Harbor Lights
The Clippers return from the All Star break tonight at Harbor Park against Norfolk…
Columbus
1. Luis Valbuena SS
2. Josh Rodriguez CF
3. Jordan Brown RF
4. Jared Goedert 3B
5. Wes Hodges 1B
6. Nick Weglarz LF
7. Wyatt Toregas DH
8. Lou Marson C
9. Cord Phelps 2B
P – RH Carlos Carrasco (7-4, 4.38)
Norfolk
1. Matt Angle CF
2. Robert Andino SS
3. Michael Aubrey DH
4. Nolan Reimold 1B
5. Rhyne Hughes RF
6. Paco Figueroa 2B
7. Blake Davis 3B
8. Adam Donachie C
9. Jonathan Tucker LF
P – RH Tim Bascom (2-3, 5.87)
Back to the Future….
It seems like we just did this last week. Indianapolis visits Columbus again and the Clippers meet the Indians tonight at 7:05pm…
Indianapolis
1. Kevin Mellilo RF
2. Akinori Iwamura 3B
3. Brian Myrow 1B
4. Jeff Clement DH
5. Eric Kratz C
6. Jim Negrych 2B
7. Alex Presley CF
8. Jonathan Van Every LF
9. Argenis Diaz SS
P – LH Brian Burres (1-3, 4.96)
Columbus
1. Jose Constanza CF
2. Josh Rodriguez DH
3. Luis Valbuena SS
4. Jared Goedert 3B
5. Jordan Brown RF
6. Wes Hodges 1B
7. Brian Bixler LF
8. Chris Gimenez C
9. Josh Phelps 2B
P – RH Josh Tomlin (8-2, 2.45)
“The Decision”
It’s decision time. All the speculation and hoopla is finished. The pros and cons have been examined and re-examined. Here is the verdict… I’m having Bd’s Mongolian Barbeque for lunch. It’s really good food (stir-fry is always a good choice) and their Arena District location is within walking distance of the ballpark.
I was going to have ESPN televise a one hour special so I could make my announcement, but apparently that idea was already taken. So I figured this blog was the next best thing…
* The Clippers host Indianapolis tonight and tomorrow at 7:05pm from Huntington Park. Quick Change will perform between innings on Friday.
* The suspended game between Columbus and Pawtucket will be completed on Friday, July 23 at 5:35pm. The Clippers lead 5-4 when play resumes in the 6th inning. The regularly scheduled game should start 20 minutes after the conclusion, but not before 7:05pm.
* Jared Goedert continues to crush the baseball, but his glove is still failing him. He has homered 13 times in 29 games with Columbus, but has 9 errors in 25 games at third base. Most of his errors have been errant throws to first.
* The Clippers were 53-32 before back-to-back losses to Toledo. The 21 games over .500 are a season-best for the Clippers and the best record since 1999. The ’99 squad was 29 games over and finished 25 over .500.
* Michael Brantley is now back in Cleveland. He batted .315 with a .391 OBP in 59 games. Brantley was recalled when Shin Soo Choo went on the disabled list with a thumb injury.
* Clippers President/General Manager Ken Schnacke is my guest on the Indians Minor League Magazine Show next Tuesday (July 13) on SportsTime Ohio.
* Indians Prospect Insider has a nice article on the ups and downs of super utility-man Chris Gimenez.
* The Clippers lead in the West Division is currently 8.5 games. Columbus has not been in the playoffs since 2004 and hasn’t won a Governors Cup since 1996.
You can really feel it when it’s hot, hot, hot!
The Clippers and Hens wrap-up the series tonight at 7:05pm…
Toledo
1. Scott Sizemore DH
2. Will Rhymes 2B
3. Ryan Strieby LF
4. Jeff Larish 3B
5. Jeff Frazier 1B
6. Jon Weber RF
7. Brent Dlugach SS
8. Wilkin Ramirez CF
9. Jeff Kunkel C
P – RH Billy Buckner (2-4, 7.47)
Columbus
1. Jose Constanza CF
2. Josh Rodriguez 2B
3. Luis Valbuena DH
4. Jared Goedert 3B
5. Jordan Brown 1B
6. Nick Weglarz LF
7. Chris Gimenez RF
8. Lou Marson C
9. Brian Bixler SS
P – RH Yohan Pino (7-4, 5.38)
We’re going streaking!
The Clippers return home riding a seven-game winning streak. the Mud Hens have lost eleven in a row…
Toledo
1. Scott Sizemore DH
2. Will Rhymes 2B
3. Ryan Strieby LF
4. Jeff Larish 3B
5. Jeff Frazier 1B
6. Jon Weber RF
7. Brent Dlugach SS
8. Wilkin Ramirez CF
9. Robinzon Diaz C
P – RH Alfredo Figaro (6-6, 4.59)
Columbus
1. Jose Constanza CF
2. Josh Rodriguez DH
3. Jordan Brown 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 Jeanmar Gomez (6-7, 5.26)
Q & A with Charles Nagy (Part #1)
Recently I sat down with Charles Nagy to discuss some key moments of his career…
Q: You grew up in Bridgeport Connecticut and spent a few years in St. Petersburg, Florida. Was baseball always you’re first love?
A: I have two brothers and I’m wedged in the middle. My dad was really into sports so we were constantly playing football, baseball and basketball. We just rolled with the seasons and kind of beat each other up a lot too. Growing up, that was all we knew, we played year around. As time passed, my older brother’s path led him to football and for me it became baseball.
Q: You were a 17th round draft pick in 1998 out of UConn. What were you feeling as you started your minor league career?
A: I was excited. I was excited to go to spring training, but I was fortunate to be selected for the Olympic team in 1988 and had the opportunity travel around the world a couple of times before I started my career. That experience opened my eyes to a lot of things. I learned a lot about pitching that summer. I learned about travel and playing a rigorous schedule. It initiated me to what playing professionally was all about.
Q: Baseball of only an exhibition sports in 1988, but the U.S beat Japan for the tournament finale. What was the Olympic experience like?
A: It was a whole summer of travel and we played so many games. The world championships were in Italy. It was a great group of guys; we still keep in touch today. Once you get there, you’re in the Olympic Village around all these athletes who have trained their entire lives for this one big moment, and there we were, a long-haired, rough looking bunch, just baseball players. It was exciting to be there, going through the Opening Ceremonies, seeing the other events and watching some outstanding athletes. Then it was time for us to go play and we were fortunate enough to do well that year.
Q: The players strike occurred on August 12, 1994 while the Indians were just one game out of first place. What was that like?
A: We had just opened Jacobs Field in 1990 and made some key additions. Some other players were really just starting to come into their own. We were selling out and the town was excited. Then the stoppage began. We hoped it wouldn’t last long because past work stoppages had been pretty short. Some guys were actually joking that they were looking forward to a few days off. We figured we would be back at it for the home stretch of August and September, but it just didn’t happen. They canceled the World Series that year and it was heart-breaking for the fans and it was heart-breaking for the players too. After that, we had a lot of hurdles in front of us to win the trust of the fans back.
In Part #2 of my chat with Charles, we’ll discuss the 1995 World Series against Atlanta, starting the 1996 All-Star Game and more!
Post-Independence Day Fireworks
The Clippers and Mud Hens will meet at 5:00pm today in Toledo…
Columbus
1. Jose Constanza CF
2. Josh Rodriguez 2B
3. Luis Valbuena SS
4. Jared Goedert 3B
5. Wes Hodges 1B
6. Nick Weglarz LF
7. Chris Gimenez RF
8. Lou Marson C
9. Cord Phelps DH
P – RH Carlos Carrasco (7-3, 4.22)
Toledo
1. Justin Henry 1B
2. Jeff Kunkel C
3. Wilkin Ramirez CF
4. Ryan Strieby LF
5. Jeff Frazier DH
6. Max Leon SS
7. Jon Weber RF
8. Will Rhymes 2B
9. Jeff Larish 3B
P – RH L.J. Gagnier (3-3, 3.83)
Sweep?
The Clippers try for four straight victories over Indianapolis tonight at 7:15pm…
Columbus
1. Jose Constanza CF
2. Josh Rodriguez DH
3. Luis Valbuena SS
4. Jordan Brown RF
5. Wes Hodges 1B
6. Nick Weglarz LF
7. Brian Bixler 3B
8. Lou Marson C
9. Cord Phelps 2B
P – RH Yohan Pino (7-4, 5.49)
Indianapolis
1. Kevin Melillo LF
2. Akinori Iwamura 3B
3. Jim Negrych 2B
4. Brian Myrow 1B
5. Brandon Moss DH
6. Alex Presley CF
7. Luke Carlin C
8. Jonathan Van Every RF
9. Argenis Diaz SS
P – RH Hayden Penn (4-2, 4.08)
Hoosier Momma!
The Clippers are in Indianapolis tonight at 7:00pm…
Columbus
1. Michael Brantley CF
2. Josh Rodriguez 2B
3. Luis Valbuena DH
4. Jared Goedert 3B
5. Jordan Brown LF
6. Wes Hodges 1B
7. Brian Bixler SS
8. Lou Marson C
9. Jose Constanza RF
P – RH Jeanmar Gomez (5-7, 5.57)
Indianapolis
1. Kevin Melillo LF
2. Alex Presley CF
3. Jim Negrych 2B
4. Jeff Clement DH
5. Brian Myrow 1B
6. Brandon Moss RF
7. Akinori Iwamura 3B
8. Erik Kratz C
9. Doug Bernier SS
P – RH Jeremy Powell (4-6, 5.43)
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!
Ryan Mitchell & Scott Leo
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