Andre Rison is the best WR to ever play the game
June 9, 2009Tribe Recalls Joe Smith, Tony Sipp Sent Down
June 9, 2009Clip 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.
If I might quote the Simpsons:
Bart: Nothing you say can upset us, we’re the MTV generation.
Lisa: We feel neither highs nor lows.
Homer: What’s it like?
Lisa (shrugs): Meh.
Ladies and gentlemen, your 2009 Columbus Clippers!
This Week: 3-3
Current Record: 29-29, 2nd place (of four) in ILW (International League West)
Roster News:
A bit of a quieter week this week on the transaction front, as the Clippers lost Josh Barfield and Travis Hafner to the big club, and then went out and shattered the known universe by signing FAs OF Rob Mackowiak and LHP Mike Gosling. Take a moment to catch your collective breath!
Full Roster:
OF: Michael Brantley, Jordan Brown, Mickey Hall, Matt LaPorta, Rob Mackowiak
IF: Michael Aubrey, Andy Cannizaro, Tony Graffanino, Andy Marte, Niuman Romero
C: Damaso Espino, Wyatt Toregas
SP: Jack Cassel, Zach Jackson, Chuck Lofgren, Ken Ray, Kirk Saarloos
RP: Vinnie Chulk (R), Mike Gosling (L), Frank Herrmann (R), Masa Kobayashi (R), John Meloan (R), Blaine Neal (R), Rich Rundles (L), Joe Smith (R)(MLR)
Players to Watch:
Thumbs UP:
The resurgence continues: OF Michael Brantley continues to improve after battling some early season injuries to his hamstring. Over his last 18 games, Brantley has hit .329 (24-for-73)—including 10-for-25 (.400) this past week—to raise his batting average from .233 to .266. He stole three more bases this week to push his total to 18 for the season in 20 chances (90% success). The 18 steals is second in the IL. Over the 18-game-stretch, Brantley also has eight multi-hit games and has shown a tiny bit of pop with two home runs. His three home runs so far this season are already only one off of his career high of four set last season. His defense in center field continues to be very solid, as well.
OF Matt LaPorta has leveled off, but at a pretty solid level. He earned seven hits in 24 at-bats this week for a .292 average, and jacked a homer while batting in five. He also scored two runs. His four strikeouts against one walk aren’t the best of stats, but you live with a 17% K-rate from a corner outfielder, I guess. Overall, LaPorta’s Columbus numbers remain solid, with a .311 average, seven homers, 22 RBI, and a .944 OPS.
Don’t look now, but C Wyatt Toregas has heated up a bit as well. He grabbed six hits in 19 ABs this week (.316) with a homer and two doubles. Toregas has been great defensively, but hasn’t been an overpowering hitter much of the season. His more consistent playing time (with the move of Chris Gimenez not only all over the diamond but recently to Cleveland) has his average up to .278 for the season with a .791 OPS.
3B Andy Marte has leveled off a bit, but continues to produce. He had a fairly decent week, going 7-for-24 (.292) with three doubles, four RBI, and three runs scored. Hi did, however, strike out eight times while drawing no walks. His .327 average on the season leads all of the Clippers’ “regulars” through Monday’s action.
RHP Joe Smith, currently working on his rehab assignment from injury, has looked stellar. In five appearances (5.0 IP) so far since being activated, he has allowed no runs, scattered four hits, walked only one, and struck out six. Smith was being counted on as a big part of the Tribe’s bullpen in April (when the team’s performance was still relevant). Oh, what could have been!
Thumbs DOWN:
The move to the outfield has appeared to cool off OF Jordan Brown. Over his last ten games, he’s just 6-for-36 (.167) no extra base hits, only one RBI, and six strikeouts. It’s understandable that a position switch could have a negative effect on a guy’s offensive numbers, but this is by far the worst slump of Brown’s season thus far. To give you an idea of how well he had been hitting, even with all of this slumping his season numbers are still at .314/7HR/27RBI/.883OPS.
Call it “The Curse of the Clip Show Thumbs Up” perhaps. One week after his first mention in the thumbs up section, 1B Michael Aubrey had himself a rough week as well, going 3-for-19 (.158) with no extra base hits and only one RBI.
Thumbs Sideways (?)
A “promotion” for Clip Show Whipping Boy RHP John Meloan! 4.0 IP this week, and only one earned run!! Three hits (one a homer), a walk, and three strikeouts! Atta boy, John! Some improvement in the season numbers: 34.2IP, 24ER (6.23ERA), 43H (5HR), 15BB, 30K.
A Quick Word…
…about the Clippers’ outfield, and the larger-picture of the outfield logjam that always seems to affect the Tribe organization. Think about how many solid outfields have passed through the Tribe’s system over the past two decades, either through drafting or trades. Think how many have been traded away by the Tribe. Doesn’t it always seem like there are six candidates for three spots every year, and someone inevitably ends up being the odd man out?
The reason I bring this up is this: look at the Clippers’ outfield at present: Matt LaPorta, Michael Brantley, and Jordan Brown. At least two of those guys figure to be in the team’s long-term plans, and with the way Brown keeps hitting he’s certainly playing his way into that discussion as well, if only for the shorter term. In the current outfield, guys like Sizemore and Choo are definitely part of what can be considered the core. Ben Francisco is probably nothing better than a fourth outfielder. So, are we again reaching “log-jam” status?
Who should stay? Who should be dealt? *Should* anyone be dealt? Obviously, LaPorta and Brantley probably aren’t going anywhere as they both came over in the Sabathia deal. Neither is Sizemore, at least while he’s under contract for the next few seasons. Choo? Francisco? Brown? Who goes?
And Finally…
A bit of a charitable plug: an organization of which I am a supporter (Lutheran Social Services of Central Ohio) is holding their 33rd annual “LSS Day with the Clippers” on Sunday, July 18th. The brief skinny: LSS is able to get tickets from the team, and is selling them at a significant discount ($4 per ticket anywhere in the park, $21 for a family six-pack). ALL proceeds go to LSSCO. Last year more than 160,000 Ohioans directly benefited from LSSCO programs and services that include Faith Mission emergency shelters and Choice Food Pantries. For ticket info, visit LSSCO’s website of events and scroll down to “LSS Day with the Clippers”. EDIT Per Jennifer’s comment below, please note that tickets must be purchased from LSS in order to benefit the agency. There is contact information in the link above.
5 Comments
Hey DP, don’t forget about good ol’ Nick Weglarz down here in Akron as well. Along with Beau Mills, Carlos Rivero, Carlos Santana, John Drennen, and Josh Rodriguez, we have some big-time offensive prospects that are sure to be in the picture long-term. Matt McBride was having a ridiculous start with Kinston before coming up here, struggling a bit and then injuring his knee.
I think as of right this second, you have to consider Choo/Sizemore/Brantley to be your hopeful outfield in 2010, along with LaPorta/Brown/Hafner competing for an everyday DH role. LaPorta or Brown would also easily slide in as the fourth outfielder, or utility first baseman, giving the Indians even more options. Looking down the road a bit further, room is going to have to be made for Weglarz along with some even younger guys from Lake County or something.
Jacob, I didn’t even try to tackle the whole “DH/1B” issue. Personally, I think the Tribe has to know that the clock is ticking pretty quickly on VMart-as-everyday-catcher. Once Santana is ready, I don’t know how you can’t put VMart as the everyday 1B. Factor in Hafner’s albatross contract, and that’s a whole other logjam waiting to happen (and even is now, as Garko doesn’t get the ABs he probably should and is running out of time).
Thanks for the LSS Day plug! It should be a great time at the new stadium all while helping people in need. Just remember only tickets purchased through LSS will benefit the agency.
[…] little over an hour ago, DP dropped the science of Joe Smith’s successful outings in […]
Going to the game Thursday night and looking forward to it…wonder who I’ll be watching, since moves up and down I-71 seem to be made weekly.