Hello Tribe Fans Everywhere!

Jeremy Sowers is about the last guy I thought would suffer through a sophomore jinx. So bright and cerebral, he seemed capable of out-thinking hitters when he breezed through his 14-game stretch as a starter in the Indians rotation on 2006.

But now Sowers is strugging. Driven from the box a week ago after just two innings against Baltimore, Sowers coughed up six runs to Anaheim yesterday in just five innings of work. His record now stands at 0-3 with a 6.56 earned run average.

Still, Tribe manager Eric Wedge praised Sowers for closing well against the Angels, even though the young southpaw surrendered a run in his final inning. It feels as if Wedge is trying to build up a young pitcher's confidence, which must be pretty shaky at this point, I would assume.

Unless he's ailing physically, Sowers should be able to pull it together. I suspect Wedge's intentions are good -- this is a pitcher you don't want to give up on too soon.

It hurts a bit that the Tribe has slipped into second place, but the baseball season is so long, with so many twists and turns, that a manager or players can never afford to get too high, or too low.

I must admit I was suprised when the Tribe called a "players only" meeting on Wednesday, which rarely happens when a team is in first place. Notice that the Indians have lost two straight since the meeting.

It's been a good, 3-week stretch of solid baseball, even though many Cleveland players are still not hitting consistently.

Fans should make it a point to check out the current issue of Sports Illustrated, which features Grady Sizemore on the cover. The story is a full-length treatment of Sizemore that actually made me wonder if it was too lavish in its praise for the 24-year-old centerfielder. It certainly made Sizemore sound like a good guy -- and it made Cleveland GM Mark Shapiro sound like a genius for signing him to a long-term contract.

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The answer to the last quickie quiz is: Albert Belle led the Tribe with a .235 batting average during the 1995 World Series.

Today's quiz: We're coming up on the anniversary of Len Barker's perfect game against Toronto. Name the Indians right fielder who led the club with three hits in that game.

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-- Kevin Cuneo