August 21: Cid, Chen Extend Hitting Streaks

AAA COLUMBUS (L, 4-8)

• EZEQUIEL CARRERA (23, CF):  2-3, BB.  Last 7 games: 9-31 (.290), 2 2B, 4 RBI.  Through 99 ABs with the Clippers: .263 BA, 2 2B, 3B, 10 RBI, 6 BB, 22 K (.308 OBP).
• JARED GOEDERT (25, 3B):  1-3, BB.  Last 4 games: 4-14 (.286), RBI, 3 BB.
• JORDAN BROWN (26, 1B/OF):  2-4, HR, 3 RBI.  Since return to AAA: 5-17 (.294), 4 K.
• PAOLO ESPINO (23, SP):  4 IP, 8 ER, 9 H (3 HR), 2 BB, 3 K.  In 4 AAA starts: 23.2 IP, 5.32 ERA, 17 K, 7 BB, 6 HR allowed, .258 BAA.

HIGH-A KINSTON (L, 7-8)

• KYLE BELLOWS (21, 3B):  2-5, 2B, RBI.  Last 2 games: 4-9, 2 RBI after going 0 for previous 9.
• ABNER ABREU (20, OF):  3-4, 2B, RBI.  Last 10 games: .333, 4 extra-base hits, 7 RBI, BB, 9 K, SB.  Season (369 AB): .249 BA, 20 2B, 5 3B, 3 HR, 50 RBI, 116 K, 17 SB (.281 OBP), 9 SB.  Low BB and high K rates alarming, and haven’t really improved over the course of the season.
• CHUN CHEN (21, C):  1-4, 2B, BB, RBI.  9-game hit streak:  12-28 (.429), 4 extra-base hits, 4 RBI, 7 BB, 6 K, SB.
• JUAN DIAZ (21, SS):  2-3, RBI.  Last 6: 9-19 (.474), 3 RBI, 2 BB.
• KAREXON SANCHEZ (23, 2B):  2-5, RBI.  Pre-all-star break: .280 BA, 18 extra-base hits, 29 RBI, 43 BB, 49 K, 7 SB in 211 AB.  Since: .234 BA, 14 extra-base hits, 16 RBI, 24 BB, 57 K, 0 SB.
• DONNIE WEBB (24, OF):  1-3, 2B, RBI, BB.  Last 10: .313 BA, 3 2B, 3 RBI, 10 K, SB.
• T.J. HOUSE (20, SP):  4 IP, 3 ER (3 unearned), 6 H, 2 BB, 3 K.  Last 2 outings combined: 9 IP, 8 ER, 15 H, 3 BB, 8 K.
• CHRIS JONES (20, RP):  3.1 IP, 5 K, H, BB.  Last 5 outings: 13.1 IP, 15 K, 3 ER, 4 BB, 8 H.  Season in high-A (61 IP): 1.62 ERA, 56 K, 22 BB, .205 BAA.
• CORY BURNS (22, CP):  .2 IP, 2 H, K, 2 unearned runs.  An rare blown save, granted he gave up no earned runs.

LOW-A LAKE COUNTY (L, 6-3)

• TYLER HOLT (21, CF):  1-4, 2B, RBI.  Through 7 games with Captains: 4-23, 2 2B, 3B, 3 RBI, 3 BB, 6 K.
• DELVI CID (21, OF):  1-4, RBI.  8-game hit streak: 12-33 (.364), 3 RBI, 3 BB, 11 K, 4 SB.
• GIOVANNI SOTO (19, SP):  4 IP, 4 ER, 5 H (2 HR), 3 BB, 3 K.  First poor start with Lake County after 4 impressive outings: 23 IP, 6 ER, 12 H, 7 BB, 24 K.

SHORT-SEASON MAHONING VALLEY (W, 2-1)

• NICHOLAS BARTOLONE (19, SS):  1-4, RBI, SB.  Last 3 games: 4-13, 2 2B, 2 RBI.
• JONATHAN BURNETTE (22, OF):  1-4, 2B.  Last 10 games: .317, 5 extra-base hits, 5 RBI, 3 BB, 9 K.  Season (226 AB): .288 BA, 15 2B, 3 3B, 8 HR, 28 RBI, 13 BB, 51 K.
• MOISES MONTERO (20, C):  2-4, 2B.  Last 3 games (part-time player): 5-13, 2 2B, HR, 3 RBI.
• JORDAN COOPER (21, SP):  5 IP, ER, 3 H, BB, 4 K.  Last 4 starts: 19 IP, 4 ER, 17 H, 6 BB, 10 K.
• NATHAN STRIZ (21, RP):  IP, K.  Second professional appearance (IP, K, BB on Aug. 18).

Last night’s Akron Aeros game was postponed because of rain and will be made up as half of a doubleheader today (08/22).

August 10: Goedert Stellar in Doubleheader, Soto Continues to Dominate

Columbus Clippers third baseman JARED GOEDERT (25) had a nice doubleheader performance on Tuesday.  After having a pair of days off, he went 2 for 3 in the first contest, hitting a 3B.  In the second game, he went 2 for 3 with a 2B, a solo HR, and a BB.  Goedert was 0 for 9 in the previous 2 games with 5 Ks, so hopefully this signals a bit of a turnaround for him.  After hitting .308 in June, he cooled off to .286 in July before hitting .258 so far in August.  On the season between AA and AAA, he’s compiled an impressive line: .305, 33 2B, 25 HR, and 73 RBI in 390 at-bats.  This is easily his best season since 2007 when he split time between Lake County and Kinston, batting .317 with 19 2B, 20 HR, and 74 RBI in 290 at-bats.  He clearly has some talent, but I hope that he can recapture something of the excellence that he displayed earlier this season.

Lake County Captains starting pitcher GIOVANNI SOTO (19) keeps on getting better and better.  On Tuesday, the young lefty gave up 2 runs on 3 hits (including a HR) and 1 BB while striking out 9 batters in 7 innings of work.  Through 3 outings with the Captains, he has a 2.00 ERA with 20 K, 6 BB, and a .107 BAA in 18 innings.  In each outing, he’s given up fewer walks (3, then 2, and then 1) while pitching more innings in each game (5, then 6, and then 7).  Of course, I love the high punch-out rate and how few hits he gives up.  He’s been nothing short of spectacular on the season as a whole (2.50 ERA, 96 K, 31 BB, and a .226 BAA in 100.2 IP with Western Michigan and Lake County) and I look forward to seeing what he does as the season winds down.

Once-lauded prospect NICK HAGADONE (24) continues his transition to relief pitching.  The Indians acquired Hagadone in the trade that sent Victor Martinez to Boston in 2009 and he had a promising minor league career as a starter until he reached AA Akron.  With high A Kinston earlier this season, he posted a 2.39 ERA with 45 K, 29 BB, and a .206 BAA in 10 starts (37.2 IP), but his first 7 starts with the Aeros were ugly (5.19 ERA, 26 K, 18 BB, .253 BAA) and he was moved to a relief role.  In that capacity, he’s posted a 2.61 ERA with 10 K, 8 BB, and a .268 BAA in 10.1 innings of work.  The big lefty (6’5″, 230 lbs.) evidently has some good stuff, but he also has some control issues and didn’t pitch far into games as a starter.  If he keeps the BBs in check, he could be a strong relief pitcher.

AAA Columbus Rundown (L, 0-1/ W, 6-3):  The only notable performance in the first game of the doubleheader outside of Goedert’s (see above) was that of starting pitcher YOHAN PINO. Pino went 6 innings, giving up 1 earned run on 3 hits (a solo HR) and 1 BB while striking out 4.  Pino’s biggest problem his season is that he’s been very hittable (.274 BAA) and that a lot of those hits are home runs (22 in 118 innings of work this season).  He has a 5.64 ERA with 89 K and 41 BB with Columbus…  There are a few more highlights in the Clippers’ game two win.  First baseman WES HODGES went 3 for 4 with a 2B.  Since returning to the Indians on August 6 after getting DFA’d, he’s 5 for 19 (.263) with 4 Ks…  JERAD HEAD swung a big bat, going 2 for 3 with a 2B and a HR and 2 RBI.  He’s 8 for his last 14 with 4 RBI in that stretch.  He’s batting .304 with 7 2B, 2 HR, and 12 RBI in 56 AAA at-bats this season…  Catcher RICHARD MARTINEZ went 2 for 3 with a BB and a run scored, lifting his AAA average to .353 through 17 at-bats (6 for 17)…  Reliever BRYCE STOWELL pitched a scoreless inning in which he struck out 2 batters.  In 14 innings of work for the Clippers this season, he has a 3.21 ERA with 21 K, 13 BB, and a .170 BAA.  He hasn’t walked any batters in his last 2 starts, so that’s a good sign that he’s turning that part of his game around…  VINNIE PESTANO picked up his 10th AAA save of the season (13th overall) after pitching a perfect inning in which he struck out 2.  In 37.1 innings this season for the Clippers, he’s recorded a .193 ERA with 49 K, 12 BB, and a .224 BAA.

AA Akron Rundown (L, 0-11):  COREY KLUBER is not looking good so far.  His second start for the Aeros on Tuesday was worse than his first one, as he gave up 6 runs (all earned) on 11 hits and 1 BB while striking out 5 in 4 innings of work.  While it was good to see him walk fewer batters in this start (1 as opposed to 5), he was still just too hittable (.487 BAA in those 2 starts)…  OMAR AGUILAR pitched a solid inning of relief, striking out 2 and walking 1.  In 52.2 innings of work this season in AA, Aguilar has struck out 64, given up 29 BBs, and maintained a .220 BAA while recording a 3.42 ERA…  Almost as good was ROB BRYSON, who pitched a scoreless frame in which he allowed 1 hit, 1 BB, and struck out 2.  He’s settling in at AA after a season at high A that saw him post a 2.25 ERA with 38 K, 8 BB, and a .108 BAA in 20 innings.

High A Kinston Rundown (L, 3-4):  First baseman JEREMIE TICE went 2 for 5 with an RBI.  In 102 high A at-bats, he’s hitting .294; .289 in his last 10 games.  On the season between Kinston and Lake County, he’s batting .285 with 11 HR and 66 RBI in 347 ABs…  Third baseman KYLE BELLOWS went 3 for 5 with an RBI.  He’s now batting .389 (7 for 18) in his last 4 games…  Shortstop JUAN DIAZ continued his recent turnaround, going 2 for 4 with a 2B and an RBI.  He’s 7 for his last 16 (.438) and is now batting .321 in August…  DOUG PICKENS went 2 for 4 with a 2B.  He’s 4 for his last 11…  Starting pitcher JOSEPH GARDNER was less dominant than usual on Tuesday, but still good.  In 7 innings, he allowed 3 runs on 7 hits and 1 BB while striking out 4.  The single walk was the fewest he’s allowed in an outing since June 26.

Class A Lake County Rundown (W, 4-3):  Shortstop CASEY FRAWLEY had another nice game, going 2 for 5 with a 3B and an RBI on Tuesday.  In his last 10 games, he’s hit 3 3Bs while batting .308…  First baseman JEFF KERSTEN had the biggest hit for the Captains, slugging a 2-run home run (his 7th on the season for the Captains and 10th overall)…  PRESTON GUILMET relieved Soto and although he blew the save by giving up a run, he earned the victory, tossing 2 innings in which he allowed 2 hits and struck out 3.  He’s now struck out 53 batters in 37.2 innings of work this season.

Short-season Mahoning Valley Rundown (W, 7-3):  CARLOS MONCRIEF continued to impress, going 1 for 2 with a 3B, 2 BB, and 2 runs scored on Tuesday.  He’s batting .517 in his last 8 games (15 for 29) with an OBP of .600…  GIOVANNY URSHELA went only 1 for 4, but drove in 2 more runs.  In 180 at-bats for the Scrappers, he’s batting .300 with 3 HR, 8 2B, and 30 RBI…  Outfielder JONATHAN BURNETTE had yet another nice game, going 2 for 5 with a 2B, a HR, and 2 RBI.  He’s hit 4 home runs in his last 7 games, as well as 4 2Bs, and is 5 for his last 14…  Second baseman and NY-Penn League All-Star DANIEL DeGEORGE went 2 for 4 with 2 2B and an RBI.  He’s 4 for his last 14…  Starting pitcher JORDAN COOPER threw a decent game, allowing 1 run on 1 hit (a solo HR) and 2 BB while striking out 3.  In 47.2 innings of work for the Scrappers this season, he’s posted a 3.78 ERA with 30 K, 12 BB, and a .291 BAA…  TAKAFUMI NAKAMURA relived Cooper and went 4 innings, allowing 2 runs on 2 hits and a BB while striking out 6.  On the season, he’s recorded a 4.09 ERA with 28 K, 6 BB, and a .256 BAA in 33 innings of relief work.

August 4: Burnette Goes Deep Twice, Kipnis and Rodriguez also Homer

Mahoning Valley Scrappers outfielder JONATHAN BURNETTE (22) had an outstanding game on Wednesday, going 3 for 4 with 2 solo HRs and a 2B.  Although he’s batting only .200 (.243 OBP) over his last 10 games, his bat has started to come to life in his last 5 games, as he is 7 for 18 (.389) during that stretch with 2 2B and a .425 OBP.  On the season, he’s logged a .285 average with the Scrappers, along with 9 2B, 3 3B, 6 HR, and 20 RBI (.324 OBP).  I’m not a big fan of the K to BB ratio (28:9), but he is only in his first season of pro ball after getting drafted by the Indians in the 18th round of this year’s draft.  It appears that his recent slump is behind him and I am mildly excited about his potential.

JASON KIPNIS (23) of AA Akron continues to have an excellent season.  On Wednesday, the second baseman went 2 for 4 with a solo HR and a 3B.  His 2 hits and 1 run provided the Aeros’ only offense in the game.  Over his last 10 contests, Kipnis is batting .366 with 2 2B, 3 3B, 1 Hr, and 8 RBI (.409 OBP) and in his last 3 games, he’s 6 for 11 (.545) with 2 3B and 3 RBI.  As good as he was with high A Kinston earlier this season (.300 with 12 2B, 3 3B, 6 HR, 31 RBI, .387 OBP in 203 AB), he’s been even better with Akron (.337 with 13 2B, 3 3B, 7 HR, 24 RBI, .413 OBP in 184 ABs).  His AA split stats suggest impressive consistency: he’s batting .348 against lefties and .330 against righties, while he hits .357 at home and .314 on the road.  He’s definitely one of the most promising and exciting prospects in the entire Indians farm system.

AAA second baseman JOSH RODRIGUEZ (25) also went yard on Wednesday, going 1 for 4 with a solo shot and a BB.  Over his last 10 games, Rodriguez is batting .325 with 3 2B, 3 HR, and 8 RBI (5 BB, 9 K).  He’s surpassed pretty much anyone’s expectations this season by logging a .315 BA with 14 2B, 11 HR, and 40 RBI in 216 AAA at-bats (29 BB, 47 K).  The Indians’ second round draft pick out of Rice University in 2006 (57th overall), Rodriguez did hit 20 HR for high A Kinston in 2007, but his career batting average was in the .250-range.  As he is getting on the older side for a prospect, I hope that the Tribe gives him a shot in the show before he’s overtaken by Kipnis.

Kinston starting pitcher T.J. HOUSE (20) put together his 3rd straight dominant outing on Wednesday, shutting out Myrtle Beach through 7 innings on 3 hits, 1 walk, and 3 Ks.  In his last 3 contests combined (20 IP), he’s allowed only 1 run on 6 hits and 4 walks while striking out 12.  The young lefty appears to be turning a corner and, provided he continues to produce somewhere near the level he has lately, we should see him in AA Akron next season.  This year with Kinston, he’s maintained a 3.68 ERA while striking out 90, walking 49, and allowing a .252 BAA in 110 innings of work.  The BB rate has declined as of late, so that’s a further sign that he’s improving.

BRETT BRACH (22) also had a fine outing on Wednesday, this one for Class A Lake County.  In 7 innings of work, he allowed 1 run on 7 hits and no walks while striking out 4.  Like House, he’s had 3 straight dominant starts, allowing 2 runs on 17 hits and 2 BB in his last 23 innings of work.  His control has improved a bit as of late (fewer BBs issued), negating the fact that he’s given up a fair amount of hits.  In his last 10 starts, he’s given up 2 or fewer earned runs in 8 outings and 7 of those were 1 or no runs.  On the season with Lake County, he’s recorded a 2.91 ERA with 62 Ks, 21 BB, and a BAA of .274 in 86.2 IP.  Barring any setbacks, he should start next season with Kinston.

AAA Columbus Rundown (W, 9-8):  The Clippers survived a very offensive game with Louisville with the help of some big bats.  CORD PHELPS had his first multi-hit game since July 28th, as he went 3 for 5 with 2 2B, and an RBI.  He’s still batting .340 0n the season with Columbus (.412 OBP)…  JARED GOEDERT went 1 for 3 with a 2B, a BB, and a pair of RBI.  He’s been slumping since late July, witnessing his BA drop to .288 after a scorching June and a mostly solid July…  Catcher RICHARD MARTINEZ, who got the call up from high A Kinston to replace Lou Marson in the wake of the Santana injury, went 2 for 4 with 2 2B and 4 RBI in his second AAA game.  He went 0 for 3 with an RBI and a BB on Tuesday.  Between Mahoning Valley and Kinston, he was batting well under the Mendoza line with 5 2B and 16 RBI in 181 ABs…  BRYCE STOWELL had another impressive relief appearance on Wednesday, striking out 3 while allowing 1 hit and 1 walk in 1.2 IP.  He’s had a great year, logging a 1.36 ERA with 92 K, 32 BB, and a .195 BAA in 59.2 IP between Kinston, Akron, and Columbus.  For Columbus alone, he’s recorded a 3.75 ERA with 18 K and 13 BB in 12 IP.  The walks are a bit concerning, but considering he was much less liberal with the BBs at both Kinston and Akron, I won’t worry too much about it.

AA Akron Rundown (L, 1-5):  Other than Kipnis’s big game (see above), the Aeros did virtually nothing in this one.  COREY KLUBER‘s Aeros debut was quite forgettable, as he gave up 4 runs (3 earned) on 8 hits and 5 walks in 4 IP while striking out 4.  I won’t read into this one too much.  Considering Kluber’s track record, that was an extremely wild showing on many levels.  Expect his next start to be much closer to his 3.45 ERA, 136 K, 40 BB, .259 BAA standard that he established in AA San Antonio this season.

High A Kinston Rundown (L, 1-5):  A disappointing loss in this one considering T.J. House’s excellent start.  Catcher CHUN CHEN went 2 for 4 with a 2B, raising his average over his last 10 games to .375 (.500 OBP)…  Center fielder BO GREENWELL went 1 for 3 with an RBI and a BB; he’s hitting .324 over his last 10 contests (.359 OBP)…  First baseman NATE RECKNAGEL was solid, going 2 for 4 with a 2B at the dish.  He’s batting only .222 in 171 ABs for Kinston this year, with 11 2Bs, 5 HR and 21 RBI…  Unfortunately, it was TYLER STURDEVANT who spoiled House’s dominant start.  Sturdevant had been mostly solid in 5 appearances with Kinston before Wednesday, but he gave up 5 runs on 3 hits and 2 BB in .2 IP against Myrtle Beach.  It was an exceptionally bad outing for Sturdevant, as he had been otherwise excellent this season (1.85 ERA, 64 K, 12 BB, .188 BAA in 43.2 IP, including Thursday’s debacle).  I expect him to bounce back very soon.

Class A Lake County Rundown (W, 8-2):  DELVI CID didn’t steal any bases on Wednesday, but he still went 1 for 4 at the plate with a 2B, an RBI, and a BB.  He’s batting .407 (11 for 27) in his last 6 games with a .462 OBP…  Third baseman ADAM ABRAHAM extended his current hitting streak to 8 games, going 2 for 3 with a 2B and 2 BB.  He’s hitting .415 over his last 10 games with 4 2B, 3 HR, 14 RBI, and a .510 OBP (8 BB, 6 K)…  Catcher ROBERTO PEREZ had another fine game at the plate, going 1 for 1 with a 3B and 2 BB.  He’s 6 for his last 13 (.462) with an OBP of .588.  He has a good batting eye, as he has nearly a 1:1 K:BB ratio on the season (68:67) in 293 at-bats…  Second baseman ARGENIS MARTINEZ went 2 for 4 with a 2B, 3 RBI, a BB, and a SB.  He’s hot right now: 5 for 9 in his last 2 games with 4 RBI.

Short-Season Mahoning Valley Rundown (W, 7-2):  A good game for the Scrappers on Wednesday, beginning with their starting pitcher, JORDAN COOPER.  Cooper went 5 innings against Tri-City, allowing no runs, 6 hits, and no walks while striking out 1.  In 9 starts for the Scrappers, he has a 4.01 ERA with 27 Ks, 10 BB, and a BAA of .302 in 42.4 IP.  He’s pretty hittable and the HR ball has been a bit of a problem (7 this season).  But he’s 21 and in his first season of pro ball, so we’ll see what happens…  Left-handed reliever NICK KIRK earned the save (his 5th of the season) after pitching 2.1 innings in which he allowed 3 hits and no walks while striking out 3.  In 19.2 innings pitched for the Scrappers this season, he has a 2.75 ERA with 29 Ks, 6 BB, and a .200 BAA.  He’s 23 and in his second season of pro ball (drafted out of the University of Northern Iowa in 2009), so he should be moving up soon…  The recently hot CARLOS MONCRIEF batted leadoff for the Scrappers and did some damage, going 3 for 4 with a BB, an RBI, and a run scored.  After a slow start to the season, the pitcher-turned-outfielder is looking good at the plate, finally raising his average above the Mendoza line to .213…  Outfielder BRIAN HEERE went 2 for 4 with a BB and 2 RBI.  The Indians drafted Heere in the 41st round of the 2010 draft out of the University of Kansas; he’s batting just .208 in his first professional season, but is showing some signs of life with a .257 BA over his last 10 games…  GIOVANNY URSHELA had a solid game, collecting 3 singles in 5 at-bats.  He’s hitting .333 over his last 10 games (12 for 36)…  Shortstop KEVIN FONTANEZ went 3 for 4 at the dish, doubling and driving in a run.  He’s batting only .214 on the season, but is now hitting .282 over his last 10 games (11 for 39).