Clip Joint Is the Place To Be

At least if your name is Jeanmar Gomez.  As I have stated previously, the kid looks much more comfortable at AAA and the results certainly speak for themselves.  Gomez (7-2, 2.30) provided eight shutout innings last night as the Clips won their 15th of 16.  Jeanmar allowed five hits as he walked four and fanned five.  Over his past seven starts he is 4-1 with a tremendous 1.76 ERA.  Gomez dances on that razor's edge of MLB talent.  While he can dominate in the minors, he just does not have enough stuff or command to consistently retire big league hitters.  In 2011, his OBA at Columbus is .235.  With the Indians?  .341.  He is what we call a AAAA player.  When Wins Above Replacement are calculated he is the the replacement player.  Honestly, Jeanmar is a good guy and I wish him as much success as he can find at the next level, I just do not see his cup overflowing.

Nick Hagadone, who has had some noticeable issues adjusting to the International League, finished up with a scoreless inning.  Nick (2-1, 6.60) loaded the bases on two hits and a walk but, having secured the first two outs via the whiff,  induced a inning ending fly ball to preserve the shutout. 

The offense used a balanced approach to provide six runs of support.  Ezequiel Carrera (.301) reached base four times on two hits and two walks and scored a pair of runs.  Jason Kipnis (.290) stroked an RBI triple, his 9th three-bagger of the season.  Every Clipper has a hit save Lonnie Chisenhall (.257), but the Chiz Kid did his part, driving home two runs.

The Clips open a four game set with the Gwinett Braves at Huntington Park tonight.  First pitch is at 7:05p with David Huff on the hill.

Other Minor Points of Interest --

Nick Weglarz, who has slumped horribly over the past week, continued last night for the Aeros, going 0-for-3 with a walk.  Since homering twice on June 16th, Wegs (.146) is hitless in 14 AB's, although he has walked 8 times.  So, even though his batting average over that span is an endless string of zeros, his OBA is a healthy .364.  Nick, seemingly primed to return to AAA just seven days ago, now finds himself in a limbo only escaped from with hits.

Rob Bryson pitched effectively again for Kinston, with two innings of two hit, two strikeout ball.  Bryson now has seven punch-outs in 4.1 scoreless High-A innings as he works his way back the AA level that he reached last season.

2010 third round pick Tony Wolters, derailed by a broken hamate bone in spring training, is back to work with the Mahoning Valley Scrappers.  Wolters (.292) tripled twice last night and has put up an .808 OPS thus far.

Josh Rodriguez, selected by the Pirates in the Rule 5 draft and then returned, has been traded back to the Pittsburgh organization for a barrel full of well-handled one dollar bills. No word on the exact count, but I'm sure it was an equitable deal.

Congrats to Jason Kipnis and Drew Pomeranz on being named to the All-Star Futures Game.  Part of the MLB All-Star weekend, the contest takes place July 10th at 3p with a US team taking a World team.

Cheers.