Factory Lines: Cleveland Indians Lose, Collin McHugh, Terrance West, Isaiah Crowell, Brian Hoyer, JT Barrett and Urban Outfitters Bloodied Kent State Sweatshirt

Aug 21, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Cleveland Indians manager Terry Francona walks back to the dugout in the sixth inning against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field. The Minnesota Twins win 4-1. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

Houston’s Collin McHugh has been pretty good lately, not it’s not a big surprise he baffled the Indians for 6 2/3 innings Monday night, allowing just one unearned run on five hits, while walking nobody and fanning seven.

I’ll admit, Collin McHugh could sit at my breakfast table wearing a sign that says “I’m Collin McHugh” and I still wouldn’t know he is, but after yesterday, I’m well aware.

McHugh’s put a nice string of starts together for a young Astros team. In nine starts since Aug. 1, he is 6-0 with a 1.50 ERA. He has given up one or zero earned runs seven times and two earned runs twice. For the season,  he’s 10-9 with a 2.66 ERA in 24 starts. He has allowed 118 hits and struck out 158 in 154 2/3 innings.

• The Detroit sweep was devastating, but technically, the Indians still and a chance if they could sweep Houston. Obviously, it’s beyond disappointing to see the Tribe go down this way, scoring one measly run off seven hits.

• He left in the seventh after taking a liner off his arm. The Astros are saying he has  bruised forearm. The Indians have now dropped six of their last nine, as postseason hopes drift farther away with every defeat.

• The Tribe is 76-73, and 7 1/2 games behind the Tigers in the Central. The Tribe needs to make up 6.0 games worth of ground to earn a berth as the second Wild Card.

Sep 14, 2014; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns running back Isaiah Crowell (34) runs the ball during the second quarter against the New Orleans Saints at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

Cleveland Browns

• Brian Hoyer is getting some well-deserved for his play on Sunday, and the national media is paying attention as well.

CBS Sportswriter Jason La Canfora complimented the Cleveland’s native play through the first two games:

"“Hoyer has shown a knack for making huge throws in the clutch and he has yet to turn the ball over this season, which has been vital given the slim margins within which the Browns have been operating. Given the ever-changing cast he’s had around him, that alone is very impressive. He rises in the clutch and seemed even more fired up than usual down the stretch after moving aside for Johnny Football for three plays earlier in the game.”"

• Terrance West and Isaiah Crowell have been dubbed “The Baby Backs,” as the duo are conjuring up images Kevin Mack and Ernest Byner among rush-happy Browns fans.

ESPN Cleveland’s Tony Grossi wrote how West and Crowell are already off to a better start than their predecessors from the 1980s.

"“What people don’t remember is that Byner and Mack did not run out of the gate as quickly as West and Crowell did. In their first three games together, Byner and Mack totaled 116, 122 and 103 rushing yards together. West (100) and Crowell (32) had 132 in their first game together. It wasn’t until Game 4 that the Byner and Mack combo really became the foundation upon which the season would be carried. That’s when Mack rushed for 130 and Byner 83. I would suggest in West and Crowell, the Browns now have the opportunity to maximize their running game sooner than they did in 1985.”"

Ohio State Football

The Buckeyes ran a lot of swing passes,with great success for J.T. Barrett as the redshirt freshman through for 312 yards in little more than a half against Kent State last Saturday.

This play calling gets the ball out of Barrett’s hands, and lets the playmakers do what they do best: make plays. But even I was a little critical of how often these plays were called. Why not have Barrett live out of his comfort zone a little more? If there was ever a time to do, the Kent State crushing was it.

Eleven Warriors writer DJ Byrnes sees the short-plays continuing:

"“Urban Meyer has always been about getting his athletes in space, but last year his best athletes were in his backfield. They didn’t have to test the perimeter as much, and Urban and Herman drifted from their pre-stated goal of making the defense defend every yard on the field.So yeah, I expect more of the short passing game. (Somebody tell Mike Thomas it’s to pack a hearty lunch ’cause it’s going to be a long day at the office.)”"

This and That

Urban Outfitters issued an apology for selling a Kent State vintage sweatshirt, which appeared bloodied and conjured up images from May 4, 1970, a day when four students were shot dead by the National Guard during on-campus protests.

The retail chain tried explaining that the red stains were a discoloration from “the original shade of the shirt and the holes are from natural wear and fray…”

That’s an explanation perhaps only my 3-year-old would buy. Kent State’s colors are blue and gold. Not red. What’s lamer? Urban Outfitters attempt to sell the sweatshirt, or their lame attempt to cover up somebody’s incompetence?