LeVon Washington, CF, Lake County: 1-for-4, R, BB, K, SB (1):
No, Washington wasn't the best player in the organization on Friday night, but he certainly was the most anticipated. The highly touted outfielder was the second round selection of the Tribe, and had a lengthy stay at extended spring training while he tried to overcome hip and leg issues. No, Washington didn't go 4-4 with eight stolen bases, but he did showcase a bit of what the Tribe expects as he goes forward. In his first at bat with Lake County, he walked, the promptly stole second. After an infield single, Washington would advance to third on a double-play ball. Bowling Green starter would unleash a wild pitch, allowing Washington to score from third. Not a bad first at-bat for the potential future star.
- Ezequiel Carrera-CF, Columbus: 3-for-5, 2 R, 2B, RBI, 2 SB: Carrera continues to push the Tribe brass for a promotion. If there's a spot in the outfield, it's doubtful that Carrera would be the first player up, but he sure is making a case night-in and night-out. He's just not the only one.
- Jason Donald-SS, Columbus: 0-for-5, K: Donald came out like a house of fire once he was placed in Columbus, but has since gone 0-8, dropping his average to .280.
- Lonnie Chisenhall-3B, Columbus: 3-for-5, R, 2B, 2 RBI: It's time to start clamoring for Chiz to get his promotion. He's officially on fire going 10 for his last 21 during a five-game hit streak, and batting .415 in his last ten games.
- Chad Huffman-1B, Columbus: 3-for-5, 2 R: Here's Huffman, with his nightly appearance in ATF. He's riding a current 4-game hit streak.
- Travis Buck-RF, Columbus: 2-for-4, R, 2B, 3 RBI, BB, K: Buck clearly wasn't happy about his demotion last month.
- Cord Phelps-2B, Columbus: 3-for-3, 2 R, 2 2B, 2 RBI, BB: Phelps was mired in a 1-19 slump, but broke out of it nicely with this fine showing.
- Jerad Head-LF, Columbus: 2-for-3, R, 2B, 2 RBI: Head is hitting .378, and may not even get a look this season.
- Carlton Smith-RP, Columbus: 1 IP, H, BB: Smith has gone 13 2/3 this season without giving up a run. It's funny, the better he pitches (he scuffled a bit tonight), the more questions people ask. Has he made a turn, or is this just a hot streak?
- Carlos Carrasco-SP, Akron (rehab assignment for Cleveland): 3 2/3 IP, 4 H, 4 R/ER, 3 BB, 3 K: I'm sure that Carrasco and the Indians were hoping for better numbers from Carrasco, but it's not like he wasn't pitching with kid gloves tonight.
- Kelvin De La Cruz-RP?, Akron: 1 IP, 3 BB, 3 K: Has De La Cruz been moved to the bullpen? Is this a temporary move with Carlos Carrasco making his rehab assignment tonight, or are the Indians about to promote Drew Pomeranz or Brett Brach from Kinston? I'm not sure, but it's certainly interesting to see De La Cruz out of the pen.
- Tim Fedroff-LF, Akron: 2-for-5, 2 RBI: Fedroff continues to play well for Akron, hitting .312 for the season.
- Matt McBride-1B, Akron: 2-for-4, R, RBI, HR: McBride has hit a homer (and two hits) in three consecutive games.
- Cory Burns-Closer, Akron: 1 IP, 3 H, 3 R/ER, K, HR: All the sudden, Burns is scuffling with a 5.40 ERA. He's lost two of his last three games, and he looks just plain ordinary.
- Carlos Moncrief-RF, Lake County: 2-for-5, RBI, K: Moncrief has been playing well of late. While he's only hitting .257 on the season, he's had hits in six of his last seven, and is batting .357 during that time period.
- Tyler Cannon-SS, Lake County: 1-for-3, R, RBI, BB, K: Cannon is batting .369 for the year, and is an up-and-comer.
- Anthony Gallas-LF, Lake County: 2-for-4, R, 2 2B, K: Gallas is quietly hitting .319 for the Captains this season.
- Nathan Striz-RP, Lake County: 2 IP, K: Striz has struggled a lot this season, but did well with this two-inning performance.
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6 comments:
I don't like DLC out of the pen, not at all.
Well, after taking a really close look at the potential rotation for the Indians in years to come, it's hard to figure out where De La Cruz fits. If you pencil in White and Pomeranz at the top of the rotation, then fill in the next two slots with Masterson and Carmona, that leaves one slot for a whole host of potential starters.
Perhaps they are looking at DLC, his health, and his recent control issues, and thinking that his talents are best used in the pen, a la Hagadone.
Again, I'm not really sure what this means, if anything. Like you, I think you should keep starters in that role until they either are forced to move to the pen, or are injury issues.
I'm not sure if Hagadone and DLC fit in either, but with the depth of starters the Tribe has, perhaps this is how Tribe management could best utilize them in the near future.
De La Cruz was the scheduled starter before Carrasco bumped him. Simply came out of relief to get some work in. He is still a starter.
Yes, but Jim, you could say the same about the bullpen as well. Once Hagadone and Putnam are up, there are no more spots left, and they're all young guys. That, and it's likely we trade Carmona at some point over the next couple of seasons (not this year, but in the next two or three) to get some value out of him and clear space for the young'ns.
Also, to compare DLC to Hagadone is unfair, as Hagadone is a two-pitch pitcher. As much as I'd like to see both in the rotation, I understand the move for Hagadone, especially after witnessing how it's paid off thus far this year.
My bet and hope is this is a one-time move. He probably was due a between-starts bullpen and they threw him in there after Carrasco struggled to get through 3 innings. Tony, please update us as soon as you find out any more details!
Beat me to it. Thanks Tony.
I wasn't trying to compare their "stuff," just their potential situations...and I was just being speculative based on the fact that DLC came in for an inning of work, which is odd even though it was his turn in the rotation.
It would have made more sense to have him simulate a start outside of the game, rather than bring him in for an inning based on Carrasco getting beat up. Of course, who knows what he did after his inning of work. It's distinctly possible that he got more work in, just not with live bats.
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