Sipp Sighting

The GCL Tribe began their season today, dropping two close games to the GCL Yanks after a rainout yesterday.

Tony Sipp made his first appearance since undergoing Tommy John surgery last year, pitching a scoreless inning to start the second game before giving way to 18 yr old Alex Perez who finished the game out.

Also making his first post-surgery appearance in a game was Matt McBride, who DH'd and had a hit and a stolen base. Great to see some guys actaully coming back after extended absences due to injury.

The GCL Tribe team has a lot of young talent this year, featuring a rotation fronted by TJ MacFarland, who pitched well in the first game, and a roster filled with prep draftees and grads from the Dominican Academy. Also a couple of international signees, Aussie Jason Smit (may be hurt, he didn't play in either game) and Taiwanese catcher Chun-Hsiu Chen.

The bulk of the talent as usual is on the pitching staff, but the G-Tribe does have some fairly high ceiling athletes on the offensive side as well, with Abner Abreu (3B) perhaps getting the most early attention. '07 draftees Bo Greenwell and Kevin Rucker join Devi Cid to make a very athletic outfield.

Looking forward to following the youngsters for the rest of the year, especially given the anti-inspirant vibe from the parent club this year.

about 1 year ago mcrose 17 comments 0 recs |

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if there’s one thing I want this year, it’s for the GCL Indians to win the championship in their final campaign in Winter Haven.

by ASP on Jun 20, 2008 8:36 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Cool. Are you following this games somehow? Other than the box score?

And Rosario soon?

by dgcambridge on Jun 20, 2008 11:48 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Naw, I was just really curious what the roster and rotation would look like – they only posted it yesterday. Rosario is on the roster, but I have a feeling he’s the fourth or fifth starter on the team. Chris Jones and Danny Salazar may be slotted ahead of him.

I do have a Rosario substitute tho – Elvis Aroujo on the DSL Tribe (where Kelvin Diaz still labors), a 16 yr old 6 foot 6 lefty who’s doing well after 3 starts in the summer league there. Interesting looking and reading about the mix that makes it stateside to Winter Haven when the DSL grads and HS draftees meet for the first time. The Latin pitchers are much bigger and stronger at a young age than the US preps, for some reason. Don’t know why that is, but the latin scouting and academy programs the Tribe has set up have been really paying off, outpacing the draft for young talent ushered into the system.

by mcrose on Jun 21, 2008 12:35 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Perhaps a product of training and eating at the Indians’ academy as opposed to training under idiot high school strength coaches and eating Wendy’s.

by fleerdon on Jun 21, 2008 9:39 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

It’s good to see McBride back playing, too. Coming into this season, he was a pretty decent catching prospect.

by APV on Jun 21, 2008 7:23 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Michael Aubrey played in Buffalo last night, as well.

by APV on Jun 21, 2008 7:25 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

He bunted successfully, auditioning for the Marte spot on the Indians bench.

by peter m on Jun 21, 2008 3:54 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Wedge hasn’t even let Marte bunt in a few weeks, has he?

by APV on Jun 21, 2008 3:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sipp still gets me excited. While we’re dreaming, Trevor Crowe had 4 hits last night, including a HR.

by ken from alexandria on Jun 21, 2008 8:03 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Trevor Crowe’s in one of his torrid stretches. He’s hitting nearly .400 over the last 10. I’m sure this will inevitably be followed by an 0-40 slump and a trip to the DL.

by APV on Jun 21, 2008 8:22 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

Just let me grasp at the straw, okay?

by ken from alexandria on Jun 21, 2008 11:45 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

In other happy minor-league news, Huff got his first AAA win today with 7 shutout innings giving up 5 hits vs. 9 Ks.

Despite all of my best intentions, I have not, in fact, grown up to be a debaser.

by zempf on Jun 21, 2008 10:00 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Good day for pitchers in A ball as well. Hector Rondon went seven innings with 9 k’s giving up a single unearned run, moving into 2cnd place in the league for strikeouts. He just turned twenty, hasn’t missed a start in his two years of full season ball, and is averaging over a K an inning. Luis Perdomo finished with his 18th save, now sporting a 0.94 era.

Also, 19 yr old Joey Mahalic had a perfect game going into the 5th for Lake County, finishing with 6 shutout innings and 8 K’s. He was a late-round pick last year, and was a surprise promotion into the LC rotation a few weeks ago, holding his own in a very young and very good pitching staff.

by mcrose on Jun 21, 2008 10:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

As mentioned in the game thread, I like Huff and Rondon a lot

by APV on Jun 21, 2008 11:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Just saw that Lord Kelvin de La Cruz was promoted to double-A Akron to pitch the second game of a doubleheader last night. He got the win, going 5 innings, giving up 4 runs with 4 K’s. Gotta believe its a spot start, but they must be really high on this kid.

by mcrose on Jun 22, 2008 5:23 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs