Akron's Week That Was: 8/30 - 9/5

The white flag is up at Canal Park. The Aeros are riding their first playoff-less season since 2004 in ugly fashion. The Aeros are in danger of finishing below .500 and will do so with a loss to Erie tonight, but more importantly the club was eliminated from playoff contention after a horrendous week on the road. The club was dropped by Trenton in three of the four games to all but eliminate them from contention. They then traveled to Erie with a depleted Roster only to be dropped in the first three contests. The Aeros will finish their season tonight in Erie and it ends a incredible run of making the playoffs for the Akron franchise. What has to be depressing for Akron is the fact that Harrisburg and Bowie both did nothing to take control of the final playoff spot and both sit at 75-65 going into the final game of the season.

Here is everything you need to know about the Aeros for the week of August 30th to September 5th.

Record: 70-71 (Last Week: 1-6)
Standings: 4th in Western Division (11.5 GB)
Teams Faced (Record Against): @ Trenton (1-3), @ Erie (0-3)
Upcoming Week: The Aeros finish their season with a game against Erie on Monday
Transactions: Received RHP Shane Lindsay From Columbus, Received OF Trent Baker from Mahoning Valley, Received RHP Brian Grening and SS Ron Rivas from Kinston, Sent RHP Corey Kluber and IF/OF Jerad Head to Columbus, Sent RHP Brian Grening to Kinston, Placed RHP Alex White on the Inactive List
Awards: The Aeros didn't receive any awards this week.

Pitcher of the Week: Steven Wright, RHP
1-1, 8 IP, 9 H, 1 R, 1/8 BB/K

If it was evident the Aeros were depleted at one position on the diamond, it clearly would be at starting pitching. The club ended up having to piggyback relief pitchers in some games to make up for the losses of Alex White (inactive list), Kelvin De La Cruz (injury), and Corey Kluber (promotion). Wright was one of those options that stepped up and ate innings successfully. Against Trenton early in the week he took home the victory after four scoreless innings of relief and despite taking the loss against Erie on Sunday, he threw five innings and gave up just one run off a hit and a walk.

Season History
Week 1: Zach Putnam
Week 2: Erik Stiller
Week 3: Paolo Espino
Week 4: Zach Putnam
Week 5: Kelvin De La Cruz
Week 6: Alex White
Week 7: Bryce Stowell
Week 8: Connor Graham
Week 9: Scott Barnes
Week 10: Eric Berger
Week 11: Bryan Price
Week 12: Scott Barnes
Week 13: Alex White
Week 14: Paolo Espino
Week 15: Alex White
Week 16: Connor Graham
Week 17: Scott Barnes
Week 18: Matt Packer
Week 19: Corey Kluber
Week 20: CC Lee

Hitter of the Week: Jordan Henry, OF
9/25, 3 R, 2B, 3B, 7/5 BB/K, 2 SB

The Aeros had a scattered week offensively with all the roster moves and while he was only responsible for scoring three runs, Jordan Henry was on base 15 times this past week. Henry also stole two bases. Henry is currently hitting .297 on the season with Akron after hitting .333 with Kinston and he's scored 75 total runs and stolen 28 total bases. It was certainly a break out year for the speedy center fielder.

Season History
Week 1: Cord Phelps
Week 2: Cord Phelps
Week 3: Nick Weglarz
Week 4: Beau Mills
Week 5: Jared Goedert
Week 6: Matt McBride
Week 7: Jared Goedert
Week 8: Lonnie Chisenhall
Week 9: Lonnie Chisenhall
Week 10: Jason Kipnis
Week 11: John Drennen
Week 12: Matt McBride
Week 13: Matt McBride
Week 14: Jason Kipnis
Week 15: Matt McBride
Week 16: Jordan Henry
Week 17: Jason Kipnis
Week 18: Jason Kipnis
Week 19: Jerad Head
Week 20: Lonnie Chisenhall

Weekly Spotlight: Alex White, RHP
Every week one player on the Akron roster will get a spotlight on their outlook for the 2010 season and where they are currently at.

With his limit of innings reached, Alex White was shut down this past week when he was placed on the Inactive List. White reached a total of 150 innings with his start against Erie last week. He had made 17 starts for the Aeros and eight for Kinston, giving him a 10-10 record in 25 starts this season, his first full professional year.

The Indians first round pick from last season signed late and didn't get on the field last season, but he did spend time with the Aeros during their playoff run. This season White started out in Kinston and quickly made everyone aware that he needed a stiffer challenge. His time in Akron provided very few let-downs as White was consistently giving the Aeros quality starts throughout the season.

White's stock continues to rise as he'll likely spend most of his 2011 season in Columbus and he's certainly put himself on the Cleveland radar for next year. His quick progression through Kinston and impressive display with Akron should have the Indians thinking they've got yet another starting option in the upper levels of their system.

Weekly Randoms
For all the other random information that got away.

Welcome to the Ron Rivas experience, where every day is an error and it's always an adventure. Rivas was called up to the club after the Aeros lost a few of their good men to Columbus' playoff effort. Rivas has played in four games with the Aeros and has, characteristically given up four errors. Rivas was an error machine at Kinston until the acquisition of Juan Diaz sent him to the bench and to a backup role. In case you were wondering, he hasn't really made up for it with his bat because despite a three-run home run, he's collected just one other hit in his 16 at-bats with the Aeros.


Lucas Montero has been filling in pretty well lately. Over his past ten games he's hit .343 with three RBI and a .395 on-base percentage and a steal.

Monday against Trenton, everyone in the Aeros lineup, including pinch-hitter Jason Kipnis, struck out. The Trenton pitching staff totaled 13 punch outs of Aeros players. It is mildly unlikely of the team as they will finish at the bottom of the Eastern League in total strikeouts, regardless of what happens against Erie on Monday.

The club can finish at the top of the league in batting average as they currently lead Altoona .272 to .269.

Aussie Revolution in Akron. The Aeros added Scrapper Trent Baker as a reserve outfielder this week, as well as the re-addition of reliever Shane Lindsay, giving them two Australian natives on the roster.

Jason Kipnis, Lonnie Chisenhall, and Jordan Henry all had games in which they hit a double and a triple. Henry also had a single and was a home run-short of the cycle.

Great season for Matt Packer, who started at Low-A Lake County when the season started. Packer didn't even see Kinston and was challenged with the jump to Akron and he finished off that run with a great outing against Trenton on Thursday. Packer went seven innings and gave up just one run and he struck out eight hitters for the second straight game. He'll finish with an overall 9-7 record, a 2.04 ERA, and 123 strikeouts in 132 innings of work this season.

Aeros pitchers Eric Berger, Scott Barnes, and CC Lee are headed to the Arizona Fall League. Berger started twice this week and while he gave up five total runs, he didn't take a loss and he struck out 13 hitters. Berger will have to work on his command though as he did walk nine and finished the season with just 18 more strikeouts than walks.

Disastrous week for Omar Aguilar who was pretty much the closer these past few weeks. Aguilar blew two saves and gave up four runs off six hits. His crowning moment was in extra innings on Saturday when he gave up a solo home run, a single, and then a two-run home run to give up three runs in the bottom of the tenth against Erie after the Aeros took a two-run lead in the top of the frame.

The Aeros hit just two home runs this week, one from Rivas and the other from Beau Mills, who went 5-for-12 in limited action this week.

Posted in: Akron