Clippers outfielder JORDAN BROWN (age 26) finally got the call to the show on Saturday. At the time of his promotion, he was batting .309, the third-highest batting average in the AAA International League after leading the league last season with a .336 clip. Despite missing just over the first month of the season, Brown’s 63 RBI were tied for 5th most in the IL. Although he doesn’t hit many home runs (6 in 272 at-bats this season), he has decent gap-to-gap power (25 doubles) and he just plain produces with runners in scoring position (.322, 56 RBI). Brown, the Indians’ 4th round pick out of the University of Arizona in 2006, should be a steady, if unspectacular producer in the Tribe’s lineup, provided he receives consistent playing time. Even with Austin Kearns gone (traded to the Yankees for a player to be named later), the Indians outfield is still a bit crowded. Brown will start at DH today for the Tribe.
On Saturday, the Indians continued their recent salary dump by unloading Jake Westbrook in a 3-team trade. Westbrook goes to St. Louis while the Indians receive pitching prospect COREY KLUBER (age 24). Kluber has spent the entire 2010 season in AA, where he’s posted a 3.45 ERA with 136 strikeouts, 40 walks, and a .259 BAA in 122.2 innings of work. Throughout his 4-year minor league career, Kluber has been solid, but unspectacular. In the past, the righty has given up a lot of longballs, so the fact that he’s cut down on them this season suggests why his overall numbers this year are much improved (4.56 ERA, 14 HR, 70 BB, 159 K, .263 BAA between high A and AA last season). Based on his performance this season, I am mildly excited about this trade. Kluber’s been assigned to AA Akron. I like this trade. Although I have long been a fan of Westbrook, I understand that he was over the hill and injury prone. The Indians are rebuilding to compete in a couple of seasons from now and are looking to dump some salary, so I understand the move and look forward to seeing what Kluber can do going forward.
JEANMAR GOMEZ (age 22) was recalled from AAA Columbus to start on Sunday against the Blue Jays. He impressed in his first MLB start on July 18, pitching 7 shutout innings against Detroit, and had 2 more solid starts since getting sent back down to AAA. In the wake of the Westbrook trade and Mitch Talbot being put on the DL, both Gomez and yesterday’s starter, JOSH TOMLIN, will have the opportunity to establish themselves in the Tribe’s rotation. Tomlin had another good outing last night, limiting Toronto to 1 run in 5.1 innings of work.
Newly acquired starter GIOVANNI SOTO (age 20) impressed in his debut with Lake County on Saturday (he was received from Detroit in exchange for Jhonny Peralta). He went 5 strong innings against South Bend, allowing 1 earned run on 1 hit and 3 walks while striking out 7. The lefty was a mid-season All-Start this year because of his solid performance for Western Michigan (2.61 ERA, 76 K, 25 BB, .248 BAA in 82.2 IP). I like his ability to whiff batters, but I’ll admit that the 3 free passes issued in just 5 IP bother me just a little. But since he wasn’t particularly wild while with Western Michigan, I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt here. I definitely look forward to seeing what he does in his next start.
Lake County Captains third baseman ADAM ABRAHAM (he’s listed as a 1B, but has been playing 3B) continued his recent tear. He went 3 for 4 on Saturday against South Bend, mashing a home run, driving in 2 runs, and walking. Over his last 10 games, Abraham is hitting .474 (.535 OBP) with 4 HR, 5 2B, and 14 RBI (with 5 walks and 5 strikeouts). Uh, yeah… that’s the definition of “en fuego.” After scuffling badly through April and May (.146 and .167 BA, respectively), he improved to .286 in June before exploding in July (.317 with 6 HR and 20 RBI). The Indians selected Abraham in the 13th round of the 2008 draft out of the University of Michigan. His first two seasons of professional ball were pretty unimpressive, but his recent performance suggests that he’s mastered A ball and is ready for Kinston.
AAA Columbus Rundown (L, 2-10): The Clippers got crushed on Saturday, so there is little to note here. Catcher LOU MARSON remained hot, going 1 for 3 with a 2-run shot and a BB. He’s hitting .323 over his last 10 games with 3 2B, 2 HR, 8 RBI, 5 BB, and only 2 Ks. Where did that come from?… MATT McBRIDE rebounded from an 0 for 3 showing on Friday with a 2 for 3, BB performance on Saturday. In 3 games since getting the call to Columbus, he’s 6 for 11.
AA Akron Rundown (L, 6-8): Second baseman JASON KIPNIS looked impressive again on Saturday, going 3 for 5 at the plate with a 2B and 2 RBI. He now has at least one base hit in 6 straight contests and is batting .327 on the season with Akron (171 AB)… LONNIE CHISENHALL went 1 for 5 at the dish with a solo HR to extend his current hitting streak to a modest 6 games. Unfortunately, the third baseman also committed his 11th error of the season… Again, JORDAN HENRY raked, going 4 for 5 with a 3B and an RBI. Over his last 6 games, he’s hitting .632 with an OBP of .732.
High A Kinston Rundown (W, 10-2): In a day when several Indians had a good day at the plate, outfielder DONNIE WEBB’s performance stands out. The 24 year-old out of Oklahoma State University (the Indians’ 10th round pick in 2008) went 2 for 3 with a 3-run HR and a BB. He’s not exactly impressing in high A this year (.253 with 7 2B, 4 HR, and 22 RBI in 146 AB), but he’s in his third season of pro ball and has time to turn it around yet… Upcoming Wigwammers’ favorite Indians catcher not named Carlos Santana, CHUN CHEN, went 2 for 4 on Saturday with a double, 2 RBI, and a BB. Over this last 10 games, Chen is hitting .375 with 4 2B, a HR, 11 RBI, and an OBP of .500… Teammate BO GREENWELL also had a nice game, going 2 for 4 with a BB and his 5th stolen base of the season. He’s now hitting .375 (9 for 24) over his last 6 games… Middle infielder RON RIVAS rounds out the Kinston rundown, as he went 1 for 2 with a 2B, a BB, and 3 RBI on Saturday. The 22 year-old is hitting .321 with an OBP of .429 over his last 10 contests.
A Lake County Rundown (W, 5-2): DELVI CID showed his true potential on Saturday, going 2 for 4 at the dish with a B and a run driven in (no strikeouts!). As one might expect, his stolen base numbers rose along with his OBP – he swiped 3 bags on Saturday to bring his season total to 52. I sure hope that he’s turning a corner, as his talent on the basepaths is simply awesome… Right fielder SETH FOLGIA went 1 for 3 with a solo HR and a BB. He’s now batting .400 over his last 10 games with 2 2B, 2 HR, and 8 RBI.
Short Season Mahoning Valley Rundown (W, 5-0): Three Scrappers pitchers combined to shut out Williamsport on Saturday, all of whom have been otherwise unimpressive this season. Lefty KIRK WETMORE started the game, allowing 1 hit and 2 walks while striking out 5. He has an ERA of 7.08 with 27 Ks, 20 BBs, and a BAA of .317 in 34.1 IP this season. KYLE C. SMITH followed with 2 innings in which he allowed 2 hits, walked 1, and struck out 4. In 19.2 IP with the Scrappers in 2010, he’s posted a 6.41 ERA with 15 BB, 29 Ks, and a .203 BAA. I like the Ks and the BAA, but he’ll need to cut down on the BBs in order to be more successful. JOHN GORYL pitched a single flawless frame to finish the game. On the season, he has a 4.15 ERA with 10 Ks, 12 BB, and a BAA of .330 in 21.2 IP… Third baseman GIOVANNY URSHELA was the star of the game at the plate, going 2 for 4 with a 2-run HR. He’s hitting only .264 on the season with that lone HR to go along with 20 RBI and 5 2B (140 ABs), but he’s only 18 and in only his second season of professional ball… Second baseman AARON FIELDS went 2 for 3 at the dish. He hasn’t played much this year (only 33 AB), but has a .303 average. This is his first season of pro ball after getting drafted out of Wright State… JONATHAN BURNETTE was hitless in his previous 6 games (0 for 21) before he singled in a run on Saturday. Let’s hope that the hit breaks his recent slump.
Upcoming Wigwammers 