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Do IT this week: Layering
Media greet Tribe's new prospect
By Stephanie Storm
Beacon Journal sportswriter
Published on Wednesday, Jul 09, 2008
Matt LaPorta stayed up packing until 4 a.m. Tuesday, only to have his flight delayed due to bad weather.
After arriving in Akron later than scheduled, the Indians' newest minor-league prospect learned one of his bags — the luggage carrying all of his clothes — was lost.
To top everything off, the first baseman/outfielder's new team — the Aeros — had their game postponed when a severe thunderstorm blew through downtown Akron two hours before game time, delaying LaPorta's debut as an Indians farmhand.
Yet, the day's bad luck didn't seem to bother the kid the Milwaukee Brewers shipped to the Indians as the centerpiece of the trade for reigning American League Cy Young Award winning pitcher CC Sabathia.
After the initial shock of seeing a throng of 25-plus media members waiting for him to slip into an Aeros jersey, the 23-year old appeared to quickly settle into his new surroundings.
''[The last 24 hours] have been kind of crazy,'' he admitted with an easy smile.
With conversation-like answers, LaPorta shared how he's navigated not only the whirlwind of the last day's news, but also the past week as trade rumors swirled around his Double-A Huntsville club.
''On Saturday, I talked to our manager and he told me not to worry about anything going on with the trade, just play ball,'' LaPorta said. ''So I did until my name wasn't in the lineup. As the day went on I learned I wasn't playing because the trade might go on. At the end of the game I walked in the clubhouse and there was a bunch of media people in there, so I was like, 'Obviously something must have happened.' ''
Ranked by Baseball America as the Brewers' top prospect entering the season and considered by the publication to be the club's best minor-league power hitter, LaPorta was a first baseman when he was drafted as the seventh overall pick in 2007 out of the University of Florida.
But with Prince Fielder blocking his way in the majors, LaPorta was switched to the outfield. Although he has primarily played right field in Huntsville this season while batting .288 with 23 doubles, 20 home runs and 66 RBI in 84 games with the Stars, the Indians want him to start off in left field in Akron.
''We feel like he can be a better defender at first base than the outfield,'' Indians General Manager Mark Shapiro said during Monday's press conference. ''We're comfortable with his ability to play the outfield. We'll look at where he is, we don't want to put a time frame on it.''
LaPorta echoed those comments when asked how long he expected to be in Akron, saying he was just happy to be in town and excited to get to know his new teammates.
''I like new things in my life,'' he said. ''And this is definitely a new task. But I'm enjoying it.''
CROWE SIDELINED — Aeros outfielder Trevor Crowe hadn't played in a game in a week before finally being placed on the disabled list Tuesday (retroactive to July 2) with a left intercostal muscle strain. Crowe, who was on the verge of a promotion to Triple-A Buffalo, had the untimely injury initially diagnosed while the team was in Binghamton, N.Y. A visit to Indians team doctor Mark Schickendantz confirmed the injury Tuesday afternoon.
Crowe, the Indians' No. 1 pick (14th overall) in the 2005 draft, did get some good news as well, learning he'd been named the Eastern League Player of the Month for June. Akron's switch-hitting lead-off man batted a league-best .400 (42-for-105) with 24 RBI, four home runs and five stolen bases.
MORE ROSTER MOVES — In addition to Crowe being sidelined and LaPorta being activated, left-handed pitcher Chuck Lofgren returned to the team Tuesday after spending the past few weeks on the inactive list while working out at extended spring training. Lofgren, who was in Winter Haven, Fla., ironing out a delivery issue, will begin building up innings as a reliever for the Aeros before returning to his usual starting role.
GAME POSTPONED — Tuesday's game against visiting Bowie (Baltimore Orioles) was postponed due to rain. The game will be made up today at Canal Park as part of a doubleheader beginning at 6:05 p.m.
Aeros left-hander Scott Lewis (3-2, 5.28 ERA) is schedled to face Baysox rookie right-hander Zach Clark (0-0, 0.00 ERA) in the first game. Aeros manager Mike Sarbaugh said he will likely ask swing man Jim Deters (0-1, 5.06 ERA) to make his seventh appearance (third start) in the second game.
Stephanie Storm can be reached at sstorm@thebeaconjournal.com.
Matt LaPorta stayed up packing until 4 a.m. Tuesday, only to have his flight delayed due to bad weather.
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