You say you want an evolution, well you know, we all wanna change the world . . .

View full sizeAP FileCould Charles Darwin and his theory be behind the declining run totals in Major League Baseball?

Cleveland, Ohio -- For baseball purists (which is the snobbish way those of us who prefer a 1-0 pitching duel over a 12-11 slugfest refer to ourselves), this is setting out to be a banner year.

Runs and home runs are down. And we're not buying that whole 'roid reason thing as a plausible argument. Yeah, baseball has cracked down on the use of performance-enhancing drugs (right, Manny Ramirez?), and that's a good thing.

But hitters weren't the only ones who used 'em, which may in itself be a reason to put asterisks on the asterisks that lots of people insist upon when compiling juice-era stats.

It could be that pitchers like Roger Clemens - who continues to lie, er, DENY ever having used 'roids - and the Indians' own Paul Byrd, who admitted buying human growth hormone, were just trying to even the playing field.

That, however, is a debate for another time. And, if you ask Tribe skipper Manny Acta, as the Akron Beacon Journal's Sheldon Ocker did, baseball's aggressive pursuit of PED users isn't behind the lower scores.

"Runs are down,'' Acta said. ''You can't deny the fact that the program in place is working.''

But maybe there's something else.

''I can't remember when so many people were throwing in the mid-90s and even 100,'' Acta said. ''Just about every team has a guy who gets close to 100, if not in the big leagues, then in the minors. Men must be evolving.''

They were well-pitched, well-played games that were decided by a pitch here, a bloop there or a high chopper that never left the infield. There were errors because there are always going to be errors in baseball, but it's hard to think the Indians could have played much better.

"We faced some tough pitching, we played well, but we felt we could have squeaked out another win ... maybe two," said Everett. "This team has some grit in it. I think people know that now. We won't roll over when we're down a couple of runs. It says a lot about where we're going."

Injuries to champion Frankie Edgar and challenger (and St. Edward's alumnus) Gray Maynard have forced postponement of their lightweight title fight, originally scheduled for Saturday, May 28, in Las Vegas.

View full sizeJosh Hedges,
LUFFA, LLCA lightweight title fight between St. Edward's alum Gray Maynard, left, pictured in a 2009 fight, and champion Frankie Edgar has been postponed because of injuries suffered by the two men during training. Edgar has two broken ribs; Maynard has a less serious knee injury.

Las Vegas -- UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar suffered broken ribs during training for his title fight against St. Edward High alum Gray Maynard, and Maynard has suffered a less serious knee injury.

As a result, their title fight at UFC 130, originally set for Saturday, May 28, at the MGM Grand here, has been postponed, most likely till September, according to Maynard's father.

Jan Maynard, himself a two-time state champion wrestler at Cleveland's now defunct South High School, said in a phone interview with The Plain Dealer this afternoon that his son is taking the news hard.

"Gray is just devastated," Jan Maynard said from his home in Las Vegas, where the younger Maynard also lives. "His whole focus is on the title."

Heidi Dean, media relations coordinator for UFC, confirmed that the fight is indeed off, but that Maynard will be fighting another opponent. The elder Maynard said he wasn't aware of that.

"Yeah, it does suck," the younger Maynard said in a text. "I got a couple of injuries that I'm healing, too. My knee and (I) just got these stitches out of my eye so we'll see what happens.

"Hopefully, me and Edgar can just finish this thing next," he texted.

The light heavyweight bout between Quinton "Rampage" Jackson and Matt "The Hammer" Hamill will take over the top spot on the card.

Eric Wedge is the Mariners manager. He and Bradley didn't get along when both were with the Indians.

Associated PressMilton Bradley argues with umpire Gerry Davis during a Mariners-Red Sox game on April 30.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Milton Bradley-Eric Wedge pairing is now zero-for-two.

Bradley has been designated for assignment by the Seattle Mariners, who are in their first season with Wedge as the manager.

Wedge managed the Cleveland Indians from 2003 to 2009. Bradley hit .321 in 377 at bats for the Indians in 2003, but things didn't work out after that.

From a Seattle Post-Intelligencer report about Bradley being designated for assignment:

The Seattle Mariners designated the mercurial outfielder for assignment on Monday, recalling outfielder Carlos Peguero to take Bradley’s place on the roster.

The move comes just hours after the team designated Ryan Langerhans for assignment in order to make room for outfielder Mike Wilson on the Major League roster.

Seattle now has 10 days to release, trade or outright Bradley’s contract.

This was a move that needed to be made. Not only was Bradley no longer productive at the plate, he was a defensive liability and his off-field issues were a distraction the entire time he was with the Mariners.

Bradley was hitting .218 with two home runs for the Mariners.

After Wedge was hired by Seattle during the offseason, Plain Dealer Indians beat writer Paul Hoynes recalled the first time that Wedge and Bradley tried to co-exist.

Wrote Hoynes on Dec. 10:

"He and I have a great advantage this time around," said Wedge on Wednesday. "He knows what I'm all about and I'm very familiar with him. Obviously, we have some history, but I think we're going to work that to our advantage this time around.

"I know that's what he wants and I know that's what I want. That was many moons ago."

Wedge and Bradley did not mix well when they were in Cleveland. After Bradley didn't run out a pop up in a spring training game in 2004, Wedge confronted him and Bradley lost his temper. He stormed off the field and took a cab back to where he was staying in Winter Haven, Fla.

Before the start of the regular season, Bradley was traded to the Dodgers.

Browns' Haden will likely cover Bengals' receiver Green, maybe for years. Also, Eric Hagg, D'Qwell Jackson, Jason Pinkston, Chansi Stuckey, Browns-Falcons trade and more.

Joshua Gunter, The Plain DealerThe Browns' Joe Haden had one of the best seasons of any NFL rookie defensive back in 2010.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- When the Cincinnati Bengals picked wide receiver A.J. Green in the first round of the draft, it set up an individual rivalry which could last for years.

When the Bengals and rival Cleveland Browns meet, Green will most likely be covered by Browns cornerback Joe Haden, a first-round selection in the 2010 draft.

Haden and Green have faced off before, when Haden was at Florida and Green at Georgia.

James Walker of ESPN.com looks forward to a Haden vs. Green matchup, and details their meetings in college:

In 2009, the Gators won a blowout over the Bulldogs, 41-17. Green was a non-factor. Haden held the receiver to just three catches for 50 yards and zero touchdowns. Green's biggest play in the game was a 19-yard reception. But other than that, Green had trouble shaking Haden.

In 2008, Florida won another blowout, 49-10. Green had more success this time, with five receptions for 91 yards. Probably worth noting is Green's quarterback that year was Matthew Stafford, who turned out to be the No. 1 overall pick of the Detroit Lions. To Haden's credit, he intercepted Stafford in the game and returned the pick 88 yards.

Plain Dealer and cleveland.com Browns coverage includes Bill Lubinger's report on what the potential economic impact on northeast Ohio would be if the NFL lockout wipes out some or all of the Browns' games; Mary Kay Cabot's report that Norh Carolina receivers coach Charlie Williams thinks draftee Greg Little will be a fine wide receiver for the Browns.

Bargain pick?

The Browns drafted Nebraska safety Eric Hagg in the seventh round. Cornhuskers' defensive coordinator and Youngstown native Carl Pelini -- the brother of head coach Bo -- thinks the pick was a great one for the Browns, as Marla Ridenour writes for the Akron Beacon Journal: 

Pelini believes that his favorite NFL team got ''the steal of the draft'' by selecting safety Eric Hagg in the seventh round.

Hagg was 248th out of 253 picks.

Hagg was voted MVP last season over Cornhuskers cornerback Prince Amukamara, the 19th overall pick of the New York Giants. Seven Nebraska players were drafted — three on defense — with free safety DeJon Gomes taken by the Washington Redskins in the fifth round.

''Truthfully, as we look at our personnel for next year, trying to replace Eric is probably our most difficult task because he was such a versatile player,'' Pelini said. ''He's a long safety who was physical in run support, and yet he was as good a cover guy as any of our corners.

''In my mind, Eric was probably our defensive MVP for the last two years. You can use him in so many different ways and in so many different roles. Guys like him don't come along very often.''

Sideline to sideline

A ProFootballWeekly.com readers poll says the Browns had the best draft among AFC teams.

The Dawgs By Nature blog's review of Browns free agents includes a report on wide receiver Chansi Stuckey.

Several Browns are getting together for informal workouts during the lockout. In a story by Lori Nickel for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, former Ohio State linebacker and current Green Bay Packer A.J. Hawk claims such workouts have limited value.

Fans voted the 1957 players as the best-ever Browns draft class. By Matt Florjancic for clevelandbrowns.com.

How the defensive players drafted by the Browns might fit in, by Steve Doerschuk of the Canton Repository.

Linebacker D'Qwell Jackson is on the mend and looking forward to playing in the Browns' new 4-3 defense. By Mike Wilkening for ProFootballWeekly.com.

Browns coach Pat Shurmur says the Browns' trade with the Atlanta Falcons was one of the best ever on draft day. By Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal.

John Clayton of ESPN.com, looking at history, comments on the Browns-Falcons trade in his mailbag.

Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal writes about the Browns' fifth-round pick, offensive lineman Jason Pinkston.

Assembling the Browns defense, by Don Delco on Scout.com's Orange and Brown Report.

Are you ready to buy into the Tribe as they return to Progressive Field Tuesday for a week-long homestand?

View full sizeChuck Crow / The Plain DealerAs the Indians stretched their home winning streak into double digits, there were finally an increased number of fans at Progressive Field. With the team carrying a 4.5-game lead in the AL Central into Tuesday's series opener against Tampa Bay, the team is expecting that momentum to continue.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The sun is out, the temperatures are supposed to be in the 70s and the Indians are in first place.

Are you ready to buy into the Tribe as they return to Progressive Field to open a week-long homestand Tuesday at 7 p.m. against Tampa Bay?

Let's start with the fact that the Indians have won a few games when they were more lucky than good. But for the most part, their 22-11 record is well-earned. They pitch well. They catch the ball. They hit in the clutch.

Name any significant category -- starting pitching, relief pitching, scoring runs, batting average, fielding percentage or unearned runs allowed -- and the Tribe ranks in the top four of the American League.

They also are averaging 14,275 fans per game -- the lowest in baseball.

"That's changing," said Tribe president Mark Shapiro. "We are seeing a lot of positive momentum."

While the Indians opened the season with about 7,000 season tickets, they have increased that to 8,000 in the last four weeks. Since the start of the season, the Indians have sold 204,258 tickets -- up 107 percent from the last two seasons at this point.

"We had terrible weather in April," said Shapiro. "Most days, it rained or there was a real threat of rain. We had eight games with temperatures under 50. Add in the [losing] of the last few years, and what happened [at the gate] is understandable."

This team lost 97 and 93 games the previous two seasons. Fans had not endured back-to-back 90-loss seasons since 1977-78. They had the trauma of watching CC Sabathia and Cliff Lee traded off for prospects in 2008 and 2009 -- the Indians being the first franchise ever to deal Cy Young winners in consecutive seasons.

Then came the home opener, when the Indians were down, 14-0, to the White Sox in front of a sellout crowd. At that point, "the season was only an hour old," emailed Phillip Brodzinski.

They lost their first two games, and as Scott Dayton emailed, "At that point, I wanted everybody traded." Most fans felt the same way, at least those who were still paying attention.

The Indians were 0-2, allowing 23 runs.

Just when it seemed the fan base was traumatized beyond any hope of recovery, waiting for more good players to be traded away -- the Indians began to win. And win. And win.

They haven't lost a home game since April 2; the streak is now 13 in a row.

Fans are paying attention

View full sizeChuck Crow / The Plain DealerCarlos Santana's walk-off grand slam defeated the Tigers and provided an emotional high note to the Indians' stunning start to the season.

April television ratings are up 68 percent -- nearly 100 percent from 2009 for the 18-to-34 age group, 163 percent for female fans.

The casual fan who is looking for entertainment is embracing the Indians.

As Susanna Tam emailed: "They are helping me forget No. 6." She meant LeBron James, now with the Miami Heat.

Or as Aaron Biederman emailed: "These Indians go to work every night in blue collar fashion, doing their jobs precisely without fanfare ... refreshing for fans still reeling from the defection of a certain pro basketball player who quit on the team and rubbed their noses in it."

They have been outscoring the opposition by 48 runs, the highest in baseball. Yes, they have won a stunning seven games in their last at bat. That's seven of 22 victories, an incredible pace. But part of the reason for that is these guys pitch and play defense with such skill and confidence, they keep the score close and give the hitters time to deliver.

The fans are catching on.

Tom Condon emailed: "I went to the opener and told myself it would be the only game that I'd go to all year ... but I saw something that raised my eyebrows ... being down 14-0, they didn't quit. [They lost 15-10.] The way they fought back told me this would be a fun team to watch ... but never in my wildest dreams did I think they'd be leading the division in May."

The fact is that no one saw this coming -- not even the Indians themselves. They talked contention, and quietly believed a .500 record or perhaps a little better was possible if the young players matured. Of the 45 "experts" at ESPN, not a single one picked the Indians to win the Central Division. Nor did any of the local sports writers.

The Indians are expecting crowds of 15,000 to 25,000 for the games this week.

"We are selling a lot of tickets for once school lets out," said Shapiro. "Also, the three games with Cincinnati [May 20-22] should all bring in at least 30,000."

What the future holds

View full sizeChuck Crow / The Plain DealerJustin Masterson's undefeated April reflected a starting rotation that has made a quality start something that is expected each time the Tribe takes the field.

Can this continue? Probably not, since it would require the Indians to win 108 games. But if they win 65 of their 129 remaining games, they will finish at 87-75. That could be enough to win the rather mediocre Central Division.

MLB.com reported that since 2001, 75 percent of the teams that made the playoffs had winning records in April. That does not mean three out of every four teams who won in April made the playoffs -- but of those who reached the postseason, most had good Aprils.

Matt Meyers of ESPN.com made a case for the Indians contending because of their division: "Not only is Cleveland a lot better than given credit for in the preseason, but more importantly, the competition is a lot worse ... the Central Division stinks."

Meyers added that only three times since 1995 has a team that trailed in a division by 10 games at any point come back to win a division -- Minnesota and the White Sox both have been that far behind the Tribe this season.

"If this team keeps winning into July, it may be the only darn thing that matters," emailed Ron Graham. "Here is a team full of players who actually seem to love us -- or at least, they want to have us cheering them on."

Matt Hutton emailed: "I'm enjoying this team while [I] can and worrying about July in July."

It's a wise policy.

Dan Forbes emailed about his son asking his mother, "Why does that man shout so much?" when Tom Hamilton was describing another last at-bat victory on the radio.

Merchandise sales are up 10 percent from a year ago. The top sellers are the new gray uniform tops and the new gaudy red caps with the blue C followed by the blue caps with the red C.

The Indians are making a big push in social media, up 30 percent on Twitter in the final two weeks of April compared to the first two weeks.

"It's great that Mark Shapiro, Manny Acta and Chris Perez are on Twitter," emailed Myles Simmons. "I always check up on Acta's 'Song of the Day' and to see what kind of victory cigar he breaks out after the Tribe wins."

Mike Primc emailed: "I just purchased a 20-game Tribe package. While the Indians' winning played a large part, I was especially drawn to the drop in ticket prices, free club seats and ability to roll unused tickets later into the season."

That's the kind of song the Tribe longs to hear. They know the days of 455 consecutive sellouts, the novelty of the new ballpark and a lineup of All-Stars is over. The team has spent too much time talking about the economics of baseball and how it conspires against mid-sized markets such as Cleveland, as top players were traded away or left via free agency.

"Really, it's up to us to re-connect with our fan base," said Shapiro. "We know that. We just appreciate how they are paying attention to us."

(Many of the emails used in this story came from Terry Pluto's Facebook page.)

Breaking down this week's 3-game series between the Tribe and Rays.

View full sizeScott Shaw / The Plain DealerCarlos Carrasco returns to the starting rotation on Wednesday against Tampa Bay.

Where: Progressive Field.

When: Tuesday through Thursday.

TV/radio: SportsTime Ohio Tuesday and Wednesday. No TV Thursday; WTAM AM/1100.

Pitching matchups: RHP Andy Sonnanstine (0-0, 2.19) vs. RHP Josh Tomlin (4-1, 2.43) Tuesday at 7:05; LHP David Price (4-3, 3.26) vs. Carlos Carrasco (1-1, 4.97) Wednesday at 7:05 p.m.; RHP James Shields (3-1, 2.01) vs. Justin Masterson (5-0, 2.11) Thursday at 12:05 p.m.

Season series: The Indians last year lost seven of nine games to the Rays. The Indians lead, 67-38, overall.

Indians update: They're working on a 13-game home winning streak after going 3-3 on the West Coast against Oakland and Los Angeles. Travis Hafner hit .391 (9-for-23) against Tampa Bay last year, but as a team the Indians hit .233. Masterson was 0-1 last season against the Rays. Carrasco will be activated for Wednesday's game after missing a couple of starts with right elbow stiffness.

Rays update: They've won a record eight straight on the road, but have lost 18 of their last 20 at Progressive Field. Price was 2-0 with a 2.08 ERA against the Tribe last year. Sonnanstine was 2-0 as a reliever. Shields went 0-1.

Injuries: Indians -- RHP Mitch Talbot (right elbow), OF Trevor Crowe (right shoulder) and INF Jared Goedert (oblique) are on the disabled list. Rays -- RHP Jeff Niemann (back) LHP J.P. Howell (left shoulder) are on the disabled list.

Next: Manager Eric Wedge and the Seattle Mariners return to Cleveland for a three-game series starting Friday night.

"Regardless of what some of you say, I just enjoy the memories. Fun to remember some of these games, championship or not." - linedrive22

AP Photo | Tony DejakMark Price's teams evoke many good memories for Cavaliers fans even though they often came up short.

In response to the story A Miracle caps the list of Cleveland Cavaliers' top NBA playoff moments, cleveland.com reader linedrive22 has fond memories even though the endings weren't always great. This reader writes,

"Regardless of what some of you say, I just enjoy the memories. Fun to remember some of these games, championship or not."

"Talbot looked really good before he got hurt, so I'm interested to see him come back and see what he can do. Hard to believe we actually have some pitching depth this year." - cunxtyr

View full sizeChuck Crow | The Plain DealerMitch Talbot was 1-0 with a 1.46 ERA in two starts before going on the DL this season.

In response to the story Cleveland Indians option Jeanmar Gomez; keep Alex White in rotation, cleveland.com reader cunxtyr thinks Talbot deserves his spot back when healthy. This reader writes,

"Talbot looked really good before he got hurt, so I'm interested to see him come back and see what he can do. Hard to believe we actually have some pitching depth this year."

"The city went several years without a football team and we all survived. But, as the article remotely alluded, once again the taxpayers are on the hook to continue subsidizing and maintaining the stadium. I like football as much as the next person but someone needs to explain why owners and players are fighting over billions in revenue yet taxpayers have to provide the facilities at little or no cost to those who are reaping the windfall from these facilities." - Hungry Coyote

View full sizeBrowns Stadium could remain empty in to the fall this year.

In response to the story NFL lockout's economic impact could put Cleveland in uncharted waters, cleveland.com reader Hungry Coyote doesn't understand why taxpayers need to pay for stadiums. This reader writes,

"The city went several years without a football team and we all survived. But, as the article remotely alluded, once again the taxpayers are on the hook to continue subsidizing and maintaining the stadium. I like football as much as the next person but someone needs to explain why owners and players are fighting over billions in revenue yet taxpayers have to provide the facilities at little or no cost to those who are reaping the windfall from these facilities."

Dick Dugan's art and skill touched lives far beyond their initial intent.

View full sizeDick Dugan's ability to insert personality into an illustration of a young Northeast Ohio athlete was a gift that many young men and women cherish in their scrapbooks years later.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Dick Dugan needed just a few minutes to draw a portrait that, thirty-four years later, Maple Heights wrestling coach Jamie Milkovich treasures.

"I still have five copies," Milkovich said.

That was Dugan's gift, and his legacy. His art and skill touched lives far beyond their initial intent.

Dugan was a Plain Dealer artist for 38 years until his retirement in 2000. He died last month at age 85. His departure from The Plain Dealer marked the end of an era, and today we miss him even more. He was a joy to work with, and an honorable man to know.

Milkovich said when Dugan died, he dug through his scrapbook to appreciate the portrait once more.

"What I was amazed at was how fast he did it," recalled Milkovich, who was drawn as an All-Scholastic wrestler in 1977. "I sat down in a chair in the old Plain Dealer building and he said, 'Look this way,' and 'Look that way.' Forty, 50, 60 seconds later, he had it done. It was amazing to me.

"He got the personality down, too. He had a knack for adding that into the picture, like a little bit of grin."

The Plain Dealer made good use of Dugan's many talents in those days. Editors and writers in all departments went to him with stories, and he'd find just the right way to illustrate the subject, or craft a cartoon to capture the story's mood. His final Plain Dealer piece was a drawing of his grandson, Ryan Dugan, then a Mentor football player. Dugan happily came out of retirement for the drawing in 2006.

Dugan was such an indelible part of reading The Plain Dealer for so long that after his retirement, I knew I had to have a Dugan. When he had a show at a local gallery, I bought his cartoon of a beleaguered and bandaged Chief Wahoo saying "We've found all the ways to lose ... How do ya win?" It perfectly captured the Indians of my youth and hangs prominently in my home office.

"I can't tell you how many people have said that," said Dugan's son, John. "What really made him happy was having his work on somebody's family room or rec room wall."

What really made The Plain Dealer happy, and the readers happy, and the athletes happy, was having Dugan's art available to all of us.

"What was fabulous was that it was an unbelievable tribute to the athletes," Milkovich said. "You wanted to be all-scholastic so bad just to get your picture drawn by Dick Dugan."

Sunday at 11:59 p.m. was the deadline for players who had declared for the draft, but had not hired an agent, to withdraw their names and resume college careers.

Associated PressArizona forward Derrick Williams is one of the top players certain to be in the NBA draft.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The deadline for underclassmen who had declared for the NBA draft, but decided to withdraw their names and return to their college teams, was 11:59 p.m., Sunday, May 8.

The NBA is expected to soon release an official list of underclassmen committed to stay in the draft.

The Cleveland Cavaliers, barring a trade, will have two lottery picks. The draft lottery is on May 17. The Cavs had the second-worst record in the NBA this season, and they own the first-round pick of the Los Angeles Clippers, who had the eighth-worst record.

The worst a team's standing was among the 30 NBA teams, the more ping pong balls it owns in the draft lottery hopper.

The blog CardChronicle.com, which highlights University of Louisville sports, lists the early entrants it expects to remain in the draft.

CardChronicle.com lists the following 36 players as "Underclassmen definitely staying in draft."

The player's name is followed by his school, his college class, his height and weight and whether he has an agent or not. Players who have hired an agent can longer play college basketball.

Alec Burks Colorado So. G 6-6 185 Yes

DeAngelo Casto Washington State Jr. F 6-8 255 Yes

Troy Gillenwater New Mexico State Jr. F 6-8 234 No

Jeremy Green Stanford Jr. G 6-4 198 Probable

Jordan Hamilton Texas So. G/F 6-7 220 Yes

Tobias Harris Tennessee Fr. F 6-8 210 Yes

Tyler Honeycutt UCLA So. F 6-7 195 Yes

Scotty Hopson Tennessee Jr. G 6-7 205 No

Kyrie Irving Duke Fr. G 6-2 180 Yes

Reggie Jackson Boston College Jr. G 6-3 208 No

Terrence Jennings Louisville Jr. F 6-9 220 No

Cory Joseph Texas Fr. G 6-3 185 No

Enes Kanter Kentucky Fr. F 6-11 260 Yes

Brandon Knight Kentucky Fr. G 6-3 185 Yes

Malcolm Lee UCLA Jr. G 6-5 180 Yes

Kawhi Leonard San Diego State So. F 6-7 225 Yes

Travis Leslie Georgia Jr. G 6-4 202 Yes

DeAndre Liggins Kentucky Jr. G 6-6 210 Yes

Shelvin Mack Butler Jr. G 6-3 215 No

Darius Morris Michigan So. G 6-4 190 Probable

Marcus Morris Kansas Jr. F 6-10 235 Yes

Markieff Morris Kansas Jr. F 6-10 245 Yes

Jereme Richmond Illinois Fr. G/F 6-7 205 Probable

Carleton Scott Notre Dame Sr. F 6-7 217 No

Josh Selby Kansas Fr. G 6-2 185 Yes

Iman Shumpert Georgia Tech Jr. G 6-5 210 Yes

Chris Singleton Florida State Jr. F 6-9 225 Yes

Greg Smith Fresno State So. F 6-10 250 Yes

Isaiah Thomas Washington Jr. G 5-9 185 Probable

Trey Thompkins Georgia Jr. F 6-9 245 Yes

Klay Thompson Washington State Jr. G 6-6 202 Yes

Tristan Thompson Texas Fr. F 6-9 230 No

Nikola Vucevic USC Jr. F 6-10 240 Yes

Kemba Walker Connecticut Jr. G 6-1 170 Yes

Derrick Williams Arizona So. F 6-8 240 Yes

Jordan Williams Maryland So. F 6-10 260 Yes

CardChronicle.com also lists underclassmen it believes are likely still in the draft; underclassmen expected to return to school; underclassmen who should return to school because they are unlikely to be drafted. 

It may not be glamorous, but the life of a low minor leaguer beats what the rest of us are doing.

View full sizeThomas Ondrey / The Plain DealerAlex Lavisky (left) and Anthony Gallas are two former local high school baseball players now learning the ropes with the Lake Erie Captains.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Last May, Alex Lavisky was leading St. Edward to another state baseball crown and posing for prom pictures.

Strongsville's Anthony Gallas was ripping the ball at Kent State and cramming for his last college finals.

A year later, they're on eight-hour bus rides to towns like Bowling Green, Ky., checking for bed bugs at the team hotel and learning to stretch $20 per day in meal money.

"It's not," said Gallas, "the glamorous life that everybody thinks it is."

Which is not to be misinterpreted. Not at all. Even the life of a low minor leaguer beats what the rest of us are doing.

"You're playing baseball," Gallas said. "What's better than that?"

Lavisky and Gallas are teammates on the Lake County Captains, the Indians' Class A farm team in Eastlake. Being locals, they still get to enjoy the comforts of home, which is rare in the minors. Manager Ted Kubiak approved it.

Being locals, family and friends can easily swing by Classic Park for a game. Just the other day, about 100 of Lavisky's friends surprised him with a cheering section.

"It's nice," said his mother Julianne, who invited the team over for Easter dinner. (Kubiak thanked her but declined.) "You get to watch Alex become who he's meant to be."

The Indians saw enough raw potential in Lavisky to take him in the eighth round of the 2010 draft and offer a $1 million signing bonus to bypass a full ride to Georgia Tech.

He's been inconsistent at the plate, hitting around .220 while striking out more than once every four times up. But he's also among the team leaders in RBI as he works on driving outside pitches to center and right-center rather than try to pull everything.

"When he stays on the ball and keeps his head in there," Kubiak said, "he's been good."

View full sizeThomas Ondrey / The Plain Dealer"Even when you're home, you don't have as much time as you think you have because you're so consumed here at the park," former St. Edward star Alex Lavisky, still just 18, said. "And when you're not here, you're on the road."

Lavisky, 20, is one of two catchers on the Captains. The other is Alex Monsalve, 19, who was signed by the Indians as a nondrafted free agent from Venezuela in 2009. He's hitting about .290.

Most nights, you'll find both in the lineup. When one catches, the other is the designated hitter.

Kubiak said Lavisky has grown up quickly in the short time he's had him. He's attentive in meetings, understands the daily routine and is adjusting to the fact that it's a full-time job.

"The other day I had a talk with him," Kubiak said, "and he said the toughest thing for him is just playing every day."

"I don't know how he's doing it, honestly," said Gallas. "Mentally, at 18, there's no way I would have been able to do what we're doing right now, just showing up at the ballpark every single day. College really got me ready for that."

Gallas, 23, actually got more attention from college recruiters as a wide receiver on the Strongsville football team, but thought baseball offered a better shot at the pros.

By the time he was done at Kent State, the 6-2, 210-pound outfielder shared the school's all-time record with 49 home runs, and became the first Mid-American Conference player to collect at least 250 hits, score 200 runs and drive in 200 runs for his career.

Despite solid numbers, he went undrafted. The Indians signed him as free agent last June. At Lake County, Gallas has been among the team leaders in several categories, including average, slugging percentage and doubles.

View full sizeThomas Ondrey / The Plain DealerA record-setting player at Kent State, Anthony Gallas wasn't drafted by a pro team and fuels his desire with that rejection now that he's with the Captains.

Kubiak said Gallas is industrial-strength strong and likes his short stroke, the pop in his bat and the ability to hit to all fields. The coaches are working on his timing at the plate to get him to use his legs more.

Ross Atkins, the Indians vice president of player development, said Gallas could probably handle a more advanced minor-league level.

"He's been one of the better surprises," he said. "For someone who wasn't drafted, we've really been impressed."

Maybe it's because he wasn't drafted.

Gallas admitted he plays with a chip on his shoulder because people doubted he was good enough to play in college. Then he wasn't good enough to play professionally.

"And I just keep proving people wrong over and over again," he said. "It's just the way it is and it makes me work even harder."

Most of Lavisky's friends are off to college. Gallas' buddies, with college degrees in hand, are doing the 8 to 5 and making more money. So neither sees friends much or socialize. Baseball hours don't mesh and days off are rare.

"Even when you're home, you don't have as much time as you think you have because you're so consumed here at the park," Lavisky said. "And when you're not here, you're on the road."

Which is where Mom steps up. For the road trip to Kentucky, she packed him homemade pepperoni bread, sliced strawberries, candy, Vitamin Water and Airborne to ward off colds. He was mortified.

"He said, 'Don't treat me like a baby,'" she said laughing. "Then I get a basket full of laundry every week."

For Gallas and Lavisky, it's been kind of a dream come true, playing for the organization they grew up cheering for.

Lavisky attended the first home game of the 1997 World Series when his dad's boss gave them tickets. Gallas saw the Indians beat Baltimore on a blown squeeze play in the 1997 American League Championship Series. Those Indians players of the late '90s were their heroes. Gallas dressed as Kenny Lofton for Halloween in second grade.

During spring training, they noticed the former Tribe center fielder working as an Indians special assistant. Gallas and Lavisky nodded to each other. They were star struck.

"I was like, man, I want to get his autograph," Lavisky said, "but I kind of chickened out."

Ending lockout without new deal would tip NFL's competitive balance and damage the league, attorneys for the owners argued in court papers Monday.

Associated PressNo players are to be seen on the fields of NFL facilities, including the Atlanta Falcons' site (photo).

MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota -- Lifting football's labor lockout without a new contract in place would allow better-off teams to sign the best players, tipping the NFL's competitive balance and damaging the league, attorneys for the owners argued in court papers Monday.

The 74-page filing to the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in St. Louis laid out the league's position in advance of a June 3 hearing on its appeal of a key decision by U.S. District Judge Susan Richard Nelson.

Nelson issued an injunction that lifted the lockout on April 25. But the 8th Circuit issued a temporary hold of that order four days later -- meaning that players cannot work out, or sign contracts, with any of the 32 clubs.

The arguments in the filing were an expanded version of what the league has claimed all along: that the union's move to decertify after the initial bargaining talks broke down is a sham; that Nelson does not have the jurisdiction to lift the lockout; and, that she should have waited for a decision from the National Labor Relations Board before issuing that ruling.

The league also said that lifting the lockout with no labor deal in place would cause chaos, with teams trying to make decisions on signing free agents and making trades under a set of rules that could change drastically under a new agreement.

"It would be difficult, if not impossible, to unscramble the eggs and return those players to clubs that otherwise may have had contract arrangements with [or, at least, a greater ability to enter into contracts with] such players in the absence of an injunction," the league's court brief said.

The group of players suing the league, including star quarterbacks Tom Brady, Peyton Manning and Drew Brees, have said the lockout is inflicting irreparable harm on their brief playing careers by preventing them from working out at team headquarters, holding full practices with teammates and coaches and jeopardizing games. Nelson agreed and issued the injunction.

But the NFL said Monday that the judge "failed entirely to consider the serious, immediate and irreparable harm the injunction posed to the NFL" and "vastly overstated both the harm to the [players] and the nature of that harm."

The owners argued that players do not suffer because the lockout applies equally to everyone.

"Because there are no practices or other organized football activities conducted during a lockout, no player suffers a risk of career-threatening injury or physical wear and tear," attorneys wrote.

The players' response to the league's filing is due May 20, four days after the two sides are scheduled to resume court-ordered mediation in Minneapolis.

The longer the fight over how to divvy up $9 billion in annual revenue drags on, the closer the league and players get to missing games. The first preseason game is just over two and a half months away on Aug. 7, with the regular season opener between the Saints and Packers set for Sept. 8 in Green Bay, Wis.

The league continued to pound away at the players' decision to disband their union, attempting to use some of the players' own quotes in various media outlets over the last few months to prove their point. They cited public comments by Baltimore Ravens receiver Derrick Mason, NFLPA vice president Jeff Saturday, plaintiff Mike Vrabel and others discussing the solidarity the players still feel even though the union has decertified.

A three-judge panel in St. Louis voted 2-1 to issue a temporary stay of Nelson's order on April 29, a decision that still stands. The panel could issue a ruling on a permanent stay pending the appeal any day or, according to court clerk Michael Gans, could let the temporary stay remain in place until the hearing on June 3.

The owners argued in the filing that Nelson's injunction "undercut" their leverage by allowing the players to circumvent the lockout and further delayed constructive bargaining talks, which they deemed "the essence of irreparable harm."

"As to harm to the NFL, federal labor law permits an employer to institute a lockout 'for the sole purpose of bringing economic pressure to bear in support of his legitimate bargaining position,'" the attorneys wrote.

Also on Monday, the NHL filed a brief in support of the NFL. Labor strife caused the hockey league to cancel its 2004-05 season and the current collective bargaining agreement expires in 2012.

"While the facts and circumstances may differ as between our league and the NFL, the issues presented on this appeal are of central importance to the NHL and to all participants in collective bargaining relationships in the United States," NHL attorneys wrote.

Running marathons feeds Rev. H. Paul Kim's life mission. It also helps feed, clothe and house the indigent in Cleveland and Madagascar, Africa.

View full sizeThomas Minkyu Yeom / Special to The Plain DealerMoved by the suffering of impoverished children in Madagascar, Rev. H. Paul Kim committed to run the Cleveland Marathon and find others to run with him to raise money for homeless shelters both overseas and in Cleveland.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Long-distance running wasn't a first choice for the Rev. H. Paul Kim. In fact, it wasn't even a close second.

When the native South Korean arrived in Cleveland in 2003 to study theology, soccer and volleyball were his preferred activities. But team sports require other players. Kim knew no one, really. He needed something to do, so he started running.

Eight years later, running marathons feeds his life's mission. It also helps feed, clothe and house the indigent in Cleveland and Madagascar, Africa.

"Being close to the poor," he said, "is a very important part of my priesthood."

Where runners gain their inspiration is very personal. Many push themselves to physical limits for a cause. In 2007, Cleveland Marathon Charities was formed to organize and financially reward school, church and other nonprofits represented by runners and volunteers on race day.

This year, the Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon has partnered with about three dozen charities, including Kim's. It's called Living Person 7, representing his seventh marathon to raise money for the poor.

Kim, 37, a John Carroll University priest, returned from a Catholic Charities trip to the slums of Madagascar in 2005. He was so moved by what he saw there -- especially the suffering of children -- that he committed to run the Cleveland Marathon and find others to run with him to raise money for a homeless shelter.

Each year, the program has grown.

For this Sunday, Kim organized a team of 125 runners on behalf of John Carroll, in honor of the university's 125th anniversary. Actually, recruiting went so well this year that the number of runners has surpassed 150. Look for them in yellow "Living Person 7" jerseys.

About a third will run the full marathon, a third the half-marathon and another third the 10K. They're raising money and awareness for the shelter in Madagascar and for the children served by the Fatima Family Center in Cleveland's Hough neighborhood. The center provides such services as early learning, homework assistance and a Head Start program.

Last year, Kim recruited 18 runners. They raised $3,200. This year, the goal is $12,500. Proceeds are split in half by the two nonprofits.

About 80 percent of the participants have some link to John Carroll, either as students, faculty or alumni. John Carroll sophomore Brittany Thompson agreed to run the half-marathon when Kim convinced her that it would be good training for her ROTC work. Then she recruited her parents to serve as race volunteers.

"I saw it as a way to put my love and passion to serve others into action," she said.

Joe Monroe saw Living Person 7 as a way to parlay his company's wellness program into something much bigger.

Monroe, who earned undergraduate and graduate degrees from John Carroll in the 1970s, is chief financial officer at Joshen Paper & Packaging in Cleveland. He recruited about a dozen runners from his company. None have a John Carroll connection, but they agree to run anyway.

"When our employees became aware of Father Kim's program," he said, "they really embraced it."

Kim began with a half marathon in 2005. He tackled the full marathon in 2006 and 2007, finishing with blisters on his feet. He had to walk to finish the first one.

"It was like a long prayer experience," said Kim, who hopes to break three hours this year. His best time was a 3:05 in last year's Chicago Marathon.

At 6 a.m. on Sunday, Kim will lead the Living People 7 runners in prayer outside St. John Cathedral downtown.

Like thousands of runners along the marathon route, they, too, will be running for others.

CSU is off to San Diego as the No. 13 seed, while Kent State is seeded sixth in the Virginia Tech bracket.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cleveland State and Kent State golf teams got their NCAA Tournament placements Tuesday.

For CSU, it's off to San Diego as the No. 13 seed in a bracket that includes No. 5 seed Ohio State. Kent, seeded sixth in the Virginia Tech bracket, is wedged in a field that includes No. 1 Georgia Tech, No. 3 Duke, No. 4 Virginia and the seventh-seeded Hokies.

Play begins May 19, with the top five teams from each of the six regions advancing to the NCAA Tournament championships in Stillwater, Okla. The top six individuals not on a qualifying regional team will also advance.

This is familiar territory for the Vikings and Golden Flashes. KSU, winner of the Mid-American Conference, is making a third straight postseason appearance, the 19th in school history. The Vikings, winners of the Horizon League, are in their third NCAA Tournament trip in the last four seasons.

"I think there are a few tougher regions than this one,'' CSU's fourth-year head coach Steve Weir said. "But I think we can challenge for a Top 5 spot. Our young guys, freshman Andrew Bailey out of St. Ignatius High and sophomore Michael Klaric from Hermitage, Pa. have carried us. They are not afraid of the big stage. And our seniors are ready to step up one more time.''

Bailey and Klaric were co-medalists at the Horizon tournament to anchor CSU's title run.

Captains shortstop Cannon, an Indians' 12th-round draft pick last June, began Monday night as the Midwest League's second-leading hitter.

Thomas Ondrey / The Plain DealerTyler Cannon playing shortstop for the Lake County Captains.

A Lake County Captains

Captains 9, Lugnuts 5: DH Alex Monsalve (.292) homered, CF Carlos Moncrief (.286) had four hits and Lake County prevailed in a Midwest League game in Lansing, Mich.

Notes: Going into Monday night’s game, shortstop Tyler Cannon’s .364 batting average was second in the Midwest League. Cannon was 32-for-88 with eight doubles, two triples, three home runs, 15 RBI, 16 runs and 16 walks. Cannon, 23, is a right-handed hitter who was drafted by the Indians in the 12th round last June after a standout career at the University of Virginia....Left fielder Anthony Gallas led the league with 14 doubles, and his .343 batting average was sixth. He also had three homers. A 2006 Strongsville High School graduate, Gallas slugged 49 home runs in four seasons at Kent State before signing with the Indians as an undrafted free agent last year....OF Carlos Moncrief (.263) was 13-for-37 (.351) with four doubles, one homer, five runs, four RBI and five walks in his last nine games....2B Argenis Martinez (.263) was 12-for-32 (.375) with three doubles, eight RBI, five runs, seven walks and three stolen bases in his last 10 games....RH reliever Nikolas Sarianides (2-1, one save, 2.25) had struck out 15 and walked two, allowing 11 hits, in 16 innings....RH reliever Clayton Ehlert (0-1, seven saves, 2.38) had fanned 10, walked one and given up eight hits in 11 1/3 innings....The Captains’ starting pitcher on Monday night, LH Mike Rayl, went into the game with a 3-0 record and 2.08 ERA in six starts. He had struck out 31 and walked nine in 30 1/3 innings, and held opponents to a .160 batting average.

AAA Columbus Clippers

Clippers 5, Knights 2: RH Zach McAllister (3.00 ERA) struck out eight in seven innings to improve to 6-0 in Columbus’ International League win in Charlotte, N.C. McAllister allowed two runs on five hits and one walk. SS Jason Donald (.290) homered, and 1B Travis Buck (.326) drove in two runs for the Clippers. DH Cord Phelps (.306) had one RBI.

Notes: Going into Monday night’s game, OF Chad Huffman (.297) was batting .361 (30-for-83) after an 0-for-18 start, and had six doubles, five homers, 20 RBI and 24 runs....OF Jerad Head was second in the International League with a .385 batting average. In his last six games, Head was 13-for-27 (.481) with two doubles, one home run, five RBI and seven runs....CF Ezequiel Carrera (.311) was leading the IL with 14 stolen bases (in 15 attempts)....SS Cord Phelps (.313) was 6-for-10 with three doubles, a homer and five RBI in his last three games....2B Jason Kipnis (.283) was 12-for-33 (.364) in his last eight games, with three doubles, one triple, one homer, 11 runs and 10 RBI....3B Lonnie Chisenhall (.294) was 14-for-39 (.359) with two doubles, one triple, one homer, eight RBI, eight runs and six walks in his last 10 games....Veteran catchers Luke Carlin, 30, and Paul Phillips, 34, were providing solid offense. Carlin was hitting .345 (20-for-58) with three doubles, three homers, 15 RBI, 15 runs and 15 walks. Phillips was hitting .286 (12-for-42) with two doubles, one homer, five RBI and seven runs....Carlin has played in parts of three major league seasons, batting .175 in 52 games, with three homers in 126 at bats. That includes late last season with the Indians, when Carlin was 5-for-14 (.357) with two homers in six games. Phillips has played 91 games in parts of seven big league campaigns, hitting .262 with three homers in 221 at bats....The Clippers, who had won 15 of their last 17 games, were leading the IL in batting average (.298) and runs (192).... The Clippers’ starting pitcher on Monday night, RH Zach McAllister, went into the game with a 5-0 record and 3.09 ERA in five starts. He had struck out 21, walked five and allowed 31 hits in 32 innings.

AA Akron Aeros

SeaWolves 10, Aeros 3: LH T.J. McFarland (1-1, 7.16) allowed eight runs in 2.1 innings as Akron lost an Eastern League contest in Erie, Pa. McFarland gave up nine hits and three walks. 2B Karexon Sanchez homered, doubled and drove in the Aeros’ three runs.

Notes: Going into Monday night’s game, LF Tim Fedroff (.337) was 11-for-21 (.524) in his last five games, with two doubles and six RBI....Catcher Chun Chen (.274) was 12-for-37 (.324) with four homers, four doubles, 11 RBI and eight runs in his last 10 games....1B Matt McBride (.248) was 8-for-19 (.421) with three homers and six RBI in his last five games....CF Jordan Henry (.299) had stolen 11 bases in 11 attempts....RH reliever Chen Lee (1-1, 2.84) had struck out 27, walked five and given up 13 hits in 19 innings....LH reliever Nick Hagadone (2-1, 1.45) had pitched 18 2/3 innings in nine games, striking out 22, walking four and allowing 13 hits (no homers)....LH starter Kelvin De La Cruz (1-3, 2.77) has struck out 35 and allowed just 16 hits (no homers) in 26 innings, but has walked 19. He has made five starts and one relief appearance....RH Austin Adams (3-2, 2.76) has pitched 29 1/3 innings in six starts, fanning 29 while yielding 25 hits (one homer) and 14 walks....RH Joseph Gardner (2-1, 3.00) has pitched 18 innings in four starts. He’s struck out 11 and given up 16 hits, including no homers, but has walked 14.

Advanced A Kinston Indians

The Indians were idle Monday.

Notes: Indians’ relief pitchers have not allowed an earned run in their last 38 2/3 innings. They have given up three unearned runs during the span and allowed one inherited base-runner to score....RH reliever Tyler Sturdevant is 2-1 with a 1.00 ERA, fanning 16, walking five and allowing 14 hits in 18 innings....RH reliever Adam Miller, a Cleveland first-round pick in the 2003 draft who, until April 30, had not pitched in an official game since 2008 because of finger ailments, has had two scoreless, one-inning outings, fanning two while giving up one hit and two walks. Miller, considered one of baseball’s premier pitching prospects before his finger injuries, allowed four runs (three earned) in one inning in his first outing nine days ago....LH Drew Pomeranz (1-0), the Indians’ first-round draft pick last season, was the Carolina League leader going into Monday with 42 strikeouts, and was third with a 1.27 ERA. He has allowed just 16 hits (one homer) in 28 1/3 innings, with 10 walks. Opponents are hitting .162 against him....RH Brett Brach has a 1.25 ERA, but his 21 1/3 innings aren’t enough to qualify among the league leaders. Brach has made starts in his last three outings, after beginning the season with a start at AA Akron and two relief outings with Kinston. Including his six scoreless, two-hit innings for a win for Akron, Brach is 4-1 with an 0.98 ERA. He has struck out 20, walked 10, allowed no homers and held opponents to a .187 batting average in 27 2/3 innings....OF Jason Smit, a 21-year-old from Australia, is 2-for-8 since being promoted from Class A Lake County, where he hit .344 (31-for-90) with five doubles, one triple, two homers and 15 walks....LH Giovanni Soto, who will turn 20 on May 18, is 1-3 with a 2.67 ERA in six starts. In 27 innings, he’s fanned 26, walked nine and held opponents to a .202 batting average....Kinston (13-16) begins a three-game series at Myrtle Beach (S.C.) against the Pelicans (18-12) on Tuesday night.

Orlando Cabrera will tell you what he thinks, whether you want to hear it or not. If you can listen, you might just be a winner like the Indians second baseman is.

View full sizeChuck Crow / The Plain Dealer"Sometimes people don't want to hear my [stuff]," Indians second baseman Orlando Cabrera says. "But I always let them know. If I see things wrong, I will let them know."

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Someday soon, Orlando Cabrera will probably say something that will make someone mad.

That's what the Indians infielder does. He chirps incessantly in teammates' ears. He yaps non-stop at coaches and managers. He does not cease talking in the clubhouse, on the field, on the bus to hotels or on the plane to faraway games.

At some point, something Cabrera says is likely to inflame or irritate. It also will probably bring out the best in his teammates, create a bond among players that draws them closer, and, if past performance is any indication, it will result in another division title for Cabrera's team.

Because that's what he does, too.

"Sometimes people don't want to hear my [stuff]," Cabrera said. "But I always let them know. If I see things wrong, I will let them know."

Cabrera, a 36-year-old second baseman, has found the secret to the kind of delicate leadership that can make whatever team he plays for successful. In the last seven years, five of his teams have won divisional titles. The other two finished second.

One of those second-place teams, the Boston Red Sox, won the World Series in 2004.

He offers advice and chides teammates, unsolicited. Sometimes it gets him in trouble. Most often, it yields success.

"We're not here to make friends and be liked," manager Manny Acta said. "We're here to be professionals and to win and help our teammates. People sometimes are not going to appreciate the way somebody goes about their business helping them. Too bad."

Cabrera did it in Chicago, when he twice asked for over-rulings on scorer's decisions and clashed with fiery White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen. His outspokenness resulted in just one year, 2008, spent in the Windy City.

He did it with the Red Sox, when Manny Ramirez famously wanted to skip a playoff game because of a headache. Cabrera told the talented hitter to endure the pain and play. He did.

He did it in Cincinnati last season, when he teased first baseman Joey Votto so mercilessly during a game that Votto began screaming at his fellow infielder.

"It's one of those things where he plays better when he's distracted, and Orlando knew that," his wife, Katie Cabrera, said.

In Cleveland he has latched onto Asdrubal Cabrera, the young shortstop he refers to as "nephew," though they are not related. He's encouraged Asdrubal Cabrera to swing for the fences, a new power approach that has yielded a .270 batting average, five home runs and 22 RBI in the season's first five weeks.

In return, Asdrubal Cabrera has begun to emerge from his quiet shell. After Orlando made the mistake of mentioning he was close to 2,000 career hits, Asdrubal began a vocal countdown for the second baseman. Asdrubal Cabrera knows his "uncle" is 18 hits from the milestone, and makes sure to remind him of it often.

View full sizeChuck Crow / The Plain Dealer"He's a winner, he knows how to play the game," Manny Acta says of his second baseman. "He rubs these guys the right way when it comes to playing the game right."

Whatever secret Orlando Cabrera has discovered, it is precisely what the Indians were searching for when they signed him to a one-year deal. The Tribe's roster averages 27.7 years old; only three major-league teams are younger. Acta, who was a coach for the Montreal Expos when Cabrera played there at the start of his career, knew the infielder could bring veteran leadership to a team that desperately needed it.

Even if it meant moving Cabrera to second base from his longtime shortstop position, where he's won two Golden Gloves, the last in 2007.

"He's a winner, he knows how to play the game," Acta said. "He rubs these guys the right way when it comes to playing the game right."

Which is not to say such vocal leadership is always appreciated. After his season in Chicago, whispers of being a clubhouse troublemaker plagued him. He has played for four teams since then, none for more than a year -- though Cabrera says he has been the one who has chosen to move on.

The frequent movement and perception of disruptive behavior is shrugged off by Cabrera.

"I just think when you take the lead, there's always going to be people kicking you from behind," Cabrera said. "That means you're leading. There's nothing you can do about it. When you're trying to be a leader, there will always be people behind you."

He is the kind of player who will not be loved by all, but the results of his influence are undeniable. When Cabrera played for the Los Angeles Angels from 2005-07, manager Mike Scoscia moved young second baseman Howie Kendrick's locker next door solely for the off-field influence.

"I don't know why or how he does it, but he does," said Katie Cabrera, his wife of four years. "And it works."

Which is why Katie Cabrera should have known better. The Cabreras are expecting their first child, a girl, on Oct. 1. When Orlando first signed with the struggling Indians in the off-season, she assumed that she would be long gone from Cleveland when their child was born.

Now, with the 22-11 Tribe leading the American League Central, Katie can only laugh at the potential playoff run that always seems to come with her husband's team.

"I don't know why I thought I'd be home then," she said, sighing.

“How about quit living in the past? Indians are in first and might very well have the best record in baseball by Wednesday. Monday night was the first time I watched an NBA playoff game for more than five minutes - not because I dislike the NBA, but because I have been wrapped up in the Indians’ season.” - GodHatesClevelandSports

View full sizeJohn Kuntz | The Plain DealerIt's been almost a year since LeBron James played his final game in a Cavaliers' uniform.

In response to the story LeBron’s ‘decision’ to quit serves as inspiration for Quitness Day - Bill Livingston blog, cleveland.com reader GodHatesClevelandSports is tired of hearing about LeBron. This reader writes,

“How about quit living in the past? Indians are in first and might very well have the best record in baseball by Wednesday. Monday night was the first time I watched an NBA playoff game for more than five minutes - not because I dislike the NBA, but because I have been wrapped up in the Indians’ season.”

McCoy said last week that a second camp was coming soon, but he wanted to keep the date and location quiet.

Chuck Crow, The Plain DealerQuarterback Colt McCoy and other Browns players are at Baldwin-Wallace this week for the second players-only minicamp.

CLEVELAND -- Browns players are beginning their second player-organized "minicamp'' today at Baldwin-Wallace College in Berea, a league source told The Plain Dealer.

The first one, organized by quarterback Colt McCoy, was last month at the University of Texas, McCoy's alma mater. The camps are designed to prepare the players for the season despite the NFL lockout.

McCoy told The Plain Dealer last week that a second camp was coming soon, but that he wanted to keep the date and location quiet. The first one lasted about three days.

About a dozen offensive players attended "Camp Colt'' in Austin, and McCoy said he focused mainly on teaching the players the fundamentals of the Browns new West Coast offense. He received a playbook from the Browns several months ago and is well-versed in the new scheme.

The initial camp included receivers Brian Robiskie, Mohamed Massaquoi, Josh Cribbs, Jordan Norwood, running back Peyton Hillis and tight end Evan Moore.

McCoy said he contacted the Browns draft picks and invited them to the second camp. He said they were expected to attend, including receiver Greg Little and tight end Jordan Cameron. He said fullback Owen Marecic might not be able to come because he's still in classes at Stanford.

The first session included workouts, meetings, position drills and passing situations. The players  also bonded in other ways, dining together and visiting a ranch.

The current camp, which is a players-only session, will probably also last about three days. Mohamed Massaquoi tweeted Monday that he was back in town, but didn't mention the camp.

Believe it or not, this week's pro says golfers seeking more distance and accuracy will score better playing lower priced two-piece balls. Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Local pros solve your golf problems in a weekly instruction video with Plain Dealer columnist Bud Shaw and videographer David I. Andersen.

This week, PGA pro John Grimm and sales manager Ian Skacan of Golf Galaxy in North Olmsted offer advice on how to select the best ball to suit your game, as well as benefits of a ball fitting.

Believe it or not, Grimm says golfers seeking more distance and accuracy will score better playing lower priced two-piece balls.

Need help with your game? Explain your problem to golf@plaind.com in an email. We will select one each week. All videos are archived.