Month: April 2006 (Page 11 of 17)

Mariners end Tribe’s win streak

April 13, 2006 / John Blake

An old friend came back to haunt the Indians Wednesday night. With one out in the sixth, Richie Sexson launched a Danny Graves pitch over the wall in left for a grand slam to blow the game open. The Tribe battled back but fell short to the Mariners, 11-9. The Indians’ win streak came to a halt at six. Paul Byrd had a rough outing, giving up six runs in 3 2/3 innings. Offensively, once again, there were many bright spots. Pronk went yard for the seventh time in the last seven games. Casey Blake seems like a totally different hitter from last season. He went 3 for 4 with 4 RBI and raised his average to .429.

Though he got the win in his first outing, Paul Byrd has not looked sharp in the early going. However, he is a veteran and I’m not too terribly concerned at this point.

Cleveland Indians

Cavs, LeBron go down in Motown

April 13, 2006 / John Blake

The Detroit Pistons showed why they are the best team in the East, laying an old-fashioned beatdown Wednesday night, defeating the Cavs 96-73. Cleveland couldn’t do much right on either end of the floor and the Pistons were getting whatever shot they wanted. In part to some poor shooting, the Cavs only scored 29 first half points and could never recover. To make matters worse, LeBron James sprained his ankle in the second half and had to undergo X-rays after the game. He is listed as day-to-day.

“It’s sprained pretty good, but nothing serious,” said James, who had 22 points on 8-of-18 shooting. “You never really know until the next day, but I’ve had them before, and this is nothing that bad.”

Let’s hope LeBron knows his body and it isn’t too serious.

Cleveland Cavaliers

Buckeyes change uniforms

April 12, 2006 / Bob

The Ohio State University made its first bad decision of the 2006 football season. The Buckeyes announced that they were officially going to change their football jerseys next year. The school is going to remove the gray from the uniform and lengthen the sleeves. This may sound like no big deal, but Ohio State is about tradition and colors. They even have a couple fight songs that echo the scarlet and gray colors.
The announcement of this change was met with outrage and anger from Buckeye nation. The Columbus Dispatch reporting receiving more feedback than any other web site question posted. The superstitious people believe that when something is going well, don�t change it.

OSU Football

Powerful offense gives Tribe sixth straight win

April 11, 2006 / John Blake

They just keep on rolling. The Indians continue to rake the ball around the park, putting up 13 hits in their 9-5 win over the Seattle Mariners Tuesday night in the first game of the series. The middle of the Tribe�s lineup went 8 for 10 including two homers and five RBI. Travis Hafner and Jhonny Peralta hit back to back jacks in the fifth and Victor Martinez went 3 for 3 in the game to propel the Tribe�s offense. Cliff Lee got his first win of the season, surrendering only two runs and recording eight punchouts through six innings. Even the slumping Ronnie Belliard got in the action with a two-RBI single in the 7th, giving him just his third hit of the season.

“We’re all confident right now,” said Lee, who retired 14 straight after a leadoff walk in the first. “Everybody is pitching well. Everybody is hitting well. We keep swinging like this, and I don’t see a whole lot changing.”

Ronnie has struggled at the plate in the early going and his injury didn�t help. Perhaps his base hit late in the ballgame will give him some relief and boost his confidence. As for the others in the lineup, just keep mashing!

Cleveland Indians

Buckeyes highlight “Big Games”

April 11, 2006 / Bob

The Ohio State Buckeyes football team and Coach Jim Tressel have provided more �big game� highlights than most college teams over the past few years. The Buckeyes always support a strong schedule and play �that team up North� at the end of each year. The spring practices started last week and everyone is pointing at Ohio State to make a run at the national championship.
The defensive is rebuilding and offense is loaded, which is the total opposite of every year Coach Tressel has been leading the Buckeyes. If Ohio State plans to play for all the marbles, they will have to win two of the toughest games in the country. I know baseball season has just begun, but you can�t help but get excited about the Buckeyes schedule next year.