It’s often taken for granted that when a Latin player comes to the states to play baseball, he will quickly pick up English. Little thought is given to just how difficult it is, in addition to making the transition to a completely different culture.

California native and Aeros second baseman Brandon Pinckney had the tables turned on him recently, getting a little taste of what it has been like for many of his foreign teammates over the years.

Starting the season in Winter Haven, Fla., at the Indians extended spring training camp, Pinckney found himself the lone English-speaking infielder in his group. Not to mention a 28-year-old veteran among a group of young and impressionable first and second-year players.

“I wasn’t happy about it being there in the first place,” said Pinckney, a six-year veteran drafted by the Tribe with their 12th pick in the 2003 draft. “On top of it I was one of the only American infielders. So everything went from Spanish to English - being translated just for me.”

If that wasn’t a tough enough way to begin the season, when Pinckney was finally placed with a club - landing in Akron in mid-April when left fielder Trevor Crowe went on the disabled list with a lower back injury - he played sporadically in a reserve role.

“When I first got here I was playing once every fifth day,” Pinckney said. “So it took some time getting my timing down.”

Pinckney worked with former teammate and current Aeros player/coach Shaun Larkin on his batting until Pinckney found his groove at the plate. Once things clicked, Pinckney went on a tear.

He pieced together a 13-game hitting streak that lasted through Friday, batting .370 (17-for-46) over that span. In 19 games with the Aeros this season he’s hitting .271 (19-for-70) with two doubles and six RBI.

“It was a good stretch for Pink,” Aeros manager Mike Sarbaugh said. “We’ll give him a little break then get him right back out there.”

No official word yet, but based on the results and some candid thoughts after his outing with the Aeros Friday, Indians right-hander Jake Westbrook appears to be ready to be activated.

While on a major league rehab assisgnment with the Aeros Friday, Westbrook pitched six shutout innings, scattering three hits to help lead the Aeros to a 4-0 shutout over the Erie SeaWolves. The only concern he had was with his command, which was a little off as shown by issuing four walks.

Still, after his outing, Westbrook talked about being ready to re-join his big league teammates.

“I felt good about my side, I felt good about my arm,” Westbrook said. “I think I’m ready to come back when they’re ready for me.”

Indians closer Joe Borowski said the same thing after his one sharp inning for the Aeros Wednesday with Tribe GM Mark Shapiro watching in person. He was activated Friday morning.

Now, Westbrook is next. Although I’d hate to be the Tribe officials who have to tell Aaron Laffey and his 1.60 ERA he has to go back to Triple-A Buffalo.

“He’s been real impressive,” Westbrook said. “He pitched well for us last year, too.”

Hopefully, it won’t be long before Laffey’s in the Indians rotation full time. But until then, Westbrook’s ready to claim his spot.

Few people really appreciated him when he was healthy. Now that’s he’s been gone for nearly a month, those same folks can’t wait until he returns.

Guess it’s like the old adage - you don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone.

That’s the case with Indians fans and embattled closer Joe Borowski - a guy who admittedly makes it tough to watch - but ultimately tends to get the job done in the ninth.

How he does it is a whole other matter, which is why the veteran tends to make cause a lot of uneasy stomachs as he tight-rope walks through each and every save situation.

Of course, it wasn’t that difficult Wednesday for Borowski in his one-inning major league rehab appearance with the Aeros in their 4-1 victory over Altoona Wednesday at Canal Park.

The Aeros defense was on their toes with the veteran big leaguer on the mound in the eighth inning.

Shortstop Josh Rodriguez sprinted out to shallow center to catch Luis Cruz’s pop up for the first out, then right fielder Stephen Head made a diving catch to rob former Indians minor leaguer Brian Finegan of a hit for the second.

Curve catcher Milver Reyes managed a little two-out flare into shallow right center field for a base hit before Borowski bounced back to get Pedro Powell looking to end the brief outing.

Afterwards, a pumped up Borowski said he felt good, then shook hands with Indians general manager Mark Shaprio - who wanted to check on his closer in person before the decision is made in the next day or two whether or not to activate Borowski.

“This more than likely will be it,” Borowksi said. “Anything could happen, but hopefully that’s not the case and I can get back (to Cleveland).”

Although Borowski didn’t bother to check how high his velocity registered, he felt it was within range based on the feel of the ball coming out of his hand.

“More than anything, I’m looking for location,” said Borowski, who went on the disabled list April 15th with a strained right triceps - an injury he suffered in spring training but tried to pitch through.

“This is my second time throwing to hitters (his first outing was Monday at Class-A Lake County). Each time you throw your muscles become memory again and you get that free and easy feeling. I felt a big improvement just from the other day.”

Borowski led the American League in saves last year, converting 45 of 53 save opportunities (84.9%), finishing just one shy of tying Jose Mesa’s club record of 46 set in 1995.

Wednesday, his short stint came on the heels of a strong seven-inning start by left-hander David Huff, who limited the Curve to a run on four hits.

“Last year he wasn’t as sharp as he has been here,” Aeros manager Mike Sarbaugh said of the left-hander. “He’s learned how to use his stuff more effectively to get more early contact, which has allowed him to go deeper in games.”

–30–

The hand-made poster was a poor-man’s version of the original, a take off the gigantic LeBron James’ black-and-white that hangs in downtown Cleveland unfurled across the side of a large building.

Yet, athletic-taped to the wall in the Aeros dugout was an 8-by-10 color picture of Trevor Crowe, with these words crudely scrawled upon it for all to see: The Real King of the A.K.! We are all witnesses.

And so the Aeros popular left fielder returned home Monday as the Aeros began an eight-game home stand, suiting up for the first time since having to sit out with a lower back injury after playing in just the team’s first two games of the season in early April.

“The last week of spring training it was sore, but I thought it was just a normal kind of soreness and stiffness,” said Crowe, the Indians No. 1 pick (14th overall) in the 2005 draft. “But the red flag to me was once I started experiencing shooting pain down the back of my leg almost to my knee. That’s when I knew something wasn’t right.”

So Crowe went on the disabled list then spent two and half weeks rehabbing the back in Cleveland with the Indians trainers. Before he could return to the Aeros, he spent a couple more weeks at extended spring training in Winter Haven, Fla., where he eased back into the game.

That’s when the hardest part of being away from his teammates hit Crowe, who is batting .214 (3-for-14) with a double, triple, RBI and four walks in four games this season.

“Every time you’re sitting in your hotel room and it’s 7 p.m., you get the feeling that you should be out there on the field,” he said.

Crowe played in two games on the Aeros recent road trip to Reading, meeting the team bus as it arrived in town Friday with a surprise for his teammates.

“I was just so happy to see everyone, I said, ‘Hug for everybody!’,” the spunky Crowe said with a smile. “Right now, I’m probably the happiest kid in the lockerrooom.”

Aeros left-hander David Huff earned Eastern League Pitcher of the Week honors Monday, a nod to his standout performance last week against Altoona. Last Thursday’s outing was a seven-inning complete-game shutout in which he allowed just one runner to advance to second base in allowing just three hits and a walk. Huff is 3-1 on the season and leads the league with a 2.14 ERA and ranks seventh in strikeouts with 43.

BIG LEAGUE - Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Jack Wilson is expected to join the Curve today and play the remainder of the series in Akron. Wilson has been on the major league disabled list since April 4th with a torn muscle in his left calf.

HOT PINCKNEY - Aeros infielder Brandon Pinckney entered Monday’s game with Altoona riding a season-high tying nine-game hitting streak. Over that span he has struck out just three times and is batting .375 (12-for-32) with three multi-hit games to raise his season batting average from .095 to 264.

The Aeros haven’t played a ballgame in four days now. Well, four days and counting.

After being rained out at home Sunday and enjoying a scheduled off day Monday, the team headed for Altoona (Pittsburgh Pirates) Tuesday morning well rested and ready to get back at it.

But the Aeros have been there now two days and still have yet to play an inning.

This wouldn’t be odd given the time of the year, except for the fact that it’s not weather keeping the action from happening.

Although it hasn’t rained in Altoona since the team has been in town, it rained over the weekend before they got there. And appearantly for some odd reason, the field was not covered with its tarp - which is why it has been deemed unplayable the last two days.

So, the Aeros continue to sit in their hotel rooms searching for ways to entertain themselves. In the meantime, a 10:35 a.m. double header is scheduled for Thursday - on get-a-way day, no less.

In addition to leaving the guys a little grumpy, all the time off is wreaking havoc on the team’s starting pitching staff. A day off here and there is usually a welcome surprise. But four consecutive days off is a nightmare for a young staff that was just starting to get some things figured after thier first month of exposure to Double-A hitting.

The pitchers are so backed up in the rotation now, PR man extraordinaire Rob Sinclair doesn’t have the foggiest idea who to even list for starting probables - because at this point, it’s anyone’s guess.

Longevity records in Double-A baseball aren’t usually much cause for celebration.

For, racking up numbers in the mid-level of baseball often indicates a player is staying in one place too long.

But becoming the Aeros career saves leader earlier this week didn’t bother Aeros closer Randy Newsom one bit.

“Actually, I think it’s pretty cool,” said Newsom, who set the franchise mark of 25 saves in the Aeros 3-2 win over rival Altoona Wednesday. “Having your name in the record book for something positive has to be considered an honor.”

It helps that Newsom has climbed to the top of the charts in less than a full season with the Aeros - beginning last year when he joined the team after a promotion from high Class-A Kinston.

The 26-year old recorded 18 saves for Akron in his debut, helping lead the team to the Eastern League Championship Series.

This year Newsom began the season with the Aeros, and has gone a perfect nine-for-nine in save opportunities. His most recent secured Saturday’s 3-1 win over Northern-Division leading Trenton, as he moved into sole possession of second place in saves in the Eastern League behind Bowie’s Julio Manon (10).

Part of the reason Newsom has managed to achieve the high-water mark so quickly is that the parent-club Indians don’t necessarily groom relievers to be closers in the major leagues. Often, closing at the minor leagues falls to a couple guys at one time.

But being a side-arming right-hander who pitches to contact is most effective in short outings, thus a closing role is a good match for the Cincinnati native who graduated from Tufts.

“Saves are a team thing,” said Newsom, who is 1-0 with a tidy 1.32 ERA in 14 appearances. “I don’t think people realize that, but they really are - especially when you’ve got a contact guy like me on the mound. I couldn’t do what I do without a solid group behind me.”

Now entering his fifth pro season, Newsom was originally signed by the Boston Red Sox as a non-drafted free agent. In 2006, he became property of the Cleveland Indians as the player to be named later in the Coco Crisp deal.

“Randy has been nothing but outstanding since he’s been with us,” Aeros manager Mike Sarbaugh said. “Aside from doing his thing on the mound, he’s just a great guy to have in the clubhouse helping lead this team.”

Newsom’s positive and upbeat attitude seems to rub off on everyone he comes in contact with. In addition to being a team leader by action, he’s also a calming influence on this season’s predominantly young club that has already had its share of struggles this season.

“We’ll come around,” he said. “We’re young, but we’re also too talented of a team to struggle like this all season.”

Unfortunately for the Aeros, just as the team’s young starting pitchers appear to be finding their groove, the team’s offense has gone into hibernation. In their the last four games entering Saturday, the Aeros have managed just six runs.

“Mark my words, things will turn around,” Newsom said. “I can tell by the way guys are reacting, the way guys play. When something bad happens, they don’t go, ‘Here we go again.’ They just go and get after it.

There’s usually not a whole lot of action in a 1-0 game, but Thursday’s early-morning one-run Aeros win over visiting Altoona was a thriller in many ways.

Let’s start with right-handed starter Frank Herrmann, who tossed a season-high seven innings while limiting the free-swinging Curve to two harmless hits thanks to an above-average slider.

“With my slider working so well, I only threw one or two change ups today,” Herrmann (4-2, 3.54 ERA) said. “And usually my change up is my best secondary pitch. But I stayed aggressive and kept after them.”

Aeros first-year manager Mike Sarbaugh said Herrmann had some momentum coming into the game in following two solid starts the previous two games by left-handers Chuck Lofgren and David Huff.

“Just like hitting’s contagious, starters see what they guys before them did and it gives them confidence they can do it too,” Sarbaugh said. “It’s like, “They’re doing it, so I’m going to do it.’ ”

While Herrmann was methodically mowing through the Aeros’ division rivals, back-up catcher Armando Camacaro drove in the game’s only run with a second-inning two-out single that capped a three-hit rally.

“You gotta love a guy like that who sits for four, five games but then comes in and gets the big hit and makes a great defensive play to lead us to a win,” closer Randy Newsom said.

But we’re getting a little ahead of ourselves here. First, right-hander reliever J.D. Martin did his job via a three-up, three-down eighth inning as set-up man to Newsom, who had just become Akron’s all-time franchise saves leader with his 25th earned in Wednesday night’s 3-2 victory.

But Thursday, Newsom had a huge assist in recording his eighth save in as many opportunities so far this season. As the save - and the win - did not come without some heroics from right fielder Ryan Goleski, who wasn’t even initially in the starting lineup until a late scratch forced him into action.

In addition to going 2-for-3, Goleski made a pair of highlight-reel catches in the field, with none better this season than his laser from medium right field that threw out the potential tying run (Brad Corley) with two outs.

Goleski’s on-the-money throw made it to Camacaro a few feet up the third base line. The veteran catcher turned and held his position to block the path to the plate all the while holding on to the ball for the huge out despite a collision that left him with a sore left leg.

When it comes to the Aeros and umpires, it has not been a good start to the season. First-year manager Mike Sarbaugh has been ejected three times in the first month - including recent back-to-back games, and right fielder Ryan Goleski was tossed after an ugly incident near the end of Tuesday night’s game.

In all fairness to Sarbaugh and Goleski, the umpiring the first couple of weeks of play has been inconsistent at best. The definition of a strike zone has not only ranged from umpire to umpire, but rather frustratingly at times, inning to inning, as well.

Still, Goleski appears to have crossed the line Tuesday when he bumped an umpire - maybe even twice, depending whom you talk to - after being ejected for arguing balls and strikes by home plate umpire Doug Levy.

Tempers began to flare in the second inning when Goleski (batting .216 in 28 games) was rung up on a boarder line strike three in the second inning. Some jawing ensued, but Goleski eventually went into the dugout peacefully and play resumed.

However, come the bottom of ninth inning with the bases loaded, one out and the host trailing 3-0, Goleski was once again caught looking for strike three on a pitch down and away and appearantly out of a normal strike zone. He immediately turned to argue, obviously said something he shouldn’t have and was quickly ejected.

But this time, Goleski did not go without incident. As he argued angrily, and appeared to chest bump Levy. Other witnesses said at one point Goleski got so close to the umpire again, that he touched him with the brim of his helmet hitting Levy on the bridge of the nose.

”I don’t know what it is with the umpires,” Sarbaugh said recently regarding his ejections, noting he was thrown out three or four times all of last season at high Class-A Kinston. “They used to give you a little bit of a warning to let you know you’re getting close. But now, I’m not getting that. I guess I’m just going to have change my ways.”

Perhaps the worst part of Goleski’s ejection is that Eastern League president Joe McEacharn happened to be visiting Canal Park, watching from behind home plate in the stands.

By the time Wednesday’s 3-2 win over the Altoona Curve got underway, there was no word on whether a suspension would be handed down. However, Goleski was not in the lineup and did not play.

Infielder Brian Finegan was struggling offensively through the first month of the season - that is until he got a fire lit under him in facing his old teammates.

Finegan, a former Indians minor leaguer who was released in spring training and picked up by the Pittsburgh Pirates, began to find his stroke just as rivals Altoona and Akron began to face each other recently.

The teams met each other for the first time this season in Altoona April 21-23 and find themselves matched up again in a series at Canal Park Monday through Thursday.

Batting just .136 overall in 18 games with the Curve, five of Finegan’s hits have come against the Aeros - including a 3-for-4 effort that went for naught as the Aeros topped the visitors 9-4 Monday at Canal Park.

After singling in his first two at-bats against former Class-A Kinston teammate and pitcher Kevin Dixon, Finegan (the Indians 15th selection in the 2004 draft), tried to start a two-out rally with another single in the eighth against another former Kinston mate in right-hander J.D. Martin.

When the Altoona rally was short-circuited, the Aeros responded with a seven-run eighth inning to come-from-behind and put the game away for good.

Ironically, on the other end of a similar situation as Finegan, is current Aeros utility man Brandon Chaves - a former four-year Altoona player who signed as free agent in the off season with the Indians.

“It was really weird facing them the first time in Altoona,” Chaves said. “But that’s just the way baseball is.”