*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.
Thursday, April 5, 2007
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.
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.
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.
Wednesday, April 4, 2007
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.
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.
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.
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.
Sunday, April 1, 2007
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.
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.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)