"I'd love to have Harrison Barnes on our team, but I wonder if the Cavs would pass on Andre Drummond. He's a 6'10", 18-year-old center who's been compared to Dwight Howard. Considering that the kid may not be done growing, that would be a very difficult call. I guess you could always consider it a 'can't lose' pick and be happy with either, but a Howard-like center could anchor our middle for years." - Sorry, but you're wrong

View full sizeAP Photo | Jessica HillAndre Drummond will play at Connecticut this season.

In response to the story No NBA season, no worries; Let's talk draft! Hey, Tom!, cleveland.com reader Sorry, but you're wrong wonders if Andre Drummond would pique the Cavaliers' interest. This reader writes,

"I'd love to have Harrison Barnes on our team, but I wonder if the Cavs would pass on Andre Drummond. He's a 6'10", 18-year-old center who's been compared to Dwight Howard. Considering that the kid may not be done growing, that would be a very difficult call. I guess you could always consider it a 'can't lose' pick and be happy with either, but a Howard-like center could anchor our middle for years."

NCAA president supports a proposal to increase grants to student athletes.

AP photoNCAA president Mark Emmert.

WASHINGTON -- NCAA president Mark Emmert said Monday he supports a proposal to allow conferences to increase grants to student athletes by $2,000 "to more closely approach" the full cost of attending college, beyond the athletic scholarships athletes receive for tuition, fees, room, board and books.

Emmert told the Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics that the proposal will be finalized this week and he'll ask the NCAA Division I Board of Directors to support it. He noted that student athletes have limited opportunities to work outside the classroom and playing fields, and that the current model of athletic scholarship hasn't changed for 40 years.

Emmert said he'll also ask the board to allow colleges and universities to provide multiyear grants, instead of year-to-year scholarships.

"This week, I'll be asking the board to support a proposal to allow conferences -- not mandate anyone, but allow conferences, not individual institutions -- to increase the value of an athletic grant in aid to more closely approach the full cost of attendance," Emmert said.

"We are going to create a model that would allow -- probably ... up to $2,000 in addition to" tuition, fees, room and board, books and supplies.

 MENTOR, O. - Mentor is No. 22 in the MaxPreps national high school football polls for the second straight week, but moved up from 38th to 34th in ESPN and stayed at 25th in Rivals.   Defending Division I state champion St. Edward improved to 45th from  61st in Rivals and to 48th in ESPN after not being ranked last week....

 MENTOR, O. - Mentor is No. 22 in the MaxPreps national high school football polls for the second straight week, but moved up from 38th to 34th in ESPN and stayed at 25th in Rivals.

  Defending Division I state champion St. Edward improved to 45th from  61st in Rivals and to 48th in ESPN after not being ranked last week. Ten-time Division I state champion St. Ignatius fell from 85th to 86th in Rivals.

  Other ranked teams from Ohio include Cincinnati St. Xavier (40th in ESPN, 44th in Rivals), Cincinnati Moeller (46th in Rivals), Pickerington Central (83rd in Rivals), Toledo Whitmer (84th in Rivals, Trotwood Madison (85th in Rivals) and Cincinnati Colerain (88th in Rivals).

Thistledown officials cancelled the Thursday program at the North Randall race track because of a lack of entries.

 Thistledown has a lot of thoroughbreds on the grounds, but did not have enough of them in the entry box on Monday as officials had to cancel the Thursday program at the North Randall race track.

The track has had abbreviated programs in the past, but veteran horsemen couldn't remember the last time an entire program was scratched because of a lack of entries.

"I heard all kinds of excuses, but we do have 700-plus horses on the grounds," said Racing Secretary Bill Couch. "Some horses are leaving for Beulah Park, which opened recently, but we have had overlapping meets before. Maybe they're just tired. It's been a long season."

Beulah Park in Grove City kicked off its fall season Oct. 10.

The horses that had been entered for Thursday's program are being given the opportunity to enter races scheduled for Friday. Those races will be drawn today. Thistledown has seven days of live racing left on its schedule, which ends Nov. 5, including Wednesday's eight-race card. The track broadened its racing schedule after Labor Day from four to five days each week, going against a national trend to shorter race weeks.

Hear what Cleveland Indians slugger Jim Thome had to say during his appearance at The City Club of Cleveland on Monday afternoon.

View full sizeAP Photo | Mark DuncanJim Thome (left) talks with Indians' play-by-play voice Tom Hamilton at The City Club of Cleveland on Monday afternoon.

Dan Gilbert, at least to columnist Dan Le Batard, is now the face of the NBA lockout.

Marvin Fong | The Plain DealerCleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert.

The NBA lockout continues and despite issues on both sides, Miami Herald columnist Dan Le Batard writes how Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert is the opposite of Miami owner Micky Arison.

Arison has the goods with Chris Bosh, LeBron James and Dwyane Wade. Arison wants the season to start now, while Gilbert, who doesn't have LeBron anymore, can take his time.

According to Forbes, the small-market Cavaliers became the fifth most valuable franchise in the league with James, worth nearly $500 million. And now you know why Gilbert wrote that hateful, angry letter about James in crazy computerized crayon. The Cavs dropped in value more than any franchise in the league last year, 26 percent, losing as much as $250 million in value, according to some experts.

The Cavaliers are worth less than what Gilbert paid for them. So the players are not to blame, writes Le Batard.

Blame the owners.

If you think the hawkish Gilbert wouldn’t try to throw away an entire season out of pure spite for James, you didn’t read his crazy-crayon letter in a rare moment of raw, rabid public honesty from an owner — a temper tantrum unlike any in the history of an American sports ownership that includes George Steinbrenner. And you didn’t notice how small he could behave by having his Fathead company price the James poster at $17.41 — the year of Benedict Arnold’s birth.

 

 

"If you consider the two teams with the next biggest attendance increase were in the 2010 World Series, then I think that it should be obvious to the owners and management of the Indians that if you put a winner on the field, you can draw as well as any market (except perhaps Boston and NY). If the ownership isn't ready to invest again in this team, in my opinion they risk losing the fans again, and possibly for a much longer period of time." - mhstewart

View full sizeChuck Crow l The Plain DealerWill Indians fans respond to the team by showing up to games if they don't make a significant move this offseason?

In response to the story Terry Pluto's Talkin' ... about a much-needed Browns victory, the Tribe's increased attendance and Akron's hoop potential, cleveland.com reader mhstewart thinks the Dolans need to take advantage of increased interest in the Tribe. This reader writes,

"If you consider the two teams with the next biggest attendance increase were in the 2010 World Series, then I think that it should be obvious to the owners and management of the Indians that if you put a winner on the field, you can draw as well as any market (except perhaps Boston and NY). If the ownership isn't ready to invest again in this team, in my opinion they risk losing the fans again, and possibly for a much longer period of time."

"Seattle? Please. Let me know how they do next week vs. the 49ers and then the Texans. If they do something there, then you can say we have something going. Until then, I'm not getting really excited." - ITellItLikeItIsAndYouCantHandleIt

View full sizeJohn Kuntz | The Plain DealerThe Browns beat Charlie Whitehurst and the Seahawks on Sunday.

In response to the story A hungry Cleveland Browns defense relishes its afternoon meal of Seahawks, cleveland.com reader ITellItLikeItIsAndYouCantHandleIt will wait to get excited about the Browns. This reader writes,

"Seattle? Please. Let me know how they do next week vs. the 49ers and then the Texans. If they do something there, then you can say we have something going. Until then, I'm not getting really excited."

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Vote in this week's You Pick the Game contest to select one high school football game for The Plain Dealer to cover Friday night. Voting is open until noon Thursday.

Cuyahoga Heights' Logan Matt is tackled by Kirtland players during their game on September 23. Cuyahoga Heights is one of 10 teams included in this week's You Pick the Game contest. - (Lisa DeJong, The Plain Dealer)

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Vote in this week's You Pick the Game contest to select one high school football game for The Plain Dealer to cover Friday night.

Voting is open until noon Thursday.

The winner will be announced in Friday's Sports section.

This is the final contest of the football season with the playoffs beginning next week.  

Cleveland Browns head coach Pat Shurmur and quarterback Colt McCoy talked with the media after their 6 - 3 victory over the Seattle Seahawks. Watch video

On Monday, he became the first active major leaguer to address the historic civic affairs organization since Babe Ruth on July 17, 1925.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- When Indians slugger Jim Thome was piling up homers in Cleveland, he wasn't even aware of something called the City Club. But on Monday, he became the first active major leaguer to address the historic civic affairs organization since Babe Ruth on July 17, 1925.

Babe Ruth and Jim Thome. Both left-handed wide bodies. Separated by nine decades and 110 homers. The Yankees were in town for a series with the Indians when Ruth spoke to the City Club crowd about controversial "juiced" baseballs -- balls wound extra-tight to promote power-hitting.

His season now a month over, Thome returned with his wife to the city where his career began in 1991 at the invitation of local businessman, philanthropist and former Browns minority owner Bob Gries. He fielded questions from Indians radio voice Tom Hamilton, then from the audience, which, at 300-plus people, was twice the usual City Club draw. The event was moved to the Marriott at Key Center to accommodate the turnout.

"I want to keep playing," said Thome, a 41-year-old free agent designated hitter, when asked about his future. "And I'll keep playing. I just have to have teams that call me, and we'll see how the process goes."

Playing somewhere close to home isn't as important as suiting up for a contender, he said afterwards.

"I think the team is an issue to me," he said, "getting the chance to win."

Thome, who Indians fans roundly criticized for leaving for Philadelphia as a free agent after the 2002 season, rejoined the Tribe in an emotional return on Aug. 25 for the final five weeks of the 2010 season.

"That night, when I walked to plate and I got that ovation," he said, "it was incredible."

Thome is eighth all-time in home runs (604) and walks and holds the Indians records for career home runs (334) and for one season (52). Once enshrined, he will enter the National Baseball Hall of Fame in an Indians uniform, buoyed by stats amassed during the high-flying "90s.

Hamilton had Thome play word association about some of his former teammates from that magical time in Cleveland baseball history:

• Eddie Murray: "Legend. ... In my time that I saw, he was one of the greatest switch-hitters of all time. Presence, I would say, too. He had great presence. When he walked into the clubhouse, you knew it was game on."

• Albert Belle: "Tenacity. Best focused, hard-core player I've ever been around. Wanted to win, wanted to do well, and if anything got in his way, he didn't care. ... Best clutch hitter I ever saw."

• Kenny Lofton: "Electric. He could just light up a room and still does."

• Carlos Baerga: "Oh, just so much fun. What a teammate, what a special person. ... The minute you walked into a clubhouse, this guy just knew how to make you laugh."

• Omar Vizquel: "Maybe one of the best ever at his position, and to do what he's doing at his age says a lot about him. ... Him and obviously Robbie Alomar are two of the most fundamentally best players I ever played with because they knew how to beat you with what they had. When Omar made an error, you thought the world was coming to an end, that's how good he was."

• Charlie Nagy: "Class. Just a class act. ... What a great person, just a special guy."

• Manny Ramirez: "Another one, as far as clutch hitters of all time. Could turn the game like that. ... He had great personality was well. He was a guy, [you'd be like] where's your underwear today or where's your socks, where's your stirrups and Manny would have 'em on."

• Former roommate Sandy Alomar: "I'm probably as close to Sandy as anyone because of what he did for me as a young player. He took me in. I remember he cooked me scrambled eggs one morning and I think I hit a home run, and I told him, "Keep cooking scrambled eggs." ... No question I think he's going to be a great manager some day."

Buckeyes come off bye week with 4-3 record. Wisconsin is 6-1 after last-play, 37-31 loss at Michigan State.

Ohio State remembers that Wisconsin was able to celebrate (photo) its 31-18 win over the Buckeyes at Camp Randall last Oct. 16.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Ohio State's Buckeyes play Wisconsin's Badgers on Saturday night at Ohio Stadium in Columbus.

Ohio State, which is 4-3, didn't play this weekend. Wisconsin was 6-0 and ranked fourth in the country going into its game on Saturday at Michigan State. The Badgers are now 6-1, losing to the Spartans, 37-31, on a desperation, 44-yard touchdown pass on the game's final play before what would have been overtime.

The outcome denied Ohio State its chance to defeat a previously unbeaten team for the second straight game. The Buckeyes won at Illinois, 17-7, on Oct. 15. The Fighting Illini had been 6-0. Illinois lost again on Saturday. 21-14, at Purdue.

Prior to its win at Illinois, Ohio State had won at home over Akron (42-0) and Toledo (27-22), lost at Miami, Fla. (24-6), won at home over Colorado (37-17), lost at home to Michigan State (10-7) and lost at Nebraska (34-27).

Before Saturday's loss at Michigan State, Wisconsin's six wins to open the season were over UNLV (51-17), Oregon State (35-0), Northern Illinois (49-7), South Dakota (59-10), Nebraska (48-17) and Indiana (59-7). All were at home except the Northern Illinois game.

Here's a quick quick preview of Game 5 of the World Series between Texas and St. Louis at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington.

ARLINGTON, Texas -- Here are the lineups for Game 5 of the World Series tonight at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington. The series is even at two victories each.

Cardinals: SS Rafael Furcal (S), RF Allen Craig (R), 1B Albert Pujols (R), LF Matt Holliday (R), DH Lance Berkman (S), 3B David Freese (R), C Yadier Molina (R), CF Skip Schumaker (L), 2B Nick Punto (S), RHP Chris Carpenter (11-9, 3.45, 3-0, 3.52).

Rangers: 2B Ian Kinsler (R), SS Elvis Andrus (R), CF Josh Hamilton (L), DH Michael Young (R), 3B Adrian Beltre (R), RF Nelson Cruz (R), LF David Murphy (L), C Mike Napoli (R), 1B Mitch Moreland (R), LHP C.J. Wilson (16-7, 2.94, 0-3, 7.17).

Lineup notes: Schumaker makes his first World Series start in place of slumping Jon Jay (0-for-014 in World Series). Mitch Moreland is making his second start at first for the Rangers. Moreland (.087) has struggled at the plate all postseason.

Umpires: H Ted Barrett, 1B Gary Cederstrom, 2B Jerry Layne, 3B Greg Gibson, LF Alfonso Marquez, RF Ron Kulpa.

Him vs. me: Berkman has the most at-bats of any Cardinal against Wilson. He's hitting .235 (4-for-17) with seven RBI. Napoli is hitting .800 (4-for-5) with two homers and five RBI against Carpenter.

Big bang theory: Opponents are hitting .298 (25-for-84) with five doubles, one triple and six homers against Wilson in the postseason. The 25 hits and six homers are the most by any pitcher who has appeared in the postseason this year. In Game 1 against Wilson, Texas lefties went 0-for-7 against Carpenter.

Next: Tuesday is an off day as the World Series returns to St. Louis. Colby Lewis will face Cardinal lefty Jamie Garcia on Wednesday in Game 6. It will be a rematch of their Game 2 meeting, which Texas won, 2-1.

For all the talk about the West Coast offense, the Browns have been building up their defense through the draft.

View full sizeJohn Kuntz, The Plain DealerSeattle QB Charlie Whitehurst became well-acquainted with two of the Browns' younger defenders on this play from Sunday's game -- Jayme Mitchell (center) and Jabaal Sheard.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Who were the Browns' top two picks in the 2011 draft? Phil Taylor, a defensive tackle, and Jabaal Sheard, a defensive end.

How about in 2010? Joe Haden, a cornerback, and T.J. Ward, a safety.

In the last two years, Browns General Manager Tom Heckert has had four draft picks in the top 38 -- and all four have been on defense. The two highest selections on offense are Greg Little and Montario Hardesty, both No. 59 selections.

So why has the defense out-performed the offense so far in this 3-3 season?

Here's the disclaimer: It would be a shock if the defense ended the season with its current No. 4 rating. That has been boosted by facing five offenses ranked between 20th and 31st this season. They have yet to face an elite quarterback. So the schedule is a factor.

But the defense is also better, much better. This is by design, far beyond the switch from the 3-4 to the 4-3 alignment under new coordinator Dick Jauron. Heckert has spent the last two drafts determined to upgrade the secondary and defensive line. Not only does the defense have more talent than a year ago, but it has been a point of emphasis by the front office.

It also has been helped by two terrific trades. In two deals, Heckert gave up Alex Hall, a fourth-, fifth- and seventh-round picks for three players who became starters: Jayme Mitchell, Chris Gocong and Sheldon Brown.

Haden should be a Pro Bowl selection this season and has been drawing raves from opposing coaches and the national media. Ahtyba Rubin is also having that kind of season, leading all defensive tackles in tackles -- along with a team-leading 3.0 sacks. But it seems outside of Cleveland, Rubin is ignored.

View full sizeJoshua Gunter, The Plain DealerAhtyba Rubin leads the NFL in tackles by defensive tackles and is building a Pro Bowl resume after rising from being a sixth-round draft choice to the leader of a rebuilt defensive line.

The 190th pick in the 2008 draft, Rubin is the leader of the defensive line. Mitchell was undrafted out of Mississippi, stuck on the bench in Minnesota and last year with the Browns. He has turned into a solid 4-3 defensive end. You pair them with high draft picks Sheard and Taylor, and those two rookies don't look much like rookies this season. They have two veterans setting the proper tone in practice.

Perhaps the biggest story on the defense is the return to health of D'Qwell Jackson, who is ideal for the middle linebacker spot in the 4-3. The linebackers still seem the thinnest and must vulnerable spot on the team, but they have been solid so far.

Ten-year veteran Brown is the leader in the secondary, which features high picks in Ward and Haden along with veterans Michael Adams and Usama Young splitting a safety spot. Heckert signed Dimitri Patterson as a free agent, and he has been very capable covering slot receivers.

Perhaps the most encouraging part of this story is that Fujita and Brown (age 32) and Adams (31) are the only starters older than 28. Five of the starters are 25 or younger, so the defense you see today should remain effective over the next few seasons.

The Browns are 3-3. The 49ers, coming off their bye week, are 5-1 and own a three-game NFC West lead,

Plain DealerJosh Cribbs returns a punt 76 yards for a touchdown, the first score during the Browns' 20-7 win over the 49ers on Dec. 30, 2007, in Cleveland.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cleveland Browns find themselves in the unfamiliar position of having a .500 record six games into the season.

It's the first time the Browns have been as good as 3-3 since 2007.

The Browns' problem is that to get over .500, they will have to defeat the 49ers in San Francisco on Sunday. The 49ers, coming off their bye week, are 5-1 and already hold a three-game lead in the NFC West.

San Francisco seems primed to make its first playoff appearance since the 2002 season.

As seldom as the Browns and 49ers play, here's an oddity: The teams share a longer history with each other than they do with any other team. The Browns and 49ers were members of the All-America Football Conference through the league's entire four-year history (1946-49), and they joined the NFL together in 1950.

The final game in AAFC history, in fact, was the league championship game at Cleveland on Dec. 11, 1949. The Browns won, 21-7, making them the AAFC champions all four years of the league's existence. Cleveland was 6-2 in regular season AAFC games against San Francisco.

The Browns own an 11-6 record over the 49ers since the teams joined the NFL. They last played on Dec. 30, 2007, in Cleveland. The Browns won, 20-7, to finish the season 10-6 and, unfortunately, disappointed. Cleveland was denied a playoff spot, losing the AFC North championship to Pittsburgh and a wild card berth to Tennessee on tie-breakers.

The Browns' results this season, in order: 27-17 loss to Cincinnati; 27-19 win at Indianapolis; 17-16 win over Miami; 31-13 loss to Tennessee; bye week; 24-17 loss at Oakland; 6-3 win over Seattle.

The 49ers' results: 33-17 win over Seattle; 27-24 overtime loss to Dallas; 13-8 win at Cincinnati; 24-23 win at Philadelphia; 48-3 win over Tampa Bay; 25-19 win at Detroit; bye week.

  Records through Saturday. Previous week's ranking in parentheses.

Records through Saturday. Previous week's ranking in parentheses.

1. Mentor, 9-0 (1): At No. 19 Twinsburg on Friday.

2. St. Edward, 7-2 (3): Hosts No. 3 St. Ignatius on Saturday. Eagles all but assured themselves a spot in the Division I playoffs with a 42-27 victory over visiting Cincinnati Moeller.

3. St. Ignatius, 7-2 (2): At No. 2 St. Edward on Saturday. Wildcats' comeback fell short in 14-12 loss to visiting Cincinnati St. Xavier.

4. Solon, 8-1 (4): Hosts Strongsville on Friday.

5. Avon, 9-0 (5): Hosts No. 8 Lake Catholic on Friday. Eagles moved closer to the West Shore Conference title with a 14-10 triumph at Midview.

6. St. Vincent-St. Mary, 8-1 (6): At Youngstown Ursuline on Friday. Fighting Irish rebounded from their Week 7 loss, but it wasn't easy in a 17-14 win over Buchtel.

7. Walsh Jesuit, 7-1 (7): Hosts Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin on Friday.

8. Lake Catholic, 8-1 (8): At No. 5 Avon on Friday.

9. Maple Heights, 8-0 (9): Hosts No. 11 Cleveland Heights on Friday.

10. Chagrin Falls, 9-0 (10): Hosts Perry on Friday.

11. Cleveland Heights, 8-0 (11): At No. 9 Maple Heights on Friday.

12. Aurora, 8-1 (12): Hosts Kenston on Friday.

13. Ravenna, 8-1 (13): Hosts No. 24 Kent Roosevelt on Friday.

14. Hudson, 8-1 (15): Hosts North Royalton on Friday. Explorers all but clinched the Northeast Ohio Conference River Division outright championship with a 27-21 victory at Elyria.

15. Elyria, 7-2 (14): Hosts Mayfield on Friday.

16. Wadsworth, 8-1 (16): At Nordonia on Friday.

17. Willoughby South, 7-2 (17): Hosts Eastlake North on Thursday.

18. Glenville, 5-3 (18): At John Hay on Friday.

19. Twinsburg, 6-3 (19): Hosts No. 1 Mentor on Friday.

20. Tallmadge, 7-2 (20): At Green on Friday.

21. University School, 8-1 (22): At Geneva on Friday. Preppers were blanked in the fourth quarter of their 38-35 Premier Athletic Conference verdict over Chardon.

22. Midview, 7-2 (21): At No. 25 North Ridgeville on Friday.

23. Kirtland, 9-0 (23): Hosts Newbury on Friday.

24. Kent Roosevelt, 8-1 (24): At No. 13 Ravenna on Friday.

25. North Ridgeville, 8-1 (25): Hosts No. 22 Midview on Friday.

Dropped out: None.

Pat Shurmur is seeing good progress from his embattled young quarterback. Watch video

View full sizeJoshua Gunter, The Plain Dealer"My focus -- because it's become the focus of everybody in Northeast Ohio -- is a fast start," Browns head coach Pat Shurmur said Monday of Colt McCoy's performance on Sunday. "So I look at the first two or three throws and I think we can still get better. Some of those could've gone for big gains. But I do think he battled."

BEREA, Ohio -- In Colt McCoy's first game since Browns President Mike Holmgren said he'd evaluate him after the season, McCoy failed to score a touchdown, produced a total of six points and earned a 59.0 rating.

But Browns coach Pat Shurmur is looking for progress from his young quarterback and felt he got it during Sunday's 6-3 victory over the Seahawks.

"I think Colt's improving and I'll stick with what I said [Sunday]: I thought he battled," said Shurmur. "He scrambled once and got a first down, he got outside the pocket a couple of times and got yards and got out of bounds. He did a lot of good things."

Shurmur acknowledged that he's got to find a way to get McCoy out of the gate faster. The Browns have been outscored, 34-3, in the first quarter and struggled again against the Seahawks.

On the opening drive, McCoy hit Ben Watson with a five-yard pass and then right tackle Tony Pashos committed a holding penalty to put the Browns in second and 15. Under pressure, McCoy overthrew Josh Cribbs and missed a wide-open Watson. He also got drilled after the throw -- one of about eight pressures, not including his five sacks.

On his second drive, he was almost picked off by Earl Thomas on a cross intended for Cribbs, and two plays later, threw too high for Watson in the right flat to force a punt.

"My focus -- because it's become the focus of everybody in Northeast Ohio -- is a fast start," said Shurmur. "So I look at the first two or three throws and I think we can still get better. Some of those could've gone for big gains. But I do think he battled and he's part of the reason we found a way to win yesterday."

McCoy said the entire offense -- not just him -- needs to improve on the first few drives.

"Early on as a group we need to be more cognitive, we talk about that all the time," he said after the game. "Again, we got out there and didn't move. We got a penalty after the first completion and I was off on a couple throws. I missed Ben (Watson) on a short cross and I'd like to have that one back and maybe he could catch it. That killed us."

McCoy found more success in the late second and early third quarters, but then forced a pass to Evan Moore that was intercepted at the Seahawks 12. The pick marred an 11-play drive that covered 50 yards.

"Once you get a feel for things and you see the way they're blitzing and the way they're putting their hands down, we found our rhythm," he said. "I made one mistake trying to squeeze one into Evan. Obviously, I'd like to have that ball back and in the whole scheme of things we want to throw the ball down field and we want to take some shots. But when it's not there and it's covered, just drop it down. I learned from that one."

McCoy produced a 14-play drive in the fourth quarter that knocked 6:49 off the clock and kept the Seahawks off the field, but it ended in a second blocked field goal after running back Chris Ogbonnaya gained three yards on third and six at the 9. It was the Browns' first venture into the red zone. Still, he completed a few passes and eluded about five defenders on a 12-yard scramble up the middle to convert a third down.

"We're working at getting efficient, and there were indications of it yesterday," said Shurmur. "You just need more completions. If you're running crossing routes, hit them in stride so they can run the football."

McCoy has been hit 38 times after the throw -- sixth-most in the NFL -- and has taken some hard shots, but Shurmur didn't seem alarmed. After one of those hits in the third quarter, McCoy came off the limping, but Shurmur kidded that "he was walking straight" when he was with him Monday.

"When you look around the league, there are quarterbacks getting hit quite a bit," he said. "He's avoided some sacks. I try to make sure I call keeps and naked (bootlegs) to make sure I get him on the run, and every once in a while he'll take one there.

"[Sunday] we had a couple of screen calls where he gets rid of the football and then it's kind of a glancing deal, so we try schematically to make sure we eliminate that and we fight to make sure it doesn't happen."

Shurmur acknowledged it's difficult to gauge McCoy's development in the new offense because of the lockout. Monday, he was 28th in the league with a 75.4 rating and 27th with a 56 percent completion rate.

"This is a little bit uncharted playing a season without an off-season, so I think it's important that he just improves each week," said Shurmur. "Again, I think at the end of the year we'll just add it up and see where it's at."

McCoy, who played much of the game without four offensive starters, welcomed Holmgren's comments last week.

"That's exactly how you're supposed to evaluate it," he said. "I think he'd say that for every individual on our team. I see that as a great thing. If he wouldn't have said it, I would've done the same thing. I evaluate myself after every game and especially after every season.

"I'm going to give it my all every week, in practice, in meetings and in the games. If you do that, then good things are going to happen."

On Twitter: @marykaycabot

Monday, Rangers owner Nolan Ryan was laughing off an error from Sunday's first pitch.

View full sizeRodger Mallison, Fort Worth Star-TelegramRangers owner -- and Hall of Fame pitcher -- Nolan Ryan couldn't handle the first pitch thrown by former President George W. Bush before Sunday's Game 4 of the World Series, forcing a photographer to quickly get out of the way.

ARLINGTON, Texas -- Clubhouse confidential: Cardinals manager Tony La Russa was asked if the postseason is a good time to evaluate a player.

"I think if you're productive at this time of year, you give it special attention," said La Russa. "If a guy has not been a good run producer and has a hot series, I don't think you automatically say, 'if we get this guy he's going to be special.'

"I think you pay attention to it, but there are other things that go into it."

My bad, Mr. President: Former President George W. Bush threw out the first pitch in Game 4 Sunday night. Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan, Rangers president, was his catcher, but dropped Bush's delivery.

"I booted it," said Ryan with a laugh. "I'd love to be able to sit here and make a bunch of excuses, but he threw an 80-mph running fastball and I was using a catcher's mitt. I should have brought a glove."

Eighty mph for George W?

"I guess it was," said Ryan. "I think that's probably as hard as he can throw. But I'm glad it was me instead of him."

Stat of the day: This is the first time since the 1997 World Series between the Indians and Marlins where teams have alternated wins through the first four games.

Cardinals GM John Mozeliak is trying to enjoy the World Series while at the same time preparing to deal with off-season issues with Albert Pujols and Tony La Russa.

View full sizePaul Sancya, Associated PressAlbert Pujols' desire to become baseball's highest-paid player may force his move away from the Cardinals, the only big-league team he's played for.

ARLINGTON, Texas -- St. Louis GM John Mozeliak is trying to enjoy the World Series.

In the back of his mind, however, he knows 28 other clubs already have a head start on him. Organizational meetings have been held. Lists of potential free agents have been broken down and ranked in order of need. Phone calls and text messages have been made to potential trade partners.

Mozeliak also knows that two of the biggest issues in his four-year tenure arefast approaching. Will he or won't he able to re-sign potential free agent Albert Pujols? Then there is manager Tony La Russa, who is in the final year of his contract.

If Pujols goes elsewhere, what will the Cardinals look like?

"Clearly we still think we have a lot of core players, elite type players, as part of the organization," Mozeliak told reporters Tuesday before Game 5. "One of the things that we've tried to really focus on over the last four or five years is really making sure that our minor-league system is going to be able to produce some everyday players or middle to top-of-the-rotation starters.

"We believe our pipeline is very strong. So if this is an Albert-less club in the future, we still think we have a lot of positives coming."

Pujols, a three-time NL MVP, is in the final year of a eight-year, $111 million contract. The Cardinals' efforts to sign him to an extension ended in spring training. It has been reported that Pujols, 31, could be seeking a 10-year deal worth $30 million a year. Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez makes $27.5 million a year.

"There's no doubt Albert has been the identity of this organization for the past decade," said Mozeliak. "Trying to push one button or trying to say you're not going to feel that loss would be very difficult to say, especially in this environment."

Pujols hit .299 (173-for-579) with 29 doubles, 37 homers and 99 RBI during the regular seasons. He's hitting .390 (23-for-59) with seven doubles, five homers and 16 RBI in the postseason. In the World Series he's hitting .313 (5-for-16) with three homers and six RBI.

This is La Russa's 16th year as manager of the Cardinals. He's won two pennants and one World Series. Earlier in the postseason, La Russa seemed to indicate he wanted to return, but nothing has been decided.

"Having a manager and stuff in place, that would be something we need to do right away," said Mozeliak. "Obviously, that's a very difficult task if we have to replace Tony. ... Right now we just haven't stopped to focus on it."

Soon the time for such focus will be at hand.

Wash on Wash: A reporter asked Texas manager Ron Washington if he was aware that he does things differently than more traditional managers.

"I don't call it unorthodox, I just call it taking it to you," said Washington of his managerial style. "I just call it playing baseball. That's what I do.

"I'm not as dumb, either, as people think I am."

Award winners: Toronto's Jose Bautista and the Dodgers' Matt Kemp received the Hank Aaron Award before Tuesday's game. Fans and Hall of Famers voted on the award, which annually goes to best hitter in the AL and NL.

Commissioner Bud Selig presented the award. Aaron could not make presentation as he recovers from knee replacement surgery.

"Hank was sensitive about not being here," said Selig, a close friend. "He told me he played 23 years and never spent a day on the disabled list."

Bautista hit .302 with 24 doubles, two triples, 43 homers and 103 RBI. He led the big leagues in homers, walks (132) and slugging percentage (.608). Kemp hit .324 with 115 runs, 33 doubles, four triples, 39 homers and 126 RBI, leading the NL in homers and RBI and third in batting average.

When asked if he felt he was the AL MVP, Bautista said, "Of course I do. If I didn't then I wouldn't be a person who liked himself a lot."

"I'm on the same boat as Jose," said Kemp.

The MVP winners, voted on by the Baseball Writers Association of America, will be released after the World Series.

On Twitter: @hoynsie

A talented young player has succeeded after placing his faith in a coach he met only a year earlier, who was either going to drive him to quit or transform him into a mentally tough college recruit.

BEDFORD, Ohio -- Up before the sun, Tyvis Powell wiped the sleep from his eyes and walked several blocks to Bedford's football field, where starting in March he flipped tractor tires like they were sausage patties at a breakfast diner.

He turned over 250 pounds of steel-belted rubber, hopped inside the hollowed-out core to spell T-Y with his arms before running around the tire. He repeated the agonizing exercise for 100 yards while most fellow students were still in dreamland. Powell was placing his faith in a coach he had met only a year earlier, a man who was either going to drive him to quit the game or transform him into a mentally tough college recruit.

The Karate Kid had Mr. Miyagi, Rocky Balboa had Mickey and Tyvis Powell had Sean Williams.

"Some of the stuff Coach wanted me to do I thought was craaaa-zy," Powell said. "I can remember him telling me when we started, 'I'm gonna make you quit within two weeks,' He just kept pushing."

Williams has helped turn a defensive back who hadn't received a letter from any colleges at this time a year ago into an Ohio State recruit who he says "is the antidote for 6-foot-4 wide receivers."

The kid without a father and the coach without a child have made for a compelling duo.

"It was an eight-month process of the hardest work a kid could put in," said Williams, the second-year Bearcats coach. "Tyvis' body was shot and his mind was warped, but I wanted to see if he could handle it."

The lure of a football dream

Powell (6-3, 185) thought he was finished with football after his sophomore season. He had enjoyed playing, but he didn't see the sport as a vehicle to a college scholarship. The three-sport athlete was narrowing his focus on basketball and baseball, because he didn't want his mother paying for his education.

Robin Richardson is a single-parent mom who juggles two jobs as a lab assistant for Kaiser Permanente and a tutor for medical students.

"I used to think about my mom and how hard she worked," said Powell, who carries a 3.1 grade-point average and has perfect attendance at Bedford. "She shouldn't have to pay for my schooling, too. I wanted to pay her back. I just figured football wasn't going to be the route."

In March 2010, Powell was standing in the hallway when the new football coach approached. Williams had been perusing game film and marveling at how this raw sophomore defensive back was "making plays all over the field."

The coach asked Powell to give football one more try, appealing to the youngster's competitive nature.

The Bearcats went 2-8 last season, but for the first time Powell believed he was evolving as a player. Powell recorded 75 tackles and a team-leading four interceptions. This season he has tallied 42 tackles and two interceptions for the Bearcats (4-5, 3-2 Lake Erie League), who host Euclid in Friday's final game.

One night in late November 2010, coach and player had a lengthy phone conversation.

"Coach asked me, 'What do you want to do with football?'" Powell said. "I told him I wanted to play for Ohio State."

They agreed to start working out during Thanksgiving break. The coach set three conditions: No weekend parties, no "crazy" social media posts and four training sessions per week starting at 6 a.m. Powell lifted weights, performed drills, studied film.

Williams cut his protege no breaks during basketball season. They not only trained before practice, but after it as well. The coach also talked Powell into running track instead of playing baseball to improve his speed.

It wasn't long before several other Bearcats joined the voluntary workouts, including defensive lineman Myles Hilliard, who's committed to Pittsburgh.

"I thought it was great that Tyvis was putting in so much time," his mother said. "He's always been a disciplined kid who bonded with coaches. I've always told him, 'The teacher and coach have the information and it's up to you to learn it.'"

Williams says he forged a "15-minute NFL career"-- it was actually parts of two seasons (1997-98) with Kansas City and Carolina -- from hard work and sacrifice. He had attended Ohio University and caught the eyes of pro scouts by blocking kicks and excelling at special teams.

In Powell, he sees an athlete with ample ability and exceptional hip speed, a crucial quality for defensive backs. But the coach needed the kid to become stronger, physically and mentally.

'A new species' of cornerback

Three months into their training regimen, the coach introduced Powell to the tractor tire. Williams had seen clips of former NFL wide receiver Terrell Owens flipping tires and jumping inside them to spell T-O with his arms. Powell agreed to try it, but this time it was the student who attached a condition.

"If I'm doing it, it's not going to be T-O, but T-Y," Powell said, laughing.

Powell barely could lift the 250-pound tire the first time he clutched the tread. During early sessions, he strained to complete the 100-yard course in 14 minutes. It wasn't long, however, before he had trimmed three minutes from his time.

Meanwhile, college scouts who had viewed his online highlight package began making visits to Bedford.

They saw the defensive back not only was a legit 6-3, but also had bulked up to 185 pounds. They learned Powell already had the requisite college tests scores and was set to graduate in January. Williams told them the tale of the "T-Ys" and how Powell sometimes called him on Sundays begging for an extra workout.

Offers from Mid-American Conference schools began arriving. The Big Ten was not far behind. Powell orally committed to OSU on June 1 and never wavered as the deepening memorabilia scandal cost coach Jim Tressel his job. He said he doesn't care whether he plays cornerback or safety in college.

"When you get to represent a school where you really wanted to go you will do anything for them," Powell said. "If they say, 'Tyvis, we need you to pass the water out,' I'd make sure everyone had their water."

Williams thinks the tall, quick athlete is "a new species" of cornerback who can track the big college wideouts.

The senior simply is happy knowing he has a coach who's willing to invest so much time. Williams saw something in Powell that the 18-year-old admits he didn't see in himself 20 months ago.

"Our relationship has evolved from stranger and stranger to coach and player to father and son," Powell said. "The love he has shown me is like the love a father shows to a son."