The Day After the Clip Joint

It's amazing what a four hit game can do for your batting average in April.  Lonnie Chisenall entered last night's game having flirted with Mendoza all season long.  After a 4-for-5 effort (2 R, RBI) the Chiz Kid's average now sits at a reasonable .258 and all of us that were beginning to worry that he might not be all he's cracked up to can remain quiet.  Yet, even in Chisenhall's best AAA performance thus far, Lonnie was far from the only offensive hero.  Chad Huffman (.283) has been on fire since beginning 0-for-18 and contributed three hits and a pair of RBI, while Jason Kipnis (.246) tripled, homered and brought home two.  Still, the offensive MVP at this early stage has certainly been Cord Phelps.  Phelps (.328) has shown why he was in the running for the big club's utility infield spot until the final week of spring camp.  In yesterday's 7-5 win, he reached base three times (2 H, BB) and scored twice.  Cord's OPS sits at .976 and he is reaching base in nearly 50% of his plate appearances.

David Huff (3.00 ERA) took the pill for the Clips and provided a yeoman's effort.  Huff went seven to earn his second win, surrendering four earned runs on nine hits with neither a walk nor a strikeout.  David threw 94 pitches and I would officially classify him as unavailable for Saturday.

Zach Putnam threw perfect ball for the final two frames.  He struck out three to notch his third save.

I know I've said this before, but Scott Barnes IS supposed to pitch tonight for Columbus against the Gwinnet Braves.  If he doesn't make it out for tonight's 7:05p first pitch, we will know something is amiss.

Other Minor Points of Interest --

Nick Hagadone tossed three scoreless innings, allowing one hit and K'ing four, to secure the win for Akron in the second game of yesterday's double header.  Hagadone (0.00) has allowed just eight baserunners in 13.2 innings this season and has fanned 18.  The Columbus bullpen is already crowded, so, if Nick continues his outstanding work, some have speculated that he might jump straight from AA to the Jake this season.  I doubt it, but his performance in 2011 doubtlessly bodes well for the future.

Akron starter Austin Adams did fare so well in the first game.  Adams (1-2, 3.86) began the season hot, cooling off significantly in recent appearances.  Yesterday, he lasted just eight hitters, six of which he put on base (3 H, 3 BB) before getting yanked.  He was not pleased with his removal.  Austin remains a prospect with great upside, though a start of less than a full inning will give all the scouts some pause.

Before I go, I'll share yet another odd baseball occurrence that I saw for the first time in 2011.  On Monday, I was watching Phil Humber dazzle the Yankees.  Rafael Soriano came in to pitch the top of the ninth.  After he got two strikes on Alexei Ramirez the Yanks' infield move back to the cut of the grass.  Ramirez proceeded to pop the ball up on the infield.  Soriano followed through to first base side of the mound and stood there, rooted like a tree, while pointing to indicate the pop fly.  Derek Jeter sprinted in but the ball fell in front of him for a single.  The ball hit, I swear, two feet from the pitcher's mound.  I know that pitchers aren't generally supposed to chase these, but Soriano absolutely needs to go after it until someone calls him off.  A 65 foot fly ball hit.  Never seen it before.

Cheers.