While I Was Sminking - @ Da Clip Joint

Nick Hagadone

The Nick Hagadone train continues at full speed.  Following a Friday promtion to Columbus, Nick has thrown three times and has already notched his first AAA win and save.  The save came this afternoon as the Clippers put the finishing touches on a four game sweep of the Durham Bulls.  Hagadone (2.08) pitched the final 2.1 innings allowing just one hit and struck out a pair.  Scott Barnes picked up his third victory of the season (5 IP, 5 H, 2 R/ER, 3 BB, 7 K) and seems to have settled in a bit over his last couple of starts.

Jason Kipnis, batting leadoff since Ezequiel Carrera's promotion, has taken to his new role with aplomb.  Kipnis (.292) raked 7-for-16 in the series (2 2B, 3B, HR) with four runs scored and five RBI.  Cord Phelps conitnued his hot hitting as well, batting 7-for-18 with 2 doubles, 2 runs and 3 RBI.  Many, including TonyIPI, believe that Phelps' (.310) promotion to Cleveland is as imminent as within the next week.  Lonnie Chisenhall is a bit further off, but if Jack Hannahan cannot turn around his dreadful May performance (.520 OPS), we will likely see the Chiz Kid around the All-Star break.  Chisenhall (.283) was 7-for-17 against Durham (2 2B, HR) with 3 RBI and 6 runs scored.  Those are the 1, 2, & 3 hitters in the Columbus lineup.  Chad Huffman (.263), who produced a 10 RBI game earlier in the season and has hit cleanup quite a bit, went 3-for-3 on Saturday, falling a single short of the cycle and driving in five.  With production like that, winning becomes a lot easier.

Starting pitching doesn't hurt either.  Jeanmar Gomez looks to have righted his ship ;-j with an 8 inning complete game victory on Monday night.  Gomez (3.16)  improved his AAA mark to 4-1 by allowing seven hits and two earned with two walks and three strike outs.  Even so, I maintain that Gomez can be of no further assistance to the big club this season.  I am in the minority here, but I would expect that Zach McAllister is now at the top of the minor league depth chart should the Indians need another starter before Alex White is healthy.  McAllister is on the 40-man and has dominated the IL (7-0, 2.43) this year.

Both Steven Wright and Matt Langwell were briefly with the Clippers over the weekend.  Langwell did not take the mound, though Wright did make his AAA debut as knuckleballer.  He allowed 2 earned and 5 hits over 2.2 innings while striking out a pair.  Wright succesfully protected the Clippers lead before being returned to Lake County on Sunday.  Marty Popham has been added to the AAA roster in what appears to be a more permanent role.

Other Minor Points of Interest --

Beau Mills rounded into form over the weekend.  Mills (.333) drove in a pair Saturday, three on Sunday and added a a 2-run pinch double yesterday.  He is mostly DH'ing coming off a right achilles injury and has posted a .937 OPS in his first 7 games back.  He has also not struck out in his first 20 plate appearances.

After missing eight days as he continued to rehab back from an oblique strain, Jared Goedert (.222) has played for the Akron Aeros on each of the past two days.  Goedert hasn't been beating the world (1-for-6, 2B, 3 BB), but with a nagging pain like an oblique, easing back in is paramount.

Chun Chen (.277) double three times yesterday and drove home a pair.  Chen, who can certainly hit, will be hampered by the fact that he has no true position to play at higher levels.

I suppose it is time to mention Tim Fedroff, expected by most to be the next outfielder added to the Columbus roster.  Fedroff (.377) has posted a .929 OPS this season and is hitting .514 over his last 10 games.  He spent all of 2010 with Akron, compiling an OPS of .715.

Adam Miller (2.70) has not been scored upon for Kinston since a shaky debut at the end of April.  Miller picked up his first save on Friday and has put just five men on base over those nine innings and has fanned 12.  His OBA is .167 for the season and .069 excluding that first appearance.  Miller should see Akron very soon.

Giovanni Soto continued to impress as he evened his record at 3 on Friday.  Soto (2.02) allowed a run (solo HR) on four hits and a walk over six innings.  Giovanni struck out 8 and has posted an ERA of 0.71 since April 23.

After an awful start on May 8th, Captains pitcher Michael Goodnight has gotten right back on the horse.  Goodnight (2.68) earned his third win of 2011 on Saturday, giving up a run on 2 hits and 2 walks with 7 punch outs.  Excepting that rotten egg (1.2 IP, 5 H, 7 R, 4 ER), he has returned a .139 OBA and an ERA of 1.99.

FotB Tyler Tufts remains a key cog in the bullpen of the AA Frisco RoughRiders of the run happy Texas League.  Tyler (2.77) last threw on Friday, a successful 1.2 innings surrendering 2 hits and mowing down three.  He has delivered a tremendous 11.0 K/BB ratio and a solid 1.15 WHIP.

Now you are all caught up.

Cheers.