While I could not get down to Huntington Park this afternoon (I hope to be there tomorrow night), STO did show the game in prime time on tape delay. It was my first opportunity to see Scott Barnes pitch from a quality angle (nice job with the cameras guys!).
Scottie looked crisp in tossing seven shutout innings. He allowed three hits and struck out 8. The key was that he walked only two. The most striking aspect of the performance was simply watching 6'4" Barnes (4-1, 4.21) throw the ball. If you have not had the opportunity, let me tell you, it is a sight to behold.
The video does not even do him justice. Imagine the same motion, except caricaturishly exaggerated. The arms and legs skit-skat and be-bop even more when the man throws a breaking ball. This, of course, translates into some control issues (4.38 BB/9 @ AAA), but he has pitched very well recently. Over his last four starts he is 2-0 with a 1.99 ERA. This is another quality arm that we will see on the lake no later than 2012.
The bats were on hand as well. Jared Goedert (.233) went yard and drove home three. Jason Kipnis (.284), who seems to flourish in the leadoff spot, knocked three hits, including his sixth home run. Still, all eyes were on the hottest hitter in baseball, Luis Valbuena. Luis (.319) singled, doubled and scored as he extended his hit streak to 19. Although he is hitting almost .450 during the run, Valbuena has been truly en fuego over his last four. Batting a scorching .600 (9-for-15), he has delivered three doubles, a homer and driven in six. His OPS has been [cough] 1.600. And we still think that we need Adam Everett.
Jensen Lewis, who pitched the 9th and surrendered the only run in a 7-1 win, may have his days numbered in the Tribe organization. After a truly horrific spring, he still began the season as the Clippers' primary closer. That experiment was short lived as Lewis proved wholly unreliable. On the season his OBA stands at .349 with lefties clipping him at .404. His WHIP is a disgusting 2.04 (how is that even possible?) when the league average is at around 1.40. To top it all off, Jensen has saved his worst for the last two weeks. Over four appearances, he is 0-1 with a 12.27 ERA and an even .500 (10-for-20) OBA. As the younger pitching continues to develop it seems as if Jensen Lewis will soon be another casualty of mediocrity.
The Clips close out with Rochester tomorrow at 7:05p with stud Zach McAllister toeing the rubber. See ya there. ;-j
Other Minor Points of Interest --
It has been awhile, so bear with me. I am going to break it down by affiliate and hopefully deliver the prospect updates that you surely look to me for religiously.
Akron
We'll begin with Beau Mills. The man has been on a gosh darn tear over the past week, hitting .429 (12-for-28) with a pair of dingers and five knocked in his last seven games. Mills (.293) has driven in 17 in 23 games since returning from injury and may be re-emerging as an actual prospect. Oh yeah, his OPS since June 2 is 1.214.
Chun Chen, too, has been stroking. Chen (.292) is at .370 over his past seven with 3 doubles, 2 bombs and 7 RBI. He is precisely where the Indians want him to be and a 54-13 K-to-BB ration is easy to excuse when accompanied by a .335 OBP.
Nick Weglarz has seen his first action of 2011, coming back from a knee injury, by mashing 3-for-10 with a pair of doubles, 2 RBI and 4 walks in three games for the Aeros. The organization is expected to to play it safe, but his right-handed power, sorely needed at the Jake, may force a change in plans.
Kelvin De La Cruz, who I believe has been on the 40-man since he was 5 months old, continued a roller coaster season with a 3 inning, 3 run, 5 walk effort on the 2nd, and then six innings of one hit shutout ball yesterday. Here is how the numbers for Kelvin (4-3, 3.42) can be confusing. Good - .199 OBA. Bad - 4.94 IP per start. Good - 10.90 K/9. Bad - 6.51 BB/9. Good - .093 OBA vs. LHB. Bad - 0.56 GO/AO. Go figure. The big lefty turns 23 in August, so it is high time for him to get his act together.
Joe Gardner (3-5, 4.47) has been rocked in each of his past two starts, losing both and posting 9.82 ERA. He has pitched a combined 7.1 innings allowing 15 hits and five walks, while striking out only 2. Math time - WHIP: 2.73, OBA: 4.17. Ouch.
Adam Miller (1-1, 7.20) has pitched well in two outings since taking the loss on the 1st of June. Miller has allowed a run on three hits over three innings and has fanned three as well. Baby steps, Adam, baby steps.
Dude, that is, like, totally enough for now. Kinston and LC on the morrow.
Cheers.
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