Shaking it up Some More with Aubrey on the DL
Posted August 14th, 2007 by Stephanie Storm
News out of Canal Park despite the team being on the road has brought yet another handful of changes to the team’s roster.
This time, they are moves that could strengthen the team’s chance to make a post season run, with the exception of the latest Michael Aubrey injury - but more on that in a minute.
First, and perhaps most important, the Aeros received outfielder Brian Barton from Triple-A Buffalo after a two-week stint with the Bisons. Not only will Barton once again bolster the team’s offense, but it will keep the Areos from having to use second baseman Argenis Reyes in left field - where he played Sunday.
The Aeros also received pitchers Rich Rundles and Eric Dubose from Buffalo, while sending reliever T.J. Burton to Class-A Kinston. Rundles, a reliever, has shuttled back and forth between Akron and Buffalo all season. Dubose (4-3, 4.24 ERA in 11 games including eight starts) will join the starting rotation in place of right-hander Jake Dittler, who was placed on the disabled list with shoulder inflammation retroactive to Aug. 6th.
That leaves us with Aubrey. Yes, once again, the Tribe’s often-injured No. 1 pick in the 2003 draft is sidelined - this time with an abdomin strain. At some point, you just figure he’s going to have to run out of body parts to hurt. It just figures, too. After struggling since joining the team from Kinston, Aubrey was just starting to hit last week.
August 14th, 2007 at 8:45 pm
It’s a shame about Aubrey, but I am excited to see Barton return. I wonder if this will help the overall baserunning for the team as well…
August 15th, 2007 at 9:35 am
Poor Aubrey! Talk about failed promise. This was a fragile class of draftees to say the least.
The Barton move was rubbish. Stunting his development to win in Akron seems ridiculous. Maybe with the Tribe choking we should bring back Cabrera as well. No reason at all not to bring up Hodges and/or Rodriguez if we needed a bat. Kinston has ready replacements for both at Lake County. Since McBride is moving to Kinston, supersub Gimenez could have been brought up as well. Watching the Tribe mismanage its minor league assets along with showing a lack of heart on its ML roster is real disappointing.
August 15th, 2007 at 5:05 pm
That didn’t last long — Barton’s back with the Bisons.
Aside from all the bullpen and back-of-the-rotation shuffling to solve injury problems, it seems like there’s been a real lack of performance-based promotions within the whole farm system this year. I don’t think it’s been a problem in the past, but they really seem slow to move guys to the next level this year.
I’ll never understand what a 25-year-old Barton was still doing in Akron after Cleveland promoted Franklin Gutierrez and Ben Francisco, and were playing an outfield in Buffalo that consisted of some combination of Snyder, Cooper, Van Every and Inglett. Barton had to spend over a year at AA, despite the fact he never had any serious struggles at Akron was old for the level of competition.
I still don’t know why Wes Hodges is in Kinston, when he’s been successful there, is supposed to be a polished college prospect on the fast track, and Akron has been playing guys at third for most of the year who aren’t really third baseman. I do have to say, though, Rodney Choy Foo is the best defensive 3B I’ve seen at Akron… of course, after two years of CorE-5 Smith, they’ve all looked like Brooks Robinson.
The other one I’ve seen a couple times this year and wondered about is Luis Perdomo, the closer at Lake County. He’s 23 and throws in the upper 90’s. He gets hit from time to time, but I’m not sure how he’s really being tested against a bunch of kids in their first full season or guys who aren’t going to get beyond that level. At his age, and with his fastball, I’d expect Perdomo to be tested against AA hitters by now. At the very least, his performance thus far should have earned him a promotion to Kinston.
August 15th, 2007 at 8:03 pm
I see Barton is leading off in Buffalo tonight. Maybe the organization is coming to its senses because they have had a lousy year managing their prospects and all of the Cleveland team seems to be in a full collective choke, including the brass. Afraid to make mistakes and real short on heart. The who organization is playing scared. Peralta, Blake and Barfield look like deers in headlights.
August 16th, 2007 at 1:31 pm
I heard someone on Buffalo’s roster suffered an injury and that’s why Barton was moved back up to AAA. How do you think everyone will adjust to this?
August 17th, 2007 at 12:39 am
Both Snyder and Van Every are on the DL which isn’t new to my knowledge. The rest of Buffalo’s lame OF group, excluding Francisco, is still there, including Choo who is DHing for the most part. The Bison blog makes no note of any injury being involved in the 24 hour recall. I believe Snyder is due to return shortly and we can see how this effects Barton.
I have watched Perdomo quite a few times and he can light it up on the radar gun but his command is almost non-existent sometimes. Even at 23, he would be eaten alive in AA, IMHO. If Akron needed a reliever, Wright can bring it and probably would not embarrass himself. He is not a starter, however, even though they are using him as one. It has been stated in more than one blog that David Huff is ready to return but they might continue to hold him out. Kinston is so loaded with midlevel prospect pitchers that I cannot see why one has not been promoted.