Cleveland Sports Forum

Juan Hillman with 3 shutout innings tonight. He allowed 3 hits but read 2 of them were weak. He had a lot of ground balls.

Mejia was 2-4 with a SB in same game.

Zimmer with a homer tonight. And Sheffield with a nice outing too.

Yandy 3-4 and a walk...

The RubberDucks finished 5-2 on its seven-game road trip. (Akron RubberDucks)


Bradley Zimmer hit a two-run homer in the first inning, and four RubberDucks pitchers held the Senators to just eight hits as Akron won, 4-2, in a Class AA Eastern League game Thursday at Harrisburg, Pa.

Zimmer's homer came after an RBI single from third baseman Yandy Diaz, giving the RubberDucks a 3-0 lead. Diaz finished 3-for-4 with an RBI, while Zimmer was 2-for-5, including a double.

The Senators had managed to narrow the lead to 3-2 by the third inning, but RubberDucks left-hander Shawn Morimando (9-10, 3.00) and relievers Louis Head, Casey Weathers and Jeff Johnson shut out Harrisburg over the final six innings.

The RubberDucks return home Friday to begin a three-game series against Portland.

Nellie Rodriguez has developed an important habit during his first season in the Carolina League. The 21-year-old stands behind the batting cage with Lynchburg hitting coach Bobby Magallanes and picks his brain about what he sees when Rodriguez is at the plate.

The conversations usually vary, but many of them focus on how Rodriguez can continue to develop at the plate as opposing pitchers become well aware of his propensity to drive in runs.

But one thing has remained consistent as he continues at the Class A Advanced level -- he's maintained an aggressive approach early in the count when he sees a pitch in his zone. That type of mentality has been essential for the Cleveland Indians' No. 24 prospect as he continues to drive in runs.

"Just talking to my hitting coaches and knowing the situation, knowing the type of pitches they're throwing and trying to sit on that pitch in the location I'm looking for," Rodriguez said. "If it's there, put a good swing on it."

The numbers speak for themselves when describing the impact Rodriguez has made on a Hillcats club that has moved to the top of the Northern Division second-half standings. The New York City native leads the Carolina League with 16 home runs, 31 doubles, 79 RBIs and a slugging percentage of .499.

What has also stood out is how well he hits with runners on base -- .299 with 10 home runs and 73 RBIs.

"Just keeping the same approach and locking in more with runners on base," Rodriguez said, "because that's hopefully what I'm going to get paid for in the big leagues."

Rodriguez developed his approach last season with Class A Lake County, when he topped the Midwest League with 88 RBIs and tied for the lead with 22 homers. An essential aspect for him to continue driving in runs this year is adjusting to how pitchers find ways to work around him. His on-base percentage of .356 is higher than his mark last year (.349), and he is on pace to draw more walks than last season's total of 60.

"The aggressive mind-set is the No. 1 thing for him," Hillcats manager Mark Budzinski said. "He kind of smells blood in the water with runners on base and puts some good at-bats together and doesn't let too many pitches go by. I'm really proud of him and what he's been doing so far this year."

Rodriguez was the Indians' 15th-round pick in the 2012 Draft out of George Washington High School in New York City, the same school Manny Ramirez attended. He's hoping for the same type of success, of course, and his frame has filled out well to stay at first base as he moves up the ladder. The 6-foot-2, 225-pound Rodriguez has the size and the power to continue hitting home runs, and more importantly, driving in runs.

"Just staying confident and focused knowing that I'm going to have runners on base," Rodriguez said, "and knowing the situation of the game and putting the ball in play when it counts.

"We haven't really talked too much about [moving up]," Rodriguez added. "Just staying focused on what I'm doing here and keep doing what I'm doing and hopefully everything will work out."

Thursday games:

http://www.milb.com/scoreboard/index.js ... d=20150806

Juan Hillman 3 shutout innings, struck out one.
2 singles and one steal for Gabriel Mejia
teammate Anthony Miller a 1st baseman who strikes out 40%+ of the time hit his 3rd homer, 2nd in 2 days.

Mathias 2 walks. Pantoja how with the Scrappers two singles and a walk. Willi Castro is out.
RHP Chiang puts up OK numbers but got to wonder about a kid at this level who strikes out very few. 6-6-4-2-1-2

Allen 38th steal. BAD day for F. Mejia 4 at bats, 4 strikeouts.
Nice day for Justus Sheffield 6-5-1-1-0-4 Sure like this numbers: 100 innings, 109 strikeouts, 27 walks

Frazier keeps doing things right: single, double, walk. Now hitting 287, OPS 846. Since July 1: 375/472/608
Kaminsky debuts with 5 1/3 shutout innings, walked 3, fanned 1

Zimmer's 3rd AA homer, 5th AA double. 3 singles by Diaz.

BA highlights these lines:

CLE AA Rodriguez, Ronny 1B 4 1 1 0 .294 3B (4)
CLE AA Zimmer, Bradley CF 5 1 2 2 .227 2B (5), HR (3)
CLE AAA Aguilar, Jesus DH 5 0 2 0 .258
CLE AAA Gonzalez, Erik SS 5 1 2 3 .220
CLE HiA Frazier, Clint CF 4 1 2 1 .286 2B (30), BB (56)
CLE HiA Rodriguez, Nellie 1B 5 0 1 0 .269
CLE R Miller, Anthony 1B 4 1 2 3 .218 HR (3)
CLE R Wakamatsu, Luke SS 4 1 1 1 .295 SB (4)
CLE SS Goihl, Jack C 4 0 1 1 .152
CLE SS Haggerty, Sam 2B 4 0 2 0 .292 2B (3), SB (3)
CLE SS Tom, Ka’ai LF 2 0 1 0 .282 CS (3)
bizarrely these add just about any 2015 draft choices but add no one who was with the team in the Spring, didn't make the top 30 but is having a breakout or rebirth, like Luigi Rodriguez

CLE AAA Armstrong, Shawn 2 1 0 0 0 4 2.25 Sv (14)
CLE HiA Kaminsky, Rob 5.1 5 0 0 3 1 0.00
CLE LoA Sheffield, Justus 6 5 1 1 0 4 4.05
CLE R Hillman, Juan 3 2 0 0 0 1 4.15

Read a piece yesterday on Armstrong. Should be ready for a look see soon.

BA hot sheet ... we have 3 in top 10 ...

Prospect Hot Sheet (Aug. 7): Another No. 1 For Frazier

August 7, 2015 by Staff Report

This installment of the Prospect Hot Sheet covers games from July 31-Aug. 6. Remember, this feature simply recognizes the hottest prospects in the minors during the past week—it’s not a re-ranking of the Baseball America Top 100 Prospects.

Contributing: Ben Badler, J.J. Cooper, Matt Eddy and Vince Lara-Cinisomo

1. Clint Frazier, cf, Indians
3ds_indians83
Team: high Class A Lynchburg (Carolina)
Age: 20
Why He’s Here: .455/.586/.909 (10-for-22), 3 R, 5 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 6 RBIs, 7 BB, 4 SO

The Scoop: Frazier has made huge progress from a year ago, but the most striking difference has come just in the second half this season. Before the Carolina League all-star break, Frazier was hitting .248/.334/.395 with seven home runs, 27 walks and 72 strikeouts in 67 games, for a solid but unspectacular line for the Indiains’ 2013 first-round pick. Since then, Frazier has been swinging at fewer pitches off the plate, making more contact when pitchers attack him in the strike zone and driving those pitches with more authority.

All that has culminated in a second-half slash line of .357/.462/.586 with five home runs, 29 walks and 32 strikeouts in 39 games. Frazier always has had the tools, but last year highlighted some red flags with his swing-and-miss tendencies. Now the progression of his bat and overall offensive approach have helped ease those concerns and transformed him into a better prospect.

2. Joey Gallo, 3b, Rangers
3ds_rangers83
Team: Triple-A Round Rock (Pacific Coast)
Age: 21
Why He’s Here: .292/.370/1.083 (7-for-24), 6 R, 2B, 6 HR, 8 RBIs, 3 BB, 9 SO

The Scoop: Gallo’s strikeouts have been present in batches, bushels and binges. Just this week he had his sixth four-strikeout game of the season. Gallo, though, has the most raw power in the minors, and this week hit three home runs on Thursday (and six overall to lead all batters). By the way, that was Gallo’s fifth three-homer game of his pro career.

3. Cody Reed, lhp, Reds

3ds_reds83Team: Double-A Pensacola (Southern)
Age: 22
Why He’s Here: 2-0, 0.60, 2 GS, 15 IP, 9 H, 1 R, 0 HR, 18 SO, 4 BB

The Scoop: Vastly improved control this season makes Reed look less like a throw-in from the Johnny Cueto deal with the Royals with each start he takes at the Double-A level. If he continues to repeat his delivery and finish his pitches, then his slider and changeup will continue to improve. Either way, the Reds have to be delighted by Reed’s mid-90s fastball and the results from his first two starts for the organization.

4. Andrew Knapp, c, Phillies
3ds_phillies80
Team: Double-A Reading (Eastern)
Age: 23
Why He’s Here: .615/.643/1.077 (16-for-26), 6 R, 6 2B, 2 HR, 9 RBIs, 2 BB, 3 SO

The Scoop: Knapp’s receiving is still a work in progress, but his bat appears solid as he is tearing through the Eastern League since his promotion. The switch-hitter has pop and keeps the barrel in the zone a long time, but beginning in 2016 he must contend with new organization-mate Jorge Alfaro, one of the prizes from last week’s Cole Hamels trade with the Rangers.

5. Chad Pinder, ss, Athletics
3ds_athletics76
Team: Double-A Midland (Texas)
Age: 23
Why He’s Here: .480/.536/1.080 (12-for-25), 7 R, 3 2B, 4 HR, 12 RBIs, 3 BB, 2 SO

The Scoop: Who’s the most productive hitter in the Texas League this year? Now that Balbino Fuenmayor has left the scene, one could argue for Pinder. The shortstop ranks second in the league in batting average (.324, trailing Fuenmayor), while his 14 home runs are two behind the league leader, and he’s slugging .505 (third in the league). Primarily a third baseman in college, Pinder is stretched at shortstop, but he can stay in the dirt and he’s showing that he can really hit.

6. Bobby Bradley, 1b, Indians
3ds_indians83
Team: low Class A Lake County (Midwest)
Age: 19
Why He’s Here: .429/.481/.905 (9-for-21), 7 R, 1 2B, 3 HR, 11 RBIs, 4 BB, 6 SO

The Scoop: A third-round pick out of high school in 2014, Bradley very nearly won the Rookie-level Arizona League triple crown last year. He has continued to hit this season. He’s shown plenty of power (19 home runs and a .234 isolated slugging percentage) and it comes with plenty of strikeouts (33 percent of his plate appearances). But the lefthanded-hitting first baseman’s power fits the profile, and at age 19 he has plenty of time to work on the strikeouts.

7. John Gant, rhp, Braves

3ds_braves79Team: Double-A Mississippi (Southern)
Age: 22
Why He’s Here: 2-0, 0.77, 2 GS, 11.2 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 HR, 16 SO, 4 BB

The Scoop: Part of the Braves’ haul when they traded Juan Uribe, Kelly Johnson and cash to the Mets, Gant has achieved big results as a pro with a deceptive delivery, fringe fastball and quality split-changeup. In his past six starts at the Double-A level, he has gone 4-2, 3.34 with a fine 35-to-9 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 35 innings.

8. Jack Flaherty, rhp, Cardinals
3ds_cardinals81
Team: low Class A Peoria (Midwest)
Age: 19
Why He’s Here: 1-0, 1.50, 2 GS, 12 IP, 9 H, 2 R, 3 BB, 19 SO

The Scoop: The 2014 first-rounder hails from the same Harvard-Westlake High program that also produced first-rounders Max Fried and Lucas Giolito. Flaherty does not possess the overpowering stuff of the Nationals’ Giolito, but he has the pitchability and poise well beyond a teenager.

9. Sean Manaea, lhp, Athletics3ds_athletics77

Team: Double-A Midland (Texas)
Age: 23
Why He’s Here: 2-0, 2.77, 2 GS, 13 IP, 13 H, 4 R, 2 HR, 16 SO, 2 BB

The Scoop: The Royals parted with Manaea, their sandwich pick in 2013 and top pitching prospect at midseason, to acquire the versatile Ben Zobrist from the Athletics. While the three-pitch southpaw with a great fastball and slider continues to miss bats and find the zone more regularly in 2015, he also allowed two home runs in his Aug. 5 start and has allowed a hit per inning all season.

10. Justus Sheffield, lhp, Indians
3ds_indians83
Team: low Class A Lake County (Midwest)
Age: 19
Why He’s Here: 0-0, 1.50, 2 GS, 12 IP, 11 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 8 SO, 1 HBP

The Scoop: Like the Cardinals’ Jack Flaherty, Sheffield also shows uncommon feel for a teenage pitcher, but he combines it with a bit more velocity. He can rush his fastball up to 96 mph when he needs it, pairing his heater with a hard, late-breaking slider.

Thought this was a strong possibility:

Prospect Hot Sheet (Aug. 7): Another No. 1 For Frazier

1. Clint Frazier, cf, Indians
Team: high Class A Lynchburg (Carolina)
Age: 20
Why He’s Here: .455/.586/.909 (10-for-22), 3 R, 5 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 6 RBIs, 7 BB, 4 SO

The Scoop: Frazier has made huge progress from a year ago, but the most striking difference has come just in the second half this season. Before the Carolina League all-star break, Frazier was hitting .248/.334/.395 with seven home runs, 27 walks and 72 strikeouts in 67 games, for a solid but unspectacular line for the Indians’ 2013 first-round pick. Since then, Frazier has been swinging at fewer pitches off the plate, making more contact when pitchers attack him in the strike zone and driving those pitches with more authority.

All that has culminated in a second-half slash line of .357/.462/.586 with five home runs, 29 walks and 32 strikeouts in 39 games. Frazier always has had the tools, but last year highlighted some red flags with his swing-and-miss tendencies. Now the progression of his bat and overall offensive approach have helped ease those concerns and transformed him into a better prospect.

here's one for you Hillbilly:

6. Bobby Bradley, 1b, Indians

Team: low Class A Lake County (Midwest)
Age: 19
Why He’s Here: .429/.481/.905 (9-for-21), 7 R, 1 2B, 3 HR, 11 RBIs, 4 BB, 6 SO

The Scoop: A third-round pick out of high school in 2014, Bradley very nearly won the Rookie-level Arizona League triple crown last year. He has continued to hit this season. He’s shown plenty of power (19 home runs and a .234 isolated slugging percentage) and it comes with plenty of strikeouts (33 percent of his plate appearances). But the lefthanded-hitting first baseman’s power fits the profile, and at age 19 he has plenty of time to work on the strikeouts.

Boy do we dominate the Hot 10 this week:

10. Justus Sheffield, lhp, Indians

Team: low Class A Lake County (Midwest)
Age: 19
Why He’s Here: 0-0, 1.50, 2 GS, 12 IP, 11 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 8 SO, 1 HBP

The Scoop: Like the Cardinals’ Jack Flaherty, Sheffield also shows uncommon feel for a teenage pitcher, but he combines it with a bit more velocity. He can rush his fastball up to 96 mph when he needs it, pairing his heater with a hard, late-breaking slider.

Civ, I shudder to think of how much great information you miss in posts here that you don't see....

Q and A at BA:

Elliot (Youngstown OH): This kid Gabriel Mejia in the Arizona League is hitting close to 400 and has twice as many steals as anyone else in the AZL. Ran wild last year in the Dominican. Is he a prospect? Very few xb hits.

Matt Eddy: I’m going to have to wait for the Arizona League top 20 on that one. Among the most exploitable aspects of Rookie-level teams are their defensive efficiency (especially on the infield) and their ability to prevent stolen bases. It’s just the nature of the game at the lowest levels, and players who can make a lot of contact and run fast tend to show very well.

[which obviously means "he's not as good as the numbers might suggest" Which we probably would all assume. He does need to show he can hit the ball hard enough to run into some triples. 6 doubles, 1 triple in 170 plate appearances, is hardly good enough.

In last nights game the pitcher picked off Mejia at 1st base. Mejia out ran the throw from the 1st baseman to 2nd.

Can't teach speed.

Also don't find many 19 year olds that walk more than they strike out.

So I am intrigued by him.

Having said that I don't think anybody expects him to have a .470 OBP and as many steals as games played when he reaches higher level.

just an exciting offensive player. Needs a little more strength. Which can be developed.