Ohio State defensive lineman Cameron Heyward wants to be the greatest player he can be. He will get one last chance to become the best college player he can be this fall since this is his last year of eligibility. Reporter John Kampf of Journal Register News Service writes Heyward wants to make his senior year the greatest yet....

Marvin Fong / The Plain DealerCameron Heyward

Ohio State defensive lineman Cameron Heyward wants to be the greatest player he can be. He will get one last chance to become the best college player he can be this fall since this is his last year of eligibility.

Reporter John Kampf of Journal Register News Service writes Heyward wants to make his senior year the greatest yet.

The 6-foot-5, 288-pound defensive lineman could have been a high-round draft pick in this past spring’s NFL draft. Instead, he will don the scarlet and gray today when the Ohio State football team hits the field for the season’s first practice at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center.

Following the path paved by former OSU teammates Malcolm Jenkins and James Laurinaitis, Heyward shunned the temptation to skip his senior year with the Buckeyes for the glitz, glamour and fat paycheck of professional football.

"The NFL can wait," Heyward said. "There are no guarantees in the NFL."

 Kamp writes how Heyward wanted other guarantees, like the opportunity of  spending another year with friends, being a leader on a team that contends for a another Big Ten Championship, and the guarantee of helping OSU contend for another BCS national championship.

Rumblings and ramblings

Columbus Dispatch columnist Bob Hunter writes about two Ohio State players we need to watch heading into training camp --- offensive lineman Marcus Hall and quarterback Taylor Graham.

Coach Jim Tressel is going to give Mike Adams the first crack at left tackle, and senior Andrew Miller will rotate there, too. But Hall played some last season at right tackle as a true freshman. The coaches like him, and Tressel repeatedly mentions him. If Adams doesn't seize the job, Hall could be moved there.

Graham, a true freshman, was felled by injuries his last two years of high school and enters camp lugging some question marks. But Tressel said at the Big Ten meetings that Kenny Guiton, Joe Bauserman and Graham would compete to back up Terrelle Pryor.

Get ready

The Buckeyes hope to pick up where they left off as they open training camp today in Columbus. They want to pick up from their Rose Bowl win over Oregon in January.

Offensive lineman Justin Boren is ready for the challenge. On CantonRep.com:

“I think it’s going to be a disappointment if we can’t pick up from where we left off last year,” Boren said Thursday as Ohio State players reported back to campus for the start of camp today. “Camp gives you three weeks to get into the groove of things. Then, come that first game, we better be ready to go. If it takes us a couple of games, that’s unacceptable.

“We better be ready to go from day one.”

That would be a new thing for the offense that has been slow out of the gate for the past two seasons. But that was due to the young offensive line getting on track and quarterback Terrelle Pryor finding his rhythm.

OSU won't have those issues this time.

“There should be no reason why it would take a couple of weeks,” Boren said of offensive consistency. “Hopefully, we build off last season and keep getting better.

“I’m expecting great things from Terrelle. He is the most capable athlete on this team. ... I think he’s definitely capable of starting where he left off last year. Terrelle is an insane athlete.”

Championship game

The Plain Dealer's Doug Lesmerises posted this morning about Ohio State being ranked No. 2 in the nation in the USA Today coaches poll. Last night, he wrote on Cleveland.com about Indianapolis getting the first Big Ten title game in 2011. And how after 2011, formal bids will be accepted to determine future sites.

Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit, Green Bay, Wis., and Minneapolis were among cities that had publicly expressed interest in landing the game.

On IndyStar.com:

"It's a great win for our city, and it shows the partnership Indy and the Indiana Sports Corp. has had with the Big Ten the past 20 or 30 years," said John Dedman, spokesman for the Sports Corp., which spearheads the city's efforts to attract major events.

The economic impact for the city is expected to be about $10 million, although that could increase if fans for both finalists come from a considerable distance and stay longer.

There a advertising campaigns and then there are advertising campaigns that are bad ideas. There was one in Texas that had the face of Cleveland Browns quarterback Colt McCoy. The billboard didn't last. On Statesman.com: The big billboard put up last week by Grande Communications in San Marcos using former University of Texas quarterback Colt McCoy’s face to sell...

Ross D. Franklin / APNew Browns quarterback Colt McCoy led Texas to a victory over Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 5, 2009.

There a advertising campaigns and then there are advertising campaigns that are bad ideas. There was one in Texas that had the face of Cleveland Browns quarterback Colt McCoy. The billboard didn't last.

On Statesman.com:

The big billboard put up last week by Grande Communications in San Marcos using former University of Texas quarterback Colt McCoy’s face to sell TV and Internet hookups to college students came down Monday after unpopular demand.

The problem is that somebody over at Grande Communications forgot that San Marcos, home of Texas State University, is Bobcat country. McCoy went to Texas.

The billboard advertising Grande’s package for students showed McCoy holding a football and said, “Hey Bobcats! Get Hooked on Grande like Colt McCoy. Get the Back 2 School Bundle.”

Making matters worse is that Grande has its headquarters in San Marcos. So it’s not like the company didn’t know there were a few Texas State fans lurking about.

It was the “get hooked” part that bugged Bobcat fans.

“It was just inappropriate for the market they were working on,” said Texas State alum Rick Koch , who runs the website

BobcatFans.com . “To tell Texas State students to get hooked, that just wasn’t going to work for us.”

So the billboard came down.

Two cents

I'm not sure when they started doing football previews, but Nationallampoon.com previewed the Cleveland Browns. It wasn't funny, and it wasn't nice.

 It’s arguable that the Cleveland Browns are the most consistent team in the division. They usually hover between two and six wins, scare nearly no one, but always pull off at least one impossible division upset. They have trouble scoring points and stopping anyone. They have a new football czar who everyone expects will get back into coaching very soon. Add up also the three legit playoff contenders in the division and it looks like apocalyptic doom in Northeast Ohio. Could there be a shocking turnaround for one of the league’s yearly cupcakes?

And the website even gives the Cleveland Browns a worst case scenario.

Jake Delhomme is even worse than in Carolina and Colt McCoy is forced to start too early. Shaun Rogers beats Mangini to death during the third quarter of the New England game. Josh Cribbs announces on a live-television event that he’s going to the Dolphins. 1-15.

"Perhaps the defense is improving. If Delhomme were throwing touchdowns all over the field would this be a good thing or would it mean we have the same old terrible Browns defense? Let's wait until they are actually playing against other NFL teams before we worry about Delhomme." - sadsamjones

View full sizeThe Plain DealerJake Delhomme has been inconsistent so far in training camp.

In response to the story Cleveland Browns Training Camp update: Day 6 - video, cleveland.com reader sadsamjones thinks it's much too early to pass judgment on Jake Delhomme. This reader writes,

"Perhaps the defense is improving. If Delhomme were throwing touchdowns all over the field would this be a good thing or would it mean we have the same old terrible Browns defense? Let's wait until they are actually playing against other NFL teams before we worry about Delhomme."

"Can we please move this kid out from behind the plate when gets back? I know they've spent a lot of time grooming him as a catcher, but you just can't put the future centerpiece of your lineup in harm's way like this." - ohcleveland

View full sizeAssociated PressCarlos Santana's greatest value to the Indians is his bat. Should they move him to a less taxing position defensively?

In response to the story Cleveland catcher Carlos Santana to have surgery, will be sidelined 4-6 months: Indians Insider, cleveland.com reader ohcleveland thinks Santana should be moved to a different - and safer - position. This reader writes,

"Can we please move this kid out from behind the plate when gets back? I know they've spent a lot of time grooming him as a catcher, but you just can't put the future centerpiece of your lineup in harm's way like this."

Goosen moves to 7-under for the tournament before first-day leader Bubba Watson began his round.

View full sizeChuck Crow/The Plain DealerTiger Woods, pictured Thursday during the first round of the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational, shot 2-over 72 on Friday.

UPDATED, 2:04 p.m.

AKRON, Ohio -- Tiger Woods' struggles continued Friday in the second round of the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational.

Woods completed his second round Friday afternoon at Firestone Country Club at 2-over 72, dropping to 6-over overall. He stands tied for 75th place in the 81-player field. Woods had three birdies and five bogeys Friday. The good news for Woods is there is no cut, so he can continue to work on his game over the weekend.

Stow native Ben Curtis is tied for 22nd at minus-1 after an even par round of 70 on Friday.

The first-day leader, Bubba Watson, teed off at 1:30 p.m. Starting on the back side, he began with three pars through three holes. Watson entered the day at 6-under 64 for a two-stroke lead over Kenny Perry, Phil Mickelson, Adam Scott and Graeme McDowell.

But there was a new leader before Watson began his second round. Retief Goosen, who entered Friday's round at 3-under, moved to eight under for the tournament at one point. He logged a bogey on the Par-4 18th to drop to 7-under. Goosen shot 3-under on the front side and had three birdies against two bogeys on the back side.

Justin Leonard had a terrific day, finishing his second round at 4-under 66. Leonard is tied with Watson in second place at 6-under overall. 

Eleven Big Ten players were asked to name the player they would choose to start a team. The clear winner was Iowa defensive end Adrian Clayborn.

Associated PressAdrian Clayborn of Iowa: Big Ten players think he's something else.

Pryor earned two votes, and Wisconsin running back John Clay gained the other two.

It's the presence of Clayborn leading one of the best defensive lines in the nation that makes the Hawkeyes maybe the most dangerous challenger to Ohio State's run at a sixth straight Big Ten title.

"He's a big play waiting to happen," said Illinois cornerback Tavon Wilson, who answered Clayborn without hesitation. "He gets after the quarterback. He's a really intense player, and I love his game and just love watching him play."

Clayborn had a career-high 12 tackles in Iowa's overtime loss to Ohio State last season, but no team saw Clayborn change a game more than Penn State. In the Hawkeyes' 21-10 win at Beaver Stadium, Clayborn blocked a punt and returned it for a touchdown.

"That turned our game around," Penn State offensive lineman Stephen Wisniewski said. "And he's really disruptive on defense. He almost single-handedly blew us up last year."

"To have a rush D-end like that who's that elite of a player, he can be game-changer," Minnesota quarterback Adam Weber said. "So if you start on defense, that's the way you've got to go."

That was an edge for Clayborn, because most players in the Big Ten decided they needed to start on defense with their No. 1 pick. Even Clayborn -- who didn't get an official vote in the poll, cast his lot with Michigan State linebacker Greg Jones -- who was actually named the preseason defensive player of the year by Big Ten media.

For those who went offense, it was a choice between quarterback or running back, both with atypical size.

Purdue defensive end Ryan Kerrigan voted for Pryor. "He's 6-6 and 240 pounds and runs like a gazelle, and he can throw it well, too. He's such a unique player, and you can really build a team around him."

"He's just a freak of an athlete," Minnesota defensive tackle Brandon Kirksey said, explaining his Pryor vote. "He can run, he can throw, he can juke. And he has an attitude about him, that -- I mean, his attitude can be good or bad, but I like his attitude."

Wisconsin 250-pound running back John Clay, the league's postseason offensive player of the year in 2009, earned his votes from Indiana linebacker Tyler Replogle and Purdue receiver Keith Smith for the same reasons Pryor earned his -- because there aren't many guys like them.

"To have that run threat, it would open up the passing game so much more," Smith said. "He has the total package."

Clayborn has the same thing on defense, and has Ohio State defensive lineman Cameron Heyward (who was not asked for an official vote) among his fans. Heyward and Clayborn met for the first time at breakfast in Chicago, with Heyward noticing that he and Clayborn are quiet guys who turn it on when they hit the field.

"You can definitely tell he's a humble guy and really good competitor for his team," Heyward said. "He does it all."

Clayborn, projected by many draft analysts as a top-five pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, wasn't sure how to take the news that he'd be the first pick of his peers in a Big Ten draft.

"That's an honor, obviously," Clayborn said, "but you can take any of the guys in this room and put us together and make an all-star team."

Michael Brantley is back from Columbus and starting in center for the Indians.

Chuck Crow / The Plain DealerMichael Brantley is back with the Indians and will start in center tonight against the Minnesota Twins.

CLEVELAND -- The Indians have recalled outfielder Michael Brantley from Columbus and he will be in the lineup tonight.

Brantley will bat leadoff and play center field when the Indians open a three-game series against the Minnesota Twins at Progressive Field. Game time is 7:05.

This is Brantley's third tour of duty with the Indians this season. He is hitting .157 with two doubles, one homer and seven RBI with the Indians.

At Columbus he was hitting .319 with 51 runs, 12 doubles, 2 triples, 4 homers and 28 RBI.

To make room for Brantley, the Indians optioned righthand reliever Jensen Lewis back to Columbus.

The Indians announced today that infielder/outfielder Drew Sutton has been claimed off outright waivers from the Cincinnati Reds and optioned to Columbus.

Sutton appeared in two games with Cincinnati in May and was 2-for-3 with a homer and four RBI. In 84 games with Louisville this year he batted .262 with three homers and 27 RBI.

Sutton, 6-3, 200, is a switch-hitter, originally selected by the Houston Astros in the

15th round of the 2004 draft out of Baylor University.

The Indians 40-man roster now stands at 39.

"Ever notice how Robiskie gets no separation at all? Too slow? I hope not, but I have a feeling he's never going to live up to expectations. Hope I'm wrong. Seems to have really good hands, though." - brownyqb19

View full sizeJohn Kuntz | The Plain DealerWill Brian Robiskie develop into a reliable receiver for the Browns in 2010?

In response to the story Cleveland Browns: Wide receivers workout - video, cleveland.com reader brownyqb19 isn't sure Brian Robiskie has the physical skills to make it in the NFL. This reader writes,

"Ever notice how Robiskie gets no separation at all? Too slow? I hope not, but I have a feeling he's never going to live up to expectations. Hope I'm wrong. Seems to have really good hands, though."

Indians come home just in time to face red-hot Minnesota pitcher, Francisco Liriano.

View full sizeAssociated PressFrancisco Liriano is putting his 21-inning scoreless streak on the line against the Tribe tonight at Progressive Field.

What's the secret of comedy?

Timing.

And now? Well, tonight, the Tribe has escaped unfriendly Fenway and is back home . . . just in time to face the ace of the Minnesota Twins, Francisco Liriano. Who, btw, has owned the Tribe. That is also called timing. Bad timing.

An analysis on the oddsmaking site sportschatplace.com painted that picture so clearly that even an umpire could see it:

Coming into this series opener, the Twins are playing excellent baseball as a team. The Indians have been playing some decent baseball as of late but their record doesn't reflect that.

On Friday night, the Twins will send ace Francisco Liriano to the mound to take a stronghold on the series. Liriano has won four straight games and hasn't surrendered a run in his last three starts pitching 21 innings and striking out 25 batters while only giving up 11 hits. Liriano is having his best stretch of the season at this point and plans to continue it against the Indians. His last start against Cleveland came in the form of his second win during his current four game win streak. In Liriano's career he is 5-3 with a 3.15 era against the Indians.

. . . The Indians will be sending Jeanmar Gomez to the mound who has a 2-0 record while posting a 1.50 era on the season. Gomez, a 22-year-old Venezuelan will look to continue his early success this season in his third start against the Twins. So far this season Gomez has allowed only two earned runs in his 12 innings of work. In his one home start Gomez went seven shut-out innings against the Tigers giving up five hits and one walk in the win. With only three walks in his first two major league starts, Gomez looks to not be letting the big league atmosphere faze him, however he will have a tall order trying to hold down the Twins offense. . . . Not being able to help out their pitchers with runs has been a major problem for the sub .500 Indians and it may continue against Liriano.

Of course, there is some karma about all this: The Twins are trailing Chicago by 1 1/2 games in the battle for the AL Central title, and the White Sox are at Baltimore to play what is statistically the worst team in baseball, so the odds are that even if they win tonight, Minnesota will still be trailing Chicago by 1 1/2 games when the Twins awaken Saturday morning.

Wingin' it
First baseman Matt McBride, who was promoted from Class AA Columbus to Class AAA Columbus just as July ended, was named Eastern League player of the month for July. As an Aero, he hit .364 and led the league in homers (11), RBI (29), slugging percentage (.852), OPS (1.271) and total bases (75) during the month.

Meanwhile, at Class A Lake County, outfielder Delvi Cid took the lead in stolen bases over all of minor league baseball. He's swiped 56 and only has been caught 13 times. His teammate, infielder Adam Abraham, has been named batter of the week for July 26-Aug. 1.

Also, outfielder Michael Brantley is back in Cleveland, his third trek north from Columbus.

What's with all this minor league stuff? Well, Starting Blocks figures if the Tribe is gonna field a minor league team . . .

From The Plain Dealer
Beat writer Paul Hoynes watched events unfold in Boston Thursday night, and noted that even though Tomlin surrendered Beltre's grand slam, the rookie responded well to that little bit of adversity:

Tomlin recovered nicely. He held the Red Sox to one hit in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings. For the night, he allowed four runs on four hits in seven innings. He struck out five and walked two.

"I'll tell you what, the kid can pitch," said (pitching coach Tim) Belcher. "He's got great focus. You give up a grand slam in Fenway Park and go back out there and pitch as well as he did, that's pretty impressive.

"That's just moxie. He's mentally tough. That's what it takes to stay here and pitch well. I look forward to seeing him do that."

 

Hoynsie also noted in his Indians Insider column that even though rookie catcher Carlos Santana is lost for the year after the injury to his left knee by a sliding Ryan Kalish, it's not all that bad: Tribe medical officials didn't expect to have to use a transplanted ligament to repair his strained lateral cruciate ligament. That means recovery time will be much less, say four to six months or so.

Or, as we like to say in Starting Blocks, given past history, in plenty of time for the 2011 trade deadline.

Lake Erie is always unpredictable. So is the fishing on the big lake.

D'ARCY EGAN/THE PLAIN DEALERA waterspout emerged from dark, ominous storm clouds Friday morning and touched down on Lake Erie, just east of Huron.

 Lake Erie is always unpredictable. So is the fishing on the big lake. 

 Steve "Het" Borowski, an itinerant angler from Akron who follows the good Lake Erie fishing from Oak Harbor to Conneaut throughout the year, strolled over to the launch ramp on Friday at the crack of dawn. It was decided that since the walleye fishing has been pretty good a few miles east of Huron, we'd launch close to the action at Cranberry Creek Marina.

Borowski, 44, of Hetfield Charters got the invitation because of his angling expertise, and because of the snazzy paint jobs he applies to production lures, primarily minnow-style diving plugs and spinner blades. The spinner blades are an integral part of the nightcrawler-tipped rigs a legion of fishermen are trolling to catch walleye, the glamor fish of Lake Erie.

D'ARCY EGAN/THE PLAIN DEALERSteve Borowski, an Akron fishing guide who fools walleye with custom paint jobs on spinners and lures, shows off a favorite spinner blade he uses on rigs designed to catch Lake Erie walleye.

 We were facing a bumpy ride over waves kicked up by a northwest wind. We didn't know we'd get a unique show, as well.
 Ominous clouds danced along the shoreline. The type, someone said, that spawn waterspouts.
 Less than a mile offshore, a huge waterspout dropped from the dark skies.

Described as tornados over water, few waterspouts put boaters in peril. We weren't going to take a chance, but were mesmerized by the massive funnel cloud and the huge spray created as waterspout met Lake Erie.

As the black clouds headed eastward and the waterspout slowly began to dissipate, we had a great fishing story.

The parade of weather fronts, though, put the walleye in a bad mood. Only a few were willing to strike.

 I was willing to bite, though, on Borowski's talent with an airbrush. His spinner blades, both Colorado and hatchet blades, were  gaudy enough to turn a walleye's head. His minnow-style diving plugs offered a kaleidescope of colors, the ones Borowski says will turn a walleye's head.

"I rely on chartreuse, orange, purple and pink," he said. "The experts may say walleye can only see shades of orange, but I know color makes a big difference."
 The custom-painted lures have worked for Borowski and his friends. He doesn't sell them, but does use them on his unique guide trips. Borowski takes out anglers on a small 20-foot Ranger boat, limiting his charters to a maximum of three anglers. His 8-hour trips cost $350, $300 for one or two fishermen.

 "I like fishing from a smaller boat," he says. "I like to be close to the water, to feel the spray in my face once in a while."

Borowski is also a moderator for the popular Ohio Game Fishing web site, and dabbles in tournament fishing. "But only small, low-cost, friendly tournaments," he said. "I want to compete when I know a lot of people in the tournament."
 Lure painting has become a passion.

"My old home office, from when I was in real estate, is now an airbrush studio," Borowski said. "I have painted thousands and thousands of spinner blades, and too many diving lures to count."

Spinner rigs, which use two spinner blades, lots of beads and both a single hook and a treble hook, have become a mainstay for Lake Erie trolling fishermen. Tipped with a nightcrawler, the rigs work when walleye disdain spoons and diving plugs .

Borowski has three tips for walleye fishermen.

•  Be versatile. Learn a few walleye-catching techniques instead of relying on just one method for success.
• When tackling a new technique, taking it slow and thoroughly learn the technique. Then experiment to improve your skills.
• Keep it fun. A good day of fishing isn't judge by everyone getting a limit. It's all about having fun.

Borowski's goal is to create a can't-miss color pattern.

"It's exciting, when something you've created catches walleye for you and your friends," he said. "It fires my desire to keep on painting."

The team gets ready for Saturday's scrimmage at Cleveland Browns Stadium.

John Kuntz / The Plain DealerQuarterback Seneca Wallace will be on the white team in Saturday's scrimmage at Cleveland Browns Stadium.

What happened:

Down, not out: Cornerback Brandon McDonald, who seems to perform when his back is against the wall, leaped high and intercepted a Wallace pass intended for Cribbs. McDonald has been relegated to backup duty after the acquisitions of Sheldon Brown and Joe Haden.

Flip a coin: Four NFL officials visited camp to educate players and media on new rules and points of emphasis. They'll work the team scrimmage, too. The most talked about rule change is called "modified sudden death" for postseason, where a game can't end with a field goal after one possession. There is a long list of possible occurrences that boggle the mind: Does a safety on first possession end a game? What happens if a fumbled kickoff is recovered and the other team kicks a field goal? Referee Mike Carey was asked if officials will carry cheat sheets to govern overtime. "We already have cheat sheets in our head," he answered. "I don't think that's going to be an issue."

Injury report: CB Chris Roberson (leg), P Dave Zastudil (knee), RB Peyton Hillis (leg) and LB Titus Brown (undisclosed) did not practice.

Today's schedule: Family Day Scrimmage at Cleveland Browns Stadium. Kickoff at 1 p.m. $5 parking in Port Authority Lots. No ticket required for admission. Gates open at 11 a.m. Kids activities, such as inflatables, available outside at 9 a.m.

Plain Dealer’s Cleveland Browns beat writers Tony Grossi and Mary Kay Cabot report on what happened during day seven of training camp in Berea.

Plain Dealer’s Cleveland Browns beat writers Tony Grossi and Mary Kay Cabot report on what happened during day seven of training camp in Berea. They also preview the Family Day Brown and White Scrimmage at Cleveland Browns Stadium Saturday.

Helio Castroneves: "In my situation now, I have to win everything I can. I'm not thinking about points anymore. It's just win."

Jeff McIntosh The Canadian Press / Associated PressHelio Castroneves, right, lost a lot of ground in the IRL championship race when he was penalized for blocking last week at Edmonton. As a result, the Brazilian says he has to string together some wins, beginning Sunday at Mid-Ohio. Castroneves is talking to Team Penske spokesman Merrill Cain after his outburst following last week's race.

LEXINGTON, Ohio — The drama continues for Helio Castroneves.

One race after blowing his cool when he was dropped from first to 10th as a penalty for blocking on a restart, an outburst that led to him being fined $60,000 and put on probation, the popular Brazilian's championship hopes have lasered down to what happens Sunday in the Honda Indy 200 at the Mid-Ohio Race Car Course.

"I've got to win it," he said Friday, sliding to the edge of the leather couch he was sitting on. "I gotta win it to keep hope alive. In my situation now, I have to win everything I can. I'm not thinking about points anymore. It's just win."

Castroneves currently rests sixth in the standings, 115 points back, with six races to go. The 50 points he lost for being black-flagged in Edmonton, Canada, would have him sitting third behind series leader Will Power, and still a tenuous 65 points out of first. But now the desperation to win on the twisting, 13-turn, 2.258-mile Mid-Ohio course is as much about redemption as it is about victory.

By Castroneves' own estimation, Edmonton was his best racing performance of the season. His strategy had been near flawless, his passes clean and crisp. "We were really working hard," he said. "We were tuned in. We were right there."

Then a late-race yellow trimmed his sizable lead down to a car length with only a few laps to go, leading to a confluence of IRL rules interpretations and one race leader's instincts. Castroneves didn't follow the rules on the restart, blocking the field behind him. He crossed the finish line first at the end of the race, but was relegated to 10th place, leading to his post-race tirade that got plenty of play on television.

"I'm not proud of it," Castroneves said of the clip that shows him grabbing the lapel of IRL security director Charles Burns. "It affected me, my championship and my season."

Burns is seen smiling through it all ("I was adjusting his collar," Castroneves joked.) But the diminutive driver credits Burns as the guy who "put the fire down," probably because Burns could not understand Castroneves, who speaks several languages, including his native Portuguese along with Spanish and English.

"At that point, I was probably speaking everything," Castroneves said.

The end result is, not much has changed from the final outcome, and that includes Castroneves' connection with the fans who love him. At one point he reached into his pocket and pulled out a note given to him earlier by a little girl at the track. "Dear H," it began. "I'm sorry about your win. I don't think you blocked that other driver. Love, Monica."

The note goes back into Castroneves' pocket and he sits back down.

"I'm ready to move on," he said.

In the one-hour IRL practice Castroneves was third-fastest of the day with a hot lap of 118.881 mph, behind surprising Graham Rahal at 119.005 mph and series leader Power at 118.964 mph.

On point: The racing team of Jonny Cocker and Paul Drayson with Drayson racing landed on the pole for today's 3 p.m. American Le Mans Series Race with a top speed of 116.069 mph.

"We were fastest in both practices and quickest in qualifying and that is a fantastic result," Cocker said.

Call it "field and stream": From the park-like open field setting of the Mid-Ohio Race Car course, Friday's practices and today's American LeMans Series race will be streamed live at americanlemans.com/live.

The online race broadcast will start at 2 p.m. The play-by-play radio broadcast will sync with video feed from picturesque Mid-Ohio. The race will also be the subject of INTERSPORT's next production of the American Le Mans Series. It will air at 12:30 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 15 on WOIO-Ch. 19.

New faces: The IRL grid of 27 drivers is the largest this season outside of the Indianapolis 500 (33 cars), and the eight rookies are the most of any field including Indy. The eight neophyte drivers are Takuma Sato, Alex Lloyd, J.R. Hildebrand, Adam Carroll, Francesco Dracone, Jay Howard, Simona De Silvestro and Bertrand Baguette.

Inside that number are three former Indy Lights Champions --Howard (2006), Lloyd (2007), Hildebrand (2009) -- bringing the total to four Lights champs in the field including second-year driver Raphael Matos (2008).

Park it: With the large field, getting in and out of the pits cleanly will be a major obstacle during the race.

"When you've got 27 cars here it [pit lane] gets tiny," said Rahal, the fastest IRL driver during practice. "It will be a factor."

Indians handling Twins, 5-1, through six innings.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- This is a daily briefing of the Indians' 2010 regular season. The Tribe plays host to the Twins tonight in the first of a three-game series at Progressive Field.

Pitching matchup: RHP Jeanmar Gomez (2-0, 1.50 ERA) vs. LHP Francisco Liriano (10-7, 3.18).

In-game updates:

The Indians led the Twins, 5-1, through six innings. They had four runs and seven hits through three.

Shelley Duncan hit a two-run double in the first. Later in the inning, Trevor Crowe delivered an RBI fielder's choice.

The Indians made it 4-0 in the second on Asdrubal Cabrera's RBI single.

Minnesota pulled within 4-1 in the third on a sacrifice fly.

Gomez allowed the one run on four hits in 5 1/3 innings. He was relieved by Justin Germano with runners on first and second and one out. Germano got Michael Cuddyer to ground into a 6-4-3 double play.

The Tribe restored the four-run advantage in the sixth.

Pregame notes:

 Michael Brantley has resumed being the Indians' regular center fielder.

 Brantley was promoted from Class AAA Columbus on Friday afternoon. Hours later, he was set to begin his third stint with the Tribe this season by starting in center and batting leadoff against Twins lefty Francisco Liriano.

 To make room for Brantley, the Indians sent reliever Jensen Lewis to Columbus.

 "We feel like Michael's a guy who is going to hit up here,'' Indians manager Manny Acta said. "It's a matter of time -- and we have it. We have the time, and we have the opportunity.''

 Brantley broke camp with the Indians, struggled and was optioned to Columbus on April 18. He returned to Cleveland on July 4 and stayed until July 27. He combined to hit .157 (16-for-102) with 12 runs in the first two stints.

 "It's going to take a while for him to change (the average), because he dug such a big hole,'' Acta said. "But we don't look at the numbers; we see at-bats. And he had better at-bats the last time he was here. Our team is better with him on it.''

 Brantley is hitting .319 (87-for-273) with 54 runs in 67 games for the Clippers. He ranks second in the International League in average.

 Brantley arrived in the clubhouse at 4 p.m. and quickly unpacked his giant Clippers duffle bag before taking the field for batting practice.

 The Indians acquired Brantley from Milwaukee as the player to be named in the CC Sabathia trade in 2008. He debuted with Cleveland last year, hitting .313 in 28 games.

  Lewis, who also opened this season with the Tribe, has been sent down four times this year. He is 3-2 with a 3.86 ERA in 25 appearances for Cleveland. He has 28 walks and 27 strikeouts in 25 2/3 innings for the Indians.

 "We've explained a few things to him,'' Acta said. "That being said, he has a right to be disappointed. I understand if he's disappointed, because nobody wants to be in the minor leagues.''

 Santana update: Rookie catcher Carlos Santana underwent surgery on his left knee Friday at Cleveland Clinic to repair a strained lateral collateral ligament. Indians head athletic trainer Lonnie Soloff said Santana's recovery time will be 4-6 months.

 "They didn't find any damage inside the knee or anywhere else, which is good news,'' Acta said. "They were able to repair the ligament; they didn't need to reconstruct anything.''

 Santana was injured Monday night at Fenway Park in a collision at the plate with Boston left fielder Ryan Kalish. While attempting to score on a single, Kalish fell on  Santana's extended leg. Santana's leg bent and his shoe came off.

 He's in: The Indians claimed infielder/outfielder Drew Sutton off outright waivers from the Cincinnati Reds and optioned him to Columbus.

 Sutton appeared in two games with Cincinnati in May and was 2-for-3 with a homer and four RBI. In 84 games with Class AAA Louisville this year he batted .262 with three homers and 27 RBI.

 Sutton (6-3, 200) is a switch-hitter. He was a 15th-round pick by the Houston Astros in 2004 out of Baylor University.

 The Indians' 40-man roster stands at 39.

 K-Love in the house: Kenny Lofton visited the pressbox Friday night. He will be inducted into the Indians Hall of Fame on Saturday night in a pregame ceremony on the field.

 Lofton played for the Indians in three stints (1992-1996; 1998-2001; 2007). He ranks as the franchise's all-time leader with 452 steals and is third with 975 runs.

 The late Cy Slapnicka, former Tribe general manager and super scout, will be inducted in the Indians Distinguished Hall of Fame (for non-uniformed personnel). Slapnicka signed Bob Feller and Bob Lemon.

 Feller is among those who will be in attendance Saturday.

 Finally: Three terrific right-handers were in the pressbox Friday night: Feller, Bert Blyleven and Jack Morris. Blyleven is a Twins TV analyst; Morris, a Twins radio analyst.

 Feller is a National Baseball Hall of Famer. Blyleven and Morris have Hall of Fame resumes.

 All three pitched for the Tribe.

 To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: dmanoloff@plaind.com, 216-999-4664
 Clubhouse confidential: Indians right-handers Mitch Talbot and Anthony Reyes threw bullpens Friday at Progressive Field.

 Talbot, who has been on the disabled list since July 30 because of mid-back strain, is expected to make a rehab appearance at the beginning of next week for short-season Mahoning Valley.

 "After that, we'll see if he's going to be ready to take his turn,'' Indians manager Manny Acta said.

 Reyes, who had reconstructive elbow surgery in June 2009, experienced back problems in a recent rehab outing for Class AA Akron.

 "We had to rein him in a bit,'' Acta said. "He will go out pretty soon to resume rehab.''

 Changing addresses: Justin Masterson moved into Jake Westbrook's locker, Joe Smith into Kerry Wood's and Lou Marson into Austin Kearns's. Westbrook, Wood and Kearns were traded since the Indians' previous homestand concluded.

 Car parts: Fausto Carmona, the Indians' All-Star representative, bought All-Star T-shirts for his teammates. The shirts were distributed Friday.

 Jonesing: The Indians signed shortstop Hunter Jones, their 11th-round pick out of Lakewood (Calif.) High School. Hunter is the son of former major leaguer Tracy Jones.

 The Indians have until mid-August to sign their top pick, lefty Drew Pomeranz.

 Stat of the day: The Indians have won three series since the All-Star break. They won seven in the first "half.''

Lineups:

Twins (61-48) -- 1. Denard Span cf; 2. Alexi Casilla 2b; 3. Joe Mauer dh; 4. Delmon Young lf; 5. Jason Kubel rf; 6. Michael Cuddyer 1b; 7. Danny Valencia 3b; 8. J.J. Hardy ss; 9. Drew Butera c; and Liriano.

Indians (46-63) -- 1. Michael Brantley cf; 2. Asdrubal Cabrera ss; 3. Shin-Soo Choo rf; 4. Shelley Duncan dh; 5. Matt LaPorta 1b; 6. Jayson Nix 3b; 7. Trevor Crowe lf; 8. Jason Donald 2b; 9. Lou Marson c; and Gomez.

Goosen, who went nearly four years between U.S. victories before winning the 2009 Transitions Championship, also shot a 4-under 66 and is at 7 under -- one shot ahead of Leonard and Mickelson.

Chuck Crow / The Plain DealerRetief Goosen has a one-shot lead midway through the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational after shooting a 66 Friday at Firestone Country Club.

Retief Goosen? Check.

Justin Leonard? Check.

Phil Mickelson? Double check.

Peter Hanson? Ah, better run that name by us again.

On a leaderboard full of names familiar to even the most casual fan, Hanson might stump even the most avid.

Yet, there Peter Hanson is, sitting in a tie for fourth place just two shots out of the lead after two rounds in the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational on the South Course at Firestone Country Club.

He could become a household name by Sunday, even in households not located in Sweden. Don't confuse him with Denmark's Soren Hansen, who played in the 2008 Ryder Cup and made a run at the U.S. Open title in 2009.

Hanson, a 32-year-old Swede, made it to Akron by being 49th in the World Golf Rankings as of July 26, the cutoff week for tournament entry. The event takes the top 50.

He took advantage by shooting a 4-under 66 during Friday's second round and, coupled with his opening-round 69, is tied for fourth place with Bo Van Pelt and first-round leader Bubba Watson at 5 under, two shots behind the leader, Goosen.

"I've been fairly happy with my game, just haven't scored great," said Hanson, who had three bogeys and seven birdies, including a hole-out from the green-side bunker on the 221-yard 15th hole. "I feel my game is pretty close, so I need to keep going, keep working."

Goosen, who went nearly four years between U.S. victories before winning the 2009 Transitions Championship, also shot a 4-under 66 and is at 7 under -- one shot ahead of Leonard and Mickelson.

The two-time U.S. Open winner Goosen, who began play on the back nine, said he turned his round in the right direction on the 471-yard fourth hole, statistically the toughest on the course.

A good drive left him with 196 yards to the hole and a clump of mud on his ball. He second shot with a 6-iron went about 25 yards to the left of the green, and he was looking at a bogey or worse. Instead, he chipped in for birdie.

"You're looking at maybe making bogey there, and chipping in sort of turned my round around and kept it going," he said. He added another birdie on the 482-yard eighth by rolling in an eight-foot putt.

"I've not done so well around this course in the past, so it's nice to play well for two rounds and see how I can do on the weekend," said Goosen, whose best finish at Firestone was a tie for fourth in 2008.

Leonard, whose best finish at the tournament was a tie for second in 2000, has not won since 2008. The 1997 British Open winner knocked two shots off his opening 68, saving par on the ninth and 16th holes by escaping fairway bunkers. He hit the fairway bunker on the ninth but made a 10-footer for par. On the "Monster" 16th, he was forced to chip out of the fairway bunker and lay up with a 5-iron. He made a 12-footer.

Watson, making his first appearance at Firestone, also played the back nine first. The left-hander, who led with an opening 64, played the first nine even, but an errant drive on the third hole -- which ended up in the second fairway -- led to a double bogey and a 71.

Mickelson, seeking his first win at Firestone since 1996, began the day tied for second after an opening 66. He birdied three of the first six holes to make the turn at 6 under. He made a double bogey on the 14th when his drive found the 13th fairway, and he was only able to advance the ball 63 yards with his second.

Chuck Crow / The Plain DealerPhil Mickelson pumps his fist after sinking a birdie putt on the 16th hole at Firestone Country Club. He is one shot out of the lead after shooting a 68 Friday.

Then came the Mickelson magic. He made a 21-foot putt for birdie on the 221-yard 15th and dropped in a 13-footer on the 16th for another birdie. He also lucked out when he hit a spectator on the 17th, which led to a par.

UPDATED: Matt LaPorta homers to lead off the ninth inning as the Indians defeat the Twins, 7-6.

View full sizeRon Schwane / Associated PressMoments after seeing a 6-4 lead disappear, the Indians are rescued by Matt LaPorta, left, after he hit a game-winning home run to beat the Twins on Friday at Progressive Field.

Updated at 12:05 a.m.

CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Indians are a .427 club that contenders do not want to face.

The Tribe behaved like a division leader again Friday night, disposing of the Minnesota Twins, 7-6, at Progressive Field.

Matt LaPorta led off the ninth inning with a homer to left-center off Matt Guerrier, a graduate of Shaker Heights High and Kent State. The walk-off blast came on a 1-0 pitch.

"I've never done that before," LaPorta said.

It was, indeed, LaPorta's first walk-off homer in the majors. The previous Indian to do so was Luis Valbuena on Aug. 22, 2009, against Seattle.

Minnesota had tied it with two runs in the top of the inning against Tribe closer Chris Perez. Pinch-hitter Jim Thome cracked what he and the Twins thought was a two-run homer to left-center with none out. The umpires ruled double, took awhile to watch replays and kept the runners at second and third.

Twins manager Ron Gardenhire argued vehemently with first-base umpire Gerry Davis.

After Denard Span whiffed, Alexi Casilla made the controversy moot with a two-run single.

"I thought [Thome's hit] was gone with the naked eye," Perez said. "When the umpires came back out and said it was a double, I felt like I dodged a bullet. I don't feel like that now."

Perez blew his fourth save in 17 opportunities but was credited with the victory, his first in three decisions.

The Indians (47-63) are 13-9 since the All-Star break, all games coming against opponents with winning records at the time.

"That was a young-team victory," Indians manager Manny Acta said. "We had a chance to put it away early. At the end of the game, we allowed them to tie it. Then, like nothing happened, we win it."

View full sizeRon Schwane / APJason Donald gets upended by the Twins' Joe Mauer at second base, but not before getting the force-out.

Minnesota (61-49) is chasing the White Sox in the AL Central. It has lost three of four to Cleveland since the break, including two of three at Target Field.

The season series is tied, 5-5.

Tribe right-hander Jeanmar Gomez gave up one run on four hits in 51/3 innings of his third major-league start. He owns a 1.56 ERA in 171/3 innings.

Gomez looks like anyone but the pitcher with an 8-8 record and 5.20 ERA in 20 starts for Class AAA Columbus in 2010.

According to the Indians' media relations department, Gomez would have become the franchise's third pitcher since 1920 to win his first three appearances. But the Twins rallied from a 5-1 deficit through six to force a no-decision.

Gomez periodically struggled with his command but found ways to contain a team that had gone 12-3 since July 21.

Not only are the Twins playing well, they had lefty Francisco Liriano on the mound. Liriano entered 3-0 with a 1.23 ERA in three starts against the Indians this season. He had given up three earned runs in 22 innings.

It did not take long for the earned-run total to double.

Michael Brantley, recalled hours earlier from Class AAA Columbus, led off the first with a single to center. Left-handed batters were 21-for-111 against Liriano.

Brantley moved to second on Asdrubal Cabrera's single to center and to third on Shin-Soo Choo's fielder's choice.

Designated hitter Shelley Duncan went with a pitch away and shot it into the right-field corner for a two-run double. Acta, subbing for suspended Steve Smith as third-base coach, aggressively pinwheeled Choo.

Liriano's scoreless-innings streak ended at 21.

LaPorta walked, prompting Twins pitching coach Rick Anderson to visit the mound. Jayson Nix singled to load the bases.

Trevor Crowe made it 3-0 by using his speed to prevent a grounder from becoming a 6-4-3 double play.

The Tribe extended the advantage in the second -- but could have had more.

Lou Marson led off with a walk. Brantley singled to center, Marson hustling to third. Brantley took second on the throw.

Cabrera delivered an RBI single to left, Brantley stopping at third.

Choo struck out swinging, then Cabrera scooted to second on a wild pitch. Liriano bowed his neck and struck out Duncan and LaPorta swinging.

Tribe hitters struggled with runners in scoring position most of the night.

Minnesota pulled within 4-1 in the third when Drew Butera scored on Joe Mauer's sacrifice fly to left. Crowe's throw had the potential for a double play until it struck Butera in the leg.

Liriano lasted 4 innings. He allowed four runs on seven hits, walked six and struck out six. He threw 109 pitches.

Gomez exited in the sixth with runners on first and second and one out. Justin Germano, promoted to Cleveland on July 30, got Michael Cuddyer to ground into a 6-4-3 double play.

In the Tribe half of the inning, Choo restored the four-run cushion with an RBI double. He drove in Brantley, who had led off with a walk.

Minnesota rallied for two unearned runs off Germano in the seventh. Not long after third baseman Nix's fielding error, Casilla hit a two-out, two-run double.

Jason Kubel homered in the eighth off Joe Smith to cut the Twins' deficit to 5-4.

Choo had an RBI double in the eighth.

The Indians have at least one extra-base hit in 59 straight games.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: dmanoloff@plaind.com, 216-999-4664

The Tribe sends reliever Jensen Lewis back to Class AAA Columbus to make room for Brantley.

View full sizeChris O'Meara / AP file photoOutfielder Michael Brantley was called up Friday for this third stint with the Indians this season.

To make room for Brantley, the Indians sent reliever Jensen Lewis to Columbus.

"We feel like Michael's a guy who is going to hit up here," Indians manager Manny Acta said. "It's a matter of time -- and we have it. We have the time, and we have the opportunity."

Brantley broke camp with the Indians, struggled and was optioned to Columbus on April 18. He returned to Cleveland on July 4 and stayed until July 27. He combined to hit .157 (16-for-102) with 12 runs in the first two stints.

"It's going to take awhile for him to change [the average], because he dug such a big hole," Acta said. "But we don't look at the numbers; we see at-bats. And he had better at-bats the last time he was here. Our team is better with him on it."

Brantley is hitting .319 (87-for-273) with 54 runs in 67 games for the Clippers. He ranks second in the International League in average.

Brantley walked into the clubhouse at 3:59 p.m. and quickly unpacked his giant Clippers duffel bag before taking the field for batting practice.

Lewis, who also opened the season with the Tribe, has been sent down four times this year. He is 3-2 with a 3.86 ERA in 25 appearances for Cleveland. He has 28 walks and 27 strikeouts in 25 innings for the Indians.

"We've explained a few things to him," Acta said. "That being said, he has a right to be disappointed. I understand if he's disappointed, because nobody wants to be in the minor leagues."

Santana update: Rookie catcher Carlos Santana underwent surgery on his left knee Friday at the Cleveland Clinic to repair a strained lateral collateral ligament. Indians head athletic trainer Lonnie Soloff has said Santana's recovery time will be 4-6 months.

"They didn't find any damage inside the knee or anywhere else, which is good news," Acta said. "They were able to repair the ligament; they didn't need to reconstruct anything."

Santana was injured Monday night at Fenway Park in a collision at the plate with Boston left fielder Ryan Kalish. While attempting to score on a single, Kalish fell on top of Santana's extended leg. Santana's leg bent and his shoe came off.

He's in: The Indians claimed infielder/outfielder Drew Sutton off outright waivers from the Cincinnati Reds and optioned him to Columbus.

Sutton appeared in two games with Cincinnati in May and was 2-for-3 with a homer and four RBI. In 84 games with Class AAA Louisville this year, he batted .262 with three homers and 27 RBI.

View full sizePDFormer Indians center fielder Kenny Lofton will be inducted into the team's Hall of Fame on Saturday.

Sutton (6-3, 200) is a switch-hitter. He was a 15th-round pick by the Houston Astros in 2004 out of Baylor University.

The Indians' 40-man roster stands at 39.

K-Love in the house: Kenny Lofton visited the press box Friday night. He will be inducted into the Indians Hall of Fame tonight in a pregame ceremony on the field.

Lofton played for the Indians in three stints (1992-96; 1998-2001; 2007). He ranks as the franchise's all-time leader with 452 steals and is third with 975 runs.

The late Cy Slapnicka, former Tribe general manager and super scout, will be inducted into the Indians Distinguished Hall of Fame (for non-uniformed personnel). Slapnicka signed Bob Feller and Bob Lemon.

Feller is among those who will be in attendance tonight.

Finally: Three terrific right-handers were in the press box Friday night: Feller, Bert Blyleven and Jack Morris. Blyleven is a Twins TV analyst; Morris, a Twins radio analyst.

Feller is a National Baseball Hall of Famer. Blyleven and Morris have Hall of Fame-caliber resumes.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: dmanoloff@plaind.com, 216-999-4664

UPDATED: After a good preseason last year, running back James Davis' luck turned as he got injured and missed most of the season, then saw the Browns draft a running back in the second round and trade for another.

John Kuntz / The Plain DealerRunning back James Davis was the hit of last year's training camp, but this year he must show coaches he has recovered from a shoulder injury that caused him to miss most of last year. He also has strong competition for a roster spot.

A year ago, he was the training camp phenom as a rookie. Averaged 7.8 yards per carry in preseason. Broke an 81-yard run for a touchdown. Looked poised to replace Jamal Lewis as the feature back.

Then Davis had two "welcome to the NFL" moments in the first month of the season. His career was put on a shelf. He spent the year out of sight and out of mind.

The off-season was nearly as cruel to him. The Browns drafted a running back high, Montario Hardesty, and traded for another, Peyton Hillis, to compete with three-game sensation Jerome Harrison. Davis was nudged even lower down the totem pole.

All of which has hardened Davis' resolve and given him an edge in his second training camp.

"I can't wait to get to the season," he said this week. "That's what I've been working for.

"I want to prove people wrong, that James Davis is the real deal. I just want my shot."

Davis' rookie preseason was almost a dream. He led the team in rushing with 187 yards on 24 attempts. He ran past defenders like they were out of position, leaving them groping at his dust trails.

Davis was warned by coaches and teammates that the speed of the game would pick up in the opener against the Minnesota Vikings. Sure enough, the holes disappeared. He looked overmatched on four carries. On the last one, Davis was leveled to the ground on a hit to his left shoulder by cornerback Antoine Winfield.

But that wasn't the injury that would make national headlines and launch an investigation by the NFL and the players union.

A few weeks later, Davis was hurt in one of coach Eric Mangini's "opportunity periods" after a team practice. His shoulder was injured again in a one-on-one blocking drill. ESPN.com reported that witnesses said Davis was not wearing pads while the player who hit him was wearing pads. Davis suffered a torn labrum and needed surgery, ending his season. Unidentified union sources were "outraged," ESPN reported.

Mangini denied any wrongdoing, and the Browns eventually were cleared.

Linebacker and special teams ace Blake Costanzo, who put the hit on Davis, said this week that both players were wearing "shells." Shells are the foam padding inside the regular plastic shoulder pads. Players routinely wear them in light practice sessions.

"We were just doing a drill in practice, and unfortunately he got injured," Costanzo said. "It's like one we do every day -- one-on-one pass rush with a running back. I guess he caught his arm the wrong way and got injured. The way he moved his shoulder, I guess, is how he got injured.

"It was nothing like I had pads on and he didn't. I don't know where that came from. I guess it was blown out of proportion."

Davis was asked directly if the injury occurred the way ESPN reported.

"I mean, I put it behind me," he said. "I don't even think about it any more. It was a freak accident that happened. I just have to learn to live with it."

He said there was no need for an apology, and he never considered asking for his release to pursue his career with another team.

"Because this is the team that drafted me, and this is the team that I think feels good about me," Davis said. "I never looked at anything in a negative way. Coach Mangini called me during my rehab. That was encouraging that they really liked me."

The whole experience matured him, Davis said.

"When I got injured, I didn't just go home and rehab," he said. "I stayed here to rehab and went to meetings. That stuff matured me a lot. I don't worry about anything when I'm on the field now. I'm a lot calmer, and I know what's going on."

Mangini said Davis is a better player in his second camp. He cited his improved recognition in picking up pass-rush schemes and said he appears to be playing stronger because of better technique in gaining leverage against defenders.

"I'm excited to see him in the preseason games and see what he can do and how far he has come along over the course of the year," Mangini said.

Davis said he feels stronger than before the injury. He has gotten a lot of looks in the first week of camp because of injuries to Hardesty and Hillis. He is intent on proving his rookie preseason was no fluke.

The ordeal also has won him the respect of teammates.

"Coach preaches about the team aspect. James is a team player to the fullest," Costanzo said. "He stayed here with us [last year], supported us the whole season, worked his butt off to get ready to play. It looks like he hasn't skipped a beat from last year."

Both Talbot and Reyes are trying to get over back injuries.

View full sizeThomas Ondrey / The Plain DealerIndians starter Mitch Talbot has been on the disabled list since July 30.

Clubhouse confidential: Indians right-handers Mitch Talbot and Anthony Reyes threw bullpen sessions Friday at Progressive Field.

Talbot, who has been on the disabled list since July 30 because of midback strain, is expected to make a rehab appearance at the beginning of next week for short-season Class A Mahoning Valley.

"After that, we'll see if he's going to be ready to take his turn," Indians manager Manny Acta said.

Reyes, who had reconstructive elbow surgery in June 2009, experienced back problems in a recent rehab outing for Class AA Akron.

"We had to rein him in a bit," Acta said. "He will go out pretty soon to resume rehab."

Changing addresses: Justin Masterson moved into Jake Westbrook's locker, Joe Smith into Kerry Wood's and Lou Marson into Austin Kearns' locker. Westbrook, Wood and Kearns have been traded since the Indians' previous homestand concluded.

All-Star gifts: Fausto Carmona, the Indians' All-Star representative, bought All-Star T-shirts for his teammates. The shirts were distributed Friday.

Jones signed: The Indians signed shortstop Hunter Jones, their 11th-round pick out of Lakewood (Calif.) High School. Hunter is the son of former major-leaguer Tracy Jones.

The Indians have until mid-August to sign their top pick, lefty Drew Pomeranz.

Stat of the day: The Indians have won three series since the All-Star break. They won seven before the break.""

-- Dennis Manoloff

Phil Mickelson is poised to contend and possibly win the Bridgestone Invitational. It would make him the world's top player. And he has waited for that along time.

Chuck Crow / The Plain DealerWith Phil Mickelson close to taking over the top spot in the golf rankings, his every shot is being closely watched.

AKRON, Ohio — Off the 17th tee, Phil Mickelson, who missed the fairway more often than he hit it Friday, did not miss an inattentive pedestrian. The guy probably never suspected a patch of unmown grass could be quite that rough.

"Do you want some ice?" Mickelson asked, before being told first aid workers already had tended to the spectator on the South Course at Firestone Country Club.

"I think that gentleman learned the hazards of following me and walking in the landing area," said Mickelson. "I think he might want to stay more by the tee the next time."

Then Mickelson handed the guy a golf glove for taking one in the clavicle.

"Do you carry extra gloves in your bag?" he was asked.

"I do. I carry a couple extra for that reason, yes," said Mickelson.

Mickelson reached out and touched everybody in a symbolic way in the golf year's signature moment. After he won the Masters, he hugged his wife Amy, who is fighting breast cancer, behind the 18th green.

"She's doing much better," he said. "Long term, we're in much better shape. It's been an interesting 14, 15 months, but we're in a lot better position now, and we're very fortunate."

Now we know that even when he reaches out with a touch that has the impact of a wayward golf ball, he leaves them smiling.

Mickelson is a shot behind, tied for second place, at 6-under 134 at the halfway point of the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational. He certainly would be a popular winner, should that happen.

From his first appearance of the day, it was obvious what Mickelson means to golf. The steep tilt of the ground around the first tee restricts the view of spectators in all but the rows nearest the fence that borders it. So the first glimpse of Mickelson was of his white hat. (Well, actually, it was a cap.) He also wore a grape-colored shirt, which was a shade too light to resemble a variety of wine, unfortunately. Otherwise, much could be made of what a vintage year this could be for him.

Mickelson is the most visible embodiment of high, unsoiled aspiration in the game that Tiger Woods dragged through the mud. "This is the week to be No. 1, Phil," a fan shouted.

An instant later, one minute before his 1:50 p.m. tee time, Mickelson glanced at his watch. No. 1 has indeed been a long time coming.

Then, Mickelson sliced his drive into the left rough and strode off down the fairway, heading straight for a black cloud hovering over the green. It is never entirely blue skies and green lights with Mickelson.

Even before Woods' extramarital affairs became public knowledge, Mickelson was the game's best-loved player because he hit it where the fans hit it, then he recovered the way they only dreamed about.

At this year's Masters in the final round, he staked his claim to the tournament with a 207-yard 6-iron on his second shot from the pine straw on the par-5 13th hole, which whistled through a small opening between the trees. It landed four feet from the hole. It was the shot of the year thus far.

His final five holes Friday were a sprawling melee, in which Mickelson double-bogeyed 14, birdied 15 and 16, hit the guy as he parred 17, and then hacked it around on 18 and saved par anyway.

On 18, he sent a low screamer from the left side of the fairway, not an advantageous approach position, into the rear of the green-side bunker, then flicked the ball in a spray of sand to within three feet of the hole. The greens are soft. The ball settles on them now like a bird into a nest. The shot would be impossible on firmer ground.

For all Mickelson's heroics, he never has been voted the year's best player on the PGA Tour, and he has not been ranked No. 1 in the world for a single moment. Woods has held the spot for more than five years now. But with Tiger busy turning into a pillar of salt here on a course he has owned, the path to the top never has seemed more accessible.

"Obviously, being No. 1 would be cool. I'm not going to say it wouldn't," said Mickelson after his 2-under 68 on Friday.

The PGA Championship, the year's final major, follows the Bridgestone next week. "Glory's final shot," they call it.

Mickelson is 40 now. He has won 39 PGA Tour events and five majors, the most of any of Woods' rivals. Nothing at this point is his last shot. But it is probably his best one right now.