Win a Series, Gain some Momentum

The Indians won their second series of the year Wednesday, beating the Chicago White Sox 4-0. Cliff Lee look superb again (7 IP, 0 ER, 9 K's), and the long ball returned with Victor Martinez and Ryan Garko both going deep. It was a good team win, but the Tribe needs to put some back to back wins together if they want to ever even consider rejoining the race for the AL Central. GM Mark Shapiro had a impromptu press conference before Tuesdays' game and pretty much said more roster changes are imminent and that he is putting his full support behind Eric Wedge. No surprise pertaining to the manager, but it will be interesting to see what other moves are going to be made.

Apparently, the addition of Luis Vizcaino is close to happening, so a pitcher will need to be jettisoned off the roster. The PD believes it to be Masa Kobayashi, but Castroturf said he was on the plane to Tampa. If Kobayashi has lived to see another day, look for Herges, Sipp, or Sowers to get the ticket back to Columbus. If it is Sowers (WTAM Mark Schwab said on STO that Sowers was talking to the travel guy after the game), look for Aaron Laffey to possibly return to the rotation or David Huff possibly making his Major League Debut Sunday.

As for the offense, Victor Martinez continues to rake, Grady has continued to slump at the plate and on the basepaths (5-11 SB's) and Matt LaPorta actually got some playing time (2-5, double, 2 walks in the last 2 games). The Tribe heads to Tampa for a four game series against the Rays. Let's push for another series win, this team need all the momentum they can get.

Down on the Farm Report: Carlos Santana

When Casey Blake was traded to the Dodgers last July, most fans had no idea who the prospects were the Indians received for their former grinder. John Meloan was one half of the deal, a hard throwing bullpen arm. The other has turned into the by most prospect publications the number 1 prospect in the organization; catcher Carlos Santana. Most fans have heard of Santana by now, as he got to play in a few games with the Tribe in Spring Training and has been heavily talked about and mentioned. Here is what some in baseball have to say about the "smooth" switch hitter...

Comment from Ross Atkins, Indians director of player development: "Carlos is extremely gifted offensively. He has a lot of bat speed and he's disciplined. Defensively, he has above average skills when it comes to catching and throwing. He still needs to refine his receiving skills, his game calling ability and his ability to lead a pitching staff."

John Sickles of Minorleagueball.com: "...he's continued to produce power and terrific strike zone judgment while transitioning to Double-A.. I'm not sure he gets as much attention as he deserves: he's an excellent prospect, and will battle Buster Posey for "best catching prospect" plaudits once Matt Wieters graduates to the majors."

Mark Shapiro on catcher Carlos Santana's throwing ability: "He's as gifted throwing as any guy I've ever seen outside of Pudge [Ivan Rodriguez] early in his career."

Pretty high praise for the young 23 year old Dominican. He seems to be developing into a pretty good receiver, while showing a cannon for an arm. Santana's leadership behind the dish has help lead to success for Akron as through May 12th the team had posted a combined 2.81 ERA, with the starting staff of Hector Rondon (29 IP, 1.24 ERA), Frank Herrmann (30 1/3 IP, 2.97 ERA) Chuck Lofgren (27 IP, 1.33 ERA) and Jeanmar Gomez (12 IP, 0.75 ERA) throwing lights out.

But what will eventually get him to Cleveland will be his bat, and he has been raking down in Akron again this season hitting .273 with a .416 OBP, .534 SLG and .950 OPS. Those are great numbers as he has demonstrated his keen eye of the strike zone while being pitched around in the middle of the Aero lineup (22 Walks to 15 K's). His 6 Home Runs and 22 RBI are amongst the leaders in the Eastern League as well. It will be interesting to see when young Carlos breaks in with the big league club, with Victor Martinez's 2011 free agent year looming. Santana's swing switch hitting swing is reminiscent of V-Marts', while sporting his #41 jersey behind the dish at Canal Park. Hopefully this Tribe phenom, he will have to choose a different numeral when he gets the call up to Cleveland while his mentor mans the bag over at first.

Note: from Stephanie Storm of the Akron Beacon Journal May 14th: In the fifth, the Aeros’ Carlos Santana left with right forearm tightness. Aeros manager Mike Sarbaugh said after the game removing Santana was precautionary and that he’s day-to-day for now.

Hopefully he will be fine, but the way 2009 has went so far, you never know.

Hector Rondon moved to the Bullpen

Tony Lastoria of Indians Prospect Insider has reported that Indians phenom Hector Rondon (pictured left) has been moved to the Akron bullpen (supposed to start today) and may be moved up to Cleveland shortly. With Jenmar Gomez poised to take over the young latin ace roll for the Aeros, maybe the Tribe has decide to move their top arms through the system more quickly. This is a huge decision by Tribe brass as Rondon looks to be the highest upside potential pitching-wise in the organization. Does that mean they will move Laffey back into the rotation? Will Rondon be a late inning or multiple innings reliever? Why move your best pitching prospect into the pen when you are 9 games under .500 and your other starting pitchers aren't very good (Reyes, Sowers, Pavano). This is a move that will be scrutinized for years to come and be compared to when they moved Fausto Carmona to relief work back in 2006. I am sure Tony and Castroturf will have much more on this soon. I also wouldn't be surprised to see Shapiro in the booth tonight to discuss all of the lineup and various roster shuffling.


Update: Rondon did not fare to well in his relief debut, pitching 2 innings, allowing 6 hits, 3 runs (2 earned) 1 walk and 2 K's. Not a good start.

Carroll back up, Barfield sent down

If you are Josh Barfield, you have to be pretty annoyed. You go 3-3 in limited pinch hitting duty and then are promptly sent down a week and a half later. Jamey Carroll makes his triumphant return to the Wigwam tonight, and probably will be in the lineup. Carroll is a good solid utility guy, but hopefully the "stubborn" Wedge lets him play only 1-2 times a week. The teams' future second baseman is already on the roster (Valbuena), so any time he spends on the bench besides against a tough lefty is time wasted. Everyone's favorite Italian David Dellucci has lived to see another day in Cleveland, even though he is 1 for his last 20. At this point in his career, Double D is a pinch hitter at best. With the Tribe carrying 12 pitchers and a bunch of question marks around the diamond, Dellucci will hopefully ride the pine until Hafner comes back.. His inevitable release (along with Kobayashi's) adds to the list of broken down veterans signed to bad contracts that the Indians waited way too long to release (see Jason Johnson, Jason Michaels, Roberto Hernandez, etc.) Then we will see if Shapiro has the wherewithal to cut bait with one of his biggest contract mistakes.

Sweeping a "Fire" Under the Bus

You just knew going into the 9th of today's game that the Tribe would get runners on base and flirt with victory. Then you realized they have teased us fans all year with a season-changing comeback or a last at bat win. As Choo flew out to end the game, I wondered to myself how long can a team find new ways to lose? Apparently many, as the Indians were swept away by the Tigers, scoring a total of 3 runs in 3 games. Random angry thoughts from a frustrated fan...

• Moves I would make to the roster today... Cut Kobayashi and Dellucci (why is he still playing, we all know that he sucks). Bring in Vizcaino (which will probably happen soon) and call up Jordan Brown/Michael Aubrey and make them your left handed bat off of the bench. Dellucci is a train wreck and there is no room for a team that is 10 games under .500 to even have a roster spot for a 35 year old washed up can't bunt can't field can't hit outfielder.


• Lineup changes I would make... Just move Peralta to third and get it over with. He is eventually going to play there next year and the defense is infinitely better with Cabrera playing short (see Friday's game). Let Valbuena play everyday as he has a flair about him and will get better as he plays more (Friday's game not withstanding). Move DeRosa to the outfield and hope he gets his bat going.


• LaPorta should be playing everyday and it inexcusable that he did not play in one game against Detroit. He is accruing service time and not gaining any experience riding the pine. That is a huge blunder by Wedge.


• Have Shoppach only play twice a week. His swing and plate discipline is a joke right now. Let him catch Lee and occasionally someone else. It's all or nothing with him. Give the other at bats to Garko, he at least usually gets on base.


• New lineup... Sizemore-Cabrera-Martinez-Choo-Garko-DeRosa-Peralta-LaPorta-Valbuena


• Still looks pretty crappy, but at least it shows some promise at the end. Francisco and Shoppach are strike out machines.


• I am done hearing Grady is not a vocal leader. He needs to man up, kick a cooler, yell at some team mates and help will this team to victory. Sizemore is not a young kid anymore.


• Wedge may not be the reason the bullpen blows or the team goes into hitting funks, but a club tends to take on the personality of it's manager. Here are Victor's quotes from after the game today...

"It's not Wedge's fault," he said. "I take all the blame, we take all the blame."
In case you missed it, Martinez does not think it's Wedge's fault, which means he does not think Wedge should be jettisoned.
"He's not the one playing," Martinez said. "I don't see any reason why he should pay for this."
Asked what is missing from the 2009 edition, Martinez said: "Energy and, you know, the fire, the fire to play this game."
As to why that would be, Martinez said: "Sometimes we get down on ourselves. We're really trying to do too much at one time. You can't get five hits in one at-bat. You can't get three homers in one at-bat. You have to take it pitch by pitch, at-bat by at-bat."

• Isn't it the role of a manager to help promote passion and intensity to help bring a team together? If the manager is relaxed and calm when the results are abysmal, the players may follow suit. It is nice to see Victor defending his skipper, but his comments kind of throw him under the bus. That "Fire" isn't going to come from a player's only meeting. That "Fire" isn't going to come when you can't get a sac bunt down in the 7th inning or when you miss a cut off. That "Fire" isn't going to show up when have got on base once to leadoff a game all season. The only way to catch the "Fire" is to play good, fundamental baseball, create scoring opportunities, pitch with confidence, and have fun for once. Do we really need to bring back this guy or do this after every win to loosen the team up?


• Whether it's bullpen coach Chuck Hernandez (who knows what he does anyways), or the Wedge-clone, hitting coach Derek Shelton, the demeanor, approach, and results of the players these men are supposed to have an impact on are well below acceptable. One or both should be canned just to let these guys here some sort of new voice.

I have a few theories concerning why the lineup looks so out of whack and have narrowed it down to these two main spokes in the bicycle in the Tour De Tribe.

Travis Hafner going on the DL was really no shock to anyone, but I didn't think the team would miss him as much as they have. The team is 3-8 since the last game he played in and are devoid of a true cleanup hitter. Who knows if Pronk will ever stay healthy for an extended time, but the mere presence of his bat in the lineup lengthened its productivity. Choo is not a cleanup guy at all and may hinder his maturation. Here is what the cleanup hole has produced in those 11 games...

Choo: (8-35, 2 extra base hits) .229 batting average .341 on base percentage .415 slugging percentage .756 OPS 0 Homeruns and 5 RBI.

DeRosa: (1-8, 0 extra base hits) .125 batting average .125 on base percentage .125 slugging percentage .250 OPS O Homeruns and 0 RBI. Combine the two and here is the production out of the cleanup spot over the past 11 games...

4 hole: .209 batting average .306 on base percentage .367 slugging percentage .673 OPS.

With all the blame going to the bullpen, the cleanup spots' production has been well below average and a glaring hole to fill. Another guy is equally to blame for the teams' struggles.

Grady Sizemore might be hurt. I went to the game April 26th when he collided pretty hard with Trevor Crowe. Grady got up pretty slowly and took a few moments to regroup himself. He obviously looks fine in the outfield and on the basepaths, but maybe he hurt a shoulder-wrist-elbow during the play and hasn't told anyone or the team is hiding the ailment. We all know how the Indians love to hide injuries as we learned straight from the skipper (See Tribe Town Hall Meeting Part 2 for Wedge's answer)in January. Grady is also a gamer and would be the last to make any excuses. Here is some quick numbers for Grady.

Up until April 26th season stats... .269 batting average .367 on base percentage, .564 slugging percentage, .931 OPS.

After April 26th season stats... .227 batting average .313 on base percentage, .424 slugging percentage, .737 OPS.

Over his past 12 games... (April 27-May 10) .167 batting average ..237 on base percentage, .288 slugging percentage, .525 OPS. Team Record (including game he had off) 4-9.

These stats are significantly terrible, even for a struggling Grady. Is he hurt or just in a slump? I know he almost took Verlander yard in the 9th Friday, but his swing is looking longer and his plate discipline has gone completely array. Time will tell. Sizemore and Hafner are two of the most important parts of this lineup (including Martinez). As they go, so does the team.

The best thing about a team playing bad is that tomorrow is another day and yet another potential way to right the ship. The White Sox come to town and hopefully the whole Tribe will decide to show up for once.

New Bullpen Arm?

The Red Sox designated left hander Javier Lopez for assignment Sunday, and I imagine the Indians will be one of the first teams to give him a call or put a claim on him. Lopez has been really bad in 2009, posting a 9.26 ERA in 11 2/3 innings, striking out 5 while walking 9. This may be a great reclamation project for the Tribe to go along with the impending addition of Luis Vizcaino. Maybe a change a scenery is all he needs. Lopez was a great match up lefty last year, posting a 2.43 ERA in 70 appearances. Javier could also just be another gas can to add to the fire. At this point, can he really be any worse than what they already have?

Welcome to the Team

We are proud to announce a new addition to Tribe Times, veteran baseball aficionado Jeff Martinelli. He has been added to our Columbus bureau (now standing at one member) and will focus his writing stylings primarily on Down on the Farm Reports, Clipper Clips, and general transaction updates. Jeff brings 30 years of life experience to the site, along with his uncanny ability to tell the blunt truth. Marty also played high school sports, which immediately adds much needed credibility to the Indians-centric blogosphere world wide. He is single, ladies, so make sure to comment on all of his posts with your measurements and phone number. Here's to you, Pick, and by the way, put a shirt on in your facebook photo.

Tribe signs Luis Vizcaino

The Indians' today signed veteran right hander Luis Vizcaino to a minor league deal. Will he be another potential gas can or a guy the club can actually count on? The 34 year old journeyman reliever posted a 5.28 ERA in 43 appearances as a Colorado Rockie last year. He was acquired this year by the Cubs and pitched 3 2/3 innings of scoreless baseball. Apparently he ticked of Lou Pinella for showing up late to the first two games of the season and showed up to spring training late and overweight. As long as he makes it to the pen by the 5th inning and gets batters out, sleep in that extra hour Louie and eat a breakfast burrito. He is owed $4 million by the Cubs for 2009, so I imagine he signed a veteran minimum contract with the Tribe. Vizcaino has had success in the past and throws pretty hard. I imagine he can't be any worse than what is getting thrown out there day in and day out.

Let's Blow this thing up

12 runs in an inning before even registering an out with a Boston lineup consisting of Rocco Baldelli, Jeff Bailey, Nick Green and George Kottaras is pathetic. Jeremy Sowers is a jobber and better be on a short leash as I would rather see David Huff get a shot as we pretty all much know what we have in Sowers. The bullpen is a disaster. Masa Kobayashi is down right embarrassing and should be cut today. Why is it so hard to find pitcher to pitch one inning? The organization has done a terrible job home growing their own relievers, deciding rather to turn every good arm into a starter. Teams like Red Sox and Angels seem to always have internal options to go to in their minors for relief work. The Tribe would rather go with journeyman stiffs like Vinnie Chulk and Matt Herges. I have no idea what they should do to make the situation tolerable in the late innings. They are making the decision now to turn starters in AA and A ball into relievers (Herrmann in Columbus, Putnam in Akron), but it probably is too late for 2009. The bullpen of agony has done some good deeds for their team mates, masking the hitting struggles of Mark DeRosa, Jhonny Peralta, and Grady Sizemore. The trio has performed well below expectations and need to right their respective ships quickly or the season will be officially lost for good. Our Indian summer may be ruined. I guess it can't get any worse.

Down on the Farm Report: Zach Putnam

With all of the transactions concerning the bullpen being made at the Major League level yesterday, an interesting move was made in Akron. As reported at Indians Prospect Insider, 2008 5th round pick Zach Putnam was called up from Kinston to pitch in the Aeros bullpen. He was previously starting for the Little Indians, going 2-0 with a 4.13 ERA in 24 innings where he struck out 23 batters while only walking 5. The University of Michigan Wolverine is on the fast track to the bigs as he tops his fastball out at 96 MPH, along with a slider and a solid splitter that can be used as a changeup.

The 6-foot-2-inch, 215-pound Putnam became the first in conference history to earn two spots on the All-Big Ten team, earning recognition as a pitcher and designated hitter his last two seasons in college. He was also Big Ten Pitcher of the Year, going 9-0 in 12 starts with a 2.58 ERA in his junior year. Over three seasons, he was 23-7 in 36 starts with a 3.12 ERA. He was also a tremendous hitter in college as well. Putnam hit .307 with 11 home runs and 51 RBIs in 55 games. He was a career .307 hitter with 19 home runs and 114 RBIs in 132 games.
He helped Michigan win the Big Ten title in each of his three seasons and play in the NCAA Tournament each year. Maybe they could use him to pinch hit for Peralta!

In 2008, Putnam threw 9 2/3 innings in Mahoning Valley, striking out 8 while posting a 3.72 ERA. It shows how much the right hander is progressing to totally skip Lake County and only spend a month in Kinston. It will be interesting to see where his maturation goes as Double A will definitely be a test. With really no hope in Columbus right now in the pen, Putnam may be on the fast track to Cleveland sometime in 2009 after only one year out of college.

Chulkamania no longer, Sowers to start Thursday

Another body has been jettisoned off the Cleveland Indians roster, as Reliever Vinnie Chulk has been designated for assignment. The Chulkster had a respectable 3.75 ERA, but walked 10 batters in 12 innings and let a whole bunch of inherited runners score. Ole' Red Beard will need to clear waivers to stay with the team, so who knows with the state of relief pitching in the league this year if he will be in Columbus. Back to Cleveland as earlier reported is Jeremy Sowers. This is probably his last shot at pitching in the big leagues with the Tribe, as his 12-19 career record and 5.14 ERA in 3 seasons as an Indians is less than stellar. It is important game Thursday for Sowers and his club as they look to get something good going. The 9-2 victory Wednesday was the first in awhile where all facets of the ballclub did well (Starters Relievers, Hitting). Unfortunately Tim Wakefield is the opposing pitcher, so it will be tough. The knuckleballer dominated the Tribe last Monday, but hopefully that tricky pitch will run flat.

Perez sent packing, Herges recalled, Laffey to the Pen

After the implosion of monumental proportions happened Tuesday, heads were bound to roll. Rafael Perez has been epically bad, posting a 15.19 ERA in 13 games. This is probably what is best for Raffy, because he sure wasn't able to figure out his issues at the big league level. Paul Cousineau over at the DiaTribe thinks Columbus pitching coach Scott Radinsky may just be the man to straighten out the lean lefty. Now added to the Bullpen of Propane is 39 year old Matt Herges (pictured left) and his 5.40 ERA and 4 saves accumulated down in Triple A. He has 537 career major league appearances, so maybe he can help calm down his new relief mates (don't hold your breath).

Also, Aaron Laffey is being transitioned into the bullpen making way for the return of Jeremy Sowers. Sowers pitched well like he always does in Triple A, stuckout 22 batters in 24 innings while posting a 2.25 ERA. It remains to be seen if he can figure it out at the major league level. He needs to demonstrate a wide enough gap between his fastball and change-up (including arm angle) to get guys out. It is very interesting that Wedge chose to move Laffey into the pen. Apparently young Aaron is best suited for his new role because he gets a lot of ground ball outs and can get warmed up very past. Apparently Laffey had no idea about the move until today but was willing to do what was best for the team. Wedge and company have screwed with him a bunch this season so it will be interesting to see how he reacts as he has pitched very well this season. The Tribe needs somebody to get outs after the 6th inning, so we shall see. I don't see it being a permanent move for the young lefty, but more of a move out of necessity.

Two ways to go

If there were ever a game to jump start some sort of sustained winning streak, today's game would be it. It was excruciating to watch, you never felt comfortable with any lead, and you figured the Indians would somehow blow it in the end. Well, the Tribe won Monday, but it is tough to feel good about it. How should we look at it?

Cons

One reliable bullpen member crapped the bed (Wood) another looks downright lost (Perez), and one final member came in with the winning run at the plate who has yielded 6 homeruns in 25 games. Also, your offense was no hit for 6 1/3 innings by a junkball lefty who normally pitches in middle relief. Your uninterested shortstop (Peralta) seems to be swinging a pool cue instead of a Louisville Slugger. Your key offseason infield acquisition (DeRosa) boots the ball more than Aaron Boone. Lastly, your superstar centerfielder seems to be unable to get a big hit with runners in scoring position to save his life (we all know who).

Pros

Starting pitching was solid (Carmona). Rookie reliever pitching great (Sipp). Rookie stud outfielder tied the game with a bomb (LaPorta) Were able to tie the game with 2 outs in the bottom of the ninth with 2 strikes (Cabrera). Pinch hitters/late inning replacements came up clutch (Dellucci/Barfield). Struggling reliever saved the game with winning run up and one out (Lewis again). Never gave up.

Time will tell us if this game made any difference in the 2009 season. They could go out tomorrow and lose ugly. I will give it the Indians, when they win (and it has not been often) they do it in exciting fashion. Let's just hope it isn't a once every three day occurrence.

LaPorta, Valbuena, Barfield called up, Crowe, Graffanino sent down, Smith to DL. Holy Crap!

I am thoroughly shocked by this news. For an organization that usually waits too long to shake up a club and call up rookies, they did the complete opposite. Recent acquisitions Matt LaPorta (.333 avg, .414 obp, 1.054 OPS in Columbus), and Luis Valbuena (.321 avg, .436 obp, .975 ops) are two potential keys to the Tribe's future and will probably see a bit of playing time over the next 2 weeks. LaPorta, the key player acquired in the CC Sabathia trade, will platoon at DH and in left. Valbuena, the young infielder brought here from Seattle in the Franklin Gutierrez deal, will take the role as a super utility guy able to play second, shortstop and third. With all of the Super 2 talk with LaPorta, I am very surprised, but not shocked. This may just be a few week audition for him as if he struggles, he can go back down and still stay under the service time threshold. Barfield will fill in as a pinch runner, late inning defensive replacement who will be eventually be sent down again when Jamey Carroll gets healthy.

Trevor Crowe struggled a bit in his first taste of the big leagues, hitting .182 in 33 at bats but displayed solid glove work and speed. He still looks outmatched at the plate, so playing everyday in Columbus will be a positive. Graffanino on the other hand was terrible, batting .130 in 23 at bats. Friday may have been the last day of major league ball for Tony, and he should be proud of his solid career. Joe Smith was a bit of a surprised, but his 7.11 era may have been a strong indicator. He didn't throw a whole lot in Spring Training so the Indians will ease him back to the pen. As for the relief corps, it now stands at Kobayashi, Perez, Chulk, Sipp, Lewis, Betancourt and Wood. Besides, Wood and Sipp (3 IP) the rest looks pretty scary. There is not much more down in Triple A to help so look for a possible trade or a guy from Double A shooting on up to the show (Pestano, maybe even Hector Rondon?). Hmmm.

Not to say I called the players who should be called up yesterday and they were, but someone has to pat themselves on the back. It might as well be me.

All of Ohio is a Winner

Quick game recaps from the Minor League affiliates of the Indians today as all 4 Ohio teams won. Many stars of the game for each team so let's get right into it...

Indians win 6-5 over the Tigers

A win is a win, even though my heart was pounding out of my chest, which is very unnecessary for a May 1st game. Maybe The Tribe just needed to get through that pesky month of April, put their crappy performances behind them, and move forward. Let's forget Jensen Lewis meltdown and slow bus trip to Columbus (along with Perez) and focus on the positive. Saturday may be a pretty exciting day for some Major League Debuts.

• Carl Pavano: 7 1/3 IP, 2 ER 5 Hits, 0 Walks, 3 K's. Hot Carl pitched a gem, making his longest start since 2005. Pavano commanded his pitches and was able to keep his stuff low in the zone. I believe he will be up and down all year, but I think he may be better than I think as his best buddy on the team (Cliff Lee) may be a good positive influence on him. He also could get bombed for 9 runs against Red Sox next week. What do I know (see below)
  
• David Dellucci: 4-5, 2 doubles. Double D came back with a bang. If as the DiaTribe refers to him as (the Looch) can be a positive bat off the bench and fill in for injuries, he may be able to salvage his Tribe career. One game does not make a season, so I will watch with cautious optimism. Give Davey some credit, but hold the applause until mid June.


• Jhonny Peralta: 2-5, HR, 2RBI. Jhonny woke up today and stopped over thinking at the plate. It's May so Peralta is happy April is over.


• Kerry Wood: Picked up his 5th save in 5 save opportunities. Went 1,2,3 and threw some wicked sliders and curves. They had a great gameplan against Laird and Inge to not show the fastball too much. He is worth every penny of his $10 million dollar salary (that's for you Jonny).

The Columbus Clippers rattled the Durham Bulls today 14-1, scoring 10 runs in the last two innings. Andy Marte hit a grand slam as the Clips wave goodbye to three of their starters (more on that later)

• David Huff: 6 IP, 4 hits, 2 walks, 4 k's, 0 earned runs. Is setting up to be the next starter called up to Cleveland


• Luis Valbuena: 2-4 BB, HR, 3 RBI. Continues to mash in Columbus and will be a welcomed addition to the big league club.


• Jordan Brown: 4-5 HR, 3 RBI. Guy hits everywhere he goes, just unfortunately for him be with the Indians.


• Chris Gimenez: 3-5 HR, 3 RBI. Has been raking as of late after his early season struggles. Will be an option for the Tribe sometime this summer.

The Akron Aeros won in extra innings today 8-6 to improve their record to an amazing 17-4.

• Chuck Lofgren: 5 IP, 4 hits, 4 walks, 1 earned run, 3 K's. Lofgren is slowly getting back on the organizations' radar with every quality start.


• Jerad Head: 2-4, HR, 3 RBI. Big late inning homerun to propel Akron to victory for the infielder.


• Nick Weglarz: 3-5. 2 doubles, HR, 2 RBI. Finally had a breakout game as he has been struggling mightily all season. The Canadian is a top 10 prospect and will bounce back to his usual form. Still only 21.

The Lake County Captains had a big win tonight against Kannapolis 8-3.

• Nate Rechnagel: 4-5, double, triple. The Wolverine has been crushing the ball at a .370 clip.


• Abner Abreu: 3-5, triple, 2 RBI. 19 year old right hand hitting Dominican is one to watch for the Captains and is ranked 15th best Indians propect by Indians Prospect Insider.

Tomorrow is another day, but let's enjoys these performances for what they are, a day in the life of a long baseball season.