Browns quarterback Colt McCoy and linebacker Scott Fujita are determined not to let the lockout ruin their season. They're planning a fullsquad workout for the near future if the lockout continues.

Browns quarterback Colt McCoy has been getting the offense together and will now try to bring the whole team together for practices.

CLEVELAND -- Browns quarterback Colt McCoy and linebacker Scott Fujita are planning a fullsquad minicamp for the team if the lockout lingers on, McCoy told the Plain Dealer Monday night.

"We're talking about it and I think it will happen,'' McCoy said. "Things are progressiing, but it's pending the lockout.  The great thing is, guys are willing to come and I know we'll get some great work in on both sides of the ball.''

McCoy has already organized three offensive skill sessions, including two at the University of Texas and one at Baldwin-Wallace in Berea.

"The thing that makes it great is that the guys are so willing to travel to these workouts, to pay for some or all of their travel expenses and to work so hard,'' McCoy said.

He said teammates have helped pay for the expenses of the rookies and younger players. "We're definitely helping each other out,'' he said. "And it will all pay off.'' 

Ohio State senior David Lighty is the type of smart, strong, experienced college player that should draw a lot of second-round interest in Thursday's draft.

View full sizeJoshua Gunter, The Plain Dealer"I think David Lighty will be on (an NBA) roster in one way, shape or form," ESPN analyst Fran Fraschilla says. "[It wouldn't be a surprise] if you tell me in a year or two from now he's having a lot of success because he's one of those no-mistake guys."

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Of the top 35 players from college basketball's 2006 recruiting class, 21 have already been drafted into the NBA, 17 in the first round. It started with Greg Oden, Kevin Durant and Mike Conley in 2007 and moved through fellow first-rounders Brook Lopez in 2008 to Ty Lawson in 2009 to Damion James in 2010.

Villa Angela-St. Joseph and Ohio State grad David Lighty, the prospect ranked No. 36 by Rivals.com five years ago, should be drafted Thursday night, not in the first round but as the ideal kind of second-round pick that NBA teams lean toward these days.

"If you look at the NBA, 93 percent of players are role players," Ohio State coach Thad Matta said. "There's only one LeBron, there's only one Dirk, there's only one Kobe. The thing I love about David and his chance to play at the next level, in his five years here, he was in every role that a team could have."

Lighty should now play the role typically held by seniors in the NBA Draft -- the picks teams need to fill out rosters. During the four drafts of Lighty's college career, there were only 22 seniors taken in the first round, but 57 selected in the second round. The second round Thursday should include well-known seniors such as Cleveland State's Norris Cole, Duke's Nolan Smith, Wisconsin's Jon Leuer, Purdue's JaJuan Johnson and E'Twaun Moore, Illinois' Demetri McCamey and Notre Dame's Ben Hansbrough.

OSU senior Jon Diebler could be among them as well, seen by some as one of the best shooters in the draft, but he has a greater chance to go undrafted than Lighty does.

"Diebler shot 50 percent from three this year, and he took a lot of threes," ESPN draft expert Chad Ford said. "He's got pretty good size. He's not a terrible athlete either. ... I actually think both [Lighty and Diebler] will be drafted."

Lighty needs the right fit, something Matta said he has spoken to him about, identifying the roughly 10 teams where a 6-6, 216-pound, defensive-minded small forward would make the most sense. OSU staff members say NBA teams like Lighty's combination of strength and stamina, and his most valuable role may be in trying to defend strong, physical small forwards like Carmelo Anthony.

Lighty's agent, Joel Bell, said his client will have worked out for 12 teams before the draft, including Sacramento on Monday, with Washington scheduled for Tuesday.

"I think David Lighty will be on the roster in one way, shape or form," ESPN analyst Fran Fraschilla said. "[It wouldn't be a surprise] if you tell me in a year or two from now he's having a lot of success because he's one of those no-mistake guys we talked about. If you put him on the floor he's probably going to know his role. There is a lot that he offers as an early to mid-second round pick."

The Web site NBADraft.net has Lighty going 53rd to Orlando, while DraftExpress.com points Lighty toward Philadelphia at No. 50. He could also be in the mix earlier in the second round, including for Detroit (33rd or 52nd) or the Cavs (32nd or 54th).

Bell has two clients he thinks could serve as Lighty comparisons in Dante Cunningham and Sam Young, both seniors taken in the second round of the 2009 draft, Cunningham at No. 33 by Portland and Young at No. 36 by Memphis. Young started 46 games for the Grizzlies this season in his second year, while Cunningham started 18 games for Portland and Charlotte.

"He's regarded by NBA teams as a safe pick," Bell said of Lighty. "They know what he does, he's played with a lot of great players and worked with them, and he's a winning player."

That probably won't get Lighty into a first round filled, as usual, with underclassmen and international players. But it should get him a shot in the second round and could help him keep a job in the NBA for more than a few years.

Fausto Carmona's troubles continue as he can't hold 4-1 lead, with Colorado mounting a six-run fifth inning.

View full sizeChuck Crow, The Plain DealerCord Phelps can't believe second-base umpire Sam Holbrook's call as he's out at second base to end the eighth inning Monday at Progressive Field. Phelps' single scored Carlos Santana to close the Indians to an 8-7 deficit against Colorado before Phelps was called out trying to stretch the play to second.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Colorado Rockies, one day after being handled at home by Tigers right-hander Justin Verlander, faced Indians righty Fausto Carmona on Monday night at Progressive Field.

These days, that is akin to going from the coal mine to the beach. The Rockies roughed up Carmona for seven runs in 4 2/3 innings en route to a 8-7 victory. The Tribe (39-32) had a three-game winning streak snapped and lost for the first time in seven interleague decisions.

Colorado is 36-36 -- 19-19 at home and 17-17 on the road.

Carmona gave up nine hits, walked two and struck out none. He threw 38 of his 81 pitches in Colorado's six-run fifth.

"Usually when we score this many runs we win the ballgame, but that fifth inning killed us," Indians manager Manny Acta said. "Too bad, because Fausto was throwing so well."

The Rockies scored all six runs in the fifth after two were out.

"Fausto dug his own grave, basically," Acta said. "He lost his focus. I can't say anything but that."

Carmona, the Tribe's Opening day starter, is in a deep funk. He has allowed at least four earned runs in each of his last eight starts. In that span, he is 1-6 with an 8.87 ERA (44 2/3 innings, 44 earned).

Acta said there are no plans to do anything drastic with Carmona, who is 4-9 with a 6.17 ERA in 16 starts overall.

Overall, Carmona is 4-9 with a 6.17 ERA.

"He's pitching in five days," Acta said. "That's the solution we have here. You can't just get rid of him and bring somebody else in here.

Two years ago, Carmona struggled so badly that he was banished to the Arizona Rookie League in early June. He ended up 5-12 with a 6.32 ERA in 24 starts. Carmona rebounded last season, going 13-14 with a 3.77 ERA in 33 starts.

"The stuff's there. We know it's not the same as two years ago, because he put together seven good starts at the beginning of the year."

Big innings continue to dog Carmona. Of the 66 earned runs he has allowed in 96 1/3 innings, 38 have come in just 10 innings. The Indians trailed, 7-4, when Carmona exited. Down, 8-6, in the eighth, they almost unhooked him.

Trailing, 8-6, in the eighth, Cord Phelps hit a two-out single off former Indian Rafael Betancourt to drive in Carlos Santana. As Rockies third baseman Ty Wigginton cut the throw from left field, Phelps dashed for second. Phelps appeared to make it with a head-first slide, but umpire Sam Holbrook saw it differently.

Acta argued briefly.

"[Holbrook] said he got him in the arm, that he was on top of the play," Acta said. "He obviously got it wrong. He missed the call."

With every close call that goes against his club, Acta inches farther away from his old-school view that human error is part of the deal.

“Before I retire, I guess the game is going to turn into a flag-throwing, video-type of game,” he said.

The Tribe went 1-2-3 against closer Huston Street in the ninth, with Grady Sizemore flying to the warning track in right for the second out.

“Tough loss, but we battled the entire game,” said Orlando Cabrera, who went 1-for-3 with a walk in his first career start at third base.

Colorado took a 1-0 lead in the first on Troy Tulowitzki’s RBI single. The Tribe answered in its half with a three-run homer by Travis Hafner off righty Juan Nicasio. Hafner is hitting .341 with six homers in 35 games.

Santana homered in the fourth to make it 4-1. He has three homers in his last four games and 10 overall. He became the second Indian to reach double-digits in long balls, joining Asdrubal Cabrera (12).

Based on the way Carmona pitched in innings two through four, a three-run lead in the fifth seemed safe -- at least for a while. But things went south in a blink.

With two outs, Carmona walked No. 9 batter Iannetta. Gonzalez and Chris Nelson singled to load the bases for Helton. After the count went to 2-2, Carmona threw two balls to force in a run.

Tulowitzki swung at the next pitch and sent a two-hopper off the third-base bag, the ball kicking away from Orlando Cabrera toward the tarp. What might have gotten Carmona out of the inning with no further damage ended up being a two-run double that tied the score, 4-4.

Carmona fell behind 40-year-old Jason Giambi, 3-1. Giambi geared up for fastball and launched it an estimated 440 feet into the Tribe bullpen in center. Giambi has seven homers and six singles in 30 games this season.

After Smith doubled, Acta hooked Carmona for Chad Durbin. Boos ushered Carmona to the dugout. Durbin fanned Ty Wigginton for the third out.

“Fausto has the ability to make pitches when it counts, it just hasn’t been there,” Acta said.

The Indians responded with two in their half of the fifth. Shin-Soo Choo dumped a two-out, bases-loaded single into left-center to drive in Grady Sizemore and Michael Brantley. Choo was the first batter lefty Rex Brothers faced in relief of Nicasio.

Brantley narrowly missed a homer to right leading off the seventh. He eventually struck out looking.

The Rockies made it 8-6 in the eighth. Catcher Lou Marson air-mailed an attempted pickoff throw to first, allowing Charlie Blackmon to score from second. It was the first run given up by the bullpen in eight games. The run, charged to Rafael Perez, ended up being unearned.

On Twitter: @dmansworldpd

Cavs own first and fourth overall picks. Publicly, they're keeping their options open, while other teams talk, wait and see.

Associated PressArizona forward Derrick Williams (23) is among the players who worked out for the Cavaliers on Monday.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The NBA is watching the Cleveland Cavaliers, as Thursday's draft approaches.

The Cavs own the first and fourth overall picks, and what they do -- via their selections or trade -- will greatly impact what many of the league's 29 other teams do.

Earlier on Monday, ESPN.com reported that Cleveland had settled on Duke point guard Kyrie Irving as the first pick.

However, The Plain Dealer's Mary Schmitt Boyer reports that the Cavaliers have not committed to Irving as the No. 1 pick.

ESPN.com is backing off its earlier claim, now reporting that it depends "on who you ask" to get an insight into how the Cavs will use the Nos. 1 and 4 picks.

From ESPN.com:

This much is for sure: the Cavaliers like Irving. But on Monday, they had former Arizona forward Derrick Williams in for a workout, a source close to the situation told ESPN.com's Andy Katz. In addition, former Kentucky point guard Brandon Knight came in to see the Cavs for a visit, as did former Kentucky student Enes Kanter of Turkey, who returned for a second visit.

Texas freshman forward Tristan Thompson was also brought in to work out as the Cavs sorted out their options for the No. 1 and No. 4 picks.

Earlier on Monday, league sources told ESPN The Magazine's Ric Bucher that the Cavs had decided to take Irving with the top pick. But later Monday afternoon, a source close to the situation told Katz the team is still considering several scenarios.

Plain Dealer and cleveland.com Cavaliers coverage also includes Mary Schmitt Boyer's report on the big men in the draft; her report on the point guards in the draft; and grading all the first-round picks in Cavs history. Also, Doug Lesmerises writes that Ohio State guard David Lighty hopes to be drafted.

Pick and rolls

A new ranking of the top 102 prospects in the draft, from The Sports Xchange and CBSSports.com.

The top 15 draft "sleepers," by Marc J. Spears for Yahoo! Sports.

Players whose draft stock is rising, and falling, by Jonathan Wasserman for NBADraft.net.

Roundtable discussion of some draft topics, from ESPN.com and the TrueHoop Network.

Drafting 120 of the all-time best players for 10 fantasy teams, on Sports Illustrated's SI.com.

NBA mock drafts from:

Sports Illustrated's SI.com

CBSSports.com

DraftExpress.com

NBADraft.net

InsideHoops.com

Follow along on Twitter as four Plain Dealer staffers team up with four PD/cleveland.com readers for the inaugural Plain Dealer Summer Solstice Golf Challenge. The group will attempt to play golf for more than 16 hours, from sun-up to sundown on the longest day of the year at Avon's Bob-O-Link and Avon Lake's Sweetbriar.

View full sizeScott Shaw / The Plain DealerFollow the adventures of The Plain Dealer's Summer Solstice Golf Challenge all day Tuesday, as early as 3 a.m. as the eight participants get ready for their first tee time just before 5 a.m. at Bob-O-Link Golf Course in Avon.

Get live online coverage all day today from The Plain Dealer’s Summer Solstice Golf Challenge as four Plain Dealer staffers and four readers who won a contest attempt to play golf from sunup to sundown on the longest day of the year.

That’s more than 16 hours, and you can follow every bad shot along the way at cleveland.com/golf online.

The participants — The Plain Dealer’s Kristen Davis, Tim Rogers, Bud Shaw and Chuck Yarborough, and contest winners Tom Cull of Wickliffe, Maureen Fallon Adler of Fairview Park, Mark Nekic of Willoughby and Bryan Starosto of Avon — will be teeing off around 5 a.m. at Bob-O-Link in Avon. After 36 holes they’ll head to Sweetbriar in Avon Lake for another 36 holes.

Follow all of the adventures along the way with:

• Twitter updates starting with wake-up calls around 2:30 a.m. and continuing all day long until they reach the 19th hole — or will it be the 73rd hole? — around 9:30 p.m. The group also will be tweeting pictures and short videos throughout the day. Look for #solsticegolf hashtag.

• Starting Blocks TV — cleveland.com’s five-minute video show, which will check in with the solstice players later this morning.

• A video from the first round by The Plain Dealer’s Branson Wright later this afternoon.

And be sure to check out the Summer Solstice Golf Challenge feature story in Sunday’s Plain Dealer.

If you'd like to follow along on your Twitter client, search for hashtag #solsticegolf or subscribe to this list @clevelanddotcom/solstice-golf. If you'd like to post a question or comment to the group, tweet it to @sblocks.

"Bad break on the ball hitting the third base bag, but this has to be it for Carmona. Tough call to make between McAllister and Huff, who has been fantastic the past two weeks, but either is a better option. Durbin or Herrmann will be collateral damage to move Carmona to long relief." - vineman

View full sizeAP Photo | Mark DuncanFausto Carmona is feeling the heat as his struggles on the mound continue.

In response to the story Colorado Rockies score six runs in fifth inning, coast past Cleveland Indians, 8-7, cleveland.com reader vineman thinks the time to make a move with Carmona has come. This reader writes,

"Bad break on the ball hitting the third base bag, but this has to be it for Carmona. Tough call to make between McAllister and Huff, who has been fantastic the past two weeks, but either is a better option. Durbin or Herrmann will be collateral damage to move Carmona to long relief."

"Last season's play-calling and alignments weren't necessarily suited for our personnel. I think the WCO is a better fit for both our QBs and WRs. Three selections in this year's draft will be starting sometime during the season and I expect at least one free agent to contribute. I don't think it's unreasonable to feel we have the makings of a good foundation." - gandolph

View full sizePlain Dealer file photoFans hope that the Browns have some pieces in place to form the foundation of a quick rebuild.

In response to the story Cleveland Browns coach Pat Shurmur says he has the foundation for a good team, cleveland.com reader gandolph thinks the Browns may have the makings of a strong foundation. This reader writes,

"Last season's play-calling and alignments weren't necessarily suited for our personnel. I think the WCO is a better fit for both our QBs and WRs. Three selections in this year's draft will be starting sometime during the season and I expect at least one free agent to contribute. I don't think it's unreasonable to feel we have the makings of a good foundation."

"I watched the Michigan State vs. Duke game last night where Kyrie Irving had 31 points, four assists, six rebounds and two blocks. I wanted Derrick Williams at No. 1 and Brandon Knight at No. 4, but after watching that game against MSU, you have to pick Kyrie Irving at No. 1 and be happy with whatever happens after that." - david3658

View full sizeAP Photo | Gerry BroomeKyrie Irving didn't play many games in front of the Cameron Crazies, but when he did, he was impressive.

In response to the story NBA draft 2011 links: Cleveland Cavaliers' plans, maybe by plan, remain a mystery, cleveland.com reader david3658 has been won over by Kyrie Irving. This reader writes,

"I watched the Michigan State vs. Duke game last night where Kyrie Irving had 31 points, four assists, six rebounds and two blocks. I wanted Derrick Williams at No. 1 and Brandon Knight at No. 4, but after watching that game against MSU, you have to pick Kyrie Irving at No. 1 and be happy with whatever happens after that."

Is Rory McIlroy the next golf sensation or just a flash in the pan?

APRory McIlroy

Rory McIlroy won the 111th US Open last Sunday with a record 8-shot victory. McIlroy is only 22 years and he's already playing like a seasoned veteran.

McIlroy collapse at the Masters but he didn't at his next major. He came back and dominated.

So is McIlroy the next Tiger Woods? Or was his play in the US Open just a good outing?

After leaving job as a car salesman, David Roth sees son Michael throw 7 1/3 innings against Texas A&M.

Associated PressSouth Carolina starting pitcher Michael Roth works against Texas A&M in the first inning of an NCAA College World Series baseball game in Omaha, Neb., on Sunday. His father quit his job so he could watch his son pitch.

OMAHA, Neb. -- David Roth wasn't about to miss seeing his son pitch for South Carolina in the College World Series. He went to extreme lengths to do it.

Roth quit his job as a car salesman in Greer, S.C.

Roth was in Omaha last year when the Gamecocks won the national title, but his job kept him from watching Michael Roth pitch. No way that was going to happen this year.

"They were like, 'You know, you don't have any vacation days,' " Michael said Monday. "He said, 'I've got to go out there to Omaha,' so he just quit."

David Roth was in the stands Sunday, soaking up Michael's 7 1-3 innings of work against Texas A&M. All four runs he allowed were unearned.

The 5-4 win thrilled the Gamecocks fans, but for Michael, a 31st-round draft pick of the Cleveland Indians, it was extra meaningful.

"Obviously, it was pretty special considering it was Father's Day yesterday," he said Monday. "I'm glad that he's here. It's been pretty cool having my family here."

Michael didn't know his dad had sacrificed his job for the College World Series until he had dinner with his family on Saturday.

"My mom mentioned something after super regionals," he said. "She was like, 'I think dad's going to come.' I said, 'Really? He's going to get off work?'

"She was like, 'He's either going to get off work or he's going to quit.' "

On Saturday Roth tweeted: "How's this for dedication? My dad had to quit his job to make it out to Omaha."

The junior left-hander said it was disappointing that his dad couldn't see his two quality starts a year ago.

Michael Roth (13-3) became one of the nation's premier starting pitchers after working as a reliever most of last season. He hasn't allowed an earned run in 37 1-3 innings since May 13. His season ERA is 0.97.

The Gamecocks play Virginia in a Bracket 2 winners' game Tuesday.

"My main role tomorrow will be cheering," he said. "We'll be doing plenty of that. We'll be fired up and ready to go."

Having his dad here for as long as the Gamecocks stay alive makes this CWS an even bigger thrill.

"My dad's been a huge inspiration for baseball for me," he said. "It's definitely nice to have him out here."

Is he worried about his dad getting another job?

"No, he'll be OK," Michael said. "Gamecock Nation will help us out."

A state investigation released today into the sales of cars to Ohio State athletes or their families found no wrongdoing on the parts of two car dealers who sold the vehicles.

PD fileFormer Ohio State football coach Jim Tressel.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- A state investigation released today into the sales of cars to Ohio State athletes or their families found no wrongdoing by two car dealers who sold the vehicles.

The report by the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles found the dealerships made money on 24 of 25 sales that took place between 2006 and 2010; the other car had been sitting on the lot for more than 150 days. The investigation came amid the scandal at Ohio State that saw coach Jim Tressel resign and star quarterback Terrelle Pryor bolt for the NFL.

"Today's report from the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles supports the sworn statements two Columbus auto dealers provided us that the manner in which they conducted sales with Ohio State student athletes and their families adhered to university and NCAA rules," said Doug Archie, Ohio State's compliance chief.

The investigation stemmed from a May 9 story in the Columbus Dispatch that reported several OSU athletes and their relatives had bought used cars from Jack Maxton Chevrolet and Auto Direct during the past five years. The story also said that Aaron Kniffin, a former salesman at the dealerships, had been involved in most of those sales.

State investigators checked each of the transactions, reviewing the dealers' sales files, certificates of title, power of attorney forms and records pertaining to prior ownerships, according to the report.

The investigators also reviewed proprietary business records from the dealerships that showed the wholesale prices that both dealerships paid for the cars they sold to OSU athletes and their families, the report said.

Those records indicated that Auto Direct made money on all 10 cars sold and that none of the buyers paid wholesale price or less, the report said. Jack Maxton made money on 14 of the 15 cars it sold to the athletes or their families. According to the report, the only car that the dealer lost money on had been sitting on its lot for more than 150 days.

The report said that during the course of the investigation, allegations had been made that some of the purchase agreements signed by Ohio State players or their family members didn't reflect the true cost because the athletes provided the dealers with tickets or sports memorabilia in exchange for cash.

"We found no evidence in the dealers' business records that tickets and/or sports memorabilia were included in the sales, and the dealers and their legal counsel contend that the allegations are false," the report said.

Kniffin, in an interview with The Plain Dealer earlier this month, denied wrongdoing.

"If you're a salesman, you don't make decisions," Kniffin said. "I couldn't approve a deal. There were layers of management that deals had to go through. ... [The media] have made it sound like people came to me, and we went back to some secret room. That's just not the case."

Have the Cavaliers settled on Kyrie Irving No. 1? What can the Indians do about Fausto Carmona? Plain Dealer sports columnist Terry Pluto answered those questions and more in his weekly podcast.

View full sizeAP photoKyrie Irving is the likely top pick in Thursday's NBA Draft for the Cavaliers.

Despite differing reports, have the Cavaliers settled on Kyrie Irving No. 1? What can the Indians do about Fausto Carmona? 

Plain Dealer sports columnist Terry Pluto answered those questions and more in his weekly podcast.

Among other topics discussed:

• What will the Cavaliers do with the fourth pick?

• How important is it for this team to find players that can contribute in the second round?

• With Matt LaPorta going to the DL along with his struggles this season, is it time to re-evaluate first base?

• What has been the key to Asdrubal Cabrera's success this season?

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

Be sure to also like Terry Pluto on Facebook.

As part of Gruden's Quarterback Camp, the former coach asks Pryor, 'What happened?'

Plain Dealer fileQuarterback Terrelle Pryor

Former Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor is entering the NFL's supplemental draft next month. As part of that process, he is going through Jon Gruden's Quarterback Camp, as most of the other top QBs in April's regular NFL draft did.

Gruden, the Super Bowl-winning coach who now works on Monday Night Football for ESPN, breaks down game tape with each of the quarterbacks, asking about their mechanics and their mental approach.

ESPN has released a preview of the Pryor episode, which will air June 30 at 9 p.m.

In the preview, Gruden asks Pryor what happened that made him leave Ohio State

The 6-6, 235-pound Pryor wants to be a quarterback in the NFL, but many experts project him as a receiver or tight end.

Indians right-handed pitcher is 1-6 with 9.73 ERA in his last seven starts. More starts? To the bullpen? Could he clear waivers and go to the minors? Get what you can in trade?

Chuck Crow, The Plain DealerFausto Carmona (left, 55) leaves the mound after being pulled in the fifth inning on Monday night, while catcher Lou Marson (middle) and manager Manny Acta (right) wait for the arrival of releiver Chad Durbin.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cleveland Indians, struggling to score runs over the last month, gave Fausto Carmona a 4-1 lead over the Colorado Rockies on Monday night.

Carmona couldn't make the lead stand up, giving up six runs after retiring the first two Rockies batters in the fifth inning. He was charged with the 8-7 loss.

The right-hander is 1-6 with a 9.73 ERA in his last seven starts. He has given up 53 hits, including nine home runs, in 37 innings during the span.

Overall, Carmona is 4-9 with a 6.17 ERA. The ERA is the worst, by far, among the 53 American Leaguers who have pitched at least 72 innings. Closest to Carmona is the Kansas City Royals' Luke Hochevar, at 4.87.

The 15 homers Carmona has surrendered this season is the second-most among AL hurlers. The slugging percentage against him is .461, the third highest figure among the 53 pitchers with at least 72 innings.

Carmona helped the Indians get to within a game of the World Series in 2007. He went 19-8 with a 3.06 ERA during the regular season. He struggled in the 2008-09 seasons, with a combined 13-19 record and 5.89 ERA.

Carmona bounced back last season, going 13-14 with a 3.77 ERA for an Indians' team that finished 69-93. He was the team's lone All-Star Game representative.

Carmona is out of options, so the Indians can't simply send him to the minor leagues. They can put him on waivers, and if a team claims him, rescind the waivers and keep him on the Indians' 25-man roster.

Carmona is making $6.1 million this season. The Indians have club options on his contract each of the next three years: for $7 million in 2012; $9 million in 2013; and $12 million in 2014.

CineSport's Noah Coslov and Sporting News NBA writer Sean Deveney preview the NBA Draft by looking at the overrated and underrated players in the draft, as well as the impact the international players could have in the league.

AP PhotoKemba Walker.

CineSport's Noah Coslov and Sporting News NBA writer Sean Deveney  preview the NBA Draft by looking at the overrated and underrated players in the draft, as well as the impact the international players could have in the league.

Deveney says he's not too high on UConn's Kemba Walker or Kansas' Marcus Morris as top 10 picks, while Justin Harper of Richmond and JaJuan Johnson of Purdue could provide some value for teams later in the first round.

What do you think? Watch the video and then post your comments below.

For more Cinesport video on cleveland.com, go here.

Summer Soltice Golf with The Plain Dealer Watch video

Plain Dealer staffers Chuck Yarborough, Kristen Davis, Tim Rogers and Bud Shaw started golfing at 5 this morning.

Yarborough, Davis, Rogers and Shaw, along with readers Tom Cull, Maureen Fallon Adler, Mark Nekic and Bryan Starosto are all attempting to play golf from sunup to sundown on the longest day of the year.

TMZ insults Greg Oden by calling him LeBron James.

TMZ is bad enough as an operation. When it comes to sensationalism, TMZ is at the top of the list.

But how about the reporters at TMZ thinking former Ohio State center Greg Oden (now with the Portland Trail Blazers) was LeBron James?

Not only is Oden taller than James, and not only does Oden not look like James, TMZ insisted otherwise.

It's bad enough that Oden's NBA career has been marred with injuries, but assuming he's LeBron James is way over the top.

Just because Oden doesn't have a ring, doesn't mean he looks like LeBron.

Chacin has emerged as a National League all-star pitcher candidate. More Indians links.

Associated PressRockies pitcher Jhoulys Chacin, who is 8-4 with a 2.81 ERA, starts against the Indians tonight.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cleveland Indians' offense isn't quite busting out like the 1927 Yankees, or for that matter, the 1995 Indians, but at least it's seemed somewhat revitalized the last four games.

The Tribe swept a three-game weekend series from the Pittsburgh Pirates, scoring five runs in each game.

Monday night, the Indians scored enough to win most games, but lost, 8-7, to the Colorado Rockies, as The Plain Dealer's Dennis Manoloff wrote in his Rockies-Indians game story.

The Indians (39-32) maintain a one-game lead over the second-place Detroit Tigers (39-34) in the American League Central Division. Tonight, right-hander Mitch Talbot (2-4, 5.02) starts on the Progressive Field mound for Cleveland, while Colorado (36-36) counters with righty Jhoulys Chacin (8-4, 2.81), a 23-year-old from Venezuela who has emerged as a National League all-star candidate.

The Indians-Rockies game preview on MLB.com includes Chris Vannini writing about Chacin: 

The Rockies' right-handed starter is 8-4 with a 2.81 ERA this season, and opponents are hitting .196 against him as he contends for an All-Star spot. Chacin will have a chance to go for his ninth win of the season against an Indians team that has struggled offensively in recent weeks, but has picked it up over its last three games.

"I just want to keep doing what I'm doing so we can get to the playoffs," Chacin said. "That's when people really get to know you."

Chacin has become a coverboy in his home country of Venezuela, where he has made himself available to all sorts of media requests.

"I hear the phone, and if I'm not sleeping or I'm not doing anything, I always talk to them," Chacin said. "I don't want to be a bad guy to the media. I like to be a good guy and keep talking. In English, I like talking, too. I've started learning more English. I don't know really good English, but I'm talking more and more and learning more and more every day. It's all part of having fun. You're doing the thing you want to do."

Round the bases

"First-guessing" the American League all-stars on ESPN.com. Former major league executive Jim Bowden picks his AL all-star team, including an Indian among the starters.

Rockies reliever Rafael Betancourt is grateful for the seven seasons he spent with the Indians. By the Denver Post's Jim Armstrong.

Rockies-Indians game story by Jim Armstrong of the Denver Post. 

Jim Ingraham writes about new Indians hitting coach Bruce Fields for the News-Herald and Lorain Morning Journal, and Sheldon Ocker writes about Fields for the Akron Beacon Journal.

Indians notebook by Sheldon Ocker of the Akron Beacon Journal.

A look at the Indians' minor leagues, on Indians Prospect Insider.

A look at the Indians' hot Class AAA team, the Columbus Clippers, on WaitingForNextYear.com.

A scout calls the 6-11 Vesely, from Serbia, a "very athletic, high-energy player," and compares him to longtime Utah star Andrei Kirilenko.

Associated PressJan Vesely (with the basketball) is described as an athletic and energetic big man who could play some at small forward.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cleveland Cavaliers are expected to take Duke point guard Kyrie Irving -- with Arizona forward Derrick Williams a possibility -- with the first overall pick in Thursday's NBA draft.

The Cavs may be considering several players to take with the foruth overall pick, if they don't include it in a trade.

Experts have speculated that Cleveland is interested in several international players at No. 4.

Sam Amick evaluates the top international draft prospects for Sports Illustrated's SI.com.

Jan Vesely, a 6-11 player from Serbia, is among the players linked to the Cavaliers in draft rumors.

Amick writes about Vesely:

SCOUT'S TAKE: "Very athletic, high-energy player. He's probably the most NBA-ready athlete from Europe [we've seen] in a long time. He's probably like a '4/3' [power forward, small forward]. He gets up and down the floor, is really good in transition and finishes. [Utah small forward Andrei Kirilenko] is a good comparison: He's out in transition, good hands, making moves, dunking it. If Vesely develops, he has the tools to one day be [as good as Kirilenko] -- if not an All-Star, then close."

The Plain Dealer and cleveland.com include several draft-related stories in our Cavaliers and NBA coverage.

Post-ups

Yahoo! Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski tweets that the Cavs may be trying to acquire a third first-round pick.

Promising international big man Jonas Valanciunas has a short-term contract hurdle in the way of an NBA career, writes Scott Howard-Cooper for NBA.com. 

A FoxSports.com slideshow of some top prospects whom not everyone is familiar with.

Mock drafts on FoxSportsOhio.com and on Yahoo! Sports.

Derrick Williams' position in the NBA draft, by Jason Lloyd of the Akron Beacon Journal.

Some draft and trade talk going around the NBA, by Peter Vecsey of the New York Post.

Redfern noted that Renacci is a member of the all-male Sharon Golf Club in Medina Conty, and said it's "hypocritical" for Renacci to disparage NBC "over an inadvertent faux pas" while he's a member of a club that won't admit women.

Jim Renacci

A letter that Rep. Jim Renacci sent to the United States Golf Association to criticize NBC's omission of the word "God" from the "Pledge of Allegiance" during its broadcast of the U.S. Open golf tournament has prompted criticism of Renacci from Ohio Democratic Party Chairman Chris Redfern.

Redfern noted the Wadsworth Republican is a member of the all-male Sharon Golf Club in Medina Conty, and said it's "hypocritical" for Renacci to disparage NBC "over an inadvertent faux pas" while he's a member of a club that won't admit women.

"It is perfectly legal, I suppose, but the question is, do the people of that congressional district want a representative who would segregate himself and support that kind of behavior?" Redfern said in a telephone interview. "Jim Renacci should reject the good-old-boy vestiges of the 1950s and 1960s."

Renacci chief-of-staff James Slepian responded to Redfern with the following emailed statement: "Millions of Americans, Democrats, Republicans and Independents alike, are deeply troubled when our nation's flag, its Pledge, or its history is misrepresented.  This is not a matter of partisan politics, yet sadly, Chris Redfern has once again resorted to the same dirty, tired, personal attacks that do nothing but bring embarrassment upon himself and further broaden the partisan divide that legislators like Jim Renacci are working tirelessly to bridge."

Ohio's other prominent congressional golfer - House Speaker John Boehner - has also taken heat for his membership in the all-male Burning Tree golf club in Bethesda, Maryland.

"Like well-known journalists Bryant Gumbel, Jim Nantz, and Bob Schieffer, Boehner is a member of Burning Tree, as well as his home course in Ohio, where women – including his wife – play regularly,” said Boehner spokeswoman Brittany Bramell.