Browns Minicamp to Begin, but What About the Free Agents?
June 8, 2010Six-Foot-Five Drew Pomeranz Opts For Baseball Over Basketball, Becomes Top-Five Pick
June 8, 2010Clip 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.
Despite a rough finish to the week, the Clippers’ lead still stands at 3.5 games over Toledo. But, after losing three of four against Indianapolis to end the week, it was definitely a down note. But, the good news is that the Clippers are still hanging on to the best record in the IL. Let’s take a closer look at the Clippers’ week…
This Week: 3-3
Current Record: 36-23, 1st place (of four) in ILW (International League West)
Results:
6/1 vs. Louisville – Clippers 4, Bats 3; WP Herrmann (3-0)
6/2 vs. Louisville – Clippers 10, Bats 7; WP Carrasco (4-2)
6/4 @ Indianapolis – Indians 5, Clippers 0; LP Laffey (0-1)
6/5 @ Indianapolis – Indians 7, Clippers 2; LP Gomez (3-6)
6/6 @ Indianapolis – Clippers 5, Indians 1; WP Pino (6-2)
6/7 @ Indianapolis – Indians 5, Clippers 3; LP Tomlin (5-2)
Roster News:
Only a couple of roster moves this week, but they were substantial for the Clippers. On 6/2, they released Josh Phelps, moved Francisco Jimenez back to Lake County, and saw Aaron Laffey come down from Cleveland. On 6/4, Clip Show’s Favorite Pitcher Frank Herrmann got a much-deserved call-up to Cleveland… sadly, without a firmly in-place nickname. Sigh. Finally, as TD reported yesterday, OF Matt LaPorta is making another trip back to Columbus. Finally, 3B Jared Goedert made his way up from Akron.
Full Roster:
OF: Michael Brantley, Jordan Brown, Jose Constanza, Matt LaPorta, Nick Weglarz
IF: Brian Bixler, Brian Buscher, Jared Goedert, Anderson Hernandez, Wes Hodges, Josh Rodriguez
C: Chris Gimenez, Carlos Santana
SP: Carlos Carrasco, Jeanmar Gomez, Aaron Laffey, Yohan Pino, Josh Tomlin
RP: Justin Germano (R), Josh Judy (R), Vinnie Pastano (R), Joe Smith (R), Jeremy Sowers (L), Jess Todd (R)
Upcoming Schedule/Probables*
6/8 vs. Rochester, Aaron Laffey
6/9 vs. Rochester, Carlos Carrasco
6/10 vs. Rochester, Jeanmar Gomez
6/11 vs. Rochester, Yohan Pino
6/12 vs. Norfolk, Josh Tomlin
6/13 vs. Norfolk, Aaron Laffey
6/14 vs. Norfolk, Carlos Carrasco
*subject to change
Players to Watch:
Thumbs UP:
All The Big Smooth does is keep hitting. C Carlos Santana went 5-for-15 this week (.333) with two doubles and a home run, three RBI, three runs scored, and four walks against just three strikeouts. For the year, Big Smooth is still at .317 in 54 games with 11 homers, 46 RBI, and an OPS of 1.026 (.453/.574). Sadly, he was about the only bright spot for the offense.
Finally, something to be happy about again for RHP Yohan Pino. The righty tossed a gem on Sunday, working 7.0 innings and not surrendering a run to get the win. He allowed just two hits, walked four, and struck out six. His record for the year runs to 6-2 with a 4.12 ERA in 11 starts.
Another pitcher who had a solid week—and who has continued to get better of late—is RHP Jess Todd. Todd worked twice, throwing an inning each time, and was perfect both times out. He didn’t allow a base runner and notched a strikeout. Todd hasn’t been scored upon in five straight appearances, and has only allowed one earned run in his last seven appearances, covering 7.2 innings (ERA 1.17).
Thumbs DOWN:
Boy, that ended quickly. Just as quickly as he’d gotten hot, last week’s IL Batter of the Week OF Jordan Brown cooled off. In 21 at-bats, he grabbed just four hits (.190), walked just twice, and struck out three times. He did have a game-winning double, drove in a pair, and scored a run, but it was an otherwise forgettable week for Brown.
Definitely NOT good times. OF Nick Weglarz took the Golden O-fer this week, not getting a hit in 14 at-bats. He drew a pair of walks but also struck out four times. Since his callup, Big Red is just 7-for-46 (.152) in 14 games.
I’m sensing a trend here… 1B/3B Wes Hodges continues the lineup of struggling bats, going just 4-for-19 (.211) for the week. And, three of those hits came in one game! He drove in two, scored three times, and walked but once while striking out five times.
One guy who is officially having a forgettable first year in Columbus is RHP Jeanmar Gomez. After taking the loss on Saturday with just 4.0 innings and six earned runs (ERA 13.50), his record now sits at 3-6 with a 6.37 ERA through 11 starts. The 22-year-old has plenty of career time left to get it together, but I’m sure it’s not the year he’d like to be having right now in AAA.
Thumbs SIDEWAYS:
Another so-so week for OF Michael Brantley. In 18 at-bats, he notched five hits (.278) but walked three times (OBP .381) and scored a run. He also swiped a base, but was caught stealing once as well.
RHP Carlos Carrasco’s record of 4-2 with a 4.68 doesn’t look horrible, necessarily, but it doesn’t look that great. He gets the thumbs-sideways this week because—despite earning a win—he worked a rather lack-luster 6.0 innings, allowing five earned runs (7.50). He got the win because his offense scored him 10. Carrasco allowed eight hits, walked just one, and struck out five. In his four wins, he’s actually allowed 15 earned runs in 25.2 innings, for a 5.26 ERA. You could argue—and I guess I am—that he pitches better when in his no-decisions and even some of his losses. In those six starts, he’s worked 34.0 innings and allowed 16 earned runs… an ERA of 4.24. Keep in mind, I’m not saying this is good.
A ho-hum first start back in Columbus for LHP Aaron Laffey. Laffey threw 4.2 innings, surrendering just two earned runs (ERA 3.86). He allowed seven hits, walked two, and struck out three.
Hard to knock the guy after he’s been pretty consistent thus far, but RHP Josh Tomlin got roughed up a bit in his second start this week. The first start was OK—a no-decision after 7.0 innings and only three earned runs (ERA 3.86)—but in his second he had a bit worse fate: he took the loss after working just 4.2 innings and allowing four earned runs (ERA 7.71). In the second start, a rare bout with wildness did him in as he walked six batters. He’s still having the best year on the staff, though, with a 5-2 record and 2.89 ERA.
A Quick [Final?] Word…
…about what I hope will be the last discussion of RHP Frank Herrmann in the Clip Show context. By this, I mean that I hope he has enough success in the majors to earn a spot there. He’s genuinely a good guy and definitely earned his call-up.
Herrmann’s stint with Columbus ended with him having made 19 appearances and working 28.2 innings. He was not scored upon for the last 27 of those innings, and allowed just one earned run on the year to set his ERA at a miniscule 0.31. Herrmann allowed just 15 hits and walked eight (WHIP 0.80), while striking out 22. Opposing hitters batted just .156 off of him while in Columbus.
Herrmann was signed by the Indians as a non-drafted free agent in August of 2005 out of Harvard University, where he graduated with a degree in economics. In what might be the “Ghost of Jody Gerut” Herrmann kept a running diary of his first professional year through the website of the Harvard student newspaper, The Crimson. You can find it online still under the (why the heck didn’t I think of this??) name “Ballpark Frank”.
And Finally…
…a quick note about new Clippers 3B Jared Goedert. Since his call-up, the 25-year-old right-handed hitting Goedert has played in three games (6/5-6/7). But, he’s making himself at home, going 5-for-11 (.455) thus far, with three doubles, a walk (OBP of .500), and only two strikeouts. His OPS (albeit through just three games) is a whopping 1.227. It’s too early to tell much about Goedert, and with Lonnie Chisenhall in his rearview mirror in Akron, it’s hard to call him a long-term prospect at 3B. But, the 2006 9th round pick from Kansas State has certainly made the most of this opportunity in the early going.
1 Comment
Sure feels great not buying Indians tickets. Carlos Santana should run for mayor of Columbus. He’s should have the residency requirement by now.