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Guy Cipriano: Indians prospect Dorssys Paulino eager to adjust to the baseball tundra

Published: Wednesday, April 03, 2013

By Guy Cipriano

GCipriano@News-Herald.com

Captains shortstop Dorssys Paulino couldn't get comfortable Tuesday.

He stepped onto the Classic Park infield for the first time wearing a windbreaker above a practice jersey that covered another long-sleeve shirt. He removed the windbreaker and dropped it behind the shortstop area. He dropped the top layer over his jersey again.

He cleanly fielded some ground balls. He bobbled others. His hands throbbed the entire time.

Away from Arizona, where he spent his first professional season, and his native Dominican Republic, where he spent the first 16 years of his life, Paulino is bracing for the biggest challenge of a promising career.

The Indians signed Paulino for $1.1 million on July 2, 2011. Because there's serious money and prodigious talent involved, the Indians are allowing him to play tundra baseball for the first time.

Never mind he doesn't turn 19 until Nov. 21. Age-wise, Paulino resembles the neighbor trying to help the local high school win a few games. He plays video games and sheepishly grins when asked about his interests.

"I just try to relax and unwind when I'm not playing baseball," Paulino said through interpreter and Captains athletic trainer Bobby Ruiz.

Here's the difference between Paulino and Northeast Ohio's other teenage shortstops: Playing baseball is Paulino's full-time job.

Even before the Indians signed him to a seven-figure deal, Paulino toured the Dominican Republic's ultra-competitive youth baseball academies. The experiences eliminated part of his childhood, but foreshadowed his future.

"It's hard to explain," he said. "In the Dominican, I was always away from home at different academies. I don't really know what it's like being home in baseball. It's always working and doing what's needed to get through the season." Continued...

The nomadic aspects of professional baseball run in the family. His father, Jesus Sanchez, pitched for the Marlins, Cubs, Rockies and Reds from 1998 to 2004. As his son ripped through the rookie Arizona League last season, Sanchez continued pursuing bullpen work by pitching for the York Revolution of the independent Atlantic League. The 38-year-old Sanchez ended his playing career when he agreed to become the pitching coach for the Indians' Dominican Summer League team.

The job eliminated the possibility of a father-son encounter in a professional game and offered Sanchez a chance to spend the spring in Goodyear, Ariz., where Paulino and his teammates prepared for the season. Before he ditched comfortable for uncomfortable surroundings, Paulino spoke with his father about what to expect this season.

"He gave me a lot of pointers about how to deal with the cold," Paulino said.

By Thursday's opener against Lansing at Classic Park, Paulino should know how many layers it takes to endure April in Eastlake.

His goals for the season are modest. He said he's not worried about levels, opponents or organizational depth charts.

Paulino is the youngest player in Captains history, a title previously held by fellow shortstop Francisco Lindor, one of baseball's top prospects. Lindor, a big reason why the Captains reached the 2012 Midwest League playoffs, will begin this season at High-A Carolina.

The Indians' farm system is thin on pitching, catching and outfield depth. But the organization has stockpiled athletic middle infielders, led by the quick-swinging Paulino and slick-fielding Lindor. Baseball America ranks Paulino as the organization's third-best prospect behind Triple-A pitcher Trevor Bauer and Lindor.

The Indians are confident Paulino is beginning this season in the proper place.

"I think the adjustment is not just about age," Captains manager Scooter Tucker said. "It's the background, where you are from, if you have been able to play away from home before. The fact that he played in Arizona last year means he's been over here. It obviously helps. He seems to be pretty comfortable with it. I don't look for a long period of adjustments."

Once he settles, Paulino might possess the skills to thaw the tundra. Continued...

His defense needs tightened after committing 25 errors in 56 games between the AZL and New York-Penn League's Mahoning Valley Scrappers last season. But he hit .333 and uncorked seven homers from a developing 6-foot, 175-pound frame.

"He's a plus-power guy," Tucker said. "There's no question about it. It's a surprise, especially with his size and his youth."

Power and youth.

Youth and power.

Either way, it's a combination worth wearing multiple layers to watch.

Lake County Captains: 2013 player profiles

Published: Wednesday, April 03, 2013

By David S. Glasier

DGlasier@News-Herald.com

Pitchers

Dylan Baker

Age: 20

Throws: Left

Height, weight: 6-2, 215

Resides: Juneau, Alaska

Career track: Selected in fifth round of June 2010 draft out of West Nevada Community College.

2012: Mahoning Valley, 0-1 with 4.13 ERA in eight starts.

Mitch Brown

Age: 18

Throws: Right

Height, weight: 6-1, 195

Resides: Rochester, Minn.

Career track: Selected in second round of June 2012 draft out of Rochester Century High School.

2012: AZL Indians, 2-0 with 2.58 ERA in eight starts.

Luis DeJesus

Age: 21

Throws: Right

Height, weight: 6-2, 160

Resides: Lufkin, Texas

Career track: Selected in 11th round of June 2011 draft out of Angelina (Texas) College.

2012: Mahoning Valley, 4-2 with 2.02 ERA in 14 starts; Lake County, 0-1 with 7.50 ERA in four relief appearances.

Louis Head

Age: 22

Throws: Right

Height, weight: 6-1, 180

Resides: Katy, Texas

Career track: Selected in 18th round of June 2012 draft out of Texas State Univ.

2012: Lake County, 2-0 with 3.78 ERA in 14 relief appearances; Mahoning Valley, 0-2 with 2.03 ERA in seven appearances.

Josh Martin

Age: 23

Throws: Right

Height, weight: 6-5, 230

Resides: Enterprise, Ala.

Career track: Selected in 10th round of June 2012 draft out of Samford (Ala.) University

2012: Mahoning Valley, 4-1 with 4.14 ERA in 14 appearances (three starts).

Ryan Merritt

Age: 21

Throws: Left

Height, weight: 6-0, 165

Resides: Celina, Texas

Career track: Selected in 16th round of une 2011 draft out of McLennan (Texas) Community College.

2012: Mahoning Valley, 3-4 with 4:09 ERA in 14 starts.

Luis Morel

Age: 20

Throws: Right

Height/weight: 6-0, 196

Resides: Nagua, Dominican Republic

Career track: Signed as undrafted free agent in February 2010.

2012: Mahoning Valley, 2-6 with 4.89 ERA in 12 appearances, (nine starts).

Nick Pasquale

Age: 22

Throws: Right

Height, weight: 6-0, 190

Resides: Walnut Creek, Calif.

Career track: Selected in 20th round of June 2012 draft out of Diablo Valley (Calif.) College

2012: Lake County, 3-0, 2.17 ERA in nine appearances (two starts).

Michael Peoples

Age: 21

Throws: Right

Height, weight: 6-5, 190

Resides: Weatherford, Texas

Career track: Selected in 14th round of June 2012 draft out of West Oklahoma State.

2012: Mahoning Valley: 1-1 with 2.28 ERA in 16 relief appearances.

Jake Sisco

Age: 21

Throws: Right

Height, weight: 6-3, 200

Resides: Salida, Calif.

Career track: Selected in third round of June 2011 draft out of Merced (Calif.) College

2012: Mahoning Valley, 1-6 with 5.03 ERA in 15 starts.

Felix Sterling

Age: 20

Throws: Right

Height, weight: 6-2, 240

Resides: Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

Career track: Signed as undrafted free agent in November 2009.

2012: Lake County, 4-6 with 6.58 ERA in 24 appearances (18 starts).

Francisco Valera

Age: 23

Throws: Right

Height/weight: 6-1, 175

Resides: Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

Career track: Signed as undrafted free agent in June 2007

2012: Lake County, 6-3 with 5.35 ERA in 41 relief appearances.

Jack Wagoner

Age: 23

Throws: Right

Height, weight: 6-1, 203

Resides: Lake George, N.Y.

Career track: Selected in 31st round of June 2011 draft out of Florida Gulf Coast University

2012: Mahoning Valley, 3-5 with 4.36 ERA in 24 relief appearances.

Position players

Leonardo Castillo 3B

Age: 19

Bat/throw: R/R

Height, weight: 6-0, 202

Resides: Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

Career track: Signed as undrafted free agent in January 2010.

2012: Lake County, .216 with four home runs and 48 RBI in 116 games.

Martin Cervenka C

Age: 20

Bat/throw: R/R

Height/weight: 6-2, 178

Resides: Prague, Czech Republic

Career track: Signed as undrafted free agent in January 2009.

2012: AZL Indians, .240 with 12 RBI in 26 games.

Robel Garcia INF

Age: 20

Bat/throw: R/R

Height, weight: 5-9, 167

Resides: Las Matas de Farfan, Dominican Republic

Career track: Signed as undrafted free agent in February 2010.

2012: Lake County, .210 with three home runs and 23 RBI in 63 games.

Erik Gonzalez INF/OF

Age: 21

Bat/throw: R/R

Height, weight: 6-0, 170

Resides: Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic

Career track: Signed as undrafted free agent in August 2008.

2012: Mahoning Valley, .220 with two home runs and 18 RBI in 60 games.

Eric Haase C

Age: 20

Bat/throw: R/R

Height, weight: 5-10, 180

Resides: Westland, Mich.

Career track: Selected in seventh round of the June 2011 draft out of Divine Child (Mich.) High School.

2012: AZL Indians, .282 with three home runs and 22 RBI in 28 games.

Jorge Martinez INF

Age: 20

Bat/throw: S/R

Height, weight: 6-1, 183

Resides: San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic

Career track: Signed as undrafted free agent in July 2009.

2012: AZL Indians, .347 with seven home runs and 39 RBI in 46 games.

Dorssys Paulino SS

Age: 18

Bat/throw: R/R

Height, weight: 6-0, 175

Resides: Bani, Dominican Republic

Career track: Signed as undrafted free agent in July 2011.

2012: AZL Indians, .355 with six home runs and 30 RBI in 41 games.

Luigi Rodriguez 2B/OF

Age: 20

Bat/throw: S/R

Height, weight: 5-10, 163

Resides: Santiago, Dominican Republic

Career track: Undrafted free agent signed in September 2009.

2012: Lake County, .268 with 11 home runs and 46 RBI in 117 games.

Nellie Rodriguez C

Age: 18

Bat/throw: R/R

Height/weight: 6-2, 250

Resides: New York

Career track: Selected in 15th round of June 2012 draft out of George Washington High School.

2012: AZL Indians, .229 with four home runs and 17 RBI in 32 games.

Joe Sever INF

Age: 22

Bat/throw: R/R

Height, weight: 6-0, 205

Resides: San Jose, Calif.

Career track: Selected in 21st round of June 2012 draft out of Pepperdine.

2012: Mahoning Valley, ,274 with one home run and 20 RBI in 46 games.

Logan Vick OF

Age: 22

Bat/throw: S/R

Height, weight: 5-11, 190

Resides: Kerrville, Texas

Career track: Selected in 11th round of June 2012 draft out of Baylor Univ.

2012: Mahoning Valley, .181 with three RBI in 22 games.

LeVon Washington, OF

Age: 21

Bat/throw: L/R

Height, weight: 5-11, 173

Resides: Gainesville, Fla.

Career track: Selected in second round of June 2010 draft out of Chipola (Fla.) Junior College

2012: Lake County, .440 in six games prior to having hip surgery.

Staff

Scooter Tucker, manager

Age: 46

Resides: Pace, Fla.

Notable: Second season in the Indians' minor-league system, first as manager; nine-year career as player included brief stint with the Indians in 1995.

Steve Karsay, pitching coach

Age: 41

Resides: Scottsdale Ariz.

Notable: Second season in the Indians' minor-league organization. Last season, was pitching coach for rookie league AZL Indians; pitched for Cleveland, Oakland, Atlanta, New York Yankees and Texas in 11 major-league seasons.

Tony Mansolino, hitting coach

Age: 30

Resides: Nashville, Tenn.

Notable: Third season in Indians' minor-league system; hitting coach at Mahoning Valley the previous two seasons.

Preview of the 2013 Clippers Roster

01/2013 10:51 AM ET

Pitchers:

Trevor Bauer

Corey Kluber

Daisuke Matsuzaka

Joe Martinez

Fernando Nieve

Jerry Gil

Rob Bryson

Eric Berger

Matt Langwell

Giovanni Soto

Scott Barnes

Matt Capps

Preston Guilmet

Catchers:

Yan Gomes

Omir Santos

Infielders:

Mike McDade (1B/DH)

Cord Phelps (2B/SS/3B/1B/LF/RF)

Juan Diaz (SS)

Luis Hernandez (3B/Utility)

Ryan Rohlinger (Utility)

Outfielders:

Cedric Hunter

Tim Fedroff

Matt Carson

Jeremy Hermida

Adam Abraham

Disabled List:

Matt LaPorta (until early to mid-May)

Nate Spears (until early May)

Sports

Carolina Mudcats:

Published: Apr 03, 2013 05:46 PM

Season brings renewed hope

By D. Clay Best

ZEBULON -

For a trio of guys who have been in the Zebulon area for two days, Carolina Mudcats players Tyler Naquin and Tony Wolters and new manager David Wallace like what they see.

That’s fitting in a way, since Naquin is a self-confessed “south Texas boy” and Wallace grew up outside of Nashville, Tenn. Wolters is just glad to be somewhere with trees visible after spending more than six weeks in Arizona for spring training.

Grown trees surround their home for their summer minor league baseball exploits – Five County Stadium. That is a positive for the new guys.

Now the Mudcats want to grow, too. Grow as in fan base. That is something the Mudcats have battled for their 20-plus years in the Triangle, even after the expansion of U.S. 264 and the building of Interstate 540 helped ease baseball fans’ path to watch baseball.

“The ease of getting here is there,” said Carolina general manager Joe Kremer. “Now we just need the weather to cooperate better with us than it did last year to see more fans come out.”

Last year, the Mudcats lost four games to rainouts and had 16 others delayed for weather at the stadium, which is at the junction of U.S. 264 and N.C. 39 near the Wake County/Johnston County line.

Carolina will open the season Friday night, its second in the Advanced Class A Carolina League, against Winston-Salem. The Mudcats’ roster will feature two of the top three prospects in the Cleveland Indians’ system – shortstop Francisco Lindor and Naquin, an outfielder – and several other players who led Class A Lake County (Ohio) into the playoffs last season.

Fielding a successful team and putting prospects who have followings in the baseball community in the lineup are sure ways to draw more interest from fans. And Mudcats owner Steve Bryant expects to do both this season.

“Those families who come out to three or four games a year might come a time or two more if we’re winning,” said Bryant. “But they’re really not living and dying on who wins and loses. They just want a fun night at the ballpark, and we feel like we offer that.”

Even with the building of the expressways in Wake County, the Mudcats’ fan base hasn’t grown much in that direction according to Bryant, a Johnston County native. The influx of fans has come from the eastern side of their five-county drawing area, namely fans from Greenville, Kinston and Goldsboro. That’s fitting since the Kinston Indians made the move to Five County Stadium and Bryant’s ownership before the 2011 season. Highways, like I-795 around Goldsboro, U.S. 264 outside of Wilson and the straight shot up U.S. 264 from Greenville, have made the drive easier for those who used to attend Kinston games.

“We had a lot of fans coming in with Kinston Indians gear on last year,” Bryant said. “A lot of them left with Mudcats’ gear and Indians gear. We just want to get them back as often as we can.”

Kremer said the team’s fan base will always be strongest within 20 miles of its stadium so projected growth in eastern Wake County and northwestern Johnston County will help the fan base continue to grow. The economic and real estate woes also stalled the Mudcats’ two decades of work in making Five County Stadium a destination point for Raleigh-area baseball fans.

“Just as the growth was coming our way, everything went bad and the housing developments stopped,” Bryant said. “Now as that development starts to slowly start again, the Zebulon area will benefit since this area is the only area really left to develop in Wake County. When that happens, we are going to have an influx of new fans.”

Season preview: Managing Clippers is perfect fit for Tremie

By Jim Massie

The Columbus Dispatch Thursday April 4, 2013 6:11 AM

Chris Tremie settled into the Clippers manager’s office in Huntington Park yesterday and felt comfortably at home in his new surroundings.

“I think I always wanted to coach, even from college days,” said Tremie, 43 and the 21st manager in Clippers history. “But at that time, I was focused on playing.”

The thought kept a respectful distance for the young catcher through his time at the University of Houston and for most of a 14-year professional playing career that included 22 games and 41 at-bats in the major leagues.

Ultimately, however, the desire to teach the game came into clearer focus around 2005. Maybe it was the uncounted foul tips off the catcher’s mask or blocked breaking balls in the dirt.

“When I got close to the end, I knew I wanted to manage or coach in some capacity,” Tremie said. “I put some feelers out there on my desire to coach catchers or to manage.”

Current Boston Red Sox manager John Farrell, then with the Cleveland Indians, called Tremie.

“I was still in the middle of maybe being a free-agent signee to play again,” he said. “We talked about it and I decided to retire as a player. He made an offer to work with catchers in spring training. It evolved into me managing in the Gulf Coast League that year. But I’ve had a desire to manage probably since my early 30s.”

Eight years later, Tremie has climbed to the top of the minor-league ladder in the Indians organization. He won the Eastern League championship in 2012 with double-A Akron and replaced new Cleveland first base coach Mike Sarbaugh with the Clippers in the offseason.

Tremie arrives for the fifth season of the affiliation between the Clippers and the Indians. The Clippers’ International League season begins at 7:05 tonight at Indianapolis with the kind of expectations for the parent team that a Tribe fan can hear by turning one ear north from Huntington Park.

The difference has changed the Columbus roster.

“This team is constructed a lot differently than the teams we’ve had the first four years,” Clippers president and general manager Ken Schnacke said. “It’s really because the Cleveland Indians are constructed much differently than they have been.

“The Indians have made some moves where now they expect to contend. So the pieces that are in Columbus have a little more of a veteran presence. And they’re more important to the continuity of what is going to happen in Cleveland.”

The pieces are veteran with profiles as high as Daisuke Matsuzaka, the one-time ace of the Boston Red Sox, and Matt Capps, a closer with 138 big-league saves. Catcher Yan Gomes and outfielder Matt Carson made big spring training impressions on new Cleveland manager Terry Francona.

They also include top Tribe pitching prospect Trevor Bauer, shortstop Juan Diaz, infielder-outfielder Cord Phelps and reliever Preston Guilmet, the closer for Akron last season.

“That’s going to give us more stability than we’ve had in the past,” Schnacke said. “It’s also stopped a little bit the idea of promoting a guy who hasn’t had enough repetitions at another level. I would hope that both levels are going to see more sound baseball.”

A triple-A manager has to become a master in the art of juggling playing time and fitting players into roles. Tremie likes the feel of that as well.

“You learn as you go,” he said. “I’m still learning now and most definitely will always learn. That’s what makes this job intriguing and fun. You can always learn something.”

Akron Aeros notebook: Pitcher Danny Salazar confident entering Opening Day start

By Michael Beaven

Beacon Journal sports writer

Published: April 4, 2013 - 12:12 AM | Updated: April 4, 2013 - 09:40 AM

Danny Salazar likes to keep it simple when he takes to the mound.

Aeros executives, coaches, players and fans are not complaining.

Salazar, a right-handed pitcher, will be the Opening Day starter at 6:35 tonight when the Aeros host the Binghamton Mets at Canal Park.

He will take with him a 5-0 record in seven career starts in an Aeros uniform.

“I am a pitcher who will stay calm on the mound,” Salazar said. “I like to play for the team. I am not the type of guy who plays for fame.”

The Indians signed Salazar, 23, in 2006, and between 2007 and 2009 he made 46 starts and worked 225 innings for their minor-league affiliates. He underwent right elbow surgery after the 2009 season and that limited him to just 15 starts and 47 innings between 2010 and 2011.

Salazar, 6-foot, 190 pounds, seemed to fully recover in 2012 and pitched in 22 regular season games and 87 ⅔ innings. He started the year with High Class-A Carolina and then finished in Double-A Akron and helped the Aeros reach the Eastern League playoffs with a 4-0 record, a 1.85 ERA and 23 strikeouts in 34 innings.

Former Aeros manager Chris Tremie gave Salazar the ball in the playoffs and he added a fifth win after tossing six innings against Trenton in the Eastern League finals series.

The Aeros ended up winning the Eastern League championship, and Salazar is excited at the prospect of winning another one.

“I want to start out playing hard and playing for the team, like I was doing last year,” Salazar said. “This is my first full year playing here, so I don’t know every team. I didn’t have a chance to face all these teams last year. I have been getting ready during the offseason and spring training. I think something good is coming.”

Salazar smiled when Aeros manager Edwin Rodriguez announced he was his No. 1 starter this season.

“That is going to be fun,” Salazar said. “I guess it will be good and fun. I will maybe be a little nervous, but I will be fine.”

Future closer

Aeros right-handed relief pitcher Shawn Armstrong just might be a closer in the making, based on his mentality.

“I am a really intense pitcher,” Armstrong said. “When I get on the mound, I get all hyped up. I am kind of low-key until I step up to the mound. Once I get on the mound and there is a batter in the box, there is no better feeling in the world for me. I am coming right after you. My mentality is to go after the hitter and get ahead in the count.”

Armstrong, 22, is also excited about a new-look Canal Park that has been spruced up under the guidance of owner Ken Babby.

“The new ownership has done a great job so far,” Armstrong said. “Walking into the stadium and seeing both new scoreboards is awesome. There is new padding on the walls. This is a great stadium to play. I loved it last year, and with all the new upgrades, I am excited to play this year.”

Two calls from ‘The Show’

Catcher Alex Lavisky and all of his Aeros teammates are just two calls away from playing Major League Baseball.

For Lavisky, the idea of playing for the Indians is special because he is a life-long fan of Cleveland pro sports teams after living in Cleveland and Lakewood.

“That would be tremendous,” Lavisky said. “To get up there would be a dream come true. That was one of the big reasons I decided to sign [after graduating from Lakewood St. Edward High School]. It is such a unique situation to be born and raised Cleveland, as blue-collar as it gets. To be able to maybe play in the big leagues with Cleveland and help that big-league team make the playoffs and win a World Series would just be a dream come true for me. This is a tremendous situation for my family and I. It could not have worked out any better.”

Lavisky, 22, was a three-year starter at quarterback on the St. Edward football team and a four-year letter winner in baseball. His favorite team is the Indians.

“The 1990s were amazing,” Lavisky said. “That was right when I was growing up, and then the early 2000s were sick. I am a Cleveland sports guy. I can’t get enough Indians, Browns and Cavaliers.”

Young infield

Edwin Rodriguez is intrigued by the Aeros four infield prospects: Jesus Aguilar of Venezuela at first, Jose Ramirez of the Dominican Republic at second, Ronny Rodriguez of Dominican Republic at shortstop and Giovanny Urshela of Colombia at third. All four have found success at the plate, too.

Aguilar, 22, played most of last year at Carolina for Edwin Rodriguez and finished with the Aeros. Ronny Rodriguez, 20 and Urshela, 21, played the entire season at Carolina. Ramirez, 20 played at Mahoning Valley and Lake County.

2013 Akron Aeros Opening Day roster

Starters

35 Danny Salazar R/R 6-0 190

46 T.J. House R/L 6-1 205

39 Matt Packer L/L 6-0 199

32 Paolo Espino R/R 5-10 206

28 Toru Murata L/R 6-0 182

Relief pitchers

34 Shawn Armstrong R/R 6-2 210

38 Brett Brach R/R 6-2 189

17 Cole Cook R/R 6-6 218

40 Jose Flores R/R 6-3 250

27 Kyle Landis R/R 6-0 185

45 Fabio Martinez R/R 6-3 200

23 Bryce Stowell R/R 6-2 205

26 Edward Paredes L/L 6-0 180

Catchers

13 Alex Lavisky R/R 6-1 209

12 Roberto Perez R/R 5-11 225

Infielders

16 Jesus Aguilar R/R 6-3 250

29 Chun Chen R/R 5-11 210

11 Matt Lawson R/R 6-0 195

10 Jose Ramirez S/R 5-9 165

15 Ronny Rodriguez R/R 6-0 170

41 Giovanny Urshela R/R 6-0 197

Outfielders

 4 Delvi Cid R/R 6-3 194

 2 Tyler Holt R/R 5-10 187

22 Quincy Latimore R/R 5-11 175

24 Carlos Moncrief L/R 6-0 219

Manager:

Edwin Rodriguez.

Hitting coach:

Jim Rickon.

Pitching coach:

Greg Hibbard.

Notes:

The 25-man roster is quite diverse and features players from the United States, Panama, Venezuela, Dominican Republic, Japan, Puerto Rico, Taiwan and Colombia. ... Murata and Lawson are the oldest players on the roster at age 27. ... Rodriguez and Ramirez are the youngest players on the roster at age 20. ... A total of 16 players played for the Aeros at some point last season, including 11 of the 13 pitchers.

Captains manager getting feel for this year's team

By David S. Glasier

DGlasier@News-Herald.com

Fans won't be alone in drawing a bead on this band of Lake County Captains during the season-opening homestand, which begins at 6:30 p.m. Thursday.

First-year Captains manager Scooter Tucker also will have a learning curve as the Captains and Lansing (Mich.) Lugnuts square off four times at Classic Park.

"I'm pretty familiar with some of these players, less familiar with others," Tucker said.

In the spring training camps of the Indians and many big-league teams, minor leaguers tend to be moved around in exhibition games.

For instance, many of the position players and pitchers who broke camp with the lower-Class A Captains saw more game action in spring training with the advanced-Class A Carolina Mudcats.

It's possible that Tucker, pitching coach Steve Karsay and hitting coach Tony Mansolino have had minimal in-game exposure to some of the players now under their charge.

"I don't think it will take us long to get a feel for these guys, at least I hope not," Tucker said, smiling. "Some of it will be dialogue, just talking to the players and finding out where they've been comfortable in the past."

By the time the Captains take the field for Thursday's opener, Tucker will have overseen two full workouts at Classic Park.

Here are his scheduled starters.

Pitcher: Luis DeJesus

Catcher: Eric Haase

Outfield: Jorge Martinez (LF), LeVon Washington (CF), Luigi Rodriguez (RF)

Infield: Nellie Rodriguez (1B), Robel Garcia (2B), Dorssys Paulino (SS), Erik Gonzalez (3B)

Designated hitter: To be determined.

Candidates are reserves Leonardo Castillo (INF), Martin Cervenka (C), Joe Sever (INF) and Logan Vick (OF).

Tucker said he'll go with Washington as leadoff batter. The 5-foot-11, 173-pound speedster from Florida was the Indians' second-round selection in the June 2010 draft out Chipola Junior College.

Washington opened the 2012 season in Lake County but was shut down after six games with a hip injury that later required labrum repair surgery.

"The biggest thing for LeVon is to stay healthy and put together a solid season," Tucker said. "He came to camp very focused and ready to make a statement."

Tucker said it will take "a few days" for him to arrive at the semblance of a set batting order.

"These guys all have a lot of talent and are highly regarded in the system," he said.

Sure to be in the middle of the order is Paulino, the third-rated prospect in the Tribe farm system according to Baseball America magazine.

"Offensively, the sky is the limit for Dorssys," Tucker said. "Defensively, from what I've seen he's solid. The people here will see a young, exciting player."

Tucker said he and Karsay will keep it simple for pitchers.

"Whether they have a power arm or not, we want them to command the fastball and work off that," Tucker said. "We're going to stress that early on, especially with the temperatures the way they are. Let's make them put the ball in play."

Tucker joined the Indians' minor-league organization last year as the hitting coach for Carolina. This is his first managerial assignment.

"I think I need multiple choice," Tucker replied, laughing, when asked for an early summation of his managing style. "We're here to instill some discipline, but I'd say I'm a teacher at heart."

After Sunday's series finale, the Captains will embark on a seven-game road trip. They'll be back home on April 16 to face the Dayton Dragons.

Captains: Luis DeJesus leads young pitching staff

Published: Thursday, April 04, 2013

By Guy Cipriano

GCipriano@News-Herald.com

Luis DeJesus isn't moping about beginning a second straight season at the same level.

Instead, he's relishing his return to the Lake County Captains.

"I feel like I'm going to redeem myself," DeJesus said.

The redemption process includes no waiting period. DeJesus, a right-hander selected in the 11th round of the 2011 draft, will start Thursday's opener against Lansing at Classic Park.

The game represents DeJesus' first Midwest League start. DeJesus produced a 7.50 ERA in four relief appearances with the Captains last season.

To help DeJesus log more innings, the Indians sent him to short-season Mahoning Valley, where he went 4-2 with a 2.02 ERA and 52 strikeouts in 14 starts. He earned New York-Penn League All-Star honors. More importantly, he put himself in a position to begin this season in the Captains' starting rotation.

"I went to Mahoning Valley and found myself as a starter," he said. "I'm excited to get a chance to start at Lake County. I have a lot of confidence."

Before joining the Captains last May, DeJesus worked as a starter in the Indians' extended spring training program. Making the move from starter to reliever proved more difficult than he expected.

Luis DeJesus isn't moping about beginning a second straight season at the same level.

Instead, he's relishing his return to the Lake County Captains.

"I feel like I'm going to redeem myself," DeJesus said.

The redemption process includes no waiting period. DeJesus, a right-hander selected in the 11th round of the 2011 draft, will start Thursday's opener against Lansing at Classic Park.

The game represents DeJesus' first Midwest League start. DeJesus produced a 7.50 ERA in four relief appearances with the Captains last season.

To help DeJesus log more innings, the Indians sent him to short-season Mahoning Valley, where he went 4-2 with a 2.02 ERA and 52 strikeouts in 14 starts. He earned New York-Penn League All-Star honors. More importantly, he put himself in a position to begin this season in the Captains' starting rotation.

"I went to Mahoning Valley and found myself as a starter," he said. "I'm excited to get a chance to start at Lake County. I have a lot of confidence."

Before joining the Captains last May, DeJesus worked as a starter in the Indians' extended spring training program. Making the move from starter to reliever proved more difficult than he expected.

"At Mahoning, I was myself again," he said. "I need 20 minutes to get warmed up. I was on a routine, and it really clicked for me. I was back in my routine and being myself."SClBThe 21-year-old DeJesus, who attended Angelina (Texas) Community College, leads a young rotation. The other four starters — Ryan Merritt, Mitch Brown, Jake Sisco and Dylan Baker — are all 21 or younger. Brown, the Indians' 2012 second-round draft pick, doesn't turn 19 until next Saturday. Continued...

"We're going to have a lot of youth, a lot of energy," said Merritt, a left-hander who will start Friday. "We are all ready to go."

Pitching coach Steve Karsay, who worked in the rookie Arizona League, said the Captains "have a dynamic rotation with a lot of guys who can do different things."

One thing the rotation lacks is experience. No member of the quintet attended a four-year college. DeJesus, Merritt, Sisco and Baker attended junior colleges. Brown, a Minnesota native, is less than a year removed from his high school career.

"There is some youth, and I think these young guys know that," Karsay said. "It's all about being consistent, not trying to get too high when you are doing good and not getting too low when you're not going well. It's a long season. It's a marathon, not a sprint. You are going to have good days, you are going to have bad days."

Here's Karsay's preseason assessment of the Captains' five starters:

DeJesus: "A command guy. He likes to use his off-speed pitches. Moves the ball around a lot. He's a good starter there."

Merritt: "He's our only left-hander. He's a strike thrower, a guy who commands the ball and likes to move the ball around. He has a good mix of pitches. He should compete on every fifth day he's out there."

Brown: "He's our No. 2 draft pick last year. He has great makeup and an excellent arm. He has an opportunity to really grow into the position and get some experience. I'm looking for new and exciting things from Mitch this year."

Sisco: "He's our No. 4 guy. He's another guy with a four-pitch mix and likes to move his pitches around. He can have a power arm at times. He fills out the back end of our rotation really well."

Baker: "He will be our fifth starter. He's done a really good job on making adjustments in his mechanics to get more consistent in the zone. He needs to throw more strikes. He has some really good off-speed pitches that he will need to continue to work on and figure out how to use within the game, He gives us another good back end of the rotation arm that competes every fifth day."

Thanks for all those Joe. I found the elusive Rob Bryson on the AAA roster. About time he gets to play there.

Dorsyss Paulino found it too cold to play ball in Eastlake, but two Captains starters should be OK with NE Ohio weather: Dylan Baker's from Juneau and Mitch Brown from Rochester MN (don't like having a pitcher who considers the home of the Mayo Clinic as his home)

This Robert Whitenack RHP picked up from the Cubs actually has a pretty decent writeup in BA Prospect Handbook, he's their No. 23 prospect which outranks Hector Rondon who the Cubs picked up from the Tribe in Rule 5 (and who debuted with 1 scoreless inning yesterday). He's 24, 6-5, 185. 8th round pick with injury history:

He was making a case for being the system's top pitching prospect during a breakout 2011 season until he blew out his elbow in June. Instead of getting consideration for a late season call up he had TJ surgery instead. Before he got hurt, W;s fasball had jumped from high 80s to 89-96 while keeping its hard sink. He scrapped a knuckle curve for a more effective slider inthe low 80s and had some success with his changeup. His stuff didn't come all the way back in 2012 as fastball resided around 90 and his slider lacked bite. The Cubs jsut wanted him to build his arm back so he'd be at full strength in 2013 and then added him to the 40-man roster. If he can recover his 2011 form, he could develop into a No. 3 starter

[A big IF, but we have few pitchers with ceilings that high]

joez wrote:<

Rusty

Pretty good your ass Joe. Omar is the best defensive shortstop that has ever played the game. Wake up you old coot !

Could you go back and read my post again??

I never mentioned the fact that Omar was not the best defensive shortstop in the game.

Phillips blows defensively compared to Robbie Alomar. You are so full of crap.

Keep repeating the same crap but just because you post it again does not make it right. Sad !!!!!!

Rusty

I don't think I ever mentioned the fact that Phillips was a better second baseman than Alomar although he has developed into one of top second basemen in baseball.

In fact, I will give you a chance to apologize

Robbie was a natural second baseman starting at age 20 until he retired 16 years later (2004). Phillips was a natural shortstop that was converted into a second baseman and didn't assume full time duties at that position until 2005 at age 25. His career took off and the career has not been a shabby on so far. All-star, Gold Glove winner, the only second basemen in the history of baseball to have a 30-30 season..........I shouldn't have to go on should I ? Well! Maybe! He puts on a defensive clinic and has enough highlight plays to fill an entire 15 minute segment on Baseball Tonight


Seriously, comparing Alomar and Phillips defensively through their same age periods (25 - 31), and considering that Alomar had 5 years experience on Phillips, Brandon actually had better defensive numbers than Alomar. Phillips hardly blows Dude! I think you should give in, admit I am right about Brandon Phillips, and shake hands. What do you think?

Check out the stats! I just threw in the offensive stats for shits and grins. I'll give you the benefit of the doubt. I think maybe you meant to say that Phillips blows offensively compared to Alomar ?!!?!?!

Code: Select all

Age Pos   G  GS  CG  Inn    Ch  PO   A  E  DP Fld%
25   2B 142 136 129 1216.1 681 331 334 16  83 .977 Phillips 
25   2B 150 150 138 1305.1 707 254 439 14  92 .980 Alomar

26   2B 156 154 147 1371.0 782 341 433  8 113 .990 Phillips
26   2B 106 102  87  873.1 455 176 275  4  71 .991 Alomar

27   2B 140 140 132 1237.2 706 298 401  7  85 .990 Phillips 
27   2B 128 128 117 1126.2 643 272 367  4  84 .994 Alomar

28   2B 151 150 140 1332.1 725 307 409  9 100 .988 Phillips 
28   2B 141 139 121 1217.2 735 279 445 11 107 .985 Alomar

29   2B 152 151 135 1311.0 703 281 419  3  95 .996 Phillips
29   2B 109 103  82  896.2 509 203 300  6  66 .988 Alomar

30   2B 148 148 140 1324.0 721 306 409  6  94 .992 Phillips
30   2B 144 141 130 1236.1 711 251 449 11  86 .985 Alomar

31   2B 146 144 130 1251.0 637 241 391  5  73 .992 Phillips
31   2B 156 154 126 1306.1 742 270 466  6 102 .992 Alomar

Code: Select all

Age   G  PA  AB   R   H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB  SO   BA  OBP  SLG  OPS
25  149 587 536  65 148 28  1 17  75 25  2 35  88 .276 .324 .427 .751 Phillips 
25  153 683 589 109 192 35  6 17  93 55 15 80  67 .326 .408 .492 .900 Alomar

26  158 702 650 107 187 26  6 30  94 32  8 33 109 .288 .331 .485 .816 Phillips 
26  107 455 392  78 120 25  4  8  38 19  8 51  41 .306 .386 .452 .838 Alomar

27  141 609 559  80 146 24  7 21  78 23 10 39  93 .261 .312 .442 .754 Phillips 
27  130 577 517  71 155 24  7 13  66 30  3 47  45 .300 .354 .449 .803 Alomar

28  153 644 584  78 161 30  5 20  98 25  9 44  75 .276 .329 .447 .776 Phillips 
28  153 699 588 132 193 43  4 22  94 17  6 90  65 .328 .411 .527 .938 Alomar

29  155 687 626 100 172 33  5 18  59 16 12 46  83 .275 .332 .430 .762 Phillips 
29  112 469 412  64 137 23  2 14  60  9  3 40  43 .333 .390 .500 .890 Alomar

30  150 675 610  94 183 38  2 18  82 14  9 44  85 .300 .353 .457 .810 Phillips
30  147 657 588  86 166 36  1 14  56 18  5 59  70 .282 .347 .418 .765 Alomar

31  147 623 580  86 163 30  1 18  77 15  2 28  79 .281 .321 .429 .750 Phillips 
31  159 694 563 138 182 40  3 24 120 37  6 99  96 .323 .422 .533 .955 Alomar
 

No, Phillips blows defensively compared to Robbie Alomar. Maybe you should actually watch the games because no one that saw both play 2nd thinks that Phillips could carry Alomar's jock. No matter how much you have a hard on for Phillips.

My eyes are better then your stats and unbelievable excuses for Phillips.

This is a minor league folder. I'll respond in the Baseball Other Than Tribe Folder.

TY