Cleveland Sports Forum

And the promotion of Will Roberts to Carolina should mean either Dillon Howard or Jake Sisco will get to work in Lake Captain. We'll see.

Good work by Cody Anderson for the Captains last night. Only 1 single and 2 walks in 6 innnigs, equal 1 run. He also fanned only one. He and Lake Caounty losted 2-0. Myles with 2 of the 4 Captains hits, one a double, andhis 7th steal.

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Fedroff and Neal make their cases for promotion in Aero 8-3 win. Fedroff 2 singles and walk, avg 306. Neal 2 singles, walk, double, 2 rbi, avg 275. Adam Abraham 2 doubles and single is at 293.
TJMcFarland OK in 6: 9 hits, 2 walks equal 3 runs. 4K. Paolo Espino returns after opening day injfury with 2 perfect innings. Landis 1.

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It looks like the winner of the race to AAA OF was of all people Ben Copeland, 28 year old nobody who was hitting 136 for the Aeros. He goes 0-2 for Clippers. The team has 2 hits in a 2-1 loss, a double by Mills and single by Huffman.
Corey Kluber fans 10 in 5 1/3. That makes 45 in 32 1/3 innings! 2 runs scored on 4 hits and 4 walks. He's walked 16 or about 1 in every 2 innings. Hector Ambriz retires all 8 batters, 4 more on strikes.

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One of Tony's colleagues posted this. It's typically somewhat overblown, but FWIW:

Adam Abraham: 1B, Akron Aeros: 3-for-5, 2 R, 2 2B, 1 K:

When you aren’t a top prospect in the system, there are a lot of different ways you can go about handling your career. You can accept it, and be the middling player that you were signed to be, advancing to whatever level it is you are supposed to advance to. You can retire, and go about doing whatever it is your parents wanted you to do. Or, you can follow Adam Abraham’s lead, and work your tail off as you advance long past where you should be advancing. Abraham is a gap machine when he’s on, and he’s the kind of player that will work the cages until he IS ON. Overall, Abraham has his average up to .293, with an incredible .408 OBP and a .483 slugging percentage. He’s really picked things up over the past ten games, with an even better .353/.476/.618 line. He has an incredible approach at the plate that the Indians love, and on the season, has walked 12 times in 18 games, while striking out only seven times. He’s a right-handed hitter, who actually hits lefties (learn Matt LaPorta, learn), and if he could just tack on some more power, may just be a bit of a sleeper as he moves forward. You have to think management would consider moving him along because of his approach, even with the Mills/LaPorta/Canzler triumvirate in front of him. No, it may not be this year, but he could make things interesting next year.

Bryson Myles: CF, Lake County Captains: 2-for-3, 1 R, 1 BB, SB (7):

With rumors circulating that Tyler Holt may be set to advance to Akron, Myles finds himself playing centerfield tonight, which has been mostly the realm of LeVon Washington, and then Luigi Rodriguez. It’s distinctly possible that Myles will be targeted to move up, since his is a bit older than Rodriguez. This was his fourth multi-hit game in five, and his sixth in his past ten games. Myles’ line over his past ten games is a ridiculous .432/.463/.649, and it’s becoming abundantly clear that Myles has a bat that needs to be in a higher league. In a recent interview right here at IPI, via the hardest working man on the internet, Tony Lastoria, Myles stated his desire to play in centerfield, and I think that he might just be ready to get his shot…in Carolina.

This 7 foot 1 inch RH is listed on the Columbus roster. http://www.milb.com/milb/stats/stats.js ... pid=503441. Ever heard of Loek Van Mil?

Got him from the Angels. Tallest Big League pitcher up to now John Rauch 6"11"

civ ollilavad wrote:This 7 foot 1 inch RH is listed on the Columbus roster. http://www.milb.com/milb/stats/stats.js ... pid=503441. Ever heard of Loek Van Mil?

I suggest we nickname the Loek Ness Monster

He might be able to reach over and tag the guy leading off of first base.

http://www.halosheaven.com/2011/10/7/24 ... es-in-2011

19) Loek Van Mil, 09/15/1984-- rhrp, AA

3 wins, 5 losses. 73.1 IP, 2.09 ERA, 51 K/27 BB. 16 runs saved, 2.4 WAR

After a forgettable 2010 season that saw the Twins trade him for Brian Fuentes, Van Mil bounced back to set career bests in innings pitched, strikeouts, and ERA. He was a workhorse for the Travelers, especially through an endless August grind when the team was down starters and needed significant help in the middle innings. He even made a spot start on August 10th, twirling five innings of shutout baseball. If you haven't heard of this guy, get ready to see a lot of ink spilled over him from now through spring training, because his career now has momentum in addition to novelty. Van Mil is the tallest professional baseball player on record, measuring in at 7'1", 220. He can therefore do things that other players cannot, delivering plus fastballs that have extreme downward angle and a point of release ridiculously close to home plate. You will see more scouting reports on this guy throughout the offseason, but the take-away here is that Van Mil resurrected his career in 2011 and appears likely to debut in the big leagues, even if just for a cameo, at some point in 2012.

Indians acquire 7-foot pitcher from Angels
By Zack Meisel / MLB.com | 05/05/12 11:55 PM ET

CLEVELAND -- The Indians acquired 7-foot-1 pitcher Loek Van Mil from the Angels on Saturday in exchange for future cash considerations.

Van Mil, 27, will report to Double-A Akron. The native of Oss, Netherlands, was pitching for Triple-A Salt Lake, where he compiled a 1-0 record and 6.30 ERA in eight games. In 30 appearances for Double-A Arkansas last season, Van Mil went 3-5 with a 2.04 ERA.

Van Mil signed as a non-Drafted free agent with the Twins in 2005. He was traded to the Angels in 2010.

In 5 games our pitchers allow a total of 6 runs and post 4 wins (the only loss was 1=0 by Carolina). Pitching stars:

Chris Seddon 6-3-1-1-2-4
Cody Allen 2-2-0-0-0-2 2011 draftee already up to AAA
Accardo 1-0-0-0-0-2

Stephen Wright's knuckleball is working: 9-5-0-0-2-6 era 1.13. 2 passed balls may be a good sign.

Michael Goodnigjt 5-4-1-1-3-5
Shawn Armstron 2-0-0-0-0-3 2011 draftee now has 20 scoreless innings this year, 8 hits, 9 walks 24K

Trey Haley 1-0-2-0-0-0 strangest line of the day

Offensive notes:

Jose Lopez AAA debut 4 hits, 3 doubles. LaPorta 2 hits. Beau Mills 2 hits, his 4th HR, a grand slam.

Tim Fedroff, Jared Goedart and Roberto Perez at AA each with a single and a double.

Tony Wolters 2 hits. Aguiillar one in the first game. Second game Jesus with a single, two walks, sacfly. Carlos Moncrief a pair of triples. JaKe Lowery 0-4 with 2 K is down to 265.

In Low A, another 2-hit day for Lindor and his 11th steal. 2 hits also by Robel Garcia and 3 by C Alex Monsale, 2 are doubles, and he walks, but avg only 252.

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Terrific pitching this spring from a batch of 2011 draftees, note especially the 3 As: Allen, Anderson and Armstrong.

Cody Allen RH age 23 has been at Carolina, Akron and Columbus in his first month of 2012 with these results: 17 IP 9 hits 2 runs 0 walks! 24 K. !!!

Shawn Armstrong RH age 21 at Lake County and Carolina, 18th round pick: 20 IP 8hits 0 runs 9 walks 24 K

Cody Anderson RH age 21, is the only one of the 3 working as a starter. 14th round. 26 IP, 21 hits, 6 runs, 6 walks, 21 K.

Some notes from Tony Lastoria on yesterday's games:

•Cody Allen: RP, Columbus: 2 IP, 2 H, 2 K: I know I’ve been on this bandbox nearly every time Cody Allen takes the mound this season, but I just can’t help myself. He’s just too good. Allen made his third appearance with Columbus, going 5 1/3 innings. During that stretch, he’s given up six hits and one run, while striking out six. Overall this season, he’s gone 17 total innings, giving up nine hits and two runs, while striking out 24. Allen hasn’t walked a batter yet, is hitting the mid-90’s, and is everything that the Indians thought they were getting and more. This kid is ready now, but I’m sure the Indians will take their time with him, but make no mistakes, he’s ready when they need him.

* Steven Wright: SP Akron Aeros: W (3-1), 9 IP, 5 H, 2 BB, 6 K:

There comes a point when an experiment stops being an experiment, and starts becoming, in this case, a starting pitcher dominating. Wright did just that tonight, throwing a complete game, five-hit shutout. Wright isn’t the best starter in the Indians’ system, but he does currently have the best numbers. Wright has thrown the knuckleball his whole life, but didn’t start using it until the 2010 season, and then as an out pitch. Wright continued throwing the pitch last season, but began tinkering with his delivery and pitch speed, with various degrees of success. This season, Wright went back to his old delivery, and started throwing a harder knuckler, and he’s been lights out every since. Wright has discussed the pitch with several knuckleballers, including Tom Candiotti, R.A. Dickey, and Charlie Hough, and it’s clearly paying off. Wright is currently utilizing the knuckleball as his primary pitch, but is still throwing a four-seamer, a cutter, a sinker and a curveball when he needs them. How has it paid off this year? Well, he’s 3-1 in six starts, has yet to give up more than one run in an appearance, has gone 40 innings, given up only 28 hits and 16 walks, and he’s struck out 35 batters. His ERA is a wicked 1.13 overall. I’d say Steven Wright is making some noise. The big question going forward is how much do the Indians believe in the knuckler at the higher levels, because his numbers are starting to make a case for him moving to the next level.

* Francisco Lindor: SS, Lake County Captains: 2-for-5, 2 R, 1 RBI, 1 K, SB (11):

Lindor continues to showcase why the Indians took him as their first round pick, and why many are saying that he just might be the best player to come out of that draft. He’s 17-for-42 in his last ten games (.404), with nine runs, two doubles, two homers, five RBI, 3 walks, 7 K’s and five stolen bases. His 11 are tied for fourth in the league, and are the class of the team. This kid is only 18 years old, and he won’t be turning 19 until November. The scary thing is that he is a legit candidate to move up a level this year, if he continues to progress the way that he currently is. This is a special player, so you have to hope that the cards fall the right way for him over the next three years. I have a feeling that this kid is really going to take the sting out of losing guys like Choo and Cabrera.

Columbus at Altoona rained out. Carolina with the day off. Aeros game delayed. Only Captains are playing at this point.

No Fedroff in the Aero lineup, maybe promoted?? Goedart in RF. Kelvin de la Cruz ptiching against his former team, vs TJ House in his 2nd AA start.

Captains manage 2 hits, lose 2-0. Felix Sterling pitches great, fields poorly: 5 1/3 3 hit innings, 1 walk, 5 strikouts, no earned runs, but he makes 2 errors.

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Wright was doing a very good job down in Panama this winter as I had noted. The knuckler was fluttering quite well. Wright, Salazar, and Murata led the Roneros to the Panamanian championship.

.........Steven Wright (SP, Chiriqui Roneros): 6.0 IP, 8 H, 2 R/ER, 2 BB, 4 K, 0 HR. Wright and his Roneros teammates went out in style winning Game 6 of the Panama Winter League Finals ...
REASONS TO BE IN PANAMA

Danny Salazar was limited to just 14 2/3 innings this season between rookie ball and Class A Lake County as he worked his way back from Tommy John surgery. The 21-year-old right-hander probably wouldn't have been picked in the Rule 5 Draft, but the Indians obviously didn't want to risk losing him.

Indians minor league pitcher Steve Wright has added a knuckleball to his arsenal, and with the help of former Tribe knuckler Tom Candiotti and making strides with it. 14 strikeouts and 12 walks. I guess the 12 walks can be expected learning to throw that pitch. Again-practice, practice, practice.

Toru Murata: "He is a former first round pick of the Yomouiri Giants," said Scouting Director John Mirabelli when reached for comment. "He is a high profile prospect who pitched in the AFL and showed ability to get future major league hitters out. He is still only 25 with upside and we feel our Player Development people can help him get back on track."