Official 2010 Akron Aeros Thread

[TonyIBI]

Come on guys, White has thrown 150 innings this year. It's his first pro season. No need to treat him like a 27-year old AAA vet.

Agree with this. What does this set him up for, something like 170IP with the big club next year? That should qualify as enough in the ROY balloting, right?

Going by their 30% rule, it puts him in line for 190 or so.

[Upper Box Woodchuck]

I'm assuming that Grening is taking White's roster spot. Any word on a move to make way for Rivas?

[TonyIBI]

I'm assuming that Grening is taking White's roster spot. Any word on a move to make way for Rivas?

Not sure....but whoever was promoted to fill in for Jordan Brown in Columbus. My guess is it will be Head.

[Upper Box Woodchuck]

I'm assuming that Grening is taking White's roster spot. Any word on a move to make way for Rivas?

Not sure....but whoever was promoted to fill in for Jordan Brown in Columbus. My guess is it will be Head.

Thanks. I'm assuming that Rivas hasn't reported, so they're waiting for that to happen before sending Head to C-Bus.

[artgold]

Chen Lee with a decent outing, finishing up a really good year.

Special recognition to Upper Box Woodchuck, who ranked Lee #9 prior to the season. Nobody else had him ranked in the top 30 (except Baseball America).

Good call UBW!

[tpaquette78]

Chen Lee with a decent outing, finishing up a really good year.

Special recognition to Upper Box Woodchuck, who ranked Lee #9 prior to the season. Nobody else had him ranked in the top 30 (except Baseball America).

Good call UBW!

It was good he had him ranked in the top 30 but 9 was still and is still way to high.

[MadThinker88]

Chen Lee with a decent outing, finishing up a really good year.

Special recognition to Upper Box Woodchuck, who ranked Lee #9 prior to the season. Nobody else had him ranked in the top 30 (except Baseball America).

Good call UBW!

Good Point Art, great call by UBW.

[TonyIBI]

Chen Lee with a decent outing, finishing up a really good year.

Special recognition to Upper Box Woodchuck, who ranked Lee #9 prior to the season. Nobody else had him ranked in the top 30 (except Baseball America).

Good call UBW!

It was good he had him ranked in the top 30 but 9 was still and is still way to high.

Yeah, I like Lee, but that's a little high to me for a reliever, especially in a system so deep with them. Hard to rank guys like Bryson, Price, Lee, Pestano, Judy, Putnam, Graham, Hagadone, etc all in the Top 30.

[artgold]

Chen Lee with a decent outing, finishing up a really good year.

Special recognition to Upper Box Woodchuck, who ranked Lee #9 prior to the season. Nobody else had him ranked in the top 30 (except Baseball America).

Good call UBW!

It was good he had him ranked in the top 30 but 9 was still and is still way to high.

Yeah, I like Lee, but that's a little high to me for a reliever, especially in a system so deep with them. Hard to rank guys like Bryson, Price, Lee, Pestano, Judy, Putnam, Graham, Hagadone, etc all in the Top 30.

I think his ranking of him prior to the season was a pretty gutsy call, and though it might be a bit high none of us had him in our top 30 listings. I think that deserves a special mention.

[jellis]

Chen Lee with a decent outing, finishing up a really good year.

Special recognition to Upper Box Woodchuck, who ranked Lee #9 prior to the season. Nobody else had him ranked in the top 30 (except Baseball America).

Good call UBW!

It was good he had him ranked in the top 30 but 9 was still and is still way to high.

Yeah, I like Lee, but that's a little high to me for a reliever, especially in a system so deep with them. Hard to rank guys like Bryson, Price, Lee, Pestano, Judy, Putnam, Graham, Hagadone, etc all in the Top 30.

I think his ranking of him prior to the season was a pretty gutsy call, and though it might be a bit high none of us had him in our top 30 listings. I think that deserves a special mention.

It does, I think I had him more in the 50's. It was a nice spot, but still hard to justify a reliever 9 especially over some much better guys. Not sure he is a guy who should ever be in the top ten

[TonyIBI]

Grening back to Kinston....was up in Akron last night as an extra arm since no starter was available with Kluber promoted.

[Pork Chop Pough]

The Aeros have John Drennen batting cleanup tonight, followed by Miguel Perez, Cristo Arnal (playing 1B), Lucas Montero, Ron Rivas and Dan DeGeorge. They might be winning 2-1 in the 7th, but this is surely the "White Flag" lineup.

[martyinnewyork]

Any ideas on who will start the finale on Labor Day and who may still be playing that day for the Aeros? Thinking about heading to Erie with my oldest son...

[Pork Chop Pough]

I don't know who will be playing by Monday, but Connor Graham continued his recent streak of ineffectiveness by blowing the lead in the 8th tonight, and the Aeros lose 3-2. Bowie added another win, leaving the Aeros 4 games behind with 4 to play, so it would take a few miracles for the Aeros to still be playing for anything by Monday. This will be the first time since 2004 that they'll miss the Eastern League playoffs. Come to think of it, I'm fairly certain I was at the final game of the '04 season, and they just emptied their bench in that one... pretty sure that was the only game Victor Martinez's brother Dave ever pitched above A-ball.

[TonyIBI]

Any ideas on who will start the finale on Labor Day and who may still be playing that day for the Aeros? Thinking about heading to Erie with my oldest son...

No idea.

Starters for Sunday and Monday are TBA because White/Kluber are out of the rotation. Likely Lindsay again on Sunday, and then bullpen by committee on Monday.

[ktriber]

I see that Rivas has taken his comedy of errors to Akron. Surely, this is his last few days in an Indians uniform.

[TonyIBI]

FYI, on Sun the start goes to Wright....on Mon it will be Bryson.

[TonyIBI]

Oh, and as expected, Head sent to Columbus today.

[martyinnewyork]

Thanks, Tony...

[artgold]

Ron Rivas with 2 errors in 2 games at Akron.

Interesting season, trying to state something positive about him.....well, he has tripled his previous high in season HRs, batting 3 this year.

Considering his batting and fielding futility, one would anticipate another positive attribute. But, he is 1 for 4 in stolen bases, so I guess it ain't speed.

Must be a GREAT guy in the clubhouse.

[artgold]

Though Barnes had a bad pitching line tonight, he actually did much better than it appears in the line score.

He pitched 5 2/3 innings and only gave up 2 runs, leaving in the 5th with the bases loaded and 2 outs. He gave up 5 hits and 4 walks, but 1 hit and 2 walks were the last 3 guys he faced, so he seemed to be running out of gas a bit.

Also had 8 K's.

Hagadone came in for Barnes and did a lousy job, letting all 3 runners score and giving up more himself.

[danh8]

I've never seen Hagadone pitch, but would like an honest appraisal on what people see in him that seems to be the cause of his realtively poor performance this season.

[artgold]

Ron Rivas with 2 errors in 2 games at Akron.

Interesting season, trying to state something positive about him.....well, he has tripled his previous high in season HRs, batting 3 this year.

Considering his batting and fielding futility, one would anticipate another positive attribute. But, he is 1 for 4 in stolen bases, so I guess it ain't speed.

Must be a GREAT guy in the clubhouse.

And Rivas with another hitless game, going 0 for 4 and dropping his BA to .083.

But, he had another throwing error, keeping his error per game streak alive.

[dazindiansfanuk]

Here's a crazy thought...... the Aeros have been going with bullpen games a couple of times down the stretch and it appears that each time Rob Bryson has started.

Ordinarily, you'd find that a little strange that a "priority" reliever would be thrown into multiple innings situations, but Bryson has pitched well in the role and the Indians I guess feel he's capable of going at least twice through an order.

With that said, even though he's in his first full season coming back from injury, do we think there's a chance the Indians might be considering stretching him back out as a starter?

Granted his starting career was already on and off before he was hurt, but it's something to debate at the end of a disappointing Aeros season.

FWIW, Bryson has made 3 starts and gone 9.1IP, 3H, 3R, 2ER, 2BB, 8K.

Not likely, but something to talk about.

[MadThinker88]

I think Bryson starting is more to show he can go more than 1 IP.
As the roles of relievers have developed, I see more and more guys only able to go 1 IP (or in many cases 1 or 2 batters).

I think if Bryson is capable to successfully navigate multiple IP, multiple days a week, he might bring something to the table that is needed in the Tribe pen in 2011.

[martyinnewyork]

Saw the Aeros today... didn't realize Kaminsky pitched till looking at the box when I got home, he wasn't on the roster sheet and wore a number that didn't match anyone on the roster.

Nice games from Chiz/Kipnis/Henry. Apodaca hit a BOMB... Bryson was solid.

And... NO ERROR for Rivas!!!!

[indianinkslinger]

I've never seen Hagadone pitch, but would like an honest appraisal on what people see in him that seems to be the cause of his realtively poor performance this season.

High 90s fasball with movement and a spectacular breaking ball. His problem is keeping command with all the movement especially after the arm problems. Great arms often have this problem. Although he is much younger, look at the best arm in the organization, Haley. Same issue IMO.

[Pork Chop Pough]

I'd be rather shocked if they changed Bryson's long-term role. I suspect it's something more along the lines that if a pitcher can handle going multiple innings and multiple times through a lineup at this level, he can learn more about pitching and more about himself, and they can accelerate his development that way. It's not exactly the same as Rafael Perez climbing the ladder as a starter, but the same concept. Perez had a lot of success starting, but they never changed their plan for him. I wouldn't expect Bryson's performance to change the outlook for him, but rather take it as another sign they consider him a high priority relief prospect.

[Upper Box Woodchuck]

Saw the Aeros today... didn't realize Kaminsky pitched till looking at the box when I got home, he wasn't on the roster sheet and wore a number that didn't match anyone on the roster.

Nice games from Chiz/Kipnis/Henry. Apodaca hit a BOMB... Bryson was solid.

And... NO ERROR for Rivas!!!!

By the way, any word on the countermove for Kaminsky (If there was one. The EL may have allowed the Aeros a 25th man for a meaningless season finale)?

[Upper Box Woodchuck]

Am I alone in finding it kinda funny that the Aeros actually felt the need to mention that the starters for next year's opener weren't set yet when mentioning the game at the end of the season finale recap?

http://akronaeros.com/2010scores/akr9060.html

[gotribe31]

FWIW, Jason Kipnis named as the 2B on BA's Minor League All Star team.

http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/pr ... 10648.html

[MadThinker88]

FWIW, Jason Kipnis named as the 2B on BA's Minor League All Star team.

http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/pr ... 10648.html

Did anyone else notice that former Tribe farmhand Chris Archer also made the 1st team???

[TonyIBI]

Speaking of Kipnis...hearing he has joined the Clippers for their final series. Not sure if he will be activated or play, but there must have been a significant injury or something happened for them to send him to Columbus after he had been sitting at home for now almost a week.

[indianinkslinger]

Speaking of Kipnis...hearing he has joined the Clippers for their final series. Not sure if he will be activated or play, but there must have been a significant injury or something happened for them to send him to Columbus after he had been sitting at home for now almost a week.

I don't know if you have heard anything Tony but my brother insists that Phelps is playing hurt. Have to confess that he does look like he is having some problems on the tube but so hard to tell. Might explain Kipnis.

[TonyIBI]

Speaking of Kipnis...hearing he has joined the Clippers for their final series. Not sure if he will be activated or play, but there must have been a significant injury or something happened for them to send him to Columbus after he had been sitting at home for now almost a week.

I don't know if you have heard anything Tony but my brother insists that Phelps is playing hurt. Have to confess that he does look like he is having some problems on the tube but so hard to tell. Might explain Kipnis.

Yes, Phelps and Donald are my two quick guesses. Phelps has had the wrist injury for about 5-6 weeks now, and Donald got smashed on the hand with a pitch trying to bunt on Saturday. Maybe one is more hurt than is being led on right now.

[catfish]

Cant be. The tribe never lies about injuries.

[A.Zajac]

Cant be. The tribe never lies about injuries.

[A.Zajac]

Part of an article by John Sickels

Lonnie Chisenhall,3B, Cleveland Indians: Chisenhall first got to Double-A in August of 2009, hitting .183/.238/.387 in 93 at-bats for Akron. This was compared to the .276/.346/.492 mark he posted at High-A Kinston before his promotion, but he was just 20 when promoted last year and no one was surprised that he was a bit overmatched. Returning to Akron this year, he hit .278/.351/.450 with 22 doubles, 17 homers, 46 walks, and 77 strikeouts in 460 at-bats, giving him a +10 percent OPS, somewhat down from the +18 he posted in the Carolina League, but at least above average.

His defensive stats were mediocre, but at least better than what he did in '09 in terms of reliability, increasing his fielding % from .915 to .929. We'll see what Total Zone comes up with when it comes out.

Chisenhall's biggest offensive weakness is a sharp platoon split: .234/.320/.383 against lefties, .301/.367/.484 against right-handers. Overall his numbers are pretty good and he made a decent transition, but the scouting reports on him still seem more glowing than the statistics. I gave him a B+ in the book but might drop that slightly to Grade B.

[Rocky55]

Part of an article by John Sickels

Lonnie Chisenhall,3B, Cleveland Indians: Chisenhall first got to Double-A in August of 2009, hitting .183/.238/.387 in 93 at-bats for Akron. This was compared to the .276/.346/.492 mark he posted at High-A Kinston before his promotion, but he was just 20 when promoted last year and no one was surprised that he was a bit overmatched. Returning to Akron this year, he hit .278/.351/.450 with 22 doubles, 17 homers, 46 walks, and 77 strikeouts in 460 at-bats, giving him a +10 percent OPS, somewhat down from the +18 he posted in the Carolina League, but at least above average.

His defensive stats were mediocre, but at least better than what he did in '09 in terms of reliability, increasing his fielding % from .915 to .929. We'll see what Total Zone comes up with when it comes out.

Chisenhall's biggest offensive weakness is a sharp platoon split: .234/.320/.383 against lefties, .301/.367/.484 against right-handers. Overall his numbers are pretty good and he made a decent transition, but the scouting reports on him still seem more glowing than the statistics. I gave him a B+ in the book but might drop that slightly to Grade B.

Couple of omissions by Sickels, things that are easily accessed with a little effort:
No mention of Chiz's performance in Akron's playoff games in '09. Chiz was a monster in the playoffs, and still a 20yr old, as noted by Sickels.

No mention of Chiz's injury earlier in the year, which slowed him considerably after a hot start. His post All-Star production may reflect his true ability, moreso than his full season stats.

Chiz does have a pretty big lefty/right split. I'd be interested to see what it was in the months that he was healthy.

I think Chiz is going to be a really good player at the ML level. Maybe he won't be a superstar. Who cares?

[indianinkslinger]

Part of an article by John Sickels

Lonnie Chisenhall,3B, Cleveland Indians: Chisenhall first got to Double-A in August of 2009, hitting .183/.238/.387 in 93 at-bats for Akron. This was compared to the .276/.346/.492 mark he posted at High-A Kinston before his promotion, but he was just 20 when promoted last year and no one was surprised that he was a bit overmatched. Returning to Akron this year, he hit .278/.351/.450 with 22 doubles, 17 homers, 46 walks, and 77 strikeouts in 460 at-bats, giving him a +10 percent OPS, somewhat down from the +18 he posted in the Carolina League, but at least above average.

His defensive stats were mediocre, but at least better than what he did in '09 in terms of reliability, increasing his fielding % from .915 to .929. We'll see what Total Zone comes up with when it comes out.

Chisenhall's biggest offensive weakness is a sharp platoon split: .234/.320/.383 against lefties, .301/.367/.484 against right-handers. Overall his numbers are pretty good and he made a decent transition, but the scouting reports on him still seem more glowing than the statistics. I gave him a B+ in the book but might drop that slightly to Grade B.

Couple of omissions by Sickels, things that are easily accessed with a little effort:
No mention of Chiz's performance in Akron's playoff games in '09. Chiz was a monster in the playoffs, and still a 20yr old, as noted by Sickels.

No mention of Chiz's injury earlier in the year, which slowed him considerably after a hot start. His post All-Star production may reflect his true ability, moreso than his full season stats.

Chiz does have a pretty big lefty/right split. I'd be interested to see what it was in the months that he was healthy.

I think Chiz is going to be a really good player at the ML level. Maybe he won't be a superstar. Who cares?

Sickels pretty much acknowledged all of your points in the comments on the article. I rather suspect he will stick with B+ which is probably reasonable considering his problems with LHP. Not sure that will be the highest ranking but I don't know who I would give an A/A- to in the organization. Maybe Weglarz if he was healthy but with Carrasco no longer a prospect, I do not see any pitcher warranting a grade higher than B/B+.