Maybe Manny Acta means something different when he says, “We’re not going to let Jose Bautista beat us this series.”

Because when I hear or read that I’m thinking that you’re going to pitch around the guy leading the majors in home runs and that you’ll walk him when necessary and not let him swing the bat late in ballgames. You know, take your chances with the immortal Adam Lind or someone else in the Blue Jays lineup.

Apparently I’m way off base because Bautista pretty much beat the Indians in every single game of their four-game series this weekend, including in the only game the Indians actually won last Thursday night.

You remember Thursday night I assume? The Indians surrendered a solo homer to Bautista in the 9^th inning to give Toronto a 4-0 lead. That lead was erased and the Indians won dramatically in the bottom of the 9^th when Travis Hafner clubbed an incredible grand slam home run of his own to give the Tribe a feel good walk-off win. That win gave the Indians wins in six of their previous eight games, kept them in control of first place in the division and set the weekend up for a nice little run heading into the All Star break.

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Some titles are won on the field. Others are given at birth. It’s up for debate which ones actually do more to cement a man’s legacy. In Part One of the 100 Best Names in Cleveland Sports History, we celebrated such luminaries as Eric Plunk, Bimbo Coles, and Pepper Johnson. Now it’s on to Part Two, with Top Names #75-51. Take a trip down moniker memory lane with us, won’t you?

100 Best Names in Cleveland Sports History: #100-76  |  #75-51  |  #50-26  |  #25-1

#75 – Charlie Spikes
Outfielder, Cleveland Indians, 1973-1977
A native of Bogalusa, Louisiana, Leslie Charles Spikes had the tools of his future trade right there in his birth name. Looking back, though, it was probably more amusing than prophetic. Charlie only stole 27 bases in his career, so the emphasis on the footwear was probably a bit unfair. He also made 18 errors in the outfield between ’73 and ‘74, so “Charlie Glover” wouldn’t have fit much better.

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The Jeff Carter trade marked a good start to the 2011 offseason for the Blue Jackets, but a lot more work still needs to be done. That work can begin tomorrow, July 1, as free agency begins in the NHL. Despite an ever-growing salary cap, reported to be $64 million for the 2011-12 season, there are some good players available who can help the team immensely.

One player in particular, James Wisniewski, had his exclusive negotiating rights traded to the Blue Jackets in exchange for a seventh round draft pick in the 2012 draft. Montreal, the team who previously had Wisniewski, would receive a fifth round pick if Wisniewski signs.

Wisniewski would help the Jackets immediately. He would be a second pairing defenseman and accumulated 29 powerplay points, 51 total, last season. He’s a right handed shot and is responsible defensively as well, having blocked 119 shots between Montreal and the New York Islanders. The Jackets have been optimistic that he will sign and Wisniewski and his agent have been in Columbus since early Thursday morning touring facilities and discussing a contract. A deal should be done tonight/early tomorrow

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You have to give it to the Cleveland Indians: they do keep increasing the degree of difficulty as this summer gets going and the baseball season continues. And keeping with form and the theme, the Cavaliers also appear hell bent on making things extremely difficult for themselves as well.

The good news is that Ohio State has already wet the bed and the sheets are being changed while we wait to hear how long that bastion of integrity and consistency, the NCAA, grounds the Buckeyes.

So yes, once again, it's a joyous and upbeat look at a weekend of Cleveland sports.

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