Transactions
 
Signed free agent 1B Pat Magness to a minor-league contract; assigned him to Kinston (A+)
 
Placed 1B Michael Aubrey on the Disabled List (AA)
 
This will probably give recent callup Ryan Garko more starts at first base, with David Wallace behind the plate. This hasn't been a good couple weeks for top prospects in the organization, as Franklin Gutierrez was placed on the AA DL with elbow soreness about 10 days ago.
 
What Slump?
 
So much for the prolonged slump Victor Martinez was in. Three home runs generally means you're seeing the ball well, regardless of who was throwing the ball. Now I'll turn my attention towards Ben Broussard's prolonged slump.
 
Prospect Review - Francisco Cruceta
 
RHSP Francisco Cruceta
Age: 23 (Born 7-4-1981)
Roster Status: On 40-man Roster
2004 Stats: (AAA) 24.0 IP, 2.25 ERA, 15 SO, 9 BB
                  (AA)   88.2 IP, 5.28 ERA, 45 SO, 33 BB
Ranked #14 in Cleveland's organization by Baseball America
 
"That's strange," you might be saying, "Cruceta was promoted to AAA after an awful year in Akron, and has pitched lights out in four starts at Buffalo." I can't explain it either. Maybe it's a mental thing with Francisco; after all, he was sent back to Akron after pitching the entire season there in 2003. Regardless, he's a decent pitching prospect with a fairly high ceiling. He's a ground ball pitcher who also throws a good slider, and has good strikeout rates. Like most other young pitchers, his control is going to determine when he makes the majors. He should get a September callup if he hasn't reached his inning count.