The K-Tribe Chronicle: Kinston is Insane in the Membrane

(Photo: Kinston Indians)

From the Reservation:

I can't help but revel in the Indians and all of their glory.

Yes, I'm talking about the senior Tribe, who just handed Brandon Phillips and the Cincinnati Reds a beating of mammoth proportions.

First it was Zeke Carrera's game-winning, improbable drag bunt on Friday. One singular play, and a bunt no-less, seemed to wash away every growing feeling that every Tribe fan had that this incredible run was all going to fall apart, and sooner, rather than later. Grady Sizemore and Travis Hafner went on the DL on Thursday and Friday respectively, after returning to pre-injury form to start the season. Then, in the third inning of Friday's game, Alex White went down with a mysterious, Adam Miller-like 'finger-strain.' Zeke Carrera may never know how big that bunt and sidestep of Joey Votto's tag was.

Next it was Travis Buck's game-winning home run in support of Josh Tomlin's brilliance on Saturday. Tomlin went toe-to-toe with the much more heralded Homer Bailey...and won. I received a text from a good friend of mine after the game on Saturday in regards to Bailey that said simply, "I told you so." Sorry pal, saying that Tomlin would go .500 doesn't quite equate to a 6-1 record with a 2.41 ERA. Anyone that predicted that start should immediately purchase lottery tickets.

Then, in the official coup d'état of the state of Ohio, El Jefe, Asdrubal Cabrera, single-handedly decimated the Reds on Sunday with a two-homer, two-run, five-rbi performance. People have continually asked how the Indians have continued to win, and now with out the veteran presence of Hafner and Sizemore. Folks, it's simple. This hasn't been their team in a long time. This is Cabrera's team, and he proved it with his performance today. From this moment on, he's El Jefe, the boss...the CHIEF of this ball club.

Yes, this also includes the Kinston Indians, who put on quite a performance of their own this week. While their numbers really weren't anything special with regards to offense (does that ever change?), they still managed to do the things that clubs need to do to win games. Coming off their worst week of the season, which came off their best week of the season, they turned in their new best week of the season this week.

So pardon me if I went all early 90's on you all by pulling out Cypress Hills' Insane in the Membrane. Folks, if you're an Indians' fan, that's exactly what this week (season) has been all about, and that's all I have to say about that, so...let's get driving...

Where We Stand after week 6:

Overall Record: 19-23 (5-2 the past week, third place in the Carolina League Southern, 5 1/2 games back)

Week #6 Games:

16 vs. Lynchburg, L 0-11 (WP: Z. Spruill; LP: B. Brach)
17 vs. Lynchburg, W 4-3 (WP: T. House; LP: C. Rasmus; SV: P. Guilmet)
18 vs. Lynchburg, W 6-5 (WP: J. Flores; LP: E. Cardenas)
19 vs. Lynchburg, W 4-3 (WP: C. Cook; LP: C. Masters; SV: P. Guilmet)
20 @ Frederick, W 2-1 (WP: G. Soto; LP: O. Drake; SV: A. Miller)
21 @ Frederick, L 1-3 (WP: S. Gleason; LP: T. Sturdevant)
22 @ Frederick, W 6-5 (WP: C. Jones; LP: S. Gleason; SV: P. Guilmet)

This Week's Transactions:

05/21/2011 Kinston Indians activated DH Jeremie Tice from the 7-Day disabled list.
05/20/2011 OF Jason Smit retired.

The Offense:

There is absolutely nothing I would like to do more than to sit here and tell you that the offense is fixed, and that this team is going to roll to the title, as their 5-2 record indicates. I just can't do that.

If you go back to last week's 'Chronic,' you'll note that the K-Tribe were last, or second to last in several categories. Well, I'm proud to announce to you that Kinston, in a 5-2 week, has managed to not only not move up in any categories that I previously mentioned, but go down in everything except for triples. For those to lazy to check, the K-Tribe is now last in runs, hits, doubles, homers, rbi, total bases, average, slugging and OPS.

That's right folks...they are dead last in every category, but we are second to last in triples...so we do have that going for us.

Overall, the K-Tribe went a whopping 40-203 this week, which is a solid .197. Seriously, do I need to go any further than that? I know that average can be an overrated statistic, but it's not like this team is walking a bunch.

The bottom line is that this team has figured out a way to win games with smoke and mirrors. All five of their wins were by one run, and they were outscored overall, 31-23.

Yes, the pitching is solid, but the rotation and bullpen aren't nearly as good as last season's. So how does this offense manage to figure things out? I have no clue...none...so readers...if you do, please fill me in.

Three UP...

1. Doug Pickens and Roberto Perez both managed to do something moderately good from the catcher position (and DH). Perez was the lone K-Triber to bat .300, going 4-12, with a run, two doubles, an RBI, two walks and two K's. Pickens went 4-14 for a .286 clip, with two runs, a double, an RBI and four K's. No, they aren't overwhelming stats, but at least they were doing something on the positive side of the stat line. Anything they get from the catcher position should be icing, not leading the team.

2. Tyler Holt did not have a solid week offensively, but he still makes the three up. Why? Holt is currently riding a 22-game consecutive on-base streak. This week, Holt only hit .208, and while he did walk six times and get his first stolen base in a month, he also struck out eight times. Still, he's trying to top a record set by one of the hottest organizational players right now in Tim Fedroff. Fedroff had a 35-game on base streak in 2009. It should be interesting watching Holt try and match him. Hopefully Havoc's offense will come around with it.

2. Casey Frawley's "Big Lumber" nearly won two games for the K-Tribe this week. He hit a home run on Saturday for the team's only run in support of Brett Brach's outstanding start. Unfortunately, the K-Tribe was beat with a walk off, two-run jack in the ninth. Frawley would learn his lesson, and roll out a three-run jack of his own with two out in the ninth inning on Sunday to give the K-Tribe their final tally in a 6-5 victory. Back-to-Back games with home runs isn't only a reason to celebrate, but in all seriousness, it may be time to pray. Of course, even with the homers, Frawley hit .227 for the week, so take it for what it's worth.

and Three Down...

3. I really should have an honorary slot here for Abner Abreu, and I may just do that next week. It has been a long, long time since Abreu has done anything for this team offensively. The good news? Abreu is fifth on the team in batting. The bad news? He's hitting .230. This week, Abreu was especially horrid, going 2-22 for the week, scoring two runs, with a double and six strikeouts. Summer's coming, so it's not out of the realm of reality that he could start heating up, as he's been prone to do. Still, it goes to show you the lack of offensive talent on this team, since nobody can knock him out of the starting line-up. Next week, look for Abreu's Corner, or some other quirkily named section in the 'Chronic' that will take a weekly special look at everyone's favorite underachiever.

2. Tyler Cannon's transition to High A hasn't been bad...it's been horrible. Cannon was drafted in the 12 round of the 2010 draft, and the middle infielder looked like a steal in Low A Lake County.  Cleveland moved Cannon up to Kinston while he was second in the Midwestern league in batting at .366.   Cannon has been anything but special offensively in Kinston.  Perhaps he's just trying to fit in.  Cannon is currently hitting .160 for the K-Tribe since his promotion, and didn't help himself out with a 1-16 week.  If you're looking for upside, he did walk twice.  Okay, no upside.  Cannon's a good ballplayer, so hopefully as the weather heats up, so will Cannon's bat.

1. In the land of bad offense, this week's top slot goes to Chase Burnette.  Burnette, the 18th pick in 2010, takes the "top" slot this week, but to be fair to the first baseman, anyone from the offense could have been interchangeable. Still, Burnette was a human vacuum, going 4-21 for the week. The only semblance of anything positive were two RBI. The only other stat category in which he had any stats were his 10 K's. Burnette was expected to give the team a bit of power this year, but so far, he's been a disappointment.

This team can't keep winning with an offense as anemic as this one...can they?

The Pitching:

Three Up...

1. Giovanni Soto continues to showcase why he may just be one of the top five pitching prospects in this system.  The starting rotation, overall, pitched extremely well, but Soto is the guy that week-in and week-out has numbers that are simply baffling for a guy that rarely touches 90 on the radar.  This week, Soto went six innings, giving up four hits, an earned run and a walk, while striking out eight batters.  In 40 overall innings pitched this year, Soto has 42 K's, which gives you the picture of a fireballer.  That's not even close to the case.  Soto, who turned 20 on May 18th, is one of those kids who just knows how to locate his pitches.  Talk about maturity for your age.  I'm still not sure how his game translates as he moves up the system, but it should be interesting to watch.  Could he develop into the next Greg Maddux-style starter?  That's a long way away, but it sure is an intriguing watch.


2. Chris Jones was one of last season's top relievers here in Kinston, but this year has been nothing but struggle for the left-handed reliever.  This week saw Jones break back out into his 2010 form, however, as he went 3 1/3 innings in two appearances, giving up only one walk and two strikeouts in his near-perfect, no-hit week.  Overall, Jones' ERA is a bloated 5.06, but sometimes numbers can be a bit deceiving.  In the land of LOOGY, Jones is a serious competitor in the system.  While he's struggled overall this year, he's destroyed left-handed hitters.  Of his 21 1/3 total innings, nine of those have been against lefty hitters, and his ERA is a sparkling 1.00.  When you top those numbers off with lefties only hitting .108 against him, and you can see that it's distinctly possible that Jones moves up sooner, rather than later.  Keep your eye on this kid.  If he continues to improve his overall effectiveness, he becomes a giant in the bullpen talks, but as long as he keeps getting lefties out, he will continue to progress through the system.

3. Preston Guilmet is the best reliever, numbers-wise, in the Cleveland Indians system.  Guilmet continues to be as perfect as you can be as a closer.  This week, he had two more appearances, pitching two total innings.  In those two outings, he gave up two hits and a walk, while striking out one batter.  More importantly, he saved both games, upping his overall total to eight games.  In 15 2/3 innings pitched, Guilmet still hasn't given up a run of any kind.  He doesn't have the best stuff, but you can't argue with the performance.

...and three down...

3. Tyler Sturdevant is the third best reliever on the team behind Guilmet and Adam Miller, but he makes the three down after blowing Brett Brach's stellar start.  Brach had the best start of the week for the K-Tribe, going seven inning, while only giving up a hit.  The normally steady Sturdevant came in and blew the win for Brach, and taking the loss.  Overall, Sturdevant had a good outing, to go along with his bad outing, but overall, Sturdevant gave up three runs in three total innings pitched, to go along with five hits.  Bad days happen to good relievers, so count on Sturdevant bouncing back quickly.

2. T.J. House continues to struggle as a starter for Kinston, and the questions start cropping up about how valid his top prospect status really is. There's no questioning his arm, but he continues to lack the consistency that it takes to be a top starter.  In this system, you are going to need to show something, and House has yet to put anything together for more than a few innings.  This week, House made two starts, going 12 total innings.  He gave up 14 hits, eight earned runs, five walks, six K's and three home runs.  He did manage to get a win, but certainly can lay all of that on run support.  House leads the team with 19 walks, which showcases his struggle for control with his pitches.  He'll have to step up his game, or he'll likely find himself in the bullpen.

1. Francisco Jimenez had his worst week since being called up to Kinston.  In two appearances this past week, he went three total innings, giving up three earned runs, four hits, a walk and a homer, while striking out three.  Hopefully, it's just a blip on the radar for the smallish reliever, who at 5'11" and 164 pounds, doesn't bring the prototypical size to the mound.

Miller's Crossing: Adam Miller again showcased why the Indians made him a #1 pick, and why he was the #1 prospect in the organization during from 2004-2007.  In two appearances, Miller went four total innings, walking only one batter, and striking out five.  His no-hit performances continue a stellar season in which he's only given up runs in one game, his first in three years.  That's five games in a row without giving up a run, and he's now gone two-innings in each of his last three appearances.  I'm not sure what the long-term plans are for "Atom" Miller, but he's certainly on the radar again.  I have a feeling that his tie in Kinston is short.

Week 6 Awards:

Offensive player of the week: Pick a catcher, any catcher

Pitcher of the week: Adam Miller
Player of the week: Adam Miller

Weekly Awards

Week 1: 3B-Adam Abraham
Week 2: CF-Tyler Holt
Week 3: SP/RP-Toru Murata
Week 4: SP-Clayton Cook
Week 5: SP-Giovanni Soto
Week 6: RP-Adam Miller

Here comes week 7:

May 2011

23 @ Potomac, 7:05 PM
24 @ Potomac, 7:05 PM
25 @ Potomac, 7:05 PM
26 vs. Winston-Salem, 6:30 PM
27 vs. Winston-Salem, 6:30 PM
28 vs. Winston-Salem, 6:30 PM

The Rearviewmirror:

While I have a gut feeling that Drew Pomeranz, Adam Miller and perhaps Brett Brach may be gearing up for a move to Akron, my focus this week will be on former K-Tribe outfielder, Jason Smit, who unexpectedly retired prior to Kinston's road trip this past week.

In 2006, the Cleveland Indians' scouting arm went down under and came out with a promising young prospect, Jason Smit.  Smit was a 16-year-old high school player playing in Perth, Australia, who was also a part of Australia's junior national team.

Smit came to the states, and began slowly moving through the Tribe's system.  As a 19-year-old in 2009, Smit hit .279 for Mahoning Valley, with one homer, 23 RBI, 29 runs and seven stolen bases.  As a 20-year-old in 2010, Smit moved up to Lake County and replicated those numbers, but showing a vast improvement in the power game.  He hit .262 in a much larger sample size, hitting eight homers and driving in 41, and scoring 39 runs.

This season, things really clicked for Smit at Lake County.  In the early going, Smit was the hottest player in the Midwestern league, hitting close to .500 for much of April.  While he tapered off a bit, when he was called up to Kinston, he was still batting .344, and by all indications, was a kid that the Indians really could see moving up through the system.

Then came Kinston.  Smit struggled mightily at the plate, batting only .217 in his eight games played, without a home run, and only two RBI.

Without warning this past Thursday night, the 21-year-old told K-Tribe management that he was retiring from professional baseball.  While there haven't been any announcements as to the reasoning behind the retirement, in an interview earlier this month discussing playing far from home, Smit had said,

“For me, it’s really hard. I struggle quite a bit with missing home. Family’s the big one. It’s always hard because it’s not as easy as picking up my mobile and calling them whenever I want.”

The kid has been playing, thousands of miles from home, since he was 16-years-old, so it's hard to understand the difficulties that he likely was going through.

Of course, it coulda just been the Offensive Bermuda Triangle known as Kinston.

Good luck mate, perhaps we haven't seen the last of you just yet.

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: Adam Miller,The K-Tribe Chronicle