April 2009
Ohka will make Clippers debut tonight
Torey Lovullo announced that Tomo Ohka will start the second game of tonight’s doubleheader in Louisvlle. Ohka, 33, was a free agent signing by the Indians this winter after pitching for Charlotte (White Sox) last year.
Aaron Laffey will pitch the opener after his scheduled Clippers debut was washed out last night.
Here are the pitching match-ups for the rest of this series with the Bats:
Saturday
LH Aaron Laffey vs. LH Matt Maloney
RH Tomo Ohka vs. RH Ramon Ramirez
Sunday
RH Kirk Saarloos vs. LH Ben Jukich
Also, here is the updated roster:
Roster 4-11-09.pdf
I’ll have the lineups and notes in a bit…
Chulk to Cleveland; Scott Lewis on DL
The Cleveland Indians today placed LHP SCOTT LEWIS on the 15-day disabled list with a left elbow strain and purchased the contract of RHP VINNIE CHULK from the AAA Columbus Clippers.
Lewis, named to the starting rotation this spring after a 4-0 September, started yesterday’s home opening loss to the Toronto Blue Jays and did not get a decision in the 94-pitch effort (4.1IP, 7H, 4R/ER, 1BB, 3K). It was his first start of the 2009 season. It marks the first career DL stint for Lewis at the Major League level.
Chulk, 30, was invited to Major League camp this spring after signing a minor league free agent contract in February and posted a mark of 0-0 w/a save and a 1.72 ERA in 9 exhibition outings (15.2IP, 10H, 3R/ER, 3BB, 8K). He limited spring hitters to a .192 (10-52) average against. He was assigned to AAA Columbus on April 1 and worked 2.0 scoreless innings in their organizational debut on Thursday, April 9 (0H, 0R, 2BB, 2K). He wears #39. He pitched for Toronto from 2003-06 after being selected by the Jays in the 12th round of the 2001 draft.
The Indians now have 4 players on the Major League disabled list. The 40-man roster is now full.
Rained out…
Tonight’s game has been postponed . We’ll have a doubleheader tomorrow starting at 6:05pm.
4-10 Clippers at Louisville
Here are the lineups:
Clippers
1. Michael Brantley CF
2. Luis Valbuena 2B
3. Wes Hodges 3B
4. Matt LaPorta RF
5. Michael Aubrey DH
6. Chris Gimenez LF
7. Jordan Brown 1B
8. Wyatt Toregas C
9. Wilson Valdez SS
P – Aaron Laffey
Bats
1. Norris Hopper RF
2. Drew Stubbs CF
3. Chris Valaika SS
4. Kevin Barker 1B
5. Jonny Gomes DH
6. Adam Rosales 3B
7. Wes Bankston LF
8. Wilkin Castillo C
9. Danny Richar 2B
P – Matt Maloney
Tonight’s game notes: notes_4-10.pdf
Clippers 12, Bats 4
Lots of good stuff to post after an impressive opening night victory:
Home runs power opener (Dispatch)
Offense lifts Clippers to victory in opener (Clippers)
Audio highlights and interviews
TOREY LOVULLO HITTING TO THE INFIELDERS
CLIPPERS PLAYERS LOOKING AT SLUGGER FIELD
MATT LAPORTA SIGNS AUTOGRAPHS
Staring Lineups and Game Notes
Here are tonight’s lineups:
Clippers
1. Michael Brantley CF
2. Luis Valbuena 2B
3. Wes Hodges 3B
4. Matt LaPorta LF
5. Michael Aubrey 1B
6. Chris Gimenez C
7. Stephen Head RF
8. Jordan Brown DH
9. Wilson Valdez SS
P- David Huff
Bats
1. Norris Hopper RF
2. Drew Stubbs CF
3. Chris Valaika SS
4. Kevin Barker 1B
5. Jonny Gomes LF
6. Adam Rosales 3B
7. Danny Dorn DH
8. Craig Tatum C
9. Luis Bolivar 2B
P- Homer Bailey
Tonight’s Game Notes are
notes_4-9.pdf.
Clippers in the news
Opening Day has arrived! There is plenty of chatter about the beginning of the season.
Here are some goodies:
International League News & Notes:
IL_News_&_Notes_4-09-09.pdf
Season Preview by position (Columbus Dispatch) Clippers by position
Clippers-Indians marriage should be blissful (Dispatch)
Talent pool in Columbus reminds Shapiro of the 90′s (Dispatch)
Loaded with talent, Clippers look promising (Dispatch)
Game Notes and lineups will be posted soon!
Columbus at Louisville: Pitching Probables
Thursday: LH David Huff vs. RH Homer Bailey
Friday: LH Aaron Laffey vs. LH Matt Maloney
Saturday: RH Kirk Saarloos vs. RH Ramon Ramirez
Sunday: LH Jeremy Sowers vs. LH Ben Jukich
Clippings: 4-7-09
My head is spinning a bit as the season gets closer. Sorry for neglecting the blog, but now I’m back with lots of goodies:
1) Here is the preliminary roster: Roster 4-6-09.pdf
We’re still waiting to learn who’ll take Graffanino’s place on the roster. Both Andy Cannizaro and George Lombard are in route to Columbus, but are not currently on the roster. I assume one of them will be the guy.
2) I want to thank Stan Robinson of Town & Country Television for having me as a guest this morning on his show. It’s always a pleasure to chat with Stan, a former public address announcer for the Columbus Jets in the 1960′s. He even delayed the taping since I was running late!
3) Jim Massie wrote a nice piece on Chris Gimenez in the Disptach: Read it here
4) There’s also a Clippers-related article in the Business section: Here
5) The Clippers web site is now featuring archived audio and video for your unlimited enjoyment. Check it out here
Lastly, its 32 degrees and snowing at Huntington Park. Lovely. Baseball season has arrived!
THURSDAY’S NIGHT FORECAST IN LOUISVILLE: Low of 55, mostly cloudy, 10% chance of rain…. I’ll take it! Play Ball!
Carroll to DL; Graffanino to Cleveland
The Clippers have seen the roster change again, even before the season opener:
The Cleveland Indians today placed INF JAMEY CARROLL on the 15-day disabled list with a fifth metacarpal shaft fracture of the left hand. The DL transaction is retroactive to Sunday, April 5. To assume Carroll’s spot on the roster, the Indians have purchased the contract of INF TONY GRAFFANINO from AAA Columbus.
Carroll was hit by a pitch by Astros reliever Doug Brocail in the 9th inning of Saturday’s exhibition game against the Houston Astros in Minute Maid Park. He will be examined in Baltimore later today. This is Jamey’s first career trip to the disabled list at the Major League level. Carroll batted .295 (18-61) with 7 runs scored, 2 doubles and 6RBI in 20 games this spring. He is eligible to come off the DL on April 20th.
Graffanino, who was re-assigned to minor league camp on April 4, batted .271 (13-48) with 8 runs scored, 2 doubles, a homer and 5RBI in 23 spring games. He wears #4 and will be in uniform for today’s game against the Texas Rangers at 2:05PM ET in Rangers Ballpark in Arlington.
The Indians now have 3 players on the Major League disabled list (Westbrook/Dellucci/Carroll). The 40-man roster now stands at 39.
Ryan Mitchell & Scott Leo
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