Indians Prospect Insider

Clippers rally falls short
The Red Sox out-slugged Columbus 13-11 Saturday night at McCoy Stadium in Pawtucket. The first two games of the series could not have been more different. One night after a 3-1 Clippers win that saw ten combined hits, the teams totaled 24 runs on 34 hits. Friday night there were eight total runners left on base, Saturday, the teams combined to strand 19 runners. The...

For Double-A Akron right-handed reliever Carlton Smith, his first ever professional All Star game experience was a memorable one. He was added to the team less than a week as a replacement for injured closer right-hander Vinnie Pestano, but his selection was more than deserved as in 24 games he is 4-1 with a 2.60 ERA (55.1 IP, 47 H, 16 BB, 27 K).
Most of all, with the All Star game in Trenton,...

Clippers pitching quiets Pawtucket
The Clippers came out on top of the Pawtucket Red Sox 3-1 Friday night, improving Columbus to 6-2 since the All-Star break. Chuck Lofgren and Paw Sox righty Michael Bowden dueled back and forth for more than six innings, with Pawtucket scoring in first on the only two hits Lofgren would allow in six innings.
The Clippers bats were held largely in...

ongrats to Rob Bryson on his return to pitching action tonight in Arizona.
Columbus: Chuck Lofgren at Pawtucket @ 7:05 pm
Akron: Michael Tejera vs. Altoona @ 7:05 pm
Kinston: Russell Young vs. Wilmington @ 7:00 pm
Lake County: Danny Salazar at Lexington @ 7:05 pm
Mahoning Valley: Preston Guilmet at State College @ 5:35 pm
AZL Indians: Rob Bryson vs. Rangers...

"Minor Happenings" covers the important developments and news in the Indians farm system. While most of the information in this report is from my own research and through interviews I have conducted with organizational personnel, some information in this report is collected and summarized from the various news outlets that cover each team.
Short update today due to me being in transit to Kinston...

Mahoning Valley was rained out on Thursday.
Aeros split twin-bill with Seawolves The Aeros split their two games today with the Erie SeaWolves, taking the suspended game one 4-3 before dropping what was supposed to be a seven-inning second game in eleven innings by the final count of 6-5 in front of 2,872 fans at Jerry Uht Park. The first two home runs of Mickey Hall

RHP Rafael Betancourt has been traded to the Colorado Rockies in exchange for Class A RHP Connor Graham.
Graham is 23-year-old pitcher who's a native of Bowling Green and a Miami of Ohio alum, who possesses a big 6'7", 235 lbs. body. He is 7-4 with a 3.14 ERA, 87 strikeouts and 41 walks in 80 1/3 innings pitched (16 starts). His ERA is the sixth-best in the league, and he's limited the opposition...

A few notes as I get ready to head out today on my drive to North Carolina to see Kinston play this weekend and next weekend:
- Wes Hodges has been cleared to play third base, and was scheduled to play there last night had they not been rained out. With that, Andy Marte is going to start splitting time at third base, first base and at designated hitter. With Hodges now ready for full time third...

Columbus and Lake County were postponed due to rain, while Akron's game was suspended due to rain.
K-Tribe snap 4-game skid
After Winston-Salem scored an unearned run in the top of the first inning, Kinston came back with an RBI ground out from Lonnie Chisenhall (0-for-4) in the bottom of the frame. The RBI drove in Lucas Montero who singled to lead off the inning.
The K-Tribe...

They call Nick Weglarz "Big Red" because of his enormous size and red hair, but these days many opposing pitchers call him "Code Red" after the pounding he has given them in the Eastern League this year playing for Double-A Akron.
The 21-year old outfielder is blossoming into the big time power prospect many thought he could be when the Indians selected him in the 3rd round of the 2005 Draft...

Lake County was off on Tuesday.
Clippers fall to Scranton Wilkes-Barre 2-1
The Clippers fell in a pitcher's duel, losing 2-1 to the Scranton Wilkes-Barre Yankees on Tuesday night.
Fausto Carmona and Kei Igawa battled through seven innings. Carmona allowed a solo homer in the second to Yurendell de Caster. The Yankees didn't record another hit until a double in the seventh. Colin...

I apologize to those of you who are not Browns fans, but my season tickets came in the mail yesterday. With that, I am selling most of my tickets again this year since I will not be attending most of the games. This is a quick note to anyone who may be interested in picking up tickets to a Browns game this year.
I have two tickets to each game, and my seats were upgraded this year and I am...

No changes to the big league roster to report, but here are some moves much lower in the system to catch up on some of the recent movement:
Third baseman Jeremie Tice has been reinstated from the 7-day DL and placed on a rehab assignment with the AZL Indians. Infielder Jesus Merchan has been placed on a rehab assignment with the AZL Indians as well. Right-hander Francisco Valera has been transferred...

strong>Columbus: Fausto Carmona vs. Scranton/WB @ 7:05 pm
Akron: Bobby Livingston at Erie @ 7:05 pm
Kinston: Alexander Perez vs. Winston-Salem @ 7:00 pm
Lake County: Off day
Mahoning Valley: Clayton Cook at Aberdeen @ 7:05 pm
AZL Indians: Joseph Colon at Padres @ 7:00 pm MS

Kinston was off on Monday night.
Clippers dump Yankees 8-1
The Clippers beat Scranton Wilkes-Barre 8-1 in the series opener at Huntington Park on Monday night. Zach Jackson turned back the clock and the Columbus offense knocked around Yankees starter Romulo Sanchez.
Jackson ended a winless streak that dated back to May. It briefly looked like another rough day when the second...

For those wondering why left-hander T.J. House has not pitched in awhile, the reason is two-fold. In his last start on July 11th he was removed after three innings after he got hit with a line drive right on the elbow. Pretty scary moment. His start on July 17th was skipped as a precaution, but he is fine and is scheduled to pitch on Wednesday in Lexington.
That said, if not for the minor injury...