Indians, Pirates face big decisions

School’s out, but it’s always the right time for a pop quiz.

Should the Indians use the trading deadline to build for the future?

During last Sunday’s radio broadcast, when the Tribe was on a three-game winning streak, Tom Hamilton hinted that the San Francisco Giants are interested in acquiring shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera and utility player Mike Aviles.

Indians management faces a tough decision — is this year’s team (51-52) a contender for the postseason? Things certainly have not gone well this week as the Indians dropped five of six games. The Detroit Tigers have a firm grip on the American League Central Division.

It might be time to part ways with potential free agents if a deal makes the Tribe’s 2015 prospects brighter.

When Browns fans watch televised reports about rookie quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel and wide receiver Josh Gordon, do they feel like they are watching “Friday Night Lights?”

Or “Nurse Jackie?”

Should the Pittsburgh Pirates go crazy at the trade deadline? Or should they remain calm because they have enough to contend for a playoff spot right now?

In May, the Pirates were 17-26 and the magic of last season had evaporated. Since then, the Bucs have gone 37-22 to climb back into the thick of the National League Central Division race.

Does their roster need tweaking? It couldn’t hurt. Manager Clint Hurdle continues to search for a cleanup hitter behind reigning National League MVP Andrew McCutchen as third baseman Pedro Alvarez’s season continues to unravel (22 errors, .239 batting average, .326 on-base percentage).

In the past week, Hurdle has tried second baseman Neil Walker and part-time first baseman Gaby Sanchez. Ike Davis, the other first baseman acquired from the New York Mets three months ago, isn’t the answer.

With 15 round-trippers, Alvarez is one of three Pirates with double-digits homers. McCutchen leads with 17 and Walker also has 15. There’s room for long-ball improvement.

As for starting pitchers, Gerrit Cole (7-4), Jeff Locke (2-1) and Vance Worley (3-1) have been more than adequate but ace Francisco Liriano (2-7) and Charlie Morton (5-10) have struggled to get wins. If the latter two can get their records close to .500, the Pirates should remain alive past Labor Day. What more could a Pirates fan ask for?

Do the Pittsburgh Steelers deserve to be picked to win the AFC North Division as they were in The Sporting News 2014 Pro Football Preview?

TSN is not impressed with the offseasons of the Cincinnati Bengals and Baltimore Ravens. The magazine gives the Steelers a lot of credit for getting younger on defense by shedding safety Ryan Clark, linebackers LaMarr Woodley and Larry Foote, and defensive end Brett Keisel.

But the Steelers’ secondary, which in 2013 surrendered seven passes of 50 yards-or-longer, has most of the same cast of characters back.

And newcomer Mike Mitchell, the free agent safety from Carolina who is to replace Clark, was placed on the physically unable to perform list on Friday.

Good thing the Bengals and Ravens also are full of concerns. This season, 10 wins is probably enough to win the AFC North, but not enough to earn a first-round bye.

If the Indians decide to trade for the future, will the box office be hurt?

Not really, because the turnstiles at Progressive Field haven’t been spinning wildly this season even though the Tribe is coming off its first playoff appearance in six seasons.

The Indians are averaging 18,402 fans per game, second lowest in the American League. That’s not exactly a sign that the baseball faithful believe prosperity is right around the corner.

Let’s face it, Cleveland’s attention for the next seven weeks will be on Berea to see if the Browns can produce their first 2-0 start since the franchise resumed play in 1999.

Class dismissed.

Tom Williams is a sportswriter at The Vindicator. Write him at williams@vindy.com and follow him on Twitter, @Williams_Vindy.