Cleveland, OH
On an October night in Cleveland, the Guardians (and baseball gods) deliver an instant classic
CLEVELAND — The baseball gods work in the shadows, scripting moments and matchups and sequences that we couldn’t begin to fathom.
Take, for instance, the night of June 26, when Matthew Boyd just so happened to flip on a Cleveland Guardians game to gauge the pulse of the team desperate for his services.
That evening, a rookie sculpted like he should be muscling past offensive tackles walloped a home run to center field at Camden Yards in his first career at-bat.
Fast-forward four months. Boyd, with a rejuvenated left elbow, has become Cleveland’s most consistent postseason starter, and he delivered another sterling effort in Game 3 of the ALCS. And that hulking rookie that Boyd has followed from the beginning, Jhonkensy Noel, saved their season with a seismic blast halfway up the left-field bleachers.
Take, for instance, the vantage point of Noel’s father, Rafael. He had never visited the U.S. until October, but he’s along for the Guardians’ ride through October.
Noel and his dad like to talk hitting, but the conversation often sputters when Rafael asks why he did or didn’t offer at a particular pitch. Noel counters by suggesting his dad step in and attempt to whack a 90 mph slider that’s spinning toward his cleats.
Rafael won’t have any constructive criticism about Noel’s moonshot that, with two outs in the ninth, rescued Cleveland from an insurmountable series deficit. Noel said he sought any pitch on the inner part of the plate; an 88 mph changeup over the middle sufficed.
Rafael witnessed a moment Clevelanders won’t forget, as fans chanted the “Big Christmas” nickname manager Stephen Vogt bestowed upon his son. (Noel said he loves the moniker.) This is a city, after all, that will host Ryan Merritt for a ceremonial first pitch before Game 5 on Saturday night. Merritt totaled 31 2/3 innings as a big-leaguer, but he blanked the Blue Jays for four frames in this round in 2016 to land Cleveland an American League pennant. Sometimes, there’s no better vacation spot than Cleveland in October.
Take, for instance, the showdown of a soon-to-be two-time MVP winner versus the closer who registered one of the best relief seasons in the history of the sport. Emmanuel Clase has craved the encounter since he was forced to issue an intentional walk to Aaron Judge at Yankee Stadium in late August. Judge socked a 99 mph cutter to right field for a tying, crowd-silencing home run. The Guardians’ blueprint — Boyd for five innings, an early lead, Cade Smith, Tim Herrin and Hunter Gaddis blazing a trail for a well-rested Clase — burst into flames.
“As a baseball fan, it was really cool,” Vogt said. “As the opposing manager, it was not.”
Three minutes later, Giancarlo Stanton launched a slider over the center-field fence … and that Yankees power display became a footnote in a New York minute.
David Fry, acquired 2 1/2 years ago as a player to be named later, has bloomed into a postseason savant at the plate. He was an All-Star this season, thanks to a torrid first two months that had him jockeying with Judge and Shohei Ohtani atop the OPS leaderboard. But in late June, shortly before Noel arrived, he suffered an elbow injury that the Guardians have kept discreet. Fry stopped playing the field, which has hampered the club’s flexibility (though Fry, who has caught an occasional bullpen session to stay sharp, told The Athletic he could enter on defense in a pinch).
He didn’t hit a home run in June or July, which prompted his dad to regularly text him about how much his elbow must be bothering him.
“I’m like, ‘No, I’m just not hitting well, Dad,’” Fry said.
No one in Cleveland will remember his second-half slump. They’ll toast to his game-winning homer in Detroit that prevented an early exit in the ALDS and to his walk-off shot Thursday night.
“I blacked out,” Fry said. “I remember being like halfway down the first-base line, looking back at the dugout and saying, ‘All right, I just have to make sure I touch all four bases.’”
Once in a while, the baseball gods spoil us with a whole bunch of zaniness in one night, when the swing of emotions prompts your Apple Watch to ask if you’re OK, when fans are muttering “It’s over” one second and “We’re so back” the next, when those on their living-room sofas grab the remote so they can jam their thumb into the power button the instant the 27th out is recorded only to fling the device onto the couch when Noel flung his black-and-white Louisville Slugger into the grass.
This was the baseball gods working overtime to deliver us October goodness, a beautiful blend of tangled storylines and jaw-dropping momentum shifts.
“If there’s an emotion,” Vogt said, “we all felt it on both sides.”
(Top photo of David Fry and the Guardians celebrating his Game 3 walk-off home run: Lauren Leigh Bacho / MLB Photos via Getty Images)
The Cleveland Cavaliers might be at the point of doing whatever it takes to contend for a NBA championship next season, even at the expense of some of their young stars.
After their disappointing loss in the Eastern Conference Finals, the Cavs need to consider anything and everything when it comes to trading away players to bring in more help for next season.
Obviously, Cleveland would love to retain as many of their stars as possible, especially the likes of Evan Mobley. New details from Koby Altman, Cavaliers President of Basketball Operations, gives more insight into how the Cavs view Mobley’s future as of now.
Here’s what Koby Altman shared with the media regarding Evan Mobley.
Koby Altman praises Mobley for what he’s done in Cleveland
“Evan Mobley? Yeah, I mean he’s a part of our future.”
This is what Cavs fans were hoping to hear, especially with the recent talks about potential league altering trades involving Mobley.
“We’re not going to speculate on any players outside these walls. All I can tell you is since Evan’s been here, we’ve had the third best record in the league.
There is no arguing Altman’s points on Mobley, considering Cleveland has had a winning record and made either the play-in tournament or the playoffs in each of Mobley’s first five seasons.
Their winning percentage ranks amongst the league’s best as well since the 2021-22 season, much thanks to Mobley’s dominance as their big man of the future alongside veteran Jarrett Allen.
Mobley would go on to win the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year award during the 2024-25 season, becoming the franchise’s first player to win the award as well as the fifth youngest in league history at just 23 years old.
Altman would go on to say, “all Evan has done is impact winning. He’s been remarkable for us in terms of our ascent. He knows he needs to get better.”
What this means for Evan Mobley going forward
Mobley has most certainly helped Cleveland finish each season near the top of the Eastern Conference and has continued to get better every year. However, fans and media have criticized his aggressiveness as a big man, urging him to be more physical with his size.
Standing at 6 foot 11 inches and weighing 215 pounds, Mobley ranks amongst the league’s tallest centers while showcasing dynamic abilities as both a ball handler and a shooter. His averages this past season include 18.2 points, nine rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game were some of his best stats in his career.
Mobley sits among some of the NBA’s best centers in regard to his defense, as he is one of four players to have at least 300 blocks and 150 steals, next to Anthony Davis, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Rudy Gobert. He has continued to build on those impressive stats as he keeps working to get better.
If the Cavs want to bet on Mobley being a true franchise player for the foreseeable future, they’ll need those numbers to increase next season. They’ll also need Mobley to show that defensive presence again that earned him DPOY honors two seasons ago.
In Mobley’s case, his 5-year, $224 million extension two summers ago keeps him in Cleveland through the 2029-30 season. Unfortunately, the NBA is a business, and at the end of the day, teams will do whatever they can to build a championship contending roster.
Based on Altman’s high praise, it would seem like Mobley is safe as a Cavalier. Don’t rule out the possibility of a trade if a team comes calling with an offer Cleveland can’t refuse.
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CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – The Ohio Supreme Court made a ruling Friday in connection with the murder conviction of the driver that killed Cleveland Firefighter Johnny Tetrick.
According to the Ohio Supreme Court, the trial court had sufficient evidence to convict Leander Bissell of felony murder for speeding through an accident scene.
Cleveland Firefighter Tetrick, 51, was killed on Nov. 19, 2022.
Bissell struck Firefighter Tetrick on I-90 East near Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. and then fled the scene. Bissell was arrested later that evening.
Firefighter Tetrick was assisting with a rollover crash, when he was struck. He was pronounced dead at University Hospitals.
In July 2023, Bissell had a bench trial in front of Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas Judge Timothy McCormick and was found guilty on all charges, including, murder.
In August 2023, Bissell was sentenced to life in prison, with the possibility of parole after 16 years.
In November 2024, the Eighth District Court of Appeals overturned the murder conviction, finding the State failed to prove that Bissell acted “knowingly.”
The court of appeals found Bissell guilty of involuntary manslaughter, which would impose a sentence of only up to 11 years.
The state then appealed that decision to the Ohio Supreme Court.
“This is a victory for Firefighter Tetrick’s family and Ohio’s first responders. Firefighter Tetrick died while serving the public after Leander Bissell sped through a clearly marked accident scene, traversed the berm striking Tetrick, and fled. As the Ohio Supreme Court states, ‘The Eighth District’s reasoning is wrong.’ Thankfully, their decision today corrected that wrong,” said Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael C. O’Malley.
Thousands of people attended Firefighter Tetrick’s funeral on Nov. 26, 2022 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.
Copyright 2026 WOIO. All rights reserved.
Ann S. Asher (nee Shaia), age 88, of Orange Village, OH, passed away peacefully in her home on May 28, 2026. Cherished wife of Tony Asher for 65 years; loving and devoted mother of Michelle Asher (Steve Timlin), Edward Asher (Rebecca), Suzanne Broadbent (Daniel), T.J. Asher (Cindy), and Jamey Asher (Wendy); dearest grandmother (Sittee) of Anthony Asher, Riley Asher (Richard Markiewicz), Eddie Asher (Chi), Taylor Lindquist (Ryan), Shelby Broadbent, Noah Broadbent, Zack Asher, Madison Woods (Dave), Tony A. Asher, Michael Asher, Ralph Asher, and Anna Rose Asher; great-grandmother of River, Jasper and Eliza Markiewicz; daughter of the late Thomas and Mary Shaia; sister of Dr. Fred Shaia (Rose), Victor Shaia (Cheryl), and Diane Fistek (Tom); beloved aunt, great-aunt and dear friend of many. Ann was a longtime member of The Immaculate Conception Sodality and the Lebanese Syrian Junior Women’s League.
Known as Mom, Sittee, Aunt Ann, and my Annie, her family was her world—and she was the heart of theirs. She was a faithful parishioner of St. Maron Church and never missed a weekly service. She attended all of her grandkids’ games, performances, and school events, always there with a smile and unwavering love and support. A good day for Ann was being with her husband, family, and friends. Her presence was a constant source of warmth and encouragement, and her absence will be deeply felt. She will remain in our hearts forever.
In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to St. Maron Church, 7800 Brookside Rd., Independence, OH 44131.
Mass of Christian Burial at St. Maron Church, 1245 Carnegie Ave., Cleveland on Monday, June 1, 2026, at 11 am. Please meet at the church. Interment private. Family and friends received at The Ripepi Funeral Home, 5762 Pearl Rd (at Snow Rd.) on Sunday, May 31, 2026 from 2 p.m. – 6 p.m. Prayers of Incense at 5 p.m.
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