August 15: Kipnis and Chisenhall Remain Hot, Kluber Rebounds

AAA COLUMBUS (W, 7-3)

• YOHAN PINO (SP-27):  6 IP, 0 R, 9 H, 2 BB, 5 K.  Pre all-star break: 5.61 ERA, 76 K, 35 BB, .278 BAA in 17 starts (94.2 IP); Post all-star break: 4.60 ERA, 18 K, 8 BB, .275 BAA in 5 starts (29.1 IP).
• JOSE CONSTANZA (OF-26):  1-3, BB, SB.  Last 3 games: 7-11, 2 BB, 2 SB.  Batting .368 in his last 10 games and .306 in 330 ABs this season.
• EZEQUIEL CARRERA (CF-23):  1-3, 2 RBI.  4-14 in last 3 games after going 0-15 in his previous 4.  Batting .256 in 82 ABs with Columubus.
• CORD PHELPS (2B-23):  1-3, 2B, 2 RBI, BB.  9-25 (.360 BA) in last 6 games with 2 extra-bast hits and 8 RBI.
• MATT McBRIDE (OF-25):  2-4, HR.  His first HR in August, 2nd total in AAA (55 ABs) and 19th overall in 2010.  Now batting .382 in AAA.
• WES HODGES (1B/DH-25):  1-4, solo HR.  In last 6 games, batting .375 (9-24) with 3 extra-base hits and 7 K.

AA AKRON (W, 7-0)

• COREY KLUBER (SP-24):  6 IP, 0 R, 6 H, BB, 4 K.  First 2 starts with Akron: 8 IP, 9 ER, 19 H, 6 BB, 9 K.  Looks like the “real” Kluber has arrived, and he’s not that bad (3.45 ERA with 136 K, 40 BB, .259 BAA in 122.2 IP with San Diego’s AA affiliate earlier this season).
  
• JASON KIPNIS (2B-23):  2-2, HR, 2 RBI, BB.  9 game hit streak, batting .378 during that stretch (14-37) with 5 extra-base hits and 10 RBI.  Last 4 contests: 8-15 with 2 HR, 6 RBI, and 3 BB.  This guy is the real deal.  In 224 AA ABs, he’s batting .339 with 28 extra-base hits, 34 RBI, and 6 SBs.
  
• LONNIE CHISENHALL (3B-21):  2-3, 2B, 2 RBI, 2 BB.  Last 4 games: 7-14 with 8 RBI and 5 BB.  He’s been streaky all season long, but he’s still batting .273 with 33 extra-base hits (15 HR), and 66 RBI in 374 ABs with Akron this season.  34 BB to go along with 56 K isn’t all that bad, either.
  
• JORDAN HENRY (CF-22):  2-5, 2B.  Last 3 games: 7-14 with 3 RBI and 2 BB.  .325 BA and .438 OBP. in last 10 contests.
• JOHN DRENNEN (OF-23):  2-5, RBI.  Last 10 games: .372 BA, 7 RBI.  He’s 10-23 (.435) in last 5.
• TIM FEDROFF (OF-23):  1-3, 3B, BB.  6 for his last 12 and batting .342 in last 10 contests.
• CRISTO ARNAL (2B-24):  1-3, BB.  8-game hit streak, batting .324 in last 10 games.
• OMAR AGUILAR (RP-25):  IP, BB, 2 K.  3.29 ERA, 67 K, 30 BB, and .214 BAA in 54.2 IP in 2010.  1.80 ERA, 16 K, 9 BB, and .171 BAA in last 10 appearances (10 IP).

HIGH A KINSTON (L, 4-6)

• ABNER ABREU (OF-20):  2-4, 3B, 2 RBI.  Last 4 games: 6-14 (.429) with 4 RBI.
• KAREXON SANCHEZ (2B-22):  2-4.  Last 5 games: 7-19 (.368).
• KYLE BELLOWS (3B-21):  2-4.  Batting .333 in last 10 games with 4 2B and 7 RBI.

LOW A LAKE COUNTY (W, 5-2)

• GIOVANNI SOTO (SP-19):  5 IP, 2 ER, 6 H, BB, 4 K.  In 4 starts with Lake County (23 IP): 2.35 ERA, 24 K, 7 BB, .162 BAA.  Overall low A total in 2010 (105.2 IP): 2.56 ERA, 100 K, 32 BB, .231 BAA.
• DELVI CID (OF-21):  4-5, RBI.  Last 7 games:  11-29 (.379), 3 SB.
• ADAM ABRAHAM (3B-23):  2-5, RBI.  Last 5 contests: 8-22 (.364).  He hit .182 with 2 HR and 11 RBI in 143 ABs before the all-star break and is hitting .321 with 8 HR and 36 RBI since (184 ABs).
• GREG FOLGIA (RF-22):  3-3, RBI.  Batting .324 in last 10 games with 6 RBI.
• ROBERTO PEREZ (C-21):  1-4, solo HR.  Last 10 contests: .323 BA, 8 extra-base hits, 7 RBI, 9 BB (.475 OBP).  Batting .232 with 30 extra-base hits and 36 RBI in 323 ABs in 2010.
• JOSE FLORES (RP-21):  IP, 2 K, SV.  In 31.2 IP this season, he has a 1.99 ERA with 41 K, 5 BB, and a .211 BAA (4 SVs).

SHORT-SEASON MAHONING VALLEY (W, 10-8)

• CARLOS MONCRIEF (CF-21):  1-3, 2 RBI, 2 BB.  Last 10 games: .378 BA, 5 extra-base hits, 4 RBI, .500 OBP.
• NICHOLAS BARTOLONE (SS-19):  2-5, SB.  In 8 games with Mahoning Valley (35 ABs), he’s batting .257 after batting .303 in 132 ABs with the AZL Indians (rookie ball).
• JONATHAN BURNETTE (OF-22):  2-4, BB.  Last 10 contests:  .325 BA, 5 extra-base hits, 6 RBI, .386 OBP.  Batting .292 in 209 ABs in 2010, with 24 extra-base hits and 27 RBI.
• KEVIN RUCKER (OF-20):  1-4, solo HR, BB.  5-14 in last 4 games with 2 solo HR.
• BRIAN HEERE (OF-23):  2-5.  Last 10 games: .333 BA and .421 OBP.
• MOISES MONTERO (C-20):  2-5, HR, 3 RBI.  In 80 ABs this season, he’s batting just .163 with 2 extra-base hits.
• SCOTT EHLERT (RP-22):  1.1 IP, H, 3 K, SV.  In 16 appearances (24.1 IP): 4.07 ERA, 35 K, 9 BB, .258 BAA.

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.