Will Middlebrooks had one heck of a day Sunday, smashing three home runs.
Middlebrooks almost hit a fourth homer, but he flew out to the warning track in the eighth inning.
The Red Sox beat the Blue Jays 13-0.
– Rick Green (follow me @ETNrgreen)
The Cleveland Indians added some insurance, and a little right-handed help at the plate, by trading from its strength Saturday.
The Tribe traded reliever Esmil Rogers to the Toronto Blue Jays for shortstop Mike Aviles and catcher/infield utility man Yan Gomes. Aviles, who has hit left-handed pitchers well throughout his career (.295 average), gives the Indians someone to spell Asdrubal Cabrera (or possibly take over for him).
Here’s what Indians GM Chris Antonetti had to say about Aviles:
He’s played most recently as the everyday shortstop with the Red Sox, but he’s played second base and third base and some outfield. It’s his versatility that attracted us to him.
Here’s what Antonetti had to say about Cabrera:
Asdrubal Cabrera is our starting shortstop.
Of course, Antonetti would never admit it if the Tribe were shopping ACab or looking to package him and Shin-Soo Choo for an elite starter or power bat. This deal certainly would make it easier to do so, though.
Aviles never played for the Jays because he was part of an offseason trade. Last season he hit .250 with 13 home runs and had 60 RBIs and 14 stolen bases in 136 games for the Red Sox. He made $1.2 million last season and is eligible for arbitration this winter.
In 43 games with the Blue Jays, the right-handed Gomes, 25, batted .204 with four homers and 13 RBIs. The Indians said they plan to use him as catcher, possibly to compete with Lou Marson in a backup role.
Rogers performed well after coming over from Colorado this summer. In 44 appearances for the Tribe, Rogers went 3-1 with a 3.06 ERA. But the Indians have one of the better bullpens in the AL, so making this trade makes sense.
The players and coaches who comprise Eastern League rosters in 2014 should consider getting passports.
The Ottawa Citizen has reported that an Eastern League franchise will begin play that year in Canada’s capital. The article prominantly mentioned the Erie SeaWolves, based on their traditionally low attendance figures, as a prime candidate for such a switch.
Others cited were the Binghamton Mets, who were 12th in attendance for 2012, and the New Hampshire Fisher Cats, whose parent club is the Toronto Blue Jays.
Earlier this year, the SeaWolves extended contracts with the Erie County Convention Center Authority and the Detroit Tigers through 2014.
– Mike Copper
The Erie SeaWolves released their official 2013 Eastern League schedule before Saturday night’s game against the Altoona Curve at Jerry Uht Park.
Coincidence or not, those teams also will open next season on the same diamond. Erie welcomes the Curve for the first four games of a seven-game homestand, with the opener set for April 4 at 6:35 p.m.
Erie’s full 2013 schedule, with starting times for all games at Uht Park, is listed below.
– Mike Copper
Four current players for the Erie SeaWolves, including star prospect Nick Castellanos, will remain on baseball diamonds even after the Eastern League franchise ends its regular season Monday.
Castellanos will join catcher James McCann and relief pitchers Michael Morrison and Tyler Clark on the roster of the Mesa Solar Sox for the 2012 Arizona Fall League. The league released its rosters and schedule Wednesday.
The six-team league will start Oct. 9 and conclude with its Nov. 17 championship game at Scottsdale, Ariz.
– Mike Copper
This is one late season race that no baseball team wants to find itself involved, but that’s where the Erie SeaWolves find themselves going into the waning games of the Eastern League’s 2012 season.
The SeaWolves were nudged nine innings closer to clinching the league’s worst record after Bowie beat them 4-2 Tuesday night at Prince George’s Stadium.
Erie is last in the league’s Western Division at 56-79. The New Hampshire Fisher Cats, last in the Eastern Division, were 59-77 after Tuesday’s 9-3 loss to Portland.
– Mike Copper
Darin Ruf usurped the Erie SeaWolves’ new role as Eastern League spoilers with one mighty swing Thursday night.
Ruf, the league’s home-run leader, added to his total with a seventh-inning grand slam off Erie reliever Kelvin De La Cruz. His 33rd homer was the difference in the Phillies’ 7-6 win at FirstEnergy Stadium.
Erie, eliminated from any postseason possibilities with Wednesday’s loss to Akron, fell to 55-75 in the league’s Western Division. Its latest setback came in the opener of its final road trip for 2012.
Reading not only moved to 69-62 in the league’s Eastern Division standings, but claimed second place outright when New Hampshire beat New Britain 9-6. The Phillies and Rock Cats began Thursday tied for the division’s wild-card playoff berth.
– Mike Copper
Starting lineups for Monday’s Eastern League game between the Akron Aeros and the Erie SeaWolves at Jerry Uht Park:
Akron Aeros (75-51): 1. Tyler Holt CF, 2. Jordan Henry RF, 3. Chun Chen 1B, 4. Nick Weglarz LF, 5. Jesus Aguilar DH, 6. Matt Lawson 2B, 7. Ryan Rohlinger SS, 8. Roberto Perez C, 9. Carlos Rojas 3B.
Starting pitcher: LH T.J. House (7-3, 3.43 ERA).
Erie SeaWolves (53-73): 1. Jamie Johnson LF, 2. Niuman Romero SS, 3. Nick Castellanos RF, 4. Jordan Lennerton 1B, 5. Avisail Garcia CF, 6. Rawley Bishop 3B, 7. Tony Plagman DH, 8. Brandon Douglas 2B, 9. James McCann C.
Starting pitcher: RH Patrick Cooper (2-8, 5.26 ERA).
– Mike Copper
Here’s an interesting photo of the New York Yankees’ Russell Martin getting hit in the face from a pitch by the Toronto Blue Jays’ David Carpenter.
Carpenter was recalled from Triple-A before the game Friday and was optioned back after giving up four runs.
Starting lineups for Friday’s Eastern League game between the Portland Sea Dogs and the Erie SeaWolves at Jerry Uht Park:
Portland Sea Dogs (55-63): 1. Jackie Bradley Jr. CF, 2. Peter Hissey LF, 3. Marquez Smith 3B, 4. Bryce Brentz RF, 5. Travis Shaw 1B, 6. Xander Bogaerts SS, 7. Derrik Gibson DH, 8. Christian Vazquez C, 9. Ryan Dent 2B.
Starting pitcher: RH Stolmy Pimentel (4-5, 4.99 ERA).
Erie SeaWolves (51-66): 1. Jamie Johnson CF, 2. Niuman Romero SS, 3. Nick Castellanos DH, 4. Jordan Lennerton 1B, 5. Avisail Garcia RF, 6. Daniel Fields LF, 7. Rawley Bishop 3B, 8. Corey Jones 2B, 9. James McCann C.
Starting pitcher: RH Jared Gayhart (1-2, 4.28 ERA).
– Mike Copper
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