Jim Gray is Suprised People Still Talk About “The Decision”
July 12, 2011Update on WFNY Night at the Aeros Game
July 12, 2011Clip Show aims to be your weekly update for all things Columbus Clippers. Check back each Tuesday afternoon for team records, roster updates, and performance updates on some of the brightest prospects in the Tribe system.
Well, there’s some good news, and some bad news. The Clippers are at the All Star Break, and they’re leading their division by 9.5 games, and a 4.5 game lead for the IL’s best record. The bad news? They limped home this past week, and their leads are down 2.0 and 3.0 games respectively from this point last week. Sometimes it was the bats, sometimes it was the arms. They lost five games by a combined 11 runs, so they kept them close. They just couldn’t close them out.
This Week: 1-5
Season Record: 58-33, 1st place (of four) in ILW (International League West)
Results
7/05 @ Louisville – Bats 4, Clippers 2; LP Barnes (7-3)
7/06 @ Louisville – Bats 3, Clippers 2; LP Putnam (4-2)
7/07 vs. Toledo – Clippers 6, Mud Hens 3; WP Hagadone (3-1)
7/08 vs. Toledo – Mud Hens 8, Clippers 6; LP Gomez (9-3)
7/09 @ Toledo – Mud Hens 5, Clippers 2; LP Smith (2-2)
7/10 @ Toledo – Mud Hens 4, Clippers 1; LP Barnes (7-4)
Roster News
Nothing official, but it looks like LHP Scott Barnes will be headed to the DL. Jason Donald left the same game with a hamstring injury, but claims it was more of a cramp. As for Barnes, however, he fielded a bunt and “went down in a heap”.
“Columbus manager Mike Sarbaugh said that coach Lee May Jr. heard the knee pop from where he was standing in the dugout. ‘When we went out there, (Barnes) said it popped,’ Sarbaugh said. ‘So we’ll have to see.’
7/7 RHP Zach McAllister’s recalled to Cleveland
7/7 RHP Josh Jody optioned to Columbus
7/7 INF Cord Phelps optioned to Columbus
7/7 1B/OF Nick Johnson placed on DL
7/7 C Luke Carlin activated from DL
7/8 RHP Zach McAllister optioned from Cleveland
7/8 INF Luis Valbuena recalled to CLE
OF: Ezequiel Carrera, Tim Fedoroff, Jerad Head, Chad Huffman, Donnie Webb
IF: Jason Donald, Jared Goedert, Jason Kipnis, Cord Phelps
C: Luke Carlin, Matt McBride, Paul Phillips
SP: Scott Barnes, Jeanmar Gomez, David Huff, Corey Kluber, Zach McAllister
RP: Justin Germano (R), Nick Hagadone (L), Josh Judy (R), Chen-Chang Lee (R), Joe Martinez (R), Zach Putnam (R), Carlton Smith (R)
DL: RHP Hector Ambriz (torn right elbow ligament); RHP Anthony Reyes (torn right elbow ligament); RHP Hector Rondon (torn right elbow ligament), LHP Jeremy Sowers (left shoulder), C Dwight Childs (broken hand), 1B/OF Nick Johnson (wrist)
Upcoming Schedule/Probables*
*subject to change
7/14 vs. Indianapolis, Zach McAllister
7/15 vs. Indianapolis, Corey Kluber
7/16 vs. Indianapolis, Jeanmar Gomez
7/17 vs. Indianapolis, David Huff
7/18 vs. Scranton/WB, Joe Martinez
Progress Report
You may have noticed this in place of two of the normal sections in this column. I find at the ASB it’s a good time to reflect back on the first half as a whole. Let’s take a look at some of these guys, and maybe identify a surprise or two as well as a disappointment or two.
Stepping Up
2B Jason Kipnis – Even after a slow April start, Kipnis has been as-advertised, earning the second base starting nod for the IL All Star Team. In 83 games, he has a .297 average with 11 homers and 51 RBI. His 14 doubles and nine triples give him a robust slugging percentage of .506, which one will certainly take from second base. Kipnis has scored 61 runs, and is even 11-for-11 in stolen bases.
INF Cord Phelps – Though his struggles in the Majors were disappointing, there’s no denying Phelps had earned his callup. He’s hit .290 in 58 games for the Clippers, including seven home runs and 40 RBI. He has an OPS of .860. Over the past year-plus in Columbus, he’s played in 124 games at the AAA level, and has hit .304 with 13 home runs and 71 RBI, and an .877 OPS.
RHP Zach McAllister – For me once an afterthought from the Austin Kearns trade of last summer, McAllister took a big step forward during the first half. After going 9-12 with a 5.29 ERA in 27 AAA starts in 2010, he came out of the gate firing, winning his first seven decisions in 2011. Overall, he’s 8-3 with a 2.97 ERA for Columbus this year in 15 starts spanning 97.0 innings. He’s lowered his WHIP from 1.53 in 2010 to 1.10 in 2011, mainly by lowering his BB/9 from 2.6 to 1.9. He earned his first Major League start this past week.
RHP Jeanmar Gomez – Jeanmar Gomez came on late in the second half of last season, earning his first call-up to the bigs and pitching well. After some inconsistency early as he was shuffled between Cleveland and Columbus due to injuries to Mitch Talbot, Gomez has settled in back in Columbus. In 14 starts, he’s now 9-3 with a 2.40 ERA, and in his last 10 starts he’s been especially good, going 6-2 with a 2.05 ERA over 70.1 innings. His biggest improvement has been in giving up the long ball. In 2010 in Columbus, he worked 116.0 innings and have up 16 homers, or basically a home run every 7.1 innings. To this point in 2011, he’s worked 93.2 innings and allowed just six home runs, or a home run every 15.2 innings. Improvements like that are why Gomez is the ace of this staff to this point.
LHP Scott Barnes – Not initially planned to be in the rotation, Scott Barnes has stepped in admirably. In his one relief appearance, he allowed two earned runs in 3.0 innings (6.00 ERA). However, in 15 starts, he’s allowed just 34 earned runs in 85.0 innings. As a starter, he’s 7-4 with a 3.60 ERA in those 15 trips out. Not bad for a guy who basically came in as a fill-in and never gave up his spot.
Stepping Back
RHP Corey Kluber – Kluber was decent after coming over from San Diego in last summer’s Jake Westbrook trade. However, this season has been anything but good for Kluber, who has been the one albatross on an otherwise solid rotation. In 17 starts, Kluber has a 4-5 record with a 6.19 ERA in 93.0 innings. He’s been victimized by the long ball, with 11 homers allowed on the year.
RHP Jensen Lewis – I have him here and not under “disappointments” because it truly appeared that his major league tenure–with the Tribe at least–was already done. So, seeing how Lewis flamed out in AAA wasn’t really disappointing so much as it was the end of a chapter. Before being released, Lewis pitched in 22 games, spanning 28.0 innings, and posted a 3-2 record with a 5.14 ERA. His 1.96 WHIP is still the worst on the team for any pitcher who made more than 10 appearances. In short, it was time for Lewis to go. I don’t know that I thought he still had some worth to the organization, but his decline was sudden and final.
Treading Water
3B Lonnie Chisenhall – I may get pounded for having him here instead of “Stepping Forward,” but as most of you know I was not in support of Chisenhall’s recall to the Majors. In 65 games he was hitting just .265 before his call-up, with seven homers and 44 RBI. His .779 OPS wasn’t eye-popping, but he was showing signs of improvement just before his call-up. In his last five AAA games after coming back from an injury, he his 9-for-21 (.429) with two homers, a triple, and 14 RBI. As good as that was, it also highlights how pedestrian his numbers were in the 60 games prior: 58-for-232 (.250) with six homers and 30 RBI in 60 games. Hence my reservations. Chis is on par with his AAA numbers in The Show, hitting .267 in nine games (30 ABs).
INF Jason Donald – Injuries has hampered Jason Donald’s season to this point, as he’s played just a combined 40 games in the minors, including 31 in Columbus. He’s hitting well in Columbus–.295 in 112 at-bats–but he just hasn’t been able to stay healthy consistently to build on anything. He does have an .824 OPS in AAA, which is encouraging.
LHP David Huff – I can’t hate on David Huff for his pitching, but the question remains as to what his future is with this organization. He’s leading the staff with 97.1 innings pitched, and is 8-2 with a 3.70 ERA in 16 starts. For his career in AAA, Huff is 27-9 with a 3.76 ERA in 51 starts. Yet, in 38 Major League starts, he’s 13-19 with a 5.84 ERA. So, what does the Tribe do with him? He turns 27 in August.
LHP Nick Hagadone – I hedged a bit on this one, as Hagadone has been inconsistent. In 17 appearances, he’s worked 23.0 innings with a 4.30 ERA. But, in his last nine appearances–spanning 12.2 innings he is 1-0 with a 1.54 ERA. He also has 23 strikeouts against just eight walks.
RHP Carlton Smith – Carlton Smith has been slightly better this year, but is still just 2-2 with a 4.97 ERA in 30 appearances.
RHP Josh Judy – Josh Judy looked to follow up an impressive AAA debut last year, but has largely struggled to take the next step. He’s 2-2 with a 3.09 ERA in 29 appearances, including 13 saves. His 41 Ks in 32.0 innings have been good, but his WHIP of 1.41 hasn’t been exciting for a supposed late-innings guy.
RHP Zach Putnam – Much like Judy, with the graduation to the majors of guys like Frank Herrmann and Vinnie Pestano, Putnam was expecting to step into some of those late-innings situations. He’s been largely mediocre, with a 4-2 record and 3.74 ERA in 28 appearances, including seven saves.
Surprises
INF Luis Valbuena – After several cracks at the big leagues with no real success (career .226 average in 214 games), Valbuena looked to be the odd man out upon arriving in Columbus. With Cord Phelps, Jason Kipnis, and Lonnie Chisenhall getting all of the infield reps, Sweet Luis even moved to the outfield for a time. As the dust has settled and injuries and call-ups have done what they do to a roster, Valbuena has made the most of his AAA chances this season. He’s pacing the club with a .313 average in 77 games, and has 12 homers and 56 RBI to go with an .890 OPS. Over the past three years, Sweet Luis has played 154 games in Columbus, and is hitting .314 with 21 homers and 89 RBI. I actually thought he might languish this year in a “lost in the shuffle” kind of way, but he has not.
OF Jared Head – His prospect clock has run out, as Head will turn 29 this winter, but that hasn’t stopped him from being an invaluable piece to the Clippers’ offense. Playing in 74 games, Head is hitting .291 with 14 homers and 44 RBI, and has an .864 OPS.
Disappointments
RHP Jess Todd – Unlike Jensen Lewis, I still had some hope for Jess Todd to make an impact at the Major League level. That’s why it was so disappointing to see him (rightly) DFA’d after just 10 appearances this year. He pitched 10.2 innings, and was 0-1 with a whopping 10.97 ERA. He walked eight batters against just seven strikeouts, which contributed to his obscene whip of 2.53 (19 hits, eight walks in 10.2 innings).
3B Jared Goedert – After having such an impactful year in 2010, Goedert saw the start of his season derailed by a hernia injury. However, after 35 games back in AAA, his lumber has deserted him. He’s hitting just .189 with four home runs and 12 RBI in 127 at-bats.
1B/OF Nick Johnson – He may not be much of a disappointment, considering I don’t know many that thought he was brought in to contribute much. But, the first base “insurance” has been anything but helpful. Injuries have derailed most of his season, and he’s only played in 14 games, hitting just .220 with a paltry .240 slugging percentage and 15 strikeouts in 50 at-bats. Yikes.
And Finally…
…the second half gets underway on Thursday with the Clippers opening an eight-game home stand. In fact, they play 18 of their next 28 games in the friendly confines of Huntington Park. If you can brave the face-melting heat, head on down and check them out!
