Feelin' Good At the Clip Joint

Lonnie Chisenhall

Concussions are funny things.  Sometimes a player will sustain such trauma and return only to perform as a pale shadow of his former self.  Take Justin Morneau, a former AL MVP with four straight 100 RBI seasons.  Last July 7, Morneau, then hitting .345 with 18 homers and 56 RBI, caught a knee to (k)noggin out at second base and sat for the rest of 2010.  He's back in the lineup this year for the Twins, but, clearly, something is not right.  Sporting a .225 batting average and just four dingers, Morneau is more of a hindrance than a help to a Minnesota team that is fighting to get back into contention.

Fortunately for Indians fans, there is another side of the coin.  On June 10th, top prospect Lonnie Chisenhall smacked his skull on the third base and sustained a concussion himself.  After sitting him for a week, Columbus reluctantly (and retroactively) placed him on the 7-day disabled list last Friday.  Some speculated that the scrutiny accompanying his projected value got to the young man as well and, perhaps, that might have had something to do with the break as well.  Either way, Chisenhall (.261) returned to action last night, showing no ill effects from either affliction.  As the Clippers battered the Mud Hens 13-7, for their 14th win in 15 games, the Chiz Kid put on a show for the folks of Toledo.  He cranked four hits, peppering in a triple and a moon shot, scored twice and drove in six.  So, I guess the guy is okay.

Better than okay?  How about Luis Valbuena?  Begging for a call-up and riding the highs of a 19-game hitting streak and a 7-RBI game in the past month, Luis (.307) just continues to rake the cover off of the ball.  He added two more hits, including his 8th home run, last night, and raised his RBI total to 45.  We all know, of course, that the kid can hit at AAA.  The question is whether he has turned a corner and can (ever?) deliver consistently at the big league level.  I have said it before and I will say it again -- kick Adam Everett to the curb and let Valbuena play.

Not so okay?  That is your Corey Kluber.  After putting together a run of worthwhile starts (4-1, 4.42) over the past month, Kluber completely forgot how to pitch yesterday.  Imagine Jason Hammel's queer balk, except stretched over 3+ innings.  Corey (4-4, 6.35) walked six and allowed four hits en route to surrendering six earned.  Luckily his mates picked him up.  Still, Kluber is clearly the rawest pitcher in the Columbus rotation. At 25, he needs to develop the ability to avoid implosions like the above if he is to progress to the next level.

The Clips finish their brief two-game series tonight with Jeanmar Gomez taking the pill at 7:05p.  Since the Indians have an off day, the game is on STO.

Other Minor Points of Interest --

Despite sustaining a sixth inning blown save (does that even count?), Adam Miller did pitch reasonably well for Akron yesterday.  In his 8th AA appearance Miller (1-1, 3.27) allowed two hits and a walk while fanning a pair in 1.2 innings.  Barring another injury, and with Adam we never know, we will see him with the Tribe in September.

Our friend Tyler Tufts continues to impress at AA Frisco.  Ty (2-1, 2.03) has thrown three straight scoreless outings, including a shutout inning last night, and has a 1.42 ERA over his last 10.  Among his sterling statistics are a 1.15 WHIP, 8.78 K/9, and an incredible 8.67 K/BB.  Go, man, go.

Speaking of sterling, 18-year old Indians prospect Felix Sterling's 2011 debut in the rookie league was anything but.  Following up on a tremendous 2010, Felix labored through two innings, getting roughed up for four runs (3 earned) on four hits, a walk and a blast.  The kid who posted 9.99 K/9 last season was nowhere to be found as he K'ed exactly no one.  He is a ways off, but keep an eye.

Lastly, with Kinston and Lake County at their respective All-Star breaks, a check on the first half statistics of a few key prospects ...

LeVon Washington, OF (LC) - .209, 2 HR, 9 RBI, .622 OPS [8/9 SB]
Alex Lavisky, C (LC, MV) - .202, 8 HR, 26 RBI, .619 OPS [73 K in 208 AB]
Anthony Gallas, OF (KIN, LC) - .306, 6 HR, 28 RBI, .886 OPS [27 2B]

Drew Pomeranz (KIN) - 2-2, 1.93 ERA, .201 OBA, 1.10 WHIP, 11.42 K/9
Giovanni Soto (KIN) - 4-4, 3.02 ERA, .232 OBA, 1.18 WHIP, 9.21 K/9
Michael Goodnight (LC) - 5-5, 3.04 ERA, .191 OBA, 1.06 WHIP, 8.24 K/9
Steven Wright (COL, AKR, KIN, LC) - 2-1, 3.38 ERA, .279 OBA, 1.52 WHIP, 6.29 K/9
Rob Bryson (KIN, LC) - 0-1, 2.84 ERA, .208 OBA, 0.95 WHIP, 14.21 K/9
Bryce Stowell (LC, MV) - 0-0, 0.00 ERA [1 SV], .056 OBA, 0.50 WHIP, 10.5 K/9

Cheers