Download entry form for the event, which begins April 14-15.
Entries for the Greater Cleveland Bowling Association City Tournament will close this Friday, April 6.
The tournament will be held at Buckeye Lanes in North Olmsted and run the weekends of April 14-15, 21-22, and 28-29.
Entry forms can be downloaded here, or found at bowling centers in Cuyahoga county or by calling the GCBA office at 440-845-5222.
"I never would have guessed it before the draft, but Kyrie should be unanimous Rookie of the Year. It seemed safe he would be the best player in the draft, but not by this huge a margin." - WilWeEverWinAnything
Indians began last season 30-15 before injuries and a lack of depth drove them out of playoff contention. Links to more Indians stories.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cleveland Indians stunned the baseball world by beginning the 2011 season with a 30-15 record.
The Indians faded, righted themselves despite injury problems, and stayed in the American League Central Division race until late August.
The Tribe stumbled again, while the Detroit Tigers emerged as one of baseball's best teams down the stretch, and ran away with the division title.
Cleveland finished 80-82. The Indians were 50-67 after the 30-15 start.
Jordan Bastian of MLB.com recalls the ups and downs of the 2011 season, and writes that the Indians are confident they can contend for a playoff spot:
The Indians are not banking that confidence solely on the fact that Major League Baseball will now have two Wild Cards in each league. Cleveland still feels it has the pieces in place to make a run at the AL Central crown. The preseason prognosticators are sticking with the reigning division champion Tigers, but that does not bother the Tribe.
The players know that predictions do not always come true.
"Everyone who's picked to win doesn't always win," Indians second baseman Jason Kipnis said. "That's why you play the games. That's why it's settled between the lines."
The Indians open the season on Thursday, at home, against the Toronto Blue Jays.
Plain Dealer and cleveland.com Indians coverage includes Paul Hoynes' story that the Indians will appeal the five-game suspension levied on pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez for his beaning of former teammate Troy Tulowitzki of the Colorado Rockies; Hoynes' story that the Indians hope the reduced contract for Roberto Hernandez will help avoid a suspension for the right-handed pitcher; Hoynes' report that Josh Tomlin pitched well in the Indians' final spring training exhibition game, a 2-1 loss to the Cincinnati Reds on Monday; Tom Breckenridge's report that road work will reduce the traffic lanes around Progressive Field beginning on Friday; and more Indians reports.
Around the horn
Shortstop Francisco Lindor, 18, and the Indians' first pick in the 2011 draft, begins the season with the Class A Lake County Captains. By David S. Glasier for the News-Herald.
Improving the Indians pitching and fielding in 2012. By Steve Kinsella for the blog "Wahoo's on First."
Right fielder Shin-Soo Choo learns from a difficult 2011 season. By Sheldon Ocker of the Akron Beacon Journal.
Previewing the Indians and the American League Central Division. By Stephanie Liscio for the blog "It's pronounced 'Lajaway.' "
Just commit to Shelley Duncan as the regular left fielder and see how he does. By Jim Berdysz for Indians Prospect Insider.
How shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera hit for more power in 2011. For the blog "It's pronounced 'Lajaway.' "
American League Central Division preview by Kevin Kaduk for Yahoo! Sports.
Season preview for the Akron Aeros, the Indians' Class AA team. By Jim Piascik for Indians Prospect Insider.
Pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez is not showing the right approach. By Patrick McManamon for FoxSportsOhio.com.
There's something special that makes baseball openers different than those in other sports. Watch video
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- I was going to write about how there is something special about the opening day of the baseball season, that it has a different attraction for fans than opening day of the other sports.
Lenny Reich (Alliance) emailed: "I circle the date of the Tribe's home opener on my calendar the minute the schedule comes out."
It's easy to slip into the land of baseball babble about the opener being one of the first signs of spring, a day of hope, a time to make some memories. It's a game usually in the middle of the week, and it usually means skipping school or work to watch it.
As Joe Zynda (Akron) emailed: "[My favorite opener] was 1996 vs. the Yankees. I convinced my mom to call me in sick. [Game] snowed out, got the rest of the day off. My other buddies had to go back to school. She called me off the next day to go to the makeup opener. Love my mom!"
Daryl Ransom reported that at Brush High in the 1950s, the radio broadcast of the home opener was carried over the school's public address system. You don't hear stories like that about the other sports, which is why I asked fans on my Facebook page to email their favorite Tribe opening day memories.
As the Indians prepare to face Toronto on Thursday, I knew fans had stories to tell.
I received this from Nathan and Catherine Romer: "The opener I will always remember will be 2007. Now, most people remember it for the snow and cancelled game. I remember it for a lunch date I had that day. Things went so well, we decided to go out downtown for the game and keep our date going. I even told my Mom I couldn't drive back to Dayton because of the snow so we could keep a good time going. The woman that day who barely pays any attention to sports now loves Opening Day because it's the day she met her husband."
The 2007 Snow Game is fresh in the minds of lots of fans. Bobby Lowery (Solon) wrote about building a snowman in the outfield seats during one of the two snow delays before the game was finally postponed.
Susanna Tam and her daughter recalled having to "walk all the way back to Ohio City" in that 2007 blizzard after the game, because that's where they parked.
Weather is a key component of the memories.
Remember 2007's Snow Game? Here's a time-lapse video
Skipping school
Brian Falb (Hilliard) emailed: "The year was 2004 and my dad let me skip school to drive us up to Cleveland for my first opening day. It was miserably cold and misty, and so my dad briefly left our seats to grab a hotdog and some gloves for me from the team shop. Not soon after he left, Travis Hafner hit a grand slam for the Indians for the winning runs of the game!"
Missing school is another opening day tradition.
Rich Primo (Akron) emailed: "My mom loved baseball. The Tribe was horrible, but almost every night on the radio we listened to them play. On Opening Day of each season when I was an elementary school kid, she would send me to school with a note saying that I had a dentist appointment that afternoon. At lunch, I would go home and we would watch the first game of the season together.
"My mom died in 1995. After years and years of watching bad baseball, she died in May of the year they finally went to the World Series. Every year, every opening day, I take the day off of work, and I spend the day at home in front of the TV watching the Indians play. In my heart, she's right there beside me."
Adam Hitchcox (Willoughby) wrote that his dad often took him to games, but never the opener. One year, he took a day off, wrote a note to get Adam out of school and then went downtown with no ticket to a sold-out opener. They couldn't even find someone selling tickets in the parking lots or on the street.
"Since we couldn't get in, we stood by the gate by the Home Run Porch for an inning or two so we could at least feel the atmosphere of the crowd. It was the second inning. We must have looked pretty pathetic standing out there looking in because a middle-aged man who was inside the stadium came up to us and asked us if we had tickets. When we told him no, he said he had a couple extra tickets from some friends who didn't show up and he handed us two tickets through the gate ... ended up being pretty good seats, too!"
Sights and smells
Ken Evans (South Euclid) wrote about his mother also taking him out of school and to the opener: "I grew hungry as the innings grew longer, and begged my mom for a hot dog. She said she had no money left ... Eventually, she pulled out her change purse (back then you could buy a hot dog with change) and flagged a vendor down.
"He came over and began preparing a hot dog, remember the old tubs of steamy, hot dog water? I can still smell it now. He asked if I wanted stadium mustard on it and I said that I did ... Mom counted her quarters, paid the man and off he went. I only got one small bite into it when I realized that I did not like this stadium mustard at all and I told my Mom I did not want it. She barely batted an eye, took the hot dog from me and enjoyed her second lunch."
Josh Etela (Medina) wrote about catching a foul ball off the bat of Chicago's Paul Konerko at an opener. Thomas Moore (Stow) recalled Joe Charboneau's homer on Opening Day 1980, and how so many Tribe fans thought they had a new star in Super Joe.
Many fans such as Jeff Tolcher (LaVerne, Calif.) remember the 1994 opener, the first at the new Jacobs (now Progressive) Field; Wayne Kirby delivering the game winning hit. Tolcher emailed that he still remembers where he sat that day: Section 570, Row H, Seat 4.
In 1992, the home opener began as a day game and almost ended the next morning. Eric Furniss (Marion) wrote: "It was 1 p.m. Saturday and the weather was absolutely perfect. The Tribe was taking on the Red Sox and we purchased tickets at the gate on game day. Dennis Cook was on the rubber for the Tribe and he wasn't around long. We figured the Tribe had no chance.
"The Indians lineup featured young stars in the making like Kenny Lofton, Sandy Alomar, Carlos Baerga and Albert Belle. A can't miss prospect (who did miss) Mark Lewis. Despite Cook's bad start the Tribe battled and the game ran over six hours.
"Being the pre-cell phone age, my friend used a pay phone to call his wife to let her know he'd be home late. She didn't believe him until she took his advice and turned on the TV to see the game was still going on! By the time the Tribe made their last out in the bottom of the 19th, the crowd of 65,000 had been reduced to about 65."
James Lotz (Geneva, Ill.) was at the game: "I harassed Wade Boggs the entire time (after we snuck into the first row about the fifth inning, of course). That where I learned the tactic of paying for general admission and then moving on up to the front row after disgruntled fans left!"
Shawn Gerboc (North Olmsted) and his cousin were in the outfield where few fans sat, and they began to spell out their first names in the seats by flipping them up.
Closing words on openers
The last opening day at the old Cleveland Stadium was April 5, 1993.
Erica Simon (Cleveland) emailed: "My dad and I sat out in the bleachers. I remember the balloons, the old cars parading around the warning track and that the Indians went on to lose, 9-1, to the Yankees. But the thing that stayed with me the longest was the chilling silence of 80,000 fans during the memorial tribute to Steve Olin and Tim Crews, who were killed in the boating accident during spring training."
My father was dedicated to his job, and he expected his son to go to school unless you were ready for the hospital. But on opening day, he left old Fisher-Fazio's warehouse in the middle of the morning. I was at home, waiting for him to pick me and go to the games at the old Stadium in the 1960s.
I can't recall the Tribe's starting lineup from 2009 ... or even 2007 ... but those teams of the middle 1960s, I can name all the starters: Fred Whitfield (1B), Pedro Gonzalez (2B), Larry Brown (SS), Max Alvis (3B), Leon Wagner (LF), Vic Davalillo (CF), Rocky Colavito (RF), Joe Azcue (C), Sam McDowell (P).
I still recall the 1965 home opener and the ovation that Colavito received when he was traded back to the Tribe.
Someone may make a memory this year, just as Buck Walter did:
"Opening day 2011 changed my life! Had my first kiss with Christy Kovaleski outside Progressive Field right about when the first pitch was thrown. Had a crush on her for a while. During the 2011 Indians season, we spent many nights at Progressive Field. Opening day 2012, I will be sitting in the stands next to my fiancee ... the future Christy Walter. We consider Indian opening day as our anniversary from now on, no matter the date."
The Cavaliers look to snap their seven-game losing streak tonight at The Q, as the San Antonio Spurs, winners of seven in a row, come to town. Get Twitter updates from Tom Reed and Mary Schmitt Boyer @PDCavsInsider. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.
The Cavaliers look to snap their seven-game losing streak tonight at The Q, as the San Antonio Spurs, winners of seven in a row, 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.
Spring training is over for the Indians. Here's what they did and didn't accomplish during seven weeks in the Arizona desert.
GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- The training complex stood silent and mostly empty at the foot of the Estrellas Mountains on Monday evening. The mountains were streaked in shadows and light from a setting sun that sent long lines of orange, yellow and blue across an endless sky.
A beautiful sight to be sure, if anyone was around to see it.
But the Indians were long gone. After seven weeks of non-stop activity, spring training was over and the big-league club was headed east. They played an exhibition game in Zebulon, N.C., on Tuesday and then continued on to Cleveland for a Wednesday workout at Progressive Field in preparation for Thursday's season opener against Toronto.
There can be no turning back now. The season, good or bad, has been set in motion.
The Indians started spring training on Feb. 20 with pitchers and catchers reporting. That's 43 days of nothing but baseball, but in actuality it was longer. Players such as Jeanmar Gomez came to Goodyear in late January to begin training. For Gomez the extra work was worth it because he won a job in the rotation as the fifth starter.
Spring training is about finding out such things. The answers aren't always permanent. They might not last until April 15, but the process has begun.
Here's a list of what the Indians did and didn't get done this spring. First the list of accomplishments by GM Chris Antonetti and manager Manny Acta:
• Fifth starter: Gomez had one of the best springs of any pitcher in the Cactus League. His slider has improved and he looks much more confident.
• Starting pitching depth: Kevin Slowey, Zach McAllister and Scott Barnes pitched decently in camp. So did David Huff, until he strained his right hamstring. They will be available at Class AAA Columbus when a move has to be made.
• Veteran presence: Derek Lowe, 38, had a solid spring. He's 38 and coming off a 17-loss season with Atlanta, but gave every indication that he should be a useful part of the rotation.
• Third base: Jack Hannahan was the easy winner over Lonnie Chisenhall in the competition for the hot corner. It's good for Hannahan, but if the Indians are going to make any noise this year in the AL Central, Chisenhall must get his swing together so he can contribute.
• Left field: Shelley Duncan showed power and determination in winning the job out of the sea of contenders in camp. It's clear, however, that the Indians are not satisfied and are still looking for an upgrade. Rumors connecting them with Bobby Abreu and Vladimir Guerrero didn't happen by accident.
• Multiyear deal: The Indians haven't confirmed it, but they have signed shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera to a two-year contract extension through 2014. When camp started, the Indians didn't have one player signed for guaranteed money past 2012.
• Utility men: Jason Donald and Jose Lopez won the two utility infielder jobs. They hit right-handed and should balance the predominately left-handed starting lineup.
• Bullpen: Closer Chris Perez's strained left oblique cost him most of spring training, but he pitched well late in camp. He was unable to pitch on consecutive days before the start of the season and that's a concern. If the Indians have two or three straight save situations early in the season, Vinnie Pestano will give Perez a break.
The rest of the pen offers stability grounded in success with Joe Smith, Rafael Perez and Tony Sipp. Dan Wheeler and Jairo Asencio are the newcomers.
• Outfield: Michael Brantley moved from left to center without a problem following Grady Sizemore's back surgery. Right fielder Shin-Soo Choo was unhappy with his stats coming out of camp, but fully recovered physically and mentally from a disappointing 2011 season.
• Pronk power: Travis Hafner, in the final year of his contract, had his best spring in memory. He was one of the few players who hit from the start to the finish of camp.
Now for the things that didn't get accomplished.
• Offense: This is still a glaring weakness. Acta and Antonetti said the poor performance this spring was partly due to shuttling so many players in and out of the lineup in an attempt to find a left fielder. It certainly didn't help that most of the candidates fell on their face offensively, but the problems run deeper.
Until the end of camp, they showed no ability to put walks and hits together to generate rallies and big innings. As for team speed, forget it. They were successful in 54 percent (14 of 26) of their stolen base attempts. A team has to be successful 70 to 75 percent of time for steals to be positive part of an offense.
• No shows: Just wondering if Carlos Santana and Cabrera brought their bats to camp. They didn't hit much at all. For this offense to be effective, Santana, Cabrera, Jason Kipnis, Brantley and Choo must become its focal points.
• Ubaldo Jimenez: The Indians wanted to concentrate on fixing Jimenez's mechanics this spring. Jimenez went 1-4 with a 7.43 ERA in seven starts. How do you think that worked?
He capped off a troubling spring by hitting Colorado's Troy Tulowitzki with a pitch on Sunday and getting suspended for five games Monday. He needs to find the strike zone with his fastball and live there or this is going to be a long year.
• Sizemore factor: The Indians took a $5 million gamble on re-signing Sizemore and so far it hasn't worked. They tried to prepare for the eventuality of injury, but when he went down with back surgery on March 1, the depth they acquired during the winter proved useless.
Who knows how effective Sizemore will be if and when he returns? The fact that another setback by a player with his injury history could have such a profound effect on the offense shows just how poorly the Indians have drafted and developed outfielders over the last several years.
• 7-22-3: Yes, spring training won-loss records don't count, but for the Indians to finish the Cactus League with that record is embarrassing and worrisome. The coaching staff and management can brush it aside, but this team doesn't have the kind of talent that allows it to flip an internal switch to magically raise its level of play come Thursday.
If a switch was going to be flipped, it needed to be done a lot sooner than Thursday.
In this corner: Here are the pitching matchups for the Indians vs.Toronto series that begins Thursday with the season opener at Progressive Field:
LHP Ricky Romero vs. Justin Masterson at 3:05 p.m. Thursday; RHP Brandon Morrow vs. RHP Ubaldo Jimenez at 1:05 p.m. Saturday and RHP Joel Carreno vs. RHP Derek Lowe at 1:05 p.m. on Sunday. SportsTime Ohio and WTAM will carry the series.
On Twitter: @hoynsie
Dufner, 35, is coming off his best season, highlighted by a runner-up finish in the PGA Championship,
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Playing the role of the underdog is nothing new to Jason Dufner. From junior golf to college golf to his life as a professional, it seems like it always been an uphill climb. Underdog, long shot. Never a favorite.
Dufner, the Cleveland native now living in Alabama, has heard it all. And he has persevered.
Dufner, who will make his second appearance in the Masters on Thursday, did not take up the game until he was 14, a late start compared to most guys on the PGA Tour. He was not heavily recruited coming out of high school and had to talk his way into getting a chance as a walk-on at Auburn, yet went on to become a three-time winner in college and twice was named honorable mention All-American.
He turned pro in 2000 and played in 123 events -- winning twice -- on the Nationwide Tour before becoming a regular on the PGA Tour in 2007 and winning more than $8 million.
Dufner, 35, is coming off his best season, highlighted by a runner-up finish in the PGA Championship -- he lost a three-hole playoff to Keegan Bradley after staggering over the final four holes at the Atlanta Athletic Club -- and six other top-10 finishes. He is off to a great start in 2012, making the cut in seven of eight events, with two top-10s and almost $650,000 in winnings. Those around him believe he is on the verge of stardom.
He is 31st in the latest World Golf Rankings.
"I've been playing some good golf," he said recently in a phone interview. "I'm doing a lot of good things, hitting the ball well, making some putts."
Yet, as he gets ready to tee it up alongside former Masters champion Bernhard Langer and Augusta native Charles Howell on Thursday (12:36 p.m.), Dufner continues to seek his first Tour victory.
"Everyone wants to win," he said. "It's a matter of putting four good rounds together and being comfortable when I get in that position again, and maybe pull a couple of them out."
Twice this season Dufner has come close. His best effort came in his last event, the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill two weeks ago. He opened with a 6-under 66, sharing the lead with Charlie Wi. He followed with a 69 and was just one shot behind Wi and eventual winner Tiger Woods heading into the third round.
"I was playing well," Dufner recalled. "I was hitting the ball in the fairway, getting the ball close and making some putts. Things were going well."
Then came Saturday, Dufner's 35th birthday. Unlike the previous two days, finding the fairway became a challenge. Greens appeared smaller than a hula hoop. Putts didn't find the hole. He bogeyed the first hole and made his only double bogey of the season on the sixth. He closed a disastrous front nine with three consecutive bogeys for a 42. While he played the back nine in 1 under, the damage had been done.
Happy Birthday? Not hardly.
"That was probably the worst nine holes I've played in two or three years," said Dufner, who shot a final-round 73 to finish in a tie for 15th at 3 under. "It was just an awful front nine."
That's what he'll try to avoid starting Thursday at Augusta National. Dufner can rely on his experience at the PGA Championship, where he held a share of the lead after the second and third rounds and was four shots in front walking onto the 15th tee on Sunday. While he failed to win -- three consecutive bogeys dropped him into a three-hole playoff which Bradley won by a shot -- Dufner accepted it as a learning experience.
"It was a lesson in patience," he said. "I also realized that I can compete with the best in the world. That's something I can take with me for the rest of my career."
Dufner said contending on the final day of any tournament -- let alone a major -- can be daunting. But he plans to deal with it the same way he's dealt with past challenges.
"A huge part of this game is confidence and I've carried it forward into this year," he said. "It's nice knowing that you are going to play well when you step onto the tee."
Dufner concedes that Augusta National's length does him no favors. "There's no question that Augusta favors the longer hitters and I'm not one of those guys," he said, pointing to his 290-yard average off the tee. "It's a lot easier hitting those shorter clubs into the green."
Dufner played nine holes on Monday with two-time winner Ben Crenshaw and listened as Crenshaw, regarded as one of the best putters of all time, talked about Augusta's greens.
"The greens have changed since he won here, but he talked about how important it was to have the proper pace on your putts and to be patient."
Dufner knows patience.
"He is a grinder," said Mike Griffin, who coached Dufner at Auburn and is the school's director of golf. "Patience has been the pattern for his entire career. Every time he has taken a step to another level it has taken some time but he has worked through it and eventually succeeded.
"He is one of those players who has always been able to step over the line to get to that next level, perhaps more than any player I ever coached. He has the ability to play in the moment. Eventually, that will lead to success, whether that's in one or more Tour titles or one of more majors."
For now, Dufner would like that first major title.
On Twitter: @TimRogersPD
The course staff has been laid off and the course has not been maintained since closing last November.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Blue Heron Golf Club, the upscale, 27-hole public course in Medina County, has not been open since November and a club spokesman said a sale is possible.
"We hope to be open as soon as possible, but I can't give you a date," said Gary Hoffman, whose family opened the course and its magnificent 29,000-square-foot clubhouse in 2005. "And, a sale is possible. We are trying to get it together to reopen and I think it's going to happen."
Hoffman, managing partner of Hoffman Properties, LLC, said the River Styx Grille, located in the clubhouse, is open and the club's Olympic-size pool will be open Memorial Day.
Sources said the Hoffman group has been negotiating with two potential buyers. Meanwhile, the golf course staff has been laid off and the course, which features a challenging test through several elevation changes, ravines and a winding path through the woods of Blue Heron Estates, has not been maintained.
A recording at the River Styx Grille said the restaurant was closed Sunday through Tuesday but is open for dinner Wednesday and Thursday from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. The club's Web site is operating, offering season memberships starting at $700.
Good deal: Officials from the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, played at Firestone Country Club during the first week in August, are offering several early ticket deals. Through Monday, fans can buy one day ticket for $40 and get another ticket for free. Other offers include $20 for a Wednesday practice round, $85 for a weekly grounds ticket and $135 for a weekly Championship Club ticket, which includes one dozen Bridgestone balls. Tickets can be purchased by visiting worldgolfchampionships.com or calling 330-644-2299.
Senior moments: The Northern Ohio PGA is accepting applications for the 27th Ohio Senior Open, to be played May 16-17 on Firestone's West Course, where Gary Trivisonno will defend his title.
The NOPGA will also have a Super Senior Division for players 60 and over. These golfers will play from Firestone's hybrid tees (6,100 yards), about a 500-yard discount off the regular tees. The tournament is open to all Ohio golfers 50 and over as of May 16 with a handicap index limit of 8.0. The entry fee, which covers tournament rounds, cart, lunch and practice range, is $230 for PGA professionals and amateurs, and $255 for non-PGA professionals.
Registration for the 2012 Ohio Senior Open closes on May 11 at 5 p.m. Go to NorthernOhio.PGA.com to register.
On Twitter: @TimRogersPD
Lindor, the Tribe's first-round pick (eighth overall) in last year's draft and potential heir apparent to Asdrubal Cabrera, will bat third for the Class A Lake County Captains.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- By extending All-Star shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera's contract through 2014, the Indians secured the position short term.
Long term, look 20 miles east of Progressive Field. Francisco Lindor, the Tribe's first-round pick (eighth overall) in last year's draft and potential heir apparent, will bat third for the Class A Lake County Captains.
He just turned 18 last November. At a signing bonus of $2.9 million, that's roughly $160,000 for every year of his life. More, actually, because he was 17 when they drafted him out of Montverde Academy in Florida.
Lindor has played five professional games. He hit .316 with two RBI for Class A Mahoning Valley last season. But at the Captains' media day Tuesday, he sounded almost like a seasoned vet, acknowledging what a mind game the sport can be -- and how that's the thin line between a career of bus trips and budget inns or charter flights and first-class hotels.
"The toughest part will probably be the mental side of the game. That's what every player in the minor leagues has to work on, because it's tough," he said. "It's going to be a grind, like our coach said."
Mental, Lindor said, as in dealing with failing seven out of 10 times at the plate, if you're lucky, when you're used to hitting .600 in high school.
As a senior, Lindor, a 5-11, 175-pound switch-hitter, hit .528 in just 53 at-bats. That was apparently enough to tickle the Indians and Florida State, where Lindor was headed on scholarship if the Tribe hadn't signed him minutes before the deadline.
So far, they like what they have seen, especially his confidence at the plate and how he handles himself.
"You can see it right away. He has his head on straight and his feet are on the ground," said David Wallace, the Captains' first-year manager, who managed Lindor at Mahoning Valley last season. "And, sadly to say, that's not all that common with first-round guys."
MLB.com ranks Lindor 32nd among its top 100 prospects. But Lindor, who came to the United States from Puerto Rico with his father at age 12, said he feels no extra pressure being a first-rounder and such a big investment.
"It doesn't really matter what round I was going to be," he said. "It could have been the 50th round. I have to go out there and prove myself, prove to the organization that I can play and let them know that they made the right decision in picking me."
The Captains open the season Thursday at Fort Wayne, Ind. Their home opener is April 12 against Bowling Green (Ky.), an affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays.
Catching up: Lakewood native and St. Edward High School standout catcher Alex Lavisky will start the season in Lake County again, splitting time -- again -- with All-Star Alex Monsalve. They will rotate behind the plate, at DH and maybe even at first base to keep their bats in the lineup, Wallace said.
Lavisky, whom the Indians drafted in the eighth round in 2010 (240th overall), struggled with the adjustment from high school ball to the minor leagues last season. He wound up at Mahoning Valley, hitting a combined 13 home runs, with 52 RBI and a batting average of just over .200.
Lavisky, sporting a fresh Mohawk, said having played a year -- which felt "like a whirlwind" -- has helped.
"I feel like definitely a better offensive and defensive player than last year, so I'm eager to get out there and compete," he said. "This year, being through a long season, I feel like I know what to expect."
Back home: Wallace, who replaces Ted Kubiak as manager, was an All-Star catcher for the Captains in 2003, their inaugural season. He guided Mahoning Valley to a 41-34 record in his first season as manager.
Tribe beats Carolina: Jason Donald homered and drove in five runs in the Cleveland Indians' 13-0 exhibition rout Tuesday of the Carolina Mudcats, their new Class A affiliate, in Zebulon, N.C.
Asdrubal Cabrera and Shelley Duncan each hit solo homers. Donald had a two-run single in the seventh and a three-run shot in the eighth. Starter Derek Lowe threw three strong innings in the Indians' stress-free final tuneup before their regular season opener Thursday against Toronto.
The 38-year-old Lowe looked healthy after leaving his last start early with tightness near his right ribcage. He looked fine this time, finishing with three strikeouts and no walks while retiring nine of 10 batters.
Cabrera's homer in the first came when he sent the first pitch he saw from Scott Barnes over the 20-foot wall in left.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
The 35-year-old Duncan, who faced the Cavaliers Tuesday at The Q, spent part of the NBA lockout working out and playing ball with Thompson in Texas.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Tristan Thompson was 6 when Tim Duncan made his NBA debut with the San Antonio Spurs.
To generations of kids weaned on ESPN, Duncan must seem like a player who wandered into their highlights from another era, his black-and-white Spurs uniform only lending to the perception. Duncan relies on fundamentals. He takes as much satisfaction in a 10-foot bank shot as a thunderous dunk.
"When I was younger, he was not always on the SportsCenter Top 10 plays, but he got it done in the box score," Thompson said of the four-time NBA champion and two-time league MVP. "Learning from a guy like that is priceless."
The 35-year-old Duncan, who faced the Cavaliers Tuesday at The Q, spent part of the NBA lockout working out and playing ball with Thompson in Texas. Thompson said he plans to do it again this summer. The Cavaliers big man is trying to improve his offensive game which he admits remains raw at the pro level. Most of his points come from dunks, offensive rebounds and baskets at the rim. Thompson is averaging 7.7 points and 6.2 rebounds per game.
Coach Byron Scott will give the 21-year-old a to-do list for the off-season, which includes honing his post moves with former Cavs center Zydrunas Ilgauskas. But Scott certainly has no issues with Thompson occasionally training alongside Duncan, as well.
"If you have that type of guy you can work with, you better use it," Scott said. "Tim is probably, arguably, the best power forward to ever play the game."
Duncan downplayed how much he taught Thompson. They were part of a cluster of players who worked out and played together during the lockout in Texas. The future Hall of Famer sees real potential in Thompson.
"He's impressive," Duncan told the San Antonio Express-News on Tuesday. "Obviously, his length is impressive and the ability to already use both hands around the basket is impressive. He's already light years ahead of me in that aspect. I think he's got a very bright future in this league."
Varejao update: Scott said he hopes Anderson Varejao can rejoin the club next week. The center hasn't played since fracturing his right wrist Feb. 10. The coach would like to Varejao to get in one full practice before returning him to the lineup.
Former Spur flourishes: San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich isn't shocked that former Spur Alonzo Gee has made the best of his opportunity with the Cavs. Gee played for the Spurs Development League team in Austin, Texas and won rookie of the year honors for the 2009-10 season. He also played five games for San Antonio last season before eventually signing with the Cavaliers.
"We watched him develop on our D-League team and in the summertime," Popovich said. "He just had a lot to learn, a lot to catch up on. He put in the work to do that and that's a tribute to his character. ... With his work ethic and athleticism it was only a matter of time and the right opportunity."
Former Cav flourishes: Popovich wasn't certain Danny Green would make the Spurs out of training camp. Now, the former Cavalier is their starting shooting guard.
Green, a 2009 Cavaliers second-round draft pick, is averaging 8.4 points, 3.7 rebounds, 1.3 assists in 23.2 minutes. He is one of several youngsters adding depth to the Spurs' roster and allowing Popovich to manage the minutes of older stars such as Manu Ginobili, who's battled injuries.
"His progression has been more mental than anything else, his approach to the game," Popovich said of Green. "He is being more physical, more focused, deciding what he does best. I think he came in with a real focus to make an impression."
Green was the final cut from last season's training camp. It took time for the 6-6 guard to attract the attention of another team, but he was united with Danny Ferry, the former Cavs GM who's now the Spurs vice president of basketball operations.
The guard did not have a good camp in 2010 and Green said he wasn't surprised by his release because he could see his minutes dwindling in the preseason.
Gibson update: Daniel Gibson underwent surgery Monday to repair a torn tendon in his left ankle. The club announced last night the shooting guard will miss the remainder of the season.
The Bobcats introduced Christian as their new coach on Tuesday, after offering him the highest-paying basketball contract in the MAC.
ATHENS, Ohio -- For the Ohio University men's basketball program -- and perhaps even the Mid-American Conference -- Tuesday's hiring of Jim Christian was meant as a sign that it is time to seize the day.
The Bobcats introduced Christian as their new coach after offering him the highest-paying basketball contract in the MAC. The former Kent State coach replaces John Groce, who left for Illinois after guiding OU to a 29-8 season that culminated in a MAC Tournament title and Sweet 16 NCAA Tournament appearance.
The three-week run gave the program and the school the kind of marketing and advertising boost that most universities can only dream about. Miami in 1999 and Kent State in 2002 were the most recent MAC teams to taste the kind of success the Bobcats have had. But neither university was able to keep that level of success and faded back into the conference pack.
With Christian, OU intends to continue stepping forward. With its starting five set to return, the best facilities in the league, the largest fan base by attendance and now national notoriety, OU wants to make this year's level of success the norm instead of the exception.
"The vision is of excellence in every area, and that includes athletics," OU president Roderick McDavis said.
By hiring Christian, the Bobcats avoided an unproven assistant taking his first head coaching job. They are getting a man who struggled (56-73) the past four seasons at Texas Christian, but before that had a run at Kent (139-59) of six 20-win seasons, four MAC East Division titles, two regular-season titles, two postseason tournament titles and two trips to the NCAA Tournament.
Christian was also the pilot of the last MAC team -- KSU in 2008 -- to be ranked in the AP Top 25. By comparison, Groce's four Ohio teams never finished better than third in regular-season play, before blooming with tournament titles in 2010 and 2012.
Postseason success is what the Bobcats hope to consistently achieve with Christian. The investment in basketball also reflects the initiatives put in place last year by MAC commissioner John Steinbrecher -- a program that offers bonuses to schools who elevate the league's profile.
Christian will have a base salary of $425,000 annually for five years, with more to come via incentives and camps. This makes Christian by far the highest-paid coach in the league, with Akron's Keith Dambrot ($350,000) a distant second. It also comes with assurances the team will be traveling some charter flights to road games, and will get team locker room upgrades as well.
Christian called it "a commitment to excellence" from the university and would not put a ceiling on how high the program could grow. "If you put a ceiling on things, you think it can stop," he said.
McDavis said the national attention from the Sweet 16 appearance was different than anything he has experienced from football.
"The beauty of the NCAA Tournament is it's a bigger national event," he said. "When you win two games, all of a sudden you are in the Sweet 16, which has a certain aura around it. To me, once we reached the Sweet 16, that was bigger than winning a bowl game. A lot of teams won in the early rounds, but not many made the Sweet 16. That set us apart."
More importantly, the president realized, this was a goal to consistently strive for.
"My feeling was, with the right pieces in place -- which we have in facilities and leadership -- we wanted to keep this momentum in place. That's what made coach Christian so attractive to us. I remember his teams at Kent State. I hated when we played those teams."
Now the challenge is to make history -- again and again.
Spurs' 125-90 romp hands Cavaliers their third home loss by 35 points or more this season.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Byron Scott is no longer talking about winning, something the Cavaliers haven't done since winter turned to spring.
Things have eroded so quickly in the past few weeks the Cavaliers coach is just simply looking for his players to compete, to care. It's gotten so bad one of the team's leaders admitted some players have been joking around in the locker room after losses.
"I worry more when me as a coach and my coaching staff want it more than my players," Scott said. "That's when I start to worry. And I'm getting worried."
His concern elevated to another level after the San Antonio Spurs embarrassed the Cavaliers, 125-90, on Tuesday. The second consecutive lopsided home defeat -- the Cavs lost by 37 points on Friday night to Milwaukee -- drove many in the crowd of 14,759 fans out of the building long before the final horn sounded.
It marked their eighth straight loss overall and 11th in the last 12 games. The Cavs allowed a season high in points to the Spurs, who won for the eighth straight time. The game was never close after San Antonio scored 16 straight first-quarter points to break a 16-16 tie.
The Cavs played with no sense of purpose or pride defensively. The Spurs, who shot 59.3 percent, would run the same play six or seven times and the Cavs acted as if they had never seen it. You would have thought San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich had invented the pick-n-roll in the locker room before the game by the way the Cavaliers reacted to it.
The 125 points represented a season high for the Spurs, who received a 19-point effort from former Cavs shooting guard Danny Green.
"When we're giving up layups not once or twice, but on a consistent basis five, six times down the floor, wide open shots, to me that shows we're not competing," Scott said.
Scott used a variation of the word "compete" 16 times in about three minutes in his post-game meeting with reporters. He is at a loss to explain why a club that played so hard for so long this season has dropped its last two home games by a combined 72 points.
The Cavs have fallen to 9-18 at The Q. Three of the five worst home losses in franchise history have occurred this season – Chicago (39 points), Milwaukee (37), San Antonio (35).
"I don't know the reason, but I do know we have to get back to competing," Scott said. "That means playing with your heart, your head and another anatomy [part] I've talked about before. It's that simple."
Cavs rookie Kyrie Irving returned to the lineup after missing one game with a sprained right shoulder to contribute 13 points and five rebounds, but it hardly mattered. They managed just 18 points in the first quarter and trailed, 60-41, at halftime.
"We all get paid to do this at a really high level," Irving said. "I feel like sometimes sitting there watching or being out there that our competitive level doesn't match other teams. We just have to pick it up."
Antawn Jamison, who led the Cavaliers with 15 points, was quite candid after the game.
"I've got to be positive for these guys," Jamison said. "After the Milwaukee loss I don't think anybody recognized who I was.
"I have to understand that guys were looking at me. It's supposed to hurt. After games and you come in here and hear guys talking and laughing is disappointing, but that's when you have to change the culture and let them know it's unacceptable. We just aren't going to accept not just losing, but getting our [butt] kicked."
The Spurs outscored the Cavs 58-30 in the paint and 18-0 in fast-break points.
Patrick Mills led the Spurs with 20 points.
Baylor's Brittney Griner totals 26 points, 13 rebounds and five blocked shots.
DENVER, Colorado -- Brittney Griner scored 26 points, grabbed 13 rebounds and blocked five shots to help the Lady Bears finish off an undefeated season with an 80-61 win over Notre Dame in the national championship game Tuesday night.
Baylor became the first team in NCAA history to win 40 games. Even more important to the Lady Bears, the team cut down the nets for the first time since 2005.
For the Fighting Irish (35-4), a second straight trip to the title game ended in heartbreak. They lost 76-70 to Texas A&M last season.
Odyssey Sims chipped in 19 for the Bears, while Destiny Williams added 12.
The Irish cut a sizable deficit to three points early in the second half, only to have Devereaux Peters called for an illegal screen, which was her fourth foul. With Peters on the bench, the Bears built their lead back up by dumping the ball into the 6-foot-8 Griner, who showed off her wide array of shots as she arched hooks and jumpers over the smaller Irish players.
Columnist writes: "...corporations who once stood in line hoping to get his signature on an endorsement contract want nothing to do with him. An occasional foray into a group of fans to sign autographs notwithstanding, he still comes across as aloof and arrogant."
.....
By Tim Dahlberg
Associated Press
AUGUSTA, Georgia -- He could have used the 23 minutes to practice his putting, or check out the new slope on the 16th green. It might have been enough time for a quick lunch in the player's lounge, or a friendly chat with first round playing partner Sang-Moon Bae.
But there were questions to be answered, stories to be told. Tiger Woods understands this as well as anyone, so he dutifully headed to the interview room in the Masters media center to face the inevitable onslaught of queries about his game and his life.
A few hours earlier, Rory McIlroy sat in the same room and talked about the final round meltdown last year that would have destroyed a lesser golfer. He was alternately serious and charming, especially so when he talked about a conversation he had with Greg Norman about losing a heartbreaker at Augusta National.
"Sorry. I wasn't born," McIlroy said at one point, drawing laughter when asked if he and Norman discussed a near miss in the 1980s.
A tough act to follow, not that Woods even tried. He had his script, and he was sticking to it.
The questions were mostly friendly, the responses entirely sterile. An attempt at telling a story about his first Masters with Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus had already been told many times, and seemed mostly an exercise in filling the time he was forced to stay in his chair.
That, too, was surely in the script. Better to fill time than to let one question slip in about how he had managed to overcome the emotional turmoil of his past to regain his position as the favorite to win his fifth green jacket this week.
His game is back, yes. That was perfectly clear two weeks ago when he wore down the field the way Woods always used to in his prime to win for the first time on the PGA Tour since a shocking sex scandal derailed his career and his life.
Took a while, and it came with a new swing. But it sure looked a lot like the same old Tiger we used to know and love.
He's not so loved anymore, though you wouldn't know it by the crowds who cheer his every shot. Maybe they just love his game. A survey by Nielsen and E-Poll's N-Score, which measures endorsement potential, showed only 17 percent of respondents said they like Woods, compared to 52 percent who thought Phil Mickelson was appealing.
Hardly surprising, because Mickelson feels genuine when he speaks. He's engaging when it comes to fans, and he signs everything put in front of him.
Woods doesn't, and he's got a sordid past to boot. Winning another green jacket isn't going to change that, even if it drives up ratings for CBS.
His bag used to be sponsored by major brands like Buick and AT&T. Now it carries the name of an obscure company that makes energy and vitamin supplements that dissolve under your tongue.
Nike still stands behind him, but other corporations who once stood in line hoping to get his signature on an endorsement contract want nothing to do with him. An occasional foray into a group of fans to sign autographs notwithstanding, he still comes across as aloof and arrogant.
Two years ago, Woods sat in the same interview room, talking about his life and his comeback after months away from golf because of the scandal. He claimed he had learned his lesson, and vowed to be a more humble player.
There was no such attempt at introspection on Tuesday. He deflected the only question about his comeback by saying he was happy to be playing again in his 18th Masters at a place he finds so special. His other answers were so banal that even his favorite journalists couldn't bring themselves to write them down.
Want some insight into Woods? You're better off reading the new book from his former instructor Hank Haney than listening to Woods himself. Haney didn't exactly deliver any bombshells, but he offered up enough to anger Woods to the point where he got into a confrontation recently with a writer who had the temerity to ask about it.
That's the Woods of old, and that may be the only Woods who can win. He's got an insatiable desire to be in control, whether on the golf course or in delivering the message of the day to the media and what remains of his fan base.
It's not so easy anymore, but nothing is. Woods is an old 36 and if he wants to win at least five more majors to break the record of 18 set by Jack Nicklaus he needs to begin winning them again now. But there's a new generation of players who are not afraid of challenging him, and he hasn't won a major in nearly four years.
Still, when the Masters begins Thursday it will be surprising if Woods' name isn't on the leaderboard. He's been playing the tournament half his life now, and knows the course so well he finished fourth the last two years despite not having confidence in his rebuilt swing.
More importantly, the old swagger has returned. Being in contention won't be good enough.
"I'm here for the green jacket," he said.
Indeed, it could be a win for the ages. A fifth Masters title, and the start of a march toward the record book.
Just don't expect everyone to be cheering.
Cavaliers rookie Kyrie Irving admits the losing has taken a toll
Indians home openers: Read game results, box scores and stories for Cleveland Indians home openers.
Bob Feller has more wins (4) than any other Indians pitcher in home openers, recording victories in 1939, 1948, 1951 and 1952.
Eighteen times, the Indians have had the largest opening day crowd in baseball, including 73,290 in the final opener at Cleveland Stadium in 1993.
Listed below are:
The Indians last won a home opener in 2008, defeating the Chicago White Sox, 10-8.
Casey Blake hit a game-winning three-run double in that 2008 gamed. C.C. Sabathia was the Tribe's starter but the win went to reliever Rafael Betancourt.
| Date | Opp. | Score | WP | LP | Attend. | Box | Story |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4/1/2011 | Chi. | 10-15 | Buehrle | Carmona | 41,721 | Box | Story |
| 4/12/2010 | Tex. | 2-4 | Francisco | Wright | 42,061 | Box | Story |
| 4/10/2009 | Tor. | 7-13 | League | Perez | 42,473 | Box | Story |
| 3/31/2008 | Chi. | 10-8 | Betancourt | Dotel | 41,872 | Box | Story |
| 4/10/2007 | LA | 7-6 | Sabathia | Santana | 19,031 | Box | Story |
| 4/07/2006 | Minn. | 11-6 | Byrd | Lohse | 42,455 | Box | Story |
| 4/11/2005 | Chi. | 1-2 | Garcia | Millwood | 42,459 | Box | Story |
| 4/12/2004 | Minn. | 6-3 | Lee | Lohse | 42,424 | Box | Story |
| 4/08/2003 | Chi. | 3-5 | Koch | Paronto | 42,301 | Box | Story |
| 4/08/2002 | Minn. | 9-5 | Drese | Milton | 42,441 | Box | Story |
| 4/02/2001 | Chi. | 4-7 | Wells | Colon | 42,606 | Box | Story |
| 4/14/2000 | Tex. | 2-7 | Helling | Burba | 42,727 | Box | Story |
| 4/12/1999 | KC | 5-2 | Shuey | Santiago | 42,830 | Box | Story |
| 4/10/1998 | Anah. | 8-5 | Plunk | Percival | 42,707 | Box | Story |
| 4/11/1997 | Anah. | 15-3 | Ogea | Gubicza | 42,643 | Box | Story |
| 4/02/1996 | NY | 1-7 | Cone | Martinez | 42,289 | Box | Story |
| 5/05/1995 | Minn. | 5-1 | Nagy | Erickson | 41,434 | Box | Story |
| 4/04/1994 | Sea. | 4-3 | Plunk | King | 41,459 | Box | Story |
| 4/05/1993 | NY | 1-9 | Key | Nagy | 73,290 | Box | NA |
| 4/11/1992 | Bos. | 5-7 | Gardiner | Bell | 65,813 | Box | NA |
| 4/16/1991 | Tex. | 1-3 | Brown | King | 46,506 | Box | NA |
| 4/19/1990 | NY | 1-0 | Swindell | Perez | 6,000 | Box | NA |
| 4/03/1989 | Milw. | 2-1 | Swindell | August | 40,618 | Box | NA |
| 4/08/1988 | Balt. | 3-0 | Bailes | Thurmond | 53,738 | Box | NA |
| 4/10/1987 | Balt. | 11-12 | Williamson | Camacho | 64,540 | Box | NA |
| 4/11/1986 | Det. | 2-7 | Terrell | P. Niekro | 32,441 | Box | NA |
| 4/13/1985 | NY | 3-6 | Guidry | Blylevan | 61,978 | Box | NA |
| 4/14/1984 | Balt. | 8-2 | Sutcliffe | McGregor | 57,114 | Box | NA |
| 4/09/1983 | Balt. | 8-4 | Sutcliffe | Stewart | 52,150 | Box | NA |
| 4/10/1982 | Tex. | 3-8 | Hough | Waits | 62,443 | Box | NA |
| 4/11/1981 | Milw. | 3-5 | Caldwell | Blyleven | 71,067 | Box | NA |
| 4/19/1980 | Tor. | 8-1 | Waits | Clancy | 61,753 | Box | NA |
| 4/07/1979 | Bos. | 3-0 | Waits | Torrez | 47,231 | Box | NA |
| 4/08/1978 | KC | 8-5 | Garland | Leonard | 52,433 | Box | NA |
| 4/16/1977 | Bos. | 4-8 | Tiant | Garland | 51,165 | Box | NA |
| 4/10/1976 | Det. | 1-3 | Coleman | Eckersley | 58,748 | Box | NA |
| 4/08/1975 | NY | 5-3 | G. Perry | Medich | 56,715 | Box | NA |
| 4/10/1974 | Milw. | 4-6 | Wright | J. Perry | 22,575 | Box | NA |
| 4/07/1973 | Det. | 2-1 | G. Perry | Lolich | 74,420 | Box | NA |
| 4/15/1972 | Milw. | 1-5 | Parsons | G. Perry | 22,831 | Box | NA |
| 4/08/1971 | Bos. | 3-2 | Colbert | Tatum | 40,462 | Box | NA |
| 4/07/1970 | Balt. | 2-8 | McNally | McDowell | 38,180 | Box | NA |
| 4/11/1969 | Bos. | 1-2 | Landis | J. Hamilton | 25,596 | Box | NA |
| 4/11/1968 | Calif. | 5-7 | Locke | Tiant | 30,348 | Box | NA |
| 4/19/1967 | KC | 4-1 | Siebert | Nash | 26,133 | Box | NA |
| 4/15/1966 | Bos. | 8-7 | Kralick | Sanders | 33,198 | Box | NA |
| 4/21/1965 | LA | 6-5 | Siebert | Piche | 44,345 | Box | NA |
| 4/14/1964 | Minn. | 6-7 | J. Perry | Walker | 25,617 | Box | NA |
| 4/11/1963 | Det. | 1-6 | Mossi | Donovan | 25,812 | Box | NA |
| 4/13/1962 | Wash. | 2-5 | Burnside | Latman | 17,543 | Box | NA |
| 4/19/1961 | Det. | 2-5 | Fox | Funk | 28,216 | Box | NA |
| 4/19/1960 | Det. | 2-4 | Burnside | Grant | 52,756 | Box | NA |
| 4/14/1959 | Det. | 8-1 | Score | Brunning | 33,098 | Box | NA |
| 4/15/1958 | KC | 0-5 | Garver | Score | 13,337 | Box | NA |
| 4/16/1957 | Chi. | 2-3 | Pierce | Score | 31,145 | Box | NA |
| 4/20/1956 | Det. | 3-1 | Wynn | Garver | 31,689 | Box | NA |
| 4/12/1955 | Chi. | 5-1 | Lemon | Trucks | 50,320 | NA | NA |
| 4/15/1954 | Det. | 2-3 | Branca | Garcia | 40,421 | NA | NA |
| 4/14/1953 | Chi. | 6-0 | Lemon | Rogovin | 53,698 | NA | NA |
| 4/18/1952 | Det. | 5-0 | Feller | Gray | 56,068 | NA | NA |
| 4/20/1951 | St.L. | 4-1 | Feller | Starr | 48,316 | NA | NA |
| 4/18/1950 | Det. | 6-7 | Houtteman | Flores | 65,744 | NA | NA |
| 4/22/1949 | Det. | 4-3 | Bearden | Trout | 63,725 | NA | NA |
| 4/20/1948 | St.L. | 4-0 | Feller | Sanford | 73,163 | NA | NA |
| 4/15/1947 | Chi. | 0-2 | Lopat | Feller | 55,014 | NA | NA |
| 4/20/1946 | Det. | 0-7 | Newhouser | Gromek | 42,775 | NA | NA |
| 4/17/1945 | Chi. | 2-5 | Lee | Reynolds | 20,588 | NA | NA |
| 4/21/1944 | Det. | 7-4 | Reynolds | Overmire | 13,643 | NA | NA |
| 4/21/1943 | Det. | 1-0 | Bagby | Bridges | 13,847 | NA | NA |
| 4/17/1942 | Chi. | 0-1 | Lyons | Harder | 24,500 | NA | NA |
| 4/15/1941 | Chi. | 3-4 | Dietrich | Feller | 46,064 | NA | NA |
| 4/19/1940 | Det. | 4-0 | Allen | Pippen | 25,529 | NA | NA |
| 4/21/1939 | Det. | 5-1 | Feller | Eisenstat | 23,597 | NA | NA |
| 4/19/1938 | St.L. | 2-6 | Newsom | Allen | 31,606 | NA | NA |
| 4/23/1937 | St.L. | 9-2 | Allen | Hogsett | 20,000 | NA | NA |
| 4/14/1936 | Det. | 0-3 | Rowe | Harder | 18,200 | NA | NA |
| 4/23/1935 | St.L. | 7-6 | Brown | Coffman | 21,500 | NA | NA |
| 4/17/1934 | St.L. | 5-2 | Hildebrand | Blaeholder | 21,000 | NA | NA |
| 4/20/1933 | Det. | 3-1 | Brown | Sorrell | 25,000 | NA | NA |
| 4/20/1932 | Det. | 1-2 | Uhle | Brown | 23,000 | NA | NA |
| 4/14/1931 | Chi. | 5-4 | Ferrell | Braxton | 25,163 | NA | NA |
| 4/22/1930 | Chi. | 3-4 | Thomas | Hudlin | 20,000 | NA | NA |
| 4/16/1929 | Det. | 5-4 | Hudlin | Whitehill | 16,000 | NA | NA |
| 4/18/1928 | Chi. | 7-1 | Shaute | Adkins | 23,000 | NA | NA |
| 4/12/1927 | Chi. | 3-2 | Uhle | Thomas | 20,000 | NA | NA |
| 4/21/1926 | Det. | 12-2 | Karr | Johns | 22,000 | NA | NA |
| 4/22/1925 | St.L. | 2-3 | Bush | Smith | 22,616 | NA | NA |
| 4/23/1924 | Det. | 6-5 | Uhle | Cole | 23,815 | NA | NA |
| 4/18/1923 | Chi. | 6-5 | Boone | Mack | 20,372 | NA | NA |
| 4/12/1922 | Det. | 7-4 | Morton | Oldham | 14,257 | NA | NA |
| 4/21/1921 | St.L. | 4-3 | Bagby | Shocker | 19,000 | NA | NA |
| 4/14/1920 | St.L. | 5-0 | Coveleskie | Sothoron | 20,000 | NA | NA |
| 5/01/1919 | Det. | 1-8 | Boland | Coveleskie | 15,653 | NA | NA |
| 4/18/1918 | Det. | 6-2 | Coveleskie | Boland | 11,000 | NA | NA |
| 4/19/1917 | Det. | 8-7 | Coumbe | Dauss | 21,739 | NA | NA |
| 4/12/1916 | St.L. | 1-6 | Groom | Mitchell | 18,351 | NA | NA |
| 4/22/1915 | Det. | 3-5 | Dubuc | Mitchell | 9,247 | NA | NA |
| 4/22/1914 | Chi. | 0-7 | Scott | Blanding | 8,279 | NA | NA |
| 4/11/1913 | Chi. | 3-1 | Gregg | Scott | 14,000 | NA | NA |
| 4/11/1912 | Det. | 3-2 | Mitchell | Mullin | 19,302 | NA | NA |
| 4/20/1911 | St.L. | 3-4 | Powell | West | 14,379 | NA | NA |
| 4/21/1910 | Det. | 0-5 | Willett | Young | 18,832 | NA | NA |
| 4/22/1909 | St.L. | 4-6 | Powell | Rhoades | 7,739 | NA | NA |
| 4/14/1908 | St.L. | 1-2 | Pelty | Joss | 13,139 | NA | NA |
| 4/18/1907 | Det. | 0-2 | Mullin | Hess | 10,898 | NA | NA |
| 4/30/1906 | St.L. | 3-4 | Pelty | Joss | 14,423 | NA | NA |
| 4/15/1905 | Det. | 6-2 | Moore | Mullin | 7,544 | NA | NA |
| 4/22/1904 | Chi. | 10-2 | Bernhard | Stricklett | 14,854 | NA | NA |
| 4/28/1903 | St.L. | 6-3 | Joss | Powell | 19,867 | NA | NA |
| 5/6/1902 | Chi | 3-6 | Griffith | Taylor | 11,749 | NA | NA |
| 4/29/1901 | Milw. | 4-3 | Hoffer | Hawley | 8,000 | NA | NA |
Sources: The Plain Dealer, the Cleveland Indians and baseball-reference.com
Also:
• The cleveland.com Data Central sports index
• Complete Indians coverage from The Plain Dealer
Former Cleveland Cavaliers forward Danny Green shows the Cavaliers what they're missing.
Mike Monroe of MySanAntonio.com writes how forward Danny Green scored 19 points to help lead the Spurs over the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Green was cut by the Cavaliers three weeks into training camp before the 2010-11 season.
On Oct. 19, 2010, his name went on the waiver wire.
It was what happened in the days and weeks that followed that tested Green’s nerve.
“As weeks went by, I didn’t know what was going on,” he recalled after his 16 first-half points staked the Spurs to a comfortable lead that eventually grew to their largest margin of victory all season. “You talk to your agent, wait for phone calls, work out at home and wait.
“I had a lot of fun my first year (in Cleveland). It was a good organization, and I had a lot of great teammates. I didn’t think I would be out of the league so long and struggling to find another place to call home.”
San Antonio has been Green’s basketball home since last March 16, when he signed with the Spurs for the remainder of the 2010-11 season, writes Monroe. Tuesday’s game was his first in Cleveland since his rookie season.
Making 6 of 9 shots, including 4 of 6 from 3-point range, he sparked a 60-point surge in the first half that sapped the will from the Cavs so thoroughly that coach Byron Scott accused them afterwards of failing to compete.
More Cleveland Cavaliers
Coach Byron Scott is not happy with his team (Cleveland.com).
A once promising season has unraveled (The News-Herald).
Tristan Thompson will spend another summer with Tim Duncan (Ohio.com).
Canton Charge reacquire Trent Strickland (CantonRep.com)
Plain Dealer golf writer says this year's field will be one of the most competitive in years. Watch video
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Welcome to today's edition of Starting Blocks TV, hosted by Chuck Yarborough and Branson Wright.
The Masters starts Thursday, and this field is one of the most competitive in years. Which golfer are you picking to win the green jacket? That's the question in today's Starting Blocks poll.
Today's guest on SBTV is Plain Dealer golf writer Tim Rogers, who says that Tiger Woods is at the top of the list with his recent play. Tim also discusses which players flying under the radar can win the title; and why The Masters is such a special event.
SBTV will return Thursday.
Go ahead. Make a prediction for Thursday's Opening Day Indians game. Instead of writing it on a slip of paper and losing it under your blotter, use our new widget to write the headline you predict and e-mail it to yourself or your friends.
Tomorrow, Thursday, is Opening Day for the Indians. While Cleveland baseball fans aren't the sort to admit optimism before Labor Day, a lot of people get a lift from the first home game -- it's spring, it's tradition, it's good entertainment. But whether the home opener inspires optimism or fatalism in your own heart, here is where you can express it, in the privacy of your own computer screen.
Your challenge: To write the headline here that you wish you'd see in Friday's paper after the Blue Jays game at Progressive Field. (The Indians headline, that is. We have seen all the insults already, and they're boring.) Don't ever see the paper? That's not the point. Take a chance and voice your hopes or fears for the Tribe in 15 big characters, plus two or three short lines that round out your thought.
Write headlines in the boxes below the page image and click the "Click" button for that line to place it on the page. Users visiting with modern browsers in conventional computers most likely will be able to right-click on the page with their new headline and save it or e-mail it to a friend. If you see "Screen shot!" in red at the lower left corner, however, you'll want to use a screen shot (shift-Print Screen in Windows, command-shift-4 on a Mac) to preserve your idea.
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// _ctx.fillText("Hello World",90,120);
};
function showMyMotto(which){
if (which==1){
var myMotto = jQuery('#useridea').val();
}
else
{
var myMotto = jQuery('#userdrophead').val();
}
if(myMotto !== ''){
if(!_ctx)
{
if(which==1)
{
jQuery('#heartMotto').html(myMotto.toUpperCase());
}
else
{
jQuery('#drophead').html(myMotto);
}
}
else
{
_ctx.fillStyle = "#000";
if(which==1)
{
_ctx.font="45px Impact";
wrapText(_ctx,myMotto.toUpperCase(),10,350,650,65,65);
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else
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_ctx.font="15px Times New Roman";
wrapText(_ctx,myMotto,270,365,125,16,60);
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}
}
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jQuery('#heartMotto').add('#drophead').html(' ');
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Web development and programming: Peter Zicari
Just in time for Opening Day, get the latest Indians news, videos and photo slideshows from cleveland.com with our new Android app now available in the Google Play Store.
Just in time for Opening Day, get the latest Indians news, videos and photo slideshows from cleveland.com with our new Android app now available in the Google Play Store.
An app for iOS devices is currently awaiting approval in the iPhone App Store and should be available soon.
The Indians on cleveland.com app for Android gives Tribe fans exclusive access to the latest news, videos and photo slideshows from cleveland.com. Read breaking articles about the Indians and other rival teams, catch live Twitter updates from fans and experts. Enjoy this app at the game, watch party or when hanging out with other Indians fans!
Download the app now from the Google Play Store.
--FEATURES--
• Full access to breaking news and updates
• Scores, updated live during the game
• Complete season schedules
• Links to professional baseball news
• Commentary from your favorite Cleveland Indians columnists
• Twitter posts from all the relevant Cleveland Indians Twitter followers
• Photos from on the field and off
• Videos optimized for your mobile device
• Your photo submissions, sent directly to the newsroom
• Weather that helps you plan your game day strategy
Download the Indians on cleveland.com app today!
PLEASE NOTE: This App is developed and published by Advance Digital Inc. and cleveland.com. The App is not endorsed, licensed or sponsored by the Cleveland Indians or Major League Baseball Properties, Inc.
