Minor Issues: Buffalo, Kinston Have Big Nights

Buffalo laid an absolute beat-down on Rochester last night. It started by knocking around former Indian and Buffalo Danny Graves. Oh my god.

Offensively there is just too much to go over. Michael Aubrey went 4-5 with two runs knocked in. Crowe, Linden, Velandia, and Cannizaro all knocked in two. Brad Snyder went 2-5 with three batted in.

Lost in all of it was Aaron Laffey who gave up just two un-earned runs in his six innings. He gave up just three hits but he did manage to walk four.

Akron got three hit and beat-up. Frank Herrmann gave up three runs in six innings, but took the loss.

Um Yikes.. What was with all the offense for the Indians farm teams last night? Kinston puts up 14 runs on the board and allows just two hits. Carlos Santana and Carlos Rivero with three-run home runs by each. Beau Mills added his 19th in addition to his 3-5 night. Lucas Montero knocks in three. Shawn Nottingham was shining for 7 innings, allowing just two hits, and striking out nine hitters. Josh Judy added on with 2 perfect innings and 4 strikeouts. Yikes! That’s 8 in a row for the Kinston club to pull within 2.5 games of Myrtle Beach.

When in Rome, the Captains lost to the Braves. Matt Brown and Mark Thompson with a pair of hits each, but it isn’t enough to support Ryan Morris’ five innings of one run ball.

The Scrappers had a comfortable 7-2 lead after 7 innings.. Then Jamestown hung a 9 spot on Mahoning Valley. The Scrappers added three in the 8th in response but couldn’t muster up anything else and they lost by one. Tough luck. David Roberts and Mark Rodrigues with the tag-team implosion.

Lonnie Chisenhall went 4-6 with a pair of doubles and three runs batted in. Cord Phelps went 4-5 with three runs scored while Michael Valdez went 3-5.

Tracking the Olympics

Matt LaPorta turned in a much better game than he did the previous night against Cuba. He got hit by a pitch and garnered a four pitch walk from Akron teammate TJ Burton, but he still is pulling everything. His defense also cost the United States at multiple times.

Jeff Stevens was foregone in the 9th of a 1 run game because Brian Duensing was pitching that well. Burton pitched the one inning for Canada and he loaded up the bases, only to get out of it.

Nicky Weglarz got a hit in the game and yes he is very tall.

LaPorta 0-2 with a BB
Weglarz 1-4 with a R

Minor Issues: Santana goes deep; Bullington pitches well

I’ve renamed Minor League Update because Minor League Update took too long to type out.. So one more time.. Minor League Update is no Minor Issues.

Buffalo took a 1 run loss yesterday to Indianapolis. The lone runs were scored off Brad Snyder and new addition Andy Cannizaro solo home runs.. Cannizaro was playing second base for the Bisons. Bryan Bullington went 7 un-earned shutout innings. He gave up 2 un-earned runs striking out two.

Akron had a good win last night. Randy Newsome picked up his 26th save and Tony Sipp pitched another solid shutout inning. Jose Constanza has a three run double and Josh Rodriguez, playing 2B knocked in number 46 of the year.

Those damn Pellicans swept the K-Tribe last night. Carlos Santana did go 2-5 with a two run home run. He’s now got 102 total RBI between his two teams. Carlos Rivero went 2-4 with a solo home run and 2 RBI.

Lake County had a late 4 run 8th to take a game over Delmarva. Jeff Hehr went 2-4 with three RBI and Joey Mahalic pitched 5 solid innings giving up just one run off four hits.

Those damn grapes logo team Jamestown beat the Scrappers. Lonnie Chisenhall was the lone man going 3-5 with three RBI. Eric Berger had another good outing, going 5, 1 hit innings.

So Tom Mastny is on his way to Buffalo.. Cannizaro replaces one of the roster spots vacated by the call-up. I’m expecting some more movement though because of a 40 man roster move. We could see the end of Brian Slocum. Dun dun dun!!

Minor League Update: LaPorta getting it done for Team USA

Michael Aubrey’s 8th inning solo shot gave the Herd a win over Syracuse last night. Aubrey went 2-4 and his home run put Anthony Reyes in line for his second win. Reyes was lock down last night going 8 strong, allowing just one run off five hits and four strikeouts.

Akron lost last night despite Bronson Sardinha’s bases clearing double. Wyatt Toregas knocked in a run and had two hits. Kevin Dixon struggled giving up seven runs in three innings, while Tony Sipp pitched two solid innings giving up nothing and striking out one.

Kinston got two in the top of the 11th to edge Salem. Lucas Montero and Carlos Santana both had two hits including a home run. Jerad Head has the big night going 3-6 with FIVE RBI, including a 3-run shot.

Joanniel Montero went 7 strong to aid the Captains in their win against the Legends. Matt Brown went 3-4 with an RBI.

Mahoning Valley beat up on a team with a deer logo. Lonnie Chisenhall goes deep again and Cord Phelps went 3-5. All Hail that Mahoning Valley team.. They are the bomb.

New Minor League Happenings Focusing on the new Catching Duo in Kinston.

Tracking Matt LaPorta

Matt LaPorta went 1-3 with two runs scored and a solo home run. It was his second of the exhibition series with Canada. The four-game stand in North Carolina ends today. The United States won the third game and look for a 3 game win. Jeff Stevens pitched a scoreless inning, striking out a pair in the ninth inning.

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Minor League Update: Gimenez Switching Positions?

Buffalo probably suffered the most roster shake-up yesterday as the Indians rounded out their rosters from the trades and Olympic vacancies.

Two of those new faces saw action last night.

An interesting note for you keep track of the catcher situation with Santana now in the fold.

Chris Gimenez started at catcher, but finished the game at third base. Could a full-time position switch be in order? I think so. It would let Toregas get called up and they could progress Santana to Double A if they wish. Boy what a team that would be at Akron once LaPorta gets back from the Olympics.

Anyway, the Herd lost despite John Halama’s seven strong innings. Michael Aubrey went 2-4.

Jon Meloan pitched and threw a scoreless inning.. He was added to the roster in place of Jeff Stevens who was placed on the Inactive list and Walter Diaz, who got the nod at shortstop, took Andy Gonzalez’s spot. Diaz is coming up all the way from Mahoning Valley. With Cord Phelps playing second, Diaz wasn’t needed because it looks as if Velasquez will be the backup at most of the infield spots.

Not LaPorta.. No Problem.. Ryan Goleski was called back up to Double A Akron to take his spot. Akron got a quality performance from one of his replacements. Stephen Head who will probably see everday time now that LaPorta is in Beijing went 2-4 with a two run home run.

However the hero in Akron’s win was Wes Hodges, who hit a walk-off solo shot in the bottom of the ninth inning in a tie ball-game. Wes also went 3-5 with a double and three total RBI.

Not a good debut for Carlos Santana. He went 0-4 with three strikeouts in his Kinston debut.. It was the exact opposite of what we’ve heard about him.. I’m sure it’s just nerves.. Kinston got shutout and Kelvin De La Cruz got roughed up for three runs, three walks, three hits in just 2 outs of the first inning.

It was a walk-off kind of day as Lake County got a single from Cristo Arnal in the bottom of the 13th to bring home the winning run in Mark Thompson. That’s two in a row for the Captains. Ron Rivas went 2-6 with three RBI and Matt Brown is probably feared. He went 1-3 with three walks. He also took home the SAL player of the week award. Catcher Adam Davis hit his third home run of the year and Josh Judy picked up win number NINE in relief.

A couple of Mahoning Valley favorites powered the Scrappers to a 7-6 win last night. Jeremie Tice came through big with a 2-5 night, including a two-run shot in the seventh inning. Lonnie Chisenhall went 3-5 with a three run shot.

Adam Abraham’s third home run of the year was the lone run for the GCL team in their defeat.

Thoughts on all of the Tribe Moves

So with all the news I haven’t really thrown in much of my 2 cents.

Let’s start with Casey Blake.

I love Casey. I’m gonna miss him and his dead-pan humor. He was THE player that you can point to and say… “I want every man on my 25 man roster to be like Casey Blake.”

Put it at that. He will be missed, but this was a move that needed to be made. Andy Marte needs to be seen, Ryan Garko needs to be seen, Franklin Gutierrez needs to be seen.

I’ll miss him and if we need a utility man next year, I’d make Casey choice number one.

As for what we got in return.

I’m more ecstatic about it than what we got for C.C. Sabathia.. Here is why.

We knew Sabathia would yield us some good prospects.

I had NO clue that Casey Blake was going to result in such a talented duo of players.

Some say Carlos Santana is one of the best hitters in the Dodgers system. He leads the entire minor leagues in RBI with 96 and his on base percentage is over .400. Switch hitting Catchers are a dime-a-dozen man. He’s an athlete.. Simple as that.

I also like the Jon Meloan get. He will be moved to the bullpen and the 350 some strikeouts over 260 innings is something to fawn over. He’s struggled as a starter this year, but we have no use for him as that. I like the pick-up.

Anthony Reyes was a good pick-up. Why not take a chance on a guy who is said to have a high-ceiling.

Luis Perdomo in my mind was sort of expendable with guys like Jeff Stevens and Randy Newsome. You can never have too many relievers, but if Anthony Reyes pans out like he should, I think losing Perdomo would be well worth it. Take in mind, he JUST got to Akron.

I’m in full support as we know of moving Aaron Laffey back down to Triple-A. He needs to fix himself and get his confidence back. Matt Ginter gets lost if you expose him to waivers. Of course now with Reyes in the fold, you do have some room to wiggle, but I think they’d prefer to have more than less.

Here is the moves.. I updated all three boards.

Luis Perdomo Traded to St. Louis in exchange for Anthony Reyes. Reyes optioned to Buffalo.

Fausto Carmona activated from Disabled List, Aaron Laffey optioned to Buffalo.

Laffey and Reyes will go into the rotation. Buzachero will probably lose his spot and I could see David Huff getting sent down.

Casey Blake Traded to the Dodgers for Catcher Carlos Santana and Pitcher Jon Meloan. Carlos Santana sent to Kinston. Jeff Stevens will soon be added to the Inactive list when he goes to the Olympics. That should open up the spot for Jon Meloan.

Also, Matt McBride has finished his rehab assignment and has been sent to Kinston. Kinston now has FIVE catchers. I’d expect someone to get sent to Lake County. I’d also expect a trade for one of the others. Also, maybe they move Chris Gimenez to another position.

Travis Hafner was sent to the 60 Day Disabled List retroactive to May 26, which is exactly 60 days ago. He’ll be eligible to come off when he is ready, he goes for another strength test on Monday.

His move was to clear up a spot on the 40 man roster for Andy Gonzalez who was called up to take Casey Blake’s spot on the 25 man roster.

Report: Indians close to trading Blake to Dodgers

From ESPN, it looks like Casey Blake is as good as gone!

The deal looks like Blake, and Cash for minor league catcher Carlos Santana (not the musician), and Pitcher Jon Meloan.

Here is a article about Santana trying to become the catcher of the future for the Dodgers. He’s just 22 years old right now and he should really bolster the Indians depth at Catcher.

Here is a profile on Carlos Santana from Fire Ned Colletti Now. Here is a profile on Jon Meloan.

Globe Spots Says It’s Done.

Carlos Santana is a switch-hitting catcher who was moved from third base. He has power potential and him playing third sort of tells you he isn’t just a catcher type player. He is a little bit of an athlete. He has a good arm behind the dish. He’s 22 years old and was at the Dodgers High A Club.

Jon Meloan is a 24 year old starting pitcher in the Triple A level. He was a reliever as of last year and even earned a MLB call up last year. The Dodgers moved him into the rotation and he has sort of set back from the looks of it. The Indians could keep him there or move him back into the bullpen, he might be ready to contribute rather soon if they move him back. Meloan has 355 career strikeouts in just 262 innings.

I hope they move Meloan back to the pen. We could use him there.

Overall at first glance, We got a hell of a deal here.