Official 2010 Kinston Indians Thread

by **TonyIBI** » Mon Apr 05, 2010 7:45 pm

Time to get this going for all general Kinston talk and game recaps.

Here is the opening day roster (they are still two over the 25 man limit, so two of the bench guys likely are inactive):

Rotation: Kelvin De La Cruz (LHP), Nick Hagadone (LHP), T.J. House (LHP), Alexander Perez (RHP), Alex White (RHP)
Bullpen: Santo Frias (RHP), Matt Langwell (RHP), Dave Roberts (RHP), Joey Mahalic (RHP), T.J. McFarland (LHP), Steve Smith (RHP), Bryce Stowell (RHP), Travis Turek (RHP)
Bench: Dwight Childs (C), Lucas Montero (OF), Cristo Arnal (INF), Richard Martinez (C/1B), Roman Pena (OF)

Lineup:
Doug Pickens (C)
Nate Recknagel (1B)
Jason Kipnis (2B)
Ron Rivas (SS)
Kyle Bellows (3B)
Donnie Webb (LF)
Jordan Henry (CF)
Abner Abreu (RF)
Karexon Sanchez (DH)

by **martyinnewyork** » Mon Apr 05, 2010 9:30 pm

That rotation looks pretty darned good... if most of them stick in Kinston all year and stay healthy, the championship looks realistic...

And, BTW, thanks for posting all this..

It'll be nice to have the minor leagues start up, I look forward to a few "sweep" nights (where we win at every level) this season...

by **ktriber** » Mon Apr 05, 2010 10:14 pm

Only one lefty in the pen?

I think maybe Frias will be the closer. Not sure, but the dude can sling it.

They have an exhibition game tomorrow night and a homestand starting Thursday Night. Can't wait for some baseball!

by **TonyIBI** » Tue Apr 06, 2010 1:52 am

ktriber wrote:Only one lefty in the pen?

I think maybe Frias will be the closer. Not sure, but the dude can sling it.

They have an exhibition game tomorrow night and a homestand starting Thursday Night. Can't wait for some baseball!

Well, lefties are not a requirement in a minor league pen since teams do not match up late in games with hitters/pitchers. It is all about who is scheduled to pitch in relief that night and who needs work.

Also, Steve Smith should be the closer.

by **ktriber** » Tue Apr 06, 2010 9:38 pm

Ktribe saw their first action tonight in an exhibition game against a local junior college. I left after six but Kipnis had already hit two three run bombs. House started and looked really good for about three innings and struggled a bit in the fourth but only gave up one hit. Recknagel had a couple of solid hits as well.

by **csindiansfan** » Wed Apr 07, 2010 8:38 am

Thanks for the information KTribe. We are from Texas and we plan on heading out to Kinston in a couple of weeks. It is great to read comments from folks who actually attended the games.

by **ktriber** » Wed Apr 07, 2010 9:14 am

csindiansfan wrote:Thanks for the information KTribe. We are from Texas and we plan on heading out to Kinston in a couple of weeks. It is great to read comments from folks who actually attended the games.

If it doesn't rain before you come, I would recommend packing a breathing mask in your luggage. The pollen is the worst I have ever seen it! :cry:

by **csindiansfan** » Wed Apr 07, 2010 10:02 am

Thanks for the information. Pollen is bad here in south central Texas also. I should be there for the Saturday game on April 24.

by **ktriber** » Thu Apr 08, 2010 10:21 pm

Not too good of a start. De La Cruz gets hammered and the Ktribe lose.

by **GradyLady279** » Sat Apr 10, 2010 12:29 am

Kinston wins tonight 5-0, Kipnis 3-4, Henry on base all night, Hagadone and the relievers in control. Nick went 4 and a third, 2H, 2BB, 4K, Stowell, Langwell and Smith closed it out, 12 K's altogether, Stowell fanning five in 2 2/3.

by **TonyIBI** » Sat Apr 10, 2010 7:24 am

Hagadone will get most of the attention from the game last night, and deservedly so, but to me the performance of the night in Kinston was Stowell's. he threw 2.2 innings of shutout ball in relief and gave up 2 hits, no walks and had 5 strikeouts. Getting some guys in the pitching ranks going like him who are inbetween the high and mid levels of the system as far as rankings go is huge. Indians still value him as he was in their plans to start all spring, and still may start some games in the second half of the year.

by **TonyIBI** » Sat Apr 10, 2010 8:12 am

Now playing first base for the Kinston Indians.....Roman Pena.

Apparently the Indians have converted him into a 1B, or that he will be playing there in some fashion this year. When I was in spring training he worked out in the outfield, so maybe the conversion and work occurred for the week and a half I was not there at the end.

by **toledobuck** » Sat Apr 10, 2010 9:52 am

Was Hagadone on a pitch count last night. The pulled him after one out in the 4th?? I thought he was unrestricted. i guess it it is still early in the season and the starters are still working into shape. The stats just appear to show that Hagadone is still on a strict pitch count.

by **TonyIBI** » Sat Apr 10, 2010 10:58 am

He threw 71 pitches when he was removed. Had a long 11-pitch sequence there in the 4th that resulted in him not being able to get through the inning. He is currently on a 60-65 pitch count, though should increase. They are gradually building up his pitch count.

by **JP_Frost** » Sat Apr 10, 2010 7:38 pm

Alex White with 3 K's and 1 hit in his first official pro ball inning.

by **dazindiansfanuk** » Sat Apr 10, 2010 8:20 pm

JP_Frost wrote:Alex White with 3 K's and 1 hit in his first official pro ball inning.

Now 6K's through 3 scoreless innings so far.

by **dazindiansfanuk** » Sat Apr 10, 2010 8:50 pm

White finishes with 5 scoreless - 2H, 4BB & 7K.... 5GB:2FB

by **JP_Frost** » Sat Apr 10, 2010 9:06 pm

Very good start. The 4 walks are a bit much, but nothing to worry about.

by **ktriber** » Sat Apr 10, 2010 10:53 pm

White got squeezed by the ump tonight. If he was missing, it couldn't have been more than an inch or two off the corner. Everything was at the knees. Fastball in the 91-94 range with a nasty slider to go with it. He was very impressive tonight.

by **JP_Frost** » Sun Apr 11, 2010 3:56 pm

TJ House's day is done:

5IP, 6H, 2ER, 1BB, 10K

by **A.Zajac** » Sun Apr 11, 2010 4:22 pm

JP_Frost wrote:TJ House's day is done:

5IP, 6H, 2ER, 1BB, 10K

Great outing for TJ.

MiLB scoreboards refuse to work for me... :s_mad

by **JP_Frost** » Mon Apr 12, 2010 8:45 pm

Kipnis is 2-3 with a HR so far tonight. He has done nothing but hit since being drafted.

by **InsaneJedi** » Mon Apr 12, 2010 8:46 pm

Why is Joey Mahalic starting today in place of Alexander Perez? Are they going with a six-man rotation, or is there some injury to Perez that we haven't heard about?

by **TonyIBI** » Mon Apr 12, 2010 10:24 pm

InsaneJedi wrote:Why is Joey Mahalic starting today in place of Alexander Perez? Are they going with a six-man rotation, or is there some injury to Perez that we haven't heard about?

Not sure....but checking into it. Methinks he is fine.....but we will see. Odd that Perez and Berger both are out right now, almost seems on purpose.

by **A.Zajac** » Mon Apr 12, 2010 11:09 pm

JP_Frost wrote:Kipnis is 2-3 with a HR so far tonight. He has done nothing but hit since being drafted.

No one believed me when I said he was legit last season.

by **dazindiansfanuk** » Tue Apr 13, 2010 8:26 pm

K-Tribe on the wrong end of perfection through 5 innings so far tonight - K'd 10 times as well!

by **JP_Frost** » Tue Apr 13, 2010 8:38 pm

dazindiansfanuk wrote:K-Tribe on the wrong end of perfection through 5 innings so far tonight - K'd 10 times as well!

Montgomery is a very good prospect btw. Tops in the Royals system if I'm not mistaken.

De La Cruz started off rough, but got it together the last 2 innings or so.

Why isn't Kipnis in the lineup?

by **dazindiansfanuk** » Tue Apr 13, 2010 8:39 pm

6 perfecto, 11K's for Montgomery now.

by **dazindiansfanuk** » Tue Apr 13, 2010 8:48 pm

Jordan Henry breaks up the perfect game with a lead-off single in the 7th.

by **ktriber** » Wed Apr 14, 2010 8:17 am

Why isn't Kipnis in the lineup?[/quote]

Holbert shakes the lineup quite a bit.With a outstanding lefty on the mound,he probably thought it was a good night to get a right-handed hitting second baseman in the lineup. Almost positive he not hurt.

by **TonyIBI** » Wed Apr 14, 2010 1:06 pm

Kipnis actually was supposed to be in the lineup, but was a late scratch because of some mild shoulder soreness so they kept him out as a precaution. He is supposed to play today.

by **TonyIBI** » Wed Apr 14, 2010 2:07 pm

Hagadone with another outstanding outing today going 5 innings and allowing just one unearned run on 5 hits, 1 walk and 6 K. Unfortunately, he was tagged with the loss as Kinston lost 1-0 and only managed one hit! Abreu off to another slow start (0-for-4, 3 K).

by **Upper Box Woodchuck** » Wed Apr 14, 2010 2:57 pm

I was surfing the web and came across this:

http://www.witn.com/cams/misc/43361102.html

It's a still camera that posts new images of the Grainger Stadium field every 30 seconds (even during games).

It's not exactly milb.tv, but it's better than nothing (I don't believe K-Tribe home games are on milb.tv), it's free, and (according to one of the comments below the web cam) it works pretty well if you're listening to the radio broadcast at the same time.

by **dnosco** » Thu Apr 15, 2010 12:36 am

Consigliere wrote:Hagadone with another outstanding outing today going 5 innings and allowing just one unearned run on 5 hits, 1 walk and 6 K. Unfortunately, he was tagged with the loss as Kinston lost 1-0 and only managed one hit! Abreu off to another slow start (0-for-4, 3 K).

Yep, just ran into a great pitching prospect. :rolleyes:

by **jellis** » Thu Apr 15, 2010 8:39 am

dnosco wrote:
Consigliere wrote:Hagadone with another outstanding outing today going 5 innings and allowing just one unearned run on 5 hits, 1 walk and 6 K. Unfortunately, he was tagged with the loss as Kinston lost 1-0 and only managed one hit! Abreu off to another slow start (0-for-4, 3 K).

Yep, just ran into a great pitching prospect.

who did they face that dennis is mocking?

by **dazindiansfanuk** » Thu Apr 15, 2010 8:44 am

jellis wrote:
dnosco wrote:
Consigliere wrote:Hagadone with another outstanding outing today going 5 innings and allowing just one unearned run on 5 hits, 1 walk and 6 K. Unfortunately, he was tagged with the loss as Kinston lost 1-0 and only managed one hit! Abreu off to another slow start (0-for-4, 3 K).

Yep, just ran into a great pitching prospect.

who did they face that dennis is mocking?

Melville..... not mocking, gloating! :tease:

by **Hermie13** » Thu Apr 15, 2010 9:10 am

Melville is still in A-ball? Shouldn't he be in the MLs by now? lol

by **Upper Box Woodchuck** » Thu Apr 15, 2010 9:59 am

still looking around re: roster move to make room fo McFarland. It was thought tyo be Pena, but he and Mcfarland played yesterday. Transaction page will be updated once I find out.

by **Upper Box Woodchuck** » Thu Apr 15, 2010 10:06 am

It's on the transactions log as well, but just so everybody knows, Alex Perez is on the DL.

http://www.kinston.com/sports/indians-6 ... -drop.html

by **dazindiansfanuk** » Fri Apr 16, 2010 8:49 pm

Alex White with a solid showing tonight - nothing spectacular.

4.1IP, 5H, 3R, 0ER, 2BB, 5K

Really hurt by his defense in the 4th inning as Ron Rivas made two errors to gift wrap 3 unearned runs and run up White's count.

by **TonyIBI** » Fri Apr 16, 2010 11:59 pm

Damn you Rivas.

by **A.Zajac** » Sat Apr 17, 2010 10:52 am

Consigliere wrote:Damn you Rivas.

Already 6 errors on the season. Yikes!

by **InsaneJedi** » Sat Apr 17, 2010 7:18 pm

House is struggling early. Three runs already in the first, but one is due to ANOTHER error on Ronald Rivas.

by **A.Zajac** » Sat Apr 17, 2010 9:46 pm

InsaneJedi wrote:House is struggling early. Three runs already in the first, but one is due to ANOTHER error on Ronald Rivas.

Inexcusable.

by **TonyIBI** » Sat Apr 17, 2010 10:53 pm

Mark Thompson would sure look good at SS in Kinston right about now. :s_mad

by **MadThinker88** » Sun Apr 18, 2010 12:25 am

Maybe Sowers and another piece can get flipped to plug that SS need in Kinston.

by **TonyIBI** » Sun Apr 18, 2010 10:07 am

I wouldn't be surprised if very soon you see SS/2B Kyle Smith moved to Kinston and Rivas go back to Lake County, or even Rivas just stay in Kinston in a utility role and Kevin Fontanez moved up to Lake County from EST.

by **dnosco** » Mon Apr 19, 2010 9:01 am

MadThinker88 wrote:Maybe Sowers and another piece can get flipped to plug that SS need in Kinston.

I really, REALLY hope you are kidding unless, of course, you are meaning a legitimate prospect to play at Kinston. I am assuming that is what you meant, right?

by **artgold** » Mon Apr 19, 2010 9:48 am

Starting to look like a classic case of where you pick up a free agent to fill a hole.

Pitchers shouldn't have to be concerned with problems like the SS position. There are a dozen career minor league guys who can fill the bill defensively, and the Tribe probably should put together a short list of alternatives pronto.

by **Hermie13** » Mon Apr 19, 2010 10:43 am

Speaking of middle infield defense.......

How has Kipnis looked at 2B in the early going?

His bat obviously has looked very good.

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