RIP Josh Hancock

Former Thunder pitcher Josh Hancock, now with the St. Louis Cardinals and one of three Thunder alums on their World Series championship team last year, was killed in a car accident in the wee hours of this morning. According to the Associated Press, he was alone in his 2007 Ford Explorer when his car struck the rear of a tow truck that was in the left lane assisting another vehicle.

Hancock pitched for the Thunder during the 2001 and 2002 seasons, going a combined 11-10 with a 3.63 ERA in 215 1/3 innings. He made his major league debut with the Red Sox at the end of the 2002 season and was traded that winter to the Phillies for Jeremy Giambi.

Mussina nixed

The rain today (or, specifically, the forecasts for rain late last night) nixed Mike Mussina's planned rehab start with the Thunder tonight in Harrisburg. According to the AP, he'll throw a simulated game in New York instead.

No word yet on whether or not he'll still make a minor league rehab start before being re-activated, or when or where it will be.

Rainout

Tonight's game was rained out. No makeup date was announced, but it almost certainly be during Connecticut's next trip here June 12-14.

The Yankees were also rained out, but Phil Hughes still will start tomorrow night against the Blue Jays. Andy Pettitte has been pushed back to Friday, and from what I've heard, the Yankees are still undecided on Saturday's starter; it will either be Jeff Karstens or Kei Igawa.

Pre-game 4/25

Carlos Mendoza (strained oblique) remains day to day, but is getting better, according to manager Tony Franklin. He has been doing some light swinging and fielding drills, but has yet to take live BP.

Chase Wright seems in good spirits. He joked that his neck was stiff from watching the four consecutive home runs the Red Sox hit against him on Sunday. He'll start on Saturday, the day after Mike Mussina's rehab start.

CONNECTICUT
Brian Horwitz RF
John Bowker CF
Carlos Sosa DH
Eddy Martinez-Esteve LF
Travis Ishikawa 1B
Simon Klink 3B
Jake Wald SS
Steve Holm C
Trey Webb 2B
Ben Cox P

TRENTON
Ramiro Pena SS
Russell Raley DH
Cody Ehlers 1B
Shawn Garrett RF
P.J. Pilittere C
Justin Christian LF
Aarom Baldiris 3B
Matt Carson CF
Gabe Lopez 2B
Alan Horne P

Mussina is on for Friday

The New York papers are reporting that Mike Mussina will indeed make a rehab start for the Thunder on Friday night in Harrisburg. The Thunder aren't confirming it officially yet, and it's probably bigger news for the Senators than it is for the Thunder.

This probably means that Chase Wright will now start on Saturday.

Showtime for Phil Franchise

Joe Torre just dropped the bombshell to Yankees beat reporters - Phil Hughes will make his major league debut on Thursday against the Blue Jays.

I'm very surprised at this move. The Yankees have been saying since last season that they were going to bring Hughes along slowly, let him get time at Triple-A to work on his changeup and otherwise get ready for a long and hopefully successful big league career, regardless of the state of the major league rotation. When they brought him up, it was going to be for good.

Why do I get the feeling that it's not a coincidence that this move was made while the Yankees were in Tampa to play the Devil Rays, and coming off a sweep at the hands of the Red Sox? This move reeks of George Steinbrenner's fingerprints.

Anywho, it should be an interesting night on Thursday at the Stadium.

Chase Wright optioned down

I just learned that Chase Wright was optioned down to Trenton make room for Hideki Matsui, who is coming off the DL tonight. That lines him up to pitch Friday night in Harrisburg. But with Mike Mussina being in line for a rehab start that night for either the Thunder or Scranton, he might get pushed back to Saturday.

The safe bet is on the Thunder deactivating C J.T. LaFountain.

Scott Patterson makes the spot start tonight. It's his first start since 2005, when he was in the independent leagues.

Here are tonight's lineups:

CONNECTICUT
Alex Requena SS
John Bowker DH
Brian Horwitz RF
Eddy Martinez-Esteve LF
Carlos Sosa 1B
Patrick Dobson 2B
Simon Klink 3B
Todd Jennings C
Jake Wald SS

Garrett Broshuis P

TRENTON
Brett Gardner CF
Ramiro Pena SS
Cody Ehlers 1B
Shawn Garrett DH
P.J. Pilittere C
Justin Christian LF
Aarom Baldiris 3B
Matt Carson RF
Gabe Lopez 2B

Scott Patterson P

Moose Calling in Harrisburg?

Yankees pitcher Mike Mussina will throw another bullpen session tomorrow in Tampa. If that goes well, he reportedly will make a rehab start on Friday before being reactivated.

According to Sunday's New York Post, Mussina would prefer that the rehab start be anywhere but in Tampa, where he has been rehabbing since going on the DL a week ago and recently also spent seven weeks of spring training. That means either a visit to Columbus, Ohio with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre or one to Harrisburg with the Thunder.

Harrisburg's stadium has to be the worst in the Eastern League; it's certainly the worst one that I've seen. I can't imagine that the Yankees would want to send a rehabbing major leaguer there unless they had absolutely no other choice. Plus they know Columbus from having had their Triple-A affiliate there for over 25 years. So my guess is he goes to Triple-A.

Not So Wright

Logic suggests that Chase Wright will be sent back to the Thunder when his services are no longer needed in New York. If that happens, his stay in the major leagues will consist of a win and a historically bad inning.

By giving up back-to-back-to-back-to-back home runs to Manny Ramirex, J.D. Drew, Mike Lowell, and Jason Varitek in the third inning last night, he became just the second pitcher to achieve that dubious distinction in major league history, and the first since Paul Foytack of the Los Angeles Angels against Cleveland on July 31, 1963.

All told, it's tough to really complain about what Wright did in his major league call-up. He had made only two starts above Class-A ball before that, and he had to face a good lineup in the Indians and an outstanding lineup in the Red Sox, the latter in Fenway Park. Hopefully, he'll learn a lot from this experience and come back a better pitcher.

Wright being optioned back to Trenton sounds like a safe bet whenever the time comes. But there are two other questions the Yankees have to answer on the pitching front:

1. Darrell Rasner was optioned to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre when Jeff Karstens was re-activated on Saturday. Does he go into the rotation or the bullpen? And if it's the rotation, who if anyone gets sent down here? Is it Steven Jackson, who got rocked by Ottawa on Saturday? Is it Tyler Clippard, who had a 5.14 ERA in his first three starts but dominated this level the final half of last season? Is it Ross Ohlendorf or Matt DeSalvo?

2. Ian Kennedy, the Yankees' top draft pick last year, has a 1.42 ERA in his first four appearances (three starts) for High-A Tampa. The numbers suggest he might be ready for Double-A. But even if he is, who would you move out of here to create a spot?

4/21 lineups

I'm not at the game, but here are the lineups:

BINGHAMTON
Miguel Negron RF
Jose Coronado SS
Fernando Martinez CF
Mike Carp 1B
Nic Jackson DH
Jose A. Reyes C
Caleb Stewart LF
Mark Kiger 3B
Enrique Cruz 2B

Michael Devaney P

TRENTON
Brett Gardner CF
Ramiro Pena SS
Cody Ehlers 1B
Shawn Garrett LF
Matt Carson RF
Russell Raley DH
Aarom Baldiris 3B
Jason Brown C
Gabe Lopez 2B

Brett Smith P

I understand them giving Justin Christian a day off (especially since he hit into a pair of double plays last night), but having Garrett hit fourth is surprising, to say the least. Raley is making his Trenton debut, while Brown is making the usual day game after a night game start at catcher.

A comical game with another dramatic ending

Both teams looked like they could use some time watching Tom Emanski videos, especially the one on defensive fundamentals. Hitters got too greedy and ran themselves into outs. Even P.J. Pilittere, the Thunder's intelligent catcher, gave up a sure out at first when he tried and failed to go for the lead runner on a sacrifice bunt.

But the ending was a dramatic one for those who remained in the crowd and a happy one for Cody Ehlers, who finally ended things with a two-out, bases loaded single in the bottom of the 12th. He had been batting .179 entering the game and was 0-for-4 at the plate when he came up in the 12th.

Of course, he did this (and the Thunder scored 7 runs) after I wrote my notebook on how the offense had been struggling. Such are the joys of this business - deadlines are deadlines, no matter how many twists the plot takes.

BTW, this makes the Thunder 4-for-4 in extra-inning games, with all four going at least 12 innings.

4/20 pregame

Nice to be back at a game again. Nice to have great weather too.

BINGHAMTON
Miguel Negron RF
Jose Coronado SS
Fernando Martinez CF
Mike Carp 1B
Brett Harper DH
Mike Nickeas C
Caleb Stewart LF
Mark Kiger 2B
Corey Ragsdale 3B

Jose Sanchez P

TRENTON
Brett Gardner CF
Ramiro Pena SS
Justin Christian LF
Cody Ehlers 1B
P.J. Pilittere C
Shawn Garrett DH
Aarom Baldiris 3B
Matt Carson RF
Gabe Lopez 2B

Alan Horne P

Mendoza on DL; Raley up

Sorry I didn't have this up earlier today, but IF Carlos Mendoza was placed on the DL today. Mendoza strained an oblique muscle early in the second game of last Saturday's doubleheader.

The Yankees are sending up Russell Raley to replace him. Raley was the Yankees' 21st round draft pick last year and had a very good season at Short Season-A Staten Island. But he began this season on High-A Tampa's DL and had been at extended spring training.

Now THIS is more like it

Here is Phil Hughes' line from Scranton's game against Syracuse tonight:

6 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 10K

As nice and polite as he sounds when you talk to him, think Hughes might have been a little P.O.'ed by Chase Wright being the first Yankee minor league pitcher called up this season?

Even if that wasn't really the case, this is what he did last year after coming to Trenton. He was uneven for his first few starts here, then dominated the rest of the season.

So long, series

Today's attempt at a doubleheader has already been nixed as well. The three postponed games will be made up as follows:

Doubleheader on Tuesday, May 8 @ 6 p.m.
Doubleheader on Tuesday, Aug. 28 @ 6 p.m.
Doubleheader on Wednesday, Aug. 29 @ 6 p.m.

Those last two are a killer if Trenton and/or Portland are fighting for a playoff spot. Nothing like burning out your pitching staff when the games mean the most.

Anyhow, the Thunder are scheduled to open a four-game weekend set at Waterfront Park against Binghamton starting tomorrow night.

Not great, but all Wright

OK, I admit. That was a very bad and very predictable pun. But it sums up Chase Wright's major league debut:

5 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3BB, 3 K

Not Cy Young-caliber, but he didn't implode the way Sean Henn did when he made the Double-A to major league jump two years ago. And if the Yankees can hold a five-run lead, he'll get the win.

Now the question is whether he gets another start on Sunday night at Fenway against the Red Sox. You would think he's earned it, and it's not like the Yankees have a lot of other options anyway. But we'll see.

Also, I learned this evening that Scott Patterson will make a spot start in the second game of the doubleheader tomorrow, assuming they play it. It will be his first start in two years.

Still no luck

Just got word from the Sea Dogs that the doubleheader scheduled for tonight has already been rained out. According to this morning's Portland Press-Herald, Hadlock Field suffered some minor damage in the Nor'easter the last couple of days and more rain is hitting the area today. The Sea Dogs have now lost seven home dates (their franchise record is nine), and we're not even two weeks into the season.

According to the game notes sent out this morning, Jeff Marquez had been the scheduled starter for tomorrow's series finale at Portland and Alan Horne for Thursday against Binghamton at Waterfront Park. But with today's action being wiped out as well, who knows what will happen.

UPDATE: Marquez and a still TBA reliever will go in a scheduled doubleheader tomorrow afternoon. Horne will go Thursday and Brett Smith on Friday, with Jason Jones pushed back to Saturday.

More sitting around

To the surprise of no one, this afternoon's series opener in Portland has been banged (actually, it was banged by 10 a.m. this morning). The weather still looks dubious for tomorrow, but if they can play, they will play a doubleheader beginning at 6 p.m.

If they do play tomorrow, they'll obviously need another starting pitcher then, as Marquez would be on 3 days rest. If not, they won't need one until Saturday.

Meanwhile, Chase Wright is in transit to New York, but the actual transaction to recall him has not gone through yet. So as strange as this sounds, as far as the Thunder are concerned, he's still on their roster.

UPDATE: Ian Kennedy, the Yankees' top draft pick last year, pitched tonight for High-A Tampa, and Saturday is his next day to pitch. So if tomorrow's doubleheader is rained out, he certainly seems like a possibility. Again, though, nothing official yet.

Chase Wright to New York

The YES Network's Kim Jones just reported that Chase Wright will be tabbed to take Pavano's place Tuesday against the Indians.

I've also heard that GM Brian Cashman said that they are waiting to notify the pitcher they selected (presumably Wright) before officially announcing the move.

UPDATE: The Yankees just officially announced this. No word yet on who if anyone will be coming here to take his spot on Tuesday (though the weather may make that a moot point).

Pavano, Mussina to the DL

According to Peter Abraham of the Journal News, the Yankees have placed Mike Mussina and Carl Pavano on the disabled list. Both tried to work out today before the Yankees' game in Oakland, but neither made it very far.

Chris Britton has reportedly been called up from Triple-A, and now the Yankees will obviously need a starter for Tuesday's game against the Indians. Chase Wright is on the 40-man roster and in line to pitch on Tuesday. Steven Jackson was scheduled to start today for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, but that game was also rained out, so he too is a possibility. Tyler Clippard pitched for Scranton on Thursday, making Tuesday his next day to pitch.

I'll post more info once I find it out.

Another rainout

Today's series finale at Connecticut has been rained out. And this storm isn't making things look too promising for tomorrow and Tuesday up in Portland.

Here is the game story from yesterday's doubleheader sweep. The shutout streak is now 46 innings, or the equivalent of more than five regulation-length games.

Also, Thunder manager Tony Franklin got victory #600 in the nightcap.

Wright to the show?

Were two starts above A-ball enough to prepare Chase Wright for the major leagues?

They may have to be.

Before the Yankees lost in extra innings in Oakland last night, Carl Pavano (surprise, surprise) became the latest Yankee to be bit by the injury bug when his next start was pushed back from today to Tuesday due to muscle soreness and spasms in his pitching elbow. Both he and manager Joe Torre told reporters last night that he expects to be ready to go on Tuesday. But if he isn't (and his history gives little hope that he will), the Yankees will need to call up a minor leaguer.

One of the possibilities, according to this Daily News report, is Wright.

Bringing up Wright would be the easiest logistically, as he's already on the 40-man roster, while neither of the other likely possibilities (Triple-A righties Steven Jackson and Tyler Clippard) are on it. While there is one open spot on the 40-man roster, are the Yankees ready to start the options clocks on either of those two?

Then again, both Clippard and Jackson have a full season of experience at the Double-A level and are already in Triple-A. And when the Yankees promoted Sean Henn directly from Double-A to the major leagues two years ago, he already had pitched a full season for the Thunder. And even then it turned out to be a disaster.

Jackson's next scheduled start is tomorrow; Wright and Clippard on Monday. If any of them get scratched from their starts, we'll obviously know what the Yankees' backup plan is.

The Yankees have already said Phil Hughes is not an option, and that's a smart move.

Up in arms

Thunder pitchers have pitched 24 consecutive scoreless innings after tonight's 2-0 win at Connecticut.

To update my previous post, I was told today that Alan Horne will go in Game 1 of the doubleheader tomorrow and Brett Smith in Game 2. This means that either one of the relievers will need to make a spot start next week or a starter will need to go on short rest. That is, unless, it rains again on this road trip, in which case things should get back on track.

Game banged

Tonight's game at Connecticut has been postponed. It will be made up as part of a single-session doubleheader (two 7-inning games) on Saturday, still starting at 2:05 p.m.

Jeff Marquez will start tomorrow (still a 6:35 p.m. start). My guess is that Alan Horne will start the first game on Saturday and a reliever will make a spot start in the second game, but I haven't heard anything official on that yet. I'll let you know when I do.

Here are links to my game story and notebook.

More of the Wright stuff

Here is Chase Wright's line through his first two Double-A starts:

14IP, 3H, 0R, 0ER, 1BB, 19K

One long-time Thunder observer told me tonight that the last time he can recall the Thunder having a lefty look this good was Jason Sekany, who won 14 games for the 1999 team that posted the best record in all of Double-A at 92-50. If Wright keeps pitching like this, he might not be here long enough to match Sekany's '99 performance.

Speaking of starting pitchers, Mike Mussina became the latest one from the Yankees to go down with an injury when he left tonight's game in Minnesota with a left hamstring strain. That gives the Yankees four players (along with Chien-ming Wang, Hideki Matsui, and Johnny Damon) who have suffered muscle strains in the last three weeks. Not good news for Gene Monahan and Co. It's not a big deal right now, however; the Yankees don't need a 5th starter again until the 21st, by which time Jeff Karstens should be back.

Now the Thunder go on the road for the first time this season (and get a break from me). Four in Connecticut (Norwich, to be exact) beginning tomorrow, followed by three in Portland. I'll post news that I find out, but I'm not going to have game details because I won't be there.

Howard now with Phillies

I learned tonight that Kevin Howard signed with the Phillies earlier this week and was assigned to High-A Clearwater. While Howard was a borderline Double-A/Triple-A guy, he was released by the Yankees on the final day of spring training, limiting the teams with the roster space for him. So it's very likely that his Florida State League assignment is very temporary, and he should be up in Reading sooner rather than later.

Pre-game 4/11

Final game of the season-opening six-game homestand.

HARRISBURG
Roger Bernadina RF
Dan Dement 2B
Frank Diaz CF
Tony Blanco LF
Devin Ivany C
Juan Melo 3B
Christian Guerrero DH
Josh Whitesell 1B
Seth Bynum SS

T.J. Nall P

TRENTON
Brett Gardner CF
Ramiro Pena SS
Justin Christian LF
Cody Ehlers 1B
P.J. Pilittere C
Shawn Garrett DH
Matt Carson RF
Aarom Baldiris 3B
Juan Francia 2B

Chase Wright P

UPDATE: Diaz apparently was a last minute scratch. Robin Jennings is batting third for Harrisburg and playing right field. Roger Bernadina is playing center.

Deadline killers

The Thunder sure have a knack for messing us reporters up on deadline. Nothing like being ready to put together your gamer with over an hour to spare before deadline, then having to scrap it and piece together a running gamer that you have to frantically finish when the game finally ends.

Normally, we have as many as four or five reporters in the locker room after a home game. Tonight, there were only two, because the others had already passed their final deadlines.

For the second straight night, the Thunder trailed in the bottom of the ninth against Harrisburg. This time, it was especially daunting - two outs, nobody on, and down 4-1.

Of course, the Thunder rallied, getting four hits and a walk to force extra innings, then winning it in the 12th when they loaded the bases with one out, Cody Ehlers hit a grounder to third, and Harrisburg third baseman Juan Melo inexplicably threw to first instead of going home for the forceout. But that was just the last play of a bizarre final few innings.

After the Thunder rallied, Harrisburg got the go-ahead run into scoring position in each of the final three innings. Each time, the Senators couldn't get that run home. In the 10th, Tony Blanco was nailed on the same rule that Ramiro Pena was caught on in the 9th inning last Thursday - stepping out of the batter's box without getting timeout from the umpire. Under rule 6.02b (put into effect before last season but very rarely enforced until now), the umpire can call a strike if the batter violates that rule. Like Pena, Blanco had two strikes, and hence was called out, ending the inning.

A few thoughts:

*While consistency with enforcing (or not enforcing) a rule is much appreciated, I hate to see players being nailed on technicalities at critical moments of the game, which has been the case both times the Thunder have been involved in it. When I'm watching a basketball game, and the game is coming down to the final possession, I don't want to see a ticky-tack foul called that could decide the game. Ditto for a ticky-tack penalty in the final minute of a tied or one-goal hockey game. If it's a blatant violation of a major rule, that's one thing. But ending an inning, and possibly a game-turning rally, on a rule designed to do nothing more than speed the game up a little is unfortunate.

*The bullpen was stellar again - six shutout innings after Jason Jones left trailing 4-1 (though the last two runs were unearned, courtesy of a pair of Cody Ehlers errors). Kevin Whelan, Paul Thorp, and Edwar Ramirez combined to allow only four hits in that span. While Ramirez was a bit wild, he got the outs when he had to.

*Juan Francia made his first start of the season and was great - 3 for 4 with the tying RBI in the 9th and scoring the winning run in the 12th.

*If it's any consolation to the Senators (and I'm sure it isn't right now), they need only look at last year's Thunder to see that hope is not lost. That team started 0-10 and 1-13 and, like this year's Senators, lost a lot of close games in pretty much every way possible. They ended up winning 80 games and the Northern Division regular season title.

Chase Wright goes again tomorrow. Will he be able to match what he did last Thursday in the season opener?

Pre-game 4/10

Here are the lineups:

HARRISBURG
Roger Bernadina CF
Frank Diaz RF
Robin Jennings LF
Tony Blanco DH
Josh Whitesell 1B
Juan Melo 3B
John Suomi C
Wade Robinson 2B
Seth Bynum SS

Anastacio Martinez P

TRENTON
Brett Gardner CF
Ramiro Pena SS
Justin Christian LF
Cody Ehlers 1B
P.J. Pilittere C
Shawn Garrett RF
Carlos Mendoza DH
Aarom Baldiris 3B
Juan Francia 2B

Jason Jones P

Pre-game notes
*Francia is making his first start of the season tonight. His only previous appearances this season were last Thursday and last night as a pinch runner. He has yet to play in the field or bat. ... Garrett is playing in the field for the first time tonight while Matt Carson, who got the game-winning hit, sits. ... Ramiro Pena didn't get his first hit of the season until last night and is only 1-for-15 on the season, but manager Tony Franklin still likes his skills enough to bat him second.

Role reversal

A year ago tomorrow, the Thunder took a 1-0 lead into the bottom of the ninth inning at Harrisburg, needing only three more outs for their first win of the season. They couldn't get those three outs then, or in the 10th inning when Caonabo Cosme hit a home run to put the Thunder back ahead. They wound up losing 2-1, the sixth of their 10 straight losses to open the season.

I remember heading down to the sardine can that passes for the visitor's clubhouse at Commerce Bank Park (Harrisburg's stadium) about 10 minutes after that game and seeing Justin Christian sitting on the dugout bench, staring towards right field in disbelief that they could lose again.

A couple of hours ago at Waterfront Park, Christian and the Thunder switched roles with the Senators. It was Harrisburg that was looking for its first win and came within three outs (two, actually, this time) of getting it. And it was the Thunder who played spoiler, with Christian tying the game with a one-out, two-run single in the ninth, and Matt Carson winning it with a bases loaded single in the 12th.

While Brett Smith wasn't great in his Double-A debut, he kept his team in the game. And the bullpen was phenomenal. After the Senators scored an insurance run in the seventh to go up 4-2, Jeff Kennard, Gerardo Casadiego, and Scott Patterson combined to retire the last 15 Harrisburg batters. The five Thunder pitchers combined for 17 strikeouts, and the entire pitching staff has 54 strikeouts in the first four games against only seven walks. It was obvious for months that pitching would be the strength of this team, but those numbers are still impressive, especially early in the season.

The Thunder will complete their first turn through the rotation tomorrow when Jason Jones faces Harrisburg's Anastacio Martinez. Interesting subplot here - Martinez was one of the Red Sox top prospects earlier this decade and came to Trenton in 2002 (its last year as Boston's Double-A affiliate), but had a miserable season with a 5-12 record and a 5.31 ERA.

More tomorrow.

Scranton gets Strong-er

I just learned that the Yankees filled Kevin Thompson's spot on the Scranton roster by signing former major leaguer Jamal Strong. He spent most of last year at Richmond, the Braves' Triple-A affiliate.

So the Thunder roster got spared in this deal.

4/9 Pre-Game

HARRISBURG
Roger Bernadina CF
Wade Robinson 3B
Frank Diaz RF
Robin Jennings 1B
Devin Ivany C
Josh Whitesell DH
Christian Guerrero LF
Dan Dement 2B
Seth Bynum SS

Beltran Perez P

TRENTON
Brett Gardner CF
Ramiro Pena SS
Justin Christian LF
Cody Ehlers 1B
P.J. Pilittere C
Shawn Garrett DH
Carlos Mendoza 3B
Matt Carson RF
Gabe Lopez 2B

Brett Smith P

Pre-game Notes
* As of now, the Thunder have not lost anyone to Scranton to take Kevin Thompson's place. The Yankees may not want to disrupt rosters this early in the season. And it's not like any of the Thunder outfielders are sure-fire candidates for promotion - Garrett and Carson have done nothing, and the team has played only three games.

* Carlos Mendoza is starting at third, allowing Gabe Lopez to once again get the start at second.

Matsui to DL; KT to New York

Apparently wanting to be cautious with Hideki Matsui's strained left hamstring, the Yankees put him on the 15-day DL yesterday and brought up Kevin Thompson from Triple-A Scranton. Given that it took Robinson Cano six weeks to come back from a hamstring strain last season, this course of action is understandable.

This obviously means that the Thunder could be losing an outfielder to Scranton.

Happy Easter

Happy Easter to all of you observing the holiday today.

I was needed in the office last night, so Rob covered for me. Here is his game story and sidebar.

Also, here is a nice feature in the Orangeburg (S.C.) Times & Democrat on Brett Gardner.

The team is off today for the holiday, but returns tomorrow night against Harrisburg.

A little offense, and a win

The pitching was there once again, as Jeff Marquez (and, to a lesser extent, Kevin Whelan) shined in their Double-A debuts. This time, they got a little help from their offense (and Bowie) and got win #1.

Marquez didn't work as efficiently as Chase Wright did on Thursday, but still had a no-hitter through five. Problem was, it took the Thunder close to half an hour to score three runs in the bottom of the inning. By the time Marquez went back out for the 6th, he had lost his rhythm and momentum. But Jeff Kennard and Whelan made sure the lead stood up.

In other developments in the Yankees' farm system, Phil Hughes was solid in his Triple-A debut tonight, pitching five innings of two-hit, two-run ball with six strikeouts and getting the win. 2006 top draft pick Ian Kennedy was stellar in his first start for High-A Tampa, allowing only two hits and one run in five innings while striking out 8.

UPDATE: Here is the link to my game story.

Pre-game 4-6

Here are the lineups:

BOWIE
Paco Figueroa 2B
Jeff Fiorentino LF
Val Majewski CF
Brandon Sing 1B
Oscar Salazar 3B
Nolan Reimold RF
Matt Cepicky DH
Ryan Hubele C
Luis Hernandez SS

Chris Waters P

TRENTON
Brett Gardner CF
Ramiro Pena SS
Justin Christian LF
Cody Ehlers 1B
P.J. Pilittere C
Shawn Garrett DH
Carlos Mendoza 2B
Matt Carson RF
Aarom Baldiris 3B

Jeff Marquez P

Pre-game notes
*Same lineups as last night, despite the offensive ineptitude from both sides. Another cold night expected, which favors another pitcher's duel. ... The defense will need to be far better than last night. Marquez's fastball has a lot of sink, which means a lot of ground balls.

Gotta love Portland

Gotta love this hillarious picture from the Sea Dogs' website. They got 14 inches of snow up there and have to postpone tonight's game, on top of losing last night's season opener. So someone went out and built snowmen at each of the field positions.

This happened to the Thunder four years ago. They were slated to open the season in Portland, but had the entire series wiped out by snow. Made for a lot of pitcher-killing doubleheaders later in the season.

When will the Eastern League learn not to schedule Portland (and Erie) to open the season at home?

Today's links

My game story on the 2007 season opener.

My sidebar on Jim Hoey.

More when I get to the park.

Post-game notes from the season-opener

*A fairly new and seldom previously enforced rule hurt the Thunder in the bottom of the 9th. Ramiro Pena fell behind 0-2 while trying to get down a sacrifice bunt, then stepped out of the box without calling timeout. The home plate umpire called another strike, and he had "struck out."

As an aside, you saw the big difference between Tony Franklin and Bill Masse right there. Tony calmly went down for an explanation from the umpire, got it, and returned to the third base coach's box. Billy might still be having a temper tantrum out there.

*The cold weather no doubt played a part, but the lineup certainly did nothing to refute the impression that they seriously lack pop. You don't need to hit a ton of home runs to win, but you better be great at executing the little things, because you'll need to string a lot of those together then. The Thunder didn't until the ninth inning, and then came up one play short.

*Chase Wright was phenomenal. He still needs to work on the curve, but his other stuff, along with his location, was great. About as good as a Double-A debut can get.

That's all for now. I have to get going. Talk to ya in the morning.

Thunder lose 1-0

The Thunder got the bases loaded with one out in the bottom of the ninth. Ehlers could have redeemed himself with a game-winning single, but struck out.

Pilittere did likewise four pitches later, and that was that.

Back with more later.

Ehlers' rough night continues

With one out in the top of the ninth, he threw away a ground ball while Gerardo Casadiego was getting over to cover first. That error led to a run on Nolan Reimold's single to right when Matt Carson couldn't come up with the ball.

Bowie leads 1-0 in the bottom of the 9th. Hamilton and Rider alum Jim Hoey is on to try to nail it down.

Wright done after 7

7 IP, 2H, 0R, 0BB, 9K. 76 pitches.

Couldn't have asked for more from him, especially in his Double-A debut. Jason Jones now in (strange, since he's slated to start on Tuesday). But his offense has only one hit.

0-0 as we begin the 8th.

We have a hit!

P.J. Pilittere just got the first Thunder hit of the season, a single to left. But he got no farther, as Shawn Garrett, Carlos Mendoza, and Matt Carson followed with a strikeout, flyout, and another strikeout.

Still scoreless thru 5.

Still scoreless through 4

Ehlers commited another error by letting the ball play him, then just struck out to end the 4th. The Thunder still don't have a hit.

Wright escapes first trouble

An infield hit that bounced just over Chase Wright's glove and an error on Cody Ehlers (yeah, I know, I trumpeted this team's defense) put two runners on in the top of the third. But he got Val Majewski to line out to center to get out of it.

He also got lucky in the third, when Luis Hernandez hit a comebacker that bounced off of Wright's left foot...and right to Ehlers for the putout.

Still scoreless as we go to the 4th....

Strong first inning for Wright

1-2-3 with 2 called strikeouts. 10 pitches, 8 strikes.

The thing to watch with him is the development of his curveball. He'll need that third pitch to make it to the next level.

Pre-game notes

*The New Jersey Air National Guard 108th refueling wing just did a flyover. Problem was, the timing was off by five minutes. Everyone had to stay on the field after introductions waiting for the C-130 to make its way to the field.

*At least the Thunder are getting this game in, cold though it is (38 degrees). Akron, Erie, New Hampshire, and Portland all postponed their openers tonight due to snow. I'm told Erie had the added problem of having their tarp freeze to the field. Not surprising that they messed that up, given that they didn't put the tarp before an overnight rain storm last August, resulting in a game against the Thunder being postponed despite conditions that were playable.

*Charlie Manning apparently is not coming back to the Thunder, at least not now. According to the Scranton Times-Tribune, the Yankees had recent free agent signee Erick Burke deactivated to make room for Ron Villone and kept Manning in Triple-A. So the Thunder still don't have a lefty in their pen.

*Big surprise to see Gabe Lopez not in the starting lineup. Lopez was penalized by the fact that he was in Triple-A camp until just before the end of spring training, while manager Tony Franklin got a much more extended look at Carlos Mendoza. Gabe seems to be taking it well, though.

Season Opening Lineups

Greetings from Waterfront Park. Here are the starting lineups for tonight's 2007 season opener:

BOWIE
Paco Figueroa 2B
Jeff Fiorentino LF
Val Majewski CF
Brandon Sing 1B
Oscar Salazar 3B
Nolan Reimold RF
Matt Cepicky DH
Ryan Hubele C
Luis Hernandez SS

Beau Hale P

TRENTON
Brett Gardner CF
Ramiro Pena SS
Justin Christian LF
Cody Ehlers 1B
P.J. Pilittere C
Shawn Garrett DH
Carlos Mendoza 2B
Matt Carson RF
Aarom Baldiris 3B

Chase Wright P

Back with pregame notes later.

The day is here

It has been 209 days since Portland's Brandon Moss sent that 3-0 pitch from Scott Patterson flying over the right field wall at Hadlock Field to end the Thunder's 2006 season in heartbreaking fashion.

In a few hours, it will begin anew. The spring training drills are over. It's time to get another season started.

I plan to blog frequently during the course of the game, starting after I get to the park. Be sure to check back this afternoon and evening.

Over before it starts?

Poor Charlie Manning looks like he'll be squeezed out of a Triple-A job again.

According to Newsday Yankees beat reporter Kat O'Brien, Ron Villone did accept the Yankees' minor league offer and is heading to the Triple-A Scranton bullpen. While team officials haven't made anything official yet (and possibly won't until tomorrow, when minor league rosters have to be set), the likely scenario now has Manning being sent back here for the fifth consecutive season.

I'll post more when I hear it.

UPDATE: The signing has now moved on the transaction wire, so I guess this makes it more or less official. According to the Scranton Times-Tribune, Villone is supposed to join the SWB Yankees for their opener tomorrow night. Now I just have to find out exactly how this will affect the Thunder.

Today's links

My general story on media day, led by the aforementioned anecdote on Kevin Whelan.

Rob Chakler's story on Chase Wright, the opening night starter.

In an hour or so, I'm off to the office to finish putting together the preview section.

News and notes from media day

*Chase Wright is officially the opening night starter, as expected. Here are the pitching matchups for the opening series:
Thursday: Chase Wright vs. Beau Hale
Friday: Jeff Marquez vs. Cory Morris
Saturday: Alan Horne vs. Chris Waters

*Tony Franklin is certainly a very nice man, but he is clearly the anti-Bill Masse (and that's probably what the Yankees wanted). He's very polite, but he doesn't reveal information easily and he certainly isn't a quote machine the way Masse was (who can ever forget his comparison of his team and its pursuit of Portland to Top Gun?).

*Franklin wouldn't reveal his whole starting lineup for Thursday, but said that Brett Gardner would lead off (no surprise), Ramiro Pena would hit second (definitely a surprise, at least until he proves he can get on base consistently), Justin Christian would hit third, Cody Ehlers would hit cleanup, and P.J. Pilittere would hit fifth.

*He also hasn't set a closer yet, but noted that Paul Thorp is a strong candidate to fill that role.

*Talked for a bit to Kevin Whelan. He found out that he was being traded to the Yankees the day of his rehearsal dinner, and the day before he got married. He's the highest-rated prospect on the Thunder (if you believe Baseball America), and he may not be here long, so make sure you get out to see him.

*Pitching coach Scott Aldred said the starters will be on a 85-90 pitch limit their first turn through the rotation. That probably means at most five, maybe six innings. Makes having seven relievers all the more important.

Be sure to check in here starting Thursday afternoon. We'll have plenty of blogging on opening night at Waterfront Park.

And here it is....

Just out of the mouth of Yankees VP of Baseball Operations Mark Newman, the Thunder's 2007 expected Opening Day roster:

Outfield (4): Justin Christian, Brett Gardner, Shawn Garrett, Matt Carson
Infield (6): Cody Ehlers, Gabe Lopez, Ramiro Pena, Aarom Baldiris, Carlos Mendoza, Juan Francia.
Catchers (2): P.J. Pilittere, Jason Brown
Starters (5): Chase Wright, Jeff Marquez, Alan Horne, Brett Smith, Jason Jones
Bullpen (7): Kevin Whelan, Gerardo Casadiego, Scott Patterson, Jeff Kennard, Paul Thorpe, Michael Gardner, Edwar Ramirez.

As expected, Newman warned that this wasn't set in stone, and that some moves still could happen between now and Thursday. The most significant caveat is with the bullpen; if Ron Villone accepts the Yankees' offer to pitch in Triple-A, the likely scenario is that Charlie Manning gets sent back here while Ramirez goes back to High-A Tampa.

No really big surprises, except for Howard. Newman wouldn't tell me why he isn't in Double-A or where he is going instead. If I find out more, I'll post it.

As for last night, it was a fairly uneventful flight home from Tampa. A few of the Yankees reporters (Ed Price from the Star Ledger, Pete Caldera from the Bergen Record, and Bryan Hoch from mlb.com) were on my flight after covering the Yankees' final spring training game that afternoon.

Now that things appear to have fallen into place, I must get back to matters such as laundry and preview stories, not to mention a story for tonight's paper. Barring breaking news, my next post will probably come on Tuesday night, after media day.

UPDATE: I heard this morning that Kevin Howard was released. I know he didn't have that great a year in Double-A last season, but this is still surprising, especially since the Yankees signed the likes of Baldiris as free agents.