April 2009
Indians make roster moves
Following Saturday’s game against the Houston Astros in Minute Maid Park, the Cleveland Indians re-assigned CA DAMASO ESPINO, INF TONY GRAFFANINO, RHP MATT HERGES, INF ANDY MARTE and INF WILSON VALDEZ to minor league camp.
The Tribe’s 25-man roster is at 25 and the 40-man roster stands at 38.
The Indians will officially announce their Opening Day roster following Sunday’s workout in Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, TX.
NOTE: The Clippers roster will be formally announced on Monday. I’ll post it here.
Clippers tie Albuquerque in spring finale
The Clippers played to a 3-3 tie Saturday in the final game of the spring schedule. The Clippers players will now travel to Columbus and settle in on Monday before workouts at Huntington Park on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Here’s the rundown from the game:
Michael Brantley (CF) 0-1
George Lombard (sub-CF) 1-2, RBI, BB
Luis Valbuena (2B) 0-2, K
Jerad Head (sub-2B) 0-2
Michael Aubrey (1B/DH) 1-3, K
Matt LaPorta (LF/RF) 3-4
Wes Hodges (3B) 1-2, K
Jose Camargo (sub-3B) 0-3
Chris Gimenez (DH/LF) 0-4, 2K
Stephen Head (RF/DH) 2-4, R, 2K
Wyatt Toregas (C) 2-4, 2B, R
Matt Willard (SS) 0-4, K
Jordan Brown (DH/1B) 0-1,2K, BB
David Huff 6 IP, 3 ER, 9 K, 0 BB
Tony Sipp 1 IP, 1 H, 1 K
Vinnie Chulk 1 IP, 1 K
Michael Finocchi 1 IP, 1 K
ASK AND YOU SHALL RECEIVE!!!
Some of you had requested box scores from the Clippers spring games and here they are. I’ve collected almost all of them (go crazy stat geeks!):
MnL Box 4 4 09.pdf
MnL Box 4 3 09.pdf
MnL Box 4 2 09.pdf
MnL Box 4 1 09.pdf
MnL Box 3 31 09.pdf
MnL Box 3 30 09.pdf
MnL Box 3 28 09.pdf
MnL Box 3 25 09.pdf
MnL Box 3 24 09.pdf
MnL Box 3 23 09.pdf
MnL Box 3 22 09.pdf
MnL Box 3 20 09.pdf
MnL Box 3 19 09.pdf
MnL Box 3 18 09.pdf
Here are the Indians stats:
Major League spring stats.pdf
Clippers bats beat Nashville
The Clippers lineup showed some of its potential Friday in a 13-11 win over Nashville (Brewers). The day was highlighted by a Matt LaPorta homer and four doubles from Chris Gimenez. Here’s the rundown:
Michael Brantley (CF) 5-6, 2B, 3B, RBI
Luis Valbuena (2B) 1-5, RBI, BB, K
Michael Aubrey (DH) 1-3, 2B, R, K
George Lombard (sub-RF) 1-2, 2B, BB, R
Matt LaPorta (LF) 1-3, HR, 2 RBI, 2 BB
Wes Hodges (3B) 1-6, RBI, K
Chris Gimenez (C) 4-5, 4 2B, 2 RBI
Stephen Head (RF/DH) 2-3, RBI, 2 BB, K
Jordan Brown (1B) 1-5, 2 RBI, HR
Matt Willard (SS) 2-5, 2 3B, 2 RBI
Wyatt Toregas (DH) 1-1, R
Kirk Saarloos 4 IP, 7 ER, 8 H, 3 BB, 2 K
John Meloan 2 IP, 1 ER, 3 H, 1 BB, 2 K
Rich Rundles 1 IP, 0 ER 2 H
Season Preview Interview
I’m heading back to Columbus today. There’s plenty to be done before Thursday’s opener in Louisville. I’ll post the official Clippers roster once camp breaks tomorrow, but in the meantime, here’s a “season preview” interview I conducted with Torey Lovullo:
Torey Lovullo 4-2-09.mp3.
Here is the International League preview:
2009_International_League_Preview.pdf
Toregas lift Clippers to victory
Wyatt Toregas drove in the winning run in the bottom of the ninth Thursday as Columbus edged Albuquerque 3-2. Here’s the rundown:
Michael Brantley (CF) 1-4
Luis Valbuena (2B) 1-4, K
Stephen Head (1B/DH) 0-4, K
Matt LaPorta (RF) 0-4, K
Wes Hodges (3B) 2-3, HR, RBI
Chris Gimenez (LF) 2-2
Michael Aubrey (DH/1B) 1-4, K
Wyatt Toregas (C) 2-3, 2B, RBI
Matt Willard (SS) 0-3, 2K
Jordan Brown (DH) 0-3, K
Aaron Laffey 5 IP, 2R, 0 ER, 4H, 1K
Tony Sipp 1 IP, 1K
Clippers vs. Albuquerque (Dodgers)
Here’s today’s lineup:
1. Michael Brantley CF
2. Luis Valbuena 2B
3. Stephen Head 1B
4. Matt LaPorta RF
5. Wes Hodges 3B
6. Chris Gimenez LF
7. Michael Aubrey DH
8. Wyatt Toregas C
9. Matt Willard SS
10. Jordan Brown DH
P- Aaron Laffey
Yes, the Clippers are batting ten guys today (two designated hitters). This lineup consists of nine likely Clippers and one exception, Matt Willard. Willard will land in single-A this year, but with Wilson Valdez still in big league camp (and injuries to both Jesus Merchan and Andy Cannizaro) the Clippers needed someone to play shortstop today. Despite much begging and pleading, I told them I simply wasn’t interested.
The new Clippers site has launched!!!
The new Columbus Clippers website is up and running! Once again, the computer wizards of the front office have boggled our minds with their abilities.
Check out http://www.clippersbaseball.com throughout the season for merchandise, tickets, promotional info, and anything/everything Clippers related. I’ve also added a direct link below.
NOTE: We’ll be updating the multimedia section with radio interviews and game highlights throughout the season.
Great job guys!
Jae Kuk Ryu… we hardly knew you.
Major League Baseball has voided the Indians waiver claim for RHP Jae Kuk Ryu. Ryu was returned to the Padres on Wednesday and later released.
The 25 year old Korean had elbow surgery last year, so the voided claim may be injury related.
Nonetheless, Ryu won’t be pitching for the Clippers (or anywhere in the Indians organization).
Final scrimmage of camp
The Clippers and Akron Aeros played one final scrimmge game before the final weekend of spring training. The Clippers will play three more games before heading to the Buckeye state on Sunday.
Here’s the recap from Wednesday:
Michael Brantley (CF) 1-2, BB, 2R, SB
Luis Valbuena (SS) 0-4, 2K
Michael Aubrey (DH) 1-3, 2B, R, BB
Matt LaPorta (RF) 2-3, HR, 4RBI
Wes Hodges (3B) 0-1, K
Carlos Santana (C) 1-3, R
Jordan Brown (1B) 0-3, BB, 2K
George Lombard (LF) 0-3, K
Brandon Pinckney (SS) 1-2, RBI
Wyatt Toregas (DH) 1-3, 2B, K
Vinnie Chulk 1 IP, 2ER, 2H, 3K, 1BB
Rich Rundles 1 IP, 1H, 1K, 2BB
The Clippers will be adding Wilson Valdez, Andy Marte and Tony Graffanino once the team arrives in Columbus next week. The final roster is almost set!
The bullpen
During our chat yesterday, Torey Lovullo mentioned the following names as candidates for the Clippers bullpen:
Matt Herges
John Meloan
Rich Rundles
Tony Sipp
Tomo Ohka
Todd Moser
Greg Jones
Greg Aquino
If you look a little closer, it’s easy to see that Herges, Meloan, Rundles and Sipp are essentially locks. Vinnie Chulk will also be added to the mix since he’s lost out of the Indians final spot to Zach Jackson.
That leaves two open spots as of April 1st. We know who won’t be in the fold. Adam Miller, Juan Salas and Jae Kuk Ryu are staying in Goodyear for extended spring training. Miller is trying to rebound from his finger problems and Salas and Ryu are simply behind in their preparation for the season.
One possibility was Edward Mujica, who didn’t have a job with the Indians and he’s out of options. Mujica could have come to Columbus, but he was traded to the Padres today. You can read more on Mujica here.
It’s likely that Aquino will win a spot because Lovullo mentioned him, along with Herges, as a possible closer. The Clippers manager does want to quickly find someone that he can use in the 9th inning on a regular basis. This will be a change from the Nationals-era in Columbus because the Nats didn’t like having an everyday closer in Triple-A. They preferred to pitch everyone in various roles through the season. Lovullo says the Clippers will have a closer this year.
So, if Aqunio’s in, here are the candidates for the final spot: Ohka, Moser, and Jones.
I’ll keep you posted!
Here is an interview I conducted with left-hander Rich Rundles:
Rich Rundles 3-31-09.mp3
Ryan Mitchell & Scott Leo
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