Cleveland Sports Forum

I wonder if Rondon will play winterball this year to get some innings in ?!?!?

Sarbaugh accepts IL award; speaks about team

By Jim Massie


The Columbus Dispatch - August 30, 2011 16:08 PM

Mike Sarbaugh fielded the news today that the International League had named him its manager of the year as easily as he would a one-hop ground ball during batting practice.

The satisfaction, the Columbus Clippers manager said, resides within the team that wrapped up the IL West Division title on Aug. 23.

“I like the makeup of this club and the chemistry in the clubhouse,” said Sarbaugh, who is finishing his second season with the Clippers. “We’ve had a lot of veteran players that have been very instrumental in the success. They’ve helped keep the attitude in the clubhouse positive. It’s been a very good year even though we’ve had a lot of movement.”

The movement showed within the makeup of the 12-player all-star team. Columbus shortstop Luis Valbuena was named the league’s best utility player. Jason Kipnis, who left Columbus for the Cleveland Indians on July 22, is the second baseman.

Sarbaugh was happy for both and wished the outfielder Jerad Head, also now with the Indians, had found a place on the team.

“I think that Jason, offensively, was just consistent all year,” Sarbaugh said. “He didn’t really have any big valleys.

“But one of the biggest things with him is the improvement that he made defensively at second base. From spring training to the time he left here, he put in a lot of work to become better second baseman. I think it showed.”

Kipnis left the Clippers with a .280 batting average, 16 doubles, 9 triples, 12 home runs, 55 RBI and 12 stolen bases.

“Luis, along with Jerad Head, has probably been our steadiest player all year,” Sarbaugh said. “ He’s been able to play multiple positions for us and play them all well.

“And he’s got a flair for the dramatic. He’s had a whole lot of big hits for us. When he gets on a bigger stage, he always seems to come up with a big play.”

Valbuena was batting .304 with 21 doubles, 16 home runs and a team-leading 72 RBI heading into last night’s game at Louisville.

Durham third baseman Russ Canzler was named the most valuable player in the league. Gwinnett’s Julio Teheran was selected as the most valuable pitcher and the rookie of the year.

The West Division dominated the all-star team. Catcher Devin Mesoraco and shortstop Zack Cozart of Louisville, and first baseman Matt Hague, centerfielder Alex Presley and closer Tim Wood of Indianapolis joined the two Clippers.

Outfielders Stefan Gartrell of Gwinnett and Dayan Viciedo of Charlotte and designated hitter Jorge Vazquez of Scranton/Wilkes-Barre rounded out the team.

One down and one to go. Manny Acta has to be next. Always been a fan of Sarbaugh.

If he's healthy enough to pitch I'd certainly Rondon in winter ball. As Buck reminded me last week, he still is a serious starting pitcher prospect and we don't have too many of those outside of this season's Clipper rotation, until we work our way down to Lake County (with a break for Austin Adams on the way).

Nearing the end of the minor league season. I'll be out the next few days and may or may not get around to posting results from the final weekend, although I'll have six months to get around to them. Yesterday's results:

Aeros fall 6-1. Grady 3-3 with a double; Kyle Bellows 2 hits. Cody Allen 2011 draftee after posting zero ERA in Lake County gets a peak at AA ball. 2 more K in 1 inning, but also 2 runs on 3 hits. TJ McFarland 7-8-4-3-2-6. Sturedevant 1 shutout innings.

Kinston wins 3-2. TJ House with a good finale to a very poor season. 6 1/3 2 runs on three hits 3 walks and fans 8. For the year: ERA 5.19, Trey Haley 1 2/3 in relief, 3 K, no runs, 1 walk, 1 hit. 4.00 as a reliever in the Carolina League, his highest rung in a disappointing career path for 2nd round pick. Adam Abraham 3 hits; Aguillar 2 hits; Roberto Perez 2 and as usual a walk.

Captains' 5 errors lead to a 7-2 loss. Urshela #22, also has 2 hits. RonnieRodriguez #38, also Homer number 11. Kyle Blair 2-3-2-2-0-1.

Scrappers end the home season with a 8-3 win. jake Lowry leads the way: 3 hits, including HR #7. fellow catcher Alex Lavisky with a double, 2 rbi, and 199 average. Lindor 1-4. Myles single, double, walk, CS #7. Danny Jiminez completes a good season 6 innings, 2 runs on 4 hits, doesn't whiff a lot, 3 in this outing.

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb ... x&did=milb

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb ... x&did=milb

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb ... x&did=milb

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb ... x&did=milb

"Grady 3-3 with a double"

Bring him up. Has to be better than Head.

#Indians RHP Hector Rondon made 2nd rehab outing today from TJ surgery with Mahoning Valley today: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K.

In today's mailbag, a reader asks Baseball America's Jim Callis if the Royals will still have a top ten farm system in 2012 after several players made their major league debuts this season. Callis says that despite spending $14.1MM on the draft this year, Kansas City might not have more than four prospects in BA's top 100 next season, putting them outside of the top ten.

Francisco Lindor: SS, Mahoning Valley: 2-5, 1 R, 1 RBI, 2 K:


Lindor wasn't the best player on the team yesterday, but he certainly has done about as much as you can in a five game sample to prove that you were worth the price the Tribe paid to get him in the first round. He had hits in four of the five games, and over his last two, went 4-for-9, with two runs and two RBI. The fact that this kid is still only 17-years old is extremely exciting. He ended the year batting .316, with four runs scored. Not a bad start to a career that will go through a whole bunch of scrutiny going forward.

Hector Rondon: SP, Mahoning Valley: 2 IP, 1 H, 1 K:

What can you say about Rondon after missing the entire year, other than welcome back. The lanky right-hander made his second appearance of the season after pitching an inning on August 31, and made the most of it. Looking much more comfortable on the mound, he deftly worked through two innings, giving up only a hit while striking out a batter. He has a long way to go, but it's good to see the former top prospect return and look good. It should be interesting to see where he starts off next season. Once he regains his strength during the winter, will the put him in the firing line at Columbus, or will he have to work his way back up?

IL Playoff Preview:

http://www.indyweek.com/bullcitysummer/ ... s-clippers

Clippers lose another OF with Crowe's promotion. I don't think Head will be able to play for them immediately; he has to pass through waivers, although he'd be a big help in the IL, which is where his talent shines. Clippers already lost Valbuena which leaves with only Goedert and Reyes to cover 2nd, ss and 3rd. I imagine Juan Diaz will get a chance to shift over from the Aeros roster for a few games; hope he didn't already head back home to Latin America. Would be no loss to the Tribe to demote Phelps for the IL playoffs. He's not doing the Indians any good and we have Valbuena and Donald and Kipnis to share 2nd base.

Clippers facing a super hot shot young pitcher, Matt Moore, hold a 2-0 lead in the 4th. Chad Hoffman homered. Beau Mills doubled in Travis Buck, who's 2-2. Zach McAllister has held the Bulls to 2 hits in 3 innings. Yes, Juan Diaz has been promoted from Akron to be the Columbus SS.

Two Durham bunt singles load the bases with one out, bottom of the 5th, Columbus 2-0 lead in jeopardy.

And Zach Mac induces a double play to end the threat.

Is LaPorta playing?