Cleveland Sports Forum

Aeros 5, Thunder 4
Popham needs one more pitch in arsenal
New Aeros right-hander must add to his change-up, fastball to move up the ranks

By Stephanie Storm
Beacon Journal sports writer

Published on Monday, May 09, 2011

AKRON: Marty Popham could pitch in the major leagues right now with his fastball and change-up.

But if the Aeros' new right-hander wants to get there, first he has to develop a third pitch. Otherwise, advanced hitters could eat him alive.

''He stays behind his fastball well and gets a lot of miss-hits because it has a lot of life in the strike zone,'' Indians farm director Ross Atkins said of the 6-foot-5, 218-pound Popham.

By the time most pitchers make it to the Double-A level, they learn they can't live by a two-pitch mix alone — at least not for more than a game, as it doesn't take long for opponents to get a scouting report on a rookie.

So Popham, the Indians' No. 20 selection in the 2008 draft, is being challenged this year to work on his slider.

Until the 23-year-old develops that third pitch, he'll probably have a lawn chair of his own in the Aeros bullpen unless called upon to make a spot start when the team is in a pinch. That's how Popham got called up to Akron in the first place.

When the Indians called up Columbus right-hander Jeanmar Gomez to take Carlos Carrasco's spot when he went on the disabled list two weeks ago, a domino effect through the minors left Akron without a starter last week at Altoona.

''I was really excited to come back here and after being called up last year, I had set my standards to have a really good outing,'' Popham said. ''Plus, I was going to start again despite having been


moved to the bullpen.''

But this start didn't last long, as Popham dished up seven runs in just three innings to the Curve.

''Marty came out in the first inning and really leveraged the ball well,'' Aeros manager Chris Tremie said. ''But in the second inning, he just got into a little bit of trouble with the ball up in the zone. But I have all the confidence in the world that his next outing — whether it's a start or out of the bullpen — will be much more of what we saw in the first inning from him.''

Popham remembers it this way: ''It was just one hit after another — back to back to back,'' he said while shaking his head.

It was far different from what he gave the Aeros last season, when he made his Double-A debut in an impressive late June start. Against host Richmond, Popham limited the Flying Squirrels to a run on five hits over six solid innings. He did not issue a walk and struck out six.

Popham logged a lot of frequent-flier miles in 2010, as he made four stops among the Tribe's five minor league teams. After starting the year 3-1 with a 3.71 ERA in eight games (four starts) at low Class-A Lake County, he was promoted to high Class-A Kinston. In 17 games (13 starts) with the Kingston Indians, Popham's role expanded as he went 4-4 with three saves, including 77 strikeouts and 20 walks.

In between, he made the spot start for the Aeros as well as a relief appearance for Triple-A Columbus. But when he got hammered with the Clippers for six runs on three walks and nine hits, it was a sign that he needed another pitch if he expects to pitch against the big boys.

''Marty has an average to above-average change-up and fastball combination,'' Atkins said. ''But if he can develop a solid three-pitch mix, it'll make him a better prospect.''

Gomez returning to Clippers

The imminent return of Carlos Carrasco to the Cleveland Indians starting rotatioin later this week pushed Jeanmar Gomez back to the Clippers.

The Tribe made the second half of the announcement after the game last night in Anaheim. The Indians will make the official announcement in their own time.

Gomez was 0-1 with a 4.91 earned run average in four outings since he replaced Mitch Talbot (right elbow) in the Cleveland rotation.

Carrasco went on the 15-day disabled list on April 28 with inflammation in his right elbow. He was replaced in the rotation by rookie Alex White, who obviously is staying with the Indians at least until Talbot comes off the disabled list.

Gomez, 23, was 2-0 with a 1.42 ERA in two starts for the Clippers. He will slot back into the Columbus rotation. That could nudge Scott Barnes back to double-A Akron or mean the return of veteran Joe Martinez to the Columbus bullpen.

J'etais en France depuis dix jours, mais j'ai arrive a les etas unis au jour d'hui

Did some checking on the minor leaguers while I was away and quick review today on arrival. I note that Drew Pomeranz continues to excel. Adam Miller has 3 innings under his belt. Francisco Jiminez and Jason Smit have been promoted to Kinston. Chun Chen and Chen Lee have been hitting and pitching very well in Akron. Levon Washington made his debut. Corey Kluber has been awful and Zach McAllister pretty good in Columubs. And the Indians went a solid 7-3 on my vacation, too.

CIV: Bienvenu de retour! Avez-vous eu un temps agréable?

JR: Vous parlez francais meilleur que mois! Oui, tres agreeable; quatre jours en Paris and aussi en Bretagne, Normandie et Picardie. Les temps etaient beaux, la cuisine et le vin etaient formidable et nous voyions catherals marvailleux en Amiens, Rouens, Laon et Paris.

Très agréable! J'étais à Paris, Nice, Nimes, et Monte Carlo il y a huit ans.
btw, j'écris en français mieux que je le parle !

C'est la Vie !

loufla wrote:C'est la Vie !

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuM2FTq5f1o

Zach Attack. McAllister runs his record to 6-0 and the Clippers just keep rolling along. Mc fans 8 and allows 5 hits, 1 walk and 2 innings in 7; and Zach Putnam finishes us with 2 shutout innings for his 4th save.

In his last 3 starts McA 22 IP 18 hits, 2 walks, 19 K 4 runs.

Jason Donald homers and singles, Chisenhall doubles, Buck singles, 2 rbi.

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb ... x&did=milb

Mac Attacked. TJ McFarland whacked for 8 runs on 9 hits in 2 1/3 and Aeros lose 10-3. Marty Popham gets a second shot at AA and is a little better this time: 2 runs on 6 hits in 4 1/3. Kyle Landis return from injury remains solid, 4 K and 1 walk as he faces 5 batters.

After an 0 for lots and lots start, Karexon Sanchez is hitting some. His second homer, and a single, and all 3 rbi. In recent games he's 19-3-7-7.

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb ... x_eswaax_1

Kinston with the night off, but here's a statistical look at Drew Pomeranz


28 1/3 innings, 16 hits, 10 walks, 1 homer allowed. Fanned 42. WHIP 0.92 ERA 1.27

Not doing too shabby as well as is Giovanni Soto, our gain from the Peralta deal. He's only 19 so very young for the level.

27 innings, 20 hits, 9 walks, 2 homers. Fanned 26. WHIP 1.07. ERA 2.67.

We have two teams that hit well and Lake County is one of them, team avg of 270 going in to last night and then the Captains pounded out a 9-5 win. Troy Cannon doubled, he's at 363; Urshela doubled but he slumped while I was away, he's at 244; Jesus Aguillar the big bopper here doubled and tripled; good-looking C/DH Alex Monsalve homered, he's at 292; Clevelander Tony Gallas with 3 hits is at 355. And the man I'm enjoying watching most here, Carlos Moncrief, with two singles and a double and a steal. He's hitting 277 but the peripherals are most impressive: 20 walks means an OBA of 379; 12 doubles, 2 triples and 4 homers mean a SLG of 513. Add in 7 steals. Subtract out 30K.

Surprising Mike Rayl coasts to his 4th win against nary a loss. ERA 2.23. 39 K in 35 IP. 8 K and 2 runs in 5 innings last night.

Rayl at age 22 should be moving to Kinston, if they like him. Moncrief also is 22, but he's only in his second season in the OF; previously a pitcher in the Rookie leagues.

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb ... x_lanafx_1

Pitcher Adam Miller gets back into the game

Minor leaguer undergoes four finger operations

By Stephanie Storm
Beacon Journal sports writer

Published on Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Adam Miller is pitching again.

Yes, the same Indians minor leaguer who underwent several potential career-ending operations on the middle finger of his right hand.

The right-hander who hasn't pitched for an Indians affiliate since May 20, 2008, at Triple-A.

The pitcher who was the Indians' 2003 sandwich pick out of Texas' McKinley High, who lit up radar guns, broke bats and turned heads with 100-mph fastballs.

Now a reliever, Miller has adapted to throwing the ball after four operations on his finger by Baltimore hand specialist Dr. Thomas Graham.

He still doesn't have complete feeling in the tip of the surgically repaired finger. He cannot bend it on his own, make a fist or fully grip the ball.

Yet Miller has found a way to throw it — and increasingly,
control it.

''I never thought I wouldn't throw again,'' said Miller, 26. ''It was a matter of if I could compete again. For a while there, I had no idea where the ball was going when I let it go. I had to relearn how to throw, but I wasn't ready to give up on baseball.''

So here he is again after missing the past 21/2 seasons, attempting another comeback.

After opening this season at extended spring training in Arizona, last week Miller received the best news he's gotten in years: He was being promoted to high Class-A Kinston.

''When [Indians farm director] Ross [Atkins] told me I could call Adam to tell him, I was as excited as anyone,'' said Dave Miller, the Indians' minor-league pitching coordinator. ''We all were. Adam had worked so hard to get to this moment, and never along the way once complained about the surgeries or asked, 'Why me?' He's just been a great professional. Many of his teammates have asked me how he's doing because so many of them are rooting for him.''

At 6-foot-4, 223 pounds, Miller quickly became known after being drafted for his overpowering fastball. Miller was twice ranked by Baseball America as the Tribe's No. 1 prospect and honored internally as the Indians minor-league Pitcher of the Year in 2004 and '06.

An elbow injury briefly delayed the start of his 2005 season. But it's been the finger that has postponed and nearly ended his career.

The trouble began in 2007, when he was limited to 19 games (11 starts) because of a ligament strain in the finger that first bothered him during the regular season, then later while he was trying to make up time in the Arizona Fall League.

The timing was horrible, as Miller was coming off his best professional season with the Double-A Aeros. With the Aeros in 2006, he'd gone 15-6 with a 2.75 ERA in 26 games (24 starts). In 1532/3 innings, he struck out 157 batters and walked just 43.

But the finger was an issue again in 2008. Miller was able to make only six regular-season starts before undergoing the first operation to fix a finger that is crucial for putting pressure on the ball as he throws.

''It's been a long process and a little frustrating,'' Miller said. ''But any time I'm on the field, I find a way to remain positive.''

When the finger failed to respond to the initial surgery to reattach the tendon to the bone, Miller underwent two more operations to reconstruct the tendon.

''The April surgery was to get ready for the August surgery,'' Miller said. ''I had a tendon from my left leg in the calf area removed to put in my finger.''

Miller said the extreme surgery was necessary ''not only for baseball purposes, but for just living a normal life.''

As he rehabbed in 2009, Miller was pleased with how well he was recovering.

''I was feeling well, pretty close to perfect,'' he said. ''I started throwing again and was at the three-month time period about to go into the offseason when it went again.

''Looking back, I think about what would have happened if I'd waited another month to start throwing. But there was no way to tell. This injury is rare for baseball players. Doctors say the only people they tend to see it with are rock climbers. So as a pitcher, I was in pretty unfamiliar territory.''

Since the fourth surgery, Miller has dealt with the pain of breaking down the inevitable scar tissue built up in the tip of his middle finger. But now, he finally appears on track to put aside the lingering issues that have delayed his career.

Now, Miller is throwing his fastball for strikes in the middle 90s. He has regained a feel for his change-up as well. The last piece of the puzzle is to develop his slider again.

In three appearances with the K-Tribe, Miller has gotten progressively better. In his first outing, he gave up four runs (three earned) on four hits in one inning to take the loss in a game at Lynchburg. Three days later at Salem, he limited the Red Sox to only a hit and a walk in a scoreless inning. Five days later against Potomac, Miller tossed a hitless and scoreless inning.

It's a small sample, but a telling one nonetheless.

''Results always matter in professional baseball,'' Atkins said. ''We're very encouraged where Adam is right now. There's plenty of reason to believe he could eventually make his way [to the major leagues].

''The arm strength and competitive spirit are there. He just needs to find the feel for his slider. If he can continue to have the fastball command and find some consistency with his slider, then we'll have something.''

Despite all that he's been through, Miller has maintained an even-keel personality.

''With the process going so well right now, it keeps me positive,'' Miller said. ''I just keep thinking that one day it's all gonna click, and stay that way.''

The Clippers jumped on the Charlotte Knights early and held on for a 5-2 victory Monday night.

In the first inning, a Travis Buck single scored Ezequiel Carrera and then Cord Phelps followed with a sacrifice fly to drive in Jason Donald.

Buck got his second RBI of the game with a sacrifice fly in the third. Two innings later, a Donald solo shot to right field added the fourth run. The Clippers got one more in the eighth inning with a Jerad Head sac fly.

Donald went 2-3 on the game, scoring three times.

Zach McAllister improved to 6-0 on the year after going seven innings, striking out eight and allowing only two earned runs. Zach Putnam came on in the ninth and recorded his fourth save of the year.

The two teams continue their four game set Tuesday night at 6:35 P.M.

By Jim Massie

Along the way of his sixth start of a still-young season, McAllister shut down the Charlotte Knights 5-2 in front of 6,650 fans and ran his record to 6-0.

"Last year may have been my worst year for (control)," McAllister said. "I feel kind of like over my last three or four outings, definitely as the game goes along, that everything is clicking a little bit more and a little bit more. I got off to a good start and was able to roll with it tonight."

He faced 27 hitters over seven innings and went to a three-ball count three times. He walked one and has issued only two bases on balls over the 28 innings of his past four starts. This takes more than just throwing the ball over the plate.

"You have to pitch," Columbus manager Mike Sarbaugh said. "You have to throw to both sides. You have to use it as a weapon. You can't just stay in one location. I really think that Zach really works both sides of the plate."

And McAllister is doing so with multiple pitches.

"He keeps them off balance with that cutter, and then some of the sliders he threw tonight were the best I've seen him throw," Sarbaugh said. "That was pretty impressive. He just didn't throw them down the middle. He made them swing at pitches that maybe aren't hitter's pitches."

It helped, of course, that McAllister is pitching for a first-place team that is good on both sides of the ball. Shortstop Jason Donald opened the game by robbing Alejandro De Aza of a single up the middle.

On the next hitter, the setting sun turned a high chopper that Jim Gallagher hit to third baseman Lonnie Chisenhall into a dangerously invisible baseball. Gallagher reached on the single and Chisenhall survived to turn a Dayan Viciedo grounder into an inning-ending double play.

"Obviously, the defense was really helpful to me tonight," McAllister said. "That first out of the game was a really good play, and plays like that helped me out all night."

Donald also had a big offensive night. He was hit by a Jeff Marquez pitch in the first inning and rolled around to third base on an RBI single by Travis Buck that scored Ezequiel Carrera. Cord Phelps drove in Donald with a sacrifice fly.

Donald singled in the third inning and scored on Buck's sacrifice fly, and also hit a solo home run in the fifth.

"(Donald) looked good tonight at the plate," Sarbaugh said. "I thought the way he ran the bases in the first inning set up that second run."

McAllister had a 4-0 lead through five innings. He allowed a run in the sixth on a leadoff double by Gookie Dawkins and an RBI single by Eduardo Escobar.

Jordan Danks added a long solo home run in the seventh.