A few random thoughts

* Sure, it was a little disappointing that the Indians lost the series at home against the Rays, after taking the first game. But the Rays are the hottest team in baseball right now, and the Tribe still has the best record in the American League. And Justin Masterson wasn't going to go undefeated all year.

* The Tribesmen were 20-8 after winning in Oakland on May 3. Since then, they're 3-5. Is this a temporary cold stretch, or what we can expect from this team the rest of the way? Only time will tell, but I'm optimistic they can turn it around.

* The just-as-surprising-as-the-Indians Kansas City Royals are in second place, at 20-17, after having just taken two of three from the Yankees in the Bronx. Partially fueling that series win was brand-new uber-prospect call-up Eric Hosmer, who homered in each of the two games the Royals won. By calling up Hosmer when they did, the Royals were signalling that they think they can contend this year, because they started the clock on his free agency. The Tigers are only half a game behind the Royals, and if the White Sox and Twins ever right themselves, this could be a very interesting race.

* In less interesting news, either Carlos Boozer or LeBron James will be playing in the NBA Finals this year. Had they both so chosen, they could have been leading the Cavaliers to a title right now. Instead, Boozer's Bulls and James' Heat will play for the Eastern Conference championship. Sigh.

* Jim Tressel just hired a lawyer to represent him before the NCAA Infractions Committee, and it's one heck of a lawyer for this situation: Gene Marsh is the former chairman of that very same committee. Before Tressel had hired him, Marsh said Tressel had a chance to get off relatively lightly because of his positive track record and the fact that the infraction wasn't as serious as some. I hope he's right, because that Tressel is one heck of a coach, and I'd hate to lose him.