Columbus Game Notes 4-8
Published on April 8, 2018 under International League (IL1)
Columbus Clippers News Release
Yandy Diaz enters 2018 as the franchise leader in batting (.333), having won the IL Batting Title in 2017 and finishing 2nd in 2016. Diaz is also the franchise leader in OBP (.420), having led the IL in consecutive years (.454 last season was franchise record and highest in the IL since 1983). Of 216 IL batters to log at least 120PA last year, only Diaz accumulated more walks (60) than strikeouts (56).
Party in India-Napoli's
Mike Napoli began the season ranked 13th among active players with 267 Major League homers, to go with 87HR in the minors (6HR in 25 games at Triple-A). His grand slam in the 6th inning Friday night was his first since 9/6/13 at New York (AL) with Boston (had been 3x29 with the bases loaded between slams, all AB in the Majors). Napoli is tied for the IL lead with 4RBI.
Uh Oh
Last night the Clippers were the victims of 16K (on pace for a franchise record, 2,170K), including a golden sombrero from Mike Papi (fourth time in career, first since 5/8/16). Every player on the team has been punched out at least once in the first two games, led by Yu Chang's 5K, and the team has struck out 17 times with men on base.
Hot Haase
Among the three hits collected by Eric Haase Friday night was a triple, his first since 7/5 of last year (23rd of career). Haase had five triples while in Akron last season, coming off a 2016 with Akron in which he had just one triple (had seven in 2015 with Lynchburg). Clipper catchers have produced five total triples in the last five seasons, led by a pair from Omir Santos in 2013.
Only nine Clippers on the active roster have seen time in a Columbus uniform before, including just one in the bullpen (Louis Head). Three such players, Eric Haase, Todd Hankins and Mike Papi, have each spent fewer than 50 days on the Columbus roster. The average age of the active roster is over 28 years old with nine players aged 30 or more.
Who Are These People
Despite missing two months of the season with a fractured hamate in his right hand, Greg Allen still managed 25SB between Cleveland and the minors. Columbus has not had a player with 25SB since Tyler Holt in 2015 and was led by Ronny Rodriguez with 15 last season. In 2017, after Bradley Zimmer's 9SB were recalled to Cleveland on 5/15, a month passed with Erik Kratz leading the team (2).
International League Stories from April 8, 2018
- Roach, Bullpen Shut Out Bulls in Sunday's 5-0 Win - Charlotte Knights
- Bulls Offense Goes Quiet in Loss to Knights - Durham Bulls
- Gerber Powers Mud Hens to 2-1 Win over Bats - Toledo Mud Hens
- Bats Drop Rubber Match, 2-1 - Louisville Bats
- Pomeranz Rehabs in Pawtucket's 4-3 Win - Pawtucket Red Sox
- PawSox Hold on for Series Split vs. IronPigs - Lehigh Valley IronPigs
- Chiefs Drop Series Finale After Another Frantic Finish - Syracuse Mets
- Stewart's Walk-Off Homer Sinks Stripers - Gwinnett Stripers
- Torres' Four-Hit Game Leads RailRiders to 5-4 Victory - Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders
- Stewart's Walk-Off Blast Lifts Tides over Gwinnett - Norfolk Tides
- Game Information: Indianapolis Indians (1-1) vs. Columbus Clippers (1-1) - Indianapolis Indians
- Bruce Rondon Promoted to Chicago, Juan Minaya Optioned - Charlotte Knights
- Opening Day Weather Factoids - Rochester Red Wings
- LHV Game Notes 4-8 - Lehigh Valley IronPigs
- SWB RailRiders Game Notes - Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders
- Columbus Game Notes 4-8 - Columbus Clippers
- Red Wings Postponed (Again) - Game Tomorrow at 5:35 PM - Rochester Red Wings
- Still No Baseball: Bisons Postponed Sunday - Buffalo Bisons
- Red Wings, Bisons Postponed Sunday - Rochester Red Wings
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