February 2009
Indians bounce Padres
The Indians earned their first win of the Cactus League schedule, 5-3, over San Diego. Here is the rundown of Clippers/minor leaguers who appeared:
Trevor Crowe 0-4
Wes Hodges 1-1
Luis Valbuena 0-1
Carlos Santana 0-2
Nick Weglarz 0-2
Michael Brantley 0-1
Andy Cannizaro 0-0, HBP
David Huff 2IP, 2ER, 4H, 1K, 1BB
Matt Herges 1IP, 2H
John Meloan 1IP, 1BB
Greg Aquino 1IP, 1ER, 2H, 1K
Victor Martinez hit two homers to lift the tribe to victory. Grady Sizemore announced he won’t play in the World Baseball Classic due to a groin injury.
Saturday: Indians at Athletics (Phoenix), 3:05pm ET
Moving Day…
The Clippers front office moved into Huntington Park today. The office will be open at 9:00am on Monday. The phone number is still 614-462-5250. Click here to view the ballpark.
Here are some fun facts about the new Clippers home:
Capacity: 10,100 (8,800 seats)
The Park will feature lawn seating, bleachers, and standing room.
Dimensions: LF-325, CF-400, RF-318
The wall in right is 22 feet high
Tickets start at $6 ($3 for children)
60% of seats cost $10 or less
There are 24 corporate suites
There’s plenty more to discuss regarding Huntington Park and we’ll do lots of that as the season nears.
Bob Hunter of the Columbus Dispatch had a nice piece about today’s move: Baseball in Columbus about to change forever
The Coop is closed
The front office is officially closed at Cooper Stadium. The Clippers business and ticket offices will open at 9:00am on Monday at Huntington Park.
Here is the address for the Clippers new home:
330 Huntington Park Lane
Columbus, OH 43215
Baseball America Top 100
Baseball America has released its “Top 100″ prospects for 2009.
Indians Prospacts ranked in Top 100:
Carlos Santana – #26
Matt Laporta – #27
Nick Weglarz – #58
Adam Miller – #82
Top 100 by Organization
7 Athletics, Rangers
6 Marlins
5 Braves, Rays
4 Orioles, White Sox, Indians, Brewers, Mets, Phillies, Giants, Mariners
3 Red Sox, Rockies, Royals, Twins, Yankees, Pirates, Cardinals, Blue Jays
2 Diamondbacks, Cubs, Reds, Angels, Dodgers
1 Tigers, Astros, Padres, Nationals
One down…
The Indians dropped their Cactus League opener 8-6 to San Francisco, but we were treated to several Clippers appearing in the spring lid-lifter:
Michael Brantley 1-2
Wes Hodges 0-2
Wilson Valdez 0-3
Chris Gimenez 0-1, BB
Michael Aubrey 1-2, HR
Matt LaPorta 1-3, R
Trevor Crowe 0-2
Stephen Head 1-1, HR
Jeremy Sowers 2IP, 1ER, 3H, 2K
Zach Jackson 2IP, 1ER, 1H
Vinnie Chulk 2IP, 3ER, 3H, 1K
Matt Herges 1IP, 2K
From the Indians game notes today…
Gone from 40-man roster (10/2/08)
RHP Bryan Bullington
RHP Brendan Donnelly
RHP Scott Elarton
RHP Tom Mastny
RHP Juan Rincon
RHP Brian Slocum
C Sal Fasano
INF Michael Aubrey
INF Andy Marte
New to current 40-man
RHP Carl Pavano
RHP Hector Rondon*
RHP Juan Salas
RHP Joe Smith
RHP Kerry Wood
C Chris Gimenez*
C Carlos Santana*
INF Mark DeRosa
INF Luis Valbuena
OF Trevor Crowe*
* internal additions
Wednesday’s game: Cleveland vs. Arizona, 3:05pm ET (LH Aaron Laffey vs. RH Dan Haren)
Marte joins Columbus
Andy Marte cleared waivers and was outrighted to the Clippers. Marte was designated for assignment this week when the Indians acquired pitcher Juan Salas. Assuming Marte is still around come April, he’ll come off Torey Lovullo’s bench. Wes Hodges is ticketed to be the everyday third baseman, but the addition of Marte makes the roster a bit crowded. Jordan Brown and Michael Aubrey should split time at first and DH. Here is a look at the crowded infield situation:
1B – Jordan Brown, Michael Aubrey
2B – Luis Valbuena, Andy Cannizaro
SS – Jesus Merchan, Wilson Valdez
3B – Wes Hodges, Andy Marte
Obviously, not all those guys will be around once camp breaks. A couple will probably be released and someone will find their way to the disabled list.
The addition of Marte really makes the hot corner an interesting spot on the depth chart. Marte can’t really play anywhere but third and DH (he’s played only one game at first in his career and it was last season in the bigs) and highly-touted prospect Beau Mills will be starting in Akron and working to Columbus at some point.
Baseball games are being played!!!
It was only an intrasquad game on Tuesday, but it counts for something. Right?!?
There were several possible/likely Clippers on the highlight reel:
Trevor Crowe 2-3, HR, RBI
Josh Barfield 1-3, HR, 3RBI
Beau Mills 2-3, 2RS, 3B, RBI
Luis Valbuena 1-2, 3B, 2RBI
David Huff, Kirk Saarloos, Ryan Edell, Adam Miller, Hector Rondon all had scoreless outings.
Crowe and Valbuena should be in the Clippers lineup come Opening Day. Barfield is considered the favorite for the 25th and final spot on the Indians roster. Mills will start in Akron, but should be in Columbus at some point in ’09.
Huff should be in the Clippers rotation. Saarloos is likely a Clipper, assuming he accepts a minor league assignment. Ryan Edell could start in Columbus or Akron. Miller is a favorite for the final Indians relief spot. Rondon will start below Triple-A, but could climb the ladder quickly.
Cactus League Opening Day
Wednesday brings us a game between teams wearing different uniforms. The Indians and Giants play at 3:05pm ET. Jeremy Sowers will take the mound and this game should feature several guys that will start in Columbus. The game will be broadcast locally on SportsTime Ohio and can be seen on MLB.TV if you’re out of town.
Clippings 2-23-09
A few items of note:
* Our “Spring Training Reports” will begin airing on Monday, March 16th. They can be heard on WMNI (920 AM) and on the web at www.clippersbaseball.com. We will also be archiving interviews each day from Goodyear. More details to come!
* Clippers President/ GM Ken Schnacke will be a guest on “Shark on Sports” this Thursday from 6 to 7pm. The show can be heard on WTDA (103.9 FM) and www.tedfm.com.
* The Indians have agreed to one year Major League contracts with the following pre-arbitration players on the club’s 40-man roster: Josh Barfield, Shin-Soo Choo, Aaron Laffey, Jon Meloan, Adam Miller, Anthony Reyes, Tony Sipp, Jeremy Sowers, and Wyatt Toregas.
Currently there are 14 unsigned pre-arbitration members on the club’s 40-man roster. The Major League deadline to renew or sign all 40-man roster players with 0-3 years MLB experience is March 11.
* The first Major League spring training game is slated for Wednesday vs. San Francisco at 3:05pm ET. Jeremy Sowers is the Indians scheduled starter.
Indians sign 16-year old catcher
The Cleveland Indians today signed amateur CA MARTIN ?ERVENKA to a non-drafted free agent minor league contract. ?ervenka, 16, is a right-handed hitting catcher from Prague, Czech Republic and was signed by Peter Gahan, the club’s Australia and Europe scouting supervisor.
To continue his development while finishing high school ?ervenka and the Indians have agreed upon a specific playing plan for the next two seasons. ?ervenka will continue to compete for his club team, KOTLARKA, during the 2009 season. He will travel to Goodyear for extended spring training during his school holidays and spend the 2009 and 2010 summers at the MLB Academy in Australia (Australian Summer League). He will maintain this plan until his high school commitment has been completed (high school in the Czech Republic ends at age 19).
“Martin is a young, athletic catcher with a projectable body and an excellent work ethic and aptitude,” said Assistant General Manager, Scouting Operations JOHN MIRABELLI. “These qualities along with his physical ability are definitely assets for him as he starts his professional catching career.”
Ryan Mitchell & Scott Leo
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