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Thursday, June 30, 2011

Around the Farm: June 29

9:00 AM  Anonymous  8 comments

Around the Farm takes a quick look at some of yesterday's performances by Indians prospects throughout the system. The positions listed below are where the player was playing in yesterday's game.

Jason Kipnis - 2B, Columbus: 3-4, 2 RBI, BB, K. Talk about making a strong case to be promoted. Looking at his numbers, you'd think they were video game stats. In his last ten games, he's hitting .343 (12-35), with 14 R, 3B, 3 HR, 6 RBI, and 10 BB/12 K. Also in his past ten games, he has a .489 OBP/.657 SLG/1.146 OPS. Although he's been playing out of his mind, I by no means want to see him in Cleveland in the very near future. At earliest, call him up in late August.
  • Ezequiel Carrera - CF, Columbus: 3-4, 2 R, K. Carerra does nothing but produce and continues to make his case for a call up.
  • Jason Donald - 3B, Columbus: 2-4, 2 R, BB. It's quite nice to see Donald healthy and performing at a high level again. Unfortunately, there's not much room for him in Cleveland.
  • Tim Fedroff - LF, Columbus: 3-5, 2 R, 2B, HR, 3 RBI. Picking up right where he left off in Akron, Fedroff's bat continues to carry him.
  • Luis Valbuena - SS, Columbus: 1-4, R, HR, 2 RBI, BB, K. It's amazing how many members of the Clippers really do belong in Cleveland. Fact of the matter is Valbuena is another player who is "suffering" as a result of being blocked in Cleveland.
  • David Huff - SP, Columbus: (W, 8-2) 6 IP, 4 H, ER/R, 4 BB, 7 K, HR. Huff has really been an anchor in the Clippers rotation this season and while you probably won't see him in Cleveland soon, I still find myself rooting for the guy.
  • Ben Copeland - LF, Akron: 2-4, 2 R, K. One of the newly signed players to the Cleveland organization, Copeland has hit the ground running for the Aeros.
  • Juan Diaz - SS, Akron: 2-3, R, 2B, 2 RBI, BB. A guy who hasn't been talked about much this season is Diaz. He hasn't put up flashy numbers, but he's certainly proved his worth in the Aeros lineup.
  • T.J. McFarlane - SP, Akron: 6 IP, H, 0 ER/1 R, BB, 5 K. McFarlane has also been flying under the radar to some extent this season. By no means has anyone given up on him as a prospect, but with the depth of starting pitching within the organization, he's been somewhat overlooked lately.
  • Adam Miller - RP, Akron: IP, 2 H, 2 K. One of the feel good stories this season has been Miller's rebound from injury. We can only cross our fingers that he can stay healthy.
  • Jeremie Tice - DH, Kinston: 1-3, R, RBI, K. The K-Tribe offense is beginning to sputter again and Tice has tried to change the tide.
  • Rob Bryson - RP, Kinston: 2 IP, H, BB, K. One of our top relief prospects with a quality outing out of the 'pen for the K-Tribe.
  • Preston Guilmet - CP, Kinston: IP, K. Guilmet has definitely risen up my prospect ranks as he continues to dominate hitters.
  • Jordan Casas - CF, Lake County: 3-5, R, K. After being activated from Arizona, Casas has swung a hot bat for the Captains out of the gate.
  • Bryce Stowell - RP, Lake County: 1.2 IP, 2 H, ER/R, 3 BB, 3 K. Stowell continues to work through his rehab assignment, hitting a rough patch.
  • Bryson Myles - RF, Mahoning Valley: 3-5, 2 2B. After finally adjusting to the professional game, Myles has hit the ball extremely well.
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).

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8 comments:

"Fact of the matter is Valbuena is another player who is "suffering" as a result of being blocked in Cleveland."

Us fans are suffering due to the play of the individuals 'blocking' him at the ML level.

I hear ya. Kearns, Buck, and Duncan all really have no business up there.

I don't mind buck...but yea...Kearns and Duncan gotta go.

Nice to see Fedroff producing, as well as Carrera and Valbuena. Add Donald into the mix and I don't envy the Cleveland management trying to juggle this roster while trying to keep the Chemistry intact.

There's absolutely no reason NOT to call up Kipnis. Saying his defense needs seasoning just isn't a realistic reason in my book. Will he get better in a couple months of baseball? Maybe...but enough to NOT call him up until September?

The only question that needs to be asked is whether or not he helps the big league club...and the answer...in my opinion...is yes.

I personally never cited defense as a reason. However, where is there room for him RIGHT NOW?

Oh no Andrew, I know that...but it's clearly not his offense that would keep him in Columbus.

There's no room simply because there are 25 players on the Tribe's roster. It wouldn't be hard for you and I to tinker with the several players we could call "dead weight" on the roster to get him there.

How about this...dump OCab, demote Phelps and call up Kipnis as the permanent 2nd baseman, and Luis Valbuena as the utility guy. Yes, you lose defensively with OCab gone, but would anyone really miss him?

Valbuena's only made five errors this season in his jaunts between second (0 errors), short (3 errors) and third (2 errors, but clearly his worst position). He can also play the outfield in a pinch (11 games in Columbus, 0 errors).

Offensively, he's taken the next step. The Tribe brass is ecstatic with his bat right now...and his new attitude.

You and I both know that it will never happen...but that is one possible move. Personally, I'd just demote Phelps and bring up Kipnis, put him in as the second baseman, and keep OCab.

I'd then dump Kearns, bring up Jerad Head for the time being, and start hunting for a right-handed bat.

But while I may be in the minority...Kipnis should be called up...it's time...

The two things holding Kipnis back is the defense. Still having some issues with double play and the team wants to make sure he is as close to ML ready and not have him overwhelmed when he gets there. The other thing is Phelps needs more time to show what he can do and of course Cabrera is still here. To bring up Kipnis, they would likely need to send Phelps back to AAA and trade/DFA Cabrera. I don't know if they are at that point yet, but we should find out really soon.

Especially now that OCab seems to be playing better offensively. If he's batting .300 during any stretch, it makes no sense to bring up Kipnis because OCabs far superior defensively. That's the case right now...

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