MVN - Most Valuable Network

Stat Rats: Wrapping Up Indy — Batting

The Indianapolis Indians wrapped up the 2008 season in 4th place (last) in the Western Division of the International League.
A few team stats: (there are 14 teams in the league)
Batting average: .262 (tied for 9th)
Hits: 1256 (doesn’t that seem like a lot? but it was 7th)
Homers: 114 (8th)
RBI: 576 (8th)
Walks: 401 (13th)
Strikeouts: 993 (10th)
Stolen Bases: 198 (1st) (Richmond, who was 2nd, had only 153)

Batting Leaders:
Several players hit very well in short stints with the Tribe, or while playing in few games:
Jack Wilson — .333 in 4 games
Luis Cruz — .325 in 32 games
Jason Bowers — .322 in 23 games
Luis Ordaz — .311 in 41 games
Raul Chavez — .306 in 26 games
Ronny Paulino — .306 in 30 games
Jose Bautista — .300 in 5 games

For players with over 50 games:
Average: Nyjer Morgan — .298; Andrew McCutchen — .283
Hits: Andrew McCutchen — 145; Neil Walker — 122
Doubles: Andrew McCutchen and Steve Pearce — 26; Neil Walker — 25; Josh Wilson — 24
Triples: Neil Walker — 7; Matt Kata — 6; Brian Bixler– 5
Homers: Neil Walker –16; Ryan Mulhern — 13 (7 with Buffalo, 6 with Indy); Adam Boeve and Steve Pearce –12
RBI: Neil Walker — 80; Steve Pearce –60;
Walks: Andrew McCutchen — 68; Neil Walker and Josh Wilson — 29
Strikeouts: Brian Bixler — 107; Neil Walker — 102
Stolen Bases: Nyjer Morgan — 44; Andrew McCutchen 34; Brian Bixler — 23
Caught Stealing: Andrew McCutchen– 19; Brian Bixler — 7

NOTES:
Pitching Coach Ray Searage, the only member of the Indians’ coaching staff who was not let go after the season ended, has joined the Pirates’ coaching staff for the next few weeks. He will be coaching in the Arizona Fall League next month.

Brian Bixler started at shortstop in last night’s Pirates’ game. He hit a triple, and made a spectacular play at short in the first inning. Nyjer Morgan also had a hit in front of his home-town crowd.

Some names to keep in mind, from the Latin American signings:
Roberto Espinoza — RHP from Mexico
Exicardo Cayones — OF from Mexico
Jodanelli Carvanal — SS from the Dominican Republic
Jonathan Barrios — SS from Colombia

Two Venezuelan prospects were suspended for 50 games for the use of a banned anabolic steroid: Julio Joves and Kelly Aponte.
Domincan pitching prospect Joldi Sierra was found to have gymnastics-like “false age documents”, and so he will have to sit out a year.

Jewett and Meulens Will Be Moving On

The Pirates have decided to change the field staff in Indianapolis for the 2009 season. Trent Jewett has managed the Indy Indians for the 4 years that the Pirates have been affiliated with Indy, and Hensley “Bam-Bam” Meulens (photo below) has been the hitting coach for that entire time also. Neither one will be returning.

Jewett has managed and coached in the Pirates’ organization since 1992. Most of those years have been as a manager, moving up through the minor league ranks. He also was a third-base coach for the Pirates at the major league level for 2.5 years.

Meulens was a hitting star with the Yankees, and also played in Japan. He has been coaching in the Pirates’ organization since 2005.

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Paul Meyer in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette quotes Kyle Stark:

“My only comment is that I personally have a ton of respect for Trent and [Meulens],” said Kyle Stark, the Pirates’ minor league director. “They’re quality people and good baseball people.”

Other notes:
SS Luis Cruz made his major league debut last night for the Pirates. He singled in his first major league at-bat, and went 1-for-4 on the night.

Ross Ohlendorf will get his first major league start tonight.

You still have three more days to bid on an Indy Indians game-worn jersey in the auction here

Joining the Pirates

The Pirates have called up 10 players from the Indianapolis Indians to help them finish out the season. Following yesterday’s final game of the Indians’ season, the Pirates summoned these players:

Pitchers:
Ross Ohlendorf
TJ Beam
Craig Hansen
Marino Salas
Romulo Sanchez

Catchers:
Ronny Paulino
Robinson Diaz

Infielders:
Brian Bixler
Luis Cruz

Outfielder:
Steve Pearce

Not much surprising there. All of the pitchers except Ross Ohlendorf have been up with the Pirates before, as have Ronny Paulino, Brian Bixler, and Steve Pearce. Ohlendorf and Robinson Diaz are recent acquisitions from trades and have not been with the Pirates before, though Ohlendorf has been in the major leagues with the Yankees, as a reliever. Luis Cruz is the only one in the group who is not on the Pirates’ 40-man roster. He will need to be added, and the Pirates are expected to announce this morning what roster move they will make in order to free up a spot for Cruz.

More surprising is one player who was not on the list: John Van Benschoten. Van Benschoten had done well with the Indians in a starting role in the first half of the season. When he moved up to the Pirates, though, he struggled mightily. The Pirates sent him back to Indy in July with the directive to learn how to pitch in relief. He had a few shaky relief outings, but his last 5 were better (1.98 ERA).

Also not on the list, but not surprising:
Jimmy Barthmaier — Barthmaier is on the 40-man roster, and he pitched well, but is slated to participate in the Arizona Fall League.
Andrew McCutchen — McCutchen is not on the 40-man roster, and Neal Huntington suggested that McCutchen needs both some rest and maybe some time in winter ball. McCutchen might be headed for a few months in Mexico, or he might be going home to Florida. He lives not too far from Bradenton and could do some working out there. He has been given the directive to work on his bunting skills.
Neil Walker — Walker is also not on the 40-man roster, and was a long shot to be called up. He could also benefit from some winter ball, though no solid plans have been mentioned yet. He did well in Mexico last winter and enjoyed his time there.

UPDATE: RHP Ty Taubenheim was released by the Pirates today, clearing a spot on the 40-man roster. Taubenheim had been on the Indy Indians’ disabled list since the end of July. In 19 starts with the Indians, he had a 4-9 record and a 5.60 ERA. In 98 innings he had given up 102 hits and 39 walks, and struck out 66 batters.

The End: Daniel, Duffy, and Diaz Lift the Indians

Indianapolis Indians 5,
Louisville Bats 2

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boxscore

Indians’ starter Daniel McCutchen (photo) held the Louisville Bats scoreless over 7 innings while striking out 9 batters and allowing only 5 hits, as the Indians defeated the division champion Bats at Slugger Field in Louisville, KY in the last game of the regular season. The Indians’ offense was led by LF Chris Duffy, who had his second 3-hit game in a row, and C Robinson Diaz, whose 2-RBI triple added some insurance for the Tribe.

Daniel McCutchen’s (photo) 9 strikeouts were the most he’s had in a game for the Indians. He gave up a single to 2B Danny Richar to start the bottom of the 1st inning, but Richar was thrown out trying to steal second base, and two strikeouts took care of the rest of the inning. McCutchen escaped a jam in the 2nd inning. The first three batters in the 2nd, RF Michael Griffin, C Alvin Colina, and LF Shaun Cumberland, hit consecutive singles to begin the inning. Luis Bolivar lifted a pop fly into foul territory, which Tribe 1B Jason Delaney caught despite the fan who got in his way. If Delaney had not caught it, fan interference could have been called, but since the catch was made, it was ok. Then SS Paul Janish bounced a ball back to Daniel McCutchen, who fired home to C Robinson Diaz to force Griffin out at home, and Robinson threw to first base, getting Janish out to complete the double play.

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Curve MVP: Jonel Pacheco

The Altoona Curve have announced their end-of-year player awards.

Most Valuable Player: Jonel Pacheco
Jonel Pacheco has played 116 games for the Curve and has a .288 average. The 25-year old Venezuelan native has recorded 17 doubles, and leads the Curve with 12 homers, and also with 52 RBI. This was Pacheco’s second season in the Pirates’ organization and his first at the AA level.

Pitcher of the Year: Juan Mateo
Juan Mateo joined the Curve in May, after having been in the Cubs’ organization. He made 32 appearances for the Curve, all in relief, for a total of 68 innings of work. He has a 7-1 record with 5 saves and a 2.12 ERA, allowing 50 hits, 17 walks, and 58 strikeouts. In his past 8 appearances, this 25-year old native of the Dominican Republic has not allowed a run — that’s over 19.1 innings of relief.

“Irwin Financial Big Money Player of the Year”: Brad Corley
Outfielder Brad Corley was named the player who had accumulated the most “Big Money” plays over the season. The 24-year old from Louisville, KY has a .262 average, with 25 doubles, 3 triples, 11 homers, and 49 RBI. In 134 games with the Curve, Corley made only 7 errors.

Unsung Hero Award: Milver Reyes
Catcher Milver Reyes was named the Curve’s player who contributed the most to the team in ways that don’t appear in the box score. This Venezuelan native, who will turn 26 this week, has appeared in only 53 games for the Curve, and has a .187 average with 4 doubles, one homer, and 7 RBI.

Bats Slide By Indians

Louisville Bats 6,
Indianapolis Indians 4

boxscore

A 3-run homer by former Indianapolis Indian Kevin Barker made the difference for the Louisville Bats, as the Bats beat the Indians at Slugger Field in Louisville, KY this evening. The Indians out-hit the Bats 9-7, as LF Chris Duffy led the charge by going 3-for-3 with a double and two singles, and also being hit by a pitch. Duffy has now reached base in his last 7 plate appearances, including reaching on an error and then hitting a double and a single after he grounded out in his first trip to the plate yesterday.

Louisville’s starter Adam Pettyjohn earned his 15th win, which ties the Bats’ team record for wins in a season. The Indians did not want to make it easy for him. After a double play ended the Tribe’s first inning threat, they came back to score one run in each of the next three innings. 1B Steve Pearce (photo) led off the 2nd inning with a walk, and he stole second base. RF Matt Kata bounced back to Pettyjohn, who fired to third base to get Pearce at third base, leaving Kata safe on first. Kata stole second base, and he took off from second to head to third as 2B Brian Bixler swung. Bats’ 3B Adam Rosales broke to cover third base, and Bixler poked the ball through the vacated spot and into left field. Kata rounded third and scored the Tribe’s first run.

Photo: Brian Bixler and Chris Duffy compare notes.

LF Chris Duffy led off the 3rd inning with a single. Pettyjohn’s pickoff move caught Duffy off the bag, and he headed for second, but got a gift when the throw from 1B Kevin Barker hit Duffy as he slid into second base. The Bats tried to appeal to the umpires that Duffy was running inside the bag and put himself into the path of the ball, but the umpires were unmoved, and Duffy was safe with a stolen base. When CF Andrew McCutchen singled into left field, Duffy sped around third and scored. 3B Neil Walker worked a walk, and Walker and McCutchen pulled off a double steal, putting both in scoring position. They could not advance further, though, as a ground out and a fly out ended the inning.

Duffy got the RBI in the 4th inning. Brian Bixler dropped down a bunt toward third base for a hit, and advanced to second base on pitcher Mike Thompson’s sacrifice bunt (photo). Duffy’s double bounced on the track, off the upper part of the right field wall, and back onto the field, bringing Bixler across the plate, and the Indians had a 3-0 lead.

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Walker is Indians’ MVP

The Indianapolis Indians handed out the end-of-year player awards at Saturday’s game. Indians’ General Manager Cal Burleson, in the white shirt, handed out the awards at home plate prior to the game.

Most Valuable Player: Neil Walker
Walker ended the season leading the Tribe with 16 home runs, 7 triples, and 80 RBI. Though his batting average is .242, he has improved through the season, hitting .275 in August, and .310 in a 10 game stretch right at the end. He has had three hitting streaks of at least 6 games, and had 30 games with more than one hit, and 20 games with more than one RBI.

In the field, Walker has successfully made the transition to third base, and with the huge improvement he has made over the past year, Walker has looked like he’s never played anywhere else. He was named Best Defensive Third Baseman in the International League by Baseball America, with a .946 fielding percentage.

Rookie of the Year: Andrew McCutchen
McCutchen is the Pirates’ #1 rated prospect. He led the Tribe in on-base percentage (.372), and had a .283 batting average. He finished the season with 9 homers, 50 RBI, 68 walks, and 34 stolen bases. McCutchen was the Player of the Month in May, when he had a .304 batting average, and he had a .324 average in August. In the outfield, McCutchen has excelled, able to get to almost anything hit anywhere near center field, and making many highlight reel plays.

Neil Walker and Andrew McCutchen

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