Written by Al Ciammiachella

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Roberto Hernandez, SP-LCC: W (1-0), 5 IP, 6 H, 3 R (1 ER), 4 K.

Back in the USA thanks to the benevolence of the US State Department, Hernandez won his first official outing since he was Fausto Carmona. The suddenly 31-year old threw 5 solid innings last night, albeit in the low-A Midwest League. He gave up a 2-run HR in the first inning after a two-out error by 3B Leo Castillo, then settled down to allow one run over his next four innings of work. In true Fausto-ian fashion, he posted a 4.50 GO/AO ratio. More importantly, he did not walk a batter. He threw a total of 66 pitches, 46 of which were strikes. Encouraging signs but, again, it's the Midwest League. Will a fresh, worry-free Hernandez be the "deadline deal" that the Indians need to replace the ailing Derek Lowe in the rotation? Well, I think he can be better that what we're currently getting out of Lowe. Whether that's enough to propel this Indians team to the playoffs is another matter entirely, but it's worth a shot. Hernandez has another two and a half weeks before he can pitch in the majors, and he'll likely make the tour of the Cleveland-area affiliates, pitching every 5th day for whoever's playing at home. Anything he can give the club down the stretch is a bonus, because just a few weeks ago he was still languishing in the Dominican Republic, unsure of his future not just in baseball, but in the United States of America.

Tim Fedroff, LF-COL: 3-4, 2 HR  (6), 6 RBI, BB, 4 R, K. I mean...this is getting out of hand. If you didn't read yesterday's ATF with a longer writeup on Fedroff, check it out here. In his last 7 games, Fedroff is 17-25(!) with 3 HR, 2 doubles, 9 RBI, two walks and 10 runs scored. In 17 games during the month of July, he's hitting .448/.522/.776. In 34 AAA games, he's hitting .383/.446/.617. I could go on. #FreeTimFedroff

Tyler Sturdevant, RP-COL: 2 IP, 2 H, K. After giving up 4 runs in his first 2 AAA IP, Sturdevant has bounced back to throw four consecutive scoreless innings, striking out 4 and not walking a batter.

Scott Barnes, RP-COL: IP, 2 K. Barnes has thrown 20 innings out of the bullpen for Columbus this season, posting a 2.25 ERA with 26 K and 10 BB.

Jared Goedert, 3B-COL: 4-5, 3 2B, 2 RBI, 2 R. In his last 10 games, Goedert is hitting .459/.512/.676 with a HR, 5 doubles and 9 RBI. His AAA OPS is up to .884.

Cord Phelps, 2B-COL: 2-3, 2 BB, 4 R. It seems like half of the Columbus team is hitting over .400 lately, and Phelps is no exception. He's hit in 9 of his last 10, with a .400/.500/.657 line in that timeframe.

Russ Canzler, DH-COL: 2-4, HR (15), 2 RBI, BB, 2 R.

Cole Cook, RP-CAR: 2 1/3 IP, 3 K.  Cole "The Rock" Cook returned to the mound after serving his suspension stemming from a bench clearing brawl last week, and turned in 2 1/3 clean innings to extend his scoreless inning streak to 11.

Carlos Moncrief, RF-CAR: 1-4, 3B, R, 2 K. The Mudcats only managed one run on 6 hits yesterday, and Moncrief had the only XBH. He's hitting .278/.366/.611 with 3 HR and 7 RBI in his last games, and his season OPS of .829 is 11th in the Carolina League. Look past the batting average to the secondary skills.

Jeff Johnson, RP-LCC: S (13), 1 1/3 IP, H, K. Johnson hasn't allowed a run in his last 9 appearances, striking out 10 and walking 4 in 9 2/3 innings of work. He's up to 53 K in 38 1/3 IP for the Captains this year.

Jose Ramirez, 2B-LCC: 2-4, 2B, RBI, R, 2 K. Ramirez is a 5'9", 165lb switch hitter out of the Dominican Republic. He's hitting .317/.380/.418 in 30 Midwest League games, pretty good for a 19-year old in his first taste of full-season ball.

Dylan Baker, SP-AZL: 3 IP, R (0 ER), 2 H, 3 K, BB. Baker, out of Juneau, Alaska via Western Nevada Community College, was the Indians 5th round pick in this June's draft. His fastball gets up to 95 MPH, and he's got a slurvy breaking ball that's his main out pitch. He's made 3 appearances in the AZL, striking out 6 and allowing 2 ER in 5 2/3 IP. 

Alexis Paderes, RP-AZL: W (2-1), 4 1/3 IP, H, 3 K, BB. A 20-year old righty signed out of the Dominican Republic in 2010, Paderes has a 2.22 ERA with 24 K and 8 BB in 24 1/3 IP in the complex league this year.

Dorssys Paulino, SS-AZL: DNP. The only thing that can slow this kid down is manager Anthony Medrano, who gave the youngster a day off in the 103 degree heat of Goodyear, AZ.