(4.30.13) Launching Off With The Aeros: 4/23/13 – 4/29/13

As the Akron Aeros salvaged a disappointing homestand with two wins last Tuesday and Wednesday, manager Edwin Rodriguez mused about what when wrong.

“We were inconsistent,” Rodriguez said. “Then again, we have a young team, and when you have a young team that’s what’s going to happen. One day they look like big leaguers out there, the next day you wonder if they know how to play the game.”

Rodriguez also mentioned that he wanted the team to take things one day at a time on the upcoming road trip. So far, things have gone decently for the 10-14 Aeros, as they took 2-of-4 from the Binghamton Mets and Altoona Curve with three games in Altoona remaining.

Overall for the week the Aeros have gone 4-2, mostly on the strength of their pitching. Akron pitchers combined for a 3.12 ERA and will look to continue that through the rest of the series with the Curve and when they return to Canal Park for a six-game homestand starting Friday. Read More…

From Indians Baseball Insider, April 30, 2013

 

(4.29.13) Altoona, Pimentel blank Aeros 2-0

ALTOONA, PA — You could forgive the Akron Aeros for assuming that Sunday’s four home run barrage was a sign that their offense was heating up and about to take off. There is no way that their huge effort would be followed by a complete shutdown, right?

Sometimes baseball just makes no sense.

The Aeros (10-14) lost 2-0 Monday to the Altoona Curve (11-13) in the first game of a four game series at Peoples Natural Gas Field. Curve starter Stolmy Pimentel (2-0, 2.74 FIP) held the Aeros down for seven innings, striking out five while lowering his ERA to a miniscule 0.30.

Getting people on base was not what sunk Akron, as the Aeros managed nine hits –all singles — despite the shutout. Grounding into two double plays in the third and eighth innings, along with second baseman Jose Ramirez being caught stealing in the first, ultimately held the offense back.

The lack of offense wasted a strong start from right-hander Brett Brach (1-2, 3.12 ERA, 3.43 FIP), who went six innings with only two hits allowed and no walks. The right-hander struck out five while not allowing any earned runs, but allowed one unearned run after a Ramirez throwing error in the first inning. Read More…

From Indians Baseball Insider, April 29, 2013

 

(4.28.13) Akron powers past B-Mets 7-5

AKRON, OH — The Akron Aeros used four home runs to slug their way past the Binghamton Mets 7-5 Sunday afternoon at NYSEG Stadium, winning their second consecutive series. Akron is up to a 10-13 record now after a fairly rough start to the season.

Heading into Sunday, the Aeros only owned a paltry .101 ISO and 12 home runs as a team, but from the most likely to the least likely, they broke out in a big way against Binghamton (12-11).

With the score knotted at 5-5 in the top of the seventh inning, one of the least likely sources of power struck for Akron. Diminutive second baseman Jose Ramirez led off the inning with his first home run of the season, pulling the ball down the left field line and giving the Aeros a lead they did not relinquish.

Listed at 5’9″ and 165 pounds, Ramirez typically fills the role of leadoff hitter and tablesetter. He did not shirk those duties today, also reaching base on a walk and stealing two bases — his 10th and 11th of the young season — later in the game. Read More…

From Indians Baseball Insider, April 28, 2013

 

(4.27.13) IBI Digest: 4/21/13-4/27/13

Mother Nature seems determined to prevent Cleveland from playing any baseball games, but there has still been plenty of action up and down the system.

Between the major and league teams, no one has better coverage than Indians Baseball Insider.

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

From Indians Baseball Insider, April 27, 2013

 

(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