Travis Hafner returned from the DL last weekend just in time to help the Cleveland Indians who are slumping at the plate.

Chuck Crow/The Plain DealerCleveland Indians Travis Hafner.

Travis Hafner returned from the DL last weekend just in time to help the Cleveland Indians who are slumping at the plate.

Cash Kruth of MLB.com writes how the Indians are 3-2 since Pronk's return, and the offense, which had been struggling mightily, has averaged five runs per game.

Since his return, Hafner is 4-for-13 (.308) with one home run, five RBIs and three walks, and Cleveland manager Manny Acta said Hafner looks "very good" in the batter's box.

"You can tell that he's seeing the ball very good," Acta said. "He's taking pitches that aren't close to the strike zone -- not chasing them. That's something that last year got him in trouble a little bit. He looks like his old self there -- very intimidating to me."

Acta says Hafner's return has helped the Indians.

"People underestimate how much one hitter changes the whole lineup, especially if it's a guy in the middle," Acta said. "It helps lengthen the lineup and put people in spots where they can relax more."

The mighty Fausto

Jim Ingraham of The News-Herald writes how pitcher Fausto Carmona is  riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma when it comes to his starts.

In 16 starts, Carmona is 4-9 with a 6.17 ERA. He leads all American League pitchers in losses, and among starting pitchers, Carmona is dead last in the league in ERA — and it's not even close. Carmona is at 6.17. The second-worst ERA in the league is 4.87, by Kansas City's Luke Hochevar.

One solution could mean a move into the bullpen, but Ingraham writes that could mess up the best bullpen in the American League.

Then there's the issue of who would replace Carmona in the rotation if a change would be made? The three options at Columbus all have good numbers: Jeanmar Gomez (6-2, 2.58 ERA), David Huff (6-2, 3.64) and Zach McAllister (7-2, 2.96). But Indians officials obviously aren't sold on any of the three, or one of them would already be here.

Game stories

Cleveland.com: Tribe fall short.

MLB.com: Homer spoils rally.

Ohio.com: No Thunder in Tribe.

The News-Herald: Rockies 4, Tribe 3.

Denver Post: Rockies rock Tribe.

"Where is the love for Threebler? Nobody on the planet thinks he is going to get drafted. The dude is a knock down shooter and quality defender. He is going to be a steal as an undrafted free agent for someone." - matt2korn

View full sizeAP Photo | Jay LaPreteIs Jon Diebler someone who could help a team in the NBA?

In response to the story NBA Draft: Norris Cole or David Lighty? Poll, cleveland.com reader matt2korn wonders why Jon Diebler isn't a second-round option for some teams?. This reader writes,

"Where is the love for Threebler? Nobody on the planet thinks he is going to get drafted. The dude is a knock down shooter and quality defender. He is going to be a steal as an undrafted free agent for someone."

Check out highlights from Kyrie Irving's high school career, including video of his performance in a school production of "High School Musical." Watch video

Most Cavalier fans know potential No. 1 pick Kyrie Irving from his 11 games at Duke, but our sister site NJ.com has been covering him since he was at St. Patrick High School in Elizabeth, New Jersey.

NJ.com has collected all of its coverage on Irving in a definitive post here, including a story when he was named the Star-Ledger's Basketball Player of the Year as well as photos and videos of some his most memorable games -- and dunks from high school.

Be sure to check out the video to the right of Irving performing the song "We're All in This Together" from St. Patrick's production of "High School Musical."

The decade-long slump in Ohio horse racing pushed many Buckeye breeding operations to move to other states and richer sires stakes programs. The lack of Ohio-bred horses is now being felt in Buckeye thoroughbred and standardbred racing circles.

 The decade-long slump in Ohio horse racing pushed many Buckeye breeding operations to move to nearby states with richer sires stakes programs. The lack of Ohio-bred horses is now being felt in Buckeye thoroughbred and standardbred racing circles.

Delaware County Fair officials announced cancellation of the Monday afternoon racing program on Sept. 19 for Ohio-breds that was once an integral part of its  prestigious Grand Circuit Week. The top event on the half-mile oval is Ohio's richest horse race, the $650,000 Little Brown Jug, a Triple Crown challenge attracting the country's top three-year-old pacers.

"A large part of our racing program depends on Ohio-bred horses. With the dwindling numbers we will lose 80 to 100 horses this year," said Phil Terry, manager and director of marketing for the Delaware County Fair. "In order for the Delaware Fair to provide a premier racing program, we have eliminated Monday as a race day for 2011."

Grand Circuit racing begins Sept. 18 with Sunday racing. It resumes Sept. 20 and wraps up on Little Brown Jug Day, Sept. 22.

Gov. John Kasich said last week Ohio will allow slots, or video lottery terminals, at Ohio's seven horse racing tracks. The slots are designed to boost race purses and provide additional revenue to tracks and the state. If and when the tracks finally get the new form of gambling, and if it does substantially boost purses at Ohio tracks, it will still take many years to rejuvenate horse breeding operations around Ohio.

The lack of Ohio-bred thoroughbreds has been noticeable at Thistledown. The recent Angenora Stakes and Petro Memorial Stakes, a pair of $50,000 races for Ohio-bred fillies and mares, had fields of five horses. If another scratch had cut the field to four, the race itself might have been scratched, or become a non-wagering exhibition.

Slides Choice in training: The Tim Hamm-trained Slides Choice was scratched from the Angenora and Petro fields, and there were worries the popular five-year-old mare had a serious problem. Hamm said this week Slides Choice is back in training and doing well. Hamm is pointing Slides Choice to the $50,000 Rose DeBartolo Memorial on Sept. 3, where it's likely she'll knock heads again with Pay The Man. The toughest mare around, Pay The Man cruised in the last two stakes for the mares and needed a challenge from Slides Choice.

Hamm said he scratched Slides Choice from the Angenora after she'd missed some training. He wasn't keen on bringing her back in the Petro, because his horse does best in a longer 1 1/8-mile race. Hamm will try to find a tune up race for Slides Choice before the DeBartolo Memorial.

Hot hands: Trainer Jamie Ness is the top trainer at Thistledown, sending out 20 winners in just 35 starts. Ness's 57 percent winning percentage is great, and his in-the-money finishes of 91 percent is amazing. Jevon Crumley's horses have won 18 of 60 starts. Frederico Matta leads the jockeys with 33 wins, with Yamil Rosario right behind with 30 wins.

House cleaning: Ohio State Racing Commission member Ted Brown of Tipp City has resigned after six years, effective July 31. William Koester is the only remaining commission member from the previous regime. Bill Crawford replaced Tom Fries as executive director a couple of months ago, but still serves as chief of pari-mutuels.

Profit and loss: At almost the halfway mark, 2011 wagering is down another 9.8 percent at Ohio's seven race tracks. Thistledown is the leader, with a 14.6 percent decline, while Beulah Park is off 14.2 percent. Northfield Park is down 5.2 percent. Thistledown and Northfield bettors are wagering about $146,000 per program and $24 million so far in 2011.

CineSport's Noah Coslov talks with Sporting News NBA writer Sean Deveney to discuss draft prospects including Jimmer Fredette, Kemba Walker and Enes Kanter, one of the possibilities for Cleveland with the fourth pick.

View full sizeAP Photo | Gerry BroomeKyrie Irving is the likely pick for the Cavaliers at No. 1.

Gee helps to recognize charity after making November remark about Big Ten football that, 'We do not play the Little Sisters of the Poor.'

Associated PressThis humorous billboard, congratulating Texas Christian University on its Rose Bowl win over Wisconsin, was photographed at the corner of Grandview Avenue and Dublin Road in Columbus, Ohio, in January. The billboard references Ohio State president Gordon Gee's assertion that teams like TCU didn't deserve to play for the national championship because they play opponents like "Little Sisters of the Poor."

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The head of Ohio State University has publicly atoned for a football season crack that inadvertently made a group of nuns the punch line.

University President E. Gordon Gee helped the Ohio House pay tribute to the Toledo area's Little Sisters of the Poor on Tuesday.

Gee told The Associated Press in November that teams from the Big Ten and Southeastern Conference deserved to play in Bowl Championship Series bowl games more than other schools. He said: "We do not play the Little Sisters of the Poor."

Sister Cecilia Sartorius tells WBNS-TV Gee didn't know the religious order was real. Gee joked he had no idea that they didn't have a football team.

With Gee on hand, the House presented a proclamation honoring the Little Sisters for 125 years of serving the poor.

What can the Indians do about Fausto Carmona? Are we watching Carlos Carrasco develop in to a front-of-the-rotation pitcher? Plain Dealer Indians beat writer Paul Hoynes answered those questions and more in his weekly podcast.

View full sizeScott Shaw | The Plain DealerFausto Carmona's time in the starting rotation could be running short.

What can the Indians do about Fausto Carmona? Are we watching Carlos Carrasco develop in to a front-of-the-rotation pitcher?

Plain Dealer Indians beat writer Paul Hoynes answered those questions and more in his weekly podcast.

Among other topics discussed:

• If the Indians put Carmona in the bullpen, who's the first guy up from Columbus to replace him in the rotation?

• How do you think Orlando Cabrera is handling losing playing time to Cord Phelps?

• What are your thoughts on talks about realignment in Major League Baseball?

• Aside from realignment, should they be discussing a more equitable salary system?

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

Which player should the Cavaliers select at No. 4?

AP FileTurkish center Enes Kanter.

The No. 1 pick for the Cleveland Cavaliers is easy (Kyrie Irving). It's the No. 4 overall pick in the draft that is challenging.

Apparently, the Cavs will decide between two 19-year-old European big men: Enes Kanter and Jonas Valanciunas, writes Ohio.com reporter Jason Lloyd.

Kanter is 6-foot-11 and 260 pounds, but he didn't play at all last season because he was ruled ineligible for college basketball.

Valanciunas is a legit 7-footer with a 7-4 wingspan, but he's incredibly raw. He is still playing in Europe and doesn't have a buyout clause in his contract that would allow him to leave and play in the NBA.

Valanciunas is a long-term prospect with tremendous potential, while Kanter has plenty of potential but he's more ready to play right now compared to Valanciunas.

ESPN college basketball analyst Jay Bilas agreed that the Cavs should take Kanter.

''I wouldn't hesitate. I would take Irving No. 1 and Kanter No. 4 if he's still there,'' Bilas said. ''Kanter is bigger, he's stronger, he's more physical. He's not afraid to stick his nose in there. He's got the NBA body now.''

 

Lighty

Former Ohio State guard David Lighty is on a tour showcasing his talent around the league while he waits for the NBA Draft.

In The News-Herald:

Lighty will make the final stop of a league-wide workout tour the morning of the draft in Detroit. The 6-foot-6, 216-pound guard is on a whirlwind trip that has taken him across the country to showcase his skills for almost half the NBA teams, including the Cavaliers.

"It's been very busy, very crazy, but it has been exciting, too," Lighty said in a phone interview on Tuesday. "I've talked to some of my (former college) teammates who have gone through the process, and now it's my turn.

"Some teams are looking for different things than other teams, but I don't change. For me, it's an honor to work out for these teams. I just go out and do what I do."

 

Predictions

Yahoo Sports makes a prediction when it comes to what the Cavaliers should do with the No. 4 pick in the NBA Draft.

More rumors

There's a report that the San Antonio Spurs are looking to trade point guard Tony Parker. The Spurs reportedly are talking with the Sacramento Kings and Toronto Raptors about a possible deal.

Which way is up?

Mary Schmitt Boyer of Cleveland.com writes that the experts are not sure which position Derrick Williams will play in the NBA. Mary called in from New York City today and was the guest on today's edition of Starting Blocks TV.

Anti-Heat

A woman will name her child after Dirk Nowitzki because the Mavericks defeated LeBron's team.

Plain Dealer Cavs writer, calling in from New York, says David Lighty would be a good fit for Cavs in 2nd round. Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Welcome to today's edition of Starting Blocks TV, hosted by Branson Wright, as Chuck Yarborough is recovering from yesterday's golf marathon as part of The Plain Dealer Summer Solstice Challenge.

The 2011 NBA Draft is tomorrow, and the Cavaliers have the No. 1 and No. 4 overall picks. But in the second round at No. 32 overall, what should they do if two guards - Cleveland State's Norris Cole and Ohio State's David Lighty - are both available? That's the question we have in today's Starting Blocks poll.

Today's guest is Mary Schmitt Boyer, who calls in from New York, where she is covering the draft. As she battles the NYC street noise, she says Lighty would make a better fit for the Cavs. She also talks about the rumored deal that would send Steve Nash to Minnesota for the No. 2. overall pick; and discusses whether Enes Kanter from Turkey or Jonas Valanciunas from Lithuania will end up in Cleveland at No. 4.

SBTV will return Thursday with more preview coverage of Thursday night's draft.

After a standout football career at Maryland State College, sax man saw fate rob him of a tryout with the Cleveland Browns.

University of Maryland Eastern ShoreClarence Clemons (50) as a senior at Maryland State College in 1964 with two senior teammates.

The death of Clarence Clemons on Saturday of complications from a recent stroke shook the music world.

The "Big Man" seemed larger than life on stage as Bruce Springsteen's saxophone-toting sidekick.

His passing also rekindles the tale of how fate - an injury in a serious car accident - robbed Clemons of a tryout with the Cleveland Browns.

Before he joined Springsteen and the E Street Band, Clemons was a 6-2, 250-pound center on offense and a defensive end for the Maryland State College Hawks with sights on the NFL.

 "I was looking toward a pro career," he told The Plain Dealer a few months ago, "but God had another plan for me."

Instead, music became his life, but football remained a passion.

"I loved the sport, I loved the game," he said by phone at the time from his home near West Palm Beach, Fla.

For those who may have missed the story in February, here's a link.

Duke's Kyrie Irving and Arizona's Derrick Williams wonder who the Cavs will make the No. 1 pick in Thursday's NBA draft. The two are widely recognized as the top two selections.

AP PhotoHave the Cavaliers decided on Kyrie Irving as the No.1 pick?

New York, N.Y. -- Cavaliers fans are not alone wondering who will be the No. 1 pick in Thursday's NBA draft.

Duke point guard Kyrie Irving and Arizona forward Derrick Williams would like to know, too.

The two players are widely believed to be the top candidates for the Cavs No. 1 pick, but neither is sure exactly how things will play out. In an interview with ESPN, Cavs general manager Chris Grant said he knew who he wanted to draft No. 1 but wanted to continue to discuss it with his staff.

Asked about the Cavs, the only team he worked out for, Irving said while meeting with reporters on Wednesday noon at the Westin Hotel just off Times Square, "They're keeping their cards close to the vest, as they should. We'll see how it goes.''

Though most mock draft list Irving as the No. 1 pick, Williams has not given up hope.

"I think there's always a chance,'' Williams said. "We'll never know until that draft pick comes. One or two, it's just an amazing feeling to be here right now.''

Kelly Pavlik will have tune-up fight in Youngstown this summer before title fight this fall.

Associated PressKelly Pavlik has his arm raised in victory.

Kelly Pavlik will have a tune-up bout in August at the Covelli Centre in Youngstown, writes reporter Joe Scalzo of The Youngstown Vindicator.

The bout will help preprare Pavlik for a likely super middleweight championship bout in November against IBF champion Lucian Bute:

The fight will likely be on Aug. 20 and will be televised by Fox Sports, Pavlik’s trainer Jack Loew said. Although no opponent has been chosen, look for Pavlik (36-2, 32 KOs) to fight a tough, but not dangerous fighter who can help him stay sharp before fighting Bute.

An opponent has yet to be named, but manager Jack Lowe says it would be a tough enough fighter to make Pavlik work.

Pavlik fought Marco Antonio Rubio at the Covelli Centre in February 2009, in front of an arena-record 7,228 fans.

While Loew is not expecting to duplicate that crowd, he said fighting a tune-up in Youngstown is better than, say, Oklahoma City.

Ilgauskas, the Cavaliers' all-time leader in several stat categories, started for Miami much of last season but didn't play in the Finals. He maintains other options, too.

Joshua Gunter, The Plain DealerZydrunas Ilgauskas has picked up the player's option on his contract for next season with the Miami Heat, his agent told The Plain Dealer.

NEW YORK -- Former Cleveland Cavaliers center Zydrunas Ilgauskas has picked up the player's option on his contract for next season with the Miami Heat, his agent, Herb Rudoy, told The Plain Dealer today.

Ilgauskas will still have the option to retire, Rudoy said, but today's move allows him to keep all options open.

Ilgauskas signed a two-year free-agent deal with Miami last summer, after a 14-season Cavs career during which he became the team's all-time leader in games, rebounds and blocked shots.

The 7-2 Ilgauskas, who turned 36 on June 5, played in 72 regular-season games, including 51 starts, for the Heat last season. He averaged five points and four rebounds playing 15.9 minutes per game, and shot 51 percent from the field.

He played in nine playoff games for the Heat, averaging 3.6 points and 3.6 rebounds in 11.6 minutes per game, making 47 percent of his field-goal attempts.

Ilgauskas was on Miami's inactive list for every game of the NBA Finals, which the Heat lost to the Dallas Mavericks, four games to two.

The pressure is on the front office, and James can't be blamed if it trashes the draft.

View full sizeDavid I. Andersen, The Plain DealerThe pressure is on Cavaliers GM Chris Grant as the team has a chance to improve quickly in the NBA Draft.

Last summer, it was LeBron James who made the decision that punched Cavaliers fans in the stomach and knocked the franchise to its knees. The Cavs were absolutely helpless as they waited for James to make up his mind seven days into the free-agent signing period. The Cavs had no 2010 draft picks, and it was too late to make a bid for any major free agent.

After James' decision, the Cavs received sympathy cards containing zero expectations for the season from most of the fans and media. After awhile, many fans wanted the Cavs to lose and make trades to assemble as many lottery pingpong balls as possible producing high draft picks.

Now, the Cavs will make their decisions with the No. 1 and No. 4 picks in the draft.

And they also have No. 32 and No. 54.

And now, the pressure is on the front office. James can't be blamed if the Cavs trash the draft.

That's an important point.

What happens next has nothing to do with LeBron James. It has everything to do with how General Manager Chris Grant and his scouts did their jobs. It has to do with how coach Byron Scott develops the players. It has to do with using owner Dan Gilbert's money wisely.

What happens with the draft will either set up the Cavs for success, or set them back for years.

They are expected to take Duke's Kyrie Irving at No. 1. Even if they shock the basketball world and grab Derrick Williams instead, the odds are both will become viable NBA players.

The real danger zone is the No. 4 pick, where they supposedly are pondering Enes Kanter or Jonas Valanciunas. Both are 19 years old. Neither played in college. Kanter hasn't played in any type of meaningful game since the 2010 Hoops Summit, and that was an all-star contest where he dominated some of the nation's top players.

Valanciunas played 15 minutes per game in the Euroleague, averaging 7.6 points, 5.4 rebounds and shooting 70 percent from the field, 91 percent from the foul line. He is under contract to a Lithuanian team for two more years. He probably will have to spend at least one more season in Europe.

Some media types and fans like Czech Republic player Jan Vesely, an extremely athletic 21-year-old dunking machine who has played in Europe's top leagues. But the lean, 6-11 forward shot 44 percent from the foul line.

If I had to pick between Kanter, Vesely and Valanciunas, I'd take Kanter because at 6-10, 260 pounds, he has NBA size and no complicated contract obligations. It's a good guess one of these three will be effective in the NBA, but who? They are so hard to evaluate.

Part of me wants to follow the lead of point guard Baron Davis, who picked for the Cavs in an ESPN The Magazine mock draft. He skipped the foreign guys and selected Washington State shooting guard Klay Thompson. I'd also look at Colorado shooting guard Alec Burks and perhaps San Diego forward Kawhi Leonard.

Kanter and Valanciunas are intriguing because of their size, but taking such raw players at No. 4? That should inspire the Cavs to spend a lot of time on the phone with Philadelphia GM Rod Thorn. Ask about a deal involving the No. 4 pick and use of the $14 million trade exception for 27-year-old Sixers wingman Andre Iguodala.

Call other teams to establish a market for the No. 4 pick.

The real test for the front office is what they do with the No. 4 pick. And can they find useful players in the second round with their two choices.

Or maybe, drafting Irving at No. 1 and a monster trade that produces Iguodala, or shockingly brings Derrick Williams to town. Those would be my choices, rather than gambling on the European centers.

The Cavaliers will probably select Kyrie Irving, a point guard from (gulp) Duke in Thursday's NBA Draft ... which means it is time to face down the curse.

Bob Leverone, Associated PressThough he wore the Duke uniform, Kyrie Irving does not look to be similar to the many former Blue Devils who failed to make an impact in the NBA.

In the last seconds, with everything they were playing for at stake in the 1999 NCAA men's basketball championship game, with Duke down by a point, the Blue Devils' Trajan Langdon could not shake Ricky Moore.

Connecticut's best defender, Moore followed Langdon like his shadow, like his dog, like his school's reputation for producing disappointing pros.

Langdon traveled on the possession. Then, in the last gasp, after two UConn free throws, Langdon lost the ball in a crowd of UConn defenders.

"It felt like a hundred of them," he said.

Quicker UConn won in a big upset, 77-74.

"I would trust Trajan Langdon with my life," Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski said, in his last will and testament.

All Duke players aren't the same, of course. Kyrie Irving, the 6-3 freshman point guard from Duke whom the Cavaliers are considering as the top pick in today's NBA Draft, is rated by most analysts to be the best player on the board.

Lonnie Timmons III, The Plain DealerThough he was taken with the 11th overall pick in the 1998 NBA Draft, former Duke star Trajan Langdon never was able to get his career off the ground with the Cavaliers.

But in Cleveland, we remember other Dookies.

Danny Ferry, for whom the Cavs traded Ron Harper and a championship future, often looked like he was surrounded by a hundred defenders, even when he was going one-on-one.

Langdon, taken straight up by the Cavs at No. 11 in the 1998 draft lottery, got that sinking, Ricky Moore feeling when he went against almost anybody in the NBA.

We don't know what would have happened with Carlos Boozer, other than that he came up short in scoring when the Bulls needed him this year and short in integrity when leaving Cleveland in 2004 as an "early bird" free agent.

In the Duke Overestimation Guidelines (DOG), how does Irving rate?

He has a small sample size (11 games) due to suffering a turf toe injury. He received medical clearance to return in the NCAA Tournament, in which he played well. Before you say that means he will be another Jay Williams, Bobby Hurley or Grant Hill, consider that Irving's short Duke career might be a good thing.

Hurley and Williams were injured in car and motorcycle accidents, respectively, and Hill has been a pretty good NBA player despite all the basketball injuries.

Duke has been successful by recruiting very good -- seldom great -- prospects, who are not ready to jump to the NBA after only a season or two. Players like Langdon, Ferry and J.J. Reddick stayed the course, thrived in the system, and entered the NBA as extremely well-coached players who were already near their talent ceiling. By playing only a small part of only one season, Irving avoids the "sucked-dry husk" theory.

Irving is probably the Cavs' man. Point guard is a position that is "trending" almost as impressively as the word "trending" itself. Cavs coach Byron Scott also has had success in previous stops with point guards Jason Kidd and Chris Paul. Not that Irving is Kidd or Paul.

Still, the other viable choice for the first overall pick, forward Derrick Williams of Arizona, might be another J.J. Hickson. The scouting report on Williams is that of a power forward who has trouble staying with quick wing players.

Why would the Cavs take a duplicate wingman when Hickson is a known quantity who is just now coming into his own with the team after three seasons? Unless Hickson is close to being traded (doubtful), he is nearly a double-double on the block every night, with shot-blocking and dunking potential that can ignite the Cavs' re-energized fan base.

If the Cavs were to take Williams first, the point guard of the future would have to be taken with the fourth pick. That would likely become a choice between Kentucky's one-and-done Brandon Knight and UConn's explosive junior, Kemba Walker.

Knight can only go to his right. Irving goes to his left well and can finish with either hand. Knight, however, is remembered in Ohio as Kentucky's "closer" this season, beating Ohio State with a move in the lane to his right, naturally, on a shot on which he was tightly guarded by Aaron Craft.

Walker is shorter than advertised at 5-11 1/2. The contract also might have expired, which he signed in blood with the Powers of Darkness that were summoned by ethically compromised coach Jim Calhoun in the Big East and NCAA tournaments.

The objection to Irving comes down to a perceived curse in a city already hexed out by Rocky Colavito and Bobby Bragan. Dookie though Irving is, it says here that he is not more of the Devils' handiwork.

Manager Manny Acta continues to tinker with his lineup to try and end the June swoon for his offense.

Associated PressManager Manny Acta believes Shin-Soo Choo and Carlos Santana are starting to emerge from season-long slumps.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Jack Hannahan made his first start of the season at first base Wednesday night at Progressive Field as manager Manny Acta tinkered with the lineup in search of offense..

With Hannahan at first, Carlos Santana moved behind the plate and Orlando Cabrera started at third base. The Indians are still in first place in the AL Central with a one-game lead over Detroit despite going 7-13 in June, hitting .228 as a team and averaging 3.4 runs per game.

The good news is that Acta sees life returning to the bats of Santana and Shin-Soo Choo. In his last eight games, Santana is hitting .345 (10-for-29) with three homers and five RBI in his last eight games.

"For me, Carlos started to come around at Yankee Stadium when he started to drive the ball to the oppositive field," said Acta.

Choo is hitting .375 (9-for-24) with five RBI in his last seven games. His power is still lacking. He has five RBI in June and hasn't homered since May 20.

"You can see it coming," said Acta. "He's starting to pull the ball with authority."

Acta feels Choo is recovering from the mental turmoil he went through following his arrest on DUI chargtes in May.

"It doesn't go away overnight, but he's gotten good support from his teammates,"
said Acta.

When the Indians start their nine game interleague trip Friday in San Francisco, look for Santana to see most of the playing time at first and Lou Marson to do most of the catching.

"This is a good opportunity for Lou," said Acta.

All-Star Indians? Asdrubal Cabrera still trails Derek Jeter at shortstop in the fan voting for the American League All-Star voting.

Jeter, currently on the disabled list with a strained calf, has 2,654,045 votes. Cabrera, whose offensive number far outshine Jeter, is second at 2,242,157 votes. Tribe fans had their last chance for in-stadium voting at Progressive Field on Wednesday. The Indians are on the road starting Friday through June 30 when voting ends.

Other Indians who registered in the voting were Orlando Cabrera with four place at second base with 916,941 votes and outfielders Grady Sizemore and Shin-Soo Choo. Sizemore was 13th with 867,281 votes and Choo 15th with 764,817 votes.

The AL and NL All-Star teams will be announced on TBS on July 3 at 12 p.m. ET.

Tonight's lineups:

Rockies (37-36): CF Carlos Gonzalez (L), 2B Jonathan Herrera (S), DH Jason Giambi (L), SS Troy Tulowitzki (R), RF Seth Smith (L), 3B Ty Wigginton (R), 3B Chris Nelson (R), LF Ryan Spilborghs (R), C Matt Pagnozzi (R), RHP Jason Hammel (4-6, 4.00).  

Indians (39-33): CF Grady Sizemore (L), 2B Cord Phelps (S), SS Asdrubal Cabrera (S), DH Travis Hafner (L), RF Shin-Soo Choo (L), C Carlos Santana (S), 3B Orlando Cabrera (R), LF Travis Buck (L), 3B Jack Hannahan (L), RHP Josh Tomlin (8-4, 3.93).

Him vs. me: Wigginton is the only Colorado player to face Tomlin. He's 1-for-3 against him. Tomlin is making his first start against the Rockies.

Choo is 2-for-4 with a double against Hammel.

Left-right: Lefties are hitting .269 (50-for-186) with seven homers and righties are hitting .219 (34-for-155) with four homers against Tomlin. The Rockies have three lefties and one switcher hitter in the lineup.

Lefties are hitting .234 (36-for-154) with two homers and righties are hitting .296 (53-for-179) with five homers against Hammel. The Indians have one right-hander and three switch-hitters in the lineup.

Umpires: H Sam Holbrook, 1B Todd Tichenor, 2B Gerry Davis, 3B Greg Gibson. 

Quote of the day: "If they knocked two of your guys down, I'd get four. You have to protect your hitters," Don Drysdale, the late Hall of Famer for the Dodgers.

Next: Indians are off on Thursday before opening a nine-game interleague trip to San Francisco, Arizona and Cincinnati.

Cabrera turns to one of his favorite books to get ready for playing third base.

View full sizeAPOrlando Cabrera

Clubhouse confidential: The Tribe's Orlando Cabrera prepared for his second-ever start at third base Wednesday night by reading "Atlas Shrugged," by Ayn Rand.

"This is my bible," Cabrera said. "It's over 1,000 pages long."

Cabrera's copy of Rand's 1957 novel is worn. The spine of the book is taped over to help hold it together. Cabrera said he reads it every year.

"The book is about objectivism. It's about many things," Cabrera said. "It's about how to be successful in life. It's about how to live life now while you're still alive."

The novel tells the story of a strike by the great minds in the United States against the government.

Realignment: Don't worry, Cleveland, realignment with two 15-team leagues and no divisions is probably headed for the cutting-room floor. Some form of realignment is expected in 2012 to go along with the proposed addition of a second wild-card team in each league, but it reportedly will be only a tweaking, with division play being protected.

Stat of the day: The last homer Chris Perez allowed before Tuesday night's game-winner in the ninth inning by Colorado's Seth Smith was hit by Cincinnati's Joey Votto on June 27, 2010.

Drafts that helped build the Cavaliers' most successful teams.

Associated PressBrad Daugherty, with NBA commissioner David Stern, after the Cavaliers took the North Carolina center with the first pick in the 1986 draft.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cleveland Cavaliers, barring a trade, own the first and fourth overall picks in Thursday's NBA draft.

Also, Cleveland will pick at No. 32 -- the second pick in the second round -- and at No. 54.

The pundits say that this draft lacks star quality, but that it may be deep in players who can contribute to teams as part of regular rotations.

A few years from now, we'll know how good or bad, or average, the 2011 draft was.

For the Cavaliers, this will be their 42nd draft, or 43rd, if you include the expansion draft they, the Portland Trailblazers and Buffalo Braves (now Los Angeles Clippers) participated in prior to their inaugural 1970-71 seasons.

We rank the five best drafts in Cavaliers history (not counting the expansion draft, which, in fact, didn't work out especially well). We mention only the draft picks who played in the NBA.

1. 1986

First round, No. 1 overall pick, Brad Daugherty, 7-0 center, North Carolina; first round, 8th overall pick, Ron Harper, 6-6 guard-forward, Miami (Ohio); second round, 29th overall pick, Johnny Newman, 6-7 forward-guard, Richmond; third round, 50th overall pick, Kevin Henderson, 6-4 guard.

Mark Price, 6-0 guard, Georgia Tech, taken by the Dallas Mavericks in the second round, 25th overall pick. Moments later, the Cavaliers traded a 1989 second-round pick to Dallas for Price.

This draft helped form the nucleus of some of the Cavaliers' best teams, though they were teams regularly frustrated by injuries and the Michael Jordan-led Chicago Bulls.

How good was Daugherty? He made the all-rookie first-team, and then in the five full, healthy seasons remaining in his career, the Eastern Conference coaches voted him on to the All-Star Game roster. Daugherty was 28 when he played his last game midway through the 1993-94 season. Forced to retire because of his back injury. Daugherty finished his Cavs and NBA career with averages of 19 points (on 53 percent shooting), 9.5 rebounds and 3.7 assists a game.

Harper played three full seasons with the Cavs before they traded him and their 1990 and 1992 first-round draft picks, and their 1991 second-rounder, to the Los Angeles Clippers for the rights to forward Danny Ferry and guard-forward Reggie Williams.

The deal was made seven games into the 1989-90 season. During his three-plus seasons with Cleveland, Harper averaged 19.8 points, 5.1 assists, 4.7 rebounds and 2.3 steals a game, and provided at least somewhat of a counter to Chicago's Jordan.

PDRon Harper (4) with Brad Daugherty in the background.

Harper lost some of his explosiveness as a scorer about two months after the trade, when he suffered a serious knee injury. His played 11 more seasons, though, and his creativity, savvy and defensive excellence made him a major contributor to three Bulls' championship teams and one with the Los Angeles Lakers. He had a reduced role on the second LA title team he played with.

Newman played 59 games as a Cavs rookie, but was waived one day before the 1987-88 season. He went on to a solid 16-year career (including the shortened 1999 campaign with Cleveland), scoring 12,740 points.

Henderson was the fourth of eight players taken by the Cavs in the seven-round draft. He was waived before the season, later picked up by the Golden State Warriors, then returned to Cleveland during the 87-88 season for the final five games of his NBA career.  

Price played the first nine of his 12 NBA seasons with the Cavaliers. He is the team's all-time assists leader, ran the pick-and-roll with Daugherty like John Stockton and Karl Malone worked it for the Utah Jazz, expertly led the fastbreak and could be considered the Cavs' best-ever long-range shooter.

After coming off the bench in a rookie season hindered by an emergency appendectomy, Price played six full, healthy seasons for Cleveland, making four all-star teams. In the 1992-93 season, he became the first Cavalier named first-team all-NBA. He also was named third-team three times. Price is tied with the Phoenix Suns' Steve Nash for the all-time regular season lead in free throw percentage (.9039) and is the all-time leader in free throw percentage (.944) in playoff  games.

(Star forward-center John "Hot Rod" Williams was also a rookie on the 1986-87 team, but he had been selected in the previous draft. More on his selection to follow)

2. 2003

First round, No. 1 overall pick, LeBron James, 6-8 forward, Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary High School; second round, 31st overall pick, Jason Kapono, 6-8 forward, UCLA.

James became the Cavaliers' all-time leader in several statistical categories, including points and scoring average, in his seven seasons with the team before leaving as a free agent last summer to join the Miami Heat.

Plain DealerGM Jim Paxson (left) and LeBron James after the Cavs drafted James first overall in 2003.

He won the NBA's Most Valuable Player Award in his last two Cleveland seasons, and made first-team all-NBA in each of his last six years as a Cav. Cleveland made the playoffs in each of his last five seasons and won eight playoff series, reaching the NBA Finals for the first time in 2007 -- being swept by the San Antonio Spurs, 4-0.

Kapono played just 427 minutes for the Cavaliers as a rookie, then was taken by the Charlotte Bobcats in the expansion draft prior to the 2004-05 season. Ironically, Kapono was probably a better perimeter shooter than any of the players the Cavs acquired in their efforts to help spread the court for James. Kapono, who played sparingly for the Philadelphia 76ers last season, led the NBA in 3-point shooting percentage in the 2006-07 season (.514) with Miami, and again in 2007-08 (.483) with the Toronto Raptors. 

3. 1974

First round, No. 8 overall pick, Campy Russell, 6-8 forward, Michigan; third round, 38th overall pick, Clarence "Foots" Walker, 6-0 point guard, State University of West Georgia; third round, 39th overall pick, Kevin Restani, 6-9 forward-center, University of San Francisco.

Russell and Walker, as rookies off the bench, nearly helped the Cavaliers make the playoffs for the first time, then were keys to playoff teams the next three seasons.

Russell, a versatile scorer, fine passer and under-rated defender, played close to starter's minutes in his second season and was a starter in his last four Cleveland seasons. He made the all-star team in his fifth year with the team and was a candidate for the squad in his next, and last, year as a Cav before a mid-season injury ended his campaign.

Russell was one of the first players sent packing in a flurry of awful trades during the early segment of Ted Stepien's three-year stint as the Cavaliers' owner. Russell went to the New York Knicks in part of a three-team trade in which the Cavs got forward Bill Robinzine from the Kansas City Kings.

Robinzine played eight games before the Cavaliers traded him along with 1983 and 1986 first-round picks to the Dallas Mavericks for forward Richard Washington and center Jerome Whitehead. Washington made two starts in one-plus seasons with the Cavs; Whitehead played eight minutes for Cleveland.

The trades helped prompt the NBA's moratorium on the Cavaliers, preventing the team from making any deals without league approval.

Walker was a superb backup for three seasons and a starter for his last three Cleveland campaigns, twice finishing among the league's top ten in assists and twice in steals. The Cavs traded him to the New Jersey Nets for guard Roger Phegley on Sept. 24, 1980, one day before they traded Russell.

Restani is not part of the equation in ranking this draft as the Cavaliers' third best. He was sold to the Milwaukee Bucks shortly after the Cavs picked him, and went on to an eight-year career as a valuable backup big man. Ironically, his last 34 NBA games were with the Cavaliers during their pathetic 1981-82 season, when the team was suffering the effects of trades such as those involving Russell and Walker.

4. 1996

First round, No. 12 overall pick, Vitaly Potapenko, 6-10 center-forward, Wright State; first round, 20th overall pick, Zydrunas Ilgauskas, 7-3 center, Lithuania; second round, 56th overall pick, Reggie Geary, 6-2 guard, Arizona.

Potapenko was a solid backup Cavs' big man for two full seasons, then was traded to the Boston Celtics one-third of the way into the lockout-shortened 1999 campaign.

Potapenko, from the Ukraine, was drafted one pick ahead of the Charlotte Hornets' seclection of high schooler Kobe Bryant. Many teams were hesitant about drafting Bryant, thinking that he and, especially, his father -- former NBA player Joe Bryant -- might try to force a trade to a team favored by the family. Indeed, 15 days after the draft, Charlotte traded Bryant even-up to the Lakers for veteran center Vlade Divac.

Much of Potapenko's value is that he got value in return in the trade to Boston. The Cavs got the Celtics' first-round pick for that June, which became the No. 8 overall pick, and was used to select point guard Andre Miller. Cleveland also got backup center Andrew DeClercq.

Associated PressCavaliers center Zydrunas Ilgauskas, who had missed what would have been his rookie season with a broken foot, holds the MVP trophy he won for his play in the NBA's 1998 Rookie All-Star Game.

Ilgauskas was then 20 and had already been sidelined for extended stretches after breaks in one foot or the other. Otherwise, talent analysts said that the skilled and then-mobile Z would have been a top five pick.

Ilgauskas missed his rookie season after again breaking a foot. During his first Cavaliers' season, he quickly emerged as one of the NBA's better centers.

Three more times, though, Ilgauskas would break a foot, allowing him to play just 29 games in the next three seasons.

Both feet had been basically re-built when Ilgauskas returned early in the 2001-02 season, limiting his minutes to about 20 per game to protect the feet. Ilgauskas returned to a starting role and stayed there the next seven seasons -- twice making the all-star team -- and became the Cavs' all-time leader in games, rebounds and blocked shots.

He was traded to the Washington Wizards for forward Antawn Jamison just before the Feb., 2010 trade deadline, then re-signed by the Cavs a month later after Washington bought out his contract. Ilgauskas signed a free agent contract with the Miami Heat last summer.

Geary played in 39 games as a rookie with the Cavs, who didn't re-sign him. He played one more NBA season, with the San Antonio Spurs.

5. 1983

First round, No. 20 overall pick, Roy Hinson, 6-9 forward-center, Rutgers; first round, 24th overall pick, Stewart Granger, 6-3 guard, Villanova; second round, 27th overall pick, John Garris, 6-8 forward, Boston College; third round, 50th overall pick, Paul Thompson, 6-6 guard-forward, Tulane.

The value of this draft to the Cavaliers was enhanced by how they eventually were able to use the players in trades.

Hinson was a fine defensive player, and finished fifth in the league in blocked shots during two of his three Cavaliers' seasons. Also a solid rebounder and high-percentage shooter, NBA observers believed he was still in the process of reaching his peak when the Cavaliers traded him to the Philadelphia 76ers for the first pick in the 1986 draft. Cleveland used the pick to select Brad Daugherty.

PDRoy Hinson as a Cavaliers rookie.

Hinson excelled during his first 76ers season, but he encountered knee problems and played just 269 games after leaving the Cavs.

Granger played 56 games including 13 starts, and Garris played 33 games during their rookie seasons with Cleveland. The Cavaliers traded them to the Atlanta Hawks prior to the 1984-85 season for respected veteran guard Johnny Davis, who helped key Cleveland's improbable run to the 1985 playoffs.

After the trade, Granger played 24 more NBA games; Garris, none.

Thompson averaged nearly 10 points in 1 1/2 seasons with the Cavaliers, who traded him to the Milwaukee Bucks just past the midway point of the 1984-85 season.

The Cavs got 1985 and 1987 second-round picks in exchange for Thompson, who played just 39 more NBA games.

Cleveland used the 1985 second-rounder to take forward-center John "Hot Rod" Williams, who would have been a first-round pick but had been implicated in a gambling scandal while, ironically, playing at Thompson's alma mater, Tulane.

Williams sat out the 1985-86 season while the Tulane scandal played out in the courts. He was cleared of any wrong-doing, and the NBA ruled him eligible to play the day before the 1986 draft, when the Cavaliers picked Brad Daugherty, Ron Harper and Johnny Newman, and acquired Mark Price via trade.

Williams played nine seasons for the Cavaliers, immediately emerging as a capable scorer, solid rebounder and one of the best, most versatile defensive big men in the league.

Manny Acta continues to look for ways to reignite the Indians' offense. Playing Orlando Cabrera at third base is one of the things he's trying. If Carlos Santana and Shin-Soo Choo continue their mini-hot streaks, that would help even more.

Chuck Crow, The Plain DealerOrlando Cabrera at his new home, third base.

CLEVELAND, Ohio — The experimenting continues for manager Manny Acta and the Indians' lineup. He has used 53 different lineups in 72 games, all in a search for offense.

The Orlando Cabrera trial balloon entered its second game at third base Wednesday. Cabrera has played 1,902 games in the big leagues. The past two have been at third, the first 1,900 were at shortstop and second base.

"I don't see any issues; a ground ball is a ground ball, and Orlando has good hands," Acta said. "It gives us some flexibility and more opportunities for him to be in the lineup and to get Cord Phelps some more at-bats."

Cabrera opened the season as the starting second baseman, but he's lost playing time since Phelps arrived from Class AAA Columbus to play second June 8.

"I don't even know how I feel about playing third," Cabrera said. "I'm not sure how I can put it in words. I did feel a little uncomfortable, of course, because it's a new position.

"Is it going to be my position? I don't know. I just feel like it's an opportunity for me to be in the lineup that I need to take advantage of to help the team win."

Cabrera is hitting .249 (58-for-233) with nine doubles, three homers and 32 RBI. Jack Hannahan, the regular third baseman who started at first Wednesday, is hitting .220 (44-for-200) with 10 doubles, five homers and 19 RBI.

Acta has spent the first 21/2 months of the season waiting for Carlos Santana and Shin-Soo Choo to start producing. It's been an especially long wait in June. The Indians entered Wednesday's game with a 7-13 record this month, while hitting .228 and averaging 3.4 runs per game.

In the midst of that sterile offense, Santana and Choo have started to hit. In his past eight games, Santana is hitting .345 (10-for-29) with three homers and five RBI.

"For me, Carlos started to come around at Yankee Stadium when he started to drive the ball to the opposite field," Acta said.

Choo is hitting .375 (9-for-24) with five RBI in his past seven games. His power is still lacking. He has five RBI in June and hasn't homered since May 20.

"You can see it coming," Acta said. "He's starting to pull the ball with authority."

Acta thinks Choo is recovering from the mental turmoil he went through following his arrest on DUI charges in May.

"It doesn't go away overnight, but he's gotten good support from his teammates," Acta said.

Knock, knock: The Indians start a nine-game interleague trip to San Francisco, Arizona and Cincinnati on Friday. Lou Marson should remember to pack his catcher's gear.

Santana is going to play the majority of time at first base, which means Marson is going to get regular playing time behind the plate.

"This is a good opportunity for Lou," Acta said. "We feel he has the talent to be an everyday catcher."

To do that, Marson needs to hit. He's batting .235 (19-for-81) with seven RBI. He's hitting .333 (9-for-27) in his past eight games.

All-Star Indians? Asdrubal Cabrera still trails the Yankees' Derek Jeter at shortstop in the fan voting for the American League All-Star team.

Jeter, currently on the disabled list with a strained calf, has 2,654,045 votes. Cabrera, whose offensive numbers far outshine Jeter's, is second with 2,242,157 votes.

Tribe fans had their last chance for in-stadium voting at Progressive Field on Wednesday. Fans still can vote online at mlb.com until June 30.

The AL and NL All-Star teams will be announced on TBS at noon July 3.

Acta, named to the AL's coaching staff for the July l2 All-Star Game in Phoenix, made a pitch for closer Chris Perez, who is tied for third in the AL with 17 saves in 18 chances.

"What hasn't he done as a closer?" Acta asked.

Good news: Indians third-base prospect Lonnie Chisenhall was activated Wednesday at Class AAA Columbus after being on the disabled list with concussion/whiplash symptoms from a slide into third base.

Finally: Matt LaPorta (right ankle) still has his foot in a walking boot and needs crutches to get around the locker room. ... Acta said Phelps has batted second the past two games because he needed to give Grady Sizemore (Tuesday) and Michael Brantley (Wednesday) a day off.

The Indians beat Colorado on Wednesday to end a six-game homestand with a 4-2 record. Now they head west to start a nine-game interleague trip against the Giants, Diamondbacks and Reds.

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Josh Tomlin won his ninth game, tying him for the most victories in the American League, and Travis Hafner bid his adieu to the regular lineup for the next nine days with a two-run homer Wednesday night at Progressive Field.

Yet all that wouldn't have meant a thing without the Bullpen Mafia. Vinnie Pestano, Tony Sipp and Chris Perez made Tomlin's 6 1/3 quality innings and Hafner's power count in a 4-3 victory over Colorado at Progressive Field.

Manager Manny Acta said this six-game homestand was critical if the Indians were going to remain a force in the American League Central following a 2-5 trip through New York and Detroit.

"Did we want to win all six? Yes, we did," said Acta. "But we'll take 4-2, especially looking back to where we were seven or eight days ago. We're moving in the right direction. We're holding our ground and playing crisp baseball. That's all you can ask for."

The Indians retained their one-game lead over Detroit in the Central with the victory.

Tomlin did a nice job against the Rockies with the exception of Ty Wigginton. The Rockies first baseman hit a bases-empty homer in the fifth to cut the Tribe's lead to 2-1. Then he hit two-run homer in the seventh to make it 4-3.

Last year, Wigginton, playing for Baltimore, hit two homers against the Tribe on May 15. Mitch Talbot gave up both homers.

"He's a mistake killer, and he got me twice," said Tomlin, who has allowed 13 homers. "Both pitches were right down the middle."

Tomlin (9-4, 3.95 ERA) allowed three runs on five hits. He struck out three and didn't walk a batter, while throwing 70 percent (60-of-86) of his pitches for strikes.

He went 2-0 on this homestand, allowing four runs in 13 innings against the Pirates and Rockies. In his previous four starts, he was 1-3 with a 8.61 ERA. While AL teams were drawing a bead on Tomlin, interleague play has given him time to regroup.

"Tomlin was very good," said Acta. "Lefties went 1-for-12 against him. That's a key for him. He had his good cutter and the good breaking ball.

"If you haven't seen him before, he's going to make it tough on you. This guy throws four pitches for strikes, and you can't really get ready for that by just watching video."

Lefties entered the game hitting .269 (50-for-186) with seven homers against Tomlin. Wigginton is a right-hander.

Hafner celebrated his last game as a regular for the next nine games with a two-run homer down the right-field line off Jason Hammel (4-7, 4.13) in the sixth for a 4-1 lead. Asdrubal Cabrera started the inning with a double down the left-field line. Hafner sent a 2-2 pitch just inside the foul pole for his seventh homer. It was his second since coming off the disabled list June 17.

"Travis is at his peak right now," said Acta. "He's so intimidating and locked in at the plate. It's just sad that we're not going to see him for nine games . . . very sad."

The Indians play their next nine games in San Francisco, Arizona and Cincinnati. The DH is not allowed in National League parks, which restricts Hafner to pinch-hitting appearances.

Pestano relieved Tomlin after Wigginton's second homer. He struck out two straight batters to end the seventh. Pestano opened the eighth with his third straight strikeout before Sipp relieved to strikeout Carlos Gonzalez and retired Jonathan Herrera to end the eighth.

All of which led to Perez in the ninth facing the heart of the Rockies lineup -- Jason Giambi, Troy Tulowitzki and Seth Smith -- with a one-run lead. He struck out Giambi and Tulowitzki but gave up a line-drive double to Smith that thudded off the wall in right. Smith beat Perez with a leadoff homer in the ninth on Tuesday in a 4-3 victory.

"That's a save right there," said Acta. "He earned that."

Smith beat Perez on Tuesday when he hit his slider out. Perez went with his best pitch, a fastball, Wednesday, and Smith just missed hitting it out again.

"I thought it was too low to go out," said Perez.

Perez retired Wigginton for his 12th straight save and 18th in 19 chances.

The Indians took a 2-0 lead in the third when Grady Sizemore singled home a run and Hammel balked home Jack Hannahan, who had walked.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: phoynes@plaind.com, 216-999-5158