Chelsea needed a goal from Didier Drogba for the fourth time in an FA Cup final to survive a second-half Liverpool onslaught and win the trophy for the fourth time in six seasons with a 2-1 victory on Saturday.

AP PhotoChelsea's Didier Drogba reacts as he celebrates after scoring a goal against Liverpool during the English FA Cup Final.

WEMBLEY, England — Chelsea needed a goal from Didier Drogba for the fourth time in an FA Cup final to survive a second-half Liverpool onslaught and win the trophy for the fourth time in six seasons with a 2-1 victory on Saturday.

After Ramires seized on Liverpool blunders to put Chelsea in front after 11 minutes, Drogba scored his eighth goal in eight games at Wembley in the 52nd minute of the 131st final of the competition.

Drogba slotted the ball through defender Martin Skrtel's legs and into the net after being fed by Frank Lampard as a lethargic Liverpool posed little threat.

Liverpool substitute Andy Carroll breathed life back into the game when he pulled one back in the 64th after teasing his way around Chelsea captain John Terry.

Video Highlights: FA Cup Final

But, two weeks before the Champions League final against Bayern Munich, Chelsea held on to keep the recovery on track since Roberto Di Matteo replaced Andre Villas-Boas as coach two months ago when the team was in free fall.

"Liverpool is a difficult team to play and we got a great result," Drogba said.

It was a a cagey start to the final, but Chelsea was gifted an opener after a pair of mistakes by Liverpool.

Liverpool midfielder Jay Spearing initially gave the ball away in midfield to Juan Mata, who set Ramires free to charge toward the Liverpool goal.

And Pepe Reina was beaten too easily at his near post by Ramires when a shot was deflected by the goalkeeper's knee into his own net.

Liverpool pushed for an immediate response, but Branislav Ivanovic headed away Craig Bellamy's shot from the edge of the area.

But it was a shoddy first-half performance from a Liverpool side posing little threat, a little over two months since winning the League Cup here.

The closest Chelsea came to a second was Drogba's attempt to exploit Reina's frailties again, with a shot from distance in the 39th.

Liverpool had a penalty appeal dismissed five minutes into the second half when Ivanovic blocked Gerrard.

But Chelsea went further in front when Spearing gave the ball away again and Lampard threaded it through to Drogba, who slotted into the net.

Lampard hit a free kick wide and Drogba lashed the ball into the side netting before Liverpool's attempt at a comeback began.

Despite scoring the semifinal winner and being Liverpool's most expensive player, Carroll was dropped in favor of Luis Suarez up front, but the isolated striker struggled to make an impact.

Carroll, though, netted after just 10 minutes on the pitch.

Stewart Downing's tenacity down the left flank paid off, challenging Boswinga before the ball fell to Carroll to lash it into the net.

Liverpool pressed for the equalizer, with Gerrard volleying over and Suarez forcing a low save from Cech.

Carroll thought he had netted an equalizer in the 82nd, but replays failed to show that all of the ball went over the line from the high header.

Wiedenbauer spent 35 years with the Houston Astros as a player, coach, manager, coordinator and scout before coming to Cleveland in 2011 as minor-league field coordinator.

View full sizeAP photoSome "freakish" injuries during his playing career pushed Tom Wiedenbauer to coaching.

CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Indians’ new first-base coach, Tom Wiedenbauer, spent 35 years with the Houston Astros as a player, coach, manager, coordinator and scout before coming to Cleveland in 2011 as minor-league field coordinator. Wiedenbauer is the Indians outfield and base-running coach.

1. How do you think Houston will react when they move to the American League in 2013?

A: “That will be interesting. I would imagine it will be the same thing that the fans in Milwaukee went through when they went back to the National League. I don't know exactly how they'll react, but it will be interesting to see because National League baseball is a part of Houston.”

2. You made your big-league debut with the Astros in 1979, played four games, hit .667 (4-for-6) with two RBI, but never made it back. What happened?

A: “I had a couple of freakish injuries. I was hit in the face with a pitch in 1980 at Triple-A and broke my jaw. The following year I was hit in the head and had a concussion. It was not as easy for me to hit after that. ... It took the fun out of it.”

3. What kind of player was Manny Acta when you managed him at Class AA Columbus (Ga.) in 1989?

A: “Manny was an extremely smart player. He understood the game. He knew his abilities and he did everything right. He knew how to play the game and was a great teammate.

“I'm not at all surprised that he's a big-league manager. When he first came over here to the States from the Dominican Republic, you could tell that he was going to be quick to adapt to the culture, language and teammates. It's grown from there.

“The best word I can come up with for Manny as a manager is prepared ... extremely prepared.”

4. You were an infielder, outfielder and in the last two years of your career became a pitcher. How has that helped you as a coach?

A: “It gives me a little better understanding of what guys are going through on different parts of the club. Especially when I was a minor league coordinator. ... You get the understanding of how guys feel and what they go through during their routines.”

5. Did you enjoy going from position player to pitcher?

A: “It was a lot of fun. I wasn't very good at it. My wife accuses me of throwing more strikes from center field than I did from the mound. I started, closed, pitched middle relief ... all of the above.”

Mariano Rivera isn't the first player to be injured during batting practice, including one that led to a home run that put the Indians in the World Series.

View full sizeJohn Sleezer, Kansas City StarMariano Rivera says he's determined to return to the Yankees' bullpen after tearing his right ACL during Thursday's batting practice session in Kansas City.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The only thing more dangerous for a big-league ballplayer than batting practice might be marrying one of the Kardashian sisters. But it would take a photo finish to decide.

It's been that way long before super closer Mariano Rivera got his cleats stuck on the warning track at Kauffman Stadium while chasing a fly ball from former Indians infielder Jayson Nix and wrecked his right knee and, perhaps, the Yankees' season on Thursday.

Batting practice is a symphony of swinging bats, throws across the diamond, grounders to first, second, third and shortstop, batters running the bases and outfielders, pitchers and players' kids catching fly balls in the outfield. While all this is going on, sometimes the opposition will be playing catch down one of the foul lines or stretching in front of their dugout.

When all the instruments are in tune, it is a joy to watch. If one sour note is struck, somebody dial 9-1-1.

Every team has their stories about batting practice injuries. Here are some from the Indians.

• Before Game 6 of the 1997 ALCS between the Indians and Orioles, infielder Tony Fernandez hit Bip Roberts in the hand with a line drive. Roberts was supposed to start at second base, but couldn't play. Fernandez replaced him and in the 11th inning hit a home run off Armando Benitez for a 1-0 victory that put the Indians in the World Series.

• In 1908, a young left-hander named Jack Graney hit player-manager Nap Lajoie in the head with a pitch during batting practice. Legend has it that Lajoie, a Hall of Famer, sent Graney to the minors because of it.

Graney eventually made it back to the Indians as an outfielder and was named one of the top 100 players in franchise history. He also established a precedent for all Indians pitchers who followed him: "It's never a good idea to hit the manager in the head."

• On May 17 last year, Travis Hafner went 2-for-4 with three RBI in a 7-3 victory over Kansas City. The Indians were 26-13 and led the AL Central by five games.

Hafner had eight RBI in his last four games and was hitting .339. The next day in Chicago, Pronk strained his right oblique during batting practice and went on the disabled list for the first of two times.

The Indians went 54-89 the rest of the way, finishing 15 games behind Detroit in the AL Central.

• On May 22, 1986, infielder Danny Rohn was taking ground balls at shortstop at old County Stadium before a game with the Brewers. A ball took a bad bounce and broke Rohn's nose. Before the first drop of blood hit the infield dirt, or so it seemed, the Indians placed Rohn on the disabled list. He never played for the Indians or in the big leagues again.

• Reliever Paul Shuey had a great arm, but terrible legs. He made 13 trips to the disabled list as an Indian, almost all having to do with hamstrings, knees and hips.

In June of 2001, pitchers were taking batting practice in preparation for interleague play. Shuey, a late-inning reliever, injured his right elbow swinging the bat. Another trip to the DL followed.

In Shuey's nine years with the Tribe he went 0-for-2 at the plate.

• You may not remember Ruben Niebla, but he remembers Pittsburgh's PNC Park on June 20, 2010. Niebla, assisting Tribe's pitching coaches Tim Belcher and Scott Radinsky, ruined his right knee shagging fly balls. Like Rivera, he needed reconstructive surgery on the knee.

Niebla missed the rest of the season and has spent the last two years as pitching coach at Class AAA Columbus.

• Last month, Kevin Slowey was minding his own business playing catch down one of the outfield lines with the rest of his teammates at Class AAA Columbus when he was hit in the head by a line drive from one of the Indianapolis Indians, who were taking batting practice.

Slowey is back pitching after missing a start.

Batting practice is a lot more dangerous than it looks.

This week in baseball

Baseball is a game of threes. Three strikes and you're out and three outs in each half of an inning. Here are two more sets of threes to consider from last week in baseball.

Three up

1. Washington's Bryce Harper, 19, is hitting .316 (6-for-19) with four doubles and three RBI in his first six games in the big leagues.

2. Reds outfielder Jay Bruce is hitting .440 (11-for-25) with five homers and nine RBI in his last seven games through Friday.

3. Gio Gonzalez has 34 strikeouts in 29 2/3 innings for the Nationals, who are 4-1 in his five starts.

Three down

1. White Sox DH Adam Dunn has at least one strikeout in his last 31 games dating back to last season.

2. Marlins new closer Heath Bell has blown four saves in seven chances through Friday.

3. The Phillies have scored two or fewer runs in 11 of their 27 games through Friday.

Stat-o-matic

Fountain of youth: Boston's David Ortiz, 36, finished the best April of his career by hitting .405 (34-for-84) with nine doubles, six homers, 20 RBI and 17 runs.

Fast start: Derek Jeter's two infield singles last Sunday gave him 36 hits in April, topping the best April of his career, 35 in 2006.

Lucky seven: Cardinals outfielder Carlos Beltran had seven RBI against the Pirates by the third inning Wednesday.

"I'll Have Another" may be the most uttered phrase at Churchill Downs -- not to mention bars across the country -- tonight, but, earlier, it most likely these two words: "Nice hat."

"I'll Have Another" may be the most uttered phrase at Churchill Downs -- not to mention bars across the country -- tonight, but, earlier, it most likely these two words.

"Nice hat."

The Kentucky Derby, America's most famous horse race, spurred a holiday mood among the massive crowd that gathered to bet, drink, eat and check out the finery. Mint juleps flowed and colorful hats were plentiful. Fashions ranged from cutoffs and bikini tops to pricey suits and low-cut sun dresses.

Now, about those hats.

The lives of 10 Notre Dame College football players were upended after they were charged in January with felonious assault, kidnapping and aggravated rioting for attacking a baseball player at a party. Now, after cases against four were dismissed and five others pleaded guilty to misdemeanors, some are raising questions about whether the players should have been charged at all.

Marvin Fong, The Plain DealerA UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter flies over the Notre Dame College administration building last fall as it transports college ROTC students to a training exercise.

SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio — The lives of 10 Notre Dame College football players were upended after they were charged in January with felonious assault, kidnapping and aggravated rioting for attacking a baseball player at a party.

With one case pending, charges against four of the players have been dismissed and five others have pleaded guilty to misdemeanors. Now, some are raising questions about whether the players should have been charged at all.

Two of the students have returned to Notre Dame, and others have enrolled elsewhere.

But some attorneys say their clients, who had never faced anything more serious than a traffic ticket, were scarred by the experience. They lost a semester of school, had to pay thousands of dollars in legal fees and spent months in the court system.

"I felt that it was unfair," said Phillip Henderson, 19, of Sandusky, whose case was dismissed. "It was unfair of them to indict someone where there was clear evidence I wasn't a part of it." Henderson, who is in Sandusky, declined to comment about whether he is enrolled in another college.

Attorney Kevin Spellacy said his client, Joshua Remark, should not have been charged either. His case was also dismissed.

"It was really, really unfortunate he had to go through the system and see it from the inside," Spellacy said. "It changed their lives forever."

But South Euclid police Detective Sgt. Ben Parisi defended his department's handling of the case, which involved a large group of students who had been drinking, partying and fighting.

"It was a very delicate case," he said. "Quite frankly, we don't want to see these kids lose their future over something like this. It was never our intent. But the bottom line is if my son was beat up at a party I would like to see whoever was responsible held accountable."

According to police reports and police interviews this is what occurred:

Men and women were attending a party at the Ellison Road home of a senior baseball player near the college campus. Police stopped by around 2 a.m. on Nov. 20 following a noise complaint. Several people were scuffling outside but officers broke it up.

About 30 minutes later, police went to a college dormitory after a man called to say he had been assaulted at the party.

Baseball player Marc Ineman, 20, a sophomore from Independence, was with others in the unfinished basement of the home during the party when an overhead ventilation duct was broken.

That triggered an argument between him and several football players as to who was responsible. As the men were heading up the stairs to leave, the baseball player yelled, "If you come back down, your [expletive] will be on the ground," according to witnesses.

Several football players ran down the stairs and a fight began -- ending quickly after a few punches were thrown. However, as the football players were again preparing to leave, one of them, Hayden Davis, broke away from the group and blindsided Ineman, striking him in the head.

Up to eight football players became involved in a four- or five-minute scrum, which included punches and kicks. Another baseball player's brother, a student at the University of Akron, and the brother's roommate intervened and were also punched.

Eventually people were pulled apart and the football players left.

Ineman had a broken nose, the University of Akron student had a one-inch gash on his forehead that needed stitches, and his roommate had a bruise on his forehead and a cut inside his lip.

One football player had a broken finger.

Police immediately began taking statements from those at the party, although some were not completed until after the Thanksgiving holiday.

Davis, 19, of Springfield, and John Hamilton, 22, of Macedonia, were arrested within days of the incident. Others gave statements to police.

While some denied involvement, they were implicated by others, according to statements made to police. It was unclear to many who was causing injuries. But all agreed Davis threw the punch.

On Jan. 23, the 10 students were all indicted by a Cuyahoga County grand jury on the same charges, which could have resulted in prison sentences if they had been convicted.

All but one of the cases were concluded before Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge Shirley Strickland-Saffold by mid-April, with the cases either dismissed or reduced to misdemeanors. One case, expected to result in a misdemeanor plea, is pending because the student is in college in Florida, attorneys said.

Davis pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges of assault and attempted aggravated rioting. He was placed on three months' probation and ordered to pay a $250 fine and $258.95 in restitution to Ineman to cover medical costs. Davis is now a student at Wittenberg University, said his attorney, Henry Hilow.

"Ultimately at the end of the day, I think we ended up where we should have been at the beginning of the case," Hilow said. "Looking at the nature of the indictments and the severity with which these gentlemen were charged, once the prosecutors had a chance to evaluate the evidence, we ultimately got a fair result."

Hilow and other attorneys said they feel the police overreached in pursuing felonies, but they lauded the Cuyahoga County prosecutor's office for its handling of the case.

"Maybe because it was a college there . . . it was a means of making a statement that they will not take college incidents lightly," Hilow said of the police.

"I think if you look at universities, when you put the combustible elements that you have here of athletes and the use of alcohol and parties and males and females, it has been a formula of disaster for years."

Parisi said that his department felt the case was properly investigated and that the prosecutor's office decided what charges to pursue. The police report indicated the charge was felonious assault because the victim was "seriously harmed."

"It was mass confusion," Parisi said. "We were dealing with so many people in a college party atmosphere."

He said it is not uncommon to have charges reduced and defendants plead to lesser charges.

"The prosecutor's office feels as though the grand jury properly indicted the case based upon the information that was available at that time," spokeswoman Maria Russo said in an emailed statement. "As the case progressed, this office continued to receive additional information, which caused us to re-evaluate the case.

"The victim also expressed his wishes that the charges be reduced to misdemeanors so as not to burden the defendants with felony convictions based upon a single night of regrettable behavior. Taking all of this into account, this office exercised its discretion and resolved the matter in a way that holds each defendant accountable for their actions."

Ineman said he concurred with Russo's statements and did not want to comment on the incident.

Charges were dismissed against Henderson; Remark, 20, of Massillon; Korey Whitlow, 18, of Sterling Heights, Mich.; and William Tweedy, 19, of Columbus.

Tweedy, whose only previous run-in with the law was a speeding ticket, was terrified when he was charged, said his attorney, Nicholas Schepis.

"It was based on offhand statements of who could have been involved," Schepis said. "My understanding is that someone got injured in this fight but did not know if he wanted to press charges, but the police were gung-ho because he had some injury."

Tweedy said he completed his fall semester at Notre Dame, transferred to Ohio Dominican University in Columbus and was attending classes there in January when he was charged with the felonies.

"I couldn't believe it was happening," he said. "I was innocent."

He said his family had to borrow money from relatives to pay legal bills.

The others pleaded guilty to reduced misdemeanor offenses.

Bo Grunder, 19, of Massillon and John Hamilton, 22 of Macedonia, pleaded guilty to a charge of aggravated trespass and were fined $25.

Carlos Hawthorne, 19, of Shaker Heights, pleaded guilty to aggravated trespass and was placed on six months' probation and fined $100. Carter Haynes, 20, of Pepper Pike, pleaded guilty to aggravated trespass and was placed on three months' probation and fined $250.

The case against K'len Sutton, 30, of Lauderhill, Fla., is pending until he can come to Ohio.

Notre Dame reinstated Grunder and Remark, said college spokesman Brian Johnston. He said he could not comment further on the incident because of potential pending litigation.

Hilow said the case illustrates that while people should face consequences when they do wrong, sometimes officials have to step back and review what occurred before pursuing charges.

"You should look at people's involvement, maybe their intention," he said. "When you have this many dismissals and pleas to misdemeanors it screams that maybe a little more time should have been spent and more thought given before they were charged."

Carlos Santana considers the walk an important part of his game. If a pitch isn't over the plate, he's not going to swing at it.

View full sizeChuck Crow, The Plain Dealer"There are times when I take a two-strike pitch because it's not a pitch I like and the umpire calls it a strike," Indians catcher Carlos Santana says of his occasional strikeouts. "But I'm going to stay patient. I'm not going to swing at a bad pitch."

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Carlos Santana has always walked a lot, and he's not going to apologize for it.

Santana was tied for second in the American League with 19 walks after Friday's 6-3 victory over Texas. Last year he finished third, with 97 walks. Critics question why Santana can keep batting in the middle of the Indians' lineup when he doesn't hit for a high average. The Indians point to his power and ability to get on base.

"I've always walked a lot every year," said Santana, who entered Saturday night's game hitting .259 (21-for-81). "In the minors, one year, I walked 90 times (2007 at Class AA Akron). Last year I took 97 walks. This year I've got 19.

"I think it's good. When I go to hit, if I don't like the pitch, I'm not going to swing."

A high on-base percentage is one byproduct of Santana's walks. So is a high percentage of called third strikes. Seven of his 21 strikeouts (33 percent) have ended that way.

"There are times when I take a two-strike pitch because it's not a pitch I like and the umpire calls it a strike," said Santana. "But I'm going to stay patient. I'm not going to swing at a bad pitch."

Santana made just his second start at first base Saturday. Twenty of his 21 other starts have been behind the plate.

"Carlos has been good behind the plate," said manager Manny Acta. "All the credit goes to [bench coach] Sandy Alomar. He was able to work with him in spring training and Carlos came in healthy."

Santana's work behind the plate in the spring of 2011 was limited because he was coming off left knee surgery. This year Santana is throwing out 41.7 percent (5-for-12) of the basestealers who've challenged him. Friday in the eighth inning, he threw out Josh Hamilton at second to complete a double play as Michael Young struck out.

"The most important thing, whether the batter swings or not, is for me to try and make a perfect throw," said Santana. "Right now, I feel comfortable behind the plate. It's something that happens when you work hard with Sandy."

After throwing out Hamilton to end the inning, Santana made the out sign with his thumb.

"That's the emotion of the game," said Santana. "I want to show my emotion for my team that I want to win."

The 26th man: Zach McAllister will get promoted from Class AAA Columbus to start one of the games against Chicago in Monday's day-night doubleheader. By virtue of the new basic agreement, he will do so as the 26th man on the roster.

Part of the basic agreement allows teams to use 26 players for all doubleheaders. The roster must return to 25 players after the doubleheader.

"Right now Zach is scheduled to pitch the first game, but a lot will depend on the White Sox's order," said Acta.

Chicago is scheduled to start Philip Humber and Eric Stults, but have not said who will start which game. McAllister and Josh Tomlin will start for the Tribe.

Acta is a big booster of the new rule, which allows teams to add an additional player without dropping another from the roster.

"Doubleheaders can really put teams in a tough spot," he said. "It was a great decision."

McAllister will be available for both games. It would be the same rule for a position player. In six starts at Columbus, McAllister is 3-1 with a 2.86 ERA. He has 32 strikeouts, 11 walks and 30 hits in 35 innings. He's averaging 8.23 strikeouts and 2.83 walks.

"He's throwing the ball well at Columbus," said Acta. "His last outing was very good. He's keeping his fastball down and maintaining the velocity he showed us in spring training."

He's OK: Shin-Soo Choo spiked himself Friday when he ended the game with a catch against the right-field wall against Adrian Beltre. He bent over for several seconds and it appeared he was hurt.

"I spiked myself, but most of it was caught in my sock," said Choo.

Finally: The Indians have acquired 7-1 right-hander Loek van Mil from the Angels for cash considerations. Mill, 27, will report to Class AA Akron.

On Twitter: @hoynsie

The aftereffects of the draft continue to dominate the mailbag for Browns beat writer Mary Kay Cabot.

View full sizePD fileBrowns quarterback Otto Graham and coach Paul Brown shared many championship moments together in Cleveland.

Hey, Mary Kay: I have a question whose answer might surprise a few Cleveland fans. How old was Browns Hall of Famer Otto Graham when he started his first NFL game? -- Tony Mosaic, Columbus

Hey, Tony: Otto Graham was 29 during his first NFL season in 1950, but had already started for the Browns for four seasons in the All-America Football Conference, winning the league championship all four years and sharing the MVP title twice.

Hey, Mary Kay: I think I'm not alone in being worried about the wide receivers this year. As impressive as Travis Benjamin looks on You Tube, I can't imagine him being able to get off the line of scrimmage against DBs who are twice his size. Does this concern you? Help me calm down please! -- Gloria Kinneret, Cleveland Heights

Hey, Gloria: Breathe! The Browns say their current crop of receivers will be much improved with the bigger-armed Brandon Weeden and that year two in the WCO will make a huge difference. If Benjamin's ready to roll, his elite speed will help.

Hey, Mary Kay: Is it possible that the Browns were targeting CB Josh Robinson in the third round? When Minnesota took him at No. 66 maybe the Browns were possibly caught off guard, traded out to possibly target LB Sean Spence, and pick up an extra pick. The Steelers then snatched him at 86 further surprising us. I vaguely recall the Browns showing pre-draft interest in these two fast defensive players. I cannot think of any other reason why we took John Hughes that high. Even he was surprised. -- Joe Ceresa, Fairview, Pa.

Hey, Joe: Tough to say exactly which player the Browns were hoping for at 67, but LSU receiver Rueben Randle also tumbled to 63 and might have been a target. Two good DBs came off after that, Montana's Trumaine Johnson and Robinson. Some analysts had Spence ranked behind Texas' Emmanuel Acho, whom the Browns took in round six, so not sure if they were thinking Spence at 87.

Hey, Mary Kay: Mel Kiper says the overall value of the Browns' draft depends heavily on the performance of Mitchell Schwartz. Do you agree? -- Charles Pirrone, Whitehall

Hey, Charles: I don't. I think the overall value of the draft depends most heavily on Weeden. Was he worth a first-round pick? Was he a steal at 22? That's how this draft will be remembered.

Hey, Mary Kay: Was it at all possible that the great Jim Brown loves his Browns so much, that he made his statement? I mean, maybe that was his way to push a young running back that he knew the Browns may draft. -- J Krazl, Camden, Ohio

Hey, J: No, that's not Jim's style. He tells it like it is. He's also still estranged from the Browns. Not sure if that had any impact.

Hey, Mary Kay: Please tell me that the Browns are considering other moves at the WR position. How about bringing in a Mike Sims-Walker or even Roy Williams? -- Howard Boles, Falcon, Colo.

Hey, Howard: Williams is 30 and the Browns don't love 30-and-up free agents. Sims-Walker is 27 but coming off season-ending knee surgery in Jacksonville and a disappointing gig with the Rams.

Hey, Mary Kay: The Browns and the Redskins won four and five games respectively last year. They entered the off-season with close to same offensive goals. They chose different paths. Who made the correct choices? -- Michael Serkey, Roswell, Ga.

Hey, Michael: It's something to watch over the next few years. If RG3 and his new receivers Pierre Garcon and Josh Morgan take the Redskins to the Super Bowl and they're not playing the Browns, we'll know who won.

Hey, Mary Kay: I keep hearing all this talk about LBs playing the Will, Mike and Sam positions. I have always wondered what is the difference between them? -- Kyle Williams, Coldwater, Ohio

Hey, Kyle: The names correspond with the first letter of each position: Will is weakside, Mike is middle and Sam is strongside. The Sam often lines up across from the tight end and covers him. The Will lines up on the opposite side and also often drops back into coverage on pass plays.

Hey, Mary Kay: Why didn't the Browns go after a receiver or tackle in free agency? There is no way they could have filled all the holes through the draft. -- Dan Gray, Irvington, N.Y.

Hey, Dan: The Browns did pursue Garcon and Morgan, but the Redskins beat them to the punch. They planned all along to draft their starting right tackle.

Hey, Mary Kay: So why was Chase Minnifield not drafted? Am I missing something? -- Todd Davis, Creston

Hey, Todd: Chase was recovering from knee surgery in January, and it's been reported as microfracture surgery, which takes extra time to heal. The Redskins signed him an undrafted free agent.

Hey, Mary Kay: Could the Browns have got Weeden at 37? Who would have wanted him after 22? We could have got guard David DeCastro with that pick to run block for Trent Richardson. He would have been worth the pick. -- Jeff Kosakowski, Olmsted Falls

Hey, Jeff: Once the Browns determined they were going with Weeden, they couldn't risk losing him. Another team could've traded up to get him before 37. The 22nd pick isn't high if you think he's your guy.

-- Mary Kay

Rookie QB not worried about criticisms following his college career in the shotgun.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Among the knocks on new Browns quarterback Brandon Weeden is his mobility and whether he'll be able to adjust from starting plays five to seven yards behind the center as he did in college to often lining up directly behind the center in the NFL.

"Coming from Oklahoma State, I don't think they were under center one time all year," said Tim Rattay, a former NFL quarterback turned quarterback guru.

After his college season, Weeden worked extensively on his drop-back footwork with Rattay and QB specialist Marc Trestman for three months to prepare for the Senior Bowl, the NFL Combine and his pro day at Oklahoma State in March, which Browns coach Pat Shurmur and quarterbacks coach Mark Whipple attended.

It sounds easy, taking the snap and dropping back three to five yards while adjusting to the defense and anticipating your receivers' moves, but it's not. Rattay, whose father, Jim, coached Elyria Catholic to two state football championships, said Weeden showed dramatic improvement from the day they started working with him to his pro day.

"It looked like he'd been under center his whole career," he said.

Rattay said he and Whipple spoke about Weeden at the pro day for about 15 minutes. They talked about his work ethic, what kind of person he is and, of course, his footwork under center.

"It just didn't take [Weeden] long to where he looked really comfortable doing it," Rattay said.

As for his ability to escape a pass rush, throw on the run and keep drives alive with his feet, Weeden didn't think the criticism about his mobility was fair or accurate.

"To be honest, I think I throw the ball just as well, if not better, on the run than I do in the pocket," Weeden said. "It's just something that wasn't really asked of me at Oklahoma State."

Other than learning the terminology, Weeden was confident he'll be able to adjust from the spread offense he ran in college to a more traditional pro offense with the quarterback often directly behind the center.

"Football's football. Once you get settled into a system, you've still got to get back the 5, 7 yards whatever, take your drops and deliver all the throws," he said.

"Fortunately at Oklahoma State, yeah, we were in the spread, but we weren't the typical dink and dunk and gimme this [kind of offense]. We did some of that, but we also threw the ball downfield and we made every single throw that the guys make on Sundays."

When Iowa State upset Oklahoma State in double overtime last season, defensive coordinator Wally Burnham said they never ran the same coverage two plays in row.

Every Brandon Weeden play in Oklahoma State's loss to Iowa State

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Brandon Weeden was 23-3 at Oklahoma State. His Cowboys beat Stanford's Andrew Luck, Baylor's Robert Griffin III, and Texas Tech's Ryan Tannehill -- the three quarterbacks drafted before him.

Two coaches who managed to beat him say it was more a matter of outlasting him.

When Iowa State upset Oklahoma State, 37-31, in double overtime last season, defensive coordinator Wally Burnham said they never ran the same coverage two plays in row and focused entirely on pass defense.

"We didn't fear his running like we did RG III or even Tannehill," he said.

The Cyclones often sent five and six pass-rushers to try to shake him up.

"He got quick feet. He got nervous," Burnham said. "He really threw the ball away in a hurry. I'm not saying he was scared, he just wanted to get the ball out to his hot receiver."

But Weeden was still 42 of 58 for 476 yards and three touchdowns with three interceptions.

"Because he's so accurate, it was hard to defense everything he did," said Burnham, who went 1-1 against Weeden.

Former Oklahoma associate head coach/defensive coordinator Brent Venables, now at Clemson, was also 1-1 against Weeden, although to suggest the Sooners' defense stopped him would be a stretch. Oklahoma won, 47-41, in 2010, his junior season.

Venables said the plan was to stop the run, eliminate big plays and change up defensive looks. But Weeden wasn't confused much. He finished 28 of 43 for 257 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions.

Venables said Weeden picked up defenses quickly, was deadly accurate and made all the throws -- the 10- to 15-yarder, the 25-yard comeback, the long ball -- but that Oklahoma State's quick-strike passing game made it difficult to rush him.

"The challenge in the NFL," he said, "will be when the pocket's collapsing."

Baseball was Brandon Weeden's first love, but the 28-year-old rookie plans to make the most out of his second chance, as the Browns' starting quarterback.

View full sizeSue Ogrocki, Associated PressBrandon Weeden, a big-bodied, small-town boy from Oklahoma, is getting a rare second chance at a professional career as an athlete. "I think that's a good way to put it," he said last week. "I'm very fortunate to be in this position ... I busted my tail to get into the position I'm at."

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- He's been grilled about the age thing so many times, the responses run like a pre-recorded loop.

"Body is fresh" ... "haven't taken many hits" ... "lot of football left in the tank" ... "consider my age an advantage" ... "others have done it" ... "Roger Staubach ... Kurt Warner ... Rich Gannon ..."

If the extent of his trials is deflecting concerns about being a 28-year-old rookie -- and the oldest player drafted in the first round in NFL history -- the Browns' new quarterback will have finally righted a franchise whose list of names at the position since 1999 could fill an unraveled roll of toilet paper.

For Brandon Weeden, a big-bodied, small-town boy from Oklahoma, whose love of baseball was second only to that of his down-to-earth family, the NFL offers a rare second chance.

"I think that's a good way to put it," he said in a phone interview last week. "I'm very fortunate to be in this position ... I busted my tail to get into the position I'm at."

That position is starting quarterback, although the team is saying publicly what it must about a competition: "We have high expectations for him," Browns President Mike Holmgren acknowledged post-draft. "Is he being handed anything? No. We've told him that. He knows that."

But the Browns didn't spend a No. 22 overall pick to stick a clipboard instead of a football in his hand. Weeden doesn't have the luxury of time anyway.

Some fans were surprised by the pick, but signs about another quarterback change -- Weeden would be the 17th starter since the expansion Browns returned -- were there.

"I think one of the things that is crucial right now to take a significant step forward is to try if you can to get this quarterback situation settled," Browns owner Randy Lerner said in a rare interview in January on WTAM radio.

When asked a follow-up question about whether unproven incumbent Colt McCoy could be that resolution, Lerner left little doubt where he stood.

"I suddenly lose the ability to speak when I'm asked that question," he said.

So Oklahoma State's 6-4, 220-pound Weeden, who most analysts had projected as an early second-round pick, becomes the Browns' present and future -- for however long that might be for a nontraditional NFL rookie.

"We became very fond of him," coach Pat Shurmur told the media. "We all did, from Randy to Mike to [General Manager] Tom [Heckert] and myself.

"We feel," he said, "like the kid is a winner."

The "kid," who turns 29 when the Cincinnati Bengals come to town in week six, and whose college teammates bought him a box of Depends and a cane for his birthday, is also a reclamation story.

Athlete from the heartland

View full sizeCourtesy Weeden familyFrom the time he was a 4-year-old T-baller, Weeden was a fast riser in youth athletics in Oklahoma, always the youngest on the team.

If Weeden's route to Cleveland involved some crazy turns, the beginning was pretty American breadbasket ordinary.

The oldest of three boys, Weeden grew up playing baseball, fishing, riding dirt bikes and racing BMX bikes in suburban Edmond, Okla., a city of about 80,000 people just north of Oklahoma City that's been ranked among the top 100 places to live for its family-friendly, small-town feel.

His parents, Robbie and Shari Weeden, who knew each other since fifth grade, began dating the summer of their junior year and got married a few years after graduation. Robbie runs Sleep World, the family mattress and bedding company his father-in-law bought in 1980. She's a baker at McLaren's Pantry, a soup and sandwich shop and an Edmond original.

The family lives for get-aways to Grand Lake o' the Cherokees, nestled in the foothills of the Ozark Mountain range in northeast Oklahoma, where they bought a three-bedroom cabin in 2007 and keep a 26-foot Cobalt sport boat.

On the Fourth of July, there can be as many as 1,000 boats anchored in a cove a half-mile across the lake, where folks sun, socialize and drink a few beers.

"I've always wanted a place where we could take the kids and get away," Robbie Weeden said. But until the boys were grown, vacations were rare. Make that nonexistent. The two oldest played sports year-round, and baseball gobbled up their summers.

It's amusing now, given his age as a rookie, but from the time he was a 4-year-old T-baller until 13, Brandon was always the youngest on the team because he was better than most kids his age and played a level up.

At 13, he played for a team called the Oklahoma Sooners that traveled the country and went 113-8 one season. His brother, Ty, short for Tyler, was just as baseball crazy. Between the two, they played nearly 200 games one summer. Mom went one way with Brandon. Dad went the other with Ty. They dragged youngest brother Cameron, who had no real interest in sports, with them.

With posters of New York Yankees heroes Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez on his walls, and a 5-7, 130-pound body as a high school freshman, playing football wasn't even a glimmer.

As a sophomore, he grew to 6-0, but stuck with baseball and basketball. But by his junior year at Edmond Santa Fe High School, class size about 500, Brandon had sprung to a stringy 6-3 and went out for the football team. He platooned with another quarterback and the Wolves were terrible, losing all but two of their games. The coach got fired mid-season. The kid he shared time with transferred the following fall.

With a new coach and Weeden as the senior starter, Santa Fe improved to 8-2 and reached the state semi-finals.

"He never lost that taste of playing football and how fun it was," his father said.

The Boss, as a boss

Brandon Weeden was on the beach in Mexico during his senior class trip when his phone rang.

The caller identified himself as Yankees' owner George Steinbrenner, who wanted to congratulate him for being the team's top pick. They took him late in the second round of the 2002 baseball draft. He thought it was a friend pulling a prank and almost hung up.

The Yankees drafted Weeden as a pitcher, but high school coach Lonny Cobble played him mostly at shortstop and as a closer his senior year. He was 5-1, with nine saves and 1.39 ERA, but threw just 36 innings that season.

Cobble caught some grief from scouts and an "advisor" with designs of becoming Weeden's agent about how he was using Weeden. They pushed for him to start more games on the mound. The scouts wanted to see how good he really was. The advisor wanted more exposure.

Weeden's parents never complained. Neither did he.

"We visited about it," Cobble recalled, "and he said, 'Coach Cobble, our goal is to win a state championship, not to see how high I can get drafted."

The Yankees had apparently seen plenty, selecting Weeden in the same round Cincinnati grabbed Joey Votto and Atlanta chose Brian McCann, and nine picks before Detroit took Curtis Granderson. The $565,000 signing bonus was enough for Weeden to decline a baseball scholarship offer from Oklahoma State.

At 18, he left home for the Yankees' rookie league in Tampa with a plan: I will not be one of those guys who kicks around the minor leagues for 10 years. I'll give it five.

No fear, but no success, either

View full sizeCourtest Weeden familyAs his baseball career wound down with the High Desert Mavericks, Weeden got needed support from his wife, Melanie, to return to college and pursue his football ambitions.

The closest Weeden had ever been to Cleveland before his pre-draft visit with the Browns was those forgettable 18-hour bus trips from Columbus, Ga., to Eastlake to play the Class A Lake County Captains.

"It was pretty miserable," he said, "I'm not going to lie."

The same could be said for his professional baseball experience. The Yankees traded him to the Los Angeles Dodgers in a deal for ace Kevin Brown. The Dodgers eventually sent him to the Kansas City Royals, where he finished his career with the High Desert Mavericks of the California League and a torn labrum and tendinitis in his throwing shoulder.

Weeden was 19-26 with an ERA of 5.02 in five seasons and, despite a 90-plus mph fastball, never advanced beyond high Class A -- three notches below the major leagues.

"Tough kid," said retired major leaguer Steve Renko, one of Weeden's former minor-league pitching coaches. "I thought he got nervous a little bit, but he had a good arm, decent breaking ball, struggled with command a little bit. But he wasn't afraid. He'd go out there and give you everything he's got."

Handling failure -- two, three poor starts in a row -- was incredibly tough, Weeden said, because he'd never really struggled in sports before. But he said it also forced him to learn to deal with difficulty, gather yourself and move on.

He also had a Plan B -- college football -- but the timing was way off. Melanie, his girlfriend and future wife, was just graduating from college, and here he was, at 23, enrolling as a freshman. He sold her on the idea, and Oklahoma State gave him a risk-free shot as a walk-on.

Having football to look forward to, he said, smoothed the transition.

"It was tough. I'd played baseball since I was three years old and I never missed a season," he said. "That was kind of hard until I got to Oklahoma State and realized this is what I really wanted to do."

The comeback begins on the field

Former Oklahoma State offensive tackle Andrew Mitchell still remembers his first visit to the Stillwater campus. The junior college transfer swung by football practice, but it wasn't the varsity that caught his attention. It was some kid on the scout team in a rival Oklahoma Sooners jersey.

"I couldn't help but notice out of the corner of my eye this guy just throwing darts," he said.

When Mitchell asked who the quarterback was, the recruiting coach passed Weeden off as just some player who might eventually work himself from walk-on to back-up. (One of the scout team receivers Weeden was throwing to that day was future fellow first-rounder Justin Blackmon.)

Weeden's debut with Cowboys in 2009, beginning around 3:15

Then, just as minor-league baseball had turned his life in one direction, a Thursday night in 2009 swung it another. No. 12-ranked Oklahoma State had fallen behind Colorado on national television. The Cowboys' starting quarterback was sidelined with an injury from a previous game, and the backup was ineffective the first half.

Taking over after halftime, Weeden, the third-stringer, threw for 168 yards and two touchdowns, engineering a second-half comeback victory from 11 points down. The performance finally earned him a football scholarship.

He was confident, composed. He commanded the huddle. The moment was an awakening and a sign of things to come.

"We all saw it in him," Mitchell said.

Carrying a reputation for poise

View full sizeAP fileHis strong arm confirmed at the combine and his success against other elite college QBs a matter of record, Weeden became a top target for the Browns as draft day approached.

Despite a record-setting college career, many NFL draft analysts describe Weeden as slow-footed and question his ability to escape a pass rush. They wonder whether he'll be able to grasp the footwork to transition from his college offense to the pros.

At Oklahoma State, he received the ball from a standing, "shotgun" position, allowing an immediate clear view of his receivers and pass coverage. With the Browns, he must often start behind the center and spot open receivers and read defenses while backpedaling.

But like Mitchell, who eventually became Weeden's roommate and one of his best friends, the Browns saw something special. They saw a quarterback who won all but three of the games he started, beating Andrew Luck, Robert Griffin III and Ryan Tannehill -- the three quarterbacks drafted before him.

They saw he had completed 72 percent of his passes, made smart decisions, showed keen timing and accuracy, and can fling a ball 70 yards. In meetings, they also sensed a maturity that only comes with age and experience.

"Based on the information at hand," Shurmur said, "you pull the trigger on him."

This time, when his phone rang, Weeden -- surrounded by about 50 family members, friends and the media gathered at his parents' house for the NFL draft's first round -- noticed the area code and knew it was no joke.

Heckert told him the Browns were taking him at No. 22. The trigger may have been pulled sooner than the Browns wanted, but they didn't want to risk losing him. Heckert passed the phone to Shurmur, who offered his congratulations before passing the phone to Holmgren.

"It was the best phone call of my life," Weeden said. "I wish I could play it back and hear exactly what they said and what I said. It's kind of like your wedding day. You remember it, but you don't remember it, you know?"

Shurmur's post-draft acknowledgement that choosing Weeden was an across-the-board buy-in implies the quarterback may have been Lerner's call, or at least a very strong suggestion. But Weeden said he never met with Lerner during his pre-draft visit. They finally chatted at the team's Berea headquarters for five or 10 minutes before he was introduced to the media the day after the Browns chose him.

"He was talking about how passionate the Cleveland fan base is, and [how] we really want to win games," he said, "and just how excited the community was."

Weeden's already gotten a sense of that. He's been barraged by Browns fans on Twitter and by Cleveland media constantly tugging at him for interviews. As far as they're concerned, the Browns' anemic offense is already in the hands of No. 3 -- regardless what the team says publicly.

"However it all pans out, I've got to go win that job. They're obviously not going to give it to me," Weeden said. "I've got to go over there and prove I can get it done."

And that his body is fresh and he has a lot of football left in the tank and he can win like Roger Staubach and Kurt Warner did and that 28 is just fine.

The Tribe made an early bid on the talented Cuban outfielder. Why didn't it pan out?

View full sizeElise Amendola, Associated PressYoenis Cespedes has had some good and bad moments in his first big-league season for the Athletics, but the talented Cuban defector has impressed many MLB observers.

Hey, Hoynsie: How close did the Tribe come to signing Yoenis Cespedes? On so many levels I think that he would have been a good fit here, plus we wouldn't have wasted money this year on Grady Sizemore and Johnny Damon, who will be gone in 2013. -- Brian Jenkins, Cleveland

Hey, Brian: The Indians did a lot of background work on Cespedes. They worked him out a couple of times in the Dominican Republic and liked his talent. When it became clear how much the A's were going to pay him ($36 million for four years), the Tribe quickly withdrew.

In other words, they were never close. Not sure how you equate the $6.25 million the Indians paid Sizemore and Damon to the $36 million the A's paid Cespedes, but everyone has an opinion.

Hey, Hoynsie: Are you a believer in Michael Brantley as a starting center fielder and not just as an injury fill-in? I think this could be a breakout season for him. His range looks at least average in center, and while he will probably never have many assists, I don't think his arm is a liability either. According to Fangraphs, so far he is swinging at a lot fewer pitches out of the strike zone. -- Andy Applegate, Chicago

Hey, Andy: I think Brantley has improved in center, but I'm interested to see how he'll handle losing at bats in the leadoff spot to Johnny Damon. He's done a nice job in the sixth or seventh spot so far.

Hey, Hoynsie: One thing I have liked about Manny Acta is his philosophy that pitchers need to throw strikes. Given how poorly Ubaldo Jimenez is doing at that, could and would the Indians send him to the minors? -- Glenn Toplyn, Pittsfield Township, Mich.

Hey, Glenn: Jimenez has no minor-league options left, so he has to stay in the big leagues or be exposed to waivers. The Indians have done that in the past with Cliff Lee and Roberto Hernandez/Fausto Carmona, but they had options remaining.

View full sizeCharlie Jamieson hit .319 in 108 games for the World Series-champion Indians in 1920.

Hey, Hoynsie: Why is Charlie Jamieson not in the Indians Hall of Fame? I know he's listed as one of the 100 Greatest Indians, but why is he overlooked for the Indians Hall of Fame? -- Paul Rupright, Cleveland

Hey, Paul: In 2006 the Indians started to induct players into their Hall of Fame after a 34-year absence. Before that, the last Indian inducted was Early Wynn in 1972. A backlog of candidates has been created in that time and Jamieson is one of them.

Bob DiBiasio, Indians vice president of public relations, says Jamieson gets several votes every year, but so far hasn't been elected. DiBiasio feels he eventually will be.

Jamieson played the outfield for the Indians from 1919-32.

Hey, Hoynsie: This is Carlos Santana's third year in the majors and he is considered a cornerstone of the Tribe's lineup. I know he has power and can drive in runs, but at what point should his sub-.250 career average become a concern? -- Ken Knapp, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.

Hey, Ken: Manny Acta believes one day Santana will become a high average (.280 to .300) hitter. As for now, they are not that concerned about his batting average because he walks so much and has a good OPS (on-base percentage + slugging percentage).

Ken, you definitely missed the memo in this numerically-enhanced era. Don't you know that batting average is overrated? Just ask any general manager or fantasy player. Sometimes they're one and the same.

Hey, Hoynsie: It seems to me that the Indians take more called third strikes then any other team in the majors. Are there any stats on this, and why does this seem to happen over and over, especially to Carlos Santana? -- Nick Hansen, Tucson, Ariz.

Hey, Nick: Not sure if the Indians lead MLB in called third strikes, but they do lead the AL in walks. You have to be patient to walk and sometimes that patience turns into a called third strike.

Through Friday, Santana was tied for second in the AL with 19 walks. I rest my case.

Hey, Hoynsie: How come the Indians have had so much stronger starts under Manny Acta than they did when Eric Wedge was managing? Are they doing something different in spring training? -- Jeffrey Bendix, Cleveland Heights

Hey, Jeffrey: The Indians are enjoying their second good start under Acta. They had two good starts as well under Wedge. That makes them even.

Hey, Hoynsie: What is it about the Tribe's evaluation process that hits home runs on small deals (Eduardo Perez for Asdrubal Cabrera, Casey Blake for Carlos Santana) and whiff on the big ones involving aces (CC Sabathia, Ubaldo Jimenez, Cliff Lee)? Is it a desire for quantity to spread risk vs. individual player quality? -- Steve Cornelius, Rocky River

Hey, Steve: In the three big deals you mentioned, the Indians twice traded established players, Sabathia and Lee, for prospects because they couldn't afford to keep Sabathia and Lee. Those are hard trades to sell to fans and media, especially when the prospects fall short of being good big-league players.

The Indians tried it the other way around in the Jimenez trade and the results have not been spectacular for either team to date.

The quality of player is also critical. If the Indians hadn't gotten much in return for Perez or Blake, would fans still be complaining about those deals today? Perez and Blake were decent players, but not franchise changers.

-- Hoynsie

UPDATED story, with photo gallery: The Indians elected to face Adrian Beltre with two out in the 11th inning and he burned them with a three-run, game-winning homer.

View full sizeChuck Crow, The Plain DealerAsdrubal Cabrera avoids the flying legs of Texas shortstop Elvis Andrus, but can't prevent making the final out of the first inning Saturday night, after being forced out on a Carlos Santana grounder.

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Manager Manny Acta said he would have no problem sleeping Saturday night after making the decision that cost the Indians a ballgame against the Texas Rangers at Progressive Field.

The Indians had two out in the 11th inning. Joe Smith was on the mound, working his second inning, with a runner on second. Mitch Moreland, a left-handed hitter, was at the plate and Adrian Beltre had already stepped on deck to pinch-hit for Alberto Gonzalez.

What followed happened quickly and violently. Smith intentionally walked Moreland and Beltre hit a 1-0 pitch 456 feet over the center-field wall to give the Rangers a 5-2 victory in front of 21,307 chilled fans.

Smith had never faced Moreland, who had three hits in the game. Beltre was 0-5 against the sidearming right-hander.

"It was my decision," Acta said. "We all know that Smitty is a lot better against right-handed hitters. If you bring Tony Sipp in [to face Moreland], then Beltre is going to hit off Sipp. I didn't want that matchup.

"Smitty has always pitched good against Beltre until tonight. I made the decision. I don't second-guess myself. Some will work, some won't. I'll sleep fine because I won't second-guess myself."

Smith walked Craig Gentry to start the 11th. Nelson Cruz followed with a grounder to second that should have been a double play. Jason Kipnis flipped to Asdrubal Cabrera, who tagged the bag but dropped the ball when he tried to jump over Gentry and make the throw to first.

Mike Napoli grounded out to third before Acta visited the mound and told Smith to walk Moreland.

Smith faulted himself for pitching behind in the count.

"I've been getting by on the skin of my teeth," Smith said. "Against a team like Texas, you can't do it.

"I felt confident against Beltre. I knew he didn't have a hit against me. But the boy can hit. You got to bring your game when you face him. You leave a fastball up in the zone ... apparently he doesn't miss those."

Acta pointed to the missed double play as a turning point.

"You can't give a team as good as Texas extra outs," he said.

Smith shook off the unturned double play.

"It would have been nice, but it seemed like every time Cabbie made a great play last year, I was on the mound," he said. "They are going to make 99 percent of those plays."

The pinch-hit homer was Beltre's third of his career and first since Aug. 16, 2000. He was not in the starting lineup because of a sore left hamstring.

The loss ended the Indians' three-game winning streak and stopped the Rangers' three-game losing streak.

Smith (1-1) took the loss, while Alexi Ogando (1-0) pitched two innings for the win. Joe Nathan pitched the 11th for his seventh save.

Texas has won 12 of its past 14 games against the Tribe. They are 22-5 against the Indians since the start of the 2009 season.

The Indians, with one out in the eighth, scored twice to tie the score, 2-2, and force extra innings.

Rangers pitcher Derek Holland, the left-hander from Norwalk, Ohio, entered the eighth with a 2-0 lead. He struck out Lou Marson to start the inning, but lefties Michael Brantley and Kipnis reached him for consecutive hits to put runners on the corners.

It was the first time in the game the Indians were able to put consecutive hits together against Holland.

Right-hander Mike Adams relieved and Cabrera doubled to right to make it 2-1, with Kipnis stopping at third. A passed ball charged to Napoli with Carlos Santana batting scored Kipnis to tie the score as Cabrera, who finished with four hits, went to third.

The Indians had two chances to get Cabrera home, but Santana struck out on a 3-2 pitch and Travis Hafner sent a hard broken-bat bouncer to first.

"We had our chance to win the ballgame right there," Acta said.

Derek Lowe allowed two runs on nine hits in six innings. He kept making big pitches to keep the Indians close.

The Rangers took a 1-0 lead in the second as Napoli scored from third on Ian Kinsler's two-out swinging bunt in front of the mound.

Moreland's double off the right-field wall made it 2-0.

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

On Twitter: @hoynsie

The Aeros are the only Indians farm team to win on Saturday as the Columbus Clippers and Lake County Captains lose, and the Carolina Mudcats get rained out.

View full sizeAPAkron's Michel Hernandez.

AAA Columbus Clippers

Mud Hens 2, Clippers 1 Host Toledo scored two runs in the first inning off Columbus starter Corey Kluber (3-2, 2.78) in International League play, and that was all it needed.

Kluber settled down afterward and went 51/3 innings, giving up two runs on four hits and striking out 10, but the damage was already done and he was charged with the loss.

After a walk in the top of the seventh inning, Matt LaPorta (.359) scored a run for the Clippers on a one-out double by Beau Mills (.277).

AA Akron Aeros

Aeros 8, Baysox 3 Akron pounded host Bowie (Md.) for 13 hits.

Half its runs came in the top of the second, thanks to an RBI single by Thomas Neal (.275), a double that scored two by Michel Hernandez (.364) and an RBI double by Kyle Bellows (.222).

Pitcher T.J. McFarland (5-1, 2.62) picked up the win, giving up three runs on nine hits and striking out four in six innings of work.

Advanced A Carolina Mudcats

Mudcats vs. Keys, ppd. At Five County Stadium in Zebulon, N.C., the rain fell and the baseballs didn't. The game against Frederick (Md.) will be made up as part of a doubleheader today beginning at 1 p.m.

A Lake County Captains

Hot Rods 2, Captains 0 The Captains could generate little offense against Bowling Green starter Ryan Carpenter (4-1, 2.57) and reliever Jason McEachern (0.96), getting just four hits in a road loss.

Lake County starter Cody Anderson (2-1, 2.42) and Rob Nixon (3.38) also combined to hold the Hot Rods to four hits, but they received no run support.

I'll Have Another, the Santa Anita Derby winner, went off at 15-1 in one the deepest and evenly balanced fields in recent years.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- I'll Have Another didn't seem to have the goods to win the Kentucky Derby.

Sold as a yearling for a paltry $11,000, ridden by a rookie jockey hardly anyone knew and stuck in an outside post no horse had ever won from -- not exactly a blueprint for success at Churchill Downs.

But with the finish line in sight, the chestnut colt overtook highly regarded Bodemeister in the final furlong Saturday to make a name for himself and rider Mario Gutierrez.

I'll Have Another stormed out of post No. 19 -- the first winner from there in 138 runnings of the Derby -- and bided his time back in mid-pack while Bodemeister set a blistering pace on a hot, muggy afternoon.

"He's an amazing horse. I kept telling everybody, from the first time I met him, I knew he was the one. I knew he was good," Gutierrez said. "I said in an interview, even if they allowed me to pick from the whole rest of the field, I would have stayed with him, 100 percent, no doubt about it."

Gutierrez, making his Derby debut at 25, got his chance to ride I'll Have Another after trainer Doug O'Neill and owner J. Paul Reddam just happened to see him win a race at Santa Anita in Southern California.

It was another chapter in his unusual route to the Derby winner's circle. He followed in his father's footsteps as a jockey, getting on quarterhorses in Veracruz, Mexico, at 14. After a stint in Canada, he eventually started getting noticed on the West Coast, especially after winning the Santa Anita Derby.

Still, he was largely a mystery to the record crowd of 165,307, who didn't know 15-1 shot I'll Have Another or the jockey had the right stuff until the 20-horse field turned for home. That's when Gutierrez, who moved up between horses around the final turn, positioned his colt not far from the rail and set him down to run.

I'll Have Another overhauled a tiring Bodemeister to win by 1 1-2 lengths. He paid $32.60, $13.80 and $9. He ran 1 1-4 miles in 2:01.83. Bodemeister, trained by three-time Derby winner Bob Baffert, was second and returned $6.20 and $5.60 as the 4-1 favorite. Dullahan was a neck back in third and paid $7.20 to show.

O'Neill didn't waste any time vowing that I'll Have Another will go on to the Preakness in two weeks.

"Maryland, here we come baby!" he said.

I'll Have Another made his way to the starting gate accompanied by his stable pony, Lava Man, another cheap purchase turned into a career winner of more than $5 million by O'Neill. The trainer has made his name predominantly in Southern California, although he's won three Breeders' Cup races.

One of his best horses, Steviewonderboy, was the winter favorite for the 2006 Derby before being sidelined by injuries early that year.

A hot pace was anticipated from speedster Trinniberg, although surprisingly it was Bodemeister under jockey Mike Smith who blazed to the front and forced Trinniberg to take a backseat. In the late afternoon heat, Bodemeister set impossibly fast fractions. He ran the opening quarter-mile in 22.32 seconds and the half-mile in 45.39.

"I told Mike, 'Look, if he breaks great and feels like running, we can win it," said Baffert, who had a heart attack in Dubai five weeks ago. "That's the only time I've run second where I've been happy because he ran his race."

Meanwhile, I'll Have Another was comfortably galloping along behind the blazing speed. Gutierrez angled his colt clear on the final turn and took dead-aim at Bodemeister, who was clearly in front at the top of the stretch.

"I knew we were in trouble when I saw Doug's horse coming," said Smith, who won the Derby with 50-1 shot Giacomo in 2005.

Went the Day Well finished fourth, followed by Creative Cause, Liaison, 5-1 second choice Union Rags, Rousing Sermon, Hansen, Daddy Nose Best and Optimizer.

Alpha was 12th, followed by El Padrino, Done Talking, Sabercat, 8-1 third choice Gemologist, Trinniberg, Prospective, Take Charge Indy and Daddy Long Legs was last.

Jason Kipnis' production so early in his big-league career is one of the best developments in the early weeks of the Indians' season.

View full sizeChuck Crow, The Plain DealerJason Kipnis has displayed immediate production at second base since joining the starting lineup last summer. His potential to keep growing offensively is exciting, says Terry Pluto.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- If the draft is over, does that mean it's baseball season? If so, then we're talkin' ...

About the Tribe...

1. The Indians may have a very special player in Jason Kipnis, who went into Saturday's game with 229 career big-league at-bats. Yes, the sample is small, beginning with his promotion to the Tribe late in July. But in that span he has 11 homers, 12 doubles and 36 RBI. He's hitting .284 (.864 OPS) and has made himself into a viable second baseman.

2. But Kipnis is so much more than numbers, more than a coverted outfielder whose pro career didn't start until 2009. He learned to play second base in 2010, and has attacked the position with the same fullback mentality that he brings to the plate or the bases. Everything Kipnis does has a certain swagger along with an intention to get his uniform dirty as soon as possible. He loves to slide and dive, and seems to live to race around the bases.

3. The 25-year-old Kipnis is not the Tribe's fastest player, but he's stolen bases successfully six of seven attempts this season, and is 11-of-12 for his career. Because he's a burly 5-11, 185 pounds, Kipnis doesn't look quick. But his speed is like his power -- a real surprise. He also has only one error in 24 games, compared to six in 36 games in 2011.

4. Because Jeanmar Gomez first made the majors in 2010, it seems as if he's been around a long time. But Gomez is 24, a year younger than Kipnis. This season, he is 2-1 with a 2.82 ERA. For his career, Gomez is 11-9 with a 4.29 ERA. Quietly, he has emerged as a top pitching prospect thanks to the addition of a slider this spring -- and terrific control.

5. For the Indians to contend, they need what the team calls "internal improvement" from young players such as Kipnis and Gomez. Add to that list how Carlos Santana has performed behind the plate, where he does a much better job blocking balls. He has thrown out five of 12 runners this season, compared to 15 of 71 a year ago. Give coach Sandy Alomar some of the credit. But also give a nod to Santana, who has to want to be coached. He is in a tremendous spot to become an All-Star because of Alomar's presence on the coaching staff.

6. It's easy (and sometimes dangerous) to assume a bullpen will perform the same way as it did the previous season. But that's what has happened with Vinnie Pestano and Chris Perez. A year ago, if the Indians had a lead after seven innings, it usually was safe. It's the same this season with Pestano owning the eighth inning, Perez racking up saves in the ninth.

7. Heading into Saturday, Perez is 10 of 11 in saves this season -- 46-of-51 since opening day of 2011. Anything over 90 percent is outstanding. While I've been critical of some recent Tribe moves such as re-signing Grady Sizemore and the Ubaldo Jimenez deal, it is worth mentioning that Perez arrived in a deal for Mark DeRosa, who is 3-of-37 with Washington. That trade was a steal, as were these deals: Santana (Casey Blake), Asdrubal Cabrera (Eduardo Perez) and Shin-Soo Choo (Ben Broussard).

8. On May 19 at 10:30 a.m., the Wahoo Club will host a lunch with Hall of Famer Phil Niekro at the Club at Key Center. Call Bob Rosen at 440-724-8350 or go to wahooclub.com for more information.

About the Browns ...

View full sizeAP fileCan Pat Shurmur and Brad Childress get Brandon Weeden up to speed in the West Coast Offense in time to make an impact as the Browns' starting QB in September?

Pat Shurmur has been acting like the happiest man in Berea. While the front office is pleased with the recent draft, Shurmur can't wait to coach his team with the new players.

Simply having Trent Richardson in the backfield and Brad Childress as an offensive coordinator are major upgrades over a year ago when Peyton Hillis couldn't stay healthy and Shurmur had too many jobs as a rookie head coach.

But there also is a major challenge for Shurmur and Childress. They are committed to rookie quarterback Brandon Weeden. They believe in his strong, accurate arm and his maturity at age 28. While he showed at the Senior Bowl that he was comfortable taking snaps under center, it remains a new offense for him. At Oklahoma State, he was in the shotgun behind the center for nearly every play.

Weeden also will have play in the best division in football, where the other three teams made the playoffs and the defenses are rugged.

Obviously, the Browns would not have taken Weeden at No. 22 unless Shurmur and his coaches believed in the quarterback -- and also were convinced they could get him ready for the NFL immediately. We'll see if they can pull that off. Just as we'll see if the Browns can upgrade the passing attack by adding only one receiver, Travis Benjamin. They believe there will be internal improvement in Greg Little, Jordan Norwood, Mohamed Massaquoi and Joshua Cribbs.

They are realistic and privately admit that not all four returning receivers plus Benjamin will take steps forward, but they believe some will -- and the addition of Richardson and Weeden will help the process.

About the Browns' draft (the linemen) ...

1. Lost in the obsessions about drafting only one wide receiver is that major attention was paid to roster holes that screamed to be filled. Not only did they pick one right tackle (Mitchell Schwartz), they added another lineman (Ryan Miller) who can play tackle and guard. Picked in the fifth round, the Browns believe Miller can eventually become a starter. They expect Schwartz to walk in and start from opening day.

2. Suddenly, the Browns have a very young and gifted line with All-Pro Joe Thomas at left tackle and Pro Bowler Alex Mack at center. They played young guards Jason Pinkston and Shawn Lauvao last season. Add Schwartz and Miller to the mix, and suddenly fans should not have to worry about seeing a lot of Oniel Cousins at right tackle for a second year.

3. The Browns also believe that because Schwartz started 51 games (35 at left tackle, 16 at right) and Miller started 48 they are close to NFL ready. After breaking his fibula in his sophomore season, Miller has missed only two snaps on the last three years. The Browns believe they not only added toughness, but also durability. Thomas and Mack have played every snap of their pro careers. Pinkston played every snap at left guard in 2011.

4. Pro Football Weekly rated Schwartz as the top right tackle prospect, and that matched how the Browns viewed it. They say it does take some adjustment to go from left to right tackle, and Schwartz has already shown he can play the position.

5. With Scott Fujita ending each of the last three seasons on the injured list -- and suspended for the first three games of this year because of the Saints' bounty scandal -- a linebacker was needed. They added two in James Michael Johnson and Emmanuel Acho. A fifth-rounder from Nevada, Johnson is especially intriguing because he started 50 games (23 at outside linebacker, 27 in the middle) and can play all three positions. He is very comfortable in the 4-3 scheme used by the Browns.

6. A seventh-round pick, Acho started his final 26 games at Texas, mostly on the outside. Johnson has a better chance to make an immediate impact, but both men are expected to help on special teams. Acho and Schwartz both have brothers in the NFL.

7. The most debated pick was third-rounder John Hughes. The defensive tackle from Cincinnati was surprised to go that high, as were most draft experts. The Browns believe they need depth on the defensive line, and that's why they also added defensive tackle Billy Winn (Boise State) in the sixth round to support tackles Ahtbya Rubin and Phil Taylor.

8. When it comes to Hughes, the Browns believe he will prove worthy because he is strong against the run. By drafting two offensive linemen and running back Trent Richardson -- the Browns are putting a major emphasis on running the ball. By drafting two defensive linemen and signing two defensive ends as free agents (Frostee Rucker and Juqua Parker), they want to stop the run. They ranked 28th in rushing, and 30th in defending the run last season.

About the Cavaliers ...

View full sizeMatt York, Associated PressTalented Florida freshman Bradley Beal is just one of several wing players in this summer's NBA draft who will require the Cavaliers' front office to do its homework before making a first-round selection.

1. Fans know Kyrie Irving is the NBA's premier rookie. They also may sense he is one of the league's best clutch players, and stats from 82games.com prove the point. The site rated players for how they scored in the final five minutes of a game where the margin was five points or less. Irving ranked No. 1, with a ranking of 53.8 (points per 48 minutes in that clutch situation). The next five: Carmelo Anthony (46.1), Kevin Durant (45.7), Chris Paul (41.2) and LeBron James (40.4).

2. The most remarkable part of this is how Irving shot 54 percent from the field. The others: Durant (39 percent), Anthony (38), Paul (42) and James (45). Irving also made 89 percent of his free throws in these situations.

3. It's only 82 minutes, so the sample is small. But the eye test tells you that Irving can make big plays and get to the rim when it matters. Now you have the stats to back it up. This is not about Irving being the best clutch player ... way too early for that. But he can be big time.

4. What the Cavs must do is find another scorer. This is not a case for bringing back Antawn Jamison. His age (36 on June 12) and lack of defense are issues, along with playing the same power forward spot as Tristan Thompson. But Jamison did average 17 points, be it on some ugly 40 percent shooting. He could create a shot with the 24-second clock ticking down. Other than Irving, the Cavs had no one else who could do that.

5. After Irving and Jamison, the Cavs' leading scorers were Anderson Varejao (10.8) and Alonzo Gee (10.5). When Anthony Parker (7.2 points) started at shooting guard with Omri Casspi (7.1) or Gee at small forward, the team had two of the league's least creative scorers at what typically are the most athletic positions on the court. That must be addressed.

6. This is not about "building a team around Kyrie" as was the frenzy when James was here. But they must find some scoring help for Irving, who carries a huge load on offense. They can't return with so little athleticism at small forward and shooting guard next season.

7. The Cavs are looking at Harrison Barnes, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Bradley Beal because they probably are the three best wing players in the draft. But Barnes never matched the hype at North Carolina, and the 6-9 small forward shot a dismal 20-of-61 in the NCAA tournament, where he had trouble creating his own shot. Beal is intriguing, a 6-3 (real measurement, some list him at 6-5) shooting guard who played one year at Florida. He seems to fall in love with the 3-pointer (34 percent), but does have some ability to score. Most teams like more height at shooting guard.

8. Kidd-Gilchrist is a 6-7, 220-pound bullish small forward. Most of his points came on the fast break, or inside where he overpowered smaller players. He averaged 11.9 points at Kentucky and shot only 25 percent on 3-pointers. According to Syngery Technology, he converted on 71 percent of his fast-break attempts -- best among the top 25-rated prospects.

9. The point is there doesn't seem to be the ideal shooting guard or small forward at the top of the draft. Furthermore, Beal and Kidd-Gilchrist played only one season, Barnes played two. Others such as UConn's Jeremy Lamb and Damian Lillard of Weber State (I like him a lot) are smaller shooting guards. A key for next season is how the Cavs sort through these prospects and find the right one to pair with Irving.

Seneca Wallace didn't earn a high grade for his quarterbacking in 2011 but he at least deserves an "A" for honesty, Bud Shaw writes in his Sunday Spin.

View full sizeChuck Crow, The Plain DealerWhen Seneca Wallace explained his motivations relating to Colt McCoy in 2011 compared to Brandon Weeden in 2012, some fans thought he was inconsistent. That's not something that worries Bud Shaw, who admires the burst of honesty from a competitive athlete.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Seneca Wallace as Mr. Miyagi isn't likely to happen, but it's also not necessary...

Wallace admitted he didn't try to tutor Colt McCoy last season. He says he will be only too happy to help rookie Brandon Weeden. If that strikes you as a little too convenient or a whole lot self-serving -- Wallace recognizing that he probably can't make what he's making as a backup anywhere else -- it's really not as questionable as it sounds.

Wallace saw McCoy as an opponent in becoming the No. 1 quarterback. Why wouldn't he? The Browns even invited competition between them. Wallace sees Weeden as a first-round investment in a franchise quarterback. When Wallace calls the two situations "much different circumstances" he's right.

This is really nothing new in the NFL, or in Berea.

Veteran quarterbacks accept caddy duties more easily when the organization makes the roles clear to everyone involved. One of those indicators is draft status, because it represents the size of the investment. It's not everything. But Wallace knows Weeden isn't coming to sit, certainly not for long anyway at age 28.

Performance is the rest of it. When Trent Dilfer played here, he saw Charlie Frye in much the same way Wallace saw McCoy. He saw him for what he was, a third-round pick with some mobility who was being handed a chance to start without the full trust and support of the organization.

Turns out Dilfer was right about Frye and Wallace was right about McCoy, or at least the Browns' commitment to McCoy.

If you still don't trust Wallace's pledge to mentor Weeden, consider that the role of "mentor" in Weeden's case -- and quite a few other young quarterbacks -- isn't that crucial. Weeden will turn 29 in October. He's more mature than most rookies. He was a professional baseball player for five seasons. The guess is he's going to make it to meetings on time without anybody holding his hand.

On the field, Wallace could be valuable in answering questions Weeden might have away from the coaching staff. But how many voices do the Browns want in Weeden's ear?

View full sizeAP fileThis grizzled veteran earned plenty of victories, but his finances have been troubled.

Weeden has quarterback coach Mark Whipple, offensive coordinator Brad Childress, head coach Pat Shurmur and team president Mike Holmgren at his disposal. All have made their reputations grooming quarterbacks. If it takes a village to raise a quarterback, think of Berea as a highly populated football town full of skilled professionals.

Seneca Wallace doesn't have to be Gary Danielson to Weeden's Bernie Kosar. As a sounding board with years of experience in the West Coast offense, he can bring more value to the backup role than McCoy can.

With far fewer strings attached.

SEPARATED AT BIRTH

Chris Perez and FX Channel's "Wilfred" -- Guy Fisher

Mark Brunell and Hal Sutton -- Bob H, Medina

SPINOFFS

View full sizeAP fileHe made plenty of clutch shots, but captained a Ryder disappointment at Oakland Hills.

Linebacker Alex Anzalone, a OSU recruit, decommitted Friday after a convicted sex offender posted an Internet photo of himself and Anzalone taken during Anzalone's visit to Columbus last month.

"You would think that these kinds of people would be kept at a distance away from recruits," Sal Anzalone, the recruit's father, said. Sal Anzalone says he doesn't blame OSU. The school sent a warning to 1,000 student-athletes about 31-year-old Charles Waugh after Waugh posed with players and posted the picture.

Sounds like the Anzalones were looking for a reason to decommit. As opposed to, say, hoping for a picture with Art Schlichter instead. ...

Former Browns' defensive coordinator Rob Ryan, who has lost 35 pounds since undergoing lap band surgery, says he underwent the procedure for health reasons, "not for beauty."

Like we already didn't know Rex was the pretty twin. ...

Josh Cribbs has made it clear he doesn't understand the fuss about the Browns not improving their wide receiver corps. "[Critics] speak like if they went out and drafted all WRs we going to the Super Bowl!!! I mean if that's the case we should've took all WRs," tweeted Cribbs, who speaks like the Browns didn't lead the league in dropped passes and score just one point more than their 1999 expansion selves...

Colts' pass rusher Dwight Freeney says he wants to stay in Indianapolis despite his age (32) and the team's decision to tear down and rebuild behind rookie Andrew Luck.

"I'm kind of old school when it comes to that thought," Freeney said on Sirius XM Radio. "I'm not LeBron trying to leave the team. I'm more like the era of Magic and Lawrence Taylor ... they were married to the city they were drafted in."

To be fair, James spent seven years here. So he isn't exactly Kim Kardashian.

Just Dwyane Wade's trophy wife. ...

The Miami Dolphins announced the signing of 16 college free agents. Just guessing here, 15 have spent more time at quarterback over the years than Ryan Tannehill?...

Baltimore Ravens' offensive tackle Bryant McKinnie is trying to "slim down" to 350 pounds. Anything lighter, he says, invites getting pushed around.

Sounds like a good strategy on the off chance he finds himself lined up across from a wayward snow plow some December Sunday. ...

Kentucky and Indiana will not play each other in basketball for the first time since 1969. Because they can't agree on where they should play -- not, as some no doubt thought, because Kentucky wants its one-and-done freshmen to spend more time in study hall. ...

Colts' new head coach Chuck Pagano, asked if Luck showed any nervousness at the team's first mini-camp, said, "Zero. He is unflappable."

May being such the pressure-cooker. ...

The ball that went through Boston Red Sox first baseman Bill Buckner's legs sold to an anonymous bidder for $418,250.

Heritage Auctions also sold the Texas Rangers' cap worn by Jose Canseco in 1993 at Cleveland Stadium when Carlos Martinez' fly ball caromed off Canseco's head into the stands for a home run. The cap sold for $11,950.

In both cases Buckner and Canseco tried to glove a baseball that found only air...

Barry Bonds is appealing his obstruction of justice felony conviction, claiming that his rambling non-answers to grand jury questions about steroid use did not constitute intentional evasiveness.

Asked if he'd used any drug administered by a syringe during his 2003 testimony Bonds said, in part, "I was a celebrity child with a famous father." If that's not avoiding the question, then he shouldn't mind if we take that as a "yes"...

HE SAID IT

"At least now he understands there is a reason for his behavior." -- Public defender Steven C. Nolder, claiming that repeated concussions during Art Schlichter's playing days drove the quarterback's gambling addiction and 30 years of criminal behavior.

Ignoring that Schlichter gambled in high school and at OSU ... mystery solved.

YOU SAID IT

(The Expanded Sunday Edition)

"Bud:

"Reading that Seneca Wallace is ready and willing to teach now, would he consider changing his name to Baldwin Wallace?" -- Michael Sarro

Not with his hairline, for reasons I can well appreciate.

"Bud:

"Have any of your retired colleagues ever described your columns of the last three years as 'ordinary'?" -- Mike Sterba, Macedonia

Only on a good day.

"Bud:

"I kid you not, the name of the high school in the John Hughes' film 'Ferris Bueller's Day Off' is Shermer High School." -- Christopher, Lake Erie

I get what you're saying. So that explains the third round of the Browns' draft.

"Bud:

"Things are looking up since the draft. After taking the DT from Boise State you can now use the words 'Winn' and 'Browns' in the same sentence." -- John Burmeister

And you laughed when Holmgren tried to tell you things were different now.

"Bud:

"What does Mel Kiper Jr. do the other 364 days of the year?" -- Bob

Conditions. Then rinses and repeats.

"Hey Bud:

"Concussions must really be widespread in American society. How else can you account for people giving Art Schlichter millions to invest?" -- The Lone Scribe, Elyria

First-time "You Said It" winners receive a T-shirt from the Mental Floss collection. Repeat winners forget that they're not eligible.

On Twitter: @budshaw

Troy Perkins knocked Josh William's header over the bar to keep the Columbus Crew at bay.

AP PhotoView more photos on oregonlive.com

PORTLAND, Ore. - Portland Timbers goalkeeper Troy Perkins knocked Josh William's header over the bar in the 66th minute to keep the Columbus Crew at bay in a scoreless draw Saturday night.

Both teams, struggling with injuries for the match, have just two wins apiece. The Timbers (2-5-2) sit in last place in the Western Conference, while the Crew  (2-4-2) are in ninth place, just ahead of winless Toronto, in the East.

Both of Portland's victories have come at Jeld-Wen Field, but Columbus goalkeeper Andy Gruenebaum didn't let a shot through, making six saves.

The Crew, playing in their 500th regular-season match, have been shutout four times this season, with six total goals and just one goal on the road.

Columbus was without defender Chad Marshall, a late scratch because of concussion-like symptoms from training Friday. The Crew were thin, with midfielder Duka, defender Carlos Mendes and forward Olman Vargas out because of hamstring injuries

Portland defender Steve Purdy was out with a concussion, but Perkins was in goal for the Timbers despite a nasty nose laceration from a collision with Montreal's Sanna Nyassi last weekend in a 2-0 Portland loss.

Perkins wore a mask in goal against the Crew.

Portland saw the return of defender Futty Danso, who missed the season's first eight games because of a fractured bone in his left foot.

Coach John Spencer also shook things up by captain Jack Jewsbury at defender. Jewsbury started 43 matches at defender in Kansas City, and was that team's defender of the year in 2008, but he's been a starting midfielder for the Timbers.

Portland has used different lineups for all its games this season.

Jewsbury's header cleared out a shot on Perkins in the 27th minute.

The Crew's Ethan Finlay got a free kick in the 20th minute, but it was blocked by the line of Portland players. Portland got a free kick of its own in the 58th minute, but Kris Boyd's shot went wide.

This was the only meeting this season between the two teams. Last season they split, with each team winning at home.

In casting approximately 40,000 votes across 19 categories, area golfers opined on everything from the best putting greens to the area's best 19th hole.

View full sizeChuck Crow, The Plain DealerThe views seem to go on forever at Sleepy Hollow as you prepare for your drive on the first hole. Unfortunately, the ball doesn't go quite as far.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- No matter how it was sliced, hooked, chunked, bladed, pushed or pulled, more than 2,100 people teed off in The Plain Dealer's Best of Northeast Ohio Golf awards contest.

In casting approximately 40,000 votes across 19 categories on cleveland.com, they expressed their opinions on everything from which public course has the best putting greens to who serves up the area's best 19th hole.

Golfers are a diverse bunch, from players who take the game ultra-seriously to players content to knock the ball around with their buddies.

But they all share one common stroke.

They love the game.

Maybe these results will spark a visit to some of the courses that received top recognition from Greater Cleveland golfers. In doing so, we hope that sometime, somewhere, this summer you have the best round of your life.

Best practice facilities

Winner: StoneWater Golf Club, Highland Heights

220 votes

Golf is not an easy game. Few recreational players are able to devote enough time to practice. StoneWater offers many opportunities to improve. A 10,000-square foot driving range with an adjacent indoor hitting area, two huge practice putting and chipping greens and a sand-trap practice area behind the driving range enable you to work on the dozens of clinks in your swing. Plus, Bob Bourne is a PGA Master Professional teacher.

Runners-up: Boulder Creek Golf Club, Streetsboro (124); Sleepy Hollow Golf Course, Brecksville (117)

Best pro shop

Winner: Windmill Lakes Golf Club, Ravenna

500 votes

Windmill wins in a landslide. A first-time shopper would resemble a kid in a candy store. The shop's two floors are stocked wall-to-wall. The shop measures about 5,000-square feet, course owner Herb Page said, with the second floor devoted to golf bags and a women's section that includes five clothing lines and 400 pairs of shoes. Even more selection is available for men with 11 clothing lines, 800 pairs of shoes in stock and nine equipment lines. The course holds an annual three-day demo and fitting event during the last week of April and a five-day, 7,000-square foot tent sale extravaganza in mid-August. Page also employs four full-time club-fitters who utilize the Game Changer and TrackMan computerized fitting systems.

Runners-up: Pine Hills Golf Club, Hinckley (115); Sweetbriar Golf Club, Avon Lake, and StoneWater (84 each)

Best greens fee specials

Winner: Mallard Creek Golf Club, Columbia Station

105 votes

The most popular special is the membership offer: $248 plus (non-mandatory) cart for two years of open play on weekdays, or $398 plus (non-mandatory) cart for two years of open play seven days a week. Taking advantage of either plan is tricky because they sell out in a hurry. Other discounts are given to seniors, juniors, active military personnel, police officers and firefighters.

Runners-up: Big Met Golf Course, Fairview Park (71); Bunker Hill Golf Course, Medina (63)

Best senior rates

Winner: Big Met

101 votes

Senior golfers play about 9,000 rounds a season at Big Met and it's easy to see why. If you are 60-plus you can walk nine holes for $9.50, perhaps a perfect pace and price for many senior and super-senior players who might be on a fixed income. It's $29 to ride and play 18.

Runners-up: Mallard Creek (77); Bob-O-Link Golf Course, Avon (57)

Best value

Winner: Sleepy Hollow

182 votes

Sleepy is one of the most popular, challenging and well-kept layouts in the area, especially for a municipally-owned course. Golfweek Magazine ranked it the No. 1 muni course and the third-best public course in the state last year. The survey voters obviously were satisfied with the walking rate of $27 for 18 holes and the riding rate of $40 during the week and after 2 p.m. on weekends. The snack bar offers good food and the clubhouse is wood-paneled classic, with showers available. From out of town? No worries. Rental clubs are available.

Runners-up: Mallard Creek (115); Little Mountain Country Club, Concord (70)

Best accessibility

Winner: Mallard Creek

134 votes

Club management could put up a sign that says, "36 holes, no waiting" and it would be pretty accurate. Because of the 36 holes there are plenty of tee times to be had. The club takes tee times up to two weeks in advance and makes an effort to stay true to the schedule. Customers frequently book their next tee time right after walking off the 18th or 36th green. Rarely does anyone get shut out. Tee times aren't mandatory, but as with most courses, they are recommended. Even with 36 holes.

Runners-up: Big Met (68); Bob-O-Link (62)

Best pace of play

Winner: Mallard Creek

98 votes

Outside of ignorance and bad swings, nothing causes more traffic jams for recreational players than sand traps and water hazards. So, there are no sand bunkers, but water comes into play on about 26 of the club's 36 holes. People might complain about the lack of imagination but they love the pace. The holes are spread over approximately 400 acres and aren't on top of one another, easing the intimidation factor of beaning someone on an adjacent fairway. Hence, little waiting between shots. Plus, the regulars value the importance of keeping pace.

Runners-up: Sleepy Hollow (76); Fowler's Mill Golf Course, Chesterland (72)

Best course conditions

Winner: StoneWater

145 votes

StoneWater is for the serious player and serious players expect the best conditions, especially at fees of $49 during the week and $64 on the weekends. The condition of the course is a top priority, owner Jimmy Hanlin said. You're not going to see an empty vodka bottle laying around, if you know what we mean. The fairways and greens are cleanly manicured and edged just right, giving a distinctive look. This was the closest result among the 19 categories, a mere two ballots.

Runners-up: Sleepy Hollow (143); Pine Hills (128)

Best putting greens

Winner: Briardale Greens Golf Course, Euclid

200 votes

Superintendent and Penn State agronomy graduate Jon Schreiner is in charge of applying the TLC to Briardale's large, undulating greens that are 75 percent poa annua and 25 percent bent-grass. A light top-dressing is applied about every two to three weeks and a bi-weekly application of fertilizer with a growth regulator helps keep things consistent. A fungicide is applied around Thanksgiving to guard against snow mold during the off-season.

Runners-up: Sleepy Hollow (148); Pine Hills (126)

Best group of par-3 holes

Winner: Boulder Creek

143 votes

Each of the four par-3s has a distinctive touch beyond huge greens in fantastic shape, a comforting pre-shot thought for most players. The fourth and 12th holes are the longest at about 230 yards from the tips, but the 12th has a two-club elevation change downward from tee to green. The 164-yard seventh has a peninsula green which can play as long as 170 yards to as short as 115 yards and is backed by an attractive waterfall. The 17th hole and its island green -- similar to the TPC Sawgrass course in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. -- is the signature hole and can be daunting, especially if played from the back tees at 175 yards. Bring an extra sleeve or two of balls.

Runners-up: Sleepy Hollow (131); StoneWater (85)

Best group of par-5 holes

Winner: Fowler's Mill

146 votes

Renowned architect Pete Dye must have been in a bad mood when he designed the fifth, eighth, 14th and 18th because those holes can wear you out. Laid end-to-end from the back tees, the four holes would be nearly 1-1/2 miles long. Even from the front tees they would measure a mile. Two of the holes are dog-legs and another has an "S" shape to it. The 18th, which plays 550 yards from the back tee, is the No. 2 handicap hole on the course.

Runners-up: Sleepy Hollow (116); Boulder Creek (102)

Best overall challenge

Winner: Sleepy Hollow

230 votes

The survey results confirm what area players have known since the place went public in 1963: Sleepy ranks as one of the best challenges in the area. It is demanding but fair. You will find plenty of trouble if you are not accurate, from the many deep ravines to the 58 bunkers that strategically dot the course. Reaching many of the greens offers little solace because of steep contours. There are few flat putting surfaces. The course is a classic "out and in" design, with the opening holes on both nines playing downhill and with the wind and the incoming holes playing uphill and into the wind. The fairways are narrow and the Cleveland Metroparks woods lurk as stealers of errant shots.

Runners-up: StoneWater (143); Fowler's Mill (134)

Best scenery and views

Winner: Sleepy Hollow

241 votes

Is there a prettier place than the Cuyahoga Valley in the Cleveland Metroparks? Spectacular views abound, especially in the fall. The views from the first and the 11th tees and the areas surrounding the 11th and 13th greens make you glad to be alive and offer further evidence that golf is the best game around. The course is 87 years old and has thousands of trees that are older than that. They provide a marvelous backdrop to many of the holes.

Runners-up: Little Mountain (210); Boulder Creek (151)

Best hidden gem

Winner: Sugar Bush Golf Club, Garrettsville

93 votes

Many Clevelanders probably have no clue on how to find Garrettsville in Portage County, but once they play this Harold Paddock-designed course they mark it as a frequent destination on their GPS. There isn't much to dislike about the course, from its two distinctively different nines to the great scenery, lightning-quick greens and reasonable rates (You can play 18 holes with a cart every Monday for $25).

Runners-up: Sleepy Hollow (61); Mallard Creek (56)

Best amenities

Winner: StoneWater

204 votes

Quite simply, the place offers refinements most others don't, from shoe service to a full-service dining room with a high-profile wine list. The practice facility is outstanding. The men's and women's locker rooms have showers. The patios are a great place to unwind after a round or after work. And you can't beat the service.

Runners-up: Little Mountain (142); Fowler's Mill (100)

Best customer service

Winner: Little Mountain

111 votes

All employees are instructed that customers should be made to feel as if they're on a vacation, owner Jimmy Hanlin said. Consequently, most reasonable requests are met with a smile.

Runners-up: Mallard Creek (109); StoneWater (83)

Best overall snack bar food

Winner: StoneWater

87 votes

Jeff Waite is the chef for the club's elegant full-service dining room, but he's not above talking about snack bar food and the homemade soups produced daily by 73-year-old Marco Rotunda. The turkey wraps, made with smoked turkey, shredded lettuce, tomato and a basil mayonnaise, are quick and easy to grab at the turn and are one of the most popular items on the menu, along with the quarter-pound hot dog and eight-ounce hamburger on a fresh egg bun. Just introduced: a breakfast sandwich of eggs, sausage and cheese on a muffin.

Runners-up: Mallard Creek (74); Coppertop at Cherokee Hills Golf Course, Valley City (70)

Best hot dog

Winner: Mallard Creek

88 votes

It's one-quarter pound of all-beef grilled before being placed on the rollers and wrapped in a steamed Orlando's bun. Nothing special in the way of condiments, but who cares? A little stadium mustard is all you need between nines or at the end of the day. Or both. That would be called a dog-day afternoon.

Runners-up: Sleepy Hollow (77); Big Met (76)

Best 19th hole

Winner: Little Mountain

158 votes

A 3,000-square-foot patio overlooks the 18th green and includes a full-service bar, multiple flat-screen televisions and terrific food. How popular is it? Even non-golfers show up to socialize.

Runners-up: StoneWater (136); Grey Hawk Golf Club, LaGrange (116)

Mayweather uses his speed and accuracy Saturday night to take a unanimous decision over a game Cotto in a bruising bout to win a piece of the 154-pound title.

View full sizeJohn Locher, Las Vegas Review-JournalFloyd Mayweather Jr. lands a right on Miguel Cotto during their WBA Super Welterweight title bout Saturday night in Las Vegas.

LAS VEGAS — Floyd Mayweather Jr. finally found himself in a real fight, complete with a bloody nose and an opponent in Miguel Cotto who was never going to quit.

As usual, he found a way to win.

Mayweather used his speed and accuracy Saturday night to take a unanimous decision over a game Cotto in a bruising bout to win a piece of the 154-pound title. But it wasn't easy, as Cotto landed some hard punches and kept attacking all the way to the final bell.

"You're a hell of a champion," Mayweather told Cotto in the ring afterward. "You're the toughest guy I ever fought."

Mayweather dominated late, rocking Cotto in the 12th round to pull out a win and remain unbeaten in 43 fights. Unlike most of his fights, though, Mayweather got his nose bloodied and engaged in some bruising exchanges he usually likes to avoid.

Two judges scored the fight, 117-111, and the third had it 118-110. The Associated Press had Mayweather winning, 116-112.

Fighting just a few weeks before he enters a county jail to serve a three-month sentence for domestic abuse, Mayweather found himself in a tough fight against a game opponent who never stopped moving forward. But he was faster and more accurate than Cotto and seemed to wear him down in the final rounds.

In the last round, Mayweather landed his best punch of the night, a left uppercut that seemed to hurt Cotto. He followed that with several flurries to the head to wrap up a decision that until the later rounds had been in doubt.

The decision was roundly booed by the crowd at the MGM Grand arena, which cheered wildly every time Cotto landed a punch.

"He's a tough competitor," Mayweather said. "He came to fight, he didn't just come to survive. I dug down and fought him back."

Cotto was never down, though he seemed hurt several times during the fight, particularly in the 12th round.

"The judges said I lost the fight, I can't do anything else," Cotto said. "I'm happy with my fight and performance and so is my family. I can't ask for anything else."

Mayweather, who was guaranteed $32 million, was forced to fight every minute of all 12 rounds against the Puerto Rican champion. He did it after weighing in at 151 pounds, the heaviest he has ever been for a fight.

The weight didn't seem to affect Mayweather, and neither did the heavier 10-ounce gloves at super welterweight. But he took some punishment, including a bloody nose during the middle rounds, before coming back to dish some out in the later rounds.

"When you fight on pay-per-view you have to give the fans what they want, and that's excitement," Mayweather said.

Mayweather entered the ring unbeaten in his 16-year pro career, and a 6-1 favorite to stay that way. The fighter who has become the biggest pay-per-view attraction in the sport padded his already thick wallet with the fight, but he was forced to earn every penny of it.

The win gave Mayweather the 154-pound title held by Cotto, and assured him of still being a champion when he reports to jail June 1 for a sentence stemming from a domestic abuse case involving his former girlfriend and their children.

"In life there's obstacles," Mayweather said. "When it comes to June 1, I have to accept it like a man."

Mayweather will be in jail when Manny Pacquiao fights in the same ring June 9 at the MGM Grand against Timothy Bradley. Though boxing fans have clamored for a Mayweather-Pacquiao fight, it has yet to be made -- and may never be made.

That's partly because of Mayweather's insistence that Pacquiao submit to Olympic-style drug testing, though Pacquiao has already said he will do that.

"I want to fight Pacquiao but he needs to take the tests before we make that fight," Mayweather said.

Cotto came out looking slow and overmatched in the first round, but quickly settled into a routine, attacking Mayweather from behind his left jab. But Mayweather got more aggressive coming out to start the fourth round, and landed a series of rights to the head that stunned Cotto and kept him from moving forward effectively.

Mayweather fought good portions of the fight on the ropes, using them for leverage and counterpunching to Cotto's head when he opened up. He was not only quicker than Cotto, but more accurate, often landing in between Cotto's defenses.

"He's ready to quit," trainer Roger Mayweather told his nephew after the sixth round.

But Cotto was relentless, coming forward and hitting Mayweather with good shots to the head. Toward the end of the eighth round he landed several punches to the head, prompting Mayweather to shake his head as if they didn't hurt, but by then Mayweather was bleeding from the nose and looked like he had taken some punishment.

Punch stats showed Mayweather landing 179 of 687 punches to 105 of 506 to Cotto.

Cotto, who fell to 37-3, was guaranteed his biggest purse ever, $8 million.

Tim Dahlberg, Associated Press

The Cleveland Browns traded up to pick third, but the Cleveland market ranked first nationally for TV ratings for the draft.

2012 NFL Draft logo.

10.7: Cleveland television rating for the ESPN's coverage of the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft, meaning 10.7 percent of the households tuned in to the show.

1: Cleveland's rank among markets nationally.

5.1: National household coverage rating.

10.5: Rating in Birmingham, Ala., second nationally.

8.3: Rating for Dayton, third nationally, followed by Columbus (7.3) and Buffalo (7.3).

Source: ESPN and the Nielsen Co.

Sunday's Numbers is a weekly feature in The Plain Dealer Sunday business section.

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