The game last night was fantastic. The Indians were kind enough to invite us into the Social Suite, which is reserved for bloggers, tweeters, and the like. We enjoyed the chance to live blog (via Facebook) during the game from someplace other than our respective living rooms. Carrasco pitched a fabulous game, and Asdrubal Cabrera was amazing, as usual.
But that was yesterday, and yesterday’s, well, you know the rest.
Today’s game was a tough 3-2 loss in 10 innings and 96-degree heat. Once again, they couldn’t put the hits together to score runs when they needed them. (For some reason, the Indians don’t seem to have good luck in the weekday afternoon games. This season, they’re 1-3 on that front. Insert your own businessman’s special joke here.) I’m trying not to panic as the Tribe embarks on a road trip that will take them to the Evil Empire, which lately seems to be doing well against everybody who isn’t Boston, and to Detroit, who is now only a game behind us. The Indians know they have problems that need to be fixed. They took some action today, bringing up infielder Cord Phelps from Columbus and sending Shelley Duncan down. They also moved pitcher Alex White from the 15-day DL to the 60-day DL in order to make room for Phelps on the 40-man roster. Phelps is a 24-year-old switch hitter who’s been with the AAA Clippers all season where he hit .299 (63-211) with 31 runs scored, 15 doubles, 2 triples, 7HR and 40RBI (.391 OBP, .488 SLG) in 55 games. He has appeared in 28 games at shortstop, 12 at second base and 1 at third base and has hit .308 (44-143) with 7HR and 33RBI off of right-handed pitching and .319 (22-69) with 2HR and 32 RBI with RISP. In his major league debut, he went 0-4, but I’m willing to give him time.
At the risk of essentially putting my hands over my ears and singing La-La-La-La-I-Can’t-Hear-You, let’s end with the Indians 2011 June draft selections. I love the draft–not just in baseball, but in any sport. It’s a couple of days filled with hope and possibility and dreams of the future. Today was game 60. We still have a lot of season left.
2011 CLEVELAND INDIANS JUNE DRAFT SELECTIONS
ROUND 1 Francisco Lindor
SS; Montverde Academy HS; 5’11; 175; S/R; Born 11/14/93 (17);
Resides in Clermont, FL; Scout: Soper.
ROUND 2 Dillon Howard
RHP; Searcy HS; 6’4; 210; R/R; Born 7/1/92 (18);
Resides in Searcy, AR; Scout: Abney.
ROUND 3 Jake Sisco
RHP; Merced College; 6’3; 200; R/R; Born 12/9/91 (19);
Resides in Salida, CA; Scout: Lyle.
ROUND 4 Jake Lowery
C; James Madison U; 6’0; 200; L/R; Born 7/21/90 (20);
Resides in Midlothian, VA; Scout: Mayer.
ROUND 5 Will Roberts
RHP; U Virginia; 6’4; 205; L/R; Born 8/17/90 (20);
Resides in Richmond, VA; Scout: Mayer.
ROUND 6 Bryson Myles
OF; Stephen F. Austin Col; 5’11; 230; L/R; Born 9/18/89 (21);
Resides in Grand Prairie, TX; Scout: Cullen.
ROUND 7 Eric Haase
C; Divine Child HS; 5’10; 180; R/R; Born 12/18/92 (18);
Resides in Westland, MI; Scout: Melendez.
ROUND 8 Stephen Tarpley
LHP; Gilbert HS; 6’1; 180; R/L; Born 2/17/93 (18);
Resides in Gilbert, AZ; Scout: Ewing.
ROUND 9 Jordan Smith
3B; Saint Cloud State U; 6’4; 205; L/R; Born 7/5/90 (20);
Resides in Willmar, MN; Scout: Pajari.
ROUND 10 Jeff Johnson
RHP; Cal Poly SLO; 6’0; 200; R/R; Born 2/9/90 (21);
Resides in Thousand Oaks, CA; Scout: Sagisi.
ROUND 11 Luis Dejesus
RHP; Angelina Col; 6’2; 160; R/R; Born 12/16/91 (19);
Resides in Diboll, TX; Scout: Allen.
ROUND 12 Grant Sides
RHP; Samford U; 6’4; 215; R/R; Born 6/22/89 (21);
Resides in Northport, AL; Scout: Bartlett.
ROUND 13 Zach Macphee
INF; Arizona State U; 5’9; 175; S/R; Born 2/13/90 (21);
Resides in Tempe, AZ; Scout: Ewing.
ROUND 14 Cody Anderson
RHP; Feather River Col; 6’4; 220; R/R; Born 9/14/90 (20);
Resides in Quincy, CA; Scout: Lyle.
ROUND 15 Todd Hankins
2B; Seminole CC; 5’9; 175; R/R; Born 11/18/90 (20);
Resides in Oviedo, FL; Scout: Soper.
ROUND 16 Ryan Merritt
LHP; McLennan CC; 6’0; 165; L/L; Born 2/21/92 (19);
Resides in Celina, TX; Scout: Cullen.
ROUND 17 Kevin Brady
RHP; Clemson U; 6’3; 200; L/R; Born 9/7/90 (20);
Resides in Gaithersburg, MD; Scout: Tyler.
ROUND 18 Shawn Armstrong
RHP; East Carolina U; 6’2; 210; R/R; Born 9/11/90 (20);
Resides in New Bern, NC; Scout: Mayer.
ROUND 19 Shawn Morimando
LHP; Ocean Lakes HS; 5’11; 170; L/L; Born 11/20/92 (18);
Resides in Virginia Beach, VA; Scout: Mayer.
ROUND 20 Dillon Peters
LHP; Cathedral HS; 5’11; 200; L/L; Born 8/31/92 (18);
Resides in Fishers, IN; Scout: Melendez.
ROUND 21 Cody Elliott
OF; Ball State U; 6’0; 170; R/R; Born 4/26/90 (21);
Resides in Florence, KY; Scout: Melendez.
ROUND 22 Matthew Reckling
RHP; Rice U; 6’4; 210; R/R; Born 3/24/89 (22);
Resides in Houston, TX; Scout: Allen.
ROUND 23 Cody Allen
RHP; High Point U; 6’1; 210; R/R; Born 11/20/88 (22);
Resides in Orlando, FL; Scout: Mayer.
ROUND 24 Taylor Sparks
3B; St. John Bosco HS; 6’3; 205; R/R; Born 4/3/93 (18);
Resides in Long Beach, CA; Scout: Smith.
ROUND 25 Kevin Kramer
SS; Turlock HS; 6’1; 195; L/R; Born 10/3/93 (17);
Resides in Turlock, CA; Scout: Lyle.
ROUND 26 Austin Diemer
OF; Rocklin HS; 6’1; 180; R/R; Born 4/28/93 (18);
Resides in Rocklin, CA; Scout: Lyle.
ROUND 27 Evan Frazar
UTI; Galveston Col; 6’1; 195; R/R; Born 3/17/91 (20);
Resides in Bellaire, TX; Scout: Allen.
ROUND 28 Tyler Nurdin
LHP; Temple Col; 6’3; 200; R/L; Born 6/9/92 (18);
Resides in Rothschild, WI; Scout: Cullen.
ROUND 29 Jared Ruxer
RHP; Lawrence Central HS; 6’3; 190; R/R; Born 7/29/92 (18);
Resides in Indianapolis, IN; Scout: Melendez.
ROUND 30 John Polonius
SS; Genesee CC; 6’1; 160; R/R; Born 1/13/91 (20);
Resides in Willemstad, Curacao; Scout: Urcheck.
ROUND 31 Michael Roth
LHP; U South Carolina; 6’1; 190; L/L; Born 2/15/90 (21);
Resides in Greer, SC; Scout: Tyler.
ROUND 32 Cole Pitts
RHP; Colquitt County HS; 6’5; 215; R/R; Born 9/3/92 (18);
Resides in Moultrie, GA; Scout: Tyler.
ROUND 33 Jack Wagoner
RHP; Florida Gulf Coast U; 6’1; 203; R/R; Born 6/20/89 (21);
Resides in Lake George, NY; Scout: Soper.
ROUND 34 Tyler Maloof
RHP; U Georgia; 6’1; 190 L/R; Born 4/27/90 (21);
Resides in Winder, GA; Scout: Tyler.
ROUND 35 Mason Radeke
RHP; Cal Poly SLO; 6’1; 175; R/R; Born 6/13/90 (20);
Resides in Santa Barbara, CA; Scout: Sagisi.
ROUND 36 Abel Guerrero
LHP; Galveston Col; 6’1; 182; L/L; Born 12/28/91 (19);
Resides in Bronx, NY; Scout: Allen.
ROUND 37 Taylor Starr
RHP; Oregon State U; 6’3; 210; R/R; Born 5/31/89 (22);
Resides in Sandy, UT; Scout: Uhey.
ROUND 38 Yhoxian Medina
SS; Southeastern CC; 5’10; 170; R/R; Born 5/11/90 (21);
Resides in Caracas, Venezuela; Scout: Abney.
ROUND 39 John Barr
OF; U Virginia; 6’2; 200; R/R; Born 6/17/88 (22);
Resides in Juyland, PA; Scout: Mayer.
ROUND 40 Matt Eureste
SS; St. Pius X HS; 6’1; 175; L/R; Born 7/29/93 (17);
Resides in Houston, TX; Scout: Allen.
ROUND 41 Brian Ruiz
OF; Lincoln West HS; 6’3; 180; R/R; Born 9/11/92 (18);
Resides in Cleveland, OH; Scout: Melendez.
ROUND 42 Casey Serna
SS; U of Oregon; 6’0; 185; R/R; Born 10/15/89 (21);
Resides in Trabuco Canyon, CA; Scout: Uhey.
ROUND 43 Geoffrey Davenport
LHP; U Arkansas; 6’1; 180; L/L; Born 3/14/90 (21);
Resides in Fort Worth, TX; Scout: Abney.
ROUND 44 Adam Griffin
RHP; West Forsyth HS; 6’1; 190; R/R; Born 7/17/92 (18);
Resides in Clemmons, NC; Scout: Mayer.
ROUND 45 Will Jamison
OF; Evangelical Christian HS
Scout: Bartlett.
ROUND 46 Robert Nixon
RHP; Adelphi U; 6’1; 225; L/R; Born 11/1/88 (22);
Resides in Welland, Ontario, Canada; Scout: Urcheck.
ROUND 47 Cory Embree
OF; Moberly HS; 6’0; 180; R/R; Born 7/12/92 (18);
Resides in Moberly, MO; Scout: Abney.
ROUND 48 Blaine O’Brien
RHP; Keystone Col; 6’7; 180; R/R; Born 10/16/89 (21);
Resides in Scituate, MA; Scout: Urcheck.
ROUND 49 Brian Hansen
OF; St. Cloud State U; 6’3; 195; R/R; Born 11/16/89 (21);
Resides in Cold Spring, MN; Scout: Pajari.
ROUND 50 Tyler Baker
2B; Shawnee Hts. Sr. HS; 5’9; 165; L/R; Born 3/8/93 (18);
Resides in Topeka, KS; Scout: Abney.