The Indians scored 35 runs the last three games in Texas, which either means that park is the ultimate hitter’s park, or the Indians may be breaking out of their hitting slump. Or have broken out. If they are, it’s good. But the prognosis for Jake Westbrook does not sound good. Any time a guy goes to see an expert on Tommy John surgery, it does not sound good. Sounds possible, perhaps likely, the Indians will lose Westbrook for the season, if not longer. Which means that this season the Indians have lost their No. 2 and No. 3 starters for periods of time (Fausto Carmona and Westbrook) and gotten next to nothing from their No. 3 and 4 hitters (Travis Hafner and Victor Martinez). There’s still time in a season, and the Indians do have pitching depth – though minor leaguer Adam Miller is done for the year following surgery on his finger – but given these facts is it any wonder the Indians have struggled?

Excellent story in the Boston Globe about Paul Pierce, a guy I had questions about prior to this postseason. It details how Pierce grew up this year. Seems easy to grow up when you’ve got two All-Stars on your team, but that’s the take from Boston .In the story, it says the Celtics figured things out against Detroit after playing two “inferior teams.” Ahem. One of those teams would be the Cleveland Cavaliers. On the one hand, anyone can say that, because the Celtics beat the Cavs. But on the other, let’s be honest … the Celtics squeezed out a Game 7 win over the Cavs by four points in a game the Cavs easily could have won had they made a shot at the end. This is sort of like the guy I once knew who used to say he hit the perfect putt, it was just three feet to the right. Which of course means the putt was not perfect. So the Cavs missed their shots and lost. Which means the Celtics deserved to win. But it hardly seems like that series proved the Cavs were an “inferior team.” Boston just happened to win.

Always interesting what motivates players. Pierce apparently was made he was drafted 10th. The story relates: “In his early years, Pierce regularly engaged in a solo shooting drill in which he would rotate from the perimeter, left to right, swishing a 3-pointer and hollering the name of each man drafted ahead of him.”

Could the NBA possibly drag out the start of these Finals a little more? When did the last series end? A week ago Tuesday?

Finally found the best use of HDTV – Stanley Cup hockey. You can actually see the puck!