"The one advantage Cavs have over Philly and Indy is getting Irving. Both of those teams are good teams that have a bunch of guys equivalent to the talent that's in the 3-12 range in this year's draft. If either just had that one elite player to go with the other guys, they're a contender. You put Irving on Indiana, they would be instant title contenders and on par with OKC. We just need to put a bunch of good talent around Irving to get into contention, but another elite talent like Davis would be better of course." - timinflorida

View full sizeAP Photo/Amy SancettaThe Cavs already have one piece of their blue print, Kyrie Irving.

"The one advantage Cavs have over Philly and Indy is getting Irving. Both of those teams are good teams that have a bunch of guys equivalent to the talent that's in the 3-12 range in this year's draft. If either just had that one elite player to go with the other guys, they're a contender. You put Irving on Indiana, they would be instant title contenders and on par with OKC. We just need to put a bunch of good talent around Irving to get into contention, but another elite talent like Davis would be better of course."

Tom Coughlin and Bill Belichick are among the few current NFL coaches to keep their job long enough to build something special. Where does Pat Shurmur rank on this list?

Tom Coughlin and Bill Belichick are among the few current NFL coaches to keep their job long enough to build something special. Mike McCarthy could be on his way to joining them.

Eighteen of the current 32 coaches have been in their present job fewer than three seasons. That includes Joe Vitt, who is serving as New Orleans Saints' interim coach during Sean Payton's one-year suspension.

Payton is not on the list because he won't coach this year, barring a surprise end to his suspension. New coaches are ranked based on their experience in all realms.

To kick off Sporting News' rankings series, we list the coaches heading into next season from No. 1 to No. 32.

These rankings consider what a coach has accomplished. But they also consider where each coach stands now — and who you would want on the sideline if you had to win one game. Read on, and let the debate begin.

More Sporting News rankings:

• Top defensive ends

• 10 best defensive tackles

AP FileTom Coughlin has won two Super Bowls with the Giants.

1. Tom Coughlin, New York Giants

No present coach has a better knack for getting his team to play best when it counts the most. He has won two Super Bowls as the underdog. He has won two NFC championship games on the road. And he has done it in the pressure-cooker of the New York media market.

Coughlin is the NFL's oldest coach—he turns 66 in August—but shows no sign of slowing down. It has never been better to be Coughlin.

Overall record (16 years): 142-114. Record with Giants: 74-54. Playoff record: 11-7. Super Bowl record: 2-0.

2. Bill Belichick, New England Patriots

With three Super Bowl rings, no current coach can match his resume. Belichick has been remarkably consistent, with at least 10 wins in each of the past nine seasons. His place as an all-time great coach is secured.

So why isn’t Belichick in the No. 1 slot? Because he has lost three consecutive games to Coughlin, including two Super Bowls. Lifetime, Belichick is 1-5 against Coughlin.

Overall record (17 years): 175-97. Record with Patriots: 139-53. Playoff record: 17-7. Super Bowl record: 3-2.

3. Mike McCarthy, Green Bay Packers

He's one of the game's best play-callers and has a superb quarterback in Aaron Rodgers running the show. The Packers didn't repeat as Super Bowl champs, but their 15-1 regular-season record says something about the way McCarthy prepares his team.

Don't be surprised if the McCarthy-Rodgers combo wins another Super Bowl, maybe even next season.

Overall record (6 years): 63-33. Playoff record: 5-3. Super Bowl record: 1-0.

4. Mike Tomlin, Pittsburgh Steelers

Hard to believe Tomlin is still just 40 years old. In five seasons, he has won a Super Bowl, two conference championships and three division titles. He challenges his players, but he also supports and motivates them.

“If I could play for any current coach, it would be Mike Tomlin,” former NFL offensive lineman and current ESPN analyst Damien Woody said. “He gets the most out of guys.”

Overall record (5 years): 55-25. Playoff record: 5-3. Super Bowl record: 1-1

5. John Harbaugh, Baltimore Ravens

He hasn't missed the playoffs in his first four seasons in Baltimore and has established a culture of playing “Ravens football”—physical and efficient.

Despite some heartbreaking playoffs losses, Harbaugh's teams have returned with resolve the following season. They have a strong locker room, but Harbaugh's strong leadership helps set that tone.

Overall record (4 years): 44-20: Playoff record: 5-4.

6. Jim Harbaugh, San Francisco 49ers

He went to the NFC championship game in his first season. The success he had in college is translating to the NFL.

Overall record (1 year): 13-3. Playoff record: 1-1.

7. John Fox, Denver Broncos

Fox has been underrated because he doesn't call attention to himself. Working with Peyton Manning gives him a shot to win a title.

Overall record (10 years): 81-79. Record with Broncos: 8-8. Playoff record: 6-4. Super Bowl record: 0-1.

— See all the Broncos news, plus 2012 schedule and more

8. Andy Reid, Philadelphia Eagles

The league's longest-tenured coach enters this season on the hot seat, despite reaching five NFC title games over 13 yeas in Philadelphia. “I don't think Andy Reid gets his just due," Woody said.

Overall record (13 years): 126-81-1. Playoff record: 10-9. Super Bowl record: 0-1.

9. Lovie Smith, Chicago Bears

A straight shooter in the low-key Tony Dungy mold that players respect, Smith is now second in NFL tenure after Reid.

Overall record (8 years): 71-57. Playoff record: 3-3. Super Bowl record: 0-1.

10. Jeff Fisher, St. Louis Rams

During a long run with the Titans, Fisher built a winning team around Steve McNair. He hopes to build another around Sam Bradford.

Overall record (17 years): 142-120. Record with Rams: 0-0. Playoff record: 5-6. Super Bowl record: 0-1.

11. Marvin Lewis, Cincinnati Bengals

He took a young team to the playoffs last season, and the future looks bright. It's time for him to win a playoff game.

Overall record (9 years): 69-74-1. Playoff record: 0-3.

12. Gary Kubiak, Houston Texans

Kubiak enters the season with more expectations than ever. It will be interesting to see how he handles it.

Overall record (6 years): 47-49. Playoff record: 1-1.

13. Rex Ryan, New York Jets

Let's see: There's Tebow-mania, potential locker room issues and the New York media. Ryan has lost 90 pounds, but there's still plenty on his plate.

Overall record (3 years): 28-20. Playoff record: 4-2.

14. Ken Whisenhunt, Arizona Cardinals

He still misses Kurt Warner. But the Cardinals finished strong last season and could turn corner if Kevin Kolb improves.

Overall record (5 years): 40-40. Playoff record: 4-2. Super Bowl record: 0-1.

15. Mike Smith, Atlanta Falcons

His regular season record is distinguished. His postseason record is dreadful. That needs to change.

Overall record (4 years): 43-21. Playoff record: 0-3.

16. Mike Shanahan, Washington Redskins

He won big with John Elway, but that was a long time ago. Shanahan must win with Robert Griffin III — or else.

Overall record (18 years): 157-119. Record with Redskins: 11-21. Playoff record: 8-5. Super Bowl record: 2-0.

17. Jim Schwartz, Detroit Lions

This franchise has made dramatic improvement, and Schwartz's leadership is part of that equation.

Overall record (3 years): 18-30. Playoff record: 0-1.

18. Mike Munchak, Tennessee Titans

Munchak had an impressive first season, leading the Titans to a winning record despite Chris Johnson's disappointing season.

Overall record (1 year): 9-7.

19. Romeo Crennel, Kansas City Chiefs

Crennel's victory over the Packers as interim coach helped him land this job. Now he needs more wins than he had with the Browns.

Overall record (5 years): 26-41. Record with Chiefs: 2-1.

20. Norv Turner, San Diego Chargers

He's getting one more chance to push the Chargers back to the playoffs. His team has underachieved the past two seasons.

Overall record (14 years): 107-113-1. Record with Chargers: 49-31. Playoff record: 4-4.

21. Ron Rivera, Carolina Panthers

Having Cam Newton gives him plenty of hope for the future. A .500 season would be another step in the right direction.

Overall record (1 year): 6-10.

22. Pete Carroll, Seattle Seahawks

We'll know more about Carroll's tenure when we know whether Matt Flynn can handle being a starting quarterback.

Overall record (6 years): 47-49. Record with Seahawks: 14-18. Playoff record: 2-3.

23. Jason Garrett, Dallas Cowboys

Garrett must do better in close games, when his play calling tends to become too conservative.

Overall record (2 years): 13-11.

24. Chan Gailey, Buffalo Bills

Gailey's team made noise during the offseason. Now comes the harder part—making noise in the AFC East.

Overall record (4 years): 28-36. Record with Bills: 10-22.

25. Mike Mularkey, Jacksonville Jaguars

He's getting a second crack as a head coach, but his fate could be tied to Blaine Gabbert's success or failure as a quarterback.

Overall record (2 years): 14-18. Record with Jaguars: 0-0.

John Kuntz, The Plain DealerPat Shurmur went 4-12 in his first season with the Browns

26. Pat Shurmur, Cleveland Browns

He'll have to resist the urge to call something other than Trent Richardson left and Trent Richardson right.

Overall record (1 year): 4-12.

27. Leslie Frazier, Minnesota Vikings

If his second year doesn't go better than his first year, there probably won't be a third year.

Overall record (2 years): 6-16.

28. Greg Schiano, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

This team made some solid offseason moves. But the leap from Rutgers is a big one for Schiano.

Overall record: 0-0

29. Chuck Pagano, Indianapolis Colts

He waited a long time to become a coach. Now Pagano wants a long run with Andrew Luck.

Overall record: 0-0

30. Joe Philbin, Miami Dolphins

The fan base is frustrated, but Philbin hopes the long search for a franchise quarterback has ended with Ryan Tannehill.

Overall record: 0-0

31. Dennis Allen, Oakland Raiders

Five of the Raiders' last six coaches have lasted only one or two seasons. Allen hopes to break that pattern.

Overall record: 0-0

32. Joe Vitt, New Orleans Saints

Vitt is an interim coach walking into a challenging situation. And he's suspended for the first six games. Good luck.

Overall record (1 year): 4-7. Record with Saints: 0-0.

-- Clifton Brown, Sporting News

This story originally appeared on SportingNews.com

Josh Tomlin pitched five innings for the win and Lonnie Chisenhall started a five-run third inning with a leadoff homer as the Indians came from behind to beat Kansas City, 8-5.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Josh Tomlin came off the disabled list Monday and pitched five innings to win his first game since April 19 and Lonnie Chisenhall hit a leadoff homer to start a five-run third inning as the Indians beat Kansas City, 8-5, at Progressive Field. (Box score)

The Indians, battered for 35 runs over the weekend in a three-game sweep by Chicago at U.S. Cellular Field, kept their lead in the AL Central.

Tomlin (2-2, 4.99), who had been on the disabled list with a sore right wrist, allowed four runs on four hits in the victory. He's 5-2 lifetime against the Royals.

Chris Perez retired the Royals in order for his 17th straight save of the season. Jason Kipnis led the 14-hit attack with three hits, two runs, two RBI and a stolen base.. 

Mike Moustakas gave the Royals a 2-0 lead with a two-run homer in the second following a walk by Jeff Francoeur. The Indians reclaimed the lead with a five-run rally in the bottom of the third.

Chisenhall, recalled before the game when third baseman Jack Hannahan was placed on the disabled list, hit the third big-league pitch he saw this season over the right field wall to cut Kansas City's lead to 2-1.

The Tribe loaded the bases against Nate Adcock on singles by Luke Carlin and Shin-Soo Choo and a walk by Michael Brantley. Kipnis, with one out, fouled off three straight 3-2 pitches before hitting a two-run single through the middle for a 3-2 lead.

Jose Lopez scored Brantley on a high chop single to third. Moustakas caught Kipnis rounding second, but Kipnis ducked under his tag and made it to third. Replays showed Kipnis was out.

Casey Kotchman followed with an RBI single for a 5-2 lead to knock Adcock (0-3, 3.74)
out of the game. Adcock, who has bounced between Kansas City and Class AAA Omaha five times this season, allowed five runs on six hits in 2 1/3 innings. It was his second start of the season.

The Royals made it 5-4 in the fifth. Brayan Pena homered and Jarrod Dyson tripled into the right field corner. The fleet Dyson reached third standing and jogged home when Kipnis threw the ball into the stands behind third from short right field on the relay throw.

In the bottom of the fifth, Kipnis reached on a bunt single, stole second and scored on Lopez's single off the wall in left to make it 6-4. Lopez was thrown out stretching at second.

The Royals once again closed to within one at 6-5 on Alcides Escobar's RBI single off Nick Hagadone in the seventh. Dyson walked and stole second to set the table.

The Indians stretched their lead to 8-5 in the seventh. Rookie shortstop Juan Diaz opened with a single to right. He went all the way to third on Jose Mijares errant pickoff attempt at first. After Choo struck out, Brantley singled home Diaz.

Kipnis followed with his third hit of the game, a single to center, as Brantley stopped at second. Brantley stole third and scored when rookie second baseman Irvin Falu couldn't handle Lopez's routine grounder.

Now may be the time for Lonnie Chisenhall to take over at third base.

Cleveland -- They needed that.

That's true for the Tribe and Lonnie Chisenhall.

They both needed Chisenhall's first swing of the day to produce a home run into the right-field bullpen.

"What a beautiful swing that kid has," said Tribe manager Manny Acta following his team's 8-5 victory over Kansas City on Monday.

Then Acta said it again: "This kid has a beautiful swing."

The Indians came home from a three-day baseball spanking against the White Sox in Chicago. It seemed the Tribe had lost some of the sizzle earned earlier in the week when it took three in a row from Detroit.

Then the Tribe was without designated hitter Travis Hafner (sore knee), shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera (sore hamstring), third baseman Jack Hannahan (sore back and calf muscle) and catcher Carlos Santana (concussion). Acta was forced to use lineups that looked like something from a very bad spring training game, where most of the veterans are being rested.

Chisenhall began Monday morning with the Class AAA Columbus Clippers, who were playing in Buffalo. He received word Cleveland needed him, and he was driven from upstate New York, arriving at Progressive Field at 12:30 p.m. for a 4 p.m. game.

Then he was in the lineup, batting sixth as the designated hitter.

Before the game, Acta told him, "There comes a point where you're going to be the every-day guy . . . go make it happen."

Acta had been watching the stats and reading the scouting reports from Columbus. He knew Chisenhall was hitting .324 (.897 OPS) with four homers in 119 at-bats.

"This isn't like last year where we needed someone when Jack got hurt and called up Lonnie hitting only .260 [actually .267]," said Acta.

It's easy to forget Chisenhall is only 23, because Tribe fans have been hearing about him since he was the team's No. 1 draft choice in 2008. But the third baseman was rushed to the majors last season in the middle of a playoff race, and he struggled early -- but finished by hitting .290 in his final 100 at-bats for the Tribe.

Overall, he was at .255 (.699 OPS) with seven homers and 22 RBI in his first 212 Tribe at-bats.

"Lonnie did what we asked him to do [at Columbus]," said Acta. "He had not dominated [in the minors] before."

The only thing the Tribe wanted more from Chisenhall was walks. He had only four in Columbus, and that came after eight in 66 games for the Tribe last season.

Chisenhall sounds more confident, saying how he "doesn't want to be the future third baseman anymore."

Now is the time.

This is not about dumping the 32-year-old Hannahan. But he is best suited as a part-time player. He had back trouble last season, this spring and again this year. He also had a calf injury last year and again this year.

These are not major injuries, but the Indians correctly believe his best long-term role could be starting a few days a week -- and being a defensive replacement at third in other games.

You can see what second baseman Jason Kipnis has meant to the Tribe. What a game Monday. He drove in two runs with a bases-loaded single. He had a bunt single. He stole second base on a pitchout. He was 3-for-4, raising his average to .285.

Guess who leads the Indians in homers? Kipnis with eight. In RBI? Kipnis with 30. In stolen bases? Kipnis with nine, and he has been thrown out only once.

This is not to say Chisenhall will deliver like the 25-year-old Kipnis, but it does seem Chisenhall's time to claim third base is now -- right when the Indians need it.

GM Chris Antonetti said Ubaldo Jimenez's mechanics are not as consistent as they were before the Indians acquired him from Colorado on July 31 for No. 1 picks Drew Pomeranz, Alex White and two other players. He said Jimenez and pitching coach Scott Radinsky are working hard to put his delivery back together again.

Chuck Crow, The Plain DealerCleveland Indians Ubaldo Jimenez, behind the sunglasses, checks out the crowd with the Indians camouflage hat for the Memorial Day game against the Kansas City Royals on May 28, 22012 at Progressive Field. Indians won 8-5.

Cleveland -- Tribe General Manager Chris Antonetti, talking to reporters before Monday's 8-5 victory over Kansas City, said when the Indians scouted Ubaldo Jimenez last year, they saw consistent mechanics from the 6-5, 210-pound right-hander. Since acquiring him from Colorado on July 31, Jimenez has been the model of inconsistency.

"In terms of the consistency in which he's executed his delivery, that's probably been the biggest difference," said Antonetti. "When we saw him -- obviously the day we traded for him when he was pitching after the trade was a little atypical -- but in the starts prior to that, there wasn't anything materially different."

Antonetti said small things have changed in Jimenez's delivery since the trade and have side tracked the No. 1 starter the In dians thought they were getting.

"At the time we made the deal, we felt he had the ability to be a front-of-the- rotation starter," said Antonetti. "He demonstrated that with his success in the past with Colorado. Unfortunately, to date, we haven't seen the results.

"We're still confident that he has the attributes to reach that potential again. But we need to help him become more consistent."

Jimenez's complicated delivery could be thrown out of whack by the slightest change.

"The fundamentals of his delivery are similar," said Antonetti, comparing Jimenez's days with the Rockies to his days with the Tribe, "but in pitching, little things can lead to a big difference in the end result."

Jimenez is 9-8 with a 5.64 ERA (76 earned runs in 1211/3 innings) in 21 starts since the trade. He's averaging 5.1 walks and 6.7 strikeouts per nine innings.

This year, he's 5-4 but has the third-highest ERA -- at 5.79 -- of any American League starter with at least 10 starts. He leads the league with 42 walks and seven wild pitches.

In Sunday's 12-6 loss to the Chicago White Sox, he allowed seven runs on seven hits in four innings. He walked four and struck out three in 99 pitches.

"We're just continuing to work on the key checkpoints he and [pitching coach] Scott Radinsky have identified in his delivery and continue to solidify those," said Antonetti. "I think that he would be the first to tell you that it has been a work in progress and that he hasn't been able to reach those checkpoints as consistently as he'd like."

Jimenez has flashed velocity and good off-speed pitches since the deal, but they have come in small doses.

"When he's worked ahead in the count, he's been able to get outs," said Antonetti. "We just need to help him execute his delivery and work ahead in the count more consistently. If he does that, he still has the attributes to be an effective major-league starter."

Roster activity: The Indians made a flurry of moves Monday.

Josh Tomlin was activated to start against the Royals. Reliever Jairo Asencio was designated for assignment to make room for him.

Third baseman Lonnie Chisenhall was recalled from Class AAA Columbus when Jack Hannahan was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left calf. Hannahan, who played one game between May 14 and May 27 because of a sore back, said he strained his calf by compensating for his back injury.

The moves left the Indians with only six relievers. Manager Manny Acta said how long he stays with six relievers depends on the status of shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera (left hamstring) and designated hitter Travis Hafner (right knee). They could rejoin the lineup later this week.

"It's not a situation we want to be in," said Acta.

With Hannahan going on the DL, the Indians felt they needed an infielder (Chisenhall) more than a reliever (Asencio). That could change in the coming days.

Cabrera played catch, jogged and hit in the cages Monday. Hafner hit in the cages, took soft toss and ran on the team's anti-gravity treadmill.

"We'll see how I feel on Tuesday," said Cabrera. "I could be back in a couple of days."

Finally: Antonetti and Acta said catcher Carlos Santana (concussion) is showing improvement. He was placed on the seven-day disabled list.

Santana, when approached by a reporter, said he wasn't feeling good and didn't want to talk.

Indianapolis -- In case you didn't know it, Dario Franchitti, 39, might be the best open-wheel racer of this era and one of the best of all time. His third Indianapolis 500 victory Sunday afternoon was yet more proof of that. Franchitti has won three of the past six Indy 500 crowns. He has won the past three Indy...

AP Photo/AJ MastDario Franchitti, of Scotland, reacts after winning IndyCar's Indianapolis 500 auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Sunday, May 27, 2012. Franchitti wife, actress Ashley Judd, is at left, and car owner Chip Ganassi is at right.

Indianapolis -- In case you didn't know it, Dario Franchitti, 39, might be the best open-wheel racer of this era and one of the best of all time. His third Indianapolis 500 victory Sunday afternoon was yet more proof of that.

Franchitti has won three of the past six Indy 500 crowns. He has won the past three Indy Racing League championships and four IRL titles in his career. But he does all of this with an air of confidence, not swagger, that allows him to not only appreciate the moments when he wins, but also share them.

Sunday, in his pace car victory lap around the speedway, he shared the ride with his wife, actress Ashley Judd, and with Susie Wheldon -- the wife of his late friend, 2011 Indy 500 winner Dan Wheldon. Indy was her first race since Wheldon crashed and died in Las Vegas at the last race of 2011. Susie Wheldon watched Sunday's race in the pit of Scott Dixon, Franchitti's teammate. Then she went to congratulate the winner.

"Susie came over to say, 'Well done,' and we chatted," Franchitti said. "I tell you what, she's a stronger person than anyone I know to come here, but she knew better than anyone how much Dan loved Indy and Indy loved Dan. But to go through all those emotions. . . .

"Ashley and I said, it would be cool for Susie to come.

"My favorite memory of the race last year was Dan going out on his parade lap, and I had this crazy notion in my head I was going to carjack him. So I'm standing in pit lane, disappointed but at the same time happy for my friend. I see him coming toward me, and I think, 'Oh yeah, this is going to be good.'

"Then I see his face, and he is just sobbing. It meant so much to him with everything that had happened to him -- not having a regular drive, all the stuff with his mum with Alzheimer's -- and I couldn't do it. I just gave him a big hug and told him how proud of him I was. So it meant a lot to Susie to be able to come around with us today.

"I think racing is emotion, life is as well. Racing exemplifies that. Vegas was the lowest of the lows, and I think the reason we all got back in the cars, and all the mechanics got back in pit lane, and all the fans came back to the races is for days like today -- the emotion of days like today. That's why I got back in the car.

"There's not a feeling like standing in victory lane."

Franchitti's next victory will move him past Sebastian Bourdais and Paul Tracy in career U.S. open-wheel victories. As it stands right now, with 31, Franchitti already has more wins than fellow three-time Indy winners Emerson Fittipaldi (22) and Helio Castroneves (26). He has more than fellow three-time series champion Bobby Rahal (24). He even has more than four-time Indy winner Rick Mears (29).

Franchitti likely won't catch front-runner A.J. Foyt with 67 career wins or Mario Andretti with 52. But the Unsers who line up in front of him -- Al Jr. (34), Bobby (35) and Al Sr. (39) -- all should be prepared to step aside before Franchitti retires, and No. 3 Michael Andretti (42) is at least looking over his shoulder.

Dario Franchitti has proven to be as good or better than all of them, which is pretty good company in the world of open-wheel auto racing.

The Heat win Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals.

AP photoFrom left, Miami Heat's Ronny Turiaf, Dwyane Wade and LeBron James watch from the bench in the closing minutes of the second half of Game 1 in their NBA basketball Eastern Conference finals playoff series against the Boston Celtics, Monday, May 28, 2012, in Miami.

Lonnie Chisenhall, Luke Carlin, Juan Diaz all contribute as Indians beat Royals, 8-5, to cling on to lead 1/2 game in AL Central.

Cleveland -- Maybe, just maybe, this is a better Indians team than the 2011 version that flared brightly for two months only to fade slowly into the darkness.

If it is, if it can withstand the kind of injuries that T-boned last year's team, it will be because of players such as Jason Kipnis, Michael Brantley, Jose Lopez and Casey Kotchman. Lopez and Kotchman weren't here last year. Kipnis played just 36 games, and Brantley missed all of September because of surgery on his right hand.

The Indians beat Kansas City, 8-5, Monday afternoon at Progressive Field in front of 25,377 to maintain a half-game lead in the American League Central. The victory came after a lost weekend in Chicago in which the Indians allowed 35 runs in a three-game sweep by the White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field.

When the Tribe arrived in Chicago, it did so without cleanup hitter Travis Hafner, out with a sore right knee. In Friday's 9-3 loss, the Indians lost No. 3 hitter Asdrubal Cabrera (left hamstring) and No. 5 hitter Carlos Santana (concussion) to injuries.

The Indians, with the heart of their lineup either limping or dazed, still scored 16 runs against the White Sox.

"If you would have told me going into Chicago that we'd score 16 runs, I probably would have guaranteed you that we'd win the series," said Tribe manager Manny Acta.

"Unfortunately, we couldn't pitch the way we hit."

Pitching is what the Indians do best, but Chicago's hitters ran them over. "It was a train wreck of a series for us," said Tribe pitcher Josh Tomlin.

On Monday, Tomlin (2-2, 4.99) came off the disabled list to pitch five innings and win his first game since April 19. The bullpen pitched back to form, allowing one run in four innings, and the guys who weren't supposed to hit, hit again.

Shin-Soo Choo, Brantley and Kipnis, the top three hitters in Acta's lineup, went 5-for-11 with five runs, three RBI and two steals.

Kipnis went 3-for-4 with two runs, two RBI and a steal. In the third, with the bases loaded and the Royals leading, 2-1, Kipnis fouled off three straight 3-2 pitches before hitting a two-run single into center for a lead the Indians never gave back.

"Guys are taking advantage of the chances they're getting," said Kipnis. "The offense is definitely looking pretty good right now. You can't replace the guys we've lost, but we're doing what we can to put up runs."

There are others as well.

Lonnie Chisenhall, hitting .324 (36-for-111) at Class AAA Columbus, arrived Monday when Jack Hannahan was placed on the disabled list with a strained left calf. Catcher Luke Carlin arrived Saturday from Columbus when Santana went on the seven-day disabled list. On Friday, shortstop Juan Diaz was recalled from Class AA Akron as a warm body until Tomlin was activated Monday. Instead, he has started the last three games at short.

Chisenhall, with the Tribe trailing, 2-0, started the five-run third with a leadoff homer over the right-field wall. Chisenhall, sporting a mustache and a Mohawk haircut, hit the third big-league pitch to come his way this year out of the yard. He added a single in the sixth.

"What a beautiful swing," said Acta.

Carlin followed with a single. So did Choo, and Brantley walked to load the bases for Kipnis against Nate Adcock (0-3, 3.74 ERA), who was making just his second start of the season. Lopez and Kotchman added run-scoring singles in the inning as well.

In the fifth, with the Tribe leading, 5-4, Kipnis reached on a bunt single. He stole second and scored on Lopez's single off the left-field wall to make it 6-4. Lopez finished with three RBI.

The Indians made it 8-5 with two runs in the seventh. Diaz hit a leadoff single. He went to third on Jose Mijares' errant pickoff attempt and scored on Brantley's single. Brantley took second on Kipnis' single, stole third and scored when rookie second baseman Irving Falu made an error on Lopez's routine grounder.

"No one goes into a game thinking we're going to lose because we don't have those guys in the lineup," said Kipnis. "You just need to have the right approach at the plate and we can still win."

Relievers Joe Smith, Nick Hagadone and Vinnie Pestano carried the ball to closer Chris Perez in the ninth. Perez retired the side in order for his 17th straight save.

In final season as head coach, he has the Demons in the state tournament for the first time

The Plain DealerJeff Short

WESTLAKE, Ohio --There are a lot of coaches and teachers such as Jeff Short, only most of us don't know their names. They do things like teach sixth grade math and science, which Short does at Parkside Intermediate School in Westlake.

They coach the freshman and junior varsity basketball teams, as Short did some winters at Westlake High. And they may help out with girls basketball program, as Short once did.

Some of them even officiate junior varsity basketball games in the winter, and are the head coach of the baseball team in the spring.

That's what Short does these days, as his Westlake Demons have shocked the Ohio high school baseball universe by making the school's first trip to Columbus for the state tournament, where they will face Massillon Perry at 4 p.m. Thursday.

This comes after Short told his team nearly a year ago that this would be his final season as baseball coach, although he will continue to teach math and science to sixth-graders.

"I love dealing with 12-year-olds," he said. "And I get the older kids after school when I'm coaching."

Some of those players go back to sixth grade with Short.

"I first met Mr. Short when I started the fifth grade at Hilliard Elementary School in 1989," emailed Steve Pelsnik. "I walked over from Hilliard to Parkside for math class only. Short was my math teacher. . . . As young as he was, he taught that class as if he had been doing it for decades. He never got visibly upset. He always communicated openly and engaged the entire class in discussion, and exhibited a great sense of humor."

Pelsnik later tried out for the Westlake baseball team, and was cut twice. He finally made the team. Later, Pelsnik would return to Westlake as a freshman coach for a few years while studying at Baldwin-Wallace.

He is now an accountant.

Short appreciates players like that, the ones for whom the game isn't natural. They are the ones who are cut, but instead of quitting, they keep coming back.

"You don't play a sport like baseball to get attention," said Short. "It really is for the love of the game."

High school baseball is played mostly in the afternoons, although Short and his friends, students and former players helped raise $145,000 a few years ago to add lights to their field.

"Our first night game was against St. Ed's and we had about 300 fans," Short said. "It was pretty cool."

Most spring high school sports are played in front of a small circle of family and friends, so 300 was a mob.

"Jeff worked countless hours fixing the field and taming the weeds," emailed Brendan Zepp, Short's assistant baseball coach for the past 10 years.

Zepp added: "When Jeff announced this was his last year, so many former players have been wandering up during practices and games just to say, 'Thanks.' He makes time for all of them, even talking to some between innings of a game."

The game changer

Short has taught and coached in the Westlake system for 27 years. His record is 344-241 with 20 winning records in 23 seasons as head coach -- including four Southwestern Conference titles.

Why quit now as his team has won 19 of their past 21 games? Why quit after finally making it to Columbus, a dream of Short and his wife, Julie?

"It's just time," he said. "This job takes a lot of energy, fire and passion, and when I saw that starting to fade a bit -- well, it was time."

But something else happened.

"We had been trying to have a child for a long time," said Julie Short, his wife of 19 years. "I was 43 when Jason was born."

That was 19 months ago.

"That really got me thinking," said Short. "Having a child changes your priorities."

The daughter of former standout high school basketball coach Ray Verba (Padua, Midview and other places), Julie met Jeff at one of her father's summer basketball camps.

John Kuntz, The Plain DealerThe Westlake Demons celebrate their 6-4 victory over St. Ignatius in the Division I baseball regional semifinals on Thursday. The Demons are making their first trip to the state tournament this week.

"I knew about the crazy schedules and the long hours that come with the job," Julie said. "A few years ago, he talked about not coaching baseball. But I know how coaches are. . . . They talk about some eighth-grader coming along who is supposed to be good, or some sixth-grader.

"I was shocked when he told me [last summer] this would be his final season."

Then Julie added: "We are sort of doing this backwards. Most of our friends are sending their kids to college and then looking at the next part of their lives."

But the Shorts (Jeff is 48, Julie is 45) have yet to even hit the "Terrible Twos" with Jason.

"I worry and stress about the team," said Short. "I really didn't want to bring that home to my wife and son at this point."

The turnaround

Short talked about his team being 11-14 last season, and starting this spring at 4-4 (0-2 in the Southwestern Conference).

"At that point, I told the guys that this is not just my last season -- it was their season," he said. "I said that we were a much better team than we showed, but really, it was up to them."

This is a team with 14 seniors, a team where most of the players knew it would also be their last season.

It's a team with a catcher named Kyle Latham, who is headed to MIT after he graduates. It has Corey Bowers leading off, one of Short's all-time favorite players. Bowers' stats are solid -- .311, 16 steals -- but Short said there's so much more. "Corey just lives and dreams baseball, and it's contagious," he said.

There's pitcher Ben Neumann, who is 6-0 this season. There's Spencer Offredo, who drove in five runs as Westlake came back from a 6-0 deficit to beat Ashland and earn the trip to Columbus. There's Danny Strodtbeck, a .357 hitter who also is 6-2 on the mound.

There is so much more, but what Short liked is the team began to play with the urgency that comes when players and a coaching staff realize that something like this may never come their way again.

John Kuntz, The Plain DealerWestlake’s Danny Strodtbeck slides toward home against St. Ignatius catcher Ralph Lucarelli. Strodtbeck is batting .357 and is 6-2 on the mound.

"We came from behind to win five of our last six games," said Short. "It's been amazing."

Short has said that Westlake is "not a great baseball program, it's a good one."

While this year's team has seven seniors expected to play in college, none are heading to the elite baseball schools.

"That's what makes this year so special," said Short. "We don't have that one great player to carry us -- it really is a team thing."

Running to win

Short grew up in Archbold, a town of 4,500 that is about 40 miles west of Toledo, 25 miles east of Indiana.

"I played most for coaches who were screamers and tough guys," he said. "I was a little like that when I first started."

Now an assistant sports information director at Grand Valley State in Michigan, D.J. Foster was a member of the Westlake team in 2001. He emailed about a teammate being late for batting practice.

"It was our last game -- senior day," recalled Foster. "It was a pitcher who was late, and he wasn't even going to take any batting practice. But coach Short wanted to set an example and stick by the rules."

Not only did the tardy pitcher have to run, the entire team did.

"Ten laps around the outside of the field," emailed Foster. "Not a short distance, and this was BEFORE the game. We [seniors] didn't get to take our last batting practice because we had to run. . . . We won that game easily. He knew how to get us prepared to play. It was an exhausting lesson, but the lesson was learned."

The player cut twice, Pelsnik, recalled: "Mental mistakes and laziness weren't tolerated . . . that said, when we put in the hard work and accomplished things on the field, nobody gave more credit than coach Short."

Short said he has "calmed down" over the years, adding, "I do think they listen more if you keep yourself under control."

He said it has been "several years since I had the team run before a game -- but we're 8-0 when we do."

A special coach

Brothers Steve and Tom Harter played for Short. Once Tom made a great throw from center field, wiping out a runner at home plate.

"Tom came in all pumped up," emailed Steve Harter. "Coach took him aside and used his trademark dead pan [voice] to say, "Act like you've been there before.' "

When Tom Harter calmed down, Short added, "Just kidding, heckuva throw!"

Tribe radio broadcaster Tom Hamilton knows Short very well. Hamilton's son, Nick [now at Kent State], played for Avon Lake. Short was one of the coaches who supported Hamilton to be Southwestern Conference Player of the Year as a senior.

"Nick wasn't even his kid, and he did that," said Hamilton. "You won't find a better man or coach than Jeff Short."

Umpire Joe Gilbert emailed: "Jeff complains about Public vs. Private [schools debate]. He just lines up with who he has. . . . Outstanding teacher! . . . Total CLASS Act!"

Tom Harter emailed that Short has a locker room wall "dedicated to his former players who went on to play in college. There are posters of each team that he coached. He posts emails from former players wishing the team well. . . . He puts on an alumni game each year that brings in 20-30 players."

This year's team is destined to have a special place on that locker room wall -- and it may be a good a idea to also add a word or two about the coach.

Jeff Short by the numbers

27 Years teaching and coaching in the Westlake school system. Has never taught anywhere else.

23 Seasons as head coach of Westlake High School Demons.

344-241 Career record.

53 Players who later played in college.

20 Winning seasons.

7 Players who made first or second team All- Southwestern Conference this season—Ben Neumann, Danny Strodtbeck, Corey Bowers, Jonathan Brick, Andy Haders, Jamie Lackner and Kevin Neumann.

4 Southwestern Conference titles.

4 SWC Coach of the Year Awards.

13 District appearances.

3 Regional appearances, 1996, 1999, 2012.

2 Regional finals, 1996, 2012.

1 State Final Four, 2012.

48 Years old.

19 Years married to Julie Verba Short.

19 Months old, their son: Jason Verba Short.

Kent State coach Scott Stricklin believes his Flashes baseball team is ready to go to the next level in the NCAA Tournament.

Associated PressKent State coach Scott Stricklin says the Flashes are now respected in the NCAA Tournament and are ready to move to the next level.

KENT, Ohio -- Kent State baseball coach Scott Stricklin is a man with a plan.

Now in his eighth season at the helm of the Golden Flashes program, Stricklin's goal is to take the team from the ranks of the mid-major programs to the same level reached by Wichita State and Cal State Fullerton.

Cal State Fullerton has won four championships (1979, 1984, 1995 and 2004) and was the runner-up in 1992. The Wichita State Shockers have been a three-time runner-up (1982, 1991 and 1993) and the College World Series champion in 1989. Stricklin wants Kent State to consistently compete for a College World Series berth.

"My vision for the program would be to get where Wichita State was in the mid-'80s, where they were going to Omaha on a regular basis," Stricklin said. "We've got to break through and get to a Super Regional first. That's the biggest thing for us, which is the equivalent of the Sweet 16 in basketball. We were close last year, but for us to be considered a national team, we've got to get to a Super Regional and contend for Omaha."

Last season, the Golden Flashes advanced to the regional final before they fell to Texas.

In the first two games of the 2011 Austin Regional, Kent State defeated Texas State, 4-2, and Texas, 7-5, before dropping its last two contests to the Longhorns.

"People know who we are," Stricklin said. "That's the one thing we said last year. We went to Texas, and Texas, they might not have known much about us when we got there, but when we left, they knew who we were. People around the country know who we are."

Kent State (41-17) will open the Gary (Ind.) Regional against Kentucky (43-16) on Friday at U.S. Steel Field. The tournament is double-elimination.

The Golden Flashes earned the postseason berth with their fourth consecutive Mid-American Conference Tournament championship last Saturday night. Kent State went 4-0, including a 3-1 win over Central Michigan in the championship game. The Flashes have won 17 straight.

"We've played our best baseball the last five weeks of the year," Stricklin said. "After the loss at Central Michigan [April 20], we didn't lose another game in the MAC. We lost one game overall and we're playing really good baseball. We're pitching, we're hitting. We're doing everything good baseball teams need to do, and we're doing it at the right time."

With a 2-1 lead heading into the fifth inning of the MAC championship game, Stricklin pulled starter Ryan Mace for fellow senior David Starn, the 2012 MAC Pitcher of the Year and winner of the team's tournament-opening game against Buffalo.

Mace had allowed one earned run over four innings of work. Starn came in and blanked the Chippewas despite surrendering four walks and striking out just three batters. Starn allowed the leadoff batter to reach in each inning, but none scored.

Starn (10-3) is no stranger to success, or pressure. He has a 1.77 earned run average in 15 starts and 16 appearances this season. He has surrendered just three home runs and 76 total hits in 101 innings. For his career, Starn has struck out a school record 332 batters.

In Kent State's opening win of 2012 at Georgia Tech, Starn did not give up a run in eight innings, struck out nine batters and allowed two walks. He has registered nine or more strikeouts in seven of his starts, including a season-high 12 against Buffalo on April 6.

Stricklin is hoping his ace can duplicate that success this weekend.

"David has stepped up his whole career," Stricklin said. "Since his freshman year, he got the final out in the one win we got in the regional against Cal Poly. Ever since his freshman year, he's been pitching in regionals. He pitched great his sophomore year at UCLA and just didn't get any help behind him. Last year, he pitched very admirably at Texas and came up a little bit short. It's time for him to take the next step. I know he will. He's outstanding in every single way, and it's going to be a great matchup. It should be a great game."

Matt Florjancic is a freelance writer from Broadview Heights.

"We'd like to develop a style that excites the players, but also excites the U.S. soccer fan, that they identify with," Klinsmann said in advance of Saturday's exhibition against Scotland.

AP photoUnited States' Landon Donovan (10) is tripped up by Scotland's Scott Brown, right, during the first half of an exhibition soccer match, Saturday, May 26, 2012, in Jacksonville, Fla.

Highlights include Kansas City at Indians.

Indians reliever has regressed to playing catch and isn't eligible to be activated until late June. General Manager Chris Antonetti was asked if Perez had had a setback.

Chuck Crow/The Plain DealerCleveland Indians' Rafael Perez, against the Colorado Rockies on June 20, 2011 at Progressive Field.

Clubhouse confidential: Whatever happened to Raffie Perez?

A mainstay of the bullpen since 2007, Perez was moved to the 60-day disabled list Saturday to make room on the 40-man roster for catcher Luke Carlin. Perez missed part of spring training with a sore left shoulder but broke camp with the Indians despite a big dip in velocity.

He was placed on the disabled list April 27 with a strained left lat muscle and was scheduled to miss four to six weeks. After a recent road trip, the Indians said Perez was making progress and threw a bullpen session.

Now he has regressed to playing catch and isn't eligible to be activated until late June. General Manager Chris Antonetti was asked if Perez had had a setback.

“Our focus is to try and get him back to build his arm strength and progress back to throwing off the mound,” said Antonetti. “Now that we have some extra time, we can make sure he's fully ready to go when his DL stay is over.”

Hard to tell if Antonetti answered that question or not.

Stat of the day: Indians batters have drawn the most walks in the American League with 197. On the flip side, Indians pitchers have walked the second-most batters in the league with 188 and thrown the most wild pitches with 23.

For the Kent State baseball team, the journey to Omaha, Neb., and the College World Series starts Friday in Gary, Ind., against the Kentucky Wildcats of the Southeastern Conference.

Matt Bliss, Kent State Athletic CommunicationsKent State ace David Starn is 10-3 with a 1.77 ERA this season.

For the Kent State baseball team, the journey to Omaha, Neb., and the College World Series starts Friday in Gary, Ind., against the Kentucky Wildcats of the Southeastern Conference.

The Golden Flashes earned the No. 3 seed in the Gary Regional after getting the Mid-American Conference’s automatic berth into the NCAA baseball tournament with a 3-1 win over Central Michigan in Saturday afternoon’s championship game.

The team celebrated Monday’s announcement with a Selection Show watch party at the Water Street Tavern in downtown Kent.

“It’s a great feeling, especially to see us as a 3 seed two years in a row,” coach Scott Stricklin said. “They’re saying we’re a top-50 team in the country, and it’s just a great feeling. Our kids have worked really hard to get to this point, and I’m just really proud of what we’ve been able to do.”

Kentucky enters the 2012 NCAA Regional with a 43-16 record. The Wildcats were 29-5 at home, 11-10 on the road and 3-1 in neutral-site games this season.

Freshman Austin Cousino, a native of Dublin, Ohio, and graduate of Coffman High School, leads off for the Wildcats and batted .318 during the season. He collected 76 hits in 239 at-bats with 19 doubles, nine home runs and 38 RBI. He tied for the team lead in doubles, was second in home runs and registered a team-best 124 total bases.

Sophomore pitcher Corey Littrell leads Kentucky with an 8-2 record and a 2.66 earned-run average in 15 starts. He allowed 27 earned runs and 97 hits in 91 1/3 innings of work. Littrell struck out 80 batters, allowed 23 walks and gave up just two home runs.

“They led the [Southeastern Conference] for most of the year, eight weeks out of the season,” Stricklin said. “They don’t have overpowering pitching. They’ve just got consistent, really good pitching. I don’t know if we’re going to see a true No. 1 starter. When you think about a No. 1 starter in the SEC, it’s a guy throwing 95 miles an hour. Their guys can just really pitch. It’s a tough matchup.”

Although the games will not be played at its home ballpark, Purdue will serve as the host for the Gary Regional. The Big Ten champion Boilermakers went 44-12 in 2012 and made just their second NCAA Tournament field. Their only other appearance in the tournament came in 1987.

Purdue opens the regional with a game against Horizon League champion Valparaiso.

“It’s close to home, and it’s a true regional,” Stricklin said. “You’ve got four teams from our region, the Midwest region, and I think there will be great crowds, a lot of energy with Purdue hosting for the first time. It’s really great for our friends and families that they’ll be able to make that trip and be there.”

Matt Florjancic is a freelance writer from Broadview Heights.

Jordany Valdespin hit a three-run homer in the sixth inning to break open the game as host Buffalo subdued Columbus in an International League game Monday.

AAA Columbus Clippers

Bisons 7, Clippers 1

Jordany Valdespin hit a three-run homer in the sixth inning to break open the game as host Buffalo subdued Columbus in an International League game Monday.

Valdespin’s drive off Frank Herrmann (4.13 ERA) with two out extended the Bisons’ 3-1 lead to 6-1. Columbus starter Zach McAllister (3-2, 2.92) gave up two hits and three runs, two earned, in five innings, striking out four and walking one.

AA Akron Aeros

Aeros 4-3, SeaWolves 0-4

Steven Wright, Kyle Landis, Bob Bryson and Preston Guilmet combined for a three-hit shutout as Akron beat host Erie (Pa.) in the opening game of an Eastern League doubleheader.

Landis (2-1, 2.49) earned the win after holding the SeaWolves to one hit and striking out three in the fourth and fifth innings of the seven-inning game.

In Game 2, Erie rallied with two runs in the sixth and seventh innings for the win. Akron starter Paolo Espino pitched five shutout innings, allowing four hits before being lifted. Loek van Mil (0-1) suffered a blown save and the loss.

Advanced A Carolina Mudcats

Blue Rocks 4, Mudcats 2

Angel Franco’s two-run homer in the fourth inning off Carolina’s Michael Goodnight (1-5, 4.93) broke a 2-2 tie and boosted Wilmington (Del.) to a Carolina League victory over host Carolina.

Goodnight allowed 10 hits and four runs, all earned, while striking out nine and walking one in seven innings.

Tony Wolters (.222) hit a homer for the Mudcats. Tyler Hold (.299) went 2-for-3.

A Lake County Captains

Lugnuts 14, Captains 7

Host Lansing (Mich.) scored six runs in the first inning against Captains starter Felix Sterling and never looked back in a Midwest League victory over Lake Erie.

Sterling (2-4, 5.90) was pulled after two-thirds of an inning, having allowed four hits and two walks. Leonardo Castillo (.170) had a two-run double in the second inning, and Jordan Smith (.267) drove home two more with a fifth-inning double.

Independent Lake Erie Crushers

Crushers idle

Lake Erie opens a Frontier League series against the Joliet Slammers this morning at 10:35.

Top young filly Startin Something and jockey Scott Spieth are two-for-two in the early stakes season at Thistledown. They teamed up again Monday to topple a large field of a dozen Ohio-bred fillies and mares with another slick stretch drive in the 20th $50,000 Angenora Stakes on the holiday program.

Thistledown features live and simulcast horse racing in North Randall.

Top young filly Startin Something and jockey Scott Spieth are two-for-two in the early stakes season at Thistledown. They teamed up again Monday to topple a large field of a dozen Ohio-bred fillies and mares with another slick stretch drive in the 20th $50,000 Angenora Stakes on the holiday program.

It was a duplicate of their six-furlong effort on the May 12 opening-day card, when the Chagrin Falls rider prodded Startin Something to take the lead heading down the stretch to win the $50,000 Classen Memorial Stakes.

On Monday, Startin Something was on the move on the outside in the final turn as Spieth set his sights on early leader Mad Jazz, then blasted past the 41-1 long shot for another 1¾-length victory, covering six furlongs in 1:11.3.

“The filly is going very good right now, and that’s the groove you want to keep them in,” said trainer Tim Hamm, whose Blazing Meadows Farm of Ellsworth, Ohio, owns the four-year-old bay daughter of Musical Dreamer. “It’s hard to argue that Startin Something is not stronger this year, or that she isn’t one of the best mares in the state right now.”

Hamm will bring Startin Something back for the $50,000 Petro Memorial Handicap on June 16, a longer test of 1 1/16 miles.

“The longer distance should actually help her,” said Hamm. “She has been more competitive in the past in the longer races.”

Startin Something paid $9.60, 5.00, 3.40. Honey Be Fleet moved up to second at the wire to pay $6.20, 4.60 as Mad Jazz faded to third, returning $13.

Pay the Man was the 3-2 favorite as the eight-year-old mare chased a sixth straight stakes win with Ricardo Feliciano in the saddle, including five at Thistledown in 2011. The popular veteran went right to the front, hugging the rail with Motego and Mad Jazz on her outside. Pay The Man couldn’t keep up with the younger mares in the final couple of furlongs, though, and finished fourth.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:

degan@plaind.com, 216-999-5158

Get your questions ready and join Terry Pluto today at 2 p.m. as he talks Cleveland sports. Terry will chat with cleveland.com's Glenn Moore about the Tribe's recent road trip to Chicago, the Cavs draft choices and the latest Browns news.

Terry Pluto tackles your questions today at 2 P.M.

Get your questions ready and join Terry Pluto today at 2 p.m. as he talks Cleveland sports.

Terry will chat with cleveland.com's Glenn Moore about the Tribe's recent road trip to Chicago, draft choices for the Cavs and the latest Browns' news.

You can jump in the chat room and ask your questions as well as interact with other users and respond to Terry's remarks, or you can just listen. The chat will also be made available shortly after its completion in mp3 format.

This week, PGA master professional John Fiander of Sleepy Hollow shows you how to avoid hitting over the top and offers a drill to try.

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

This week, PGA master professional John Fiander of Sleepy Hollow in Brecksville shows you how to avoid hitting over the top and offers a drill to try.

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

The Tribe will look to make it two straight against the Kansas City Royals. First pitch is at 7:05 p.m. Get game updates on Twitter from Paul Hoynes, @hoynsie.

The Tribe will look to make it two straight against the Kansas City Royals. First pitch is at 4:05 p.m. Get game updates on Twitter from Paul Hoynes @hoynsie or click here for a live game box score. You can also download our Cleveland Indians app for Android to get Tribe updates on your mobile device. Read on for a game preview.

View full sizeAP Photo/Mark DuncanThe Indians and Royals will square off tonight at Progressive Field.

Cavs have 138 chances in 1,000 to (again) win Wednesday night's lottery for the first pick -- the third-best odds, behind the Charlotte Bobcats (250 in 1,000) and Washington Wizards (199 in 1,000) and just ahead of New Orleans (137 in 1,000). More Cavs story links.

Thomas Ondrey, The Plain DealerCavs forward-center Tristan Thompson was the fourth overall pick in the 2011 NBA draft.

But there will be centers taken high, just as there have been every year. Someone will take a flier during the early lottery on Connecticut freshman Andre Drummond, because he's a physical manchild, even though he was wildly inconsistent in his one season in Storrs. There are also questions about the likes of Syracuse's Fab Melo and Illinois sophomore Meyers Leonard.

The only center prospect that most personnel types would feel safe taking high in the lottery is North Carolina's Tyler Zeller, expected to be a solid if unspectacular big man. The question about Zeller -- as it is with many Tar Heels -- is whether he hit his ceiling as a player in college, and won't improve much more in the pros. But Zeller will shake hands with the Commish early.