ELBWA Names All-Star Team

The Eastern League Baseball Writers Association — which inexplicably gives me a vote on these things — has named their 2010 Eastern League All-Star Team. 

And the winners are…

CATCHER: Hector Gimenez, Altoona (18 votes) … Austin Romine, Trenton (2).

FIRST BASEMAN: Matt Rizzotti, Reading (10 votes) … Tagg Bozied, Reading (4) … Matt Hague, Altoona (2) … Rawley Bishop, Erie (1) … Nick Evans, Binghamton (1) … Chris Marrero, Harrisburg (1) … Anthony Rizzo, Portland (1).

SECOND BASEMAN: Ryan Adams, Bowie (15 votes) … Jason Kipnis, Akron (2) … Nate Spears, Portland (2) … Josh Harrison, Altoona (1).

THIRD BASEMAN: Brandon Laird, Trenton (16 votes) … Tagg Bozied, Reading (3) … Ray Chang, Portland (1).

SHORTSTOP: Danny Espinosa, Harrisburg (12 votes) … Yamaico Navarro, Portland (4) … Chase d’Arnaud, Altoona (1) … Freddy Galvis, Reading (1) … Adieny Hechavarria, New Hampshire (1) … Luis Nunez, Trenton (1).

OUTFIELD: Darin Mastroiannia, New Hampshire (18 votes) … Eric Thames, New Hampshire (17) … Ben Revere, New Britain (5) … Domonic Brown, Reading (4) … Joel Guzman, Bowie (3) … Kirk Nieuwenhuis, Binghamton (3) … Matt McBride, Akron (2) … Thomas Neal, Richmond (2) … Michael Spidale, Reading (2) … Tagg Bozied, Reading (1) … Andy Dirks, Erie (1) … Jerad Head, Akron (1) … Jordan Henry, Akron (1).

STARTING PITCHERS: Rudy Owens, Altoona (20 votes, only consensus pick) … Kyle Drabek, New Hampshire (19) … Tom Milone, Harrisburg (13) … Lance Pendleton, Trenton (2) … Justin Wilson, Altoona (2) … Jared Hughes, Altoona (1) … David Mixon, Richmond (1) … Hector Noesi, Trenton (1) … Alex White, Akron (1).

RELIEF PITCHER: Daniel Moskos, Altoona (12 votes) … Rafael Cova, Richmond (5) … Pedro Beato, Bowie (1) … Tim Collins, New Hampshire (1) … Drew Storen, Harrisburg (1).

UTILITY PLAYER: Tagg Bozied, Reading (8 total position votes, plus 1 POY vote).

DESIGNATED HITTER: Joel Guzman, Bowie (3 total position votes, plus 2 POY votes).

PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Brandon Laird, Trenton (7 votes) … Eric Thames, New Hampshire (5) … Darin Mastroianni, New Hampshire (3) … Joel Guzman, Bowie (2) … Tagg Bozied, Reading (1) … Kyle Drabek, New Hampshire (1) … Stephen Strasburg, Harrisburg (1).

MANAGER OF THE YEAR: Randy Knorr, Harrisburg (8 votes) … Matt Walbeck, Altoona (5) … Tony Franklin, Trenton (3) … Luis Rivera, New Hampshire (3) … Phil Nevin, Erie (1).

Pettitte Moved To Thursday

Mark Feinsand of The Daily News and Marc Carig of The Star-Ledger are both reporting on Twitter that Andy Pettitte’s start has been moved to Thursday to keep him on regular rest…

Plan accordingly, ticket buyers…

Mike Ashmore, mashmore98 AT gmail.com

Thunder Finish With A Win

(PR) New Britain, CT – Trenton wrapped up the 2010 regular season with a 5-2 Labor Day win on Monday over New Britain. Austin Romine smacked his 10th home run and Andrew Brackman pitched five scoreless innings in the win. Trenton (83-59) finishes the regular season with the best record in the Eastern League.

Brackman looked sharp in five shutout innings to earn the win. Brackman (5-8) allowed two hits and walked none with three strikeouts before being removed for RHP J.B. Cox. Trenton used Cox, Wilkins Arias, Josh Schmidt and Ryan Pope for an inning each out of the bullpen in preparation for the post season.

Trenton was lifted by solo home runs from Romine in the second and Marcos Vechionacci in the fourth. A five-hit fourth inning with doubles from Romine and Dan Brewer put the Thunder up 4-0.

Corban Joseph tripled in a run in the seventh inning for a 5-1 lead. New Britian’s Evan Bigley touched Ryan Pope for a solo home run in the ninth to make it a 5-2 contest.

Trenton will have an off day on Tuesday before opening the playoffs on Wednesday at 7:05 at Waterfront Park. Andy Pettitte is scheduled to make the start against RHP Kyle Drabek for New Hampshire. Tickets are available by contacting the box office 609-394-3300 or online at http://www.trentonthunder.com .

Pettitte In Trenton Wednesday

The text this morning from Chad Jennings said it all: “You’ve got Pettitte Wednesday.”  

According to Jennings, Pettitte threw a light 20 pitch bullpen today and things went well.  He’s expected to throw four innings or 65 pitches at Waterfront Park during Game 1 of the Eastern League Division Series against New Hampshire.  Thing is, if the Thunder advance, Pettitte might stay with them.

 “If he gets to 65 (in the rehab start), then the area of concern the next time is 65 to 80,” Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. “So if he’s at 75, then you know he should be fine all the way up to 75, and then you start to get a little bit worried if he gets fatigued (beyond 75 pitches).”

As for now, however, Pettitte is scheduled to make just the one start with the Thunder.  Tickets are available at trentonthunder.com

Don’t miss Kevin Gray’s article in which he gets some reaction from the Fisher Cats on the possibility of facing Pettitte…

Mike Ashmore, mashmore98 AT gmail.com

Christian To Scranton; Grote To Trenton

Grote with Staten Island in 2008 (Photo: Mike Ashmore)

(PR) (TRENTON, NJ)  The Trenton Thunder, Double-A Affiliate of the New York Yankees, announced today that LF Justin Christian has been promoted to Triple-A Scranton and RF Taylor Grote has been received from Single-A Charleston.

The Thunder all-time leader in stolen bases departs in the midst of a 19-game hitting streak. Christian batted .297 with 21 doubles and nine home runs for Trenton in 87 games. This move marks his second promotion to Triple-A this season.

Grote joins Trenton in New Britain for the final game of the regular season. An eighth-round pick out of high school in 2007, Grote spent the last two seasons with Single-A Charleston. In 28 games for the RiverDogs this season Grote batted .276 with seven doubles and two home runs.

The Thunder play the final game of the regular season today at 1:35 from New Britain. Playoffs begin on Wednesday at Waterfront Park against New Hampshire. Tickets are available by contacting the box office at 609-394-3300 or online at www.trentonthunder.com

It’s Official: Pettitte On Wednesday

Word out of New York is that Andy Pettitte will be pitching in Trenton on Wednesday. Looks like 4 innings or 65 pitches. Stay tuned, I’ll have more in a bit…

Thunder Drop Second Straight To Rock Cats

(PR) New Britain, CT- Joe Benson slugged two home runs to pace New Britain batters, as the Rock Cats defeated Trenton for the second straight day, winning 4-1 on Sunday afternoon at New Britain Stadium. With the loss, Trenton falls to 82-59 on the season.

Trenton picked up the game’s first run in the top of the fourth inning, as Marcos Vechionacci drew a one-out walk off RHP Matt Williams (2-3) and came around to score on a ground-rule double by Damon Sublett to give the Thunder a 1-0 lead. In the bottom frame, Joe Benson tied it up with a solo homer off RHP Cory Arbiso to centerfield on the first pitch thrown. Juan Portes then doubled to left-centerfield and was driven in on an RBI groundout by Evan Bigley to put New Britain ahead 2-1.

In the top of the sixth inning, the Thunder led off the frame with three consecutive hits, but came up empty after Austin Romine was thrown out on a questionable call at third base, and Damon Sublett was caught trying to steal second base. Romine was eventually ejected from the game for arguing the call at third base. In the bottom half of the inning, Benson launched his second solo homer of the game off Arbiso (5-5) to extend New Britain’s lead to 3-1.

An RBI double by Evan Bigley in the eighth inning brought in Benson to put the Rock Cats up 4-1. RHP Steve Levins struck out the side in order in the top of the ninth to end the game.

The Thunder and Rock Cats close out the series on Monday afternoon at 1:35 PM. RHP Andrew Brackman takes the ball in the final regular season game for the Thunder, while New Britain start LHP Tyler Robertson. Catch all the action on 107.7 FM The Bronc or online at http://www.trentonthunder.com

With the division wrapped up, the Thunder will open up the 2010 Eastern League playoffs at home on Wednesday, September 8 at 7:05 PM. Game two will be played on Thursday September 9 at 7:05 PM and a potential Game five on Sunday, September 12 at 5:05 PM (if necessary). Tickets for these playoff games at Waterfront Park are on sale by calling (609) 394-3300 or online at http://www.trentonthunder.com