Cleveland Indians 5, Kansas City Royals 2
April 23, 2009

Royals starting lineup:
Coco Crisp (CF), Alberto Callaspo (2B), David DeJesus (LF), Billy Butler (1B), Mark Teahen (3B), Mike Jacobs (DH), John Buck (C), Mike Aviles (SS), Mitch Maier (RF), Gil Meche (P),

Indians starting lineup:
Grady Sizemore (CF), Mark DeRosa (3B), Victor Martinez (C), Shin-Soo Choo (DH), Jhonny Peralta (SS), Ryan Garko (1B), Ben Francisco (LF), Trevor Crowe (RF), Asdrubal Cabrera (2B), Anthony Reyes (P),

Umpires -- John Hirschbeck (HP), Wally Bell (1B), Marty Foster (2B), Marvin Hudson (3B).

Gametime Weather: 44 degrees, Sunny.
Wind: 7 MPH, L To R.

First pitch by A. Reyes at 12:05 PM local time.

Royals 1st (Royals 0, Indians 0) -- C. Crisp struck out looking. A. Callaspo grounds out, A. Cabrera to R. Garko. D. DeJesus walks. B. Butler grounds into a force out, J. Peralta to A. Cabrera, D. DeJesus out at 2nd.
(0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB)

Indians 1st (Royals 0, Indians 0) -- G. Sizemore strikes out swinging. M. DeRosa grounds out, M. Aviles to B. Butler. V. Martinez grounds out, J. Buck to B. Butler.
(0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB)

Kansas City Royals 2, Cleveland Indians 0
April 22, 2009

Royals starting lineup:
Coco Crisp (CF), Mike Aviles (SS), David DeJesus (LF), Billy Butler (1B), Mark Teahen (3B), Mike Jacobs (DH), Alberto Callaspo (2B), Miguel Olivo (C), Willie Bloomquist (RF), Brian Bannister (P),

Indians starting lineup:
Grady Sizemore (CF), Mark DeRosa (3B), Victor Martinez (1B), Travis Hafner (DH), Jhonny Peralta (SS), Shin-Soo Choo (RF), Kelly Shoppach (C), Trevor Crowe (LF), Asdrubal Cabrera (2B), Cliff Lee (P),

Umpires -- Marvin Hudson (HP), John Hirschbeck (1B), Wally Bell (2B), Marty Foster (3B).

Gametime Weather: 48 degrees, Cloudy.
Wind: 15 MPH, L To R.

First pitch by C. Lee at 07:06 PM local time.

Royals 1st (Royals 1, Indians 0) -- C. Crisp doubles to left field. M. Aviles flies out to S. Choo, C. Crisp to 3rd. D. DeJesus out on a sacrifice fly to S. Choo, C. Crisp scores. B. Butler walks. M. Teahen strikes out swinging.
(1 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB)

Indians 1st (Royals 1, Indians 0) -- G. Sizemore flies out to C. Crisp. M. DeRosa pops out to M. Olivo in foul territory. V. Martinez grounds out, A. Callaspo to B. Butler.
(0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB)

Starting today you can cast your ballot for your favorite Cleveland Indians star. The Tribe has 8 players on the ballot which are as follows:

1B Ryan Garko
2B Asdrubal Cabrera
SS Johnny Peralta
3B Mark DeRosa
C Victor Martinez
OF Grady Sizemore
OF Shin Soo-Choo
OF Ben Francisco

If your a Tribe fan you will probably see that noticibly absent is Travis Hafner. Pronk, who has seemingly returned to form after an off year, is not on this years ballot because their will be no DH as this years game is played in St Louis which is a National League team.

You will be able to vote 25 times per email address by going to their official website which is located at the following url http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/events/all_star/y2009/ballot.html. The press release put out by MLB today in part read:

"The Major League Baseball All-Star Game Balloting program is one of the great traditions in sports and serves as a powerful way to engage baseball fans around the world," MLB president Bob DuPuy said. "Major League Baseball is delighted that fans once again will determine the Midsummer Classic's starting lineups as we celebrate the 80th All-Star Game in one of America's truly special baseball cities."

It's been a strange start to the 2009 baseball season for the Cleveland Indians, who opened the year at 0-5 but then recently went on to crush the New York Yankees 22-4 on the road. It's hard to say how they'll play this year, but Playboy Magazine has made their prediction. In the "2009 Baseball Preview" article which is featured in the May edition of the magazine, Hall of Fame sportswriter Tracy Ringolsby predicts that the Indians will not only win the American League Central Division, but also the AL Championship.

So just who would the Tribe face in the World Series? Ringolsby is betting on the Chicago Cubs, who he predicts will ultimately take home the trophy.

While it'd be great for fans of both teams, with a multitude of options for transportation between the two cities for die-hard fans wanting to catch games at both Progressive Field and Wrigley Field, the rest of the world would do good to hold their breath. Such a match up would truly be a sign of the Apocalypse, with neither teaming having won a World Series title in decades (101 years for the Cubs, 61 years for the Indians).

Here are Playboys 2009 MLB predictions:

AL East: New York Yankees
AL Central: Cleveland Indians
AL West: Los Angeles Angels
AL Wild Card: Boston Red Sox

Cleveland Indians 8, Kansas City Royals 7
April 21, 2009

Royals starting lineup:
Coco Crisp (CF), Mike Aviles (SS), David DeJesus (LF), Billy Butler (1B), Mark Teahen (3B), Mike Jacobs (DH), Alberto Callaspo (2B), Miguel Olivo (C), Willie Bloomquist (RF), Sidney Ponson (P)

Indians starting lineup:
Grady Sizemore (CF), Mark DeRosa (3B), Victor Martinez (C), Travis Hafner (DH), Jhonny Peralta (SS), Shin-Soo Choo (RF), Ryan Garko (1B), Ben Francisco (LF), Asdrubal Cabrera (2B), Aaron Laffey (P),

Umpires -- Marty Foster (HP), Marvin Hudson (1B), John Hirschbeck (2B), Wally Bell (3B).

Gametime Weather: 48 degrees, Overcast.
Wind: 11 MPH, Out To RF.

First pitch by A. Laffey at 07:06 PM local time.

Royals 1st (Royals 1, Indians 0) -- C. Crisp doubles to left field. With M. Aviles batting, C. Crisp steals 3rd base. M. Aviles strikes out swinging. D. DeJesus strikes out on foul tip. B. Butler walks. M. Teahen singles to left-center field, C. Crisp scores; B. Butler to 2nd. M. Jacobs flies out to B. Francisco.
(1 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors, 2 LOB)

New York Yankees 7, Cleveland Indians 3
April 19, 2009

Indians starting lineup:
Grady Sizemore (CF), Mark DeRosa (3B), Victor Martinez (1B), Travis Hafner (DH), Jhonny Peralta (SS), Shin-Soo Choo (LF), Ryan Garko (RF), Kelly Shoppach (C), Asdrubal Cabrera (2B), Carl Pavano (P),

Yankees starting lineup:
Brett Gardner (CF), Derek Jeter (SS), Johnny Damon (LF), Mark Teixeira (1B), Nick Swisher (RF), Robinson Cano (2B), Hideki Matsui (DH), Cody Ransom (3B), Jose Molina (C), A.J. Burnett (P),

Umpires -- Jerry Crawford (HP), Tom Hallion (1B), Phil Cuzzi (2B), Mike Estabrook (3B).

Gametime Weather: 59 degrees, Cloudy.
Wind: 14 MPH, In From LF.

First pitch by A. Burnett at 01:08 PM local time.

Indians 1st (Indians 0, Yankees 0) -- G. Sizemore walks. M. DeRosa flies out to N. Swisher. V. Martinez flies out to N. Swisher. T. Hafner singles to left field, G. Sizemore to 3rd. J. Peralta strikes out swinging.
(0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 2 LOB)

Yankees 1st (Indians 0, Yankees 0) -- B. Gardner strikes out swinging. D. Jeter grounds out, C. Pavano to V. Martinez. J. Damon grounds out, C. Pavano to V. Martinez.
(0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB)

Indians 2nd (Indians 1, Yankees 0) -- S. Choo hits a home run to right field on a 1-1 pitch. R. Garko grounds out, C. Ransom to M. Teixeira. K. Shoppach hit by pitch. A. Cabrera grounds into double play, R. Cano to D. Jeter to M. Teixeira, K. Shoppach out at 2nd.
(1 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB)

Yankees 2nd (Indians 1, Yankees 0) -- M. Teixeira flies out to G. Sizemore. N. Swisher struck out looking. R. Cano grounds out, A. Cabrera to V. Martinez.
(0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB)

Indians 3rd (Indians 1, Yankees 0) -- G. Sizemore flies out to J. Damon. M. DeRosa grounds out, C. Ransom to M. Teixeira. V. Martinez grounds out to M. Teixeira.
(0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB)

Yankees 3rd (Indians 1, Yankees 0) -- H. Matsui grounds out, A. Cabrera to V. Martinez. C. Ransom lines out to G. Sizemore. J. Molina lines out to R. Garko.
(0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB)

Indians 4th (Indians 3, Yankees 0) -- T. Hafner grounds out, D. Jeter to M. Teixeira. J. Peralta grounds out, C. Ransom to M. Teixeira. S. Choo walks. R. Garko hits a home run to left field on a 1-1 pitch, S. Choo scores. K. Shoppach lines out to N. Swisher.
(2 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB)

Yankees 4th (Indians 3, Yankees 1) -- B. Gardner flies out to G. Sizemore. D. Jeter doubles to right-center field. J. Damon grounds out, M. DeRosa to V. Martinez. M. Teixeira singles to right field, D. Jeter scores. N. Swisher strikes out swinging.
(1 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB)

Indians 5th (Indians 3, Yankees 1) -- A. Cabrera walks. G. Sizemore flies out to N. Swisher. M. DeRosa flies out to N. Swisher. With V. Martinez batting, wild pitch by A. Burnett, A. Cabrera to 2nd. V. Martinez grounds out, R. Cano to M. Teixeira.
(0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB)

Yankees 5th (Indians 3, Yankees 1) -- R. Cano pops out to J. Peralta. H. Matsui pops out to J. Peralta. C. Ransom grounds out, J. Peralta to V. Martinez.
(0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB)

Indians 6th (Indians 3, Yankees 1) -- T. Hafner struck out looking. J. Peralta walks. S. Choo grounds into double play, R. Cano to D. Jeter to M. Teixeira, J. Peralta out at 2nd.
(0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB)

Yankees 6th (Indians 3, Yankees 1) -- J. Molina singles up the middle. B. Gardner singles through the hole at shortstop, J. Molina to 2nd. D. Jeter grounds into double play, A. Cabrera to J. Peralta to V. Martinez, J. Molina to 3rd; B. Gardner out at 2nd. J. Damon hit by pitch. With M. Teixeira batting, J. Damon steals 2nd base. M. Teixeira walks. N. Swisher strikes out swinging.
(0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors, 3 LOB)

Indians 7th (Indians 3, Yankees 1) -- R. Garko walks. Offensive Substitution: Pinch runner T. Crowe replaces R. Garko. With K. Shoppach batting, wild pitch by A. Burnett, T. Crowe to 2nd. K. Shoppach grounds out, D. Jeter to M. Teixeira. With A. Cabrera batting, wild pitch by A. Burnett, T. Crowe to 3rd. A. Cabrera walks. G. Sizemore walks, A. Cabrera to 2nd. Pitcher Change: J. Albaladejo replaces A. Burnett. M. DeRosa grounds into a force out, C. Ransom to J. Molina, T. Crowe out at home, A. Cabrera to 3rd; G. Sizemore to 2nd. V. Martinez grounds out, R. Cano to M. Teixeira.
(0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 3 LOB)

Yankees 7th (Yankees 4, Indians 3) -- T. Crowe remains in the game as the right fielder. Pitcher Change: R. Perez replaces C. Pavano. R. Cano doubles to left field. H. Matsui singles to left-center field, R. Cano scores. Pitcher Change: J. Lewis replaces R. Perez. C. Ransom ground bunts into a force out, J. Lewis to J. Peralta, H. Matsui out at 2nd. Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter J. Posada replaces J. Molina. Play reviewed and stands as called: J. Posada hits a home run to right field on a 1-1 pitch, C. Ransom scores. Pitcher Change: R. Betancourt replaces J. Lewis. B. Gardner strikes out on foul tip. D. Jeter strikes out swinging.
(3 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB)

Indians 8th (Yankees 4, Indians 3) -- J. Posada remains in the game as the catcher. Pitcher Change: B. Bruney replaces J. Albaladejo. T. Hafner pops out to C. Ransom in foul territory. J. Peralta grounds out, D. Jeter to M. Teixeira. S. Choo lines out to J. Damon.
(0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB)

Yankees 8th (Yankees 7, Indians 3) -- J. Damon flies out to S. Choo. M. Teixeira grounds out to V. Martinez. N. Swisher doubles to center field. Offensive Substitution: Pinch runner M. Cabrera replaces N. Swisher. R. Betancourt intentionally walks R. Cano. H. Matsui walks, M. Cabrera to 3rd; R. Cano to 2nd. C. Ransom doubles to left field, M. Cabrera scores; R. Cano scores; H. Matsui scores. Pitcher Change: K. Wood replaces R. Betancourt. J. Posada struck out looking.
(3 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB)

Indians 9th (Yankees 7, Indians 3) -- M. Cabrera remains in the game as the right fielder. Pitcher Change: M. Rivera replaces B. Bruney. T. Crowe grounds out, C. Ransom to M. Teixeira. K. Shoppach singles to left-center field. A. Cabrera strikes out swinging. With G. Sizemore batting, K. Shoppach advances to 2nd on defensive indifference. G. Sizemore struck out looking.
(0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB)

Final: Yankees 7, Indians 3

WP: Jonathan Albaladejo (1-0).
LP: Jensen Lewis (1-2).
Time: 3:23.
Attendance: 43068.
Official Scorer: Howie Karpin.

The Bronx is a dangerous place so a robbery is not really big news. Well, it is when it comes from Major League Baseball who enacted a rule that was suppose protect teams against these types of events.

What I am referring to is a play in the 7th inning in the Cleveland Indians vs New York Yankees game that is currently underway. The Yankees have a lead in the 8th inning by a score of 4-3, but that came with a little help from the fans and men in blue.

Jorge Posada hit a long drive to right field were Trevor Crowe jumped up right before to make a great catch. Yankee fans had other ideas and reached over the fence which knocked Crowe down with him and the ball being knocked out of his mitt in the process. Despite the ball never going over the fence, in New York that is a home run.

If your a MLB fan you be asking yourself, didn't the league enact a rule that prevented that from happening. They did go to the replay booth but despite clear evidence that it was not a home run the men in blue instead turned yellow and didn't overturn the call probably because of their fear at what may happen in the Bronx Zoo. Eric Wedge was tossed from the game after arguing the call.

Cleveland Indians 22, New York Yankees 4
April 18, 2009

Indians starting lineup:
Grady Sizemore (CF), Mark DeRosa (3B), Victor Martinez (C), Travis Hafner (DH), Jhonny Peralta (SS), Shin-Soo Choo (RF), Ryan Garko (1B), Ben Francisco (LF), Asdrubal Cabrera (2B), Fausto Carmona (P),

Yankees starting lineup:
Derek Jeter (SS), Johnny Damon (DH), Mark Teixeira (1B), Nick Swisher (RF), Jorge Posada (C), Robinson Cano (2B), Melky Cabrera (LF), Brett Gardner (CF), Ramiro Pena (3B), Chien-Ming Wang (P),

Umpires -- Ed Hickox (HP), Jerry Crawford (1B), Tom Hallion (2B), Phil Cuzzi (3B).

Gametime Weather: 75 degrees, Partly Cloudy.
Wind: 13 MPH, R To L.

First pitch by C. Wang at 03:43 PM local time.

Indians 1st (Indians 0, Yankees 0) -- G. Sizemore strikes out swinging. M. DeRosa pops out to R. Cano. V. Martinez flies out to M. Cabrera.
(0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB)

The Cleveland Indians rained on the New York Yankees parade today with a 10-2 blowout win highlighted by Grady Sizemore's grand slam home run in the the 7th inning which broke the game opening for the Tribe. Reigning AL Cy Young award winner Cliff Lee, who had struggled in his first two times out this season, pitched a solid 6 innings for the victory as the Indians won in consecutive games for the first time this season. Former Indian CC Sabathia, despite giving up one run, struggled on the afternoon allowing 10 baserunners in less than 6 innings work. Picking up the loss for the Yankees was relief pitcher Jose Veraswho didn't record an out and was charged with 3 earned runs.

Here are the highlights from the game this afternoon: