Meet The All-Stars: Austin Jackson

As part of a four-part series to shamelessly fill space during away games let you hear from the Thunder’s four All-Stars, here’s what Austin Jackson had to say about being selected to play in the Eastern League All-Star Game, followed by manager Tony Franklin’s thoughts on Jackson.

AUSTIN JACKSON

“I’m excited.  I didn’t really feel like I played as well as I could have, but it’s a great honor, you know.  I’m excited, I feel good about it.”

“I had (a previous All-Star appearance) in Charleston in ’06.  That was fun.  It was my first time making the All-Star team in pro ball, and it was fun.  They treated us like big leaguers, pretty much.  It was in Cleveland, and we got to go watch the Indians game.  They treated us really nice, it was fun.  It was a good atmosphere.”

“That’s a goal pretty much every season, you want to try to make the All-Star team.  I think everybody will tell you that, it’s one of the goals that you set.  If you make it, that’s good.  If you don’t, you’ve just got to keep striving to make it next year.”

TONY FRANKLIN

“When you put those numbers on your guys in the organization, you certainly expect for them to produce.  And he certainly has done that.  I think he’s lived up to his billing.  There’s always some speculation as to whether some of these youngsters are going to live up to the billing, but I think he’s lived up to the billing.  I think he’s going to continue to get better.  He’s a very young guy in terms of baseball experience, and this is his first year at this level.  And to play as well as he’s been playing, I think it’s pretty good.  They’re not numbers that will make you go, ‘Oh my God,’ but you look at his numbers and I think they’re extremely competitive with what’s happening in the league and where he is in terms of experience in the league.  And he’s certainly going to get better.  He’s certainly going to get better at what he does.  The talent is there.  And because the talent is there, the guy’s got a shot at the big leagues.  I think some time soon, if he continues to go the way he’s going.”

Mike Ashmore, mashmore98 AT gmail.com

Game 86: Trenton @ New Hampshire

Game 86 – New Hampshire Fisher Cats @ Trenton Thunder
July 4, 2008
Merchants Auto Stadium – Manchester, NH

Pitching Matchup: TRE Phil Coke (6-3, 3.09) vs. NH Robert Ray (3-1, 0.92)

Starting Lineups:

Trenton

1 – Pena
2 – Curtis
3 – Jackson
4 – Malec
5 – Cooper
6 – Gonzalez
7 – Ehlers
8 – Muich
9 – Corona

New Hampshire

1 -
2 -
3 -
4 -
5 -
6 -
7 -
8 -
9 -

Pre-Game Notes: Stay tuned after the game for the debut of the “Meet The All-Stars” series, which gives you reactions from the four Trenton representatives in the EL All-Star Game and the thoughts of manager Tony Franklin.

Don’t be surprised if the team adds an infielder shortly. Franklin mentioned before yesterday’s game that the team was looking to add one shortly…

Barring any call-ups and so on, Eric Hacker would pitch Saturday, George Kontos would go on Sunday and Chase Wright would pitch in the final game of the series on Monday.

Jason Jones would look for his 10th win of the season back at Waterfront Park on Tuesday.

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.

Final Score: 6-0, Thunder.

Post-Game Notes: Phil Coke with a flat out dominant performance tonight, essentially matching what Jason Jones did last night. Coke allowed just two hits in seven innings, walking two and striking out six.

All-Star snub Anthony Claggett pitched two perfect innings in relief to close it out.

Apparently, Tony Franklin was ejected in the 9th…something I find very hard to believe. I’ve literally never heard him say one of the magic words, so it couldn’t have been for something he said.

Chad Jennings is reporting that surgery is very likely for former Thunder star Shelley Duncan, and that Jason Brown has been placed on the disabled list again.  We wish Shelley a speedy recovery from his legitimate shoulder injury, and Jason a speedy recovery on his phantom injury.  Looks like he’s come down with Eladio Rodriguez’s odd-man-out-itis.

Thunder Thoughts: I am VERY tentatively planning on heading out to Manchester for the next series Trenton plays there in a few weeks. I’d likely do the Wednesday game and the Thursday game if it’s an afternoon start since it’s a getaway day.

Mike Ashmore, mashmore98 AT gmail.com