Leo: …and then there were, none.

The final leaf has fallen, twice.

The little known Murray State Racers of the Ohio Valley Conference lost to Tennessee State last week ending their run as the only unbeaten college basketball team in the country. The Racers were a perfect 23-0 entering that game and looked, I believed, to be poised for an unbeaten season. The Racers were closing in on the (for me, highly-anticipated) ESPN U “Bracketbusters” showdown with St. Mary’s (CA) this Saturday, which seemed to be the Racers last real test. Then they lost to Tennessee State, a team they had won eight in a row against.

There has not been an undefeated team through the regular season since St. Joseph’s in 2004. I wear my mid-major college basketball hat with pride and was hoping the little school from Murray, Kentucky was headed to 30-0. Oh well, maybe they’ll at least be one of the teams that makes a run during March Madness. My bracket filling-out out hands are ready…

The Indians and Asdrubal Cabrera agreed to a one-year, $4.55 million deal closing the books on the club’s 2012 arbitration-eligible players. Cabrera, 26, is fresh off his best season of a five year major league career. The Venezuelan shortstop hit .273 with a career-best 25 HR and 92 RBI. The 25 homers are a Cleveland franchise record for his position. He was the American League’s starting shortstop in the All Star Game.

The Indians have not been to arbitration with a player since 1991, a streak that will now continue. The club had already struck deals this winter with Shin Soo-Choo, Justin Masterson, Chris Perez, Jack Hannahan, Joe Smith, and Rafael Perez. Cabrera was the lone hold-out, reportedly asking for $5.2 million while the team countered with an original offer of $3.75 million. There was speculation that a long-term deal was in the works, but that never came to be. Interestingly, no players have guaranteed contracts past this season. There are club options for Ubaldo Jimenez, Travis Hafner, and the pitcher formerly known as Fausto Carmona.

This will probably conclude the Tribe’s off-season business and now all attention turns to actual baseball. Pitchers and catchers report in one week.

For more of Cabrera’s signing….

No long-term deal, but Asdrubal signs for 2012  (Jordan Bastian, MLB.com)

Cleveland Indians sign SS Asdrubal Cabrera to 1-year, $4.55 million deal to avoid arbitration (Paul Hoynes, Cleveland Plain Dealer)

Indians sign Asdrubal Cabrera to $4.55 million, one-year deal (Sheldon Ocker, Akron Beacon Journal)

Have a great week!