Month: August 2006 (Page 13 of 17)

Tribe ties it, loses it

August 8, 2006 / John Blake

Just as the offense fought back to tie it, the bullpen from hell ruined what could have been a nice comeback by the Tribe., who fell to L.A of Anaheim 5-4 at the Jake. The Angels built a 4-0 lead midway through the game off Jeremy Sowers with the help of home runs by Vladmir Guerrero and Garret Anderson. The Indians then responded with four in the sixth to tie it up. Grady Sizemore started the rally with a home run. Shin-Soo Choo then doubled to score one and Hector Luna singled to score two more. Exit Sowers, enter Rafael Betancourt. After allowing two baserunners, Betancourt gave up the eventual winning run on an Adam Kennedy base hit.

“[The bullpen] has had its difficulties,” Wedge said.

Ya think! Boy, if that isn’t the understatement of the year.

Cleveland Indians

OSU line to lead the way

August 8, 2006 / Bob

The Ohio State Buckeyes are ranked number one in the nation. The papers and talk shows continue to focus on Troy Smith and Ted Ginn Jr. The conversation is usually describing how these two superstars will lead the Buckeyes to the Championship game.

The real key to Ohio State�s success will be the experience on the offensive line. Doug Datish will be at center, with fifth year senior T.J. Downing and sophomore Alex Boone bringing experience and size to the group. This experience and size will allow Smith to run a high powered offense that will be one of the best in the country.

If Ohio State�s line plays to their potential, the Bucks should find themselves playing in the final Bowl game of the season.

OSU Football

Addition by subtraction

August 8, 2006 / Bob

The Cleveland Cavaliers took the first step in becoming a nationally recognized organization. Ronnie �Slam� Duncan was released as the PA announcer. If I had a dollar for every mistake Duncan made during the course of a game, I�d be living on easy street. The Cavs are drawing national attention and need to eliminate the childish drama that Duncan put into every sentence. This is another example of a Cleveland sports team leaving the past behind them.

Cleveland Cavaliers

Hallen leaves camp, Browns sign another center

August 8, 2006 / G

Things are getting really strange in Browns camp. The Browns placed Bob Hallen on the exempt-left team list tonight after he left camp. The reasons are not very clear. Romeo Crennel cited Hallen’s back injury and personal problems as the reasons he left camp, saying the two were related.

This is a big blow to the Browns’ season, as they were relying on Hallen to take over the starting center position after the injury to LeCharles Bentley.

Crennel and Phil Savage moved quickly to deal with the situation, sending a conditional 2007 draft pick to New England to acquire Ross Tucker.

Tucker (6-foot-4, 310) played in one game for the Patriots last year. He started 12 of 16 games at guard and center for Buffalo in 2004 after starting 12 and playing in five in 2003.

He’s started 24 games and played 42 since entering the league as an undrafted free agent out of Princeton in 2001. He played with Washington in 2001 and the start of 2002. After being waived by the Redskins, he went on to start the final seven games of 2002 at left guard for the Cowboys.

On paper Tucker looks like someone who should be able to help. At this point the Browns at least need to get a professional center who won’t hurt them. Hopefully Tucker can fit the bill.

Cleveland Browns

Indians lock up Lee

August 8, 2006 / John Blake

Mark Shapiro and the Indians’ organization continue to take steps to keep their core players in a Tribe uniform for several years. Tuesday, the Indians signed starter Cliff Lee to a three-year extension.

Cliff Lee signed a three-year, $14 million contract extension with the Cleveland Indians on Tuesday, another long-term commitment for a young player the club considers key to winning in the future.

Lee’s deal includes a club option for the 2010 season for $8 million, plus $1 million in award and incentive bonuses, ESPN Insider Jerry Crasnick reports.

“This signing further exemplifies ownership’s consistent, continued desire to maintain the present core group of Cleveland Indians players and demonstrates Cliff’s desire to be part of that core,” Shapiro said.

The Indians tried in the off-season and during spring training to sign Lee long-term but couldn’t get a deal done. Cliff is young and talented and has a lot of promise as a starter in this league. Now, if only he can learn how to avoid the big inning in games he’ll be fine.