"I'm excited about the Browns. They have added perhaps a half dozen new players that could make a significant impact this year. I don't know how this will translate into W's and L's. But my gut tells me we are better today than we were a year ago. If nothing else, they will be more interesting to watch this year. Lots of potential storylines to unfold. Bottom line though is -- I believe this team will be better. Heckert has a plan and he has stuck to it." - cleveinnyc

View full sizeGus Chan / The Plain DealerMany fans are excited to see how this season turns out for the Browns.

"I'm excited about the Browns. They have added perhaps a half dozen new players that could make a significant impact this year. I don't know how this will translate into W's and L's. But my gut tells me we are better today than we were a year ago. If nothing else, they will be more interesting to watch this year. Lots of potential storylines to unfold. Bottom line though is -- I believe this team will be better. Heckert has a plan and he has stuck to it.

The Tribe and Cavs have also proven interesting of late. I hope the Indians remain in contention for the remainder of the season, which I believe they can."

Outfielder Trevor Crowe has joined the list of failed No. 1 draft picks by the Indians. Crowe was released Monday.

Chuck Crow, The Plain DealerTrevor Crowe's time with the Indians has come to an end. The once-promising outfielder, the Indians No. 1 pick in 2005, was released by the organization on Monday.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Now that Indians have released 2005 first-round pick Trevor Crowe, only three first-rounders remain in the entire organization.

The 28-year-old Crowe was hitting .250 with 3 homers and 12 RBI in 132 at bats for Class AAA Columbus. Crowe batted .317 in April, suffered some minor injuries and then slumped. He was 3-of-27 (.111) in his final 10 games for the Clippers.

The Indians had great expectations for Crowe, the No. 14 pick in the 2005 draft. He was a star at Arizona, but never produced the power or the consistent ability to reach base that the Indians wanted from the outfielder. Nor was he an above average defender in center field.

In 2010, he played in 122 games for the Tribe, hitting .251 with 2 homers with 36 RBI and a .634 OPS. He did steal 20 bases, but the Indians seemed to believe that he would be a backup outfielder -- at best. He missed most of last season with major shoulder surgery. He had a strained oblique this season.

Crowe clearly had fallen out of favor as the Tribe kept journeyman outfielder Chad Huffman over Crowe. The rise of Tim Fedroff (hitting .322 for the Clippers) also took an outfield spot away from Crowe.

With the departure of Crowe, the only first rounders remaining with the Tribe are Tyler Naquin (2012, hitting .296 at Class A Mahoning Valley), Francisco Lindor (2011, hitting .264 at Class A Lake County) and Lonnie Chisenhall (2008, was hitting .278 with Indians, currently on the disabled list following hand surgery).

They also traded first-rounders Alex White (2009) and Drew Pomeranz (2010) to Colorado last season in the Ubaldo Jimenez deal.

Joe Paterno went from surprisingly open with the media to closed. He took Penn State football from a regional to a national power. Now he is dead and disgraced, and the program is stumbling through the darkness.

Abby Drey, Centre Daily Times, MCTThe scandal that engulfed Penn State and destroyed the reputation of coach Joe Paterno essentially has left the university looking for a way out of the darkness.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Now that dishonor has followed death for Joe Paterno in the sexual molestation scandal at Penn State, the shocking thing is how open and candid he first seemed.

I was the Penn State beat reporter for the Philadelphia Inquirer in 1974, eight years after Paterno became the head coach. I returned following a six-year stint on the NBA to cover the Nittany Lions in 1981 and in the second half of the 1982 season. I wrote the game story for the paper after he won his first national championship against Georgia at the Sugar Bowl in 1983. He would win a second title four years later in an epic upset of Vinny Testaverde's Miami team in the Fiesta Bowl.

On Friday nights before games in State College, Pa., Paterno held court with the media at his home. I thought it was part of his idealism. An Ivy League man, Paterno resisted the idea of athletic dorms at Penn State, fondly remembering the "bull sessions" of his undergraduate days as an English major at Brown.

Long before his last, awful, partial season in 2011, Paterno would win reporters over by divulging game-plan tidbits in the meetings at his home (and later at the Nittany Lion Inn on campus). The proviso was that the information could not be used until after the game. Reporters with difficult deadlines could make such "inside" stuff a big part of their stories.

Usually the sessions were as much about Paterno's thoughts on the game and the people in it as they were about strategy. He didn't think much, for example, of the exit from college football of Woody Hayes, who was fired by Ohio State after throwing a punch at a Clemson player in the 1978 Gator Bowl. "Ridiculous. Embarrassing. A grown man has to be able to control himself," Paterno said.

In one of those free-flowing meetings years ago, Paterno made his infamous comment about Oklahoma's Barry Switzer and Pittsburgh's Jackie Sherrill. Asked why he had not retired, Paterno said, "It would leave college football in the hands of the Jackie Sherrills and Barry Switzers."

Instead, the sport was left to Joe Paterno. There is no need to say to the "Joe Paternos." There has been no one else like him. There has been nothing else comparable to the harm he helped do.

Until nearly the end, those of us who had admired Paterno held it as an article of faith that, despite the scandal, he did more good than bad. But the faith was broken as the evidence of the damaged boys mounted. Paterno wasn't seeking the truth in bull sessions anymore. He was actively obscuring it.

No longer unguarded in his comments as the scandal involving former top aide Jerry Sandusky exploded, no longer eager to implement his vision of the "Grand Experiment" of classroom and locker room working in concert, no closer to the ideals he professed than a sinkhole is to the stars -- Paterno had gotten used to media deification. He had been "America's Coach" since the Miami upset.

"Success with Honor" became the Paterno-endorsed slogan for Penn State. It is a mockery today.

Even in his diminished final seasons in the Big Ten, when he was little but a ceremonial coach, he was depicted as the game's Grand Old Man. He was a modern-day Amos Alonzo Stagg, whose name, along with Paterno's, was to go on the Big Ten championship trophy until the Sandusky revelations.

As the Paterno name and the Penn State brand grew larger, game-day traffic got worse than ever outside what became an expanded, 108,000-seat Beaver Stadium. Highway bypasses eliminated the red light in Mifflintown, Pa., which had backed up traffic for miles for years, but cars still moved at a snail's pace after games. Hotels sprang up to accommodate the crowds. The antiquated press box strained under the media influx.

In the end, though, maybe Penn State really hasn't come so far.

When I started covering games there, prudent reporters made small flashlights part of their equipment. They parked their cars in long, curving, unmarked rows on the acres of grass fields outside the stadium. Without "clicker" keys to make their car lights flash, with the great bulk of the stadium rearing behind them in the gathering darkness, with their flashlights glowing faintly before them, reporters searched for their vehicles, stumbling along like silent ghosts. They resembled miners, lost in a vast pit.

It was Penn State football then. Metaphorically, it is Penn State football now.

The second-year pro says a big man who can consistently make shots from 12 to 14 feet out is difficult to cover.

Gus Chan, The Plain DealerTristan Thompson, center, says he likes what he's seen on the court from rookies Tyler Zeller, right, and Dion Waiters, left, in Las Vegas.

LAS VEGAS -- After the Cavaliers' 68-64 loss to the Charlotte Bobcats in their summer league opener, power forward Tristan Thompson grabbed his backpack and was escorted to an autograph table on the main concourse of the Thomas & Mack Center at UNLV. There he took a seat and chatted up the fans in line, patiently signing his name time after time. For him, that was fun, unlike the work he's trying to put in on his mid-range game this summer.

"It's definitely a priority," said Thompson, who sat out Monday's game against the D League Select Team to rest. "It's actually No. 1 on the list."

As the No. 4 pick in the 2011 draft, he wound up as the Cavs' starting center at the end of last season, after Anderson Varejao went out with a broken wrist and Semih Erden, Samardo Samuels and Ryan Hollins failed to take advantage of the opportunity to take over the job.

Though he averaged a solid 8.2 points and 6.5 rebounds last season, Thompson would like to improve on those numbers. He thinks developing a better mid-range game will help. He shot 44 percent last season (194-of-442), and he's working to improve his jump shot in the 12- to 14-foot range.

"I think that's a sweet spot for a big guy like myself," he said. "If you can knock down that shot, you're pretty hard to guard."

Thompson, Samuels and Luke Harangody are the veterans on the Cavs' summer-league team, now that Kyrie Irving has been lost for the summer with a broken bone in his right hand. Thompson loves what rookies Dion Waiters and Tyler Zeller bring.

"We've got some fresh legs, especially adding Andy to the mix. He can get up and down, too," Thompson said. "So it should make our team fast. We're definitely going to be able to get out on the break.

"Dion, he's a pit bull. He'll get after it. Tyler makes shots. He's a four-year college player, so he knows the game, he knows what he can do. He knows his niche. Those two guys added to our team is going to make us so much better."

Oh, wait: The Cavs were assessed a technical foul when a double-teamed Waiters called a timeout when the Cavs were out of timeouts late in the game against the Bobcats.

"Nobody told me," Waiters said. "It's a communication [issue] for everybody. I have to go to coach and ask how many timeouts do we have in situations like that."

Said coach Jamahl Mosley, "It's on me."

Waiters, who looked as if he still wasn't really in basketball shape, had an uneven debut, finishing with 10 points, four rebounds and four assists in 31:43 against the Bobcats. He made just three of 11 shots, with three turnovers and a steal.

"I wasn't following through," he said of his shots. "I was leaning back, and I was off-balance. I hurt myself on my jump shots. I'll come back tomorrow better than ever. It's one game, I got it out of the way. That's all it's about.

"I stopped attacking. I should've kept attacking, but I wasn't getting any calls going to the hole. I have to keep attacking and being aggressive because in the league rookies don't get a lot of calls anyway."

Cavs win: Tyler Zeller and Donald Sloan each had 19 points to lead the Cavs to their first victory in the Summer League in Las Vegas, 94-88, over the DLeague Select Team. Zeller, who had 14 points in Sunday's 68-64 loss to Charlotte, has led the Cavs in scoring in both games. Dion Waiters made 4 of 14 shots for 11 points. The Cavs will play Phoenix at 8:30 p.m. Tuesday in a game that will be televised on NBA TV.

Irving surgery set: Kyrie Irving will have surgery Wednesday at the Cleveland Clinic on his fractured hand, the Cavaliers said Monday. Irving still is projected to be ready for the start of training camp at the end of September.

Jamison a Laker? The Charlotte Observer is reporting that former Cavs forward Antawn Jamison will sign with the Los Angeles Lakers. Jamison was courted by his hometown Charlotte Bobcats, as well as the Brooklyn Nets and Golden State Warriors.

The last word: From the 21-year-old Thompson on the 22-year-old Zeller, "I can call him a rook, but he's an old fella."

Plain Dealer reporter Jodie Valade contributed to this report.

The righty is not having mechanical problems, but his walks are up and he's not pitching six innings as consistently as he did last year.

Chuck Crow, The Plain DealerJosh Tomlin is having an off-year compared to his performance in 2011.

Scribbles in Terry Pluto's Tribe notebook from St. Petersburg, Fla. . . .

1. Josh Tomlin understands what he needs to do -- pitch like the Josh Tomlin of 2011. That Josh Tomlin was 12-7 with a 4.25 ERA. He went at least six innings in 23 of 26 starts. "Last year, they could count on me to save the bullpen," he said. "It's bothered me that I have been like that [this season]. It's frustrating."

2. This year, it's 7-of-13 starts. Meaning he has already missed his six-inning goal twice as often as a year ago. Tomlin has had a few superb game, such as holding Tampa Bay to one run in seven innings in a 3-1 Tribe victory on July 5. But he's 5-5 with a 5.45 ERA. He said he's not sure exactly what has been his problem, "other than I'm inconsistent."

3. Tribe pitching coach Scott Radinsky said Tomlin's trouble "is not mechanical, his motion is fine." He throws four different pitches, and has had problems with different ones on different days. "If it were just one pitch, it would be easier to fix," said Tomlin. "I think I need to get 3-4 good outings in a row." Tomlin said he is not having any physical problems with his arm.

4. Indians manager Manny Acta said the real issue for Tomlin is control. The manager said Tomlin walked the fewest batters per nine innings last season (1.14) in the American League. As Radinsky said, "He could hit a gnat with all his pitches last season."

5. This year, it's 2.38 walks per nine innings for Tomlin. That ranks him 27th among AL starters. Certainly it's not wild, but Tomlin needs outstanding control to be effective -- and he has not had it this season in the games in which he has struggled.

6. Yes, it was Michael Brantley batting cleanup, where he was 3-of-12 entering Monday night. Acta is looking for someone to drive in some runs, and he mentioned the RISP (hitting with Runners In Scoring Position). Brantley entered the game at .306. Acta said he would like to bat Travis Hafner (7-of-53, .132) and Carlos Santana (14-of-64, .219) fourth but they have struggled in RISP situations.

7. Shin-Soo Choo hit what appeared to be a home run off the center field wall to open the game for the Tribe. Instant replay showed the ball was not a homer. It was ruled a double. But my thought was, "How do they know it's a double? Choo stopped running when they signaled a homer. Maybe it would have been a triple."

8. Johnny Damon drew a mob of reporters before the game, as he was very popular with the Tampa Bay media and fans in his one season here. He made a nice running catch in left. He received a warm ovation when he came to bat for the first time, and lined a double.

9. Acta said part of the way he decides who plays third has to do with who pitches. He wants Jack Hannahan at the position when Derek Lowe and Justin Masterson pitch because they are among the league leaders in giving up ground balls. Zach McAllister and Tomlin allow more fly balls, so he will go with Jose Lopez at third in some of those games.

10. Before the game, Jason Kipnis told me about how he needs "to get back to hitting some doubles in the gap." He said he had been a little anxious, swinging too hard -- perhaps trying for homers. He said he planned to take more pitches, try to hit the ball hard to center. He did, delivering two doubles.

11. In spring training, Trevor Crowe was pulled out of a minor-league game because he was supposed to be traded to the Angels for Bobby Abreu. That deal fell apart. Abreu later was traded to the Dodgers, where he's hitting .259 with two home runs and 16 RBI in 158 at-bats. Now that the Tribe has cut Crowe, wonder if the Angeles will sign the former No. 1 pick (2005) as a minor-league free agent.

The 2004 BigTen champion is one of many golfers with OSU ties near the top of the leaderboard after the first round.

View full sizePaul Vernon, Associated PressKevin Hall, with Ohio State in 2004.

It has been eight years since Kevin Hall was a prominent name in Ohio golf, but holding to his mantra that where there is a will there is a way, the former Ohio State star shot himself into the limelight on Monday in the first round of the 89th annual MaximusJobs.com Ohio Open at the Fox Meadow and Weymouth country clubs.

You might remember Hall, who was the individual champion and led the Buckeyes to the Big Ten championship with a record-setting performance in 2004. Deaf since the age of 2, his triumph in 2004 made national headlines and earned him television appearances on practically every network.

Hall, who has spent the past seven years on the Hooters Tour, was at it again Monday when he shot a 7-under 65 on the Fox Meadow course to take a two-shot lead over six others in a field that began with 228 pros and amateurs chasing the title won by such prestigious names as Jack Nicklaus, Byron Nelson, Herman Keiser and Tom Weiskopf.

Hall's round included a scintillating 6-under 30 on the back nine, when he needed just 14 putts to help build his lead over several others with OSU ties. That includes former Buckeyes Alex Redfield (34-33), who finds himself in contention after turning pro earlier in the day, and Brad Smith (35-32) . It also includes current Buckeye Grant Weaver (35-32), North Canton dentist Jeff Mallette (34-33), former Akron player Garrett Frank (33-34) and Paul Grauer (33-34), who played at Ohio University.

The nine best scores -- and 11 of the top 15 -- were turned in at the shorter Fox Meadow. Former Division III national champion Justin Lower (34-34), Wadsworth pro Daniel Terry (37-31), two-time Open champ Bob Sowards and Medina amateur Pete Skirpstas were the only players in the top 15 out of Weymouth.

Hall, 29, said during a hand-written interview that it's way too early to begin thinking about winning.

"I am not thinking about where I am now," he wrote. "One shot at a time. I'll give it my best and see what happens. It would be great to win here, obviously, because I've always wanted to play well in the Ohio Open. There are a lot of great players here, so I have to keep on doing what I'm doing. A 65 is a great start, for sure."

Hall, making his fourth appearance in the tournament, hit 12 of 14 fairways and 16 of 18 greens in regulation. He hit two memorable shots -- a 5-iron to within 3 feet for birdie on the 213-yard 13th, and a 3-wood into the wind from 238 yards to within 20 feet on the 504-yard 15th, which set up another birdie on the second-longest hole on the course.

Defending champion Mike Emery was one of five players to shoot 69 and trail by four. Emery, who won last year's title on the final hole, said he did not strike the ball well but made enough putts to keep it under par.

"I was chopping it out all day," said Emery, director of instruction at Canton Brookside Country Club. "But I made enough putts to keep it going. But, I was hanging on by a thread."

Northern Ohio PGA

MAXIMUSJOBS.COM OHIO OPEN

At Weymouth C.C. & Fox Meadow C.C.

Par: 72

a-amateur

FIRST-ROUND RESULTS

Kevin Hall, Cincinnati 35-30--65

Brad Smith, Dublin 35-32--67

a-Jeff Mallette, North Canton 34-33--67

a-Grant Weaver, Wooster 35-32--67

a-Paul Grauer, Dublin 33-34--67

Alex Redfield, Powell 34-33--67

Garrett Frank, Youngstown 33-34--67

Bob Koch, Medina 35-33--68

Jonathan Coleman, Cincinnati 36-32--68

Justin Lower, Canal Fulton 34-34--68

Daniel Terry, Wadsworth 37-31--68

a-Peter Skirpstas, Medina 35-33--68

Sebastian MacLean, Cincinnati 36-32--68

Colin Biles, Upper Arlington 36-32--68

Bob Sowards, Dublin 33-35--68

Alexander Martin, W. Chester 35-34--69

a-Michael Schmidt, Cincinnati 35-34--69

Daniel Traeger, Akron 33-36--69

Mike Emery, Canton 34-35--69

a-Brian Smith, Amherst 34-35--69

a-Bryan Yeo, Litchfield 36-34--70

a-Boo Timko, Girard 33-37--70

Jake Scott, Strongsville 35-35--70

Ryan Gutowski, Fairlawn 36-34--70

Craig Burrows, Broadview Hts. 36-34--70

a-Chase Wilson, Zanesville 35-35--70

Chris Capriolo, Copley 36-34--70

Steve Stone, Perrysburg 35-35--70

Jason Reddington, Mayfld Hts. 33-37--70

Mark Evans, Peninsula 34-36--70

a-Satoshi Tanaka, Dublin 38-32--70

Brian Unk, Lewis Center 34-36--70

a-Josh Koch, Medina 35-36--71

C. Woeste, Centerville 37-34--71

M. Levengood, New Phladlphia 36-35--71

a-Nick Palladino, Highlnd Hts. 37-34--71

Gary Robison, Canton 35-36--71

Alan Dixon, Marion 38-33--71

Brandon Ellis, Westerville 35-36--71

Greg Lawrence, Vandalia 38-33--71

Zach Glassman, Highland Hts. 36-35--71

Tom Walters, Cincinnati 37-34--71

a-David Wetterich, Cincinnati 37-34--71

Mike Thomas, Loveland 35-36--71

Mike Stone, Perrysburg 38-33--71

Anthony Zummo, Mayfld Hts. 36-35--71

B. Sattler, New Philadelphia 35-36--71

Tony Mollica, Dublin 35-36--71

Chris Wollmann, Medina 38-33--71

Ryan Stocke, Boardman 37-34--71

Matt Stauch, Dublin 35-37--72

Kelly Welsh, Akron 38-34--72

Ethan Tracy, Hilliard 36-36--72

a-Alex Carpenter, Westerville 36-36--72

a-Thomas Dunne, Dublin 37-35--72

Sam Jandel, Dayton 37-35--72

Dennis Miller, Canfield 35-37--72

a-Kevin Miller, Dover 35-37--72

a-John Beringer, Loveland 35-37--72

a-Andrew Bieber, Shaker Hts. 36-36--72

Tony Adcock, Canton 35-37--72

Ben Smith, Carrollton 40-32--72

Dan Doyle, Twinsburg 37-35--72

a-Scott Smith, Pepper Pike 36-37--73

Blake De Bruyn, Dayton 37-36--73

Trevor Bowman, Harpster 38-35--73

a-David Tepe, Liberty Twnp 37-36--73

Sam Arnold, Cincinnati 37-36--73

Adam Crisp, Toledo 37-36--73

a-P. Hewit, Westfield Center 39-34--73

Walt Robertson, Maple Hts. 37-36--73

Brad Wright, Columbus 39-34--73

Steve Weir, Berea 37-36--73

Steven Lee, Columbus 37-36--73

David Champagne, N. Canton 38-35--73

a-Jeremy King, Medina 33-40--73

Nicholas Myers, Sylvania 36-37--73

Nick Gustin, Perry 35-38--73

a-Corey Richmond, W. Union 37-37--74

a-Phil Latsko, Strongsviile 36-38--74

C. Goldsberry, Lewis Center 37-37--74

Mark Sierak, Reminderville 35-39--74

a-Michael Kinkopf, Dublin 37-37--74

Jaysen Hansen, Ottawa Hills 37-37--74

Scott Karabin, Warren 37-37--74

Chris Walsh, Fairview Park 38-36--74

Gary Trivisonno, Aurora 37-37--74

Kyle Voska, Cincinnati 36-38--74

Partick Elber, Mentor 36-38--74

Tj Tabor, Solon 37-37--74

Danny Lewis, Morrow 40-34--74

a-Brian Lisic, Orrville 40-34--74

Mike Auterson, Loveland 36-38--74

a-Nick Popely, Painesville 41-33--74

Scott Cornell, Massillon 38-36--74

Dave Bahr, Cincinnati 38-36--74

a-Alex Andrews, Kirtland 37-37--74

a-Tyler Light, Massillon 39-35--74

a-Brendan Byrne, Strongsville 37-37--74

a-Tommy Arison, Fairlawn 38-37--75

a-Kenny Kowall, Parma 37-38--75

Davey Snyder, Ashland 38-37--75

a-Frank Guise, Westlake 38-37--75

a-William Reitan, Chagrin Falls 36-39--75

Ross Beal, Uniontown 36-39--75

a-Alex Di Palma, Waite Hill 40-35--75

a-Jared Wissinger, Hilliard 38-37--75

Randall Dietz, Mogadore 36-39--75

a-Billy Barbour, Mount Vernon 38-37--75

Christian Koenig, Beavercreek 38-37--75

a-B. Van De Motter, Rocky Rvr 39-36--75

a-R. Schembechler, Massillon 39-36--75

Robert Moss, Broadview Hts. 38-37--75

a-Robert Schustrich, Windham 38-37--75

a-Andrew Bailey, Rocky River 41-34--75

a-Zachary Bates, Chagrin Falls 37-38--75

a-Brian Bir, Cleveland 37-38--75

Chris Robertson, Ashland 38-37--75

a-John Furlong, Medina 36-39--75

a-J. Krecic, Columbia Station 41-35--76

a-Chuck Demchak, Canton 41-35--76

a-Chad Scott, Mansfield 39-37--76

Tim Conley, Stow 38-38--76

Mike Dessecker, Copley 36-40--76

a-Kyle Matus, North Olmsted 38-38--76

a-John Chaney, Shaker Hts. 38-38--76

Tim Raleigh, Reminderville 38-38--76

Mike Rankin, Marion 37-39--76

a-Nate Yankovich, Blacklick 36-40--76

Chris Black, Lancaster 39-37--76

a-Jack Sparling, Dublin 38-38--76

a-Blake Rose, Kettering 40-37--77

Vinny Romeo, Warren 38-39--77

David Allan, Terrace Park 39-38--77

Joseph Moore, Englewood 38-39--77

a-Thomas Shindler, Dublin 37-40--77

a-Rob Chappell, Cincinnati 43-34--77

Robert Walls, Loveland 36-41--77

a-Paul Minko, Strongsville 39-38--77

Trevor Thomas, Findlay 41-36--77

Vaughn Snyder, Massillon 37-40--77

a-Jake Wetzel, Hinckley 41-36--77

a-Thomas Douglas, Bexley 41-37--78

Bradley Mattson, Cleveland 39-39--78

a-Keith Brooks, Ashland 39-39--78

Justin Miller, Cleveland 40-38--78

a-Johnny Henno, Columbus 37-41--78

Cory Kumpf, North Canton 39-39--78

a-Dennis Holub, Reminderville 40-38--78

C. Carfangia, Hubbard 35-43--78

a-Nick Paxos, Canton 39-39--78

Mike Shulas, West Point 39-39--78

a-Nick Blackburn, Westlake 38-40--78

Ryan Jacocks, Worthington 38-40--78

a-Van Howells, Westerville 38-40--78

a-John Topeka, N. Ridgeville 39-39--78

Mike Kaido, Zanesville 39-40--79

Ryan Brees, Orient 40-39--79

Blake Boles, North Canton 42-37--79

Andy Santor, Youngstown 40-39--79

Scott Pollack, Chagrin Falls 42-37--79

Brian Rogish, Pennsylvania 40-39--79

a-Ryan Rao, Medina 40-39--79

a-Mike Campana, Vermilion 39-40--79

a-Josh Veith, Plain City 44-35--79

Jon Jones, Warren 45-34--79

Joseph Borawski, Massillon 41-38--79

Travis Porter, Elyria 41-38--79

a-Casey Vancil, Wooster 41-38--79

Nick Paez, Rocky River 40-39--79

a-Derek Kuns, Castalia 38-41--79

Jeff Rush, Circleville 39-40--79

a-Tian long Li, Akron 38-41--79

a-Sam Core, Chagrin Falls 38-42--80

Joe Frustaci, Canton 39-41--80

a-Anthony Maroon, Westlake 37-43--80

Jeff Tritt, Akron 40-40--80

H.J. Wenger, Dalton 38-42--80

a-Max DeCheco, Stow 40-40--80

a-Matt Coffin, Powell 41-39--80

J.A. Hettrick, Boardman 38-42--80

Sung Min Choi, Columbus 40-40--80

a-Michael Bishop, Medina 44-36--80

Jim McGurk, Toledo 43-37--80

a-Jake Daly, Cincinnati 37-44--81

Scott Schroeder, Aurora 43-38--81

Paul Kasper, Mentor 43-38--81

Dennis Gagai, Ironton 42-39--81

a-Adam Thomarios, Akron 41-40--81

a-Patrick Schultz, Akron 42-39--81

a-Austin Schreiber, Medina 46-36--82

a-Jim Kerrigan, Medina 44-38--82

a-Tyler McHugh, Macedonia 45-37--82

Tom Sellers JR, Tipp City 40-42--82

Jeffrey Camp, Stow 44-38--82

Jeff Steinberg, Kettering 44-38--82

a-George Papas, Hinckley 42-41--83

Matthew Brazytis, Medina 41-42--83

Brad Ruminski, Mansfield 38-45--83

a-Luke Liberatore, Solon 42-41--83

a-M. Hochschwender, Akron 45-38--83

a-Sean McGuie, Twinsburg 40-44--84

a-M. Frey, Broadview Hts. 43-41--84

a-Blake Foutty, Canal Fulton 41-43--84

a-Collin Hoops, Bowling Green 40-44--84

a-A. Van Horn, Loudonville 45-39--84

a-Kenny Chuparkoff, Copley 39-45--84

Pat Weaver, Avon 43-42--85

Chad Gress, Coshocton 44-41--85

a-Michael Ross, Hinckley 46-39--85

Kellen Erdman, Rocky River 42-43--85

a-D. Shebesta, Cincinnati 46-39--85

a-Jeff Mihalick, Elyria 43-42--85

Jermaine Bennett, Twinsburg 42-44--86

a-Richard Radis, Aurora 47-39--86

Russell Papa, Solon 43-44--87

a-Will Stines, Columbus 47-40--87

a-Travis Bleile, Norwalk 41-47--88

Ben Bastel, Toledo 48-40--88

Eric Farley, Fleming 42-47--89

a-Austin Hadden, Tipp City 47-42--89

Matthew Sommers, Hartville 48-42--90

Bradley Hotchkiss, Medina 47-44--91

Wes Homan, Cincinnati WD

Eric Frishette, Groveport WD

a-Will Morris, Columbus WD

a-Brett Eley, Wapakoneta WD

Jeff Ritchey, Westlake DQ

The right-hander gave up one run in six innings as the Indians win despite squandering many scoring opportunities in Florida.

View full sizeMike Carlson, Associated PressZach McAllister pitched six solid innings for the Tribe and shook off a hard shot off his forearm on a ball hit by Jeff Keppinger.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- It's tempting to ask, "Just how did the Indians win this game?"

But if you watched the 3-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays in front of 14,337 fans Monday night at Tropicana Field -- well, you know the answer.

Pitching. Pitching.

And more pitching.

What a relief it is to have a two-headed monster of a bullpen as the Indians do in Vinnie Pestano and Chris Perez.

As manager Manny Acta asked, "Where would we be without them?"

Probably running another summer out-of-contention fire sale as the trading deadline looms at the end of this month.

Instead, the 46-43 Indians are hanging around in the American League Central Division, hanging around in the wild-card race and hanging around in games like these.

Games in which the Tribe has a lead after six innings -- they are 39-2. And in one-run games -- they are 14-5.

The Tribe's MVP of the night was Pestano, the best reliever that no one knows outside of Northeast Ohio. He tip-toed between base runners, but stopped the Rays in 11/3 innings.

Three of his four outs were strikeouts.

"Vinnie got one more out than me," said Perez.

Perez then talked about how Pestano says, "Give me the ball." Then he throws it, and throws it hard from a nasty right angle.

"He never walks around out there," said Perez. "He's just, 'Give me the ball.' "

The same is true of Perez.

The last time he faced his hometown team, he blew a 6-4 lead to the Rays on July 8 at Progressive Field. It was three ugly runs in one inning.

Monday night, it was three up, three down.

Give Perez his 26th save in 28 tries. He is 9-of-9 in those critical one-run saves.

Then there was Zach McAllister, who raised his record to 4-1 with a 3.17 ERA.

Give McAllister six innings, only one run allowed. Give him a growing sense of confidence, a belief that he can claim a spot in the rotation for the rest of the season.

"I had to battle this whole game," he said. "That's why it means a lot."

The bullish, 6-6, 240-pound right-hander didn't have his prime fastball or excellent control, but he found a way to hold Tampa Bay to one run in six innings.

Even more impressive, McAllister was struck in the right forearm with a line drive -- a sizzler off the bat of the Rays' Jeff Keppinger. The ball bounced about 60 feet away from McAllister for an RBI single.

After being checked by the trainer and insisting he remain in the game, McAllister retired 9-of-10 hitters (allowing only a walk). McAllister walked four in the game, but gave up only three singles.

"My arm really doesn't hurt," he said. "It was the top of the forearm. I'm OK."

As for the Tribe hitters, well, they scored three runs, almost in spite of themselves.

Suppose someone told you a pitcher allowed five hits and five walks in 31/3 innings.

And three of those hits were doubles.

And there was a passed ball that allowed a runner to score from third.

And how many runs do you think that pitcher would have allowed?

We're talking 10 base runners in a little more than three innings.

If the place is Tropicana Field and the pitcher is Alex Cobb, well, the answer is three.

No need to dwell on the guilty parties -- there were too many. Asdrubal Cabrera and Jose Lopez combined to leave 13 runners on base, and they struck out six times in nine at-bats.

Let's just credit Shin-Soo Choo with two doubles, two runs scored and an RBI.

And Jason Kipnis with two doubles and an RBI.

And the Indians were in front, 3-1. They knew they should have had more runs.

And they knew they needed strong pitching to win the game -- something that McAllister, Pestano and Perez delivered.

Andy Gruenebaum won't be an All-Star after all.

AP File PhotoColumbus Crew goalkeeper Andy Gruenebaum, right, collides Toronto FC forward Ryan Johnson while making a save during first half MLS soccer action in Toronto on Saturday March 31, 2012.

Andy Gruenebaum won't be an All-Star after all.

Major League Soccer announced the final seven selections to the 2012 All-Star team, five players by DC United's Ben Olsen, who will lead the team against Chelsea FC, and two selections by Commissioner Don Garber. The Columbus Crew goalkeeper, who has filled in admirably for injured starter Will Hesmer, was not on the list.

Instead, Olsen chose Chivas USA goalkeeper Dan Kennedy as the team's backup goalkeeper to Sporting Kansas City's Jimmy Nielsen.

Gruenebaum, the only consistency for one of the league's best defensive teams, had an outside shot at becoming the backup against the UEFA Champions League title holders, but Olsen chose to go with Kennedy.

Despite not getting the nod, Gruenebaum told Craig Merz of MLSSoccer.com that he doesn't feel snubbed.

“First of all, it’s an honor to even be mentioned in the same category, so that’s cool,” Gruenebaum said. “Dan Kennedy – look at his body of work over the years. I admire and respect his game. He’s an amazing goalkeeper. You can’t really go wrong there, can you?”

While Gruenebaum is putting on a smile, he is apparently in the minority. According to the article, his wife and mother (naturally) are pretty angry, as are his teammates.

“It’s a like a smack in the face to us,” Crew defender Josh Williams said of Gruenebaum’s non-selection. “We’re one of the best defenses in the league and he’s the biggest part of it. He’s definitely deserving of it.

“He’s such a good guy. He just laughs it off and says the other guy [Kennedy] deserves it just as much.”

Aside from Kennedy, Olsen also selected his own player in forward Chris Pontius, as well as Seattle Sounders players Osvaldo Alonso and Eddie Johnson and Kyle Beckerman of Real Salt Lake.

Commissioner Garber's contribution to the game was Philadelphia defender Carlos Valdes and the only remaining player who played in the league's inaugural season in 1996, Ramiro Corrales of the San Jose Earthquakes.

The All-Stars will take on Chelsea FC July 25 at PPL Park in Chester, Pa.
___

MLS ALL-STARS ROSTER

Goalkeepers: Dan Kennedy (Chivas USA), Jimmy Nielsen (Sporting Kansas City)

Defenders: Steven Beitashour (San Jose Earthquakes), Aurelien Collin (Sporting Kansas City), Ramiro Corrales (San Jose Earthquakes), Jay DeMerit (Vancouver Whitecaps FC), Heath Pearce (New York Red Bulls), Carlos Valdes (Philadelphia Union)

Midfielders: Osvaldo Alonso (Seattle Sounders FC), David Beckham (LA Galaxy), Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Dwayne De Rosario (D.C. United), Landon Donovan (LA Galaxy), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City)

Forwards: Thierry Henry (New York Red Bulls), Eddie Johnson (Seattle Sounders FC), Chris Pontius (D.C. United), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes)

"Why does everyone think we have to trade Colt McCoy? He is a backup no matter where he goes so why not be one here? He is a professional, so those that think he won't transition to a backup well must not know there are 32 backup QBs in the league. He is better than Wallace and cheaper. Those that think it would cause a distraction or QB controversy, that is silly. People will call for the backup QB no matter who it is." - Vinnybagodonuts

View full sizeJohn Kuntz / The Plain DealerWhy trade Colt McCoy, asks one cleveland.com reader.

"Why does everyone think we have to trade Colt McCoy ? He is a backup no matter where he goes so why not be one here? He is a professional, so those that think he won't transition to a backup well must not know there are 32 backup QBs in the league. He is better than Wallace and cheaper. Those that think it would cause a distraction or QB controversy, that is silly. People will call for the backup QB no matter who it is."

As Margot Shumway heads to the Summer Games this month, she is drawing considerable strength from her mother Julia, who is battling cancer but hoping to watch her daughter compete in her second consecutive Olympics.

U.S. Rowing photoWestlake's Margot Shumway (right) and Sarah Trowbridge of Washington, D.C. will represent the U.S. in double sculls rowing at the London Olympics.

"In our 6 innings, 14 base runners and 3 runs. If our management can't see that we are lacking a clutch hitter, they are supporting the posters here who say they don't know baseball. We don't play small ball; we don't have the power to play long ball. Our guys need some help. If this game doesn't get our management's attention, nothing will. We should be ahead 7 or 8-1 at this point not 3-1." - joedean

View full sizeAP Photo/Mark DuncanOne cleveland.com reader says the Indians are missing a big, clutch hitter.

"In our 6 innings, 14 base runners and 3 runs. If our management can't see that we are lacking a clutch hitter, they are supporting the posters here who say they don't know baseball. We don't play small ball; we don't have the power to play long ball. Our guys need some help. If this game doesn't get our management's attention, nothing will. We should be ahead 7 or 8-1 at this point not 3-1."

Approaching the major-league baseball trade deadline, who are the Cleveland Indians' untouchables? Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Starting Blocks TV, hosted today by The Plain Dealer's Bill Lubinger, examines the state of the Cleveland Indians with Plain Dealer sports reporter Dennis Manoloff.

With slumping Indians' catcher Carlos Santana, Manoloff suggests the Tribe "do nothing." Well, not nothing, actually, but essentially back off and just tell Santana to dig in at the plate and swing like he did when he was a kid. Don't overthink. Forget all the suggested adjustments and just swing.

D-Man also discusses what's behind the rebirth of the red-hot Shin-Soo Choo and, with the major league trading deadline approaching, who the Tribe's untouchables are. (Among them: Jason Kipnis, Santana, Michael Brantley, Francisco Lindor, Justin Masterson and others.)

On Wednesday's SBTV, Doug Lesmerises, who covers Ohio State for The Plain Dealer, will discuss Big 10 football.  

Will Josh Gordon be an off-the-field concern for the Browns? What are the keys for the Tribe in the second half? Plain Dealer sports columnist Terry Pluto answered those questions and more in his weekly podcast with cleveland.com's Glenn Moore.

View full sizeAP Photo/Rod AydelotteTerry Pluto talked about the Browns selection of Josh Gordon in the NFL Supplemental Draft.

Will Josh Gordon be an off-the-field concern for the Browns? What are the keys for the Tribe in the second half?

Plain Dealer sports columnist Terry Pluto answered those questions and more in his weekly podcast with cleveland.com's Glenn Moore.

Among other topics discussed:

• Improved offense for the Browns.

• Josh Tomlin and Zach McAllister are keys for Tribe.

• Dion Waiters' play so far in summer league.

• Tyler Zeller looking good so far.

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

Be sure to also like Terry Pluto on Facebook and follow him on Twitter.

This week, LPGA instructor Nikki Pflibsen of Shawnee Hills Golf Course offers drills on how to save strokes on the putting green. Watch video

BEDFORD, Ohio -- Local golf pros solve your swing problems in a weekly instruction video with Plain Dealer columnist Bud Shaw and videographer David I. Andersen.

This week, LPGA instructor Nikki Pflibsen of Shawnee Hills Golf Course in Bedford demonstrates drills on how to become a better putter.

Need help with your game? Explain your problem to golf@plaind.com in an email. We will select one each week. Need a lot of help? Check out all of the videos in an archive dating back to 2010.

Indians still in AL Central contention, despite losing 6 1/2 games in the standings to both the White Sox and Tigers since May 24. McAllister is 4-1 with a 3.17 ERA. Links to more Indians stories.

Thomas Ondrey, The Plain DealerZach McAllister is showing promise of becoming a mainstay in the Indians' starting rotation.

First off, Zach McAllister was great. Since he was called up to replace Jeanmar Gomez, McAllister has been close to unhittable. He was lights-out again last night and is beginning to look like a real diamond in the rough for this rotation.

The Indians face Tampa Bay's Matt Moore tonight at Tropicana Field. He has pitched against them only once, allowing five hits (all doubles), five walks and five runs in 4 2/3 innings. No Tribe hitter has any significant stats against him. Here's the Tribe's lineup: 1. Shin-Soo Choo, RF 2. Asdrubal Cabrera, SS 3. Jason Kipnis, 2B 4. Michael...

The Indians face Tampa Bay's Matt Moore tonight at Tropicana Field.

He has pitched against them only once, allowing five hits (all doubles), five walks and five runs in 4 2/3 innings. No Tribe hitter has any significant stats against him.

Here's the Tribe's lineup:

1. Shin-Soo Choo, RF

2. Asdrubal Cabrera, SS

3. Jason Kipnis, 2B

4. Michael Brantley, CF

5. Jose Lopez, 3B

6. Carlos Santana, DH

7. Shelley Duncan, LF.

8. Casey Kotchman, 1B

9. Lou Marson, C.

P. Josh Tomlin

"Waiters will be fine but not sure if anyone noticed, but he looked uncomfortable. Let him adjust. I see a lot in this guy. Once he can get conformable, he will be much better. Besides, the only thing he needs to work on is his jumper. I believe Scott is helping him out." - CAVSBOYZ

View full sizeAP Photo/Gene J. PuskarGive Dion Waiters time to adjust, says one cleveland.com reader.

"Waiters will be fine but not sure if anyone noticed, but he looked uncomfortable. Let him adjust. I see a lot in this guy. Once he can get conformable, he will be much better. Besides, the only thing he needs to work on is his jumper. I believe Scott is helping him out."

Here are what blogs from Cleveland and around the country are saying about the Browns, Cavaliers and Indians. Featured today are the Cavs:HQ, Wahoo's On First and Dawgs By Nature.

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

John Kuntz / The Plain DealerWill Josh Cribbs make an impact at wide receiver this season?

"There is one guy on the team who has a distinct role, and that is Greg Little. There are a couple of other players whose roster spots seem "safe," but how do you determine the depth chart? Based on Pat Shurmur's history, the Browns will keep six receivers on the 53-man roster. I have listed those six players in today's preview. The complication is this: for as bad as this group of receivers has been billed, you don't really look at any one of them and say, "we should get rid of him."

Greg Little? He's a definite.

Josh Gordon and Travis Benjamin? They will make the team since they were drafted this year.

Mohamed Massaquoi? Praised heavily by the front office this offseason, and a former second-round pick.

Joshua Cribbs? A Pro Bowl kick returner who is coming off his best season as a receiver.

Jordan Norwood? A water bug who has worked his way up and had some big plays in the slot at the end of last year."

"The Indians’ struggles to amass premium talent via the amateur draft have been well documented, but the trend dates back farther than most fans probably realize. In 1998, they snapped CC Sabathia up with the 20th overall pick, but in 1999 they had no first-round selection. Including sandwich rounders, Cleveland got two first-round picks in 2000 and four more in 2001, but none of the six—Corey Smith and Derek Thompson in 2000 and Dan Denham, Alan Horne, J.D. Martin, and Mike Convoy— ever suited up in a Tribe uniform. So began the misery.

The pattern continued in 2002, when first-rounders Matt Whitney and Micah Schilling never made it to The Show and Jeremy Guthrie found success only after he’d been traded to the Orioles. The 2003 first-round class of Michael Aubrey, Brad Snyder, and Adam Miller combined for 15 games with Cleveland. Though 2004 pick Jeremy Sowers has 400 innings with the Tribe under his belt, he also has an ugly 5.18 ERA. Crowe’s fellow 2005 pick John Drennen never played for the Indians and 2006 selection David Huff owns a 5.50 career ERA."

"Dion Waiters may have been picked first, but Tyler Zeller remains the most impressive rookie on the Cavalier Summer League roster. Zeller had 19 points, 7 rebounds and 2 blocked shots, while making things happen whenever he was on the court. He was also great at getting to the foul line, making 9-for-10 of his free throws. Zeller looks like the well-prepared, well-seasoned rookie that you would expect after his great college career.

While Zeller has been very good in running the floor and getting himself into good position offensively, my favorite part of his game is the way he passes the ball up-court whenever he grabs a loose ball. There is no hesitation - Zeller turns and passes immediately, then takes off following the fast break. In the wake of watching Ryan Hollins and Semih Erden fumble their way around the court as if they had never seen a basketball before, watching Zeller's professionalism is refreshing."

After taking the first game of their four-game series against the Rays last night, the Tribe will be going for two in a row tonight in Tampa Bay. First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. Get game updates on Twitter from Terry Pluto, @terrypluto.

After taking the first game of their four-game series against the Rays last night, the Tribe will be going for two in a row tonight in Tampa Bay. First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. Get game updates on Twitter from Terry Pluto @terrypluto or click here for a live game box score. You can also download our Cleveland Indians app for Android to get Tribe updates on your mobile device. Read on for a game preview.

View full sizeAP Photo/Mike CarlsonCleveland Indians' Shin-Soo Choo, left, of Japan, hits an RBI double to score Johnny Damon in front of Tampa Bay Rays catcher Jose Molina during the third inning of a baseball game, Monday, July 16, 2012, in St. Petersburg, Fla. The Indians won 3-2.

The second baseman can see a difference in how teams are pitching him.

View full sizeChuck Crow, The Plain DealerJason Kipnis is hitting .221 against lefties, which is why he's seeing more left-handers out of the bullpen late in games.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Jason Kipnis has noticed the difference -- as in other teams noticing him.

"It really started when I began to hit third," said Tribe second baseman. "I'm not getting as many fastballs to hit. It seems they bring in more left-handers (from the bullpen) to face me. And I've been a little over-anxious."

Kipnis lashed two doubles in the Tribe's 3-2 victory over Tampa Bay Monday night. Before the game, he talked about needing to be "more patient," to think "hitting the ball in the gap" rather than over the wall.

Hitters often say things like that -- Kipnis is able to turn the words into reality.

Entering Tuesday's game, Kipnis is hitting .276 (.770 OPS) with 11 homers and 50 RBI.

"I know I can be better than this," he said.

Kipnis is unhappy with his .221 average against lefties. He knows that is why teams bring in lefties to pitch against him in the late innings.

Kipnis also believes his production has dropped since moving from No. 2 to No. 3 in the batting order -- but the numbers don't show it.

Batting third: Kipnis is hitting .293 (.804 OPS) with four homers and 22 RBI.

Batting second: Kipnis is hitting .263 (.701 OPS) with four homers and 20 RBI.

Kipnis notices that teams also are paying more attention to him on the bases. He has been thrown out in his past two attempts to steal. He stole 20 of 21 before that.

The 25-year-old Kipnis has played 123 games in the big leagues with a career average of .275 (.790 OPS), with 18 homers and 69 RBI.

While Kipnis doesn't say it, he's driven to be a .300 hitter and an All-Star. He refuses to settle for numbers that would make most players content.

"That's just not me," he said.

About Vinnie: Monday's game was the second time this season that Vinnie Pestano has pitched more than an inning -- he pitched 1 1/3 innings.

After the game, Chris Perez (who got the save) said Pestano really deserved the credit.

"Not only did he get one more out than me, but he came into the game with a guy on base and got out of it," said Perez.

Since June 1, Pestano has allowed one run in 16 2/3 innings, fanning 19.

On the season, righties are hitting .114 against him, lefties .239.

The 27-year-old Pestano has a career 4-2 record and 2.14 ERA.

His ERA is 1.64 this season.

About the bases loaded: 1. Hope Michael Brantley comes to bat in these situations. He's 3-of-8 with nine RBI this season.

2. Same with Kipnis, 3-of-8, nine RBI.

3. Then there's Travis Hafner (0-of-6), Casey Kotchman (0-of-9), Asdrubal Cabrera (0-of-7) and Shelley Duncan (0-of-4).

4. As a team, the Indians are a horrible .198 with the bases loaded.