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Ex-National Hernandez says Tribe isn't that bad: Indians Insider

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Manny Acta's Nationals were bad last year and his Indians are bad this year. Infielder Anderson Hernandez, a National last year and an Indian this year, says there's a difference between the two teams.

santana-error-horiz-phils-mct.jpgTribe manager Manny Acta says some of the Indians' defensive woes have been the result of new players getting little chance to settle in at their positions -- such as catcher Carlos Santana.

CINCINNATI -- Anderson Hernandez slogged his way through a good part of the Washington Nationals' 103-loss season last year before he was traded to the Mets. He does not feel the Indians sliding down the same slope this year.

The Indians entered Saturday night's game against Cincinnati at 26-46 and on pace to lose 104 games.

"We're in last place, yes, but it's a little different than last year," said Hernandez. "We've lost some games early here, but I think if we pull together I think we can have a good team.

"We've made some mistakes, but I think if we correct them, we can win a lot of games."

Hernandez said the attitude with the Indians is better than it was last year with the Nationals.

"Last year we had a lot of young players, just like here," he said. "Some people wanted to win, but we lost. But here, everybody wants to win."

Last season was Manny Acta's third the Nationals' manager. He was fired on July 13 with the Nats listing at 26-61. Acta said the two seasons were not the same.

acta-ump-dispute-cinci-ap.jpgTribe manager Manny Acta didn't get much satisfaction from umpire Paul Nauert after Nauert called Orlando Cabrera safe at home following a hit by Scott Rolen Saturday night in Cincinnati.

INDIANS CHATTER
Clubhouse confidential: Manny Acta said he would have let Arizona's Edwin Jackson complete his 149-pitch no-hitter against Tampa Bay on Friday night.
“If he's got a no-hitter going, yes, I'd let him go,” said Acta. “Those are special cases and it's already this late into the season. Those are special things that a guy might do only once in his career.
“People complain too much. They complain that people don't complete games anymore. But they forget when people threw all those complete games years ago, they were throwing 160 to 170 pitches. It's not like this kid is going to be doing this every week.
“We have kids in high school and college throwing that many pitches in a game.”

Don't forget to vote: The Indians players and coaches filled out their All-Star ballots before Saturday's game. Acta said if he had to pick All-Stars from the Indians, he go with Shin-Soo Choo, Fausto Carmona and Mitch Talbot.

Stat of the day: Talbot leads AL rookies with seven wins, 4.08 ERA, 90 1/3 innings pitched, .539 winning percentage and one complete game.
Paul Hoynes

"The difference here is that we have more pieces," he said. "We know that the farm system is already starting to produce some of the players we were anticipating to be here.

"It gives us light at the end of the tunnel. It's different. If we're going through the same thing three years from now, then you guys can ask me that question. Don't forget that was my third year."

Clang in the night: Acta says the Tribe's defensive problems aren't because of a lack of effort. He says it's because of injuries and offensive slumps. The Indians entered Saturday's game against the Reds leading the American League with 55 errors.

"You're always concerned about the defense, especially when you have a pitching staff like we have," said Acta. "We're near the bottom in strikeouts and near the top in walks. That's not a good combination.

"The best defensive teams have the same guys playing in the same spots day after day. We haven't been able to do that."

The Indians lost shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera and center fielder Grady Sizemore to injuries. Cabrera could be back after the All-Star break. Sizemore is out for the season.

"Injuries to our two best defensive players have made us have a revolving door," said Acta. "The fact that [Luis] Valbuena struggled so bad at second base that we had to move guys around every day just to get the best lineup on the field [didn't help].

"The fact that we couldn't play Russell Branyan or Matt LaPorta every day at the start of the season didn't help either. You can't have a revolving door at so many positions and play good defense. That's why we've gone from being second in fielding to last.

"We've had four or five guys at short, four or five guys at second, four or five guys at first, three or four guys in left field. No excuses, but you can't play good defense like that."

Valbuena, demoted to Class AAA Columbus on Thursday, leads the Indians with six errors. Branyan, Cabrera and Jhonny Peralta have five each. Justin Masterson, who started Saturday night, leads all AL pitchers with four errors.

Newest Indian: Jayson Nix, claimed on waivers Thursday, started at second base Saturday. He joined the Tribe hitting .160 with five errors in 25 games with the White Sox. It was not a ringing endorsement since Valbuena, the man he replaced, went to Columbus hitting .166 with six errors.

"It's good to get out there and playing again," said Nix before the game. On Friday, he appeared as a pinch hitter, as did his brother, Laynce, for the Reds. On Saturday, Nix started at second and Laynce started in left field.

"It's funny how things happen," said Nix, about facing the Reds. "It's cool how it's worked hard. We don't get to see each other much during the summer. It worked out well."

The White Sox designated him for assignment on June 17.

"There wasn't an opportunity for at bats in Chicago," said Nix. "Mark Teahen signed a three-year deal. Gordon Beckham is their guy. They're going to let those guys play."

Finally: Catcher Carlos Santana, lifted from Friday's game with a jammed left thumb after hitting a two-run homer, was back in the lineup Saturday. He had an RBI double in his first at-bat.


Gladiators' playoff hopes take a hit as Tulsa pulls away in second half, 65-44

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Needing a win to stay in the thick of the playoff race, the Gladiators offense picked a poor time to have one of its worst showings of the season.

Kevin Henry

Special to The Plain Dealer

TULSA, Okla. -- Needing a win to stay in the thick of the National Conference playoff race, the Cleveland Gladiators offense picked a poor time to have one of its worst showings of the season.

After grabbing a 21-13 lead, Cleveland watched as the host Tulsa Talons dominated the rest of the contest on its way to posting a 65-44 Arena League victory on Saturday night at the BOK Center.

Cleveland's 44 points tied a season low, matching the Gladiators' output in a 46-44 loss at Jacksonville. The loss dropped Cleveland to 5-7 with four games remaining.

"I thought this was the first time all season that we had been physically beaten," said Cleveland head coach Steve Thonn.

The Gladiators entered Saturday night averaging 63.5 points over its last eight games, but were stymied after scoring on three of its first four possessions. During one stretch covering the third and fourth quarters, Tulsa (7-5) pieced together 30 unanswered points. The Talons outscored Cleveland, 44-20, over the final 31 minutes.

For the first 29 minutes, it was dominating business as usual for the Gladiators and quarterback John Dutton. Then came the final minute of the first half. Dutton threw two interceptions in those 60 seconds, including one that was returned 47 yards for a touchdown by Tulsa's Jamar Ransom. The Talons scored on both mistakes to grab a 35-24 lead at intermission.

"We turned the ball over twice, and it especially hurt because we were in their territory both times," Thonn said. "But turnovers were just part of it tonight. We were physically getting beat in a lot of places."

Prior to the two picks, Dutton had thrown 12 touchdowns without an interception against Tulsa this season. Dutton had thrown three TD passes before Ransom grabbed the ball after the Gladiators' Chris Johnson was hit by Terrell Mingo and went the distance for Tulsa's first lead of the night, 28-21.

Two plays later, Mingo stepped in front of a Dutton pass in the Tulsa end zone. The Talons converted with a three-play, 32-yard drive that culminated with Justin Allgood's seven-yard scoring pass to Donovan Morgan 13 seconds before the half.

Dutton completed three consecutive passes and Matt Denny nailed the 39-yard attempt to slice the Talon lead to 35-24 heading into the locker room.

The game couldn't have started much better for the visitors. Dutton took the opening snap and found Johnson in stride for a 39-yard score just 67 seconds into the game.

Dutton would throw another first-quarter touchdown, 14 yards to Ben Nelson. Dutton and Nelson hooked up for four touchdowns on the night.

Kevin Henry is a freelance writer in Tulsa, Okla.

Brown, Hodges and Brantley each drive in a pair of runs in Clippers victory: Minor league report

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Big first inning helps Columbus breeze to rout of Gwinnett in International League.

AAA Columbus Clippers

Clippers 8, Braves 2: Host Columbus scored seven runs in the bottom of the first inning, defeating Gwinnett, Ga., in an International League game Saturday. The Clippers' Jordan Brown and Wes Hodges had two-run singles, Cord Phillips doubled home another run, and two more scored on a Michael Brantley double. Jeanmar Gomez (5-7) was the starter and winning pitcher. He pitched six innings and gave up two runs, both earned, on seven hits.

AA Akron Aeros

Mets 11, Aeros 6: Akron lost a slugfest at Canal Park, as starting pitchers for both the Aeros and Binghamton, N.Y., got roughed up in Eastern League play. Aeros starter Scott Barnes gave up eight hits and nine runs (five earned) in four innings. Binghamton starter Mark Cohoon gave up five earned runs on 11 hits in 5 innings. Binghamton connected for two home runs. Jerad Head of Akron was 3-for-3 with a double and an RBI.

Advanced A Kinston Indians

Hillcats 5, Indians 3: Lynchburg, Va., scored four in the top of the fourth and won at Kinston, N.C., in Carolina League play. Abner Abreu went 3-for-4, including his second homer of the year for Kinston. He was 3-for-4.

Notes: Christopher Jones pitched three scoreless innings in relief for Kinston. His ERA is 0.91 in 29 innings.

A Lake County Captains

Captains 5, Whitecaps 0: Matt Packer (6-3) and Jose Flores combined to shut out host West Michigan in Midwest League play. Packer struck out nine and yielded five hits in eight innings. Flores gave up one hit in the ninth. Packers' ERA is now 1.88 and Flores' is 0.96. Jason Smit clubbed a home run in the fifth inning.

A Mahoning Valley Scrappers

Scrappers 12, Doubledays 1: Third baseman Giovanny Urshela drove home four runs, and visiting Mahoning Valley dominated Auburn, N.Y., in New York-Penn League action. Urshela slugged one of four doubles for Mahoning Valley. Starter Dew Owen pitched four scoreless innings for the Scrappers, Casey Gaynor (1-1) gave up five hits, but just one run, in three innings and James Ehlert finished up with two scoreless innings. Mahoning Valley broke the game open with five runs in the sixth. The Doubledays contributed to that rally with two passed balls, a wild pitch and a walk.

Independent Lake Erie Crushers

Cruisers 3, Crushers 1: Lake Erie managed only one hit and dropped the opener of a nine-game homestand in Avon, to Oakland County, Mich. For the third straight Frontier League game, the Crushers allowed the opposing team to score in the first when Oakland County's leadoff man, Zachary Pace walked, stole second, and scored on a one-out double. Wayne Bond beat out a groundball to short for the Crushers' only hit, in the third inning. Lake Erie scored its lone run on a walk, hit batter and sacrifice fly.

Hey, Hoynsie! Paul Hoynes answers your Cleveland Indians questions

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This week's mailbag is full of questions about what veteran Indian could be included in a mid-season trade.

Cleveland Indians lose to Mets, 8-4Carlos Santana has impressed Paul Hoynes and most fans with his immediate success since arriving with the Indians. But some fans are harder to please.

Hey, Hoynsie: Carlos Santana seems a bit pull-happy early in his MLB career, and even though he's hitting a lot of line drives, it won't take long for teams to adjust to this. Is this something that is a normal part of his game, or is he just trying to crush everything in his first week as a big leaguer? -- Joshua Haidet, Rochester, N.Y.

Hey, Joshua: Through his first 12 games, Santana has 38 at-bats. I think it's tough to target a trend in that few opportunities.

Like most young hitters, he may try to pull the ball too much at times, but from what I've seen, he drives the baseball to all fields. The Indians say that one of the things that sets Santana apart as a hitter is his ability to swing aggressively, but still make a lot of hard contact. That's demonstrated by nine walks, 12 hits and five strikeouts.

As for pitchers adjusting to him, that's the give and take of baseball. That's when we'll find out just how good of a hitter Santana is.

Hey, Hoynsie: Why is there no mention of Jordan Brown coming up from Class AAA Columbus? -- Jack Person, Pleasant City.

Hey, Jack: I wouldn't be surprised if Brown gets a look after the All-Star break. I think a lot of people are going to get a look in the second half.

Hey, Hoynsie: Do Rafael Perez and Luis Valbuena have anything else in common otherthan their amazing ability to hold a roster spot despite consistently poor performance? I have read and heard a few references related to their make-up/professionalism. If this is true, what benefit do they bring to the major-league club and what does it say about the decision-making of the current brain trust? -- Steve Cornelius, Avon Lake

Hey, Steve: As you know, Valbuena was sent to Class AAA Columbus after Thursday's game. The Indians can't do anything with Rafael Perez because he's out of options. If he did have an option, I believe he'd be in Columbus right now.

kwoodcc.jpgSome fans are so eager to deal away Kerry Wood (and a few other Indians) that they would be happy if the Tribe includes some young talent just to sweeten the deal.

Hey, Hoynsie: Is there any way the Indians might be able to trade Kerry Wood and Travis Hafner by offering a highly regarded prospect in conjunction with these players? I am envisioning a proposal that might include both Wood and Hafner along with a second-tier prospect (e.g. Jason Knapp, T.J. House) to anyone that bites. It wouldn't matter who we got in return for this package, just that Dolan doesn't have to keep paying the albatross contracts of Wood and Hafner. -- Leslie Marchak, Sagamore Hill

Hey, Leslie: Wood, regardless of his performance, would be easier to move because he's in the final year of his deal. If the Indians threw in Carlos Santana, they may stir some interest in Hafner, but they'd still have to pay a big chunk of his salary or take another bad contract in return.

Hafner will make $13 million a year in 2011 and 2012.

Hey, Hoynsie: Too bad about Ruben Niebla getting hurt last week in Pittsburgh. How many assistant coaches are there? What are their responsibilities? What are the major responsibilities of an assistant GM? -- Bill Compton, New Orleans

Hey, Bill: Besides Manny Acta's coaches, Tim Tolman (bench), Tim Belcher (pitching), Jon Nunnally (hitting), Sandy Alomar Jr. (first base), Steve Smith (third base) and Scott Radinsky (bullpen), he has two assistants to the big-league staff -- Niebla and Dave Wallace.

They both throw batting practice. Wallace, a former catcher, warms up pitchers in the bullpen. The Indians use this position to groom people to be coaches/managers in their minor-league system and eventually to return to the big league as coaches/managers.

Niebla has spent nine years in the Indians' minor-league system as a pitching coach. He assists Belcher and Radinsky. Wallace spent seven years catching in the minors, mostly with the Indians.

The Indians have two assistant general managers. Chris Antonetti, who will replace outgoing GM Mark Shapiro at the end of this year, is Shapiro's right-hand man. John Mirabelli is director of scouting and oversees the pursuit of domestic and international talent.

Hey, Hoynsie: What are the chances some team will take Jhonny Peralta at the trade deadline? -- Angelo Costanzo, Cleveland

Hey, Angelo: Unless Peralta improves his game before the July 31 deadline (waivers not needed) or the Aug. 31 deadline (waivers needed), I don't think the chances are very good. The story could change if a contender needs a third baseman because of injury.

Hey, Hoynsie: I need to know whether it is my poor timing (or our collective bad luck), but every time I tune in to a Tribe game and Kerry Wood is the closing pitcher he always blows the game for us. How many games has Wood successfully saved, and how many has he actually lost? I cringe every time he walks on to the field. -- Melissa Soto-Schwartz, Cleveland Heights

Hey, Melissa: Through the first 71 games, Wood has saved five games in eight save situations. His won-loss record is 1-3. Two of Wood's three losses are the result of blown saves. In his one victory, he blew the save, but the Indians came back in the ninth inning against Boston on June 10 for an 8-7 victory.

Hey, Hoynsie: Is it time to dump Kerry Wood? His value is zero. No trade needed, nobody wants him. I haven't pitched since Babe Ruth league in 1968, but I can do better than him and that's with two frozen shoulders from diabetes. -- Bruce Greenlaw, Detroit Lakes, Minn.

Hey, Bruce: Closing is a high-risk, high-reward occupation. When you get the final three outs in a game, you're a hero. When you don't, even your dog doesn't like you.

I can't see the Indians just releasing Wood. He's still throwing hard and they owe him a lot of money. I think they keep running him out there and hope that he can string some good games together so they can trade him.

Hey, Hoynsie: Can you give us some information about the scouting department. Are theyfull-time employees? Do we employ a number commensurate with good teams? Why, in your opinion, is evaluating young talent so difficult for this organization? -- Herb Bernard, Brentwood, Calif.

Hey, Herb: John Mirabelli, in his 11th season with the Indians, runs the scouting department. He's an assistant general manager.

Brad Grant, who runs the amateur draft, has been with the team 17 years. He just completed his third June draft. He's in charge of 15 area scouts and five national scouts or crosscheckers.

The Indians have three major-league scouts, who file advance reports on the Indians opposition and scout the big leagues for possible trades and free agent acquisitions.

Ramon Pena was hired in November as the director of Latin American Operations. He spent 28 years scouting for Kansas City, Detroit and the Mets and has re-organized the Indians' scouting system in Latin America. Pena has 14 scouts in Latin America. The Indians have a scout working the Pacific Rim. They also have five part-time scouts.

Not sure if I have an answer on why the Indians haven't been as successful as they'd like in the draft. They haven't had a No.1 or No.2 pick since 1992 when they took Paul Shuey with the second pick. Money has been an issue as well. They've passed on some good players because they knew their asking price would be too high.

Hey, Hoynsie: When the front office is evaluating film on players, who assists them that has baseball experience? Does the coaching staff get involved? -- Dustin Potter, New York

Hey, Dustin: In talking to Brad Grant, he says everyone gets involved from the front office, scouts, major-league coaching staff and minor league coordinators (pitching, hitting, catching, baserunning) depending on the importance of the player.

-- Hoynsie

Hey, Tony! Tony Grossi answers your Cleveland Browns questions

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Have last season's victory finally get the Browns over the Steelers' domination? It's one of this week's mailbag questions.

browns-steelers-scrum-to.jpgRashard Mendenhall and the Steelers were limited to six points in the Browns' 13-6 victory on Dec. 10, 2009.

Hey, Tony: With the signing of Mike Holmgren towards the end of last year, the beating of the Steelers was pushed under the rug a bit. You, however, did not miss a beat on covering that night. What Mangini and Ryan did scheme-wise still amazes me. How huge was that for us to get that monkey off our back? And though the media has a hard time getting coaches here in the past to admit that the Steelers are a huge game for us, do you agree Mangini "gets it"? -- Michael Spitale, Galena

Hey, Michael: I believe the benefit of the win over the Steelers will be realized this year. Now the Browns can play their rivals with that huge albatross removed from their necks. Yes, I think Mangini "gets it" when it comes to the Steelers. He was here in the 1990s when games against the Steelers really meant something. Mangini also had a winning record against the Steelers as coach of the Jets. Incidentally, I view the Steelers as a team on the descent.

Hey, Tony: Why have other teams in the league have some draft picks signed already and no news from the Browns picks? Does this fall to the teams or agents to get the ball rolling? On July 22, we will hear how everyone is signed but [Joe Haden] because he is waiting for the sixth and eighth picks to sign! -- Rick Green, Cleveland.

Hey, Rick: Some teams have jumped the gun and signed several of their draft picks, but none has been signed in the first round. I'm told to expect several first-round holdouts because of complexities resulting from the uncertainty of the labor situation. Option bonuses routinely given in the second year of first-round contracts will be a key issue because teams may not want to pay them if there is a lockout in 2011. At this point, I'm not sure why no Browns latter-round picks have signed. I know some of the key Browns business people are on vacation.

Hey, Tony: With the arrest of Chris Jennings a few months back, do you think that has hurt his chances of making the team? I still think he can be a valuable contributor even with our recent additions at running back. -- Scott Cordle, Blacklick, Ohio

Hey, Scott: My gut feeling is that Jennings' arrest will have no bearing on his future with the team. I believe the charges were dropped. However, keep in mind that Jennings was no lock to make the final roster before the arrest. The addition of Montario Hardesty and Peyton Hillis and the expected return to health of James Davis certainly hurt Jennings' chances of making the team. That big dropped pass in the close loss in Detroit also didn't help Jennings. If he makes that catch late in the fourth quarter, the Browns probably lock up a win.

Hey, Tony: I have a question on the new overtime rules. Let's say Browns and Steelers are playing each other in the playoffs. The game goes to overtime but neither team scores. Because a playoff game can't end in a tie, does the second OT change to sudden death or is it first touchdown or first team to score after one possession. Do they have another coin flip after the first OT or does the game continue like it would in regulation? -- Josh Phillips, Bellevue, Ohio

Hey, Josh: Fabulous question. I am not ashamed to say that I do not know the answer. Now, all the Grossi-bashers will say, "You are paid to know these answers. You cover the NFL, right?" But I would bet you can ask 10 NFL coaches or GMs the same question and several would not know the answer. That's the problem with the new overtime rule. There are so many variables that you need a cheat sheet to provide the answers. My hunch is that because each team has had at least one possession in the first overtime, sudden death would prevail in the second overtime without a coin toss. I hope that every playoff game in 2010 goes into overtime so the ridiculous "modified sudden death" rule change is exposed as a very dumb idea.

roger goodell.jpgRoger Goodell really does want to reduce the preseason exhibitions to just two games, but Tony Grossi doesn't believe he'll get an 18-game regular season easily.

Hey, Tony: Do you think Roger Goodell's recent announcement (again) about extending the regular season to 18 games is legitimate? Or [is it] a ploy to get the owners and NFLPA back to the bargaining table with the hopes of hammering out a new CBA to avoid a lockout or strike next season? -- Tim, Winter Haven, Fla.

Hey, Tim: I think that Goodell originally proposed an expanded schedule independent of the current labor situation. I agree with his point that the preseason product needs to be cut because it cannot be improved. I do not agree with the concept of adding two regular-season games, however. There will be more injuries and more "dog" games in the final month of the season between 2-12 teams. Also, an expanded schedule must be accompanied by an expanded roster, changes to the injured reserve rules and a developmental league. The bottom line is Goodell and the owners want to increase revenue and playing more regular games will do it. The union now will demand something in return for adding two games.

Hey, Tony: Any chance the Browns would be interested in wide receiver Vincent Jackson of the Chargers? If so, what would it take to get him? -- Shaylin Butler, Pemberton, N.J.

Hey, Shaylin: Jackson has not signed his RFA tender. If the Browns were interested in him -- and I'm pretty sure they are not -- they would have to give up roughly first- and third-round draft choices in addition to signing Jackson to a lucrative long-term contract. I don't believe San Diego would even consider trading him.

Hey, Tony: I think the Browns need a veteran at the wide receiver position to stretch the field. Do you think the Browns will go after Kevin Curtis to help the position? -- Andrew Dunn, Cleveland Heights

Hey, Andrew: With all due respect, I don't think Curtis is going to stretch the field against anyone. If the Browns had any desire to acquire Curtis, they would have done so before OTAs.

Hey, Tony: I read in an article about how impressed the coaching staff is with Montario Hardesty. Please tell me it was about the contract issues with Jerome Harrison that they're hyping him up and not really considering starting Hardesty. Although I don't think Jerome is the next Jim Brown, I believe he has proved he can start and be very productive. Is Harrison thestarting running back? -- Dustin Hutchinson, Cleveland

Hey, Dustin: I think the Browns' infatuation with Hardesty has everything to do with Hardesty and nothing to do with Harrison's contract situation. Barring an unforeseen injury, I expect Hardesty to win the starting job in preseason. Harrison was sensational in the final three games. But few GMs would stake their jobs on an undersized back. The NFL is just too much a grind and too brutal a sport for the "mighty mite" to play as a feature back.

Hey, Tony: Do you know the status of Peyton Hillis? Is he sick? Injured? Did I read correctly that he'll be ready for training camp? -- Greg Dineen, Middletown

Hey, Greg: Hillis missed a substantial portion of OTAs, and the mandatory minicamp, with an illness that the club declined to disclose. The media were told that Hillis had a bad cold and he was expected to be ready for the start of training camp.

-- Tony

Cristie Kerr takes eight-stroke lead at LPGA Championship

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PITTSFORD, N.Y. -- Holding an eight-stroke lead and 18 holes away from a second major title, Cristie Kerr wasn't about to declare victory in the LPGA Championship. "I can sit here and say, 'Give me the trophy now.' But it's not going to happen," Kerr said after shooting a 69 Saturday. "I've got one more round of golf to...

PITTSFORD, N.Y. -- Holding an eight-stroke lead and 18 holes away from a second major title, Cristie Kerr wasn't about to declare victory in the LPGA Championship.

"I can sit here and say, 'Give me the trophy now.' But it's not going to happen," Kerr said after shooting a 69 Saturday. "I've got one more round of golf to play. There's one reason I'm sitting here and so far ahead at this point is because of the attitude I'm bringing."

Kerr's focus was on display during a rain-soaked round at the Locust Hill Country Club, where she went to 13-under 203 entering the final round Sunday. Her advantage tops the previous largest entering the final round of the LPGA Championship -- Mickey Wright led by seven in 1961 on her way to a title.

And Kerr fell just short of matching the largest 54-hole lead at an LPGA major set by Babe Zaharias, who had a 10-stroke lead at the 1954 U.S. Women's Open.

Mika Miyazato double-bogeyed No. 18 to finish at 72 and fall into a three-way tie for second with rookie Azahara Munoz and Jimin Kang after both finished with 70s in the LPGA Tour's second major of the year. The only others within 10 shots of Kerr are Song-Hee Kim, who shot a 69 Saturday, and Jiyai Shin (70), who are 4 under for the tournament; and American Karrie Webb (69) at 3-under 213.

Shin, the world's second-ranked player, is competing in her first tournament since an appendectomy two weeks ago.

Kang could only shrug when asked if there's a chance of catching Kerr.

"I've got nothing to lose but 18 holes to go," Kang said. "That's all I can say."

Miyazato's not conceding anything just yet, either.

Speaking through an interpreter, Miyazato said: "If I keep my patience and endure to the last hole, then I am going to be able to catch up."

There's even more on the line for Kerr should she win on Sunday.

Opening the week fifth in the world rankings, Kerr is in position to take over the No. 1 spot currently held by Ai Miyazato, who supplanted Shin by winning the ShopRite LPGA Classic last weekend. The LPGA announced that if Kerr wins, Miyazato would need to finish second overall to retain her ranking.

That's highly unlikely after Miyazato shot a 70 on Saturday to put her in a tie for 24th at 1 over for the tournament.

Kerr has an opportunity to become only the fifth player -- and first American -- to hold the top spot since the rankings were introduced in 2006.

"It would be great to get there. That's step one," said the 14-year tour veteran and 13-time tour winner. "But then you have to prove it over and over again every week."

Kerr's been on a roll all season. She's posted three top-three finishes, including winning the State Farm Classic two weeks ago.

This week, she's been nearly flawless since an opening 68 Thursday that put her in a three-way tie for first. Kerr opened Saturday ahead by five and eventually took control with three straight birdies on Nos. 11-13, and with the rain steadily falling.

The run happened immediately after Kerr hit into the trees and bogeyed the par-4 10th, while Miyazato birdied to inch to within three strokes of the lead.

Kerr responded with a 15-foot birdie putt on No. 11, followed with a 12-foot birdie on 12, and finished the surge with a 10-footer on No. 13. That put Kerr at 12-under for the tournament and moved her six strokes ahead of Miyazato.

Kerr explained she was motivated because of her poor play, not because of what Miyazato was doing.

"I was just mad that I bogeyed 10. I just got on a run," she said. "I definitely want to keep the foot on the gas. It doesn't matter how many shot lead you have in golf, it's not enough."

After a bogey-5 on No. 14, she came back with an 8-foot birdie on the par-3 15th.

Kerr had three bogeys on Saturday after producing just one in her first two rounds. She continues to dominate the back nine, which she is now playing at a combined 10-under 101 for the week.

With thunderstorms forecast to roll in early in the afternoon, officials moved up the tee times by 90 minutes, and had the players go off in threesomes and off both tees in a bid to squeeze in the third round. The rain began about noon, and grew heavier an hour later as the final group reached the 14th green.

With thundershowers forecast for Sunday evening, officials have moved up the start of the final round by two hours, with Kerr and Kang set to tee off at 12:40 p.m.

Only three Americans have won the past 13 majors -- including Kerr's victory at the 2007 U.S. Women's Open.

"I'm happy I'm way ahead, and I am hoping to go further ahead," Kerr said. "But I can't get ahead of myself."

Race for the Chase for NASCAR Sprint Cup championship heats up

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LOUDON, N.H. -- The Chase for the Sprint Cup championship traditionally kicks off at New Hampshire. So does the 10-race sprint to make the 12-driver field. When drivers return here in September, they hope they are gearing up for a championship run. With only 10 races left until the field is set, the pressure is revved up for those...

LOUDON, N.H. -- The Chase for the Sprint Cup championship traditionally kicks off at New Hampshire. So does the 10-race sprint to make the 12-driver field.

When drivers return here in September, they hope they are gearing up for a championship run. With only 10 races left until the field is set, the pressure is revved up for those around the cutoff mark.

Carl Edwards is clinging to 12th place entering Sunday's race, only 57 points ahead of Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Clint Bowyer and Ryan Newman are lurking behind Junior. Don't count out pole sitter Juan Pablo Montoya or even David Reutimann among the small group of drivers who have a lugnut-size margin of error this summer.

"I feel like we've got a chance," Reutimann said Saturday. "We just need top-fives everywhere we go."

Oh, no pressure.

Points leader Kevin Harvick, four-time defending champion Jimmie Johnson, Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin have their spots all but secured. It would take a string of disastrous DNF performances to knock out NASCAR's elite drivers.

From about ninth in the standings on down, anything can happen.

Tony Stewart, a two-time Cup champion, is 10th and understands how fragile his spot can be down the stretch.

"If you are ninth through 12th right now, you are worrying about just making sure you have enough points to be in it and go from there," he said.

Earnhardt wants to make that field as long as he feels he can realistically compete for his first career Cup title. He's coming off his best two back-to-back races of the season and believes his No. 88 Chevrolet can still find more speed to stamp themselves as a legitimate Chase threat.

"We've still got a long ways to go, man," Earnhardt said. "We've got a lot of work to do to get better and get more competitive. I feel like we're starting to be able to contend, but we've got a lot of speed to find."

Earnhardt, long NASCAR's most popular driver, missed the Chase last year and finished a disappointing 25th. He's made the Chase three times and twice finished as high as fifth in 2004 and 2006. He hasn't been much of a threat to win, much less a championship contender, the last four years. Earnhardt has gone 73 straight races without a victory.

Earnhardt won't be satisfied with making the Chase if he's not a legitimate championship contender.

"We can run like we have the last couple of weeks and make the Chase, but that doesn't win a championship either," Earnhardt said. "We need to step it up because we could make the Chase, but it just becomes a pain in the (rear) because we're in the Chase but we're not contenders and we've got to all the (stuff) you've got to do as a Chase member; going to New York and all that stuff. It just ends up being more work than anything.

"If I'm going to make this Chase, I want to make it and feel like I have a chance to contend and battle in the top five and be around in the last couple of races with a shot still at winning the championship."

For drivers and teams expecting to be part of the Chase, Sunday's race is a great tutorial. Edwards is in a 52-race winless drought and hasn't found Victory Lane since the last race of the 2008 season. He's finished twice and third before at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, and needs to start reeling off consistently strong finishes to hang on to his spot.

"Every time I pull into the garage, there's a different group of guys around me, so I know it's close," Edwards said. "There are a lot of guys fighting for that spot. I think I can safely say this is going to be one of the toughest years to make the Chase that we've had."

Taking the checkered flag has been tougher than expected for some of the sport's top drivers. In the first 16 races of the season, only seven drivers have won. Johnson and Hamlin have positioned themselves as the drivers to beat.

Montoya is on a roll with a pair of top 10s and one 13th-place finish in the last three races. The former Formula One star made NASCAR's Chase for the Sprint Cup championship for the first time last season. He failed to carry that over into this season and is 20th entering Sunday's race -- 161 points out of the 12th and final place in the Chase field.

"It's cool because it's putting a lot of pressure on us and we put a lot of pressure on ourselves to perform and get the job done," he said. "It's pretty exciting to see."

NASCAR is counting on it.

Terry Pluto's Talkin' ... about an emerging young Brown, the clear No. 1 QB and why the Tribe had to deal Russell Branyan

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Former OSU star Brian Robiskie's rookie season was largely a washout, but his second summer with the Browns shows marked improvement.

UPDATED: 12:14 a.m.

robiskie-vert-jg.jpgThe emergence of Brian Robiskie as a legitimate target in the passing game may have been the most important discovery of the Browns' off-season training camps, says Terry Pluto.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- There's never really an end to the football season, right? So among other things, Terry's Talkin' ...

About the Browns ...

1. If the Browns were to give an award for an MVP of the different minicamps, receiver Brian Robiskie would be the winner. As one Browns coach said: "He started strong, and then got better. He never let up. He's made a huge jump." The Browns say Robiskie now "runs" the pass routes, rather than going through them "robotically," as he did his rookie season. He earned the respect of veteran quarterback Jake Delhomme, who told the coaches how Robiskie is "exactly where he should be at exactly the right time."

2. The Browns believe Robiskie will continue to be effective once real football begins with blocking and tackling. Robiskie is not a pure speed receiver. His quickness is above average, but he also has the strength to fight off defensive backs and create room to get open. Some "track guys" look good in the summer, then fade once they are physically challenged in the fall. That should not be the case with the Ohio State product.

3. Robiskie made tremendous progress between his freshman season (only one reception) and his sophomore year, when he emerged as a starter and caught 29 passes for the Buckeyes. Robiskie caught only seven passes as a rookie, and the Browns now see the player they hoped for when picking him in the second round in 2009.

4. David Veikune, another 2009 second-rounder, also caught the coaches' attention. Last season the Browns couldn't decide if Veikune, a defensive end at Hawaii, should play inside or outside linebacker ... talk about bad planning. This season he has been an inside linebacker from the first day of off-season workouts. He often worked with the starters in place of D'Qwell Jackson, the restricted free agent who didn't sign until after the minicamps.

5. Veikune has lost 20 pounds since last season and weighs about 235. By playing with the starters, the coaches thought he'd either begin to look like a guy who can grow -- or appear overmatched. No one is saying Veikune will start, but he definitely has moved up the depth chart to the point where he should see action.

6. The Browns love to play five, even six linebackers at times. That's why it matters if Veikune can contribute. New inside linebacker Chris Gocong has been impressive and the Browns believe he'll be a factor against the run.

7. Defensive coordinator Rob Ryan and coach Eric Mangini are having fun sorting through all the linebackers, the key players being Scott Fujita, David Bowens, Jason Trusnik, Matt Roth, Marcus Benard, Kaluka Maiava, Gocong, Jackson and Veikune. Veteran Eric Barton is in camp, but still recovering from a neck injury.

8. While fifth-rounder Larry Asante was ahead of second-rounder T.J. Ward in a battle of rookie safeties during the first few camps, Ward seemed to be moving ahead -- until he sat out the final few days with a minor injury. The Browns need one of these guys to be ready for the season opener, as safety remains a soft spot. Veteran Abe Elam is expected to start again with Michael Adams as a backup. Adams also played a lot of cornerback.

About the Browns' quarterbacks ...

jake-delhomme.jpgJake Delhomme is the clear No. 1 quarterback for the Browns, says Terry Pluto, regardless of whatever observations Eric Mangini may have made at the end of minicamp.

1. If Mangini had to do his most recent news conference over again, he would be clearer about the fact that -- no surprise -- Delhomme is the No. 1 quarterback. During the minicamps, he worked with the starters and the Browns were very pleased with the 35 year old. They like how he quickly adapted to the offense and how he didn't make many poor throws. He has looked like what they hoped for when signing him to a $7 million deal: A solid veteran with strong leadership skills.

2. Keep in mind that everything in this column comes from watching players in drills where there is no tackling and no serious blocking. The coaches do put a lot of pressure on the players to know various formations, to adapt to quickly changing plays and to deal with blaring noise. The Browns say two of Delhomme's previous Carolina coordinators -- Jeff Davidson and Dan Henning -- have systems similar to what the Browns use.

3. When the Browns first put together their wildcats formation -- as in two wildcats, Joshua Cribbs and Seneca Wallace -- they wondered how the two would blend. They have been thrilled as Wallace and Cribbs realize this is a way for both to be on the field -- instead of as a competition. In many of his passing plays, Wallace's first target has been Cribbs. They do have some plays for Cribbs to throw the ball, but we'll see how often that happens. The Browns want to find ways to put the ball in Cribbs' hands and let him run.

4. Compared to the relative ease that Delhomme has adjusted to the offense, Wallace has had some struggles. He played in Mike Holmgren's West Coast offense his entire career in Seattle. While the Browns have some West Coast elements, it still is more like what New England does -- throwing downfield -- along with what is supposed to be a heavy dose of wildcat, sometimes just with Cribbs, other times with Cribbs and Wallace.

5. As you can imagine in a Mangini-run camp, everything is counted. While the Browns won't give me the exact numbers, I was told completion percentage is "up appreciably" compared to this time a year ago. Some of it is due to Delhomme. It's also because the players' roles (including quarterback) are more defined as they no longer are facing a new coaching staff and system.

About the Tribe ...

branyan-fielding-cc.jpgRussell Branyan's value on a rebuilding team is negligible, regardless of how many home runs he hits, so Terry Pluto says it's time for the Indians to move the slugger in order to give Matt LaPorta an everyday big-league opportunity.

1. It was time for the Indians to get on the phone and stay there until they find someone to take Russell Branyan. As it turned out, that team was Seattle, who had Branyan a year ago and reacquired him Saturday night. The move was essential because it's time for Matt LaPorta to play ... in Cleveland ... every day. And that wouldn't happen until first base is open for him. Now it is.

2. Why take Branyan? Since May 1 -- and through Friday's game against the Reds -- he hit .265 (.831 OPS) with 10 HRs and 22 RBI in 151 at-bats. No matter what the Tribe says, he was awful at first base. But he  stayed healthy, has some power and the Mariners must have thought he could help them get back in the AL West race -- Seattle is desperate for offense to support aces Felix Hernandez and Cliff Lee. Through Friday, LaPorta was batting .353 (1.061 OPS) at Class AAA Columbus. He had five HR and 16 RBI in 68 at-bats. He now has 22 HR, 76 RBI in 406 career Class AAA at-bats, hitting .308.

3. LaPorta and the Indians figured out why he struggled (.218, one HR in 119 AB) with the Tribe early in the season. When he was playing with a bad hip and turf toe (both requiring surgery), he stopped using his legs to power his swing -- swinging mostly with his arms. After he was healthy, the bad habit remained, robbing him of power. He has returned to his original swing.

4. Guess we all knew that at some point, Jayson Nix would be the starting second baseman, right? It was pure mercy to send Luis Valbuena (.166) back to Columbus. The Clippers' second baseman is Cord Phelps, but he's only 23 and has only 44 at-bats (.341)since being promoted from Class AA Akron. He is a prospect, but not ready to come up. He never played above Class A until this season. So they will let Nix and Anderson Hernandez handle second for a while.

5. The longer look for this season is that Asdrubal Cabrera (broken arm) may be back in four weeks. He'd take over at short, with Jason Donald (now the shortstop) moving to second base. Keep an eye on Jared Goedert, who is batting a combined .328 (.981 OPS) between Akron and Columbus and has five home runs in 10 games entering Saturday. The third baseman hit only .224 at Akron last season, but suddenly has bloomed at age 25.

6. At Columbus, the Indians will groom Valbuena as a utility infielder. They want to keep Phelps playing a lot of second, so Valbuena will primarily be used at shortstop -- where he struggled with the Tribe.

7. With Valbuena demoted, consider this: The only non-pitchers who started Opening Day are Jhonny Peralta, Shin-Soo Choo and Travis Hafner. Veterans Mike Redmond, Andy Marte and Austin Kearns remain on the bench. The departed are: Lou Marson (Columbus), Michael Brantley (Columbus), Grady Sizemore (injured), Cabrera (injured), Mark Grudzielanek (waived), LaPorta (Columbus) and Valbuena (Columbus).

8. When it comes to infield defense ... help! According to ESPN's "Zone Rating," which is supposed to measure a player's range and fielding ability, Branyan was last in the AL at first base. Valbuena at second? Also last. Peralta at third? Next to last. The Indians have been through too many shortstops for a good reading, although Cabrera was near the bottom before he was injured.

9. While some of his critics focus on Mitch Talbot's lack of strikeouts, the rookie right-hander (7-6, 4.08) has used his change-up to hold left-handed hitters to a .211 average (.641 OPS). He has allowed lefties only two homers in 147 at-bats, and he always was effective against lefties in the minors. In four of his past six starts, he has allowed two or fewer earned runs. He has a 2.56 ERA on the road. Then there's his poise -- he doesn't seem to rattle after giving up a big inning or having a poor start.

10. Don't you wish Carlos Santana could bat 10 times a game? Through Friday, he had more walks and extra-base hits (nine each) than strikeouts (five). The catcher also threw out five of 11 runners attempting to steal.

11. It's possible Kearns can be traded. But after hitting .373 in April, the left fielder is batting .247 (.720 OPS) in 170 AB since May 1.

12. Former Indians pitcher Bert Blyleven (who should be in the National Baseball Hall of Fame) will appear at the Wahoo Club Luncheon on Aug. 7 from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Massimo Da Milano on West 25th Street. For more information, call 216-999-1781 or visit wahooclub.com.

 


White Sox surge stitched together by sizzling starting rotation: MLB Insider

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In early June the White Sox were in disarray. Now they're back into contention in the AL Central with a marvelous interleague run fueled by a starting rotation that is hard to beat.

buerhle-square-ap.jpgMark Beuhrle and the rest of the White Sox starting rotation have lifted Chicago back into the middle of the AL Central race.

CINCINNATI -- If the White Sox catch the Tigers and Twins in the AL Central, they might want to send a thank-you card to the Indians' pitching staff.

On June 6, the Indians were about to complete a three-game sweep of Chicago. GM Ken Williams and manager Ozzie Guillen were fussing and fuming at each other even more than usual. A.J. Pierzynski was hitting .224 and getting ready to be traded. Carlos Quentin was hitting .202.

The White Sox went into the game at 23-32, nine games under .500 and 9 1/2 games behind first-place Minnesota. There was already talk of breaking up the roster.

Three innings in, the Indians had a 6-2 lead and Mark Buehrle, the Chicago ace, was in the shower after giving up a three-run homer to since-demoted catcher Lou Marson. But Jake Westbrook couldn't hold the lead, allowing six runs in 4 2/3 innings. In the seventh, Tony Sipp and Jensen Lewis, another demoted Indian, gave up a run each and the White Sox rallied for an 8-7 victory. They have been the best team in baseball since.

Through Friday they won 10 straight and 15 of their last 17 games. They have gone from 23-32 to 38-34. After beating the rival Cubs on Friday, they were 1 1/2 games off the pace in the AL Central.

hamilton-horiz-ap.jpgNo player in the majors has been hotter or more inspirational to his team than sweet-swinging Josh Hamilton for the Texas Rangers.

HOT CORNER
Mind over matter: The Rangers are in bankruptcy off the field, but on it they can do little wrong. They’ve won 12 straight and own a five-game lead in the AL West entering Saturday night.
Josh Hamilton is helping stoke the engine. He has a 18-game hitting streak and is batting .474 (45-for-95) with eight homers and 27 RBI in June.
“It’s got a lot to do with mental,” Hamilton told the Associated Press. “I can get up there and swing all I want, but if I don’t have the right approach and right situations they won’t do me any good.”

Brush of perfection: The price of perfection, or near perfection, can be high.
Oakland’s Dallas Braden threw a perfect game on May 9. He’s gone 0-5 since with a 4.31 ERA in eight starts.
Philadelphia’s Roy Halladay threw a perfect game May 19. He’s gone 1-3 with a 3.72 ERA since.
Detroit’s Armando Galarraga was denied a perfect game on June 2 by an umpire’s blown call on what should have been the 27th and final out. He settled for a one-hitter against the Indians. Galarraga is 1-0 with a 4.70 ERA in four starts since.

Tough run: Things haven’t gone well for good guy Mark DeRosa since he left Cleveland for St. Louis on June 27, 2009 in a trade for Chris Perez and Jess Todd. He had 13 homers and 57 RBI with the Indians, but in the last two seasons, he’s hit 11 homers and 38 RBI for the Cardinals and Giants.
DeRosa underwent surgery on his left wrist after last season with St. Louis. Then he signed a two-year, $12 million deal with the Giants, but the wrist wasn’t sound. Last week it was announced he’ll undergo season-ending surgery on the same wrist.

THE RANT
The Indians used to dominate interleague play. They didn’t live to play little ball, but moving into the land of the double switch never bothered them. They had enough power to out-hit their mistakes and enough speed, pitching and defense to stay with and beat the best the NL had to offer.
As the Indians’ talent has been eroded by trades and free-agent defections, their performance in interleague play has suffered. They were 5-13 last year and over the last three years are 5-20 playing in National League parks without the DH.
This season, especially, has exposed every weaknesses on this rebuilding team. They can’t field a bunt, their bullpen wilts in tight games and if the opposition has speed — which most National League teams have in abundance — they have no clue how to defend it. Twice in a five-game span, a runner from the Mets (Jose Reyes) and the Pirates (Andrew McCutchen) scored from second base on a ball that never left the infield. Call me crazy, but if that happens more than once every three or four seasons, there should be an internal investigation.
Every American League team is at a disadvantage, especially on the road, in interleague play. They can’t use the DH and their pitchers have to hit. In the Indians’ case, they are also without two of their key players in shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera and center fielder Grady Sizemore because of injuries. Yet if this latest rebuilding project is going to work, this team needs more speed, better athletes and a DH who can do more than swing the bat.
-- Paul Hoynes

"We went through tough times and we took it like a man," Guillen told the Chicago Tribune. "When we were down, we helped each other out. I never had doubts this team would turn it around."

The starting rotation that had scouts and opposing general managers drooling in spring training is finally pitching as predicted. Said one scout, "I just got done watching the White Sox and all I saw were zeroes."

Since Buehrle's three-inning performance on June 6, Chicago starters are 12-1 with a 1.90 ERA. They've turned in 15 quality starts.

Jake Peavy, the former Cy Young Award winner who put Williams on the hot seat last year when he arrived from San Diego unable to pitch because of injury, is 3-0 with a 0.78 ERA (three earned runs in 23 innings) during the streak. He's struck out 21, walked five and is riding a string of 21 consecutive scoreless innings.

Freddy Garcia, the supposed weak link in the rotation, is 3-0 with a 4.58 ERA in his last three starts. He's 8-3 overall with the eight wins coming in his last nine starts.

John Danks is 3-0 with a 2.05 ERA (five earned runs in 22 innings) over his last three starts.

Buehrle has rebounded. He's 3-0 in his last four starts with as 3.91 ERA (10 earned runs in 23 innings) and with 20 strikeouts and five walks.

Gavin Floyd has pitched as well, if not better, than his teammates, but doesn't have much to show for it. Floyd is 0-1 with a 0.93 ERA (three earned runs in 29 innings) in four starts. He's struck out 31 and walked seven. The White Sox are 2-2 in those four starts.

Closer Bobby Jenks is rolling as well. He's 9-for-9 in save opportunities during the run. He thrown nine scoreless innings, striking out 10 and walking one.

Pierzynski, lost at the plate for the first two months of the season, is hitting .320 (16-for-50) during the streak with two homers and six RBI. His average has gone from .224 to .245. Quentin is giving a meager offense another power source to team with Paul Konerko. He's hitting .316 (18-for-57) with five homers and 17 RBI during the surge. He has 12 homers and 46 RBI overall.

"This is the way we thought we would play at the beginning of the year," Pierzynski told the Tribune. "Obviously not this well, but it's great. We all want to come to the park."

Chicago has done most of its good work against the National League. They're 12-1 in interleague play during the streak, and are 14-2 overall.

They will determine if this is more than a hot streak when they return to AL play Monday against division foe Kansas City. Chicago is 12-15 in the AL Central this year.

 

Cleveland Indians trade Russell Branyan to Seattle for prospects; Matt LaPorta to take over first base

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Trade of Russell Branyan will clear way for Matt LaPorta at first base.

 UPDATED: 12:33 a.m.

branyan-homer-ap.jpgBy moving Russell Branyan to Seattle for a pair of minor leaguers, the Indians open up first base for Matt LaPorta for the remainder of the season.

CINCINNATI  -- The trading has begun.

The Indians have traded first baseman Russell Branyan to Seattle. The deal came to light after the Indians' 6-4 loss to Cincinnati. The Indians will receive minor leaguers Ezequiel Carrera and Juan Diaz. Carrera is an outfielder at Class AAA Tacoma, while Diaz is a shortstop at Class A High Desert.

The Mariners will also receive a player to be named or cash.

Branyan, who has had a terrible stretch at first base, is hitting .263 (45-for-171) with 10 homers and 24 RBI. The deal will clear the way for Matt LaPorta to be recalled from Class AAA Columbus.

The Indians signed Branyan in February to a one-year, $2 million deal. He missed most of spring training because of a herniated disk. He hit 31 homerslast season  for the Mariners.

Carrera, 22, is hitting .268 (52-for-213) with six doubles, two triples, no homers and 19 RBI in 61 games at Tacoma. He's 5-10, 185 and bats and throws left-handed. He's currently on the disabled list with a left hip pointer. Baseball American ranked him as the Mariners 15th best prospect before the start of this season.

Carrera, from Venezuela, won the Class A Southern League batting title last year by hitting .337.

Diaz, 21, is from the Dominican Republic. He's hitting .295 (75-for-254) with eight doubles, three triples, seven homers and 41 RBI in 70 games. The switch-hitting Diaz is 6-4 and 170 pounds. He's stolen eight bases in 10 attempts.

LaPorta is hitting .353 (24-for-68) with five homers and 16 RBI at Columbus in 17 games.  He could join the Indians today. He opened the season with the Indians, but his path was blocked at first base and left field by Branyan and Austin Kearns.

The Indians are seeking to trade Kearns, Kerry Wood and Jhonny Peralta among others.

 

Germany defeats England, 4-1, in World Cup

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Germany's latest World Cup victory over England will be remembered not for any of the brilliant goals, but for the one that didn't count as another referee is under scrutiny again.

South Africa Soccer WCup Germany EnglandCombo shows Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer looking at the ball that hit the bar to bounce over the line during the World Cup round of 16 soccer match between Germany and England at Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein, South Africa, Sunday, June 27, 2010. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
BLOEMFONTEIN, South Africa — Germany's latest World Cup victory over England will be remembered not for any of the brilliant goals, but for the one that didn't count.

Thomas Mueller scored twice in the second half Sunday and England had a goal not awarded by the referee in a 4-1 victory Sunday that put Germany into the World Cup quarterfinals.

The 20-year-old forward finished two quick German counterattacks within 3 minutes to sink England's hopes of beating Germany at the World Cup for the first time since the 1966 final.

England was not helped by referee Jorge Larrionda waving play on even though Frank Lampard's first-half shot landed well past the goal line after hitting the crossbar. Germany led 2-1 at the time.

"It was one of the most important things in the game," England coach Fabio Capello said. "The goal was very important. We could have played a different style.

"We made some mistakes when they played the counterattack. The referee made bigger mistakes."

Germany went up on goals by Miroslav Klose and Lukas Podolski before Matthew Upson pulled a goal back in the 37th minute.

On Lampard's non-goal, after the ball landed inside the goal, it ball spun back into the arms of Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer. Capello initially celebrated what he thought was an equalizer by clenching his fists and shaking his arms. But his face changed when he realized the goal had not been given.

As the players walked off the field at halftime, Wayne Rooney walked over to a linesman and gestured with his hands how far he thought the ball crossed the line.

In 1966, England and Germany were 2-2 in extra time in the World Cup final when Geoff Hurst's shot struck the underside of the crossbar, bounced down and spun back into play. That time, the referee consulted his linesman, who awarded the goal.

Hurst went on to score a third goal in England's 4-2 victory at Wembley.

Germany plays the winner of Argentina-Mexico, which is later Sunday.

"We were aggressive from the first minute and it was a deserved victory," Klose said. "Our target was to reach the semifinals and that's what we want to achieve."

Mueller scored on the counterattack in the 67th minute, having started the move after a long clearance by Jerome Boateng. Mueller passed to Bastian Schweinsteiger, who patiently dribbled upfield and ran across the 18-yard line to feed the unguarded Mueller. His shot hit the hand of England goalkeeper David James and went in.

Three minutes later, Mueller struck again after a break on the left wing by Mesut Oezil.

"We played I think well at 2-1, but after the third goal it was a little bit disappointing," Capello said. "Germany is a big team. They played a good game."

Klose scored his 50th goal in 99 games for Germany — his 12th World Cup goal — by outmuscling defender Upson to a bouncing ball off a goal kick. Podolski gave the three-time champions a 2-0 lead, putting the ball through James' legs.

Upson headed in a cross from Steven Gerrard to make it 2-1, then Lampard's shot was not rewarded — a decision sure to be debated for as long as international soccer has no video replay.

Let the rebuild begin after Russell Branyan trade: Cleveland Indians briefing

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First baseman Matt LaPorta arrives from Class AAA Columbus to play everyday. Michael Brantley could be next.

matt-laporta-ap.jpgMatt LaPorta was back in the lineup at first base for the Indians against the Reds on Sunday.

CINCINNATI, Ohio. -- This is a daily briefing of the Indians 2010 regular season. The Indians play the Reds today in the final game of a three-game interleague series at Great American Ballpark.

 Great American Ballpark's dimension: left field line 328 feet, left field power alley 379, center field 404, right field power alley 370 and right field line 325.
 Pre-game notes:

 Game 74: Russell Branyan is gone and Matt LaPorta is the Indians new first baseman.

 The Indians traded Branyan to Seattle for two minor leaguers after Saturday night's 6-4 loss to Cincinnati. LaPorta joined the club from Class AAA Columbus and was in today's starting lineup, batting sixth.

 Branyan caught an early morning flight from Cincinnati to Milwaukee where he was expected to start at first base for the Mariners. He hit .263 (45-for-171) with nine doubles, 10 homers and 24 RBI in 52 games. Defensively, he was a nightmare at first base.

 "Two main variable went into the trade," said GM Mark Shapiro. "In  acknowledging where were are competitively (26-47), we've added good depth to the minor league system and it was important to create an opportunity for Matt LaPorta to get unconditional everyday at-bats in the big leagues."

 LaPorta, the key player in the 2008 trade of CC Sabathia, opened the year with the Indians, but was squeezed out of playing time by his rehab from two offseason surgeries and the performances of Branyan at first and Austin Kearns in left field.

 He rejoined the Indians today after hitting .362 (25-for-69) with four doubles, five homers 16 RBI and seven runs in 18 games at Columbus.
 
 The Indians acquired outfielder Ezequiel Carrera and shortstop Juan Diaz from the Mariners. Carrera was on the disabled list at Class AAA Tacoma with a left hip pointer. The Indians will send him to their training facility in Goodyear, Ariz., to complete his rehab.

 "We expect that to take seven to 10 days," said Shapiro.

 When Carrera is ready he'll go to Class AAA Columbus and play center field. Carrera's arrival in Columbus could punch Michael Brantley's ticket to Cleveland.

 Diaz, who was playing at Class A High Desert, will report to Class A Kinston.

 The Indians will also send cash or a player to be named to complete the deal. Shapiro said the Mariners "mostly likely' will absorb the $750,000 that remains on $1.5 million salary for 2010.

 Shapiro said the Indians will pick up the $500,000 buyout on Branyan's mutual option for 2011.

 The Indians signed Branyan in February after spending two years trading away
all of their established talent. Shapiro said they added the veteran first baseman to give the Indians a chance to be respectable this year, an idea that failed miserably.

 "Russell held up his end of the bargain," said Shapiro. "The season just isn't what we envisioned."

 The Branyan trade should signal the start of a third straight midseason exodus of veterans from Cleveland. Kearns, Jhonny Peralta, Kerry Wood and Mike Redmond are among the veterans waiting to be dealt.

 Teams have until July 31 to make trades without acquiring waivers on players. They have until Aug. 31 to make deals after acquiring waivers.

 As for LaPorta getting a chance to play regularly, manager Manny Acta said, "That's the most interesting part of the whole ordeal. Things didn't work out the way we thought they would work out.

 "Russell did everything we asked him. But I'm happy we can play Matt on an everyday basis. We told Matt that he went down to Columbus because the at-bats weren't there. Now the at bats are there."

 LaPorta's promotion is a loud signal that the Indians rebuilding project is in full swing.

 "People knew at some point we'd move in that direction," said Acta. "It's getting exciting. We've added (Carlos) Santana. We've added LaPorta. At some point we're going to have (Michael) Brantley. It's getting exciting.

 "Getting these guys up here. Getting them major league experience is what it's all about. We're setting things up for down the road."

 Carrera, 22, was hitting .268 (57-213) with 24 runs, six doubles, two triples and 18 RBI is 64 games at Tacoma. He was 9-for-14 in steal attempts.

 The Venezuelan native is a left-handed hitter, who won the Class A Southern League batting title last year.

 "Our scouts say Carrera has plus speed and is a plus defender," said Shapiro. "He's a slap hitter with above average speed."

 Baseball America ranked Carrera as Seattle's 15th best prospect at the start of the year.

 Diaz, 21, is a switch hitter from the Dominican Republic. He's 6-4 and 170 pounds.

 He hit .295 (75-254) with 39 runs scored, eight doubles, three triples,
seven homers and 41 RBI in 70 games at High Desert. He stole eight bases in 10 attempts.

 "Diaz has a above average feet, arm strength and hands," said Shapiro. "He's tall and rangy and we feel he's a projectable player in an area we're looking to upgrade -- the middle infield.

 "Our scouts feel he has a projectable bat."

 Game delayed: The start of today's game was delayed by an approaching storm, which at 1:12 p.m. had to arrive.

   Lineups:

 Indians (26-47): CF Trevor Crowe (S), RF Shin-Soo Choo (L), C Carlos Santana (S), LF Austin Kearns (R), 3B Jhonny Peralta (R), 1B Matt LaPorta (R), SS Anderson Hernandez (S), 2B Jayson Nix (R) and RHP Mitch Talbot (7-6, 4.07).

 Reds (42-33): 2B Brandon Phillips (R), SS Orlando Cabrera (R),1B Joey Votto (L), 3B Scott Rolen (R), LF Jonny Gomes (R), RF Jay Bruce (L), CF Drew Stubbs (R), C Corky Miller (R) and RHP Bronson Arroyo (7-3, 4.35).

 Lineup notes: Jason Donald missed his second straight game with a sore left wrist. He suffered the injury fielding an infield single on Friday. The ball was deflected off Aaron Laffey's glove and Donald fell, trapping his wrist under his body, when he grabbed the ball and threw to first.


 Umpires: H Ted Barrett, 1B Tony Randazzo, 2B Brian Gorman, 3B Paul Nauert,, Gorman, crew chief.


 Quote of the day: "A lot of people my age are dead at the present time," the late Yankee manager Casey Stengel.

 Next: Toronto's LHP Ricky Romero (6-3, 2.84) vs. RHP Jake Westbrook (4-4, 4.90) Monday at 7:05 p.m. at Progressive Field.

 

 

Shin-Soo Choo's 2 HR, 4 RBI lead Cleveland Indians to 5-3 victory over Reds

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Right fielder Shin-Soo Choo named MVP of Ohio Cup series between Indians and Reds.

choo-trot-square-cinci-ap.jpgShin-Soo Choo's first home-run trot of Sunday earned a handshake from third-base coach Steve Smith and a quick 1-0 lead for the Indians in the first inning in Cincinnati. Choo's second homer, a three-run shot in the fifth, broke a 1-1 tie and helped lift the Indians to a 5-3 triumph to break a seven-game losing streak.

ON DECK: INDIANS VS BLUE JAYS
Where: Progressive Field.
When: Monday through Thursday.
TV/radio: SportsTime Ohio; WTAM AM/1100.
Pitching matchups: LHP Ricky Romero (6-3, 2.84) vs. RHP Jake Westbrook (4-4, 4.90) Monday at 7:05 p.m.; RHP Brandon Morrow (5-5, 4.50) vs. RHP Fausto Carmona (6-6, 3.64) Tuesday at 7:05 p.m.; RHP Jesse Litsch (0-2, 8.78) vs. LHP Aaron Laffey (0-2, 6.37) Wednesday at 7:05 p.m. and RHP Shaun Marcum (7-3, 3.14) vs. RHP Justin Masterson (2-7, 5.21) Thursday at 12:05 p.m.
Season series: Indians are 0-3 against Toronto this season. Toronto leads, 181-177, overall.
Indians update: They finished this nine-game interleague trip at 2-7. Overall, the Indians went 5-13 in interleague play this year. Westbrook and Carmona had no decisions against Toronto in May, while Chris Perez had a blown save.
Blue Jays update: They outscored the Indians, 18-10, in three-game sweep in May. Romero and Morrow started against the Tribe, Romero winning and Morrow getting a no-decision when he threw 100 pitches in 5 1/3 innings. The Jays, leading the AL in homers, hit five against the Tribe.
Injuries: Indians — RHP Anthony Reyes (right elbow), SS Asdrubal Cabrera (broken left forearm) and CF Grady Sizemore (left knee) are on the disabled list. SS/2B Jason Donald (left wrist) is day to day. Blue Jays — RHP Dustin McGowan (right rotator cuff), OF Travis Snider (right wrist) are on the disabled list.
Next: Oakland arrives Friday for three-game series against the Indians.
Paul Hoynes

CINCINNATI, Ohio -- Shin-Soo Choo hit two homers in one game for the second time this season off Bronson Arroyo as the Indians broke a season-high seven-game losing streak today with a 5-3 victory over the Reds.

The win saved the Indians from a three-game sweep, but the Ohio Cup trophy still went to the Reds. They went 4-2 in the six-game interleague series.

Choo started the scoring with a one-out homer to right off Arroyo in the first inning. In the fifth, with the score tied, 1-1, Choo hit a 426-foot place to right center to for a three-run homer and a 4-1 lead.

After the game, Choo was named MVP of the Ohio Cup by a vote of writers and broadcasters.

Rookie Carlos Santana added a solo homer in the eighth to make it 5-1. It was Santana's fourth homer in 15 games and his first swinging right-handed.
 
Choo has hit 12 homers this season. He's had three two-homer games this season, two on this nine-game interleague trip in which the Indians went 2-7.

The first one came May 21 against the Reds and Arroyo (7-4). The Reds won the game, 7-4.

Mitch Talbot (8-6) went seven innings for the victory. He allowed one run on three hits. Talbot retired 12 straight before walking Drew Stubbs with two out in the seventh.

Joey Votto's two-run homer off Chris Perez made it 5-3. The Reds entered the game with 13 last at-bat victories and 24 come-from-behind victories.

Kerry Wood didn't let that happen in the ninth. He struck out the side in order for his sixth save in in nine chances.

The Reds tied it, 1-1, in the first as Brandon Phillips scored from second on another display of shoddy defense by the Indians. Talbot walked Phillips to start the game.  Joe Votto walked with one out to put Phillips at second.

Scott Rolen sent a sharp grounder past third. Jhonny Peralta made a nice play on the line and threw to second to force Votto for the second out. Phillips, with two out, never stopped running. Second baseman Jayson Nix double clutched on his throw home and bounced the ball in front of Santana.

Phillips slid home untouched with the tying run. It's the third time the Indians have let a player score from second in the last 12 games on a ball that didn't leave the infield.     

Nets summon Jay-Z to help make their pitch (and Letterman says James shouldn't swing): The LeBron rumor mill

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Breaking down the latest scuttlebutt on the pursuit of the King.

UPDATED: 10:07 p.m.

prokhorov-johnson-ap.jpgThe New Jersey Nets' new billionaire owner, Mikhail Prokhorov (left, with new coach Avery Johnson) will be bringing a close friend of LeBron James when the organization makes its pitch on Thursday in Akron.

(Chasing down rumors about LeBron James' basketball future could be a full-time job. Now it's my full-time job. Just call me The Rumor Monger. Every day we'll compile a list of the rumors we're hearing about James and his next contract. Just remember these are just rumors, not necessarily facts. It's going to be a long and rough ride, Cavs fans. Buckle up. -- Mary Schmitt Boyer)

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- So hip-hop mogul and part-owner Jay-Z will join Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov and the New Jersey contingent as the first to visit with James on Thursday.

According to Dave D'Alessandro of The (Newark) Star-Ledger, it will be a "low-key approach, with the Russian billionaire using two or three hours to illuminate what he can do for James' image and reputation on a global scale, and try to get James to specify what other player he would have the team sign."

Apparently Jay-Z has changed his mind about recruiting his good friend. In an interview with the June 24 issue of Rolling Stone magazine, parts of which were posted on ESPN New York on June 7, Jay-Z said:

"That's his decision. We're friends. We've still gotta hang out! I don't want to convince somebody to do something, then have to see him and say, 'Uh, yeah, we're 4-30...sorry.'"

Just going through the motions

Jonathan Abrams reports in the New York Times that everybody but the Bulls are wasting their time. He quotes an unnamed executive whose team is in the hunt as saying that his fellow executives think James is leaning toward joining the Bulls with Chris Bosh of the Toronto Raptors.

"I think it's a done deal," the executive said.

Get your Akron on

I've heard everything now. From Marc Berman in the New York Post as the Knicks head into Thursday's visit with James: "Get your Akron on!"

"I'm going to make an assumption that nobody's playing around out there," Knicks team president Donnie Walsh told Berman. "If they're going to meet with you, and you're going to meet with them, they're serious."

Coach Mike D'Antoni told Berman, "This sets the course of the franchise for the next 10 years."

Writes Berman:

"Walsh, D'Antoni and a key recruiter, Walsh assistant Allan Houston, will be in northeast Ohio. It is unclear if owner James Dolan will attend the initial presentation or if the Knicks will bring any of their bank of celebrities. Houston is considered a key figure because of his connection with the Knicks and ability to speak on the team's glorious past, according to a source. ...

"If there is going to be a 'Six in the City' (James' jersey number next season), it's going to take a lot more than star actors and celebrity-chef-prepared dinner parties."

It's about basketball

ESPN New York's Ian O'Connor likes the fact the free-agent meetings apparently will focus on basketball. Writes O'Connor:

"LeBron James just did the Knicks a favor, a big one. By making them play their most important game on the road, a game set for Thursday in Ohio with The King and his court, James stripped much of the glitz and glamour out of the Knicks' playbook.

"Donnie Walsh and Mike D'Antoni will have to sell basketball, a program, an honest-to-God plan that has everything to do with winning titles and nothing to do with Donald Trump's money and Chris Rock's mouth.

"Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh have already committed to making free-agent visits to New York, but James already knows everything he needs to know about the bright lights of Broadway. So the Knicks' roster of New York-centric entertainers and personalities -- much deeper than its roster of ballplayers -- never represented the part of the sales pitch that would make like Mariano Rivera and close the deal.

"By forcing the Knicks to hop on a plane, James is forcing them to focus on the real issues that will make or break their bid."

Deep in the heart of Texas

Marc Stein of ESPN.com reports that the Dallas Mavericks are a "dark, dark horse" in the James sweepstakes.

Checking in on Twitter

A tweet from Detroit's hairless Charlie Villanueva: "You have a better chance seeing me with a Ben Wallace afro, than LeBron going back to Cleveland."

We're all just guys

Reasons to like Mitch Lawrence of the New York Daily News and David Letterman. Lawrence predicts James will stay in Cleveland, while Letterman basically lobbied for him to do so.

During an interview with Jay-Z on Friday's Late Show with David Letterman, Letterman said to the hip-hop superstar and part-owner of the Nets:

"You're a guy. I'm a guy. If LeBron James wants to be a guy, he will stay where he is and not cut the heart out of that city by leaving Cleveland." Jay-Z, wary of tampering, held his tongue while Letterman talked about what the loss of James would mean to Cleveland and said that his chances of winning a title with either the Knicks or Nets weren't great.

"He's got a better chance with the Nets than with the Knicks," Letterman said. "That's like saying he has a better chance with the Cub Scouts than the Girl Scouts." Even Jay-Z cracked up at that one.

 

LeBron James' loyalty to a franchise that tried to win being tested by those who embraced losing: Bud Shaw

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The Chicago Bulls became the celebrated stars of the NBA draft for nothing more than a salary dump. LeBron James could only add to the madness if he turns his back on the Cavaliers, Bud Shaw writes.

thibodeau-bulls-trophies-ap.jpgTom Thibedeau may not be the biggest name in NBA coaching circles, but the Chicago Bulls are touting a talented roster and the legacy of their six Michael Jordon-inspired NBA championship trophies in wooing LeBron James.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- It's a mad, mad NBA world when the Chicago Bulls become the celebrated star of draft night for dumping the salary of Kirk Hinrich, one of their better players.

LeBron James would only add to the madness if he rewards fawning overtures from underachievers by punishing the Cavaliers for going all out to bring a championship to town.

Leaving is James' right through free agency. That doesn't make it any less unseemly if he decides to go elsewhere on the basis that another team has more roster flexibility and a younger talent pool to build a title contender.

Gee, wonder how that happened? How did the Cavs get so far over the cap, so handcuffed in comparison to Chicago, Miami, the Knicks and the Nets?

A mystery it is, but only if he conveniently forgets they tried to win a title in the three years James gave them when he signed his contract extension.

James kept ownership on high alert by shortening his term of employment last time around. Good business, it was. At least for him. For the Cavs, it was a dangerous game of Russian Roulette in which the contracts of Mo Williams and Antawn Jamison became extra bullets in the chamber.

After the first playoff crash against Boston a few years back, James cried out for more help. The Cavs couldn't chance that again. So they signed Shaquille O'Neal a season too late. They took on Jamison's contract, then watched him and Williams slip out of view in the postseason.

(Of course, James did, too, in Game 5. If he's who he says he is, he doesn't leave like that. End of story)

Meanwhile, the Bulls have only occasionally been worth the price of admission since Michael Jordan's retirement. That's 12 years ago now. There's a reason they were in position to draft Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah.

This season they won 41 games and finished 20 games behind the Cavs. They fired their coach and hired a rookie in Tom Thibodeau from Boston. And now, they're the sexy option, the one given a serious chance to catch James' eye when the free agent equivalent of "The Bachelor" begins Thursday?

OK, so maybe what goes around comes around. Jim Paxson's Cavaliers were far less concerned about winning than the Bulls were when they stripped their roster during James' senior year in high school to increase their chances of landing him in the lottery.

Look, I don't blame them, the Bulls or any other team for doing whatever is necessary to acquire James.

The choice is his. The blame sits with him if he goes head over heels in free agency and dumps the area he claims to love and the organization he so recently praised for its efforts in building a championship team around him.

If the Hinrich trade goes through on July 8 as expected, Chicago could have $30 million or so to attract free agents. That was the sole motivation for the deal.

According to Yahoo! Sports, William "Worldwide Wes" Wesley is telling people James is ready to leave Cleveland for Chicago. Take that for what it's worth. I'm only "West Park Wide," but I believe James re-signs with the Cavs despite the hard sell from Chicago and elsewhere.

That Chicago billboard wooing him with the words "Unfinished Business?" That's an odd pitch.

The way this past season ended here is nothing if not unfinished business for LeBron James.


Good luck, good health or good fashion? Some ballplayers don't care, as long as they have their necklaces

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To the players who wear them, the nylon necklaces with titanium particles are more feng shui for the soul than Boys of Summer chic.

perez-necklace-cc-horiz.jpgIndians reliever Chris Perez -- with his Phiten necklace -- in a game against the Toronto Blue Jays in May, 2010 at Progressive Field. Perez isn't sure whether there's a health benefit or not to the titanium-laced necklace, but he knows some other big-league stars are regular wearers. "But I've never been hurt, so I guess it's got some kind of karma or something, maybe a placebo effect," he said. "You know, if it helps, it helps."

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- So much of baseball is from the neck up.

No, not the mental game. We're talking jewelry, as in those stylish necklaces fans may have noticed more ballplayers wearing.

Major leaguers may run with the GQ crowd, but as a fashion statement, these necklaces are not. To the players who wear them, the nylon necklaces with titanium particles are more feng shui for the soul than Boys of Summer chic.

Phiten Co., which has an office in Cleveland, and others who make them claim their necklaces -- and titanium-laced bracelets, tape, socks, sleeves, lotions, gels and, coming soon to a store near you, bed sheets -- may help promote relaxation, reduce stress and relieve pain.

They're also supposed to boost energy and help players recover faster by harnessing the body's natural bioelectical currents.

So, do they?

"I can't really tell you if I've seen any results," said Indians reliever Chris Perez, who's worn Phiten necklaces daily since his rookie year in 2008. "But I've never been hurt, so I guess it's got some kind of karma or something, maybe a placebo effect. You know, if it helps, it helps."

In baseball, superstition rules. Players on a hot streak are known to ride "lucky" T-shirts, sanitary socks and underwear until it snaps -- the streak, not the elastic.

They're ritual-obsessed: Don't step on a foul line. Always touch a base when running on and off the field. Wear uniform pants down to the shoetops. Or roll them up to the knees.

necklace-square-ac.jpgDo the Phiten necklaces and other accessories actually help athletic performance? "(It's) not like I feel totally different," Indians outfielder Shin-Soo Choo said about wearing the necklaces, "but I feel good."

But those who endorse the necklaces -- including Minnesota slugger Justin Morneau, Cy Young winner Tim Lincecum of San Francisco and Boston ace Josh Beckett -- apparently buy into the health benefits. (They also get paid to appear in the Phiten brochure.)

And if it works for them...

"I saw Beckett and Justin Morneau use them so I started to use them," said Indians right-fielder Shin-Soo Choo. "Cliff Lee and CC Sabathia wear them."

Choo wears three braided Phiten necklaces, called a "tornado." He's worn a titanium necklace for three years, adding a strand each season. And, yes, he's noticed a difference. Sort of.

"Not like I feel totally different," he said, "but I feel good."

Whether the necklaces really provide a benefit is tough to say.

"No clue," said Indians trainer Lonnie Soloff. "I'm not seeing any peer-reviewed research on 'em."

Neither has Dr. Tanya Edwards, director of the Center for Integrated Medicine at the Cleveland Clinic.

"The fact that we haven't studied it doesn't mean it doesn't have an effect," she said. "It just means we haven't looked at it."

Even the box carries the standard disclaimer: "These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration."

Phiten, the hottest brand, is based in Japan, with additional offices in Seattle, Honolulu and two in California. The local office is in the Warehouse District, where visiting players often pop in to check out the latest products.

Valid or not, Phiten is on target to hit $35 million in sales this year, with necklaces, which cost about $25, accounting for 70 percent of that.

"It's just more of a fad with the kids," said Nate Cannell, manager of Cardboard Heroes at Beachwood Place. "We sell more to kids than anyone."

Phiten's Gary Rodrick and his son, Austin, who operate from the Cleveland office, make the rounds in major league clubhouses during the season and spring training, handing out necklaces to the players to try out. They target pitchers for maximum marketing exposure: They're on the television screen longer.

"Boston has probably been our best team, and Detroit," said Gary Rodrick, a second-generation sporting goods businessman who stumbled on the necklaces at an industry convention in 2003.

As ex-Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling and outfielder Johnny Damon, now with the Tigers, began touting the benefits in 2004, teammates followed. Then Boston won the World Series -- its first since 1918.

"That helped us a lot," Gary Rodrick said.

First World Series champs in 86 years? Tell Perez and Choo to pass the titanium.

 

In U.S., vice delivers fame as effectively as a fastball

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To understand America, you need to look no further than Stephen Strasburg and Eliot Spitzer, two self-made-in-the-USA-in-their-own-way success stories, The Book of Norman writes.

strasburg.jpgI witnessed every pitch Stephen Strasburg threw in his first three starts; I don't even think I blinked. I couldn't take my eyes off him or his 89-mph changeup.
To understand America – I was an American studies major at the University of Maryland, so I've been doing this for a long time, and, trust me, it involves a lot of parking tickets and Pabst Blue Ribbon – you need to look no further than Stephen Strasburg and Eliot Spitzer, two self-made-in-the-USA-in-their-own-way success stories.

Strasburg has come tumbling into our homes the old-fashioned way – through sporting achievement. Spitzer soon will be tumbling into our homes again the newfangled way – through public embarrassment.

(In sports, you still pretty much have to succeed to make it to the top; outside of sports, you can fail – even spectacularly – and make it to the top.)

In the last decade or so, we have had three hyped-to-the-hills athletes:

Tiger Woods, LeBron James and, now, Strasburg. Improbably, all three have met – if not exceeded – expectations.

(Imagine if that ever happened with our elected leaders.)

Of course, Strasburg could still flame out – a pitcher's arm is more dicey than a Goldman Sachs hedge fund – but, at the moment, he's the greatest thing to hit the nation's capital since the 23rd amendment.

Strasburg is two parts Sidd Finch, one part Roy Hobbs – except HE'S REAL. In his first three starts at home for the Washington Nationals, Strasburg has 33 strikeouts and no walks. In a 1-0 loss last week to the Kansas City Royals, he threw 75 strikes in 95 pitches.

He has such command of four pitches, if you gave him a military convoy, I'd bet he could strike out and find Osama bin Laden by nightfall.

Every five days Strasburg comes onto my TV and every five days I stop everything I'm doing – granted, that isn't much – to watch the 21-year-old pitch.

I witnessed every pitch Strasburg threw in his first three starts; I don't even think I blinked. I couldn't take my eyes off him or his 89-mph changeup. And we're talking baseball on TV! My friends, I had not watched a regular-season baseball game on television start to finish since Tim McCarver was bloviating from a crouched position.

(To be sure, when the Nationals were at-bat and Strasburg was in the dugout, I made myself a grilled cheese, yelled at my step-kids and checked my pre-nup. And the moment Strasburg was pulled from each game, I switched over to a TiVo-ed “Sopranos” episode faster than you can say “Sammy Gravano.”)

Meanwhile, back outside the ballpark in America, former New York Governor/pay-per-view womanizer Eliot Spitzer, it was announced, will be on CNN this fall. With Pulitzer Prize-winning, pro-life columnist Kathleen Parker, Spitzer will be host of a discussion program – sort of “Crossfire” with condoms.

Spitzer solicited high-priced calls girls while in office: What better qualifications do you need to be host of your own TV show?

Actually, if Spitzer wanted to see prostitutes, that's fine by me. But if Spitzer wanted to see prostitutes after previously prosecuting others for seeing prostitutes, that makes him a first-ballot Power Punk Hall of Fame inductee.

Client 9's CNN gig proves again that, in America – particularly on TV – you can be rewarded for vice as easily as virtue. As a rule, the more notorious you are, the more notoriety you get; the more notoriety you get, the better time slot you're given.

In fact, all of television is a larger version of “The Price Is Right,” with disgraced public figures replacing common, everyday folk.

Oliver North, come on down!

Rod Blagojevich, come on down!

Eliot Spitzer, come on down!

(Spitzer calls himself a “pragmatic liberal.” I would call him a “pragmatic opportunist.” Give him credit – in short order, he's gone from punch line to prime time.)

Spitzer's new program doesn't debut until September. Who knows? By then, Strasburg might be out of baseball, rob a string of convenience stores and have his own show on truTV.

Norman Chad is a freelance writer in Los Angeles.

LeBron James to Chicago a done deal, says unnamed executive

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LeBron James will become a member of the Chicago Bulls, says an unnamed executive in the New York Times. But James will go through the "recruiting" process just to make everyone happy. Really? Is this just another bad rumor about LeBron James' free agency, or is this really a done deal?     Do you believe this unnamed executive...

lebron james.jpgLeBron James

LeBron James will become a member of the Chicago Bulls, says an unnamed executive in the New York Times. But James will go through the "recruiting" process just to make everyone happy.

Really?

Is this just another bad rumor about LeBron James' free agency, or is this really a done deal?

 

 


Braylon Edwards will not get suspended

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Former Cleveland Browns wide receiver Braylon Edwards will not get suspended by the NFL for an incident outside of View Ultralounge & Nightclub last October. Edwards punched Ed Givens, a friend of LeBron James. Edwards pleaded no contest in January to misdemeanor assault. According to ESPN.com, instead of a suspension, it's believed that Edwards will be fined an undisclosed amount...

Braylon Edwards pleads not guiltyBraylon Edwards

Former Cleveland Browns wide receiver Braylon Edwards will not get suspended by the NFL for an incident outside of View Ultralounge & Nightclub last October. Edwards punched Ed Givens, a friend of LeBron James.

Edwards pleaded no contest in January to misdemeanor assault. According to ESPN.com, instead of a suspension, it's believed that Edwards will be fined an undisclosed amount by the league.

Shortly after the punch, Edwards was traded to the New York Jets.

On ESPN.com:

This is important news for the Jets, who had been bracing for the possibility of being without two receivers for the season opener against the Baltimore Ravens. They already know they won't have Santonio Holmes, who faces a four-game suspension for violating the league's substance-abuse policy. The Jets were aware of the pending suspension when they acquired Holmes from the Pittsburgh Steelers.

LeBron James: New York Knicks hope Allan Houston will help with pitch

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The New York Knicks' recruitment of LeBron James will include former Knicks guard Allan Houston. The Knicks hope that Houston, who is also friends with William (World Wide Wes) Wesley, will get LeBron in New York. Houston was also recruited by the Knicks 14 years ago. He hopes LeBron comes to New York for the same reason that he did....

lebron james.jpgLeBron James

The New York Knicks' recruitment of LeBron James will include former Knicks guard Allan Houston. The Knicks hope that Houston, who is also friends with William (World Wide Wes) Wesley, will get LeBron in New York.

Houston was also recruited by the Knicks 14 years ago. He hopes LeBron comes to New York for the same reason that he did.

Frank Isola writes in The New York Daily News.

"I came because I felt that going to New York would give me the best chance to win," Houston says. "I was more of a piece to the team as opposed to be the foundational player. It was a chance to play with Patrick Ewing and compete for a championship. I don't regret it for one minute."

Houston is an assistant to Knicks president Donnie Walsh. Houston is part of the Knicks' free agent recruiting team. Isola writes that the advantage of the Knicks having Houston is because he has the respect of the free agents and can talk from personal experience about leaving the team that drafted him to joining the Knicks, and all that comes with it.

 "When I came to the Knicks I was just entering my prime like most of these guys are now," said Houston, originally selected by the Pistons. "It's an exciting time for everybody and this is a great opportunity for us. I always remember something John Starks would say. He said 'I wouldn't be John Starks if I hadn't been in New York.' There's no better place."

 

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