Indians chatter Clubhouse confidential: The Indians are working on a short leash when it comes to making a decision on Grady Sizemore's $9 million club option for 2012. Not only are they waiting for Dr. Richard Steadman's findings -- he examined Sizemore's bruised right knee Monday -- the timetable for exercising his option has been shortened. In agreement with...

Indians chatter

Clubhouse confidential: The Indians are working on a short leash when it comes to making a decision on Grady Sizemore's $9 million club option for 2012. Not only are they waiting for Dr. Richard Steadman's findings -- he examined Sizemore's bruised right knee Monday -- the timetable for exercising his option has been shortened.

View full sizeThomas Ondrey, The Plain DealerGrady Sizemore made 295 trips to the plate this season and three trips to the disabled list. The Indians have until three days after the World Series to decide whether to exercise his 2012 club option, which is worth $9 million.

In agreement with the players association, a decision on all options must be made three days after the last game of the World Series, regardless the language in individual contracts. Game 7 of the World Series is scheduled for Oct. 27.

"We have a number of decisions we have to make this off-season and we're going to take the time to get as much information as we can before making those decisions," GM Chris Antonetti said.

Closer look: Amidst the rubble of the Indians' 9-6 loss to the Tigers on Tuesday, manager Manny Acta said he was impressed with the work of rookie relievers Nick Hagadone and Zach Putnam.

Hagadone threw 1 scoreless innings as he faced the minimum. He walked Ryan Raburn with one out in the seventh, but caught him trying to steal. Putnam retired the Tigers in order in the eighth.

"They could be options for us next year," Acta said.

Stat of the day: Fausto Carmona finished first in the AL in runs allowed (125), second in earned runs allowed (110), tied for second in hit batters (14) and third in losses (15).

Cleveland Browns quarterback Colt McCoy talked with the media following practice about the slow start the offense has had in games so far. McCoy also discussed the Tennessee Titans who they play on Sunday. Watch video

Plain Dealer's Cleveland Browns beat writers Tony Grossi and Mary Kay Cabot preview the Browns game against the Tennessee Titans at Cleveland Browns Stadium on Sunday. Watch video

This was not even close to the best Tribe season of the past 10 years, but it was one of the most interesting.

I wondered if it was just me . . . am I the only one fascinated by the Indians this season?

They didn't finish the season with a winning record, They fell out of contention in early September as the Tigers chewed up the Tribe and the rest of the Central Division.

But there was something about the Tribe that kept me watching the games -- sometimes right up to midnight and beyond. It's been years since I spent so much time writing stories, emails and letters while listening to Tom Hamilton on the radio.

And I talked far more Tribe than in a normal Indian summer.

All this for a team that was trying to reach .500 on the final day of the season.

So what was the fascination? I asked that of fans on my Facebook page, many of whom have been posting about the Tribe all season.

View full sizeChuck Crow, The Plain DealerCord Phelps had 11 hits in 80 at-bats this season (entering Wednesday night's game). One of those hits was a three-run walk-off homer to beat the Pirates on June 19. It was that kind of season.

"The joy at watching win after win," wrote Mary Perkowski. "And calling to make sure my 87-year-old father had stayed up to see yet another fabulous play. I wanted it all THIS year, but am somehow simply grateful for what they gave us. I can say, too, that I've never DVR'd more games than I have this year."

Perhaps it's best the Indians opened the season being behind, 14-0, after one hour and four innings of the home opener against the White Sox. They lost that game, 15-10, in front of a sellout crowd of 41,271. They lost again the next day, 8-3, the crowd down to 9,853.

Then something very, very strange happened.

This team with castoffs and retreads and too-young rookies at too many positions . . . this team that had records of 65-97 and 69-93 the previous two seasons . . . this team won eight in a row.

Suddenly, they were 8-2.

For Tom Corle, the romance began April 7 when the Indians beat Boston, 1-0. They beat the Red Sox on a chilly, soggy gray afternoon that felt perfect for catching the flu. Instead, the Tribe caught Boston asleep when Asdrubal Cabrera dropped down a perfect squeeze bunt for the only run, giving the Tribe a three-game sweep of visiting Boston.

This was before anyone knew Cabrera was about to set the franchise record for homers by a shortstop (25). He had only three in 2010, the year he broke his arm colliding with Jhonny Peralta when they both went after a ball hit over second base.

Walkoffs and wins

"I love how ESPN guru Tim Kurkjian mentioned several times that he saw something like 28 of 30 teams in spring training, but missed the Indians," wrote Rick Solomon. "No one saw this season coming, especially the experts."

What attracted the fans was the drama of the victories. They won seven games with walk-off homers, the most since the powerhouse 1995 Tribe.

"I'll always remember waiting out a rain delay with my dad on Father's Day and getting rewarded with a Cord Phelps walk-off homer," wrote Andy Reid.

Think about that, "a Cord Phelps walk-off homer."

That was his only home run of the season. He went into Wednesday's game batting .155, and was 2-of-25 after the All-Star break.

"At the end of a long day vacationing with the kids are Hersheypark on July 7, I was pulling in Tom Hamilton's call via the hotel's lousy wi-fi connection," wrote John Lammers. "They loaded the bases . . . [Travis] Hafner comes up, and all I hear is Hammy's [Tom Hamilton's] voice, SWUNG ON . . ."

And that ball was . . . GONE . . . a grand slam . . . turning a 4-1 ninth-inning deficit into a 5-4 victory over Toronto.

Then there was Carlos Santana beating Detroit on April 29 with a walk-off grand slam.

And there was Ezequiel Carrera bringing home the winning run against the Reds with a drag bunt in his first major-league at-bat.

"Starting 30-15 when not a single soul thought they would finish anywhere near .500 . . ." wrote Stephen Buettell. "The amazing walk0offs . . . watching a kid like [Jason] Kipnis being successful in his first time in the majors . . . being buyers instead of sellers [at the trade deadline] . . . If I was working, I followed the game on my phone even when I wasn't supposed to."

Trades and Thome

The trade for Ubaldo Jimenez didn't exactly work out, as he was 4-4 with a 5.10 ERA after coming to the Tribe from Colorado. And as Tim Meister wrote, "They would go weeks at a time with very little hitting . . . but I would lay in bed with my eyes closed, afraid of what would happen next."

A lot of things went wrong for the Tribe.

Grady Sizemore got hurt . . . again . . . and again . . . and again.

Three trips to the disabled list for Sizemore. Hafner went there twice, as did Shin Soo-Choo. They had 11 different guys play the outfield, including the Luis Valbuena debacle. Shelley Duncan went up and down from the minors four times and then ended up being their most productive left-fielder -- a spot where seven different guys stood.

If the Indians didn't lead the majors in left fielders, they must have set a record for MRI exams as they had 14 different players on the disabled list -- including everyone but Justin Masterson from the Opening Day five-man starting rotation. The surprise was that Santana -- who missed the last two months of the 2010 season after major knee surgery -- led the Indians in games played and set a franchise record with 27 homers by a switch hitter.

They used 36 different players, including 12 rookies. By the end of the season, they didn't just run out of gas and fumes -- it seemed manager Manny Acta was trying to push the Tribe to the finish line with too many guys with too little experience.

And there was too much of the Detroit Tigers.

At the All-Star break, the Indians were 47-42, the Tigers were 49-43. Since then, the Tigers were 45-24 and the Indians 33-39 heading into Wednesday night. Just as the Tribe was fading, they traded for Jim Thome.

"My 13-year-old son has listened to me give him career home run updates on [Thome] for years," wrote Michael Guzik. " We were at Comerica Park [in Detroit] for his 599th and 600th homers. We were at [Progressive Field] as Jim had perhaps his last hurrah as an Indian [with a home run on the day he was honored]."

Erica Simon was amazed how fans were still "talking about the Indians in late September," even as football season started.

Other fans wrote that their favorite moment was when Tribe players chipped in to help Jack Hannahan rent a private plane so he could fly home immediately from Boston to be with his wife for the birth of their premature son.

Obviously, the Indians are still not a serious contender. They clearly are a flawed team, and there always will be budget issues. Many of the fans who wrote are hardcore, following the prospects in the minors and hoping for the best when they come to the majors.

But as Don Sebastian wrote: "I hate to say 'Wait till next year,' but seriously . . . this season gives us hope that the Tribe will contend over the next few years."

UPDATED: Bullpen stalwarts Vinnie Pestano and Joe Smith can't stop Tigers as the Tribe finishes the season at 80-82.

DETROIT — Two things would have made the Indians' season finale Wednesday night a great story, but manager Manny Acta said he didn't get kicked out of the game on purpose and they didn't beat the Tigers.

So the Indians' season, at one time soaring with the eagles, finished with a 10th straight loss to Detroit by the final score of 5-4 at Comerica Park. Jhonny Peralta, the former Indian, administered the defeat with a leadoff homer off Vinnie Pestano in the eighth inning to send the American League Central Division champs roaring into the postseason with 20 wins in their final 26 games.

The Indians, meanwhile, did their celebrating before the game when Chicago lost to Toronto to give them second place in the AL Central. It's not a worst-to-first turnaround like the Arizona Diamondbacks did this year, but fourth-to-second isn't too bad considering the Indians lost 93 games last year.

"I'm disappointed that we didn't at least finish .500," Acta said. "I think we played too well for too long to finish this way."

The Indians finished the year at 80-82. On May 23, they led the Central by seven games with a 30-15 record. They went 56-67 the rest of the way.

Acta was ejected by plate umpire Dan Bellino after Asdrubal Cabrera struck out to end the top of the first. It was speculated that Acta, ejected for just the second time this season, instigated the argument so bench coach Tim Tolman could manage the team in his final game on the coaching staff. Tolman announced before the game that he's been battling Parkinson's disease for the past two years and is resigning his coaching position.

Tolman managed Acta in the minors and was his bench coach in Washington.

"I would never make a mockery of the game," Acta said. "If I wanted Tolman to manage the game, I didn't have to get thrown out of the game. I could have just handed him the lineup cards and let him manage the game.

"He didn't manage the game. I managed the game from the tunnel. I was in the penalty box, right underneath the dugout. I know a lot of people thought that. Some of my players asked me that during the game, but that wasn't the plan."

As for Bellino's quick ejection, Acta said: "He's a tough guy from the new wave probably trying to make a name for himself. From what I hear from my fellow manager he's doing a pretty good job of it."

Rookie Zach McAllister gave the Indians five good innings. When he left, the Tribe was leading, 3-1. It did not last long and it was because the bullpen, the best part of the ballclub, couldn't hold a lead or tie.

Joe Smith, trying to put the finishing touches on his best season in the big leagues, started the sixth and gave up two runs as the Tigers tied the score, 3-3. Detroit took a 4-3 lead on rookie Zach Putnam's wild pitch in the seventh, but the Indians did not go into the off-season meekly.

Jack Hannahan pulled the Tribe into a 4-4 tie with a sacrifice fly in eighth against Ryan Perry. The Indians loaded the bases on a double by Travis Hafner and walks to Carlos Santana and Shelley Duncan.

McAllister allowed one run on six hits in five innings. He struck out four and walked one in his best start for the Tribe.

The Indians took a 1-0 lead in the third when Ezequiel Carrera tripled home Matt LaPorta off right-hander Rick Porcello. The Indians had two chances to get Carrera home, but couldn't do it.

They made it 3-0 with two runs in the third.

The Tigers made it 3-1 in the fourth with Martinez's single to score Delmon Young. Young hit a leadoff single to center and when Carrera let the ball get past him, he went to third on a two-base error.

"Our goal coming into the season was to win our division and make the playoffs," Hafner said. "We came up short there. But I think we put the excitement back in baseball in Cleveland.

"We're going to have a good team next year. Expectations are going to be high and anything short of making the playoffs will be a disappointment."

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

On Twitter: @hoynsie

On the last day of the season, the Indians clinched second place in the AL Central without swinging a bat; Sandy Alomar Jr. was named bench coach even though he could be the White Sox's next manager; and Manny Acta will have to get used to managing without his mentor in the dugout.

View full sizeChuck Crow, The Plain DealerIndians bench coach Tim Tolman, above, who announced Wednesday he has Parkinson's disease, is resigning and will next season be replaced by Sandy Alomar Jr. Tolman has been manager Manny Acta's mentor for years.

DETROIT — It doesn't matter if it's the first game of the season or the last because the swirling and churning of baseball never stops.

The Indians weren't going anywhere but home after Wednesday night's season finale against Detroit, but a couple hours before game time, it sounded as if they had just clinched a trip to the postseason.

Players were jammed into the TV room in the visitors' clubhouse at Comerica Park watching the White Sox play Toronto. When Chicago lost, 3-2, cheers erupted and music started blasting in the Indians' clubhouse. The only thing missing was plastic tarps covering the lockers and floors and the spray of champagne and beer.

Chicago's loss meant the Indians clinched second place in the AL Central regardless of the outcome of their game against Detroit. It also meant they'd collect second-place money from the players postseason pool. A full share could be worth more than $10,000 each, which probably explained why every song bouncing around the locker room had a money theme.

Player rep Justin Masterson called a team meeting Tuesday to decide how the money would be divided. Last year each second-place team received more than $500,000 to divide among players, coaches and staff.

Standing in the doorway watching the game and the celebration was bench coach Tim Tolman. It had already been announced that Tolman was stepping down and Sandy Alomar Jr. would replace him in 2012.

Tolman has Parkinson's disease. He was diagnosed two years ago in spring training, but Wednesday was the first time he publicly talked about it.

"I think there is some slowness of movement involved that doesn't allow me to do things I want to do on a daily basis," Tolman, 55, said. "It's not the only reason I'm doing this, but my feeling is that it's time for me to step away, make sure I'm getting the right treatment and keep a handle on it."

The move comes with speculation running high that Alomar could replace Ozzie Guillen as manager of the White Sox. GM Chris Antonetti said Alomar's promotion contained no conditions that would prevent him from seeking a manager's job.

"We would never get in the way of people moving forward in life," manager Manny Acta said. "If it was a lateral move, maybe we'd be disappointed. It's going to happen eventually because Sandy is a hot commodity in the game. He demonstrated that last year in the interview with the Blue Jays.

"Right now, this is our plan. If something better comes up for him, he has to do what he has to do."

Tolman has been Acta's mentor. He managed Acta as a player in the minors with Houston. When Acta was hired to manage the Washington Nationals, Tolman was the first coach he hired. Ditto with the Indians.

"When I was managing in the minors, and when I envisioned myself managing up here," Acta said. "I envisioned him sitting next to me up until the end of my career.

"It's going to be hard for me. I did not envision it ending this way."

Tolman will continue to work in the Indians' baseball operations department. His duties have not been defined.

In the first inning Wednesday against Detroit, plate umpire Dan Bellino ejected Acta following Asdrubal Cabrera's strikeout to end the first inning. The ejection came out of nowhere and left Tolman as acting manager.

Here's guessing that friendship rather than anger fueled the ejection.

Thumbs up: Tolman believes Alomar will do a good job as bench coach.

"I'm looking forward to Sandy getting this opportunity," Tolman said. "He's going to do a wonderful job. It's great that this position is open and we can keep him here."

Acta feels the same.

"Sandy is very talented," Acta said. "This is a step in the right direction for him and us. Eventually, he's going to end up being a big-league manager and this is a good step for him.

"He's very prepared and has passion for the game. He's one of those few guys who not only was a good player, but has the passion and willingness to put in the time and preparation for his duties."

Finally: Cabrera was supposed to take the last two games of the season off, but he told Acta he wanted to play Wednesday.

"I want to finish my season on the field," said Cabrera, who has been nursing a sore right elbow.

 SOLON, O. - Solon's 5-10 senior shooting guard Jaime Gluesing has given the women's basketball program at Florida Gulf Coast her oral commitment.    "I visited Gulf Coast, Cleveland State, Youngstown State, St. Francis (Pa.), Pitt and St. Bonaventure, and Bucknell was talking to me,'' said Gluesing.

 SOLON, O. - Solon's 5-10 senior shooting guard Jaime Gluesing has given the women's basketball program at Florida Gulf Coast her oral commitment.
 

 "I visited Gulf Coast, Cleveland State, Youngstown State, St. Francis (Pa.), Pitt and St. Bonaventure, and Bucknell was talking to me,'' said Gluesing.

 "Gulf Coast was my only offer although Cleveland State and Youngstown were on the verge of offering.''
 

 Gulf Coast made the offer in early June and Gluesing accepted a few weeks later.
 

 "I love warm weather and the team is awesome,'' said Gluesing, who leaning towards a major in sports management or nutrition. "They won the Atlantic Sun last year and they plan on playing me at the 2-guard.
 

 "I'm very happy and excited about my decision.''

Coaches like the zero that Ohio State freshman quarterback Braxton Miller put up against Colorado in the turnover department.

Jay LaPrete, Associated PressThe Buckeyes don't mind if QB Braxton Miller tucks the ball and runs.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — As if a reminder was really needed for any Ohio State football fan, freshman quarterback Braxton Miller's best stat last week was a zero.

"That was the most important thing we did last week, we did not turn the ball over," OSU offensive coordinator Jim Bollman said Wednesday. "That's always going to remain true around here, and anywhere, and he has a large part to do with that, the guy that's pulling the trigger."

Two weeks ago, Miller had an interception and a fumble in the loss at Miami, so compared with those two turnovers, the zero was even better.

Bollman said he expects that the edge will be taken off a bit for Miller this week when he makes his second start against Michigan State. Last week in a 37-17 win against Colorado, Miller took some hits while running the ball 17 times, many on called pass plays. Asked if the quarterbacks were practicing sliding this week, getting down to the ground before getting hit, Bollman only laughed and said he didn't notice. But he likes the idea, in general, of Miller running rather than letting the ball go when he's uncertain.

"That's part of the maturing process, knowing when something is open, feeling when it's open, feeling confident in throwing it, that's all part of it," Bollman said. "What he did last week, if he didn't feel good about it, he pulled it down. And as he improves in that part of the game, he'll end up throwing more balls. But I'm never going to sit here and tell him not to run it, because he can run the ball."

One place Miller could throw it more is to the tight end. The Buckeyes have completed only a total of 11 passes the past two weeks, so there haven't been a lot of footballs to go around. But after catching four touchdowns the first two weeks, tight end Jake Stoneburner hasn't had any catches in two weeks, and Bollman imagines defenses have reacted to Stoneburner's hot start.

"I'm sure they've tried to [stop him], but he's going to continue to be an important part of the passing game as it continues to grow," Bollman said. "No one has forgotten about him."

Also: Bollman didn't sound optimistic about starting receiver Corey "Philly" Brown returning from an ankle injury this week, though he didn't rule it out. Defensive coordinator Jim Heacock, as expected, said starting defensive end Nathan Williams still won't be back this week. . . . Asked if Joe Bauserman was still the backup quarterback, or if Kenny Guiton might now be No. 2, Bollman praised both and basically made it sound as if Bauserman was still next in line. . . . Bollman admitted that the offensive playbook remains limited by both the inexperience at quarterback and receiver. "We still have to make sure we're doing what that part of the outfit can handle," Bollman said. "Hopefully, that will keep getting larger as we go."

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: dlesmerises@plaind.com, 216-999-4479

A decision on all options must be made three days after the last game of the World Series, regardless of the language in individual contracts.

View full sizePDGrady Sizemore.

Clubhouse confidential: The Indians are working on a short leash when it comes to deciding on Grady Sizemore's $9 million club option for 2012. Not only are they waiting for Dr. Richard Steadman's findings -- he examined Sizemore's bruised right knee Monday -- but the timetable for exercising his option also has been shortened.

In agreement with the players association, a decision on all options must be made three days after the last game of the World Series, regardless of the language in individual contracts. Game 7 of the World Series is scheduled for Oct. 27.

"We have a number of decisions we have to make this off-season and we're going to take the time to get as much information as we can before making those decisions," GM Chris Antonetti said.

Closer look: Amid the rubble of the Indians' 9-6 loss to the Tigers on Tuesday, manager Manny Acta said he was impressed with the work of rookie relievers Nick Hagadone and Zach Putnam.

Hagadone threw 1 scoreless innings as he faced the minimum. He walked Ryan Raburn with one out in the seventh, but he was caught trying to steal. Putnam retired the Tigers in order in the eighth.

"They could be options for us next year," Acta said.

Stat of the day: Fausto Carmona finished first in the AL in runs allowed (125), second in earned runs allowed (110), tied for second in hit batters (14) and third in losses (15).

-- Paul Hoynes

Buckeyes Johnathan Hankins and Jordan Hall had more famous high school teammates, but it's hard to imagine Ohio State right now without this sophomore defensive tackle and junior running back.

Marvin Fong,The Plain DealerJohnathan Hankins was considered to be too big to be effective in high school. But the Buckeyes liked his enthusiasm.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio State went to look at some physical freaks, and along the way, it picked up some football players. Next to high school teammates who had nearly NFL-ready bodies, running back Jordan Hall was a little small and defensive lineman Johnathan Hankins was a little big.

Everyone knows the Buckeyes were checking out 6-6 quarterback Terrelle Pryor in Jeannette, Pa., when they saw the 5-9 Hall, former OSU coach Jim Tressel often retelling the tale of Hall catching his eye as a smart, quick point guard when he watched Pryor play basketball. On Saturday, the Buckeyes will face 6-7 Michigan State defensive end William Gholston, the top recruit they were checking on in Detroit the first time they came across Hankins.

"I knew that, with my talents and the way I played, people would see me, and it would draw interest in me," Hankins said. "But it was good having him on the team."

That's not unusual in recruiting. If you're a player who isn't quite a jump-off-the-film specimen, a talented teammate can be your best friend.

"Well, he was the No. 1 recruit in the country," Hall said of Pryor, "so that probably did factor in to it. I think, eventually, somebody would have come around."

They probably would have. Hall had a burst, and Hankins, at more than 300 pounds, had size. OSU defensive coordinator Jim Heacock, always on the lookout for big guys who want to work, said Wednesday his interest in Hankins was piqued when Hankins visited Ohio State and wouldn't stop talking football and asking to watch more video with Heacock.

"He wore me out on the visit," Heacock said. "He was so passionate about playing defensive line. Most big guys are lazy and don't want to work. He's a great kid."

And once you get to college, anything can happen. Recruiting rankings have value, but they don't follow you onto the field. At Southeastern High School, Gholston was a five-star prospect according to Rivals.com, the No. 1 player in Michigan and No. 21 player in the nation. He committed early to Michigan State and played some for the Spartans last season, and he is a starter this season as a pass-rush specialist who can chase players down in space but has yet to consistently stop the run.

Hankins, meanwhile, was a three-star recruit who was the No. 20 player in Michigan. He dropped weight at Ohio State, helped immediately as a freshman last year, and as a sophomore starter has proved to be much more than the space-eater some pegged him as during recruiting. He has been a big-bodied but nimble-footed tackle/end who can play the pass or the run. And that makes his continued conversations with Gholston pretty interesting.

"I always tell him I got an edge on him, but knowing him, he says that I don't," Hankins said with a smile this week. "We go back and forth."

Gholston very well may have a huge career ahead of him. The tools are there.

"From a physical standpoint, that kid was so impressive," Rivals.com Midwest recruiting analyst Josh Hemholdt said. "You see one or two kids a year who are really put together, and he was like that early in his high school career."

But right now, for where the players are in their careers and what the Buckeyes need going into Saturday's Big Ten opener, Hankins for Gholston is not a trade Ohio State would make.

"I think he unfairly got tabbed as having some questionable work habits," Hemholdt said of Hankins. "He showed some natural abilities, but he wasn't dominant until his senior year [in high school]. I definitely think it has been surprising. It's not that he couldn't do it, but it wasn't a sure thing."

Neither was Hall. One year younger than Pryor, he arrived at Ohio State after Pryor was already established as the starting quarterback. Now Pryor is in the NFL, his Ohio State career ending in controversy, while Hall remains as a player praised by coaches for his attitude, leadership and playmaking ability.

"Jordan is his own person," OSU coach Luke Fickell said. "Jordan is solid. It was never a thing when we recruited [that] they were two guys that had to go to the same place. It was a completely separate issue."

It has to be. Both Hankins and Hall, obviously, more than earned Ohio State's interest. And now Hankins wouldn't mind showing the Spartans that they should have given him the same scholarship offer they gave Gholston. While Hankins later drew offers from schools such as Michigan and Alabama, Michigan State never offered, already having filled up at defensive tackle.

"It'll probably give me more drive because they didn't offer me," Hankins said. "Stuff happens, and I'm glad to be where I am right now. And I'm pumped for this game."

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: dlesmerises@plaind.com, 216-999-4479

The contracts signed by top running backs such as Chris Johnson, Adrian Peterson, Frank Gore and DeAngelo Williams momentarily lifted Hillis' boat. It's smart for the Browns to let the tide ebb.

Michael Conroy, Associated PressPeyton Hillis is a fan favorite but are the Browns willing to pay him big bucks?

Three weeks ago, team President Mike Holmgren told ESPN the Browns were "trying like crazy" to get running back Peyton Hillis under contract "for a long time."

By that, I think he meant the Browns weren't trying like crazy to get Hillis under contract for a long time. Circumstances, after all, favor the team.

Unless Hillis' demands are atypically modest for running backs looking to cash in, there's no rush.

Holmgren wouldn't be the first team executive to tell fans what they want to hear while adopting a much more conservative stance privately. In John Hart's time with the Indians, he was consistently "kicking the tires" on top free-agent pitchers, yet never driving one off the lot.

There's nothing wrong with that. In fact, it wouldn't be wise for Holmgren to say anything else publicly or do anything rash in negotiations so early in a season framed by so many unknowns.

The contracts signed by top running backs such as Chris Johnson, Adrian Peterson, Frank Gore and DeAngelo Williams momentarily lifted Hillis' boat. It's smart for the Browns to let the tide ebb.

First of all, he's no Peterson and Johnson. Secondly, Peterson and Johnson are no Peterson and Johnson.

Johnson, who comes to town with the Tennessee Titans Sunday, is last in the league in yards per carry (2.1) among running backs with more than 25 carries. Statistically, he went from most underpaid to (temporarily) most overpaid in three short weeks.

In Minnesota, Peterson's father was quoted as calling his son "the league's highest-paid decoy." Carolina's Williams is next to last. Third from the bottom is Gore, rewarded this summer by the 49ers.

Three games is hardly a sample. The struggles are more symbolic of how running backs are dependent on offensive philosophies, good health, top offensive lines and other factors.

You can't blame productive NFL backs for trying to cash in at the end of their rookie contracts. They know better than anyone how much punishment they take and how the miles add up.

Hillis' idea of making tacklers miss last season was vaulting them. There are inherent risks in hurdling tacklers that make taking shots straight on safe by comparison.

Meanwhile, it's not a good time to be him. Despite his great work last year, the Browns won just a handful of games. Count the running backs in 2010 who had great (and losing) seasons.

The passing game is trumping the run, and not only where the West Coast offense operates. No doubt, Hillis' receiving ability makes him a good fit here. He's not one-dimensional, at least in that sense.

It's just this particular WCO is in its infancy, with a new head coach using the 2011 season to evaluate his personnel. One of those players is running back Montario Hardesty.

So in his contract year, Hillis figures to get fewer carries. Twice already this season (once while Hillis was sidelined), Colt McCoy threw 40 and 39 times, respectively.

Hardesty looked good against Miami Sunday. And fast. And healthy (for now).

Off that performance, the Browns can easily justify using him even more, if only to keep Hillis fresh. The byproduct of that arrangement would be to tilt even more leverage the Browns' way in contract negotiations.

Beyond all the statistical evidence indicating that long-term deals for running backs are risky business, Hillis' hopes of getting a top contract face another obstacle.

If Hardesty is as good as the Browns think he can be, the guy who owns the town and Madden cover could find himself in a time-share that ostensibly helps the team on the field but also in the negotiating room.

He said it

"I was being too candid." -- Michael Vick, "apologizing" for saying refs are allowing too many late hits on him.

(Translation: Did I say your butt looks big in those jeans? Sorry. What I mean to say is it does.)

Spinoffs

NCAA President Mark Emmert says the game of musical chairs among big-time football schools has left the impression that college sports is being driven by money. Nah. That couldn't be it.

"How many times have you read that in the past 10 days alone?" Emmert asked an assembly of athletic directors. "I didn't read about many of us stepping up and saying, 'Well, you know, this will actually work really well for student-athletes because . . . it'll help us stabilize our programs.' "

Yes. Especially those minor sports student-athletes now traveling a couple of thousand miles for a Tuesday volleyball game.

Said Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim: "If conference commissioners were the Founding Fathers of this country, we would have Guatemala, Uruguay and Argentina in the United States. This audience knows why we are doing this. There's two reasons: Money and football."

So, see, Emmert has a point. It's not just the money. It's also about football.

Bengals' running back Cedric Benson's case that he shouldn't be suspended for an incident that happened during the lockout makes sense on the surface. The players weren't employed by the NFL and were ostracized to the point that they couldn't rehab injuries at team facilities.

But Benson's stance isn't helped by Terrelle Pryor and Jim Tressel getting suspended for something that happened pre-NFL.

And all that will pale when NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell gets around to suspending a player -- probably Steelers linebacker James Harrison -- for excessive kicking in utero.

Two reporters from competing Philadelphia newspapers got into a physical altercation at the Eagles team facility Wednesday, leading one Philadelphia area website reader to comment: "They got more fight in them than the Eagles do."

You said it

"Hey, Bud: May I be the first to predict that this year's Super Bowl will be a rematch of The Great Lakes Classic?" -- Pat

Yes. And the last.

"Hey, Bud: Rumor has it we will have to pay a fee to be on Facebook. Are we going to have to pay a fee soon to get in your column?" -- Doug, Westlake

No. The price in lost dignity is already steep enough.

"Bud: The 'Spin' has let its readers write your columns for some time now. You have inspired me to pen my own novel. When can you deliver the manuscript?" -- Jim Lefkowitz

Soon. It's the story of a Cleveland sportswriter who revolutionizes the use of the semicolon. It goes without saying; I'll be played by Fabio; in the movie version.

"Hey, Bud: Ever wonder why everyone always says you're 'preaching to the choir?' Shouldn't it be your 'preaching to the converted,' or your 'singing to the choir?' Or, 'I was walking on eggshells.' Shouldn't it be, 'I was walking on eggs'?" -- Devin, Euclid

For some odd reason, I heard your email in the voice of Andy Rooney.

"Bud: What conclusions do you draw when Bengals' players are caught with 14 pounds of marijuana and yet they catch the Browns napping?" -- Michael Sarro

That maybe it's true what they say about secondhand smoke?

"Hey, Bud: Is [Jim] Thome's new statue on rollers?" -- Bill Weekley

First-time "You said it" winners receive a T-shirt from the mental-floss collection. Repeat winners receive "Jim Thome's Guide to Philadelphia, Chicago, Los Angeles and Minneapolis."

Regular-season games could be at stake when NBA owners and players meet this weekend. And those might not be all that is lost, Commissioner David Stern warned, without real headway toward a new labor deal.

AP Photo"All I'd say to that is that there are enormous consequences at play here on the basis of the weekend," NBA Commissioner David Stern said.

NEW YORK — Regular-season games could be at stake when NBA owners and players meet this weekend.

And those might not be all that is lost, Commissioner David Stern warned, without real headway toward a new labor deal.

"All I'd say to that is that there are enormous consequences at play here on the basis of the weekend," Stern said Wednesday. "Either we'll make very good progress, and we know what that would mean — we know how good that would be, without putting dates to it — or we won't make any progress and then it won't be a question of just starting the season on time, it will be a lot at risk because of the absence of progress."

Talks between negotiators ended after two days Wednesday so they could return home before summoning their respective bargaining committees to New York for the most important stretch of the lockout. They will meet Friday and are prepared to talk through the weekend if progress toward a new collective bargaining agreement is being made.

There hasn't been enough of it so far, with the lockout nearly three months complete.

Both Stern and union president Derek Fisher of the Lakers said they are not close, with the Nov. 1 season opener a little more than a month away, and Fisher added the commitment to block out multiple days this weekend "points more toward the calendar than actually being able to measure progress."

"It points to the realities that we face with our calendar and that if we can't find a way to get some common ground really, really soon, then the time of starting the regular season at its scheduled date is going to be in jeopardy big-time," he added.

Training camps already have been postponed and 43 games scheduled for the first week of the preseason have been canceled. The league has said it will make decisions about the remainder of exhibition play as warranted, and those could come shortly.

The league denied an ESPN.com report that Stern planned to threaten players with cancellation of the entire 2011-12 season if there wasn't progress toward a deal by the end of the weekend.

"It's simply not true," NBA spokesman Tim Frank said.

Fisher said some of the league's biggest names could join the executive committee in Friday's meeting, and Miami guard Dwyane Wade has committed to attend.

Wade was part of a meeting about labor issues at the 2010 All-Star weekend in Dallas, when players were briefed about owners' plans for dramatic changes to the league's salary structure. Owners have been looking to reduce the players' guarantee of basketball-related income from 57 percent to somewhere in the mid-40s.

"I look forward to learning something that I didn't learn two years ago," Wade told The Associated Press in a telephone interview. "Hopefully, it's different information, something that will move us forward. Hopefully we don't walk out of the meeting back at where we were at the All-Star game two years ago."

Wade has been in New York for the past couple days for business meetings. When the invitation came to attend Friday's session, he did not hesitate.

"I've talked to a couple guys," Wade said. "I'm here. ... I was going to leave tomorrow, but I'm going to stay in town and go to the next meeting."

Fisher will brief the players first on the state of the talks.

"I can't say that common ground is evident, but our desire to try to get there I think is there," Fisher said. "We still have a great deal of issues to work through, so there won't be any magic that will happen this weekend to just make those things go away, but we have to put the time in."

The sides met for about four hours Wednesday, again in small groups.

The full groups have met only once since the lockout began July 1, and it resulted in a setback. Players were prepared to make what union executive director Billy Hunter called a "significant" financial concession, but owners rejected their call to leave the current salary cap structure intact as a condition of the move.

Deputy Commissioner Adam Silver said it was time to go back to the larger groups again because "whatever decisions we are now going to be making would be so monumental given the point of the calendar that we're at."

Stern wouldn't comment on reports that owners had softened their insistence on a hard salary cap in favor of adding more restrictions to the current cap system that allows teams to exceed it through use of certain exceptions. Nor would he say if the season could still start on Nov. 1 without any preseason play.

"I shouldn't deal with hypotheticals here," he said. "I'm focused on let's get the two committees in and see whether they can either have a season or not have a season, and that's what's at risk this weekend."

-- BRIAN MAHONEY

How would you grade the Cleveland Indians' season?

PD fileManny Acta was a bright spot for the Indians this season.

The Cleveland Indians ended the regular season with their 10th straight loss against the Detroit Tigers, and they were not able to finish the season at .500.

That especially hurts because the Tribe played well at times during the season, but after losing 93 games the year before, it's still an impressive season.

So how would you grade the Tribe? Was finishing 80-82 enough for a good grade?

I remember the tapings of "Championship Wrestling with Johnny Powers" at the Channel 43 Studios on Day Drive in Parma back in the '70s.

Bob PalmerAbdullah, the Madman from the Sudan, also known as Larry Shreve from Windsor, Ontario.

I remember the tapings of "Championship Wrestling with Johnny Powers" at the Channel 43 Studios on Day Drive in Parma back in the '70s.

I forget what time they actually started taping on those Saturdays, but I do remember kids showing up hours before, hoping to see the wrestlers as they arrived.

This one Saturday I saw a cab pull up. The passenger was Abdullah the Butcher, the Madman from the Sudan, known for eating raw chickens and not being able to speak. As the kids watched him get out of the cab, he turned, gave them a "look," and went right into the building.

The kids then ran over to the cab driver and wanted to know what Abdullah was like and how he "communicated" with him.

I'm guessing the cab driver had no idea who Abdullah was and why the kids were so interested, because his response was, "He was a nice guy. We were talking about football."

-- Bob Palmer, Brunswick

Read more about Abdullah the Butcher

• Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame profile page

• Abdullah honored with Hall of Fame (Slam! Wrestling)

• Blood, sweat and fears: Abdullah accused of spreading hepatitis (Maclean's)

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• Whatever happened to Pampero Firpo?

• Success on 'Bowling for Dollars' made me a hit with the ladies

Today on 'Browns Insider,' The Plain Dealer's Tony Grossi in Berea along with Mary Kay Cabot and Dennis Manoloff wrap up the win over the Dolphins, preview this Sunday's game against the Titans and tackle your questions. Could the Browns win three straight? You may be surprised at their predictions at the end of the show. Watch video

Today on 'Browns Insider,' The Plain Dealer's Tony Grossi in Berea along with Mary Kay Cabot and Dennis Manoloff wrap up the win over the Dolphins, preview this Sunday's game against the Titans and tackle your questions. Could the Browns win three straight? You may be surprised at their predictions at the end of the show.

- Has Colt McCoy done enough to convince you now that he's the guy?

- Is Josh Cribbs a legitimate wide receiver now?

- What's holding up the Peyton Hillis contract talks?

- Can you explain Evan Moore's lack of playing time?

- Is the play of the defensive line surprising?

- What is the big matchup to watch Sunday against the Titans?

- Who are you picking for this game?

plus, a whole lot more!

'Browns Insider' airs live on cleveland.com every Thursday at 10 a.m.

Want to submit a question for next week's show? Email your videos to sports@cleveland or stay tuned to cleveland.com/browns next Tuesday for info on how to Skype your question to us.

Plain Dealer Indians writer adds that he's not sure if Matt LaPorta will return at first base. Watch video

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

The Indians wrapped up their 2011 season Wednesday night with a loss to the AL Central Division champions, the Detroit Tigers. As you look at the Tribe's season as a whole, what grade would you give it? That's the question in today's Starting Blocks poll.

Today's guest on SBTV is Plain Dealer Indians beat reporter Paul Hoynes, who was in Detroit covering Wednesday night's game. He gives the Tribe a grade in the B range.

Hoynsie also projects what the Indians' starting lineup will be in 2012; discusses the crazy finish to the regular season that put the Tampa Bay Rays in the AL playoffs and left the Boston Red Sox on the outside looking in; and predicts the World Series champion.

SBTV will return Friday with Plain Dealer Browns reporter Tony Grossi answering fan questions from his weekly Hey, Tony! feature.

And don't miss this week's edition of the Browns Insider webcast, which streamed at 10 a.m. today and is available in archived version now.

Pitching coach Tim Belcher steps down a day after bench coach Tim Tolman resigned to deal with Parkinson's Disease.

Chuck Crow, The Plain DealerTim Belcher, Indians pitching coach, steps down.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Manager Manny Acta's coaching staff suffered another loss today when pitching coach Tim Belcher stepped down to spend more time with his family. Bullpen coach Scott Radinksy is believed to be a leading candidate to replace him.

Before Wednesday's season finale, bench coach Tim Tolman said he was stepping aside to deal with Parkinson's Disease, an affliction that he was diagnosed with two years ago. First base coach Sandy Alomar Jr. was named the new bench coach for 2012, but he's a candidate to replace Ozzie Guillen as manager of the Chicago White Sox.

GM Chris Antonetti and Acta will address the coaching staff situation and other offseason matters with reporters today at Progressive Field.

Pitching, since the second half of the 2010 season, has been the strength of the Indians. Acta continually credited Belcher and Radinsky with the staff's progress.

This was Belcher's second year on Acta's staff. Before that the 14-year big league  veteran spent eight years working with pitchers throughout the Indians system. It's believed he'll assume that role again.

Belcher, in a statement, said, "After much reflection and deliberation, I have decided not to return as the pitching coach for the 2012 season.

"When I accepted the position two years ago, I understood and embraced the challenges of the role.  Over the last two years I was fully committed to the responsibilities of the job and enjoyed it.

"However, as I began to look forward to 2012, I felt that I would not be able to balance the changing needs of my family and the demands of the job. As a result, I have decided that it would be best for me to step away from coaching at this time."

Under Belcher, Justin Masterson became the Indians ace this season. When the Indians acquired from Boston in 2009 he was a pitcher bouncing between the rotation and bullpen. The Indians made a commitment to him as a starter and this year it paid off.

Masterson went 12-10 with a 3.21 ERA in 34 appearances, including 33 starts. He threw a career high 216 innings and led the team in strikeouts with 158.

Josh Tomlin won 12 games before being sidelined by a right elbow injury and Carlos Carrasco showed progress before he underwent Tommy John surgery. Jeanmar Gomez arrived from Class AAA Columbus in late August and won five straight starts.

On the negative side, former ace Fausto Carmona faded. Carmona went 7-15 with 5.25 ERA. He finished first in runs allowed, second in earned runs allowed and third in losses in the AL.

The bullpen was the hook that the Indians hung their hat this season. Radinsky, who made 557 relief appearances in the big leagues, did a nice job with the pen. They ended the season at 27-21 with 38 saves and the fifth best ERA in the AL at 3.71.

Ruben Niebla, Indians pitching coach at Class AAA Columbus, is another possible candidate for a spot on Acta's staff. He was credited with helped Gomez and David Huff at Columbus this season.

Clippers manager Mike Sarbaugh, who has won two straight national Class AAA titles, should get some consideration as well. Even if the Alomar stays with the Indians, they're going to need a first base coach.

CineSport's Brian Clark asks the Plain Dealer's Doug Lesmerises about Ohio State's offense, the Fickell-Dantonio dynamic, and OSU's upcoming game with Michigan State.

CineSport's Brian Clark asks the Plain Dealer's Doug Lesmerises about Ohio State's offense, the Fickell-Dantonio dynamic, and OSU's upcoming game with Michigan State.

For more Cinesport video, go here.

"I am not sure what the rush is to Judge Colt. Has he done enough? Let me answer that for you. He has done enough to earn the rest of this season as the unquestioned starter. The kid has played what, 10, 11 games? So in essence he is still in his rookie season and has had two different offensive system in that time. He has won how many games as a rookie? With these wide receivers? With John Turnstile St Clair at RT followed by the two clowns that have started the last three games? If this were a loaded offense with No. 1 draft picks all over, the story would be different." - Ghostrider70

View full sizeJohn Kuntz | The Plain DealerIt's still early in Colt McCoy's career.

In response to the story Browns Insider: Previewing the Titans game, cleveland.com reader Ghostrider70 thinks it's too early to judge McCoy. This reader writes,

"I am not sure what the rush is to Judge Colt. Has he done enough? Let me answer that for you. He has done enough to earn the rest of this season as the unquestioned starter. The kid has played what, 10, 11 games? So in essence he is still in his rookie season and has had two different offensive system in that time. He has won how many games as a rookie? With these wide receivers? With John Turnstile St Clair at RT followed by the two clowns that have started the last three games? If this were a loaded offense with No. 1 draft picks all over, the story would be different."

"Consensus is that this was a fun year, and I have to agree. Yeah, the end result wasn't what you wanted, but lots of good things happened and it was a fun summer of baseball. Can't wait for next year when we should be even better." - hermie13

View full sizeAP Photo | Amy Sancetta2011 was a season of home plate celebrations for the Tribe, at least at times.

In response to the story Clearly not the best Cleveland Indians season of the past decade, but one of the most interesting: Terry Pluto, cleveland.com reader hermie13 had fun in 2011. This reader writes,

"Consensus is that this was a fun year, and I have to agree. Yeah, the end result wasn't what you wanted, but lots of good things happened and it was a fun summer of baseball. Can't wait for next year when we should be even better."