August 20: Tribe Acquires RHP Zach McAllister, Chisenhall Earns BA Weekly Honors

The Indians received their “player to be named later” from the New York Yankees, as the other half of the trade that sent major league outfielder Austin Kearns to New York.  ZACH McALLISTER (22) is a promising young pitcher that has had a rough go of it in AAA this season.  In 24 starts with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, he recorded a 5.09 ERA with 88 K, 38 BB, and a .308 BAA in 132.2 IP.  Not only has he been quite hittable, but he’s been a frequent victim of the gopher ball (20 HR allowed this season).  But he’s only 22 and has a solid minor league career.  In 2009 with AA Trenton, he posted a 2.23 ERA with 96 K, 33 BB, and a .220 BAA (only 4 HR allowed) in 121 IP.  In 2008 between low-A and high-A, he recorded a 2.09 ERA with 115 K, 21 BB, and a .233 BAA (9 HR allowed) in 151 IP.  He has solid control and his track record suggests that he’s better than his 2010 stats suggest.  I suspect that he will turn things around before too long.

AAA COLUMBUS (L, 5-7)

• JOSH RODRIGUEZ (25, 2B):   2-4, 2B.  Pre-all star break: .333 BA, 10 2B, 6 HR, 22 RBI, 21 BB, 29 K in 138 AAA ABs.  Since: .220 BA, 7 2B, 5 HR, 18 RBI, 15 BB, 35 K in 123 ABs.
• JARED GOEDERT (25, 3B):  1-3, 2 BB.  Last 10 games: .270 BA, 5 extra-base hits, 5 RBI, 4 BB.
• JOSE CONSTANZA (26, OF):  1-4, 2B, BB.  Last 10 games: .410 BA, 4 extra-base hits, 7 BB, 5 SB.
• CORD PHELPS (23, 2B):  2-5, RBI.  Last 10: .317 BA, 2 2B, 2 HR, 10 RBI, 2 BB.
• JOSH JUDY (24, RP):  2 IP, 0 ER, H, 2 BB, 3 K.  Last 3 outings: 3.1 IP, 0 ER, H, 2 BB, 6 K.
• VINNIE PESTANO (25, RP):  IP, H, K.  Last 5 outings: 5 IP, 0 R, H, 0 BB, 8 K.

AA AKRON (L, 1-5)

• LONNIE CHISENHALL (21, 3B):  1-3.  8-game hit streak: 12-28 (.429), 3 2B, HR, 12 RBI, 7 BB, SB.  Earned the #5 spot on Baseball America’s most recent prospect hot sheet with last week’s excellent string of performances and looks poised to continue his recent success.
• TIM FEDROFF (23, OF):  2-3, solo HR, BB.  Last 9 games: 11-31 (.355), 4 extra-base hits, 2 RBi, 7 BB, 7 K.
• ALEX WHITE (21, SP):  5.1 IP, 2 ER (2 unearned), 8 H, 3 BB, 5 K.  Through 4 August starts: 5.91 ERA, 14 K, 8 BB, .302 BAA in 21.1 IP.  A couple of weeks ago I speculated that he might be tiring near the end of his first professional season and it’s appearing that I might be correct.  Still, his overall season stat line between high-A and AA is solid: 2.57 ERA, 112 K, 45 BB, .224 BAA in 143.2 IP.
• CONNOR GRAHAM (24, RP):  1.2 IP, 3 K.  Keeps on looking good.  Last 3 starts: 5.2 IP, 0 ER 2 H, BB, 7 K.
• CHEN LEE (23, RP):  IP, K.  Last 10 appearances: 12 IP, 11 K, 2 BB, 4 H, 1 unearned run.

HIGH-A KINSTON (W, 6-4):

• CHUN CHEN (21, C):  2-5.  8 game hit streak: 11-24 (.458), 3 extra-base hits, 3 RBI, 6 BB, SB.
• KYLE BELLOWS (22, 3B):  2-4, RBI.  Last 10: .316 BA, 3 2B, 7 RBI.
• ABNER ABREU (20, OF):  1-4, 2B, 2 RBI.  Last 8 games: 9-28 (.321), 3 extra-base hits, 6 RBI, SB.
• JUAN DIAZ (21, SS):  1-3, 2B, BB.  Last 10: .361 BA, 4 extra-base hits, 4 RBI, 2 BB, SB.
• DOUG PICKENS (25, OF):  2-3, RBI.  Last 9: .333 BA, 2 extra-base hits, 6 RBI.
• DONNIE WEBB (24, OF):  1-3, 2B, BB.  Last 10: .344 BA, 3 2B, 2 RBI, 2 BB, SB.
• RYAN LANGWELL (24, RP):  1.1 IP, 2 K.  Last 5 outings (5.1 IP): 4 K, BB, 0 H, 0 R.  Season with Kinston (49.2 IP): 2.17 ERA, 50 K, 13 BB, .213 BAA.  Hasn’t given up any runs in a month (11 scoreless IP since July 22).
• CORY BURNS (22, CP):  IP, K, SV.  Business as usual: high-A save number 25, number 37 overall in 2010.  72 K in 48.1 innings.

LOW-A LAKE COUNTY (W, 5-3)

• CASEY FRAWLEY (22, SS):  3-3, solo HR, BB, SB.  Last 10 games: .385 BA, 4 extra-base hits, 7 RBI, 2 BB, SB.  Slumped in July, batting just .206 88 ABs, but has rebounded in a big way in August with a .338 through 65 ABs.  Season stats: .269 BA, 22 2B, 8 3B, 10 HR, 61 RBI, 8 SB, 42 BB, 79 K.
• ADAM ABRAHAM (23, 3B):  1-5, 2B, 3 RBI.  Last 10: .317 BA, 3 extra-base hits, 7 RBI, 4 BB, SB.
• DELVI CID (21, OF):  1-4, RBI.  7-game hitting streak: 13-29 (.448 BA), 3 BB, 4 SB.  Still striking out a lot, though: 12 times in last 10 games and 114 times in 454 total ABs in 2010.
• JASON KNAPP (19, SP):  4 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 2 BB, 7 K.  Season debut with Captains after 5 starts with AZL (rookie) Indians (12. IP, 1.45 ERA, 18 K, 4 BB, .119 BAA).  Acquired as part of the trade that sent Cliff Lee to Philadelphia in 2009.

SHORT-SEASON MAHONING VALLEY (L, 4-6)

• CARLOS MONCRIEF (21, OF):  3-5, 2B, RBI.  Last 10 games: .316 BA, 5 extra-base hits, 5 RBI, 8 BB.
• JONATHAN BURNETTE (22, OF):  1-5, RBI.  Has at least 1 hit in each of his past 10 games, batting .317 during that stretch with 4 extra-base hits, 6 RBI, and 3 BB.
• AARON FIELDS (22, 2B):  1-3, 3B, 2 RBI, BB.  4 RBI in last 3 games; only playing part-time (56 ABs in 2010: .232 BA)
• KIRK WETMORE (21, P):  3.1 IP, o ER, H, 2 BB, 3 K.  Last 2 outings: 7.1 IP, ER, 3 H, 3 BB, 8 K.  Through 44.2 IP in 2010: 6.65 ERA, 38 K, 22 BB, .291 BAA.

August 17: Carrasco Dominant Again, Kipnis Keeps on Rolling

AAA COLUMBUS CLIPPERS (W, 5-1)

• JOSE CONSTANZA (26, OF):  2-2, 2 BB, 2 SB.  Batting .378 in last 10 games with 5 BB and 4 SB.  Now has 32 SB on the season to go along with a .309 BA and a .360 BA (333 ABs).
• EZEQUIEL CARRERA (23, CF):  3-4, 2B, RBI.  Last 4 games: 7-18 (.389), 2 2B, 3 RBI.  On season with Clippers (86 ABs):  .279 BA, 5 2B, 10 RBI, 5 SB.
• JORDAN BROWN (26, OF):  2-4.  First game back with Columbus after getting demoted from Cleveland.  Batted .226 (7-31) in 9 games with the Tribe.
• JARED GOEDERT (25, 3B):  1-4, RBI.  A Jekyll and Hyde season: batted .321 with 9 2B, 15 HR, and 32 RBI in 134 ABs before the AAA all-star break and just .231 with 12 2B, 3 HR, and 13 RBI since.
• CORD PHELPS (23, 2B):  1-4, 2B, RBI.  Batting .300 in his last 10 games with 2 2B, 2 HR, and 10 RBI.
• WES HODGES (25, 1B):  2-4.  Last 10 games: .316 BA, 2 2B, HR, 2 RBI, BB, 9 K.  Season: .274 BA, 25 2B, 10 HR, 49 RBI, .316 OBP.
• CARLOS CARRASCO (23, SP):  7 IP, 0 ER (1 unearned), 5 H, 0 BB, 6 K.  Last 10 starts: 2.89 ERA, 54 K, 17 BB, .234 BAA in 56 IP.  Season (23 starts): 3.71 ERA, 119 K, 44 BB, .252 BAA in 135.2 IP.  A key to his recent success has been a combination of a higher K rate, a lower HR allowed rate  (16 in 23 starts overall, 4 in last 10 starts), and a lower opponent batting average.
• JOSH JUDY (24, RP):  IP, 2K.  In 39.1 IP this season in AAA: 3.20 ERA, 46 K, 12 BB, .277 BAA.
• VINNIE PESTANO (25, RP):  IP, 2 K.  Last 10 appearances (10 IP):  1.80 ERA, 16 K, 3 BB, .189 BAA.  Has struck out 54 in 40.1 IP in AAA in 2010.

AA AKRON AEROS (W, 8-7: Completion of game suspended on 07/25)

• JORDAN HENRY (22, CF):  3-5, 2B.  More below.
• JASON KIPNIS (23, 2B):  3-4, RBI.  More below.
• BEAU MILLS (24, 1B):  4-5, 2B, SB.  More below.
• JERAD HEAD (27, OF):  3-4, 2 HR, 5 RBI.  More below.
• JOHN DRENNEN (23, OF):  2-3, RBI.  More below.
• ROB BRYSON (22, RP):  2.2 IP, 2 H, 3K.  Through 7 AA appearances: 8.2 IP, 2.08 ERA, 11 K, 9 BB, .223 BAA.
• NICK HAGADONE (24, RP):  2.2 IP, BB, K.  Last 10 AA appearances: 25 IP, 2.88 ERA, 23 K, 15 BB, .228 BAA.

AA AKRON AEROS (L, 7-9)

• JORDAN HENRY:  2-4, RBI.  Last 10 games: .375 BA, .479 OBP, 4 RBI.  In 211 AA ABs, batting .303 with a .393 OBP and 9 SB.
• JASON KIPNIS:  1-3, 2B, RBI, BB.  Batting .375 in his last 10 games with 6 extra-base hits, 11 RBI, and a .468 OBP.  Season in AA (231 ABs): .346 BA, 16 2B, 4 3B, 9 HR, 36 RBI, 6 SB, .426 OBP.  High-A and AA Combined: .325 BA, 28 2B, 7 3B, 15 HR, 67 RBI, 8 SB, .408 OBP.  I can’t say much more about this guy; the numbers speak for themselves.
• LONNIE CHISENHALL (21, 3B):  1-3, 2B, RBI, BB.  8-17 (.471) in last 5 games with 3 extra-base hits, 9 RBI, and 6 BB (.609 OBP).
• BEAU MILLS:  1-4, HR, 3 RBI.  Last 4 games: 5-17 (.294), 3 extra-base hits, 5 RBI.
• JOHN DRENNEN:  1-3, 2B.  Last 9 games: 15-38 (.395), 4 extra-base hits, 6 RBI, 2 BB, SB.  In 380 AA ABs this season: .303 BA, 20 2B, 6 3B, 5 HR, 50 RBI, .353 OBP.
• JERAD HEAD:  2-4.  First game back in AA after getting demoted from AAA, where he posted a .270 BA with 7 2B, 2 HR, 12 RBI, and a .338 OBP in 63 ABs.  Solid in AA this year: .314 BA, 15 2B, 12 HR, 33 RBI, .366 OBP.
• MATT PACKER (22, SP):  5 IP, 9 ER, 9 H (3 HR), BB, K.  A disastrous outing for Packer, who when a combined 14 IP in his first 2 starts in AA with 10 K, 4 BB, 9 H, and 1 ER allowed.

HIGH-A KINSTON INDIANS (Game 1 of doubleheader: W, 3-1)

• DONNIE WEBB (24, OF):  2-4, 2 RBI.  More below.
• CHUN CHEN (21, C):  1-2, BB.  More below.
• JUAN DIAZ (21, SS):  1-2, BB, SB.  More below.
• DOUG PICKENS (25, OF):  1-2, BB.  More below.
• AUSTIN ADAMS (23, SP):  5 IP, ER, 2 H (HR), 4 BB, 4 K.  Stellar since getting the call to high-A: 1.40 ERA, 36 K, 11 BB, .217 BAA in 45 IP.

HIGH-A KINSTON INDIANS (Game 2 of doubleheader: W, 5-3)

• DONNIE WEBB:  1-3, SB.  Last 10 games: .303, 3 2B, 2 RBI.  Season with Kinston (200 ABs): .245 BA, 11 2B, 4 HR, 26 RBI, .330 OBP.
• CHUN CHEN:  1-2, 2B, RBI, BB, SB.  Last 10 games: .344, 3 2B, 2 RBI, 7 BB.  Season with Kinston (114 ABs): .307 BA, 11 2B, 2 HR, 16 RBI, .414 OBP.
• JUAN DIAZ:  1-3, HR, 2 RBI.  Started slow with Kinston, batting .222 in 99 July ABs, but batting .321 so far in August and .378 over his last 10 contests.
• DOUG PICKENS:  1-2, RBI.  Has at least 1 hit in 6 of his last 7 contests, batting .292 in that span (7-24) with 5 RBI.  Season with Kinston (280 ABs): .236 BA, 10 2B, 6 HR, 35 RBI, .301 OBP.
• BO GREENWELL (21, OF):  1-3, BB.  Solid if unspectacular so far for Kinston (165 ABs): .309 BA, 6 2B, 9 RBI, 7 SB, .384 OBP.
• MARTY POPHAM (23, SP):  5 IP, 3 ER, 6 H (HR), 2 BB, 6 K.  Last 3 outings: 15 IP, 8 ER, 19 H (3 HR), 4 BB, 19 K.
• BRIAN GRENING (25, RP):  IP, 2 K.  Season with Kinston (23 appearances): 43 IP, 3.77 ERA, 53 K, 24 BB, .200 BAA.  In AA before demotion to high-A earlier this season: 14.2 IP, 4.91 ERA, 15 K, 11 BB, .236 BAA.
• CORY BURNS (22, CP):  IP, H, 3 K, SV.  High-A save #24 on the season and #36 overall for Burns.  He’s been dominant in high-A this season: 31.2 IP, 46 K, 12 BB, .200 BAA.  In his last 2 outings (2 IP), he’s struck out 6.

The low-A Lake County Captains had a scheduled day off on Tuesday while the Mahoning Valley Scrappers enjoyed the second day of their two-day all-star break.

With the 2010 draft signing deadline just passed, I will write something up on the Indians’ top picks sometime soon.  The Tribe was able to get most of its top choices signed, including first rounder (#5 overall) Drew Pomeranz (LHP) and second rounder (#55 overall) LeVon Washington (OF).