Posts By Ryan Hohman
Baserunning Mistakes, Cabrera’s Big Day Give Tigers Series Win; Tigers 8, Indians 6
April 26, 2015 | Ryan HohmanDid the Tribe Win Last Night? No. The Tigers scored twice in the first and never trailed, beating the Indians 8-6 on Sunday afternoon in the rubber match of the three game series.
In his second start since being hit in the jaw by a line drive in a game against the Chicago White Sox on April 14, Carlos Carrasco pitched 4.1 innings, allowing five runs on nine hits. He walked two, struck out five, and found himself pitching out of jams all afternoon.
Ryan Raburn remained hot at the plate for the Tribe, going 2-4 with a double, run scored, and RBI. However, he was also thrown out at third base twice on plays that could have changed the outcome of the game.
Holt Not Getting Ahead of Himself After Breakout Season
April 20, 2015 | Ryan HohmanTyler Holt was the first player I interviewed when I started covering the Columbus Clippers last summer. He had just been promoted to Columbus from Double-A Akron. A few weeks after the interview, he got called up to Cleveland and made his big league debut on July 6.
Holt had a positive impact on the Tribe’s playoff run that fell short. If you were not watching the games and only reading the box scores, you wouldn’t have noticed his contributions as he batted .268 with two RBI and two runs in 36 games. But if you’re a regular watcher of SportsCenter Top 10, there’s a pretty good chance you saw a defensive web gem or two of Holt’s.
“That’s one of the things I pride myself on, defense and effort,” said Holt. “You can be 0-4, but also make a difference in the outfield so that’s kind of what I look at. Instead of forcing things to happen just let them happen.”
2015 Columbus Clippers Season Preview
April 13, 2015 | Ryan HohmanStrong Pitching Performances Highlight Season-Opening Series
The Columbus Clippers opened their 2015 campaign on the road against the Indianapolis Indians last Thursday. Manager Chris Tremie gave the opening day start to veteran lefty Bruce Chen and was rewarded with an outstanding … Read More
Mike Aviles Can Do It All
March 28, 2015 | Ryan Hohman | One CommentUtility man Mike Aviles played six different positions for the Indians last year:
– 26 games at third base
– 33 games at second base
– 27 games in left field
– 15 games at shortstop
– 3 games in center field
– 3 games in right field
Aviles also pinch hit 12 times and pinch ran twice.
Swisher Eyes Opening Day Return
March 15, 2015 | Ryan HohmanBoos, trade rumors, and trips to the disabled list. 2014 wasn’t very kind to Nick Swisher, who hopes to be ready for the Tribe’s April 6 opener in Houston after season-ending, double knee surgery in August.
The 34-year-old is coming off a season that was statically the worst of his career. In 97 games, Swish hit .208 with eight homers and 42 RBI after hitting 20+ homers and 63+ RBI in nine consecutive seasons. His defense was nothing to write home about either. Nine errors in 52 games were just two shy of the most he’s committed in an entire season (11 in 2008 with the White Sox). Swisher’s nightmare season finally came to an end in August when he underwent arthroscopic surgery on both knees.
No Handouts: Danny Salazar Must Earn It In Spring Training
March 11, 2015 | Ryan HohmanThere will be no handouts for Danny Salazar in 2015. If the organization’s once coveted pitching prospect wants a spot in the Tribe’s five man rotation, he will have to earn it in spring training.
Signed at age 16 in 2006 out of the Dominican Republic, Salazar didn’t do much to separate himself in the low minors, but his career took off after recovering from Tommy John surgery in 2010. He was dominant for the High-A Carolina Mudcats in 2012 with a 2.68 ERA and then splashed onto the scene in 2013, posting a 3.12 ERA in his first 10 big league starts.
When the Indians clinched the 2013 AL wild card, Terry Francona tabbed him the starter for the win or go home game versus Tampa Bay. While Salazar lasted just four innings in the loss, many thought the experience of pitching on baseball’s biggest stage would pay dividends next season and beyond. Expectations were very high to say the least for Salazar entering 2014.
Perez Gives Tribe Top Catching Duo
March 6, 2015 | Ryan Hohman | One CommentA trusted backup catcher is hard to come by. The Indians believe they’ve found one in Roberto Perez, who will spell Yan Gomes to open the 2015 campaign. This one-two punch gives the Tribe one of the top catching duos in all of baseball.
Drafted by the Indians in the 33rd round of the 2008 MLB June Amateur Draft from Florida Gateway College, Perez spent five seasons in the Tribe’s farm system before being called up last July.
He opened the 2014 season at Triple-A Columbus, where he hit .305 with eight home runs and 43 RBI in 53 games. Behind the plate, Perez erased 39% (14-22) of the runners who tested his arm.
Carlos Moncrief Will Deliver More “Wow” Moments in 2015
February 22, 2015 | Ryan HohmanCleveland Indians outfield prospect Carlos Moncrief had his share of “Wow” moments in 2014. He had 22 of them to be exact.
The Jackson, Mississippi native’s 22 outfield assists tied the International League single season record and helped catapult the Columbus Clippers to a Western Division title.
To put Moncrief’s accomplishment into perspective, Yoenis Cespedes led Major League Baseball with 16 outfield assists, and the last big league baseball player to tally at least 22 in a season was Richard Hidalgo for the Texas Rangers in 2003.
Corey Kluber’s Road to Cy Young-Land
October 13, 2014 | Ryan Hohman | One CommentToday continues DTTWLN’s three week examination of the Indians’ 2014 season and where it fell short of the playoff expectations established last winter. The staff will examine where the season went wrong and the challenges the front office faces to make the Indians contenders in 2015.
Where were you on July 31, 2010? A day I like to call “K-Day.” The day the Cleveland Indians traded Jake Westbrook to the St. Louis Cardinals in a three-team deal with the San Diego Padres. The Cards sent the Padres outfielder Ryan Ludwick and the Padres sent the Indians Class Double-A right-hander Corey Kluber. Yes, the same Corey Kluber who just completed one of the best seasons ever by an Indians pitcher. A season that has him a frontrunner for the 2014 American League Cy Young award.
Captains Sweep, Clippers and RubberDucks Even in Thursday Playoff Action
September 5, 2014 | Ryan HohmanBulls Battle Back To Even Series With Clippers; Bulls 4, Clippers 3
For the first time all season, the Columbus Clippers took a lead to the ninth and didn’t come away with a victory.
Trailing 3-2, the Durham Bulls got to Columbus reliever J.C. Ramirez and sent the game to extras. Cole Figueroa opened a wild 10th inning with a triple and later came crossed the plate on Tim Beckham’s sac fly to give Durham a 4-3 win and even the Governors’ Cup semi-finals at one game apiece.
Columbus got on the board first when Audy Ciriaco launched a solo home run to left in the bottom of the second.
Carlos Moncrief’s “Hose” No Secret Anymore
September 1, 2014 | Ryan HohmanHose. Cannon. Rifle. Laser. Whatever you want to call it, Columbus Clippers outfielder Carlos Moncrief has it. His International League leading 22 assists have left fans saying “wow” and base-runners walking back to the dugout shaking their heads all season long.
“I never knew I was doing anything spectacular because nobody said anything,” the 25-year-old Moncrief said. “It wasn’t in the newspaper or on the news. I was just in Jackson, Mississippi doing it in someone’s backyard [Laughs]. Nobody knew. But now that people talk about it I try to stay as humble as I can.”
Moncrief’s 22 outfield assists are the most in one season by a Clipper and the most in one season in the International League since Norfolk’s Chris Roberson had 22 in 2008. To put this feat into further perspective, Boston Red Sox outfielder Yoenis Cespedes currently leads the major leagues with 14 outfield assists.
Ramsey Excited About Future With Indians
August 25, 2014 | Ryan HohmanJames Ramsey is excited to be part of the Cleveland Indians organization. While he waits for his chance to contribute at the big league level, he looks forward to playing a big role in the Columbus Clippers quest to win the International League West Division title this season.
Acquired from the St. Louis Cardinals for Justin Masterson on July 30, the 6-foot, 190-pound outfielder hasn’t stopped hitting since reporting to Triple-A Columbus following the trade.
In a 7-4 win over the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs on August 14, Ramsey went 5-5 with a home run, two doubles, and 5 RBIs. He’s batting .302 with three home runs and 15 RBIs in just 22 games with the Clippers.
“It’s great. I’m settled in,” said Ramsey when asked about his new team. “They have such a great facility and staff here. Everyday I keep learning new things that I love about these guys. The teammates have been great welcoming me with open arms and I think my style of play is attractive to guys after they get to know me and see my work ethic. It’s been fun.”
