On Drew Pomeranz, Joe Gardner and IPI guest columnists

Pomeranz leaves game with hamstring tightness

Drew Pomeranz left last night's Kinston Indians game with tightness in his right hamstring.  According the Pomeranz and manager Aaron Holbert, the injury isn't serious, and the big lefty will not miss his next start.

Pomeranz landed funny during his first batter of the game, which prompted K-Tribe trainer Jeremy Heller to come out and check the Kinston ace's leg.  Pomeranz would stay in the game through the third inning, and for the most part, looked every bit as good as he has in his first two starts.  He did give up his first home run of his professional career, but still struck out five, without walking a batter.  He even struck out the batter he was facing when he tweaked the leg.

Pomeranz took himself out of the game after his last out (a strikeout) in the third because he wasn't able to maintain his delivery.  His big concern was injuring his arm and shoulder compensating for the tweak.  The good news is that the "injury" seems to just be a cramp gone bad.

Perhaps it's another reason for the Indians to remain cautious with one of their top prospects.

Joe Gardner shut down, but back soon

Joe Gardner wanted to start off the 2011 season where he left off at the end of the 2010 season. While his first two starts weren't of the dominating variety, he was still exhibiting the stuff that puts him in the top tier of Tribe prospects.

Gardner was showing signs of shoulder fatigue, so the 6'4" lefty was temporarily shut down so he could regain his arm strength. Gardner is responding well, and according to Ross Atkins, the vice president in charge of player development for the Indians, he should be back within the next couple of weeks, if not sooner.

Indians Prospect Insider to welcome guest columnist series

Over the next several weeks, the Indians Prospect Insider will be proud to host several guest bloggers to help fill in for the immense hole that is left while Tony Lastoria recuperates from his recent surgery. I'm not talking about any ole' bloggers, but the best of the best in Indians blogdom.

You'll be reading columns from WFNY, Let's Go Tribe and The Diatribe, just to name a few. Please make sure that you click those links to support preeminent Cleveland Indians sites on these here internets.

Tomorrow, our first guest spot will hit the pages of IPI when one of the chief scribes and editors over at Let's Go Tribe, Andrew Humphries (afh4), sends out his take on following the Tribe farm system.

Thanks Andrew, and to all the writers that have offered their services. We here at IPI can't thank you enough.

Follow Tony and the Indians Prospect Insider on Twitter @TonyIPI. Also, his latest book the 2011 Cleveland Indians Top 100 Prospects & More is available for purchase for $20.95 to customers in the US (shipping and handling extra).

Posted in: Andrew Humphries,Drew Pomeranz,Joe Gardner,Let's Go Tribe