UPDATED: The Yankees were waiting for Carlos Carrasco the second time around. They knock him around for six runs on 10 hits in four innings as CC Sabathia cruises to a 9-2 victory.

CLEVELAND, Ohio — The last time Carlos Carrasco faced the New York Yankees, he wore a magician's cape. He didn't make the Empire State building disappear, just the Yankees whenever they put him in a tight spot.

He was on enemy ground on June 13 in the Bronx. The only thing Carrasco didn't do was bring a Yankees hitter to mound, put him in a magic box and saw him in half.

Tuesday night, Carrasco didn't make anything disappear but himself. Curtis Granderson hit two home runs as Carrasco allowed six runs in four innings in the Yankees' 9-2 victory over the Indians at Progressive Field.

CC Sabathia, in just his third start against the Indians since they traded him to Milwaukee in 2008, pitched seven scoreless innings to win his 10th game in his past 11 starts. Sabathia (12-4, 2.90) allowed five hits and struck out 11.

The Indians lost All-Star shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera in the fourth inning to a right ankle sprain. Cabrera suffered the injury in the third inning and was replaced by pinch-hitting Lonnie Chisenhall in the fourth.

Orlando Cabrera, making his first appearance of the season at short, slid over from third base to replace him.

"[Asdrubal Cabrera's injury is] a mild sprain," said manager Manny Acta. "He's day to day right now. We'll see how he is when he comes to the park [Wednesday]."

The Yankees took care of Carrasco (8-5, 3.95) with a five-run second. Carrasco, 4-2 with a 1.90 ERA in June, had one out with the bases loaded when Francisco Cervelli sent a double-play grounder to shortstop. Asdrubal Cabrera flipped to Cord Phelps at second to get Brett Gardner, but Phelps bounced the relay to first and Carlos Santana couldn't handle it. The Yankees scored their first run and Carrasco never recovered.

When Carrasco and three relievers beat the Yankees, 1-0, on June 13, he pitched his way out of a bases-loaded jam in the first inning. It didn't happen a second time.

After the failed double play, Derek Jeter doubled home two runs to make it 3-0. It was Jeter's second hit of the night off Carrasco and brought him within four of 3,000 career hits.

Granderson followed with his first of two homers against Carrasco, a two-run shot to right for a 5-0 lead. He's hit three homers in the first two games of this series and has 25 overall.

"Carlos probably got flustered when the double play wasn't turned," Acta said. "That's part of the game. The thing is he created the situation by walking two batters."

Robinson Cano started the second inning by grounding out to short. Nick Swisher singled, then Carrasco walked Jorge Posada and Gardner to load the bases. Posada and Gardner were hitting seventh and eighth in the Yankees' lineup.

"Against a lineup like that, you can't be walking batters at the bottom of the order," Acta said. "That just rolls that lineup over."

Acta said the double play had to be turned.

"It's a double-play ball," he said.

The Indians did zilch against Sabathia, who won 106 of his 169 career victories with the Indians. They never got a runner past second base and had only one extra-base hit against him.

The 11 strikeouts gave Sabathia 33 in his past three starts. He struck out a season-high 13 in his previous start, against the Milwaukee Brewers.

"We gave the Yankees too big a lead to overcome with the way CC was pitching," Acta said. "That is not a good matchup for us. Most of our main hitters are left-handers and he's tough on lefties."

Lefties entered the game hitting .211 (24-for-114) against Sabathia. Grady Sizemore was the only lefty in the Tribe's lineup to get a hit off Sabathia. He doubled to start the seventh.

The Yankees added three runs in the eighth off Chad Durbin on a double by Cano, singled by Swisher and sacrifice fly by Posada. 

The Indians didn't score until the ninth inning when Lou Marson and Michael Brantley hit sacrifice flies.

Carrasco worked his way through a scoreless third, but gave up a leadoff homer to Granderson in the fourth.

"I didn't have my command," Carrasco said. "I didn't have it the last time I faced the Yankees."

In the previous start, he eventually found it. Tuesday night, it went missing.

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

Twitter: @hoynsie

Christopher Curran's hero comes through when his parents surprise him with a trip to Game 3 of the American League Division Series in 2001.

View full sizePD fileJim Thome watches the flight of his home run in Game 3 of the ALDS against Seattle on Oct. 13, 2001, in Cleveland.

As an 18-year-old now, looking back, I don't have any crazy memories of World Series games or no-hitters, since I was 5 in 1997. However, thanks in great part to my parents and one James Howard Thome, I do have an amazing Tribe game experience.

I was turning 9, and the Indians were back in the postseason, facing the Seattle Mariners in the divisional round. My birthday is Oct. 14, and for my birthday, my parents decided to take me and the family to the Great Lakes Science Center and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on Saturday, the 13th.

But when we got to the parking garage and unloaded our coats from the trunk, I noticed our baseball gloves underneath, along with my Thome jersey that I always wore to games. Needless to say, my parents had actually decided to take us to the third game of the series against Seattle.

What I witnessed next was the best day of my life at a Tribe game. The Tribe destroyed the Mariners, 17-2, including a bleacher bomb by my man, Jim Thome!

I have many memories of this game -- the rally towel, the signed pennant -- but my most favorite one is not having a voice left on Monday at school.

Nagbe, the second overall pick in the 2011 MLS SuperDraft, scores goal for Portland Timbers that is a You Tube and ESPN sensation.

Paul Tople, Akron Beacon JournalDarlington Nagbe (left) during Akron's run to the 2010 national championship.

CLEVELAND, OHIO -- There are reasons why Darlington Nagbe helped lead the University of Akron's soccer team to the 2010 NCAA national championship.

There are reasons Nagbe won the 2010 Hermann Trophy as college soccer's best men's player, and why the Portland Timbers made Nagbe the second overall pick in the 2011 MLS SuperDraft.

Many of those reasons -- such as athleticism, skills, creativity -- were apparent on one play on Saturday night, when Nagbe netted the Timbers' lone goal in their 2-1 home loss to Sporting Kansas City.

Geoffrey C. Arnold writes about Nagbe's goal for The Oregonian and OregonLive.com (by the way, the You Tube views of the goal are nearing the million milestone):

Nagbe's goal is a near shoo-in for the Major League Soccer's Goal of the Week, has won ESPN's "Best of the Best" poll each day since Sunday and has garnered more than 500,000 views on You Tube.

"You'll probably pay to watch a lot more games in your life (and) you'll probably not see a better goal," Portland coach John Spencer said.

The rookie midfielder gathered the ball, twice bounced the ball off his right foot into the air and then -- while the ball was still in the air -- blasted a 20-yard strike into the upper left corner of the net for the score.

"The ball came to me and I just wanted to make sure I didn't lose it," Nagbe said. "I got lucky enough to get a shot off."

Video: Darlington Nagbe scores a spectacular goal for the Portland Timbers. From youtube.com:

The Columbus Clippers, Kinston Indians and Lake County Captains all lose on Tuesday.

View full sizeAPAkron pitcher Kelvin De La Cruz.

AAA Columbus Clippers

Bats 4, Clippers 2 Columbus LH starter Scott Barnes (7-3, 3.61), who had been 5-1 with a 1.88 ERA in his previous eight outings, gave up four runs in five innings to take the loss in the International League game in Louisville, Ky. The Clippers had nine singles, including two each by CF Ezequiel Carrera (.290), LF Tim Fedroff (.300) and C Paul Phillips (.239).

Notes: RH reliever Chen Lee struck out four, walked none and allowed one hit in 2 1/3 scoreless innings. In four games with the Clippers, Lee has not allowed a run in 6 innings, striking out 12 and walking one. At Akron this season, Lee struck out 56 and walked 11 in 39 innings.

AA Akron Aeros

Aeros 4, Curve 2 LH Kelvin De La Cruz (5-6, 4.56) gave up two earned runs in five innings, and RH Cory Burns (2.36) recorded his 22nd save as Akron won the Eastern League game in Altoona, Pa.

Notes: LH starter T.J. McFarland (5-4, 4.09) has won his past three starts, posting a 0.45 ERA with 15 strikeouts in 20 innings, giving up 10 hits and five walks.

Advanced A Kinston Indians

Kinston was off on Tuesday. The K-Tribe opens a three-game series at home against Lynchburg tonight.

Notes: RH starter Brett Brach (5-5, 2.80) is 2-2 with a 2.25 ERA in his past eight starts. In 48 innings, he has struck out 28, walked 11 and given up 38 hits.

A Lake County Captains

Lugnuts 6, Captains 3 Lansing broke a 3-3 tie with two runs off Lake County's Bryce Stowell (0-1, 2.31) in the fifth inning as the Captains lost in Michigan.

Notes: LH starter Mike Rayl had a no-decision, giving up three runs on three hits and a walk with two strikeouts in 1 innings. In his previous eight starts, Rayl was 3-2 with a 0.87 ERA in 41 1/3 innings, striking out 50, walking one and allowing 24 hits.

A Mahoning Valley Scrappers

Muckdogs 2, Scrappers 1 Mahoning Valley RH starter Rob Nixon blanked the Muckdogs on three hits over seven innings, fanning four and walking none, in the New York-Penn League game at Batavia, N.Y. Nixon got a no-decision, though, when Scrappers RH reliever Nathan Striz (0-1, 4.15) yielded a two-run, eighth inning homer to Batavia's Virgil Hill. 3B Jordan Smith (.322) doubled in the Scrappers' lone run.

Independent Lake Erie Crushers

Crushers 9, Grizzlies 3 Lake Erie scored seven runs in the first inning and cruised to a Frontier League victory over Gateway in Sauget, Ill.

This hole usually plays longer than its listed yardage because of the prevailing wind.

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The U.S. Women's Open is in Colorado Springs, Colo., while the PGA Tour stops in Silvis, Ill, for the John Deere Classic.

View full sizeMike Groll, Associated PressPaula Creamer will defend her U.S. Women's Open title this week in Colorado.

LPGA Tour

U.S. Women's Open

Where: Colorado Springs, Colo.

When: Thursday-Sunday.

Course: The Broadmoor, East Course (7,047 yards, par 71).

Purse: TBA ($3.25 million in 2010).

Winner's share: TBA ($585,000 in 2010).

TV: ESPN2 (Thursday-Friday, 5-9 p.m.) and WKYC Channel 3 (Saturday-Sunday, 3-6 p.m.).

Last year: Paula Creamer won her first major title, shooting 72-70-70-69 at Oakmont to finish at 3 under. Suzann Pettersen and Na Yeon Choi tied for second, four strokes back.

Most recent event: Yani Tseng won the LPGA Championship by 10 strokes on June 26, finishing at 19-under 269 to match the lowest score in an LPGA Tour major. At 22, she became the youngest player to win four LPGA majors. Tseng has won the past two LPGA Tour events and also won the season-opening tournament in Thailand. She has three other victories this year: the Australian Women's Open and Masters and Taiwan's Taifong Ladies.

Notes: The high-altitude course -- Colorado Springs is 6,008 feet above sea level -- is the longest in U.S. Women's Open history, surpassing Interlachen (6,789 yards in 2008). The Broadmoor played to 6,407 yards in 1995 in Annika Sorenstam's victory. The East Course consists of nine holes designed by Donald Ross (Nos. 1-6, 16-18) and nine by Robert Trent Jones (No. 7-15). . . . If tied after 72 holes, a three-hole playoff will take place immediately following the fourth round. If still tied after three holes, the players will go to sudden death. . . . Betsy King, the 1989 and 1990 winner, earned a spot in sectional qualifying. She is 55.. . . The 2012 tournament will be played at Blackwolf Run in Kohler, Wis., and the 2013 event is set for Sebonack in Southampton, N.Y. . . . The tour is off next week. Play will resume July 21-24 with the Evian Masters in France. The Women's British Open is the following week at Carnoustie.

PGA Tour

John Deere Classic

Where: Silvis, Ill.

When: Thursday-Sunday.

Course: TPC Deere Run (7,268 yards, par 71).

TV: Golf Channel (Thursday-Friday, 3-6 p.m., 9:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m.) and WOIO Channel 19 (Saturday-Sunday, 3-6 p.m.).

Champions Tour

First Tee Open

Where: Pebble Beach, Calif.

When: Friday-Sunday.

Course: Pebble Beach Golf Links (6,837 yards, par 72) and Del Monte Golf Course (6,357 yards, par 72).

TV: Golf Channel (Friday, 6:30-8:30 p.m.; Saturday, 1-3 a.m., 6:30-9:30 p.m.; Sunday, midnight-2 a.m., 7-9:30 p.m.; Monday, midnight-2 a.m.).

European Tour

Scottish Open

Where: Inverness, Scotland.

When: Thursday-Sunday.

Course: Castle Stuart Golf Links (7,050 yards, par 72).

TV: Golf Channel (Thursday-Friday, 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.; Saturday, 8:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m., 2-6 p.m., 9:30-11:30 p.m.; Sunday, 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., 2-6 p.m., 9:30-11:30 p.m.).

Nationwide Tour

Next event: Chiquita Classic, July 14-17, TPC River's Bend, Maineville, Ohio.

Archbishop Hoban defensive end Greg McMullen made an oral commitment to play at Nebraska in fall 2012. The 6-5, 260-pound McMullen, ranked among the nation's top 100 players, said he visited the campus in Lincoln four times.

Greg McMullen

Archbishop Hoban defensive end Greg McMullen made an oral commitment to play at Nebraska in fall 2012.

The 6-5, 260-pound McMullen, ranked among the nation's top 100 players, said he visited the campus in Lincoln four times.

"It was just the overall feeling," said McMullen, who was credited with 55 tackles and 81/2 sacks for the Knights last season. "Coach [Bo Pellini] talked academically as well as sports. You've got to be tuned in to your studies as well as your football."

McMullen, 17, said he was interested in pursuing studies in social services, business and possibly law school.

"I like to interact with people and you can tell I like to talk," he said.

He said interested schools included Notre Dame, Michigan, Michigan State and Oregon. Ohio State was in the mix, but McMullen was frank when it came to OSU's situation.

"It played into it," said McMullen. "I've got nothing against Ohio State. But right now there is a black cloud over their program. As a recruit, any kid wants to win championships and go to bowl games."

McMullen said there is the possibility he would sit out his freshman season as a redshirt. He had no problem with it.

"I already know there is a system in place," he said. "I'm not going to think I can go in there and tell them I'm going to play. If I get a role my first year, that's fine with me. If not, that's fine, too."

Lake Erie will share its division with Grand Rapids, Hamilton, Rochester and Toronto.

Eight teams in each conference qualify for the Calder Cup playoffs. The three division winners earn the top three seeds and the next five teams in order of regular-season points will be seeded fourth through eighth.

The conference quarterfinals will be best-of-five series; the conference semifinals, conference finals and Calder Cup Finals will be best-of-seven series. Teams will be reordered after the first round so that the highest-remaining seed plays the lowest-remaining seed.

The regular-season schedule format is to be determined. The complete schedule for the 2011-12 regular season, which begins Oct. 7, will be announced later this summer.

Cord Phelps' struggles, Asdrubal Cabrera's balky knee and Orlando Cabrera's inexperience at third base are just a few reasons the Tribe needs to make some moves with its roster.

View full sizeChuck Crow, The Plain DealerCord Phelps' poor throw on this double-play attempt keeps the Yankees alive in the second inning, and they would go on to score five runs with two outs.

It's time for the Indians to once again change their infield.

Cord Phelps should be sent back to Class AAA Columbus, with the Indians promoting Jason Donald.

That's a move they can make right now. During next week's All-Star break, they can decide if it's time to turn second base over to Jason Kipnis.

This is not about blaming all the Tribe's recent defensive problems on Phelps -- or to say he's the reason the Tribe lost to the Yankees at Progressive Field on Tuesday night.

But All-Star Asdrubal Cabrera is dragging, having played all 84 games this season. He is battling a sore knee and tender ankle. He left Tuesday's game in the fourth inning.

Yes, veteran Orlando Cabrera played short for 16 years, but the Indians view him as a second baseman at age 36. He was at third Tuesday and dropped an over-the-shoulder catch on a tricky pop-up down the line. It was correctly scored a double, but a good third baseman makes the play. Orlando Cabrera never played that position until last month.

An average second baseman turns what should have been an inning-ending double play in the second inning. The bases were loaded when Yankee catcher Francisco Cervelli hit a grounder to Asdrubal Cabrera at short. He made an easy flip to Phelps at second for one out, but Phelps threw the ball to first in the dirt.

It was knocked down by Carlos Santana, so there was no error.

And also no double play.

And the poor throw led to four more New York runs. Carlos Carrasco lost his cool and began throwing batting practice after the mistake. So the pitcher is an innocent party in that five-run inning.

A middle infielder must catch the ball in the middle of a playoff race, and Phelps hasn't done that. Not with five errors in 11 games heading into Tuesday night. Phelps also was hitting only .200 before the game.

In his first exposure to the majors, it's obvious the 24-year-old Phelps is dealing with the jitters. He would have been cut from his high school team for the type of errors he has made.

The fact is I pushed for Phelps to be promoted from Columbus, partly because I believed he would be a solid second baseman. He had no errors at that spot in 13 games at Columbus -- and only 20 errors in his past 240 games at second since 2009.

This is not to write off Phelps. Most players don't stick in the majors when they receive their first promotion. But it makes sense to send him back to Columbus, especially because the Indians need someone to spell Lonnie Chisenhall at third base when a lefty pitches.

That would be Donald.

He was being groomed to take over at third -- at least for a while -- in spring training. But he suffered a hand injury. When he came back, there was a knee injury.

Now healthy, Donald is hitting .278 (.752 OPS) at Columbus. He has played 15 games at short and seven at third.

Last season, Donald made three errors in 41 games at second for the Tribe. He also batted .283 (.833 OPS) against left-handed pitching, something that should be valuable for the Tribe.

Then there is Kipnis, who is demanding the Indians pay attention. He was named the Tribe's Minor League Player of the Week, hitting .500 (13-of-26) with three homers at Columbus.

The left-handed-hitting second baseman is batting .305 (.914 OPS) with 11 homers, 50 RBI and 11-of-11 in stolen bases. At some point this season, the Indians were going to "transition" -- their phrase -- Chisenhall to third, Kipnis to second.

That could happen very, very soon.

Former Browns radio analyst and Cleveland TV sports personality Jim Mueller is recovering at home after recently having quintuple bypass surgery.

File PhotoJim Mueller

Former Browns radio analyst and Cleveland TV sports personality Jim Mueller is recovering at home after recently having quintuple bypass surgery.

Mueller was attending a wedding in Lodi, Ohio, when he became ill and had to be airlifted to a nearby hospital. It was determined he needed the surgery.

Mueller was the color commentator on Browns radio broadcasts from 1975 through '95 and was the public address announcer in 1999 when the Browns returned as an expansion team. He also worked on various Cleveland television stations as a sports anchor.

The Miami Heat star is changing the scope of his annual bike-a-thon in his hometown of Akron, Ohio, scrubbing its former "King for Kids" moniker to now call the event "Wheels for Education" and building it around a two-week camp featuring reading and technology classes for 360 children about to enter third grade.

Joshua Gunter, The Plain DealerThis year's bike event, a 2.6-mile ride where LeBron James will be accompanied by 20 selected high-school students, is Aug. 8.

LeBron James is spending part of his summer thinking about school.

The Miami Heat star is changing the scope of his annual bike-a-thon in his hometown of Akron, Ohio, scrubbing its former "King for Kids" moniker to now call the event "Wheels for Education" and building it around a two-week camp featuring reading and technology classes for 360 children about to enter third grade.

This year's bike event, a 2.6-mile ride where James will be accompanied by 20 selected high-school students, is Aug. 8.

"We're looking to continue to create awareness for these young kids," James, who founded the bike event in 2005, told The Associated Press. "Not only in this community, but in the world. Me having an influence with my voice, I'm blessed. So the No. 1 thing is creating awareness and I think this gives us an opportunity to make sure these kids not only get educated but have fun and being around people that can have a positive influence in their life."

James has said several times that ensuring children get through school is one of his biggest away-from-basketball priorities. He did not attend college, jumping directly to the NBA after finishing high school in 2003. He has already partnered with State Farm on an initiative called "26 Seconds," a nod to the statistic that, on average, one child drops out of school within that timeframe.

In a telephone interview from Akron, where he's spending part of his summer, James cited research suggesting third-grade academic achievement can be an indicator of how students will fare through the remainder of their scholastic careers. The Wheels for Education program will be concentrated on kids who were like James - hailing from single-parent homes and sometimes simply needing a bit of extra help.

"What helped me in school was sports," James said. "When I was 8, 9, that was the first time I started playing organized sports and I had coaches around me that stressed education and not being allowed to play if we weren't doing our schoolwork or being at school on time, things like that."

As for the questions that kids ask - and they do - about why they need college if James didn't, he has a quick reply for them.

"I'm still learning," James said. "Every day. I'm learning business. I'm learning finance. I'm learning a lot of things that help me in everyday life. I'm doing a lot of reading and I'm still improving as a student, even though I am a professional athlete."

Once a child completes the two-week camp this summer, he or she will receive a laptop, school supplies and a bike, made possible by HP, Nike and the LeBron James Family Foundation, among others. Plans call for the kids involved to continue getting support through their high school graduations, through another partnership with the Akron Public Schools.

"I've had the pleasure of watching LeBron grow as a player, and mature as a philanthropist," Akron Mayor Donald Plusquellic said in a press release. "His new commitment to the Akron After School program is an investment that will pay dividends years to come because there is no investment more important than in the children whose circumstances he knows so well. ... He continues to be a role model for our youth for his accomplishments on and off the court."

James said one of the program's goals for this year is to have the third-graders all reading at what would be at least a fourth-grade level. He's also busy with a number of other initiatives with kids this summer, mainly revolving around basketball: The LeBron James Skills Academy, which brings the nation's top 80 high school players, opened in Akron on Tuesday.

"I let them ask me whatever they want to," James said. "Everything. Using my influence, using my experience, I can help them. And it's not always about basketball."

Also on James' docket this summer: His "King's Academy" for kids age 7-17 starts in San Diego later this month, and he'll be on a Nike trip to China in August.

It sounds busy, but after last summer's whirlwind, this summer is downright breezy for James.

The one-year anniversary of James' decision to leave the Cleveland Cavaliers and join the Heat is Friday. It seems so long ago now.

For one, the NBA just entered a lockout, meaning next season is officially in jeopardy. A deal between owners and players could not be reached before a June 30 expiration of the most recent labor deal, and the sides are billions apart in their financial proposals. And for the Heat, the first season of James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh together as Miami teammates ended with a loss in the NBA finals.

James averaged 26.7 points, 7.5 rebounds and 7.0 assists for the Heat during the regular season, and had the league's hottest-selling jersey. When the NBA comes back, James said he will be rested and ready.

"If you compare this summer to last summer, it's night and day," James said. "I know I have a lot of work to do, on the court and off the court, this summer. I'm going on to another challenge, and I'm looking forward to it."

- Tim Reynolds

Who is the AL MVP if the votes were in today?

Kathy Kmonicek / Associated PressNew York's Curtis Granderson beats the throw to Indians catcher Carlos Santana.

The Major League Baseball All-Star Game is next Tuesday, which marks the mid point of the baseball season.

So at this point, which player is the MVP of the American League? Is it Adrian Gonzalez of the Boston Red Sox? Or how about Toronto's Jose Bautista? Adrian Beltre of the Texas Rangers and Curtis Granderson of the New York Yankees are also viable candidates.

Which player is your choice?

Are the Indians actively pursuing trades right now? Did any deserving Indians get left off the All-Star roster? Get your Indians questions ready and join Indians beat writer Paul Hoynes today at noon as he talks Indians baseball.

Paul Hoynes answers your Indians questions on Wednesdays at noon.

Get your Indians questions ready and join Indians beat writer Paul Hoynes today at noon as he talks Indians baseball.

Are the Indians actively pursuing trades right now? Did any deserving Indians get left off the All-Star roster? 

You can jump in the chat room and ask your questions as well as interact with other users and respond to Hoynsie's remarks, or you can just listen. The chat will also be made available shortly after its completion in mp3 format.

"People need to have some perspective on wide receivers in the NFL. They don't just come into the NFL and light the place up Day 1. They take a few years to get there. Roddy White looked like a colossal bust his first two seasons. Now he is a major stud. MoMass and Robiskie will be fine and Little will be another fine option. Not saying they will all be Pro Bowlers, but one of them will be a 1,000-yard receiver and the others will be solid pros. Little has exactly the type of mentality that many great receivers have - cocky and flashy. It's about time they got someone who brings a little spice and a mean streak to the team." - 4getChicago

View full sizeLynn Ischay | The Plain DealerWill year No. 3 for Brian Robiskie and Mohammed Massaquoi be the year they take a big step forward?

In response to the story P.M. Cleveland Browns links: Greg Little will get a chance to help solve problems at wide receiver, cleveland.com reader 4getChicago says patience is key with wide receivers. This reader writes,

"People need to have some perspective on wide receivers in the NFL. They don't just come into the NFL and light the place up Day 1. They take a few years to get there. Roddy White looked like a colossal bust his first two seasons. Now he is a major stud. MoMass and Robiskie will be fine and Little will be another fine option. Not saying they will all be Pro Bowlers, but one of them will be a 1,000-yard receiver and the others will be solid pros. Little has exactly the type of mentality that many great receivers have - cocky and flashy. It's about time they got someone who brings a little spice and a mean streak to the team."

"J.J.'s play is actually a great equalizing mechanism in this trade. If he becomes a star, the Cavs will likely get a first rounder in the next few drafts. That pick will likely be between 11 and 18 or 19. That, plus a player who is at least a solid role player and probable starter, is not a bad consolation prize. That is especially true since Casspi fits an area of need. If J.J. flops with the Kings, they might not make the playoffs for awhile. That would probably lessen the pick's value to a second rounder. In that case, the Cavs will have received a decent NBA player at a position of need, plus a second rounder, for a player that never realized his potential. ..." - rwbbowg

View full sizeSome Cavaliers fans saw J.J. Hickson as a future All-Star. Others weren't so sure.

In response to the story Questioning the value of the J.J. Hickson trade - Cavaliers Comment of the Day, cleveland.com reader rwbbowg thinks the Hickson trade was a good one. This reader writes,

"J.J.'s play is actually a great equalizing mechanism in this trade. If he becomes a star, the Cavs will likely get a first rounder in the next few drafts. That pick will likely be between 11 and 18 or 19. That, plus a player who is at least a solid role player and probable starter, is not a bad consolation prize. That is especially true since Casspi fits an area of need. If J.J. flops with the Kings, they might not make the playoffs for awhile. That would probably lessen the pick's value to a second rounder. In that case, the Cavs will have received a decent NBA player at a position of need, plus a second rounder, for a player that never realized his potential. They basically would have reshuffled the deck while adding a second rounder. All in all this is a very balanced trade that potentially could help both teams."

LeBron James tweaks bikeathon.

Joshua Gunter, The Plain DealerLeBron James cruises back into downtown Akron.

LeBron James is in Akron this week conducting his basketball Skills Academy at the University of Akron, writes Jason Lloyd of Ohio.com.

James is also gearing up for his bikeathon that is changing gears this year. It will be renamed Wheels for Education and will focus on 360 children entering third grade in Akron Public Schools.

The program will concentrate on students who come from single-parent homes, as James did. It will begin with a two-week educational camp that offers extensive reading intervention and technology classes to help students reach current academic standards.

After completing the camp, the students will receive an HP laptop, a Nike backpack filled with school supplies and a bicycle from Wheels for Education.

The two-week camp, writes Lloyd, kicks off Aug. 8 with James leading a 2.6-mile ride through Akron’s streets, similar to the old Bikeathon that began in 2005. Only this time, James will be accompanied by 20 high school students who will serve as his ambassadors.

 “We felt it was time to change the Bikeathon to something that could be more educational at the same time,” James told the Beacon Journal on Tuesday. “We feel great about it.”

"A young pitcher once pitched at Cleveland that had the same symptoms as Carlos Carrasco. He had electric stuff, mid-90s fastball; but every so often he'd lose his head and the Tribe would lose the game. His name? CC Sabathia. Matt Underwood even brought up that comparison tonight during the game. Not saying Carrasco will have the career that Sabathia is having right now, but the point is, there's a lot of evidence that Carlos is going to have a fine career and be everything we thought he would when we acquired him." - truetribefan

View full sizeChuck Crow | The Plain DealerCarlos Carrasco had a tough night Tuesday night against the Yankees.

In response to the story CC Sabathia, New York Yankees throttle Cleveland Indians, 9-2, cleveland.com reader truetribefan thinks it's going to take time for Carlos Carrasco to develop. This reader writes,

"A young pitcher once pitched at Cleveland that had the same symptoms as Carlos Carrasco. He had electric stuff, mid-90s fastball; but every so often he'd lose his head and the Tribe would lose the game. His name? CC Sabathia. Matt Underwood even brought up that comparison tonight during the game. Not saying Carrasco will have the career that Sabathia is having right now, but the point is, there's a lot of evidence that Carlos is going to have a fine career and be everything we thought he would when we acquired him."

The Cleveland Indians try to regroup from injuries.

APCleveland Indians' manager Manny Acta argues his case at first base umpire Rob Drake last month.

The injuries have piled up but some relief is near, writes MLB.com reporter Zack Meisel.

Manager Manny Acta said the team would likely activate Matt LaPorta from the 15-day disabled list after Tuesday's contest against the Yankees. The first baseman has been sidelined since June 17, when he suffered a mild high ankle sprain while he was cornered during a rundown.

Right-hander Fausto Carmona left his start on Saturday after two innings upon straining his right quadriceps while running -- or stumbling, or bellyflopping -- to first base, writes Meisel.

The Indians placed Carmona on the 15-day disabled list Sunday.

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Game stories

Ohio.com: CC dominates.

Cleveland.com: Yankees throttle Tribe.

The News-Herald: Tribe left in the dust.

New York Times: Jeter moves closer.

Newark Star Ledger: Jeter gets two in victory.

Newark Star-Ledger Yankees beat writer does say Indians have stabilized and will compete in AL Central. Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Welcome to today's edition of Starting Blocks TV. Bill Lubinger and Branson Wright are your hosts.

The Major League Baseball All-Star break comes after Sunday's games, which brings to mind a question: Which player is the American League MVP at this point of the season? Cast your vote in today's Starting Blocks poll.

Today's guest is Marc Carig, New York Yankees beat writer for the Newark Star-Ledger and nj.com (follow him on twitter: @ledger_yankees). Carig, who is in town covering the series, says he thinks Toronto's Jose Bautista has shown the consistency deserving of an MVP vote.

Carig also talks about his impressions of the Indians; why he thinks CC Sabathia has been the best big-contract starter in recent memory; breaks down tonight's Yanks-Tribe pitching matchup at Progressive Field; and predicts that the Yankees and Indians won't see each other in this year's playoffs.

SBTV will return Thursday.

Pyeongchang defeated rivals Munich and Annecy, France, in the first round of a secret ballot of the International Olympic Committee.

South Koreans support for Pyeongchang's bid to host the 2018 Winter Games in front of a ski jumping hill in Pyeongchang, South Korea, Wednesday, July 6, 2011. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

DURBAN, South Africa — The South Korean city of Pyeongchang was awarded the 2018 Winter Olympics on Wednesday after failing in two previous attempts.

Pyeongchang defeated rivals Munich and Annecy, France, in the first round of a secret ballot of the International Olympic Committee.

The Koreans had lost narrowly in previous bids for the 2010 and 2014 Olympics.

Pyeongchang will be the first city in Asia outside Japan to host the Winter Games. Japan held the games in Sapporo in 1972 and Nagano in 1998.

Korean delegates erupted in cheers in the conference hall after IOC President Jacques Rogge opened a sealed envelope and read the words: "The International Olympic Committee has the honor of announcing that the 23rd Olympic Winter Games in 2018 are awarded to the city of Pyeongchang."

The vote totals weren't immediately released.

A majority was required for victory, meaning Pyeongchang received at least 48 votes among the eligible 95 voters.

It was the first time an Olympic bid race with more than two finalists was decided in the first round since 1995, when Salt Lake City defeated three others to win the 2002 Winter Games.

Had no majority been reached in the opening round, the city with the fewest votes would have been eliminated and the two remaining cities gone to a second and final ballot.

Pyeongchang had been determined to win in the first round after its previous two defeats. The Koreans had led in each of the first rounds in the votes for the 2010 and 2014 Games but then lost in the final ballots to Vancouver and Sochi.

Pyeongchang, whose slogan is "New Horizons," campaigned on the theme that it deserved to win on a third try and will spread the Olympics to a lucrative new market in Asia and become a hub for winter sports in the region.

The Korean victory followed the IOC's trend in recent votes, having taken the Winter Games to Russia (Sochi) for the first time in 2014 and giving South America its first Olympics with the 2016 Summer Games in Rio de Janeiro.