June 2010
It’s time to dance…
The Clippers re-enter divisional play tonight, carrying just a two game lead over Indianapolis.
* The Clippers fell 4-3 to Gwinnett last night in front of 12,227 hot dog eating fans. It is the largest crowd in Huntington Park history.
* Jared Goedert blasted a two-run homer against the Braves in the 8th inning. He went deep three times in the Braves series.
* Brian Buscher was released by the Indians today. The 29 year old signed with Cleveland in the off-season after spending 2009 in the majors with Minnesota. He batted .265 in 47 games playing thid base before the arrival of Goedert.
* The Clippers have spent 77 consecutive days in first place.
* Lou Marson is 7-for-40 since joining Columbus (.175), Luis Valbuena is 4-for-11 (.364).
* Josh Rodriguez rejoined the Clippers after being transferred to Akron a few days ago. He was 4-for-8 with a double and one RBI with the Aeros. J-Rod is batting .341 over 26 games in Triple-A.
* Huntington Park will be open for Columbus’ annual “Red White and Boom” festival. The fireworks are Friday, July 2nd. Click here for more info.
* Nick Weglarz is batting .328 in 18 games at Huntington Park, but only .059 on the road over 9 games. He missed six games last week because of knee tendinitis.
* Michael Brantley is batting .341 over his last ten games. He is 10 for his last 21 (.476).
* Brantley is a guest of “Clippers Extra Innings” on Universal Sports Columbus (WDEM-TV). The show will air Thursday at 5:30pm.
That’s all for now. See you at the ballpark!
The chase is on!
The Clippers lead Indianapolis by two games as they begin a four-game series tonight at Huntington Park!
Indianapolis
1. Akinori Iwamura 3B
2. Alex Presley LF
3. Jim Negrych 2B
4. Steve Pearce 1B
5. Jeff Clement DH
6. Brandon Moss RF
7. Erik Kratz C
8. Jonathan Van Every CF
9. Argenis Diaz SS
P – RH Charlie Morton (1-1, 3.42)
Columbus
1. Michael Brantley LF
2. Josh Rodriguez SS
3. Luis Valbuena 2B
4. Jared Goedert 3B
5. Jordan Brown 1B
6. Wes Hodges DH
7. Nick Weglarz RF
8. Lou Marson C
9. Jose Constanza CF
P – LH David Huff (1-0, 2.35)
Hot Dog Man, you’re everybody’s hero!
The Clippers and Braves meet tonight at 7:05pm on Dime-A-Dog Night…
Gwinnett
1. Matt Young CF
2. Matt Diaz LF
3. Freddie Freeman 1B
4. Barbaro Canizares DH
5. Diory Hernandez SS
6. Mitch Jones RF
7. Joe Thurston 2B
8. Wes Timmons 3B
9. Clint Sammons C
P – RH Todd Redmond (7-7, 4.41)
Columbus
1. Michael Brantley CF
2. Luis Valbuena 3B
3. Jared Goedert DH
4. Jordan Brown RF
5. Wes Hodges 1B
6. Nick Weglarz LF
7. Brian Bixler SS
8. Chris Gimenez C
9. Cord Phelps 2B
P – RH Josh Tomlin (7-2, 2.70)
SportsTime Ohio
The Clippers host Gwinnet on STO today at 5:05, or right after the Indians-Reds game…
Gwinnett
1. Matt Young CF
2. Matt Diaz LF
3. Freddie Freeman 1B
4. Barbaro Canizares DH
5. Diory Hernandez SS
6. Joe Thurston 2B
7. Wes Timmons 3B
8. Josh Anderson RF
9. Clint Sammons C
P – LH Jo-Jo Reyes (1-5, 5.23)
Columbus
1. Michael Brantley CF
2. Luis Valbuena 2B
3. Jared Goedert 3B
4. Jordan Brown 1B
5. Wes Hodges DH
6. Chris Gimenez LF
7. Brian Bixler SS
8. Lou Marosn C
9. Jose Constanza RF
P – RH Yohan Pino (7-3, 4.65)
Indians trade Branyan for minor leaguers
Today, the Cleveland Indians announced they have acquired OF EZEQUIEL CARRERA and SS JUAN DIAZ from the Seattle Mariners in exchange for INF RUSSELL BRANYAN and cash or a player to be named later.
Carrera, 22, has spent the entire 2010 season to date at AAA Tacoma as he has hit .268 (57-213) with 24 runs scored, 6 doubles, 2 triples and 18RBI in 64 games. He has stolen 9 bases in 14 attempts this season but is currently on the AAA disabled list with a left hip pointer. Before being injured, Carrera was hitting .311 (19-61) with 6 runs scored, 3 doubles and 6 RBI in 18 games during the month of June. Prior to the start of the 2010 season, Carrera was ranked as the 15th best prospect in the Mariners organization by Baseball America.
Last year, the left-handed hitting outfielder, won the Southern League Batting title as he hit .337 (111-329) with 68 runs scored, 12 doubles, 4 triples, 2HR and 38RBI in 91 games at AA West Tennessee while being named to both the Southern League All-Star and also the Topps Double-A All-Star team. Carrera also posted a .441 on-base percentage which aled the Southern League and was 3rd best in all of minor league baseball. The Venezuelan native was named the best defensive outfielder in the Florida State League in 2008 by Baseball America. Carrera was originally signed by the Mets as a non-drafted free agent in 2005 and will report to AAA Columbus in the coming days.
Diaz, 21, a 6-4, 170-pound switch hitting shortstop, has spent the entire 2010 season to date at High Desert of the California League batting .295 (75-254) with 39 runs scored, 8 doubles, 3 triples, 7HR and 41RBI in 70 games. He has also stolen 8 bases in 10 attempts and has an OPS of .779 (.345 on-base % & .433 slg. %).
Last year, Diaz batted .311 (101-325) with 55 runs scored, 22 doubles, 5 triples, 4HR and 29RBI in 84 games at High Desert as he was named to the California League All-Star Team. The Dominican Republic native was on the disabled list from June 25-August 4th with a fractured hamate in the left hand however came back to finish the season and played for Peoria in the Arizona Fall League. He was originally signed as a non-drafted free agent by Seattle in 2006 and will report to Kinston in the coming days.
Branyan was signed by the Indians on February 24th and hit .263 (45-171) with 24 runs scored, 9 doubles, 10HR and 24RBI in 52 games for Cleveland this year.
The Indians will make a roster move prior to tomorrow’s game with the Cincinnati Reds to fill Branyan’s spot on the Major League 25-man roster.
Tomahawk Chop!
Gwinnett
1. Matt Young LF
2. Matt Diaz DH
3. Freddie Freeman 1B
4. Mitch Jones RF
5. Diory Hernandez SS
6. Joe Thurston 2B
7. Jordan Schafer CF
8. Wes Timmons 3B
9. J.C. Boscan C
P – RH Tim Gustafson (7-4, 4.92)
Columbus
1. Michael Brantley CF
2. Luis Valbuena SS
3. Matt LaPorta LF
4. Jordan Brown RF
5. Jared Goedert 3B
6. Nick Weglarz DH
7. Wes Hodges 1B
8. Lou Marson C
9. Cord Phelps 2B
P – RH Jeanmar Gomez (4-7, 5.76)
Home, Home (on the range)
The Clippers return from a eight-game road trip tonight to face the Gwinnett Braves…
Gwinnett
1. Matt Young LF
2. Wes Timmons 3B
3. Freddie Freeman DH
4. Barbaro Canizares 1B
5. Joe Thurston 2B
6. Josh Anderson RF
7. Jordan Schafer CF
8. Luis Bolivar SS
9. Clint Sammons C
P – LH Jose Ortegano (2-3, 5.11)
Columbus
1. Michael Brantley CF
2. Josh Rodriguez DH
3. Matt LaPorta LF
4. Jared Goedert 3B
5. Wes Hodges 1B
6. Nick Weglarz RF
7. Brian Bixler SS
8. Lou Marson C
9. Cord Phelps 2B
P – RH Carlos Carrasco (5-3, 4.29)
Hoopsville!
During the road trip, we made a trip over to Springfield, Massachusetts to see the Basketball Hall of Fame. Nobody there would discuss whether LeBron will be staying in Cleveland, at least not “on the record”…
The Hall of Fame reminds me of the Epcot Center at Disney World…
Here is a look at “Center Court”…
The “Ring of Honor”…
Hey, Mr. Connecticut!
A bus driver outside the Providence airport referred to my broadcast partner as “Mr. Connecticut” the other day. I’m not sure what that means, but I’m pretty sure Ryan should be offended.
The Clippers play in Rochester tonight at 7:05pm…
Columbus
1. Michael Brantley CF
2. Josh Rodriguez DH
3. Matt LaPorta 1B
4. Jordan Brown LF
5. Jared Goedert 3B
6. Brian Bixler SS
7. Cord Phelps 2B
8. Lou Marson C
9. Jose Constanza RF
P – RH Josh Tomlin (6-2, 2.81)
Rochester
1. Jason Repko CF
2. Trevor Plouffe SS
3. Brian Dinkelman RF
4. Brock Peterson 1B
5. Dustin Martin DH
6. D’Angelo Jimenez 3B
7. Jose Morales C
8. Jacque Jones LF
9. Toby Gardenhire 2B
P – LH Glen Perkins (1-7, 7.71)
The Blog Lives!!!
As the second half of the Clippers season begins tonight, I’m returning to the blog after much needed break. I’ll still be posting the lineups here, but I’d like to get back to the good stuff from earlier in the year. Start looking for things like the “Mailbag” and “Clippings” again. As a matter of fact, here are some “Clippings” to get half #2 underway…
* The Clippers are playing the third of a four-game series in Rochester tonight at 7:05pm. Josh Tomlin will start against Red Wings lefty Glen Perkins.
* Nick Weglarz has not played since 6/18 because of tendinitis in his knee. He suffered a stress fracture to his tibia last year and had surgery where a steel rod was inserted into his leg. Mike Sarbaugh said the tendinitis is probably related to the surgery.
* Weglarz is 1-for-8 on the road trip and is now batting .059 (2-for-34) in nine road games, compared to .353 (18-for-51) in 15 home games.
* Universal Sports Columbus (WDEM-TV), channel 17 in Columbus is airing “Clippers Extra Innings” each Thursday at 5:30pm. It’s a 30 minute show dedicated to your Hometown Heroes. This week’s show includes a chat with Chris Gimenez.
* Sunday’s tilt at Pawtucket was suspended due to rain in the 6th inning with the Clippers leading 4-3. It will be resumed in Columbus on Friday, July 23rd and be followed by the regularly scheduled 9-inning game.
* The Clippers are 42-30 after 72 games, exactly halfway through the season. Last year the Clippers were 33-39. The last time Columbus was above .500 at the midpoint was 2008 (41-31).
* The Indians announced that Aaron Laffey will start on Friday in Cincinnati. Laffey was 0-1 with a 3.98 ERA over four Triple-A starts. He walked seven in his last outing.
* The Clippers rotation will now look like this:
Tonight: RH Josh Tomlin (6-3, 4.36)
Tomorrow: LH David Huff (NR)
Friday: RH Carlos Carrasco (5-3, 4.29)
Saturday: RH Jeanmar Gomez (4-7, 5.76)
Sunday: RH Yohan Pino (7-3, 4.65)
* Entering tonight’s game, Josh Rodriguez is batting .435 (10-for-23) against Rochester in six games. J-Rod is hitting . 329 with 5 HR and 17 RBI in 23 games since his promotion from Akron.
* Matt LaPorta is scheduled to appear on Bruce Drennan’s “All Bets Are Off” on SportsTime Ohio tomorrow after the Indians-Phillies game.
Listen to the Clippers tonight in Rochester at 7:05pm on AM 920 WMNI or http://www.clippersbaseball.com
Follow the Clippers broadcasts on Facebook and Twitter for in-game updates.
Ryan Mitchell & Scott Leo
Recent Comments