Bring up Nolan Jones. Bye bye Kipnis

That was probably meant to be a joke, but don't overlook Mark Mathias who's having an unexpected breakout season in AAA and would be a nice substitute for all mouth no hit Kipnis. Jason is all "sunk cost" and no reason to hold on to him just because they're committed to paying him lots of money; would make more sense to pay the money and not have to watch him play ball. freeman is no answer since he can't field; don't know how solid Mathis is defensively, but he can hit: 300/363/480

well it is about time!

Tribe highlight for Saturday per milb.com

Indians C Eric Haase, Triple-A Columbus: 3-for-4, 2B, RBI, R -- The Tribe's No. 29 prospect posted his second three-hit game of the season in the Clippers' 9-1 victory over Lehigh Valley. He was active early, singling in the third inning and doubling in the fifth before scoring on Eric Stamets' homer. He added his third hit in the sixth, a single that scored Trayce Thompson. Haase ranks third in the International League with 17 homers to go with a .259/.350/.588 slash line and 32 RBIs [number one of course is Bradley; and Thompson is tied with Haase]

I'm not going to take the trouble to look for Mahoning Valley opening day lineups of the past, since I'm catching up on all sorts of things after being away two weeks, but I am certain that they have never opened up with the number of teenagers they did on Friday. Usually the Scrappers are playing plenty of college guys and kids who've spent more time in Arizona.

Holland CF age 19, 2018 draft pick, round 14 great speed
Rocchio SS age 18 NO. 1 prospect in the AZL last year great bat
Delgardo 2B age 19 2018 draft pick about round 6 lots of skills
Valera CF age 18, missed last year with a fracture but skipped over AZL everyone loves his bat
Englemann DH old 22 year old round 31 2018 draft
Johnnathan Rodriguez RF age 19 2017 draft round 3 a Civ favorite "5 tool" potential with a great arm
Cooper 1B age 19 round 33 2017
DeOleo 3B age 21
E. Rodriguez C age 20
Vargas RHP age 19 hard-thrower, rated about No. 15 on prospect lists
[other co-star of the rotation: Hankins RHP age 19, hard-thrower our 2nd pick we were lucky to grab]

After Kaai Tom won the Eastern League player of the month award and has hit just a well this month, or better, I have to assume that the 5th round draft pick should be regarded as a serious prospect. And should be in Columbus, just as Cardenas and Benson should be in Lynchburg. Let them play in their league all star games and then move up. I hope.

Tom in April: 185/283/284= 567
Tom in May: 333/434/635=1069
Tom in June: 378/481/644=1125

today's starters:

Peoples
Tully and Paulsen
Solter
Mota
Turner

J. Rodriguez hasn't shown the power I expected from him so far in our system, but I like his ability to get on base. And all reports are he has a cannon in RF. Definitely one to keep an eye on as he grows.

Early going big bats in the Dominican include, as expected, Gabriel Rodriguez, 261/340/563 with 3 doubles and 3 homers

as well as 17 year old SS Angel Martinez, 3rd in offense-minded league with 1217 OPS based on a line: 417/509/718. He has 4 doubles and already 5 triples in 12 games No homers. 8 walks. Was he another big bonus signing I assume?

Tom currently has a 9 game hitting streak going.

Naylor has a 7.

AZL opens tomorrow. Complete rosters not yet posted. Our Blue team has about a dozen pitchers and a few position players. The Red team roster sports 4 names

Since Civ is back I'll come in strong with some "THis and That's ...

The Captains have secured a playoff spot by clinching 1st place at half way mark.

(I still think that's stupid)

... Triston McKenzie is throwing off a mound in Goodyear.

... Bobby Bradley, left hitter, is slashing .341 / .356 / .776 against lefties this year. Wow. He has the second most home runs of any minor leaguer since the beginning of the 2018 season. 47

... Submariner reliever in Akron, Robert Bloom, has yet to allow a HR in his minor league career.

And by the by ... been talking about lefty reliever Kyle Nelson some here lately. Here is his organizational ranks among relievers since the beginning of last year. ...

1) FIP 1.13
1) xFIP 1.71
1) SwStr% 25.1%
1) WHIP 0.82
1) SO/BB 8.54
1) SO/BB% 35.3%
1) BB/9 1.63
1) BB% 4.7%
2) SO/9 13.94
2) SO% 39.9%
3) ERA 1.13
3) SO 111
3) AVG .176

And he leads all of minor league baseball in FIP since the beginning of last year. I dont know why he gets looked over.

Clippers win 3-1 and Bobby Bradley had another big night. 3-4 with 2 home runs. Numbers 21 and 22. ... Allen 0-4 ... Johnson 1-4

Akron loses both ends of double header. ... Tom was 1-6 on the day. ... K.Nelson with 1.1 shutout innings. ERA is now 0.50. ... Broom retired both hitters he faced, K'd 1.

Lynchburg lost 6-5. Not bad considering they gave Jones and OscarG the day off.

Captains lost, no doubt due to partying too hard last night celebrating making the playoffs before the damn all star break. ... Naylor 0-5. ... Rest of the prospects had day off, hung over no doubt.

Scrappers offense doesn't disappoint, winning 9-7. ... Rocchio 2-4 with a homer. ... Delgado 2-4 with a HR. ... Valera 1-4 with his second homer. ... JoRodriguez 2-4 with a double.

on the Carolina League northern all star team:

starting pitchers Hillman and Scott; reliever Broom
3b Nolan Jones; OF Oscar Gonzalez

on the Midwest eastern all star team from Lake Ciunty

Reliever Manuel Alvarez
Inflelder Tyler Freeman
Outfielder Will Benson

NOTE: Midwest League has 12 teams, Carolina has 8

guess who hit 2 more homers yesterday? 22 now for BB

Bobby Bradley, 1B, Indians. Bradley had a big game for Triple-A Columbus, smacking two home runs and collecting two singles. The cleanup hitter had a solo blast in the second inning, followed by another one in the sixth inning. Cleveland’s No. 7 prospect now has a three-game hit streak with four RBIs and four homers during that span.