Fishing with the Mudcats: Suspension of Disbelief
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By Jim Pete August 1, 2012
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From the Bait Shop:
Where We Stand After Week #17:
Second Half Record: 19-19 (2-4 the past week, 51-56 Overall), 3rd Place in the Southern Division second half, 2 games behind Myrtle Beach
Week #17 Games:
Week #17 Transaction:
The Offense:
Week #17
|
Player |
AB |
R |
H |
2B |
3B |
HR |
RBI |
BB |
SO |
AVG |
|
Alex Monsalve |
13 |
1 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
3 |
0.231 |
|
Anthony Gallas |
19 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
7 |
0 |
8 |
0.158 |
|
Bo Greenwell |
19 |
2 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
5 |
0.158 |
|
Carlos Moncrief |
18 |
3 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
7 |
0.111 |
|
Cole Cook |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0.000 |
|
Delvi Cid |
21 |
8 |
8 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
4 |
0.381 |
|
Dwight Childs |
6 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0.167 |
|
Giovanny Urshela |
20 |
4 |
7 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
5 |
2 |
3 |
0.350 |
|
Jesus Aguilar |
16 |
1 |
4 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
1 |
7 |
0.250 |
|
Justin Toole |
13 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
3 |
0.154 |
|
Ronny Rodriguez |
11 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
3 |
0.182 |
|
Tony Wolters |
20 |
1 |
4 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
5 |
0.200 |
|
Tyler Cannon |
18 |
0 |
5 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
7 |
0.278 |
|
Totals |
194 |
24 |
44 |
8 |
3 |
3 |
23 |
14 |
56 |
0.227 |
The Good…
I haven’t done a lot of talking about Delvi Cid this year, but he has had a tremendous season. It has all culminated in the past week, when Cid became a true offensive threat. He led the team in average for the week, with a .381 average, with two doubles and a surprising home run. He stole an impressive give bases, and was only caught once. His line for the week was a bloated .381/.435/.619, with eight runs in only six ballgames. Cid has speed, and that just can’t be taught. He seems to have a ceiling of Double or Triple A, but there’s a small part of me that thinks he could be a Scott Podsednik-type, if he ever had the chance. In the Indians organization, I’m not sure he’ll get the chance.
There isn’t anything more frustrating than watching a young player in the midst of trying to figure out how to be an offensive thread in the minors. That’s what Giovanny Urshela is doing right now, and while it’s frustrating to watch his many weeks of struggle, it’s equally exhilarating watching his weeks like the past six ballgames. He has moments in which he can take a really long swing, and shorten it, as he did this week, only striking out three times, compared to two walks. He’s got really good upside going forward, and it would be interesting to see what the system does if his offense continues to grow.
…the Bad and the Ugly…
There isn’t anyone on the team that I like better than Carlos Moncrief, but it’s weeks like this that make you understand what type of player he is, even at this advanced age for the level. In five ballgames, Moncrief struggled with seven strikeouts, while walking only two times. You can overlook that when he’s hitting, but when he’s not, it’s incredibly painful. He has plus speed, but he didn’t even try to steal a base, because to be quite honest, he just wasn’t on base enough.
Bo Greenwell has exploded on the scene this year after an injury, but he’s mostly stuttered this past week. Greenwell has had a history of struggle after hot starts, so it will be interesting to see if he continues his trends of the past couple of healthy seasons, or if this is just a lull in the middle of a renaissance for this underappreciated Tribe prospect.
Tony Wolters has had a solid season, but hasn’t shown much of that with the stick this week. He’s struck out five times against only one walk. He can lose rhythm and flail a bit when he’s off, which is clearly what was happening this week.
Ronny Rodriguez and Jesus Aguilar both returned from a suspension from an incident earlier in the season, and their lack of production may have done this team in for the second half. They had a bad week, and it’s no coincidence that their suspension were a part of it.
The Pitching:
Week #17
|
Player |
IP |
H |
R |
ER |
BB |
SO |
HR |
ERA |
|
Brett Brach (H, 2) |
6.334 |
5 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
2.84 |
|
Cole Cook (S, 3) |
2.666 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
0.00 |
|
Danny Salazar |
4 |
4 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
4 |
0 |
2.25 |
|
Francisco Jimenez |
2 |
4 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
9.00 |
|
Grant Sides |
3 |
5 |
4 |
4 |
2 |
3 |
1 |
12.00 |
|
Jordan Cooper (L, 6-4) |
3 |
7 |
6 |
6 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
18.00 |
|
Joseph Colon (W, 1-2) |
9.333 |
12 |
10 |
10 |
6 |
9 |
1 |
9.64 |
|
Kyle Blair |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0.00 |
|
Michael Goodnight (L, 2-10) |
5 |
5 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
6 |
0 |
3.60 |
|
Mike Rayl (L, 6-8) |
4 |
7 |
4 |
4 |
3 |
3 |
1 |
9.00 |
|
Rob Nixon |
1.667 |
4 |
7 |
7 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
37.79 |
|
Trey Haley |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0.00 |
|
Will Roberts (W, 4-6) |
5 |
6 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
3 |
1 |
3.60 |
|
Totals |
48 |
61 |
40 |
40 |
21 |
33 |
8 |
7.50 |
|
Starters |
24.333 |
32 |
19 |
19 |
12 |
23 |
3 |
7.03 |
|
Relievers |
23.667 |
29 |
21 |
21 |
9 |
10 |
5 |
7.99 |
The Good…
There wasn’t much good about anyone on this pitching staff, but Brett Brach had a nice week for the Muddies in relief. The problem with that is that when Brach is leading your team for the week, your pitching staff is likely struggling. This isn’t anything against Brach, who has been known to have big weeks, but this guy isn’t a prospect. He’s a fill guy, who can start or relieve, but do neither all that well. This was a good week for the kid though.
Michael Goodnight has been all over the place this season, but had one of his better recent starts. He didn’t get the win, but was in control of the game, striking out six against only two walks, but this seems to be his luck on the season. When he has a solid start, the offense just isn’t there.
Will Roberts is a guy that the Indians are high on, but he’s gotten lit up this season. This week was a different story, as Roberts pitched extremely well. He wasn’t dominant, which is what the Indians are hoping for, but he got outs, which is something that he’s struggled with this season.
…the Bad and the Ugly…
I could talk about a bunch of guys here, but this slot goes to Joseph Colon, who may have been the worst pitcher in the league this week. He had a really, really bad start, in which he gave up nine runs in 4 1/3 innings. His saving grace is that he backed it up with a great start, perhaps the best of the week. Still, overall, this isn’t what I’d hoped for with regards to Colon’s promotion. Give him time though…he’ll be just fine.
Week #16 Awards:
The Archives:
Here Comes Week #18:
July
31 vs. Myrtle Beach, 7:05
August
The View Astern:
Jose Flores takes one of the worst deliveries to Akron, where he’ll continue his climb through the system. Somehow, he’s managed to have an incredibly productive season. That said, Flores is gone, and Trey Haley has taken his place. This just goes to show you that injuries can derail a progression. Haley is a much better prospect, and should be many levels above Flores. Such is life.
I have a feeling we’ll be seeing Flores again…
Jim is currently the co-site editor, the ATF/Carolina Mudcats/Indians/General Site Columnist, and the co-host of IPI's weekly online radio show, Smoke Signals. You can follow Jim on Twitter @Jim_IPI, or contact him via e-mail at jpete@indiansprospectinsider.com.
I think they are ready to unleash the hounds with Salazar...up to five innings...
and not sure if you noticed, but they called him up to Akron. He's definitely a sleeper in this system.
Tony's right in everything he's said, but if there's one thing I'm re-learning about this system this season, is that's it's screwed the hell up. It's like a bunch of per-pubescent teenagers running the asylum.
They start off with one plan, then convolute the plan throughout the year. I wouldn't be surprised, at this point, to see Salazar go nine...