Was Monday's series-opening loss to the AL Central-leading Tigers a death knell for the Tribe's playoff hopes?

View full sizeChuck Crow,
The Plain DealerA couple of former Indians -- Jhonny Peralta on the left and Victor Martinez on the right -- meet at home plate after Martinez's three-run homer iced Monday's game for AL Central-leading Detroit.

Cleveland, Ohio -- It's been a season of surprises for the Cleveland Indians and their fans this year. No one expected the Tribe to do any more than challenge the Royals for the AL Central cellar. Instead, they got off to one of the fastest starts in team history.

But injuries to some key players -- Travis Hafner, Grady Sizemore, Shin-Soo Choo, Michael Brantley, Carlos Carrasco, Josh Tomlin, Jason Kipnis and more -- put a dent the size of Detroit (you'll pardon the expression) into the Indians chances.

And now, they've fallen 71/2 games behind the division-leading Tigers, despite a seven-inning, 2-hit performance by pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez, with only 24 left to play.

Is this it? Is it time to start the cries of "Wait till next year"?

Is the AL Central Division race over with the Tribe's deflating Labor Day loss? Watch video

Are the Indians are of the race now? What should we expect from the Browns this season? Get answers from Terry Pluto in his latest podcast.

AP PhotoD'Qwell Jackson, left, leads the Browns' defense, while Colt McCoy leads the Browns' offense.

Are the Indians are of the race now? What should we expect from the Browns this season?

Plain Dealer sports columnist Terry Pluto answered those questions and more in his weekly podcast.

Among other topics discussed:

• Will Travis Hafner and Jason Kipnis returning matter much?

• How do you feel about the Ubaldo Jimenez trade now?

• Will the Browns be better than they have been the last two seasons?

• How much better will Colt McCoy be by the end of the season?

• Do you feel OK about the offensive line with the addition of Artis Hicks?

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

You can catch Terry Pluto speaking at the Grafton/Midview Library Wednesday, Sept. 7 at 7 p.m. Admission is free and Terry will be glad to sign any books you bring to the event.

Be sure to also like Terry Pluto on Facebook.

LSU's 40-27 win over Oregon and No. 4 Boise State's 35-21 win over Georgia made for some movement near the top.

Marvin Fong, The Plain DealerJake Stoneburner finishes one of the three touchdowns he scored on passes from Joe Bauserman during Ohio State's 42-0 win over Akron.

NEW YORK, New York -- Winning the biggest game of college football's opening weekend boosted LSU to No. 2 in The Associated Press Top 25.

Ohio State moved from No. 18 to No. 15 after its 42-0 win over Akron. The Buckeyes host Toledo on Saturday at Ohio Stadium.

No. 1 Oklahoma held on to the top spot in the first regular-season rankings, while the Tigers used their 40-27 victory against Oregon to jump rival Alabama, which slipped to No. 3.

Boise State moved up a notch to No. 4 after its impressive 35-21 win against Georgia. Florida State moved up to No. 5.

Oregon dropped nine spots to No. 13 and defending national champion Auburn, which started the season at No. 23, fell out of the Top 25 after needing a late rally to beat Utah State at home. Notre Dame also dropped out.

Moving into the rankings were No. 20 Baylor, No. 22 South Florida, No. 23 Penn State and No. 24 Texas.

Fickell said running back Jaamal Berry is also expected to play after sitting with a hamstring injury. Watch video

Notes from Ohio State's news conference with coach Luke Fickell today:

* Said the three Buckeyes suspended for the opener - starting running back Jordan Hall, starting cornerback Travis Howard and backup safety Corey Brown - will be available against Toledo on Saturday. Also, backup linebacker Jordan Whiting is back after his one-game suspension for his involvement in the tattoo scandal that came to light last December.

Fickell wouldn't commit to Hall and Howard regaining their starting jobs this week.

* Expects running back Jaamal Berry, who missed the Akron game with a lingering hamstring injury, to be back Saturday. With the return of Hall as well, the Buckeyes will go from two running backs to four. Fickell said they can co-exist.

* Athletic director Gene Smith gave Fickell the gameball in the locker room after the win. Fickell said he reminded the players that it wasn't about him. And he doesn't want anyone to dwell on the first win of his career. Asked about it specifically, he said he did not hear from Jim Tressel after the win.

* Was impressed with the way the Buckeyes handled the heat Saturday, which he said was 130 degrees on the field. Said only receiver Corey Brown and backup offensive lineman Antonio Underwood dealt with cramps.

* First thing he watched in reviewing film was the last kickoff of the game. Liked how the coverage guys still ran hard. Has said he'll focus on the fourth quarter and special teams first when he evaluates games.

* Thought both QBs played well, but he wasn't surprised. Liked how they handled themselves in the game and on the sidelines with emotion, competitiveness and leadership.

* In his first game as head coach, said it was hard to let everyone else do their jobs and trust them to do it without trying to get involved too much. For example, he said offensive coordinator Jim Bollman doesn't need Fickell on the headset reminding him to run the ball.

* The Buckeyes will be reminded about Toledo's history of upsetting bigger name teams. "You've got to know your opponent  as much as yourself," Fickell said. Said his players will know that the Rockets have been "giant killers at times."

* Said Toledo is much better on its offensive and defensive lines than most MAC teams.

* Was vague about his postgame handshake with Akron coach Rob Ianello, in which Ianello appeared to be upset with the way the Buckeyes handled the final minutes of the game, with the players on the field or the plays they called. Fickell said say he tells his players to play until the scoreboard is off.

* Game captains this week are QB Joe Bauserman, LB Andrew Sweat and special teams player Nate Ebner.

* The Sept. 17 game at Miami has been set as a 7:30 p.m. kickoff on ESPN. It was going to be in primetime but had been previously set at either 7:30 or 8.

Voting in this week’s You Pick the Game contest is under way. Vote in the online poll to the right that decides where we send one of our reporters on Friday night.

Avon, pictured last month racing on the field for its season opener against Avon Lake, is one of 10 schools selected for this week's You Pick the Game contest. - (Joshua Gunter, The Plain Dealer)

Voting in this week’s You Pick the Game contest is under way.

Vote in the online poll to the right that decides where we send one of our reporters on Friday night.

Voting is open until noon Thursday. The winner will be announced in Friday’s Sports section.

Defending Division I state champion St. Edward, by virtue of its 47-6 romp at Penn Hills (Pa.), stayed at No. 4 in the latest USA Today and ninth in MaxPreps National Polls but moved up from 10th to ninth in ESPN. Cincinnati St. Xavier is 17th in MaxPreps, 24th in USA Today and 25th in ESPN while Colerain is...

Defending Division I state champion St. Edward, by virtue of its 47-6 romp at Penn Hills (Pa.), stayed at No. 4 in the latest USA Today and ninth in MaxPreps National Polls but moved up from 10th to ninth in ESPN.

Cincinnati St. Xavier is 17th in MaxPreps, 24th in USA Today and 25th in ESPN while Colerain is No. 39 in ESPN.

Michigan State fell 15 spots on my ballot after beating Youngstown State.

Explaining my first week AP ballot, for those who may care. First, my top 25.

My ballot

1. LSU   
2. Boise State  
3. Oklahoma   
4. Alabama   
5. Florida State 
6. Wisconsin   
7. Nebraska   
8. Oklahoma State  
9. Stanford   
10. South Carolina  
11. Texas A&M  
12. Virginia Tech  
13. Ohio State  
14. Arizona State  
15. Florida   
16. Mississippi State 
17. West Virginia  
18. South Florida  
19. Penn State   
20. Arkansas   
21. Baylor   
22. Oregon   
23. Northwestern  
24. Michigan State  
25. Maryland

Full AP poll

1. Oklahoma (32)
2. LSU (17)
3. Alabama (9)
4. Boise State (2)
5. Florida State
6. Stanford
7. Texas A&M
8. Wisconsin
9. Oklahoma State
10. Nebraska
11. Virginia Tech
12. South Carolina
13. Oregon
14. Arkansas
15. Ohio State
16. Mississippi State
17. Michigan State
18. Florida
19. West Virginia
20. Baylor
21. Missouri
22. South Florida
23. Penn State
24. Texas
25. TCU

* A quick note on my philosophy of voting, which I've been explaining for a few years now. I try to vote almost entirely on onfield performance, ignoring my preseason poll and the reputations of the teams. It's pretty simple. Let what happens on the field dictate my rankings. This can make my rankings very volatile from week to week, especially early in the year. In the end, I think this is what most voters end up doing anyway, but for the first month, my ballot can look odd at times.

APLes Miles and LSU earned the No. 1 vote on my AP ballot after beating Oregon

* LSU and Boise State were the obvious top two teams in a week when there weren't a lot of great games and great wins.

Overall, out of 60 AP voters, LSU got 17 first-place votes and 13 second-place votes. Boise State got two first-place votes and 10 second-place votes.

The Tigers handled an Oregon team that most acknowledge as one of the best teams in the nation. Boise State beat Georgia in Atlanta in what was basically a road game. Although the Bulldogs aren't in my top 25, they are still at least a middle of the pack SEC team that Boise handled pretty easily. 
 
Compared to the level of competition in the wins by most other top teams, LSU and Boise State were far above.

* Actually the rest of my ballot isn't that odd. Teams like Oklahoma, Alabama, Florida State, Stanford, Virginia Tech and Ohio State all decisively beat inferior opponents. It's hard to judge too much about teams off games like that, so not much changed in how I view them. Wisconsin's mauling of UNLV caused me to move them up five spots on my ballot, to No. 6.

* Teams that I had unranked a week ago that I ranked now are Mississippi State at No. 16, South Florida at No. 18, Arkansas at No. 20, Baylor at No. 21, Northwestern at No. 23 and Maryland at No. 25. Mississippi State and Arkansas were teams ranked by many others in the preseason, and I thought they played well Saturday and deserved spots. The wins by South Florida (on the road over Notre Dame), Baylor (over TCU), Northwestern (at Boston College) and Maryland (against Miami) earned them spots. But none of those victories were so overwhelming or over such great opposition to deserve vaulting into the top 10.

* The teams that were in my preseason rankings and are out now are three teams that lost (No. 15 Notre Dame, No. 20 Miami and No. 21 Georgia), a team that barely beat Minnesota at home (No. 16 USC) and two teams that just slid out because other teams showed more (No. 24 Texas, No. 25 Pitt).

* I had Oregon ranked much lower than many on my preseason ballot, at No. 10. The Ducks are No. 22 this week, the only losing team I ranked.

* The team that dropped a lot in my rankings with a win was Michigan State. I had the Spartans higher than any voter a week ago, at No. 9. Now I have the Spartans lower than all but two voters at No. 24. In the preseason, I liked quarterback Kirk Cousins, the run game and the potential of the defensive line. Now, I saw a team that at home beat Youngstown State, a team picked to finish eighth in its FCS conference, 28-6. Michigan State led only 14-6 at the half and in many ways didn't look as good as the teams above the Spartans.

Do I still like the Spartans? Yes, I still think they're a legit Big Ten contender. But that's not what they showed on the field in the first week, and my preseason notions matter much less to my voting that what happened in week one.

Kipnis, who has six homers in 68 at bats with the Indians, hasn't played since Aug. 14 because of soreness in his right side and a strained hamstring.

Chuck Crow, The Plain DealerJason Kipnis rounds first base after singling in the winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning as the Indians topped the Los Angeles Angels, 3-2, on July 25.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cleveland Indians will have second baseman Jason Kipnis and infielder Luis Valbuena available for tonight's game against the Detroit Tigers at Progressive Field.

Kipnis, in fact, is in the starting lineup.

The Indians have announced that they have activated Kipnis from the 15-day disabled list, and have recalled Valbuena from Class AAA Columbus.

Kipnis is hitting .279 (19-of-68) with six home runs, four doubles, 11 RBI and 14 runs in 18 games -- the first games of his big league career -- for the Indians after spending most of the season at Columbus. Kipnis, though, has been on the disabled list since August 14, first missing three games with soreness in his right side, and then straining his right hamstring prior to the Indians' Aug. 18 game at Chicago.

The left-handed hitting Kipnis homered in four straight games for the Indians from July 31-August 3.

Valbuena has spent most of the season at Columbus, where he hit .302 with 17 homers, 22 doubles, 75 RBI and 64 runs in 113 games. He appeared in 75 Clippers games at shortstop, 15 at third base, eight at second base and 11 in left field.

Valbuena, another left-handed hitter, has hit .125 (4-for-32) in 11 games over three previous stints with the Indians this season. He hit a combined .226 for the Indians in 643 at bats in 2009-10, with 37 doubles, three triples, 12 homers and 55 RBI.

The Indians' major league roster is now at 29 players. They didn't have to move anyone off the roster to make room for Kipnis and Valbuena, as big league rosters can expand to as many as 40 players on Sept. 1 of each season.

The Indians will try to bounce back tonight at Progressive Field against the Tigers following a disappointing loss on Labor Day. Fausto Carmona starts for the Tribe, while Rick Porcello will go for the Tigers. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.

View full sizeThomas Ondrey | The Plain DealerFausto Carmona is 1-1 with a 3.75 ERA in 2 starts against Detroit this season.

The Indians will try to bounce back tonight at Progressive Field against the Tigers following a disappointing loss on Labor Day. 

Fausto Carmona starts for the Tribe, while Rick Porcello will go for the Tigers. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.
 
Get updates on Twitter from @hoynsie and @dmansworldpd in the box below.

• MLB scoreboard

Any combination of 16 Tigers wins and/or Indians losses the rest of the way, and Detroit is assured of finishing ahead of the Tribe in the AL Central. Many more Indians links.

Thomas Ondrey, The Plain DealerFausto Carmona starts tonight for the Indians against the Tigers, with Cleveland needing a win to stay within shouting distance of Detroit.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Unfortunately for the Cleveland Indians, it's come to this:

The Detroit Tigers' magic number to top the Indians in the American League Central Division race is down to 16.

The Tigers, following their 4-2 win over the Indians on Monday and going into tonight's game at Cleveland, are 79-62 with 21 games left on their schedule.

The Indians, 70-68, have 24 games to go. Any combination of 16 Detroit wins and/or Cleveland losses the rest of the way, and the Tigers are assured of finishing ahead of the Indians.

Tonight, right-hander Rick Porcello (12-8, 5.01) starts on the mound for Detroit while the Indians counter with righty Fausto Carmona (6-13, 4.84).

Joey Nowak writes about tonight's Indians-Tigers game for MLB.com: 

With a 4-2 loss to the Tigers on Monday at Progressive Field, the Tribe fell to 7 1/2 games behind Detroit in the American League Central. The two teams have five more meetings this year -- including Tuesday night's matchup -- and the Indians certainly want their postseason fate to rest in their hands.

The first-place Tigers have won 13 of their last 17 games, boosting their lead over the Indians and White Sox in the division.

The Indians, who led the Central by as many as seven games in late May, have already eclipsed their win total from last season (69). Cleveland won its 70th game on Sunday. Still, manager Manny Acta said, it's not enough to come away satisfied.

"That wasn't the goal," Acta said. "The goal is to win the division, so we're not done yet."

Plain Dealer and cleveland.com Indians coverage includes news that second baseman Jason Kipnis will be in tonight's starting lineup for the Indians, who also have infielder Luis Valbuena back; Paul Hoynes' game story on the Indians' 4-2 loss to the Tigers on Monday; Hoynes' Indians Insider; Dennis Manoloff's interview on Starting Blocks TV, saying the Indians are down but not out of the division race; Manoloff's story on Detroit's winning pitcher on Monday, Doug Fister; Terry Pluto's podcast.

Rounding the bases

Monday's Tigers-Indians game story, by Sheldon Ocker of the Akron Beacon Journal. 

ESPN.com's power rankings going into Monday's games.

Brian Dulik writes about Indians starting pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez, for the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram and Medina County Gazette.

Indians roster moves, by Zack Meisel on MLB.com.

What kept the Indians within some range of the Tigers in the AL Central, by John Lowe of the Detroit Free Press.

On Indians Prospect Insider, the playoff schedules for the Indians' Class AAA Columbus Clippers and Advanced Class A Kinston Indians.

Indians starting pitcher Carlos Carrasco will have Tommy John elbow surgery, meaning he may not pitch in 2012. By Tony Lastoria of Indians Prospect Insider.

It's not looking good for the Indians, Jim Ingraham writes for the News-Herald and Lorain Morning Journal in his Monday Tigers-Indians game story.

A review of the 2011 season for the Akron Aeros, the Indians' Class AA team. On IndiansProspectInsider.com.

Some major league divisional races are all but over, Tracy Ringolsby writes for FoxSports.com.

Belcher tossed the eight gems for the Dodgers one year after helping them win the World Series.

Associated PressTim Belcher pitching for the Chicago White Sox in 1993.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Cleveland Indians fans are familiar with Tim Belcher, the pitching coach. He has been in charge of Tribe hurlers the past two seasons.

Younger Indians backers, though, may not know that Belcher was a notable pitcher in his own right.

Cliff Lee, who won the American League Cy Young Award when he went 22-3 for the Indians in 2008, pitched his sixth shutout of the season during the Philadelphia Phillies' 9-0 win over the Atlanta Braves on Monday.

Belcher and Lee's names are now coupled all over the internet, such as an ESPN.com report that includes:

The last pitcher with six shutouts in a season was Randy Johnson in 1998, and the last National League pitcher to pull it off was Tim Belcher in 1989.

Belcher, 49, was a right-hander who compiled a 146-140 record in 14 major league seasons (1987-2000).

He was in his third season in 1989, when he went 15-12 with one save in 39 games, including 30 starts, for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Not only did Belcher's eight shutouts lead the major leagues, but his 10 complete games were the most in the National League, and his 2.82 ERA ranked eighth in the NL.

A year before, in his first full major league campaign, Belcher went 12-6 with four saves and a 2.91 ERA during the regular season for the Dodgers, making 27 starts and nine relief appearances.

Then, Belcher won all three of his postseason starts, two as LA defeated the New York Mets, four games to three, in the NL Championship Series, and another as the Dodgers upset the Oakland Athletics, 4-1, in the World Series.

Belcher was 4-2 overall in the postseason. He took a 5-2 loss to the Indians as the starter for the host Seattle Mariners in Game 2 of the 1995 ALCS. The Indians tied the series, 1-1, then went on to win it, 4-2, before losing the World Series to the Atlanta Braves, 4-2.

Belcher was born in Sparta, Ohio, and was an All-American pitcher at Nazarene University in Mount Vernon, Ohio.

Carlos Carrasco will be lost for 12 to 18 months, but second baseman Jason Kipnis was activated Tuesday and Travis Hafner could be close behind. Watch video

Chuck Crow, The Plain DealerCarlos Carrasco, shown celebrating a strikeout in a June victory over Pittsburgh, needs Tommy John surgery on his right elbow.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Carlos Carrasco, who at times this season seemed to be emerging as a front-line starter, will undergo Tommy John surgery on his right elbow on Sept. 14 and be lost to the Indians for 12 to 18 months.

Dr. David Alchek, who recently examined Carrasco, will perform the surgery in New York. Alchek works for the New York Mets.

"This is a big blow to our rotation," said manager Manny Acta.

Carrasco (8-9, 4.62) was on the disabled list twice this year with elbow pain. Head trainer Lonnie Soloff said the injury is probably the result of an injury Carrasco suffered as a teenager in Venezuela.

"Carlos told us he hurt his elbow when he was 14 and didn't throw for six to eight weeks," said Soloff. "That was evidenced by the chronic, or old, changes on the MRI. Then just through repetitive throwing over the years, the ligament is not doing the job it should be doing -- stabilizing the inside of the elbow."

The Indians acquired Carrasco, Lou Marson, Jason Donald and Jason Knapp from Philadelphia for Cliff Lee and Ben Francisco on July 29, 2009. Marson and Donald are the only ones still healthy. Knapp had shoulder surgery almost immediately after the deal. He underwent a second shoulder surgery earlier this year and the Indians are hopeful he'll be ready for spring training in 2012.

It usually takes between 12 months to 18 months for a pitcher to recover from ligament transplant surgery on his elbow. The operation is named after John, a one-time Indians pitcher, because he was the first to have it.

Carrasco made his last start on Aug. 3 against Boston. Shortly after that he experienced elbow inflammation during a bullpen session and was placed on the disabled list. The Indians treated the injury conservatively, but Carrasco did not respond.

The Indians sought advice from several doctors on how to treat Carrasco's elbow. Some suggested an arthroscopic procedure, which would have had a shorter recovery time.

"That would have probably been sufficient for a short period of time," said Soloff, "but it was in his best interest, as a 24-year-old pitcher, to move forward with UCL reconstruction (Tommy John surgery)."

Carrasco went on the disabled list for the first time after a start against the Twins on April 24. Soloff said that was the first time Carrasco had a MRI on his elbow as a professional. The Indians or Phillies didn't give Carrasco an MRI because he never had an arm problem. 

"Different organizations have different philosophies," said Soloff. "Lots of times, when athletes injure a ligament, it's one acute injury. They feel a pop or pain. But in the lion's share of cases, it's just the gradual lengthening of the ligament to where it's not doing its job."

Injuries R Us: DH Travis Hafner (strained right foot) is making progress toward returning to the lineup before the end of the season.

"He's progressed to full batting practice," said Soloff. "He's begun a running program on the anti-gravity treadmill and will start running on the ground Wednesday. Then we'll gradually increase that."

There is a still a chance Hafner will need surgery after the season. Soloff said that's why it's important that the Indians get a read on him in game conditions before the end of the season.

"If he continues to have symptoms, if he feels there's a functional deficit in his ability to hit and run, that would be an indication to address his foot surgically," said Soloff. "If he goes through his rehab and does well, then we'd have a decision on what is the best approach."

Soloff said if Hafner does have surgery, the ligament in question would be realigned  to ease the discomfort in the foot.

Yeah, he's back: Rookie Jason Kipnis returned to the lineup Tuesday night at second base for Tuesday's game. He's recovering for a strained right oblique and hamstring injury.

"We're not going to run him out there every day," said Acta. "He'll be doing his rehab here, much like Grady Sizemore."

Kipnis sounded like he'd been tipped off a couple of days in advance about when he'd be able to play again. He's been on the disabled list Aug. 19, a move that was retroactive to Aug. 13.

"This is like another debut for me because it's been a while," said Kipnis. "I'll see how quickly I can get the rust off."

Finally: Luis Valbuena was recalled from Class AAA Columbus.

Tonight's lineups:

Tigers lineup (79-62): CF Austin Jackson (R), RF Andy Dirks (L), LF Delmon Young (L), 1B Miguel Cabrera (R), DH Victor Martinez (S), C Alex Avila (L), SS Jhonny Peralta (R), 3B Don Kelly (L), 2B Ramon Santiago (S), RHP Rick Porcello (12-8, 5.01).

Indians (70-68): CF Grady Sizemore (L), RF Kosuke Fukudome (L), SS Asdrubal Cabrera (S), 1B Miguel Santana (S), DH Jim Thome (L), 2B Jason Kipnis (L), 3B Lonnie Chisenhall (L), LF Ezequiel Carrera, C Lou Marson and RHP Fausto Carmona (6-13, 4.84).

Umpires: H Larry Vanover, 1B Brian Gorman, 2B Tony Randazzo, 3B Jim Wolf.

Lefty vs. righty: Lefties are hitting .284 (99-for-348) with 10 homers and righties are hitting .243 (71-for-292) with 10 homers against Carmona. The Tigers have five lefties, including two switch-hitters, in the lineup.

Lefties are hitting .337 (120-for-356) with 13 homers and righties are hitting .242 (58-for-240) with three homers against Porcello. The Indians have eight lefties, including two switch-hitters, in the lineup.

Next: Two of the best starting pitcher in the AL face each other Wednesday when Justin Masterson meets 21-game winner Justin Verlander. STO/WTAM will carry the game.

When it comes to the Browns, there's so much that we just don't know.

View full sizeJoshua Gunter, The Plain DealerNew head coach Pat Shurmur's West Coast attack has showed encouraging signs under Colt McCoy's leadership in the preseason, but there are plenty of other issues that are less resolved as the regular season gets started for the Browns on Sunday.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- I can tell you that Pat Shurmur is the fifth man to coach the Browns on opening day since 1999.

That Colt McCoy is the 10th opening day starting quarterback since 1999.

That the Browns have not employed this form of the West Coast offense since 1999, while the new 4-3 defense hasn't been used for six years.

But I can't tell you much about the Browns. That's because we really haven't seen the Browns with even most of their key players in a preseason game.

Think about it.

It's great that Joe Haden and Sheldon Brown return at cornerback, but T.J. Ward and Usama Young are projected to start at safety. They never played together before this season, and both have battled hamstring injuries in training camp.

The starting linebackers are supposed to be D'Qwell Jackson, Scott Fujita and Chris Gocong. Only Jackson has been healthy all camp -- a major plus as he's played only six games in the last two years. But this group in the new defense has not played together at all as Gocong is battling a pinched nerve in his neck.

The injuries to the offensive line are scary.

It's never a good sign when a player is claimed off waivers and is immediately a candidate to start at left guard, as is the case with Artis Hicks. Right tackle Tony Pashos has his foot in a walking boot. The Browns indicate this is not a big deal. But Pashos has played only 11 games in the last two years because of injuries.

If Pashos is out, then Oniel Cousins (recently cut by Baltimore) will start.

Need some good news?

McCoy is the ideal quarterback for the new offense thanks to his precise passing and his ability to move around the pocket. This is a minority opinion, but the Browns seem to have enough receivers and pass-catching tight ends to give McCoy the targets he needs. Don't be surprised if Joshua Cribbs finally has his breakout season as receiver.

View full sizeJohn Kuntz, The Plain DealerCan Montario Hardesty provide reliable support for Peyton Hillis in 2011? That will be a big key on whether the offense can be productive throughout the season, says Terry Pluto.

The running game should be strong, Peyton Hillis gaining 1,177 yards last season. In his two years as the Rams offensive coordinator, Shurmur called enough plays for Steven Jackson to rush for 2,657 yards.

But Montario Hardesty had only five preseason carries as he comes off knee surgery. The other backup runner, Brandon Jackson, is out for the season with a foot injury. In order to prevent Hillis from becoming a 250-pound walking bruise by Thanksgiving, Hardesty has to stay healthy or the Browns must find another viable running back.

So the offense can be effective, if the blocking is adequate ... but that's a huge IF. Yes, many teams seem to have the same onslaught of injuries -- but I hate thinking about them before the Browns have played even their first game.

In terms of rarely seen continuity in training camp, the starting defensive line of Jayme Mitchell, Phil Taylor, Ahtyba Rubin and Jabaal Sheard have stayed healthy. Marcus Benard could end up leading the team in sacks, even though he doesn't start at defensive end. There is some talent here.

Shurmur has wisely stayed away from any hint of concern about not having the vast majority of his key players practicing -- but that has to be a real concern for a new staff making so many changes in offense and defense. Rarely have the Browns opened a season where so little is known because so few of the main actors have been on the preseason stage. This is an indictment of the depth, but not a general slam at the talent of the starters. Some of these guys are a real upgrade over what we've watched the last few years.

We do know the team is much younger. That's a good direction for a franchise that has had two winning records since 1999 -- the last being in 2007. Since then, they are 14-34.

But how will they play? Who knows?

But I'll say this much -- all the changes have me very curious to find out.

Indians outfielder Trevor Crowe (right shoulder) has been activated and will start in left field Wednesday afternoon.

APTrevor Crowe is back with the Indians.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Indians activated outfielder Trevor Crowe from the 60-day disabled list Wednesday morning. He will make his season's debut as the left fielder batting ninth against Tigers ace Justin Verlander in a game that is scheduled to begin at 12:05 p.m. at Progressive Field.

To make room for Crowe on the 40-man roster, the Indians designated Jerad Head for assignment.

Crowe underwent right-shoulder surgery on March 30 after missing all of spring workouts and exhibition games because of soreness in the area. He rehabbed in Cleveland before beginning an assignment in the Arizona low minors. He also played at Class AAA Columbus.

Crowe hit a combined .263 with two homers and nine RBI in 11 rehab games.

Head is yet another Class AAA cautionary tale. While he was tearing it up at Columbus this season and the Indians were not hitting, a number of Tribe fans wondered why Head had not been promoted.

When Head finally did get the opportunity, he did not do much with it. Head, a six-year minor leaguer, was 2-for-23 in eight games.    

Verlander, the heavy favorite to win the American League Cy Young Award, is 21-5 with a 2.34 ERA. He has won nine straight starts, the streak having begun July 21 at Minnesota.

Verlander is 2-0 with a 1.69 ERA in two starts against Cleveland this season. He is 12-11 with a 4.77 ERA in 26 career starts against them.

Righty Justin Masterson, no slouch he, starts for the Tribe. He is 11-8 with a 2.92 ERA in 30 appearances (29 starts).

Masterson and Verlander have made a combined 59 starts. They have allowed two or fewer earned runs 38 times. 

Lineups:

Tigers -- 1. Jackson cf; 2. Rhymes 2b; 3. Dirks lf; 4. Cabrera 1b; 5. Martinez dh; 6. Avila c; 7. Betemit 3b; 8. Kelly rf; 9. Santiago ss; and Verlander rhp.

Indians -- 1. Carrera cf; 2. Fukudome rf; 3. Cabrera ss; 4. Santana c; 5. Thome dh; 6. Duncan 1b; 7. Chisenhall 3b; 8. Donald 2b; 9. Crowe lf; and Masterson rhp.

Here is the Tribe lineup's career numbers against Verlander:

Carrera: 0-for-3; Fukudome 0-for-3; Cabrera 6-for-33; Santana 2-for-8, hr; Thome 11-for-46, 7 hr; Duncan 2-for-11; Chisenhall 1-for-3; Donald 3-for-6; and Crowe 2-for-13.

Colt McCoy and Bengals wide receiver Jordan Shipley are close friends.

Chuck Crow | The Plain DealerCleveland Browns quarterback Colt McCoy.

Not only were Colt McCoy and Bengals wide receiver Jordan Shipley teammates at Texas, but they were and still remain good friends today.

This article on Cincinnati.com takes a look at several adventures the two players participated in while growing up in Texas, like pasture parasailing in Burnet, Texas.

Pasture what?

“I can’t believe Coach Shipley told you about that,” McCoy said, when asked to confirm his participation.

Bob Shipley said Jordan had a buddy who had a ranch, and there they would hook a parasail to a couple hundred feet of rope. They’d tie the rope to an old Jeep. Then they’d go into an open pasture, where one would drive the car and the other, harnessed to the parachute and lifted by the rope, would soar through the sky.

The two players were almost destined to be best friends, writes Shannon Russell, as their fathers were football teammates and roommates at Abilene Christian and later groomsmen in each other’s weddings.

“I’m thankful for the friendship,” McCoy said. “I consider him like a brother, and that’s kind of the way we treat each other.”

Still here

Scott Paxson is still on the Browns’ 53-man roster, but he doesn’t want to jinx himself by celebrating too much.

Ohio.com reporter Nate Ulrich writes how NFL teams were required to trim their rosters from 80 players to 53 on Saturday. Paxson, 28, advanced past cut day for the first time in his professional career. He had failed in his previous five attempts dating back to 2006. 

“Deep down inside, I’m overjoyed,” Paxson said Monday after practice. “I want this, so I am pumped.”

Iron man

 
Jeff Schudel of The News-Herald writes how veteran cornerback Sheldon Brown has been an iron man of sorts over his eight years in the NFL.

 
Brown has never missed a game in his career, and not because he plays soft and doesn't get hurt. Quite the opposite. He will lower his shoulder to make a tackle with the best of them, shake off the effects from the collision and line up for the next play.

Last year, Brown suffered a shoulder injury in Buffalo on Dec. 12. It was obvious Brown was in pain, but no one knew how much until he had rotator cuff surgery in the offseason.

Brown has played in 144 straight regular season games plus all 13 playoff games with the Eagles. The NFL does not count playoff games as part of a games-played streak, but Brown's durable body does, writes Schudel.

Brown said he never thought he might not be ready for training camp this summer. Good thing for the rest of the secondary he was, because Brown is like a coach on the field. He is still helping left cornerback Joe Haden, the Browns' first-round draft choice last year, and now he is helping rookie defensive back James Dockery and rookie corner Buster Skrine.

 

Cribbs still trying to find his place

Steve Doerschuk of CantonRep.com writes how Josh Cribbs, despite his success as a kick returner, is still trying to carve out an NFL identity as an offensive player following his four-year run as a Kent State quarterback.

At the other wide receiver spot, though, Mohamed Massaquoi is listed as the No. 1, with Cribbs as the No. 2.

The guess is that this has more to do with the team’s projection of Massaquoi as a better receiver than Cribbs, rather than Cribbs’ recent hamstring problems. Massaquoi missed all four preseason games with a foot injury, but he has returned to practice.

One view of Cribbs is that he is a decent extra weapon as a receiver, but not polished enough to be a featured guy, with his real value being as a punt and kickoff return man, writes Doerschuk.

Toledo is no stranger to victories over BCS-league opponents.

APTim Beckman, Toledo head football coach

The Ohio State Buckeyes are 42-0-1 against Ohio opponents since their last loss, a 7-6 setback to Oberlin back in 1921.

Next up is Toledo, a far more talented Mid-American Conference team than Akron, which comes to Ohio Stadium on Saturday.

Ohio State has played the Rockets twice - and won by a combined score of 87-0.

But the Rockets are coming off a 58-22 victory over New Hampshire in their season-opener last Thursday. In addition to the extra time to get ready for the game at Ohio Stadium, they're also the preseason pick to win the MAC.

Last season Toledo beat Purdue, 31-20. The year before that, the Rockets romped over Colorado of the Big 12, 54-38; and the year before that they administered one of the most shocking losses Michigan has ever had, beating the Wolverines 13-10 at The Big House.

So, which team are you predicting will win Saturday's game? That's our question for today's Starting Blocks poll.

Indians' decision-makers must understand the talent level of the team's major leaguers and any near-ready prospects when considering how to build for 2012.

Chuck Crow, The Plain DealerRight fielder Shin-Soo Choo had superb all-around seasons in 2009 and 2010, but has had a disappointing 2011 campaign, partly due to injuries.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cleveland Indians, barring an unlikely winning surge coupled with a Detroit Tigers fade, will finish the season in second or third place in the American League Central Division.

The Tribe was 70-69 going into today's game against the Tigers. The fact that the Indians went into September with hopes of making a run at the division title has fans asking what Cleveland needs to do in the offseason to be a legitimate contender in 2012.

The next few months present questions for the Indians' decision-makers.

Five months ago, observers were expecting the Indians to use this season as a building block to the future, with no real chance to contend.

Instead, Cleveland stunned the baseball world with a 30-15 start. Then, the Tribe lost 14 of 18 games to become 34-29. Since then, despite an uncommon siege of injuries, the Indians have been somewhat respectable, winning 36 games and losing 40.

What kind of team do the Indians really have? It's safe to say that virtually all "baseball people" understand that even had they enjoyed remarkable health all season, the Indians are not so talented that they could have sustained their early-season play over an entire 162-game schedule.

Yet, given all of the injuries, are the Indians indeed much better than their 40-54 record over the last 3 1/2 months indicates?

Does right fielder Shin-Soo Choo, voted the Indians' Man of the Year the last two seasons, return to that form if healthy? Should the Indians depend on getting any production from center fielder Grady Sizemore and designated hitter Travis Hafner, their seasons riddled by injuries the last three and four years, respectively?

For the sake of debate, assume that pitchers Justin Masterson and Ubaldo Jimenez can keep the Indians in virtually every game they start. Is there enough depth at the big-league level and among near-ready major leaguers that Cleveland can be confident it will begin almost all 162 games with a viable starter on the mound?

How about that lack of right-handed hitting through the organization? Are shorstop Asdrubal Cabrera and catcher-first baseman Carlos Santana year-in, year-out run producers, and is outfielder Michael Brantley headed toward stardom? Or second baseman Jason Kipnis, after barely 70 major league at bats?

Can the bullpen come close to matching its general excellence over the last 1 1/2 seasons? Is there near enough talent in the organization for manager Manny Acta to help the team work through even a normal amount of injuries?

What kind of team do the Indians have? The answer to that question drives what they must do in preparation for 2012.

The Indians will look to salvage a game against the Tigers in the series finale at Progressive Field this afternoon. Get Twitter updates starting at 12:05 p.m.

Chuck Crow, The PDJustin Masterson

The Indians will look to salvage a game against the Tigers in the series finale at Progressive Field this afternoon. Detroit has won six straight games over the Tribe.

Justin Masteron starts for the Indians, while Justin Verlander goes for the Tigers. First pitch is scheduled for 12:05 p.m.

Get updates on Twitter from @hoynsie and @dmansworldpd in the box below.

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PD Ohio State reporter says first-year coach is using advice that others gave him when he took the job. Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Welcome to today's edition of Starting Blocks TV, hosted by Chuck Yarborough.

The Ohio State Buckeyes are taking on their second straight Mid-American Conference opponent on Saturday, but the Toledo Rockets figure to be a much tougher challenge than Akron was last weekend. How do you see the OSU-UT game going down? Which team will win, and by how much? That's the question in today's Starting Blocks poll.

Plain Dealer Ohio State reporter Doug Lesmerises is today's guest on SBTV, and he says the Toledo lines will be much more physical than OSU saw last week.

Doug also talks about his story today on OSU quarterback Joe Bauserman, and how he has responded to being the Buckeyes' starting QB; and how coach Luke Fickell has established his presence by just being himself.

SBTV will return Thursday.