Game 52: New Hampshire @ Trenton

Game 52 – New Hampshire Fisher Cats @ Trenton Thunder
May 28, 2008
Waterfront Park – Trenton, NJ

Pitching Matchup: TRE Eric Hacker vs. NH Scott Richmond

Starting Lineups:

New Hampshire

1 – Campbell
2 – Patterson
3 – Snider
4 – Smith
5 – Jeroloman
6 – Butler
7 – Kruezer
8 – Hatch
9 – Klosterman

Trenton

1 – Pena
2 – Jackson
3 – Curtis
4 – Gonzalez
5 – Ehlers
6 – Tabata
7 – Pilittere
8 – Russo
9 – Corona

Pre-Game Notes: For those interested in my special brand of babbling idiocy, I’m tentatively scheduled to do a pre-game interview with Josh Landsburg on the Thunder’s radio broadcast on WBUD.

Tony Franklin told me before the game that he hadn’t heard anything in terms of whether there would be a corresponding move in regards to Ian Kennedy being placed on the DL.  All the usual suspects: Hall, Jackson and Melancon are all still here, and I don’t anticipate anything just yet.

Radio Links: Click here for the links to each team’s broadcast.

Live Box Score: The MILB.com direct link is here.

Around the Eastern League: For scores from around the EL, go here.

In-Game Updates (LIVE from the ballpark): 3-1, Thunder through two.

Hacker’s OUT after four.  He threw a lot of pitches, but I can’t imagine he’s near 100.  No idea, guys.  Kroenke in.

After Kroenke gave up a missile to tie the game at 3, he went an inning and was replaced by Eric Wordekemper.  Clearly, this is the game where the guys kept in moth balls in some sort of bullpen storage closet will be unearthed for use.

Wordy gave up a bomb to dead center, now it’s 4-3, New Hampshire.  It’s almost like this was his fourth appearance in 23 days or something.

P.J. ties it up at four with an RBI single in the 6th.

Great throw by Edwar Gonzalez and great tag by P.J. Pilittere to keep this game at 4-4 in the 7th…

Anthony Claggett in to pitch the 8th, and I would assume the 9th.

Ryan Patterson with a fan-freaking-tastic play in center field to rob Pilittere of at least two runs on a gapper to left center.  In full stride, he laid out and made a fantastic diving catch.

Tied at four going into the tenth.  Geez.

Bo Hall now pitching for the Thunder.

Through 10 and its tied.  I’m heading home.  It’s 10:35 PM, and I’ve been up waaaaaaay too long.  I won’t be at the ballpark tomorrow, but I’ll throw up something on the ol’ blog…

In-Game Photos:

Hacker

Tabby

In-Game YouTube Videos: Eric Hacker VIDEO, Eric Hacker VIDEO 2, Scott Richmond VIDEO, Fisher Cats Hitting Coach Ken Joyce Ejection From Last Night VIDEO

Final Score: 5-4, New Hampshire in 11.

Post-Game Notes: Hacker was in the high 80′s on the gun.  He threw approximately 84 pitches.

Thunder Thoughts: Reggie Jackson in attendance again…

I’ll have photos and maybe a video or two at some point, but tonight’s just one of those nights where anything that could have sucked for me has.  Accomplished a grand total of zilch before the game.  Handled that well.  Was pleased.

Mike Ashmore, mashmore98 AT gmail.com

Paper Cut

I like that headline on so many levels…

Anyway, Eladio Rodriguez has been sent off to Staten Island to make room for Eric Hacker.  Have not heard if there are any corresponding moves in regards to Ian Kennedy being placed on the big league DL just yet.

Mike Ashmore, mashmore98 AT gmail.com

Staff Ace-ves

I had the opportunity to chat with the man who’s been setting the Eastern League on fire with his arm, Pitcher of the Week Alfredo Aceves.

He has a firm handshake, makes sure he knows your name, and asks you to speak slowly because his English is still coming around.

Here’s our chat…

On how he signed with the Yankees:

“In Mexico, I played with Monterrey.  The Monterrey GM, they have to talk with the people from the teams in the States.  The Yankees, Cleveland and the Blue Jays and like four or five more.  The Yankees had to wait to see what the best post would be, so they take the best.  I had to wait too.  I can’t do anything.”

On why he was in the Mexican League for so long:

“I played with Yucatan first, then they sell me to one team, the Blue Jays.  So I go to the Dominican Republic, but I don’t like it.  I played there in the summer league, it was too hard for us.  The people, the food, and it was too far.  I was too young to be alone for the first time.  I can’t handle it, I can’t.  So the next year, I said I didn’t want to do it anymore.  If they wanted to bring me to the States, I’d go.  But the Dominican, I don’t go.  So I started my career in Mexico.  They sent me to Monterrey, traded me.  I played there one year as a starter, then the next year as a starter.  The next year, I came here.”

On what he throws:

“Fastball, curveball, change and cutter.”

On what he’s working on:

“In the bullpens, we’re working on cutters.”

On if he’s surprised he’s done so well:

“A little bit.  I don’t think too much about it.  I just live day by day, but I keep it in mind, because it’s good.  I came from Tampa, and I threw well there, and then it was two games here that were good.  Just keep calm, keep easy, work hard, keep doing my stuff.”

On what it’s like to go from having nobody know who you are to everybody knowing:

“It’s a good taste in my mouth.”