bigger role in the organization.

"This is a joke," he said. "I'm going to take a hand in everything that goes on here."

Some inside the organization jokingly referred to Jackson as "Al Haig" after that, according to a Bay Area News Group story.

Jackson was the Raiders seventh coach in a 10-year span. Here he's the sixth head coach since 2008, falling in line behind Romeo Crennel, Mangini, Shurmur, Chudzinski and Mike Pettine.

After Jackson's firing in Oakland, Carson Palmer called him a "great head coach." In Cincinnati, wide receiver Chad Johnson (who's at camp helping with Browns wide receivers) called Johnson a "gem."

The roster isn't close to great. Nobody is describing the Browns as as diamond in the rough.

Here's what we know for now. Jackson believes what Palmer and Johnson say about him. And he wears that belief on his orange sleeve.

Scott Dixon had the fastest practice while Graham Rahal looks for speed to defend his title at the IndyCar Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio. Qualifying is Saturday and here's a link to live scoring and updates. Watch video

LEXINGTON, Ohio -- Scott Dixon continues to prove he is the man to beat at Mid-Ohio as he was the fastest driver during Friday's practice for IndyCar's 2016 Honda Indy 200.

Qualifying will be today at 2 p.m. on NBCSN with the race set for Sunday at 2:45 p.m. on CNBC. You can follow along live all weekend at IndyCar's Race Control.

Defending race winner Graham Rahal, a native of Dublin, Ohio, has a new Honda engine for the weekend but has yet to show the speed of the frontrunners. Rahal is off the pace for the points race, currently led by three Team Penske drivers -- Simon Pagenaud, Will Power and Helio Castroneves. Rahal is currently 11th.

Honda has struggled this season, even more than last year. The highest Honda driver in the standings is Indy 500 winner Alexander Rossi, who is seventh. Indy is the only race Honda has won all season.

HONDA INDY 200
Site: Lexington, Ohio
Schedule: Saturday, practice, (9:45 a.m.), qualifying (NBCSN, 2 p.m.); Sunday, practice (10:15 a.m.), race (2:45 p.m.), CNBC.
Track: Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course (road, 2.26 miles)
Race distance: (202.3 miles, 90 laps)
Last year: Graham Rahal took first in his home state, his first of two wins in 2015.
Last race: Will Power won for the third time in four races -- with a second-place finish in between -- in Toronto.
Fast facts: The IndyCar series visits its ninth road/street course of the season at Mid-Ohio. Scott Dixon has been dominant on this course, winning five times since 2007. ... Chip Ganassi Racing has won 10 times in Ohio, including six of the last seven races. ... Simon Pagenaud heads into the weekend with a 47-point lead over Power in the championship race.
Next race: ABC Supply 500, Aug. 21, Pocono Raceway, Long Pond, Pennsylvania.

COMPLETE WEEKEND TRACK SCHEDULE

7 a.m. - Gates open
7:50-8:20 a.m. - Indy Lights qualifying
8:35-9:25 a.m. - Pro Mazda race #1
9:45-10:30 a.m. - Verizon IndyCar Series practice
10:45 - 11:45 a.m. - Pirelli World Challenge GTS race
12-12:45 p.m. - Pirelli World Challenge GT-GTA-GT Cup qualifying
1-1:45 p.m. - USF2000 Race #2
2-3:15 p.m. - Verizon IndyCar Series qualifying (NBCSN)
3:30 - 4:20 p.m. - Indy Lights Race #1
4:35-5:45 p.m. - Pirelli World Challenge GT-GTA-GT Cup Race #1
6-6:50 p.m. - Pro Mazda Race #2

Sunday

7 a.m. - Gates open
9:15-10 a.m. - USF2000 Race #3
10:15-10:45 a.m. - IndyCar Warm Up
11-12:05 p.m. - Pirelli World Challenge GT-GTA-GT Cup Race #2
12:20-1:25 p.m. - Indy Lights Race #2
2:45 p.m. - Verizon IndyCar Series Race (CNBC)

(The Associated Press contributed to this report)

Martin Truex is on the pole and Kyle Busch is back in the pack for NASCAR's Pennsylvania 400 at Pocono Raceway on Sunday.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Martin Truex Jr. is on the pole and Tony Stewart is in the Top 10 on the starting grid for the Pennsylvania 400 at Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pa. And while Kyle Busch has won the last two races, he will be starting a bit back in the pack, inside the Top 20.

The race is set for 1:30 p.m. Sunday on NBCSN. You can follow along live all weekend at NASCAR's Race Center.

With the season winding down, much of the focus is on Tony Stewart, who is retiring at the end of the season, and on Jeff Gordon, who has come out of retirement to sub for Dale Earnhardt Jr. This will be the second straight race for Gordon and the third straight race Earnhardt has missed while recovering from concussion symptoms.

So far there has been no definitive word about when, or if Earnhardt will return, or how long Gordon will remain as his replacement.

SPRINT CUP
PENNSYLVANIA 400
Site: Long Pond, Pennsylvania
Schedule: Saturday, practice (NBCSN, 11 a.m.); Sunday, race, 1:30 p.m., NBCSN.
Track: Pocono Raceway (oval, 2.5 miles).
Race distance: (400 miles, 160 laps).
Last year: Matt Kenseth held off Brad Keselowski and Jeff Gordon to win despite leading just two laps.
Last week: Kyle Busch won from the pole in Indianapolis to capture the weekend sweep.
Fast facts: Busch has posted four top-five finishes at Pocono, but he has never won here. ... Busch is tied with Brad Keselowski with four wins in 2016. ... Jeff Gordon will again drive the No. 88 car this weekend as Dale Earnhardt Jr. continues to recover from concussion-like symptoms. Gordon was 13th in his return to the series last week. ... Kyle Larson grabbed a spot on the Chase grid by finishing fifth in Indianapolis.
Next race: Cheez-It 355 at the Glen, Aug. 7, Watkins Glen International, Watkins Glen, New York.

XFINITY
U.S. CELLULAR 250
Site: Newton, Iowa
Schedule: Saturday, qualifying (NBCSN, 4:15 p.m.), race, 8 p.m., NBCSN.
Track: Iowa Speedway (oval, 0.875 miles).
Race distance: (218.75 miles, 250 laps).
Last year: Ryan Blaney led for all but eight laps in a dominant run at Iowa's short track.
Last race: For the third race in a row, Kyle Busch won both the pole and the race. Busch has won seven Xfinity races so far in 2016.
Fast facts: Sam Hornish Jr. became the third driver with multiple wins at Iowa when he won there for the second time in his season debut in June. ... Josh Berry will make his 2016 debut in the No. 88 car for JR Motorsports. He was 12th at Iowa in 2014. ... Joey Gase drove the pace car for Saturday's race around nearby Des Moines on Wednesday, operating as an Uber driver for two hours. The proceeds will go to charity.
Next race: Zippo 200 at the Glen, Aug. 6, Watkins Glen International, Watkins Glen, New York.

CAMPING WORLD TRUCK
POCONO MOUNTAINS 150
Site: Long Pond, Pennsylvania
Schedule: Saturday, qualifying (FS1, 9:05 p.m.), race, 1 p.m., FS1.
Track: Pocono Raceway (oval, 2.5 miles)
Race distance: (150 miles, 60 laps)
Last year: Kyle Busch picked up his first series win of 2015, holding off Kevin Harvick.
Last race: Kyle Larson won on the dirt at Eldora after a crash took out pole-sitter Bobby Pierce.
Fast facts: Brett Moffitt, the Sprint Cup rookie of the year in 2015, will drive the No. 11 truck for Red Horse Racing. Moffitt debuted for Red Horse at Kentucky, finishing 31st after engine trouble. ... Tyler Reddick, the series runner-up last season, has posted top-10 finishes in six of his last seven races after a slow start.
Next race: Unoh 200, August 17, Bristol Motor Speedway, Bristol, Tennessee.

(The Associated Press contributed to this report)

The Browns quarterbacks all talk about the QB competition, Joe Haden discusses his ankle surgery and Hue Jackson explains why RG3 took all the first-team reps on day 1.

Check out updates from Berea throughout Day 2 of Browns training camp.

BEREA, Ohio - The Browns continue their 2016 training camp Saturday.

Eleven training camps dates are open to fans. Check out our visitor's guide for what you need to know about attending. But if you can't make it, we have you covered.

Cleveland.com Browns reporters Mary Kay Cabot, Dan Labbe and Scott Patsko will be there. Follow along with live updates in the Twitter widget below and also in the comments. We'll have complete camp coverage at cleveland.com/browns.

Follow Mary Kay, Dan and Scott on Twitter by clicking on their names.

Counting the best players in the Big Ten from No. 25 to No. 1.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ranking the top 25 Big Ten football players for 2016 entering preseason training camp. 

No. 10 William Likely, Maryland

* Who is this guy? A 5-foot-7, 175-pound senior cornerback and return man for the Terrapins. 

Bio Twitter Instagram

Coming to an end zone near you! #WWLDN https://t.co/ZmVmpWUQNe

-- Maryland Football (@TerpsFootball) July 27, 2016

* How'd he get to Maryland?  A three-star recruit in the Class of 2013 from Belle Glade, Fla., Likely was ranked as the No. 49 player in the state of Florida and the overall No. 350 prospect in the class in the 247sports.com composite rankings. He picked Maryland over other offers from Wake Forest, Miami, Stanford and LSU.

* What has he done? Likely was the Big Ten return man of the year in 2015 as well as a first-team cornerback, repeating his first-team selection from 2014. He was also a first-team All-American as a returner on some teams. To repeat - first-team All-American and two-time first-team All-Big Ten. Given his versatility and resume, you could argue he should be higher on this list.

* What did he look like doing it?

@4GoLive Dreams & Nightmares [?] pic.twitter.com/zflv0Akdph

-- Frank (@Doakhero850) July 8, 2016

* What's he going to do? Not just play defense and special teams at an All-American level, he's going to play more offense as well.

"I can be a decoy, I can catch the ball, I can run," Likely told the Washington Post. "I want to get it to a point where ... I know the whole offense. If I know the whole offense, then it will help me better my game, not only as an offensive person."

Top 25 Big Ten players, No. 11 through No. 25 

The first 15 players on our list

The man who ranks seventh in baseball history with 612 home runs will be inducted into the Indians Hall of Fame on Saturday evening. Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- With each swing, Landon Thome threatened the metal bleachers.

The 8-year-old stood in the left-field grass, about medium-deep, and hacked away at each of his father's offerings. The two had Progressive Field to themselves on Thursday night, and Landon peppered the seats with home-run balls, just like his dad did for so many years.

Landon deposited a few offerings into the bleachers or off of the 19-foot-high left-field wall and then the two repositioned home plate a bit closer to the infield. Landon slugged a few more to the wall and they moved home plate back even further.

Eventually, Landon, who mimics his father's bat point before each swing, developed some unhealthy quirks at the plate as he tried so desperately to put on a power display.

"He started getting into some bad habits, because he would try to lift them [into the bleachers]," Jim Thome told cleveland.com.

Thome reminisced on Friday about a particular home run, one that did not land in the bleachers, the seats or in the ballpark at all. Thome's drive off of Kansas City's Don Wengert on July 3, 1999, bounced onto the street beyond the venue, a 511-foot blast that is unmatched in ballpark history.

"It was a really hot, humid day," Thome said. "And Charlie [Manuel], you know how Charlie is, Charlie will talk all day. I think I remember him saying, 'Son, if you hit one, they might talk about it forever.'"

Seventeen years later, they are still talking about Thome. The man who ranks seventh in baseball history with 612 home runs will be inducted into the Indians Hall of Fame on Saturday evening.

Thome has made frequent visits to Cleveland in recent years. He returned to the roster in August 2011 for a nostalgia-filled month. He received a statue and officially retired as an Indian in August 2014. He ventured to town for the 20-year reunion of the 1995 team last summer. He attended Tribe Fest in January.

On Saturday, he'll enter the pantheon of Indians legends, an exclusive fraternity of 44 members who left a lasting impression on the organization in some fashion. Thome typically did so with a point of the bat, a flex of the muscle and a towering fly ball.

Thome on leaving, returning to Cleveland

Thome reflected on some of his most memorable home runs in an Indians uniform on Friday, as he sported a wine-colored Cavaliers championship polo with all three buttons undone. He remembered his long ball off of Braves reliever Brad Clontz in the eighth inning of Game 5 of the 1995 World Series. He remembered his grand slam on a David Cone slider that momentarily silenced the Yankee Stadium crowd in Game 6 of the 1998 American League Championship Series.

"I remember [Orel] Hershiser saying, 'You can't get every big hit, but the hits that you get are meaningful. Don't try to be the hero every at-bat,'" Thome said.

Thome stood behind the batting cage at Progressive Field on Friday afternoon and he watched Tyler Naquin and Lonnie Chisenhall spray pitches into the seats. Thome hugged Jason Kipnis, his teammate for that brief stretch five years ago. He exchanged a few words with Francisco Lindor.

Thome shook hands with Mike Napoli, the slugger who nearly struck the scoreboard with a home run earlier this month. The ball landed near the same 26-inch bass drum at which John Adams pounded away when Thome played in Cleveland. Thome saw video of Napoli's majestic shot.

"Any time you see a home run like that, it's pretty special," Thome said.

Thome had a prime seat for Mark McGwire's memorable blast in 1997, which caromed off of the scoreboard.

"I was at first base and I couldn't believe that," Thome said.

Indians fans were often left in disbelief at Thome's powerful feats. He socked 17 playoff homers for the Tribe from 1995-2001.

Thome strolls to the kitchen table each morning for breakfast, and Landon will be sitting there, watching his father's old highlights on YouTube.

"He'll say, 'Dad, look at this home run you hit,'" Thome said. "[It's] pretty special."

Cleveland Indians strong farm system was why the Tribe could trade for Andrew Miller.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- It could have been a home run, the Cleveland Indians adding catcher Jonathan Lucroy and reliever Andrew Miller on the same day.

Obviously, Tribe president Chris Antonetti and general manager Mike Chernoff were bold.

And yes, owner Paul Dolan was willing to kick in some extra cash as the Tribe had worked out a deal to bring an All-Star catcher to the Tribe -- along with Miller, a star reliever.

The problem was Lucroy used his right to veto a trade.

Don't underestimate the addition of Miller. This is not a one-and-done deal. Milller is signed through 2018 -- at $9 million annually. The Tribe is picking up the entire contract, about $21 million.

This is a huge, huge addition.

As manager Terry Francona said, "Chris and his guys just went out and got the very best guy (reliever) there was. And if you don't think other teams wanted him, you're crazy... They got the best there is... no better message."

So true.

Miller has a 9-3 record and 1.77 ERA in his two years with the Yankees. He's a lefty who can close or set up. He joins Cody Allen and Bryan Shaw to give them three guys who should be able to nail down game after game.

Miller also will take some of the pressure off Shaw, who seems to pitch every day.

Remember how Francona loves relievers. And remember how Kansas City used an overpowering bullpen to reach the World Series the last two years.

This trade makes so much sense, especially with Miller signed for the next 2 1/2 seasons.

The 31-year-old saved 36 games in 2015, his first full season as a closer. He had nine this season. He's exactly what the Indians need, a lefty who can get hitters out from either side of the plate.

DEPTH IN THE FARM SYSTEM

The price was steep: Clint Frazier, Justus Sheffield, Ben Heller and J.P. Feyereisen.

Frazier is a prime outfield prospect, but the Indians actually have depth when it comes to young outfielders.

Tyler Naquin is batting .330 for the Tribe. Bradley Zimmer is batting .254 (.834 OPS) with 14 HR, 54 RBI and 34 stolen bases between Class AA Akron and Class AAA Columbus. He also is an excellent outfielder.

Yandy Diaz is batting .339 (.899 OPS) with 5 HR and 29 RBI at Columbus. He played third most of his career, and now has moved to the outfield. He is below average at third base.

No question, Diaz can hit. He's not high on many of the preseason prospects lists because he came out of Cuba and didn't start his pro career until 2014. But he's shot up the rankings this summer.

Sheffield is a young pitcher with a terrific arm. Heller throws hard and will probably be in the big leagues one day. Feyereisen is a young reliever with some potential.

But the future is now for the Tribe.

They are in first place. Detroit is coming hard after them. The crowds are coming back. The rotation is strong. The clubhouse leadership is real. Francona is used to managing under pressure.

Give him another big-time arm in the bullpen.

The Indians have a strong farm system, thanks to the drafting of scouting director Brad Grant. They do have prospects to spare.

And if the Indians make the playoffs, consider this: Miller has allowed only one hit and one walk in 8 1/3 scoreless postseason innings.

WHAT'S NEXT?

Catcher remains a problem. And I imagine the Indians will remain a shopper trying to add someone behind the plate.

I'm very curious to see what they do about third base. I don't believe they will simply leave Juan Uribe there.

They can bring up Gio Urshela or Diaz from Columbus.

Or perhaps they trade for an outfielder, and Jose Ramirez becomes the full-time third baseman.

I expect Antonetti and Chernoff to keep trying to add players before Monday's 4 p.m. deadline.

But in the meantime, Tribe fans should be encouraged by this very bold move.

Jimmy Haslam, coming off a 3-13, a circus atmosphere surrounding Johnny Manziel, and the firing of another coaching staff, told the Browns players: Watch video

BEREA, Ohio -- Browns owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam, coming off a 3-13 season, the circus atmosphere of Johnny Manziel and the Isaiah Crowell Instagram controversy, addressed the players Thursday and made it clear they won't tolerate any distractions going forward.

"We have high expectations for our players,'' Haslam said Sunday during his annual training camp address the media. "We talked about what a privilege it is to play in the NFL, the NFL shield, how they needed to set example for young kids all around the country, people all around the country, particularly here in Northeastern Ohio where everybody loves the Browns. We have high expectations and we're not going to put up with those kind of distractions.''

The speech, which came at the request of coach Hue Jackson, stressed that players must conduct themselves like professionals to be successful on the field.

"We had a good conversation,'' Haslam said."There were two basic messages: one was preparation and two, 'this is our expectations of you as a Cleveland Brown both on and off the field.'

"We listed three or four things that were important in preparation. One of them is, 'eliminate all the distractions from your life and that can run the gamut, we all understand that, but eliminate the distractions from your life.'''  

It was important to Haslam to note that Jackson asked him and Dee to address the team.

"I want everybody to understand there's no way we would go talk to the team without his full endorsement,'' Haslam said. "Matter of fact, we pushed back 'are you sure you want us to do that?'''

He insisted that his mandate of no distractions had almost nothing to do with the Manziel saga of the past two years, which made the Browns almost a laughingstock in the league and nationally.

Given that, he addressed three things that have already been distractions -- or potential distractions -- this season: Josh Gordon's reinstatement from his indefinite drug ban, Crowell's enormous Instagram mistake and Armonty Bryant's conviction on a misdemeanor drug charge, which could bring further suspension.

"Let's take the one at a time,'' said Haslam. "We have a history with Josh. Now, we haven't seen him in a year and a half, almost two years. He hasn't played in a long time. And I know there was a lot of consternation over his leg injury. I personally think, and this is me talking, it's a blessing. I think Josh needs to come in here, get reoriented, learn his teammates, learn a new coaching staff, learn the plays and get his life settled.''

Haslam, who's developed a relationship with Gordon over the years, is grateful he'll be allowed to remain with the team during his four-game suspension to start the season.

"We certainly appreciate the NFL allowing him to be in the building during that time period, which I think is crucial,'' said Haslam. "These players need structure, particularly ones who have struggled a little bit with life issues. So I think having Josh in the building will be a really good thing for him. Everybody in the organization is going to do everything they can to help Josh be successful, but Josh at the same time ultimately has to make good decisions. If he does, then he'll be with us a long time. if he doesn't, he understands the repercussions.''

For his part, Gordon got the message from the Haslams loud and clear, vowing on Friday to do everything possible to stay on the straight and narrow this time around.

Josh Gordon doesn't ever want to experience another year out of football

As for Crowell, Haslam called his Instagram post of an illustration of a police officer being stabbed in the neck by a hooded figure "incredibly unfortunate.'' Many fans have called for the Browns to cut him and have threatened to stop buying tickets if they don't.

"It was inexcusable,'' said Haslam. "There's nothing you can say, there's nothing positive about what happened. I do say this and we know Crow well: that's not who he is, he made a big mistake, he's paid a large penalty for it.''

Haslam, who's been embroiled in his own Pilot Flying J controversy over the past several years, noted that the response to adversity is they key.

"The true test of character for all of us is when we get knocked down - or maybe knock ourselves down in this case - how you get up and  handle it is how you judge people,'' he said. "And I think Crow, I'm not sure he could have done anything better since he did that terrible incident, whatever it was two or three weeks ago, and we're proud of how Isaiah's responded.''

Haslam indicated that the Browns will stand by and continue to help Bryant, who has expressed remorse for his Christmas day arrest, one that resulted in a misdemeanor drug conviction for which he could be suspended by the NFL. As it is, he'll sit out the first four games for performance-enhancing drugs.

"Armonty understands very well our expectations,'' said Haslam. "Unfortunately, the way the league rules work, he cannot be in the building during those four weeks. He has come in here so far and worked very hard and been a model citizen.''
Fortunately for Haslam, he hired a coach in Jackson who has a history of getting through to troubled players, including Adam Pacman Jones in Cincinnati.
"There's a lot of reasons we hired Hue,'' said Haslam. "He's been around, and I mean that in a positive way. He was head coach for a year in a difficult situation. He's worked in several different organizations under several really good head coaches, so he has experience. One thing I've noticed about Hue, although he's high energy, he's pretty consistent every day. He doesn't say, 'We were great today,' and 'Terrible.' He's pretty consistent, so I think those two things will serve him well.

"Hue has been with some franchises where he's had some players - you're not going to have 53 model citizens every year, and I think he understands that. I think he knows how to deal with those people as men and make them not only better players, but better men.''

And if they're not, they won't be on the 53 for long.

Here is a look at two of the reasons why the proposed deal to send Milwaukee's All-Star catcher Jonathan Lucroy to the Indians didn't happen. Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Why isn't Jonathan Lucroy catching for the AL Central division leading Indians today?

Here are two reasons. Make of them what you will

No.1.

Lucroy and his agent, according to industry sources, wanted the Indians to decline his 2017 club option worth $5.25 million and make him a free agent after this season. The Indians, in effect, would be giving up three of their valued prospects for a two-month rental.

There was some talk about an extension, but when the Indians found out that Lucroy really wanted to be a free agent, they said no to the extension. They felt they were giving up too much talent for a rental player. It was not only Lucroy's talent that attracted them, but his contract as well.

It fit with their trade deadline strategy. They made a big splash Sunday morning by acquiring left-hander Andrew Miller from the Yankees for four prospects. In doing so, they assumed all of Miller's $21 million salary. Lucroy, a two-time All-Star catcher, fit their budget perfectly at what remained of his $4 million salary this year and his $5.25 million club option for 2017.

No.2.

Bob Nightengale from USA Today reported that Lucroy and his agent turned down the deal because the Indians wouldn't guarantee him the starting catching job in 2017 and certain financial incentives to his existing contract. Tribe starter Yan Gomes is out for six to eight weeks with a separated right shoulder, but a source indicated that if the Indians were willing to part with prospects catcher Francisco Mejia, outfielder Greg Allen and shortstop Yu-Cheng Chang, they weren't going to do it for a part-time catcher.

In other words, Lucroy was going to be the starting catcher this season and next, but they just weren't willing to guarantee him the job. He would have also seentime at DH and first base, but he was going to be the No.1 catcher.

Tribe-Brewers deal pending on Lucroy's approval

Lucroy explained his decision Sunday morning to Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

"Some circumstances came up that made me void it," said Lucroy. "When it eventually comes out, everyone will understand. I'm not going to give specifics or anything like that, as much as I'd like to.

"I'm respecting the process and what the Brewers are trying to do in terms of another trade, if that's going to happen. As of right now, I'm still a Brewer and I'm going to be until someone tells me different.

"You're dealing with life-changing and altering decisions like this. There are a lot of different factors that come into play. Mostly it's family and the other half of that is your future in this game, your career. There are a lot of different things to take in, and whenever those things don't line up, a decision has to be made that might be tough. I have to look out for our best interests."

When Sunday morning broke, the Indians were in a great spot to turn a highlight-reel double play. It was going to be right from the Omar Vizquel-Robby Alomar vault of the incredible.

Turns out they only turned one.

Yes, they acquired Miller from the Yankees, but they missed on Lucroy, 30, leaving Roberto Perez and Chris Gimenez as the Tribe's main catchers headed into the last two months of the season.

Tribe responds to Gimenez-Butler dust up

Friday night it seemed like the deal was in place that would bring Lucroy to the Tribe for Mejia, Chang and Allen. They were all playing for Class A Lynchburg.

The Indians, however, were one of eight teams on Lucroy's no-trade list and he exercised his right to veto the trade.

The deadline for making trades without waivers is 4 p.m. Monday.

Antonetti shoved a hefty pile of chips to the center of the table on Sunday morning. The Indians paid a premium to acquire one of the league's most lethal relievers. Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- At about 2:30 a.m., Chris Antonetti finally convinced himself to drive home.

A little more than five hours later, he was back in his car, on the phone with Yankees general manager Brian Cashman while returning to the ballpark. After he struck an agreement and hung up with Cashman, Antonetti spoke with Andrew Miller, his team's new bullpen weapon.

Antonetti shoved a hefty pile of chips to the center of the table on Sunday morning. The Indians paid a premium to acquire one of the league's most lethal relievers. It's a risk the club is willing to take as it attempts to terminate an eight-year stretch without a postseason victory.

"Any opportunity to win, we don't take lightly," Antonetti said. "We want to try to do what we can to get to the postseason and win a World Series."

The Indians shipped four prospects to New York: outfielder Clint Frazier and pitchers Justus Sheffield, Ben Heller and J.P. Feyereisen. Baseball America ranked Frazier as the Indians' top prospect and No. 21 in baseball on its midseason report. The 21-year-old was promoted to Triple-A Columbus last week. 

The Yankees received a talented, young haul from the Cubs in exchange for reliever Aroldis Chapman last week. They weren't going to settle when negotiating a Miller deal. Antonetti and Cashman covered numerous variations of the swap before reaching an agreement.

"We knew going in," Antonetti said, "that it was going to be expensive and cause us to part with players that we honestly didn't want to part with."

The trade represents a bit of a role reversal between the clubs. The typically free-spending Yankees and their generous wallet will not cover any of the financial burden associated with Miller's contract. The southpaw is earning $9 million this season and the same amount for each of the next two years.

Without those extra years of control, however, the Indians never would have expressed such serious interest. One league source said the Tribe had no desire to part with any top prospect for a rental.

"We looked at this as not only a move that will help us this year, but for years to come," Antonetti said. "We would not have parted with the talent we did had there not been additional years of team control."

Miller is expected to arrive in Cleveland on Sunday night. At some point, he'll sit with manager Terry Francona and relievers Bryan Shaw and Cody Allen to determine each pitcher's usage. Allen shared with Antonetti and Francona last week his willingness to change roles.

Francona managed Miller in Boston in 2011, the skipper's final year with the Red Sox. At that time, Miller was a struggling starter with a sky-high walk rate. The following year, Miller shifted to the bullpen and his career took off.

"It'll be nice to be in the same uniform," Francona said.

Miller owns a 2.21 ERA since 2012, with 379 strikeouts in 240 1/3 innings. This season, he has tallied 77 strikeouts in 45 1/3 innings to complement his 1.39 ERA.

"We're getting one of the very elite relievers in all of baseball," Francona said. "I know when we go into New York next week, we don't have to face Andrew Miller, which will be really nice."

Jason Kipnis is relieved. The second baseman is 0-for-9 with six strikeouts against Miller.

"I don't have to go [hitless] when we play the Yankees," he said. "That's nice."

Miller appeared in the playoffs with Baltimore in 2014 and New York last year. He has limited the opposition to one hit and one walk in 8 1/3 scoreless postseason frames.

The Indians hope to make it three straight postseason appearances for the 6-foot-7 hurler.

"I would hope the fan base would be thrilled," Francona said. "So many times, when I'm walking around downtown or something, or when I'm walking back from the casino after I just got my [behind] kicked, people will stop and say something to me and, inevitably, it's that kind of comment, like, 'How come we're not with [playing] with the big fish?'

"There is [none] bigger. Chris and the guys just went and got the very best guy there was. And if you don't think other teams wanted him, you're crazy. They didn't [shortcut] it. They went and got the best there is. There's no better message."

The Indians, after getting rebuked by Jonathan Lucroy, are still in search of offense as Monday's 4 p.m. deadline for making trades without waivers nears.

CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Indians, with catcher Jonathan Lucroy no longer an option, head into the stretch run of the trading deadline in search of a bat. The drop dead time for making deals without waivers is 4 p.m. Monday.

Yes, they could use a catcher, but they aren't overly excited about those available. That's why they liked Lucroy so much. He can hit, handle a pitching staff and his price was reasonable.

But he vetoed the proposed deal between the Indians and Milwaukee and Chris Antonetti, Tribe's president of baseball operations, knows his team still needs offense. So the Indians are expected to check out Cincinnati outfielder Jay Bruce and Tampa Bay's utility man Steve Pearce before the deadline.

Several teams are interested in Bruce, 29, who was not in the lineup Sunday. He's hitting .265 (98-for-370) with 22 doubles, 25 homers, 80 RBI and a .875 OPS. But his defensive metrics in right field are bad and the Indians are still trying to figure out how he'd fit in the lineup.

The left-handed hitting Bruce is a .271 (71-for-262) hitter this season against righties with 20 homers and 61 RBI. He's hitting .250 (27-for-109) with five homers and 19 RBI against lefties.

Bruce, like Lucroy, has a no-trade clause. Yes, the Indians are on it along with Boston, the Yankees, Oakland, Tampa Bay, Arizona, Miami and Minnesota. He's on record as saying he'd lift it for a chance to play on a contender.

He's making $12.5 million this year with a $13 million club option for 2017. It includes a $1 million buyout.

Pearce, 33, is hitting .309 (63-for-204) with 11 doubles, 10 homers and 29 RRBI in 60 games. He has a .908 OPS and has played first, second and third this season for the Rays.

Why did Jonathan Lucroy say no to Tribe?

The Indians were interested in Pearce over the winter as a free agent. He's hitting .377 (20-for-53) with five homers against lefties. Against righties, Pearce is hitting .285 (43-for-151) with five homers against righties.

Pearce is making $4.75 million this year.

The Indians completed a three-game sweep of the A's on Sunday behind seven scoreless innings by Corey Kluber and quick-strike offense of Jason Kipnis and Mike Napoli. Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio --  On a day the Indians answered one of their needs for the stretch run and just missed on another, Corey Kluber was flawless.

Kluber threw seven scoreless innings and Jason Kipnis and Mike Napoli pushed the plunger on a quick-strike offense that allowed the Indians to complete a three-game sweep of the A's with an 8-0 victory on Sunday at Progressive Field.

When Kluber was done, Zach McAllister, Kyle Crockett and Austin Adams completed the six-hit shutout. Kluber struck out seven, walked two and allowed five hits in his first career win over the A's.

"That was nice," said manager Terry Francona. "Corey came out of the chute firing strikes, got a couple early strikeouts. Usually with Klubes when he gets off to that good start and he feels good, he continues it. He was really good."

In his last five starts, Kluber (10-9, 3.27) has pitched seven or more innings. He struck out 31 batters in 29 innings in that stretch.

"I don't know if I had my best command, but I felt good," said Kluber. "When I needed to, I made good pitches and I probably got away with a few.

"In the end you put up as my zeroes as you can, and the offense scored eight runs, so it was a good day."

The Indians finished with 10 hits, including two each by Tyler Naquin, Lonnie Chisenhall and Abraham Almonte.

Kipnis and Napoli led the Indians to a 5-0 lead in the third against Sonny Gray. Kipnis singled through the right side with the bases loaded to score Naquin and Almonte for a 2-0 lead.

Francisco Lindor made it 3-0 with his 11th sacrifice fly of the season. Roberto Perez, who took third on a wild pitch, scored.

Napoli followed with a two-run homer into the left field bleachers. It was his 24th of the season, second in as many days and 15th at Progressive Field this year. The homer was also the 1,000th hit of his career.

The Indians stretched their lead to 7-0 with two more runs in the fourth. Chisenhall singled to start the inning, but was thrown out trying to go from first to third on Naquin's single to right. Singles by Almonte and Perez delivered Naquin. Perez's high-chop single over third was just his second hit and third RBI of the season.

When Gray walked Carlos Santana to load the bases, he was done for the day. Kipnis greeted Daniel Coulumbe with a sacrifice fly for his third RBI of the day and 58th of the season.

Gray (5-10, 5.84) entered the game with a 2-0 record against the Indians. In four starts, he held them to two earned run in 28 innings. On Sunday, the Indians reached him for seven runs on eight hits in 3 1/3 innings.

The Indians made it 8-0 on Almonte's sacrifice fly in the fifth. It was Almonte's third RBI in as many days.

"Abe's been a big lift for us the last few days," said Francona.

Kluber gives the Indians three starters with 10 or more wins. Josh Thomlin (11-3) and Danny Salazar (11-3) are the other two.

Before the game the Indians announced that they had acquired left-hander Andrew Miller from the Yankees to fortify their bullpen. However, they were stung with Milwaukee catcher Jonathan Lucroy vetoed a trade that would have delivered him to Cleveland.

"He definitely helps makes us a better team," said Kluber of Miller. "There was a good vibe in the locker room this morning. Definitely, a little more excitement than normal at 9 a.m."

What it means

The Indians improved to 4-1 on this nine-game homestand, but are still having trouble distancing themselves from the Tigers in the AL Central. The Indians maintained the 4 1/2 game lead over Detroit, who have won six straight games and eight of their last 11.

Former Tiger Rajai Davis has been keeping an eye on his old team.

"They got some boys over there who can play," he said.

The pitches

Kluber threw 103 pitches, 67 or 65 percent for strikes. Gray threw 64 pitches, 43 or 67 percent for strikes.

Thanks for coming

The A's and Indians drew 23,739 to Progressive Field on a breezy Sunday afternoon. Indians' attendance for the season is 920,656 in 47 home dates.

First pitch was at 1:46 p.m. with a temperature of 81 degrees following a 36-minute rain delay.

The three-game series drew 89,723 fans.

What's next?

The Twins arrive for a four-game series at Progressive Field starting Monday night when Danny Salazar (11-3, 2.97) faces Minnesota's Tyler Duffey (5-8, 6.12) at 7:10. SportsTime Ohio, WTAM 1100 and WMMS/FM 100.7 will carry the game.

Carlos Carrasco, Trevor Baur and Josh Tomlin will follow Salazar. Kyle Gibson, Ricky Nolasco and Tommy Milone will follow Duffey.

Simon Pagenaud starts on the pole, fades, then bullies his way back to the front to win the IndyCar 2016 Honda Indy 200 on Sunday at Mid-Ohio.

LEXINGTON, Ohio -- Simon Pagenaud started on the pole, faded, then bullied his way back to the front to win the IndyCar 2016 Honda Indy 200 on Sunday afternoon at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.

All is well that ends well, but in between there was a lot of action as race favorite Scott Dixon suffered an early mishap with Helio Castroneves to effectively end his weekend. Later Mikhail Aleshin seemed to have a potential upset victory in his hands when a pit accident ruined his day.

Meanwhile Will Power, chasing Pagenaud all season in the points race, had the lead over his teammate on lap 66 after a restart. "I was asleep on the bloody restart,'' Power said. "I should have been better than that. He saw his opportunity and went for it, as he should."

Pagenaud rolled up beside Power, bumped wheels, then just muscled his way to the front.

"I took a chance and it worked out,'' Pagenaud said. "When you have a chance to win you have to get it. It was hard racing for sure. It was close, but it was clean. I saw a chance and went for it."

• Official final results
• Updated driver standings

While the move appeared to be overly aggressive, particularly for a points leader, Power said there was really nothing else Pagenaud could do.

"I just blew the restart,'' he repeated. "I was quite slow, which allowed him to get into position to have a shot.''

When the opportunity is hand delivered like that, just off pure reaction, "You have to take it,'' Power said.

There was one more chance for Power, the next lap in the first turn, but at that point Power said, "I took one for the team," because he knew Pagenaud was not going to give up the lead without bumping and grinding once again.

"In the first turn, had I not backed off, we would have crashed," Power said.

Team owner Roger Penske said, "great day for the team, but we got to keep going."

Pagenaud maintains his No. 1 position, but Power remains in the hunt, 58 points back with four races left in the season.

The big question for Pagenaud is his health. A wrenched back sufered during Friday's practice bothered him all weekend at Mid-Ohio. He took medication to relax the muscles, but still needed help from his team members to get in and out of his car.

"I can't feel anything right now, but it's all good,'' Pagenaud said after getting to the finish. "Whew! That was a race right there."

Later in the post race media briefing Pagenaud said the pain was returning, but he has become used to it.

"I've had this issue since I was a kid,'' he said. "It has happened just cleaning my car."

The engine battle, once again went to Chevrolet/Penske, holding the top two spots. But the next four were taken by Honda drivers, led by Carlos Munoz in third and 2015 Honda Indy 200 winner Graham Rahal in fourth.

The tough luck driver was Aleshin, who took small consolation in leading the most laps (33) on two different stints.

"I think he could have won this race, for sure,'' Munoz said.

Mentor resident Nick Glavac enjoyed winning the 2016 Cleveland Triathlon as he's employed by the race sponsor (University Hospitals) and enjoys being around the UCP participants.

MIKE PETICCA
Special to The Plain Dealer

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Competition and the will to win are motivation enough in most athletic endeavors.

There was much more, though, that had Nick Glavac excited about Sunday's 30th annual Cleveland Triathlon.

"I wanted to be here and support my hospital," said Glavac after his first-place finish in the Olympic Division of the triathlon that begins and ends near the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

"It was great to be with the (United Cerebral Palsy) kids. It's my hometown race. It's something I didn't want to miss."

Glavac, 29, a former runner at Mentor High School and Notre Dame College, is a registered nurse at University Hospitals, a primary sponsor of the triathlon.

The event is considered Ohio's premier triathlon and among the nation's best, and is annually the biggest fund-raiser for United Cerebral Palsy Center of Greater Cleveland. The center fields several of its own "Team UCP" at the triathlon, featuring athletes who have cerebral palsy and some of their family members and friends.

• Click here for 2016 race results

Glavac completed his triathlon in two hours, four minutes and 20.8 seconds, finishing ahead of runnerup Joshua Cone (2:14.41.5) of State College, Pa.

The Olympic Division features the longest swim (.9 mile), cycle (24 miles) and run (6.2 miles) courses in the triathlon. The Sprint division has the intermediate lengths and the SuperSprint races have the shorter courses. The triathlon featured some 700 participants, including youth divisions. Much of the biking and running is on the Memorial Shoreway.

Glavac competes professionally and was second in last summer's triathlon. His cycling time of 1:00:55.3 was more than six minutes better than the second-place time.

"I really enjoy biking," Glavac said. "I won the race right there. I got out of the water (after the swim) with a bunch of guys and then opened up a big lead."

Sheri Zimmerer Branum, 45, was first (2:23.55) among the Olympic females. Branum, from Milan in Erie County and an occupational therapist, has won several triathlons, including the Sprint Division in Cleveland in 2007.

"I just try to stay disciplined in all three portions of the race and try for solid training leading up to the race," said Branum, the girls varsity soccer coach at Edison High School. "It was hot weather on the bike and run, and you could feel the humidity on the run."

Ryan Reede, 22, of Manhattan Beach, Calif. and a former swimmer at Boston College, won the Sprint Division in 1:15.47, with Joshua Barry of Aurora coming in second (1:16:31.5). East Cleveland's Martha Brennan was first (1:26.59) among the division's females.

Hudson's Rod McGregor took the Super Sprint championship, finishing in 52:21.3, ahead of runnerup John Krugh (53:11) of North Huntington, Pa. Zita Hubler of Cleveland Heights led the division's female triathletes with a 58:40.6 clocking.

It was the first triathlon for McGregor, 59, who owns a marketing company and was second in the 800 meters at the 2013 national Senior Olympics.

"I'm a runner, but I made a lot of ground on the bike," he said. "In the swim, I did the last 100 yards with a breaststroke. I'm not a swimmer!"

The morning sunshine only amplified the bright smiles of the cerebral palsy competitors and their families and friends.

Eleven-year-old Madelyne Williams of Kent, riding in a wheelchair with a sign reading "Showin' how funky and strong is your fight" on its back, completed her fifth Cleveland Triathlon accompanied by about 20 cheering relatives and friends.

"Crossing the finish line with them" was the best part of the race, Madelyne said with a big smile. "It's really a lot of fun."

Madelyne's mother, Wendy McNair, cited Brian Corrigan's influence on her daughter. Corrigan, 26, works in the Leaf Bridge Therapy Services department of the UCP Center of Greater Cleveland. He, too, has cerebral palsy, and he rode in a wheelchair with "Team Madelyne" for much of the race.

"Brian has inspired Madelyne that it's okay to cross the finish line in a wheelchair," McNair said as she tried to hold back tears.

Julia Rizzo, 7, of Sagamore Hills, had some 20 "Team Rizzo" supporters at her side, including her parents, John and Heather.

"Everybody of all abilities crosses the same finish line here," Heather Rizzo said. "This will be the fourth triathlon medal hanging in her bedroom."

"To see the kids from UCP participate is very motivating," said John Rizzo. "It makes a bad day at work not seem bad at all, knowing what these kids can do."

Cameron Erving is learning on the go during training camp as he moves from guard to center.

BEREA, Ohio - As the Browns wrapped up their morning walk-through on Sunday, offensive line coach Hal Hunter asked his linemen to pick a season-long partner for hand drills.

Pro Bowl left tackle Joe Thomas certainly could've picked anybody. But instead of fellow veteran John Greco or even Joel Bitonio, his partner on the left side of the line, Thomas picked Cameron Erving.

"He went to Cam because he figures that's a guy who can benefit from his experience," said Hunter. "He takes Cam over there. He's working with his hands and all that. He does a great job coaching and mentoring the younger guys. Trying to use his experience."

During mini-camp in April, Erving called last season's struggles a learning experience. And although he pointed out how center came relatively easy to him in college, he hasn't played the position in the NFL.

How well Erving transitions from guard to center is likely to impact the offensive line more than anything this season. Not only is he replacing veteran center Alex Mack, who signed with Atlanta during the offseason, Erving played just five games at center in college.

"Playing center, it's like climbing Mount Everest," said Hunter. "You take one step after the next after the next, but as long as he continues to trend in a positive direction, he'll get where he needs to be."

Spending quality time with Thomas will surely help, but Hunter said the Browns' system will be a bit different than in years past. Erving will have a support system in which all the linemen share responsibility.

"(Erving) makes some initial points, but there are other things we're asking the offensive linemen to do in recognition," said Hunter. "I've done that every place I've ever been. I had a Pro Bowl center in San Diego, but I still had other people making calls.

"The center directs us, but we all share responsibility to get us where we need to be." 

The Indians aren't taking their first-place standing for granted. They're attempting to capitalize on it. "Any opportunity to win, we don't take lightly." Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Indians longed for a fresh start. They had dealt away every veteran player within a five-mile radius of the team clubhouse.

David Murphy and his calming presence? Off to Los Angeles.

Brandon Moss and his self-oppressive struggles? Off to St. Louis.

Nick Swisher and Michael Bourn, and those daily reminders of cash -- a limited resource around these parts -- being flushed into oblivion? Off to Atlanta.

The team ushered in a new era, complete with clubhouse contracts signed by everyone on the roster. Jason Kipnis, Michael Brantley, Corey Kluber and Yan Gomes emerged as the Indians' new sheriffs.

That was the origin, the foundation for what would blossom a year later. This time, as the trade deadline approached, the Indians weren't standing behind the counter, shopping their spare parts to hungry buyers. They were the ones doing the purchasing.

Finally, the Indians had reason to seize the summer moment.

"We needed a clean slate and an opportunity to establish what kind of organization we wanted to be," Kipnis told cleveland.com. "Each year, '13, '14, '15 -- every spring training started off with, 'Hey, this could be a good year. This could be the year.'

"This is just the one where all of the pieces have come together. It's nice to be buyers at the deadline."

Tribe players excited team is buyer, not seller

The Indians weren't just loitering in the bargain aisle, either. They corralled relief ace Andrew Miller and his $9 million annual salary from the Yankees for a hefty, four-prospect haul. They thought they had sent a similar package to Milwaukee for Jonathan Lucroy until the All-Star catcher declined the chance to relocate to Cleveland.

The Indians remain in the hunt for a hitter. They aren't taking their first-place standing for granted. They're attempting to capitalize on it.

"Any opportunity to win, we don't take lightly," said Chris Antonetti, the team's president of baseball operations. "We want to try to do what we can to get to the postseason and win a World Series. ... This team has done its part. [They] have worked extraordinarily hard to put us in this position, and we wanted to try to explore every way possible to improve and to even give us a better chance."

Tribe players learned of the Miller acquisition as they arrived at Progressive Field on Sunday morning. Mike Napoli spoke highly of Miller's virtues as a teammate. Cody Allen briefly considered the relievers' new roles. One player joked aloud that the move to obtain Miller must have meant the team failed in its quest to reacquire old friend Joe Smith.

They're plenty satisfied with Miller, the southpaw who boasts a 1.39 ERA and has tallied 77 strikeouts in 45 1/3 innings.

"It's one of the best late-inning relief pitchers in baseball," Antonetti said, "a guy who has had a history of success not only in the postseason, but in the regular season."

Miller has logged 8 1/3 scoreless -- and nearly hitless -- innings in his postseason career. The Indians wouldn't mind handing him an opportunity to add to that experience in a couple of months.

'They got the best there is' in Andrew Miller

Of course, Miller alone won't determine whether the Indians find themselves with a busy October schedule.

"Our success is still going to be largely dependent upon how that group in [the clubhouse] performs," Antonetti said. "No one acquisition, or two acquisitions, or any number of acquisitions for that matter, are going to dictate our success. It's going to be the group that's already in the clubhouse."

Kipnis and Allen shared the same sentiment.

They were members of the Indians' roster in 2013, when the club's frantic finish to the regular season secured it a spot in the American League Wild Card Game. The following two years, the Tribe fell short of heightened expectations.

As the trade deadline approached in 2014 and '15, the Indians found themselves far removed from the pack of contenders. So, the club sold off veteran pieces and offered playing time to its younger crop.

At last, the front office had reason to take risks in July. At last, the scouting and player development departments had an opportunity to see some of their work translate into major-league moves.

"We haven't really been in the position where we've been all-in buyers before," said Corey Kluber. "It's exciting to be in that spot."

At last, the Indians have been compensated for a strong start and sunny outlook. The players stuck to their word in the contracts they signed this time a year ago. The front office rewarded them with a clear-cut message that it's time to win.

"It breathes life into the clubhouse," Allen said. "It lets everybody in the clubhouse know that everybody in that front office wants to win just as badly as we do and right now.

"We're not thinking about a few years from now. We're thinking about trying to win in 2016. That says a lot. The guys in the clubhouse, they're pretty pumped up about it."

Indians must seize the moment this summer

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Mike Napoli homered, Jason Kipnis drove in three and right-hander Corey Kluber allowed five hits in seven innings as the Cleveland Indians defeated the Oakland Athletics, 8-0, Sunday afternoon at Progressive Field. The Tribe swept the three-game series. Here is a capsule look at the key aspect(s) of the game, which was televised by Fox Sports...

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Mike Napoli homered, Jason Kipnis drove in three and right-hander Corey Kluber allowed five hits in seven innings as the Cleveland Indians defeated the Oakland Athletics, 8-0, Sunday afternoon at Progressive Field. The Tribe swept the three-game series.

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 (60-42) remained 4.5 games ahead of second-place Detroit (57-48) in the AL Central. The Tigers swept the Astros in a three-game series at Comerica Park and have won six straight overall.

Broom service: The Tribe swept a team that had been playing well. The Athletics (47-58) entered Friday at 9-4 and with four series victories since the All-Star break.

Klubotic: Kluber walked two and struck out seven. He threw 67 of 103 pitches for strikes.

Kluber (10-8, 3.27 ERA) used a fastball/cutter/breaking pitch/changeup combination. Everything was good; the changeup was exceptional in striking out lefties Josh Reddick and Stephen Vogt swinging.

More than enough: Tribe bats provided Kluber with ample cushion by scoring five in the third inning. They were 3-for-3 with four RBI when putting the first pitch in play.

Tyler Naquin led off by shooting righty Sonny Gray's first-pitch fastball through the middle for a single.

Abraham Almonte took a fastball inside, then pounced on a cutter over the plate and ripped it to center for a single. The cutter was supposed to be on the outer edge. Naquin stopped at second.

Roberto Perez, at that point 1-for-23 on the season, kept showing bunt and taking pitches out of the zone. In a full count, Perez spit on a fastball darting down for the walk.

Carlos Santana struck out swinging, but Kipnis picked him up by grounding a first-pitch fastball through the hole at second for a two-run single.

With Francisco Lindor batting, Gray threw a wild pitch. Lindor did well to lift a 1-2 slide piece to center for a sacrifice fly.

Gray threw a first-pitch curve to Napoli that ballooned over the plate. Napoli was obligated to smash it to left-center for a two-run homer (No. 24).

Help from below: The bottom four in the Tribe order -- Lonnie Chisenhall, Naquin, Almonte and Perez -- were a combined 7-for-12 with three walks, two RBI and five runs.

Perez notched his second hit of the season.