You're Waiting For a Train...: Aug 14, 2011

Sunday, August 14, 2011

Sometimes It Ain't Pretty At the Clip Joint

CC Lee

This one certainly did not start out well. Mitch Talbot (1-1, 5.40) did indeed get the start, though he retired only six hitters en route to giving up 6 earned on 6 hits. The three run bomb in the 1st did not set a positive tone. Fortunately, the relief corps was up to the task of holding the Red Wings right where they were. The combination of Matt Langwell (3 IP, 5 H, ER, 3K), CC Lee (2 IP, H, BB, 4 K), & Zach Putnam (2 IP, H, 3 K) would allow just one more run in their 7 innings out of the pen. Lee (5-1, 1.99) returned from a family funeral in Taiwan and picked up right where he left off. CC has excelled since his promotion to Columbus (3-0, 1.14) and significantly elevated his organizational standing. In fact, he was the piece that San Diego asked in exchange for Ryan Ludwick. The Indians declined. Lee, whose most eye popping statistic is his 12.93 K/9, will most likely not see time on the lake this season, though he will compete for a bullpen spot next spring. Langwell, tremendously effective for AA Akron (4-1, 2.66), has labored since joining Columbus (7.27 ERA, .342 OBA), but today's outing was certainly encouraging and good for his 1st AAA W.

I am not quite sure who reminded Jared Goedert that he does not always need to swing for the fences. Whoever it was, Goedert (.252) responded with two doubles, 2 RBI and 3 runs scored on his way to posting a 5-for-5 night and raising his batting average over .250 for the first time all year. Also, from nowhere, Tim Fedroff (.258) had 3 hits (2 2B) and five RBI. Ho hum, 2 more hits and 2 more RBI for Chad Huffman (.251) who is mashing at .550 (22-for-40) with 11 XBH (8 2B, 3B, 2 HR) and 11 rib-eyes during his current 12 game hit streak. Luis Valubena (.304) drove home 2 runs of his own.

The Clips remain in Rochester tomorrow for a 6:05p tilt with Joe Martinez taking the pill.

Other Minor Points of Interest --

Friends from Youngstown like to call them the Crappers, but these Mahoning Valley guys are anything but shitty.

Tony Wolters -- Poised as the top prospect currently under contract with the Indians, Wolters has impressed all onlookers in his first full professional season. On top of a great number line (.311, HR, 17 RBI, 17 SB), Tony has tremendous tools (+speed, +arm, +bat speed) and intangibles that causes coaches to rave. He possesses not only outstanding instincts and baseball IQ, but also a professionalism of well beyond his 19 years. Wolters has been even better of late, batting .400 over his last 10, including a 5-hit game on August 3rd. Expect Tony to be an elite prospect in 2012 and begin the campaign at Low-A Lake County, although he will not stay there long.

Jake Lowery -- My pick as the top Indians catching prospect, the 2011 4th round pick is coming off of a Junior season at James Madison that earned him both All-America honors and the Johnny Bench award (top collegiate catcher). Lowery came out of the gate hot (.313, 2 HR, 10 RBI in June) and has tailed off some since (.258, 5 HR, 36 RBI overall), but seems to be back on track of late. Jake is 3-for-8 with 3 RBI in his last two games, with all of those hits being doubles. The Tribe system does not have substantial catching depth at the middle levels and Lowery is fantastic behind the plate, so it is entirely possible that he will skip to High-A Kinston in 2012.

Alex Lavisky -- A local product (St Edward's) and former battery mate of Pirates fireballer Stetson Allie, Lavisky has endured some substantial struggles in 2011. He began the year at Lake County with mixed results (.207, 8 HR, 24 RBI, 66/38 K/H) before descending to the Scrappers. Alex's performance was expected to improve, yet it has remained pretty much the same (.207, 4 HR, 17 RBI, 48/40 K/H). While he is an asset behind the plate, his discipline (114 K, 25 BB in 377 AB) is a huge concern. One would image that Lavisky will get the bulk of the catching duties with the Captains next season.

Cheers.