Game 64 – Connecticut Defenders @ Trenton Thunder
June 11, 2008
Waterfront Park – Trenton, NJ
Pitching Matchup: TRE Alfredo Aceves (1-1, 2.17) vs. CON Paul Oseguera (0-1, 4.95)
Starting Lineups:
Connecticut
1 – Copeland
2 – Haines
3 – Ishikawa
4 – Sosa
5 – Witter
6 – Martinez-Esteve
7 – Rosario
8 – Maroul
9 – Richardson
Trenton
1 – Pena
2 – Jackson
3 – Curtis
4 – Gonzalez
5 – Russo Malec
6 – Tabata
7 – Pilittere
8 – Malec Mendoza
9 – Corona
Pre-Game Notes: Not really too much going on today. Talked to Tony Franklin before the game and he said that Eric Wordekemper isn’t available today after pitching three innings yesterday. Claggett’s available, but I doubt he pitches…maybe Melancon pitches tonight, but it all depends on how deep Aceves can take it.
Did a very long “Getting To Know” feature with Phil Coke. I think it lasted over 16 minutes. When I can find three hours to transcribe it, I’ll post it here.
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): Scoreless after the top of the 1st.
ACEVES: 14 pitches — 6 balls, 8 strikes. According to one scout in attendance, he was sitting at 89 MPH on the gun and hit 91 twice.
Scoreless after top 2.
ACEVES: 12 pitches — 3 balls, 9 strikes. ACEVES TOTALS: 26 pitches — 9 balls, 17 strikes
Quite a bit of movement on his cutter, it breaks hard away from righties.
Connecticut made 20,000 defensive changes. Well, not quite.
Copeland from LF to RF. Haines from SS to 2B. Sosa is OUT. Wald IN at SS. Rosario 2B to LF.
Scoreless after top 3. Aceves has allowed one hit, struck out three and faced the minimum.
ACEVES: 11 pitches — 2 balls, 9 strikes. ACEVES TOTALS: 37 pitches — 11 balls, 26 strikes.
0-0 through three. Edwar Gonzalez whiffed with the sacks packed.
Scoreless after top 4. Aceves has faced the minimum, and has thrown first pitch strikes to 10 of his 12 batters, and all of the last nine. His at-bat with Copeland was seven pitches and his at-bat with Haines was eight.
ACEVES: 21 pitches — 7 balls, 14 strikes. ACEVES TOTALS: 58 pitches — 18 balls, 40 strikes.
Aceves has touched 92 once. He’s been sitting at 89-90 throughout the game.
Scoreless after top 5. Aceves has still faced the minimum, allowed only one hit (a little flare to center by the first batter of the game) and has struck out five. Witter stared at his curveball as it broke back over the plate for the third strike.
He’s thrown first pitch strikes to 12 of the 15 batters he’s faced.
ACEVES: 17 pitches — 5 balls, 12 strikes. ACEVES TOTALS: 75 pitches — 23 balls, 52 strikes
That may have been Aceves’ best inning yet. He was really painting the corners with his fastball, and fooled Maroul into looking at a called third strike on a fastball where he was probably expecting something offspeed. He has 7 K’s — four looking, three swinging
ACEVES: 15 pitches — 4 balls, 11 strikes ACEVES TOTALS: 90 pitches — 27 balls, 63 strikes
Connecticut leads 1-0 after the top of the 7th. Aceves allowed a leadoff hit to Copeland, who was bunted over to second by Haines. Ishikawa grounded to first, advancing Copeland to third. Wald then laced a first-pitch single up the middle that nearly drilled Aceves to score Copeland.
Osiris Matos is now pitching for the Defenders.
ACEVES: 12 pitches — 2 balls, 10 strikes. ACEVES TOTALS: 102 pitches — 29 balls, 73 strikes
1-0, Defenders through seven.
Aceves is out, his totals are above.
Mark Melancon came in and got the Defenders 1-2-3 in the 8th. He was at 94 on the gun…throws a really hard, but nasty curveball at around 84.
In-Game Photos:
Reegie Corona
Ramiro Pena
Chris Malec
Malec
Ummm. Chris Malec’s bat…
Jason Jones delivers the balls to the BP pitcher
Colin Curtis
Kevin Russo
Paul Oseguera
Antoan Richardson
Alfredo Aceves
Aceves
Melancon
In-Game YouTube Videos: Austin Jackson BP VIDEO, Jose Tabata BP VIDEO , Alfredo Aceves VIDEO, Alfredo Aceves VIDEO 2, Alfredo Aceves VIDEO 3, Paul Oseguera VIDEO, Mark Melancon VIDEO, Mark Melancon VIDEO 2, Mark Melancon VIDEO 3, Alfredo Aceves VIDEO 4, Mark Melancon VIDEO 4, Mark Melancon VIDEO 5, Mark Melancon VIDEO 6, Mark Melancon VIDEO 7
Final Score: 1-0, Defenders.
Post-Game Notes: Kevin Russo was scratched because doctors saw issues with facial x-rays…Russo has not played since being hit in the face by a ball during BP.
Thunder Thoughts: No offense to speak of tonight. What a shame that Aceves gets the loss.
Mike Ashmore, mashmore98 AT gmail.com
June 11, 2008 at 7:28 pm |
Mike, any news on who may get promoted to AAA being that J.B. Cox was placed on the DL?
June 11, 2008 at 7:32 pm |
Nothing yet. I literally saw every relief pitcher on the staff in the clubhouse before the game, so it hasn’t happened yet.
June 11, 2008 at 7:47 pm |
Mike, everything ok with Russo? Saw him scratched from the original lineup.
June 11, 2008 at 7:49 pm |
Don’t know exactly why, but he is here and in uniform. The lineup change was very, very late.
June 11, 2008 at 7:56 pm |
Thanks Mike for such a quick response, we appreciate the job you do. I’ll be checking in every now and then, looking for an update.
June 11, 2008 at 8:12 pm |
No problem. Glad to help out…
June 11, 2008 at 8:15 pm |
Hey, Mike. It looks like Alfredo is doing a good job tonight, after his not-so-good last outing. How many pitches is he using tonight?
June 11, 2008 at 8:27 pm |
Through five innings: 75 pitches — 23 balls, 52 strikes
He’s got the full arsenal going tonight…fastball, curve, cutter and change. Lots of movement on both the cutter and curve.
June 11, 2008 at 8:41 pm |
Thanks, Mike. And, if it’s possible, tell him after the game that here in Yucatán we are following his performance. And remember to tell him “Patoncito”. It was his nickname while pitching for my home team Leones de Yucatán.
June 11, 2008 at 8:58 pm |
102 pitches through seven. 29 balls – 73 strikes. He did give up a run though, and the Thunder trail, 1-0.
June 11, 2008 at 9:19 pm |
Mike, if it’s not too hard, can you give us a quick rundown Melancon’s outing. Also, if you find out about any promotions to take J.B. Cox’s spot, I’m still here. Thanks a lot.
June 11, 2008 at 9:34 pm |
Quick rundown on Melancon’s outing? Sure. Really, really good. Hit 94 on the gun, retired all six he faced, struck out one on high heat.
June 11, 2008 at 11:29 pm |
Nice. So what are your thoughts on him joining the bigs, is he ready to be thrown in now?
June 11, 2008 at 11:40 pm |
Considering his success in the Mexican League and how dominant he was tonight, I don’t think he has anything left to prove in Double-A.
I’d like to see what he does in Scranton before declaring him ready for the big leagues…but if someone asked me how I’d feel about him making a spot start, I wouldn’t say he shouldn’t be considered for it, that’s for sure.
Ideally, though…he goes to Scranton.
June 11, 2008 at 11:45 pm |
Mike…Malec in the pic labeled Cody.
Otherwise, it was a really nice update of Aceves! He’s had some good stuff tonight. Love the pics.
June 11, 2008 at 11:53 pm |
I had one of Ehlers that I intended to use, but instead posted one of Malec in that spot. Bad job by me.
June 12, 2008 at 12:01 am |
Don’t worry…I got your back.
June 12, 2008 at 12:22 am |
Mike, I was asking about your thoughts on Melancon. But I do appreciate your judgement on Aceves too.
June 12, 2008 at 12:32 am |
Oh. Those questions are hard to answer…do I think that his stuff is ready for the big leagues? Yes. But do I think that if guys like Joba and Ian Kennedy hadn’t been rushed last year that people would even be asking this stuff? Perhaps not.
Same thing with Aceves, really…ideally, I think you send him to Scranton and see how he does with significantly more experienced hitters. Aceves has faced experienced guys in the Mexican League before…Melancon has never faced a primarily veteran lineup…guys who have probably seen guys as good or better than him and guys with a lot of big league time.
If he can put up the numbers there, then send him up…
June 12, 2008 at 2:12 pm |
Thanks again Mike. That sound like an honest assessment. I wonder if Melancon gets the promotion, now that J.B. Cox is going to be out for 3 weeks.