Seeking Payback!!

The Cleveland Indians (79-80) may be out of the pennant race themselves but that does not mean that they won't have a say in who wins the American League Central. The roles were reversed in 2005 when the White Sox swept the Tribe and kept them out of the playoffs after a three game sweep. Beginning on Friday night at U.S. Cellular Field the White Sox will limp into the weekend having been swept by the Minnesotta Twins including blowing a 6-1 lead on Thursday. The Tribe will send Scott Lewis (3-0) to the mound for his fourth major league start against the White Sox John Danks.
In a move that could indicate the future for the Tribe Johhny Peralta will start at third base for the first time since the 2004 season. Asdrubal Cabrera being a natural short stop could move there next year and that could very well open the door for the Tribe to make a trade for a second baseman. Only three games left in the 2008 season, hard to believe it is almost over.

Tars Release Hoops Schedule!

The Rollins College Tars have relased their 2008-09 men's basketball schedule and this Tars squad will be tested. Rollins will open the season with two exhibition games, one on November 6th @Florida against the Gators and then the second will be at Florida Atlantic. Some other highlights of the Tars schedule will be a game against the University of Wisconsin Green Bay in Daytona Beach. Rollins will open the conference portion of the schedule on December 16th at Warden Arena against arch-rival Florida Southern. Rollins will also travel to the Vegas High Dessert Classic and take on Missouri Western State and North Alabama December 19th and 20th. February 7th the Tars will travel to Tampa where they will return to the place where there season painfully ended a year ago. The Sunsine State Conference Tournament will be held at campus sites before the final four is held at Nova Southeastern. It should be another exciting season of Tars basketball, you can check out the full schedule at www.RollinsSports.com

Tribe topples Red Sox, Closes in On record!

The Cleveland Indians (79-77) did something they could not do a year ago on Monday night as they defeated nemesis Josh Beckett (12-10) and kept the Boston Red Sox from clinching a playoff berth. Beckett allowed 4 runs in six innings in taking the loss. Ben Fransisco doubled twice off him, Asdrubal Cabrera was 2 of 3 with an RBI on a bases loaded walk and Jamey Carroll as well as the red-hot Shin-Soo Choo drove in runs in the 4-3 win. Beckett hit three Indians. The three hit batters brought the season total to 99 and the next Tribe player to get plunked will tie the major league record set by the 1997 Houston Astros. Zack Jackson (1-3) who came over in the C.C.Sabathia deal from Milwaukee picked up his first win with the Tribe as he pitched two run ball for six innings. David Ortiz homered off the left hander and Kevin Youkilis drove in the first run. The sox had a couple chances to win it. In the seventh inning Rafael Betancourt struck out Jed Lowrie with the bases loaded in a 4-3 game. Jensen Lewis came in in the ninth inning and struck out the pesky Dustin Pedroia as well as retiring David Ortiz before Youkilis who is now 5 of 6 career against Lewis singled and then Jason Bay doubled in the corner to put runners at second and third. Jed Lowrie struck out to end the game as Lewis notched his 12th save in 13 chances. The two teams will battle again Tuesday at Fenway Park as Tim Wakefield will oppose Cliff Lee. Lee will be looking for his 23rd win of the season. First pitch is set for 7:05. A Red Sox win would clinch a playoff berth.

Martinez Goes Deep as Tribe Wins Again!

Victor Martinez homered for the first time in nearly a year Tuesday night as the Indians defeated the White Sox 9-3. Victor who was on the disabled list from June 12th until Friday hit a John Danks fastball onto the home run porch in left field on a 2-0 pitch to give the Tribe a 2-0 lead. The Indians added two more on a Franklin Guitierrez two run double to make it 4-0 in the fourth. Fausto Carmona (8-5) won his third straight start as he went 5/2 innings allowing three runs. Carmona went five scoreless innings before a bout with wildness in the sixth. A couple walks, a hit batsman and a wild pitch were part of the Sox 3 run sixth. Juan Uribe and Nick Swisher each had run scoring doubles and then Alexi Ramirez double put runners on second and third. Rafael Betancourt entered and struck out Jerry Owens. The Tribe then put up a five spot in the seventh. Shin Soo Choo walked against Boone Logan to make it 6-4, then Asdrubal Cabrera had a 2 run single followed by a run scoring single by Grady Sizemore. Cabrera snapped out of a 1 for 19 skid going 3 for 4 on Tuesday. The Tribe's bullpen was solid as Rafael Betancourt, Rafael Perez and Brendan Donnely combined for 3.1 innings of shut out baseball. John Danks (10-8) went 4 innings and took the loss for the White Sox who remained tied with the Twins in the AL Central. Jeremy Sowers (2-7) will be on the hill for the Tribe Wednesday as the Tribe will attempt to complete the sweep. Javier Vazquez (10-12) will get the ball for the Sox. First pitch on Wednesday is set for 12:05 PM.