Why do fans cheer for Tigers Woods and not for LeBron James?

Marvin Fong, The Plain DealerTiger Woods

Bill Reiter of Fox Sports prompts a silly question in his article. He wants to know why we root for Tiger and not for LeBron James.

I'm not sure why many root for Tiger, but fans in Cleveland don't cheer for LeBron James because not only why he left for Miami but how he left.

And despite all of the issues associated with LeBron's departure and all of the negative off the course issues with Tiger, most folks would rather see Tiger return to glory than LeBron.

We have LeBron, who almost a full year after his self-absorbed Decision experienced the full force of nearly universal glee as he disintegrated night after night in the Finals. And we have Tiger Woods, who after serially cheating on his beautiful wife in ways too tawdry and numerous to document here, finds himself less reviled than rooted for.

One guy was a knucklehead who crossed some lines as it relates to sports. The other was an awful husband who crossed all the lines as it relates to marriage.

Sure, it may not make sense to some, or even Reiter, but he also finds himself more on the side of Tiger Woods.

I think what Tiger did was indefensible, unacceptable and (outside the sports realm) unforgivable. And still, I want to cheer at least five more times as Tiger makes a charge on a Sunday during a major.

Plain Dealer Indians writer says there are a lot of division games still to be played after this week's three-game series. Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Welcome to today's edition of Starting Blocks TV, hosted Chuck Yarborough and Branson Wright. Today's show is presented old-school, in front of a backdrop of Oscar Gamble sliding into third base for the Tribe against the Detroit Tigers in 1974 .

The Indians are four games behind Detroit in the AL Central heading into tonight's first game of a three-game series against the Tigers at Progressive Field. Justin Masterson will be on the hill for the Indians. So, just how important is this three-game set against Detroit? That's the question in today's Starting Blocks poll.

Today's guest is Plain Dealer Indians beat writer Paul Hoynes, who says that the series is not life or death to the Indians' chances, because so many divisional games are left.

He also talks about what will happen to the Indians outfield when Shin-Soo Choo returns from his rehab assignment, and Grady Sizemore is healthy again; and why the Indians likely won't try to make a waiver deal for a right-handed bat.

SBTV will return Wednesday.

Cornerback Sheldon Brown grabs a couple INTs, and other tidbits.

View full sizePlain Dealer PhotoTight end Evan Moore is the early-camp MVP for the Browns.

BEREA, Ohio -- Observations from Browns morning practice ..

 * If there were a MVP at this early stage of training camp, it would be tight end Evan Moore. He's flourishing in this West Coast scheme. In every red zone drill he's catching two or three passes in the end zone. Moore definitely has a chemistry going with quarterback Colt McCoy, and he's the surest-handed pass catcher on the roster. He also seems to be totally in concert with the new offense, while others are still comprehending it. Moore is big in coach Pat Shurmur's offensive plans.

 * Cornerback Sheldon Brown looked particularly spry. He leaped to steal a McCoy pass intended for 6-5 rookie receiver Chris Matthews in a one-on-one drill, and then broke up another pass for Matthews on the sideline. In a red zone drill, Brown knifed under rookie Greg Little for another interception.

 * Love the pump-fake. McCoy had a nice one to freeze cornerback Joe Haden for the blink of an eye, just enough for receiver Johnathan Haggerty to slip behind Haden and come down with a McCoy pass.

 * Shurmur said Mike Adams is competing well at free safety, but conceded the team is looking for Usama Young to emerge as the starter.

 * Competing every day against Joe Thomas is benefitting rookie defensive end Jabaal Sheard, who is holding down the starting right defensive end position. Sheard also has dazzled in post-practice interviews.

 * Montario Hardesty update: He did a little more agility running on the sideline and expressed satisfaction with the way he felt.

 * Idle were receiver Mohamed Massaquoi (foot), linebacker Chris Gocong (neck) and defensive back Ramzee Robinson (groin).

 * At the end of practice, quarterbacks and receivers practiced some lobs on fade routes to the corners of the end zone. Brian Robiskie reached out far for a catch and kept running to maintain his balance. He tip-toed all the way under the press tent as Shurmur was holding court with reporters. "How you doin'?" Shurmur said. "Nice catch."

Tressel's contracts with Ohio State, like those of many of the top collegiate football coaches, were full of perks.

Marvin Fong, The Plain DealerOhio State had a 106-22 record -- when not considering that last season's 12 victories were vacated -- during Jim Tressel's 10 seasons as its football coach.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Jim Tressel made $21.7 million as Ohio State football coach over his decade-long tenure before being ousted for breaking NCAA rules, records from the publicly funded school show.

Tressel earned more than $3.5 million in 2010, the year he covered up an improper benefits scandal that has led to Ohio State being forced to appear before the NCAA's committee on infractions this Friday.

The figures, released Tuesday by the university as part of a public-records request by The Associated Press, show that almost a quarter of Tressel's pay — $4.6 million — came from an exclusive deal under which Ohio State directed a portion of its exclusive deal with apparel-maker Nike to the coach.

During his career with the Buckeyes, Tressel was provided football game tickets valued at $104,800, more than $10,000 in Ohio State basketball tickets and over $21,000 in bowl tickets. His contracts also called for him to receive a $200,000 signing bonus in 2003, national-championship game bonuses worth a total of $835,000 (the Buckeyes played for the BCS title after the 2002, 2006 and 2007 regular seasons) and another $155,000 in bonuses for OSU players hitting certain academic standards.

In Tressel's second season, Ohio State won the 2002 national championship — its first in 34 years.

Presidents of NCAA institutions are meeting this week in Indianapolis to discuss a number of issues, possibly including expensive coaching contracts.

By comparison to Tressel's $3.5 million salary last year, Ohio State President E. Gordon Gee earned a raise in his base salary to $818,167 and received a $300,000 bonus.

Tressel's contracts with Ohio State, like those of many of the top collegiate football coaches, were full of perks.

He was reimbursed almost $10,000 in 2008-09 for his membership and expenses at an exclusive local country club. Leased cars for the coach and his wife, Ellen, were valued at $23,000 for 2010-11. They also benefited from personal use of jets and charter flights amounting to just under $60,000 since 2005. In addition, the university paid for hundreds of dollars in cell-phone plans over his career.

Tressel was forced to resign on May 30 for failing to tell his bosses at Ohio State that he had learned players were trading memorabilia for cash and tattoos, breaking NCAA rules. Tressel was required under his contract and NCAA bylaws to alert his superiors to any rules violations by his athletes.

As a result, the Buckeyes have self-imposed penalties which include vacating last season's 12-1 record plus the team's share of the Big Ten title and going on two years of NCAA probation. The committee on infractions can accept those sanctions or can add other penalties such as bowl bans, fines and recruiting limitations.

Six players were suspended for the first five games of the upcoming season, although three-year starting quarterback Terrelle Pryor gave up his final year of eligibility for the chance to play in the NFL. Another player, linebacker Dorian Bell, is no longer with the team.

Former assistant coach Luke Fickell, selected to take Tressel's place as interim head coach, is being paid around $700,000 — roughly $3 million less than Tressel made a year ago. He said on Tuesday that the money is not why he took the job.

"I'm not focused on that one bit," he said. "I've never known what I've made since I probably started. You could talk to my wife if there's any questions there. If they asked me to take this job and said they weren't going to change your pay, we weren't going to do anything different, I'd still do it. Maybe that sounds crazy, but that's the way I feel about it."

Initially suspended for two games and fined $250,000 by the university last March, Tressel's final termination package released him from having to pay any of the fine. He also was allowed to keep his benefits package and was paid more than $54,000 of base salary for the month of June.

Gee, athletic director Gene Smith, Tressel and Fickell are among those expected to appear at the hearing on Friday in Indianapolis.

Asked at the end of the 2010 season if he was bothered that his head football coach was being paid so much, Gee said the coach's salary reflected his value to the university.

"What we need to do is to pay people what they're worth," he said. "I'm the highest-paid public university president in the country and people ask me, 'Does that bother you?' I say that I hope I earn my keep everyday. ... You think about coaches and you think about surgeons and you think about English faculty members. These are investments and we need to pay them so that they are worthy of that investment."

Will the Browns give up a pick in next year's draft for Terrelle Pryor?

AP Terrelle Pryor

If former Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor is allowed to participate in next week's NFL supplemental draft, should the Cleveland Browns draft him? And if so, in which round?

Mary Kay Cabot of The Plain Dealer writes that the Browns will attend Pryor's Pro Day on Friday near Pittsburgh.

Right now, it appears Pryor will more than likely be selected as a middle-round choice at best in the supplemental draft, but his flamboyant agent Drew Rosenhaus believes his client is a first-round pick.

No quarterback has been taken in the supplemental draft since Dave Brown by the Giants in 1992.

LeBron James joined a few of his former high school teammates in summer league action on Monday night in Warrensville. Watch video

WARRENSVILLE ---- LeBron James may be the king without a ring, but his Akron Monstars are one victory away from winning the championship of the Chris Chambers Fun Game Classic at The Word Church in Warrensville.

The Monstars, which include some of James' high school teammates in Romeo Travis and Dru Joyce Jr., defeated Run N Gun by three.

On Monday night, James played in only his second game in the league. He also made a cameo appearance last month.

Despite the disdain and disappointment many Cleveland fans had in James' departure for the Miami Heat, none of that was on display on Monday. James was surrounded by fans before and after the game seeking an autograph or the opportunity to click a cell phone photo.

There also weren't any issues during the game as fans showed appreciation whenever James made a good play. But the cheers of approval were certainly louder whenever James made a turnover or missed a shot.

Former Cleveland Cavaliers guard Damon Jones received most of the wrath and jokes from the crowd, due to Jones' chatter with fans and poses after made baskets.

LeBron will get his shot at a title at 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday in the championship game at The Word Church, however, it isn't likely James will play. He has a scheduled trip to China that day.

This week, PGA professional Michael Kernicki of Canterbury Golf Club in Beachwood explains how to fix an outside-in swing. Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Local pros solve your golf problems in a weekly instruction video with Plain Dealer columnist Bud Shaw and videographer David I. Andersen. 

This week, PGA professional Michael Kernicki of Canterbury Golf Club in Beachwood explains how to fix an outside-in swing.

Need help with your game? Explain your problem to golf@plaind.com in an email. We will select one each week. All the videos dating back to 2010 are archived. 

The middle linebacker led the NFL in tackles in 2008, but has missed Cleveland's last 26 games.

John Kuntz, The Plain DealerD'Qwell Jackson (right) defends against a pass intended for Ben Watson during the Browns' practice on Monday.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cleveland Browns were relatively quiet in the free-agent sweepstakes, but if linebacker D'Qwell Jackson can stay healthy, the effect might be about the same as adding an impact player to the roster.

Jackson led the NFL with 188 tackles in 2008. He has missed Cleveland's last 26 games, though: the last 10 games of the 2009 season with a torn left pectoral; all of last year with a torn right pectoral. Both injuries required surgery.

Jackson is back, expected to be the starting middle linebacker in the Browns' new defensive look.

Mike McLain writes about Jackson and his comeback hopes for the Warren Tribune Chronicle:

A lot has changed since Jackson last played in October of 2009. Eric Mangini has been replaced as coach by Pat Shurmur. Along with that change has been the switch in defensive philosophy from a base 3-4 to a 4-3 look.

Jackson played in a combination of the two defenses in college at Maryland, but he's been strictly a 3-4 inside linebacker in the systems used by former coaches Romeo Crennel and Mangini. He's learning quickly that the 4-3 could be friendly to his style of play, which combines speed and taking good angles to the ball.

"I'm learning the system, but it's working to my advantage," Jackson said. "Adding (first-round draft choice) Phil Taylor at defensive tackle was a big plus. He's panning out to be a decent player. We have a good group of coaches and a good scheme. They're not rushing things. I love the defense so far."

Keep track of the Browns with The Plain Dealer and cleveland.com. Browns coverage includes beat writer Tony Grossi's story on tight end Evan Moore looking like a playmaker in the Browns' new West Coast offense; PD Twitter updates from training camp in Berea; Grossi's Browns Insider; beat writer Mary Kay Cabot's story on running back Brandon Jackson, the free agent who signed with the Browns after helping the Green Bay Packers win the Super Bowl; Cabot's report that the Browns will attend the Pro Day on Friday for former Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor.

The Browns open their preseason on Saturday night against the Packers at Browns Stadium.  

Rookie Jabaal Sheard has the inside track to start at right defensive end. Training camp is providing him an experience that should only help. Fred Greetham, for the Orange and Brown Report on Scout.com, writes about Sheard getting ready for his first NFL season:  

The 6-foot-2, 255-pound second-round defensive end from Pittsburgh is sharpening his trade every day against Pro Bowl left tackle Joe Thomas.

“I think I’m getting better and better every day going against Joe Thomas,” Sheard said. “I hope I’m giving him some competition.”

Pat Shurmur agrees that the competition will only make Sheard a better player.

“Sheard’s doing well,” Shurmur said. “He has good competition going against Joe, which has really helped him. It’s the daily competition. He’s working on one-on-one pass rush, working different moves. It’s just two good players going against one another. It’s always good to go against great players.”

 

Goal to goal

Coach Pat Shurmur, formerly the St. Louis Rams' offensive coordinator, is working closely with the Browns offense, Steve Doerschuk writes for the Canton Repository.

ESPN.com's James Walker wonders if Browns quarterback Colt McCoy is getting a fair chance to succeed.

Offensive lineman Shawn Lauvao is working toward becoming a starter, Nate Ulrich writes for the Akron Beacon Journal.

Rookie wide receiver Greg Little and the tight ends will be keys to the Browns offense, writes Matt Florjancic for clevelandbrowns.com.

Brandon Jackson is getting ready to face his former team, plus more Browns notes by Fred Greetham for Scout.com's Orange and Brown Report.

Browns notes by Jeff Schudel for the News-Herald and Lorain Morning Journal.

Pat Shurmur looks forward to seeing the Browns play the Packers. By Scott Petrak for the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram and Medina County Gazette.

A Browns training camp report by Daniel Wolf of the National Football Authority.

The Browns surely hope that ESPN.com's preseason team rankings prove to be wrong.

"Indians do really need to sweep the Tigers. Two of three keeps them in it, but with our top pitchers going and being at home, it would not be good. Losing two of three? They might as well pack it up. I guess we find out if we truly have a big three and if the bullpen mafia is out of bullets." - RickRock

View full sizeAssociated Press | The Canadian PressIn order to sweep the Tigers, the Indians will need to find a way to beat Justin Verlander.

In response to the story Shin-Soo Choo goes 0-2 in first rehab start at Lake County: Indians Insider, cleveland.com reader RickRock thinks the Indians need a sweep this weekend. This reader writes,

"Indians do really need to sweep the Tigers. Two of three keeps them in it, but with our top pitchers going and being at home, it would not be good. Losing two of three? They might as well pack it up. I guess we find out if we truly have a big three and if the bullpen mafia is out of bullets."

Second-round draft pick Jabaal Sheard is benefiting from lining up everyday across from a four-time Pro Bowl offensive tackle.

View full sizeJohn Kuntz, The Plain DealerVeteran Pro Bowl tackle Joe Thomas has proven to be an imposing -- and instructive -- obstacle during training camp for Browns second-round pick Jabaal Sheard, who is being counted upon to invigorate the team's pass rush.

BEREA, Ohio -- The Browns seem to be all-in with rookie Jabaal Sheard at right defensive end. The second-round pick is being force-fed in his first NFL training camp.

They've lined up Sheard across from Joe Thomas from Day One and are hoping Sheard's development is accelerated, not stunted, by the daily battles with the perennial Pro Bowl left tackle.

"We [coaches] were remarking about that yesterday," coach Pat Shurmur said Tuesday. "Going back and watching the one-on-ones and the competition, we think he's doing a fine job. The competition of him against Joe Thomas, I think, makes them both better."

No offense, but Sheard stands to gain more from these ongoing practice tussles than Thomas, who is embarking on his fifth NFL season as an elite tackle. If Thomas can educate Sheard on the secrets of beating a premier pass protector, then he will have solidified his position as the team's most valuable asset even more.

"I get better every day going up against Joe Thomas," Sheard said Tuesday after the morning practice.

"It's a lot different from college, a lot more technique. I mean, in college I used to bull rush and put my head down. You can't stick with that. I'm learning it now before I get in a game."

Sheard is not going to win many battles against ordinary tackles, much less Thomas, by bull-rushing alone. Thomas is 6-6 and 312 pounds. Sheard is 6-2, 255. He's going to be giving away a 50-pound weight advantage against every tackle he opposes.

View full sizeAP photo"At first I hated it a little bit," rookie Jabaal Sheard of playing right defensive end. "But once you get the hang of it you get better every day."

Thomas said, "A good tackle, if you notice [the defensive end is] leaning [with head down] like that, they'll just take you and throw you down to the dirt and bounce your head off the ground. It's a quick learning lesson."

That happened a few times to Sheard in the first week of practice, when Thomas was mostly preoccupied with his own assignments in the new offense. He told Sheard to give him a week or so and then he would teach him a few things, and that's what is taking place now.

"[Teaching him] whether he's giving anything away or if there's anything he does consistently that the tackle's going to pick up on," Thomas said. "Just how to play a tackle during a game, whether it's the first rush, or how to set him up during a game."

Thomas said that he's been surprised by Sheard's array of pass rush moves for a guy fresh out of college.

"Most rookies you see come in, they've kicked everybody's [tail] in college with one move -- the bull rush, the speed, a dip, whatever," he said. "He's got a real natural sense of how to rush a tackle and try to take advantage of things he's giving up."

Sheard came in knowing that it would not be an easy adjustment to the pro game. He was prepared for what lay ahead by his college head coach at Pittsburgh, Dave Wannstedt, who formerly coached in the NFL and has now returned as defensive coordinator in Buffalo.

"In college you rely a lot more on your athletic ability," Sheard said. "Whereas out here, it's a lot more fundamental things, technique. Your first step can set you behind. Guys are a lot quicker and faster and stronger, so the small things count. Getting in the film room and knowing your guy like yourself."

Sheard's ticket to fame and fortune in the 4-3 scheme is quickness and speed. That's why the Browns always envisioned him at right end even though he played only on the left side for Pitt.

With the Panthers, Sheard was overshadowed for two years by Greg Romeus, who was a tad bigger and more productive at right end. But Romeus, who elected to return for his senior year, had back surgery and tore a knee ligament early in Pitt's season and he slid to the seventh round. Romeus has yet to practice for the New Orleans Saints.

Sheard better fits the Browns' physical profile at right end. In off-season planning, they always projected free agent Jayme Mitchell, who is 6-6 and 285, starting at left end.

"There's a little less tight end [opposite right end], so I'm enjoying that," Sheard said. "At first I hated it a little bit. But once you get the hang of it you get better every day.

"Coming over [to the right side] is a big transition. You've got to learn new moves. Everything from stance to just getting used to using the other arm. You use mostly your right arm on the left end. Now I've got to use more of my left arm and left shoulder. It's flipping your body, switching your hands. Just different."

One pre-draft scouting report of Sheard said: "He needs to do a better job with his initial punch off the snap to jolt blockers and keep them off balance. Sheard needs to improve his snap anticipation and cut down on the offsides penalties. He needs to rush with better balance and leverage and not so upright. Sheard needs to consistently finish tackles and routinely bring down ball-carriers after contact."

Sure, there's a lot to work on. But Sheard's got the quickness that no coach can teach. And he's got Thomas every day to measure his progress.

"I think he's got a really good chance to be a good player in this league," Thomas said. "He's really figuring out how to rush over left tackle pretty quickly. I think he's a quick learner."

On Twitter: @TonyGrossi

A native of Bay Village, Kavalec was unable to play golf for almost 20 years because of severe back pain.

View full sizeTerry Kavalec hit a shot so nice, he did it twice (in nine days).

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Nine questions with Terry Kavalec, who scored holes in one in back-to-back rounds at Rosemont Country Club, both on the eighth hole.

On July 15, with the hole playing at 145 yards, he used a 9-iron. Nine days later, he used an 8-iron from 153 yards. A native of Bay Village, Kavalec was unable to play golf for almost 20 years because he suffered from spondylolisthesis, a condition that causes severe back pain. He said he rehabilitated himself.

A 1984 Kent State graduate, he is in his first year as a Rosemont member after belonging at Thunderhill and Sand Ridge before the merger with Mayfield. He resumed playing 12 years ago and said he has a handicap of about 8 or 9. He operates The Fitness Clinic in Solon.

Age: 52.

Residence: Cleveland.

Q: What was it like when you were injured?

A: I could not swing a club. I missed a lot of years and I missed the game. So, you could say I'm reliving my youth.

Q: What was your first reaction after the second hole in one?

A: Shock, total shock.

Q: What was your second reaction?

A: I was playing with my friend, Kevin Breen, who is an attorney in Akron. I immediately yelled to a threesome on the next tee box for them to verify the shot. Brian asked me why, when he was standing right there? I said, "Nobody will believe you. You're an attorney."

Q: Have you played the hole since?

A: Played it twice. Made par both times, just missing a birdie putt the first time."

Q: Do you have any momentos from the aces?

A: I have the signed scorecards.

Q: Was it luck or skill?

A: I'm not going to say it was luck and I'm not going to say it was skill. It just happened.

Q: Were those your first holes in one?

A: No. My first one came on July 17, 2009, at Thunderhill.

Q: Were the holes in one similar?

A: Very. Each one landed about eight or nine feet from the hole, released and rolled in.

Q: How do you explain something like that?

A: The ball landed, released and the hole got in the way.

Defensive lineman listens to accomplished veterans as he strives to absorb team's successful, and intricate, 3-4 defense.

Associated PressCameron Heyward loosens up during Tuesday's session at the Steelers' training camp in Latrobe, Pa.

LATROBE, Pennsylvania -- Ziggy Hood heard the name, knew the pedigree and wondered exactly what the Pittsburgh Steelers were getting into when they chose defensive lineman Cameron Heyward with the 31st pick in the NFL draft.

A first-round pick from Ohio State whose father Craig is a Steel City legend following his career at Pitt? That could lead to a combustible mix of ego and privilege, right?

“It’s the recipe for it,” Hood said.

Just not with Heyward.

The rookie doesn’t really do ego. He doesn’t do privilege either. Instead, you’ll find him doing the things that rookies — even first-round picks — are supposed to do during a first training camp. If he’s not carrying the pads of a veteran teammate off the field following practice then he’s picking up the tab for the defensive line’s late-night snacks.

“He’s a rookie, and he acts like a rookie,” said defensive tackle Casey Hampton. “That’s a major thing. You kind of probably wouldn’t think that from his background but obviously his father and his mama did a great job of keeping him grounded.”

Heyward didn’t really have a choice. His father, Craig, mother Charlotte and older brothers Craig Jr. and Corey made sure Heyward knew his place.

It proved to be good preparation for life in the NFL. While confident in his abilities, Heyward doesn’t carry himself with a sense of entitlement. Good thing, because that wouldn’t go over well on a line littered with Pro Bowlers in a city where work ethic is the only currency that matters.

“He came in here, has put his hand in the dirt and was ready to work,” said defensive end Brett Keisel.

Playing in defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau’s intricate 3-4 defense is tough for a newcomer. Hood struggled with it. So did Keisel, Chris Hoke and Aaron Smith.

Yet Heyward has hung in there. Hood believes the 6-foot-5, 288-pound Heyward is farther along than Hood was as a rookie two years ago despite not having the luxury of going through mini-camp and Organized Team Activities due to the NFL lockout.

Heyward swears there’s no secret to his relatively quick adaptation. He stayed in shape waiting for the lockout to end and has immersed himself in the weight and video rooms trying to get up to speed.

“He’s not believing his own hype, that’s the main thing,” Hood said. “He’s a first rounder. He knows it. Everybody knows it but he’s not into that. He’s a young guy coming here trying to learn. He’s hanging around us older guys, we’re trying to show him correct ways on how to do things.”

It helps to be as athletic as Heyward. Where his father — who starred at Pitt in the 1980s before carving out an 11-year NFL career playing for five teams — was short (5-11) and thick (260 pounds), Heyward is nimble and light on his feet for his size.

While he’s hardly small, Heyward just laughs when asked if it’s as big as his father’s, who was dubbed “Ironhead” because of his head’s massive size and his penchant for lowering it into a defender’s chest.

Still, his teammates have been impressed with what’s going on between Heyward’s ears. His intelligence is one of the reasons the Steelers grabbed him at the end of the first round as one of the building blocks for the future.

“He’s got all the skills,” Hoke said. “He’s big, he’s tall. He’s got those long arms like you need in a 3-4 defensive end. He has talent. It’s just a matter of getting comfortable with the schemes.”

Heyward isn’t quite there yet. That’s fine by him. While eager to contribute he has no visions of playing on the first-team this year, not while playing behind the likes of Keisel and Smith, who have a combined 19 years and two Pro Bowls between them.

“I’m not going to step on anybody’s toes,” Heyward said. “I’ve got a lot to learn. I’m a young guy and I don’t have any room to talk.”

But plenty of room to listen. Most days you can find Heyward heading to the locker room nodding quietly as his older teammates break down what just happened in practice.

Though he’s reluctant to talk about the future, he’s well aware of what he and Hood represent. On a defense littered with 30-somethings, Heyward and Hood represent the next generation.

Hoke called the duo the gatekeepers to a legacy that stretches back to the Steel Curtain defense of the 1970s. Hoke saw the two youngsters chatting intently during a meeting the other day and told them what lay ahead.

“I said ‘You two are going to be the Brett Keisel and the Aaron Smith’s here in about five, six years,’” Hoke said. “Ten years from now they’ll still be here and they’ll be the old vets teaching the young guys coming in.”

Heyward knows it. So does Hood.

“When it’s time for (the veterans) to sit back and enjoy their families, me and Cam got to step in and be able to play hard and be able to do what they did as if they haven’t left,” Hood said.

Just not yet. Heyward understands his job is to soak up as much knowledge as he can and be ready when his time comes.

“My expectations is (we’re) the best defensive line (in the NFL),” he said. “I just get to be a complimentary player. It’s an honor to play with those guys.”  

Medina's Pat Spoerndle raised a little more than $19,000 for the Hospice of Medina County during his third-annual 100 for Hospice fund-raiser at Fox Meadow on Aug. 1.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- One of the season's final local qualifiers for a USGA-related event takes place Thursday when the Country Club of Hudson hosts the U.S. Senior Amateur qualifier.

A field of 61 will play for four qualifying spots in the 57th annual Senior Amateur, played at Kinloch Golf Club in Virginia, Sept. 10-15.

Three of the top four players from last year's qualifier at Congress Lake Club -- Aurora's Jim Harless, Akron's Bill Downing and Logan Jackson of Winston Salem, N.C. -- have entered. The USGA Senior Amateur Championship is open to players age 55 and older.

Two players from Akron have won the Senior Amateur in the past 20 years. Bill Bosshard triumphed in 1991 and Joe Ungvary Sr. prevailed two years later. Ungvary's 7-and-6 victory in the finals over Jerry Nelson at Farmington Country Club in Charlottesville, Va., still stands as the record for largest margin of victory.

Bosshard ranks as the second-youngest champion in tournament history at 55 years, three months.

A little younger: The U.S. Mid-Amateur qualifier will be held at Barrington Golf Club on Aug. 24. It is the final USGA qualifying event for 2011. The U.S. Mid-Am will be played Sept. 17-22 at Shadow Hawk in Richmond, Texas.

Hospice update: Medina's Pat Spoerndle reports he raised a little more than $19,000 for the Hospice of Medina County during his third-annual 100 for Hospice fund-raiser at Fox Meadow on Aug. 1. Spoerndle played 100 holes in seven hours and 45 minutes.

"This year's event surpassed my expectations," he said.

Spoerndle has raised about $56,000 in the three years.

Learning experience: Hinckley's Jessica Porvasnik, Geneva's Danielle Nicholson and Akron's Jessie Stephens did not fare so well in last week's Junior PGA Championship at Sycamore Hills in Ft. Wayne, Ind., an event known as the Westfield Junior PGA during its seven-year run at Westfield Country Club.

All three missed the cut at Ft. Wayne. Ariya Jutanugarn of Thailand won the boys competition with a score of 15-under 273, and Mariah Stackhouse of Riverside, Ga., won the girls division with a score of 283.

Firestone leftovers: Rickie Fowler, who tied for second in the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, currently dates Alexandra Browne, the daughter of Olin Browne, who won the U.S. Senior Open at Inverness in Toledo. ... With Adam Scott's victory, Australian golfers have won the second-most events all-time on the PGA Tour with 76. The U.S. leads with 1,014. ... Jason Day's tie for fourth gives him eight top-10 finishes in 14 starts on tour this season. That includes runner-up finishes in the Masters and the U.S. Open. ... Padraig Harrington, who tied for 59th at 6-over 286, has split with swing coach Bob Torrance. ... While Japan's Ryo Ishikawa drew most of the attention, and deservedly so, another Asian player excelled. South Korea's Kyung-Tae Kim tied for sixth, just two shots behind Ishikawa, with a final-round 66. It was the 25-year-old's best finish on U.S. soil.

Former Ohio State QB's status for the supplemental draft remains uncertain. Watch video

BEREA, Ohio -- The Browns will attend former Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor's pro day on Friday, a league source told The Plain Dealer.

Pryor, who is hoping to be declared eligible for the Aug. 17 supplemental draft, will conduct the workout in the Pittsburgh area where he's from, according to several reports. Two players were declared eligible for the supplemental draft on Tuesday, including Georgia tailback Caleb King. The NFL was still deciding if Pryor will be included, but he was not on the first list of eligible players released by the league.

Who will represent the Browns at the workout has not been made public. Neither team president Mike Holmgren nor coach Pat Shurmur will attend -- even though Friday is not a practice day for the Browns, who host the Packers Saturday night in the preseason opener.

"But I'll be well aware what happens there," Shurmur said Tuesday.

Teams submit bids based on the draft round in which they'd be willing to select the player. The team with the winning bid surrenders that pick in next year's regular draft.

Many experts think Pryor is a mid-round pick, but his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, has been touting him as a first-rounder. Holmgren's colleague, ESPN analyst Jon Gruden has praised Pryor's physical abilities and views him as an NFL quarterback. Other experts project him at another position such as tight end.

The Browns have four quarterbacks on their roster: Colt McCoy, Seneca Wallace, Jarrett Brown of West Virginia and Troy Weatherhead of Hillsdale. Brown, a first-year player, has a strong arm and has had a nice camp.

The last time the Browns selected a player in the supplemental draft if worked out pretty well -- QB Bernie Kosar in 1985.

Young vs. Adams: Defensive back Mike Adams, who returned an interception for a touchdown during the Family Day practice and has made plays throughout camp, got more reps at safety Tuesday with the first team. Usama Young, a free agent from the Saints, has been with the first team since he joined practice Thursday, but Adams appears to be pressing him.

"We're looking for Usama to emerge and be our starter, and Mike's doing a good job of competing there," said Shurmur. "I think that's what you want. We want to play the best guy. I think that's what you're seeing at that position."

Young says he never assumed he would be the starter.

"I never thought I wasn't getting pushed," said Young. "Once I got here, I knew I was getting pushed. You've got to have that competition to take your game to the next level."

Young, who spent four seasons in New Orleans after being drafted out of Kent State, has been adjusting to the new defense. He was limited to the sidelines for the first five days of camp until the labor agreement was ratified.

"He's fighting through it," said Shurmur. "Obviously, he missed some time, and it takes those guys a little bit to get used to their pads, but he's doing a nice job. He's a little bit cleaner with his reads. He's a little tighter in coverage. He was good today fitting the runs in the 9-on-7 period, so he's doing well."

Hagg emerging: Rookie safety Eric Hagg, a seventh-round pick out of Nebraska, has made an impact. Saturday, he almost picked off a pass intended for Brian Robiskie and broke up another to Ben Watson. Tuesday, he picked off a Wallace pass in red zone drills.

"He's a big body guy and he finds a way to be around the ball," said Shurmur. "He's done a good job of knocking the ball out, and that's good. It's really good. He's another one of those guys who's going to get a lot of reps in these preseason games and that will probably tell the story."

Castile catching on: Receiver L.J. Castile from Delta State has stood out among the undrafted rookie class. He caught two nice deep balls Saturday and made a fine diving catch of a Brown pass on Monday.

"He showed up Saturday when he was playing at the end there with Jarrett Brown," said Shurmur. "There was a couple of scramble situations where he uncovered and made plays. He's a big guy (6-3, 223) and he's displayed an ability to catch the ball, which are two good attributes. What will be very important for him is when we start throwing him in the games."

Donovan's fill-in: NBC's Andrew Catalon will fill in for Jim Donovan on the Browns preseason broadcasts on WKYC. Donovan is responding well to a bone marrow transplant he received two months ago in his battle against leukemia.

"The doctors are very pleased with my progress," Donovan said, "but unfortunately I'm not quite ready to return to full-time work and travel."

Catalon was part of NBC's Olympic coverage from Vancouver and Beijing. He's done preseason work for WNBC and the New York Giants, and worked the U.S. Open tennis and 2011 Masters. He is the weekend sports anchor at WNYT in Albany.

"I'm really looking forward to working with Bernie Kosar and the rest of the Channel 3 crew as the Browns begin what looks to be a terrific year," said Catalon. "I know football fans everywhere admire and respect Jim Donovan's work and I hope he's back in the booth as soon as possible."

Seen and heard around Tuesday's practice.

BEREA, Ohio -- Seen and heard around Tuesday's practice:

What happened: Lots of work in the red zone and some inside run drills dominated the day. As the first preseason game approaches, the Browns have surprisingly few position battles going on. Coach Pat Shurmur said one is at free safety, where newcomer Usama Young and veteran Mike Adams are splitting time, though the club is looking for Young to emerge as the starter.

Most other positions are set except wide receiver, where Brian Robiskie, Josh Cribbs and rookie Greg Little have alternated in the first and second spots while Mohamed Massaquoi has been out with a foot injury.

Fresh legs: Cornerback Sheldon Brown, who had rotator cuff surgery in the off-season, flew around like a DB younger than 32. Brown leaped to steal a Colt McCoy pass intended for 6-5 rookie receiver Chris Matthews in a one-on-one drill, and then broke up another pass for Matthews on the sideline. In a red zone drill, Brown knifed under Little for another interception.

Just visiting: At the end of practice, quarterbacks and receivers practiced some lobs on fade routes to the corners of the end zone. Robiskie reached out far for a catch and kept running to maintain his balance. He tip-toed all the way under the press tent as Shurmur was holding court with reporters. "Hey, Robo. How you doin'?" Shurmur said. "Nice catch."

Hardesty update: Shurmur said, "Watching him today, he ran better than I've seen him run. When he's ready, we'll get him back in there."

Injury report: Not practicing were RB Montario Hardesty (knee), WR Mohamed Massaquoi (foot), LB Chris Gocong (neck), DB Ramzee Robinson (groin) and DL Kyle Anderson (ankle).

Wednesday's schedule: Full pads, 8:45-11:15 a.m.

If all goes right, Choo could be back in the lineup after a week of rehab games. Sizemore, however, isn't expected back until September at the earliest.

View full sizeChuck Crow, The Plain DealerShin-Soo Choo could be back in the Indians outfield as soon as next week if he does well in his rehab assignment in the minors.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Manny Acta said outfielder Shin-Soo Choo might be back in a week. Choo, recovering from a broken left thumb, started his rehabilitation assignment at Class A Lake County on Monday.

"Assuming everything works out well, and [Choo] feels comfortable, I would say he'd need a week of rehab games," said Acta. "Still, we're going to have to evaluate it every day. He has to feel comfortable."

Choo was in Lake County's lineup at DH on Monday and had Tuesday off.

"Eventually, he'll move up the ladder [Class AA Akron, Class AAA Columbus] so he can face better pitching," said Acta. Choo's last game with the Tribe was June 24, when San Francisco's Jonathan Sanchez hit him with a pitch.

The story is different with Grady Sizemore, recovering from a bruised right knee and a hernia operation. Acta said Sizemore would not be back this month and would not say when, or if, he'd be back in September.

Sizemore is scheduled to start playing catch and swinging the bat this weekend. His last game was July 17, when he bruised his knee at Camden Yards going around first base.

"Grady won't be back this month," said Acta. "We never anticipated him to come back this month."

This is Sizemore's third trip to the disabled list this season. He played well the first time he was activated and not so well the second. There is no way to know how he'll respond a third time.

"Who knows?" said Acta. "Who knows how Choo will play? In the Grady situation, the minor-league season could be over, so we'd really have to do some extra work just to get him some at-bats."

Columbus' regular season ends Sept. 5.

Double whammy: The Indians placed right-hander Carlos Carrasco on the disabled list Monday with a sore right elbow. The move was retroactive to Thursday, the day after his last start. That superceded the six-game suspension he was serving for throwing at Kansas City's Billy Butler. When Carrasco is activated, he'll still have to serve the six-game suspension.

Acta figures he'll miss about three weeks, which means the Indians are going to get a long look at David Huff or another starter from Columbus.

Huff made a good impression in his brief three-start showcase in late July and early August. He was sent down after holding Boston to one unearned run in five innings on Aug.2 to make room for Ubaldo Jimenez.

"The medical staff doesn't think the injury is that serious," said Acta of Carrasco.

He made it: Third baseman Jack Hannahan, activated Monday, came off the paternity list. He left the team Thursday night in Boston, boarded a private jet and made it back to Cleveland for the birth of his son, Johnny, at about 3 a.m. Friday.

Johnny was born on his mother Jenny's birthday.

He's back: Matt LaPorta, who missed the last two games against Texas on Saturday and Sunday with a bruised left ankle, was back in the lineup on Tuesday.

LaPorta hit .240 (18-for-75) with two homers and 11 RBI in April; .239 (11-for-46) with two homers and eight RBI in May; .217 (13-for-60) with two homers and seven RBI in June and .313 (5-for-16) with two RBI in August.

Bad cycle: The Bullpen Mafia turned into the Gang That Couldn't Pitch Straight on the recent seven-game trip against Boston and Texas. The pen went 2-4 with a 4.79 ERA with two blown saves in three chances.

"It's just a cycle of the season," Acta. "They've been so good for so long."

The Tribe's bullpen is 19-15 with 25 saves and a 3.52 ERA for the season.

Good answer: Asked where the pressure was in this three-game series with the Tigers, Acta said, "Well, I'd rather be four games up. There are still a lot of games left.

"What we want to do is try to win [Tuesday] and go from there. We're the one trailing. We need to close the gap and not allow them to get too far away."

Finally: The Indians went into this six-game homestand ranked 26th in attendance at 1,145,825. They're averaging 21,995 over 54 home dates. The Phillies lead the big leagues with 2.7 million.

On Twitter: @hoynsie

Chad Durbin relieves Justin Masterson after 2:03 delay.

View full sizeThomas Ondrey, The Plain DealerProgressive Field maintenance worker Charles Banks shelters beneath a plastic poncho as he keeps drains unclogged during Tuesday night's rain delay. After a lengthy storm, play finally resumed between the top two teams in the AL Central.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Indians and Tigers resumed play Tuesday night at  9:46 p.m at Progressive Field with the score tied, 2-2.

Play was stopped at 7:43 p.m. after two full innings. Heavy rains fell soon afterward.

Chad Durbin started the third after the delay. Justin Masterson started the game and allowed two runs in the second. He worked two innings and allowed four hits on 37 pitches. He struck out two and walked one.

Duane Below started the third in for Detroit in place of Doug Fister, who allowed two runs on four hits in two innings. 

The Indians took a 2-0 lead in the first as Jason Kipnis doubled and scored on Asdrubal Cabrera's single. Cabrera moved to third on Travis Hafner's single to right off Fister. Carlos Santana delivered Cabrera with a sacrifice fly.

The Tigers came right back in the second. Jhonny Perlata and Carlos Guillen opened the inning with singles. Guillen sent a bouncing ball over second base that should have been knocked down, but Cabrera and Kipnis stood and stared at each other instead of diving.

Peralta took third on Guillen's single and Guillen moved to second when center fielder Ezequiel Carrera tried to throw out Peralta at third.  Peralta scored on Don Kelly's grounder to third as Guillen advanced. Austin Jackson's grounder to short scored Guillen to make it 2-2. 

While Siciliano wishes Terrelle Pryor was still with the Buckeyes, he's working to shape a replacement. Watch video

View full sizeJay LaPrete, Associated Press"I wish Terrelle was still here," says OSU QB coach Nick Siciliano (with Pryor after the 2010 victory over Michigan). "They become part of your family. Anytime a kid leaves ... to go take a job somewhere, it's hard to handle at times."

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Nick Siciliano paused and thought and never quite found the answer.

Playing quarterback at Ohio State the last two seasons had really been a three-man job -- head coach Jim Tressel, quarterback Terrelle Pryor and Siciliano, the position coach.

Today, only one of the three remains.

So for someone who knew Pryor as well as anyone at Ohio State, someone who was brought to Columbus by Tressel, what did Siciliano learn through the process that saw both head coach and quarterback leave in the wake of NCAA violations?

"That's pretty hard to answer," Siciliano said after Tuesday's practice. "That's pretty hard to answer. There's a lot of things I learned, some personal things, stuff I'd rather not comment on, to be honest with you."

Consider what Friday will be like. Tressel, forced to resign, will be in Indianapolis with his former employer taking part in Ohio State's hearing before the NCAA Committee on Infractions. Pryor will be working out for NFL teams, reportedly near Pittsburgh, still hoping to take part in next Wednesday's NFL supplemental draft.

Siciliano will be in Columbus for the first day of full pads practice with the Buckeyes, trying to shape one of his four inexperienced quarterbacks into Pryor's replacement.

"We're not taking any different approach to the way we're coaching them," Siciliano said.

But nearly everything is different for Siciliano, except for his job title. Since taking over as the full-time quarterbacks coach in 2009, after assisting previous coach Joe Daniels since 2006 while Daniels fought cancer, Siciliano's primary job was the maturation of Pryor. In that role, he served somewhat as Tressel's surrogate, since Tressel was a boss who understood that position better than any other.

So the last few months haven't been easy for Siciliano.

"It was difficult," he said.

Pryor left in early June, and Siciliano said he hasn't spoken with him for several weeks. Pryor was, after all, banned from the football program for five years. But this was the season when Siciliano should have seen Pryor try to put it all together.

"I wish Terrelle was still here," Siciliano said. "The one thing that's very hard is you grow as a coach and you grow as a father coaching other people's kids, and you treat the kids here just like you would your kids at home. And they become part of your family. Anytime a kid leaves the house ... to go take a job somewhere, it's hard to handle at times."

Pryor seeks that job in the NFL, which hasn't yet approved him for the supplemental draft. If he is approved, he's expected to be a mid-round pick.

"I think he'll be ready when he gets there," Siciliano said. "He needs to get there and learn their system and learn how they do things, which he'll be fine at. He'll do well. The sky is the limit for him at that level."

In Columbus, Siciliano will be testing his limits, without his star pupil and without his mentor. Siciliano said the competition among Joe Bauserman, Kenny Guiton, Taylor Graham and Braxton Miller will have to be narrowed at some point, but he's not sure when. Asked what he's looking for in his quarterback, Siciliano said, "Leadership, toughness and consistency."

The quarterbacks are going to need the same from a position coach whose OSU career so far has been wrapped up in one player.

Odds and ends: Freshman safety Jeremy Cash joined junior defensive end Solomon Thomas in sitting out Tuesday's practice with an injury. ... Receiver Roger Lewis, from Pickerington Central High School, became Ohio State's 12th oral commitment in the Class of 2012 on Tuesday. He is the seventh member of the class from the Columbus area. ... Luke Fickell on the fact that he's making nearly $3 million less than Tressel would have made this season: "If they asked me to take this job and said they weren't going to change your pay, we weren't going to do anything different, I'd still do it."

LeBron James and former teammates Sian Cotton, Dru Joyce III, Willie McGee and Romeo Travis were inducted into St. Vincent St. Mary High School’s Athletic Hall of Fame on Tuesday night in Akron.

View full sizeLonnie Timmons III, The Plain DealerLeBron James participated in the grand opening of the LeBron James Clubhouse at the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Western Reserve in Akron Tuesday. He's sitting next to Teresa LeGrair, executive director of the club, and Akron Mayor Don Plusquellic.

AKRON, Ohio -- St. Vincent St. Mary High School will always be home for Miami's LeBron James.

"No matter where I travel, no matter where I go, I will always represent this school," James said on Tuesday night as he and former teammates Sian Cotton, Dru Joyce III, Willie McGee and Romeo Travis were inducted into the school's Athletic Hall of Fame, joining 128 previous inductees.

"The times we had here ... were the greatest times in my life," Cotton said.

The five won state titles in three of their four years in high school and a national high school championship in 2003. Their story was featured in "Shooting Stars," a book by Buzz Bissinger, and "More Than a Game," a documentary film by director Kristopher Belman, an Akron native.

"It don't take no ceremony to get us together," James said. "We're always together."

Passing the microphone around like they used to pass the basketball, the five saluted each other and others in the crowd of 200.

"You all believed in us," Joyce said. "That belief inspires people. That's why we're up here today."

Joyce actually stole the show by leaving the stage to walk into the audience, drop to one knee and propose to longtime girlfriend Lanae Patton, with his friends and former teammates looking on and applauding.

Coach Dru Joyce had only one son on that team, but he seemed equally proud of all five young men.

"I was blessed to be in prime position to watch you grow up," he told them. "That was very special to me."

Joyce III and Travis are still playing basketball overseas in Germany and Israel, respectively. McGee obtained his master's degree from the University of Akron and Cotton, who played football at Ohio State and Walsh, now is focusing on a music career.

James, of course, left the Cavaliers for the Heat last summer. The ceremony culminated a busy two days in Ohio for James, who now leaves for a promotional tour of China.

On Monday, he introduced "Wheels for Education," a program that replaces the King for King Bikeathon and hopes to see more than 300 third graders in the Akron Public Schools through to their high school graduations in 2021. In conjunction with corporate partners State Farm, HP and Nike, each student received a laptop, a backpack with school supplies and a bike to start them on their journeys.

On Monday night, he and former Cav teammate Damon Jones played with the Akron team in the Chris Chambers Fun Game Classic at The Word Church in Warrensville.

Tuesday morning, James dedicated the LeBron James Clubhouse at the Akron Boys & Girls Club he played at as a child. The club was renovated with $240,000 he donated through his family foundation.

On Twitter: @pdcavsinsider

The rain delay hurt the Indians more than the Tigers in the first game of their critical series Tuesday night. The elements were just another obstacle for the embattled Tribe.

View full sizeThomas Ondrey, The Plain DealerJason Kipnis puts the tag on a sliding Don Kelly to complete a strike-them-out, throw-them-out double play in the fifth inning Tuesday night at Progressive Field.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- An angry white cloud roiled the dark sky, twisting around the top of the downtown skyscrapers at 7:30 Tuesday night. It looked like a column of smoke, but there was no fire, only rain.

The thunder grumbled, the lightning pulsed inside the cloud, and then rain began to fall hard enough at Progressive Field to bring to mind terms like gullywasher or cloudburst. Those are words that used to mean the creek might rise or the bridge might be out.

The rain seemed to be a worse stroke of luck for the Indians than their Central Division rivals, the Detroit Tigers, in the biggest regular-season series here since 2007. The 2 hour, 3-minute rain delay meant the Indians, in a series in which they almost have to take two out of three games to close the four-game gap against the Tigers got to use their best pitcher, Justin Masterson, for only the two innings played before the rain delay at 7:43 p.m.

At the time of the stoppage, the score was tied, 2-2. Doug Fister, the Detroit starter, is far better than his 4-12 record, but the Tigers will probably trade losing Fister, acquired at the trade deadline, after two innings in return for Masterson's exit.

Fister's record resulted from Seattle's inability (2.12 runs per nine innings) to give him even the type of meager run support (3.66) the Tribe has provided for Masterson. With a consistently productive offense, Masterson, who ranks fourth in the league in ERA (2.63 before Tuesday), would be a Cy Young candidate.

Even worse is the backing for Fausto Carmona. Much maligned for giving up big innings, he has benefited from only 3.46 runs per nine innings pitched.

The Indians knew they couldn't replace the offensive potential of Grady Sizemore and Shin-Soo Choo after they were lost to injuries. So, although Choo might be back in the lineup in a week, their big move at the trade deadline was to double-down on the ones who brung 'em -- pitchers.

"Pitching got us here," said Tribe manager Manny Acta. "With Ubaldo [Jimenez] we just have more pitching."

No one has it all in the Central Division, in which the Tribe's 56-56 record was good enough for second place on Tuesday. The American League is divided into three parts, like Gaul when Julius Caesar was on a big winning streak. Not all parts of the AL jigsaw are equal.

"Texas and Boston are the best ballclubs we've seen all year," Acta said. "That [last road trip] was one of the trips we circled, [knowing] that it could make us or bury us. We went 3-4 and lost four games after the seventh inning. I don't think there are too many more series against Texas and Boston. Those are the two toughest clubs we've seen this year."

The argument could be made that plenty of AL Central showdowns have yet to be played, with 11 more games against Detroit, for example. The series here should be fraught with October implications.

Like political campaigns and horse races, you have to be in it to win it in the baseball playoffs. Good pitching can create a ruckus once a team sneaks in. The 1973 Mets won the NL East with an 82-79 record. They went to the seventh game of the World Series against the mustachioed dynasty that was building in Oakland. The Mets had great pitching.

The 2006 St. Louis Cardinals won the NL Central with an 83-78 record, then won the whole thing, beating the error-prone Tigers. Taunting signs reading "Hit It to the Pitcher" bobbed in the stands in St. Louis in the World Series. So bad pitching can create a ruckus in the playoffs, too.

The Indians have hung in through the attrition of injuries, through slumps and through almost three months of bad baseball after a great start. They will take their chances with their pitchers' gloves, their arms and their experience at carrying the load.

Tuesday night, that just happened to include an umbrella.

On Twitter: @LivyPD