Over at Milb.com, they do a little feature every week wrapping up the various leagues and throwing out little notes on who's hot or not. Here's the best part from the Eastern League notes:

WHO'S NOT: RHP Tyler Clippard is tied for the league lead in losses with 10. In 17 starts, he is 4-10 with a 4.29 ERA.

Are you serious? Tyler Clippard? As in...the guy who just won the Eastern League pitcher of the Week award? The same Clippard who has won the award 2 out of the last 3 weeks (pile-driving his ERA from 5.69 to its current 4.17)? Wow.

I know, I know - I have a little bit of a prospect-crush on Clippard so I'm biased. I can't help it - I don't mind rooting for the underdog and there are a lot of people out there that question whether or not Clippard can continue his success (both at higher levels of the minors and the big leagues). I think a lot of the concern that come up about Clippard are noted by Bryan Smith over at the great Baseball Analysts (this was before Clippard's turn-aroud and I would strongly suggest reading the comments of the article):

Things have been a struggle for Clippard this season, his ERA higher than his hit rate suggests that it should be. The reason, as we have learned from the Hardball Times extensive coverage on the batted ball, is that EL hitters are likely hitting the ball very hard. We always knew that Clippard had a good curveball, a pitch that has always been enough to garner a good amount of strikeouts. We knew he always had good control, lending to positive walk rates for much of his career. Put those together, and many people thought you had the start of a pitching prospect.

But it's hard to be truly successful without a fastball. Clippard is a solid young pitcher, and his good control helps, but there just isn't enough juice on the fastball. It is going to, consistently, get hit hard. Add in the fact that a curveball-happy pitcher tends to hang a lot of pitches, and Clippard's future doesn't shine so bright. Like Duncan, you can bet Clippard won't be the most sought after Yankee prospect this July.

Well, he's certainly done a whole heck of a lot better since that write-up and hopefully, he can keep this streak going. I'm hoping for a good rest of the season and a possible starting spot at AAA Columbus next year. Then, theoretically, you would have White, Hughes, Clippard and perhaps Karstens at AAA to start the year and perhaps offer up pitching help later in the season.