Indians Prospect Insider

Clutch hitting wasn’t a strong point for the Columbus Clippers Friday night in Pawtucket, and the team paid for it. The Clippers (17-17) lost to the Red Sox (23-13), 5-1, dropping the first contest in a four-game set in Rhode Island. Columbus had seven hits in the game, but went 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position.

Tony recently had a chance to sit down with Low-A Lake County manager Dave Wallace and talked about several things pertaining to his team. They discussed some of his players and how several of them are adjusting to their first full season, and also touched on some of the development opportunities for the hitters and pitchers that he and his staff have tried to instill in the players.

Is there a more polarizing figure on the Cleveland Indians right now than outfielder Shin-Soo Choo? Ubaldo Jimenez has gotten most of the attention as Most Disappointing Indian, but Choo has been just as disappointing, if not more. Steve Orbanek wonders if the old Choo from 2008-2010 will surface this season, or if the one from 2011 and at the start of the season is what we will get.

All four affiliates were in action on Thursday night, the first time that has happened in what seems like forever after all the rainouts of late. Tony takes over ATF duties and provides all the highlights from last night's minor league action, most notably T.J. McFarland who had another very good start, Matt LaPorta's struggles to hit on the road, and Cody Allen proving to be human afterall.

After a solid 6-0 victory over the Myrtle Beach Pelicans in game one on Tuesday, the Carolina Mudcats lost both games of a doubleheader on Thursday night in Myrtle Beach and fell back to .500 on the season. Game two of the series was a low scoring affair but the Pelicans narrowly escaped with a 2-1 win over the Mudcats in extra innings.

The Indians beat down Josh Beckett and the Red Sox on Thursday night 8-3, and in the process sent the Fenway boo birds into a frenzy. Derek Lowe earned his fifth win - all after an Indians' loss - and the offense quickly pounced on Beckett for seven runs and put the game away early. Jason Ruggiero gives his "second thoughts" on a big win in the series opener at the Fenway Funhouse.

The Akron Aeros (22-9) opened the bottom half of the first inning with four runs and T.J. McFarland pitched seven shutout innings as the Aeros beat the Harrisburg Senators 7-0. After McFarland worked around two consecutive singles in the first inning, the Aeros hit four straight singles off Harrisburg starter Jeff Mandel. First baseman Chun Chen hit the fourth single, which was misplayed by Senators right fielder Destin Hood.

EASTLAKE - The Dayton Dragons could not come through with runners on base on Thursday night as they fell to the Lake County Captains 2-1 in the second game of a three-game series.
Starter Cody Anderson (2-1, 2.45) took the bump for the Captains, coming off a loss in his last outing during which he went six innings and allowed just one hit and one run. Starting for Dayton was Tanner Robles (2-1,...

It took extra innings, but the Columbus Clippers fell to the Scranton/Wilks-Barre Yankees Thursday afternoon, 4-3. The Clippers (17-16) dropped the finale of a four-game set with the Yankees (17-16), and with the loss, Scranton/WB took the series, 3-1. Columbus’ lone win came on Tuesday, 1-0, before the club dropped three-consecutive games for just the third time this season.

The Captains had their first winning week since their 10-game slide - all thanks to the pitching staff - and the team is coming closer to the .500 mark which seemed almost impossible a few weeks ago. Lianna Holub recaps the week that was for the Captains in her weekly notebook "On-Deck with the Captains".

In today’s week ending edition of Minor Happenings, Tony gives us an update on the happenings out in extended spring training with lots of information from the front office on some players currently playing out there. Also, Tony takes a look at the continued improvements being made by Jesus Aguilar and T.J. McFarland, Joe Colon’s value, Trevor Crowe’s health, the debut of Shawn Morimando, the impressive start for Adam Abraham and Jeremie Tice, and lots more.

Jeff Ellis is not happy. The Indians are 17-13, in first place, and just took a series over the weekend against the best team in the American League the last three years....yet no one is showing up for the games as the Indians are dead last in all of baseball in attendance. And by a LARGE margin. Jeff opines on the situation and why support goes hand-in-hand with fielding a competitive team.

The Indians were beat pretty good by the White Sox last night 8-1. The game was over early when the White Sox put up a 6-spot in the fourth inning, and with the red hot Jake Peavy pitching, the game was essentially over. Before the Indians move on to Boston today for the start of a four-game series, Charlie Adams has some "second thoughts" on last night's game.

Let the rain sing you a lullaby Carolina, as the Mudcats' rainout leaves tonight's ATF a game short. With that said, there was still time for a Luigi to take over the show in Lake County, while Francisco Lindor continues to make a case for Carolina. A starting pitcher named Colon makes an eight-inning statement, and he doesn't weight 350 lbs. But the headliner of tonight's Around the Farm was just about prospect royalty for the Tribe before injuries stole that away, or did it? Jim Pete showcases that very player, after the jump...

The Lake County Captains opened a seven game homestand with a 4-1 win over the Dayton Dragons on Wednesday night. Starter Joe Colon (3-3, 3.32) pitched eight strong innings, his longest outing of the season. He allowed one run on four hits. He walked three and struck out three batters. The Captains scored first in the second inning. Dragons’ starter Daniel Tuttle allowed a leadoff single to designated hitter Jordan Smith.

The Columbus Clippers faced the Scranton/WB Yankees Wednesday in their third game out of four in the series, and the Clippers fell to the Yankees in a close one, 2-1. Columbus was only able to put together two hits all night. The Clippers got a spot start from lefty Eric Berger (0-1) as the Yankees countered with Dellin Betances (2-2). Columbus struck first in this game, as in the top of the first inning with no outs second basemen Cord Phelps led the game off with his second homerun of the season to put the Clipps up 1-0.