Quantcast
Channel: Cleveland Sports News
Viewing all 53367 articles
Browse latest View live

NBA lockout 2011: Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic star, says he'd consider playing overseas

0
0

Frustrated by the lockout, Howard says: "I'm not at liberty to talk about it, but there's a huge possibility about me going to China or me going overseas to play basketball."

dwight-howard-anderson-varejao.jpgOrlando's Dwight Howard (12), here guarded by the Cavaliers' Anderson Varejao, might play overseas because of the NBA lockout.

FAIRBURN, Georgia -- Dwight Howard's frustration with the NBA lockout has caused the Orlando Magic star to strongly consider playing overseas.

In an exclusive interview Sunday with The Associated Press, Howard said he would consider playing in China or Europe if the NBA lockout doesn't end.

Howard, a five-time All-Star who led Orlando to the NBA finals in 2009, stopped short of saying he's in contract discussions with teams overseas.

"I'm not at liberty to talk about it," he said, "but there's a huge possibility about me going to China or me going overseas to play basketball."

New Jersey guard Deron Williams said recently after signing with a team in Turkey that Howard could become a worldwide star if he played in China.

Howard, who hosted a celebrity basketball game Sunday at Langston Hughes High School to raise money for his charity, didn't disagree.

"The big thing for me is not giving too much information away, but at the same time I still need to let people know what's going on with me," Howard said. "I don't want to just sit over here and forget about basketball and waste, you know, opportunities for me to get better."

Howard wasn't interested in discussing his potential free agency at the end of next season. Along with Williams and New Orleans guard Chris Paul, Howard is a marquee name for potential free agency in 2012.

He saw no point in discussing the 2012-13 season when there's no guarantee of an NBA season in 2011-12.

That's why an opportunity overseas could make sense soon.

"If I decide to go overseas, the main thing is for me to continue to get better, not to do the things that I normally do, but do better at the things I'm not good at," Howard said. "So I can use that talent to go overseas, working on my skills and staying in great shape."

Howard recently hosted 400 kids at a youth basketball camp in Spain and was planning to host "a bunch of them in China, but the lockout messed everything up."

The former overall No. 1 NBA draft pick loves working with kids in his native Atlanta, but he's also longing to spread his appeal in other parts of the world.

"Being a role model lasts longer than being a basketball player," he said. "Right now I have an opportunity to do a lot of great things. I'm blessed with a lot of talents, but one of my talents is being great with kids. Being a good role model, you just want to lead them in the right direction."


Grady Sizemore says 'there's a lot of concern' about right knee: Cleveland Indians daily briefing

0
0

Grady Sizemore says injury to his right knee feels similar to last year's injury to his left knee that required season-ending mircrofracture surgery.

Cleveland loses to Orioles 8-3Grady Sizemore (right) walks off field Sunday after injuring his right knee. He'll return to Cleveland on Monday to be examined.

MINNEAPOLIS -- The Indians placed center fielder Grady Sizemore on the disabled list today  before the first game of a doubleheader against the Twins.  Sizemore, who has a bruised right knee, says the injury feels similar to the one that led to him having season-ending microfracture surgery last year on his left knee.

"There's a lot of concern," said Sizemore. "I just hope I don't have to go through what I went through last year."

Sizemore accompanied the team to Minneapolis after injuring his knee rounding first base at Camden Yards in the first inning on Sunday. He will return to Cleveland on Monday for further tests on the knee.

Sizemore originally injured his right knee on May 10 sliding into second base against Tampa Bay.

The injury pattern does not bode well for the former Gold Glove center fielder.

In an April 1, 2010 exhibition game against the Dodgers at Dodger Stadium, Sizemore banged his left knee sliding into second base. He reinjured it May 16 at Camden Yards sliding back into first base. He did not play against last season and underwent microfracture surgery on June 4.

"It's similar," said Sizemore, when asked about the injuries to his left and right knees. "It's hard to say whether it's the same. It's definitely a concern. It's the same area. Similar symptoms. It does feel a lot like it. . .but I can't say for sure."

Sizemore said the initial injuries to both knees did not seem that bad.

"The initial injury, seems to be a slower progression," he said. "Even when I first injured it (left knee, 2010), I didn't feel it right away. Then when I reinjured it, it was pretty much instant.

"The right knee (this season) was similar. In May, it took me a while to realize it was hurt. Sunday it was instant."

Sizemore said he didn't injure the knee when he hit first base after blooping a double into short left field.

"I hit the bag with my left side. It was the first step after that. I hit it just right," said Sizemore.

Sizemore pulled up twice before sliding head first into second base.

"I hurt it right when I decided to go to second," he said. "I had already committed. When I started going, I assumed I'd be out. I pulled up funny.

"I was having a hard time running. At that time I was really worried about going back to first or going to second."

As for his poor fortune at Camden Yards, Sizemore smiled and said, "I like playing there, but it doesn't like me."

Manager Manny Acta said Ezequiel Carrera will see the majority of playing time in center field in Sizemore's absence. Carrera hit ninth in Monday's first game, but Acta said he could move him into the leadoff spot.

This is Sizemore's third trip to the disabled list this year. It marks his third straight year where he's dealt with significant injuries.

"It's just frustrating. I don't know how else to put it," he said. "It's definitely frustrating dealing with this and being in a similar situation. The next step is to see what happens. See how it feels. Take a look at it. I hope it's not the same thing as last year."

Today's lineups (first game):

Indians (49-44): LF Michael Brantley (L), SS Asdrubal Cabrera (S), DH Travis Hafner (L), C Carlos Santana (S), 1B Matt LaPorta (R), RF Travis Buck (L), 2B Luis Valbuena (L), 3B Lonnie Chisenhall (L), CF Ezequiel Carrera (L), LHP David Huff (first start).

Twins (44-49): CF Ben Revere (L), 2B Alexi Casilla (S), 1B Joe Mauer (L), RF Michael Cuddyer (R), DH Jim Thome (L), LF Delmon Young (R), 3B Danny Valencia (R), C Drew Butera (R), SS Tsuyoshi Nishioka (S), RHP Anthony Swarzak (2-2, 3.38).

Umpires: H Gary Darling, 1B John Tumpane, 2B Alan Porter, 3B Rob Drake.

Quote of the day: "I get a kick out of watching a team defense me. A player moves two steps in one direction and I hit it two steps the other way. It goes right by his glove and I laugh," Rod Carew, Hall of Famer and former Minnesota Twin to the New York Daily News on July 25, 1979.

Next: RHP Fausto Carmona will face LHP Scott Diamond in the second game of the doubleheader tonight at 8:10 p.m. STO/WTAM will carry both games.

 

Division I commitment: Elyria's standout lineman Tad France tabs Kent State

0
0

Elyria's outstanding senior offensive tackle Tad France has given Kent State his oral commitment.   The 6-5, 270-pounder had a blocking proficiency over 90 percent as a junior and allowed the opposition just one sack but received only one offer.

Elyria's outstanding senior offensive tackle Tad France has given Kent State his oral commitment. 

 The 6-5, 270-pounder had a blocking proficiency over 90 percent as a junior and allowed the opposition just one sack but received only one offer.

"I visited a lot of schools and probably would have gotten more offers if I waited, but I liked Kent the best of all the schools I saw,'' said France. "They have a whole new coaching staff and the facilities are great.

 Kent's going to become one of the top programs in the (Mid-American Conference) and I want to be a part of that.''

 Pioneers first-year coach Kevin Fell feels it's a good fit for both parties.

"Tad is smart, tenacious, very agile and quick and I always liked (new KSU) coach Darrell Hazell,'' said Fell. "If Tad weighed 320-340 pounds, he'd be Big 10 material because he's such a hard-working son of a gun.

 "I've been here six months and I don't think he's missed a day in the weightroom."

France doesn't know what he'll major in but is looking into possibly going into accounting or education.

Ohio State Buckeyes A.M. Links: Fear Brady Hoke? To honor Tressel

0
0

Will new Michigan coach Brady Hoke help make this a rivalry again?

hoke-victors-hoops-horiz-ap.jpgBrady Hoke was front and center -- and singing "The Victors" as the Wolverines played Ohio State in basketball at Crisler Arena this past basketball season.

Michael Arace of The Columbus Dispatch writes about the similarities between current Michigan coach Brady Hoke and Glenn "Bo" Schembechler.

Bo was the son of Ohio and protege of Woody Hayes. Hoke is also a son of Ohio, and his father played football with Schembechler - and for Hayes - at Miami University.

Hoke takes hold of Michigan in another of its cyclical slumbers, and he has the thing by the collar, and he is shaking it. The war is about to be rejoined.

"Look at the history of Michigan football," Hoke said. "The 132nd team this fall will be representing our university. There are so many great traditions, so many things to embrace and be accountable to, and part of that is that game the last Saturday in November, and how it went."

Hoke is referring, obliquely, to how it has gone lately, or since Jim Tressel stood up at halftime of a basketball game in 2001 and told fans how proud they would be of their Buckeyes "in the classroom, in the community and, most especially, in 310 days in Ann Arbor, Mich., on the football field."

Arace writes how you can keep your newfangled offenses. Hoke has returned to Ann Arbor on a restoration mission. The first order of business is defense, and rivalries, and making Michigan like the Michigan of his youth.

Honor

The Ohio High School Football Coaches Association is calling for coaches to wear a white shirt and tie on the sidelines at their season opening games to honor former Ohio State football coach Jim Tressel.

Jim Naveau of The Lima News has another idea.

Here’s a suggestion for the coaches: Instead of doing the shirt and tie thing, donate the cost of a tie, maybe $25, to one of Tressel’s favorite charities.

One of the things I’ve heard over and over from people who don’t think Tressel should have been forced to resign is that he did so many charitable things for people.

So, why not do some good in his name instead of making an empty fashion statement?

  

David Huff goes 7 scoreless innings in Cleveland Indians 5-2 victory over Twins

0
0

Asdrubal Cabrera's three-run homer in the third paces Tribe's offense.

asdrubal-cabrera-homer View full sizeCleveland Indians' Asdrubal Cabrera hits a three-run home run off Minnesota Twins pitcher Anthony Swarzak in the third inning of the first baseball game of a doubleheader Monday, July 18, 2011 in Minneapolis. Catching is Twins' Drew Butera. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. -- David Huff, the first left-hander to start a game for the Indians this season, made it a memorable occasion.

Huff, activated before the game, pitched seven scoreless innings as the Indians beat the Twins, 5-2, Monday in the first game of a day-night doubleheader at Target Field. Asdrubal Cabrera took care of the offense with a three-run homer to highlight the a four-run third inning.

The Indians promoted Huff for a spot start from Class AAA Columbus where he was 8-3 with a 3.86 ERA. He was 2-5 lifetime against the Twins, including a 0-3 record last year. Monday, however, held them to five hits and two walks while striking out five.

Huff (1-0, 0.00) threw only 88 pitches on a hot day. It was 90 degrees at gametime and 96 in the seventh inning.

Cabrera's third-inning homer off Anthony Swarzak (2-3, 3.52) was his 17th of the season and third in five games since the All-Star break. He had 18 in his career going into this year.

Lonnie Chisenhall started the inning by reaching second on a throwing error by second baseman Alexi Casilla. Ezequiel Carrera singled home Chisenhall, taking second on the throw. Michael Brantley moved him to third with a single to left to bring Cabrera to the plate.

Cabrera drove a 1-0 pitch into the seats above the right field wall for a 4-0 lead. It was the switch-hitter's 14th homer from the left side.

Huff pitched out of a second-inning jam by getting Drew Butera to hit into a 6-4-3 double play with runners on first and second and one out.

Huff was tested again in the third. Tsuyoshi Nishioka beat out an infield single to third and continued to second on Chisenhall's throwing error to start the inning. Huff retired the next three batters, striking out Joe Mauer on a big curveball to end the inning.

The Indians had another scoring chance in the fifth when Travis Hafner pushed Brantley to third with a 403-foot single to right center with two out. Mauer turned back the Indians with a diving stop against Carlos Santana at first base to end the threat.

Huff gave up a one-out single to Mauer in the sixth, but struck out Michael Cuddyer and Jim Thome. Thome came into the game 4-for-6 with two homers and three RBI against Huff.

Swarzak left after six. He allowed four runs, three earned, on six hits. He struck out four and threw 96 pitches.

Austin Kearns made it 5-0 with a leadoff homer in the ninth that landed into the second deck in left field. It was his second homer of the season.

Michael Cuddyer ended the Indians shutout bid with a two-run homer in the ninth off Chad Durbin after Tony Sipp pitched a scoreless eighth in relief of Huff. Vinnie Pestano relieved and retired the next three batters for his second save.

The Indians and Twins were wearing green hats in honor of Earth Day. They were supposed to wear on April 22 at Target Field, but that was postponed because of rain and cold and rescheduled for Monday.

Apparently, they saved the hats.

 

 

Japan's World Cup tenacity rewards a country's determination to overcome disaster: Bill Livingston

0
0

Sometimes, a game means more than what is contested on the field. It was that way in the women's World Cup final on a special Sunday in Germany, even if the American team did lose.

japan-sawa-wcup-2011-trophy-vert-ap.jpgView full sizeThe World Cup trophy raised by Japan's Homare Sawa was an improbable sports triumph, but has the potential to mean much more for a country that has been battered in 2011, writes Bill Livingston.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Sometimes, a game is only the scaffolding from which rise bigger metaphors and deeper significance.

It doesn't happen often, but you know it when you see it. You certainly know it when you are in an arena, and it is roaring to life around you. It transcends sports when it happens and even crosses over the national borders that can play such a role in games. It is something you don't ever forget.

It was that way in Lake Placid in 1980 when a bunch of American college boys took down the Soviet Union, the greatest hockey team in the world, in the "Miracle on Ice."

It was that way in Barcelona in 1992, in the bronze-medal Olympic basketball game. Every time some television talker babbles about "going for the gold," as if no other medal is worth having, I think about that game. Lithuania beat a hated opponent called the Unified Team, which was made up of players from the crumbling Soviet Union. A half-century and more of oppression, including Soviet tanks rumbling through the streets of the Lithuanian capital only a year earlier, was the game's searing subtext.

"The eyes of some three million people were looking at TV screens," said the president of Lithuania, Vytautas Landsbergis, who was wearing one of the tie-dyed T shirts that were the team's good luck charm. "We felt their heartbeats together with us out on the court today."

It was that way Sunday in Germany in the women's World Cup soccer final when Japan -- playing as if there was nothing to lose because so many in their homeland had lost everything in the earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disasters this year -- beat the United States -- playing to validate the "swagger" goalkeeper Hope Solo said its players possessed -- on penalty kicks, 3-1, after a 2-2 tie.

The tie itself seems to be a misprint. The USA hit the near post and the far post and could have scored, maybe should have scored, five or six goals. It is hard to imagine elite forwards could miss so many open-goal shots, including one in the final ticks of overtime by the best player on the field, Abby Wambach, the world's best female player in the air. She had to use her feet and not her head on the play, however.

In the last eight minutes of regulation, the Americans led, 1-0. In the last five minutes of overtime, the Americans led, 2-1. They could not put Japan away. A disorganized defense could not get the ball away from the goal mouth on the first equalizer and could not mark on a corner kick, a set piece at which the taller, more powerful Americans were supposed to have an advantage, on the second.

Even the best goalie in the world, Solo, couldn't reverse the momentum in the tiebreaker. When a lead unravels so late, when a team has led for so long, when it has been dominant to so little result, and then when it has been extended to the crapshoot of penalties, it seldom can regroup.

Ask Brazil, tied in the 122nd minute on the latest goal in World Cup history by the USA on a soaring Wambach header in the quarterfinals, then beaten in PKs.

Without question, the Americans let the pressure get to them in the tiebreaker. One of the most unchanging statistics in soccer is that penalty kicks are successful 80 percent of the time. The USA went 1-for-4, including three straight misses to open the tiebreaker.

Equally unquestioned was Japanese women's tenacity, which kept the deficit manageable, and their resolute way of punishing the American mistakes.

Had the so-called "Golden Goal" rule still been effect, making the overtime format sudden death, the Americans would have beaten Japan. Of course, under the same rule, Brazil would have eliminated the USA two games ago. Sports often become primers for life lessons, and so it is with the return to a full 30 minutes of overtime. Soccer tests teams in adversity, but also in success.

The USA was the better team, but it succumbed to nerves and to intangibles like resourcefulness and the conviction by the Japanese that they, like the Lithuanians a generation ago, could feel the pulse of their nation. Japan wanted, indeed needed, the game more.

Asked about the loss in the 1966 NCAA basketball final of his all-white Kentucky team to all-black Texas Western, Pat Riley, a forward for the Wildcats, who became a great NBA coach and empire-builder said, "Sometimes, you realize that the other team is playing for more than you are."

On Twitter: @LivyPD

Does Grady Sizemore's injury alter the Cleveland Indians' trade strategy? Terry Pluto's scribbles

0
0

Can an reshuffled Indians outfield -- even bolstered by a trade -- produce enough offense to contend, even in the mediocre Central Division?

sizemore-whiff-jays-squ-to.jpgView full sizeWith Grady Sizemore possibly unavailable for much of the rest of the 2011 season, is there enough talent remaining on the Indians' roster to justify trading prized prospects to chase the postseason? Terry Pluto isn't sure.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Scribbles in my Tribe notebook...

1. Grady Sizemore is going to be out for quite a while, if not the season, with his latest knee injury -- and that has the Indians trying to figure out what should be the best approach to the trade market. It's the middle of July, and they remain in contention. But it's also very possible they may have to play the month of August without Sizemore and Shin-Soo Choo, unless Choo returns faster than expected from his thumb surgery.

2. Suppose the Indians do trade for Ryan Ludwick. Can an outfield of Michael Brantley, Ludwick and a player to be picked from Ezequiel Carrera, Travis Buck or Austin Kearns produce enough offense to contend, even in the mediocre Central Division? That's a question they are pondering.

3. Another factor is so many teams remain in contention. Teams are in no hurry to sell off prime talent. Minnesota resisted trade offers because it wanted to contend -- and the Twins are doing just that. Teams also know that the Indians are very hungry to finish off this improbable season and make the playoffs.

4. This is Chris Antonetti's first season as a general manager in a playoff race -- and some teams will see if they can force him into making a poor deal for a veteran who is perhaps in the final year of his contract.

5. Money is not the major issue preventing a deal. I wrote on Monday that the Indians can add $3 million to the payroll in a deal. I was told they can go "considerably beyond that" for "the right guy." The problem is that this is not the off-season with free agents. Trades have to be made. The real issue for the Indians is trading prospects. They are willing to pick up more money in a contract if it cost them less in young talent.

6. Last season, the Indians dealt Kearns to the Yankees for Zach McAllister, who certainly is in serious consideration for a rotation spot in 2012, if not sooner. They traded Russell Branyan to Seattle for Carrera, a player they now rate as the best defensive outfielder in the farm system. Carrera is in the mix to start with Sizemore injured. The Indians hit gold with two seemingly minor deals with Seattle in 2006 (Ben Broussard for Shin-Soo Choo and Eduardo Perez for Asdrubal Cabrera).

7. The Indians do seem to have several attractive "B" level prospects -- Jeanmar Gomez, David Huff, Cord Phelps and possibly McAllister -- available. Scott Barnes (out for the season with a knee injury) also could be on that list. So there are four starting pitchers (McAllister, Barnes, Huff and Gomez). They certainly don't want to trade more than one. But a starter, Phelps (made expendable by Jason Kipnis) and a lower minor-league prospect could bring real value.

8. It's very easy to make the case for doing nothing -- for waiting for next year. After all, no one expected the Indians to contend this season. But they are in contention. The division is lame, every contender has significant flaws. And who knows what next year will bring? The front office remembers 2007, when they won 96 games and came within a game of a trip to the World Series. They certainly expected to contend in 2008. Instead, they started slow, rallied to finish 81-81 and traded CC Sabathia. They didn't see that coming. Just as they never would have imagined at the end of 2007 that they'd lose more than 90 games in 2009 and 2010.

9. The fact is the Indians not only need to find an outfielder for this season, but also for next year. Who knows how Sizemore will come back. They have Brantley and Carrera, both capable of playing center. They have Choo under control. That's it. Buck, Kearns, Shelley Duncan and about anyone else in the upper levels of the minors are just fill-ins.

10. That's why I mentioned Washington's Michael Morse as a trade possibility, even though the price will be high. He is under contract until 2014. He is a corner outfielder, and he is 29. Seems like that is what they need now, and they'll still need it in the winter unless they address it this season.

Lake Erie Monsters announce Oct. 7 date for 2011-12 season opener

0
0

The franchise averaged 6,568 fans in the 2010-11 season, best in franchise history and sixth in the 30-team AHL.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Monsters will open their fifth season Oct. 7 at The Q. The American Hockey League schedule will not be released until later this summer. Home-opening promotions include Dollar Dog Night and a free postgame skate.

A record number of fans attended Monsters games at The Q last season. The franchise averaged 6,568 fans, best in franchise history and sixth in the 30-team AHL. The Monsters also posted the top average attendance (8,069) of the 16 teams participating in the AHL postseason.

The Monsters are coming off their best season on the ice in franchise history. They set franchise bests in single-season points (96), victories (44), and wins at home (24) and on the road (20). Lake Erie finished second in the North Division, earning its first playoff berth.


Patience is a key when enduring the college football recruiting storm: Tim Warsinskey's Take

0
0

Eagles' talented tight end had numerous opportunities to make an early commitment, but resisted the temptation.

sam-grant-sted-mug.jpgView full sizeSt. Edward's Sam Grant says it's important for college recruits to let the "awe factor" of a visit to a campus fade before making a commitment.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- There is no official class on how to be an NCAA recruit. No instructional DVD. No orientation session.

If there were, St. Edward senior tight end Sam Grant could teach it. With an objective eye, he took a well-reasoned approach to the sometimes overwhelming, high-stakes recruiting game. Grant made a nonbinding, oral commitment to Boston College in June, and is among 22 local football recruits who already have announced their college choice.

A 6-6, 235-pound tight end, he was a big part of St. Edward's powerful running game last year, and averaged 16 yards per reception.

Grant, who lives in North Royalton, visited nine colleges: Boston College, Cincinnati, Louisville, Michigan, Michigan State, Northwestern, Ohio State, Pittsburgh and Syracuse. He had numerous opportunities to make an early commitment, but resisted the temptation.

"I didn't want to get just that single perspective," he said. "I always waited 24 hours to get rid of that 'awe factor.'"

During visits, he paid special attention to coach-player relationships.

"I looked for good camaraderie," he said. "Every place has good facilities. This was more about the coaching and players."

Grant organized all his literature and research into binders for each school. At this point in the process, all the visits are unofficial and must be paid for by the recruit. Grant admits he was fortunate to visit so many schools. With coaches pushing for early commitments, Grant said the NCAA should create an earlier window for official visits paid for by colleges.

"If I was looking at schools across the country, it would be tough. Not everyone can pay for that," he said.

Some recruits take the first offer that comes along, and others make a commitment they don't intend to keep. One recruit told me his commitment to a Mid-American Conference school will last only until he receives an offer from bigger school.

Grant said he has no such intentions and wanted to make his decision once. But he realizes after seeing what teammate Kyle Kalis went through recently, it's good the early commitment is non-binding. Kalis switched his commitment from Ohio State to Michigan following the NCAA investigation at OSU.

"I waited until I thought the time was right," Grant said. "After visiting all the schools, and reflecting upon it, and on all the literature I kept in my binders, I really felt it was the right time.

"It's a good thing to be able to [make an oral commitment]. After signing day in February, you're locked in. [Until then], you have the option to back out, like with Kyle. It's good if something drastic changes with the coaching staff or scandals, or whatever."

Early decisions

With nearly seven months to go before high school football players can sign national letters of intent, 22 incoming seniors from The Plain Dealer's seven-county coverage area and 65 statewide already have announced their college choices. The oral commitments are non-binding. Here are the locals who have committed:

Devan Bogard, Glenville, linebacker, Ohio State

Pharaoh Brown, Brush, defensive end, Michigan

Kyle Dodson, Cleveland Heights, tackle, Wisconsin

Tad France, Elyria, guard, Kent State

Sam Grant, St. Edward, tight end, Boston College

Jeremy Graves, Maple Heights, wide receiver, Cincinnati

Myles Hilliard, Bedford, defensive end, Pittsburgh

Kevin Houchins, Brush, defensive back, Louisville

Kyle Kalis, St. Edward, tackle, Michigan

Ross Martin, Walsh Jesuit, kicker, Duke

Greg McMullen, Hoban, defensive end, Nebraska

Anthony Melchiori, Aurora, kicker-punter, Kent State

Alex Nielsen, Elyria Catholic, tackle, Kent State

Jason O'Bryan, Madison, defensive back, Kent State

Kyle Orlosky, St. Edward, guard, West Virginia

Tyvis Powell, Bedford, defensive back, Ohio State

Tom Strobel, Mentor, defensive end, Michigan

Mike Svetina, St. Ignatius, linebacker, Miami (Ohio)

Blake Thomas, St. Ignatius, tight end, Ohio State

Alex Todd, Streetsboro, tackle, Indiana

Troy Watson, Aurora, defensive end, Ohio University

Jarrod Wilson, Buchtel, safety, Michigan

Sources: Plain Dealer reporting, rivals.com, scout.com

Cleveland Cavaliers selection of Tristan Thompson is 'steal of the draft,' says local coach

0
0

St. Edward basketball coach Eric Flannery coached Thompson in the 2010 McDonald's All-American game.

thompson-2011-draft-cavs-jg.jpgView full size"My personal opinion is, and I mean this sincerely, I think he's the steal of the draft," St. Edward coach Eric Flannery says of new Cavalier Tristan Thompson, whom Flannery coached in a 2010 all-star game. "You can't go wrong on the human side of things as far as being a great person ... (and) I think the basketball side is a lot better than people think."

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- St. Edward basketball coach Eric Flannery loved the Cavaliers' selection of Tristan Thompson with the No. 4 pick in the recent NBA draft.

"I think they hit a home run," Flannery said. "I really do."

Flannery coached Thompson in the 2010 McDonald's All-American game in Columbus. Thompson, a 6-8, 225-pound forward who went on to play one season at Texas, had eight points and five rebounds in the West's 107-104 victory, but Flannery was as impressed with his personality as he was with his basketball skills.

"The greatest thing about Tristan -- when people get to know him they will realize this -- is that he is going to be a fantastic locker-room guy," Flannery said. "He is a wonderful human being. I enjoyed coaching him as much, if not more, than anybody I've coached in a situation like we had.

"He's just a great, great kid, great personality, very upbeat, a 'yes sir, no sir' kind of kid. First and foremost, the Cavs are getting a great human being, which obviously is a big plus."

Two weeks after the McDonald's game, Thompson, a Canadian, also had a good showing in the 2010 Nike Summit. Much has been made of Enes Kanter's record-setting 34-point performance in that tournament, but Thompson had 14 points, making five of six field goals and -- interestingly -- all four free throws in the 101-97 loss to the United States. He tied Nikola Mirotic as the second-leading scorer for the world team behind Kanter.

Flannery, a longtime member of the USA Basketball Developmental National Team Committee who coached the U.S. team at the 2010 Young Olympic Games in Singapore last summer, helped put together the team for the Nike Summit but definitely took note of the opposition.

"Tristan had a great game that year," Flannery said.

In his one season at Texas, Thompson averaged 13.1 points, 7.8 rebounds and 2.4 blocked shots per game. He shot 54.6 percent from the field but a puzzling 48.7 percent from the line.

"Defensively, blocking shots, instincts for the game, instincts for the ball, he's as good as any player I've seen at his level," Flannery said. "Offensively, obviously, he needs some work, but it's not like he's a raw individual who has no touch. He's got a nice shot. He's got great touch around the rim. His free throws were a mystery when I saw him in college, because I didn't think they were that bad when he was playing with us."

Though most observers had the Cavs taking Lithuanian Jonas Valanciunas with the No. 4 pick, Flannery didn't think the Cavs could pass on Thompson.

"You take in the whole picture, how can you take somebody else?" he said. "If you're taking a chance on somebody else, either character or skill set, I thought he was right there and definitely worth it ... I thought he'd be a perfect fit.

"My personal opinion is, and I mean this sincerely, I think he's the steal of the draft.

"You can't go wrong on the human side of things as far as being a great person. I know that's not what everybody looks at. But I think the basketball side is a lot better than people think."

On Twitter: @pdcavsinsider

Columbus Clippers' hitting and relief pitching continue to excel: Minor league notes

0
0

Starting pitching has been strong, too, for the Clippers, who began Monday with a 61-34 record and an 11 1/2 game lead in the International League West Division. Notes on all the minor league teams.

clippers-logo.jpgColumbus Clippers

MINOR LEAGUE NOTES

AAA Columbus Clippers

Notes: Going into Monday night’s game, IF Jason Donald (.315) was 12-for-23 (.522) with three doubles, two home runs, seven RBI, seven runs and six walks in his last seven games....OF Jerad Head (.295) was 11-for-34 (.324) with three doubles and two home runs in his last nine games....LF Tim Fedroff (.274) was 6-for-16 (.375) in his last four games....RH reliever Chen Lee was 2-0 and had pitched 10 1/3 scoreless innings in seven games with Columbus, striking out 17, walking three and giving up six hits. Lee began the season with Akron, where he was 2-1 with a 2.50 ERA in 23 games. He struck out 56, walked 11 and allowed 27 hits (one home run) in 39 2/3 innings with the Aeros....RH reliever Josh Judy (3-2, 14 saves, 2.83) was 1-1 with seven saves in his last 12 games. He had given up five runs -- all unearned -- struck out 21, walked seven and allowed seven hits in 14 2/3 innings....LH reliever Nick Hagadone (3-1, two saves, 3.81) was 1-0 with one save in his last eight games, allowing two unearned runs in 12 innings, while fanning 13, walking three and allowing 12 hits.

AA Akron Aeros

Notes: Going into Monday night’s game, 1B Beau Mills (.304), the Eastern League Player of the Week for July 11-17, was on a seven-game hitting streak, going 14-for-25 (.560) with four home runs, four doubles, 11 RBI, eight runs and five walks. Mills went into the game with 16 doubles, nine home runs, 44 RBI and 33 runs in 57 games with the Aeros this season. He was selected by Cleveland with the 13th overall pick in the first round of the 2007 draft....SS Juan Diaz (.258) was on an 11-game hitting streak, going 16-for-51 (.314) with five doubles, one home run, eight RBI and seven runs....Ben Copeland (.329) was on an eight-game hitting streak, going 15-for-33 (.455) with four doubles, one triple, four RBI and six runs....Catcher Chun Chen (.286) was 13-for-33 (.394) with three doubles, one triple, one homer, six RBI, eight runs and six walks in his last 10 games....3B Kyle Bellows (.218) was 9-for-23 (.391) in his last seven games....RH closer Cory Burns (2-3, 26 saves, 2.04) had not given up a run in his last 19 appearances. He had fanned 19, walked three and allowed nine hits in 20 2/3 innings during the span....RH reliever Adam Miller (1-1, one save, 3.10) was 0-0 with one save and a 2.03 ERA in his last 10 games, striking out 14, walking five and allowing nine hits in 13 1/3 innings..LH reliever Eric Berger (2-0, 3.63) was 1-0 with a 1.88 ERA in his last nine games, striking out 19, walking six and yielding 13 hits in 14 1/3 innings....LH T.J. McFarland (6-4, 4.26) is 4-0 with a 2.25 ERA in his last five starts. In 32 innings, he has fanned 22, walked eight and given up 21 hits....RH reliever Rob Bryson has been promoted to the Aeros from the Kinston Indians. Bryson was 0-0 with one save and an 0.64 ERA in 14 innings over 10 games at Kinston. He struck out 20, walked three and allowed six hits in 14 innings. Bryson, 23, was acquired by Cleveland with OF Michael Brantley and 1B Matt LaPorta (who was then an outfielder) in the 2008 midseason trade of C.C. Sabathia to the Milwaukee Brewers. In his fifth minor league season, Bryson has struck out 264, walked 65 and allowed 144 hits in 195 2/3 innings. He missed almost all of the 2009 season after having shoulder surgery.

Advanced A Kinston Indians

Notes: Going into Monday night’s game, DH Jeremie Tice (.275) was 9-for-23 (.391) with three doubles and two home runs in his last seven games....OF Anthony Gallas (.178), from Strongsville High School and Kent State, was 4-for-10 with a stolen base in his last three games....3B Adam Abraham (.245) was 0-for-13 in his last four games....RH reliever Kyle Landis (3-0, one save, 0.82) had struck out 25, walked four and given up 10 hits in 22 innings with Kinston, in 15 games....RH Brett Brach (6-6, 2.82) is 3-3 with a 2.39 ERA in his last 10 games, striking out 35, walking 13 and holding opponents to a .217 batting average in 60 1/3 innings....RH Marty Popham (4-0, 2.56) was named the Carolina League Pitcher of the Week. Popham won his third straight start on Sunday, striking out 11 in 5 2/3 innings in the Indians’ 2-0 home win over the Winston-Salem Dash. Popham allowed three hits and no walks in his only start of the week. In 14 games (eight starts) with Kinston this season, Popham has struck out 60 and walked just five in 59 2/3 innings, and held opponents to a .219 batting average.

A Lake County Captains

Notes: Going into Monday night’s game, 3B Giovanny Urshela (.238) was 25-for-78 (.321) with five doubles, one triple and one homer in his last 21 games....SS Ronny Rodriguez (.238) was on an eight-game hitting streak, going 10-for-33 (.303) with three doubles, one homer and six RBI....OF LeVon Washington (.226) was 7-for-15 (.467) with two doubles and four runs in his last four games....Catcher Alex Monsalve (.283) was 6-for-11 (.545) with a double in his last three games....OF Carlos Moncrief (.234) was 12-for-35 (.343) with two doubles, one triple and one homer in his last eight games....RH reliever Dale Dickerson (1-1, two saves, 1.48) had not allowed a run in his last 14 games, fanning 12, walking three and allowing 12 hits in 15 2/3 innings....RH reliever Clayton Ehlert (1-2, 10 saves, 1.98) had given up one run on seven hits in his last 13 innings for an 0.69 ERA....RH reliever Bryce Stowell (0-1, 1.69) had struck out 24, walked nine and allowed seven hits in 16 innings with the Captains....LH reliever Kyle Petter (1-2, 3.24) had struck out 15, walked one and allowed five hits in 8 1/3 innings over five games with the Captains.

A Mahoning Valley Scrappers

Notes: Going into Monday night’s game, C Alex Lavisky (.187) — a Cleveland eighth-round draft pick from Lakewood St. Edward High School in 2010 — was on a seven-game hitting streak, going 9-for-26 (.346) with two home runs and one double....OF Jordan Smith (.343) was 13-for-37 (.351) with six doubles, seven RBI and five runs in his last 10 games.

Independent Lake Erie Crushers

Notes: Going into Monday night’s game, 3B Andrew Davis (.307) was on an 11-game hitting streak, going 24-for-44 (.545) with two homers, two doubles, one triple, 10 RBI and nine runs.

Mike Emery grabs first-round lead at Ohio Open

0
0

No one is quite sure what to expect when the Ohio Open Championship golf tournament resumes Tuesday at Weymouth and Fox Meadow country clubs.

MEDINA, Ohio -- Reaching a destination when traveling uncharted territory is seldom a routine adventure.

So, no one is quite sure what to expect when the Ohio Open Championship golf tournament resumes Tuesday at Weymouth and Fox Meadow country clubs.

The 88th playing of the state's premier event for professionals and amateurs is being held at those venues for the first time. Unlike previous years, when the tournament enjoyed a lengthy run at Tam O'Shanter in Canton and everyone was familiar with the circumstances, there are questions whose answers can't be found even with a GPS.

Which course is tougher? Is there an advantage playing early or late? What about the weather? What if it rains? Who knows?

Weymouth, slightly longer than Fox Meadow but both play to par-72, played less than one stroke tougher during Monday's opening round in which the field of 204 was split between the two courses. While the top 30 scorers were split evenly between the sites, six of the top 10 played at Weymouth.

"What makes this year unique is that we have no history at either course, nothing to go on," said Northern Ohio PGA tournament director David Griffith. "I was at Weymouth for a U.S. Open qualifier last year and I can tell you the course is playing entirely different now. So, you never know until the flag goes up."

Veteran Mike Emery, the director of instruction at Canton Brookside Country Club, had the first-round lead after a 7-under 65 at Weymouth. That was one shot better than former Ohio State player and recently-turned pro Brad Smith, whose 66 was posted at Fox Meadow.

Full Ohio Open leaderboard

Former champions Dennis Miller (1996) and Vaughn Snyder (2009) shared third place with C.J. Gatto, all at 4-under 68. Canfield's Miller and Massillon's Snyder played at Weymouth, while Gatto, who played at UNLV, was at Fox Meadow.

The field will switch sites for the second round and the low 50 and ties -- which should be right around even-par 144 -- will play Wednesday's final round at Weymouth.

Emery, 41, played Weymouth bogey-free, getting three birdies on the front nine and four on the back. He putted for eagle from 10 feet on the 501-yard 14th and missed what he called five makeable putts from inside 12 feet on the front.

"I felt like I hit good putts, they just didn't go in," said Emery, a Canton native and graduate of Tennessee. "Missing putts like that usually frustrates the heck out of me. But somehow it didn't bother me today."

One of his birdies came on the 433-yard ninth, when he chipped in from about 40 feet behind a drastically-sloped green.

Miller, who finished second by one stroke at Quail Hollow last year, had five birdies, including a 25-foot putt on the 515-yard fifth hole and holing out from a greenside bunker on the 218-yard 15th. He said he missed four birdie putts of five feet or less.

"The Open would always be special to me," said Miller, who hit 15 greens in regulation. "I just want to do well and make the cut, especially after last year."

Climbing the ladder: Cleveland Indians prospect Drew Pomeranz prepares for Akron home debut Wednesday

0
0

Tribe's top pick in 2010 isn't being fast-tracked, but baseball is a business, and in any business there's pressure to see a return on investment.

pomeranz-spring-2011-horiz-cc.jpgView full sizeDrew Pomeranz is keeping his goals simple now that he's reached Class AA with Akron. "Just getting used to what it takes to win at this level," he said Monday. The Indians' top pick in the 2010 draft will get his first home start for the Aeros Wednesday afternoon.

AKRON, Ohio -- By coincidence, Wednesday at Akron's Canal Park happens to be "Big Splash Day."

Drew Pomeranz -- and the Indians -- hopes he makes one.

At 12:05 p.m., the ballpark becomes a mid-summer water works, courtesy of Akron Fire Department hoses and an armory of Super Soakers. Pomeranz, 22, in whom the Indians are investing considerable money and hope, makes his home debut with the Aeros.

The 6-5, 230-pound left-hander, who starred collegiately at Mississippi and was the Indians' first pick and the fifth overall in the 2010 draft, takes the mound against Altoona (Pa.), offering local fans their first glimpse into the future.

He's the Indians' top prospect and 14th best in all of baseball, according to the rating service Baseball America.

At the moment, the Indians are too distracted with a pennant race -- and plugging holes to stay in one -- to go ga-ga over seasons yet to come. But the long-term forecast calls for a starting rotation along the lines of Justin Masterson, Josh Tomlin, Alex White, Carlos Carrasco and, yes, Pomeranz -- short of the parent club accepting a trade offer so sweet that a piece of the future is mortgaged for a win-now addition.

Don't think for a second his name isn't brought up by teams taking a peek at what the Indians might have in the cupboard.

"Well, yes," said Ross Atkins, the Indians' vice president of player development, "he is definitely a player that has tremendous value in the industry."

pomeranz-mug-akron-abj.jpgView full sizePomeranz was 3-2 with Kinston and led the Carolina League with a 1.87 ERA, striking out 95 batters in 77 innings.

Pomeranz, in his first season of professional ball, just made the leap from Advanced Class A Kinston (N.C.) to AA Akron. The gap between AA to the majors is a Grand Canyon -- but not beyond question for 2012.

"Yeah, absolutely that's a possibility," acknowledged Atkins, who said the Indians project Pomeranz anchoring a spot in the middle to front of the Tribe's rotation for a long time.

He isn't being fast-tracked, but baseball is a business, and in any business there's pressure to see a return on investment. The Indians paid Pomeranz a $2.65 million signing bonus, the biggest committed to any college pitcher in last year's draft.

Despite the whirlwind -- in the last week, he flew back from Phoenix for baseball's All-Star Futures Game, drove to Akron from Kinston and immediately hopped the team bus to Harrisburg, Pa. -- he's not caught up in it.

Meeting with the media before the Aeros game Monday at Canal Park, Pomeranz said he's simply working on throwing his three pitches for strikes, keeping his pitch count down and going deeper into games.

"Just getting used to what it takes to win at this level," he said.

In his AA debut last Friday at Harrisburg, Pomeranz scattered three hits, including a solo home run, and walked one in 4 2/3 innings. The Aeros won, but Pomeranz didn't get the decision. Cherished minor-league arms are limited to 100 pitches per outing, more or less. Pomeranz threw 91. He struck out five, including left fielder Bryce Harper -- the Washington Nationals' No. 1 overall pick in last year's draft -- both times he faced him.

"Felt a little rusty from all the off days but finished up feeling great!" Pomeranz tweeted after the game. "Can't wait to get back out there in 5 days!"

Enthused fans responded: "If 5 Ks in 4.2 innings pitched with only 1ER in first game after being promoted is 'rusty,' I can't wait till you feel "good."

And "took down Mr. Harper, nice work."

Pomeranz had nothing left to prove in Kinston. He was 3-2 and led the Carolina League with a 1.87 ERA, striking out 95 batters in 77 innings.

"Pomeranz was probably the finest pitcher in this league," said Jason Wood, manager of the Myrtle Beach Pelicans, a Texas Rangers affiliate. This from a team that handed Pomeranz both of his losses. Wood said he loaded up his lineup with right-handed hitters and got lucky.

One was right-fielder Jared Prince, who went 5-for-5 against Pomeranz this season, including a homer. No one yet, Prince said, has matched the killer curveball San Francisco's Cy Young winner Tim Lincecum threw him in college. But Pomeranz, he said, with equal command of a 93- to 95-mile-an-hour fastball, curve and change-up, "has got the makings of a major leaguer."

Pomeranz could have had a three-year head start. Texas drafted him in the 12th round out of high school. His dad, who also played at Ole Miss, told him the decision was his. His older brother, who also plays professional baseball, told him to sign.

His mother told him to go to college. Mom won, but mainly because the Rangers didn't quite offer enough money.

"It was close," Pomeranz said.

At Ole Miss, he hit the weight room and got much stronger, said his college coach Mike Bianco. They got him to raise his leg a little higher and made other minor tweaks in his delivery. Meanwhile, Pomeranz said three years in college helped him mature -- and he'd recommend the same route to anyone who asked.

After a dominant college career, he moved up about 375 picks -- and millions of dollars -- in the draft. From Akron, the majors are but a valley and a freeway away.

"He looks like he's well on his way," Bianco said.

A ballgame with Dad is a recollection for a lifetime: Tribe memories

0
0

Here is Tuesday's essay by Mark Barton of Parma.

santana-tribe-fans-2011-horiz-cc.jpgView full sizeWhether at the old stadium or at Progressive Field, the experience of cheering for your favorite team never fades.

This spring, we asked readers to tell us their best memory at an Indians game. More than 600 of you responded. All season, The Plain Dealer will publish fan memories -- one each day the Indians are scheduled to play. Here is Tuesday's essay by Mark Barton of Parma:

I'll never forget the first game my dad took me to at the old Cleveland Municipal Stadium. It had to be around 1969. I was nine. My dad was a schoolteacher who loved the Indians but didn't have a lot of money for tickets. Dad always sent in the "Grandstand Managers" poll for free tickets, and I remember doubleheaders being a special treat.

Now, baseball at our house and in our neighborhood was played in the backyard or playground, which was more dirt than grass. (Even though Dad did his best, toiling with the lawn, he never did achieve a high grass-to-dandelion ratio.)

Arriving at the stadium, large and stoic, we walked up the winding ramps to the upper-deck grandstand. The fans, the smells, the sounds were thrilling and frightening at the same time. Then came the walk across the catwalk from the concourse to the stands and my first glimpse of the green, green grass of the field, the perfect white foul lines and the scoreboard, poised to record all the runs and hits. I'm sure my mouth dropped open in awe.

I can still see that green grass in my mind to this day. I don't recall the game or the score, but the catwalk, that green grass, that day with Dad will never leave me. I remain a loyal Indians fan to this day.

Cleveland fans: Which would you rather see here, an NBA All-Star Game, baseball's All-Star Game or (Duh!) the Super Bowl? Poll

0
0

Pick a game, any game: NBA All-Star game, MLB All-Star game, Super Bowl.

super-bowl-xlv.JPGWant Cleveland to host a Super Bowl? Sure, but don't hold your breath.


Cleveland, Ohio -- OK, before anybody says, "What a stupid poll," let's point out the pink elephant in the room: Of course Cleveland would love to host a Super Bowl almost as much as the Browns would love to be the home team. However, a Super Bowl here is highly unlikely. The NFL likes that game to happen in warmer climes -- despite the plans for one in New York/New Jersey in 2014.

Though it'd be interesting, it probably isn't in the NFL's best interest (i.e. $$$$) to hold a signature game (another euphemism for $$$$) like that in a cold-weather city with an open-air stadium. Next year's Super Bowl is in Indianapolis, which is just about as cold as Cleveland. But they have that dome.

Still, we're all about fair here at Starting Blocks. So we're going to include the Super Bowl on our poll, but we're also gonna give you TWO votes, figuring one will go for the NFL's biggest show.

So which of those "big three" games would you prefer in Cleveland?












Stuff of Huff, Carmona tough in twin-bill sweep

0
0

David Huff took advantage of his opportunity, and Fausto Carmona proved he was healthy as they combined to pitch the Indians to a sweep of the Twins in a day-night doubleheader at Target Field with 5-2 and 6-3 victories. Huff pitched seven scoreless innings to win the day game, and Carmona went six to win the nightcap.

Gallery preview

Minneapolis — The one thing David Huff had working for him Monday was the opportunity to pitch.

Fausto Carmona was simply looking for good health. A sign that his strained right quadriceps muscle was healthy.

Huff took advantage of his opportunity, and Carmona proved he was healthy as they combined to pitch the Indians to a sweep of the Twins in a day-night doubleheader at Target Field with 5-2 and 6-3 victories. Huff pitched seven scoreless innings to win the day game, and Carmona went six to win the nightcap.

It was the first time the Indians had swept a doubleheader from the Twins in Minnesota since May 21, 1961.

“It was a very long, tiring day at the ballpark, but at the end, it was productive,” said Tribe manager Manny Acta.

The sweep gave the Indians a one-game lead over the Tigers in the American League Central and dropped the Twins to seven games off the pace.

The Indians scored twice in the seventh inning to make Carmona (5-10, 5.63 ERA) a winner. Lou Marson hit a leadoff homer, a 414-foot shot to center field off left-hander Scott Diamond (0-1, 4.26), to break a 2-2 tie. Travis Hafner made it 4-2 with a single.

Carmona, activated before the game, won for the first time since June 15. He had been 1-7 with a 7.68 ERA since May 13. Carmona, working deliberately, allowed two runs on seven hits. He struck out one and didn’t walk a batter.

It was 93 degrees at the start of the nightcap. Carmona sweated his way through six caps, two jerseys and six undershirts.

“I felt strong the whole time,” said Carmona. “My leg didn’t bother me. I just tried to keep the ball down and have quick innings.”

The Twins took a 1-0 lead in the third on Joe Mauer’s single. The Indians countered with two runs in the fifth, but Danny Valencia homered off Carmona in the sixth to tie it, 2-2.

Mauer had six hits in the doubleheader. Michael Brantley had five for the Indians. Brantley went 3-for-4 in the nightcap, including a run-scoring single in the ninth. He took second on a balk and scored on Hafner’s single. Carlos Santana tripled home pinch runner Luis Valbuena for the Tribe’s final run.

Indians closer Chris Perez, pitching in a non-save situation, gave up a homer to Trevor Plouffe in the ninth.

In the first game, Huff won himself a spot in the rotation. Promoted for a spot start for the doubleheader, Huff pitched well enough to persuade the Indians to option Jeanmar Gomez to Class AAA Columbus between games of the doubleheader. Carmona took Gomez’s spot on the roster.

One start does not a revival make, but it’s a positive step for Huff, who fell into disfavor with the organization last year with stubbornness when it came to accepting instruction and a mysterious Tweet that announced he was getting called up before the Indians announced it. The miffed Indians made sure Huff stayed in Columbus.

All that was forgotten Monday.

“ David Huff did a nice job,” said Acta. “ David really pitched good with the lead. He attacked both sides of the plate. I can’t say enough about the job he did because he was on three days’ rest, and it was so humid and hot.”

Huff, who led the Indians with 11 victories as a rookie in 2009, was 8-3 with a 3.86 ERA in 17 starts at Columbus this year.

“I was throwing the same stuff I was throwing in Columbus,” said Huff. “I was just trying to fill up the strike zone and make them put it in play.”

Huff needed just 88 pitches to go seven innings. He threw first-pitch strikes to 20 of the 26 batters he faced.

It was his first win in the big leagues since May 23, 2010.

“ David maintained his stuff and had better stuff,” said Acta, when asked what improvement he had made since going 2-11 last year. “He was throwing between 90 to 92 mph consistently, and he was able to keep the ball down. He kept the ball down, and kept it low and away from right-handed hitters. That’s key for a left-handed pitcher.”

Twins right-handers went 3-for-16 against Huff.

Huff (1-0, 0.00), the first lefty to start a game for the Indians this season, struck out five and allowed two walks and five hits.

The Indians gave him all the runs he needed with a four-run third off Anthony Swarzak (2-3, 3.52). All-Star shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera’s three-run homer to right was his 17th of the season and third in five games since the All-Star break.

Cabrera entered this season with 18 homers in his career. Last year, he hit three.

“Flat out, he’s been our MVP, without question,” said Acta. “His defense has been unbelievable. Asdrubal and Jack Hannahan are a big part of what our pitching staff has done so far because we have a pitching staff that doesn’t miss bats. The left side of the infield has been very good.

“Offensively, Asdrubal continues to have that power year that is surprising everybody. It’s not a secret that no one here expected him to go for 20, and he’s on his way.”

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

On Twitter: @hoynsie

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

Ohio State and Cam Newton? Wrong answer on Jeopardy

0
0

Sure there are some similarities between former Auburn quarterback Cam Newton and former Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor. Besides the obvious physical similarities, there's also the controversy Newton escaped was accused of while in school and the scandal that led to Pryor leaving Ohio State. But this guy on Jeopardy should have known the answer to this question.  ...

cam newton.JPGCam Newton

Sure there are some similarities between former Auburn quarterback Cam Newton and former Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor.

Besides the obvious physical similarities, there's also the controversy Newton escaped was accused of while in school and the scandal that led to Pryor leaving Ohio State.

But this guy on Jeopardy should have known the answer to this question.

 

 

Talk sports with Terry Pluto today at noon

0
0

How aggressive will the Indians be in the trade market? Will we ever see Grady Sizemore anywhere close to the player he once was? Get your questions ready and join Terry Pluto today at noon as he talks Cleveland sports.

Terry Pluto use this new head shotTerry Pluto tackles your questions live every Tuesday at noon.

Get your questions ready and join Terry Pluto today at noon as he talks Cleveland sports.

How aggressive will the Indians be in the trade market? Will we ever see Grady Sizemore anywhere close to the player he once was?

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



Indians have been fun to watch - Comment of the Day

0
0

"When the hitting rises to the occasion, good things happen for this team. But who expected Huff and Carmona to both pitch the way they did on the same night? This is crazy stuff, in a good way. This team has remarkable grit, and they play as a team. You can sense the camaraderie. They're not the most talented bunch, but they're fun to watch." - The I Team

marson-celebration.JPGView full sizeThe Indians celebrated Lou Marson's home run last night that put the Indians ahead.

In response to the story Stuff of Huff, Carmona tough in twin-bill sweep, cleveland.com reader The I Team has enjoyed watching this Indians team surprise people this season. This reader writes,

"When the hitting rises to the occasion, good things happen for this team. But who expected Huff and Carmona to both pitch the way they did on the same night? This is crazy stuff, in a good way. This team has remarkable grit, and they play as a team. You can sense the camaraderie. They're not the most talented bunch, but they're fun to watch."

To respond to The I Team's comment, go here.

For more comments of the day, go to blog.cleveland.com/comments-of-the-day.

Cleveland Indians A.M. Links: Two victories but Tribe still hurting; Masterson is ready; Game stories

0
0

The Cleveland Indians take two from the Twins.

justin-masterson.jpgJustin Masterson

 Despite the two-game sweep of the Minnesota Twins, Sheldon Ocker of Ohio.com writes how injuries to Grady Sizemore and Shin-Soo Choo makes the Cleveland Indians' lineup painfully thin.

 Manager Manny Acta tells Ocker that without Sizemore in the lineup, Ezequiel Carrera will get most of the at-bats in center field; Austin Kearns and Travis Buck will platoon in right for Choo.

“You can’t program yourself to not play hard when you’re a guy like Grady,” Acta said. “You see how he throws himself around the outfield and dives for balls. You can’t ask a guy like him to take it easy.”

When Sizemore came off the DL in late May, his timing and rhythm at the plate seemed to have left him, Ocker writes. In his past six games, he was batting .350 (7-for-20) with one home run and two doubles.

Ready to take the mound

Pitcher Justin Masterson will take the mound for the Tribe tonight against Minnesota. Masterason has also been on quite a roll recently, writes Quinn Roberts of MLB.com. Masterson hasn't lost in the month of July, going 3-0 in four starts.

Masterson tossed six innings on Thursday against the Orioles, giving up four runs on eight hits for the win. Improving to 8-6 with a 2.80 ERA, he walked only one and struck out eight, thanks to an effective sinker and sharp slider.

 

Game stories

Cleveland.com: Carmona tough against Twins.

MLB.com: Indians take nightcap to complete sweep.

Ohio.com: Two for the Tribe.

StarTribune.com: Twins lose twice to Tribe.

 

Viewing all 53367 articles
Browse latest View live




Latest Images