Cleveland Sports Forum

All minor league ball players apparently are mandated to watch the major league all star game, since no one is scheduled today except for the Dominican Summer League. I guess that need to do all they can to boost ratings which are sinking, I read, for all All Star games, which is not quite a surprise.

Here's a story about Aguillar at the AAA home run derby

Columbus first baseman Jesus Aguilar (Indians), who signed with Cleveland as an international free agent in 2007, made his four homers count with an average distance of 393 feet to lead the field. His natural power stroke carried the ball to center and left-center field, where he walloped home runs estimated at 415, 400 and 395 feet. One Aguilar liner off the giant left-field scoreboard knocked out a square of the video display.
His top bat speed 94 mph. I didn't even know that they measure that, although it makes sense to.

Best Ofs the Futures Game (played yesterday) were issued by Baseball America, including;

Smartest Play: Francisco Lindor, ss, Indians

Francisco-Lindor-Field-2014 In last year’s Futures Game, Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts impressed scouts with his swing, calm hitting approach and an instinctive baserunning play to dodge a throw to the plate that showed savvy beyond his years. Today, the smartest play of the game is likely to go mostly unnoticed, but it’s no surprise that it was made by Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor, a player scouts gush about not just for his skills but his heady play, especially in the field.

With Kennys Vargas on second in the fourth inning, Winker poked a fly ball into shallow left field. Left fielder Steven Moya came charging in, while Lindor and third baseman Renato Nunez raced back to make the play. Lindor alertly realized the situation—one out, a runner on second and suddenly nobody covering third base—so he quickly stopped and darted back to third, which prevented Vargas from advancing as Moya made the catch. In a showcase game, Lindor could have gone out and tried to make a flashy play, but his quick decision showed why he’s so highly regarded for his baseball IQ.

“That’s part of the game,” Lindor said. “There are things like that, where you don’t want him to advance to the next base because we both went out and tried to grab the ball. I just tried to be on third base to cover the base.”

“As soon as it was hit, I started running. I saw nobody was at third, so I had to go over there. I don’t want to make the pitcher run all the way over there. He could get hurt—a guy sliding into him, stuff like that.”

As if his defense weren’t enough, Lindor truly is a pitcher’s best friend.

Jose Ramirez getting no respect

Really. I understand all the hype surrounding Lindor but Ramirez has done quite nicely himself although not much has been said about him in any of the national prospect reports. If it weren't for Lastoria, I don't think anyone would know who Jose Ramirez is.

Defensive comparisons between Lindor and Ramirez:
Age 20 AA 82G 13E 4.24RF SS - Lindor (3) Futures Games
Age 21 AAA 61G 3E 4.00RF SS 4.03RF 2b - Ramirez (0) Futures Games

Offensive comparisons between Lindor and Ramirez:
Age 20 AA .284BA .361OBP .400SLG .761OPS 11DBL 4TPL 6HR 24SB 9CS 39BB 58K - Lindor
Age 21 AAA .298BA .353OBP .427SLB .780OPS 12DBL 1TPL 5HR 17SB 11CS 22BB 27K - Ramirez

The stats are very similar for age and league. So far Ramirez has played 2B-31G, SS-21G, 3B-1G, LF-1G, CF-3G, DH-2G

Did not perform well when summoned to Cleveland.

Mejia with 3 more hits tonight, including triple, and another SB

DSL #Indians OF Gabriel Mejia extended his hitting streak to 14 straight games. During streak: 26-60 12R 2(2B) 1(3B) 2RBI 4BB 17SB .433 AVG

People judge defensive ability on subjective basis, and Lindor is routinely lauded as one of the best around. Ramirez is good too. So is Gonzalez. Good to have middle IF depth.

Mcallister back to the Minors. What is going on?

Cleveland Indians @tribeinsider
Mike Papi promoted from Mahoning Valley to Lake County

Due to his 2-8 start, I guess.

Let's see why might McAllister be back in Columbus? Do we have a day off on Monday? IF so no need for a 5th starter until probably July 26, but even that's less than the 15-day minimum stay in the minors. I suppose they must assume Masterson will be ready by then, or even could be ready sooner and will regain the 5th rotation spot. They can bring up a 10th reliever, or whatever it will be, for the final roster spot until whoever is needed as 5th starter.

As long as they keep House in the rotation, there's 6 starters for a 5-man rotation, with Salazar making 7.

I don't know what goes into the selection process for the AAA all-star game, but statistically speaking, those squads leave a lot to be desired. I was going to watch the game tonight, but I don't think I'm going to waste my time. It appears that most of the squads are filled with career minor league players in their late 20's and 30's and don't have the stats to back up their appearances in the game.

Well if it makes you feel any better, I don't bother watching the REAL one either.

I don't normally watch the game either but I do like to follow the prospects in their respective minor leagues and I will watch some of those games.

Bobby Bradley had himself a day.

4-5 2R 2B HR 7RBI and a BB

Bradley's leading his league in RBI, OPS, Slugging, Doubles; 3 homers is one off the pace.

His table-setter Silento Sayles with a trio pair of singles and a walk and his 5th and 6th steal.
Alexis Pantoja, defensive whiz they say at SS, also with a single and double

Stats I like:

Pantoja 7 walks, 6 strikeouts
Sayles 8 walks, 6 strikeouts