The second half approacheth; other thoughts

• The Indians open the second half of the season tonight against the Tigers, with opening-day starter Jake Westbrook also starting the first game of the second half. I don't suppose it makes much difference, because the Indians ain't goin' nowhere nohow, but I'd have started Fausto Carmona tonight. He's been the team's best starter thus far, and he didn't pitch in the All-Star Game, so he's rested. But that's a minor quibble.

• The Tigers, though they are a strong 48-38 overall, are a surprising 16-25 on the road. That's probably an aberration, but regardless, the Tribe has a fighting chance in this series.

• I don't have time to write a complete second-half preview, but in a nutshell, here's what I think we'll see the rest of the season: trades of veterans with expiring contracts, and a lot of young players trying to prove they belong in the majors. It's hard to imagine that they could be much worse than they were in the first half, but if they get rid of their high-priced talent and put the games in the hands of unproven youngsters, that is in fact entirely possible. But it doesn't matter much. The important thing is trying to contend in 2012 or 2013. Preferably both.

• Shin-Soo Choo could be returning soon, which would be a big help. He hit off a tee Wednesday and took some swings in the batting cage Thursday, and says he feels close to 100%. The Tribe's offense isn't very potent even with Choo in the lineup, but if they're going to score some runs in the second half, he's going to have to be one of the guys who knocks them in. Asdrubal Cabrera will likely also be back soon; he's currently on a rehab assignment in Akron. He's not the run producer Choo is, but he can hit some, and his slick glove is always welcome.

• And now ... the Cavaliers. A judge has given Delonte West eight months' home detention rather than jail for carrying weapons in Maryland. He will be allowed to leave home for practices and games, which means he'll be able to play. There's no stopping the Cavs now ... (I would like to point out that West didn't actually use his guns on anyone, but I guess nobody much cares.)

• It took the Houston Rockets less than a day to match the Cavs' offer to guard Kyle Lowry, so the Cavs are still looking for a backup point guard. They may also be looking for other players. They seem to have a hole at small forward, for example. I can't remember who was there last year, but I think I remember hearing he's gone.

• Oh, yeah. I remember now. Here's something cheery for those who wish ill on the Miami Heat next year (which I'm thinking is pretty much all of us): LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh were all on the team that represented the United States in the 2006 FIBA World Championship, which is basketball's version of the World Cup. Not only did that team not win the title, they didn't even get there. They were eliminated by Greece in the semifinals. That Greek team had exactly one NBA player on it (Vassilis Spanoulis), and I've never heard of him.

• Someone named "dkbfish" just commented on my last post about how he's getting back at LeBron with "forever ungrateful" T-shirts. I don't think whoever that is cares about my blog at all, he's just trying to sell T-shirts. But what the hell, I left it up. Maybe he'll send me a free one. (cough)