Re: Minor Matters

2867
Jose Ramirez (SS, Akron): 4-for-7, R, CS, E. Ramirez continues to be a singles machine at Akron this year, and he played shortstop on Saturday night in place of Francisco Lindor who is said to be with the big league team in Cleveland while he gets some planned time away from playing.
“Every day is a new opportunity. You can build on yesterday's success or put its failures behind and start over again. That's the way life is, with a new game every day, and that's the way baseball is.”
-- Bob Feller

Re: Minor Matters

2869
I like the idea of giving Lindor some time off. He's played far more games this summer than ever before and the kid is still a teenager.

Ramirez has also been rated as his league's fastest and best baserunner. I think that all these middle IFs suggest we deal Asdrubal who's certainly not getting better with age.

Re: Minor Matters

2870
Almost an organizational composite shutout on Monday. Besides the Indians, Carolina was held scoreless and so was Lake County until the bottom of the 9th when Paulino knocked in one run and catcher-DH Jeremy Lucas doubled home a pair for a 3-2 victory. All the other teams had the day off. Wait I just found out that Arizona team played a late game and won it 4-2.

Boxes:

http://www.milb.com/scoreboard/index.js ... d=20130812

Noteworthy:
17-year-old catcher Francisco Mejia hit his 3rd homer; his avg is 275; OPS 820.
Starting pitchers all did rather well:
Arizona: Kieran Lovegrove 5 1/3 7 2 1 2 2 2012 high draft pick
Lake County: Robbie Aviles 6 6 2 2 1 4 recovering from injury, getting stronger
Carolina: Nick Pasquale 6 6 2 2 2 7 having a good second half

Re: Minor Matters

2871
If players who were signed this summer out of the draft or the international market were eligible for BA’s midseason Top 50 Prospects list, how many of them would make it? Where would they appear on the list?

ANSWER:

On the 20-80 scouting scale, the mediocre 2013 draft crop rated as a 40 or 45. But as in any draft, there were talented players available, and I see six who would have cracked our midseason Top 50 had they been eligible:

Kris Bryant, 3b, Cubs (No. 2 overall). Bryant led NCAA Division I with 31 homers this spring, a record for the BBCOR bat era and more than 223 of the 296 teams at that level. I think he’s the best prospect in a deep Chicago system, and thus I’d put him at No. 10, between shortstops Carlos Correa (Astros) and Javier Baez (Cubs).

Jonathan Gray, rhp, Rockies (No. 3) and Mark Appel, rhp, Astros (No. 1). I still find it difficult to separate Gray and Appel, and I still give Gray the slightest of edges because he has a higher ceiling. Pirates righthander Jameson Taillon doesn’t miss as many bats as he should considering his stuff, so I’d slot Gray and Appel in at Nos. 12 and 13, right between Baez and Taillon.

Clint Frazier, of, Indians (No. 5). Frazier has electrifying bat speed but he’s also a high school hitter who has yet to prove himself in pro ball, so I’d temper my enthusiasm a bit. I’d put him at No. 29, behind the game’s best catching prospect (the Mets’ Travis d’Arnaud, who has had success in Triple-A) and ahead of a couple of live-armed righthanders I’m not completely sold on, Yordano Ventura (Royals) and Robert Stephenson (Reds).

Kohl Stewart, rhp, Twins (No. 4). I’d place Stewart at No. 30, between Frazier and Ventura. Yes, Ventura and Stephenson have proven more. But I also had one scout tell me Stewart’s stuff was just as good as Gray’s and Appel’s and that Stewart was a better athlete. I’ll bet on the upside.

Colin Moran, 3b, Marlins (No. 6). Moran was the best pure hitter in the 2013 draft and I see him as a slightly less athletic version of Red Sox third baseman Gavin Cecchini, who was No. 41 on the midseason Top 50 and would be bumped down to No. 46 with the addition of draftees. Moran would fit at No. 49, behind Cecchini, Blue Jays righthander Aaron Sanchez and Phillies lefthander Jesse Biddle, and just ahead of Cubs third baseman Mike Olt.
Clint Frazier

Clint Frazier (Photo by Tomasso Derosa)

Clint Frazier, of, Indians (No. 5). Frazier has electrifying bat speed but he’s also a high school hitter who has yet to prove himself in pro ball, so I’d temper my enthusiasm a bit. I’d put him at No. 29, behind the game’s best catching prospect (the Mets’ Travis d’Arnaud, who has had success in Triple-A) and ahead of a couple of live-armed righthanders I’m not completely sold on, Yordano Ventura (Royals) and Robert Stephenson (Reds).

Re: Minor Matters

2872
Jose Ramirez trying to demonstrate additional versatility is getting a shot at third base tonight. Two chances in the first inning ( fly ball and line drive ). Rodriguez at short stop and Lawson at second.
“Every day is a new opportunity. You can build on yesterday's success or put its failures behind and start over again. That's the way life is, with a new game every day, and that's the way baseball is.”
-- Bob Feller

Re: Minor Matters

2878
Tuesday's notable lines from preseason Top 30 prospects:

CLE AA Aguilar, Jesus 1B 5 0 2 1 .276
CLE AA Rodriguez, Ronny SS 4 0 2 0 .273 2B (22), BB (12)
CLE AA Urshela, Giovanny DH 5 1 2 1 .266 2B (21)
CLE HiA Smith, Jordan RF 3 2 1 2 .282 HR (5), 2 BB (50)
CLE MAJ Gomes, Yan C 4 1 2 0 .314 2B (11)
CLE AA Armstrong, Shawn 1 2 1 1 2 2 4.94
CLE AAA Lee, C.C. 1 1 0 0 0 2 3.55
CLE HiA Whitenack, Robert 3.1 6 7 7 4 0 7.00 L (0-2)
CLE MAJ Allen, Cody 1 0 0 0 0 2 2.50

Re: Minor Matters

2879
Naquin and Anderson Promoted to Aeros

By Jeff Berger / MILB.com

08/14/2013 3:46 PM ET

AKRON, OHIO) August 14, 2013 -

The Cleveland Indians promoted OF Tyler Naquin and RHP Cody Anderson to the Akron Aeros from Class A Advanced Carolina Mudcats.

Naquin, 22, was drafted out of Texas A&M in the 1st round of the 2012 draft. Naquin was the 3rd ranked prospect in the Indians organization entering 2013 according to Baseball America. He played in 108 games for Carolina, hitting .277 with 124 hits, nine HR, and 42 RBI.

Anderson, 22, was drafted by the Indians out of Feather River (Calif.) JC in the 14th round of the 2011 draft. Anderson was the 29th ranked prospect in the Indians organization entering 2013 by Baseball America. He started 23 games for the Mudcats with a 9-4 record and a 2.34 ERA. Anderson gave up just 32 ER in 123.1 IP and struck out 112.

Naquin and Anderson joined Akron on the road at Richmond. Anderson is scheduled to start Thursday.

With these additions the Aeros boast 10 of Baseball America's pre-season top-30 prospects for the Cleveland Indians organization; Francisco Lindor, Naquin, Ronny Rodriguez, Jesus Aguilar, Trey Haley, Shawn Armstrong, Giovanny Urshela, Jose Ramirez, Austin Adams, and Anderson.

Current Aeros in Indians top Prospect Rankings

Code: Select all

BA Pre-season Rank (Minor League Rank) Current MLB.com Rank (Overall Minor League Rank)
Francisco Lindor, INF    1st (28th)                             1st (5th)
Tyler Naquin, OF         3rd                                    5th
Ronny Rodriguez, INF     8th                                    8th
Jesus Aguilar, INF       9th                                    18th
Trey Haley, RHP          14th
Shawn Armstrong, RHP     20th
Giovanny Urshela, INF    22nd
Jose Ramirez, INF        23rd                                   13th
Austin Adams, RHP        24th
Cody Anderson, RHP       29th
Alex Monsalve            ---                                    19th
“Every day is a new opportunity. You can build on yesterday's success or put its failures behind and start over again. That's the way life is, with a new game every day, and that's the way baseball is.”
-- Bob Feller

Re: Minor Matters

2880
Interesting lineup for tonight's Aeros game. Around the horn, Jose Ramirez (3b), Francisco Lindor (ss), Ronnie Rogriguez (2b), and Jesus Aguilar (1b), Urshela (dh), and Tyler Naquin (cf).
“Every day is a new opportunity. You can build on yesterday's success or put its failures behind and start over again. That's the way life is, with a new game every day, and that's the way baseball is.”
-- Bob Feller