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Ranking J.T. Barrett all-time at Ohio State on four quarterback record lists: Buckeye Numbers

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Ranking Ohio State quarterbacks all-time, and why J.T. Barrett could end up being No. 1 in school history for passing yards, passer rating and rushing yards for a quarterback.

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Junior quarterback J.T. Barrett already has the Ohio State career record for touchdown passes but, by the end of his career, he could finish at or near the top of a number of OSU career listings.

Currently, he has the top passer rating in school history, ranks 11th all-time in passing yards and is fifth among quarterbacks for career rushing yards. (See full ratings below.)

Staying No. 1 for passer rating will mean maintaining his current efficiency.

As for total passing yards, Barrett is averaging 222 yards per game this season. At that pace, he would need another 13 games to pass Art Schlichter at No. 1. That could occur early in the 2017 season.

For rushing yards, Barrett needs 340 yards to move into the No. 2 spot, and 1,489 yards to catch Braxton Miller at No. 1. Barrett rushed for 205 yards through the first four games of the 2016 season.

Here are all-time Ohio State rankings in four statistical areas for quarterbacks. (Terrelle Pryor's full statistics are included in this cleveland.com listing. Pryor's  complete career statistics are not recognized by Ohio State because of NCAA penalties.)

Career touchdown passes.

  • 1. J.T. Barrett (2014-16) 59.
  • 2. Terrelle Pryor (2008-10) 57.
  • (tie) Bobby Hoying (1992-95) 57.
  • 4. Joe Germaine (1996-98) 56.
  • 5. Troy Smith (2004-06) 54.
  • 6. Braxton Miller (2011-15) 52.
  • 7. Art Schlichter (1978-81 50.
  • 8. Greg Frey (1987-90) 37.
  • 9. Jim Karsatos (1983-86) 36.
  • 10. Steve Bellisari (1998-2001) 35.

Career passer rating (minimum of 200 attempts)

  • 1. J.T. Barrett (2014-16) 164.2.
  • 2. Troy Smith (2003-06) 157.1.
  • 3. Cardale Jones (2013-15) 156.3.
  • 4. Joe Germaine (1996-98) 151.0.
  • 5. Braxton Miller (2011-15) 146.7.
  • 6. Terrelle Pryor (2008-10) 144.6.
  • 7. Bobby Hoying (1992-95) 142.6.
  • 8. Jim Karsatos (1983-86) 137.2.
  • 9. Cornelius Greene (1972-75) 135.6.
  • 10. Stanley Jackson (1994-97) 133.7.

Database: Passing records for all OSU quarterbacks since 1968

Passing yards

  • 1. Art Schlichter (1978-81) 7,547.
  • 2. Bobby Hoying (1992-95) 7,232.
  • 3. Joe Germaine (1996-98) 6,370.
  • 4. Greg Frey (1987-90), 6,316.
  • 5. Terrelle Pryor (2008-10) 6,177.
  • 6. Steve Bellisari (1998-2001) 5,878.
  • 7. Troy Smith (2004-06) 5,720.
  • 8. Mike Tomczak (1981-84) 5,569.
  • 9. Braxton Miller (2011-15) 5,295.
  • 10. Jim Karsatos (1983-86) 5,089.
  • 11. J.T. Barrett (2014-16) 4,714.

Database: Rushing records for all OSU players since 1968

Rushing yards for quarterbacks

  • 1. Braxton Miller (2011-15) 3,314.
  • 2. Terrelle Pryor (2008-10) 2,164.
  • 3. Cornelius Greene (1973-75) 2,066.
  • 4. J.T. Barrett (2014-16) 1,825.
  • 5. Rex Kern (1968-70) 1,714.
  • 6. Art Schlichter (1978-81) 1,303.
  • 7. Troy Smith (2004-06) 1,168.
  • 8. Rod Gerald (1975-78) 1,057.

For the rushing category, some yards may have been accumulated while lining up at other positions.

Rich Exner, data analysis editor for cleveland.com, writes about numbers on a variety of topics. Follow on Twitter @RichExner or see previous stories at cleveland.com/datacentral.

Database: Receiving records for all OSU players since 1968


Holy, hungry, humble: Cleveland Heights High School football player Jaylen Harris, mic'd up

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Cleveland Heights High School football receiver Jaylen Harris is being recruited by colleges across the country. See Harris mic'd up during practice and a game. Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Cleveland Heights superstar receiver Jaylen Harris has made a name for himself in Northeast Ohio high school football.

Numerous colleges want to offer him scholarships; he has narrowed his top five down to Alabama, Ohio State, Michigan State, Tennessee and Penn State. 

Cleveland.com put a microphone on Jaylen for practice and a game, to capture his thoughts -- and the "Holy, hungry, humble" mantra that drives him.

Watch the video above to see this high school recruit, mic'ed up.

Cleveland Indians have me talking to myself about how they can beat Boston -- Terry Pluto (photos)

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Is there any way the Cleveland Indians can beat the Boston Red Sox? Sure. This is Cleveland's year.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Trying to talk myself into the Cleveland Indians beating the Boston Red Sox in the first round of the 2016 MLB playoffs...

Question: Are you really going to do it?

Answer: Do what?

Q: Are you really going to pick the Indians to beat Boston in a five-game series?

A: The Indians won more regular season games than Boston.

Q: So what? Boston had a 4-2 record vs. the Tribe this season.

A: The Indians were second in the league in runs scored.

Q: Boston was first. And Boston scored 101 more runs this season than Cleveland. In the name of Big Papi and Mookie Betts, are you claiming the Indians have a better offense than the Red Sox?

A: Well ... not exactly ... no. I'm just saying the Indians have a good offense. They can score runs.

Q: And Boston scores a lot more. And what about 12.91?

A: What is 12.91?

Q: That is Trevor Bauer's career ERA vs. Boston.

A: It's only three games and 7 2/3 innings.

Q: It would have been a lot more than 7 2/3 innings if he had gotten someone out. Are the Indians really starting a guy who has a 12.91 ERA against Boston in the opener?

A: If the Indians had all their starters healthy, Bauer would be the fourth starter.

Q: But they don't, and he is starting. He's facing Rick Porcello, who was 22-4 with a 3.15 ERA.

A: But he's 0-2 with a 4.41 ERA in the postseason.

Q: And he's 5-3 with a 2.83 ERA for his career pitching in Cleveland. So what about that?

A: Maybe he's due to have a bad game.

Q: And how can you pick the Indians with Danny Salazar and Carlos Carrasco hurt?

A: It's their year.

Q: Excuse me?

A: The Cavs came back from 3-1 in the NBA playoffs to beat Golden State on the road for the title.

Q: Is LeBron James going to play for the Tribe this week?

A: Let's hope not. I know someone who saw LeBron take batting practice. It wasn't pretty. It's one of the few things in sports that he can't do.

Q: Don't you think it's Big Papi's year?

A: How can David Oritz retire after hitting .315 with 38 HR and 127 RBI. I don't care if he's 40 years old?

Q: That's the point, it's Big Papi's year.

A: No, it's Cleveland's year.

Q: It's never Cleveland's year.

A: Yes it is ... 2016 ... Cleveland's year.

Q: If it's Cleveland's year, what about the Browns this season?

A: Leave them out of this ... Besides, the Monsters won the Calder Cup ... so there!!!

Q: So you're picking of a team with a decimated starting rotation to beat Boston based on the Cavs winning the title?

A: And the Monsters winning the Calder Cup.

Q: Is that logical?

A: What has been logical about the Indians season?

Q: Good point.

A: They were without Michael Brantley nearly all year. Yan Gomes missed most of the season, and couldn't hit when he did play. Salazar won one game after making the All-Star team. Carrasco was hurt twice...

Q: I'm just saying, the rotation is so shaky they have to give Corey Kluber (groin injury) an extra day of rest, meaning he can't pitch the opener.

A: Kluber was 9-1 with a 2.52 ERA after the All-Star break. I have a good feeling about him in Game 2.

Q: Are you sure that good feeling is not the start of heartburn?

A: I have a good feeling about the team. I can close my eyes and see Jose Ramirez winning a game for the Tribe.

Q: I admit, that could happen. How did that kid ever become a big-time player?

A: That's my point. Brantley was hurt, and Ramirez turned into a clutch hitter like Brantley. Boston gave up on Mike Napoli. He signed with the Tribe, putting up 34 homers. Detroit turned its back on Rajai Davis, and he is the stolen base champ at the age of 35. They have a true superstar in Francisco Lindor. They have five guys who drove in at least 75 runs.

Q: They're good team, but they're not the same team that won 94 games because of all the injuries. How can they beat Boston?

A: It will happen in Game 5 ... at Progressive Field ... bottom of the ninth ... fans on their feet, screaming ... John Adams pounding the drum ... and Mike Napoli hits one of out the park to beat his old team and send the Indians to the next round. More Red Sox angst!

Q: Oh, please...

A: Think about it. Napoli and Terry Francona haunt their old team. Heck, Andrew Miller was with them, too. He'll shut them down in relief. It's dancing in the streets on the corner of Ontario and Carnegie to the sound track of Tom Hamilton's booming voice on the radio .... there's a drive ... deep left field ... GONE!!!!!

Q: You're delirious.

A: That's my story, and I'm sticking to it.

Mitch Trubisky, Mentor grad, could be hometown answer: Browns Future QB Tracker, Week 4

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The North Carolina junior has been hot and vaulted up our rankings this week. Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The proof is right there in the personal section of Mitch Trubisky's bio on the North Carolina football website.

His favorite TV show is, "How I Met Your Mother," co-created by Cleveland native Carter Bays.

His favorite off-day activity is golfing or watching movies. People in Northeast Ohio love both golf and the cinema.

And his nickname is, "Mr. Biscuit," which would go well with the Dawg Pound.

See. Mitch Trubisky could be the perfect answer to the Browns quarterback questions.

Oh, and there's this other thing in the bio of the 6-foot-3, 220-pound junior who has thrown 13 touchdowns without an interception this season for the No. 17 Tar Heels and has caught the attention of the college football world. 

"If he could choose an NFL team to play for, it would be the Cleveland Browns."

Anyone getting some Bernie Kosar vibes?

In his first year as a starter, Trubisky has burst onto the scene as a college quarterback to watch and as an NFL quarterback to ponder. Our Bill Landis talked to Trubisky this week for a story that detailed how the Mentor High grad and Ohio's Mr. Football from 2012 wound up in Chapel Hill, and not in Columbus. 

How Trubisky went from Mentor to North Carolina

We also didn't let that bio quote stand by itself. Trubisky was asked about the possibility of making that idea come true and going from Mentor to North Carolina to the Browns.

"It's kind of crazy," Trubisky told cleveland.com Monday. "I try not to look too far down the road, but if that opportunity comes I think it would be a dream come true to go back home and play for the hometown team. Honestly, it would really be a blessing to play anywhere in the NFL and have that opportunity to play at the highest level."

You may zero in on "dream come true" and "hometown team," if you'd like. This would be different than what happened with Brian Hoyer in Cleveland or what might have happened with Cardale Jones.

Before the 2016 NFl Draft I warned of the Browns taking Jones in a later round as a quarterback in waiting, figuring the extra attention on the hometown guy wouldn't be good for the team. We saw that was the case when Hoyer, a St. Ignatius grad, went 10-6 as a starter in 2013 and 2014.

If the hometown guy is a maybe, his personal status as a native unnecessarily complicates things.

If the hometown guy is the guy, then where he grew up should only rally fans around a player who is clearly being handed the job and given a chance regardless of where he's from.

In our latest edition of the Browns Future QB Tracker, which aims to identify the player who will lock down the quarterback position in Cleveland for at least the next five years or so, we're looking at Trubisky as a late first-round pick in 2017 who is drafted to be the starting quarterback.

Not compete to be the starting quarterback. Not maybe the starting quarterback.

Be the starting quarterback.

It's too early to know everything about Trubisky, who is 4-1 in five career starts. But he just ripped up Florida State, completing 31 of 38 passes for 405 yards and three touchdowns in a 37-35 comeback win.

That was his third straight 400-yard game, and he is 90 for 111 for 1,290 yards and 11 touchdowns over that three-game ... wait, can someone get him to Cleveland for this week?

Trubisky is a redshirt junior, so we don't know when he'll enter the draft, 2017 or 2018. And we don't know exactly where he fits as a potential 2017 prospect after DeShone Kizer and Deshaun Watson.

But we know where he might fit as a pro.

"I don't see it as pressure," Trubisky said of a potential career in Cleveland. "I see it more as a great opportunity. There's a lot of variables. I think we're talking about a lot of what-ifs and who knows, that might not be the right situation for me. If it's meant to be it's meant to be."

On to this week's tracker, where we list the percent chance each candidate has to be the answer at quarterback.

Browns Future QB Tracker, Week 4 

* Mitch Trubisky, North Carolina, 16 percent: The possibility of it being meant to be is enough for us. Trubisky will have to see how he compares to other quarterback prospects like Brad Kaaya and Chad Kelly. But we're putting him on the radar as a potential choice for the Browns with the first-round pick they acquired from Philadelphia in the Carson Wentz deal. Last week: 1 percent

* Bruce Feldman of FOX Sports on Trubisky

* Dane Brugler of CBSSports.com on Trubisky

* Cody Kessler, Browns, 16 percent: In his second start, Kessler was 28 of 40 for 223 yards, but his QB rating of 86.1 was 24th in the league. We can't get a true read on Kessler until the Browns ask him to make some plays down the field. 

So far, he's managing the game and making smart plays for a rookie. Before the end of the season, the Browns will ask for more. Last week: 17 percent

* DeShone Kizer, Notre Dame, 16 percent: Trubisky is the leader if the Browns go quarterback with a late first-round pick in 2017. Kessler is the leader if they don't draft a quarterback at all in 2017. Kizer is the leading candidate if they go quarterback with the overall No. 1 pick.

Kizer had a monster game in a win over Syracuse, completing 23 of 35 passes for 471 yards. That's more than 20 yards per completion, which is nuts.

As the only winless team in the league, that No. 1 pick is there for the taking. Kizer seems to be pulling away from Deshaun Watson as the No. 1 QB prospect for 2017, as Watson was good but inconsistent in a win over Louisville.

We explained last week why defensive end Myles Garrett of Texas A&M could force the Browns to go defense if they have the No. 1 pick. But Kizer could do enough this season to force the Browns his way as well. Last week: 16 percent

* Lamar Jackson, Louisville 13 percent: We've settled on Jackson as the most likely choice in Scenario No. 4 - waiting to take a quarterback in 2018. Louisville didn't beat Clemson on Saturday, but Jackson kept rolling as the Heisman favorite and a contender to be the top QB taken, maybe at No. 1, in 2018. He didn't shrink in a big game, throwing for 295 yards and running for 162. He's a true sophomore, so he has the rest of this season and another full year to learn under Bobby Petrino, a sharp offseason mind. 

Jackson will get better, maybe much better, and the 2017 season could include throws and offensive sets designed to get him ready for the NFL. Coaches will do that. For now, he's rare. Keep watching, but the guess is he's not going to stop doing what he is doing. Last week: 14 percent

* Deshaun Watson, Clemson, 12 percent: We originally had Watson lower if he's losing the debate with Kizer. Here's what to watch, as we declared the winless Browns not hopeless this week.

If the Browns win a few games, and look headed more toward the No. 3 or No. 4 pick than the No. 1 pick, Watson's percentage will shoot way up, because he would be the obvious choice if Kizer and Garrett are gone before the Browns pick. Last week: 15 percent

* Chad Kelly, Ole Miss, 9 percent: In the mix, but now behind Tribusky, as a candidate to be a late first-round choice, he threw for 361 yards in a win over Memphis. Last week: 10 percent

* Brad Kaaya, Miami, 6 percent: Same spot as Kelly, threw for 241 yards in a win over Georgia Tech. Last week: 9 percent

* Josh Rosen, UCLA, 6 percent: The sophomore is sliding as Jackson takes over as the leader of the 2018 options. But he was good in a win over Arizona, throwing for 350 yards and three scores. Last week: 12 percent

* Jimmy Garoppolo, 3 percent: We dropped him out last week after the Patriots won without him in week three behind third-stringer Jacoby Brissett. Sunday, Brissett and the Patriots were shut out by Buffalo. Not it's not that just any quarterback can win in New England.

Jimmy G goes back to the bench with Tom Brady's return this week, but fans in Browns stadium should be watching the sideline Sunday and trying to picture Garoppolo in Cleveland full-time. A point to consider though - New England offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels could take a head coaching job after this season and bring Garoppolo with him. That wouldn't be to Cleveland. Last week: 0 percent

* Sam Bradford, 2 percent: The Vikings are 4-0 and Bradford was sharp against the Giants, completing 72 percent of his passes for 262 yards. But Minnesota is winning because of defense, and there are too many other good options to put too much stock in Bradford's limited upside. Last week: 5 percent

* Terrelle Pryor, Browns, 1 percent: He fills up the room like a quarterback. His personality sets a tone for the locker room on and off the field. As long as he keeps filling that role as a voice of the team, the receiver and former QB will earn a one percent spot here. Last week: 1 percent

Previous Browns Future QB reader voting

Week 1: Deshaun Watson 40%; DeShone Kizer 37%; J.T. Barrett 6%

Week 2: DeShone Kizer 35%; Deshaun Watson 25%; Cody Kessler 13%

Week 3: Cody Kessler 42%; Deshaun Watson 18%; DeShone Kizer 12%

Previous Browns Future QB Trackers

Week 1: Deshaun Watson leads way

Week 2: Lamar Jackson enters picture

Week 3: Cody Kessler makes a case

Muny League to Glenville to Ohio State: Marshon Lattimore and Chris Worley 'made each other great'

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Marshon Lattimore, left, and Chris Worley have been friends for life. Now they're starting together on the same Ohio State defense. Watch video

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The PA announcer was presenting the packed Ohio Stadium crowd with the starting lineups and Marshon Lattimore and Chris Worley saw their faces pop up on the big screen. 

That's not when it all sunk in. 

Their special moment occurred minutes before the season-opener, right when the pregame team drills finished. Lattimore and Worley met each other in the middle of the field and shared a handshake in front of 100,000 people. 

"In that moment," Worley said, "we looked at each other and just knew we made it. Everything we dreamed about, it was real. The dream came true."

To get to the root of where this dream began, you have to rewind back 15 years, before they spent a few seasons on Ohio State's bench together; before their recruitments; before they were high school teammates at Glenville; before middle school; before Little League; before they were men. 

Go all the way back to when they were five years old discovering football in Cleveland's Muny League, first discovering the sport that would not only define their friendship, but their lives.

"Since they were five and I was coaching them in the Muny League, football was the only thing that mattered to them," Chris Worley Sr. told cleveland.com on Wednesday. "They were only kids, man, but the two of them were so competitive, you could tell there was something special.

Chris Worley, Marshon Lattimore kidsChris Worley, left, and Marshon Lattimore playing together in Cleveland's Muny League when they were kids.  

"Even when they won games and they both played great, they'd be mad they didn't do more. We're talking about five-year-olds. CJ (Worley) would get quiet and not talk. Marshon would cry. They could never play good enough in their own heads, even when they won.

"They pushed each other so hard every single day. They made each other great." 

Ohio State has signed 22 Glenville players since 2002, so having Tarblooders travel through the high school ranks and into Buckeye uniforms together isn't unique. 

The bond Lattimore and Worley share is. 

Because both dreamed of being Buckeyes together before it was even possible for them to realize how big that dream actually is. And since they were five -- through the countless laughs, fights, competitions and games you'd expect from kids who practically lived together -- they never lost sight of the big picture. 

Worley, LattimoreChris Worley (top) and Marshon Lattimore in their Muny League football pictures.  

"When they were kids, maybe 10, we had a championship game in Columbus, and I remember how excited they were just to be in Columbus," Worley's mother, Michelle Bandy, told cleveland.com. "I remember taking them to Ohio Stadium. We didn't have tickets, just outside, and we took pictures. Both of them looked up and they said, 'We are going here.' How could kids that young be so sure? 

"But do you want to know something? I've never believed anybody or anything more in my life." 

By the time Lattimore and Worley reached high school, Glenville coach Ted Ginn Sr. could identify they were Ohio State-good.

Ginn gave them both a rough time, like when he dressed up Lattimore in a No. 97 jersey and made him play running back on the junior varsity team. Or when he looked at Worley, who wanted to be a safety, and told him he needed to "go up a shirt size" so he could play linebacker, his eventual college position.

"You knew they were special, though," Ginn said, smiling. "You knew." 

Like all the elite-level athletes at Glenville, Worley and Lattimore got scholarships from top programs all over the country. Worley, who is a year older than Lattimore, was the target of a late push from Florida State. Alabama was all over Lattimore

But even as the two went through their recruitments, they ended up at Ohio State like most top Glenville kids. But that wasn't Ginn's doing, it was that 15-year-old dream that paved the way from Cleveland to Columbus. 

"Sometimes during the recruiting process CJ would say he wanted to go somewhere else," Bandy said. "I'd say, 'Stop it. You know you're going to Ohio State.' He knew I was right."

Even when Lattimore and Worley ended up at Ohio State a year apart, the dream wasn't complete. For people who cried after wins as children, simply being on the roster couldn't be enough. 

Both had to wait for this. 

Chris WorleyOhio State linebacker Chris Worley is second on the team in tackles. 

Worley redshirted as a freshman and when he tried to crack the lineup in his second year, he went neck-and-neck with Darron Lee. Worley suffered a minor injury early in 2014, and Lee ran away with the position. Lee went on to be a first-round NFL Draft pick, so Worley was trapped behind him on the depth chart for two full years

"That's how it is at Ohio State," Lattimore said. "But we always talked to each other about that kind of stuff. We kept each other up." 

Worley returned the favor with Lattimore, who spent his first two seasons at Ohio State plagued by chronic hamstring injuries that required surgery to fix. Two years on the shelf was long enough for people to wonder if Lattimore would ever play at this level.

"I was with him through all of that," Worley said. "We knew he'd get through it."

Now look at them.

A redshirt junior, Worley is in his first year starting and is second on the team in tackles with 21. 

Marshon Lattimore INTMarshon Lattimore's teammates celebrate with him after his pick-six in the first half of the Tulsa game.  

A redshirt sophomore, Lattimore is in his first year starting and is part of a four-man cornerback rotation. But Lattimore has three interceptions through Ohio State's first four games -- including a pick-six against Tulsa -- and could be on the verge of becoming one of the best defensive backs in college football. 

"That pick-six," Worley said, "was probably the greatest moment of the year for me. It's just amazing to see your brother do something like that."

Listen to that.

It isn't fake.

They're brothers. 

Remember that the next time Worley and Lattimore are together on the field.

Remember this was 15 years in the making. 

Which of these finalists should win September Person of the Month? (poll)

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Who should be cleveland.com's Person of the Month for September? Get to know our candidates and then tell us who inspires you.

October baseball has returned to Cleveland, where it's all about butterflies, pressure and playing on the grand stage

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Many of the Indians will venture into uncharted territory once they take the field for introductions on Thursday night. It's a new dawn, a new day, a new life and they're feeling -- well, nervous and anxious as can be. Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Mike Clevinger and his girlfriend, Monica, started to picture the scene. They envisioned the capacity crowd and the camera flashes and the palpable energy.

Timeout.

"We both were like, 'All right, we have to stop," Clevinger said. "'The anxiety is getting too rough right now and we're not even on the field yet.'"

Three years and three days after their last postseason appearance -- and it was a brief one -- the Indians will host a playoff game at Progressive Field.

October baseball, once an annual rite in Cleveland, has finally returned.

The grounds crew painted the American League Division Series emblem onto the grass on each baseline on Wednesday afternoon. The newly planted flag in center field, which boasts the club's claim as AL Central champions, shimmied in the stiff, autumn breeze. The team applied new murals of last week's celebration in Detroit onto the walls near the home clubhouse. Staff members furiously stitched postseason decals onto players' uniforms.

Many of the Indians will venture into uncharted territory once they take the field for introductions on Thursday night. It's a new dawn, a new day, a new life and they're feeling -- well, nervous and anxious as can be.

"I've tried to keep it distant and stay loose and think of it as just another game," Clevinger said. "That's really hard to do, especially with the environment like it's going to be. But I'm pumped to get to that environment."

Clevinger, a rookie, has experienced his major-league debut, the birth of his first child and a season's worth of ups and downs on the mound in 2016. He said he feels like he's "living a lifetime in one year." He isn't the only one coping with the stress and the jitters of high-stakes baseball. No one is immune to the circumstances.

Behind the scenes of Clevinger's debut

"Everyone is going to go out there and have butterflies," said Mike Napoli, who will be appearing in the postseason for the eighth time in 10 years. "It's just how it is. You're on the biggest stage. A lot more people are watching, a lot more media.

"You just have to slow it down. Once the first inning is over, you settle in and go and play the game. It's almost like you're in a bubble. You don't really hear the fans. You're going out there and letting your talent go to work. It's going to be a fun time."

Indians have waited a long time for this

Only eight of the 25 players on the Indians' roster for the 2013 Wild Card Game remain on the club's ALDS roster three years later. That night at Progressive Field, the Indians soaked in the atmosphere, fell short against the Rays and then embarked on their off-season vacations.

"We had a little glimpse in 2013," said second baseman Jason Kipnis.

This will be more like an unobstructed gaze, with a guarantee of at least three games and an opportunity for many more. It's daunting to consider, for a team that hasn't scored a postseason run in nine years. But no player would prefer any other situation.

"I've been talking to Roberto [Perez] and maybe a couple other guys who weren't there [in 2013] or haven't been a part of that," said catcher Yan Gomes. "I had goosebumps going to warm up the pitcher. That's how loud our crowd already was.

"I can't wait. It's going to be fun."

Suburban League, LEL take shape: 11 football games to watch in Week 7

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The Suburban League National Division crown could be determined Friday when Stow visits Hudson. Also, Cleveland Heights and Bedford vie for the Lake Erie League as the high school football regular season enters Week 7.


Riverside vs. Cuyahoga Falls: Which marching band is better? (semifinal poll, photos, videos)

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Riverside and Cuyahoga Falls will now square off in the semifinal round of cleveland.com's Best Marching Band contest.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Riverside Regiment and the Cuyahoga Falls Black Tigers will now square off in the semifinal round of cleveland.com's quest to find the Best High School Marching Band in Greater Cleveland.

We encourage you to vote hourly in the poll below for the band you want to make the championship round.

Riverside and Cuyahoga Falls are among the four semifinalists that advanced from a group of eight quarterfinalists earlier this week.

Now voting resets as the contest continues in the bracketed tournament format. Make sure you vote often as more than 99,000 overall votes were cast in the quarterfinal round.

Voting in both of the semifinal matchups is open until Wednesday, Oct. 12 at 7 a.m.

Votes must come from the United States and do not carry over from previous weeks. When casting your vote, be sure to complete the captcha step that appears after you click "vote."

Semifinal winners will advance to the finals, which will begin Thursday, Oct. 13.

Cleveland.com will send reporters to cover each band at the final four and final two rounds, including videos and photos.

Tonight, a reporter will be covering Riverside's band during its performance at Brush for the football game. Another reporter will be at Cuyahoga Falls tonight for its band's performance in the Black Tigers' football game against Nordonia.

If you can't wait to see these bands in action this weekend, watch the videos below:

Riverside Regiment at West Geauga:

Cuyahoga Falls Black Tigers performance at Hudson:

Berea-Midpark vs. Shaker Heights: Which marching band is better? (semifinal poll, photos, videos)

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Best Marching Band semifinalists Berea-Midpark and Shaker Heights go head-to-head in a race to find who's best.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Bands from Berea-Midpark and Shaker Heights are now competing in the semifinals of cleveland.com's quest to find the Best High School Marching Band in Greater Cleveland.

We encourage you to vote hourly for the band you want to make the championship round in the poll below.

Berea-Midpark and Shaker Heights are among the four semifinalists that advanced from a group of eight quarterfinalists earlier this week.

Now voting resets as the contest continues in the bracketed tournament format. Make sure you vote often as more than 99,000 overall votes were cast in the quarterfinal round.

Voting in both of the semifinal matchups is open until Wednesday, Oct. 12 at 7 a.m.

Votes must come from the United States and do not carry over from previous weeks. When casting your vote, be sure to complete the captcha step that appears after you click "vote."

Semifinal winners will advance to the finals, which will begin Thursday, Oct. 13.

Cleveland.com will send reporters to cover each band at the final four and final two rounds, including videos and photos.

Tonight, reporter Hannah Drown will be covering Berea-Midpark's band during its performance at Avon Lake for the football game. And Drown will be in Shaker Heights on Saturday afternoon for its band's performance in the Raiders' football game against Brunswick.

If you want to see video before the games take place this weekend, see below for video of the two schools performing.

The Berea-Midpark Titans enjoy their home opener Sept. 2:

A variety of songs were played during this performance by Shaker Heights' marching band:

Final four bands: Vote in semifinals to crown Best High School Marching Band in Greater Cleveland (polls, photos)

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It's down to the final four schools in the Best High School Marching Band contest.

CLEVELAND, Ohio - The competition to determine the best high school marching band in Greater Cleveland is down to the final four: Riverside, Cuyahoga Falls, Shaker Heights and Berea-Midpark.

And now that we're in the semifinals, cleveland.com reporters will be visiting each band during this weekend's football games for features, videos and photos to be published Monday.

Scroll down to vote in both of the semifinal polls.

We encourage you to vote hourly for the bands you want to see advance to the championship round. Voting ends Wednesday, Oct. 12 at 7 a.m.

The four semifinalists, selected by our readers in online polls earlier this week from eight quarterfinalists, are continuing to compete in the bracketed tournament.

More than 97,000 votes were cast in the quarterfinal round to create these two matchups:

No. 1 Riverside Regiment vs. No. 4 Cuyahoga Falls Black Tigers

No. 6 Shaker Heights Raiders vs. No. 7 Berea-Midpark Titans 

Voting in each semifinal matchup is open until Wednesday, Oct. 12 at 7 a.m., so rally your school and community to vote early and often. Votes must come from the United States and do not carry over from previous weeks.

When casting your vote, be sure to complete the captcha step that appears after you click "vote."

After this round, the final two schools will compete in the championship round, which will begin Oct. 13. Cleveland.com will again feature the two finalists during football games that week.

Cleveland.com's "Best of" team will visit the winning band during its game Oct. 20-22 and present the band with an award.

Check back on cleveland.com/best throughout the contest for ongoing coverage.

Ohio State vs. Indiana: A Glenville reunion, and the fading wave of Tarblooders in major college football

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How many Glenville players are in major college football right now? The answer may surprise you.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Ted Ginn Sr. still sees talent when he looks out onto the newly-installed turf at Bump Taylor Field.

Glenville has always had talent. You don't become a feeder high school program to Ohio State, and other Big Ten schools without it.

But over the last few recruiting classes, something has changed. Ohio State, and those other Big Ten and high-major programs aren't viewing the talent at Glenville the same way Ginn is.

"Because of the people we've had here, the evaluation period is a little different," Ginn told cleveland.com. "They expect more of them. A lot of times you can get punished for your success."

When the Buckeyes host Indiana on Saturday, the Glenville pipeline will appear alive and well. You'll see three former Tarblooders playing for Ohio State -- linebacker Chris Worley, cornebrack Marshon Lattimore and safety Erick Smith -- and one for Indiana, running back Devine Redding.

That's the same as it ever was. But looks can be deceiving.

You don't have to go far back to remember Glenville at its peak, when it was a powerhouse on the field and churning out players to Power 5 colleges at a rate that could rival any high school in the country.

That's different now. You'll see four Tarblooders on the field Saturday in Columbus, and there are only two others across all of major college football.

"It is kind of disheartening to not see as many," Worley told cleveland.com.

It's Worley, Lattimore, Smith and Redding along with Frank Sumpter and Justin Hardee at Illinois. That's it for Glenville players at Power 5 schools.

There are other Glenville players all over the place at different levels. A few guys in the MAC, one at Cincinnati, plenty at Division II, Division III and junior colleges across Ohio and the country. That shouldn't get lost in this.

Ginn's mission at Glenville is to take kids away from the lures of life in the streets, and give them a way to a better life through education and football. In that, he is succeeding as much as he ever has. He sent players to Alabama State, Fordham and other schools just last year.

"Everyone doesn't have to go to Power 5 schools," Worley said. "That's not everyone's destiny. Everyone's journey is a little different. Just as long as those kids get a chance at life, that's the biggest thing."

So remember that as we explore this break in the Glenville-to-Power 5 pipeline. Not all is broken. It's just different.

Think about when Ginn really had things humming. Ohio State signed 22 Glenville players from 2002 to 2014. That connection has been well-documented.

Our 2014 series on the OSU-Glenville connection

This is about more than that, though. From 2010 to 2015, Glenville had 17 players sign with seven different Power 5 schools: Ohio State, Michigan, Miami (Fla.), USC, Indiana, Illinois and Iowa. 

We've gone from that, to six. And those six could be the final wave for the time being.

"I didn't realize that, that it was that small of a number," Lattimore told cleveland.com.

The guys playing now are on their way out. Hardee is a senior at Illinois. It's not crazy to think Worley and Lattimore could leave Ohio State after this year.

Even if they don't leave, Glenville didn't have a player sign with a major program in the 2016 recruiting class, and it doesn't look like it will have one in 2017 or 2018. The numbers are dwindling.

It's a staggering difference from just a few years ago, the 2014 season, when there were 13 Glenville players across Power 5 programs.

Marshon LattimoreOhio State cornerback Marshon Lattimore (2) is tied for second in the country with three interceptions.  

"That's the expectation that people have for what has happened in the past," Ginn said. "It's a new time, it's a new era. Sometimes we were gifted to be able to develop some kids."

It is a new time, and it's not going to get any easier for Ginn to change it.

Both Lattimore and Worley said that something that's always kept Glenville from having even more talent were kids torn between the streets and football who chose the former.

"We have friends who were some of the best players we've been around -- basketball or football- who resorted to that," Lattimore said.

That's not changing. In fact, Ginn said it's getting more difficult.

"Kids have more distractions," Ginn said. "It's hard for me to really motivate or make them believe. It's not really about this (football) field, it's what the field can do for you."

And now he has fewer success stories at the major college level to point to, and the number is only getting smaller. That's not helping things either.

Ginn says Glenville changed when he got sick

None of this changes what Ginn has done, and is still doing at Glenville.

When Ginn looks out onto his field, he sees players like defensive back Coby Bryant, quarterback Jamel Hamm and defensive end Daymon Williams. Those kids will play college football. Maybe not at the highest level, but they'll play.

There's nothing wrong with sending kids to Bowling Green, Lake Erie College, Alabama State or a community college. Those aren't failures. Any time a kid gets to college, any college, that's a success.

But what Glenville did at its peak, sending all of those kids to Power 5 programs, deserves recognition. And if this is the end of that for the immediate future, well let's recognize that as well.

It's been an impressive run.

"We may not have all of those guys going to Power 5 schools," Worley said. "But as long as they're still going to college, still doing things with their life and not in the street, we're still proud."

Can Cleveland Indians lineup match firepower of Boston Red Sox? - Talkin' Tribe with Terry Pluto, Bill Livingston, Dennis Manoloff (video)

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The Cleveland Indians have a versatile lineup and get production in many ways, but how will it match up with the Boston Red Sox when the 2016 ALDS opens Thursday night at Progressive Field? Plain Dealer staffers discuss that in this video. Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cleveland Indians rank near the top of the American League in several offensive categories ... right behind the Boston Red Sox in most of them. The Indians and Red Sox open the American League Division Series tonight at 7 in Progressive Field.

The Indians lineup is a versatile and diverse group that gets production in several ways throughout the order.

There is power -- Mike Napoli and Carlos Santana with 34 homers each, five others in double digits (Jason Kipnis 23, Francisco Lindor 15, Tyler Naquin 14, Rajai Davis 12, Jose Ramirez 11).

There is run production -- Five players have more than 75 RBI: Napoli 101, Santana 87, Kipnis 82, Lindor 78 and Ramirez 76.

There are .300 hitters -- Ramirez (.312) and Lindor (.301) topped the mark and Naquin (.296) just missed.

There is speed -- Four players with double-digit steals, led by AL leader Rajai Davis with 43 (Ramirez 22, Lindor 19, Jason Kipnis 15).

The outfield is the perfect example of the Indians diversity: Six players share playing time with none of them a regular everyday player. Yet the group combined ranks second offensively in the American League.

Plain Dealer columnists Terry Pluto and Bill Livingston, along with reporter Dennis Manoloff, discuss the Tribe lineup in this roundtable, the fourth of five videos previewing the Indians-Red Sox series. Check back later today for the final installment and see the previous videos below.

Inside the numbers on J.T. Barrett's historic day in Ohio State's win over Rutgers

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Barrett set a new Ohio State record for career passing touchdowns vs. Rutgers. Here's a closer look at his numbers from that day. Watch video

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- J.T. Barrett wanted to hone in on his passing game during Ohio State's bye week leading up to last Saturday's game against Rutgers.

The thing that he wanted to improve the most? His accuracy on leading receivers, and giving them a chance to continue the play after making the catch.

How did he do? We'll get to that in second.

First, let's acknowledge history one more time.

Barrett finished 21 of 29 for 239 yards, four touchdowns and one interception in the win. His third passing touchdown gave him 58 for his career, and set a new school record.

Barrett will have more, because he's thriving in this offense right now.

He' on pace for 42 passing touchdowns, which is eight more than he had in 2014 -- his only other full season as a starter. And that's only factoring in a 12-game season. Ohio State will play more than 12 games this year.

But before we start projecting how Barrett will finish, let's look closer at the Rutgers game. Here's Barrett's passing chart from the win over the Scarlet Knights:

Rutgers Chart 

One thing that immediately jumps out is that Barrett was better throwing the ball downfield between the numbers. Coming into the game he was 1 for 4 on the season on throws 10 yards or more downfield in the middle of the field.

Not only did he challenge himself with more of them against Rutgers, he was 4 for 4 in the middle of the field between 10-19 yards. That's a big step for a quarterback who likes to work the sidelines as much as Barrett does.

What Barrett worked on in the bye week

So let's talk about Barrett trying to improve his accuracy on crossing routes. It didn't start great. On the first series Barrett threw an interception on a ball that was thrown behind an open James Clark.

If Barrett puts this ball out in front of Clark, it may not have been a touchdown, but Clark would have been in a position to get a few yards after the catch, and the ball would not have been tipped by the defender.

I would say Barrett was slightly improved, but still not great on these kind of throws against Rutgers. This one was a good one, a ball to Marcus Baugh over the middle of the field that enabled Baugh to take the extra few steps he needed for a touchdown.

I think it would be fair classify Barrett's accuracy as a bit erratic this season. But he made some nice throws against Rutgers. A couple of back-shoulder throws to Parris Campbell helped Ohio State get down the field for a score late in the second quarter.

And this throw to Curtis Samuel in the two-minute drill was nothing fancy, but Barrett put Samuel in a position to score.

Barrett's season-long numbers

Completing 21 of 29 passes against Rutgers obviously helped Barrett improve his completion percentage, which was already pretty good to begin with.

On the season Barrett is 70 of 102 (68.6 percent) for 888 yard, 14 touchdowns and two interceptions. Here's how those numbers break down in the season-long passing chart:

Season Chart 

Barrett spread the ball around a ton against Rutgers, targeting 10 different receivers and completing at least one pass to nine of them.

So here are Barrett's top five passing targets through four games:

1. Curtis Samuel, 24 targets, 22 catches

2. Dontre Wilson, 15 targets, 12 catches

3. Noah Brown, 14 targets, 10 catches

4. Marcus Baugh, 12 targets, 5 catches

5. Parris Campbell, 8 targets, 6 catches

Cleveland Indians vs. Boston Red Sox ALDS Game 1: First pitch time, TV, radio and streaming info

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Find out where to watch, listen and stream the Cleveland Indians vs. Boston Red Sox ALDS series opener.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cleveland Indians open the 2016 American League Division Series tonight at home against the Boston Red Sox. Here's how to watch, listen and stream the action online.

What: Boston Red Sox vs. Cleveland Indians.
Where: Progressive Field.
When: 8:08 p.m.
TV: TBS.
Radio: WTAM, 1100 AM; WMMS, 100.7 FM.
Online: MLB.TV (premium subscription) 

Boston notable: The Red Sox have won their last two postseason matchups against the Indians, rallying from series deficits in both 1998 and 2007 to advance in the playoffs. 

Cleveland notable: The Indians return to the playoffs for the first time since 2013 after winning their first division title in nine seasons.

Catch the coverage from before the game; join in the live chat starting at tipoff; and stick around for full postgame coverage. For all Indians information, be sure to check out cleveland.com/tribe.


Doan Creek Trail Run takes racers on challenging tour of little-known urban forest: Stretching Out

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While taking part in the new Doan Creek Trail Run and getting some great exercise, I discovered a vast network of trails and spectacular forested sights, all within about three miles of my home. Watch video

Stretching Out

zachary-lewis-sig2.jpgZachary Lewis

WHAT NEXT?
Have a suggestion for an activity you think I should try? Send me an e-mail.

Previously
'Glow Fitness' class at Sky Zone takes group exercise concept to new heights

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Nothing beats a race in your own neighborhood. Unless, of course, that race also reveals a part of the world you never knew existed.

That was the case for me last Saturday, when I and a friend completed the inaugural Doan Creek Trail Run, a new long-distance race through the forested area at the junction of Cleveland, Cleveland Heights, and Shaker Heights.

There, I discovered more than just a vast network of trails, all within about three miles of my home, and a platform to great, free exercise. I reveled in the experience of a largely hidden world, a sanctuary complete with waterfalls, gnarly cliffs, an enormous dam, and practically mountainous climbs and descents. Had I been dropped into the area without context, I might have guessed I was far from civilization.

It'd been years since I last run in a serious trail race. Prior to Saturday, the last such event for me was the Buckeye Trail 50K, in 2009, a 31-mile trek through Cuyahoga Valley National Park. So draining was that event, I all but swore off long-distance trail contests.

Along, then, came an offer I couldn't refuse: the Doan Creek Trail Run (doancreektrailrun.com), boasting a start/finish line half a mile from home and the more manageable option of a 25K (15.5-mile) distance, in addition to a 50K ultra-marathon.

How we must have looked to passing cars. All I could think, as I ducked in and out of forest along such busy thoroughfares as Fairhill, North and South Park Blvds., and Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. was how bizarre must have been the sight of runners in places most (myself included) probably didn't even realize was open to foot traffic.

Come to think of it, most Northeast Ohioans probably aren't aware of Doan Creek at all. Many today no doubt have never heard of the waterway that powered the Shaker community, formed the Shaker Lakes, and still links Cleveland's east side to Lake Erie. I know I hadn't, until recently.

Trail running, too, remains a kind of open secret. Everyone knows how good running is for you. Far fewer, however, probably know that going off road not only betters the view but also increases the challenge and benefits enormously. Especially on varied, technical trails like those surrounding Doan Creek.

I can vouch for that claim personally. The first loop of the race's 7.5-mile course was pure fun, a difficult but pleasant journey, much of which I spent gawking at nature. Lap two, however, descended rapidly, like so many legs of the trail, into a whole-body effort.

I'm not sure what wore me down more quickly: the physical strain of running or the mental fatigue of having to watch and negotiate every single step. All I know is that by race's end, I was as tired as if I'd run a road marathon. Even my finish time of roughly 3 hours and 15 minutes was comparable to 26.2 miles.

In every other way, of course, the Doan Creek race was unique. Rare, after all, is the athletic event that takes place entirely in an urban forest. Scarcer still is the long-distance trail race that leaves me not running away screaming but pumped, raring to go again (next year). Thank you, Doan Creek. I'm back in the trail game.

Will Noah Brown be part of the plan? Outrageous predictions for Ohio State vs. Indiana

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Ohio State hosts Indiana on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. Watch video

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Noah Brown caught four touchdowns against Oklahoma, then caught one pass against Rutgers. Ohio State's receivers have become unpredictable, so saying one will have a multi-touchdown game would be outrageous.

Watch the the video above to hear outrageous predictions for Saturday's game between the Buckeyes and Indiana.

Ari Wasserman likes a big game for Brown, while Bill Landis thinks Indiana will do something no other team has done against Ohio State so far this season.

Ohio State and Indiana will kick off at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday at Ohio Stadium.

-- Subscribe to the Buckeye Talk podcast channel on iTunes

-- Follow cleveland.com's Ohio State coverage on Facebook and Instagram

-- Follow cleveland.com writers Doug LesmerisesAri Wasserman and Bill Landis on Twitter

-- Download the cleveland.com Ohio State app for iPhone and Android

Cleveland Indians vs. Boston Red Sox position-by-position matchups for ALDS: Who has the edge?

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The Indians and Red Sox open the American League Division Series on Thursday night at Progressive Field. The Indians reaches the best-of-five series by winning the AL Central with a 94-67 record, while Boston won the AL East at 93-69.

25 thoughts about the matchup between the Cleveland Indians and Boston Red Sox: Zack Meisel's musings

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Progressive Field will be packed. The venue will be loud. Players and coaches will have butterflies. And this is precisely what the Indians have longed for since they got a quick taste of it three years ago. Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Two topics created a buzz at the Winter Meetings in Nashville, Tennessee, last December.

The first, the Braves' heist of top overall draft selection Dansby Swanson from the Diamondbacks, had team officials, media members and employees at the Gaylord Opryland Resort scratching their heads.

Then, there was the Indians' dilemma. Would they deal away a starting pitcher in an effort to land some offense in the center of their lineup? They were linked to a handful of teams that had a spare bat. In the end, the Indians stood pat. It turned out to be the right decision, since Mike Napoli, a bargain of a free-agent signing, provided some sorely needed pop.

The rotation was thought to be the Indians' calling card. For certain stretches this season, it was. The unit paved the way for a franchise-record 14-game winning streak to commence a sterling summer.

The truth is, however, that the Indians have reached this juncture -- on the precipice of hosting their first American League Division Series affair in nine, long years -- in spite of their rotation.

When Josh Tomlin couldn't keep the baseball in the yard, when Danny Salazar couldn't determine if he was healthy or just struggling, when one of Carlos Carrasco's 206 bones split in two -- the Indians unearthed different ways to win. They have actually been playing October baseball for about a month now: rely heavily on the bullpen and deliver timely hits.

They're resigned to following that mantra in the ALDS, with a three-man rotation and a well-equipped 'pen in tow. Will it be enough to advance past a powerful Red Sox opponent?

October baseball returns to Cleveland

Here are 25 quick thoughts on the ALDS matchup.

1. Tribe manager Terry Francona offered the perfect quote about Trevor Bauer starting Game 1: "He's been waiting for this his whole life."

2. Bauer craves this sort of opportunity. He wants to be the best. He wants batters to feel helpless when they step in against him. He wants to win.

3. With Bauer, I'm more concerned about him setting a tone in Game 1 than returning on three days' rest in Game 4. If anyone's arm can handle the rigors associated with a shortened reprieve, it's his.

4. The Indians won't ask too much from Bauer, anyway. Francona should have a quick hook with any of his starters, given the ammunition he has in the bullpen.

5. No matchup is more enticing than Andrew Miller vs. David Ortiz. The slugger, whose career could end within the next week, is 0-for-5 with three strikeouts against Miller since the southpaw transitioned into a relief role four years ago.

Miller vs. Ortiz: matchup to watch

6. The past history doesn't mean much; it's a minuscule sample size, and Ortiz tends to own the October stage. Still, I wouldn't be shocked to see the two lock horns in every game of the series.

7. That prompts a question about the Indians' roster choices. Why not include Kyle Crockett on the roster? Forget Ortiz. He should be Miller's responsibility. But the Red Sox figure to include four lefties and a switch-hitter in their lineup. Surely, Crockett could have contributed.

8. Rick Porcello is having a career year, sure. David Price has been one of the league's better pitchers over the last decade, yes. But while much has been made of the Indians' lackluster starting pitching, little has been discussed about Boston's uninspiring bunch.

9. Clay Buchholz (8-10, 4.78 ERA) will start Game 3 at Fenway Park. Eduardo Rodriguez (3-7, 4.71 ERA) will start Game 4. The starting pitching matchups for this series are about even.

10. I don't put much stock into career postseason numbers, because there are too many variables in play. That said, Price is 2-7 with a 5.12 ERA across 63 1/3 innings in the playoffs. Both victories came in relief.

11. Everyone will have jitters on Thursday night, from rookie Mike Clevinger, to eight-time postseason competitor Mike Napoli, to the person selling cotton candy in the upper deck. Napoli said it takes him an inning to block out his surroundings. Clevinger started to envision the atmosphere earlier this week before the anxiety became overwhelming.

12. Yan Gomes' comeback is nothing short of remarkable. Three weeks ago, he sat in a hospital room, crying, after he learned he had suffered a broken bone in his hand. His season should have been over. There's no doubt that he inspired his teammates with his return.

13. Imagine, for a second, that the Indians win Game 1. They would then have to win two of four, with Kluber available to start twice and two of those games taking place at Progressive Field. That's not a bad spot to be in. The Indians need Game 1.

14. Boston's lineup produced a .282/.348/.461 slash line as a whole. Essentially, their average hitter was Jason Kipnis.

15. The Indians' offense shouldn't be ignored, though. Cleveland ranked second in the AL in runs scored, a result of a balanced lineup -- who would've thought that was possible without Michael Brantley? -- and plenty of aggression on the basepaths.

Gomes makes ALDS roster

16. Jose Ramirez's helmet flew off of his head 57 times during the regular season. The more that happens, the better for the Indians.

17. Not only did the Indians rank second in the AL in scoring, but they also ranked second in the AL in ERA. That's hard to do.

18. The Indians can skate by with a three-man rotation in the ALDS because of off-days -- which allows the bullpen to recover -- and the fact that the series can't persist past five games. I have no idea how the Indians would patch together a potential seven-game series in the ALCS. They'll cross that bridge if necessary, I suppose.

19. There are a lot of familiar faces in this series, from Napoli and Francona facing their former franchise, to Francona managing against one of his best friends and former teammate John Farrell, Boston's skipper. Red Sox general manager Mike Hazen used to work in the Indians' front office. Miller started to revamp his career when pitching for Boston a few years back.

20. Brantley and Carrasco have spent plenty of time around their teammates over the last two weeks. Brantley plays cards with Tomlin or Napoli or Bryan Shaw every day. Carrasco parades around the clubhouse with his bright pink cast.

21. It meant a lot to the rest of the roster to have those bitten by the injury bug at Comerica Park for the Indians' champagne celebration after they clinched the division on Sept. 26.

Everyone joins in on celebration

22. Maybe the team will run out of steam, unable to survive October's demands without some of their most effective weapons. Either way, having Brantley and Carrasco around to watch the team tackle its first postseason series in nearly a decade paints a portrait of resiliency, which has been the team's theme since April.

23. The Indians led the majors with 11 walk-off wins. Despite losing Carrasco and Salazar, September proved to be the club's second-best month, record-wise. The Indians amassed an 18-11 mark once August ended.

24. Progressive Field will be packed. The venue will be loud. Players and coaches will have butterflies. And this is precisely what the Indians have longed for since they got a quick taste of it three years ago.

25. Said Napoli: "It's going to be a fun time, a time that a lot of people haven't [been through], but it'll be fun to experience it with them."

Indian Summer: How Tribe defied the odds

Kay Felder showed LeBron James, Cavs he 'definitely can play'

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Kay Felder had a great preseason debut for the Cavs, but is too young, and this team is too good, to hand over too much responsibility to a rookie, at least this early in the year. Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- For a team like the Cavs, full of stars and expected to reach for them, Kay Felder is an imperfect fit.

He's a rookie. A second-round pick. Twenty-one.

But he's got at least one thing going for him.

"He definitely can play," Cavs coach Tyronn Lue said of Felder after the Cavs won their preseason opener, 117-102 over Orlando Wednesday night.

As far as professional debuts go, Felder's was a good one. In 23 minutes off the bench, Felder scored 14 points on 7-of-11 shooting -- most of his points coming nifty and occasionally gritty drives to the hoop.

Felder added four rebounds, two assists, and two steals. He went on his own 6-0 run early in the second quarter -- all on layups -- with one bucket coming after he picked off Mario Hezonja's pass.

Defending champ Cavs, more or less, cruise over Magic

"I'm kind of used to that, having the ball in my hands a lot at Oakland," Felder said, referring to his college days at Oakland University in Michigan. "I'm used to going on a run by myself but I couldn't have done it without those guys setting screens and shooters spreading the floor for me to get those open lanes."

Well, yes. On the floor with Felder at the time were Mike Dunleavy, Channing Frye, and Richard Jefferson -- all capable 3-point shooters. Jordan McRae was out there too; all he did was lead both teams with 20 points.

Dunleavy and Jefferson are 15-years older than Felder, while Frye has 12 years on him. And of course LeBron James, Kyrie Irving, and Kevin Love are on this team -- a defending NBA champion team.

And now you see why Lue didn't start Felder Wednesday night, even though Irving was out and Felder is the only other true point guard on the roster. He's too young, and this team is too good, to hand over too much responsibility to a rookie, at least this early in the year.

"To throw a rookie into the fire of a championship team and all the scrutiny that surrounds this team and the pressure of winning, I just don't want to do that to him," Lue said. "But he's a great player and we know that, so we're going to bring him along slow and I think he'll be fine."

The Cavs paid the Atlanta Hawks $2.4 million for their second-round draft choice in June, and then used the pick to take Felder. Cleveland's college scout, Brandon Weems, was an assistant on Oakland's coaching staff for two of Felder's three seasons there.

Shortly thereafter, Irving's previous backup, Matthew Dellavedova, signed an offer sheet for $39 million to play for the Milwaukee Bucks, and he was gone. And right before training camp, Mo Williams retired, leaving the Cavs with a bit of a quandary.

For all the reasons stated above, they didn't just want to hand the reins of the second offense to Felder. They've been working DeAndre Liggins (who started Wednesday night) and McRae at the point, and James plays much of the second quarter with Cleveland's second unit and handles the ball. It's one reason the Cavs could get away with playing Liggins or McRae -- who are 6-6 and 6-5, respectively -- behind Irving.

Lue said Felder was a little gun shy making the right passes against the Magic, that he was bothered by its "bigger guys" with their "bigger hands."

"In practice he's been making the right plays and the right pass," Lue said.

Lue said Felder can overcome his height disadvantage on defense by picking up opposing guards full court, pressuring them as soon as they catch the ball under their own basket. And Felder should get used to passing the ball through, around, over, and under bigger lineups.

James, who played the rough equivalent of one quarter (scoring seven points with six assists), said he thought Felder played "great."

"When you have a guy like that, he's always going to have a chip on his shoulder because he's probably been overlooked for a long time," James said. "He comes from a great university and he's played some great basketball over the last few years, and hopefully he can continue that which we know he can because he's going to learn from some of the best here."
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