Every Tuesday, for the purpose of creating discussion and giving you an idea of my thoughts on how each member of the Trenton Thunder roster is performing, I’ll be posting power rankings.
This has nothing to do with a player’s prospect status, it’s just my take on how the guys have been doing, 1 through 24 on the roster. I’ll use stats, what I’ve seen and heard on my own, and opinions to compile these.
I encourage you to agree, disagree…something, some sort of reaction.
NOTE: At this point of the season, previous season’s performance and player pedigree will play some sort of role, especially with me having only seen some of these guys at the exhibition game thanks to the road start.
1 – Daniel McCutchen, SP
Three hits and seven strikeouts in five scoreless innings is enough to get Mr. McCutchen the top spot for now. Probably the top candidate to get called up to Triple-A if a starter is needed.
2 – Colin Curtis, OF
Leads the team in runs with five, and has one of just three home runs that the Thunder have hit in five games.
3 – Matt Carson, OF/DH
Carson has one of the other ones, and is second on the team with a .879 OPS. Making a strong case to get the call to Scranton if someone is needed. Leads the team in RBI with five.
4 – Ramiro Pena, SS
Leads the team in OBP with a .467 mark. He also is tied for the team lead in walks (4) with Austin Jackson. Needed to get off to a good start to open some eyes, and has.
5 – Jason Jones, SP
No earned runs in his first start of the year, but only one strikeout as well. Then again, he had no walks.
6 – Cody Ehlers, 1B
Would be a little higher if I weren’t a little skeptical based on last year’s performance. But he leads the team with a .953 OPS, and is 5-for-15 in his first four games.
7 – Bo Hall, RP
Has only made two appearances so far, but has allowed just one baserunner in two innings of work while striking out four of the seven batters he’s faced.
8 – Chase Wright, SP
It must be frustrating to be back in Double-A again, but neither his words or his pitches have shown it. Gave the Thunder their longest start of the year so far, and was a mistake away from having a real solid start.
9 – David Robertson, RP
The reliever who’s seen the most work, Robertson leads the bullpen guys with 4.2 innings. He has yet to allow a run, despite walking two and giving up four hits, and has collected five strikeouts as well.
10 – Marcos Vechionacci, 3B
It’s hard to argue with a .333 batting average, tied for the team lead. But three errors aren’t helping his case, either. Leads the team with two doubles, and is tied with a few others for the extra-base hits lead.
11 – Austin Jackson, OF
Not a lot of great things to say just yet. Tied for the team lead with four walks, but that’s about it.
12 – Steven Jackson, RP
One game, two innings, two hits, two strikeouts, one save. Not spectacular, but certainly not bad.
13 – Reegie Corona, 2B
Is tied for the team lead in steals with two. Has played five error-free games so far.
14 – P.J. Pilittere, C
Would have thought he’d have played more than three games at this point. Hitting .300 in ten at-bats with two RBI.
15 – Michael Gardner, RP
Has one of two Trenton saves. Two hits and two walks in 2.1 innings, but he’s managed to avoid anything big.
16 – Jose Tabata, OF
Is playing like a 19-year-old kid making the jump to Double-A for the first time. That’s not a knock, it’s the truth. Has the lowest average on the team, and is tied for the lead in strikeouts. Does have two steals, but would have more if he got on base more. I wonder when this kid will start hitting his stride, because I can’t wait to see him when he’s on.
17 – Josh Schmidt, RP
Looked nasty while wearing Scranton’s uniform during the exhibition game. Allowed two unearned runs in 2.1 innings so far this year. One hit, two strikeouts.
18 – Phil Coke, SP
Pitched pretty well in the exhibition game, and even in his Double-A debut, but had more walks than strikeouts and could only go four innings.
19 – George Kontos, SP
Only went three innings in his first start. Four hits and three walks. It’s only one so-so outing, though.
20 – Carlos Mendoza, 3B
Played one game. Got one hit. Made one error. Hard to say much else, but it isn’t a good sign that he was the guy who was going to get sent away before Kevin Russo’s health concerns.
21 – Chris Malec, 1B
Got no hits in his only game. People are expecting some big things out of this guy at some point this year, but he just hasn’t had the opportunity to do it yet. I fail to see where this kid gets regular at-bats.
22 – Joe Muich, C
Not a real great start to the year for Muich. Only six at-bats to base his offensive numbers on…but he allowed quite a few steals in his first game of the year.
23 – Zach Kroenke, RP
It’s only one game, but it wasn’t his best. Two runs on two hits and a walk in one inning. That will give you a team-high ERA of 18.00
24 – Eric Wordekemper, RP
Is under Kroenke because his numbers are over two games, not one. Has allowed as many baserunners (5) as the amount of outs he’s nailed down. WHIP is 3.00
Mike Ashmore, mashmore98 AT gmail.com
Mike Ashmore's Thunder Thoughts 