Diamonds In Single A: Looking Back Part 1

For the first column of the year, I thought it might be fun to revisit the players that this article focused on last year. As the year goes on I also plan to do more in depth revisits of the players to see how they are progressing up the minors, so not only will this space be used to promote lesser known players but will also show the success and failures of these players since they left Single A.

Last year this column ended up doing thirteen player reviews using stats. Of that group some are in A ball still, others have advanced as far as AAA, and yet others are no longer with the Indians organization. Two of the players were consensus top ten prospects and four others were considered by many to be in the top 30. So let’s take a look at all 13 players now, and I will bring up the main strength and weakness of these players' stats in small review.

The first player is Matt McBride, who was tearing the cover off the ball and was quickly promoted to AA. McBride is opening the season at Akron and last year hit 18 homeruns and 34 doubles, showing excellent power potential. His major weakness was his low OBP at .301, which is a major concern because around .380 is considered to be about the equivalent level of a .300 hitter. McBride did show enough power to make people take notice, and if he can transition back to catcher his stock will certainly rise.

Next up is Matt Meyer, who started the year in high A, yet finished it up in AAA. He was lost this off season in the Rule 5 draft during the AAA phase. While it was great to see him rise so far, his stats all took a major hit after he left A ball. His WHIP was over two at both stops, which is frankly atrocious. His strikeout rate also dropped over 1.5 per nine innings. Meyer still has a chance to see the majors with the Cardinals as a lefty specialist, but I don’t think the Indians saw him in their future to leave him unprotected in the AA phase.

Matt Brown was the next prospect this article focused on, and unfortunately he was cut by the Indians this off season. After a very good 2008 where he was one of the few consistent bats in Lake County, he suffered through injury issues last year which led to his being let go. The minors are a place where, unless you are a high prospect, there is always a new set of foreign kids or drafts classes pushing their way up, and if you are a marginal spec and get hurt you will be replaced and that is what happened to Brown.

It seems this article was on a bit of a kiss of death streak as the next player, Ryan Miller, was also released by the Indians. Miller had a phenomenal start to 2008 and looked like a player on the rise. The second half of the year he evened out, and 2009 was a season I am sure he would want to forget. He went from a starter to a pen guy, which seemed like a natural fit, but he struggled and posted a WHIP of 2.2 and just never seemed to find his feel. The Indians acquired a lot of arms via the draft and trades, and Miller was a victim of the numbers game.

Cord Phelps was next, and he broke the string of bad luck and is starting the year in AA. Phelps' biggest strength stat-wise last year was an OBP of .386, which was exceptional for a player at his level. He only hit .261, so he did an excellent job of working a count, making a pitcher work, and getting on base. The negative stat that jumped out was his very high strike out total as he struck out 97 times which came out to a rate of 1 strikeout in every 6 times he came to the plate. This year it will be very interesting to see if he can keep his rates solid as he faces a much harder level of competition. By all accounts he has very good defense, so as long as he continues to work counts and take walks he could be a starter some day.

Eric Berger was the next player and he is currently in Akron after spending a quarter of the season there last year. Berger is a player who is so steady, solid, and not eye popping he might be a bit under-rated. He won’t strike out a ton of batters or light up a radar gun, but he has put up very good numbers the last two years. If you look at traditional stats he won 10 games with an era of 2.50 combined for his two levels, and looking at newer stats his WHIP was 1.22 with a strike out rate of 8.3 per nine. He doesn’t give up the long ball and just seems to always go out and keep you in the game. I don’t think he will ever be a top ten prospect, but he might just end up pitching 10 years in the game as a solid back of the rotation innings eater who always gives you a chance to win the game. It will be interesting to see how he continues to pitch this year and if his stats continue to stay so steady as he progresses.  Thus far it doesn’t seem to matter the level as Berger has been the same pitcher.

Next week we will focus on the other half of the players from last year, and after that the season should have progressed enough to start looking at players this year and giving a solid stat base to try and find out who might be a player in Single-A to watch as they progress up the Indians farm ladder.

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Goodyear Notebook: 3/17

Smith A Man On A Mission

Indians right-handed reliever Carlton Smith had a nice year last season pitching in the bullpen at Double-A Akron where he went 6-2 with a 2.72 ERA in 37 appearances.  He piggybacked his successful year with a trip to the Arizona Fall League (5.14 ERA, 12 G) and then to the Indians’ Winter Development Program this past January which was held in Cleveland and Goodyear.  It made for a crazy offseason, but even with the lack of any extended time off he is back at it this spring and is as focused as ever to make an impression.

“I didn’t even have [an offseason] really,” said Smith after practice on Monday.  “I went to the Fall League, got back from that and a few weeks after that went to Winter Development, and a few weeks after that I am back.  [The fall league] was a lot different from Double-A.  The league out there was a good hitter 1 through 9 so you had to come out with your best stuff.  I didn’t do as well as I thought I would, though I was only bad in one game which is what messed me up."

Probably the one thing from his offseason which sticks with him the most is the experience he had participating in the Winter Development Program.

“It was something I could definitely get used to seeing every day,” said Smith.  “I use that as a type of motivation where I could be there one day.  Everything just came together there.  Everything just clicked where I realized I am doing everything on the baseball side, but I also have to do it on the mental side too.  It was cool getting to meet everybody and getting to see different things.  It was a nice experience."

Last year was Smith’s first time pitching in the bullpen as he had been a starter for his entire professional career.  He had a few bullpen appearances under his belt, but he had never pitched in the role on a full time basis.  Over the course of the season he learned to adapt from a starting role to a bullpen role, and also with how to prepare himself and develop a routine.

“I took it just like I was going to be starting,” said Smith about his transition from starter to reliever.  “I just went out there and when it was my time I went out there and battled and competed.  I did what I knew I could do and did the best I could to help the team win and it paid off for us.”

Smith gets his sinking fastball up into the mid-90s, but even with how hard he throws and all the movement he gets on his pitches he has never racked up a lot of strikeouts (career 5.5 K/9).  His bread and butter has always been his ability to pitch to contact in lieu of strikeouts, and so far that plan of attack has worked out well for him.

“I will not rack up the strikeouts,” said Smith.  “I have tried as I have gotten it up to 95-96 MPH, but when it is sinking they hit it and they hit it right into the ground.  Growing up my dad always told me strikeouts raise your pitch count, and it makes sense as if you throw a lot of pitches you will be out of the game quick.  So I use that to my advantage and understand I am a sinkerballer and I am going to go right after somebody.  After the first three pitches I want them out of the box, and that is my mentality and it pays off.”

Even with all of the success he had last year, Smith is still working hard to make himself better.  He continues to refine his mechanics, and has started throwing a new cutter.

“The whole winter I worked on my mechanics,” said Smith.  “I am working on a new cutter now.  Cleveland told me in the fall league they wanted me to do that, so I have been working on that the whole offseason and am still working on it now.  It is slowly coming around.”

With the new cutter now a part of his repertoire, Smith now uses a four pitch mix which is different from the two to three pitches most relievers use.

“I am throwing everything, and I think that can pay off for me,” said Smith.  “They say as a reliever you only need two pitches, but I have four with a sinker, slider, cutter and splitter.  I was playing catch with my brother in the offseason and he was like ‘man, it is going to be hard for guys to face you because nothing you throw is straight’.”

Speaking of his brother, Smith should be seeing a lot more of his brother Corey this spring.  Corey is a former Indians top prospect and first round draft pick who signed with the Dodgers in the offseason.  The Dodgers and Indians both train in the Phoenix area for spring training, so as a result the two brothers will likely see a lot of each other in the spring since the Dodgers and Indians farm teams play several times.  While all in good fun, the younger Smith (Carlton) is looking forward to the opportunity to take it to his older brother (Corey).

“He is with the Dodgers, so I will be seeing him out here probably every other day now because that is who we play mostly,” said Smith.  “If I get a chance I am going to go after him (laughs).  I told him I am going to dot him up, but I think it would be better if I got him out after he picked on me all through my younger years.  That is an out I want, and the one time I get a strikeout I want it to be right there (laughs).”

Smith just wants to lighten things up this year and have fun, but by the same token he is as focused as ever to get to where every minor leaguer wants to be: the big leagues.

“I just want to stay healthy, keep playing the way I have been playing, and break through that door in Cleveland,” said Smith.  “I am a man on a mission.”

McBride Focuses On Defense

After a strong 2009 regular season (.287 AVG, .829 OPS) and a very good showing in the Arizona Fall League last year (.378 AVG, 1.159 OPS), Matt McBride hopes to carry that momentum and success into the 2010 season and beyond.  But while he went out to the fall league and played catcher, it looks like he is going to spend the 2010 season mostly at first base and the outfield rather than behind the plate.

“Right now I am working on first base and outfield,” said McBride after Tuesday’s practice.  “I am really just trying to work on both of those.  I think catching could still be an option, but right now we are mainly focusing on the outfield and first base.  Last fall it was good to get back catching again for the experience and to get back into it and prove that I could handle it if I needed to.  I wouldn’t rule it out.”

Considering the Indians’ need at Double-A Akron for an everyday catching option, it is somewhat disappointing that McBride will not be catching there this year since it makes him more valuable if he is behind the plate.  But, he will also turn 25 years old in two months, and the Indians need to create value for him in the short term and that may be as a versatile player who primarily plays first base and left field who can also catch from time to time.

One thing is certain, the decision to not play him at catcher at the moment apparently has nothing to do with his shoulder.  His arm is as strong as ever, and would not be a problem behind the plate.

“Knock on wood, but [my arm] feels good,” said McBride.  “My shoulder feels great and I haven’t had any issues with it.”

Right now the focus is on getting him more acquainted with first base and the outfield, two positions that he got a crash course on last spring and the offseason before it.  There is still a lot to learn, and he will use the time available these last few weeks of spring training to help him improve and become a better defender at both positions.

“I am primarily working on my defense in the outfield and first base,” said McBride.  “Last year was really my first year really working on that and I think I have a lot more to learn.  I think mainly the more experience I have at each position the more comfortable I will eventually feel.  In the outfield I am trying to get a good first step and read on line drives.  The biggest thing is just being out there in a game and getting used to it, just the experience factor.  The more you are out there helps, be it in the outfield or first base taking hot shots at you, moving around, or your footwork around the bag.  I think the work here is helping, but I think the games and playing and experience is what in time helps you out.”

There is not much at the moment that McBride is concentrating on improving at the plate.  His focus there is mainly just being more consistent and using his success from last season as a building block for this season.
“Hitting-wise, I am really just trying to build off my fall,” said McBride.  “I think the biggest thing there is I was really selective and I didn’t go out of the zone which really just helped my overall hitting.  So I am just trying to keep working on that and go from there.”

McBride had a heck of a month in the Arizona Fall League last year, and he surely opened a few eyes with his performance.  As this season gets ready to officially start in about three weeks, he would like to draw off of some of that success but also have an even better year in 2010.

“Last year was a great year,” said McBride.  “I had a little thing with the knee and that was fine, and my shoulder feels great, so I am just trying to stay healthy.  It’s just about hitting the ball and working on the outfield and first base and trying not to worry about anything else and just go from there.  Whatever happens, happens.”

Working Rosters

Here are the working rosters for the first week of full squad workouts in minor league camp.  Please note that since a lot of players who will be on the Triple-A Columbus and Double-A Akron rosters are still in big league camp, several players are temporarily filling in at those levels in the short term.

Columbus:

Pitchers: Scott Barnes, Eric Berger, Gary Campfield, Dallas Cawiezell, Ryan Edell, Connor Graham, Scott Lewis, Tom Mastny, Adam Miller, Vinnie Pestano, Carlton Smith, Erik Stiller, Josh Tomlin, Neil Wagner, Steven Wright.

Catchers: Alex Castillo, Doug Pickens, Miguel Perez

Infielders: Stephen Head, Matt McBride, Cristo Arnal, Jared Goedert, Jerad Head, Josh Rodriguez, Mark Thompson

Outfielders: Matt Brown, Jose Constanza, John Drennen, Tim Fedroff, Brian Horwitz, Lucas Montero

Akron:

Pitchers: Rob Bryson, Paolo Espino, Santo Frias, Nick Hagadone, Jonathan Holt, Kyle Landis, Matt Langwell, Chen Lee, Mike McGuire, Ryan Miller, Ryan Morris, Bryan Price, Dave Roberts, Steve Smith, Bryce Stowell, Heath Taylor, Sung-Wei Tseng, Travis Turek

Catchers: Dwight Childs, Richard Martinez, Roberto Perez

Infielders: Chris Nash, Kyle Bellows, Adam Davis, Cord Phelps, Ron Rivas, Karexon Sanchez

Outfielders: John Allman, Jordan Henry, Roman Pena, Donnie Webb, Adam White

Kinston:

Pitchers: Cory Burns, Eddie Burns, Guido Fonseca, Joe Gardner, Brian Grening, Preston Guilmet, Trey Haley, T.J. House, Francisco Jimenez, Chris Jones, Jason Knapp, Joey Mahalic, T.J. McFarland, Vidal Nuno, Matt Packer, Alexander Perez, Mike Pontius, Marty Popham, Danny Salazar

Catchers: Juan Aponte, Chun Chen, Moises Montero

Infielders: Nate Recknagel, Adam Abraham, Casey Frawley, Jason Kipnis, Kyle Smith, Jeremie Tice, Matt Willard

Outfielders: Abner Abreu, Ryan Blair, Delvi Cid, Bo Greenwell, Tim Palincsar, Jason Smit

Lake County:

Pitchers: Austin Adams, Elvis Araujo, Brett Brach, Jose Campos, Joseph Colon, Clayton Cook, Joseph Dickerson, Jose Flores, J.D. Goryl, Antwonie Hubbard, Daniel Jimenez, Jeremy Johnson, Nick Kirk, Alexander Morales, Mike Rayl, Nick Sarianides, Kyle C. Smith, Tyler Sturdevant, Takafumi Nakamura, Michael Valadez, Francisco Valera, Kirk Wetmore

Catchers: Greg Folgia, Alex Monsalve, Rolando Petit

Infielders: Ben Carlson, Chris Kersten, Lurvin Basabe, Jose Camargo, Kevin Fontanez, Argenis Martinez, Giovanni Urshela, Rafael Vera

Outfielders: Trent Baker, Carlos Moncrief, Darling Read, Kevin Rucker, Joel Torres

Notebook

Indians Pick Up Aguilar:  Yesterday the Indians completed a trade sending 24-year old left-handed pitcher Chuck Lofgren to the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for 25-year old right-handed pitcher Omar Aguilar.  Lofgren was a Rule 5 pick that the Brewers had recently decided that they were not going to keep him on the big league roster, so after clearing waivers they worked out a deal with the Indians to retain his full rights so they can option him to the minors.  With the trade, Lofgren is now 100% the property of the Brewers.  Aguilar is a short and stocky righty (5’11” 220 pounds) who throws his fastball consistently in the mid-90s and complements it with a mid-80s slider.  He has plus arm strength (10.4 career K/9) and was once one of the Brewers more highly thought of pitching prospects (much like Lofgren with the Indians), but command issues (5.0 career BB/9) last year dropped his stock with the Brewers considerably.  He was on the Brewers 40-man roster last year, but was taken off this past offseason, so he is only under the Indians control through this season as he can be a minor league free agent after the season.  He likely will open the season in the bullpen at Triple-A Columbus.

Mirabelli on Aguilar:  The Indians were sad to see Lofgren go, but like what they got in Aguilar and think he could help the big league team out at some point this season.  Assistant GM John Mirabelli had this to say about Aguilar:  “We’ve liked Omar since he was a freshman at Merced Junior College.  He brings versatility and a big arm [where] we have seen his fastball up to 96 MPH along with a power slider.  He is not that far removed from being on a 40-man roster, [and] we think he can get back to that level with upside for more.  He adds to our inventory and depth of power arms. We like his future.”

Goodbye to Lofgren:  With the trade of Lofgren to the Brewers yesterday, it puts an end to his once promising career with the Indians.  Three years ago at this time going into the 2007 season after his sensational 2006 season at High-A Kinston he looked to have a great chance to crack the Indians big league rotation sometime in the near future, but it just never worked out for various reasons.  From a personal standpoint it is bittersweet to see him leave for good, but I can’t be any happier for him professionally as he looks to have a much better opportunity at the moment with the Brewers to achieve his big league dream.  He is one of the most classy guys I have ever had the pleasure to talk to and get to know, and I wish the Big Swede tons of success with the Brew Crew.

No Brown Out:  Outfielder Matt Brown is feeling a lot better these days.  Last year he hurt his knee in the early part of the season and it affected his play for almost two months before he eventually was sidelined for most of the rest of the year.  In the fall the knee was still bothering him during Instructional League and he was noticeably upset with the status of the knee and was contemplating surgery.  As it turns out, he passed on the surgery and the best medicine was some extended time off in the offseason as he shut things down for about two to three months after Instructional League and now his knee feels as good as ever.

Position Change:  2008 14^th round draft pick Carlos Moncrief initially signed with the Indians as a pitcher, a position he played the last two years.  He was raw, but had huge upside because of his plus arm strength and high-90s fastball.  However, when he was drafted he was also a highly regarded outfielder with a great arm and powerful bat, and apparently the Indians may have decided to move on from his development path as a pitcher to a new path in the outfield.  While not confirmed as of this writing if he is indeed now a full time outfielder, he is listed as an outfielder on their roster sheet.

Ring Ceremony:  Before the game on Tuesday at Goodyear Ballpark between the Indians and Giants, members of the 2009 Eastern League Champion Akron Aeros received their championship rings.  It may just be the minor leagues, but the ring these guys received is pretty sweet (Brian Grening’s ring is pictured to the right).

Double Duty:  Adam Abraham has been working a lot in the early part of camp catching bullpens because of all the arms, but he is also starting to get some regular work in at third base.  He is expected to split time this year at catcher and third base to get him regular at bats, and should open the year at High-A Kinston.

Armed & Ready:  Right-hander Rob Bryson had a long season last year as he endured a year long rehab from shoulder surgery.  The hard work seems to have paid off as he is supposedly pain free and ready to get rolling this year with few if any restrictions.  He should open the 2010 season at High-A Kinston, though could move quickly to Double-A Akron depending on how he performs.

Head First:  First baseman and outfielder Stephen Head’s knee is feeling a lot better this spring than it did at the end of the season last year.  He has been working out a lot at first base, and may see more time there this year at Triple-A Columbus.

Spring Training Videos:  I have started to upload and post some of the videos I have shot out in spring training.  There will be a TON of videos after this spring where I hope to have a good percentage of players recorded to video and posted throughout the next several weeks.  Here are the first batch of videos, and as always thanks to Michael Taylor for the great editing job: Brett Brach, Austin Adams, Brian Bixler, Brian Grening, Carlos Carrasco, Carlos Rivero, and Michael Brantley.

Follow me on Twitter @tlastoria

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Instructional League Notebook: 10/16

I'm back from Arizona (unfortunately) and have one final notebook to talk about all the things I saw my last day in camp at the Indians Player Development Complex in Goodyear, AZ.  Oh the joy of getting on a plane at 11am in Phoenix where it was 90 degrees, sunny, and nothing but blue skies only to step off the plane four hours later in Cleveland to temperatures barely in the 40s, rain and grey skies.  I love this town.

Anyway, during that final day of camp I finally had a chance to see 2009 3rd rounder Joe Gardner pitch for the first time, talk to 2009 1st rounder Alex White, check in on young gun Greg Folgia, get injury updates on Kelvin De La Cruz, Matt Brown and others, and get a final look at some intriguing infielders in the lower levels of the system.  I initially was going to include pieces on White and Gardner in this notebook, but because of the length and not to take away from some of the other players highlighted, I will post their articles separately on Monday and Tuesday.

Also, a quick note, I will be posting the final Instructional League and Parallel League box scores on Sunday.

And with that, onto the happenings in Instructs...

De La Cruz Still Finding His Way

One of the biggest blows to the Indians farm system this season was when highly regarded left-handed starting pitcher Kelvin De La Cruz went down with a serious elbow injury the first month of the season.  He was off to a great start for High-A Kinston where in two starts he was 2-0 with a 1.50 ERA (12.0 IP, 6 H, 2 BB, 19 K) and had just been named Carolina League Pitcher of the Week for his efforts in his first two starts.

But during that second start De La Cruz started to feel some discomfort in his elbow and it increased a lot over the coming days to where he had to eventually be shut down for most of the rest of the season.  He eventually did make his way back to pitch some games on rehab with the Arizona League Indians at the end of August, but was a long way from the pitcher he was pre-injury.  He participated in Instructional League to make up some of the lost development time, and he has slowly started to put things together as his velocity is up to 92 MPH and his feel for pitching is starting to return.

"I feel pretty good," said De La Cruz.  "I am working hard on all of my stuff in the training room and in the gym.  I feel way better than I did a couple of weeks ago.  It was a hard year."

A hard year indeed.

After a breakout season last year in Low-A Lake County and Kinston where he went a combined 12-6 with a 2.98 ERA in 27 starts, a lot was expected of De La Cruz this year and it was hoped he would continue to progress and spend a majority of the season with Double-A Akron.  But his elbow had other plans, and he came down with the dreaded UCL strain which shut him down for several months.

"In my last game [at Kinston] I was feeling a little bit of stress in my arm and elbow," recalled De La Cruz.  "The next day when I woke up I couldn't even wash my face.  They gave me a seven day rest to see what happens as it could of just been a sore muscle.  When I threw my bullpen they asked me if I was ready to go in few days and to tell them how I felt.  I didn't feel good at all, so I asked for an MRI to see what happened and they found I had a strained UCL ligament."

While there was bad news that the UCL had been strained, the good news was that there was no tear.  Had he torn the UCL it would have required Tommy John surgery and he would currently be at the midpoint of his rehab and his 2010 season would likely be a complete wash.  Instead he is pitching again and his arm is feeling a lot better, though still not 100%.

"I feel like I am still trying to find my way back," said De La Cruz.  "In the game I feel really good when I am throwing, but I am very sore the next day.  Sometimes [it is frustrating], but I know that I will be back and that it is a step by step process."

With Instructional League over, De La Cruz will likely remain in Goodyear for awhile longer to continue rehabbing his elbow and throwing off the mound a few times a week so the Indians can evaluate his progress.  His goal is to be back at 100% and ready to go once spring training starts up in March, and then go to Kinston or Akron and have a great season.

"We'll see what happens," said De La Cruz.  "I will go home or stay here for a couple of more weeks.  I'll do whatever they say.  I am just prepared for everything right now."

Pestano Begins To Throw

Vinnie Pestano was on top of the world about three months ago.

Back at the beginning of July the right-handed closer for the Indians Double-A Akron affiliate was locking down victories night after night and was leading the Eastern League in saves  - and just about all of baseball for that matter.  In 34 games through July 9th he was 2-3 with a 2.86 ERA with 24 saves and in 34.2 innings had allowed 30 hits, 13 walks, and had 31 strikeouts.  He was named to the Eastern League All Star team and was primed to smash Randy Newsom's 2008 club record of 29 saves in a season.

That's when elbow soreness settled in with Pestano and he had to be shut down.  Initially he remained with Akron for about a month getting treatment on his arm while more tests were done, but his condition did not improve.  After an MRI was done it was determined his elbow injury was serious enough where he would be shut down for the rest of the season and head out to the Goodyear complex to rehab and get ready for the 2010 season.

In the blink of an eye Pestano went from having probably his most memorable season as a baseball player, to one of the most disappointing and frustrating seasons he has ever been through.

It was an encouraging first half of the season for Pestano as he hit 93 MPH a few times and up until his elbow injury his arm had felt great and his average velocity was up to where he was sitting mostly 88-92 MPH.  The increased velocity was a big step for him as coming off Tommy John surgery in 2006 he was only throwing 87 MPH in his first year of professional ball in 2007.  But since his surgery he has worked hard to build up his arm strength and get back to the low 90s he consistently threw in college.

"It was pretty good and I got a lot of opportunities [in Akron]," said Pestano in a recent interview.  "I got a lot of work and got my feet wet and got into a little bit of a groove.  I can't say I am happy with what I have done, but I have to be content with the [year] I had and I got a lot of opportunities and did well in a few of them and [didn't] do well in a couple of them."

Pestano has been out in Arizona rehabbing the arm and last week started throwing off the mound for the first time since the injury first came about in early July.  He is still in the early stages of a throwing program and he is still feeling his way through his arm issue as it still is not 100%.  Barring any setbacks, he is expected to be ready to return to action full-go next spring and this offseason he may even get a few innings in with a winter league team somewhere.

Pestano has put the same tenacity and effort into his rehab that he does when closing games out on the mound, which is why he has been so successful in recovering from arm injuries in his career and also closing games out when he pitches.  He may not profile as a big league closer with his stuff, but when healthy his sidearm arm slot and amazing mental makeup could make him valuable down the road to a big league team in some kind of bullpen role.

"I like [closing] because I can prepare for the game better," said Pestano.  "I know what my role is and what I am going to throw.  Being in the bullpen is tough as you don't know if your number is going to be called that day.  For me it is a lot better because I have my routine, but I like it.  I have always said whatever the Indians need me to be - be it a right-on-right guy or a 7th or 8th inning guy - I am comfortable doing whatever gets me to the big leagues.  If that is closing I am all for it, but if I have to take a different route there then that's okay too."

For now, the injury is just another obstacle for Pestano to climb over.  He has proven an ability to overcome such adversity in the past, and so far has shown he is well on his way to overcoming it again.  Even with the injury and sudden end to his season, there are still a lot of positives to build off of as he had an excellent first half of the season.

"I'm always going to want to make strides," said Pestano.  "No matter what throughout the course of the year my goal is to pitch in the big leagues as my goal is not to be a Double-A or Triple-A closer.  If I take a step forward in trying to achieve that then that year as a whole was successful.  Last year in Lake County and Kinston I felt like I took a step forward, and this year in spring training I had a good spring training and took another half step forward.  But obviously it is a long road and there are a lot more steps to be made.  It's tough to know what people think of you, but you just have to worry about yourself and keep doing the things you know you need to do to keep getting better."

Greg Folgia: Gun For Hire

While the move of Jason Kipnis to second base may be one of the bigger stories of Instructional League, one of the more interesting developments has been the transition Greg Folgia has made to catcher.

Drafted as an infielder in the 40th round of the 2009 Draft out of the University of Missouri, the Indians had him play in the outfield during his first taste of professional baseball this year at short-season Single-A Mahoning Valley.  The move to the outfield was not a big deal as he primarily played there this season for Missouri, but he also came in with experience as a second baseman as he primarily played that position his sophomore year in college, and he also brought some pitching experience to the table as he pitched mainly as a freshman and also a little bit as a sophomore and junior.

With the move to catcher the Indians appear to be playing off the versatility Folgia has shown in being able to play any position on the field, but they also appear to be maximizing what is probably his best asset:  his arm.

As a pitcher in college Folgia topped out at 95 MPH, and that arm strength was on display during Instructional League as he fired the ball all over the field with exceptional velocity and good accuracy.  He has a long way to go with picking up the nuances of the catching game, handling a pitching staff, blocking balls, and his footwork, but his arm is without a doubt an absolute howitzer.  One NL scout in attendance during morning workouts came away very impressed and said it is easily a plus plus arm for the position.

Clearly the Indians are intrigued with Folgia's arm strength.  Their experiment with him at catcher may be a way to add more value to him as a player, but worst case it will just add more versatility in how they can use him.

"Catching is good, and it is kind of fun to work on as the days go quicker," said Folgia.  "It is difficult, but at the same time I like it.  I am just trying something new and feeling it out I guess for next year.  I think that is mainly what happened [is they like my arm].  I am not exactly the fastest outfielder, so a lot of negative and positive factors probably coincided with each other."

With Instructional League now over, Folgia will continue to work this offseason on adapting to and learning about the new catching position.  In addition to catching, he will continue to work on his swing as he showed some promise as a hitter this season hitting .272 with 3 HR, 36 RBI and a .792 OPS for Mahoning Valley.

"Mainly I am working on more consistency at the plate and a more level bat swing," said Folgia about his focus this offseason on improving as a hitter.  "Just get stronger and just mainly keep trying to develop as much as a I can in the offseason.  Get more fit and a more consistent bat path.  Just working on catching a little bit as it looks like it will be a position I will be put at next year."

Notebook

Brown Out:  Outfielder Matt Brown participated in Instructional League, playing mainly in games for the Parallel League team.  He missed most of the season with patellar tendonitis and a patellar tear to his right knee, an injury which came about in spring training.  He was never 100% all season, even when the season started in Kinston, though he tried to play through it before eventually having to shut it down in May.  He is still not 100% and is still experiencing discomfort in his knee to the point where he is likely going to have to have the knee checked out this offseason to see if surgery is required.

Kipnis at Second Base:  The Indians are full steam ahead with the move of Jason Kipnis to second base.  They were very encouraged with what they saw out of him in Instructional League at second base and he will go into spring training as a second baseman and likely open the regular season as the everyday second baseman at High-A Kinston.  In addition to what the Indians think, two scouts from other organizations commented that it is a great move as he was nothing special as an outfielder and just a regular guy, but as a second baseman his bat and ability there makes him a potential elite level prospect at the position.

The Defensive Wizard:  Arguably the best defensive middle infield prospect in the Indians organization may be Argenis Martinez.  He has very good speed but a suspect bat; however, there is not a player in the system that can pick the ball batter than him or who shows more athleticism at shortstop or second base.  He is flashy at times, shows excellent range, and is a definite plus defender.  Kevin Fontanez is another interesting defender in the organization at shortstop.

The Other Martinez: While Argenis Martinez regularly put on a fielding display in camp, 16-year old Latin newcomer Jorge Martinez really had an excellent first showing in Instructional League.  After signing with the Indians out of the Dominican Republic just two months ago, he showed the maturity and moxie at shortstop of a 20-21 year old (yes, he reportedly did pass the age tests!).  He is just an average runner at best, but his long frame and quickness makes him an intriguing shortstop prospect because not only does he have good range and can pick it, but he projects well with the bat.  Even though he is only 16 years old he already shows a good grasp of how to handle a wood bat and has shown the ability to drive the ball.

Third Power:  One of the more impressive offensive performers in camp was third baseman Kyle Bellows.  He displayed some very nice raw power, and the position change from playing shortstop in college to now third base in the pros looks like a great fit.  He shows a good arm at third base, comes in on balls well, and shows very good athleticism, accuracy and arm strength on balls hit deep down the line.

Aguilar!  Aguilar!:  I got a first ever look at 19-year old first baseman Jesus Aguilar, a 6'3" 240-pound behemoth.  He had the best season of any hitter in the Dominican Summer League this year, hitting .305 with 5 HR, 46 RBI and an .872 OPS in 55 games, all while exhibiting some impressive plate discipline with 31 walks to 24 strikeouts.  At just 19 years of age he is very big and strong and showed some impressive power in batting practice and absolutely tattooed a ball over the left field wall in Wednesday's Instructional League game.  He should be the first baseman next year for the Arizona League team, and is someone to keep an eye in down the road.

Parting Shots:  Giovanny Urshela was impressive defensively at third base, showing a very strong and accurate arm.  He also displayed soft hands and looks to be a good defensive third baseman in the making.  The question with him is his bat.  He is not very big, and he still lacks much punch with the bat. ... Catcher Rolando Petit worked out a lot at first base, and it looks like the Indians are trying to add a little more versatility for him.  He has a long way to go at the position as he looks very raw at the position. ... Trent Baker, Diori Robles and Jordan Henry showed some above average arm strength in the outfield.  Henry is a center fielder, but he also worked out some in left field. ... Second baseman Casey Frawley is a scrappy player who does not have a lot of power, but he squares the ball up well at the plate and plays solid defense at second base. ... Catcher Moises Montero's bat did not impress much, but scouts liked his throwing arm a lot. ... Lake County manager Aaron Holbert managed the Parallel League team and do-everything player Adam Davis played almost exclusively at shortstop there.

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Diamonds in Single A: Matt Brown

Here we are, back again for another round of Diamonds in Single A. This week’s article will focus on a bat, Kinston outfielder Matt Brown. From this point on I will try and go back and forth from pitcher to hitter every week, and once June arrives I will also show this year’s stats. I hated to use this year’s stats when we were just a month in, but after two months the sample size is much stronger.

Matt Brown was a 13th round selection of the Indians out of Wichita State in 2007. He has made a steady climb through the system, first in short-season Single A, then Low A, and now this year in High A. Last season he was far and away the most reliable bat at Lake County and really turned some heads, which helped place him on the prospect radar.

Year LVL OBP 2B HR BB/SO PA/SO SLG OPS

2007 A SS .325 14 0 .61 6.24 .339 .665
2008 Low A .356 24 8 .56 7.98 .432 .789

Before I go into any analysis, I have to come clean and say I use a template for entering the data that I look at in depth. It does make writing easier but it also allows for comparing data, and Brown actually has a great comparison stat wise. His numbers in Low A - .356/.432/.789 - are near identical to the first hitter I profiled, Matt McBride, who at the same stage at the same level hit .348/.432./.780. It was both players’ second season out of college after a year at short-season Single A ball. They even hit the same number of home runs that year, though McBride had a lot more doubles. After that season, McBride’s stock was extremely high, thanks partly to his being a year younger and a catcher, but one would think that Brown’s stock would have taken a similar jump.

While Brown’s stock jumped up quite a bit he still was not in anyone’s top 30. This might be caused by the walk rate that Brown has where at .56 it means he is striking out twice for every walk, but this is balanced out by the jump he took in his plate appearance to strike out rate. His OPS took a noticeable jump in his second year, and I think this was mostly thanks to cutting down his PA/SO rate by 1.74. When you combine the two aforementioned stats we can see that Brown is striking out less but also walking less at a near identical rate. In an ideal world, the walks would stay the same and the strike outs drop, but most of the time they are tied together. Plate discipline seems to be the only thing that might be holding Brown back from being considered in the top 30 prospect range.

Age is also a concern for Brown, and right now he is trapped behind some supremely talented players. If he continues to produce, however, the Indians will find a place for Brown who looks like a very possible future major league baseball player. For better or worse, I think the comp for a player like Brown might be that of current Indians outfielder David Dellucci. That is, a good right fielder whose best served in a platoon in the majors.

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Brown, De La Cruz Take Home Carolina League Hadrware

The Kinston Indians have swept the Carolina League’s Weekly Awards as Matt Brown is the Player of the Week and Kelvin De La Cruz is the Pitcher of the Week in the Carolina League!

K-Tribe outfielder Matt Brown was just announced as the Carolina League Hitter of the Week hitting .457 (16-35) with six runs and 4 RBI last week for Kinston. The Wichita State alum is currently tops in the Carolina League in batting average at .457 and on base percentage (.537). The Oklahoma City native is tied for the league lead in hits (16). Brown led the entire Cleveland Indians Player Development System with a .308 average last year in Low A Lake County.

Kinston starting pitcher Kelvin De La Cruz had a great first week, going 2-0 with a 1.50 ERA and 19 strikeouts over two starts (12 innings). De La Cruz gave up just two earned runs on six hits while walking two batters.

The first player of the week awards in Minor League Baseball go back to Thursday April, 9th (opening day).

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Post Weekend Update: Goodyear Bound....Soon

Here is the final weekend rundown of the offseason. Starting this Thursday, the daily coverage of the Indians minor league affiliates will kick into gear, and my weekly “Minor Happenings” piece recapping the week that was will start back up every Thursday once the season started on Wednesday April 8th.

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If anyone has been paying attention to the box scores I have been posting, you may have noticed some of the positions certain players have been playing so far this spring. Most notably, the players who are concentrating on one specific position, or making a position change. Here are some of the position changes or area of concentration I have noticed:

- Jared Goedert only playing 3B. Goedert has played some 2B the last two years, but with Josh Rodriguez slated to be the regular 2B in Akron, Goedert will get little if any time at 2B and instead play only 3B.

- Jeff Hehr has been getting some work in at 1B. He played 20 games there with Lake County last year while spending most of his time at 3B. He also played 2B most of the season in 2007 at Mahoning Valley, and was drafted as a shortstop. He is a guy on the bubble, so his versatility could be a big plus for him.

- Matt McBride is only playing in LF. As I mentioned a few times this offseason, McBride has made a permanent move to the outfield. He is still listed as a catcher, but aside from the need to use him in an emergency he is not expected to catch at all this year.

- Josh Rodriguez has played almost every inning at 2B. He will be the everyday 2B in Akron, and give Carlos Rivero a day off at SS from time to time.

- Jason Smit is only playing in LF. As mentioned a week or two back, Smit has made the move from the infield to the outfield. No reasoning why yet, but something I hope to ask about when I get to Goodyear later this week.

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Thanks to outfielder Matt Brown for coming on our Smoke Signals program last Thursday. His strong faith is a real asset for him that allows him to keep a clear head from distractions and be a sponge with instruction.

As I mentioned on the broadcast, he has an absolute cannon for an arm. I saw flashes of the gifted arm of Cory Snyder in right field for the Indians in the late 80s when Brown threw a seed from the warning track in right field to 3B that gunned down a runner. As always, the bat will be what determines his fate as a prospect, which he improved a lot last season. This is a big year for him in Kinston, a separator and one where he needs to remain consistent offensively and show some growth.

This week, Adam Burke guest hosts as the show moves to 8-9pm this Thursday March 26th. My flight leaves Cleveland at 9:00pm for Goodyear, so I will only be calling in for a few minutes when the show starts while I wait to board my plane.

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Here is a recap of some of the known releases and retirements:

- Right-hander Joe Ness has been released. He didn’t last long in camp, and was a longshot coming in given his age and coming off shoulder surgery which sidelined him all of last season.

- First baseman Todd Martin has been released. This was somewhat of a surprise. It is no surprise given his age and injury history, but a surprise because he can hit and the Indians have a need for a 1B/DH type bat in Akron or even Kinston. He plans to play independent ball this year and possibly catch on with another team.

- Catcher Brian Juhl has retired. He didn’t play much last year, and the prospects of spending another season possibly in Kinston probably were not too inviting.

As always, much luck with these guys in their future endeavors.

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Speaking of Ness, here is the scouting report on him in my book. This is one of the writeups for 27+ players that are only available in the book and will not be posted on-line:

Ness, 25, was taken in the 6th round of the 2005 Draft out of Ball State University. At 6'5" and 230 pounds he is a big and strong pitcher with a fastball that hovers in the low to mid 90s. He also throws a slider and changeup. While he is a strike-thrower, his pitches tend to lack variation in speed which is a problem as he moves up the minor league ladder and faces more advanced hitters. Even though he did not pitch last year, the Indians feel he still has some potential to be an innings eater because of his strong mechanics. It is not yet known why he did not pitch last year or what the undisclosed injury was, and there have been no reports of his release, but in any case he is in an uphill climb this spring to make the Double-A Akron roster or be released.

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In case anyone missed it, I did a Q&A for Baseball Daily Digest earlier in the week talking about Double-A Akron and some of the players expected to be there.

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And don’t forget to visit the site store for any IndiansProspectInsider.com apparel you may be interested in!

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Indians Top 100 Prospects: #48 Matt Brown

48. Matt Brown - Outfielder
Born: 02/21/1985 - Height: 6'1" - Weight: 183 - Bats: Left - Throws: Right

Year	Age	Team	Lvl	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	SB	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS
2007	22	Mahoning Vy	A-	63	224	22	56	14	3	0	31	25	41	6	.250	.325	.339	.664
2008	23	Lake County	A	122	451	64	139	26	3	8	75	35	62	3	.308	.356	.432	.788
		Career		185	675	86	195	40	6	8	106	60	103	9	.289	.346	.401	.747

History: Brown was a 13th round pick by the Indians in the 2007 Draft out of Wichita State.

Strengths & Opportunities: Brown is an intriguing outfielder who offers a great package of overall tools with good bat speed, raw power, plus arm strength, and average speed. He makes consistent contact, swings hard, and is very aggressive in the outfield. He could develop into a prototype right fielder if his bat starts to show more thunder down the road as he already is very good defensively and has a gifted arm. He was an outstanding pitcher in high school and threw 92 MPH, and that arm strength has translated well to the outfield. He has excellent makeup, and his focus is a rarity for a player at this stage of their development cycle. Because of this, he has a head start over most of the players his age or at his level because of the routine he has developed. He is mentally prepared for the ups and downs of the game as well as with what he needs to do to improve as a player.

Coming out of college Brown's biggest challenge was developing better plate discipline and he did an excellent job last season of implementing a new plan and preparation routine with his at bats that the Indians worked with him on during the 2007 offseason and in spring training. His revised plan is more just him simplifying his approach, looking for a good pitch to hit, looking to hit the ball in the middle of the field, and staying within the strike zone with his swing. His new plan was the catalyst to his very good season and the adjustments he made helped his approach and overall plate discipline as he only struck out once every seven at bats whereas in 2007 he was striking out about once every five at bats. Also, his long, maximum-effort swing was shortened which has helped him create a more consistent bat path to square up the ball and make good contact more often. He is an all-out player which is good in the field, but can take a toll on his body and at the plate some times. He hurt his left wrist diving for a ball in the outfield near the middle of the season, so missed a few weeks. He is that type of fiery player where the Indians will continue to work on getting him to learn to pull it back a little and stay on more of an even keel throughout the game.

Outlook: Brown had a very good season last year, and was one of the few players in Single-A Lake County to do so. He was close to the league average as far as age goes, so it will be interesting to see how he handles the more advanced pitching in the Carolina League next year. He will open the 2009 season in the advanced Single-A Kinston outfield.

Photo courtesy of Ken Carr

Matt Brown MinorLeagueBaseball.com stats page

Matt Brown Baseball-Reference page

Matt Brown MinorleagueSplits.com page

Matt Brown video:

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Minor Happenings: Top Catchers Now In Kinston

"Minor Happenings" covers the important developments and news in the Indians farm system. While most of the information in this report is from my own research and through interviews I have conducted with organizational personnel, some information in this report is collected and summarized from the various news outlets that cover each team.

Hello from Myrtle Beach. I'm on the final leg of a two week trip along the East and Gulf Coast that has taken me to Winter Haven, FL to Clearwater, FL and now to Myrtle Beach, SC. The trip is part business to see the non-local Indians minor league affiliates the GCL Indians and Kinston Indians, but mostly pleasure to spend a lot of time with my family and recharge the batteries for the final two months of the minor league season. I plan to attend a game here in Myrtle Beach either tonight (Monday) or on Tuesday night to see Kinston in action and get some updates on players.

Also, please note, this will be an abbreviated Minor Happenings to cover some of the highlights from the last week. A more "full version" will post this Friday or Saturday to get everything back up to speed. Two-week family vacations "in-season" can certainly throw a monkey wrench into things, so I appreciate the patience from everyone. After the full version of Happenings posts this weekend, it should post as usual on Thursday or Friday every week without any delays until the end of September when the piece wraps up with the third installment of the Tony Awards.

As I mentioned last week, I was in Winter Haven and was able to see the GCL Indians play a few games and talk to several of the players and coaches. I had a chance to talk to manager Rouglas Odor, pitching coach Steve Lyons, outfielder Kevin Rucker, outfielder Bo Greenwell, left-hander T.J. McFarland, and left-hander Chris Jones at length during my visit. I'll have more on the GCL trip later this week in the "full version" of Happenings.

Also, for those wondering, I will NOT be attending tonight's USA/Canada exhibition game in Durham, NC. I really pushed for it, but in the end it was too much to drag my family to yet another destination and three hours out of our way.

Finally, just another reminder, there is a Minor Happenings radio show coming. Once I get home on Wednesday night this should start to be ironed out and I can dive into it a lot more and firm up the details. Be on the lookout for an update on when it will be aired in coming editions of Happenings.

Indians Minor League Player Of The Week
(for games from July 24^th through July 30^th)

Matt Brown (Outfielder - Lake County)
.526 AVG (10-for-19), 4 R, 3 2B, 2 HR, 10 RBI, 4 BB, 3 K

Single-A Lake County Captains outfielder Matt Brown had a great week to help carry the Captains to a few victories and get the offense out of a month-long funk. In Last Sunday's win, Brown had the decisive blow when he cranked a grand slam home run that proved to be the difference in the game. After hitting .326 with an .835 OPS in April, Brown struggled in May (.219/.541) mostly because he was had a wrist injury which affected him, but once he was 100% again he was back to his old self hitting .319/.807 in June and .292/.845 in July.

Brown was the Indians 13th round pick in 2007 out of Wichita State. Coming out of college his biggest challenge was developing better plate discipline, and this season he has made big strides in that department by posting 30 walks but only 52 strikeouts in 364 at bats. Brown is an intriguing outfielder who offers a great package of overall tools headlined by good bat speed, raw power, and an incredible arm in the outfield.

Also, Brown was recently named the South Atlantic League Player of the Week for the week of July 20th through the 27th. In winning the award, Brown hit .400 (8-for-20) with 4 2B, 1 HR and 10 RBI. On the season, Brown is hitting .292 with 7 HR, 64 RBI, and a .769 OPS in 97 games.

Honorable Mentions:

Scott Lewis (LHP - Akron): 1-0, 0.69 ERA, 13 IP, 10 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 13 K
Brad Snyder (OF - Buffalo): .478 AVG, 2 R, 5 2B, 2 3B, 1 HR, 8 RBI
Brock Simpson (1B - Mahoning Valley): .345 AVG, 5 R, 2 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 8 RBI
Jeremie Tice (3B - Mahoning Valley): .370 AVG, 7 R, 3 2B, 2 HR, 7 RBI
Abner Abreu (3B - GCL Indians): .258 AVG, 5 R, 3 2B, 1 3B, 3 HR, 9 RBI

Previous Winners:

7/17 to 7/23: Michael Aubrey (1B - Buffalo)
7/10 to 7/16: Niuman Romero (3B - Kinston)
7/3 to 7/9: Nick Weglarz (OF - Kinston)
6/26 to 7/2: Stephen Head (1B/OF - Akron)
6/19 to 6/25: Trevor Crowe (OF - Akron)
6/12 to 6/18: Chris Gimenez (C - Akron)
6/5 to 6/11: Jim Deters (RHP - Kinston)
5/29 to 6/4: Steven Wright (RHP - Kinston)
5/22 to 5/28: Chris Archer (RHP - Lake County)
5/15 to 5/21: David Huff (LHP - Akron)
5/8 to 5/14: Steven Wright (RHP - Kinston)
5/1 to 5/7: Jeremy Sowers (LHP - Buffalo)
4/24 to 4/30: Jose Constanza (OF - Akron)
4/17 to 4/23: Hector Rondon (RHP - Kinston)
4/10 to 4/16: Wes Hodges (3B - Akron)
4/3 to 4/9: Kelvin De La Cruz (LHP - Lake County)

New Catching Duo At Kinston

Talk about a major infusion of talent in less than a week at the catching position for advanced Single-A Kinston. Their catching situation went from a position of weakness to one of extreme strength after catcher Matt McBride was activated from his rehab assignment in Winter Haven last Saturday, and then newly acquired Carlos Santana joined the team just a few days later.

Before being activated, McBride had spent most of the offseason and the entire first half of the season rehabbing in Winter Haven, FL from offseason labrum surgery. Prior to having the surgery McBride was slated to be Kinston's opening day catcher this year. To make room for McBride, catcher Alex Castillo was placed on the disabled list with a sprained knee. Santana is the big catching prospect the Indians were able to acquire from the Los Angeles Dodgers for veteran third baseman Casey Blake. When he was acquired by the Indians, he led all of minor league baseball with 96 RBI, and was hitting .324 with 14 home runs.

The most obvious question is how the playing time will be divided among these two high profile catching prospects who need to play everyday. The initial plan is to have Santana carry most of the catching workload since McBride is still being eased back into his regular catching duties. Santana will catch two to three games in a row before giving way to McBride to catch one game out of every three to four games. When Santana is catching, McBride will mostly serve as the designated hitter in games.

Crowe Soaring In Buffalo

Outfielder Trevor Crowe was moved up to Triple-A Buffalo on July 25^th, and in the nine games since his callup he has reached base in every game and is hitting .286 with 4 HR, 7 RBI, 2 stolen bases, and a .967 OPS. The early highlight so far was Crowe's two home run game on Thursday when he homered from both sides of the plate in the same game. The last Buffalo player to hit a home run both left and right-handed in the same game was Enrique Wilson on August 31, 1997. Crowe was also a double short of hitting for the cycle on Tuesday night when he went 3-for-5 at the plate with a single, triple, and home run. He had all three hits in his first three at bats and had two chances late in the game to accomplish the feat, but struck out in the seventh and ninth inning.

Crowe is very much a part of the Indians plans next year, and knowing that he could be on his way to Cleveland very soon. If Crowe continues to play well in Buffalo for another week or so, the Indians could very well deem him ready to come to Cleveland and "audition" for an outfield role on next year's team with the likes of Ben Francisco, Franklin Gutierrez and Shin-Soo Choo. Before such a move could take place, one of the outfielders in Cleveland would have to be traded or released as Choo and Gutierrez are out of options and David Dellucci is just wasting roster space at this point (just designate Dellucci already!).

The growing mass of fans picketing for outfielder Grady Sizemore to move down to the third spot in the order may finally get their wish once Crowe gets to Cleveland. If Crowe pans out, he is exactly the player they are looking for to supplant Sizemore from his leadoff perch into a run producing spot in the lineup. Crowe has excellent on-base skills, has some pop in his bat, good speed, and can play all three outfield positions. The Indians have often compared his abilities and playing style to Baltimore's Brian Roberts. Crowe will not leadoff initially when he breaks in with the Indians as they will ease him into that role, but he is someone they have high hopes for to fill that spot in the lineup as soon as the beginning of next season.

Bryson Goes Down

Lake County right-handed reliever Rob Bryson left the game last Sunday with discomfort in his elbow and shoulder. After an examination on Monday and Tuesday, he was placed on the disabled list with inflammation in his throwing shoulder. Tests revealed that he has partial tears of both his labrum and rotator cuff that hopefully some downtime will heal. He is expected to be out for several weeks, but most likely his season is finished. Hopefully the injury was caught in time and the rest helps, because if surgery is needed Bryson will be out of action for a long time to where he would miss at least half of next season.

Bryson was one of four players the Indians received in the C.C. Sabathia trade four weeks ago. In six games at Lake County, Bryson was 0-1 with a 2.38 ERA. In 28 combined appearances between Lake County and West Virginia, Bryson is 3-3 with a 3.93 ERA and in 66.1 innings has allowed 49 hits, 26 walks and has 82 strikeouts. Left-hander Garrett Reick was called up from Mahoning Valley to take Bryson's spot on the Lake County roster.

Affiliate Notebook

Buffalo Notes (53-63, 5^th place, 18.0 GB): Left-hander Zach Jackson was awesome last Sunday taking a no-hitter into the sixth inning and finishing the game by going six shutout innings and allowing two hits, no walks, and two strikeouts. As great as he was last Sunday, he was equally as awful on Friday as he lasted only 3.1 innings and was bombed for seven earned runs on ten hits, one walk and had four strikeouts. In seven appearances at Buffalo, Jackson is 2-1 with a 4.05 ERA. ... In three appearances since the Blake trade, right-hander John Meloan is 0-1 with a 1.93 ERA. In 4.2 innings he has allowed six hits, one walk, and punched out three. ... In two appearances since being acquired from the St. Louis Cardinals, right-hander Anthony Reyes is 2-0 with a 2.77 ERA. In 13 innings he has allowed ten hits, four walks and has eight strikeouts. ... Right-hander Jeff Stevens was placed on the temporary inactive list so he can take part in the Summer Olympics. In 34 combined appearances at Akron and Buffalo, Stevens was 5-3 with a 3.23 ERA and six saves. In 55.2 innings he has allowed just 36 hits, walked 25, and struck out 75 batters. ... First baseman Jordan Brown returned from the temporary inactive list on Saturday. Brown had been out so he could return home for the birth of his first child, Damon. Congratulations to the Brown family!

Akron Notes (68-47, 1^st place, 1.5 GU): Outfielder Matt LaPorta was placed on the temporary inactive list so he can take part in the Summer Olympics, and filling his roster spot was outfielder Ryan Goleski who was recalled from a short stint in Kinston. LaPorta is not expected to return to the Indians until the last week of August, and when he does is almost certain to return to Akron where he will take part in their playoff run. ... Left-hander Scott Lewis has been sensational his last two outings (1-0, 0.69 ERA). On Wednesday he went six innings and allowed no earned runs on just five singles and a walk including a season-high eight strikeouts. Lewis has now gone six straight outings without allowing more than two earned runs, and he has worked at least six innings in his last five. On the season he is 5-2 with a 2.85 ERA in 11 starts. ... On Friday, Akron's all-time saves leader Randy Newsom returned from a short stay in Buffalo. The re-assignment had more to do with the Indians recent pitching acquisitions pushing Newsom back to Akron to ensure he gets regular work. To make room for Newsom on the active roster the Indians released right-hander Jim Deters.

Kinston Notes (25-17, 2^nd place, 3.5 GB): There have been several noteworthy moves the past week in addition to McBride and Santana joining the roster. Of note, outfielder Nick Weglarz was put on the temporary inactive list so he can take part in the Summer Olympics, and outfielder Lucas Montero was called up from Lake County to fill his roster spot. Also, infielder Chris De La Cruz was traded to the Florida Marlins on Tuesday for cash considerations. ... Right-hander Carlton Smith left his last start on July 24^th with triceps tenderness and his next scheduled start this past Tuesday was skipped. No word on his condition at the moment, but he has yet to be placed on the disabled list. ... Right-hander Hector Rondon is tied for the Carolina League lead with 10 wins. He is also 6^th in ERA (3.60), 3^rd in innings pitched (115.0), and 3^rd in strikeouts (116).

Lake County Notes (19-24, 5^th place, 10.0 GB): With outfielder Lucas Montero being called up to Kinston, first baseman Todd Martin was activated from his rehab assignment in Winter Haven from knee surgery. In five games at Lake County, Martin is hitting .294 with 3 HR, 6 RBI, and a 1.216 OPS. ... First baseman Dustin Realini has been cleared to return to action and is currently on a rehab assignment with Mahoning Valley. Realini is expected to be activated and called back to Lake County any day. Realini was hitting .285 with 4 HR and 32 RBI when he went on the disabled list on June 25^th after suffering several broken bones around his right eye in a non-baseball accident. ... Left-hander Ryan Miller (7-6, 2.92 ERA) is still winless since May 18, a string of 12-straight winless starts after winning seven of his first eight starts. ... Left-hander Ryan Morris was sensational on Wednesday, throwing six shutout-hitless innings allowing one walk while striking out a season high eight batters. Morris is now 8-4 with a 3.66 ERA in 21 starts.

Mahoning Valley Notes (21-25, 5^th place, 8.0 GB): Catcher Michael Valadez and infielder Cord Phelps made their Mahoning Valley debuts Sunday night. In his debut, Phelps was 2-for-4 at the plate with two RBI. ... Also on Sunday, infielder Walter Diaz was promoted to Triple-A Buffalo and catcher Doug Pickens was promoted to Single-A Lake County. ... Infielder Isaias Velasquez is 9^th in the NY-Penn League in hitting (.317). ... Third baseman Jeremie Tice hit a home run to dead center estimated around 430 feet and one of the longest ever hit at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park. Tice is hitting .294 with 4 HR, 20 RBI and an .832 OPS.

GCL Indians (18-20, 4^th place, 5.0 GB) and DSL Indians Notes (31-23, 5^th place, 4.5 GB): Left-hander Chris Jones has looked very good on the mound his last two starts, going a total of 10.1 innings and allowing three runs on six hits, five walks, and ten strikeouts. I had a chance to talk to Jones and will have a feature piece on him sometime this month, and pitching coach Steve Lyons shared some thoughts on him which will be a part of an upcoming "Coaches Corner" this month. ... Third baseman Abner Abreu continues to tear it up and is hitting .296 with 7 HR, 27 RBI, and a .938 OPS in 34 games. Manager Rouglas Odor shared some thoughts on him, which should also appear in an upcoming installment of the "Coaches Corner". ... In the DSL, in our weekly "Kelvin Diaz Watch", the third baseman is hitting .317 with 5 HR, 42 RBI, and a .906 OPS in 48 games. Someday maybe his VISA issues will FINALLY be resolved so we can get this guy stateside and see what he is all about.

All photos courtesy of Carl Kline, Mahoning Valley Scrappers, Lake County Captains, Kinston Indians, Akron Aeros, Buffalo Bisons, and Cleveland Indians.

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Minor Happenings: Aubrey To Cleveland?

"Minor Happenings" covers the important developments and news in the Indians farm system. While most of the information in this report is from my own research and through interviews I have conducted with organizational personnel, some information in this report is collected and summarized from the various news outlets that cover each team.

I'll be kicking up my next round of minor league pitstops this weekend as I will be visiting Lake County twice (Sat 5/17 and Tues 5/20), go to Akron over Memorial Day weekend, and then round out the month in Buffalo on Friday May 30^th.

For those who may have missed it, I did a piece on the release process in the Indians farm system earlier this week. It is a pretty raw piece, and it gets right down to it and sort of provides an inside look at the process and what the players do after they are released. I also posted a feature piece on left-hander Chuck Lofgren last weekend.

Indians Minor League Player Of The Week
(from May 8^th through May 14^th)

Steven Wright (Right-handed Pitcher - Kinston)
1-0, 0.82 ERA, 2 starts, 8 H, 1 R, 3 BB, 8 K

Last Thursday, right-hander Steven Wright picked up his first win of the season. It was Wright's best outing of the year where he threw six shutout innings and allowed only four hits and no walks whiling striking out five. He followed that up with another very good outing on Tuesday, going five innings and allowing one run on four hits and three walks while striking out three. On the season, Wright is now 1-2 with a 2.41 ERA in seven starts.

Wright is a former 2nd round pick in the 2006 Draft out of the University of Hawaii. His good start to the season is light years better than the season he endured last year when he split time at Single-A Lake County and Kinston, going 7-9 with a 5.67 ERA in 27 combined starts between the two stops. Wright throws a low 90s fastball and compliments it with a curveball, slider and changeup. In the offseason and in spring training the Indians worked with Wright's delivery and made some minor adjustments that seem to be paying off. The biggest adjustment was his mental approach where they got him to focus less on his mechanics and more on just attacking hitters and getting his fastball located in the zone. Wright also looks a lot more confident on the mound, which is good to see.

Honorable Mentions: Ryan Mulhern, 1B, Buffalo (.524 AVG, 2 HR, 5 RBI); Michael Aubrey, 1B, Buffalo (.440 AVG, 0 HR, 2 RBI); Roman Pena, OF, Lake County (.407 AVG, 1 HR, 7 RBI); Chris Nash, 1B, Lake County (.435 AVG, 2 HR, 8 RBI); Kelvin De La Cruz, LHP, Lake County (2-0, 0.82 ERA, 9 H, 8 BB, 9 K)

Previous Winners:

5/1 to 5/7: Jeremy Sowers (LHP - Buffalo)
4/24 to 4/30: Jose Constanza (OF - Akron)
4/17 to 4/23: Hector Rondon (RHP - Kinston)
4/10 to 4/16: Wes Hodges (3B - Akron)
4/3 to 4/9: Kelvin De La Cruz (LHP - Lake County)

Director's Cuts

Indians Farm Director Ross Atkins was in Buffalo this week, and offered up some comments on the following players:

On Jeremy Sowers: "He has been very similar to how he was before when he was in the big leagues. He has been extremely consistent, he puts the ball on the plate, his command has been good, his stuff has been crisp, he has used all of his pitches, and he has been almost identical to how he was in April. He is definitely bright and extremely confident."

On Adam Miller: "His last start was the best one he has had since at least when he was in the Arizona Fall League. Certainly the best one in 2008. He was up to 95 MPH again, he was using his lower half better, and he was getting some punchouts with his slider. We were as encouraged with that last outing as we have been all year."

On Michael Aubrey: "He has picked it up since he came to this environment (Triple-A). He feels just that much closer to the major leagues, and he has really been great since he has been here. He has been good defensively, he has been running the bases hard, and he has been putting the bat on the ball as his batting average is up over .300. He has been awesome and we are fired up about him and his health. As excited as we are, I can't imagine how much fun he must be having seeing his name in the lineup for an extended period of time. He is now potentially a major league option."

Aubrey Cleveland Bound?

I got a tip last week from an informed source that Buffalo first baseman Michael Aubrey is being seriously considered for a callup to Cleveland. With the offensive woes the Indians have been going through they are looking at every alternative. With trade options limited since it is still so early in the season, the only option for the Indians is to look down on the farm for help. With Aubrey's penchant to hit for average and also make consistent contact, he would be a welcomed addition to the Cleveland roster that is filled with many guys struggling and who strike out at an alarming rate.

Also, with this being Aubrey's last option year, the Indians need to get a good look at Aubrey in Cleveland at some point this season to make a decision on him this offseason. There is no better time than now to do that as Aubrey is the healthiest he has been since he was drafted and the Indians are in desperate need of a spark offensively. Injuries have taken their toll on Aubrey physically to where he is no longer the elite prospect he was once considered to be, but even still he is a good hitter and much better defensively than Ryan Garko at first base.

In fact, don't be surprised if Aubrey is called up sometime over the weekend. With Jeremy Sowers slated to pitch tonight (Friday) and the Indians in Cincinnati, Aubrey could be called up right after the game and Sowers sent back to Buffalo (outfielder Jason Tyner was sent to Buffalo for Sowers yesterday). By optioning out Sowers for Aubrey, it would provide the Indians an extra bat off the bench for the final two inter-league games and Aubrey would essentially fill Tyner's role (except that he would play a lot more).

On the season, Aubrey is hitting .299 with 2 HR, 21 RBI and a .795 OPS in 147 combined at bats between Akron and Buffalo. In just 11 games at Buffalo, Aubrey is hitting .350 (15-for-44) with an .815 OPS. Also, first baseman Jordan Brown (patella tendonitis in left knee) is about ready to come off the disabled list, but with Aubrey and Mulhern in Buffalo there is no room for Brown at the moment. That could change real soon.

The Save Man

On the year, Akron right-handed reliever Randy Newsom is 9-for-9 in save opportunities and is 1-0 with a 1.23 ERA in 15 appearances. Combined with his 18 saves in Akron last season, Newsom now has 27 career saves at Akron which passed Mike Soper (24 saves) on the all-time list a week ago Wednesday. This is not a record that came with him sticking around at Akron for many seasons as it came in just 67 career Akron appearances, and he essentially broke the record in less than a year at Akron as he was called up from Single-A Kinston in late May last year.

Saves in the minors are usually hard to come by, as usually a team will not groom a reliever to be a closer in the majors. The reason for this is many of the top late inning candidates tend to get more work in middle relief in the 7th and 8th innings to either stretch them out or ensure that they experience more intense game situations since many times a game is decided or still in doubt in those innings. Also, since minor league relievers rarely ever throw on back-to-back days, a "closer" never really gets all the save opportunities since the main goal is to make sure all pitchers are getting their work in and no one is being over-extended.

Newsom has been untouchable since his first appearance of the season when he allowed two earned runs and walked two, but still managed to protect a four-run ninth inning lead in the game for the win (non-save). Since that game, Newsom has not allowed an earned run in 14 appearances, and has allowed just eight hits, one run, and six walks while striking out nine in 13.2 innings pitched. Going back to last season, Newsom has not blown a save opportunity since July 25th, 2007.

Choo-Train Back On Track

Outfielder Shin-Soo Choo has begun his rehab assignment at Buffalo in preparation of his return to the Cleveland Indians. The rehab assignment in Buffalo is the last step in his return from Tommy John surgery to his left elbow that he underwent last September. Near the end of spring training, Choo got some work in major league games as a designated hitter and when camp broke he stuck behind in extended spring training to continue to get in work. By the end of April, he was playing a few innings a game in the outfield and ramping up his workload to where he could play nine innings in the field every day.

Choo's bat speed is supposedly all the way back, and he is moving well in the outfield and has not had any setbacks with the elbow. The rehab assignment is more a way to get him up to game speed and to face more advanced pitching before moving on to Cleveland. It also gives the Indians an extra three weeks to sort out the options on their bench on who to option out or release when he is activated. After ten days the Indians will re-evaluate Choo, and over the coming days will have several staff members on hand to watch Choo play live.

Choo is out of options, so after his rehab assignment is complete he must be sent to Cleveland or have to be put on waivers where another team can claim him. A rehab assignment for a position player in the minors can only last for a maximum of 20 days, so by Monday June 2nd the Indians will need to make a roster decision regarding Choo.

Bauer Power

Buffalo right-handed reliever Rick Bauer has pitched a lot like TV character Jack Bauer of 24 fame by being practically invincible on the mound. On the year, Bauer is now 0-0 with 9 saves and a 0.59 ERA, and in 15.1 innings he has allowed 8 hits and 9 walks while striking out 17. Bauer has held the opposition scoreless in 14 of his 15 appearances, with the only blip coming when he pitched two innings on April 21st and gave up a run on two hits and a walk. The two inning outing on April 21st is the only time this season he has been extended for more than an inning. With Buffalo at 18-23, Bauer has saved half of their wins, and his nine saves are ranked second in the 14-team International League.

Bauer has some major league experience, as he has pitched in five different seasons in the big leagues from 2001-2006 and has an 11-14 record with an ERA of 4.34 in 183 career appearances. The closer's role is new for Bauer as he has never pitched in the role before, but he was thrust into it because right-hander Eddie Mujica has been struggling this season. He has adapted well to the role and along with throwing strikes he has shown a fearless approach on the mound where he goes right after and attacks every hitter.

If the Indians ever decide to dip into the minor league pool to callup a reliever not named Tom Mastny, right-hander Rick Bauer may be that guy. Being that Bauer is not on the 40-man roster, his contract would first have to be purchased, but that is merely a minute detail as if Bauer continues to pitch as he has he is going to get a shot in the Cleveland bullpen or with another major league team at some point this season.

No Hitting For Lofgren

Many people probably do not know this, but Akron left-hander Chuck Lofgren was a very good hitter in high school. When he first signed with the Indians after being drafted in 2004 he had a clause in his contract that called for him to get regular at bats even though he was a pitcher. It was one of the sticking points to get him signed out of high school, and the Indians eventually obliged where they had him in the lineup as the designated hitter every fourth day.

This arrangement ended up only lasting for ten at bats (14 games). Why the quick change? Well, after a nasty collision on a play at the plate, Indians front office personnel put a stop to the hitting charade quickly.

"I had a base hit and got to second base on a wild pitch," recalled Lofgren in a recent interview at Canal Park. "Chad Longworth was up to bat and he had a single to right field and Burlington third base coach Rouglas Odor was rounding me home. As I was rounding home I saw the catcher get the ball like five feet away from me. I knew I couldn't slide because I would have been out, so I tried to be safe by taking him out and I came up a little too early and my tooth went right through my lip. So I went into the dugout and my mouth was bleeding, and the trainer Teddy Blackwell had me swish water out of my mouth and it was coming out of the hole in my lip, so it didn't feel too good. John Farrell called me the next day and said you are not going to be hitting anymore."

Smith Looking Sharp

Kinston right-handed sinkerballer Carlton Smith was outstanding in his last start on Saturday. Smith wound up going seven shutout innings allowing just three hits and one walk while striking out three. In all he faced only two over the minimum and threw only 89 pitches on the night. This was easily his best performance of the year so far, which is good to see since he had mostly struggled in his six previous starts.

Smith was consistent all night, pounded the zone, and pitched to contact. His pitch mix was very good as he threw mostly sinkers to induce contact, but kept hitters honest by mixing in his changeup, slider and split-finger. His secondary stuff really setup his sinker well, as it allowed him to mix speeds and change the eye level of the ball while his sinker was staying down in the zone. On the year, Smith is now 1-1 with a 4.97 ERA although he has arguably performed better than his numbers indicate. In seven starts he has allowed 21 earned runs, but 17 of those earned runs have come in four innings, whereas he has only allowed four earned runs in the other 34 innings.

Top Captain

Lake County outfielder Matt Brown is having a good season, and he has been the team's best and most consistent offensive performer through the first six weeks of the season. Brown, a 23-year-old Oklahoma native, is hitting .302 with 3 HR, 26 RBI and a .788 OPS, and currently ranks 8^th in the South Atlantic League in RBI.

The batting average has slid some over the past few weeks where after a sizzling April where he hit .326 with an .835 OPS in May he is hitting .243 with a .673 OPS. Still, Brown is one of the most focused players in the Indians system, and that focus has helped pave the way to his success early on this season. He has good tools across the board, and he could develop into a prototype right fielder if his bat starts to show more thunder down the road. He is already gifted with a cannon for an arm. Brown was an outstanding pitcher in high school and threw 92 MPH, and that arm strength has translated well to the outfield.

Frank The Tank

Akron right-handed starter Frank Herrmann continues to show that he is a good pitching prospect in the Indians system. In his last start a week ago Thursday, Herrmann went seven shutout innings and held the opposition to two hits and two walks while striking out three. It was his best performance of the year as he did not allow a hit over his final four innings and only two runners reached second base while no one ever reached third base, and at one point he retired eight in a row in the game. On the year, Herrmann is now 4-2 with a 3.54 ERA in seven starts.

Sure, Herrmann may lack much in terms of stuff, but he throws a low 90s sinker, throws strikes, attacks hitters, is durable, and has shown to be an innings eater. The key to his success is his bulldog mentality and his intelligence in coming up with a good game plan to attack hitters. As soon as next season, Herrmann could enter into the mix for the Indians as a "depth option" in the starting rotation. If Herrmann is able to develop more consistency with his secondary pitches (slider and changeup), he could become a solid middle of the rotation pitcher in the big leagues.

Tseng Regroups In Kinston

After starting the year 0-0 with an 8.80 ERA in nine appearances at Akron, right-hander Sung-Wei Tseng was re-assigned to Kinston last week to get his mechanics straightened out. Upon Tseng's return, Kinston pitching coach Greg Hibbard found a flaw in Tseng's mechanics which may be affecting his velocity. After watching Tseng's first two appearances out of the bullpen in Kinston, Hibbard found that Tseng was rushing through his delivery which was causing him to leave his arm behind his body. Because of this, it was affecting Tseng's velocity.

Hibbard has never worked with Tseng before, so to better acclimate himself with Tseng, Hibbard is watching video of Tseng from last season so he can better understand Tseng's mechanics. While Tseng has had some problems on the mound, he has had better luck of late off it. Tseng still requires a translator when speaking to people, but he has improved his communication skills greatly since last season and is adapting well to the English language. Supposedly, Tseng has been helped in his quest to learn English by the movie I Am Legend where he watched the movie with Chinese subtitles.

Chaves Fills Utility Void

Akron infielder Brandon Chaves is a tall and lanky middle infielder at 6'3" 181 pounds who was drafted in the 10th round of the 2000 Draft out of the University of Hawaii-Hiloby by the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Indians signed him as a minor league free agent this offseason to fill a gap in the system in the middle infield and to date he is hitting .189 with 1 HR, 5 RBI and a .582 OPS. Prior to joining the Indians, Chaves spent eight years in the Pittsburgh organization reaching as high as Double-A Altoona and hit .237 with 16 HR, 276 RBI and 65 stolen bases in 770 career games.

Chaves, a native of Hilo, Hawaii, has limited upside to where he will probably never be a major league baseball player; however, even players with such a limited future can still be valuable to an organization. Since the Indians have so few options in the middle infield in the upper minors, they went out this past offseason and signed several minor league free agents to fill infield spots at Buffalo and Akron. Chaves was one of them, and he was signed with the idea that he could be a utility player at Akron playing third base and second base. Chaves has also been playing some outfield as injuries to outfielders Trevor Crowe and Stephen Head have left the Akron outfield thin at times and he has filled in as needed well.

The 2008 Draft

The 2008 First-Year Player Draft is coming up on June 5th. The Indians have the 29th pick in the 1st round as a result of their MLB-best equaling record of 96-66 last season. They will select 76th in the 2nd round, 107th in the 3rd round, 141st in the 4th round, and then will have a selection every 30 picks thereafter. The Indians do not own any free agent compensation picks, nor did they lose any selections as a result of an off-season free agent signing.

Our man Dennis Nosco will be all over the draft this year, so be on the lookout for some draft stuff from him as it nears. There is no specific area the Indians are likely to address early in the draft, but they may look at finding some middle infield talent in the first few rounds.

Affiliate Notebook

Buffalo Notes (18-23, 4^th place): Right-hander Adam Miller threw five shutout innings last Friday, scattering three hits and two walks while striking out four. At one point in the game Miller retired nine in a row, and it easily was his best outing so far of the season. In five starts this year, Miller is now 0-1 with a 2.28 ERA. ... Last Thursday, right-hander Brian Slocum pitched 5.2 scoreless innings and scattered four hits and a walk while striking out eight. On the season, Slocum is 3-2 with a 4.17 ERA in eight starts. ... On Monday, left-hander Jeremy Sowers was lifted after 58 pitches in order to keep him rested for a spot start for the Indians against Cincinnati on Friday. ... Outfielder Jason Cooper's mammoth home run to right field on Tuesday night was his third on the season and his 43rd as a Bison. The home run puts Cooper 8th on the Buffalo career home run list and is two shy of 7th place Torey Lovullo. On the season, Cooper is hitting .237 with 3 HR, 16 RBI and a .799 OPS. ... On Sunday, outfielder Jason Tyner was called up to Cleveland. When Tyner was called up, he was hitting .370 in May and was in the midst of a 10-game hitting streak. Right-handed reliever Tom Mastny was returned to Buffalo. ... Infielder Josh Barfield has a 12-game hit streak and is hitting .250 with 4 HR, 14 RBI and a .671 OPS on the season. ... With 11 hits in his last 21 at bats, first baseman Ryan Mulhern has raised his average 63 points in five games from .187 to .250. ... Catcher Dave Wallace has been traded to the Washington Nationals for a player to be named later.

Akron Notes (17-20, 4^th place): On Thursday, Akron won 1-0 but the win was preserved with an outstanding play by right fielder Ryan Goleski. With one out in the 9th and the tying run on second, the opposition tried to score on a hit to right field but Goleski threw a seed from medium right field and gunned down the runner at the plate. Catcher Armando Camacaro also made a great block on the play and held onto the ball after a collision at the plate. ... As of Wednesday, Akron has played sparingly in the last week thanks to Mother Nature. They had a scheduled off day on Monday, and their games on Sunday, Tuesday and Wednesday were all rained out. ... Out of 12 teams in the Eastern League, Akron is 8^th in the league in team ERA (4.51) and 11^th in team batting average (.248). ... Third baseman Wes Hodges is hitting .277 with 7 HR, 32 RBI, and an .820 OPS. ... Shortstop Josh Rodriguez is hitting .254 with 2 HR, 12 RBI, and a .667 OPS. ... Left-hander David Huff is 3-1 with a 2.14 ERA in eight starts, and in 46.1 innings has allowed only 29 hits and 11 walks while striking out 43.

Kinston Notes (15-21, 4^th place): Right-hander Joanniel Montero has been called back up to Kinston after making a spot start for Low-A Lake County. He has taken the roster spot of left-hander Heath Taylor who was put on the disabled list with elbow problems. ... Montero has also replaced right-hander Paolo Espino in the starting rotation. Espino struggled in six starts going 0-2 with an 8.78 ERA, and will now pitch out of the bullpen. ... On Monday, right-hander Josh Tomlin made a spot start and went 4.2 innings and allowed a run on two and struck out three. Tomlin was filling in for right-hander Paolo Espino who has been demoted to the bullpen. ... Right-handed closer Luis Perdomo gave up his first runs of the season on Wednesday night when he blew a save opportunity in the ninth inning and allowed two runs on three hits. Coming into the game, Perdomo had gone 15 straight appearances and 21 innings to start the season without giving up an earned run. On the season, Perdomo is now 1-1 with 8 saves and a 0.82 ERA. ... Outfielder Johnny Drennen returned from the disabled list last Thursday. In his first game back he went 1-for-4 and extended his on-base streak to 21 consecutive games and 31 overall when the last ten games of 2007 are included. The streak came to a halt on Friday when he failed to reach base. On the year, Drennen is hitting .298 with 0 HR, 4 RBI, and a .756 OPS. ... Last Thursday, infielder Todd Martin was put on the disabled list with hamstring problems and left-handed reliever Matt Meyer was activated from it. ... Right-hander Mike Pontius had a rough first outing at Kinston last Thursday. After being promoted last Wednesday from Lake County when he threw 21.1 scoreless innings in nine appearances, Pontius was hammered in his Carolina League debut going only two thirds of an inning and allowing three runs on three hits and three walks. Things were much better his second outing as he went pitched two shutout innings on Monday.

Lake County Notes (25-14, 1^st place): Last Friday, left-hander Kelvin De La Cruz was effectively wild as he pitched five innings and allowed only one run on four hits, but he walked five and struck out four. On the year, De La Cruz is 3-2 with a 1.77 ERA in eight starts. ... Left-hander Ryan Morris continues to roll along. On Saturday, Morris pitched five scoreless innings and allowed three hits, walked four and struck out five. On the year, in seven starts Morris is now 5-0 with a 2.45 ERA. ... Infielder Ronald Rivas was activated from extended spring training and assigned to Lake County this past Saturday. Infielder Jansy Infante was reassigned to extended spring training, and at Lake County was hitting .083 (3-for-36). ... On Sunday, right-hander Chris Archer continued his struggles with his control on the mound. He went 4.1 innings and allowed seven runs on only three hits, but he walked six. On the season Archer is now 1-5 with a 4.71 ERA, and is leading the South Atlantic League in walks allowed (35). ... On Tuesday, right-hander Joey Mahalic was activated from extended spring training and made a spot start for Lake County. Mahalic went five innings and gave up three runs on seven hits and did not walk a batter while striking out five. ... With Mahalic being added to the roster, right-hander Santo Frias was assigned to extended spring training. Frias was 1-1 with a 6.94 ERA in five starts. ... Right-handed reliever Kyle Landis has not allowed a run in his last ten innings and only five hits and no walks with 16 strikeouts. In ten appearances, Landis is 0-1 with a 2.66 ERA and in 20.1 innings has allowed 17 hits and 10 walks while striking out 27. ... Indians starting pitcher Jake Westbrook and reliever Joe Borowski will be in Lake County over the weekend. Westbrook is scheduled to make a rehab start this coming Saturday May 17th, and Borowski is expected to start and pitch one inning on Monday May 19th.

Photos courtesy of Carl Kline, Lake County Captains, Kinston Indians, Akron Aeros, and Buffalo Bisons

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