Never heard of Deep. whatever but they don't report anything that isn't common assessment. BA rated Indians minor leagues 29th out of 30, Chisox are last. Lindor is our one real good prospect and no one else has much else to offer. Dillon Howard made the bottom of top 100 at BA, I think, but we haven't seen his yet this year. Luigi Rodriguez has some very long range high ceiling possibility.

Otherwise our prospects are low ceiling or high uncertainty. There are a group of young pitchers who could break through, but they're all at Lake County (Sterling, Araujo, Anderson) or in extended ST (Howard, Sisco).

TJ McFarland is having a terrific year at Akron, but his projection is for at best a solid back of the rotation starter, LH, which would be nice change of pace for this team. But successful LH in AA have often fizzled out .

If it was for fantasy why did you not post it there ? Since I am a mind reader I will tell you why. Because you are full of crap as always.

Wednesday night results. Highlights:

Columbus wins 6-2. Seddon 6 1/3 2 runs 7K. Cody Allen retires all 5 2 on strikes. Herrmann fans 3 in his 1 inning. Laporta HR 11. Donald 2 singles, 2 walks, a steal, an error. Canzler suddenly a slugger again, his 3rd homer, 2 singles. Carrera a single and a homer and 4rbi.

Akron loses 2-1. Goedart in LF for Weglz 3 hits, the rest of the team 2. Brach 4 scoreless. Bryson loads the bases in his 1 IP.

Carolina loses 5-4. Aguillar 3 singles, hitting 312. Wolters single, walk, 2K, nearing 200, at 186. Haley allows his first run, 2 innings, 3 K, 2 hits, 1 BB. Will Roberts 4 2/3 8 hits, 3 runs. RonnieRod e #14.

Captains win 5-2. LINDOR single, double. LRod single, doulbe, walk, steal no. 11. Lavisky sngles, doubles, walks. 237. Shawn MOrimando 5 innings, 4 run on 4 hits, 6 K.

http://www.milb.com/milb/stats/stats.js ... a_colaaa_1

http://www.milb.com/milb/stats/stats.js ... x_eswaax_1

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Rusty!

Talk about Mr. Negativity!

I'm willing to bet that if I did a word search, the definition of negativity would have a derivative of "rust" or "rusty" spelled out in it multiple times

My view of minor league baseball:

25 man rosters and 23 of them are only there so the two real prospects have someone to play with. All the ratings are a bunch of baloney. Let's see how they do in the big leagues, nothing else matters AND the Indians are in first place.

Enjoy it folks we have a nice little club with a ton of youth and pretty darn good pitching that should hold up for a few years at least....

No one talks about it but this Gomez kid is a real needle in the haystack pitcher for us and continues to get batter and better....

It's fun to see Gomez success. I "discovered" him working long outings in the Gulf Coast League a few summers back. And Tomlin who was never especially impressive in the minors (and who I wrote off completely) also working out as a major league starter. That's taught me not to discount guys like McFarland and Rayl who aren't overwhelming hitters but are effective with the stuff they've.

McFarland was 2nd or 3rd round pick and is young for AA and being very successful. Keep an eye on him.

BA highlights these lines:

CLE AAA Phelps, Cord 2B 4 0 1 0 .276 CS (2)
CLE HiA Aguilar, Jesus 1B 5 0 3 1 .312
CLE HiA Lowery, Jake C 4 1 1 0 .262 2B (9)
CLE HiA Rodriguez, Ronny SS 4 1 1 0 .240
CLE HiA Wolters, Tony 2B 4 0 1 0 .186 2B (7), BB (13)
CLE LoA Lindor, Francisco SS 5 0 2 1 .322 2B (7)
CLE LoA Rodriguez, Luigi CF 4 2 2 1 .289 2B (6), BB (15), SB (11)
CLE HiA Haley, Trey 2 2 1 1 1 3 0.79

25 man rosters and 23 of them are only there so the two real prospects have someone to play with

That about sums it up! Still, I wonder if anyone knows what percentage of minor league teams are in the black. I realize the numbers may not be available and it isn't always to disentangle all costs & revenues from the MLB teams that "supply the players," but still.

3 teams in action, total 2 runs for the bunch of them.

Lindor yet again with a multihit game, 2 singles. Canzler stays hot in Columbus, single, double, walk, yet his OPS is still a rotten 701. Laporta 2 hits, too. Moncrief two singles for Carolina. Aeros with the day off.

We got some good pitching as the losses were 6-1, 2-1 and 2-1.

Felix Sterling 5 2/3 inning 2 runs on 4 hits, 6 strikeouts, 2 walks, ERA 2.85
Danny Salazar returns from the DL and lasts 2 innings,walks 2, givesup 3 hits but no runs.
Michael Goodnight with one of his best of the year, 6 innings, 2 runs on 6 hits, 2 walk, 4 K.
Shawn Armstong with a scoreless innings and 3 strikeouts, for the year 24 IP, 1 run. 32 K, 9 hits, 12BB
Scott Barnes doing fine as a reliever in AAA, 2 2/3 innings, no hits, 1 walk, fans a pair.

http://www.milb.com/milb/stats/stats.js ... a_colaaa_1

http://www.milb.com/milb/stats/stats.js ... a_cmcafa_1

http://www.milb.com/milb/stats/stats.js ... a_cmcafa_1

All our teams won last night. Big scoring outputs for Carolina, Akron and Columbus. Great starting pitching by hot prospect Elvis Araujo, by Kevin Slowey and by TJ Haley who bounced back from his first poor AA outing. Lindor hit a double

Here's stuff off Tony's webpage. I've edited out the reviews of the nonprospects.


Elvis Araujo (SP, Lake County): 6.0 IP, 5 H, 1 R/ER, 1 BB, 6 K. Araujo must have really been pounding the zone as he recorded 8 groundball outs and no flyball outs.This was tied for the longest outing of the season, and from a numbers standpoint was no doubt his best outing of the season.

T.J. House (SP, Akron): 6.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R/ER, 4 BB, 5 K. Another fantastic outing for House, who looks to be back and on a roll as a prospect. The 4 walks in 6.0 innings are bothersome, but he has done a nice job so far in his transition to Double-A with only 9 walks in 23.0 innings.

Tony Wolters (2B, Carolina): 2-for-5, 3 R, 3B, 2 RBI, BB. . After striking out 17 times in his first 12 games, he has struck out 15 times in his last 21 games.

Chun Chen (1B, Akron): 4-for-5, R, 2 2B, 5 RBI. Chen entered the game with 8 RBI, so with his 5 RBI he had 64% of the RBI total in one game as he had coming into the game. Gotta love this game.

Matt LaPorta (LF, Columbus): 1-for-3, 2 R, HR, 2 RBI, 2 BB, 1 K LaPorta has split time between first base and left field this season but has never played more than six games in a row at either position. He has now played six in a row in left field, so based on previous usage he would play first base in his next game. It bears watching to see where he plays on Saturday and Sunday as it may help show whether the Indians are seriously considering him for a callup to Cleveland to play left field. I think a callup is inevitable and may happen before the Indians square off against the Tigers on Tuesday. In any case, he is showing he is about as ready as he is going to be offensively as he has 35 games in the books and continues to show a good approach and the power is there. He now has 17 walks and 12 homers, and in his last 14 games has 7 walks to only 9 strikeouts. He is ready. Call him up now. The Indians could definitely use his bat and it is worth seeing if anything has changed with him.

Kyle Bellows (3B, Akron): 4-for-5, 2 R, 2B, HR, 4 RBI. Have yourself a game son. Bellows had his best game of the season and arguably as an Akron Aero the last two seasons. Whenever he does this it only makes you dream and say “what if” when it comes to his bat ever developing into a consistent weapon for him. He has the power to be an average power hitter, and he has the defense to be an elite Major League defender. The question is the consistency of his at bats and his ability to control his swing in the zone and making consistent, hard contact. I have been waiting for him to get going now for almost two years, so hopefully this is a sign that he will start to perform offensively. Oh how I wish you could take Jared Goedert’s offensive ability and combine it with Bellows’ defensive ability. That would be a hell of a player as each is good at the other thing the other is not.

Jason Donald (SS, Columbus): 3-for-5, 3B, 2 RBI. Donald is now 6-for-15 in four games with the Clippers since being demoted earlier in the week. Is he another LaPorta who can hit in Triple-A but is too inconsistent at the big league level? He also had his third error in just four games.

Jared Goedert (RF, Columbus): 2-for-3, 2 R, RBI, 2 BB. Welcome to Triple-A, Mr. Goedert. He reached base in 4 of 5 plate appearances and did not skip a beat from how he was performing with Akron. I’ll tell you what, if LaPorta gets a crack and struggles, and Goedert continues to rake, he has to be the next in line to get a shot in Cleveland.


Kevin Slowey (SP, Columbus): 7.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R/ER, 2 BB, 7 K. By far the best outing of the season for Slowey. He was a strike throwing machine as 74 of his 101 pitches (73.3%) were thrown for strikes. The Indians are getting thin in the rotation in Cleveland where another injury could result in Slowey’s callup to Cleveland, so getting him right is important.

Adam Abraham (DH, Akron): 2-for-3, 3 R, 2B, 2 BB. Abraham continues to show a very good approach at the plate this season. He reached base in 4 of 5 plate appearances and scored 3 runs, and on the season has 22 walks to 17 strikeouts. Anytime you are walking more than you are striking out, that is pretty darn good.

Thomas Neal (RF, Akron): 3-for-5, 2 R. Neal keeps showing flashes of goodness, but the problem is he has lacked any consistency whatsoever all season as he has gone hitless in 14 of his 30 games played.

Jake Lowery (C, Carolina): 2-for-5, R, RBI, 2 K. In 14 games this month he is hitting just .196/.226/.294 with 1 HR and 4 RBI, and has just 2 walks to 16 strikeouts.

Kyle Blair (SP, Carolina): 3.0 IP, 4 H, 5 R/ER, 2 BB, 2 K, 2 HR. Blair had been showing some improvement of late, so hopefully this was a minor hiccup. His new Luis Tiant-like delivery where he over-rotated and shows his back to the batter is definitely interesting

Luigi Rodriguez (CF, Lake County): 0-for-3, BB, 3 K. Rodriguez was moved down to the third spot in the order, but his slump continues as he is now hitting just .169/.269/.203 with 3 walks and 17 strikeouts in 15 games this month.

Friday boxes. Lots of guys got lots of hits. Jared Goedart,. promoted to Columbus (he's been there before) to play RF, keeps hitting. Maybe as an OF he could finally reach the majors. Duncan and Cunningham are not major barriers to overcome.

http://columbus.clippers.milb.com/milb/ ... a_colaaa_1

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Lindor hitless on Saturday. Colon pitched pretty well for LC. Jiminez fair for Carolina. etc.

Tony adds (and I've deleted some of this):

Chun-Hsiu Chen: 1B, Akron: 3-for-4, 2 R, 1 RBI, 1 BB:

Chen is seeing the ball really well now [how do you know?], and has gone 7-for-9 over his past two games, with three runs, two doubles and six RBI. Chen has really started to settle in as a first baseman/DH after struggling a bit in the early part of April. In May, he’s hitting .351 overall, and has been shredding lefties (.319) and righties (.326) alike. Over his last ten games, he’s hitting 16-for-39 with nine runs scored, six doubles, seven RBI, four walks and eight strikeouts. The one struggle that Chen has had this season has been with regards to his power numbers. He only has one homer so far, which isn’t following his trend of the past two seasons that had him hitting 12 homers in 2010 and 16 homers in 2011. Chen likely isn’t going to be moving up any time soon, as I’m sure they want him to learn the position a bit more before sending him up to Columbus. The Clippers still have the LaPorta, Canzler, Mills triumvirate anyways, so there isn’t the space yet. If he keeps hitting, Chen could be a sleeper in the system as a right-handed hitter. If he could just find some power, he could really make some noise as one of the only quality right-handed hitters in the upper minors. [Translation: who wants a first baseman with no power?]

Joseph Colon: SP, Lake County: L (4-4), 6 IP, 2 H, 2 R/0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K:

I just love it when a guy not really known by the fans starts stringing together outstanding starts, and Colon is one of them. This is his fourth solid start in a row, as it’s actually his first start under seven innings during that stretch. He’s gone 29 1/3 innings, giving up 16 hits and four earned runs, while walking four and striking out 14 in those four games. I’m not saying Colon is a future star by any stretch, but he’s now 4-4 with a 2.92 ERA in a rotation in Lake County that’s stacked with potential future major leaguers. Then, you take into account the fact that he took a no-hitter into the sixth inning of tonight game, and you really start to see his potential. Add one more name to the Lake County starting rotation mix in Joseph Colon.

•Matt LaPorta: 1B, Columbus: 1-for-5, 1 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 2 K: LaPorta hit yet another home run, which is his second in two games, his third in four, and his fourth in sixth. If this is his swan song, he’s certainly going out in a big way. It’s also interesting that LaPorta played first base today.

•Lonnie Chisenhall: 3B, Columbus: Chisenall had a successful return after missing three weeks, and picked up right where he left off, with another two hit ball game. Chiz missed an opportunity to move up when Hannahan went down with an injury, but I can’t see him missing another one.

•Jared Goedert: LF, Columbus: 1-for-4: Goedert has been accustomed to multi-hit games, but today he only managed a single. Send him back down to Akron.

•Russ Canzler: DH, Columbus: 2-for-3, 2 R, 1 3B, 1 RBI, 1 K: Canzler has a nice little four game hit streak in which he’s gone 8-for-15, with four runs and two doubles. I doubt he’ll ever play for Cleveland.

•Cody Allen: RP, Columbus: BS (2), 1 2/3 IP, 2 H, 1 R/ER, 1 BB: Allen has certainly found some trouble in Columbus. He’s given up at least a run in four of his seven appearances, giving pause to those (like me) calling for a 2012 appearance with the Indians.

••Adam Abraham: DH, Akron: 3-for-5, 3 R, 1 RBI, 1 K: I make no bones about how much I think of Adam Abraham as a player. There are several players in every system that just get it, and Abraham continues to be one of them. Today’s game got the average back up to .275, in a season in which he’s showcasing his offense a bit more than in the tough Carolina league. [A AA DH with a major league future? Not likely]

•Juan Diaz: SS, Akron: 3-for-5, 1 R, 1 2B, 3 RBI: Diaz has been a sleeper favorite of mine since the Indians picked him up in the same deal that brought the Indians Ezequiel Carrera. He’s a big-framed shortstop that always seems to be on the doorstep of doing something, but can never quite put it all together. In 2010, Diaz hit .284 combined in Lake County and Kinston, and I thought it was a leaping off point for him, but the better Eastern League has really put a kibosh to that. He has his moments, like today, but overall, it’s been another struggle for Diaz, who’s only hitting .240 on the year.

•Thomas Neal: RF, Akron: 3-for-5, 1 R, 1 3B, 4 RBI, 1 K: Neal’s starting to really heat up with the summer approaching, as he’s starting to put together some big games back-to-back. Over the past two games, Neal’s gone 6-for-10, with three runs, a triple and four RBI. He still can’t find any power whatsoever, but he’s still hitting the ball well, .291 for the season, and .343 over his past ten games.

•Kyle Bellows: 3B, Akron: 2-for-4, 1 R, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 1 BB: Bellows has clearly eaten his Wheaties over the past few games, and has hit home runs in back-to-back games, and three in his last five. He’s 6-for-9 in those two games, with three runs, a double, two homers and six RBI, with one walk. If there was just a way for this defensive specialist to continue this type of offense long term.

•Giovanni Soto: SP, Akron: W (4-2), 5 1/3 IP, 3 H, 1 R/ER, 3 BB, 3 K: Soto had his first good start in his last three, after giving up four runs in back-to-back games. Soto continues to be an intriguing prospect because of that mature make-up, but he’ll need to show more consistency to be taken seriously going forward. [20 year old in AA has lots of time to establish himself.]

•Tyler Holt: CF, Carolina: 2-for-4, 1 R, 1 3B, 1 BB, 1K, SB (9): Holt’s two hits was the only multiple hit game for the Muddies on Saturday night. Holt’s currently on a five-game hit streak, and has multiple hits in three of the past four games.

Trey Haley: RP, Carolina: H (2), 1 IP, 1 H: Haley continued his streak of impressive appearances with another shutout performance. In 12 1/3 IP, he’s given up only on earned run over all

.•Jose Flores: Closer, Carolina: BS (1), L (0-1), 2/3 IP, 1 H, 2 R/1 ER, 2 BB, 1 K: Flores had been lights out as a closer until Saturday Night, when it all came crashing down on him and the Mudcats. Flores has to stop reading my press.•

Jordan Smith: RF, Lake County: 2-for-5, 1 K: Smith is hitting .272, which isn’t a bad number, but after hitting .300 last season at Mahoning Valley, his numbers likely could be a bit better offensively. Coming into Saturday Night’s ballgame, Smith was 3-for-19 in his previous five games.

•Bryson Myles: DH, Lake County: 1-for-2: Myles has been struggling with hamstring issues, and hadn’t played in a few days prior to today. He only had a couple of at bats, so I have to believe that hamstring was bothering him on the basepaths.

I'm pretty sure I'm posting this stuff just for myself, but here's some info on Sunday games:

Huff 5 shuout innings, Scott Barnes 2 perfect innings in relief while fanning 2. Clippers win. Beau Mills power hitting 1b hits his first and seocnd homers of the year. Canzler stays hot with single double and walk.

http://www.milb.com/milb/stats/stats.js ... a_colaaa_1

TJ McFarland goes to 8-1 with a crafty 7 inning 12 hitter. All the hits were singles and he worked out of the jams with 4 double plays; also struck out 6; virtually nothing hit in the air. Chen singled; the rest of the lineup is irrelevant group of non prospects who win a lot of games.

http://www.milb.com/milb/stats/stats.js ... x_akraax_1

Mike Rayl not as bad as last time out but not very good, 2 homers yield 4 runs in 6 innings. But Shawn Armstrong remains nearly perfect, 2 innings, no hit, no runs, walks one, fans 2. ERA in Carolina 0.40. RonnieRod HR #3; Aguillar doubles, walks, fans, stays at 302

http://www.milb.com/milb/stats/stats.js ... a_potafa_1

Cody Anderson also done in by 2 homers, both solo, so his final line is still a good one: 6 innings, 2 runs on 6 hits, no walks, 8 K. 3 hits by the Captains, none by Lindor, one by LRod

http://www.milb.com/milb/stats/stats.js ... x_lcoafx_1

Does any of this interest anyone, now that A.G. has left the Forum?

I do.