Weekend Update 4/5: And We're Off!

Well, the minor league season is finally underway. Although, for Akron and Kinston mother nature and modern technology have delayed the start of their seasons.

Akron played on Thursday night, but after tying the score late the game was halted in the 10th inning because of wet grounds. The game was supposed to be picked up where it left off yesterday and then the regularly scheduled game be played right after it, but the rain continued to fall in Harrisburg, PA, so the games were cancelled. Today, they will once again try to finish the suspended game and play today’s regularly scheduled game. The game that was originally scheduled for yesterday will now be made up on May 27th as part of a doubleheader.

Last night, Kinston kicked their season off, but play was stopped in the 3rd inning because of a city wide power outage in Kinston. After an hour delay, officials decided to postpone the game with Kinston up 3-0 in the bottom of the 3rd inning. The game will be resumed from where it left off today at 6 p.m., and then the regularly scheduled game for today will be played after it and shortened to seven innings.

Lake County and Buffalo are off to good starts, as both won their first two games and are 2-0. Lake County was paced by left-handed starter Kelvin De La Cruz on Thursday night (5 IP, 0 R, 5 H, 2 BB, 6 K), and relievers Mike Pontius (2 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 0 BB, 3 K), Dallas Cawiezell (2 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 BB, 0 K), Josh Judy (2.1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 BB, 3 K), and Vinnie Pestano (1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 BB, 2 K) all pitched well. Early offensive stars are outfielder Lucas Montero (.625, 5-for-8, 2 SB), third baseman Jeff Hehr (.375, 3-for-8, 2B, RBI, SB), outfielder Adam White (.375, 3-for-8, 2B) and first baseman Chris Nash (.333, 3-for-9, 2B, 3 RBI). For Buffalo, left-hander Aaron Laffey pitched very well in the opener (5 IP, 0 ER, 6 H, 1BB, 5 K), and early offensive stars are first baseman Jordan Brown (.556, 5-for-9, 2B, 2 RBI, SB) and second baseman Josh Barfield (.556, 5-for-9, 2B, 2 RBI).

It is not a surprise to see Jordan Brown, Kelvin De La Cruz, Chris Nash, and Aaron Laffey off to a good start. Brown is a heck of a hitter and I really think he will help the major league club out at some point this season. Laffey is major league ready and like Brown will be up with the Indians at some point. Nash and De La Cruz are two of the more promising youngsters in the lower levels of the system who should rocket up the prospect ranking charts by season's end. Nash has big potential as an offensive player, and De La Cruz reminds me a lot of Fausto Carmona when he was in Lake County in 2003 both in the way he looks and the way he pitches. He is a potential star on the rise.

Akron left-hander Chuck Lofgren had a rough go of it in his first start on Thursday (3.1 IP, 2 ER, 7 H, 5 BB, 1 K). How he gave up only 2 runs in 3+ innings of work while allowing 12 base-runners is a miracle, although he was helped in large part by right-handed reliever Jeff Stevens coming in the 4th inning and slamming the door with the bases loaded and not allowing any inherited runners to score. This start for Lofgren contrasts greatly from his first start last year (5 IP, 1 ER, 4 H, 0 BB, 4 K) with Akron. Lofgren was wild all night, and really was ineffective all spring. Hopefully this is but a small bump in the road and Lofgren gets things on the right track. Also, I am not saying he is hurt, but I wonder if his arm is tired or is bothering him some. It always seems like when a pitcher is all of a sudden this ineffective that something is wrong, and they usually go on the disabled list for elbow inflammation or tendonitis. Again, I am merely speculating and not saying this in fact is the case (just want to be clear on that).

Those wondering where Adam Miller is on the Buffalo roster, he is in Winter Haven ramping up his pitch count to where he can effectively pitch late into a game without taxing the bullpen. Miller got a late start in spring training because a blister on the middle finger of his throwing hand sidelined him for a few weeks, so he is just now progressing to a normal pitch count. He is currently up to four innings and about 55 pitches, and the Indians want him to be able to throw 85 pitches. He is about another seven to ten days away from returning to Buffalo. Other than the delay in the start of his season because of the blister, he is 100% healthy.

Here are some of the upcoming pitching probables for Akron and Lake County:

Akron: Frank Herrmann (Sat 4/5), Ryan Edell (Sun 4/6), Kevin Dixon (Mon 4/7)
Lake County: Chris Archer (Sat 4/5), Ryan Miller (Sun 4/6), Santo Frias (Tues 4/8)

Posted in: Aaron Laffey,Adam Miller,Chris Nash,Chuck Lofgren,Jordan Brown,Kelvin De La Cruz