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Rams coach Jeff Fisher says Cleveland Browns at No. 4 are potential trade partner

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Rams coach Jeff Fisher said the Browns at No. 4 are a potential trade partner for the Rams, despite their failed attempt to trade up to No. 2 with St. Louis to drat Robert Griffin III.

Jeff FisherAre the Rams targeting the Browns' No. 4 pick?

PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Rams coach Jeff Fisher said today that the Browns at No. 4 are "a potential trade partner'' for the Rams despite their failed attempt to move up to No. 2 with the Rams to draft Robert Griffin III.

Fisher said Browns President Mike Holmgren's comments about the Rams and Redskins pulling off the blockbuster deal for No. 2 because of their close relationships wouldn't preclude a draft day deal.

The Rams now have the No. 6 pick as the result of that deal.

"No, I didn't pay much attention to (Holmgren's) comments,'' said Fisher. "They were very fruitful discussions. They are a potential trade partner with us.''

Fisher acknowledged it would be ironic for the Rams to trade back up with the Browns considering what's transpired.

"Yea, I would think so,'' he said. "I don't know if we'd consider going that high.
 Those conversations aren't going to take place until draft day because your guy's got to be there. It'll be interesting to see what kind of compensation they want. We're very happy with the compensation we've got right now over the next couple of years.''

Fisher said it's very realistic that they'll move from No. 6, either up or down.

The Rams like Justin Blackmon among other players, and Fisher said he wouldn't doubt someone trading up to get him. "I could see somebody doing that,'' he said.

He also said teams inquired about trading for Sam Bradford, but wouldn't say if the Browns were one of them. They tried to trade up to draft him 2010, and Pat Shurmur loves him after coaching him his rookie year.

Follow @marykaycabot on Twitter


Aston Villa to play 3 matches in United States

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Aston Villa, currently struggling in 15th place in the English Premier League, is owned by Cleveland Browns owner Randy Lerner. They will play in Philadelphia, Chicago and Portland this summer.

eric lichajEric Lichaj will be playing against his hometown club Chicago Fire on July 21.

English Premier League team Aston Villa, home to U.S. national team defender Eric Lichaj and goalkeeper Brad Guzan, will tour the U.S. this summer and play exhibitions against the Philadelphia Union, Portland Timbers and the Chicago Fire, the hometown club of both American players.

Villa, currently struggling in 15th place in the English Premier League, is owned by Cleveland Browns owner Randy Lerner. The Birmingham club will start its trip at the Union’s PPL Park on July 18 before heading to Chicago for the match against the Fire on July 21. Portland then will play host on July 24.

Guzan, 27, joined Villa from Chivas USA in the summer of 2008 and has been a reserve for the most part, despite performing well when given the opportunity. The Homer Glenn, Ill. product has appeared in nine games this season and saved a penalty kick in Villa’s FA Cup win over Bristol Rovers in early January. He played for the Fire’s reserve team in the USL Premier Development League in ’04.

Lichaj, 23, is from Downers Grove, Ill., to the west of downtown Chicago, and played for the Fire’s reserves in the summer of ‘06. He signed with Villa in ’07 following his freshman season at the University of North Carolina.

Lichaj suffered a serious hip injury last August and finally returned to action with the senior side on Saturday when he played the final 12 minutes of a 3-0 loss at Arsenal. Villa is the fourth European club to announce plans to play friendlies in the U.S. this summer. Fellow EPL teams Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea are coming, as is Spanish power Valencia.

-- Brian Straus, Sporting News


Ohio State Buckeyes and Final Four: Where to look for extensive coverage

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The Final Four will be played in New Orleans. The Plain Dealer and its sister publication, the (New Orleans) Times-Picayune, have it covered.

sullinger-matta.jpgAll-American forward Jared Sullinger, coach Thad Matta and the Buckeyes are seeking the second national championship in Ohio State men's basketball history.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- It's the Ohio State Buckeyes vs. the Kansas Jayhawks, and the Kentucky Wildcats vs. the Louisville Cardinals in college basketball's Final Four.

The semifinal games will be played as a Saturday night doubleheader. The winners will play for the national championship next Monday night.

The games will be played at the Superdome in New Orleans.

The Plain Dealer and its website, cleveland.com, and the (New Orleans) Times-Picayune and its website, nola.com, provide Final Four coverage. The PD and Times-Picayune, and their websites, are sister publications.

Plain Dealer Ohio State beat writer Doug Lesmerises, columnist Bill Livingston and photographers John Kuntz and Marvin Fong will cover the Buckeyes and the Final Four.

Plain Dealer and cleveland.com Ohio State coverage is ongoing, as is overall March Madness coverage. Among the featured stories is Doug Lesmerises' report that All-American forwards Jared Sullinger of Ohio State and Thomas Robinson of Kansas will play against each other after Sullinger missed the teams' regular season game -- a 78-67 Kansas win at home over the Buckeyes on Dec. 10 -- with an injury. 

Times-Picayune and nola.com Final Four coverage already includes numerous features, and will pick up as the teams arrive in the Crescent City. Stories include Nakia Hogan's look back to the 1982 national championship game in New Orleans, when North Carolina freshman Michael Jordan's jump shot gave the Tar Heels a 63-62 win over Georgetown.

Peter Finney writes about the strained relationship between two of the Final Four's coaches, Kentucky's John Calipari and Louisville's Rick Pitino.

Finney details how the two used to be friends, but also writes:

It’s not like that anymore. Time has chilled the relationship.

“We don’t send each other Christmas cards,” said Pitino, now the coach of the Louisville Cardinals, who will play Calipari’s Wildcats in a national semifinals game Saturday at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.

The Columbus Dispatch and its website of course continue their Ohio State coverage.

Among the Columbus Dispatch reports is Todd Jones' story about the Jared Sullinger vs. Thomas Robinson matchup.

Jones writes (referring to Kansas coach Bill Self):

Sullinger also is the first player to repeat as a freshman and sophomore All-American choice since Chris Jackson of LSU in 1989 and 1990. The Columbus native is the fourth Ohio State player to repeat, joining Jerry Lucas, Robin Freeman and Gary Bradds.

Ohio State knew what it had in Sullinger when the season began. Robinson’s development into an All-American was more of a surprise because he averaged just 7.6 points and 6.4 rebounds in 14.6 minutes per game last season.

“I thought he could be all-league first-team,” Self said. “That would have been a big story for a guy who was averaging 14 minutes a game last year.”

The Final Four: Which team will win it all? Poll

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Kentucky is the favorite, but which team will win the NCAA Title?

rickp.jpgRick Pitino

Now that we're down to the Final Four, Kentucky remains the favorite but before you give them the crown, remember that John Calipari has had great talent before, and he still doesn't have any titles.

Louisville is probably the hottest team and Rick Pitino is the best coach left in the tournament. Don't forget about those Ohio State Buckeyes. They play defense. Kansas can win it all because of one man ---- Thomas Robinson.

 








Talk Tribe with Paul Hoynes at noon today

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

hoynes-headshot.jpgPaul Hoynes talks Tribe baseball and answers your questions in his weekly chat every Wednesday.

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

Who will win the fifth starter spot in the rotation? Did Lonnie Chisenhall deserve a shot to start at third on Opening Day? What area of this team should fans be worried about?

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

Be sure to follow Paul on Twitter.

Chat with Tribe closer Chris Perez today at 3:30 P.M.

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Have a question for Indians closer Chris Perez? Now's your chance to ask him. Join Glenn Moore today at 3:30 P.M. for the ninth edition of "30 Minutes of Pure Rage".

Chris PerezView full sizeChris Perez answers your questions live today at 3:30 p.m.
Have a question for Indians closer Chris Perez? Now's your chance to ask him.

Join Glenn Moore today at 3:30 P.M. for the ninth edition of "30 Minutes of Pure Rage".

We will get the latest update on his injury and road to being back full-time. We will also talk about the season and what the Tribe needs to do to compete in the American League.

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

You will be able to call in to ask Chris your question as well. The number to call is 440-678-7599.


Note: To turn off audio alerts in the chatroom, click on the round button on bottom left of the chat room, then preferences. Uncheck all audio options and save.

Cleveland Indians P.M. links: To compete, Ubaldo Jimenez must excel and team must avoid injuries

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Jimenez must pitch better than he has over the last 1 1/2 seasons, and the Indians -- lacking in depth -- must be relatively healthy. Links to more Indians stories.

ubaldo-jimenez.jpgUbaldo Jimenez was as good as any pitcher in baseball during the first half of the 2010 season (with the Colorado Rockies), but he has been erratic since then.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The 2011 season left fans wondering what kind of team the Cleveland Indians really were.

The mystery is relevant as the 2012 season nears, for the Tribe's nucleus is virtually the same as it was last season.

The Indians stunned the baseball world by beginning the 2011 campaign with a 30-15 record. The problem was that 45 games represents just 28 percent of a 162-game season.

Cleveland faltered the rest of the way, going 50-67 to finish 80-82. Yet, how much did that four-month slide really say about the quality of the team? The Indians were, after all, besieged by injuries.

It can be reasoned, though, that the injuries also revealed a lack of quality big league-caliber/big league-ready players throughout the organization.

The consensus among pundits around the country seems to be that the Indians will be an average club this season, but with a chance -- if most everything goes right -- to be pretty good.

Anthony Witrado of the Sporting News, writing in his American League Central Division preview, picks the Indians to finish third among the division's five teams.

He indicates, too, that things could go quite wrong for the Tribe, as he writes:

3. CLEVELAND INDIANS

What must go right: Ubaldo Jimenez was once considered one of the majors’ best pitchers (15-1, 2.20 ERA in the first half of 2010), but he was a disaster last season (10-13, 4.68 ERA for the Rockies and Indians). Cleveland sacrificed prospects to acquire Jimenez last July, but he continued to struggle. Unless he is a front-line pitcher, the Indians’ rotation won’t be good enough to compete.

What could go wrong: This isn’t a deep club, and injuries could cripple it. Center fielder Grady Sizemore went down in spring training, and it will be a lost season if that trend continues.

Plain Dealer columnist Terry Pluto writes about Jimenez's mixed-results performance in his spring training start on Tuesday, and Indians beat writer Paul Hoynes, via video, talks about the Tribe, and also says that health will be a key matter for the Indians this season.

Plain Dealer and cleveland.com Indians coverage includes Paul Hoynes' Cleveland Indians spring training briefing; Hoynes' podcast; his Indians Insider; and more.

Around the horn

Optioning third baseman Lonnie Chisenhall to Class AAA Columbus was the right move by the Indians, Lewie Pollis writes for the blog "Wahoo's on First." 

Jack Hannahan wins the Indians' third base job. by Jordan Bastian for MLB.com.

Indians notebook by Sheldon Ocker of the Akron Beacon Journal.

A 2012 player preview on infielder-outfielder Russ Canzler, who is trying to win an Indians' roster spot. By Lewie Pollis for the blog "Wahoo's on First."

A video interview, with some playing highlights, of middle infielder Tony Wolters -- one of the Indians' top minor league prospects. By Tony Lastoria for Indians Prospect Insider.

The competition for the Indians' left field job. On the blog "WaitingForNextYear."

Indians notes, leading off with the team holding a workout for free agent Vladimir Guerrero. By Jordan Bastian for MLB.com.

Projected lineups, starting rotations and closers for all 30 major league teams. On CBSSports.com.

What's new in 2012 with the Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field (video)

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The Cleveland Indians held their media day where they showcase what in new and exciting this year at Progressive Field. Bob DiBiasio, Senior Vice President of Public Affairs, tells you about this years special events, giveaways, and new food. Watch video


The Cleveland Indians held their media day where they showcase what in new and exciting this year at Progressive Field.

Bob DiBiasio, Senior Vice President of Public Affairs, tells you about this years special events, giveaways, and new food.

To reach this Plain Dealer videographer: dandersen@plaind.com

On Twitter: @CLEvideos


Chris Perez chats with Vinnie Pestano about the Cleveland fans, clubhouse antics and hecklers : Podcast

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Listen to the ninth edition of “30 Minutes of Pure Rage” with Cleveland Indians closer Chris Perez, heard only on cleveland.com. This week's guest was fellow reliever, Vinnie Pestano.

vinnie pestano.JPGView full sizeTribe reliever Vinnie Pestano joined closer Chris Perez and they talked about playing in Cleveland, the fans and clubhouse antics during Chris' weekly podcast.

Listen to the ninth edition of “30 Minutes of Pure Rage” with Cleveland Indians closer Chris Perez, heard only on cleveland.com.

This week's guest was fellow reliever, Vinnie Pestano.

Pestano talks about the fans of Cleveland, visiting ballpark hecklers and clubhouse antics. He also talked about growing up a Kansas City Royals fan.

Chris and Glenn Moore also talked about coming back from his injury and pitching tomorrow in his first spring training game.

Other topics discussed:

• What they like in a manager and coach.

• Should Tribe fans be worried about the pitching staff's performance so far this spring training?

• What closers did they look up to growing up.

You can download the mp3 or listen with the player to the right. The chat is live every Wednesday at 3:30 p.m.

Be sure to also follow Chris Perez on Twitter.

Cleveland Browns P.M. links: Analyst's impression of Ryan Tannehill - skills to be quality NFL starter; will be drafted before he should be

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Tannehill was a superb wide receiver at Texas A&M as a freshman and sophomore, before playing quarterback his last two seasons. Links to more Browns stories.

ryan-tannehill.jpgRyan Tannehill caught 101 passes for 1,453 yards during his first two seasons at Texas A&M; became the Aggies' quarterback as a junior; completed 62 percent of his passes as a senior, for 3,744 yards, 29 touchdowns and 15 interceptions.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cleveland Browns' deep thinkers have spoken of quarterback Colt McCoy as their guy over the last few days.

Skepticism remains about their true thoughts, considering: "What else can they say?"

The Browns were rebuffed in apparent efforts to trade up in the draft, to presumably select Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III. They have not acquired a signal-caller via trade or free agency. Whether they have made any attempts to do so, and to what degree, maybe only they know.

Most draft analysts believe that Texas A&M's Ryan Tannehill will be the third quarterback drafted, following Griffin and Stanford's Andrew Luck. The Indianapolis Colts and Washington Redskins are expected to select Luck and Griffin, respectively, with the first two picks, though the Colts are making noise that they could go with Griffin at No. 1 instead, leaving Luck, presumably, for the Redskins.

The Browns own two first-round picks: Nos. 4 and 22, overall. Some observers feel Cleveland could take Tannehill at No. 4., though most believe that would be over-valuing Tannehill, a superb athlete who excelled at wide receiver during his first two college seasons.

The Plain Dealer's Mary Kay Cabot, in fact, reports that the Browns will have Tannehill visit them prior to the draft.

Greg Cosell has studied Tannehill's play at quarterback for the Aggies. Cosell writes at length about Tannehill for the NFL Films Blog on nfl.com, and concludes:

Overall, I did not necessarily see the kind of improvement over time I would have liked. In the final analysis, Tannehill is a better prospect than Christian Ponder was a year ago. Tannehill possesses the skill set to be a quality NFL starter. At this point, he would be best in a quick-rhythm, short-to-intermediate passing game that featured play-action and boot-action passes. One thing we know for certain: He likely will be drafted higher than his body of work suggests he should be.

Plain Dealer and cleveland.com Browns coverage includes Mary Kay Cabot's report that St. Louis Rams coach Jeff Fisher says the Browns and Rams are potential trade partners; a Starting Blocks poll asking whether the Browns should trade down in the draft, from the No. 4 overall pick to No. 6 and other considerations; and more.

Goal to goal

Reactions to what Browns coach Pat Shurmur had to say at the NFL owners meetings. By Jamison Hensley for ESPN.com.

Pat Shurmur and Colt McCoy have been having positive conversations. By Vic Carucci for clevelandbrowns.com.

Draft Alabama running back Trent Richardson at No. 4? On the blog "Dawgs by Nature."

Browns notes and observations. By Steve Doerschuk for the Canton Repository.

Ryan Tannehill to visit the Browns. By Jamison Hensley for ESPN.com.

The Browns' talk about Colt McCoy doesn't necessarily exclude Ryan Tannehill from their plans. By Craig Lyndall for the blog "WaitingForNextYear."

Draft matters regarding the Browns. By Steve Doerschuk for the Canton Repository.

Keeping track of draft prospects' scheduled visits with the Browns. By Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal.

Where is Randy Lerner? Yes to Vladimir Guerrero and Phil Taylor trolling on plane : Blog Roundup

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Here are what blogs from Cleveland and around the country are saying about the Browns, Cavaliers and Indians.

Here are what blogs from Cleveland and around the country are saying about the Browns, Cavaliers and Indians.


randy-lerner-mike-holmgren.jpgHow does Randy Lerner, left, compare to other Cleveland owners, like Paul Dolan?
Cleveland Browns


Daryl Ruiter of FM 92.3 The Fan talks about the negative perception of Cleveland Browns owner Randy Lerner and his absence at the NFL Meetings in Palm Beach, Florida this week.
"An owner of a franchise has two primary responsibilities: ensure a fluid and sufficient cash flow to operate the team and hire the proper people to run it.


Lerner has handled the first part with ease. "

The folks over at Kissing Suzy Kolber give a detailed report on Cleveland Browns defensive tackle Phil Taylor trolling a passenger on a plane.
"Browns defensive tackle Phil Taylor may not be a Peter King-decreed Elite Flyer, possibly because he deigns to travel in coach, but he is an Elite Troll of the Skies, as evidenced by the way he tortured the fat beardy white guy next to him on a flight who Taylor caught complaining via text about being seated with a giant black man. Judging from the photos, it may or may not have been Brian Posehn."

guerrero-swing-2010-ap.jpgShould the Indians take a longer look at free agent outfielder Vladimir Guerrero?
Cleveland Indians


Jordan Bastian of MLB.com writes about the Tribe working out free agent outfielder Vladimir Guerrero. He also writes on how Shelley Duncan is the leading man for the left fielder job.
"In a wide-ranging sit-down with reporters on Tuesday morning, Antonetti noted that it was Guerrero who contacted Cleveland about his desire to work out for the ballclub. Always on the lookout for ways to improve their roster, the Indians obliged and watched Guerrero go through hitting and fielding drills."

Josh Flagner of More Than a Fan writes a piece and compares Cleveland owners Paul Dolan and Randy Lerner.
"As fans, we usually either blame or credit ownership. Life is a top-down proposition. The few at the top are ultimately responsible for the many at the bottom, and there aren’t many instances that this is more evident than in a professional sports organization. Randy Lerner takes twice the daily blame than does Mike Holmgren or Tom Heckert. (Or even Pat Shurmur, which is pretty tough to believe) Browns fans have spent the last two months fervently arguing about what player to draft, each fan stubbornly declaring that his way is the correct way and any deviance is proof of Homlgren and Heckert’s ineptitude. No matter what player the Browns choose, half of the city will be circulating a new batch of petitions for owner Randy Lerner to sell the franchise on the basis that he’s the idiot that hired these idiots."

01.25.11 Byron Scott.jpgIt's been a long March for Cavaliers head coach Byron Scott.
Cleveland Cavaliers


Conrad Kaczmarek of Fear the Sword gives his quick thoughts on the Cavaliers loss to the Philadelphia 76ers last night and about the season.
"My less-quick thoughts would be that this season is about to get hard. I know that I've been calling for the Cavs to lose games to optimize their draft position, but watching crappy performances every night is going to wear on me/you. Nobody really performed all that well and since April is going to be an absolute nightmare schedule-wise, Byron Scott isn't about to waste Kyrie Irving and Tristan Thompson in games that are well out of hand. When you have to save guys since you're playing 16 games in 23 days, you end up with games like last night."

And finally, Jeff Caplan of ESPN Dallas writes about former Cleveland Cavalier Delonte West, now with the Mavericks and his trip to the zoo. Hilarious Delonte ensues.
"Well, I think they noticed as soon as I came into the zoo my natural animal instinct, you know what I mean?" Delonte said, speaking of the actual animals. "I got a chance to eat with the lions, you know? They had Lamar playing with the penguins, but they needed me for the more animalistic-type of things, carnivore-type of things. So, I also had a chance to give birth to a baby cheetah today and I’m just overwhelmed with the experience to be amongst my own and my peers."

Have a post that you think should be featured in our daily Blog Roundup? Email the link here.

Browns can trade down to No. 6 and still get playmaker - Comment of the Day

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"If Blackmon, Richardson and Claiborne are available at 4, I would trade down to 6 in a heartbeat. Add the 2nd round pick this year and profit. Any of these 3 are a major upgrade and make an immediate impact. Then we take the next 3 picks to fill in what else is needed (RT, OLB, and either WR or RB as needed)." - bossman0957

holmgren-heckert.JPGView full sizeIf a playmaker is going to be available at No. 6, Browns can afford to trade down and get more picks, says one cleveland.com reader.
In response to the story Rams coach Jeff Fisher says Cleveland Browns at No. 4 are potential trade partner, cleveland.com reader bossman0957 says the Browns can trade down to No. 6 if a playmaker is going to be there. This reader writes,

"If Blackmon, Richardson and Claiborne are available at 4, I would trade down to 6 in a heartbeat. Add the 2nd round pick this year and profit. Any of these 3 are a major upgrade and make an immediate impact. Then we take the next 3 picks to fill in what else is needed (RT, OLB, and either WR or RB as needed).

If you can get a 2 and a 3, even better. The browns have so many picks and so many options, they could easily get 5-6 impact starters. (of course, I'm trying to ignore the fact that they could destroy the francise as well)"

To respond to bossman0957's comment, go here.

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

Jack Hannahan Didn't Win Third Base Job, Lonnie Chisenhall Lost It

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I have been a staunch Lonnie Chisenhall supporter since the Indians activated him from AAA-Columbus late last June. Once activated, I always have felt the Tribe should turn over the third base position to the young prospect and be willing to live with the good and bad of his development, much like they have with second baseman Jason Kipnis.

lonnie chisenhall.JPGView full sizeLonnie Chisenhall had every opportunity to take the starting third baseman's job this spring.

I have been a staunch Lonnie Chisenhall supporter since the Indians activated him from AAA-Columbus late last June. Once activated, I always have felt the Tribe should turn over the third base position to the young prospect and be willing to live with the good and bad of his development, much like they have with second baseman Jason Kipnis.

When the Tribe entered the offseason, I felt it was a waste of precious Cleveland Indians salary space to invest in Jack Hannahan, a good guy, but a one-dimensional and one-position player with a young player on the rise. Why invest more than $1 million in salary in Hannahan for a journeyman player who can play primarily only third base? His career .231 batting average is not about to spike after spending parts of five season in the major leagues, or at 32 years of age.

Last season's .250 batting average, eight home runs and 40 rbi was Hannahan's career year. Chisenhall's .255 batting average, seven home runs and 22 runs batted in—in about 100 fewer plate appearances—could be the signs of where the improvement would begin. Granted, Hannahan has a much better glove, but a team thirsty for offense cannot just give up a spot in the batting order. Once the Indians committed guaranteed money to Hannahan, I always felt Chisenhall had an uphill battle to make the team out of Spring Training.

However, when Chisenhall was optioned back to Columbus on Tuesday, he had no one but himself to blame for his demotion. Hannahan did very little to win the third base job this spring. He hit .300, but appeared in only seven games because of a back injury. He missed about 10 days of exhibition play and is just getting back into Cactus League play. But defense doesn't slump, and the Indians know what they have in the all-glove third baseman.

Meanwhile, Hannahan's injury provided the Indians the opportunity to take an extensive look at Chisenhall this spring. What they saw was not a pretty picture. While it might be easy to discount his struggling .205 batting average this spring, his 16 strike outs and one walk are very concerning. Hitters might slump offensively, but plate awareness doesn't slump. One walk in 40 plate appearances is not the stuff Opening Day starters are made of; neither is striking out more than a third of the time.

The Indians have been clear. They feel they can compete and vie for a playoff spot this season and next. If they feel their window is open now, Hannahan is the better immediate option. If Chisenhall cannot justify his spot through offensive production, Hannahan's defense behind a groundball pitching staff becomes the trump card in the battle between the two.

Long term, there is no question Chisenhall is the answer at the hot corner for the Tribe. But if the team truly is a contender in the American League Central Division, breaking camp with Hannahan at third is the right move. Columbus will provide a chance for the 2008 first round draft pick to develop both offensively and defensively. The sooner Chisenhall develops and becomes an everyday player, and supplants Hannahan, the sooner the Tribe will become a legit Central Division contender.

Follow Mike on Twitter: @didtribewin

If Tribe stays healthy, they can compete with the Tigers - Comment of the Day

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"If they are healthy they can compete. The hitting is thin but by no means non-existant. Santana, Cabrera, Choo, and Hafner have all hit 20+ HRs in the past and could easily do it again. Brantley was the most consistant hitter before he got hurt. Kotchman is a better hitter than LaPorta. And if their numbers are projected over a whole season both Duncan and Kipnis are 20+ HR guys. There's no suitable backups so they can't afford injuries but they have a few hitters." - lambbone

carlos-santana-indians.jpgView full sizeIf the Tribe can stay healthy this season, they can compete with the Tigers says one cleveland.com reader.
In response to the story Paul Hoynes talks Indians: Podcast, cleveland.com reader lambbone believes the Indians can compete with the Tigers if they stay healthy. This reader writes,

"Let's recap: Last the Indians were in first place for 3 months. They only fell out of first after injuries to all three OFs, they lost three starting pitchers to injury, and even Kipnis got hurt after being one of the few guys brought up from the minors that made a positive impact.

If they are healthy they can compete. The hitting is thin but by no means non-existant. Santana, Cabrera, Choo, and Hafner have all hit 20+ HRs in the past and could easily do it again. Brantley was the most consistant hitter before he got hurt. Kotchman is a better hitter than LaPorta. And if their numbers are projected over a whole season both Duncan and Kipnis are 20+ HR guys. There's no suitable backups so they can't afford injuries but they have a few hitters.

It's not probable that they will beat the Tigers but it's not impossible either. I'll watch."

To respond to lambbone's comment, go here.

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

Cavaliers should start using Manny Harris more - Comment of the Day

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"The Cavs need to start swapping Parker's minutes with Manny. The Cavs were in that game for way too long last night. Had Manny played Parker's minutes he would have most likely fouled out and had 6 turnovers while shooting 6 of 18 from the floor." - benny1699

Manny Harris 2.jpgOne cleveland.com reader thinks Manny Harris should get more minutes than Anthony Parker.
In response to the story Cleveland Cavaliers drop fourth straight, falling to Philadelphia, 103-85, cleveland.com reader benny1699 thinks Manny Harris should get more minutes than Anthony Parker. This reader writes,

"The Cavs need to start swapping Parker's minutes with Manny. The Cavs were in that game for way too long last night. Had Manny played Parker's minutes he would have most likely fouled out and had 6 turnovers while shooting 6 of 18 from the floor. But the Cavs would have already had known the outcome by halftime. Instead, Parker helped them hang around. I guess that is why Bobby chose not to come in here and make his usual rant about Manny is the best player on the Cavs. Either that or he is suspended from posting for his 138th time."

To respond to benny1699's comment, go here.

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

Will the Cleveland Indians hit? Well, sure ... maybe ... hopefully: Terry Pluto

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The Indians did absolutely nothing to improve their offense during the winter. It's why Terry Pluto is worried about the offense.

choo-spring-2012-ap-vert.jpgView full sizeSure, there's reason to believe that Shin-Soo Choo will return to his .300 batting average, 20-25 homers and 80-100 RBI level of 2009 and 2010. But there aren't many other sure things in the Indians' lineup, says Terry Pluto.

GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- The Indians' lack of hitting has me talking to myself ...

Question: Aren't you the guy who wrote, "Don't worry, the Indians will hit."

Answer: Can't you let that go? That was in the spring of 2010.

Q: With those words stirring in their hearts, the Tribe's bats turned to feathers as they ranked 12th out of 14 teams in runs scored.

A: Is that a question?

Q: OK, what did you write last spring?

A: I wrote, "The Indians will hit ... maybe ... better than they did in 2010." Which they did.

Q: Not by much: Ninth in runs scored, lower than that in other key categories.

A: Can we bring this up to the present?

Q: OK, will they hit this year?

A: Manny Acta said the offense will be better "if every single [key] guy is healthy and productive."

Q: When does that ever happen?

A: I actually thought the same thing when the manager said that. The Indians point to injuries to Shin-Soo Choo, Travis Hafner, Grady Sizemore and Michael Brantley last year. Not all of them will miss that many games again.

Q: Isn't Sizemore out with back surgery?

A: Exactly. The Indians did absolutely nothing to improve their offense during the winter. It's why I'm worried about the offense.

Q: What does the manager say?

A: Acta tries to hide his concern by talking about having second baseman Jason Kipnis in the lineup from opening day. Choo has lost 20 pounds and added lots of muscle in the off-season. The right fielder appears ready to return to his .300 average, 20-homer, 90-RBI form of 2009-10. He believes Carlos Santana and Asdrubal Cabrera can have big seasons once again.

Q: Doesn't that sound plausible?

A: It does, but the Indians still don't have much depth. The Tribe came back with Sizemore for $5 million, gambling that he'd not get hurt. And you know what happened, he got hurt ... back surgery. Regardless of what the Indians say, no one is exactly sure when Sizemore will return ... or how he'll deliver when he finally is on the field.

Q: That means what?

A: There is a huge hole in the outfield. Michael Brantley has to play center. They have no one showing anything in left. They have $5 million of the budget tied to Sizemore, instead of being available to possibly be used later as part of a trade. The decision to retain Sizemore, followed by his injury, is very damaging, especially because the Indians have no top outfield prospects in the upper levels of the farm system.

Q: Aren't the Indians a strange team in terms of where they are supposed to find their power?

A: On most teams, the home run hitters are found at first base, third base, left field, right field and designated hitter. The good news is Hafner's cranky shoulder has been quiet, his bat has been loud. The trouble is Hafner has been on the disabled list five times in the last four years. It would be ridiculous to count on him to play more than 120 games. In the last three years, he's been in the lineup for 306 of 486 games.

Q: Didn't they go for defense in the infield?

A: New first baseman Casey Kotchman and third baseman Jack Hannahan are in the lineup because the Tribe couldn't find power hitters on the free agent or trade market for those spots, so they decided to go with elite glovemen to help out their ground-ball pitching staff. Last year, Kotchman and Hannahan combined for 18 homers and 88 RBI in 820 official at-bats.

Q: They don't have a first baseman in the minors who can hit?

A: Not at the upper levels, not with Matt LaPorta still lost at the plate.

Q: You said Choo has been good, right?

A: He should be an anchor in right field, but left is completely adrift. A few weeks ago, a frustrated Acta said all the candidates "were tied for last place." Since then, Shelley Duncan hit some more, and now has an edge. But it's unrealistic to expect Duncan to turn into a regular at the age of 32. Ideally, he has about 350 at-bats and hits some homers. But they need someone else.

Q: What do the Indians say about this?

A: They can receive power from their catcher -- Santana hit 27 homers with 79 RBI and 35 doubles in his first full big-league season. Cabrera had a career year at short with 25 homers and 92 RBI. Kipnis is not a power hitter, but he can deliver a lot of doubles and 10-15 homers at second. So they should receive power from positions that normally are associated with defense.

Q: Anything else?

A: Brantley is critical, because he needs to stay healthy, play a solid center field and be an effective leadoff hitter.

Q: Will that be enough?

A: Acta correctly says this is not a team built for offense. The key will be defense and pitching. But with this lineup, that pitching and defense had better be very good for them to have any hope of contending in the Central Division.

Cavaliers vs. Pistons: Game preview and Twitter updates

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The Cavs look to snap their four game losing streak tonight at home as the Detroit Pistons come to town. Get a preview and follow in-game updates from @pdcavsinsider on Twitter. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.

The Cavs look to snap their four game losing streak tonight at home as the Detroit Pistons come to town. Get Twitter updates from Tom Reed and Mary Schmitt Boyer @PDCavsInsider in the box below. Check out the in-game box score here. Read on for a game preview. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.




brandon knight.JPGView full sizeBrandon Knight and the Utah Jazz come to town to face the struggling Cleveland Cavaliers.
(AP) -- The Cleveland Cavaliers and Detroit Pistons are both rebuilding, and it's clear that their rookie point guards continue to provide excellent building blocks.


Both seem to be slumping now.


Kyrie Irving and Brandon Knight are the league's top rookie scorers and meet for the third time Wednesday night when the Cavaliers host the Pistons.


Irving was chosen No. 1 by Cleveland (17-30) and Knight at No. 8 by Detroit (17-32), and both teams have to be happy with their selections. The Cavaliers guard leads all rookies with 18.6 points per game, with Knight second at 12.5.


Cleveland has won both meetings against Detroit this season, with Irving scoring 17 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter of a 101-100 home victory Feb. 21. Knight had 24 points in the defeat, with seven in the fourth.


Knight is averaging 23.5 points on 72.0 percent shooting against Cleveland - his best marks against any opponent in his brief career. He outscored Irving 23-14 in a 105-89 home loss Dec. 28.


Irving, though, didn't look like himself Tuesday in a 103-85 home loss to Philadelphia, making 4 of 13 shots for 12 points and seven assists. He is averaging 13.7 points in his last three games.


"I have played a few games in the league now, so teams have enough film on me to know my strengths and weaknesses, and they are trying to take it away," he said. "They are doing a great job of that."


Knight, meanwhile, made 3 of 13 shots for eight points in Monday's 79-77 victory at Washington. He's totaled 17 points, nine assists and seven turnovers over consecutive games.


Detroit is feeling better about itself after ending a four-game slide Monday on Rodney Stuckey's winning 20-foot jumper with 0.2 seconds left. Stuckey returned after missing three games with a sore left big toe.


"Hard work is paying off. I'm constantly in the gym just getting extra shots up," said Stuckey, who made 9 of 20 shots. "My shot's just improving and I'm going to continue just to get better."


Detroit has split the first two games of a four-game trip. The club felt snake-bit on its last trip, losing in overtime to the Clippers and by one to Denver last Wednesday.


"It's nice to win in kind of a walk-off way as well especially since some of the losses we've had as of late," coach Lawrence Frank said. "Our guys showed some resolve and fight and found a way to win the game."


The Pistons will be trying to end a nine-game road losing streak against Central Division opponents.


Cleveland has dropped four straight, falling 6 1/2 games behind New York for the Eastern Conference's eighth and final playoff spot. The Cavs have fallen behind by an average of 9.0 points after one quarter in their last three defeats, which have been by an average of 18.6 points.


"It seems like that has been the formula the last few games, and to go along with that, it just seems like our guys have lost some confidence," coach Byron Scott said. "We have been through this before."

Cleveland Indians fall to Cubs, 2-0, in 6th straight Cactus League loss

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Josh Tomlin pitched into and out of trouble, but he did allow two runs in the sixth inning as the Indians lost to the Cubs.

Cleveland Indians lose to Toronto Blue Jays, 5-4Josh Tomlin threw 86 pitches in 5 2/3 innings in a 2-0 loss to the Cubs.

MESA, Ariz. -- Another day, another loss, another no-show by the Indians' offense.

Josh Tomlin pitched in and out of trouble, but gave up two runs in the sixth inning Wednesday as the Cubs beat the Indians, 2-0, at HoHoKam Park. The Indians have lost six straight and seven of their last eight Cactus League games.

Their last victory was March 22. Asked when the Indians' offense has to get started, manager Manny Acta said, "April 5. That would be a good day to get going."

The Indians open the season that day against Toronto at Progressive Field.

"As long as our guys are healthy when we leave camp, I'm not saying we're going to be the '27 Yankees, but I think we're going to be OK offensively," said Acta.

Tomlin (0-3, 7.15) threw 86 pitches in 5 2/3 innings. He allowed two runs on nine hits with six strikeouts and one walk.

"We got another starter stretched out," said Acta. "He did a very nice job. Tomlin had a good curveball. We all know he's not overpowering and in order to pitch effectively throughout the season he needs all those pitches."

Alfonso Soriano and Ian Stewart started the sixth with singles. Tomlin struck out Geovany Soto. Bryan LeHair sent a grounder up the middle that second baseman Jason Kipnis had a chance to knock down, but missed as Soriano scored and Stewart went to third on the hit. Joe Mather followed with the Cubs' fourth hit of the inning to make it 2-0.

Tomlin pitched his way out of some jams. In the second Stewart opened with a double, but was stranded at third. In the fifth, Cubs starter Jeff Samardzija tripled past a sliding Russ Canzler in left field to start the inning. He stayed anchored to third as Tomlin retired the next three batters.

"I think when you labor a little, it gets you ready for the season more than if just go up-and-down, up-and-down (retire the side in order) for five or six times," said Tomlin. "I definitely labored today. I think there was a guy on base almost every inning. It's good to get out there and pitch from the stretch."

Tomlin said he's no longer experimenting with pitches and situations as he was earlier in spring training. He's treated his last two starts like real games.

"I'm going out there and pitching to the count and the situation," said Tomlin, who has one start left before the regular season.

The Indians were held to five hits, two by Kipnis.

Ohio State's blossoming teamwork is apparent in Final Four dash: Bill Livingston

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Ego can be a deadly disease on a college basketball team, particularly with the lure of early entry to the NBA. But Ohio State reached the Final Four by generally controlling it.

sullinger-thomas-ncaa-2012-press-jk.jpgView full size"I love to score," says Ohio State's Deshaun Thomas (right, with Jared Sullinger during a press conference in Boston last weekend). But Thomas and the rest of the Buckeyes have been willing to submerge their prime desires to do what's right for the team. That's one of OSU's greatest Final Four accomplishments, says Bill Livingston.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The player who waits for his turn on some basketball teams becomes an eternal decoy. There are no "turns" if a teammate has no conscience. Scoring is the game's most powerful drug.

"That thrill you got on the playground as a kid when you saw that ball go through the basket is the most beautiful and at the same time most insidious force in the game," said the late Chuck Daly, once a Cavaliers coach. "You can never forget that thrill. You also can never forget it's a team game."

Difficult before the shameful one-and-done rule for NBA eligibility created a generation of hired guns, coaching college basketball becomes especially thankless when players try to improve their NBA draft standing by going for their own statistics.

"I tell our guys this: At the conclusion of each game, there's only one set of parents that's happy with me and that's the leading scorer's," said Thad Matta, coach of the Final Four-bound Ohio State Buckeyes.

Matta remembered when he was a young assistant coach at Butler under Barry Collier, for whom he had also played. "Barry used to stand before and after practice and he'd be like, "Team, team, team, team." And as an assistant I was like, 'Come on, man, let this stuff go,'" he said. "And the day I became a head coach I understood what he was doing."

The era of instant text messaging and other distractions doesn't help. "Every time you break a team huddle, the first thing guys do is grab their cell phones, and every player has one," said Matta. "I tell them what they did wrong and then they pick up their phones and everyone is telling them what I did wrong."

For Ohio State, players' egos could be a growing problem, given the postseason dynamic on the team. Instead, the threat has lessened with their success.

The only senior, Will Buford, does not like the phrase "ups and downs" in reference to his career, preferring "highs and lows." If that lends itself to interpretation at all, it might be that "ups and downs" seem to depict the actual fluctuations in his game, while "highs and lows" are static measuring points, things he considers aberrations from the norm.

It doesn't work, though. Although Cincinnati coach Mick Cronin called Buford "the Ray Allen of the college game," and although Kansas coach Bill Self said a certain amount of erratic production is built into the game of an outside shooter, Buford has experienced a lot of lows. When the pressure is highest, in Buford's last five NCAA tournament games -- dating to the loss to Kentucky last year in which he shot 2-for-16 -- Buford has made only 15 of 60 shots from the floor, or an abject 25 percent.

Matta has to keep self-doubt from mastering Buford. "Team, team, team" seems to be working.

"You never know who is going to lead the team in scoring each night, or each half. You have to put your egos aside if you want to make it this far, to the Final Four," Buford said.

Said Buckeyes' sophomore point guard Aaron Craft: "It is something you have to get adjusted to and understanding my role might not be scoring, but there are so many other ways to impact a basketball game to help the team be successful. And it's trying to find that and trusting the coaches when they tell you what you should do. It can be tough at times."

Deshaun Thomas is the other extreme from Buford. The sophomore forward has become more selective with his shooting, but he still cannot suppress the innocent braggadocio typical of great scorers. It's easy to see that he has not forgotten the playground thrill.

"I love to score," Thomas said. "I mean, high school coaches had the ball in my hands 110 percent of the time. That's what I do."

He jokes about his "one assist per game" going to Buford, but actually he has become a much more willing and appreciably better interior passer with Sullinger. Like Buford, he always carefully praises teammates for setting "great screens." But Thomas also will note when he himself sets one of those "great screens."

Matta speaks of "the look" Thomas has when he is not focused. In it, he stares off to the left, over his coach's right shoulder. "Before the Syracuse game, I said, 'You've got that look,' and he said, 'No, I'm fine,' and I said, 'Deshaun, you have to trust me, why would you not trust me now, we've come too far together?' When I can get him to smile, he's in good shape."

Thomas was smiling broadly after the victory over Syracuse. When a reporter asked him to comment on the critical "floater" swished by Lenzelle Smith Jr., the surprise scoring star of the game, Thomas first recounted his own jack-knifing, banked, floating beauty.

There was a small chance he misunderstood the question. Basically, though, it showed that the genial Thomas can conceive of few plays better than his own. It's his world in March.

But at least he's sharing it.

On Twitter: @LivyPD

Redskins' Mike Shanahan reveals strategy in big trade with Rams: Browns Insider

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Shanahan, who's known Browns President Mike Holmgren for many years, disagreed that relationships between the Rams and Redskins closed the deal.

shanahan-talks-media-mtgs-2012-ap.jpgView full size"When they say 'give us your best shot,' you've got to give them your best shot," Redskins coach Mike Shanahan (center) told reporters Wednesday at the NFL owners meetings about Washington's big deal with St. Louis earlier this month. "You have to make a decision on what it's going to take to get that pick, especially when you're competing with a few football teams."

PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Redskins coach Mike Shanahan explained Wednesday that he knew he had to blow away the Rams with his offer for the No. 2 pick, especially considering the Browns had the No. 4 and No. 22 picks this year.

"That's why we made the offer we made and hoped it would be good enough," said Shanahan at the NFC coaches breakfast. "When they say 'give us your best shot,' you've got to give them your best shot."

The Redskins swapped their No. 6 for the Rams' No. 2, then gave up their second-round pick this year (39 overall) and first-round choices in 2013 and 2014.

"You have to make a decision on what it's going to take to get that pick, especially when you're competing with a few football teams," he said.

He admitted he was sweating out the Rams' decision and had no idea what the Browns were offering.

"Yeah, if affects your future," he said. "Everybody in the organization [was excited]. They understand how important it is to get that guy. They're hard to find. And it usually gives you a chance to get to the big game."

Shanahan confirmed there was no give and take on the bidding with the Browns, that it was a one-shot deal.

"You've got a game plan and you get somebody that will be your franchise quarterback for years to come and it doesn't happen very often," he said. "I was really pleased we got that pick -- to take one of these two guys."

Shanahan consistently referred to landing either Robert Griffin III or Stanford's Andrew Luck, who's expected to go No. 1 to the Colts. But the Colts haven't publicly committed to him yet.

Shanahan, who's known Browns President Mike Holmgren for many years, dating back to their days together in San Francisco, disagreed that relationships between the Rams and Redskins closed the deal.

"You always want relationships with everyone in the league. I have great relationships with Mike and Pat, but at the end of the day, teams are going to go with the best offer. They may like me, but they're not going to give up draft choices for me, I can promise you that."

Shanahan said he still wanted Peyton Manning after making the blockbuster deal.

"Having Peyton Manning and being able to bring up one of these other two quarterbacks would've been a perfect scenario," he said. "I don't think Peyton was very worried about [a rookie behind him]. He's got a lot of confidence in himself."

Receivers, too: Shanahan said he also aggressively pursued free-agent receivers Pierre Garcon and Josh Morgan, whom the Browns also tried to sign. Both signed large contracts with the Redskins.

"I think we made the best offer early," he said. "We had a game plan that we were going to get these two guys, and you have to overpay for them a little bit. These were two guys we wanted from day one."

He said it didn't hurt in the recruiting process that the Redskins had landed one of the top two quarterbacks in the draft.

"They understand when you move up to the second pick you're going to find yourself a quarterback in Robert or Andrew," he said. "Those guys are excited. They know what it means to them to have one of those types of quarterbacks."

Browns backer: Commissioner Roger Goodell again said the Browns did not warrant any disciplinary action for allowing Colt McCoy to return to the field after suffering a concussion during the Pittsburgh game. Goodell cited the multiple injuries that occurred on the play as contributing to the problem, and ultimately leading to a new and improved sideline policy.

"The big changes we made since that occurred -- we actually reviewed that during this week -- is the trouble with when you have multiple injuries on one play," Goodell said. "In fact, on Colt McCoy's play, we did have multiple injuries.

"You have medical personnel who are on the sideline trying to monitor what is going on on the field in several different places. By putting the spotter upstairs and having video available, we can assist the medical professionals in identifying when an impact occurs that should be evaluated so the doctor can make the evaluation.

"When doctors have had the opportunity to make that evaluation, they make good judgments. We have complete confidence in that."

Bounty issues: Goodell said he expects to speak with the NFLPA before the end of the week to schedule additional hearings and discussions about player punishment on bounty-rule violations. Browns linebacker Scott Fujita, a former member of the Saints, is one of the players being mentioned.

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