The Rookie Report

Editor's note: Joe will be writing about the happenings in the lowest of levels in the Cleveland Indians system, that being the rookie level leagues in Arizona and the Dominican Summer League. Arizona Rookie League The Arizona Rookie League Indians started play last week in Goodyear, and have sputtered out of the gate to a disappointing 1-5 start.  They trail the 6-0 Brewers by 5 games in the AZL Central Division, which is comprised of the rookie clubs of the...

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Three Akron Players Named To All Star Team

Three Akron Aeros players will participate in the 2010 Eastern League All-Star Game in Harrisburg, PA, the league announced on Tuesday afternoon. Third baseman Lonnie Chisenhall, outfielder John Drennen and closer Bryce Stowell all made the final rosters for the Western Division in the annual exhibition game on July 14th. Both Chisenhall and Stowell were fan balloting selections for the All-Star Game, hosted by the Harrisburg Senators at the recently renovated Metro Bank...

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Game Recap 6/29: Popham Has Impressive Double-A Debut

Popham Solid in Debut as Aeros Win 4-3 Right-handed starter Marty Popham delivered a quality start in his Double-A debut as the Aeros snapped a four-game losing streak Tuesday night with a 4-3 victory against the Richmond Flying Squirrels. A crowd of 3,688 fans at The Diamond witnessed a solid pitching duel between Popham and Richmond ace Daryl Maday before a wild finish to end the game. It was a crucial win for Akron (37-40) as the team moved back into fourth place with...

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Clip & Dirty: 6/28

The Clippers took part in a back and forth affair against the Gwinnett Braves last night. The Clippers fell behind in the 2nd and were unable to score until they broke through for a run in the 6th to tie it, 1-1. They fell behind again in the top of the 8th, only to take their first lead in the bottom of the inning on a 2-run homer by Jared Goedert. However, the Clippers blew the lead in the 9th by allowing two runs (only one earned) and were unable to counter-punch in the...

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Coach’s Corner: Mickey Callaway

I recently had a chance to sit down with Low-A Lake County pitching coach Mickey Callaway and talk at length about some more of the pitchers on his roster.  The last time we spoke, we concentrated on the starting rotation, so this time the focus was on the bullpen and all the new arms that have recently joined the Lake County staff. On Preston Guilmet: "He is looking really good. He throws his fastball for strikes and gets ahead with it. He has a slider-forkball that...

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Game Recap 6/28: McFarland Wins Again

Kinston Takes Series From Potomac with 6-5 Win Kinston blasted three early home runs, then leaned on closer Cory Burns to hold on for a 6-5 win over Potomac Tuesday night in Kinston. With the win, Kinston takes the series from the Nationals. T.J. McFarland gathered his Carolina League leading eighth win of the season , as Burns picked up his league leading 13th save. The K-Tribe exploded out of the gate, pounding Potomac starter Marcos Frias in the first inning. Lucas...

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The 411 On The Branyan Trade

It's been a little over 24 hours since the Indians traded first baseman Russell Branyan to the Seattle Mariners for two prospects in outfielder Ezequiel Carrera and infielder Juan Diaz. Here are some quick thoughts on the trade and info on the two players obtained, and I may have a follow up piece on this soon once I talk to more people today and tomorrow about the deal. - I have not yet talked to the Indians about the deal itself (hope to later today), but I have...

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Akron's Week That Was: 6/21 - 6/27

The Akron Aeros made some unpleasant headlines this past week for some off-the-field news that you never want to hear about. On the field they didn't do much to turn heads the other way. They did claim a series over Richmond by winning two games, but then got swept by Binghamton. Jason Kipnis continues to hit, Zach Putnam has returned to action, and Eric Berger has hit yet another bump on the rocky road that is his 2010 season. Here is everything you need to know about...

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Game Recap 6/27: Greenwell's Four Hits Propel Kinston

Greenwell Leads Kinston past Potomac Back-to-back home runs broke a tie game, as Kinston pounded out 15 hits on the way to a 6-4 win over Potomac Sunday night at Historic Grainger Stadium. Kinston reliever Cory Burns struck out the side (all looking) to seal the victory in the ninth inning. Burns is now 12-for-12 in save opportunities with Kinston and 24-for-24 overall this season. Burns now has the second most saves in all of Minor League baseball this season. Potomac...

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The Sunday Drive into the K-Tribe's second half

And so the second half turns for the Kinston Indians. In the first half of the season, Kinston proved to be a temporary home for several of the parent clubs top prospects. Heading to Akron early on was a virtual All-Star team of minor league prospects that including Kelvin De La Cruz, Nick Hagadone, Bryce Stowell, Alex White, Jordan Henry and Jason Kipnis. All have found a varied degree of success in Akron, but left the cupboard a bit bare in Kinston. The K-Tribe's offense...

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Rodriguez Gets Nixed

The Cleveland Indians sent struggling second baseman Luis Valbuena to Triple-A Columbus on Thursday, a move that was long overdue after he hit a miserable .166 with two home runs and 14 RBI in 49 games with the Indians this year. Kudos to the Indians for finally making the move. But the pats on the back stop there. Instead of pulling from within and calling up infielder Josh Rodriguez or even Brian Bixler to fill the short team second base void, the Indians instead went...

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Branyan Traded To Seattle

The Cleveland Indians announced they have acquired outfielder Ezequiel Carrera and shortstop Juan Diaz from the Seattle Mariners in exchange for infielder Russell Branyan and cash or a player to be named later. Carrera, 22, has spent the entire 2010 season to date at AAA Tacoma as he has hit .268 (57-213) with 24 runs scored, 6 doubles, 2 triples and 18 RBI in 64 games. He has stolen 9 bases in 14 attempts this season but is currently on the AAA disabled list with a left...

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Game Recap 6/26: Pack Attack Delivers Win For Captains

Packer Leads Captains to 5-0 Win Matt Packer threw eight scoreless innings and Roberto Perez had four hits to lead the Lake County Captains to a 5-0 shutout over the West Michigan Whitecaps on Saturday. The Captains have thrown four shutouts this season and are off to a 2-0 start in the second half of the season. Jeremie Tice led off the top of the fourth inning with a double and three batters later Adam Abraham doubled him home to give the Captains a 1-0 lead. Abraham...

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