Da Clip Show: Keeping an Eye on the Tribe’s AAA Squad – 6/22/2010

Clip 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.

The Clippers got some better pitching this week, but were tough luck losers in 10 innings twice. They still have their division lead, but it’s been trimmed to 1 game. Let’s take a closer look at the Clippers’ week…

This Week: 2-3
Current Record: 41-30, 1st place (of four) in ILW (International League West)

Results:

6/15 vs. Norfolk – Clippers 11, Tides 0; WP Gomez (4-7)
6/17 @ Pawtucket – Sox 1, Clippers 0 (10); LP Germano (2-2)
6/18 @ Pawtucket – Clippers 2, Sox 1; WP Tomlin (6-2)
6/19 @ Pawtucket – Sox 7, Clippers 6; LP Sowers (1-4)
6/20 @ Pawtucket – Postponed, rain
6/21 @ Rochester – Red Wings 2, Clippers 1 (10); LP C. Smith (1-1)

Roster News:

Well, there is one pending move that we’re not 100% sure about, and that is the return to Columbus of LHP David Huff. The move is, of course, pending, as we don’t know yet who will be heading north to take his spot. As TD speculated, it could be Carlos Carrasco, or it could be someone like Aaron Laffey. We shall see. As of yet, however, it means that, other than the very recent note of RHP Joe Smith’s recall, the roster hasn’t really changed since last week.

Full Roster:
OF: Michael Brantley, Jordan Brown, Jose Constanza, Matt LaPorta, Nick Weglarz
IF: Brian Bixler, Jared Goedert, Wes Hodges, Cord Phelps, Josh Rodriguez
C: Chris Gimenez, Lou Marson
SP: Carlos Carrasco, Jeanmar Gomez, Aaron Laffey, Yohan Pino, Josh Tomlin
RP: Justin Germano (R), Josh Judy (R), Vinnie Pastano (R), Carlton Smith (R), Jeremy Sowers (L), Jess Todd (R)

Upcoming Schedule/Probables*

6/22 @ Rochester, Yohan Pino
6/23 @ Rochester, Josh Tomlin
6/24 @ Rochester, Aaron Laffey (David Huff?)
6/25 vs. Gwinnett, Carlos Carrasco (David Huff?)
6/26 vs. Gwinnett, Jeanmar Gomez
6/27 vs. Gwinnett, Yohan Pino
6/28 vs. Gwinnett, Josh Tomlin

*subject to change

Players to Watch:

Thumbs UP:

OF Matt LaPorta leads off again, as he continues to rake in AAA. In five games, he went 10-for-22 (.455) to raise his average to .412 through his first 13 games back in Columbus. He did, however, have just one extra base hit all week, though his OPS splits of .474/.745 are still solid.

Despite playing in just three games, OF Michael Brantely made the most of his opportunities, going 4-for-13 (.308). Through 48 games in Columbus he’s hitting .292 with a .374 OBP, both of which are large improvements over his numbers from last season in Columbus.

Finally, a nice bounce-back for Clip Show favorite OF/1B Jordan Brown. Brown played in five games, and went 9-for-22 (.409) with two doubles and an RBI. Brown’s average in 34 games is back near the .300 mark (.299) with two homers, 12 doubles, and 24 RBI.

One player whose playing time continues to earn him more playing time is 3B Jared Goedert. He went 7-for-19 (.368) in four games this week, and through 14 games is hiting at a .353 clip. He’s also displaying some good power with four jacks in 14 games and a .725 slugging percentage.

A guy who gets a big thumbs-up this week is RHP Jeanmar Gomez. See the recap of his start for more.

Another starting pitcher that had an excellent start was RHP Yohan Pino. Despite getting a no-decision, he worked 6.0 innings on Thursday scattering six hits, walking none, and fanning six. He did not allow a run.

Sensing a trend? Rounding out the trio of successful right-handed starters is RHP Josh Tomlin, who worked a solid 6.1 innings to notch the win on Friday. Despite walking five, he allowed just three hits and limited the damage to just one earned run (ERA 1.42) and struck out four.

And now for the lefty… LHP Aaron Laffey had by far the best of his four starts since returning to AAA, tossing 5.2 innings and allowing just one run (ERA 1.59). He allowed five hits and struck out two, but the only blemish was the seven walks he issued. More on that below.

Reliever RHP Jess Todd got back on the right track this week, working 1.2 innings in his two appearances and not allowing a run. He struck out one while allowing three hits.

Thumbs DOWN:

You almost have to feel bad for C Lou Marson. He’s now basically stuck at AAA for as long as he’s with the Tribe organization, and he has not adjusted well to being sent down. He’s hitting jus 3-for-21 (.143) in seven games for the Clippers with a small .381 slugging percentage.

Despite what you’ll see below, a guy who gets a bit of a thumbs-down this week is RHP Carlos Carrasco. In his start, he only went 5.0 innings and surrendered 3 earned runs (ERA 5.40). He walked two and struck out just two, and the biggest issue was the two home runs he was touched for, giving him 12 allowed this year in 13 starts.

Thumbs SIDEWAYS:

A Quick Word…

…about the debate over who to send to Cleveland to take David Huff’s spot. As TD pointed out yesterday, there are a few candidates. One wonders if Aaron Laffey might get the edge for two reasons: continuity (left-hander for left-hander) and experience. Carlos Carrasco is still young, and is still working to iron things out in AAA. He has flashes of greatness followed up by flashes of rawness.

But, back to this whole notion of left-handedness. I took a look at some splits, and saw something rather interesting. Consider the following two sets of numbers vs. left-handed batters and then vs. right-handed batters, and think about who might be the better option:

Vs. Left-handed Hitters

Vs. Right-handed Hitters

Obviously, the innings-pitched line pretty much tips the hand as to which pitcher is which. While Laffey’s ERA numbers are lower, if you extrapolate everything out to match Carrasco’s innings-pitched numbers, the picture (to me, at least) is pretty clear:

Carrasco has to be the guy, regardless of going lefty-for-lefty.

Using rounded ratios of 4.8 (vs. lefties) and 3.4 (vs. righties) to extrapolate our Laffey’s numbers, we get some disturbing trends. Laffey’s sitting at a touch over 37 walks vs. right handed hitters compared to Carrasco’s 17, while only a touch over 10 Ks compared to Carrasco’s 35. Likewise, against left-handers, the ratios are 19/10 and 29/30.

So, while both seem equipped to strike out left handed hitters at about the same rate, Carrasco’s going to give up fewer free passes. And, against right-handers, Carrasco’s numbers blow Laffey’s away, with the exception of batting average and home runs. And while there’s something to worry about with Carrasco’s 12 home runs in 13 starts, I’m much more impressed by his ability to keep from giving up nearly as many bases-on-balls compared to Laffey.

And Finally…

…The AAA All Star game is fast approaching. I find that I have no idea which Clippers might get the call, as the only real “all star” was The Big Smooth Carlos Santana, and I don’t think we’ll be seeing him anytime soon back in AAA. The AAA All Star Game—traditionally played with the International League All Stars taking on the Pacific Coast League All Stars—is slated for July 14 in Allentown, PA, home of the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs.