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Minor League Week 5 games (6/1 - 6/6/21)

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The Duck game I watched a few weeks back, I watched Call make an incredible. back to the infield catch on a line drive over his head. He has excellent speed.

From his numbers, what he is doing right now isn't anywhere near what you would expect from him. His BABIP is at .365 so some regression should happen, and he is older than most in AA, but I feel like, this is a surprised to everyone how he is playing. His defense looks like he has always been average to above average so his bat was lacking behind, but at the moment he is really stepping up with the bat. He may force his way to AAA even though he is an "organizational piece". Who knows, maybe he takes after someone like Wendle who got up later, but plays a solid game. I will keep my eye on him to see if he continues what he is doing...
 
Saturday Game updates:

AAA Columbus is tied 2-2 in the bottom of the 8th

AA Akron is leading 6-5 in the bottom of the 7th

High A Lake County trails 14-1 entering the 8th

Low A Lynchburg wins 5-1. From what I can gather (listening to radio feed of the game) J Noel suffered a leg injury while running toward 2nd base in the top of the 1st & was replaced as a runner. Guess we need to stay tuned for further news/ updates. Fingers crossed it isn't serious.
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Edit #1
AAA Columbus loses 3-2. Kyle Dowdy entered the game with runners on base in the 8th and couldn't find the strikezone. He walked the 1st 2 batters he faced to load the bases & then walk in the deciding run.
In the 9th, the Indy closer Jandel Gustave came in tossing gas. Multiple pitches at 100 & sliders at 90. He closed out the Clippers 1-2-3 getting 2 ks.

AA Akron adds on in the 7th. Its now 8-5 in top of the 8th.

High A Lake County still playing but its been "over" for them for a while. Down 14-1 now in bottom of the 8th
 
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From his numbers, what he is doing right now isn't anywhere near what you would expect from him. His BABIP is at .365 so some regression should happen, and he is older than most in AA, but I feel like, this is a surprised to everyone how he is playing. His defense looks like he has always been average to above average so his bat was lacking behind, but at the moment he is really stepping up with the bat. He may force his way to AAA even though he is an "organizational piece". Who knows, maybe he takes after someone like Wendle who got up later, but plays a solid game. I will keep my eye on him to see if he continues what he is doing...
I remember when he made that Lofton like catch, his batting average was below the Mendoza line and I said to my son, damn if the kid could only hit. Experts get it wrong all the time in grading prospects, and that happens in every single sport. The experts had Jose Ramirez pegged as a possible utility player, lol. John Johnson, the stud safety acquired by the Browns was a 2 star recruit out of high school with scholarship offers from Colgate, Lehigh and Bucknell.
 
Last few Saturday game updates:

AA Akron wins 8-5

High A Lake County push a few runs across in the 8th. Its now 14-4 top of the 9th.
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Edit #1:

Its gone final in Eastlake. Lake County loses 15-4

CLE Affiliates go 2-2 on the day & are now 8-11 on the week.

Edit #2:
Video of J Noel injury...

Later note: Noel left the stadium Saturday night after the game in a walking boot.
 
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I remember when he made that Lofton like catch, his batting average was below the Mendoza line and I said to my son, damn if the kid could only hit. Experts get it wrong all the time in grading prospects, and that happens in every single sport. The experts had Jose Ramirez pegged as a possible utility player, lol. John Johnson, the stud safety acquired by the Browns was a 2 star recruit out of high school with scholarship offers from Colgate, Lehigh and Bucknell.
At the exact same age, JRam was coming off of an 8.1 fWAR season, two consecutive Silver Slugger awards, and two consecutive third place finishes for MVP.
 
Benson's stat line is so weird... .181 batting avg with a .796 OPS.. I don't think Ive ever seen that before honestly...
 
Benson's stat line is so weird... .181 batting avg with a .796 OPS.. I don't think Ive ever seen that before honestly...
He has nearly twice as many walks as hits.
Seeing his stats on the board Friday night is was striking to see 11 hits on the year & 20 walks (to go along with 36 ks)..
 
Info from various twitter sources (Indians Prospective/ Justin Lada/ TribeInsider/ Team Accounts/ etc):

Starters for Sunday games:

#Indians minor league probable starters for Sunday
Columbus - RHP Triston McKenzie <--- Updated
Akron - LHP Eli Lingos
Lake County - RHP Mason Hickman
Lynchburg - RHP Lenny Torres Jr.
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AAA Columbus Lineup:
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AA Akron Lineup:



High A Lake County Lineup:



Low A Lynchburg Lineup (if posted)

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Other notes:
Injury Update: Noel left the stadium Saturday night after the game in a walking boot.

Roster Movement:


Note: This post will be updated throughout the day as info is released
 
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He has nearly twice as many walks as hits.
Seeing his stats on the board Friday night is was striking to see 11 hits on the year & 20 walks (to go along with 36 ks)..

I just have a hunch he will go the way of Urshela did, he will make it to the pros successfully only after he finds the right hitting coach...

Personally, that's one issue I have had with the Indians developmental system, I don't think we have produced very many hitters from the pure raw hitters that we have signed/drafted...
 
I know that Nick Mikolajchak has been mentioned here before, but once again, he did his thing tonight. A 5 out save with no walks nor hits. His ERA remains at zero covering 12 innings with 18 k's, only 2 walks and 6 hits. I would expect this cat to be in Columbus pretty soon.
 
I just have a hunch he will go the way of Urshela did, he will make it to the pros successfully only after he finds the right hitting coach...

Personally, that's one issue I have had with the Indians developmental system, I don't think we have produced very many hitters from the pure raw hitters that we have signed/drafted...
IMO the problem hasn't been development as much as it has been the type of hitters that we have drafted and signed.

I dont think we have drafted/signed pure hitters as much as we have drafted/signed big swingers.

That has changed over the last several years, and we will soon see how our development goes.
 
In case it wasn't noticed:

The Clippers have changed their SP for Sunday. TMac is now starting for the Clippers at Indy..
 
Any reason listed for the pitching change?
None posted that I saw & I am not in the press conferences..

Most likely it is a desire to keep TMac on a decent pitching schedule (last pitched Monday 5/31) and acknowledgment of Eli Morgan returning (& my guess starting a game soon). TMac going today keeps him in line with the spot be used by Cal Q today.

The guy removed from the start today was RHP Kevin Herget. He was a recent signee from Indy ball. His starting is not a priority.
Its the right move to get & keep guys like TMac/ Morgan pitching with a routine & be ready for the next time there is a need with the MLB club.
 

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