Usually this time of year I sign up for MiLB TV. There is no NFL, NBA, or NHL games to watch. And the Indians are on all star break. I will watch some minor league games during all star break, on Indians off days, and on days when the Indians play early or schedule allows me to. At least until the NFL gets going late in season.

Well I signed up and have not been able to watch a game yet. Indians farm teams have been off or postponed, and tonight neither Lynchburg, Lake County, or Mahoning Valley's games are being televised.

Not getting my moneys worth yet.

HB- Minor League Triple A All star game on MLBTV. Shaffer batting clean up for International League.

And Richie Shaffer homers to Right Center in his first AB!

Lou, I did see where the AAA and AA all star games were on tonight. But all star games were never my thing. I don't even watch the major league one. I did think about watching the AA one because Frankie is playing but couldn't force myself.

Shaffer ended up going 2-3 with a dbl & HR in AAA all star game. ... Stamets was 0-1.

Mejia went 0-3 in AA all star game. ... Chang went 1-2 with double. ... Pannone and Hill both pitched a scoreless inning.

Hillcats lost to Blue Rocks 5-4 in 13 innings. ... Chiang had another downer but his defense let him down, causing 3 unearned runs in 4 innings. 6 hits, 2 walks, 1 K. ... Castro 3-6. ... Collins 1-5 with double. ... Carter was 2-5 with a triple, homer, walk, and an OF assist.

Captains lost to Chiefs 10-3. ... Ice 2-4. ... Longo 2-4 with a double. ... Chu 2-4.

Scrappers beat the Cyclones 5-4 on a Jason Rodriguez walk off double in the 10th, knocking in new draftee Berardi. ... Rodriguez finished up 2-2 with that double and a homer. ... Samar Taylor was 2-5 with a homer. His 3rd straight game with a home run. ... Oscar G was 3-5 with a double. ... Jones 1-2 with 3 walks.

DSL Indians beat Pirates 10-3. ... Garcia 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K. ... Celesten 2-4 2 RBI.

Got my choice of Columbus or Akron to watch this evening. I chose Akron even though Mejia is off tonight. Plutko is pitching for Clips and Naquin has night off. Yandy is only one I care about in their lineup tonight. Esparza is pitching for Akron and has been opening eyes this year. Got to check him out. Never seen him pitch. Maybe Bradley will hit a bomb too.

I recently posted that Baseball Prospectus has Francisco Mejia rated #3 overall prospect in MiLB.

Well they aren't the only ones impressed. Keith Law just updated his top 50 prospects list and has Frankie #6 overall. McKenzie is at 40.

.

6. Francisco Mejia, C, Cleveland Indians

Mejia is hitting .341/.372/.525 across three levels since the start of 2016, and he's a catcher. If I felt better about his receiving and game-calling, I might have him at No. 1 overall.

.

40. Triston McKenzie, RHP, Cleveland Indians

It's all still projection for McKenzie, listed at 6-foot-6 and 165 pounds, and looking every bit of it, but he's already missing tons of bats (32 percent) as a 19-year-old pitching in high-A thanks to his extension out front and a low-90s fastball.

Been watching some of the Clippers game last few innings. Saw Yandy hit an opposite field liner to RF for a single then his next time up he turned on a fastball and hit a laser off the wall in LF for an RBI double. Been on base 3 times tonight.

I know our pal Civ isn't a big fan of Yandy cause of his lack of power numbers but I just love this guy. Hard to believe he won't develop more power as he goes when you see those melon sized biceps. But even if he doesn't an on base machine like this has his place. He can play on my team any time. Hell, Rod Carew rarely hit homers as a 1st basemen, who wouldn't want him on their team? Tony Gwynn, Wade Boggs, Pete Rose, etc...

He's going to be a productive every day player for somebody very soon.

Clip Show come from behind and win 5-3. ... Yandy 2-4 with double. ... Robertson was 3-3 with 2 walks and a homer.

Ducks lose 9-4 to Erie. ... Esparza with his second terrible outing in a row. 4.2 IP, 11 H, 8 ER, 2 BB, 4 K. ... Bradley 1-4, a 2 run homer.

Hillcats lose 6-5 to Blue Rocks. ... Bieber not his best. 7 IP, 7 H, 4 ER, 0 BB, 6 K. ... Castro 2-4 with a double and a walk. ... Collins 0-2 with walk. ... Carter 1-2 with double, 2 RBI, and 2 walks.

Captains lose to Chiefs 4-1. ... Tully not his best either. 6.2 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 4 K. ... Krauth pitched 1.1 innings and gave up a hit and a run. He must have been pitching with nerve damage and no feeling in his arm. ... Longo 1-4. ... Chu 2-3 with a walk.

Scrappers beat the Cyclones 4-2 to complete the 3 game sweep. ... Oscar 1-3 with walk. ... Cantu 2-4. ... Lucas 1-4 with double.

AZL Indians lose to Padres 13-3. ... 2nd draft pick Tyler Freeman was 2-4 with 2 doubles.

DSL Indians beat Dodgers 8-3. ... Yeffersson Yannuzzi was wild but otherwise pretty darn good again. 3 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 4 BB, 3 K. ... Jonathan Lopez 2-4 with walk. ... De Oleo homered yet again. 1-4 on day.

DSL Indians/Brewers lose 7-3 to Rays. ... Cespedes 2-4 with a double and a homer 2 RBI.

I think Morimando, Lugo, Civale, Aiken, and Tati are the starters tomorrow but they sometimes shake things up after all star break so we'll see.

Greg Allen has completed his rehab assignment in Arizona and is rejoining the Rubber Ducks.

Over his last 5 starts Shane Bieber has pitched 35 innings, has 39 strikeouts, and zero walks.

2017 12th round draft pick, RHP Dante Mendoza, has signed and been added to AZL roster.

He's the cousin of Oriole pitcher Zach Britton.

Let's hope he is anywhere near as good.

Long night last night but better late than never. Friday nights games ...

Clipper beat MudHens 14-8. ... Ever since I mentioned bringing Morimando up he has stunk. Tonight 5 IP, 9 H, 4 ER, 3 BB, 3 K. ... Yandy was 3-5 with a walk and 2 RBI.

Akron loses to Erie 6-5. ... Allen 0-3 in his return. ... Frankie 0-3 with a walk. He may be a little tired. Did a lot of flying around this week, from home to Futures Game, then to AA all-star game, then back home. ... Bradley 0-2 with a walk. ... Chang 2-4 with a SB, and he was robbed of a HR on a great leaping catch by an Erie OF'er. ... Papi 1-3 with a homer and an OF assist.

Lynchburg loses 5-4 to Wilmington on a walk off bases loaded walk in btm of 9. ... Civale was so so. 5 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 4 K. ... Slick Willi Castro 1-4. ... Carter 1-4 with a double.

Captains beat Chiefs 6-1 on yet another odd line by Aiken. 6 IP, 7 H, 0 ER, 3 BB, 2 K. And he did not hit any innocent bystanders with pitches. His WHIP continues to suck, but he has an uncanny ability to work his way out of trouble. He had a 1-2-3 inning in the 6th, so that means he allowed 10 base runners, an average of 2 per inning, thru the first 5. Yet no runs allowed. ... Longo 1-3 with a walk and a 3 run homer. ... Chu 1-5 with a double. ... Ice 2-3.

Scrappers lose 8-0 to Renegades to stop their winning streak in an ugly fashion. ... One of our draft picks, James Karinchak, made his debut, albeit not so successful. 3 runs in 2.2 innings. ... Simeon Lucas who was drafted last year as a catcher, has been playing at 1B and DH this year. They must like his bat. He has hit very well so far this year. Tonight 2-3 with a double. Batting .343 on year. ... The rest of the lineup combined to go 1-26.

AZL Tribe lose to Dodgers 8-5. ... Draft pick Matthew Turner made his pro debut. 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K. ... Speaking of draft picks kicking ass, our second pick this year, Tyler Freeman, went 2-3 with double and 2 RBI. He's hitting .419. .... Another of our picks, Michael Tinsley, went 2-4 with 2 run homer.

Both of our DSL teams had their games postponed. Rain in the Dominican last night.

Little this and that ...

2017 25th Round Draft Pick 19 yr old RHP Chandler Ferguson placed on the DL today with a torn meniscus in his right knee.

2017 19th Round Draft Pick RHP Josh Nashed underwent a procedure to remove a fractured bone spur in his right elbow.

Over the last 22 games since getting healthy from that strained calf, Yandy Diaz has hit .395 with an OBP of .495. 5 doubles and 2 homers.

The Indians converted one of their young infielders, Paul Hendrix, to pitcher. Over his last 8 games - 13.1 IP, 7 H, 1 R, 5 BB, 15 K, 0.68 ERA. I think he's getting the hang of it.

Saturdays games, again, better late than never ...

Clippers shutout Toledo 3-0. Merryweather was great but left after 4 innings. Not sure what is going on with him. 4 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 6 K. ... Yandy 1-4 with RBI.

Ducks got buck shot, retrieved by dog, cleaned and cooked. 15-1, by Erie. ... Greg Allen 1-5 with triple. ... Mejia 1-2 with homer and 2 walks. ... Bradley 1-2 with 2 walks.

Lynchburg beat wilmington 7-4 on a great night by McKenzie. He had a no hitter through 6 innings, they finally got to him in 7th. 7 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 9 K. Triston is now tied for the MiLB lead with 124 K. ... Castro 2-6 with a double and SB. ... Collins 2-5 with double. ... Carter 2-5.

Lake County beat Burlington 4-1 on another good outing by Hillman. 7 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 K. ... Chu 1-4. ... Ice 1-4 with double.

Scrappers beat Renegades 6-2. Vazquez has been good and was again here. 5.2 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K. ... Jonathan Teaney was dominate again out of the pen. 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K. He's now averaging 17.9 K per 9 innings. ... Wade 2-3 with 2 walks. ... Oscar 2-5.

AZL Indians lost to Padres 5-4. ... Gantt 2-3 with walk.(Go Buckeye!) ... Dominguez 2-4 with double. ... Michael Cooper 1-3 with a grand slam. ... Sam Hentges with a successful rehab start coming back from his TJ surgery. 2 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K. ... A young pitcher named Oviedo had himself a day. 5IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 11 K. I know some people are high on this young man, have read good things about him. But he had not been doing very good until last night.

There was no DSL games last night, their all star game is today. C Yainer Diaz, SS Marcos Gonzalez, and LHP Yefferrson Yannuzzi have all been named to all star team.

By the way, Shane Bieber leads all of MILB with an average of 21.60 K's to every walk. He only has 7 walks on the year, and 2 of them were intentional. Amazing. ... Aaron Civale is 2nd in all MiLB with 9.09 K to each walk. ... Tanner Tully (Go Buckeye!) is 11th in MiLB with 6.42 K to every walk. 3 in the top 15 for Indians pitchers.