– Uhhh, so it’s a little hard to do these when I’m not actually there. But according to my super-secret, stealth sources at the ballpark, there really isn’t anything going on anyway. Sounds like the weather is going to hold up as well. Yay?
– Radar gun readings from last night…
Kontos 87-90
Texeira 87-89
Arias 86-88
Valdez 91-93
Wordekemper 87-89
Schmidt 82-84
Mike Ashmore, mashmore98 AT gmail.com
Of the 24 players currently calling the Trenton Thunder clubhouse home, 15 of them played all or part of last season at Waterfront Park.
So there’s nine new faces for me to learn, and over the past few days, I’ve been trying to introduce myself to all the new guys and try to learn more about them.
I approached Kanekoa Texeira in the clubhouse yesterday, who introduced himself as “Tex.” Just to be safe, I asked him how to pronounce his first name…”Kan-ih-koa” is probably the best I can do for you in replicating that.
In any event, Texeira was sent to the Yankees by the White Sox this off-season along with Nick Swisher in exchange for Wilson Betemit, Jeff Marquez and Jhonny Nunez.
The Maui, Hawaii native says he wasn’t expecting the trade at all.
“I had a good season, and they expected big things out of me, but I got traded, which was fine,” Texeira said.
In just his third professional season, the now 23-year-old righty reliever dominated the Carolina League last year, going 3-1 with 20 saves and an 0.93 ERA in 36 appearances for Winston-Salem before going on to pitch nearly as well with Double-A Birmingham.
It seemed like he was on the fast track in the White Sox organization, with Triple-A time or even a big league call-up not out of the question for 2009.
But instead, he has to essentially start over in a new organization, something he says he handled pretty well.
“I wasn’t really upset, I was just happy someone else wanted me,” he said.
But the organization that wanted him is, of course the Yankees, who are essentially loaded with pitching prospects from the top to the bottom of their impressive farm system. That’s also a fact that doesn’t escape Texeira either.
“It’s tough, but it’s all part of the game, all part of competition, and seeing how good you really are,” he said.
Texeira, who expects to be used as a two inning guy out of Tony Franklin’s bullpen, has a sinking fastball, a slider and is working on adding a changeup to his arsenal as well.
After a rough start to his 2009 season, he’ll likely pitch either Saturday or Monday and try to get things back on track.
Download and listen to a cut of the Texeira interview here.
Mike Ashmore, mashmore98 AT gmail.com
Ask, and ye eventually shall receive.
I was finally able to track down Francisco Cervelli in the Thunder clubhouse, and asked him about playing for Italy in the World Baseball Classic, as someone in the comments had requested.
We also talked about his brief big league stint last year and getting to play in Yankee Stadium. He told an interesting story at the end about how one of his teammates once asked him to check out the clubhouse, but…well, you’ll just have to download the interview and listen. It’s about two minutes long.
Mike Ashmore, mashmore98 AT gmail.com
– I know the numbers didn’t suggest it, well…at least the hit totals, but I thought George Kontos was about as sharp as someone could be who’s making their first start of the year and pitching in this weather. Thought he left a few pitches up and hung a few as well…but he looked pretty good overall.
– On the flip side, Kanekoa Texeira was getting rocked in that first inning. Caleb Stewart’s home run was a no doubter as soon as it left the bat, and he gave up another hard hit double after that. He seemed to settle down for the seventh, though.
– Jose Valdez was impressive, allowing just one baserunner in two innings and striking out four.
– Francisco Cervelli is wearing the 0-fer loafers, starting the year 0-for-10. It’s just two games, but I’d imagine that’s reason for some ever so slight concern.
– Nice job by the Thunder to have a moment of silence for Nick Adenhart, the Angels rookie pitcher whose life was cut short at just 22 years old after a hit and run car accident. The more I think about that…I’m 26 years old…that’s just so sad. He had such a bright future ahead of him.
– What’s happening to P.J. Pilittere is a joke and an embarassment to the Yankees organization. Leave it at that.
– If you have a ticket for tomorrow’s game, know that I love you. But also know that I’m hoping it pours like crazy. I will not be able to cover the game, instead choosing to cover the Trenton Devils first home playoff game. This is the only day in which I anticipate there to be a schedule conflict with those two particular beats…keep in mind I work three.
I will be covering the Thunder game at 1 and the T-Devils game at 7 on Saturday. Feel free to join me for both. It’s a nice time to be covering sports in the Trenton area.
That I won’t be seeing one of the “big name” pitchers getting to make his Double-A or even Waterfront Park debut should be no surprise to anyone who knows me…I didn’t get to see Phil Hughes debut, didn’t get to see Joba Chamberlain’s, and so on. The only one I got to see that comes to mind was Ian Kennedy’s in 2007…and that was just a great matchup in general, as he faced Kevin Mulvey.
I’d give you the post-game quotes and wrap-up that you’ve come to expect…but I left in the 12th inning. I live 45 minutes away, and I’m well aware that 99% of the people who come here aren’t looking for a final score. Combine those two things, and I left a little early.
In any event, here is the Thunder’s press release about the Thunder’s 5-4 win…
(PR) Trenton Third baseman Marcos Vechionacci connected on the game-winning RBI single in the bottom of the 14th to lift Trenton to a 5-4 win over Binghamton on Thursday night from Waterfront Park. It was the first 14-inning game for Trenton since August 26, 2007 (3-2 loss to Binghamton).
In the 14th inning, Trenton Shortstop Eduardo Nunez led off with a walk against Binghamton reliever Nick Abel (0-1). After a sacrifice bunt by Trenton second baseman Reegie Corona, Left fielder Colin Curtis was intentionally walked. Right fielder Edwar Gonzalez then walked to load the bases. Vechionacci followed with the game-winning single to plate Nunez with the winning run. Nunez finished the game with three hits and three runs scored. Trenton Reliever Josh Schmidt (1-0) picked up the win with two shutout innings of relief.
Binghamton (0-1) took a 4-3 lead in the 12th inning, before Trenton tied the game in the bottom half of the frame. Gonzalez was hit by a pitch to force home the tying run. Earlier, Trenton (1-1) tied the game at 3-3 in the bottom of the ninth inning. With two outs, and Trenton Pinch-runner Justin Snyder at second base, Corona connected on an infield single. Snyder moved to third on the hit, and advanced home on an error by Binghamton Second baseman Matt Bouchard.
Trenton jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning. Trenton Right fielder Edwar Gonzalez lifted a sacrifice fly RBI which scored Thunder Shortstop Eduardo Nunez from third base. After Binghamton tied the game in the second inning on an RBI single by Designated Hitter Carl Loadenthal, Trenton re-captured the lead on an RBI single by Nunez off of Binghamton Starting Pitcher Dylan Owen. Binghamton tied the game in the fifth inning on an RBI double by Third baseman Shawn Bowman. Binghamton took a 3-2 lead in the sixth inning on a solo home run by Right fielder Caleb Stewart.
Owen yielded only three hits and two runs over five innings to pick up the win. Trenton Starting Pitcher George Kontos tossed five innings and allowed seven hits and two runs. He received a no-decision. Kontos also struck out seven and only walked one.
Trenton Reliever Jose Valdez struck out four batters in the 10th inning. Trenton’s pitching staff struck out 18 Binghamton batters in the game. Trenton and Binghamton will play the third game of the four-game series on Friday night at Waterfront Park. RHP Zach McAllister (0-0, 0.00) will start for Trenton against Binghamton RHP Jose Sanchez (0-0, 0.00). Game time is set for 7:05 p.m.
Mike Ashmore, mashmore98 AT gmail.com
Mike Ashmore's Thunder Thoughts 