Top articles shared by Akron Beacon Journal journalists

The official source for NFL news, video highlights, fantasy football, game-day coverage, schedules, stats, scores and more.

Match.com is the number one destination for online dating with more dates, more relationships, & more marriages than any other dating or personals site.

CLEVELAND: Fans who watched the Indians on Friday night saw a lot of runs for the seventh time in the past eight games. Unfortunately, for the Tribe, it was the visiting team that did most of the scoring.

The first few days of free agency under the NBA's new collective bargaining agreement sure do resemble the first few days under the old one. Stars are still forcing their way onto teams of their choice, mediocre players are getting paid like superstars and the Cavaliers are standing idly by, watching the debris pile up around them.

CLEVELAND: It's the kind of anomaly that will prompt Indians fans to say, "It was nice while it lasted," but no team averages 7.6 runs a game for long. Then again, who knows what the future holds?

CLEVELAND: Who says the Indians are deficient on the offensive side? You can bet Dan Haren doesn't think so. The Tribe's oft-disparaged batsmen buried the Angels' starter under a barrage of hits, forcing him out of the game after only 4⅓ innings. Meanwhile, Zach McAllister (almost) acquitted himself admirably again, giving up three earned runs in six innings.

It wasn't long after the Cavaliers selected Dion Waiters fourth overall Thursday that the fans erupted. The idea of bypassing Harrison Barnes for a bench player they'd never heard of sparked a firestorm of rage on Twitter. "Fire Grant!" and "What is he doing?!?!"

BALTIMORE: The Indians don't have the kind of firepower to win many slugfests. And since the Tribe and Baltimore Orioles weren't playing horseshoes, coming close didn't count. But there were different ways to dissect the 9-8 loss at Camden Yards. The Indians scored enough runs to win most games, but gifted the Orioles with three runs in the first inning.

NEW YORK: Carlos Santana was removed for a pinch hitter in the ninth because of tightness in his right side near the back. "Carlos had some back tightness," manager Manny Acta said. "He tested OK according to our medical staff, but we won't know until he shows up tomorrow if he can play."

The Cavs have a problem. If they are right and the rest of the league is wrong, it could be a fairly significant problem. How they navigate tonight's NBA Draft will go a long way in determining how successful they are in clearing out the debris and retooling another championship-caliber roster.

The Cavs have a problem. If they are right and the rest of the league is wrong, it could be a fairly significant problem. How they navigate tonight's NBA Draft will go a long way in determining how successful they are in clearing out the debris and retooling another championship-caliber roster.

NEW YORK: Chris Perez was the talk of Cleveland again Tuesday after his comments to a New York Times reporter filtered back to Northeast Ohio. The Indians' closer reiterated what he said several weeks ago concerning the fan support at Progressive Field and added a new twist about the Browns, by way of contrast.

Beacon Journal sports writer NEW YORK: To nobody's surprise, the Indians optioned Jeanmar Gomez back to Columbus on Monday and called up left-handed reliever Scott Barnes. But Barnes (or another reliever) will be returning to Triple-A on Thursday, when Gomez was scheduled to face the Orioles at Camden Yards.

HOUSTON: When Nick Hagadone was throwing 97- and 98-mile-per-hour fastballs last week against the Reds, manager Manny Acta wasn't surprised; he said the Indians' reliever often throws in the mid-90s. It is not uncommon these days to see relief pitchers deliver fastballs 94 and 95 mph. Chris Perez does it routinely.

Top 5 small forwards available in NBA draft Name, Class, School Ht./Wt. Pts. Rbs. Asst. 1. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Fr., 
Kentucky 6-8/230 11.9 7.4 1.9 Youngest player in draft and incredibly athletic, but provides little on offense. 2. Harrison Barnes, So., 
North Carolina 6-8/228 17.1 5.2 1.1 Strength is his shooting, but can't handle the ball and struggles 
to create for himself.

Once the lottery was complete and the Cavaliers learned they were selecting fourth in Thursday's draft, Harrison Barnes immediately became the obvious choice linked to the team most often. And why not? The Cavs were high on Barnes last year and probably would've taken him fourth had he entered the draft after his freshman season.

HOUSTON: The Indians finished behind the White Sox in the race to acquire Kevin Youkilis. Chicago made the deal late this afternoon, sending reliever Zach Stewart (1-2, 6.00 ERA) and utility infielder Brent Lillibridge (.175, 63 AB) to the Red Sox.

If the Cavaliers are serious about drafting the top-rated shooting guard in this draft, they may have to get moving to catch him. Beal's stock has been soaring since the NBA combine, when he measured in an acceptable 6-foot-4, and could be off the board by the time the Cavaliers select fourth on Thursday.

HOUSTON: After losing to the Astros 8-1 Saturday at Minute Maid Park, the Indians added another name to their enemies list of tyke tormentors who throw with their left arms. The newest member of this group of lethal lefties is Dallas Keuchel, who in his second major-league start pitched a complete game, stifling the Tribe offense on 108 pitches - an average of 12 per inning - that traveled 89 miles per hour or less.