Trenton @ Chicago

Game1 Trenton 16 Chicago 13 (11 innings) BOXSCORE

This was a wild one as the wind was definitly blowing out in Wrigley as both team's combined for 7 hr's, 2 by the struggling Carmine Bryant as the Thunder win the "football" game on a late inning field goal.
Can't say too much about this one as both pitching staffs were helpless to the offense, Terrell Stroud making his first start of the season goes 4 allowing 6 runs on 9 hits but didn't yield a HR. The rest of the bullpen kept us in the lead for most of the game until Chuck Adkinsson number was called again(first time since his opening night meltdown) and he promptly coughs up another one sending us into the extra frames which the thunder eventually win on the strength of a five run top of the 11th.

Game2 Chicago 5 Trenton 2 BOXSCORE

Game 2 see's the wonder of Wrigley Field as your home ballpark, Lawrence Richardson making his 2nd start of the season held the Orphans in check for most of his 6 innings but the beauty of Chicago and more specifically its ballpark is that pretty much anything hit in the air has a chance AND with that 3 of the 6 hits allowed to the Orphans sailed over the fence giving Chicago all 5 of its runs via the homerun.
Chicago's Willie Strong pitched a brilliant game mind you as he strikes out 11 Thunder hitters while allowing the 2 runs,the thunder were seeing a lefthander for the first time this season.

Game3 Trenton 8 Chicago 2 BOXSCORE

Rubber game of the series along with getaway day, Matt McClellan took the hill opposing Benjamin Becker who did not enjoy a game to remember, as McClellan was dodging in and out of trouble all game long, Becker was crushed in the 2nd topped with a exclamation point of the inning coming on Carmine Bryant grand slam. Bryant added another in the 8th as the suddenly hot rightfielder apparantly likes the friendly confines.
McClellan's line of 6 2/3 innings, 8 hits,1 walk,4 k's and most importantly 1 run giving him his 2nd win and dropping his era down to .66

Trenton 7 Cincinnati 2

BOXSCORE



A HUGE 2nd inning was more than enough for Trenton as a Craig Wood grand slam capitilizes on a "crazy" inning in which Miguel Ortiz couldn't find his control & Shawn Webster couldn't find the ball, in total Trenton send 11 guys to the plate hitting 2 homeruns,drawing 4 walks and one big error from Webster. Scoring all 7 of its runs in the 2nd inning
Alex Heredia well pitched game makes it 4 in a row for quality starts for a team that I don't think had a pitcher with a era under 5 in any part of the organization a season ago.

Splitting our first series of the season on the road against the predicted division winner, we'll take the split knowing that we were in all 4 games and should really of won 3 of them save there huge comeback win in the opener.

We head to Chicago to play the Orphans (1-3) next after they apparantly had there trouble with Minnesota in their opening series.Terrell Stroud gets his first start of the season and is opposed by Rabbit Diaz making his major league debut.

Cincinnati 4 Trenton 1

BOXSCORE



This game was about one thing for Trenton ... mistakes .... three key errors, 2 by Kirk Clarke getting his first start of the season gives Cincy more than enough to defeat the unprepared Trenton squad.
Ozzie Ono did his part allowing just the one earned run in six innings but Queen's starting pitcher Rickey Ward outpitches that line by allowing no runs in his 6 innings of work. Trenton finally pushes across a run in the 8th from a Juan Mota solo shot, which was his first Big League home run.

@Cincinnati3

Game 3 see's long time Thunder starting pitcher and holder of many of the futile records in this franchise's history Ozzie Ono (7-10 5.73) who's coming off a very inspiring spring training go head to head against Cincy righthander Rickey Ward (9-14 5.22)

Ozzie Ono Trenton Thunder Age: 28 B/T: R/R Born: Fukuoka, JP Position(s): P (SP3) View Hardball Dynasty Profile

Rickey Ward Cincinnati Queens Age: 27 B/T: R/R Born: S Charleston, OH Position(s): P (SP3) View Hardball Dynasty Profile

Minor League play begins overnight as we try to field a competitive team at all levels of this once morbid franchise, really wasn't that much of a task to find a SS to play SS instead of a 1b and a CF to play CF instead of a 1b, we should notice a improvement at all levels and am looking forward to seeing a few of our future *stars* perform.

Trenton 6 Cincinnati 1

BOXSCORE



Matt McClellan prooved that he was worthy of the 20+ million extension he received in the offseason limiting the Queens offense to five hits while striking out 6 in his 7 innings of work getting Trenton's first win of the season in a brilliant pitching performance.
Kent Hamilton hot streak has carried into the regular season after a torrid spring by driving in four(giving him 6 in two games) and giving the thunder more than enough offense.
Aside from that 9th inning meltdown in the season opener our pitching staff has held Cincy's offense in check with just one earned run in 17 innings(5 runs alone in game one's 9th)

@ Cincinnati2

As the Thunder try to rebound after a horrific 9th inning on opening day, they send righthander Matt McClellan to the mound(2-10 6.16), Cincy counters with Rule5 selection Diego Cubillan (5-10 5.78) who played with Philadelphia a season ago

Diego Cubillan Cincinnati Queens Age: 24 B/T: R/R Born: Las Matas Cotui, DO Position(s): P (SP2) View Hardball Dynasty Profile

Matt McClellan Trenton Thunder Age: 27 B/T: R/R Born: Fredericksburg, VA Position(s): P (SP2) View Hardball Dynasty Profile

Cincinnati 6 Trenton 3

BOXSCORE

Everything was perfect on Opening Day, no one injured, very few questions marks and no where but UP to go, I was correct in assuming Perry Traynor was getting the ball for opening day as he pitched very well limiting a fired up Trenton team to two runs in six innings before leaving, with Trenton pitcher Lawrence Richardson matching his opponent pitch for pitch the game seemed in hand after Richardson gave way to rule5 pickup and star in the making Homer Henry to begin the 7th and Mitch Pose in the 8th but starting off the 9th was when the action began. Trenton leading 3-1 going into the 9th, head coach decides to give Mitch Pose the ball to begin the 9th as we have yet to determine any real closer and go with a bullpen by committee approach, this turns out to be a mistake as Theodore Laroche leads the inning of with a single followed by a singles by pinch hitter Willie Guzman and shortstop Shawn Webster and after striking out pinch hitter B.c Guerrero Mitch Pose was lifted in favor of lefthander Chuck Adkinsson who promptly gives up a single and a grand slam to Odalis Ibarra to send the cincy fans into a frenzy and a perfect start to the Queens season.

Opening Day @ Cincinnati1

Something in the air today as we open the season against the predicted winner of the NL North Division, we defeated them twice in as many games during the preseason but those games don't count, this one does and were very prepared as we start the season.

Doesn't really tell you who's starting for Cincinnati but I'll wager a guess on Perry Traynor who was 6-8 a season ago with a 4.13 era. Thunder counters with Lawrence Richardson (3-7 6.69) in our first of 7 games on the road to open the season.

Perry Traynor Cincinnati Queens Age: 24 B/T: R/R Born: Wimberly, TX Position(s): P (SP1) View Hardball Dynasty Profile

Lawrence Richardson Trenton Thunder Age: 28 B/T: R/R Born: Timber Lake, SD Position(s): P (SP1) View Hardball Dynasty Profile

stnick44's Fearless Projections

takin from the league Blog

"NL NORTH: Projected order (1) Cincinnati Queens (2) Chicago (3) Trenton (4) MinnesotaThe NL North is, without question, the weakest division in Hobb's World. After 3 seasons this division is the only one that has yet to have a team finish .500. Like the Al West, the NL North has allowed teams such as kramr10's Cincinnati Queens to "back into" the playoffs, which they have done now for 2 consecutive seasons. Still, Kramr10's S3 Queens are not to be trifled with, much like Threester's Pilots, both teams outperformed their regular season record and made it as far as the AL and NL championship game. The Queens seem to win when it matters, and have won the division 3 years in a row. Despite cretin's Chicago Orphans who have control of the division's best starting rotation, the Queens have claimed this division as theirs and are the team to beat in the North. With "Monty" (montrealexps) gone, as well as his .325 average winning percentage, and "zanatural" who was not much better, the league is immediately better. Still, it appears to be a division of rebuilds. Manager crimsontears will have his hands full with his rebuilding Trenton Thunder as will new manager patricckm with the Minnesota North Stars. The efforts and new acquisitions should soon pay off for both teams. Afterall, these two franchises have only up to go! They could not possibly get any worse."

Spring Recap

Finishing up our Offseason the Thunder ventured into Spring Training games not really knowing what to expect, once all was said and done we ended up going 8-10 for a .444 win pct which sat us in 2nd place in our division

Cincinnati 13-5
Chicago 8-10
Trenton 8-10
Minnesota 5-13

of course its spring and who knows how people treated it going full throttle with their lineups or sitting back and watching the minor league guys play, we did a little of both trying out guys at different positions and really trying to grasp how this simengine works as compared to the baseball engine I've been use too.

We had a few position battles and were trying to find a starting rotation I'd be happy with, below was the final outcome

SS Battle

Joe Patrick Trenton Thunder Age: 26 B/T: L/R Born: Guelph, ON Position(s): SS View Hardball Dynasty Profile

Kirk Clarke Trenton Thunder Age: 26 B/T: R/R Born: Spring Hill, FL Position(s): SS View Hardball Dynasty Profile

Both of these guys brings a different aspect to the table, where as Kirk Clarke was the favorite going into spring training were actually leaning towards giving Joe Patrick the first shot at starting for us, Patrick hit .333 in 21 at bats but his ranged lacked at 4.88 in the 48 innings he played at SS. Clarke hit .200 in 20 at bats and made one error in the 48 innings he patrolled SS with a range of 4.50. Patrick gives us tremendous speed at wherever he'll hit in the order..I think I'm far from done however looking for a shortstop


CF BATTLE

Walt Gold Trenton Thunder Age: 25 B/T: R/R Born: Perry, NY Position(s): CF View Hardball Dynasty Profile

Trenidad Borbon Trenton Thunder Age: 24 B/T: L/L Born: Paradera, AW Position(s): CF View Hardball Dynasty Profile

This was a blowout as Rule 5 pickup Trenidad Borbon absolutely stunk it up on the field, the guy has some pretty decent talent bu didn't do a thing in 20 at bats he went HITLESS, while Walt Gold did very well hitting .400 in 20 at bats, I would of liked to have seen Borbon do something,anything but he barely made our 25 man roster.


The Starting Rotation will look like this

Lawrence Richardson Trenton Thunder Age: 28 B/T: R/R Born: Timber Lake, SD Position(s): P (SP3) View Hardball Dynasty Profile

Matt McClellan Trenton Thunder Age: 27 B/T: R/R Born: Fredericksburg, VA Position(s): P (SP5) View Hardball Dynasty Profile

Ozzie Ono Trenton Thunder Age: 28 B/T: R/R Born: Fukuoka, JP Position(s): P (SP2) View Hardball Dynasty Profile

Alex Heredia Trenton Thunder Age: 22 B/T: R/R Born: Auburn, IL Position(s): P (SP1) View Hardball Dynasty Profile

Terrell Stroud Trenton Thunder Age: 24 B/T: L/L Born: Chiefland, FL Position(s): P (LRA) View Hardball Dynasty Profile

Richardson more than earned opening the season on the mound vs Cincinnati, he started 2 games giving up a opp avg of .087 a whip of .57 while attaining a era of 2.57

Mccllelan literally had to stink it up not to make the rotation, he slots in at no.2 and will try to make me look good this season for rewarding him with a big contract, spring numbers were good enough 3.12 era .294 opp avg with a 1.38 whip

Very Impressed with Ono as he had a great spring as well, starting 3 games posting a .75 whip .119 opp avg and a 1.50 era

Alex Heredia gets the nod over Norman West even though his spring wasn't any better . 3 starts a 1.67 whip and a .333 opp avg..his era was 8.00 OUCH!

Terrell Stroud impresses me grabbing the 5th spot in the rotation, finishing spring with a 2.53 era in one start and 3 appearances .94 whip and a numbers game that saw us with a ton of left handed relievers gives Stroud the first shot at starting and sending West to the bullpen to start the season

Finishing Off the Spring....

A brief rundown of the Final 6 games of spring training

Trenton 6 Austin 5


After suffering thru a long seven game losing streak this spring, Trenton finally gets back in the win column with a hard fought victory over Austin.
A big game from Jumbo Richardson and Ted Hunter shutting down the Anteaters in the 8th and 9th innings ends Trenton's skid at 7
Boxscore

Trenton 13 Charlotte 4


Everything seemed to have gone right in this one for us after Charlotte's Alex Gabriel led the game off with a triple and eventual score it was all Trenton as we explode for 10 runs in the next 4 innings in Matt McClellan's 3rd start of the spring. Homeruns from Craig Wood,Morgan Sirotka,Danny Perez & Kent Hamilton(his 4th) showed exactly the young talent we have in our system.
McClellan allows one run in 3 innings while striking out 5, he definitly is in the rotation but calling him my ace would be a stretch and with that contract we kind of need him to be.
Boxscore

Chicago 11 Trenton 2


With everything that went well in the game vs Charlotte, it went wrong against Chicago. first time seeing our division mates and they make it about as unpleasant as you could make it as they rough up our phenom pitcher Tracy Winchester to the tune of 7 earned runs in 2 innings, game was over by the 3rd inning as we muster 6 hits and 4 walks and generate 2 runs to show for it...never have liked Wrigley Field
Boxscore

Trenton 10 Cincinnati 8


2nd meeting of the preseason and 2nd victory against them as we get back into the win column with our first come from behind victory.
Alex Heredia making his 3rd start of the spring gets hit hard and ofter during his 3 innings of work allowing 5 runs in that span, but while Heredia was giving up the run Trenton was scoring them as they score in every inning but the 4th and 6th with the biggest inning being the comeback in the 8th when we push across 4 runs to seize the lead from Cincy.
Otis Howell grabs 4 hits during the game including 2 rbi while raising that batting average to .391
Boxscore

Trenton 2 Minnesota 1


Ending our 3 game span which we spent battling our division rivals we spend the 3rd game trailing the Northstars by one for every inning but the 9th, a well pitched, well played game by both sides the Thunder's pitching staff puts on a brilliant showing allowing only 3 hits the entire game but by allowing the one run were in jeopardy of losing the game. Enter the 9th and with 2 outs and runners on 2nd and 3rd,Roberto Guzman singles up the middle causing a huge decision by trenton's 3rd base coach to send Richard Hoffman on Tuck Jones arm, and after a huge collision at the plate the umpire ruled in our favor giving us the win after Justin Dunham pitches a scoreless 9th. great game.
Boxscore

Trenton 6 Kansas 0


Resting our projected "important" pitchers the Thunder get one of there better pitching performances from the expected long reliever in our bullpen. Terrell Stroud allows one hit over 5 innings and the bullpen pitches almost as well allowing Kansas only one more hit as we wrap up Spring Training on a positive note.
Boxscore

Week Recap, Work Overload

Been a hectic week personally for me so I haven't had the chance to do anything other than tinker with my lineups and do my GM duties, this blog is farther down the list but I will recap and update when I do get the chance, this is that chance.

We'll do it in order starting Trenton/Augusta game working down towards the newest game

Augusta 3 Trenton 0


This loss was a sign of things to come for us as were still tinkering with the lineup.Matt McClellan was making his 2nd start of the spring and didn't fair so well in this outing going 2 2/3 while allowing 6 hits and a walk, a far cry from what he did his last outing. Our lineup couldn't generate any O at all vs Theodore Boyer or Darrel Leonard. A well played game for Augusta.
Boxscore


Los Angeles 6 Trenton 5

Heartbreaker of a game if this was the regular season, but its not and it still stung a little, game going well into the bottom of the 4th so Trenton's head coach decides to do massive changes to the lineup and subs everyone being up by only 4 runs, Tracy Winchester pitched a heck of a 3 innings but reached his pitch count so Norman West was called in from the pen to get some work in but a key error by Charles Lo leads to 4 unearned runs capped by a grand slam off the bat of Kenneth Ryan, and we couldn't muster a run the rest of the game.jawdropper
Boxscore

San Francisco 7 Trenton 4


As we ended our road trip and with the losses piling up we drop another to the Dedringers who rally off an ineffective bullpen after a solid 4 inning performance from Ozzie Ono. Norman West suffers the loss and absorbs most of the comeback in his 2nd such defeat in as many games. Chuck Adkinsson and Matt Peters don't fair well as well.
San Fran pushed across 7 runs in the last 4 innings while we finally scrape together 4 in the 8th after the game was pretty much decided.
Boxscore

Huntington 11 Trenton 7


Getting worried as we blow our 3rd lead in as many games, again only preseason and thankfully a lot of the guys who are blowing these games aren't on the big league roster or planned to be but the bad news is that some are, Huntington explodes off my highly touted pitcher Aaron Gleason and a bunch of others as we allow a close game to get put out of reach by the 8th. In total our pitching staff and suspect defense allow 18 hits, 5 of which are homeruns. tough game to swallow, as we were welcomed home extending our losing streak to five.
Boxscore



Philadelphia 5 Trenton 4


Another game, Another breakdown as this time its B.C. Wilfredo & Donnie Giles who combine to allow 4 runs in the 8th inning(popular inning for a comeback) as we lose a lead again in the latter stages of the game.
Lawrence Richardson pitches very well in the Trenton Loss likely earning himself a spot in the rotation with a .57 whip to go along with a .087 batting average against.
Boxscore

Los Angeles 4 Trenton 1


As our losing streak reaches L7, we take solace in the fact that its spring training and some position battles are waging namely at SS (Joe Patrick,Kirk Clarke) and at CF with a huge array of players. This game was well played by both sides with LA taking a commanding lead on a Rodney Goldberg 3 run hr in the 9th.
Boxscore

Trenton vs Augusta (preview)

After seeing our best pitcher so far in the early spring season, the Trenton Thunder head on down the road to Augusta who are coming of its 2nd consective losing season, 78-84 a season ago the spring has not been kind to date as Augusta brings a 1-5 record into the game.
Matt McClellan gets his 2nd start of the spring trying to proove his 1st start wasn't a fluke, while the Sea Dogs counter with righthander Theodore Boyer also making his 2nd start this spring, both starters pitched very well there first games of the season.

Also scheduled to pitch - Chuck Adkinsson,Aaron Gleason,Ira Monroe,Gaylord Pillette,John Fox,Homer Henry,Yorvit Park

Expected Batting Order

1.Joe Patrick Ss
2.Morgan Sirotka 3b
3.Guillerimo Eusobio Lf
4.Kent Hamilton 1b
5.Orlando Aquino Rf
6.Walt Gold Cf
7.Richard Hoffman 2b
8.Eddie Boyd C

Of note future closer Aaron Gleason gets his 1st spring training apperance,Eusobio returns to the lineup after being sat down by trainers the last few games and Joe Patrick vies for the starting SS position.

Scranton 4 Trenton 2

Scranton 4 Trenton 2

A very impressive spring training debut from Matt Rollins, as he more than holds his own vs a lineup that Trenton Coach Davey Morales was talking up about before the game. Rollins line of 5 innings,0 runs,2hits and 3 strikeouts sent the Thunder scrambling to push across a run all game, Only when Rollins was lifted due to pitch count were the Thunder able to generate any offense, Falling short of a comeback in a 4-2 defeat.
The apparantly short fused Morales got the toss after arguing ball and strikes in bottom of the 8th a sure sign of the offensive frustration the 22yr old Rollins created.
For Trenton, Alex Heredia was less than stellar allowing 3 runs in as many innings pushing him farther down the line as a sure sign to make him the opening day starter

Boxscore

Prospects Jump: Trenton has 2 in top 10 in league

Great News for our franchise as future star Elvis Greenberg and rotation ace Marlon Black were rated as having one of the highest ratings jump this past offseason. Both jumping 5 in overall rating points.

Elvis Greenberg Trenton Thunder Age: 20 B/T: L/R Born: Sparrows Point, MD Position(s): SS View Hardball Dynasty Profile

Marlon Black Trenton Thunder Age: 19 B/T: R/R Born: Grand Canyon, AZ Position(s): P (P) View Hardball Dynasty Profile

Trenton vs Scranton(game preview)

A Trenton continues its Spring Training schedule with another bus ride into Scranton, the Thunder try to continue team chemistry by throwing its 6th different starter in as many games, this time getting the call is 22yr old right hander Alex Heredia, opposing him is Scranton's own 22yr old Matt Rollins who's making his first appearance of the spring


Scheduled to pitch - Eugene Bird,Tony Calles,Justin Dunham,Donnie Giles,Lonny Nunez,Matt Peters,Mitch Pose

Our Projected Batting Order

1.Trenidad Borbon Cf
2.Winston Barrett Lf
3.Otis Howell 1b
4.Preston Rowan C
5.Elvis Greenberg 3b
6.Charles Lo 2b
7.Charlie Long Rf
8.Tomas Cortez Ss

Looking forward to seeing Borbon play this game as he's projected as being a big part of the team's centerfield plans this season, Rowan gets his first nod as a starter and Greenberg plays his more natural position of 3b this game.

Trenton 11 Tampa Bay 1

Trenton 11 Tampa Bay 1


Totally forgot about this on my lunch hour(boo!) and the lineup's were that of the last time I faced off against a left handed pitcher.

Game was a close one up until the 6th inning as the Thunder showed a little "thunder" in there bats as Juan Mota launches a 2 out 2 run hr barely over the rightfield wall, which gave the Trenton squad a commanding 7-1 lead and with Elvis Greenberg following up with his own 3 run homerun the next inning the game was outta reach for pitching staff from Tampa that struggled all day.
Trenton's pitching staff was pretty special today as the combination of Richardson,Ira Monroe(1-0),Homer Henry,Chuck Adkinsson & Gaylord Pillette allowed 5 hits 1 run 1 walk while striking out 8.

Boxscore

Trenton v Tampa Bay(preview)

Off to Tampa Bay next as the work week is here, the updates might be a little slower thruout the week as I work Monday to Friday.
Tom McGuire takes on Thunder righthander Lawrence Richardson

Charlotte 8 Trenton 3

Charlotte 8 Trenton 3

A sloppy game for us, as it wasn't well played at all. Plenty of chance to drive in runs, plenty of chances to stop the Codes from scoring but walks and homeruns, 4 in total leads us to our second straight loss.
Willie Conine pitched 2 and 2/3 of inconsistent ball for us on a day that fans of the thunder were filled with excitement seeing there future phenom getting his 1st spring training start, Conine dissapointed walking five and allowing 3 of his 4 runs to be earned, while committing a error as well.
Not all Conine's fault however as the pitching yields way to many hr's and doesn't score nearly as much runs as the chances that were provided to them.

Boxscore

Game 4 Trenton visits Charlotte(preview)

As we head on the road for the next six games, our first stop lands us in Charlotte where we'll face off against the Codes who enjoyed a decent season from a yr ago finishing 85-77(.525) good for 2nd place in the division.
Charlotte gives us our 2nd look at a lefthander in as many days as 23 yr old Julius Bell takes the hill, we'll send our 2nd best pitcher in the organization Willie Conine

Also Scheduled to pitch - Chuck Adkinsson,Homer Henry,Ira Monroe,Terrell Stroud,Tony Calles,Ted Hunter and newest waiver wire pickup Gaylord Pillette

Our Projected Batting Order

1.Carmine Bryant Rf
2.Juan Mota 2b
3.Craig Wood C
4.Miguel Ayala 1b
5.Amos Ramsey 3b
6.Chuck Mullin Lf
7.Monte Spooneybarger Ss
8.Roberto Guzman Cf

on a sidenote the much anticipate debut of Craig Woodand former MVP Miguel Ayala who's converting to a fulltime 1b this season.