Minor Month of August

by APV on Sep 6, 2009 12:12 PM EDT

I did a large overview of the minor league system (both hitters and pitchers) back at the beginning of August. Here is a more brief update on notable August performances in the system.

Columbus

Frank Herrmann - 10 appearances spanning 19 innings out of the pen, 16 Ks, 2BBs, one HR allowed and a 2.67 FIP. Still working himself into a bullpen option role for 2010, although will likely face the rule 5 draft this offseason.

Chuck Lofgren - after having some success at the AAA level, a tough month for Lofgren. 5 starts and a 6.15 FIP.

Hector Rondon - Rondon was having a solid month until his final start on Aug. 28th when he got rocked for 12 hits and 7 runs in 6 innings of work.

Lou Marson - Marson has struggled since coming over the organization from Philadelphia. .639 OPS in August with a atypical (for Marson) .310 OBP.

Jordan Brown - on the DL for much of the month, he did manage to hit a lot of singles when on the field (.327/.352/.385)

Akron

Scott Barnes - struggling in his transition to AA. 6 HRs allowed in 4 August starts explains his 6.77 FIP for the month

Jeanmar Gomez - Eastern League pitcher of the year, Gomez had a solid 5 starts in August (3.51 FIP). Gomez also has his third straight season with 140+ innings pitched.

Eric Berger - Also made his AA debut the first week of August, but unlike Barnes, has been solid (3.47 FIP) despite a rough first outing. Moving closer to interesting territory.

Connor Graham - 14 walks in 25 August innings

Josh Judy - sensational month of August (2.32 FIP, 15K/9) out of the Akron bullpen

Carlton Smith - also a great month out of the pen, via a different path than Judy. His 68% GB-rate in August explains why he hasn't given up a HR since May.

Steven Wright - a third great bullpen performance for the Aeros, including a 19:1 K:BB ratio in 17.2 innings of work for the month

Carlos Santana - ho-hummed his way to a .951 OPS and 10 extra-base hits

Lonnie Chisenhall - 4 HRs, but just 8 hits across 70 ABs in his first AA month

Beau Mills - pretty bad across the board, OBP < .300, 4 walks/22 Ks

Carlos Rivero - typical second-half surge from Rivero. .814 OPS for the month.

Jose Constanza - not pretty numbers overall, but despite that, a .377 OBP and 11 SB against 2 CS for the month. I wouldn't be surprised to see a team without an obvious CFer take a shot at Constanza in the rule 5.

John Drennen - fall back to Earth month for Drennen, .586 OPS

Nick Weglarz - out for most of the month

Kinston

Paolo Espino - some luck on balls in play helped a very good month (2.93 FIP) look even better (0.87 ERA)

Nick Hagadone - 1.89 FIP, 21:5 K:BB in 15+ innings

CC Lee - another strong month out of the pen, 22 Ks, 4 BBs, 5 ERs in 15+ innnings

Tim Fedroff - best month (.869 OPS, .427 OBP) in his pro career

Lake County

Trey Haley - improvement, as he reversed his 11:21 K:BB ratio from July into a 21:11 K:BB ratio in August

Francisco Jimenez - doing to the Sally League what he did to the Arizona League. In 20 relief innings, 26 Ks, 2 BBs, and a 1.53 FIP

Bo Greenwell - great month (.848 OPS, 12 extra-base hits) for the 20-year old

Mahoning Valley

Brett Brach - solid month (3.22 FIP, 35 IP) for the 2009 10th round pick. Struck out 10 and walked 0 in his final start of the month.

Vidal Nuno - The Nuno bandwagon is still accepting new members (3-0, 1.93 ERA)

Kyle Bellows - like Chisenhall, only 10 hits for the month, but 3 were triples and 3 were HRs

Jesus Brito - .420 OBP in 18 games after getting promoted from AZL

Jason Kipnis - 2009 2nd round pick has a solid first full (almost) month of pro ball: .341/.402/.506

Greg Folgia - .906 OPS and 10 extra-base hits on the month

Jordan Henry - perfect 8 for 8 in stolen bases and a .400+ OBP for the month (completing the Scrappers starting OF trifecta on that mark)

AZL Indians

Kelvin De La Cruz - 3 rehabs appearances could have gone better (9.39 ERA)

Kirk Wetmore - good month for the 2009 draftee, 21 IP, 26:6 KK:BB, 3.43 ERA

Kevin Rucker - best month of pro-ball for the still 19-year old OFer (.313/.402/.425)

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Comments

Oops…didn’t mean to bump the game thread

by APV on Sep 6, 2009 12:42 PM EDT reply actions

I got it.

by Ryan on Sep 6, 2009 12:56 PM EDT up reply actions

I was visiting some friends in Akron last night and we decided to check out the game last-minute when I saw Gomez would be pitching.

We got there late and left early thanks to the influence of the people I was with who were itching to hit up the exciting Akron nightlife, but what I saw of Gomez was a lot of hard-hit balls. A couple of home runs and a lot of deep flies. There was a good breaking pitch he didn’t seem to use too often, and it looked like (after straining my head to see the scouts’ guns) his fastball was around 89 all night. I had trouble convincing some of the people that Lonnie Chisenhall is in fact good, but thankfully a few understood. I saw Beau Mills in action for the first time.

My night was essentially ruined when I realized Carlos Santana had the night off. He spent the entire night in a folding chair pulled up to the dugout screen, mitt on his hand and watching the game. We left before Akron eventually came back and won it in extras.

Cale Iorg may only be OPS-ing .606 for Erie, but his wife is gorgeous.

Steel Nick

by nickjs21 on Sep 6, 2009 1:23 PM EDT reply actions

CC Lee might be worth more attention than he is getting. 82.1 IP, 3.1 BB/9, 10.5 K/9, 0.4 HR/9. 2.81 FIP. An old 22 in single A, but his first season in America.

by JRontherim on Sep 6, 2009 6:20 PM EDT reply actions

I assume being a little more comfortable in the US, they will treat him more aggressively next year

by APV on Sep 6, 2009 6:34 PM EDT up reply actions

This post has managed to depress me a little.

by Roger Dorn on Sep 7, 2009 12:55 AM EDT reply actions

why?

by APV on Sep 7, 2009 7:38 AM EDT up reply actions

A lot of these pitchers we need to rely on have been getting shelled of late. Weglarz is hurt, Mills has been awful. De La Cruz’s injury looks to really have set him back.

by Roger Dorn on Sep 7, 2009 11:21 AM EDT up reply actions

highs and lows, gutters and strikes

by APV on Sep 7, 2009 11:36 AM EDT up reply actions

Barnes had a great start in Akron this afternoon if that makes you feel any better.

by APV on Sep 7, 2009 4:54 PM EDT up reply actions

Slightly. We need one of Rondon or Gomez to make some sort of impact next year. I am probably one of the few that doesn’t want to write off 2010.

by Roger Dorn on Sep 7, 2009 8:51 PM EDT up reply actions

I’m with you on 2010. But the pitchers we currently have in Cleveland would need to step up in a major way.

by APV on Sep 7, 2009 8:52 PM EDT up reply actions

Yes, we need some things to go right. Masterson needs to find control. Fausto doesn’t need to be 2007, but he needs to be serviceable. We need one of Sowers, Huff to contribute. Laffey needs to continue being effective with poor strikeout numbers. The bullpen needs to not implode for once.

by Roger Dorn on Sep 7, 2009 9:09 PM EDT up reply actions

I try and take more positive out of it. Lot of bullpen arms pitching well. Hadagone pitching well. Constanza won’t be around next year, but still good to see him rolling.

by JRontherim on Sep 7, 2009 6:53 PM EDT up reply actions