August 19: McBride Continues to Excell in AAA, Chisenhall and Head Drive Akron to Victory

AAA COLUMBUS (L, 5-9)

• MATT McBRIDE (25, OF):  1-4, HR, 2 RBI.  That was his 3rd HR in 62 AAA ABs, to go along with a .371 BA, 3 2B, and 7 RBI.  Overall in 2010 (AA and AAA):  .296 BA, 28 2B, 20 HR, 71 RBI, .394 OBP.
• WES HODGES (25, 1B):  2-4, RBI.  Last 9 games: .361, 3 extra-base hits, 3 RBI, 0 BB, 11 K.
• DREW SUTTON (27, LF):  3-3, 2B, BB, SB.  Last 9 games: .333, 5 extra-base hits, 6 RBI, 3 BB.
• ZACH PUTNAM (23, RP):  2 IP, H, BB, 2 K.  Last 4 outings (6 IP):  0 R, 5 K, 2 H, BB.  Season in AAA (16 IP): 5.06 ERA, 15 K, 5 BB, .274 BAA.

AA AKRON (W, 15-10)

• JORDAN HENRY (22, OF):  2-6, 2 RBI.  Last 9 games: .375, 6 RBI, 5 BB.
• LONNIE CHISENHALL (21, 3B):  2-5, 2B, 3 RBI.  Last 7 games:  .440 (11-25), 3 2B, HR, 12 RBI, 7 BB, SB.  His pre and post-all star splits are quite telling: .267 BA, 12 2B, 8 HR, 37 RBI, .341 OBP in 266 ABs before the break and .285 BA, 6 2B, 7 HR, 34 RBI, .343 OBP since.  Season (389 AB):  .272 BA, 18 2B, 2 3B, 15 HR, 71 RBI, .342 OBP.  He’s a lock for this week’s BA prospect hot sheet.
• JERAD HEAD (27, OF):  3-4, 2 HR, 4 RBI, BB.  On fire since return to AA: 6-11, 3 HR, 6 RBI, 2 BB in 3 games.  He’s went deep in back-to-back contests.  Season in AA: .323 BA, 15 2B, 15 HR, 39 RBI, .379 OBP.
• CARLOS RIVERO (22, SS):  2-5, 2B, HR, 4 RBI.  Last 7 games: .345 (10-29), 2 2B, 2 HR, 8 RBI, BB.
• MIGUEL PEREZ (26, C):  2-5, 2 2B.  In 114 AA ABs this season: .289 BA, 10 2B, 10 RBI, 4 BB.
• LUCAS MONTERO (25, OF):  In 34 AA at-bats in 2010: .235, 2B, 3B, 3 BB, 10 K.  Last 4 games: 7-16 (.438).  In 321 ABs with Kinston before promotion: .265 BA, 12 2B, 5 3B, 2 HR, 29 RBI, 47 BB, 80 K, 24 SB.

LOW-A LAKE COUNTY (W, 5-4)

• ADAM ABRAHAM (23, 3B):  2-3, solo HR.  Current 8-game hitting streak: 12-34 (.353), 5 RBI, 4 BB, 4 K.  Batting .314 so far in August after a .317 July, but power is down (1 HR in August, 6 in July).  Pre-all star break: .182 BA, 6 2B, 2 HR, 11 RBI, 8 BB, 33 K in 143 ABs.  Since: .321 BA, 12 2B, 9 HR, 37 RBI, 20 BB, 39 K in 196 ABs.
• CASEY FRAWLEY (22, SS):  2-4.  Last 9: .333 (12-39), 3 extra-base hits, 6 RBI.
• GREG FOLGIA (22, OF):  1-4, HR, 2 RBI.  Last 7 games: .400 (12-30), 6 RBI.
• BRETT BRACH (22, SP):  6 IP, 2 ER, 2 H (HR), BB, 4 K.  Last 6 starts: 43 IP, 31 K, 8 ER (1.67 ERA), 3 BB, 32 H.  Season in low-A (19 starts): 2.87 ERA, 81 K, 22 BB, .264 BAA in 106.2 IP.  As of late, his Ks are slightly up, and his BBs and BAA are both down.
• RAMON CESPEDES (19, RP):  IP, K.  Through 4 appearances in low-A: 4.05 ERA, 5 K, 3 BB, .259 BAA.  Last 2 outings (2.2 IP) scoreless with 3 K.  11 appearances with AZL (rookie) Indians prior to promotion: 0.39 ERA, 28 K, 3 BB, .117 BAA in 23 IP.

SHORT-SEASON MAHONING VALLEY (L, 5-7)

• NICHOLAS BARTOLONE (19, SS):  2-4, 2B, RBI.  Last 3 games: 4-12, BB.  Through 42 short-season ABs: .262 BA, 4 RBI, 2 BB, 7 K, SB.  With AZL (rookie) Indians before promotion: .303, 3 2B, 9 RBI, 9 BB, 18 K, 15 SB in 132 AB.
• DIEGO SEASTRUNK (22, C):  4-4, 2B, RBI.  Last 3 games: 8-12, 2B, HR, 5 RBI.  In 113 short-season ABs: .221, 6 2B, 4 HR, 16 RBI, 17 BB, 22 K.  Has shown steady progress: .105 in 19 June ABs, .204 in 54 July ABs, and .300 in 40 August ABs.
• TYLER CANNON (22, SS):  2-3, RBI, BB.  Through 95 ABs with Scrappers: .200, 6 2B, 3B, 15 RBI, 10 BB, 19 K, SB.
• MICHAEL GOODNIGHT (21, SP):  2.2 IP, 5 ER, 6 H, 3 BB, 3 K.  A rough second start, but first outing showed promise (3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 BB, 3 K).
• KYLE C. SMITH (22, RP):  IP, H, 4 K (that’s not a typo).  Last 4 appearances: 6 IP, 11 K, 5 BB, 5 H, 0 ER.

High-A Kinston’s game against the Potomac Nationals was postponed because of rain.

August 13: Moncrief Continues Hot Streak, Goodnight Solid in Pro Debut

Pitcher-turned-outfielder CARLOS MONCRIEF (21) continued his recent tear on Friday, going 2 for 4 with 2 2B and an RBI.  After a rough June (.167 in 42 ABs) and July (.204 in 98 ABs), Moncrief exploded in August, batting .396 through 48 at-bats.  He’s evened out his K:BB rate some (11:4, 17:11, and now 10:7), so that’s a good sign that he’s developing.  He’s also pounding out more extra-base hits.  In 42 June at-bats, he logged only 2, 8 in 98 July at-bats, and now 6 so far in 48 August at-bats.  His season average is up to .245, to go along with 9 2B, 2 3B, 5 HR, 16 RBI, and 6 SB.

A 2010 Tribe draftee, MICHAEL GOODNIGHT (21), made his professional debut with the Scrappers on Friday night.  The 6’4″, 215 lb. right-handed pitcher started the game against Lowell, pitching 3 scoreless innings in which he gave up 1 hit and struck out 3.  The Indians previously drafted Goodnight out of high school in 2008, but he opted to attend Houston instead.  They selected him again this year in the 13th round, as a draft-eligible sophomore.  In 2009 with Houston, he posted a 4.43 ERA with 58 K, 31 BB, and 68 hits allowed in 65 innings.  In 2010, he compiled a 5.36 ERA with 90 K, 54 BB, and 90 hits allowed in 85.2 IP.  The ERA, BB, and hits allowed are all problematic at this point, as Goodnight has some control issues.  But he throws reasonably hard (low-mid 90s) and can strike batters out.  Clearly, the Indians see some potential in him and his (walk-free) debut with the Scrappers was promising.

Kinston starting pitcher T.J. McFARLAND (21) had a solid outing spoiled by poor defense on Friday.  In 6 innings of work, he allowed 5 runs (only 1 earned) on 7 hits and no walks while striking out 6.  The 3 errors committed by his defense should not mar this solid start, one of many that he’s made this season.  In 21 appearances (16 starts), the young lefty has compiled a 2.74 ERA with 80 K, 31 BB, and a .250 BAA in 115 innings.  The Indians drafted McFarland in the 4th round of the 2007 draft out of high school.  He had a rough 2008 campaign with the GCL (rookie league) Indians (5.07 ERA, 38 K, 15 BB, .314 BAA in 55 IP), but improved last year with Lake County, compiling a 3.58 ERA with 85 K, 42 BB, and a .275 BAA in 120.2 IP.  I’m not as excited about him as I am about Joe Gardner, for instance, but he’s showing some growth.

AAA Columbus Rundown (W, 12-4):  A few big bats in this one for the Clippers, starting with leadoff man JOSE CONSTANZA.  Constanza went 4 for 4 on Friday with 3 RBI, a run scored, a BB, and missed the cycle only by a home run.  He’s batting .316 in his last 10 games with 7 RBI and a .381 OBP…  Second baseman CORD PHELPS went 2 for 5 with a HR, 5 RBI, and 2 runs scored.  He now has 3 2-game hits in a row and is batting .333 in his last 10 games…  JARED GOEDERT went 2 for 5 with a pair of 2Bs and 2 RBI.  He’s 7 for his last 20 (.350) with 5 extra-base hits in that stretch of 5 games…  DREW SUTTON went 1 for 5 with a 2-run home run, his first jack with the Indians organization.  In 6 games with the Clippers, he’s batting .286 with 5 RBI (3 K, 3 BB)…  First baseman/DH WES HODGES now has at least 1 base hit in each of his last 4 games, 3 of which are multi-hit efforts.  He went 2 for 4 on Friday with a run scored.

AA Akron Rundown (W, 11-7):  Quite a few big bats to note in this one, so let’s get to it.  As always, JORDAN HENRY led the charge, going 3 for 5 with a 3B and a pair of RBI.  In his last 7 games, he’s batting .333 (9 for 27) with a .455 OBP…  JASON KIPNIS is riding a modest 7-game hitting streak after going 2 for 5 with a HR, 2 RBI, and a SB on Friday.  He’s 11 for 32 in that stretch (.344) with 4 extra-base hits and 7 RBI…  LONNIE CHISENHALL went 1 for 3 with 2 BB and a run scored.  He’s drawn 5 walks in his last 3 games after taking none in his previous 7…  First baseman BEAU MILLS went 2 for 5 with a 2B on Friday, snapping a 4-game hitless streak (0 for 18)…  Shortstop CARLOS RIVERO went 2 for 4 with a 2B and 2 RBI.  He’s now 5 for his last 14 (.357) with 4 RBI…  Second baseman CRISTO ARNAL extended his current hitting streak to 6 games with a 2 for 4 performance in which he hit a 3B and drove in 3 runs.  During that stretch, he’s batting .304…  Catcher JUAN APODACA went 1 for 3 with a BB.  He’s now batting .467 with a .652 OBP in 6 games with Akron.  Right fielder JOHN DRENNEN went 2 for 5, pulling his season average up to .297; he’s batting .367 in his last 8 contests (12 for 33).

High A Kinston Rundown (L, 1-6):  Little to note here, as the Indians’ offense took the night off.  ABNER ABREU went 1 for 3 with an RBI and a BB.  He’s now 2 for his last 6 after being 2 for his previous 33…  KAREXON SANCHEZ went 1 for 3 with a BB.  He’s now 4 for his last 11.

Lake County Rundown (L, 2-3):  Another quiet game, although first baseman JEFF KERSTEN went 1 for 4 with a 2-run home run.  The longball was his 3rd in his last 4 games and he’s recorded exactly 1 base hit in each of his past 6 contests…  Reliever PRESTON GUILMET had another nice appearance, tossing 2.1 scoreless innings in which he gave up 1 BB and struck out 4.  In 40 IP this season, he’s struck out 57 batters while walking only 7 (2.03 ERA).

Mahoning Valley Rundown (W, 3-2):  KEVIN RUCKER went 1 for 3 with a 2B and a run scored in this one.  He’s 5 for his last 17 (.294) after going 0 for 13 before that…  JONATHAN BURNETTE went 1 for 4 with a 2B and an RBI.  He’s batting .350 in his past 10 games with 9 extra-base hits and 9 RBI in that span.