Cleveland Sports Forum

Trevor Bauer's troubles in Columbus don't worry Tito: Cleveland Indians Insider

By Dennis Manoloff, The Plain Dealer




CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Right-hander Trevor Bauer recently has struggled at Class AAA Columbus. The composite line from his last three starts is ugly by any standard: 16 1/3 innings, 17 hits, 18 runs, 16 earned runs, 14 walks, 10 strikeouts, six homers.

In Bauer's most recent start, May 29 at Louisville, he gave up seven runs on seven hits in 4 2/3 innings. The Bats hit four homers.

Indians manager Terry Francona said Friday not to read too much into Bauer's rough stretch, maintaining that it is the inconsistency that comes with the developmental process.

"I also know we've told him that, while he is developing -- and this is the case with a lot of guys -- to use certain pitches in certain situations," Francona said. "We're trying to make sure that, when guys get to the major-league level, they can execute what they're supposed to."

Last season, Bauer made changes in his delivery to compensate for a groin issue. In spring training, he told coaches that it was as uncomfortable as he ever had been while throwing. Bauer is attempting to get back to where he was mechanically before the groin injury.

"He's progressing, and I think he's excited about where he's going," Francona said.

Overall, Bauer is 2-2 with a 5.05 ERA in seven starts for the Clippers. He is 1-2, 2.76 in three starts for the Indians.

Tribe brass wants Bauer to narrow his pitching repertoire, from eight or nine to no more than five. It also wants him to focus more on pitching to contact instead of strikeouts.

Surprise promotion today:

Matt Langwell 11th round reliever out of Rice. He's never been on the BA Tribe Top 30. but he's been steady and had an impressive spring training. 2.30 ERA in 27 innings at Columbus; other stats not too impressive 1.354 WHIP 23 K in 27 IP, 23 K vs 12 BB.

Recent boring transactions:


Chris Jakubauskas | Relief Pitcher
Team: Cleveland Indians
Age / DOB: (34) / 12/22/1978
Ht / Wt: 6'2' / 215
Bats / Throws: Right / Right
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Indians signed RHP Chris Jakubauskas to a minor league contract.
Jakubauskas had been pitching in relief at the Brewers' Triple-A affiliate, posting a 3.29 ERA over eight appearances. He's merely organizational depth

Saturday games.

Carrasco had been rolling right along at Columbus, but hit a big bump yesterday. 8 runs on 9 hits in 4 innings. Preston Guilmet faced 4, fanned 4. If Langwell can earn a trip to Cleveland, so can Guilmet.
At bat Chisenhall doubled twice and homered. Hitting 371 in AAA, with a bunch of errors. I guess he has about his return to Cleveland but interestingly his return could cost playing time for Yan Gomes; or another possibility after the pieces shuffle around is more time off for Stubbs.

Good day for middle IF tandem in Akron. Jose Ramirez 2 walks, a single, his 19th steal.
Ronnie Rodriguez three singles. in last 40 ABs: 40-8-17-10 3 doubles, 1 triple, 2 homers. Only 2 walks,but signficantly for him Ks are moderate at 6
Austin Adams 2 shutout innings, 2 hits, a walk, 3 K.

Tyler Naquin 3 hits include two more doubles, that makes 17. He's now above Lindor: 312 to 303.
2 singles for RF Jordan Smith, who still lacks power
2 doubles for 2b Joe Wendle.
Best Carolina pitcher Cody Anderson with an OK line: 5-4-2-2-2-5

Jake Sisco was a higher pick than Anderson but not faring quite as well. Pretty fair for LC yesterday: 5 1/3-4-1-1-4-4. Paulino a single and his 20th error.




http://www.milb.com/scoreboard/index.js ... d=20130601

Paulino raps out three hits, including his 9th double. He's now 10 for his last 24. But he makes two more errors, that's 22 and he's caught stealing. .229. Season high.

Tyler Naquin hits his 4th homer, singles and walks. Also caught stealing. .315
Lindor 2 singles in 5 trips and his 11th error. .306

C.C. Lee his second shutout rehab inning.

Interesting bits from Monday boxscores:

Naquin singles and doubles, that makes 18. Now hitting 317. Among league leaders in nearly all offensive categories in the Carolina League except homers although 4 is an OK number. He has one batting flaw however: 54 K which is enormous for a line drive hitter.

Greenwell single, double and Homer. Poor Bo is 24 now and his brief trial in AA was unsuccessful.

Looking for a lefty? Shawn Morimando with a gem: 7 innings, 4 hits, 2 walks 6 strikeouts. That extends the 5-11 LH scoreless streak to 18 innings over his last 3 starts: 18-8-0-0-6-19. He also picked off two runners and catcher Tony Wolters cut down a baserunner. Tony seems to be doing pretty well behind the plate.

For Lake County, Paulino hitless but draws a walk. Error No. 23. Santander three hits, one a double, hitting 277.

http://www.milb.com/scoreboard/index.js ... d=20130603
Bauer with another weird stat line: 5 2/3 9 hits 3 walks but only 1 run, 8 K.

Wolters has caught 5 of 18 basestealers, but I'm pretty sure that rate has been picking up since his first few games.

Yesterday's notable lines from BA


CLE HiA Naquin, Tyler CF 5 0 2 1 .313 2B (18)
CLE HiA Smith, Jordan RF 5 2 2 0 .271
CLE HiA Wolters, Tony C 4 0 2 0 .238 CS (3)
CLE LoA Santander, Anthony RF 4 2 3 1 .277 2B (6), SB (4), CS (3)
CLE AAA Bauer, Trevor 5.2 9 1 1 3 8 4.63
CLE MAJ Allen, Cody 0.2 0 0 0 1 1 2.10

Tuesday:

Clippers win 11-8. Aeros win 3-2 in 12 innings, Mudcats lose 3-1. Captains off.

Carrera 4 hits, a double, 2 steals and an assist.
Chisenhall single, homer, 3 walks, 4 rbi. 382 average
Phelps 2 singles, triple 5 rbi
Salazar 4 2/3 7 hits 5 runs 2 walks 4 strikeouts
Barnes 1 2/3 1 hit 2 runs, 3 walks, 3 K
Guilmet a scoreless inning with 2 K and his 15th save

RonnieRod 0-6
Jake Lowery single, double, homer
shutout relief by Adams (1 inning), Stowell (2 and 4K) Flores (2 and 3 walks and 2K)

Lindor and Naquin each with a single
Michael Peoples 6 1/3 one run on 4 hits, 4 K 2 walks



http://www.milb.com/scoreboard/index.js ... d=20130604

I noticed absence of Levon Washington lately. I see he's once again on the DL. He has managed 94 plate appearances to date. Hitting well, walking a lot, stealing bases. He's a pretty good offensive threat on those days when he's able to play.

One win in four tries yesterday, team records from top to bottom are now:

30-30; 28-31; 20-38; 20-35.

The winners were the Aeros where a couple of favorites had big nights: Carlos Moncrief with 3 hits, one his 7th homer, 3 rbi and a steal. Gio Urshela's 4 hits includes his 9th and 10th doubles and his 5th homer. The defensive whiz is hitting 286. His shortcomings are lack of speed and lack of walks. Jose Ramirez with 2 singles and caught stealing #10. Aguillar single and double.
Matt Packer 6 innings, 2 runs, 8 hits, he's a lefty. CC Lee first time in AA this year, 1 scoreless frame, 2 strikeouts. E. Tejeda in relief two perfect innings, 2 K.

Little interesting in the other box scores. Brian Price tries AAA again after earlier failure; 2 shutout innings, but 4 hits; ERA drops to 8.18. Naquin with a single and Jordan Smith a single and a double; Lindor off, some 28 year old fills in for him. Ryan Merritt has been pretty decent pitching for Lake County, but not last night: 3 homers among 8 hits, 6 runs, in 6 2/3.

Naquin makes the Hot Sheet, by doing exactly what he is supposed to be doing. Not exactly great praise that follows, but suggests we should see him in Akron any day now.

No. 6 Tyler Naquin, cf, Indians
Team: high Class A Carolina (Carolina)
Age: 22
Why He’s Here: .407/.414/.667 (11-for-27), 4 2B, 1 HR, 3 RBIs, 1 BB, 3 SO, 1-for-2 SB

The Scoop: We often talk about players who exceed or fail to meet expectations. Naquin is one who is performing right in line with what was expected when the Indians drafted him 15th overall last year. Seen as the best pure hitter in the 2012 draft, Naquin hasn’t seen his average dip below .289 on any day this season. Naquin doesn’t have many other plus tools, but his ability to barrel the ball should have him on the fast track through the Indians system.

Tyler Naquin’s Statistics: http://www.baseballamerica.com/statisti ... ards/89856

Aeros in a rout, 12-3, everyone else loses.

TJ House retained over McFarland, 6-8-5-5-7-2
Chen Lee 1/3 1 1 1 2 1
Flores 1 2/3 1 0 0 0 2
Bryson 2 1 0 0 3 3

2012 draftee Baker 5 3 3 3 4 2 5.02

JOrdan Smith single and double; Lindor and Naquin both hitless, Tyler walks 1x fans 2x
JOse Ramirez 20th steal; ROnnie Rodriguez singles and triples. Carlos Moncrief continues a strong stretch, two singles, a double, up to 278. Gio Urshela signles and draws a rare walk, stays at 291

http://www.milb.com/scoreboard/index.js ... d=20130607

Bleacher Report rates the Tribe farm system higher than I'd expect:


No. 22 Cleveland Indians


The Indians actually look a little worse today than they did at the start of the season down on the farm. There have been a few surprises, like Danny Salazar, but for the most part, their boom-or-bust players are exploding in a bad way.

Dorssys Paulino is hitting .218/.276/.290 with zero homers in Low-A, though he was aggressively promoted at just 18 years old. Trevor Bauer, who is really their only potential impact starter, has given up eight home runs with a 49:27 strikeout-to-walk ratio in Columbus.

The one saving grace has been Francisco Lindor, though he has hit a wall in the last few weeks offensively. Clint Frazier gives them another young player with a high ceiling at the lower levels of the minors.

They should have noted Naquin, who's hitting for average, plenty of doubles, a fair number of homers; but fans way too often.