(4.25.13) Cleveland Baseball Weekly: Playing the waiting game

After months and months of no baseball, it is easy to overreact to the first few games of the season. One bad game can feel like the end of the world, making perspective important to maintain here in April.

Let’s take a look at a few notable players so far this season and what we should expect from them going forward.

Asdrubal Cabrera & Jason Kipnis

Cabrera and Kipnis are two of the biggest reasons why people should not overreact to anything that has happened so far in 2013. Unless something terrible happened to these two during the offseason, there is almost no way that Cleveland’s middle infield will continue to hit well-below .200 for the entire season.

Cabrera and Kipnis will turn things around before too long and thinking anything else is likely just making a big deal out of nothing. Read More…

From Daily Kent Stater, April 25, 2013

 

(4.25.13) Around The Farm: April 24, 2013

Chun-Hsiu Chen (DH, Akron): 2-for-4, 1 R, 2 2B, 4 RBI, 1 SO

After spending all of 2012 wondering where the power went for Chen, he has come out of the gates swinging in 2013. So far this season, Chen has four doubles, one triple, and three home runs in his first 17 games, with the reappearance of the home runs boding best for his future. This is Chen’s third time around the Eastern League — not a good sign for any prospect — but given the situation, Chen is making the best of it. We needed to see the designated hitter show some pop and he is giving it to us right now. If either the first base or designated hitter spot comes open in Columbus, I would not be surprised to see Chen finally get a crack at sticking up at the next level. Read More…

From Indians Baseball Insider, April 25, 2013

 

(4.23.13) Launching Off With The Aeros: 4/16/13 – 4/22/13

The Akron Aeros nearly got over .500 in a week for the first time, but fell short after they dropped four of seven. The Aeros held leads deep into the game but stumbled to close out games, something manager Edwin Rodriguez remarked upon Sunday afternoon.

“When the players get to Double-A,” Rodriguez said. “They have the talent to be here, but they have to develop the mental toughness and the ability to concentrate in those situations. The tougher it gets, the more they have to keep themselves in control.”

Akron is currently 6-12 and at the bottom of the Eastern League, a risk Rodriguez and the organization took willingly when so many young players were assigned to the Double-A level.

“When we talked about it in Spring Training,” Rodriguez said. “We knew that we were taking a chance for that to happen. So hopefully a month from now, maybe before then, we can have a more consistent game from the younger players.”

The Aeros will try to turn things around with two more home games against the Trenton Thunder Tuesday and Wednesday before heading out to Binghamton and Altoona on a seven game road trip. Read More…

From Indians Baseball Insider, April 23, 2013

 

(4.21.13) House outduels Gausman, helps Aeros avoid sweep

AKRON, OH — The Bowie Baysox sent one of the best pitching prospects in baseball to the mound as they looked to sweep the Akron Aeros Sunday at Canal Park.

Akron starting pitcher T.J. House decided he was just not going to let that happen.

The Aeros (6-11) defeated the Baysox (10-8) by the score of 7-2, avoiding their fourth straight loss. Akron finally managed to keep the Bowie bats in check after allowing 62 runs to the Baysox in seven games this season.

“These guys are a terror,” House said. “They’re an older group, they’re a lot more experienced, and they make adjustments really well here. You have to change it up and you’ve got to be one step ahead of them. They’re going to give you a good fight.” Read More…

From Indians Baseball Insider, April 21, 2013

 

(4.20.13) Eight-run ninth leads Baysox past Aeros 8-1

AKRON, OH — For eight innings, the Akron Aeros got the elite pitching they had been missing so far in their series against the Bowie Baysox.

Unfortunately for the Aeros, they needed one more inning.

The Aeros (5-11) lost their third straight game to the Baysox (10-7) Saturday at Canal Park, losing 8-1 as they blew the game in the top of the ninth.

Right-hander Kyle Landis allowed seven of eight batters to reach in the ninth — aided by an error by third baseman Giovanny Urshela — as the game really got out of hand. Landis was charged with seven runs (six earned) on five hits, two walks, and one strikeout in 1.1 innings. Read More…

From Indians Baseball Insider, April 20, 2013

 

(4.20.13) IBI Digest: 4/14/13-4/20/13

We were all reminded this past week what role sports really plays in the world: a needed distraction from the real world. The tragic events at the Boston Marathon serve as a reminder that life is precious and to be enjoyed. The heroism showed by everyday people and first responders alike gives hope that despite the evil in the world, there is more than enough good to overcome it in the end.

With that said, even though it seems trivial, let’s move onto baseball.

Here are all of the pieces that went up on IBI over the past week: Read More…

From Indians Baseball Insider, April 20, 2013

 

(4.18.13) Jose Ramirez keeps hitting as he moves up the ladder

When you think of the prototypical baseball player, a few images probably come to mind: tall, muscular, fast, top physical condition, etc.

In other words, baseball players are not supposed to look like you, me, and Jose Ramirez.

Ramirez is roughly my size at 5’9”, 165 pounds and generally does not fit the stereotype of a baseball player. Going into the 2012 season, he was unknown even in his own organization and went unranked in IBI’s Top 100 prospects.

Amazing the difference one year can make.

After a year where he had a .354/.403/.462 line, three home runs, 15 steals, and a 26:24 SO:BB in 67 games at Low-A Lake County, Ramirez has established himself as an elite prospect and now seems on the fast track through the system. How can this be? Read More…

From Indians Baseball Insider, April 18, 2013

 

(4.18.13) Cleveland Baseball Weekly: Bye, bye Ubaldo

Through all the poor performances over the past two years, I have stayed on the Ubaldo Jimenez bandwagon.

Even after Jimenez struggled to a 5.10 ERA in 11 starts following his trade to Cleveland in 2011, I really believed that he would round into form and lead the rotation in 2012.

Despite leading the American League in wild pitches and losses last year, I still remained hopeful that 2013 would be the year Jimenez finally found his way. But after Tuesday night, I am officially off the Ubaldo bandwagon.

Now, my personal journey from denial to acceptance is not interesting per se, but as one of the last defenders of Jimenez, I can say that there is no rational reason to hold on to hope for him anymore. Read More…

From Daily Kent Stater, April 18, 2013

 

(4.18.13) Around The Farm, April 17, 2013

Around the Farm takes a quick look at some of yesterday’s performances by Indians prospects throughout the system. The positions listed below are where the player was playing in yesterday’s game. 

Tyler Holt (CF, Akron): 4-for-4, 3 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 1 SAC

Nothing like a 4-for-4 day to break you out of a slump. Holt was only 7-for-45 before Wednesday, struggling mightily at the top of the Aeros’ lineup. The center fielder broke out in a big way, helping to lead Akron in their 10-6 win. The home run was Holt’s first in 67 games at the Double-A level and an encouraging sign for the outfielder. Power will never be a big part of Holt’s game, but as long as he hits the ball like he did Wednesday and maintains the threat of some power, he will find a way to stick around in the game. Read More…

From Indians Baseball Insider, April 18, 2013

 

(4.16.13) Launching Off With The Aeros: 4/9/13 – 4/15/13

Last week was not kind to the Akron Aeros, as they went on the road and lost five of six games. The Aeros now sit at 3-8, the worst record in the Eastern League.

The losses piling up were a result of the team’s pitching imploding, with the Aeros allowing a staggering 47 runs in 51.0 innings. The offense was actually not all that poor — scoring 31 runs in six games — but it is hard to overcome such poor pitching.

The Aeros will look to get back on track in the final two games of a road series in Trenton before coming home for a seven game stretch starting on Thursday. Read More…

From Indians Baseball Insider, April 16, 2013