The Scrapperbook: Week Three

It's amazing how quick a vacation can fly by. That said, it was quite fun and the game I attended on Fourth of July was electric. Here's to hoping the Tribe can ride the momentum into October.

Where We Stand in Week Three:

Overall Record: 13-9 (3-4 this week) Second place, one game behind Jamestown.

Week Three Games:

2 vs. Batavia, L 3-8 (WP: T. McInnis; LP: J. Colon; SV: D. Miranda)
3 vs. Batavia, W 12-11 (WP: E. Tejeda; LP: A. Bileckyj)
4 @ Batavia, L 2-3 (WP: E. Binder; LP: E. Tejeda; SV: D. Miranda)
5 @ Batavia, L 1-2 (WP: R. Martinez; LP: N. Striz; SV: D. Miranda)
6 vs. Williamsport, L 2-5 (WP: J. Gomez; LP: T. Dischler; SV: R. Duke)
7 vs. Williamsport, W 8-2 (WP: J. Colon; LP: A. Morgan)
8 vs. Williamsport, W 4-3 (WP: N. Striz; LP: H. Neris)

The Transactions:

07/02/11: Nathan Striz assigned to Mahoning Valley Scrappers from Lake County Captains.
07/02/11: John Barr assigned to Mahoning Valley Scrappers from Cleveland Indians.
07/02/11: Jack Wagoner assigned to Mahoning Valley Scrappers from Cleveland Indians.
07/02/11: Kyle Petter assigned to Lake County Captains from Mahoning Valley Scrappers.
07/02/11: Kirk Wetmore assigned to Lake County Captains from Mahoning Valley Scrappers.
07/07/11: Will Roberts assigned to Mahoning Valley Scrappers from Cleveland Indians.

Week 3 Offense:

The offense struggled a bit this week, but also capitalized on opponents fielding mistakes. In seven games, they racked up 63 hits with 23 ER/32 R. All of a sudden, Mahoning Valley's offense is beginning to slip in numbers, dropping to eighth in the league in batting average (.246), seventh in runs (98), fifth in hits (186), fourth in doubles (42), fifth in triples (7), ninth in home runs (8), eighth in RBI (83), fifth in total bases (266), fifth in walks (76), second fewest in strike outs (133), and first in stolen bases (39). They also rank sixth in OBP (.335), tied for sixth in SLG (.352), and seventh in OPS (.688).

Week 3 Offensive Player of the Week: Jordan Smith

After splitting co-offensive player of the week honors last week with Bryson Myles, he earns the honors all by himself this week, hitting .375 (9-24), scoring 4 runs, while hitting 3 doubles and a triple. He also drove in 4 runs. He also showed a great amount of patience for a young hitter walking 6 times and striking out 3 times. Smith ranks second in the league in batting average (.358), tied for fourth in doubles (6), tied for fifth in RBI (13), sixth in OBP (.449), and eighth in OPS (.926).

Week 3 Pitching:

Man did the pitching staff have a rough week this week, allowing 29 ER/34 R, and allowing 60 hits. They had made some great strides in week two, only to regress in week three. Surprisingly, the Mahoning Valley pitching staff has pitched the most innings in the league (199.2). Despite the rough week, they still rank fifth in the league in ERA (3.25), fifth fewest in hits allowed (170), sixth fewest in runs (89), seventh fewest in earned runs (72), tied for sixth most in home runs allowed (10), seventh fewest in walks allowed (70), and third in strike outs (189). For a team lacking elite pitching prospects, middle of the pack numbers are actually quite impressive.

Week 3 Pitcher of the Week: Rob Nixon

For a pitching staff that struggled, this was still somewhat of a difficult decision. There was some consideration for Daniel Jimenez, who appeared in one game, pitching 4 innings, allowing 3 hits, and 2 walks, while striking out 6. Jimenez has had a fine year, too. In the end, however, Nixon got the nod. In one start, he pitched 7 shutout innings, allowing 3 hits and striking out 4. In four starts, he is 1-1 with a 3.32 ERA. In 21.2 innings, he's allowed 18 hits, 4 walks, and has 13 strikeouts.

Looking Ahead to Week 4:

9 @ Williamsport, 7:05 PM
10 @ Williamsport, 5:05 PM
11 @ Williamsport, 7:05 PM
13 vs. Connecticut, 7:05 PM
14 vs. Connecticut, 7:05 PM
15 vs. Connecticut, 7:05 PM

Week 4 Promotions:

Wed, July 13: Indians Affiliate Day, Military Nights, Howland Community Day, Air Force Night
Thu, July 14: Irish Night, Buck Night
Fri, July 15: Friday Night Fireworks, Aluminum Can Recycling Drive, McDonald's McFamily Pack Night

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: Jordan Smith,Mahoning Valley,Robert Nixon