NOTEBOOK

NOTEBOOK

From Jacobs Field

Full circle: Kenny Lofton has touched ’em all on baseball’s map. Houston, Cleveland, Atlanta, Cleveland again, Chicago (South Side), San Francisco, Pittsburgh, Chicago (North Side), New York (Bronx), Tampa, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Texas, and finally back to Cleveland. He’s been everywhere, man. In search of a World Series ring. Lofton has been to the playoffs 11 times in his 13-year career. “Haven’t won it all,” he said. “Have to win it sooner or later.” He’s hoping this is the year — for him and the Indians. The 40-year-old Lofton, who returned for a third stint with Cleveland via a trade in July, is enjoying this postseason ride as much as any. The speedy center fielder, who doesn’t seem to have lost a step, thinks this could be the October when Cleveland finally ends a championship drought dating to 1948. None of the other Indians can match Lofton’s perspective when it comes to discussing this year’s Indians squad with previous ones. He was a key member of Cleveland’s 1995 team, a cast that included the combustible Albert Belle and budding superstars Manny Ramirez and Jim Thome. It was a different Cleveland crew than the one inhabiting Jacobs Field these days. “I look at these guys,” he said, looking around at the young faces in the Indians’ clubhouse, “they’re a lot calmer than we were in 1995. In ’95, we were wilder and crazier. That’s what made that year so special, all the different personalities. I felt sorry for [Mike] Hargrove having to manage us.” The ’95 Indians went 100-44 in the regular season and knocked off Boston and Seattle in the playoffs before losing to the Atlanta Braves in the World Series, Cleveland’s first since 1954. “We should have won it,” he said. “We had the team to win it. It just didn’t happen.” Lofton, who moved over to left field upon his return to the Indians, is taking on the additional role of being a teacher for his young teammates, many of whom are appearing in the postseason for the first time. Lofton was once a wet-behind-the-ears playoff rookie and knows that everything takes on new meaning in October. “I’ve told them to seize the moment, because you never know,” he said. “You may not get another chance to get back.”

LeBronx bombers: Cleveland’s most famous athlete is rooting for the Yankees. LeBron James always has. While in New York last week to host “Saturday Night Live,” the Cavaliers’ superstar forward, who often sports a Yankees cap, caused a stir back home when he said he would root for the Yankees in the AL playoffs against the Indians. “I didn’t go with the Yankees,” James said earlier this week. “I’ve been a Yankee. It’s not like I said, ’OK I’m picking the Yankees now that they’re playing the Indians.’ Everybody knows that I’ve been a Yankees fan my whole life. If the Indians were playing anybody else I would root for the Indians.” Game 1 starter C.C. Sabathia said he didn’t have a problem with James’ allegiance. “That’s cool,” Sabathia said. “He’s sticking with his team. I’d do the same thing if the Raiders were playing the Browns.” Sabathia, who grew up in Vallejao, Calif., is a die-hard Oakland Raiders fan.

Baselines: John Adams, who has been banging his drum in the bleachers at Indians game for four decades, threw out the ceremonial first pitch. Adams was selected to represent Cleveland’s fans. ... The Indians were playing in their 58th playoff game since 1995. ... After beginning the season in a snowstorm, Game 1 began under a cloudless sky and unseasonably warm temperatures.

Associated Press