WHAT'S THE NEWS
There was a little bit of chatter that Frank Herrmann wasn't getting called up into the Columbus rotation, but rather the Columbus bullpen. Well as you will see in game two of the double header for the Clippers, that became a reality.
So yes indeed, that makes three starters converted to the pen and counting.
To fill the rotation, it looks as if the Clippers are going with Zach Jackson back into the rotation.
Tony Graffanino has cleared waivers and he's on his way to Columbus, he'll be joined by Rafael Perez today. Graffanino will likely take the spot of Cristo Arnal, who was just being used as a placeholder from Lake County. There is still an open spot thanks to Jeremy Sowers, so no more moves to get Rafael Perez on. Expect something so Jack Cassel can make his next start though.
Jamey Carroll will also be with the team today on his rehab assignment.
Has Andy Marte turned a corner? Or is he just a really good Triple-A ball player that can't play in the majors, that some prospects turn out to be?
One thing is for sure, he sounds a lot more mature than he did a few months ago.
COLUMBUS
Well it took two games in one day on both occasions, but the Clippers and Tides got the series in
Unfortunately, Norfolk whisked away with a sweep on Thursday's doubleheader.
Game One saw David Huff get saddled with his first loss on the season, but he had no one to blame.
Huff pitched 5.1 innings of work, giving up five runs off four hits and three walks. He gave up two early runs, but the Clips battled back to tie it up. Things went south in the sixth inning when he was charged with three earned.
The Clippers did out-hit the Tides in large part to Michael Brantley, Wes Hodges, and the dynamic duo of Michael Aubrey and Andy Marte, who all had two hits. Aubrey and Hodges knocked in runs while Brantley doubled, stole a base, and scored a run.
A little bit of a close one in Game Two, but the Clippers gave up another lead. Cristo Arnal scored a run and went 3-3 with a double in what was probably his final game before he heads off back to Lake County.
Aubrey and Hodges both doubled, and Marte walked and scored a run. Wilson Valdez had the big hit with by knocking in two runs, while Wyatt Toregas knocked in the other Clipper run.
The Clippers make-shifted through the seven innings, starting Greg Aquino fresh off the DL. He gave one scoreless before giving way to newly called up Frank Herrmann.
As mentioned, Herrmann will now be in the bullpen and his first shot didn't really go so well. He gave up the initial two earned in his three innings of work off five hits and two walks.
But he was in line for the win. But Ryan Edell blew that by giving up two runs of his own.
Columbus heads home to meet up with Pawtucket for a four game series.
AKRON
Look who FINALLY got to playing some baseball!
And not a moment too soon. They couldn't win both, but the Aeros managed to split, thanks in large part to Hector Rondon looking sharp again. Game One was a 5-1 winner for Akron.
Rondon went 6.1, giving up just one run off three hits and a walk while striking out four. He's now 5-0 on the season.
Offense provided by Carlos Santana and Beau Mills, the big guns, who both had two hits and a RBI. Doubles by Santana, Jared Goedert, and Jerad Head who also scored twice and had two hits.
Game Two was a bit of a let-down but Akron is short-handed in starters so they had to send out Erik Stiller and the pen to tape this one together. Stiller might get more spot starts though for the time being.
They matched hit-totals, but the Curve managed to score eight runs off their five hits, and beat the Aeros 8-2.
Runs courtsey of Jose Constanza, who had two hits and Carlos Rivero, who had none. Mills, Head, and Johnnie Drennen had hits.
Erik Stiller got the loss going two innings, but he only gave up one earned run, three total. Same for Carlton Smith who pitched three innings. Josh Judy pitched an inning and gave up two.
Damaso Epsino had a passed ball, Carlton Smith balked, there was an error by Jerad Head. A bunch of stuff went wrong defensively.
Former Indian Shawn Nottingham pitched a inning in the first game and they scrapped a run off him.
KINSTON
So far we've had a team get swept, a team split, so could Kinston do a sweep of their own?
Absolutely...
Game one was a big win for the K-Tribe, as they shutout Salem and won 7-0. A combined two hitter for the pitching staff.
Eric Berger went six of the seven, giving up those two hits and striking out four. Matt Meyer went the seventh and walked a few, but also struck out two and escaped with no damage.
Hold your breath though because the offense. Phew, they just keep doing it.
How about the year Cord Phelps is putting together? It's not flashy, but three hits, two runs scored, a run batted in today for the Stanford product. Really under the radar.
He sets the table for the big guns, Lonnie Chisenhall and Matt McBride, who yes, just kept hitting.
Chiz went 3-4 with two runs scored, two doubles, and three total RBI.
McBride went 4-4 with two doubles and three total RBI as well. He now has 14 doubles and 32 RBI.
Game Two was a little tighter and even though they got out-hit, the Tribers found a way to win it thanks to a 7th inning rally.
Or should I say....
Aww screw it.. I lied to you, there was no rally.
In fact it was just Matt McBride. McBride had only one hit in this game, but he did knock in three more runs, so he now stands at 35. One on a sac-fly, the other two on a two-run home run in the seventh to take the lead.
Matt Brown and Chiz had two hits as well, and Chiz scored twice.
Heath Taylor was awarded the win after blowing the save. He wasted Russell Young's 5 inning, no earned run performance. Young gave up three hits and a walk for one unearned run. Dallas Cawiezell came in for his third save with a shaky, but scoreless seventh.
The other run was knocked in by John Allman.
LAKE COUNTY
Where did this come from? The Lake County Captains got themselves some runs, a lot in fact. They beat Hickory 14-6, in probably their best output on the year.
Hold onto your hats here.
Donnie Webb the leadoff man had two hits and scored three times, and he also stole two bases.
Both Karexon Sanchez and Mark Thompson scored twice, despite not collecting hits.
And now the house comes down.
Chris Nash and Abner Abreu combined for nine runs batted in, Nash going 2-3 with 2 runs, 2 doubles, 2 walks, and five total runs batted in. Abreu went 3-5 with two doubles and four runs batted in. Coming into the game, Abreu had only five runs batted in. Hopefully he's going to get himself going now.
Jeremie Tice had a run batted in and two hits, and Michael Valdez scored and knocked in a run himself. Adam White had two hits, two runs scored, and a solo home run, his first of the year.
Joey Mahalic started, went 4.1 and gave up four runs. Michael McGuire picked up the win.
Original Story:
http://www.thetribedaily.com/2009/05/...
There was a little bit of chatter that Frank Herrmann wasn't getting called up into the Columbus rotation, but rather the Columbus bullpen. Well as you will see in game two of the double header for the Clippers, that became a reality.
So yes indeed, that makes three starters converted to the pen and counting.
To fill the rotation, it looks as if the Clippers are going with Zach Jackson back into the rotation.
Tony Graffanino has cleared waivers and he's on his way to Columbus, he'll be joined by Rafael Perez today. Graffanino will likely take the spot of Cristo Arnal, who was just being used as a placeholder from Lake County. There is still an open spot thanks to Jeremy Sowers, so no more moves to get Rafael Perez on. Expect something so Jack Cassel can make his next start though.
Jamey Carroll will also be with the team today on his rehab assignment.
Has Andy Marte turned a corner? Or is he just a really good Triple-A ball player that can't play in the majors, that some prospects turn out to be?
One thing is for sure, he sounds a lot more mature than he did a few months ago.
However Marte knows he probably isn't destined for Cleveland, not with Wes Hodges on the brink and Lonnie Chisenhall making a rapid ascent. He knows people could be watching and he is playing for "his teammates first, himself second, and then the Cleveland Indians." Which is totally fine. Lovullo thinks he can still be fixed though."Cleveland gave me an opportunity," Marte said. "In '07, I got hurt with my hamstring. I was out for about a month. When I came back, the whole team was doing good. Casey Blake was hitting good and (Ryan) Garko was playing first. They didn't have any other choice but to send me down to Buffalo. I just think that it's bad luck."
"I feel a little bit disappointed sometimes," Marte said. "But sometimes things don't happen the way you want them to. I feel like I'm the same guy I always was. I know that I can hit. I hit before. My defense is good. I just need to be more consistent offensively."
"Before, I was a prospect," he said. "I understand that. I know that they have to play every day. I come early, get my work in and try to get my body ready that day in case (manager Torey Lovullo) puts me in the lineup."
"Defensively, he's an outstanding third baseman," Lovullo said. "He's picked up first base very well. Offensively, I still think he's learning how to level his shoulders and level his swing plane. He has an up-and-under mentality and he wants to drive the ball. He hits a lot of fly balls. We're trying to get him to stay gap to gap and level out his swing plane. It's a work in progress."Tony had a take on the "new direction" that was sensed from Shapiro's comments. I had the same feeling and I wrote something as well that I'll link up in the morning update, but here is what Tony had to say. His is more prospect geared of course.
COLUMBUS
Well it took two games in one day on both occasions, but the Clippers and Tides got the series in
Unfortunately, Norfolk whisked away with a sweep on Thursday's doubleheader.
Game One saw David Huff get saddled with his first loss on the season, but he had no one to blame.
Huff pitched 5.1 innings of work, giving up five runs off four hits and three walks. He gave up two early runs, but the Clips battled back to tie it up. Things went south in the sixth inning when he was charged with three earned.
The Clippers did out-hit the Tides in large part to Michael Brantley, Wes Hodges, and the dynamic duo of Michael Aubrey and Andy Marte, who all had two hits. Aubrey and Hodges knocked in runs while Brantley doubled, stole a base, and scored a run.
A little bit of a close one in Game Two, but the Clippers gave up another lead. Cristo Arnal scored a run and went 3-3 with a double in what was probably his final game before he heads off back to Lake County.
Aubrey and Hodges both doubled, and Marte walked and scored a run. Wilson Valdez had the big hit with by knocking in two runs, while Wyatt Toregas knocked in the other Clipper run.
The Clippers make-shifted through the seven innings, starting Greg Aquino fresh off the DL. He gave one scoreless before giving way to newly called up Frank Herrmann.
As mentioned, Herrmann will now be in the bullpen and his first shot didn't really go so well. He gave up the initial two earned in his three innings of work off five hits and two walks.
But he was in line for the win. But Ryan Edell blew that by giving up two runs of his own.
Columbus heads home to meet up with Pawtucket for a four game series.
AKRON
Look who FINALLY got to playing some baseball!
And not a moment too soon. They couldn't win both, but the Aeros managed to split, thanks in large part to Hector Rondon looking sharp again. Game One was a 5-1 winner for Akron.
Rondon went 6.1, giving up just one run off three hits and a walk while striking out four. He's now 5-0 on the season.
Offense provided by Carlos Santana and Beau Mills, the big guns, who both had two hits and a RBI. Doubles by Santana, Jared Goedert, and Jerad Head who also scored twice and had two hits.
Game Two was a bit of a let-down but Akron is short-handed in starters so they had to send out Erik Stiller and the pen to tape this one together. Stiller might get more spot starts though for the time being.
They matched hit-totals, but the Curve managed to score eight runs off their five hits, and beat the Aeros 8-2.
Runs courtsey of Jose Constanza, who had two hits and Carlos Rivero, who had none. Mills, Head, and Johnnie Drennen had hits.
Erik Stiller got the loss going two innings, but he only gave up one earned run, three total. Same for Carlton Smith who pitched three innings. Josh Judy pitched an inning and gave up two.
Damaso Epsino had a passed ball, Carlton Smith balked, there was an error by Jerad Head. A bunch of stuff went wrong defensively.
Former Indian Shawn Nottingham pitched a inning in the first game and they scrapped a run off him.
KINSTON
So far we've had a team get swept, a team split, so could Kinston do a sweep of their own?
Absolutely...
Game one was a big win for the K-Tribe, as they shutout Salem and won 7-0. A combined two hitter for the pitching staff.
Eric Berger went six of the seven, giving up those two hits and striking out four. Matt Meyer went the seventh and walked a few, but also struck out two and escaped with no damage.
Hold your breath though because the offense. Phew, they just keep doing it.
How about the year Cord Phelps is putting together? It's not flashy, but three hits, two runs scored, a run batted in today for the Stanford product. Really under the radar.
He sets the table for the big guns, Lonnie Chisenhall and Matt McBride, who yes, just kept hitting.
Chiz went 3-4 with two runs scored, two doubles, and three total RBI.
McBride went 4-4 with two doubles and three total RBI as well. He now has 14 doubles and 32 RBI.
Game Two was a little tighter and even though they got out-hit, the Tribers found a way to win it thanks to a 7th inning rally.
Or should I say....
Aww screw it.. I lied to you, there was no rally.
In fact it was just Matt McBride. McBride had only one hit in this game, but he did knock in three more runs, so he now stands at 35. One on a sac-fly, the other two on a two-run home run in the seventh to take the lead.
Matt Brown and Chiz had two hits as well, and Chiz scored twice.
Heath Taylor was awarded the win after blowing the save. He wasted Russell Young's 5 inning, no earned run performance. Young gave up three hits and a walk for one unearned run. Dallas Cawiezell came in for his third save with a shaky, but scoreless seventh.
The other run was knocked in by John Allman.
LAKE COUNTY
Where did this come from? The Lake County Captains got themselves some runs, a lot in fact. They beat Hickory 14-6, in probably their best output on the year.
Hold onto your hats here.
Donnie Webb the leadoff man had two hits and scored three times, and he also stole two bases.
Both Karexon Sanchez and Mark Thompson scored twice, despite not collecting hits.
And now the house comes down.
Chris Nash and Abner Abreu combined for nine runs batted in, Nash going 2-3 with 2 runs, 2 doubles, 2 walks, and five total runs batted in. Abreu went 3-5 with two doubles and four runs batted in. Coming into the game, Abreu had only five runs batted in. Hopefully he's going to get himself going now.
Jeremie Tice had a run batted in and two hits, and Michael Valdez scored and knocked in a run himself. Adam White had two hits, two runs scored, and a solo home run, his first of the year.
Joey Mahalic started, went 4.1 and gave up four runs. Michael McGuire picked up the win.
Original Story:
http://www.thetribedaily.com/2009/05/...
