After a shocking 3-game series sweep in Round #1 of the 2008 Ohio Cup series between the Reds and Indians, the Tribe decided all they needed was a little home cookin’. C.C. Sabathia was dominant in throwing 8 shutout innings as he struck out 11 and allowed just 4 hits to pick up his 6th win of the season. With the win, the Ohio Cup series for 2008 is now 3-1 in Cincinnati’s favor, but Cleveland holds the edge in series history at 30-25.

Saturday’s game will feature two pitchers with contrasting styles as veteran Paul Byrd will face rookie Johnny Cueto. Meanwhile, the Indans should have a huge advantage as Aaron Laffey faces Cincinnati’s worst started, Bronson Arroyo. Arroyo comes off a start where he became the first pitcher since 1900 to all 10 runs and 11 hits in just 1 inning pitched.

Fans can find a great selection of Cleveland Indians apparel as well as Cincinnati Reds jerseys & hats online through DFN Sports sites.

The NBA Draft is tonight and the Cleveland Cavaliers are rumored to be shopping the #19 pick. As we reported several weeks ago, the Cavs were looking at Indiana’s Jermaine O’Neal and Milwaukee’s Michael Redd, both of whom have been rumored to be on the trading block by major news sources. Last night ESPN reported the Cavs had offered the #19 pick, Wally Szczerbiak and Anderson Varejao to Indiana for O’Neal, but it seems the Pacers liked Toronto’s offer better as the Raptors and Pacers have reportedly agreed on a deal. Talk on 1100 WTAM this morning centered around Michael Redd, a player the Cavs tried to sign a few years ago as a free agent and a former Buckeye.

Meanwhile, ESPN’s Chris Ford has the Cavs picking Robin Lopez, a 7′0″ center with the #19 pick. Did I miss something here? With Varejao, Ben Wallace, Z and Joe Smith the Cavs have four players who can play PF and C. Why do you need another center? The Cleveland Cavaliers need scoring and another playmaker. Why isn;t anyone else saying anything about Chris Douglas-Roberts out of Memphis? He’s a 6′6″ SG/SF out of Memphis, he scored over 18 ppg last year, he can get to the basket and can play good defense.

Danny Ferry, do us all a favor. Don’t screw this LeBron thing up. We have a 2-year window. Take a guy who can compliment LeBron’s scoring and make his own shot. We don’t need 14 7-footers on the 15-man roster!

The Athlon Sports College Football 2008 magazine has hit the news stands (and my mailbox) and let’s just say Athlon is not expecting much of the 2008 Ohio Bobcats football team. While there’s excitement at quarterback with JUCO transfer Boo Jackson competing with Theo Scott, Athlon does not see a lot more to be excited about in Athens this fall. Andrew Mooney set a school record with 9 TD catches for a TE in 2007 and Michael Mitchel and Jameson Hartke lead Frank Solich’s defense, but the overall picture painted by Athlon is not a pretty one. The losses of key contributors Kalvin McRae (1,434 yds rushing, 19 TD - school leader in career rushing yards), kicker Michael Braunstein (school record 20 FG in 2007) and defensive lineman Landon Cohen (NFL Draft 7th round pick) leave the Bobcats with holes to fill, but I am not supportive of the 1-2 wins predicted by Athlon. Yes, the Bobcats have a greuling schedule to start the 2008 college football season with 5 of their first 7 games on the road where Vegas will likely have them as an underdog in all of those games but one, but just 1-2 wins for a Frank Solich-coached team seems dramatically underrated.

My pick for the 2008 Ohio Bobcats? Yes, there are major holes to fill, but the coaching staff knows how to win and the Bobcats are just two season removed from the 2006 MAC East title. I see Ohio being somewhere between 5-7 and 7-5 and middle of the pack in the MAC unless the ‘Cats learn a lot from their tough early schedule. If they do they could potentially contend for the MAC East crown in 2008.

The 2008 baseball season has been a tough one for the Cleveland Indians as the offense and bullpen have been disappointing all year. Now, with Travis Hafner and Victor Martinez on the DL, the two of the Tribe’s top run producers are on the shelf and Wedge will need to look to others to pick up the slack. Jamey Carroll and Ryan Garko have hit the ball well in recent days, but I think Wedge should look to what should be an obvious choice to move to the middle of the Indians’ lineup. Batting 3rd for the Indians, Grady Sizemore! This is what I would like to hear from the P.A. at Progressive Field.

There’s no doubt that Sizemore is one of the biggest talents in the Cleveland lineup and all of the American League, and it’s time the Indians put Grady in a position to be a run-producer and not just a table-setter. In his first 3 full seasons in the Major Leagues, Sizemore has had at least 22 HR and 76 RBI in each of three seasons. This season, Grady is on pace for nearly 40 HR and 95 RBI; all as a leadoff hitter. With a lineup that relies on Ryan Garko to produce runs (61 RBI in 138 games last year) and tonight has David Dellucci (never has had more than 65 RBI in a season) as the DH batting 5th, it’s clear that a little creativity in the middle of the lineup is needed in Cleveland. So who better than Grady Sizemore to bat in the #3 or #4 spot.

Fans can now get a Grady Sizemore Fathead poster online through Sports Shop and put Grady on the wall at your house!