Game 103 and 104 Info

Will be in the quadrupleheader thread, just to totally clutter the heck out of it…

Mike Ashmore, mashmore98 AT gmail.com

The Quadrupleheader Live Blog

9:45 AM — So, this is probably the half of the quadrupleheader that some people would rather me not write about on here…but I work two beats, and it is what it is.  I’m going to write very similar stories for both sites I write for…

I’ll never do four games in one day in my career again, so I thought it would be neat to document it and share it with everyone…

Today started with getting up at around 6:45 AM and taking a bath…because yes, your friendly neighborhood beat writer prefers a bath to a shower.  Probably more than you needed to know, but anyways…

I managed to sneak in about 15 minutes of playing Drake’s Fortune: Uncharted on my Playstation 3 before leaving the house at around 8:50.  I stopped off at a fancy salon to get my hair cut and was out of there by about 9:30.  I pulled into TD Bank Ballpark in Bridgewater at around 9:45, and am anticipating covering all of the first game and most of the second game here. 

As far as Atlantic League pitching matchups go, it isn’t too bad.  Somerset sends former Thunder pitcher — and 2007 Atlantic League Pitcher of the Year — Brian Adams to the hill for Game 1, where he’ll face off against Camden’s former first round draft pick, Dewon Brazelton.  In Game 2, former big leaguer Clint Nageotte squares off against ex-Patriot Josh Brey, who helped the team win a championship last year.

In the press box, I’ve managed to finish off my two jelly donuts just before a tour group came through to check out the riveting spot where myself, colleague Ryan Dunleavy and the official scorer and scoreboard operator sit.

Somewhat ironically, I took the exact same tour when I was in my junior year of high school at Hunterdon Central.

10:10 AM — Lineups are in for the first game of the doubleheader…

CAMDEN

Christopher Walker, RF
Wayne Lydon, CF
Jose Leon, DH
Jon Knott, LF
Vito Chiaravalloti, 1B
John Purdom, C
Brian Burgamy, SS
Brian Finegan, 2B
David Housel, 3B
Dewon Brazelton, P

SOMERSET

Mike Rodriguez, RF
Sean Smith, CF
Matt Hagen, 2B
Josh Pressley, DH
Teuris Olivares, 3B
Travis Anderson, C
Joe Burke, 1B
Elliott Ayala, LF
Anthony Granato, SS
Brian Adams, P

There may be some names you recognize from the Eastern League or elsewhere there, including former Trenton infielder Teuris Olivares. Mike Rodriguez and Jeff Nettles both played with Bowie last year as well, and Joe Burke and Anthony Granato have played for the now-defunct Atlantic City Surf.

There are also some guys here — particularly in the Patriots lineup — that could still get picked up by affiliated baseball at some point. Both Noah Hall and Paul Bush have jumped from Somerset to Trenton this season.

10:20 AM — After a quick view of the JK Wedding Entrance Dance on YouTube and a check of my Facebook — both critical to performing my professional duties, of course — I start to head down to the field to sweat my butt off take some pictures for my coverage. I’ll be back up in a bit to share a few.

11:00 AM — The best part of camp days? The camp counselors The great pictures you’re able to take because of the light.

Here are a few…

Brian Adams

Travis Anderson

Dewon Brazelton

David Housel

Kevin Kotch

Sparky Lyle signs autographs for one of the camps

A shot with my back to the “402” sign in center field…

Adams warms up as the train goes past the stadium. The Bridgewater stop of the Raritan Valley Line is behind the outfield.

11:25 AM –Adams, attempting to set Somerset’s franchise record for wins (he’s coming into the game with 35), is down 1-0 after a bases loaded sac fly in the top of the 1st.

11:32 AM — 25 minutes for one inning? I may not get to see as much of the second game as I thought. I’ve got to leave at around 2:45 PM to make sure I make it to Trenton in time to speak to Tony Franklin.

11:40 AM — Atlantic League official Ellie Rodriguez has popped in the press box. Rodriguez is a former Yankee catcher, although he’s probably better known as a two-time All-Star and for having caught one of Nolan Ryan’s no-hitters. Not a bad guy to have access to when you need him.

11:45 AM — Bad baseball leads to Somerset tying the game. With runners on the corners and Mike Rodriguez up, Anthony Granato stole second. Joe Burke broke for home, and Camden shortstop Brian Burgamy noticed late and overthrew the catcher, allowing the run to score and Granato to reach third.

Rodriguez then hit a dribbler to the pitcher, which Dewon Brazelton mishandled, allowing Granato to score and for Somerset to take a 2-1 lead, B2.

12:00 PM — A sac fly by former Patriot Vito Chiaravalloti ties the game at two in the third inning.

12:45 PM — Brian Finegan has mercifully broken up the tie in the fifth, with a bases loaded single through the left side scoring a run. It’s 3-2, Camden, in the fifth inning of the first game.

12:50 PM — Matt Hagen, who probably has the most potential to get picked up out of anyone here, just re-tied the game with a solo shot to left field. It looked like barely hit the ball, and it just kept carrying. 3-3, B5.

12:55 PM — One Brian replaces another here in Somerset, as former Rays farmhand Brian Henderson has come in for Brian Adams, who will remain tied with another former Trenton pitcher, Justin Jensen, for the Patriots all-time wins record.

1:05 PM — Joe Burke with an RBI single that scores Travis Anderson, giving Somerset a 4-3 lead in the bottom of the 6th. That’ll be it for Brazelton, Franklin Perez comes in to replace him.

1:10 PM — Anthony Granato with a suicide squeeze with Burke on third…Perez fielded it and promptly chucked it to the backstop…5-3, Somerset, B6.

1:15 PM — Sean Smith bunts home another run…it’s now 6-3.

1:29 PM — Brian Henderson induces a broken bat pop-out to end the first game, with the Patriots winning, 6-3. The second game starts in about a half an hour…I’ll probably go down and take a few photos between now and then.

1:58 PM — Just came up from taking some pictures…apparently I missed some fun up here. Anyway, the highlights of my trip down to the field were numerous. Getting elbowed in the groin by a man attempting to grab a useless piece of plastic hurtling towards him (frisbee), walking past said fully grown man without saying anything, enjoying the gleeful feeling of seeing many of the busses leave and therefore not having to deal with the annoying kids cheerful, paying customers anymore, and catching a whiff of one of the mascots, Slider…who, yeah.  Wow.  Smells awesome.

2:05 PM — Here are the lineups for Game 2:

CAMDEN

Wayne Lydon, CF
Christopher Walker, RF
Jose Leon, DH
Jon Knott, LF
Brian Burgamy, SS
Brett Bonvechio, 3B
Vito Chiaravalloti, 1B
Brian Finegan, 2B
Carlos Dominguez, C
Josh Brey, P

SOMERSET

Mike Rodriguez, RF
Anthony Granato, SS
Matt Hagen, 2B
Josh Pressley, 1B
Jeff Nettles, DH
Jason Belcher, C
Elliott Ayala, 3B
Joe Burke, LF
Sean Smith, CF
Clint Nageotte, P

2:15 PM — As promised, some inbetween game photos…

Josh Brey

Ray Cipperly, current Patriots and ex-Thunder head groundskeeper

Frisbee toss

Grounds crew prepares the field between games

Clint Nageotte

Nageotte warming up

2:25 PM — Camden was already up 1-0 on another riveting sac fly by Jose Leon. But Anthony Granato’s tied it up at one already, B1.

2:33 PM — With the score tied at one heading into the bottom of the second, I’ve got to start packing up my stuff and getting ready to make the trip to Trenton, which will likely take a little more than an hour. I’ll keep this thread updated once I get to the park.

4:05 PM — I’m sitting in the Waterfront Park press box, absolutely crushing a wonderful spread of flank steak and some sort of alfredo penne pasta.  Apparently, Somerset carried a no-hitter into the sixth, but one of the relievers lost it…it would have been an excellent summary of my season had they pulled it off without me there.

5:20 PM — Lineups are here for the Thunder game…

HARRISBURG

Edgardo Baez, CF
Mike Daniel, RF
Matt Whitney, 1B
Joel Guzman, 3B
Ofilio Castro, 2B
Luke Montz, C
Jemel Spearman, LF
Sean Rooney, DH
Freddie Bynum, SS
Brad Meyers, P

TRENTON

Austin Krum, CF
Reegie Corona, 2B
Eduardo Nunez, SS
Jesus Montero, C
Chris Malec, 1B
Richie Robnett, DH
Edwar Gonzalez, RF
James Cooper, LF
Marcos Vechionacci, 3B
Wilkins de la Rosa, P

6:13 PM — De la Rosa has lost his perfect game two batters in, giving up a rainbow shot of a home run to Mike Daniel.  1-0, Harrisburg, T1.

6:14 PM — Matt Whitney hits a solo shot to left, making it 2-0, Senators, three batters into the game.

6:25 PM — Some photos from before the game…

Freddie Bynum

Wilkin de la Rosa

Reegie Corona warms up with Eduardo Nunez and…uhhh, Derby

Tony Franklin

Austin Krum

Brad Meyers

6:35 PM — Jesus Montero cuts the lead in half with an RBI single to right center field in the bottom of the first. Yes, we’re still in the first…

7:00 PM — As is the case one or two times a game here, I’m about to head out and take a walk around the concourse. Clears my head, and also gets me walking around…considering I sit on my butt for the majority of my work day.

7:25 PM — Jemel Spearman, he of the .159 average, drives in a run in the fourth to give lowly Harrisburg a 3-1 lead and a shot at winning their sixth straight against the Thunder.

7:35 PM — Edgardo Baez with what must have been the 18th sac fly I’ve seen today, giving the Senators a 4-1 lead…STILL in the fourth.

7:48 PM — James Cooper with a two-run double to left, cutting the Thunder’s deficit to one run…4-3, B4.

8:04 PM — Eduardo Nunez singles home a run through the left side…tied in the first game of a doubleheader. Sweet. 4-4, B5.

8:15 PM — Boomer, the Thunder’s mascot, has come into the press box. He had flowers. They were not for me. This makes me sad. Except, you know, not at all.

8:22 PM — Dan the friendly food man has brought cookies into the press box. This temporarily makes him my favorite person. I enjoy cookies. A lot.

8:45 PM — Extra innings in a doubleheader may be the worst thing ever invented. We’re heading into the 8th. Tied at four.

9:05 PM — The Thunder are now on their fourth pitcher of the night…Wilkins Arias. De La Rosa went four, Josh Schmidt went three and Jose Valdez went one…

9:16 PM — The Anvil! Bill Rhinehart shoots one through the right side, driving in a run and giving Harrisburg a 5-4 lead in the top of the 9th…of the first game.

9:20 PM — Ofilio Castro with a bases loaded, bases clearing double. 8-4, Senators.

9:32 PM — The Thunder lose game one, 8-4. They’re going to set off the fireworks — the only reason most people stayed — inbetween games. Game two starts in a half hour. No way I’m staying for the whole thing.

10:03 PM — Went down and snapped a few pictures, but I doubt anything came out well…Paul Bush starts for the Thunder, I do know that.

HARRISBURG

Michael Daniel, CF
Ofilio Castro, 2B
Leonard Davis, RF
Joel Guzman, 3B
Bill Rhinehart, 1B
Marvin Lowrance, LF
Matt Whitney, DH
Sean Rooney, C
Freddie Bynum, SS

Erik Arnesen, P

TRENTON

Austin Krum, CF
Reegie Corona, 2B
Eduardo Nunez, SS
Chris Malec, 1B
Noah Hall, DH
James Cooper, LF
Edwar Gonzalez, RF
Kyle Anson, C
Justin Snyder, 3B

Paul Bush, P

10:08 PM — The first pitch has been thrown in game 2. The official attendance for Game 1 was listed at…drumroll…one. One.

10:32 PM — Edwar Gonzalez gives the Thunder a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the 2nd, scoring Chris Malec on a little flare to left center.

10:43 PM — With the score 1-0 in favor of the Thunder heading into the bottom of the 3rd, I’m packing up my stuff and heading home. Doesn’t seem there was much cooperation from the baseball gods to see four complete games today…hope everyone enjoyed the ridiculousness.

Mike Ashmore, mashmore98 AT gmail.com

Let’s Play Four

The Thunder’s doubleheader against the Harrisburg Senators was rained out last night.

The part that’s most relevant to you comes from a Thunder press release: Fans with tickets to the game may exchange them for tickets of equal or lesser value to another 2009 Thunder regular season home game, subject to availability.  Ticket stubs may be presented in person at the Thunder Ticket Office at Waterfront Park starting at 9:30 AM on Thursday, July 30. 

One of the games will be made up as part of a doubleheader on Thursday, July 30 starting at 6:05 PM.  The second game will be made up as part of a doubleheader when Harrisburg returns to Trenton August 7th through 9th.  The date of the make-up doubleheader is to be determined.  All of the games of the doubleheaders will be 7-inning games.  

Now, the part that’s relevant to me is that the Somerset Patriots — the other beat I cover — also had their game rained out yesterday as well.  So, I’ll be doing something today that I’ve never done in seven years of sportswriting…covering four games.

Somerset’s got a doubleheader at 11 AM, Trenton’s got one at 6.  Unbelievable.

Stay tuned to Thunder Thoughts for all the latest Thunder info and perhaps some updates from the day from hell my very long day of covering two New Jersey teams.

Mike Ashmore, mashmore98 AT gmail.com

Game 102: Post-Game Notes

– The Thunder can’t seem to get past the Harrisburg Senators, having lost five straight to them, including all three games on the road and the first two games of a critical five game series.  This afternoon’s tough 2-1 loss dropped the team to two games under .500 (50-52), which ties the furthest under the mark they’ve been since dropping to 40-43 on July 7th.

Jason Stephens, who said after the game that he expects to remain in the starting rotation for the time being, gave up seven hits through just three and a third innings, but escaped with only one run allowed. 

“You leave the balls over the middle of the plate, and they get hit,” Stephens said.

“Some of them weren’t well hit, and I got a few unlucky breaks.  But when you leave the ball in the zone, they’re going to hit it.  I’ve just got to stay out of the middle of the plate.  I don’t throw hard enough to live there.”

Considering the Thunder had scored just 11 runs in their previous five games, one run was all that Stephens could afford to give up. 

While any pitcher would be unwise to live over the middle of the plate, Stephens hasn’t known where he’ll be living at all at some points this season, having been shuttled between Tampa, Trenton and Scranton.

“All year, it’s been back and forth,” said Stephens of his roles and team assignments. 

“It’s not terrible.  It’s something that I’ve gotten used to, because I’ve done it for the past two seasons.  It’s definitely harder to go from relieving to starting, because you’ve got to work your pitch counts back up.  I’m going through that now.  That’s why I didn’t have a lot of pitches and I came out early.”

Jesus Montero tied the game at one in the bottom of the third inning on an RBI double to left field, the ball just evading the outstretched arm of Senators left fielder Marvin Lowrance.

After outstanding relief work out of Humberto Sanchez, the game remained tied at one when it was handed over to Grant Duff to start the seventh inning.

Harrisburg would score their winning run on a wild pitch by Duff, with the offering sailing over Harrisburg catcher Luke Montz’s head.

“He uncorked one high over Anson’s head, and there’s the difference,” Thunder manager Tony Franklin said.  “Otherwise, we’d still be playing,”

The Thunder had their chances late, but failed to execute on two bunts in the final two innings.  Noah Hall popped out to the pitcher in the eighth, and Marcos Vechionacci got way too much on a bunt down the first base line in the ninth, leading pinch runner Justin Snyder to get thrown out at second.

Players practice bunting every day in batting practice, so Franklin seems to think it’s just a matter of execution more than it is anything else.

“I think we’re preparing well enough,” Franklin said.

“We do pretty good pre-game stuff, but we’re not seeing it happen in the game.  And that happens when you’re in circumstances like this.”

Franklin seemed to agree with an assessment that the team is in a funk at the moment.

“The physical skills that they have, have not left them,” Franklin said.

“Their ability to hit and run and throw and field, it’s not left them, it’s there.  It’s just a matter of being able to do it right now.”

Mike Ashmore, mashmore98 AT gmail.com

Game 102: Harrisburg @ Trenton

Game 102 – Harrisburg Senators @ Trenton Thunder
July 28, 2009
Waterfront Park – Trenton, NJ

Pitching Matchup: HAR Adrian Alaniz vs. TRE Jason Stephens

Starting Lineups:

SENATORS

Michael Daniel, RF
Edgardo Baez, CF
Leonard Davis, DH
Joel Guzman, 3B
Marvin Lowrance, LF
Luke Montz, C
Bill Rhinehart, 1B
Freddie Bynum, SS
Jemel Spearman, 2B

THUNDER

Austin Krum, CF
Reegie Corona, 2B
Eduardo Nunez, SS
Jesus Montero, DH
Chris Malec, 1B
Noah Hall, LF
James Cooper, RF
Kyle Anson, C
Marcos Vechionacci, 3B

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): Joel Guzman with an RBI double to left…Noah Hall seemed to misjudge the ball off the bat and broke in, and then went back for the ball…but it went over his head.  1-0, Senators, T1.

Jesus Montero ties the game up at one in the bottom of the 3rd with an RBI double to left…1-1, B3.

Jason Stephens out after seven outs.  He gave up seven hits, but just one run.  Humberto Sanchez making his 2009 home debut now.

Grant Duff in to pitch the 7th…still 1-1.  Mercifully, the kiddies have started to leave.

The lead has left as well…Duff threw a wild pitch over Luke Montz’s head, and Harrisburg has a 2-1 lead in T8.

In-Game Photos:

Adrian Alaniz

Jason Stephens

Humberto Sanchez

In-Game YouTube Videos: Check out my YouTube account for videos updated throughout the game…

Final Score: 2-1, Senators

Thunder Thoughts:

Mike Ashmore, mashmore98 AT gmail.com

Game 101: Post-Game Notes

– The Thunder sank back to a game under .500 with a 9-1 loss in front of “over 6,000 fans” to the Harrisburg Senators.  Not likely to be included in the attendance tonight was Yankees farm director Mark Newman, who certainly couldn’t have liked the performance he saw from his Double-A club.

“They knew he was here,” said Thunder manager Tony Franklin when asked if the players knew of Newman’s presence.

“But you have to chalk this up to maybe being one game at a point in time when you have your farm director and the vice president of the organization in town.  It’s happened before.  It’s not something you want to see happen, because you want to be impressive as much as you can, but you chalk it up and you move on and you try to be better tomorrow.  But certainly, we didn’t play very well.”

– Ryan Pope’s performance all season has been somewhat perplexing.  In some starts, he’s been absolutely dazzling, which is the way you could describe his last start on the road.  However, in others, such as tonight’s, he’s turned in some clunkers.

“If you miss (your location), you get hurt,” said Franklin of Pope’s performance.

“It’s kind of unfortunate that we had to leave Popey out there as long as we did.  But we’re a little thin right now, and sometimes you have to take one in the shorts.  I appreciate him staying out there.”

Pope, who fell to 4-8 and saw his ERA jump to 5.40 after tonight, didn’t seem to have a problem with having to wear it to benefit a short and somewhat beleaguered bullpen.

“I don’t mind,” he said.

“I’m out there to do my job, and as long as they’re going to leave me out there, I’m going to pitch.  You don’t have forever in this game.  You pitch as much as you can, and if I’m getting hit around, I want to pitch.  It’s my job to get out of it, and I just didn’t.”

– Chris Malec was with the Thunder very briefly in 2007, called up but never getting a chance to play.  Last season, he spent all of the year in Double-A. 

Both of those teams would go on to win Eastern League titles.

This year, after seeing some time in Scranton, Malec is back with the Thunder.  Considered one of the veteran leaders on the team and the go-to guy by the press, we asked Malec what the differences were between the previous Thunder clubs he was on and this one.

“I think it’s the same kind of talent level,” he said.

“Those teams might have been a little bit older.  But this team has the talent, as much if not more than the previous two years.  I think it’s just a matter of finding our niche and finding that confidence to start winning and put together a good streak.”

– Josh Schmidt will start one of the two games of the doubleheader on Wednesday.

“He’s done it before, and he’s been great for us this year,” said pitching coach Tommy Phelps of Schmidt’s performance as a starter.

“He comes out and attacks hitters and throws a lot of strikes.  He’s capable of giving us three or four innings, and that’s what we need, especially with the doubleheader.”

– Kanekoa Texeira no longer appears to be in the starting rotation…

– It doesn’t sound like Eric Wordekemper’s Scranton call-up will last too long.  Before the game, Franklin described it as a temporary situation, telling us he should be back shortly.  However, you can’t argue with the numbers he put up, pitching four innings and getting the win in Triple-A.

– Jorge Vazquez is getting closer to returning from the DL.  His wrist is no longer wrapped and he is now throwing.  He has not swung the bat yet, and is expected to see a doctor on the 29th with the hopes of getting cleared to play.

– Zach McAllister needs “a little more time” to return from his dead arm, according to Franklin.

– I did an interview over at the NYY Pinstriper website.  It doesn’t particularly feel like my fan club has anyone in it at the moment…but in any event, if you want to check it out, feel free to do so.

– I have a game-used bat and baseball card set to give away over the upcoming days.  Stay tuned for that.  If anyone wants a piece of my clipboard after that went flying through the press box the other day, I suppose I can give that away as well.

Mike Ashmore, mashmore98 AT gmail.com

Game 101: Harrisburg @ Trenton

Game 101 – Harrisburg Senators @ Trenton Thunder
July 27, 2009
Waterfront Park – Trenton, NJ

Pitching Matchup: HAR Luis Atilano vs. TRE Ryan Pope

Starting Lineups:

SENATORS

Michael Daniel, RF
Ofilio Castro, 2B
Leonard Davis, LF
Matt Whitney, 3B
Bill “The Anvil” Rhinehart, 1B
Edgardo Baez, CF
Luke Montz, DH
Sean Rooney, C
Freddie Bynum, SS

Luis Atilano, P

THUNDER

Austin Krum, CF
Reegie Corona, 2B
Eduardo Nunez, SS
Jesus Montero, C
Chris Malec, 1B
Richie Robnett, RF
Edwar Gonzalez, LF
James Cooper, DH
Justin Snyder, 3B

Ryan Pope, P

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): After breezing through the first two innings, Ryan Pope is having a bit of a rough go here in the third.  Michael Daniel drove in a run already, and Pope has the bases loaded with nobody out…1-0, T3.

Matt Whitney with a little flare to short right that hits Corona’s glove and bounces away…it was correctly scored a hit, and it’s now 2-0, T3.  1 out.

Bill Rhinehart with a sac fly that scored a run on a close play at the plate…if Montero hung onto the ball, the runner would have been out.  The runner on third then broke for home when it became clear Montero could not locate the ball, but Montero recovered and threw out the runner at third…to much protest by John Stearns.  3-0, B3.

Pope gives up a bomb to Daniel…deep to right, no doubt about it.  6-0, T4.

Ryan Pope’s out after 5 1/3…Kanekoa Texeira in, but the Don Slaught onslaught continues.  9-0, T6.

James Cooper breaks up the shutout with an RBI single…9-1, heading into T8.

In-Game Photos:

Kyle Anson

Wilkins Arias

Paul Bush

James Cooper

Tony Franklin

Noah Hall

Chris Malec

Jesus Montero

Ryan Pope

Pope

Richie Robnett

Montero

In-Game YouTube Videos: Check out my YouTube account for videos updated throughout the game…

Final Score: 9-1, Senators

Thunder Thoughts:

Mike Ashmore, mashmore98 AT gmail.com

Game 101: Pre-Game Notes

6:00 PM — Spoke to Tony Franklin, Tommy Phelps and Humberto Sanchez.  Good stuff out of Humberto in particular, I’ll have a feature on a slimmed down Humby coming soon.

3:55 PM — Just got back from watching Humberto Sanchez throw a side session in the bullpen.  Looks like Tommy Phelps is trying to get him to stay on a downhill plane and stay over the top with his stuff.  It also looks like Sanchez has lost a lot of weight, too.

3:15 PM — Eric Wordekemper has been called up to Triple-A Scranton.  As far as anyone around here seems to know, there’s no corresponding move just yet.

Lineups are in:

SENATORS

Michael Daniel, RF
Ofilio Castro, 2B
Leonard Davis, LF
Matt Whitney, 3B
Bill “The Anvil” Rhinehart, 1B
Edgardo Baez, CF
Luke Montz, DH
Sean Rooney, C
Freddie Bynum, SS

Luis Atilano, P

THUNDER

Austin Krum, CF
Reegie Corona, 2B
Eduardo Nunez, SS
Jesus Montero, C
Chris Malec, 1B
Richie Robnett, RF
Edwar Gonzalez, LF
James Cooper, DH
Justin Snyder, 3B

Ryan Pope, P

The Thunder are celebrating Irish-American Night by giving out pint glasses — of course — and wearing these sweet jerseys, pictured below.

Originally, the Thunder had a promotion planned to honor the Potato Famine of the 1800’s.  Instead of baseballs, the players would be using potatoes and fans would be encouraged to “make it rain” with potato chips in the stands.  “Thunder” was spelled out on the jerseys using french fries…it was very odd.

If they’re going to give away pint glasses, I can make that joke.  I believe I’m protected under the 1967 “You Can Make Fun Of Your Own Ethnic Background, But God Forbid You Make A Crack On Anyone Else’s” Act.

Mike Ashmore, mashmore98 AT gmail.com

Who Should Be The Next “Around The EL” Feature?

I have a few “Around The EL” interviews from throughout the season in the can…was curious to see who you guys wanted to read about next.

I am very tentatively planning on covering all five games of the Harrisburg series.  Make sure you keep checking back for all the latest news, roster moves, features and so on.  With Thunder alum Brett Gardner getting injured in the Bronx, I’d anticipate some sort of roster move being made sooner rather than later.

Mike Ashmore, mashmore98 AT gmail.com

Pitching Matchups vs. Harrisburg

7/27: TRE Ryan Pope vs. HAR Luis Atilano
7/28: TRE Jason Stephens vs. HAR Cory Van Allen
7/29, G1: TRE Wilkin de la Rosa vs. HAR Erik Arnesen
7/29, G2: TRE TBA vs. HAR Brad Meyers
7/30: TRE Paul Bush vs. HAR Matt Chico

Mike Ashmore, mashmore98 AT gmail.com